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), 42.62

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[1] The Romans, not departing from the bank of the Peneüs, transferred their camp to a safer place.

[2] There Misagenes the Numidian arrived with a thousand cavalry, an equal number of infantry, and in addition twenty-two elephants.

[3] As during these days the king was holding a council concerning his general policy, now that his overboldness resulting from success had subsided, some of his friends took courage to advise him to use his good fortune as a basis for an honourable peace rather than, led astray by idle hope, to throw himself into irrevocable disaster. To impose restraint on success and not to trust too much to the calm of his present fortune, they said, was the way of a wise man and one who was deservedly fortunate.

[4] Let him send to the consul men to renew the treaty on the same terms as those on which his father Philip had received peace from the victorious Titus Quinctius.¹

[5] The war could not be ended more gloriously than with so memorable a fight, nor could a

[6] more well-founded hope of lasting peace present itself than that which would make the Romans, shaken by the loss of a battle, more moderate in framing the treaty. But if then too the innate stubbornness of the Roman² should scorn fair terms, gods and men would be witnesses both of Perseus' moderation and of his opponents' stiff-necked haughtiness.

[7] The king's mind was never averse to such counsels.

[8] And so as the opinion was approved by the assent of the majority, envoys were sent to the consul; they were heard in the presence of a full council. They asked for peace, promising that Perseus would pay the Romans as much tribute³ as

[9] Philip had promised, and that he would yield with all speed the cities, land and places which Philip had yielded.

[10] So far the envoys. When after the withdrawal of the envoys the matter was discussed, Roman steadfastness⁴ carried the day in the council.

[11] The custom of that age was to wear in misfortune the aspect of success and to be of temperate disposition in successes. It was decided to reply that peace would be granted on condition that the king should give to the senate the unconditional right of deciding on a general policy concerning the king himself and concerning all Macedonia.⁵

[12] When the envoys reported these terms, to those ignorant of the Roman character their obstinacy was portentous, and many advised against any further reference to peace;

[13] for soon, they said, the Romans would of their own accord seek what they scorned when offered.

[14] Perseus feared this very haughtiness —thinking that it⁶ sprang from confidence in their strength-and, increasing the sum of money, if perchance he might buy peace for a price, he did not cease to test the purpose of the consul.

[15] After the latter would make no change in the terms of his first answer, Perseus, giving up hope of peace, returned to Sycurium from whence he had set out, intending to try anew the fortunes of war.

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.) — 42.62 focus

[1] Romani non abscedentes ab ripa Penei tulerunt in locum tutiorem castra.

[2] eo Misagenes Numida venit cum mille equitibus, pari peditum numero, ad hoc elephantis duobus et viginti.

[3] per eos dies consilium habenti regi de summa rerum,cum iam consedisset ferocia ab re bene gesta, ausi sunt quidam amicorum consilium dare, ut secunda fortuna in condicionem honestae pacis uteretur potius, quam spe vana evectus in casum inrevocabilem se daret.

[4] modum inponere secundis rebus nec nimis credere serenitati praesentis fortunae, prudentis hominis et merito felicis esse.

[5] mitteret ad consulem, qui foedus in easdem leges renovarent, quibus Philippus pater eius pacem ab T. Quinctio victore accepisset.

[6] neque finiri bellum magnificentius quam ab tam memorabili pugna posse, neque spem firmiorem pacis perpetuae dari, quam quae perculsos adverso proelio Romanos molliores factura sit ad paciscendum.

[7] quodsi Romani tum quoque insita pertinacia aequa aspernarentur, deos hominesque et moderationis Persei et illorum pervicacis superbiae futuros testes.

[8] numquam ab talibus consiliis abhorrebat regis animus. itaque ut plurium adsensu conprobata est sententia, legati ad consulem missi;

[9] adhibito frequenti consilio auditi sunt.

[10] pacem petiere, vectigal, quantum Philippus pactus esset, daturum Persea Romanis pollicentes; urbibus, agris locisque, quibus Philippus cessisset, cessurum quam primum.

[11] haec legati. summotis his cum consultarent, Romana constantia vicit in consilio. ita tum mos erat, in adversis rebus voltum secundae fortunae gerere, moderari animo in secundis.

[12] responderi placuit, ita pacem dari, si de summa rerum liberum senatui permittat rex de se deque universa Macedonia statuendi ius.

