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), 40.46

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Section

← Previous Next →

[1]

We have not forgotten, censors, that a little while ago you were placed, by the entire Roman people, in control of our manners, and that we should be both admonished and governed by you, not you by us.

[2]

Nevertheless, it should be pointed out what it is in you two that offends all good men or at least what they would prefer to see modified.

[3]

When we look at you singly, Marcus Aemilius and Marcus Fulvius, we find no one in the state to-day whom, if we should be recalled to vote, we should wish to¹ have preferred to you.

[4]

When we look at both of you together, we cannot but fear that you may prove to have been badly mated and that less good may come to the state because you are so eminently pleasing to all of us than harm because each of you displeases the other.

[5]

For many years you have been keeping alive a feud, a serious and dreadful thing for you yourselves, and there is danger that from this day it may become more harmful to us and to the state than to you. As to the reasons why we fear this, many occur to me which might be mentioned were it not that passions perhaps not to be appeased beset your minds.²

[6]

We one and all beg you to-day that in this consecrated spot you will end this quarrel,

[7]

and that you will permit those men whom the Roman people by their votes has associated together, to be associated by us in this restoration of good feeling also; that with one mind and one policy you may choose the senate, review the equites, hold the census and close the lustrum;

[8]

that what you will say in almost every prayer you make, 'that this

[9]

may turn out well and successfully for me and for my colleague in office,' you will truly and with all your hearts desire to be fulfilled, and that you will so act that we men may believe that you also desire that for which you have prayed to the gods. Titus Tatius and Romulus, in whose city they had clashed as enemies in battle in the middle of the Forum, reigned there in harmony.

[10]

Not merely feuds but even wars draw to an end; many times from bitter foes men become faithful allies, sometimes even fellow citizens.

[11]

The Albans when Alba was destroyed were³ transferred to Rome, the Latins and the Sabines were received into citizenship. There was a common saying which had passed into a proverb because it was true, that our friendships should be immortal, but mortal our enmities.

[12] A roar of applause burst out, and then the speech was broken off by the voices of the whole crowd, demanding the same thing and merging into one sound.

[13] Then Aemilius complained both of other things and particularly because he had twice been kept by Marcus Fulvius from the consulship which was assured him; Fulvius on his side complained that he had always been harassed by Aemilius and that the sponsio had been proposed to his shame.⁴

[14] Nevertheless each stated that if the other was willing he was ready to put himself in the hands of all the leading men of the state. At the instance of all who were present, they sincerely exchanged hand-clasps and pledges, forgave one another, and ended their feud.

[15] After that, followed by the applause of all, they were escorted to the Capitoline. Both the interest of the leaders in such a situation and the readiness of the censors to yield were notably approved and lauded by the senate.

[16] Then, on the demand of the censors that the sum of money which they were to use on public works be assigned them, one year's revenue was decreed to them.⁵

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.) — 40.46 focus

[1] “non obliti sumus, censores, vos paulo ante ab universo populo Romano moribus nostris praepositos esse, et nos a vobis et admoneri et regi, non vos a nobis debere.

[2] indicandum tamen est, quid omnes bonos in vobis aut offendat aut certe mutatum malint.

[3] singulos cum intuemur, M. Aemili, M. Fulvi, neminem hodie in civitate habemus, quem, si revocemur in suffragium, velimus vobis praelatum esse. ambo cum simul aspicimus,

[4] non possumus non vereri, ne male comparati sitis, nec tantum rei publicae prosit, quod omnibus nobis egregie placetis, quam, quod alter alteri displicetis, noceat.

[5] inimicitias per annos multos vobis ipsis graves et atroces geritis, quae periculum est ne ex hac die nobis et rei publicae quam vobis graviores fiant.

