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), 38.51

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[1] When the tribunes revived the old charges of luxury in his winter-quarters at Syracuse¹ and the disturbances caused by Pleminius at Locri,² to make their present charges more credible, on the basis of suspicions rather than of evidence they charged him with having accepted bribes:³

[2] that his captured son had been restored without a ransom and that in all other respects Antiochus had paid court to Scipio as if in his hands alone lay peace and war with Rome;

[3] he had been, they alleged, a dictator, not a lieutenant, in relation to the consul in the province; he had gone there for no other reason than that which Spain, Gaul, Sicily and Africa had long since come to believe should be manifest to Greece and Asia and all the kings and tribes that lie towards the east, namely, that

[4] one man was the source and stay of Roman power, that under the shadow of Scipio the⁴ City which was the mistress of the world lay sheltered, that his nod was weighty as decrees of the senate and enactments of the assembly.

[5] A man untouched by ill repute they loaded with innuendo in every possible way. The speeches having continued until nightfall, the matter was adjourned.

[6] When the appointed day came, the tribunes took their seats on the Rostra at dawn; the defendant when summoned came with a great throng of friends and clients through the midst of the meeting to the Rostra, and, when silence ensued, he spoke as follows:

[7]

On this day,⁵ tribunes of the people, and you, citizens, I fought well and successfully in pitched battle with Hannibal and the Carthaginians in Africa.

[8]

Therefore, since it is meet on this day to refrain from trials and quarrels, I shall proceed at once from here to the Capitoline to offer homage to Jupiter Optimus Maximus and Juno and Minerva and the other gods who preside over the Capitoline and the

[9]

citadel, and I shall give thanks to them because both on this same day and on many other occasions they have given me the purpose and the capacity to render conspicuous service to the state.

[10]

Let all of you too, citizens, for whom it is convenient, come with me and pray to the gods that you may have leaders like me, but on this condition that, if from my

[11]

seventeenth year to my old age you have always gone ahead of my years in bestowing honours upon me,⁶ I have anticipated your honours by my deeds.

⁷

[12] From the Rostra he went up to the Capitoline. At the same time the whole meeting withdrew and followed Scipio, so that finally even the clerks and messengers left the tribunes, nor did anyone remain with them except their retinue of slaves and the herald who⁸ from the Rostra summoned the defendant.

[13] Scipio visited all the temples of the gods, not only on the Capitoline but through the whole City, with the Roman people in attendance upon him.

[14] This day was rendered almost more famous by the general applause of men and by the true estimate of his greatness than that on which he rode into the City in triumph over King Syphax and the Carthaginians.⁹

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.) — 38.51 focus

[1] tribuni vetera luxuriae crimina Syracusanorum hibernorum et Locris Pleminianum tumultum cum ad fidem praesentium criminun criminum retulissent, suspicionibus magis quam argumentis pecuniae captae reum accusarunt:

[2] filium captum sine pretio redditum, omnibusque aliis rebus Scipionem, tamquam in eius unius manu pax Romana bellumque esset, ab Antiocho cultum;

[3] dictatorem eum consuli, non legatum in provincia fuisse; nec ad aliam rem eo profectum, quam ut, id quod Hispaniae Galliae Siciliae Africae iam pridem persuasum esset, hoc Graeciae Asiaeque et omnibus ad orientem versis regibus gentibusque appareret,

[4] unum hominem caput columenque imperii Romani esse, sub umbra Scipionis civitatem dominam orbis terrarum latere, nutum eius pro decretis patrum, pro populi iussis esse. infamia intactum invidia, qua possunt, urgent.

[5] orationibus in noctem perductis prodicta dies est.

[6] ubi ea venit, tribuni in Rostris prima luce consederunt; citatus reus magno agmine amicorum clientiumque per mediam contionem ad Rostra subiit silentioque facto

[7] “hoc” inquit “die, tribuni plebis vosque, Quirites, cum Hannibale et Carthaginiensibus signis collatis in Africa bene ac feliciter pugnavi.

[8] itaque, cum hodie litibus et iurgiis supersederi aequum sit, ego hinc extemplo in Capitolium ad Iovem optimum maximum Iunonemque et Minervam ceterosque deos, qui Capitolio atque arci praesident,

[9] salutandos ibo, hisque gratias agam, quod mihi et hoc ipso die et saepe alias egregie gerendae rei publicae mentem facultatemque dederunt.

