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), 39.23

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Section

← Previous Next →

[1] When the year was now coming to its end, Quintus Marcius was about to retire from office while absent from Rome and Spurius Postumius, having conducted the investigations with the greatest faithfulness and energy, held the elections.

[2] The consuls elected were Appius Claudius Pulcher and Marcus Sempronius Tuditanus. Next day the praetors were chosen, Publius Cornelius Cethegus,¹ Aulus Postumius Albinus, Gaius Afranius Stellio, Gaius Atilius Serranus, Lucius Postumius Tempsanus, Marcus Claudius Marcellinus.

[3] At the end of the year, because the consul Spurius Postumius had reported that on his journeys in the prosecution of the investigations on both coasts of Italy he had found colonies abandoned, Sipontum on the upper sea, Buxentum on the lower, three commissioners to enroll colonists for them were elected in accordance with a decree of the senate and under the presidency of the praetor Titus Maenius.

[4] The commissioners were Lucius Scribonius Libo, Marcus Tuccius, Gnaeus Baebius Tamphilus.²

[5] The war³ with King Perseus and the Macedonians⁴ which was threatening did not arise from the causes which most people assign to it, nor from Perseus himself: the beginnings had been made by Philip; and Philip himself, had he lived longer, would have waged that

[6] war. One thing, when terms of peace were dictated to him after his defeat, especially offended him —that the right of punishing those of the Macedonians who had revolted from him during the war had been taken from him by the senate, although, since Quinctius, in their negotiations for peace, had postponed the whole question, he had not despaired of obtaining

[7] it.⁵ Then, when King Antiochus had been defeated at Thermopylae, the tasks had been divided,⁶ and at the

[8] same time the consul Acilius had laid siege to Heraclea, Philip⁷ to Lamia; but when Heraclea was taken Philip had felt aggrieved because he had been ordered to retire from the walls of Lamia and the town had been surrendered to the

[9] Romans. The consul soothed his wrath, because, when he was himself in haste to move towards Naupactus, whither the Aetolians had gone

[10] from their flight, he had permitted Philip to make war on Athamania and Amynander and to add to his kingdom the cities which the Aetolians had taken from the Thessalians. Without great effort he had both driven Amynander from Athamania and recovered a considerable number of

[11] towns. Demetrias also, a powerful city, opportunely situated in every respect, and the tribes of the Magnesians he had brought under his

[12] control.⁸ After that he had also gained certain cities in Thrace, amid the disorder caused by the quarrels of their leading citizens

[13] —the fault of new and unwonted liberty —by joining himself to the parties which were being worsted in this internal rivalry.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.) — 39.23 focus

[1] cum iam in exitu annus esset, Q. Marcius absens magistratu abiturus erat, Sp. Postumius quaestionibus cum summa fide curaque perfectis comitia habuit.

[2] creati consules sunt Ap. Claudius Pulcher M. Sempronius Tuditanus. postero die praetores facti P. Cornelius Cethegus A. Postumius Albinus C. Afranius Stellio C. Atilius Serranus L. Postumius Tempsanus M. Claudius Marcellinus.

[3] extremo anni, quia Sp. Postumius consul renuntiaverat peragrantem se propter quaestiones utrumque litus Italiae desertas colonias Sipontum supero, Buxentum infero maria mari invenisse,

[4] triumviri ad colonos eo scribendos ex senatus consulto ab T. Maenio praetore urbano creati sunt L. Scribonius Libo M. Tuccius Cn. Baebius Tamphilus. cum Perseo rege

[5] et Macedonibus bellum quod imminebat, non unde plerique opinantur, nec ab ipso Perseo causas cepit: inchoata initia a Philippo sunt; et is ipse, si diutius vixisset, id bellum gessisset.

[6] una eum res, cum victo leges imponerentur, maxime angebat, quod qui Macedonum ab se defecerant in bello, in eos ius saeviendi ademptum ei ab senatu erat,

[7] cum, quia rem integram Quinctius in condicionibus pacis distulerat, non desperasset impetrari posse.

[8] Antiocho rege deinde bello superato ad Thermopylas, divisis partibus, cum per eosdem dies consul Acilius Heracleam,

[9] Philippus Lamiam oppugnasset, capta Heraclea quia iussus abscedere a moenibus Lamiae erat Romanisque oppidum deditum est, aegre eam rem tulerat. permulsit iram eius consul,

[10] quod ad Naupactum ipse festinans, quo se ex fuga Aetoli contulerant, Philippo permisit, ut Athamaniae et Amynandro bellum inferret et urbes quas Thessalis Aetoli ademerant, regno adiceret.

