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), 42.34

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[1] After the consul had said what he wished, Spurius Ligustinus, one of the men who had appealed to the tribunes of the people, asked of the consul and the tribunes that he be permitted to address a few words to the people.

[2] With everyone's permission he is said to have spoken as follows: "I, Spurius Ligustinus of the tribe of Crustumina,¹ come of Sabine stock, fellow-citizens. My father left me an acre² of land and a little hut, in which I was born and brought up, and to this day I live there.

[3] When I first came of age, my father gave me as wife his brother's daughter,³ who brought with her nothing but her free birth and her chastity, and with these a fertility which would be enough even⁴ for a wealthy home.

[4] We have six sons, and two daughters, both of whom are now married. Four of our sons have assumed the toga of manhood,⁵ two wear the boys' stripe.

[5] I became a soldier in the consulship of Publius Sulpicius and Gaius Aurelius.⁶ In the army which was taken over to Macedonia I served two years as a private soldier against King Philip; in the third year, for my bravery, Titus Quinctius Flamininus made me centurion of the tenth maniple of the advance formation.⁷

[6] After the defeat of Philip and the Macedonians, when we had been brought back to Italy and discharged, immediately I set out for Spain as a volunteer soldier with Marcus Porcius the consul.⁸

[7] No one, of all the generals now living, was a keener observer and judge of bravery, as those know who have had experience of him and other leaders, too, through long service. This general judged me worthy to be assigned as centurion of the forward first century of the advance formation.

[8] For the third time I enlisted, again voluntarily, in the army which was sent against the Aetolians and King Antiochus.⁹ By Manius Acilius I was given the rank of centurion of the forward first century of the main formation.

[9] When King Antiochus had been driven out and the Aetolians beaten, we were brought back to Italy; and twice after that I was in campaigns where the legions¹⁰ served for a year. Then I campaigned twice in Spain, once when Quintus Fulvius Flaccus was praetor,¹¹ and again when Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus held

[10] that office.¹² I was brought home by Flaccus along with the others whom he brought with him from the province for his triumph because of their bravery;¹³ I went back to the province because Tiberius Gracchus

[11] asked me. Four times within a few years I held the rank of chief centurion; thirty-four times I was rewarded for bravery by my generals; I have received six civic crowns.¹⁴ I have done twenty-two years of service in the army, and I am over fifty

[12] years old. But if all my years of service had not been completed and my age did not yet give me exemption, still, since I could give you four soldiers in my place, Publius Licinius, it would be fair to

[13] discharge me. But I should like you to accept these things that I have said on my side of the case; for my part, as long as anyone who is enrolling armies considers me fit for service, I will never

[14] beg off. Of what rank the military tribunes think me worthy is for them to decide; I shall see to it that no one in the army surpasses me in bravery; and that I have always done so, both my generals and those who have served with me

[15] are witnesses. It is fair for you too, fellow-soldiers, even though you are within your rights in this appeal, since, when you were young you never did anything against the authority of the magistrates and the senate, now also to submit to the consuls and the senate, and to¹⁵ consider every place honourable in which you will be defending the state."

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.) — 42.34 focus

[1] postquam consul, quae voluerat, dixit, Sp. Ligustinus ex eo numero, qui tribunos plebis appellaverat, a consule et ab tribunis petit, ut sibi paucis ad populum agere liceret.

[2] permissu omnium ita locutus fertur: “Sp. Ligustinus tribus Crustumina ex Sabinis sum oriundus, Quirites. pater mihi iugerum agri reliquit et parvom tugurium, in quo natus educatusque sum, hodieque ibi habito.

[3] cum primum in aetatem veni, pater mihi uxorem fratris sui filiam dedit, quae secum nihil adtulit praeter libertatem pudicitiamque, et cum his fecunditatem, quanta vel in diti domo satis esset.

[4] sex filii nobis, duae filiae sunt, utraeque iam nuptae. filii quattuor togas viriles habent, duo praetextati sunt.

[5] miles sum factus P. Sulpicio C. Aurelio consulibus. in eo exercitu, qui in Macedoniam est transportatus, biennium miles gregarius fui adversus Philippum regem; tertio anno virtutis causa mihi T. Quinctius Flamininus decumum ordinem hastatum adsignavit.

[6] devicto Philippo Macedonibusque cum in Italiam reportati ac dimissi essemus, continuo miles voluntarius cum M. Porcio consule in Hispaniam sum profectus.

