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), 39.32

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[1] The consuls, having finished the levies and the other business which had to be transacted in Rome, led the army against the Ligurians, who constituted their province.

[2] Sempronius, setting out from Pisa against the Ligurian Apuani, devastating¹ their lands and burning the villages and forts, opened up the pass as far as the river Macra and the harbour of Luna.

[3] The enemy retired to a mountain, the ancient seat of their forefathers; even from there, the handicap of unfavourable ground having been overcome, they were dislodged by an attack.

[4] Appius Claudius too equalled the good fortune and valour of his colleague among the Ligurian Ingauni² in a number of victories. In addition he captured six of their towns; in them he took many thousands of men; forty-three, who had been responsible for the war, he beheaded.

[5] The time for the elections was now approaching. But Claudius arrived in Rome earlier than Sempronius, to whom had fallen by lot the conduct of the elections, because his brother Publius Claudius was seeking the consulship.

[6] He had as patrician competitors Lucius Aemilius, Quintus Fabius, Servius Sulpicius Galba, all perennial candidates, who after defeats were again seeking an office which was due them all the more because it had been at first refused.³

[7] Also, because it was not lawful that more than one from the patricians should be elected, there was a closer race among the four candidates.

[8] Influential plebeians also were contending for the office, Lucius Porcius, Quintus Terentius Culleo, Gnaeus Baebius Tamphilus,⁴ and these too, having suffered defeat, were put off in the hope that some day they would at last⁵ win in the election.

[9] Claudius was the only new candidate of them all. In the general opinion of men Quintus Fabius Labeo and Lucius⁶ Porcius Licinus were almost certain of success.

[10] But the consul Claudius, without his lictors, flitting with his brother around the

[11] whole Forum, though his adversaries and the greater part of the senate kept crying out that he should remember that he was the consul of the Roman people rather than the brother of Publius Claudius (why should he not take his seat on the tribunal⁷ and act either as an umpire or else as a silent spectator of the elections?), nevertheless could not be restrained from his zealous canvass.

[12] Great contentions among the tribunes of the people, as well, who took part in the fight either against the consul or on his side, disturbed the elections several times, until Appius succeeded in bringing in his brother, Fabius being defeated.

[13] Publius Claudius Pulcher was elected contrary to his own expectations and those of others. Lucius Porcius Licinus held his place because among the plebeians the contest was conducted with moderate partisanship, not with Claudian violence.⁸

[14] Then the praetorian elections were held: Gaius Decimius Flavus, Publius Sempronius Longus, Publius Cornelius Cethegus, Quintus Naevius Matho, Gaius Sempronius Blaesus and Aulus Terentius Varro were chosen praetors.

[15] Such were the events, at home and abroad, of the consular year of Appius Claudius and Marcus Sempronius.

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.) — 39.32 focus

[1] consules dilectibus aliisque, quae Romae agendae erant, peractis rebus in Ligures provinciam exercitum duxerunt.

[2] Sempronius a Pisis profectus in Apulaios Apuanos Ligures, vastando agros urendoque vicos et castella eorum aperuit saltum usque ad Macram fluvium et Lunae portum.

[3] hostes montem, antiquam sedem maiorum suorum, ceperunt; et inde superata locorum iniquitate proelio deiecti sunt.

[4] et Ap. Claudius felicitatem virtutemque collegae in Liguribus Ingaunis aequavit secundis aliquot proeliis. sex praeterea oppida eorum expugnavit; multa milia hominum in iis cepit; belli auctores tres et quadraginta securi percussit. lam iam comitiorum appetebat tempus.

[5] prior tamen Claudius quam Sempronius, cui sors comitia habendi obtigerat, Romam venit, quia P P.. Claudius frater eius consulatum petebat.

[6] competitores habebat patricios L. Aemilium Q. Fabium Ser. Sulpicium Galbam, veteres candidatos, et ab repulsis eo magis debitum, quia primo negatus erat, honorem repetentes.

[7] etiam quia plus quam unum ex patriciis creari non licebat, artior petitio quattuor petentibus erat.

[8] plebeii quoque gratiosi homines petebant, L. Porcius Q. Terentius Culleo Cn. Baebius Tamphilus, et hi repulsis in spem impetrandi tandem aliquando honoris dilati.

[9] Claudius ex omnibus unus novus candidatus erat. opinione hominum haud dubie destinabantur Q. Fabius Labeo et L. Porcius Licinus.

[10] sed Claudius consul sine lictoribus cum fratre toto foro volitando,

[11] clamitantibus adversariis et maiore parte senatus, meminisse eum debere se prius consulem populi Romani quam fratrem P P.. Claudii esse: quin ille sedens pro tribunali aut arbitrum ant aut tacitum spectatorem comitiorum se praeberet? — coerceri tamen ab effuso studio nequit.