[13] haec cum renuntiassent legati, miraculo ignaris Romani moris pertinacia esse, et plerique vetare amplius mentionem pacis facere;

[14] ultro mox quaesituros, quod oblatum fastidiant. Perseus hanc ipsam superbiam — quippe ex fiducia virium esse — timere, et summam pecuniae augens, si pretio pacem emere posset, non destitit animum consulis temptare.

[15] postquam nihil ex eo, quod primo responderat, mutabat, desperata pace ad Sycurium, unde profectus erat, redit, belli casum de integro temptaturus.

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.) — 42.62 focus

[1]

abestonum . Romani non abscedentes ab ripa Penei transtulerunt in locum tutiorem castra.

[2] eo Misagenes Numida venit cum mille equitibus, pari peditum numero, ad hoc elephantis duobus et viginti.

[3] per eos dies consilium habenti regi de summa rerum, cum iam consedisset ferocia ab re bene gesta, ausi sunt quidam amicorum consilium dare, ut secunda fortuna in condicionem honestae pacis uteretur potius, quam spe vana evectus in casum ¹ inrevocabilem se daret:

[4] modum inponere secundis rebus nec nimis credere serenitati praesentis fortunae prudentis hominis et merito felicis esse.

[5] mitteret ad consulem, qui foedus in easdem leges renovarent, quibus Philippus pater eius pacem ab T. Quinctio victore accepisset.

[6] neque finiri bellum magnificentius quam ab tam memorabili pugna posse, neque spem firmiorem pacis perpetuae dari, quam quae perculsos adverso proelio Romanos molliores factura sit ad paciscendum.

[7] quodsi Romani tum quoque insita pertinacia aequa aspernarentur, deos hominesque et moderationis Persei et illorum pervicacis superbiae futuros testes.

[8] numquam ab talibus consiliis abhorrebat regis animus; itaque plurium adsensu conprobata est sententia.

[9] legati ad consulem missi adhibito frequenti consilio auditi sunt.

[10] pacem petiere, vectigal, quantum Philippus pactus esset, daturum Persea Romanis pollicentes; urbibus, agris locisque, quibus Philippus cessisset, cessurum et ipsum.

[11] haec legati. summotis his cum consultarent, Romana constantia vicit in consilio. ita tum mos erat, in adversis voltum secundae fortunae gerere, moderari animos in secundis.

[12] responderi placuit, ita pacem dari, si de summa rerum ² liberum senatui permittat rex de se deque universa Macedonia statuendi ius.

[13] haec cum renuntiassent legati, miraculo ignaris moris Romani pertinacia esse, et plerique vetare amplius mentionem pacis facere: ultro mox quaesituros, quod oblatum fastidiant.

[14] Perseus hanc ipsam superbiam, quippe ex fiducia virium esse, timere, et summam pecuniae augens, si pretio pacem emere posset, non destitit animum consulis temptare.

[15] postquam nihil ex eo, quod primo responderat, mutabat, desperata pace ad Sycurium, unde profectus erat, rediit belli casum de integro temptaturus.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 42.62 focus

[1]

The Romans, without quitting the bank of the Peneus, removed their camp to a place of greater safety.

[2] Thither came Misagenes, the Numidian, with one thousand horse, and a like number of foot, besides twenty-two elephants.

[3] The king soon after held a council on the general plan to be pursued; and as the presumption inspired by the late success had by this time subsided, some of his friends ventured to advise him to employ his good fortune as the means of obtaining an honourable peace, rather than to let himself be so far transported with vain hopes, as to expose himself to the hazard of an irretrievable misfortune.

[4] They observed, that

to use moderation in prosperity, and not to confide too much in the calm of present circumstances, was the part of a man of prudence, who deserved success;

[5]

and they recommended it to him to send to the consul, to renew the treaty, on the same terms which his father had received from Titus Quintius, his conqueror;

[6]

for the war could never be terminated in a more glorious manner than by such a memorable battle, nor could a surer hope of a lasting peace ever occur, than that afforded by existing circumstances, as they were likely to make the Romans, dispirited by their defeat, more willing to come to terms.

[7]

But should they, with their native obstinacy, spurn reasonable conditions, then gods and men would bear witness both to the moderation of Perseus, and to the stubborn pride of the others.

The king's inclination was never averse to such measures; therefore this opinion received the approbation of the majority.

[8] The ambassadors sent to the consul had audience in a full council, summoned for the purpose.