[10] vestrum quoque quibus commodum est, Quirites, ite mecum, et orate deos, ut mei similes principes habeatis,

[11] ita, si ab annis septemdecim ad senectutem semper vos aetatem meam honoribus vestris anteistis,

[12] ego vestros honores rebus gerendis praecessi.” ab Rostris in Capitolium ascendit. simul se universa contio avertit et secuta Scipionem est, adeo ut postremo scribae viatoresque tribunos relinquerent, nec cum iis praeter servilem comitatum et praeconem,

[13] qui reum ex Rostris citabat, quisquam esset. Scipio non in Capitolio modo, sed per totam urbem omnia templa deum cum populo Romano circumiit.

[14] celebratior is prope dies favore hominum et aestimatione vera magnitudinis eius fuit, quam quo triumphans de Syphace rege et Carthaginiensibus urbem est invectus.

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.) — 38.51 focus

[1]

tribuni plebis vetera luxuriae crimina Syracusanorum hibernorum et Locris Pleminianum tumultum cum ad fidem praesentium criminum retulissent, suspicionibus magis quam argumentis pecuniae captae ¹ reum accusarunt:

[2] filium captum sine pretio redditum, omnibusque aliis rebus Scipionem, tamquam in eius unius manu pax Romana bellumque esset, ab Antiocho cultum;

[5] orationibus in noctem perductis prodicta dies est.

[6] ubi ea venit, tribuni in Rostris prima luce consederunt; citatus reus magno agmine amicorum clientiumque per mediam contionem ad Rostra subiit silentioque facto “

[7] hoc” inquit “die, tribuni plebis vosque, Quirites, cum Hannibale et Carthaginiensibus signis collatis in Africa bene ac feliciter pugnavi.

[8] itaque, ² cum hodie litibus et iurgiis supersederi aequum sit, ego hinc extemplo in Capitolium ad Iovem optimum maximum Iunonemque et Minervam ceterosque deos, qui Capitolio atque arci praesident,

[9] salutandos ibo, hisque gratias agam, quod mihi et hoc ipso die et saepe alias egregie gerendae rei publicae mentem facultatemque dederunt.

[10] vestrum quoque quibus commodum est, Quirites, ite mecum, et orate deos, ut mei similes principes habeatis,

[11] ita, si ab annis septemdecim ad senectutem semper vos aetatem meam honoribus vestris anteistis, ego vestros honores rebus gerendis praecessi.

[12] ” ab Rostris in Capitolium ascendit. simul se universa contio avertit et secuta Scipionem est, adeo ut postremo scribae viatoresque tribunos relinquerent, nec cum iis praeter servilem comitatum et praeconem, qui reum ex Rostris citabat, quisquam esset.

[13] Scipio non in Capitolio modo, sed per ³ totam urbem omnia templa deum cum populo Romano circumiit.

[14] celebratior is prope dies favore hominum et aestimatione verae magnitudinis eius fuit, quam quo triumphans de Syphace rege et Carthaginiensibus urbem est invectus.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 38.51 focus

[1]

The plebeian tribunes, in order to procure credit to their present accusations, introduced the old imputations of his luxurious style of living in his winter quarters at Syracuse, and the tumult raised by Pleminius at Locri.

[2] They then brought forward against him the charge of receiving money, grounded on suspicion, not on proof. They alleged, that

his son, being taken prisoner, was restored without ransom; and that, in every other instance, Scipio was courted by Antiochus, as if peace and war with Rome were at his sole disposal.

[3]

He had acted towards the consul, in his province, as dictator, not as lieutenant-general; nor had he gone thither with any other view than that this might appear to Greece and Asia, and all the kings and nations eastward, which had been long since the settled conviction of Spain, Gaul, Sicily, and Africa, that he alone was the head and pillar of the Roman empire;

[4]

that a state which was mistress of the world, lay sheltered under the shade of Scipio; and that his nods were equivalent to decrees of the senate, and orders of the people.

[5] They attack by envy, as much as they can, him out of the reach of dishonour.

[6] The pleading having lasted till night, the trial was adjourned to another day. When that came, the tribunes took their seat in the rostrum at the dawn of day.

[7] The accused being summoned, came, with a numerous train of friends and dependents, through the middle of the assembly, to the rostrum; and, silence being made, he said, —

Tribunes of the people, and you, Romans, on the anniversary of this day I fought a pitched battle in Africa, with Hannibal and the Carthaginians, with good fortune and success.

[8]

As, therefore, it is but decent that a stop be put, for this day, to litigation and wrangling, I will immediately go to the Capitol, there to return my acknowledgments to Jupiter the supremely good and

[9]

great, to Juno, Minerva, and the other deities presiding over the Capitol and citadel, and will give them thanks for having, on this day, and at many other times, endowed me both with the will and ability to perform extraordinary services to the commonwealth.

