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), 43.4

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[1]

. . they thereafter ¹ caused such terror as ² they entered the camp, displaying the heads, that if the army had been brought up at once, the camp might have been taken.

[2] Even as it was, a great panic took place, and there were those who advised sending envoys to beg for peace; many cities, too, on hearing this news, offered themselves in surrender.

[3] These cities cleared themselves and placed the blame on the folly of two men ³ who had of their own accord gone to meet their punishment, and the praetor, having accepted these excuses, set out at once for the other cities and, since everybody obeyed his

[4] commands, passed without using his army through a region, now peaceful, which shortly before had been aflame with a huge uprising.

[5] This clemency of the praetor, whereby without bloodshed he had tamed a very war-like people, was the more pleasing to the Roman commons and the Fathers because the campaign in Greece had been conducted with too much cruelty and greed by both the consul Licinius and Lucretius the praetor.

[6] Lucretius was assailed in his absence by the tribunes of the people in meeting after meeting, although it was stated in his behalf that he was absent in the service of the state; but in that day even the neighbourhood of the city was such unknown territory that he was at that time on his estate at Antium ⁴ and was engaged in bringing water to Antium from the River Loracina ⁵ at the cost of his spoils.

[7] He is said to have let the contract ⁶ for this work at one hundred and thirty thousand asses; he also decorated with paintings from the booty the temple of Aesculapius. ⁷

[8] Disapprobation and disgrace were diverted from Lucretius to Hortensius, his successor, by envoys from Abdera, ⁸ who wept before the senate-house and complained that their city had been stormed and plundered by Hortensius;

[9] the reason for the destruction of the city had been, they said, that when the praetor had ordered a hundred thousand denarii and fifty thousand peeks of wheat, they had asked for a stay, during which they might send envoys about the matter to the consul Hostilius and to Rome. Hardly had they come to the consul when they heard that their town had been stormed, their leading men beheaded with the axe, and the rest sold at auction.

[10] This seemed to the senate a disgraceful occurrence, and they issued the same decree about the

[11] people of Abdera which they had issued the preceding year about the people of Coronea, ⁹ and instructed Quintus Maenius the praetor ¹⁰ to make a similar proclamation before an assembly. Furthermore, two envoys, Gaius Sempronius Blaesus and Sextus Julius Caesar, were sent to restore the people of Abdera to freedom.

[12] To these same envoys instructions were given to inform both Hostilius the consul and Hortensius the praetor that

[13] the senate had resolved that an improper war had been undertaken against the people of Abdera, and that it was just that all who were enslaved should be sought out and restored to ¹¹ freedom.

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.) — 43.4 focus

[1] * tis tantum extitit * pavorem ingressi castra, ostentantes capita, fecerunt, ut, si admotus extemplo exercitus foret, capi castra potuerint.

[2] tum quoque fuga ingens facta est; et erant, qui legatos mittendos ad pacem precibus petendam censerent; civitatesque conplures eo nuntio audito in deditionem venerunt.

[3] quibus purgantibus sese culpamque in duorum amentiam conferentibus, qui se ultro ad poenam ipsi obtulissent, cum veniam dedisset praetor,

[4] profectus extemplo ad alias civitates omnibus imperata facientibus quieto exercitu pacatum agrum, qui paulo ante ingenti tumultu arserat, peragravit.

[5] haec lenitas praetoris, qua sine sanguine ferocissimam gentem domuerat, eo gratior plebi patribusque fuit, quo crudelius avariusque in Graecia bellatum et ab consule Licinio et ab Lucretio praetore erat.

[6] Lucretium tribuni plebis absentem contionibus adsiduis lacerabant, cum rei publicae causa abesse excusaretur; sed tum adeo vicina etiam inexplorata erant, ut is eo tempore in agro suo Antiati esset aquamque ex manubiis Antium ex flumine Loracinae duceret.