[7] neminem omnium imperatorum, qui vivant, acriorem virtutis spectatorem ac iudicem fuisse sciunt, qui et illum et alios duces longa militia experti sunt. hic me imperator dignum iudicavit, cui primum hastatum prioris centuriae adsignaret.

[8] tertio iterum voluntarius miles factus sum in eum exercitum, qui adversus Aetolos et Antiochum regem est missus. a M’. Acilio mihi primus princeps prioris centuriae est adsignatus.

[9] expulso rege Antiocho, subactis Aetolis reportati sumus in Italiam; et deinceps bis, quae annua merebant legiones, stipendia feci. bis deinde in Hispania militavi, semel Q. Fulvio Flacco, iterum Ti. Sempronio Graccho praetore.

[10] a Flacco inter ceteros, quos virtutis causa secum ex provincia ad triumphum deducebat, deductus sum; a Ti. Graccho rogatus in provinciam ii.

[11] quater intra paucos annos primum pilum duxi; quater et tricies virtutis causa donatus ab imperatoribus sum; sex civicas coronas accepi. viginti duo stipendia annua in exercitu emerita habeo, et maior annis sum quinquaginta.

[12] quodsi mihi nec stipendia omnia emerita essent necdum aetas vacationem daret, tamen, cum quattuor milites pro me vobis dare, P. Licini, possem, aecum erat me dimitti.

[13] sed haec pro causa mea dicta accipiatis velim; ipse me, quoad quisquam, qui exercitus scribit, idoneum militem iudicabit, numquam sum excusaturus.

[14] quo ordine me dignum iudicent tribuni militum, ipsorum est potestatis; ne quis me virtute in exercitu praestet, dabo operam; et semper ita fecisse me et imperatores mei et, qui una stipendia fecerunt, testes sunt.

[15] vos quoque aecum est, commilitones, etsi appellatione vostrum usurpatis ius, cum adulescentes nihil adversus magistratuum senatusque auctoritatem usquam feceritis, nunc quoque in potestate consulum ac senatus esse et omnia honesta loca ducere, quibus rem publicam defensuri sitis.”

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.) — 42.34 focus

[1]

postquam consul, quae voluerat, dixit, Sp. Ligustinus ex eo numero, qui tribunos appellaverant, a consule et ab tribunis petiit, ut sibi paucis ad populum agere liceret. permissu omnium ita locutus fertur.

[2] “ Sp. Ligustinus tribus Crustuminae ex Sabinis sum oriundus, Quirites. pater mihi iugerum agri reliquit et parvom tugurium, in quo natus educatusque sum; hodieque ibi habito.

[3] cum primum in aetatem veni, pater mihi uxorem fratris sui filiam dedit, quae secum nihil adtulit praeter libertatem pudicitiamque et cum his fecunditatem, quanta vel in diti domo satis esset.

[4] sex filii nobis, duae filiae sunt, utraeque iam nuptae. filii quattuor togas virilis habent, duo praetextati sunt.

[5] miles sum factus P. Sulpicio C. Aurelio consulibus. in eo exercitu, qui in Macedoniam est transportatus, biennium miles ¹ gregarius fui adversus Philippum regem; tertio anno virtutis causa mihi T. Quinctius Flamininus decumum ordinem hastatum adsignavit.

[6] devicto Philippo Macedonibusque cum in Italiam portati ac dimissi essemus, continuo miles voluntarius cum M. Porcio consule in Hispaniam sum profectus.

[8] tertio iterum voluntarius miles factus sum in eum exercitum, qui adversus Aetolos et Antiochum regem est missus. a M’. Acilio mihi primus princeps prioris centuriae est adsignatus.

[9] expulso rege Antiocho, subactis Aetolis reportati sumus in Italiam, et deinceps bis quae annua merebant legiones stipendia feci. bis deinde in Hispania militavi, semel ² Q. Fulvio Flacco , iterum Ti. Sempronio Graccho praetore.

[10] a Flacco inter ceteros, quos virtutis causa secum ex provincia ad triumphum deducebat, deductus sum; a Ti. Graccho rogatus in provinciam ii.

[11] quater intra paucos annos primum pilum duxi, quater et tricies virtutis causa donatus ab imperatoribus sum, sex civicas coronas accepi. viginti duo stipendia annua in exercitu emerita habeo et maior annis sum quinquaginta.

[12] quod si mihi nec stipendia omnia emerita essent, necdum aetas vacationem daret, tamen, cum quattuor milites pro me uno vobis dare, P. Licini , possem, aecum erat me dimitti.

[13] sed haec pro causa mea dicta accipiatis velim: ipse me, quoad quisquam, qui exercitus scribit, idoneum militem iudicabit, numquam sum excusaturus.

[14] ordine quo me dignum iudicent tribuni militum, ipsorum est potestatis; ne quis me virtute in exercitu praestet, dabo operam, et semper ita fecisse me et imperatores mei et qui una stipendia fecerunt testes sunt.

[15] vos quoque aecum est, commilitones, etsi ³ appellatione [vos] usurpatis ius, cum adulescentes nihil adversus magistratuum senatusque auctoritatem usquam feceritis, nunc quoque in potestate senatus ac consulum esse et omnia honesta loca ducere, quibus rem publicam defensuri sitis.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 42.34 focus

[1]

When the consul had said all that he thought proper, Spurius Ligustinus, one of those who had appealed to the plebeian tribunes, requested permission from the consul and tribunes to speak a few words to the people.

[2] By the permission of them all he spoke, we are told, to this effect:

Romans, I am Spurius Ligustinus, of the Crustuminian tribe, and sprung from the Sabines. My father left me one acre of land, and a small cottage, in which I was born and educated, and I dwell there to-day.

[3]

As soon as I came to man's estate, my father married me to his brother's daughter, who brought nothing with her but independence and modesty; except, indeed, a degree of fruitfulness that would have better suited a wealthier family.

[4]

We have six sons and two daughters; the latter are both married; of our sons, four are grown up to manhood, the other two are as yet boys. I became a soldier in the consulate of Publius Sulpicius and Caius Aurelius.

[5]

In the army which was sent over into Macedon I served as a common soldier, against Philip, for two years; and in the third year, Titus Quintius Flamininus, in reward of my good conduct, gave me the command of the tenth company of spearmen.

[6]

When Philip and the Macedonians were subdued, and we were brought back to Italy and discharged, I immediately went as a volunteer, with the consul Marcus Porcius into Spain.

[7]

Those who have had experience of him, and of other generals in a long course of service, know that no single commander living was a more accurate observer and judge of merit. This commander judged me deserving of being set at the head of the first company of spearmen.

[8]

A third time I entered as a volunteer in the army which was sent against the Aetolians and king Antiochus; and Manius Acilius gave me the command of the first company of first-rank men. After Antiochus was driven out of the country, and the Aetolians were reduced, we were brought home to Italy, where I served the two succeeding years in legions that were raised annually.

[9]

I afterwards made two campaigns in Spain; one under Quintus Fulvius Flaccus, the other under Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, praetors. I was brought by Flaccus among others whom he brought home from the province to attend his triumph, out of regard to their good services.

[10]

At the request of Tiberius Gracchus, I went with him to his province. Four times within a few years was I first centurion of my corps; thirty-four times I was honoured by my commanders with presents for bravery.

[11]

I have received six civic crowns, I have fulfilled twenty-two years of service in the army, and I am upwards of fifty years of age. But, if I had neither served out all my campaigns, nor was entitled to exemption on account of my age, yet Publius Licinius, as I can supply you with four soldiers instead of myself, it were reasonable that I should be discharged.

[12]

But I wish you to consider these words merely as a state of my case;

[13]

as to offering any thing as an excuse from service, that is what I will never do, so long as any officer, enlisting troops, shall believe me fit for it. What rank the military tribunes may think I deserve, rests with their power.

[14]

That no one in the army may surpass me in a zealous discharge of duty, I shall use my best endeavours; and that I have always acted on that principle, my commanders and my comrades can testify.

[15]

And now, fellow-soldiers, you who assert your privilege of appeal, as you have never, in your youthful days, done any act contrary to the directions of the magistrates and the senate, now too you ought to be amenable to the authority of the senate and consuls, and to think every post honourable in which you can act for the defence of the commonwealth.

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.) — 42.34 focus

[1]

After the consul had said what he wanted to say, one of those who were appealing to the tribunes-Sp. Ligustinus-begged the consul and the tribunes to allow him to say a few words to the Assembly.

[2] They all gave him permission, and he is recorded to have spoken to the following effect: "Quirites, I am Spurius Ligustinus, a Sabine by birth, a member of the Crustuminian tribe. My father left me a jugerum of land and a small cottage in which I was born and bred, and I am living there today.

