Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor), 38.50

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Section

← Previous Next →

[1] The accusations would have had more weight that day than the defence had they not prolonged the debate to a late hour. The senate adjourned, having given the impression that the triumph would be refused.

[2] The next day the relatives and friends¹ of Manlius exerted all their efforts and the elder senators also prevailed by their influence, saying that no precedent

[3] had been handed down in tradition that a commander who, after decisively defeating the enemy and accomplishing the task assigned him as his province, had brought home his army, should enter the City without the car and laurel, a private citizen and without honour.²

[4] Respect for this tradition prevailed over ill-will and a full session voted the triumph. Then all talk and thought of this debate were put into the background by a struggle greater and originating with a greater and more famous man.

[5] Publius Scipio Africanus, as Valerius Antias asserts, was prosecuted by two men, each named Quintus Petillius.

[6] This action each man interpreted according to his own inclinations.

[7] Some reproached, not the tribunes of the people, but the whole state, for being able to allow this —the two greatest cities in the world, they said, were at about the same time found ungrateful towards their foremost citizens, but Rome was more ungrateful, because conquered Carthage had driven the conquered Hannibal into exile, while victorious Rome was driving out the victorious Scipio.

[8] Others argued that no single citizen should attain such eminence that he could not be questioned under the laws; that nothing was so essential to equally distributed liberty as that every man, however powerful, should plead his cause.

[9] What now —not to mention supreme position in the state —could be safely entrusted to any man if no accounting could be asked? Against a man, they said, who. cannot brook equitable law, no violence is illegal.

[10] Such was the current of talk until the day³ of the trial came. No other man before him, not even this same Scipio, when consul or censor, was ever escorted to the Forum by a greater crowd of men of every rank than was Scipio that day when he was the defendant.

[11] Being bidden to plead his cause, he began so magnificent a speech about his achievements that it was very clear that no man had ever been better eulogized or more truthfully.

[12] For he spoke of his deeds in the same temper and spirit in which he performed them, and there was no resentment among his hearers, since he was speaking to ward off peril and not to boast.

Ab urbe condita. Titus Livius (Livy). Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor). Medford, MA. .

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

History of Rome (English) (Foster, Benjamin Oliver; Moore, Frank Gardener; Sage, Evan T.; Schlesinger, Alfred C., translators. Cambridge, Mass.; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1919-1959. (Loeb Classical Library))

Editions (3)

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Pars I-IV, Libri I-XL. Editio Stereotypica. Weissenborn, Wilhelm; Mueller, Moritz, editors. Leipzig: Teubner, 1884-1911.) — 38.50 focus

[1] plus crimina eo die quam defensio valuisset, ni altercationem in serum perduxissent. dimittitur senatus in ea opinione, ut negaturus triumphum fuisse videretur.

[2] postero die et cognati amicique Cn. Manlii summis opibus adnisi sunt, et auctoritas seniorum valuit,

[3] negantium exemplum proditum memoriae esse, ut imperator, qui devictis perduellibus, confecta provincia exercitum reportasset, sine curru et laurea privatus inhonoratusque urbem iniret. hic pudor malignitatem vicit, triumphumque frequentes decreverunt.

[4] oppressit deinde mentionem memoriamque omnem contentionis huius maius et cum maiore et clariore viro certamen ortum.

[5] P. Scipioni Africano, ut Valerius Antias auctor est, duo Q. Petillii diem dixerunt. id, prout cuiusque ingenium erat, interpretabantur.

[6] alii non tribunos plebis, sed universam civitatem,

[7] quae id pati posset, incusabant: duas maximas orbis terrarum urbes ingratas uno prope tempore in principes inventas, Romam ingratiorem, si quidem victa Carthago victum Hannibalem in exilium expulisset,

[8] Roma victrix victorem Africanum expellat. alii, neminem unum civem tantum eminere debere, ut legibus interrogari non possit; nihil tam aequandae libertatis esse quam potentissimum quemque posse dicere causam.

[9] quid autem tuto cuiquam, nedum summam rem publicam, permitti, si ratio non sit reddenda? qui ius aequum pati non possit, in eum vim haud iniustam esse.

[10] haec agitata sermonibus, donec dies causae dicendae venit. nec alius antea quisquam nec ille ipse Scipio consul censorve maiore omnis generis hominum frequentia quam reus illo die in forum est deductus.

[11] iussus dicere causam sine ulla criminum mentione orationem adeo magnificam de rebus ab se gestis est exorsus, ut satis constaret neminem umquam neque melius neque verius laudatum esse.

