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), 42.6

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[1] From Delphi and the meeting of the Aetolian council Marcellus crossed to Aegium in the Peloponnesus, where he had called¹ a meeting of the Achaeans.

[2] There, having heartily praised the people because they had steadfastly adhered to their old resolution² not to permit the kings of the Macedonians to enter their territory, he made conspicuous the hatred which the Romans felt for Perseus;

[3] that this hatred should break out betimes was the consequence of the arrival in Rome of King Eumenes,³ bringing with him a memorandum which he had prepared, after thorough investigation, as to Perseus' preparations for war.

[4] About the same time five commissioners were sent to the king to look into the situation in Macedonia. They were also instructed to proceed to Alexandria for the purpose of renewing the friendship of the Romans with Ptolemy.⁴

[5] The commissioners were the following: Gaius Valerius, Gaius Lutatius Cerco, Quintus Baebius Sulca, Marcus Cornelius Mammula, Marcus Caecilius Denter.

[6] From King Antiochus⁵ also came ambassadors about the same time: their chief, Apollonius, when he was given an audience before the senate, made explanations for the king, giving many plausible reasons why he was paying his tribute later than the appointed day;

[7] he had, he said, brought the entire sum with him in order that the king might ask no indulgence except in the matter of the delay. In addition, he said that he was bringing, as a gift, golden vases of five hundred pounds' weight.

[8] The king begged that the alliance and friendship which had existed with his father might be renewed with him too, and that the Roman people would give him any orders which were proper to give to a king who was a loyal and faithful ally; he would fail in no performance of duty.

[9] The senate, the ambassador went on, had rendered such services to the king when he was in Rome, the young men such courtesy, that all ranks had regarded him as a king, not as a hostage.

[10] The ambassadors received a gracious reply, and Aulus Atilius, the praetor urbanus, was instructed to renew with Antiochus the treaty which had existed with his father.

[11] The city quaestors received the tribute, the censors the golden vases, and the responsibility was⁶ delegated to them of depositing them in whatever temples they saw fit; the ambassador⁷ received one hundred thousand as-pieces as a gift, and a house, free of charge, was given for his entertainment, and his expenses, so long as he should be in Italy, were provided for by decree.

[12] The Roman ambassadors who had been in Syria had reported that Apollonius stood in highest favour with the king and was most friendly to the Roman people.

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.) — 42.6 focus

[1] A Delphis et Aetolico concilio Marcellus in Peloponnesum traiecit Aegium, quo Achaeis edixerat conventum.

[2] ubi conlaudata gente, quod constanter vetus decretum de arcendis aditu finium regibus Macedonum tenuissent, insigne adversus Persea odium Romanorum fecit;

[3] quod ut maturius erumperet, Eumenes rex commentarium ferens secum, quod de apparatibus belli omnia inquirens fecerat, Romam venit.

[4] per idem tempus quinque legati ad regem missi, qui res in Macedonia aspicerent. Alexandriam iidem ad Ptolemaeum renovandae amicitiae causa proficisci iussi.

[5] legati erant hi: C. Valerius C. Lutatius Cerco Q. Baebius Sulca M. Cornelius Mammula M. Caecilius Denter.

[6] et ab Antiocho rege sub idem tempus legati venerunt; quorum princeps Apollonius in senatum introductus multis iustisque causis regem excusavit, quod stipendium serius quam ad diem praestaret;

[7] id se omne advexisse, ne cuius nisi temporis gratia regi fieret.

[8] donum praeterea afferre, vasa aurea quingentum pondo. petere regem, ut, quae cum patre suo societas atque amicitia fuisset, ea secum renovaretur, imperaretque sibi populus Romanus, quae bono fidelique socio regi essent imperanda;

[9] se in nullo usquam cessaturum officio. ea merita in se senatus fuisse, cum Romae esset, eam comitatem iuventutis, ut pro rege, non pro obside omnibus ordinibus fuerit.

[10] legatis benigne responsum, et societatem renovare cum Antiocho, quae cum patre eius fuerat, A. Atilius praetor urbanus iussus.

[11] quaestores urbani stipendium, vasa aurea censores acceperunt, eisque negotium datum est, ut ponerent ea, in quibus templis videretur; legato centum milium aeris munus missum et aedes liberae hospitio datae sumptusque decretus, donec in Italia esset.

[12] legati, qui in Syria fuerant, renuntiaverant, in maximo eum honore apud regem esse amicissimumque populo Romano.

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).) — 43.6 focus

[1]

multarum simul Graeciae Asiaeque civitatium legati Romam convenerunt.

[2] primi Athenienses introducti; ii se, ¹ quod navium habuerint militumque

[3] P. Licinio consuli et C. Lucretio praetori misisse exposuerunt; quibus eos non usos frumenti sibi centum milia imperasse; quod, quamquam sterilem terram ararent, ² ipsosque etiam agrestis peregrino frumento alerent, tamen, ne deessent officio, ³ confecisse; et alia quae imperarentur praestare paratos esse.