[7] id opus centum triginta milibus aeris locasse dicitur; tabulis quoque pictis ex praeda fanum Aesculapi exornavit.

[8] invidiam infamiamque ab Lucretio averterunt in Hortensium, successorem eius, Abderitae legati flentes ante curiam querentesque oppidum suum ab Hortensio expugnatum ac direptum esse:

[9] causam excidii fuisse urbi, quod, cum centum milia denarium et tritici quinquaginta milia modium imperaret, spatium petierint, quo de ea re et ad Hostilium consulem et Romam mitterent legatos.

[10] vixdum ad consulem se pervenisse et audisse oppidum expugnatum, principes securi percussos, sub corona ceteros venisse.

[11] indigna res senatui visa, decreveruntque eadem de Abderitis, quae de Coronaeis decreverant priore anno, eademque pro contione edicere Q. Maenium praetorem iusserunt.

[12] et legati duo, C. Sempronius Blaesus Sex. Iulius Caesar, ad restituendos in libertatem Abderitas missi.

[13] iisdem mandatum, ut et Hostilio consuli et Hortensio praetori nuntiarent, senatum Abderitis iniustum bellum inlatum conquirique omnes, qui in servitute sint, et restitui in libertatem aecum censere.

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).) — 43.4 focus

[1]

tis tantum exinde pavorem ¹ ingressi ² castra, ostentantes capita, fecerunt, ut, si admotus extemplo exercitus foret, capi castra potuerint.

[2] tum quoque fuga ingens facta est; et erant qui legatos mittendos ad pacem precibus petendam censerent; civitatesque complures eo nuntio audito in deditionem venerunt.

[3] quibus purgantibus sese culpamque in duorum amentiam conferentibus, qui se ultro ad poenam ipsi obtulissent,

[4] cum veniam dedisset praetor, profectus extemplo ad alias civitates omnibus imperata facientibus quieto exercitu pacatum agrum, qui paulo ante ingenti tumultu arserat, peragravit.

[6] Lucretium tribuni plebis absentem contionibus adsiduis lacerabant, cum rei publicae causa abesse excusaretur; sed tum adeo vicina etiam inexplorata erant ut is eo tempore in agro suo Antiati esset aquamque ³ ex manubiis Antium ex flumine Loracinae duceret.

[7] id opus centum triginta milibus ⁴ aeris locasse dicitur; tabulis quoque pictis ex praeda fanum Aesculapi exornavit.

[8] invidiam infamiamque ab Lucretio averterunt ⁵ in Hortensium, successorem eius, Abderitae legati flentes ante curiam querentesque oppidum suum ab Hortensio expugnatum ac direptum esse:

[9] causam causum excidii fuisse urbi, quod, cum centum milia denarium et tritici quinquaginta milia modium imperaret, ⁶ spatium petierint, quo de ea re et ad Hostilium consulem et Romam mitterent legatos.

[10] vixdum ad consulem se pervenisse et audisse oppidum expugnatum, principes securi percussos, sub corona ceteros venisse. ⁷

[11] indigna res senatui ⁸ visa, decreveruntque eadem de Abderitis, quae de Coronaeis ⁹ decreverant priore anno, eademque pro contione edicere Q. Maenium praetorem iusserunt.

[12] et legati duo, C. Sempronius Blaesus Sex. iulius Caesar, ad restituendos in libertatem Abderitas missi.

[13] iisdem mandatum, ut et Hostilio consuli et Hortensio praetori nuntiarent, senatum ¹⁰ Abderitis iniustum bellum illatum conquirique omnes, qui in servitute sint, et restitui in libertatem aequum ¹¹ censere.

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 43.4 focus

[1]

tis tantum extitit pavorem ingressi castra, ostentantes capita, fecerunt, ut, si admotus extemplo exercitus foret, capi castra potuerint.

[2] tum quoque fuga ingens facta est; et erant, qui legatos mittendos ad pacem precibus petendam censerent, civitatesque conplures eo nuntio audito in deditionem venerunt.