[12] magnis contentionibus tribunorum quoque plebis, qui ant aut contra consulem ant aut pro studio eius pugnabant, comitia aliquotiens turbata, donec pervicit Appius, ut deiecto Fabio fratrem traheret.

[13] creatus P P. Claudius Pulcher praeter spem suam et ceterorum. locum suum tenuit L. Porcius Licinus, quia moderatis studiis, non vi Claudiana inter plebeios certatum est.

[14] praetorum inde comitia sunt habita: C. Decimius Flavus P P.. Sempronius Longus P P.. Cornelius Cethegus Q. Naevius Matho C. Sempronius Blaesus A. Terentius Varro praetores facti.

[15] haec eo anno, quo Ap. Claudius M. Sempronius consules fuerunt, domi militiaeque gesta.

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.) — 39.32 focus

[1]

consules dilectibus aliisque, quae Romae agendae erant, peractis rebus in Ligures provinciam exercitum duxerunt.

[2] Sempronius a Pisis profectus in Apuanos Ligures vastando agros urendoque vicos et castella eorum aperuit saltum usque ad fluvium Macram et Lunae portum.

[3] hostes montem, antiquam sedem maiorum suorum, ceperunt, et inde superata locorum iniquitate proelio deiecti sunt.

[4] et Appius Claudius felicitatem virtutemque ¹ collegae in Liguribus Ingaunis aequavit secundis aliquot proeliis. sex praeterea oppida eorum expugnavit, multa milia hominum in iis cepit, belli auctores tres et quadraginta securi percussit.

[5] iam comitiorum adpetebat tempus. prior tamen Claudius quam Sempronius, cui sors comitia habendi obtigerat, Romam venit,

[6] quia P. Claudius frater eius consulatum petebat, competitores habebat patricios L. Aemilium Q. Fabium Ser. Sulpicium Galbam , veteres candidatos, et ab repulsis eo magis debitum, quia primo negatus erat, honorem repetentes.

[7] etiam quia plus quam unum ex patriciis creari non licebat, artior petitio quattuor petentibus erat.

[8] plebeii quoque gratiosi homines petebant, L. Porcius Q. Terentius Culleo Cn. Baebius Tamphilus ; et hi repulsis in spem impetrandi tandem aliquando honoris dilati.

[9] Claudius ex omnibus unus novus candidatus erat. opinione hominum haud dubie destinabantur Q. Fabius Labeo et L. Porcius Licinus .

[10] sed Claudius consul sine lictoribus cum fratre toto foro volitando, ² clamitantibus adversariis et maiore parte senatus,

[11] meminisse eum debere se prius consulem populi Romani quam fratrem P. Claudi esse; quin ille sedens pro tribunali aut arbitrum aut tacitum spectatorem comitiorum se praeberet?—coerceri tamen ab effuso studio nequiit.

[12] magnis contentionibus tribunorum quoque plebis, qui aut contra consulem aut pro studio eius pugnabant, comitia aliquotiens turbata, donec pervicit Appius, ut deiecto Fabio fratrem traheret.

[13] creatus P. Claudius Pulcher praeter spem suam et ceterorum. locum suum tenuit L. Porcius Licinus , quia moderatis studiis, non vi Claudiana inter plebeios certatum est.

[14] praetorum inde comitia sunt habita: C. Decimius Flavus P. Sempronius Longus P. Cornelius Cethegus Q. Naevius Matho C. Sempronius Blaesus A. Terentius Varro praetores facti.

[15] haec eo anno, quo Ap. ³ Claudius M. Sempronius consules fuerunt, domi militiaeque gesta.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 39.32 focus

[1]

The consuls, as soon as they had finished the levies, and other business which required to be done at Rome, led the army into their province, Liguria.

[2] Sempronius marched from Pisae against the Apuan Ligurians, and by ravaging their lands, and by burning their villages and forts, he opened that difficult country, as far as the river Macra and the harbour of Luna.

[3] The enemy took possession of a mountain which had been the ancient retreat of their forefathers; but the difficulty of access being overcome, they were dislodged by force.

[4] Appius Claudius, against the Ingaunian tribe, rivalled in several successful battles the good fortune and bravery of his colleague. He also stormed six of their towns, in which he made many thousand prisoners, beheading forty-three of the chief promoters of the war.

[5] The time of the elections now drew near; but Claudius came home to Rome sooner than Sempronius, to whom the business of presiding at the elections had been allotted, because his brother, Publius Claudius, stood candidate for the consulship.

[6] His competitors, of patrician rank, were Lucius Aemilius, Quintus Fabius Labeo, and Servius Sulpicius Galba, who had been candidates before, and now renewed their suit, for an honour which was the more justly due to them, owing to their repulses, as it had been refused before.

[7] Besides, as it was not lawful that more than one patrician should be appointed, there was a closer contest between the four candidates.

[8] The plebeian candidates likewise were men in high esteem. Lucius Porcius, Quintus Terentius Culleo, and Cneius Baebius Tamphilus; these two had been disappointed, but had cherished hopes of attaining the honour at some future time. Claudius was the only new candidate.