[12] dicebantur enim ab eo eodem animo ingenioque, quo gesta erant, et aurium fastidium aberat, quia pro periculo, non in gloriam referebantur.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Livy in Fourteen Volumes. Foster, Benjamin Oliver; Moore, Frank Gardener; Schlesinger, Alfred C., editors. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd., 1919-1959 (printing).) — 43.23 focus

[1]

Rex cum non ¹ minore vexatione iumentorum hominumque quam venerat in Macedoniam rediit; Appium tamen ab obsidione Phanotes fama ducentis ad Stratum Persei summovit.

[2] Cleuas cum praesidio impigrorum iuvenum insecutus sub radicibus prope inviis montium ² ad mille hominum ex agmine impedito occidit, ad ducentos cepit.

[3] Appius superatis angustiis in campo quem Meleona vocant stativa dierum paucorum habuit. interim Cleuas assumpto Philostrato, qui quingentos ex ³ Epirotarum gente habebat, in agrum Antigonensem transcendit. ⁴ Macedones ad depopulationem profecti;

[4] Philostratus⁵ cum cohorte sua in insidiis loco ⁶ obscuro consedit. in palatos populatores cum erupissent ab Antigonea armati, ⁷ fugientes eos persequentes effusius in vallem insessam ab hostibus praecipitant.

[5] ibi ad mille ⁸ occisis, centum ferme captis, et ubique prospere gesta re prope stativa Appi castra movent, ne qua vis sociis suis ab Romano exercitu inferri possit.

[6] Appius nequiquam in his locis terens tempus, dimissis Chaonum Thesprotorumque ⁹ et si qui alii Epirotae erant praesidiis, cum Italicis militibus in Illyricum regressus, per Parthinorum ¹⁰ socias urbes in hiberna militibus divisis, ¹¹ ipse Romam sacrificii causa redit.

[7] Perseus ex Penestarum gente mille pedites, ducentos equites revocatos Cassandream, praesidio ut essent, misit.

[8] Ab Gentio eadem adferentes redierunt. nec deinde alios atque alios mittendo temptare eum destitit, cum appareret, quantum in eo praesidii esset, nec tamen impetrare ab animo posset, ut impensam in rem maximi ad omnia momenti faceret.

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 38.50 focus

[1]

plus crimina eo die quam defensio valuisset, ni altercationem in serum perduxissent. dimittitur senatus in ea opinione, ut negaturus triumphum fuisse videretur.

[2] postero die et cognati amicique Cn. Manlii summis opibus adnisi sunt, et auctoritas seniorum valuit,

[4] oppressit deinde mentionem memoriamque omnem ¹ contentionis huius maius et cum maiore et clariore viro certamen ortum.

[5] P. Scipioni Africano , ut Valerius Antias auctor est, duo Q. Petillii diem dixerunt. id, prout cuiusque ingenium erat, interpretabantur.

[6] alii non tribunos plebis, sed universam civitatem, quae id pati posset, incusabant:

[7] duas maximas orbis terrarum urbes ingratas uno prope tempore in principes inventas, Romam ingratiorem, si quidem victa Carthago victum Hannibalem in exilium expulisset, Roma victrix victorem Africanum expellat.

[8] alii, neminem unum tantum eminere civem debere, ut legibus interrogari non possit; nihil tam aequandae libertatis esse quam ² potentissimum quemque posse dicere causam.

[9] quid autem tuto cuiquam, nedum summam rem publicam, permitti, si ratio non sit reddenda? qui ius aequum pati non possit, in eum vim haud iniustam esse.

[11] iussus dicere causam sine ulla criminum mentione orationem adeo magnificam de rebus ab se gestis est exorsus, ut satis constaret neminem umquam neque melius neque verius laudatum esse.

[12] dicebantur enim ab eodem animo ingenioque, a quo gesta erant, et aurium fastidium aberat, quia pro periculo, non in gloriam referebantur.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 38.50 focus

[1]

The accusations that day would have been more powerful than the defence, had they not prolonged the debate to a late hour; for the senate adjourned in a mood likely to refuse the triumph.

[2] Next day the relations and friends of Cneius Manlius exerted their utmost efforts in his behalf; and the opinion of the elder senators prevailed, who asserted, that there was no instance

[3] on record of a commander who had subdued the enemy, completed the business of his province, and brought home his army, entering the city as a private citizen, without honours, and without the chariot and laurel. This feeling of shame overcame their prejudices against him, and a great majority voted for his triumph.