[3] quibus purgantibus sese culpamque in duorum amentiam conferentibus, qui se ultro ad poenam ipsi obtulissent, cum veniam dedisset praetor,

[4] profectus extemplo ad alias civitates omnibus imperata facientibus quieto exercitu pacatum agrum, qui paulo ante ingenti tumultu arserat, peragravit.

[5] haec lenitas praetoris, qua sine sanguine ferocissimam gentem domuerat, eo gratior plebi patribusque fuit, quo crudelius ¹ avariusque in Graecia bellatum et ab consule Licinio et ab Lucretio praetore erat.

[7] id opus centum triginta milibus aeris locasse dicitur. tabulis quoque pictis ex praeda fanum Aesculapi exornavit.

[8] invidiam infamiamque ab Lucretio averterunt in Hortensium successorem eius Abderitae legati flentes ante curiam querentesque oppidum suum ab Hortensio expugnatum ac direptum esse:

[9] causam excidii fuisse urbi, quod, cum centum milia denarium et tritici quinquaginta milia modium imperaret, spatium petierint, quo de ea re et ad Hostilium consulem et Romam mitterent legatos.

[10] vixdum ad consulem se pervenisse et audisse ² oppidum expugnatum, principes securi percussos, sub corona ceteros venisse.

[11] indigna res senatui visa decreveruntque eadem de Abderitis, quae de Coronaeis decreverant priore anno, eademque pro contione edicere Q. Maenium praetorem iusserunt.

[12] et legati duo, C. Sempronius Blaesus Sex. Iulius Caesar , ad restituendos in libertatem Abderitas missi.

[13] iisdem mandatum, ut et Hostilio consuli et Hortensio praetori nuntiarent senatum Abderitis iniustum bellum inlatum conquirique omnes, qui in servitute sint, et restitui in libertatem aecum censere.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 43.4 focus

[5] ¹ These entering the camp and showing the heads caused such panic, that if the Romans had instantly advanced to the camp they might have taken it.

As it was, a general flight took place; and some were of opinion that ambassadors should be sent to supplicate for peace; while a great number of states, on hearing this intelligence, surrendered: and when the praetor had given pardon to them while endeavouring to excuse themselves, and laying all the blame on the madness of the two individuals who had voluntarily offered themselves for punishment, he proceeded immediately to the other states, every one of which acknowledged his authority, and he passed with his army in peace, without doing any injury, through the tract of country where before the flames of war raged with the utmost fury.

[6] This mercy shown by the praetor, by which he overcame without bloodshed a very savage people, was the more pleasing to the senate and people, as the war had been conducted in Greece both by the consul Licinius and the praetor Lucretius with uncommon avarice and cruelty.

[7] The plebeian tribunes, daily, in their speeches to the people, censured Lucretius for being absent, though it was alleged in his favour that he was abroad on the business of the public.

[8] But so little was then known of what passed, even in the vicinity of Rome, that he was, at that very time, at his own estate near Antium; and, with money amassed in his expedition, was bringing water thither from the river Loracina; he is said to have contracted for the execution of this work at the expense of one hundred and thirty thousand asses.²

[9] He also decorated the temple of Aesculapius with pictures taken from among the spoils. But ambassadors from Abdera diverted the public displeasure, and the consequent disgrace, from Lucretius to his successor. These stood weeping at the door of the senate-house, and complained, that

their town had been stormed and plundered by Hortensius.

[10]

His only reason,

they said,

for destroying their city was, that, on his demanding from them one hundred thousand denariuses, ³ and fifty thousand measures of wheat, they had requested time until they could send ambassadors on the subject, both to the consul Hostilius, and to Rome; and that they had scarcely reached the consul, when they heard that the town was stormed, their nobles beheaded, and the rest sold for slaves.

[11] This act appeared to the senate deserving their indignation, and they passed the same decree respecting the people of Abdera as they had passed concerning the Coronaeans.