[4] milesii nihil, quod ⁴ praestitissent, memorantes, si quid imperare ad bellum senatus vellet praestare se paratos esse polliciti sunt.

[5] alabandenses templum Urbis Romae se fecisse commemoravere ⁵ ludosque anniversarios ei divae instituisse; et coronam auream quinquaginta pondo,

[6] quam in Capitolio ponerent donum Iovi optimo maximo, attulisse et scuta equestria trecenta; ea, cui iussissent, tradituros. donum ut in Capitolio ponere et sacrificare liceret, petebant.

[7] hoc et ⁶ Lampsaceni, octoginta pondo coronam afferentes, petebant,

[8] commemorantes discessisse se a Perseo, ⁷ postquam Romanus exercitus ⁸ in Macedoniam venisset, cum sub dicione Persei et ante Philippi fuissent.

[9] pro eo et quod imperatoribus Romanis omnia praestitissent, id se tantum orare, ut in amicitiam populi Romani reciperentur, et, si pax cum Perseo fieret, ⁹ exciperentur, ne in regiam potestatem reciderent.

[10] ceteris legatis comiter responsum; Lampsacenos ¹⁰ in sociorum formulam referre Q. Maenius praetor iussus. munera omnibus in singulos binum milium aeris data. alabandenses scuta reportare ad A. Hostilium consulem in Macedoniam iussi.

[11] et ex Africa legati simul Carthaginiensium et Masinissae venerunt: legati Carthaginiensium ¹¹ tritici deciens centum milia et hordei quingenta ¹² indicantes se ad mare devecta habere, ut, quo senatus censuisset, deportarent;

[12] id munus officiumque suum scire minus esse quam pro meritis populi Romani et voluntate sua; sed saepe alias bonis in rebus utriusque populi se gratorum fideliumque socium ¹³ muneribus functos esse.

[13] item Masinissae legati tritici eandem summam polliciti et mille et ducentos equites, duodecim elephantos; et si quid aliud opus esset, uti imperaret senatus: aeque propenso animo et ea ¹⁴ et, quae ipse ultro pollicitus sit, praestaturum esse.

[14] gratiae et Carthaginiensibus et regi actae, ¹⁵ rogatique ut ea quae pollicerentur ¹⁶ ad Hostilium consulem in Macedoniam deportarent. legatis in singulos binum milium aeris munera missa.

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 42.6 focus

[1]

a Delphis et Aetolico concilio Marcellus in Peloponnesum traiecit , quo Achaeis edixerat conventum.

[2] ubi conlaudata gente, quod constanter vetus decretum de arcendis aditu finium regibus Macedonum tenuissent, insigne adversus Persea odium Romanorum fecit;

[3] quod ut maturius erumperet, Eumenes rex commentarium ferens secum, quod de apparatibus belli omnia inquirens fecerat, Romam venit.

[4] per idem tempus quinque legati ¹ ad regem missi, qui res in Macedonia aspicerent. Alexandriam idem ad Ptolemaeum renovandae amicitiae causa proficisci iussi.

[5] legati erant hi: C. Valerius Cn. Lutatius Cerco Q. Baebius Sulca M. Cornelius Mammula M. Caecilius Denter .

[6] et ab Antiocho rege sub idem tempus legati venerunt. quorum princeps Apollonius Appollonius in senatum introductus multis iustisque causis regem excusavit, quod stipendium serius quam ad diem praestaret;

[7] id se omne advexisse, ne cuius nisi temporis gratia regi fieret. donum praeterea afferre.

[8] vasa aurea quingentum pondo. petere regem, ut, quae cum patre suo societas atque amicitia fuisset, ea secum renovaretur, imperaretque sibi populus Romanus, quae bono fidelique socio regi essent imperanda; se nullo usquam cessaturum officio.

[9] ea merita in se senatus fuisse, cum Romae esset, eam comitatem iuventutis, ut pro rege, non pro obside omnibus ordinibus fuerit.

[10] legatis benigne responsum et societatem renovare cum Antiocho, quae cum patre eius fuerat, A. Atilius praetor urbanus iussus.

[11] quaestores urbani stipendium, vasa aurea ² censores acceperunt, eisque negotium datum est, ut ponerent ea in quibus templis videretur; legatoque centum milium aeris munus missum et aedes liberae hospitio datae sumptusque decretus, donec in Italia esset.

[12] legati, qui in Syria fuerant, renuntiaverant in maximo eum honore apud regem esse amicissimumque populo Romano.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 42.6 focus

[1]

Corinth was agreed upon as the place where the hostages should be lodged. Marcellus crossed over from Delphi, and the Aetolian council, into Peloponnesus, where he had summoned a diet of the Achaeans.