[6] de quibus causis hoc timeamus, multa succurrunt, quae dicerentur, nisi forte implacabiles tfueritis fueritis implicaverint animos vestros. has ut hodie,

[7] ut in isto templo finiatis simultates, quaesumus vos universi, et quos coniunxit suffragiis suis populus Romanus, hos etiam reconciliatione gratiae coniungi a nobis sinatis;

[8] uno animo, uno consilio legatis senatum, equites recenseatis, agatis censum, lustrum condatis;

[9] quod in omnibus fere precationibus nuncupabitis verbis “ut ea res mihi collegaeque meo bene et feliciter eveniat,” id ita ut vere, ut ex animo velitis evenire, efficiatisque, ut, quod deos precati eritis, id vos velle etiam homines credamus.

[10] T. Tatius et Romulus, in cuius urbis medio foro acie hostes concurrerant, ibi concordes regnarunt.

[11] non modo simultates, sed bella quoque finiuntur: ex infestis hostibus plerumque socii fideles, interdum etiam cives fiunt. Albani diruta Alba Romam traducti sunt,

[12] Latini, Sabini in civitatem accepti. vulgatum illud, quia verum erat, in proverbium venit, amicitias immortales, mortales inimicitias debere esse.”

[13] fremitus ortus cum adsensu, deinde universorum voces idem petentium confusae in unum orationem interpellarunt.

[14] inde Aemilius questus cum alia, tur tum bis a M. Fulvio se certo consulatu deiectum: Fulvius contra queri se ab eo semper lacessitum et in probrum suum sponsionem factam. tamen ambo significare, si alter vellet, se in potestate tot principum civitatis futuros.

[15] omnibus instantibus, qui aderant, dexteras fidemque dedere remittere vere vere ac finire odium. deinde collaudantibus cunctis deducti sunt in Capitolium. et cura super tali re principum et facilitas censorum egregie comprobata ab senatu et laudata est.

[16] censoribus deinde postulantibus, ut pecuniae summa sibi, qua in opera publica uterentur, attribueretur, vectigal annuum decretum est.

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.) — 40.46 focus

[1]

“Non obliti sumus, censores, vos paulo ante ab universo populo Romano moribus nostris praepositos ¹ esse. et nos a vobis et admoneri et regi, non vos a nobis debere;

[2] indicandum tamen est, quid omnes bonos in vobis aut obfendat aut certe mutatum malint.

[3] singulos cum intuemur, M. Aemili , M. Fulvi , neminem hodie in civitate habemus, quem, si revocemur in suffragium, velimus vobis praelatum esse;

[4] ambo cum simul adspicimus, non possumus non vereri, ne male comparati sitis, nec tantum rei publicae prosit, quod omnibus nobis egregie placetis, quam, quod alter alteri displicetis, noceat.

[5] inimicitias per annos multos vobis ipsis graves et atroces geritis, quae periculum est ne ex hac die nobis et rei publicae quam vobis graviores fiant.

[6] de quibus causis hoc timeamus, multa subcurrunt, quae dicerentur, nisi forte inplacabiles fueritis inplicaverint animos vestros.

[7] has ut hodie, ut in isto templo finiatis simultates, quaesumus vos universi, et quos coniunxit suffragiis suis populus Romanus, hos etiam reconciliatione gratiae coniungi a nobis sinatis;

[8] uno animo, uno consilio legatis senatum, equites recenseatis, agatis censum, lustrum condatis;

[9] quod in omnibus fere precationibus nuncupabitis verbis “ut ea res mihi collegaeque meo bene et feliciter eveniat, ” id ita ut vere, ut ex animo velitis evenire ² efficiatisque, ut, quod deos precati eritis, id vos velle etiam homines credamus.

[10] T. Tatius et Romulus, in cuius urbis medio foro acie hostes concurrerant, ibi concordes regnarunt.

[11] non modo simultates, sed bella quoque finiuntur; ex infestis hostibus plerumque socii fideles, interdum etiam cives fiunt.