[12] They also ordered Quintus Maenius, the praetor, to publish the notice in a general assembly, as had been done the year before. Two ambassadors, Caius Sempronius Blaesus and Sextus Julius Caesar, were sent to restore the Abderites to liberty;

[13] and were likewise commissioned to deliver a message from the senate to the consul Hostilius, and to the praetor Hortensius, that the senate judged the war made on the Abderites to be unjust, and had directed that all those who were in servitude should be sought out and restored to liberty.

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.) — 43.4 focus

[1]

They entered the camp displaying the heads and created such a panic that if the army had been brought up at once the camp might have been taken.

[2] Even as it was, there was a general flight, and some thought that envoys ought to be sent to beg for peace. A large number of communities when they heard what had happened made their surrender. They tried to clear themselves by throwing all the blame on the madness of two men who had voluntarily offered themselves for punishment.

[3] The praetor pardoned them and immediately set out to visit other cities.

[4] Everywhere he found his orders were being carried out and his army was unmolested. The country through which he passed, and which had been so shortly before seething with unrest and turbulence, was now quiet and peaceable.

[5] This gentleness on the part of the praetor, who had curbed the temper of a most warlike nation without bloodshed, was all the more welcomed by the senate and the plebs as the war in Greece had been conducted in a most ruthless and rapacious spins both by the consul Licinius and the praetor Lucretius

[6] The tribunes of the plebs were perpetually holding up to odium the absent Lucretius in their speeches, though it was pleaded on his behalf that he was absent in the service of the republic.

[7] But people in those days were so ignorant of what was going on in their vicinity that he was actually at that very time residing on his estate at Antium, and was bringing water to that town from the Loracina from his share of the spoils of the war. It is said that this work cost 130,000 ases.

[8] He also decorated the shrine of Aesculapius with pictures which had formed part of the plunder.

The general odium and disgrace which Lucretius had incurred were diverted from him to his successor, Hortensius.

[9] A deputation from Abdera arrived in Rome, and stood weeping in the porch of the senate-house and protesting that their town had been stormed and sacked by Hortensius. He had ordered them to supply 100,000 denarii and 50,000 modii of wheat, and they asked for time to send to the consul Hostilius and to Rome.

[10] Hardly had they reached the consul when they heard that their town had been taken by storm, their leaders beheaded and the rest of the population sold into slavery.

[11] The senate regarded this as a disgraceful proceeding and they made the same decree in the case of the Abderites that they had made the previous year in the case of the Coronaeans, with instructions to the praetor to announce the decree to the Assembly.

[12] Two commissioners, C. Sempronius Blaesus and Sextius Julius Caesar, were sent to restore the Abderites to freedom, and to inform Hostilius

[13] and Hortensius that the senate considered the attack upon Abdera as utterly unjustifiable, and demanded that search should be made for all who were enslaved in order that they might be set free.

Notes on the current edition

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

thereafter

is a conjecture not usually accepted by editors. The

heads

evidently belonged to two leaders of the revolt; those who brought them to the Spanish camp may have been released prisoners.

2. B.C. 170

3. Olonicus was the chief rebel, according to the Summary.

4. Less than 35 miles from Rome.

5. A small stream east of the city.

6. B.C. 171

7. According to Valerius Maximus I. viii. 2 this temple was earlier than that of Aesculapius at Rome.

8. Abdera was apparently a free ally of Rome.

9. This city of Boeotia, an opponent of Rome, cf. XLII. xliv. 4, lxiii. 3, had been severely handled by the consul Licinius, cf. above, sec. 5, and the Summary, also Zonaras 9. 22. Livy's account of the event has been lost, cf. above, p. 13, n. 7.

10. Apparently the praetor in charge of aliens ( peregrinus ), since in ch. vi. 10 he receives the Lampsacenes as allies; the city praetor, Marcus Raecius, was absent, cf. below, ix. 6 and the note.

11. B.C. 171

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 43.4

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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