[4] A greater contest, which was set on foot against a greater and more illustrious personage, suppressed all mention and memory of this struggle.

[5] The two Petillii, as Valerius Antias writes, instituted a prosecution against Publius Scipio Africanus. Men construed this according to their different dispositions;

[6] some did not blame the plebeian tribunes, but the public in general, that could suffer such a process to be carried on.

[7] They observed, that

the two greatest states in the world proved, nearly at the same time, ungrateful to their chief commanders; but Rome the more ungrateful of the two, because Carthage was subdued when she sent the vanquished Hannibal into exile; whereas Rome, when victorious, was for banishing the conqueror Africanus.

[8] Others asserted, that

no one citizen ought to stand so high above the rest, as not to be made answerable to the laws for his conduct: for nothing contributed so much towards the equalization of liberty, as that the most powerful might be brought to trial.

[9]

For how could any charge, especially the administration of government, be safely intrusted to any man, if he were not liable to be called to an account? That force was not unjustly used against him who could not bear an equality of rights.

These subjects were discussed in conversation, until the day of trial came.

[10] Never was either any other person, or Scipio himself, when consul or censor, escorted to the forum by a more numerous multitude of all kinds, than he was on that day when he appeared to answer the charge against him.

[11] When ordered to make his defence, without taking any notice of the facts laid to his charge, he delivered so magnificent a speech concerning his exploits, that it was universally agreed, that no man had been ever praised either to more advantage or with more truth.

[12] For his achievements were described with the same ardent spirit and powerful genius with which they had been performed; and his auditors felt no disgust, because his acts were mentioned to meet the peril, and not for ostentation.

History of Rome Perseus (Volumes 1-2. Roberts, Canon, Rev, translator. London, New York: J. M. Dent and Sons; E. P. Dutton and Co., 1912.) — 38.50 focus

[1]

The attack would that day have prevailed over the defence had they not protracted the debate to a late hour. When the House rose, the general opinion was that it would in all likelihood refuse the triumph.

[2] The next day the friends and relatives of Cn. Manlius exerted their utmost efforts, and the authority of the older senators prevailed.

[3] They said that there was no instance on record of a commander who had brought back his army, after subjugating a dangerous enemy and reducing his province to order, entering the city in an unofficial and private capacity without the chariot and laurels of triumph. The sense of the indignity of such a proceeding was too strong for the aspersions of his enemies, and a full senate decreed to him a triumph.

[4] All discussion and even recollection of this dispute were lost in the outbreak of a more serious controversy with a greater and more distinguished man.

[5] We are told on the authority of Valerius Antias that the two Petillii instituted proceedings against P. Scipio Africanus. Men put different interpretations on this according to their various dispositions.

[6] Some blamed, not the tribunes only, but the whole body of citizens, for letting such a thing be possible;

[7] the two greatest cities in the world, they said, had proved themselves, almost at the same time, ungrateful to their foremost men. Rome was the more ungrateful of the two, for whilst Carthage after her defeat drove the defeated Hannibal into exile, Rome would banish the victorious Scipio in the hour of her victory.

[8] Others again took the ground that no single citizen should stand on such an eminence that he could not be required to answer according to law. Nothing contributed more towards maintaining liberty for all than the power of putting the most powerful citizen on his trial.

[9] What business, it was asked-not to mention the supreme interests of the State-could be entrusted to any man, if he had not to render an account for it? If a man cannot submit to laws which are the same for all, no force which may be employed against him is unlawful.

[10] So the matter was discussed until the day of trial came. Never before had anyone, even Scipio himself when he was consul or censor, been surrounded by a greater concourse of people of all sorts and conditions than on the day when he was conducted into the Forum to make his defence.

[11] When he was called upon to plead, he made no allusion whatever to the charges brought against him, but spoke of the services he had rendered in such a lofty tone that it was universally felt that no man had ever deserved higher or truer praise.

[12] He described his actions in the spirit and temper in which he had performed them, and he was listened to without any impatience because they were recounted not in self-glorification but in self-defence.

Notes on the current edition

Ab Urbe Condita With An English Translation, books 1-10, 21-45, with periochae 11-20

1. B.C. 187

2. A survey of the triumphs awarded during this period shows that the literal accuracy of this statement cannot be maintained, but that to a steadily increasing degree actual achievement was less important than influence with the senate. The senate is ingenious in finding reasons why triumphs should be awarded to its favourites and denied to men in disfavour.

3. B.C. 187

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 38.50

Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers