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), 42.36

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[1] During the same time envoys from King Perseus arrived. It was decided not to admit them to the city, since the senate had decreed and the people had ordered war with their king and the Macedonians.

[2] On being presented before the senate in the temple of Bellona they spoke as follows: King Perseus wondered why armies had been carried across to Macedonia;

[3] if he might persuade the senate to recall them, the king would make amends at the discretion of the senate for any wrongs done to their allies, of which they might complain. Spurius Carvilius, who had been sent back from Greece by Gnaeus Sicinius for this very purpose, was in the senate.

[4] When he had complained of Perrhaebia's having been stormed by force of arms,¹ of the capture of several Thessalian cities,² and of other things which the king was either doing or about to do, the envoys were ordered to make a reply thereto.

[5] After they hesitated, saying that they had no further instructions, they were ordered to report to the king that the consul Publius Licinius would shortly be in Macedonia with an army; let the king, if giving satisfaction was his purpose, send envoys to him.

[6] There was no further reason, the senate declared,³ for his sending envoys to Rome; for none of them would be permitted to pass through Italy.

[7] After they were thus dismissed, instructions were given to Publius Licinius the consul to order them to depart from Italy within eleven days, and that he should send Spurius Carvilius to guard them until they boarded ship.⁴ These things took place at Rome before the consuls took the field.

[8] By this time⁵ Gnaeus Sicinius, who before giving up his office had been sent ahead to Brundisium to the fleet and army, had transported to Epirus five thousand infantry and three hundred cavalry⁶ and had encamped near the Place of the Nymphs⁷ in the territory of

[9] Apollonia. Thence he sent tribunes with two thousand soldiers to hold forts of the Dassaretii and of the Illyrians, since these people themselves requested garrisons, in order that they might be better protected against attack by their neighbours the Macedonians.

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.) — 42.36 focus

[1] per idem tempus legati ab rege Perseo venerunt. eos in oppidum intromitti non placuit, cum iam bellum regi eorum et Macedonibus et senatus decresset et populus iussisset.

[2] in aedem Bellonae in senatum introducti ita verba fecerunt: mirari Persea regem, quid in Macedoniam exercitus transportati essent;

[3] si impetrari a senatu posset, ut ii revocentur, regem de iniuriis, si quas sociis factas quererentur, arbitratu senatus satisfacturum esse.

[4] Sp. Carvilius, ad eam ipsam rem ex Graecia remissus ab Cn. Sicinio, in senatu erat. is Perrhaebiam expugnatam armis, Thessaliae aliquot urbes captas, cetera, quae aut ageret aut pararet rex, cum argueret, respondere ad ea legati iussi.

[5] postquam haesitabant, negantes sibi ultra quidquam mandatum esse, iussi renuntiare regi, consulem P. Licinium brevi cum exercitu futurum in Macedonia esse:

[6] ad eum, si satisfacere in animo esset, mitteret legatos. Romam quod praeterea mitteret, non esse; nemini enim eorum per Italiam ire liciturum.

[7] ita dimissis P. Licinio consuli mandatum, ut intra undecimum diem iuberet eos Italia excedere, et Sp. Carvilium mitteret, qui, donec navem conscendissent, custodiret.

[8] haec Romae acta nondum profectis in provinciam consulibus. iam Cn. Sicinius, qui, priusquam magistratu abiret, Brundisium ad classem et ad exercitum praemissus erat, traiectis in Epirum quinque milibus peditum, trecentis equitibus, ad Nymphaeum in agro Apolloniati castra habebat.

[9] inde tribunos cum duobus milibus militum ad occupanda Dassaretiorum et Illyriorum castella, ipsis accersentibus praesidia, ut tutiores a finitimorum impetu Macedonum essent, misit.

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.) — 42.36 focus

[1]

per idem tempus legati ab rege Perseo venerunt. eos in oppidum intromitti non placuit, cum iam bellum regi eorum et Macedonibus et senatus decresset et populus iussisset.

[2] in aedem Bellonae in senatum introducti ita verba fecerunt: mirari Persea regem, quid in Macedoniam exercitus transportati essent;

[3] si impetrari a senatu posset, ut ii revocentur, regem de iniuriis, si quas sociis factas quererentur, arbitratu senatus satisfacturum esse.

[4] Sp. Carvilius ad eam ipsam rem ex Graecia remissus ab Cn. Sicinio in senatu erat. is Perrhaebiam expugnatam armis, Thessaliae aliquot urbes captas, cetera, quae aut ageret aut pararet rex, cum argueret, respondere ad ea legati iussi.

[5] postquam haesitabant, negantes sibi ultra quidquam mandatum esse, iussi renuntiare regi consulem P. Licinium brevi cum exercitu futurum in Macedonia esse:

[6] ad eum, si satisfacere in animo esset, mitteret legatos; Romam quod praeterea mitteret, non esse: neminem eorum per Italiam ire liciturum.

[7] ita dimissis P. Licinio consuli ¹ mandatum, intra undecimum diem iuberet eos Italia excedere, et Sp. Carvilium mitteret, qui, donec navem conscendissent, custodiret.

[8] haec Romae acta nondum profectis in provinciam consulibus.

iam Cn. Sicinius , qui, priusquam magistratu abiret, Brundisium ad classem et ad exercitum praemissus erat, traiectis in Epirum quinque milibus peditum, trecentis equitibus, ad Nymphaeum in agro Apolloniati castra habebat.

[9] inde tribunos cum duobus milibus militum ad occupanda Dassaretiorum et Illyriorum castella, ipsis accersentibus praesidia, ut tutiores a finitimorum impetu Macedonum essent, misit.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 42.36 focus

[1]

At this time arrived ambassadors from Perseus. It was the pleasure of the fathers that they should not be permitted to come into the city; as the senate had already decreed, and the people had ordered, a declaration of war against their king and the Macedonians.

[2] Being introduced before the senate in the temple of Bellona, they spoke in the following manner: that

king Perseus wondered what could be their motive for transporting troops into Macedon;

[3]

and that if the senate could be prevailed on to recall them, the king would, at their arbitration, satisfactorily account for any injuries of which their allies might complain.

[4] Spurius Carvilius had been sent home from Greece, by Cneius Sicinius, for the purpose of attending this business, and was present in the senate. He charged the king with taking military occupation of Perrhaebia, storming several cities of Thessaly, and other enterprises, in which he was either actually employed or preparing to engage; and the ambassadors were called on to answer to those points.

[5] After they declined to do so, declaring that they had no further instructions, they were ordered to tell their king, that

the consul Publius Licinius would soon be in Macedon at the head of an army.

[6]

To him he might send ambassadors, if he were disposed to give satisfaction, but there was no use in his sending any more to Rome; for none of them would be permitted to pass through Italy.

[7] After they were thus dismissed, a charge was given to Publius Sicinius, to insist on their quitting Italy within eleven days, and to send Spurius Carvilius to guard them, until they embarked.

[8] Such were the transactions at Rome, before the departure of the consuls for their provinces. Cneius Sicinius, who, before the expiration of his office, had been sent to Brundusium to the fleet and army, had by this time transported into Epirus five thousand foot and three hundred horse, and was encamped at Nymphaeum, in the territory of Apollonia.

[9] From which place he sent tribunes, with two thousand men, to take possession of the forts of the Dassaretians and Illyrians; as those people themselves solicited garrisons, to secure them from the inroads of the Macedonians in their neighbourhood.

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.) — 42.36 focus

[1]

During this time envoys from Perseus arrived. It was decided that they should not be allowed to enter the town, as the senate and people had already determined on war with their king and the Macedonians.

[2] They were admitted to an audience in the temple of Bellona, and told the senate that Perseus was wondering why the armies had been sent to Macedonia.

[3] If he could induce the senate to recall them, he would give such satisfaction as the senate thought fit for any wrongs of which the allies of Rome complained.

[4] Spurius Carvilius had been sent back from Greece by Cnaeus Sicinius on this same business and was present at this session. He informed the senate how Perrhaebia had been taken by storm and other cities of Thessaly captured, and also what the king was actually doing and what preparations he was making.

[5] The envoys were told to answer these charges; they hesitated and said they had not received any further instructions. On thus they were ordered to carry back to their king the announcement that in a short time the consul P. Licinius would be in Macedonia with his army;

[6] if the king really meant to give satisfaction, he might send envoys to him. It was useless for him to send any to Rome, as none of them would be allowed to pass through Italy.

[7] With this reply they were sent away, and P. Licinius was instructed to order them to quit Italy within ten days and send Sp. Carvilius to watch them till they went on board.

[8] Cnaeus Sicinius, who before quitting office had been sent to the fleet and army at Brundisium, had landed 5000 infantry and 300 cavalry in Epirus and was now encamped at Nymphaeum in the Apollonian district.

[9] From there he sent tribunes with 2000 men to occupy the forts of the Dassaretii and the Illyrians, as the people themselves were asking for troops to hold them so that they might be more secure against any attack from their Macedonian neighbours.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. But below, ch. liii. 8, Perseus takes Perrhaebia all over again. Livy's account here of the king's actions shows that the tale of Perseus' belligerence, as previously told, is a Roman invention to justify the forcing of the

irrepressible conflict

by Rome.

2. In XLI. xxii. 6 and xxiii. 14 only a peaceful tour of Thessaly is mentioned; by comparing below, ch. xlii. 1 and lxvii. 9-11, we may gather that at least three Thessalian cities struck up an alliance with Perseus as the result of this visitation; but

capture

is a Roman exaggeration.

3. B.C. 171

4. Livy repeats this account below ch. xlviii. 3, there following Polybius. It should be noted that the events next related actually precede those which Livy has been describing. Appian IX. xi. 5-9 mentions two embassies, the second of which is, as here, sent out of Italy. Both Appian and Polybius (XXVII. 6) say that all Macedonians were ordered to leave Italy, but on thirty days' notice, which was also given the ambassadors (cf. Livy, below).

5. B.C. 172

6. The number is smaller than that given above in xxvii. 3, and perhaps derives from Polybius.

7. Strabo VII. v. 8, describes this as

a rock that gives forth fire, and beneath it flow springs of warm water and asphalt — probably because the clods of asphalt in the earth are burned by the fire. And nearby, on a hill, is a mine of asphalt; and the part that is trenched is filled up again in the course of time, since, as Poseidonius says, the earth that is poured into the trenches changes to asphalt.

(tr. H. L. Jones, L.C.L.) Nymphs dancing about the fire appeared on coins of Apollonia. A convent preserved the religious association in recent times. The asphalt deposits are still worked, and leakage of gas sometimes supplies the fire.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 42.36

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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