[2] There, by the praises which he bestowed on that nation, for having resolutely maintained their old decree, which prohibited the admission of the Macedonian kings within the limits of their territories, he manifested the inveterate hatred of the Romans towards Perseus;

[3] and this hatred broke out into effect the sooner, in consequence of king Eumenes coming to Rome, and bringing with

[4] him a written statement of the preparations made for war, which he had drawn up, after a full inquiry into every particular. Five ambassadors were now sent to the king, in order to take a view of affairs in Macedon.

[5] The same were ordered to proceed to Alexandria to Ptolemy, to renew the treaty of friendship. These were Caius Valerius, Cneius Lutatius Cerco, Quintus Baebius Sulca, Marcus Cornelius Mammula, and Marcus Caecilius Denter.

[6] About the same time, came ambassadors from king Antiochus; and the principal of them, called Apollonius, being admitted to an audience of the senate, presented, on behalf of his king, many and reasonable apologies for paying the tribute later than the day appointed.

[7]

He now brought,

he said,

the whole of it, that the king might require no favour except the delay of time. He brought besides a present of gold vases, in weight five hundred pounds.

[8]

Antiochus requested, that the treaty of alliance and amity, which had been made with his father, might be renewed with him; and that the Roman people might demand from him every service which might be required from a king who was a good and faithful ally: that he would never be remiss in the performance of any duty.

[9]

Such had been the kindness of the senate towards him when he was at Rome, such the courtesy of the young men, that, among all ranks of men, he was treated as a sovereign, not as a hostage.

[10] A gracious answer was returned to the ambassadors, and Aulus Atilius, city praetor, was ordered to renew with Antiochus the alliance formerly made with his father. The city quaestors received the tribute, and the censors the golden vases; and the business of placing them in whatever temples they should judge proper, was assigned to them.

[11] One hundred thousand asses¹ were presented to the ambassador, and a house at the public cost was given him for his accommodation, and it was ordered that his expenses should be paid as long as he would remain in Italy.

[12] The ambassadors, who had been in Syria, represented him as standing in the highest degree of favour with the king, and a very warm friend to the Roman people.

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.) — 42.6 focus

[1]

Leaving Delphi and the Aetolian council Marcellus proceeded to the Peloponnese, where he had called a meeting of the Achaean council.

[2] Here he commended them for having firmly retained the old decree forbidding the Macedonian kings any approach to their territories, and he made it quite clear that the Romans regarded Perseus as an enemy.

[3] To precipitate hostilities Eumenes went to Rome, taking with him the notes he had made during his enquiry into the warlike preparations going on.

[4] Five commissioners were at the same time sent to the king to see for themselves the state of things in Macedonia, and were instructed to visit Alexandria as well and renew the friendly relations between Ptolemy and Rome.

[5] The members of the mission were C. Valerius, Cn. Lutatius Cerco, Q. Baebius Sulca, M. Cornelius Mammula, and M. Caecilius Denter. Envoys from Antiochus arrived about the same date.

[6] Their leader, Apollonius, when introduced to the senate, alleged many valid reasons why the king was paying his tribute after the appointed day. He had, however, brought the whole amount, so that no favour need be shown to the king beyond excusing the delay.

[7] He had, in addition, brought a present of golden vases weighing 500 pounds.

[8] The king asked that the friendship and alliance which had been formed with his father might be renewed with him, and that the people of Rome would look to him for all that a friendly monarch could supply; he would never be lacking in any service he could render them.

[9] During his stay in Rome, he reminded the House, it was due to the kindness of the senate and the friendliness of the younger men that he was treated as a prince more than as a hostage.

[10] The deputation received a gracious reply and the City praetor, A. Atilius, was ordered to renew the alliance with Antiochus which had existed with his father. The tribute was given into the charge of the City quaestors, and the golden vases were handed to the censors with instructions to deposit them in whatever temples they thought fit.

[11] The leader of the deputation received a present of 100,000 ases, and free quarters and hospitality were decreed to him as long as he remained in Italy.

[12] The commissioners who had been in Syria had reported that he held the highest place of honour with the king and was a devoted friend to Rome.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. Marcellus, in calling a council, overstepped the bounds set by the senate in 184 B.C. (XXXIX. xxxiii. 8), but perhaps Livy has not stated the facts exactly.

2. Cf. XLI. xxiii. 1.

3. B.C. 173

4. Ptolemy V (Epiphanes) had been succeeded in 181 B.C. by the boy Ptolemy VI (Philometor), but Livy has not previously mentioned the fact.

5. For the Romanizing of Antiochus Epiphanes, cf. XLI. xx. l ff.

6. B.C. 173

7. The usual procedure was to give 2000 asses to each member of an embassy (cf. e.g. xix. 6 below); the last sentence of the chapter may explain the senate's generosity to Apollonius.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 42.6

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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