[11] haud magno certamine et Amynandrum Athamania expulerat et urbes receperat aliquot.

[12] demetriadem quoque, urbem validam et ad omnia opportunam, et Magnetum gentem suae dicionis fecit.

[13] inde et in Thracia quasdam urbes, novae atque insuetae libertatis vitio seditionibus principum turbatas, partibus, quae domestico certamine vincerentur, adiungendo sese cepit.

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.) — 39.23 focus

[1]

cum iam in exitu annus esset, Q. Marcius absens magistratu abiturus erat; Sp. Postumius quaestionibus cum summa fide curaque perfectis comitia habuit.

[2] creati consules sunt Ap. Claudius Pulcher M. Sempronius Tuditanus . postero die praetores facti P. Cornelius Cethegus A. Postumius Albinus C. Afranius Stellio C. Atilius Serranus L. Postumius Tempsanus M. Claudius¹ Marcellus.

[3] extremo anni, quia Sp. Postumius consul renuntiaverat peragrantem se propter quaestiones utrumque litus Italiae desertas colonias Sipontum supero, Buxentum infero mari invenisse,

[4] triumviri ad colonos eo scribendos ex senatus consulto ab T. Maenio praetore urbano creati sunt L. Scribonius Libo M. Tuccius Cn. Baebius Tamphilus .

[5] cum Perseo rege et Macedonibus bellum quod inminebat, ² non, unde plerique opinantur, nec ab ipso Perseo causas cepit: inchoata initia a Philippo sunt, et is ipse, si diutius vixisset, id bellum gessisset.

[6] una eum res, cum victo leges inponerentur, maxime angebat, quod, qui Macedonum ab se defecerant in bello, in eos ius saeviendi ademptum ei ab senatu erat,

[7] cum, quia rem integram Quinctius in condicionibus pacis distulerat, non desperasset impetrari posse.

[8] Antiocho rege deinde bello superato ad Thermopylas, divisis partibus, cum per eosdem dies consul Acilius Heracleam,

[9] Philippus Lamiam obpugnasset, capta Heraclea quia iussus abscedere a moenibus Lamiae erat Romanisque oppidum deditum est, aegre eam rem tulerat.

[10] permulsit iram eius consul, quod ad Naupactum ipse festinans, quo se ex fuga Aetoli ³ contulerant, Philippo permisit, ut Athamaniae et Amynandro bellum inferret et urbes, quas Thessalis Aetoli ademerant, regno adiceret.

[11] haud magno certamine et Amynandrum Athamania expulerat et urbes receperat aliquot.

[12] Demetriadem quoque, urbem validam et ad omnia opportunam, et Magnetum gentem suae dicionis fecit.

[13] inde et in Thracia quasdam urbes, novae atque insuetae libertatis vitio seditionibus principum turbatas, partibus, quae domestico certamine vincerentur, adiungendo sese cepit.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 39.23 focus

[1]

As the year was now drawing to a conclusion, Quintus Marcius then abroad, was soon to go out of office. Spurius Postumius, after having conducted the inquisitions with the utmost care and propriety, held the elections.

[2] Appius Clau- dius Pulcher and Marcus Sempronius Tuditanus were chosen consuls. Next day, Publius Cornelius Cethegus, Aulus Postumius Albinus, Caius Afranius Stellio, Caius Atilius Serranus, Lucius Postumius Tempsanus, and Marcus Claudius Marcellus were elected praetors.

[3] Towards the close of the year, because the consul Spurius Postumius reported that in travelling along the coasts of Italy, for the purpose of holding the inquisitions, he had found two colonies deserted, Sipontum on the upper sea, and Buxentum on the lower; in pursuance of a decree of the senate, Lucius Scribonus Libo, Marcus Tuccius, and Cneius Bebius Tamphilus, were appointed commissioners for conducting colonies thither, by Titus Maenius, city praetor.

[4] The war with king Perseus and the Macedonians, which was impending, has not derived its origin from what most persons imagine, nor from Perseus himself.

[5] The preliminary steps were taken by Philip, and, if he had lived some time longer, he would himself have carried on that war. When the conditions of peace were imposed on him, when he was vanquished, one particular chagrined him more than all the rest;

[6] this was because the liberty of wreaking his vengeance on such of the Macedonians as had revolted from him in the course of the war, was taken from him by the senate; although, because Quintius had left that point undetermined, when he was adjusting the articles of pacification, he had not despaired of the possibility of obtaining it.

[7] Afterwards, on the defeat of Antiochus at Thermopylae, the armies being separated at the time when the consul Acilius carried on the siege

[8] of Heraclea, and Philip besieged Lamia, because he was ordered to retire from the walls of Lamia, as soon as Heraclea was taken, and the town was surrendered to the Romans, he was grievously offended with this circumstance.