[3] As soon as I came of age my father gave me to wife his brother's daughter. She brought nothing with her but her personal freedom and her modesty, and together with these a fruitfulness which would have been enough even in a wealthy house.

[4] We have six sons and two daughters. Four of our sons wear the toga virilis, two the praetexta, and both the daughters are married.

[5] I became a soldier in the consulship of P. Sulpicius and C. Aurelius. For two years I was a common soldier in the army, fighting against Philip in Macedonia; in the third year T. Quinctius Flamininus gave me in consideration of my courage the command of the tenth company of the hastati.

[6] After Philip and the Macedonians were vanquished and we were brought back to Italy and disbanded, I at once volunteered to go with the consul M. Porcius to Spain.

[7] Men who during a long service have had experience of him and of other generals know that of all living commanders not one has shown himself a keener observer or more accurate judge of military valour. It was this commander who thought me worthy of being appointed first centurion in the hastati.

[8] Again I served, for the third time, as a volunteer in the army which was sent against Antiochus and the Aetolians. I was made first centurion of the principes by Manius Acilius. After Antiochus was expelled and the Aetolians subjugated we were brought back to Italy.

[9] After that I twice took service for a year at home. Then I served in Spain, once under Q. Fulvius Flaccus and again under Ti. Sempronius Gracchus. I was brought home by Flaccus amongst those whom, as a reward for their courage, he was bringing home to grace his triumph.

[10] I joined Tiberius Gracchus at his request. Four times, within a few years, have I been first centurion in the triarii; four-and-thirty times have I been rewarded for my courage by my commanders; I have received six civic crowns.

[11] I have served for twenty-two years in the army and I am more than fifty years old. But even if I had not served my full time and my age did not give me exemption, still, P. Licinius, as I was able to give you four soldiers for one, namely, myself, it would have been a right and proper thing that I should be discharged.

[12] But I want you to take what I have said simply as a statement of my case.

[13] So far as anyone who is raising troops judges me to be an efficient soldier, I am not going to plead excuses.

[14] What rank the military tribunes think that I deserve is for them to decide; I will take care that no man shall surpass me in courage; that I always have done so, my commanders and fellow-campaigners bear witness. And as for you, my comrades, though you are only exercising your right of appeal, it is but just and proper that as in your early days you

[15] never did anything against the authority of the magistrates and the senate, so now, too, you should place yourselves at the disposal of the senate and the consuls and count any position in which you are to defend your country as an honourable one."

Notes on the current edition

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

1. The district of this tribe lay just north of Rome; it was perhaps a new tribe in 495 B.C., cf. II. xxi. 7.

2. This was less than the standard minimum of two iugera for landed property; Ligustinus was therefore technically a proletarius, and no doubt needed his military career as a means of livelihood.

3. Marriage of first cousins was at times not recognized as legal at Rome; it is not clear whether this was a rustic irregularity, or an indication of the lapse of any such impediment at this time. Cf. Cicero, Philippics, II. 99 (Antony made such a marriage), Tacitus, Annals, XII. 6 (regarded as unprecedented), Plutarch, Roman Questions, 6 (a recent innovation).

4. B.C. 171

5. That is, were over sixteen or seventeen; the man's toga, except for senators, was plain white; the boy's had a purple border-stripe.

6. 200 B.C., cf. XXXI. v. 1.

7. The advance formation ( hastati) was the lowest in rank of the three main subdivisions of the legion, and the tenth maniple the lowest in rank in the formation; from his subsequent status, it seems likely that Ligustinus was given the forward centurionship ( prior), not the very lowest in the legion, the rear ( posterior). For the origin of these subdivisions of the legion, cf. VIII. viii. 5-13; Polybius VI. 21. 6-23.

8. 195 B.C., cf. XXXIII. xlii. 7 and xliii. The consul was the famous Cato the Censor. Ligustinus had returned to Italy before his commander Flamininus, who returned at the same time that Cato came back from Spain.

9. 191 B.C., cf. XXXVI. i. ff.

10. B.C. 171

11. 181 B.C., cf. XL. i. 1, xvi. 7-10, xxx —xxxiii, xxxvi. 10-11 and xxxix —xl.

12. 180 B.C., cf. XL. xxxv. 2, xl. 14.

13. Cf. XL. xliii. 4-7.

14. For saving the life of a Roman citizen.

15. B.C. 171

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 42.34

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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