[12] Albani diruta Alba Romam traducti sunt; Latini, Sabini in civitatem accepti. vulgatum illud, quia verum erat, in proverbium venit, amicitias inmortales, mortales inimicitias debere esse.

[13] “fremitus ortus cum adsensu, deinde universorum voces idem petentium confusae in unum orationem interpellarunt.

[14] inde Aemilius questus cum alia, tum bis a M. Fulvio se certo consulatu deiectum; Fulvius contra queri se ab eo semper lacessitum et in probrum suum sponsionem factam; tamen ambo significare, si alter vellet, se in potestate tot principum civitatis futuros.

[15] omnibus instantibus qui aderant dextras fidemque dedere mittere vere ac finire odium. deinde conlaudantibus cunctis deducti sunt in Capitolium; et cura super tali re principum et facilitas censorum egregie comprobata ab senatu et laudata est.

[16] censoribus deinde postulantibus, ut pecuniae summa sibi, qua in opera publica uterentur, adtribueretur, vectigal annuum decretum est. ³

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 40.46 focus

[1]

Censors, we are not unmindful that you have been just now, by the whole body of the Roman people, set over our morals; and that we ought to be admonished and ruled by you, not you by us.

[2]

Nevertheless, that should be pointed out, which in you may either give offence to all good men, or at least what they would wish to be altered.

[3]

When we look at you separately, Marcus Aemilius, Marcus Fulvius, we know not, in the whole state, any one person whom, if we were called back again to vote, we could wish to be preferred to you; but when we behold you both together, we cannot avoid fearing that you are but ill associated;

[4]

and that the public may not reap as much advantage from your being exceedingly pleasing to every one of us, as injury, from your being displeasing one to another.

[5]

You have for many years past harboured an enmity, violent in its degree, and detrimental to yourselves; and it is to be feared, that from this day forward it may prove more detrimental to us and to the state, than it has been to you.

[6]

As to the reasons why we fear this, many observations which might be made occur to yourselves; had you not happened to be implacable they would have engrossed your senses.

[7]

These feuds we all beseech you to terminate this day, in that sacred place, and to suffer those whom the Roman people have united by their suffrages, to be united by us, through this re-establishment of friendship also.

[8]

May you, with unanimity and harmony, choose the senate, review the knights, hold the census, and close the lustrum, as truly and sincerely as you would wish that to happen which you express in the words, used in almost all your prayers, 'that this affair may prove good and prosperous to me and my colleague:'

[9]

and cause us men also to believe that you really desire that which you entreat of the gods. Titus Tatius and Romulus, after they had engaged in battle as public enemies, in the midst of the forum of this city, reigned there with unanimity.

[10]

Not only quarrels, but wars, are ended; and from deadly foes men frequently become faithful allies, nay, sometimes, even fellow-citizens. The Albans, after the demolition of Alba, were brought over to Rome: the Latins, the Sabines, were admitted into the number of citizens.

[11]

It is a common saying, and, because founded in truth, has become a proverb, that 'friendships ought to be immortal, but enmities mortal.

[12] A roar of approbation burst forth: and presently after, the voices of every one present, joining in the same request, interrupted his speech. Then Aemilius, besides other complaints, represented, that through Marcus Fulvius he had been twice deprived of the consulship, which seemed sure.

[13] On the other hand, Fulvius complained that he had always been assailed by Aemilius, and that security had been given for him, which was attended with great disgrace.

[14] Nevertheless, each of them intimated that if the other would wish, he was ready to submit to the direction of such a number of the most respectable members of the state; and all present urgently repeating their request, they mutually pledged their right hands, and their honour, to dismiss in reality and forget all animosity. Then the whole assembly expressing the highest applause of their behaviour, they were escorted to the Capitol.

[15] Both the attention paid to such a matter by the persons of the first consequence, and the compliance of the censors, were most warmly approved and commended by the senate.

[16] The censors then demanded that a sum of money should be assigned to them, which they might expend in public works; and the customs of one year were accordingly decreed to them.