[9] They requested that

a peace might be concluded; promising that Perseus should pay the Romans the same tribute which Philip had engaged to pay, and should evacuate the same cities, lands, and places, which Philip had evacuated.

[10] Such were the proposals of the ambassadors. When they withdrew, and the council deliberated concerning them, the Roman firmness prevailed in their determination.

[11] So completely was it the practice of that time, to assume in adversity the countenance of prosperity, and in prosperity to moderate the temper. They resolved to give this answer:

That peace should be granted on this condition only; that the king should give to the senate an entirely unconditional right, of deciding concerning him and all Macedon.

[12] When the ambassadors brought back this answer, such as were unacquainted with their usual mode of acting, were astonished at the obstinate perseverance of the Romans, and most people

[13] advised the king to make no further mention of peace, for

the enemy would soon come to solicit that which they now disdained when offered.

[14] Perseus feared this haughtiness, since it proceeded from a confidence in their strength, and increasing the sum of money, with the hope of purchasing peace by treasure, did not cease to solicit the mind of the consul.

[15] After the consul made no change in the answer which he had first given, Perseus, having despaired of peace, returned to Sycurium, from which he had set out, with the intention of trying again the fortune of war.

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.) — 42.62 focus

[1]

The Romans without quitting the river moved their camp into a safer position.

[2] Whilst they were there Misagenes the Numidian came in with 1000 cavalry, the same number of infantry and 22 elephants.

[3] The king was holding a council to decide upon the future conduct of the war, and as his exultation over his victory had cooled down, some of his friends ventured to give him advice. They argued that it would be better for him to take advantage of his good fortune by securing an honourable peace than to buoy himself up with idle hopes and so expose himself to chances that might be irrevocable.

[4] To set a measure to one's prosperity and not to place too much confidence in the smiling fortune of the hour is the part of a wise man who has achieved a deserved success.

[5] Let him send men to the consul with powers to make fresh proposals for peace on the same terms on which his father Philip had accepted peace from the victorious T. Quinctius.

[6] There could be no grander close to the war than the late memorable battle and no surer grounds for hopes of a lasting peace than those which would make the Romans, disheartened as they were by their defeat, ready to come to terms.

[7] If the Romans should then, with their inbred stubbornness, reject fair terms, gods and men would alike bear witness to the moderation of Perseus and the invincible arrogance of the Romans.

[8] The king never disliked advice of this character, and this policy was approved by the majority of the council. The deputation to the consul were received in audience in a full council.

[9] They asked for peace, and promised that Perseus would give the Romans the amount of tribute which had been agreed upon with his father.

[10] Such were their instructions. In the discussion which followed on their withdrawal Roman firmness won the day.

[11] It was the custom in those days to wear the look of prosperity in adverse circumstances, and to curb and restrain the feelings in a time of prosperity. The reply decided upon was that peace would be granted only on the condition that the king placed himself entirely in the hands of the senate and allowed it the unrestricted right of determining his future and that of Macedonia.

[12] When the report of the deputation became known, those who were unacquainted with the Roman character regarded it as an astounding exhibition of obstinacy and any further allusion to peace was generally forbidden.

[13] Those, they said, who spurn the peace now offered will soon come to ask for it.

[14] It was this very obstinacy that Perseus was afraid of; he looked upon it as due to a confidence in their strength, and on the chance of being able to purchase peace at a price, persisted in his attempts to bribe the consul by constantly increasing the sum offered.

[15] As the consul adhered to his first reply Perseus despaired of peace and returned to Sycurium, prepared to face the hazards of war once more.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. Cf. XXXIII. xxx; on Perseus' policy, cf. Polybius XXVII. 8.

2. B.C. 171

3. Strictly speaking, Philip had paid a war-indemnity, not a tribute.

4. Examples of this Roman virtue may be found in XXII. lxi. 1 and 13, cf. ibid. xxxvii. 3.

5. Cf. Polybius XXVII. 8. 7-10.

It was unanimously decided (by the Roman council) to give as severe a reply as possible, it being in all cases the traditional Roman custom to show themselves most imperious and severe in the season of defeat, and most lenient after success. That this is noble conduct every one will confess, but perhaps it is open to doubt if it is possible under certain circumstances. In the present case, then, their answer was as follows. They ordered Perseus to submit absolutely, giving the senate authority to decide as they saw fit about the affairs of Macedonia

(tr. Paton, L.C.L.).

6. B.C. 171

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 42.62

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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