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), 39.1

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[1] While these things were going on at Rome, if¹ indeed they did happen that year,² both consuls were waging war against the Ligurians.³

[2] This enemy was born, as it were, to keep alive the military discipline of the Romans during the intervals between their great wars; nor did any province do more to put an edge to the soldier's courage.

[3] For Asia, on account of the pleasantness of its cities and the abundance of its treasures of land and sea and the feebleness of the enemy and the wealth of its kings, made armies richer rather than braver.

[4] Especially under the command of Gnaeus Manlius was discipline slackly and indifferently enforced;⁴ and so a somewhat more difficult advance in Thrace and a rather more effective enemy had taught them a lesson with great

[5] slaughter. Among the Ligurians there was everything to keep an army alert —hilly and rough ground, which was difficult both for the men themselves to occupy and to dislodge the enemy who had already occupied it, and roads difficult, narrow, dangerous by reason of

[6] ambuscades; an enemy lightly equipped, mobile and unexpected in his movements, who permitted no time or place whatever to be quiet or safe; the besieging of fortified points was necessary⁵ and at the same time toilsome and dangerous; the district was poor, which constrained the soldiers to simple living and offered them little plunder. Accordingly, no civilian camp-follower went along, no long train of pack-animals stretched out the

[7] column. There was nothing except arms and men who placed all their trust in their

[8] arms. Nor was there ever wanting either the occasion or the cause for war with them, because on account of their poverty at home they were constantly raiding their neighbours' lands. And yet the fighting never brought about the final settlement of a campaign.⁶

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.) — 39.1 focus

[1] dum haec, si modo hoc anno acta sunt, Romae aguntur, consules ambo in Liguribus gerebant bellum.

[2] is hostis velut natus ad continendam inter magnorum intervalla bellorum Romanis militarem disciplinam erat; nec alia provincia militem magis ad virtutem acuebat. nam Asia

[3] et amoenitate urbium et copia terrestrium maritimarumque rerum et mollitia hostium regiisque opibus ditiores quam fortiores exercitus faciebat.

[4] praecipue sub imperio Cn. Manlii solute ac neglegenter habiti sunt. itaque asperius paulo iter in Thracia et exercitatior hostis magna clade eos castigavit.

[5] in Liguribus omnia erant, quae militem excitarent, loca montana et aspera, quae et ipsis capere labor erat et ex praeoccupatis deicere hostem;

[6] itinera ardua, angusta, infesta insidiis; hostis levis et velox et repentinus, qui nullum usquam tempus, nullum locum quietum aut securum esse sineret; oppugnatio necessaria munitorum castellorum, laboriosa simul periculosaque; inops regio, quae parsimonia astringeret milites, praedae haud multur multum praeberet.

[7] itaque non lixa sequebatur, non iumentorum longus ordo agmen extendebat. nihil praeter arma et viros omnem spem in armis habentes erat.

[8] nec deerat umquam cum iis vel materia belli vel causa, quia propter domesticam inopiam vicinos agros incursabant. nec tamen in discrimen summae rerum pugnabatur.

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).) — 43.1 focus

[1]

eadem aestate qua in Thessalia haec gesta sunt ¹² ..., ³ legatus in Illyricum a consule missus ⁴ opulenta duo oppida oppugnavit.

[2] ceremiam vi atque ⁵ armis coegit in deditionem; omniaque iis sua concessit, ut opinione clementiae eos, qui Carnuntem, munitam urbem, incolebant, adliceret.

[3] postquam nec ut dederent se compellere neque capere obsidendo poterat, ne duabus oppugnationibus nequiquam fatigatus miles esset, quam prius intactam urbem reliquerat diripuit.

[4] alter consul C. Cassius nec in Gallia, quam sortitus erat, memorabile quicquam gessit et per Illyricum ducere legiones in Macedoniam vano incepto est conatus.

[5] ingressum hoc iter consulem senatus ex Aquileiensium legatis cognovit, qui querentes coloniam ⁶ suam novam et infirmam necdum satis munitam inter infestas nationes Histrorum et Illyriorum esse,

[6] cum peterent ut senatus curae haberet quomodo ea colonia muniretur, interrogati, vellentne eam rem C. Cassio consuli mandari,

[7] responderunt Cassium Aquileiam indicto exercitu profectum per Illyricum in Macedoniam esse. ⁷ ea res primo incredibilis visa, et pro se quisque credere Carnis forsitan aut Histris bellum illatum.

[8] tum Aquileienses: nihil se ultra scire nec audere adfirmare, quam triginta dierum frumentum militi datum et duces qui ex Italia itinera in Macedoniam nossent conquisitos abductosque.

[9] enimvero senatus indignari tantum consulem ausum, ut suam provinciam relinqueret, in alienam transiret, exercitum novo periculoso itinere inter exteras gentes ⁸ duceret, viam tot nationibus in Italiam aperiret. ⁹

[10] decernunt frequentes ut C. Sulpicius praetor tris ex senatu nominet legatos, qui eo die proficiscantur ex urbe et, quantum adcelerare possint, ¹⁰ Cassium consulem, ubicumque sit, persequantur;

[11] nuntient ne bellum cum ulla gente moveat, nisi cum qua senatus gerendum censuerit. ¹¹

[12] legati hi profecti M. Cornelius ¹² Cethegus , M. Fulvius, P. Marcius Rex. metus de consule atque exercitu distulit eo tempore muniendae Aquileiae curam.