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.) — 40.46 focus

[1]

"We have not forgotten, censors, that you have just been chosen by the universal voice of the Roman people to superintend our morals, and that we must be admonished and regulated by you, not you by us.

[2] We are, however, bound to point out what it is in you that gives offence to all good citizens, or at all events what they would prefer to see changed.

[3] When we contemplate you each by himself, M. Aemilius and M. Fulvius, we feel that we have no one amongst the citizens today whom, if we were recalled to the polling booths, we should wish to take precedence of you.

[4] But when we behold you both together we cannot help fearing that you are ill-suited for each other, and that the unanimous vote in your favour will not benefit the commonwealth so much as the entire absence of unanimity between yourselves will injure it.

[5] For many years you have been cherishing violent and bitter feelings against each other, and the danger is that these may prove more disastrous to us and to the commonwealth than to you.

[6] Many considerations might be alleged, unless you are deaf to all remonstrance, as to the causes of your mutual hostility. We all of us with one voice implore you to put an end to these quarrels on this day and on this hallowed ground;

[7] we ask that the men whom the Roman people have associated together by their vote may through us be reconciled to one another.

[8] Choose the senate, revise the equities, close the lustrum with one mind, one judgment, so that when you repeat the formula of almost all the prayers:

[9] 'May this prove to be a good and blessed thing for me and my colleague,' you may in all sincerity desire and bring it about that it shall so prove, so that what you have prayed for from the gods, we men may believe you really wish for. In the very City where they met in hostile encounter, Titus Tatius and Romulus reigned peacefully side by side.

[10] Not only private quarrels, but even wars are put an end to; deadly enemies generally prove the most faithful allies; sometimes they even become fellow-citizens.

[11] When Alba was destroyed, the Albans were transferred to Rome; the Latins and the Sabines have been admitted to our franchise. That common saying: 'Friendships ought to be immortal, enmities mortal,' has passed into a proverb because it is true."

[12] Murmurs of approval were heard and then the voices of all present, as though it were the voice of one making the same request, drowned the speaker.

[13] Hereupon Aemilius, amongst other things, complained that he had been twice rejected by M. Fulvius as a candidate for the consulship when he was certain to win it.

[14] Fulvius, on the other hand, protested that he had been constantly receiving provocation from Aemilius and had undergone the humiliation of having to give security. They each, however, signified that if the other was willing, he would bow to the authority of such an influential body. As all present pressed their demand, the censors grasped each other's hands and gave their word to dismiss all angry feelings and put an end to their quarrel.

[15] They were then conducted to the Capitol amidst universal applause, and the trouble which their leaders had taken over the matter and the yielding temper of the censors received the approbation and praise of the senate.

[16] The censors asked for a grant of money to spend on public works, and one year's revenue was assigned to them.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. B.C. 179

2. I have tried to give a meaning to this passage, although corruption no doubt still remains. If there is a lacuna after dicerentur, an additional clause like

and which you would yourselves recognize

should be inserted at that point.

3. B.C. 179

4. The sponsio was a sort of wager at law, each of the parties agreeing that the loser in the contest should pay a stated sum to the winner. The incident here referred to has not been mentioned before, unless it was part of the episode narrated in XXXIX. iv.

5. Livy has not mentioned a corresponding sum before. The censors of 169 B.C. received the revenue for half a year (XLIV. xvi. 9). There is no translation of the expression into definite figures until 62 B.C. (Plutarch, Pompey, 45), when one year's revenue amounted to 50,000,000 denarii. Frank ( Economic Survey of Ancient Rome, Baltimore, 1933, I. 152-153) estimates the revenue in 179 B.C. as perhaps one-tenth of that sum. He further calculates that the Basilica Aemilia (li. 5 below) would have cost 12,000 denarii, so that a good deal could be done with 5,000,000 denarii.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 40.46

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