[10]

Such of you also, Romans, as it suits, come with me and beseech tile gods that you may have commanders like myself;

[11]

since, from my seventeenth year to old age, you have always anticipated my years with honours, and I, your honours with services.

[12] Accordingly, he went up from the rostrum to the Capitol; and, at the same time, the whole assembly turned about and followed him; insomuch, that at last even the clerks and messengers left the tribunes, not one remaining, except the slaves who attended them, and the crier, who was in the habit of summoning the accused from the rostrum.

[13] Scipio, attended by the whole body of the Roman people, went round all the temples of the gods, not only in the Capitol, but throughout the whole city.

[14] This day was almost more famous owing to the favour of the Romans towards him, and their high estimation of his real greatness, than that on which he rode through Rome in triumph over king Syphax and the Carthaginians.

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.) — 38.51 focus

[1]

In order to support the charges they were bringing against him, the tribunes brought up the old story of his luxurious living in his winter quarters in Syracuse and the disturbance created by Pleminius at Locri.

[2] They then went on to accuse him of having received bribes, more on grounds of suspicion than by direct proof; they alleged that his son who was taken prisoner was restored to him without ransom;

[3] that Antiochus had in every way tried to ingratiate himself with Scipio as though peace and war with Rome were solely in his hands; that Scipio had behaved towards the consul in his province as dictator rather than subordinate; that he had gone out with no other object than to make clear to Greece and Asia and all the kings and nationalities in the East what had long been the settled conviction of Spain and Gaul and Sicily and Africa, that he alone was the head and mainstay of Roman sovereignty;

[4] that under Scipio's shadow the mistress city of the world lay sheltered and that his nod took the place of the decrees of the senate and the orders of the people.

[5] No stigma of disgrace could be fastened upon him, so they did their utmost to excite popular odium against him.

[6] As the speeches went on till night, the proceedings were adjourned. When the next day for the hearing came, the tribunes took their seats on the Rostra at daybreak.

[7] The defendant was summoned, and passing through the middle of the Assembly accompanied by a large body of friends and clients, stood before the Rostra. Silence having been called he spoke as follows:

"Tribunes of the plebs, and you, Quirites, this is the anniversary of the day on which I fought with success and good fortune a pitched battle against Hannibal and the Carthaginians.

[8] It is therefore only right and fitting that on this day all pleas and actions should be suspended.

[9] I am going at once to the Capitol and the Citadel to make my devotions to Jupiter Optimus Maximus, and Juno and Minerva and all the other tutelar deities of the Capitol and the Citadel, and to offer up thanksgivings to them for having given me as on this day the wisdom and the strength to do the Republic exceptional service.

[10] Those of you, Quirites, who are at liberty to do so, come with me.

[11] You have always from my seventeenth year down to this period of my old age advanced me to honours before I was of the age for them, and I have always forestalled your honours by my services; then pray now to the gods that you may always have leaders like me."

[12] From the Rostra he went straight up to the Capitol, and the whole Assembly turning their backs on the tribunes followed him; even the secretaries and apparitors left the tribunes; there was no one with them except their attendant slaves and the usher who used to stand at the Rostra and call the defendants.

[13] Scipio not only went up to the Capitol; he visited all the temples throughout the City, accompanied by the Roman people.

[14] The enthusiasm of the citizens and their recognition of his real greatness made that day almost a more glorious one for him than when he entered the City in triumph after his victories over Syphax and the Carthaginians.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. 1 Cf. XXIX. xix. 12, etc.

2. Cf. XXIX. viii. 6 ff., etc.

3. The actual charges against Scipio, as well as the specifications which supported them, are variously stated by the sources. Polybius, who should have known, is nowhere explicit as to the trial. In their most serious form, as reported, e.g., by Gellius (IV. xviii. 7), the major charge could easily have been treason. One admits that some of Scipio's messages to Antiochus ( e.g. XXXVII. xxxvii. 8) may easily be interpreted as lending aid and comfort to the enemy, when removed from their contexts. Yet the statements of Livy and the conduct of the trial indicate that the charges were less grave.

4. B.C. 187

5. That is, this was the anniversary of Zama and should be a day of thanksgiving and rejoicing.

6. Scipio's youth had not prevented his election to offices for which he was technically ineligible, but he reminds the people that he had, before these elections, demonstrated his capacity.

7. The, various literary versions of this speech differ a good deal in form but not in their essential character. The same is true of other incidents of the trial.

8. B.C. 187

9. Cf. XXX. xlv. 2-7.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 38.51

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

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