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 39.1 focus

dum haec, si modo hoc anno acta sunt, Romae aguntur, consules ambo in Liguribus gerebant bellum.

[2] is hostis velut natus ad continendam per magnorum intervalla bellorum Romanis militarem disciplinam erat, nec alia provincia militem magis ad virtutem acuebat.

[3] nam Asia et amoenitate urbium et copia terrestrium maritimarumque rerum et mollitia hostium regiisque opibus ditiores quam fortiores exercitus faciebat.

[4] praecipue sub imperio Cn. Manli solute ac neglegenter habiti sunt: itaque asperius paulo iter in Thracia et exercitatior hostis magna clade eos castigavit.

[5] in Liguribus omnia erant, quae militem excitarent, loca montana et aspera, quae et ipsis capere labor erat et ex ¹ praeoccupatis deicere hostem, itinera ardua, angusta, infesta insidiis, hostis levis et velox et repentinus,

[6] qui nullum usquam tempus, nullum locum quietum aut securum esse sineret, obpugnatio necessaria munitorum castellorum, laboriosa simul periculosaque, inops regio, quae parsimonia adstringeret milites, praedae haud multum praeberet.

[7] itaque non lixa sequebatur, non iumentorum longus ordo agmen extendebat; nihil praeter arma et viros omnem spem in armis habentes erat.

[8] nec deerat umquam cum iis vel materia belli vel causa, quia propter domesticam inopiam vicinos agros incursabant, nec tamen in discrimen summae rerum pugnabatur.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 39.1 focus

[1]

WHILE these things are done at Rome, (if they were really transacted in this year,) both the consuls were em- ployed in the war with the Ligurians.

[2] This enemy seemed born for the purpose of preserving military discipline among the Romans, during the intervals between important wars; nor was any province better calculated to form a soldier to active valour.

[3] For Asia, from the enticing pleasures of its cities, the abundance of every production both of land and sea, the unwarlike temper of the enemy, and the wealth of its princes, made Roman armies rich, rather than brave. Under the command of Cneius Manlius, particularly, the troops were kept in a state of idleness and licentiousness.

[4] Therefore, in Thrace, a passage somewhat more difficult, and a more vigorous enemy, checked them with severe loss.

[5] Whereas in Liguria there was every circumstance that could invigorate the courage of soldiers; the country mountainous and rugged, so that even the taking possession of unoccupied posts, and much more the dislodging of an enemy from those already in possession, was attended with much labour; the roads hilly, narrow, and exposed to ambuscades;

[6] the enemy light, active, and energetic in their motions, so as to allow no season or place to be quiet or secure; the necessary attack on the strong forts with much toil and danger; and the country so poor as to constrain the soldier to a sparing mode of living, while it afforded but a small share of' booty.

[7] Accordingly, no sutler followed the army, no long train of baggage horses extended its line of march, nothing was to be seen but arms, and men having all their hopes in their arms.

[8] Nor was either subject or cause for hostilities with them ever wanting; because on account of their poverty at home they made frequent incursions on the territories of their neighbours; they did not, however, fight a battle which could decide the entire war.

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.) — 39.1 focus

[1]

While these incidents were occurring in Rome-if indeed they did occur in this year-both consuls were engaged in war with the Ligurians.

[2] That enemy seemed born to keep up the military discipline of the Romans in the intervals between the more important wars; no other field of operations did more to whet the soldiers' courage.

[3] In Asia the pleasures of city life, the ample supply of luxuries furnished by land and sea, the effeminacy of the enemy, and the princely wealth had enriched the armies instead of making them more efficient.

[4] Especially under the command of Manlius they became careless and undisciplined, and so the somewhat rougher march through Thrace and a more warlike enemy gave them a much-needed lesson through severe defeat.

[5] In Liguria there was everything to try a soldier's mettle; a rough and difficult country, mountainous heights which it cost the men as much labour to secure for themselves as it did to dislodge the enemy from them; steep narrow roads where there was always the danger of an ambush; an enemy lightly armed, rapid in his movements, sudden in his onset, who never allowed any place or hour to remain quiet and undisturbed.

[6] Any attack on a fortified position involved much toil and danger; there was but little to be got out of the country, and the soldiers were reduced to scanty food, as they could secure very little plunder.

[7] Consequently, there were no camp-followers, no extended line of baggage animals; there was nothing beyond the arms and the men who depended solely upon them.

[8] Occasions of fighting were never lacking, for the natives driven by their poverty were in the habit of raiding their neighbours' fields; they never, however, engaged in a pitched battle.

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. The allusion is to the uncertainty as to the date of the trial of the Scipios: cf. XXXVIII. lvi. 2 above.

3. The assignment of Liguria to the consuls was reported at XXXVIII. xliii. 8 above.

4. This charge was not made in the speech of Furius Aemilius (XXXVIII. xlv. —xlvi. above), but is brought up again in vi. 5 and vii. 3 below. Its presence here, in contrast with its absence from the preceding Book, may indicate a change of source.

5. B.C. 187

6. This reflection seems to be fully warranted by Livy's narrative, and raises doubts as to the legitimacy of some of the Ligurian triumphs, which were still notorious in Cicero's day ( Brutus 255).

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 39.1

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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