[9] The consul, indeed, in some measure, soothed his resentment; for, when he was hastening to Naupactum, where the Aetolians had re-assembled after their flight, he gave Philip permission to make war on Amynander and Athamania; and to annex to his dominions the cities which the Aetolians had taken from the Thessalians.

[10] Without much difficulty, he expelled Amynander from Athamania, and got possession of several cities.

[11] He also reduced under his dominion the city of Demetrias, a place of great strength, and convenient in every respect; with the whole of the Magnesian state.

[12] Afterwards, finding that several cities in Thrace, through an abuse of the liberty which they had lately acquired, and to which they had not been accustomed, were distracted by

[13] dissensions among their leading men, he, by uniting himself to the parties that were worsted in their disputes with their countrymen, made himself master of them all.

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.) — 39.23 focus

[1]

As the year was now closing, Q. Marcius was preparing to lay down his office while still abroad; S. Postumius, who had completed the investigations which he had conducted with the most scrupulous impartiality, held the election.

[2] The new consuls were Ap. Claudius Pulcher and M. Sempronius Tuditanus. The next day the following were elected praetors: P. Cornelius Cethegus, A. Postumius Albinus, C. Afranius Stellio, C. Atilius Serranus, L. Postumius Tempsanus and M. Claudius Marcellus.

[3] S. Postumius had reported that whilst engaged on his enquiries he had traversed both coasts of Italy, and had found two deserted colonies, Sipontum on the Adriatic and Buxentum on the Mediterranean.

[4] Three commissioners were appointed by the City praetor to enrol colonists for these places, namely, L. Scribonius Libo, M. Tuccius and Cn. Baebius Tamphilus. The war which was threatening with Perseus and the Macedonians did not owe its origin to what most people imagined, nor was it due to the action of Perseus himself.

[5] Its beginnings were prepared by Philip, and had he lived longer, he would himself have undertaken it.

[6] When the terms of peace were imposed upon him after his defeat, the thing which exasperated him most was the interference of the senate with his claim to punish those of his subjects who had revolted from him during the war. In drawing up the conditions of peace Quinctius had left this point for further consideration, and he was not without hopes of making his claim good.

[7] A second grievance which he felt bitterly was that when Antiochus was

[8] worsted at Thermopylae and the two armies separated, the consul advancing against Heraclea and Philip against Lamia, he was ordered to

[9] retire from the walls of Lamia, after the capture of Heraclea, and the town was surrendered to the Romans. The Aetolians were rallying from their flight at Naupactus, and the consul, hastening there, mollified Philip's anger by permitting

[10] him to make war on Athamania and Amynander and annex the cities, which the Aetolians had taken from the Thracians, to his own dominions. He expelled Amynander from Athamania without much trouble and took some of his cities.

[11] He also reduced Demetrias, a strong city and useful in every respect, and brought the tribe of the Magnetes beneath his sway.

[12] In Thrace, too, there were some cities in a state of turmoil owing to the quarrels of their leaders

[13] and the misuse of a liberty to which they were unaccustomed, and these he secured by supporting the weaker side in these domestic conflicts.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. B.C. 186

2. Livy omits to record the inauguration of the new magistrates and the assignment of provinces and armies.

3. Livy here makes an abrupt transition from Rome to Macedonia. His chronology, however, is uncertain, as is inevitable in a transitional passage designed to sum up the causes of the war with Perseus, who, incidentally, was not yet king. Livy has said little about Greek affairs since he described the Achaean-Lacedaemonian difficulties in XXXVIII. xxx. —xxxiv., where the chronology is also obscure.

4. B.C. 185

5. The allusion must be to such states as the Orestae (XXXIII. xxxiv. 6), although Livy has mentioned no such prohibition as that of which Philip complained, and, indeed, has said nothing at all of the treatment of revolted Macedonian cities except in the instance mentioned.

6. For the phrase, cf. XXXVII. xxi. 8, where, as here, it refers to co-ordinated action of commanders. The joint campaign referred to was described by Livy in XXXVI. xxxv.

7. B.C. 185

8. The sequence of events here described does not quite agree with that found in Book XXXVI passim. The passages agree in general as to the extent of Philip's gains, which had awakened the suspicions of Flamininus (XXXVI. xxxv. 9-10).

9. The occupation of Aenus and Maronea had taken place after the other events related, and has not been previously mentioned by Livy. These towns had been at various times under Ptolemaic, Macedonian and finally Seleucid rule before they were liberated by the Romans after the defeat of Antiochus (XXXVII. lx. 7).

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 39.23

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