[9] Quintus Fabius Labeo and Lucius Porcius Licinus were marked out by public opinion as the successful persons;

[10] but Claudius, the consul, unattended by his lictors, canvassed with his brother through all parts of the forum, notwithstanding the loud remonstrances of his opponents and the greater part of the senate, who insisted that

he ought to remember that he was consul of the Roman people, rather than the brother of Publius Claudius.

[11]

Why should he not rather sit on his tribunal, content himself with presiding, and remain a silent spectator of the business.

Yet he could not be restrained from a display of his immoderate zeal.

[12] The election was, also, several times interrupted by contentions between the plebeian tribunes; some of whom struggled hard in opposition to the consul, and others in support of the cause which he favoured. At last, Appius conquered all opposition, so as to set aside Fabius, and bring in his brother.

[13] Thus was Publius Claudius Pulcher elected consul, beyond his own, and indeed the general expectation. Lucius Porcius Licinus carried his election also, because the contest among the plebeian candidates was conducted with a decent degree of warmth, and not with the violence of Claudius.

[14] Then was held the election of praetors. Caius Decimius Flavus, Publius Sempronius Longus, Publius Cornelius Cethegus, Quintus Naevius Matho, Caius Sempronius Blaesus, and Aulus Terentius Varro, were made praetors.

[15] Such were the occurrences at home and abroad of this year, during the consulate of Appius Claudius and Marcus Sempronius.

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.) — 39.32 focus

[1]

When the enrolment of troops and the other business which kept the consuls in Rome was finished, they led the army into Liguria.

[2] Sempronius advanced from Pisae against the Apuani, and after devastating their fields and burning their villages, opened up the pass leading to the river Macra and the port of Luna.

[3] The enemy took up their position on a mountain range, where their ancestors had long been settled, and though the approach was extremely difficult they were driven off.

[4] In his good fortune and courage Appius Claudius was not behind his colleague. He won several victories over the Ingauni, took six of their towns and many thousands of the inhabitants. Forty-three of the chief instigators of the war were beheaded. The time for the elections was now approaching.

[5] It fell to Sempronius to conduct them, but Claudius reached Rome before him, as his brother Publius was standing for the consulship. The other patrician candidates were L. Aemilius, Q. Fabius and Ser.

[6] Sulpicius Galba. They had been unsuccessful in previous contests, and they considered that they had all the stronger claim to the honour because it had been denied them before. Only one consul could be a patrician, and this lent additional keenness to the contest.

[7] The plebeian candidates were all popular men: L. Porcius, Q. Terentius Culleo and Cnaeus Baebius Tamphilus, and they, too, had had their hopes of attaining the distinction deferred by previous defeats.

[8] Out of all the candidates, Claudius was the only new one. It was generally looked upon as a certainty that Q. Fabius Labeo and L. Porcius Licinius would be the successful candidates.

[9] But Claudius, unattended by his lictors, was bustling about with his brother in every corner of the Forum, notwithstanding the

[10] loud remonstrances of his opponents and of most of the senators, who told him to bear in mind that he was the consul of the people of Rome rather than that he was Publius' brother.

[11] "Why," they asked, "did he not take his seat on the tribunal and show himself as a witness or silent spectator of the proceedings?" In spite of all, he could not be restrained from his zealous exertions.

[12] The elections were from time to time disturbed by heated quarrels between the tribunes of the plebs; some were fighting against the consul, and some in his support. At last Appius succeeded in defeating Fabius and carrying his brother in.

[13] Contrary to his own expectation and everybody else's, P. Claudius Pulcher was elected consul. L. Porcius Licinius gained his position because he had conducted his canvass amongst the plebeians in a temper of moderation, not with the violence of a Claudius.

[14] Those who were elected praetors on the following day were C. Decimius Flavus, P. Sempronius Longus, P. Cornelius Cethegus, Q. Naevius Matho, C. Sempronius Blaesus and A. Terentius Varro.

[15] These were the main incidents at home and abroad during the consulship of Appius Claudius and M. Sempronius.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. B.C. 185

2. They probably lived south-west of Genoa.

3. For the psychology cf. XXXV. xxiv. 5.

4. The dates of the praetorships of the candidates were: Claudius, 188; Aemilius, 191; Fabius, 189; Sulpicius, 187; Porcius, 193; Terentius, 187; Baebius, 199 (all B.C.). These dates give some indication of the possible duration of a political career at this period, and show that there were other hard-fought campaigns than those which Livy singles out for special mention: cf. also XL. xxxvii. 6 below.

5. The combination tandem aliquando is highly colloquial.

6. B.C. 185

7. The tribunal was a platform erected in the Campus Martius, from which the presiding magistrate conducted the election.

8. The direct reference is to the activity of the consul in the election, with more than a hint that such impetuosity was characteristic of the gens Claudia.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 39.32

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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