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), 44.22

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[1]

When the senate had finished its voting, the consul Lucius Aemilius went from the senate-house to a public meeting and made the following speech:

[2]

I seem to have noticed, fellow-citizens, that greater congratulations were offered me when I was allotted Macedonia as my field of operations than when my election as consul was announced, or on the day when I entered upon office. The reason for this was none other, I believe, than that you regard me as capable of bringing the long-drawn-out war in Macedonia to an end worthy of the high position of the Roman people.

[3]

The gods too, I hope, approve this fall of the lot and will likewise be at my side in action.

[4]

So far I can partly prophesy, and partly hope; another matter I dare to assert as sure namely, that I will strive with every effort that the hope you have conceived for me shall not be vain.

[5]

What is required for the war has been voted by the senate, and since it is determined that I shall set out at once, for which I am not reluctant, the preparations will be made by that excellent man, my colleague Gaius Licinius, as vigorously as if he were going to conduct the campaign.

[6]

For your part, see to it that you have confidence only in the reports I make to the senate and to you, and beware of nourishing by your credulity the gossip for which no sponsor will appear.

[7]

For I have noticed that, as is commonly the case, so now especially in this war no one is so scornful of ¹ rumour that his spirit cannot be weakened.

[8]

In all the clubs and even —God save us! —at dinner-tables there are experts who lead armies to Macedonia, who know where camp should be pitched, what places should be held with garrisons, when or by what pass Macedonia should be invaded, where granaries should be set up, by what routes on land or sea provisions should be supplied, when we must join battle with the enemy and when it is better to remain inactive.

[9]

Not only do they decide what should be done, but when anything is done contrary to their opinion, they accuse the consul as if he were in the dock. Such behaviour is a great obstacle to the men in the field.

[10]

For not everyone is as unwavering and as steadfast of spirit against hostile gossip as was Quintus Fabius, who preferred to have his independence of command lessened by popular folly rather than to neglect the best interests of the state for the sake of acclaim.

[11]

I am not, fellow-citizens, one who believes that no advice may be given to leaders; nay rather I judge him to be not a sage, but haughty, who conducts everything according to his own opinion alone. What therefore is my conclusion?

[12]

Generals should receive advice, in the first place from the experts who are both specially skilled in military matters and have learned from experience; secondly, from those who are on the scene of action, who see the terrain, the enemy, the fitness of the occasion, who are sharers in the danger, as it were aboard the same vessel.

[13]

Thus, if there is anyone who is confident that he can advise me as to the best advantage of the state in this campaign which I am about to conduct, let him not refuse his services to the state, but come with me into Macedonia. I will ² furnish him with his sea-passage, with a horse, a tent, and even travel-funds. If anyone is reluctant to do this and prefers the leisure of the city to the hardships of campaigning, let him not steer the ship from on shore.

[14]

The city itself provides enough subjects for conversation; let him confine his garrulity to these; and let him be aware that I shall be satisfied with the advice originating in camp.

[15] After this address and the due completion of the sacrifice at the Latin Festival,

[16] which was held on March 31 ⁴ on the Alban Mount, both the consul and the praetor Gnaeus Octavius immediately set out for Macedonia.

[17] History records that the consul was escorted by an unusually great throng of persons paying their respects to him, and that men prophesied with almost sure expectation that the Macedonian war would come to an end, and that the return of the consul would be prompt and in great triumph.

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.) — 44.22 focus

[1] senatus consultis perfectis L. Aemilius consul e curia in contionem processit orationemque talem habuit:

[2] “animadvertisse videor, Quirites, maiorem mihi sortito Macedoniam provinciam gratulationem factam, quam cum aut consul sum renuntiatus, aut quo die magistratum inii, neque id ob aliam causam, quam quia bello in Macedonia, quod diu trahitur, existimastis dignum maiestate populi Romani exitum per me inponi posse.

[3] deos quoque huic favisse sorti spero eosdemque in rebus gerendis adfuturos esse.

[4] haec partim ominari, partim sperare possum; illud adfirmare pro certo audeo, me omni ope adnisurum esse, ne frustra vos hanc spem de me conceperitis.

[5] quae ad bellum opus sunt et senatus decrevit, et, quoniam extemplo proficisci placet neque ego in mora sum, C. Licinius collega, vir egregius, aeque enixe parabit ac si ipse id bellum gesturus esset.

[6] vos quae scripsero senatui ac vobis, iis modo credite et cavete rumores credulitate vestra alatis, quorum auctor nemo extabit.

[7] nam nunc quidem, quod vulgo fieri, hoc praecipue bello, animadverti, nemo tam famae contemptor est, cuius non debilitari animus possit.

[8] in omnibus circulis atque etiam, si dis placet, in conviviis sunt, qui exercitus in Macedoniam ducant, ubi castra locanda sint sciant, quae loca praesidiis occupanda, quando aut quo saltu intranda Macedonia, ubi horrea ponenda, qua terra, mari subvehantur commeatus, quando cum hoste manus conserendae, quando quiesse sit melius.

[9] nec, quid faciendum sit, modo statuunt, sed, quidquid aliter, quam ipsi censuere, factum est, consulem veluti dicta die accusant.

[10] haec magna impedimenta res gerentibus sunt: neque enim omnes tam firmi et constantis animi contra adversum rumorem esse possunt, quam Q. Fabius fuit, qui suum imperium minui per vanitatem populi maluit, quam secunda fama male rem publicam gerere.

[11] non sum is, Quirites, qui non existumem admonendos duces esse: immo eum, qui de sua unius sententia omnia gerat, superbum iudico magis quam sapientem.

[12] quid ergo est? primum a prudentibus et proprie rei militaris peritis et usu doctis monendi imperatores sunt; deinde ab iis, qui intersunt gerendis rebus, qui loca, qui hostem, qui temporum opportunitatem vident, qui in eodem velut navigio participes sunt periculi.

[13] itaque si quis est, qui, quod e re publica sit, suadere se mihi in eo bello, quod gesturus sum, confidat, is ne deneget operam rei publicae et in Macedoniam mecum veniat. nave, equo, tabernaculo, viatico etiam a me iuvabitur;

[14] si quem id facere piget et otium urbanum militiae laboribus praeoptat, e terra ne gubernaverit.

[15] sermonum satis ipsa praebet urbs; iis loquacitatem suam contineat: nos castrensibus consiliis contentos futuros esse sciat.”

[16] ab hac contione, Latinis, quae pridie kal. Apriles fuerunt, in monte sacrificio rite perpetrato protinus inde et consul et praetor Cn. Octavius in Macedoniam profecti sunt.

[17] traditum memoriae est maiore quam solita frequentia prosequentium consulem celebratum, ac prope certa spe ominatos esse homines, finem esse Macedonico bello maturumque reditum cum egregio triumpho consulis fore.

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).) — 44.22 focus

[1]

senatus consultis perfectis L. Aemilius consul e curia in contionem processit orationemque talem habuit ¹ :

[2]

animadvertisse videor, Quirites, maiorem mihi sortito Macedoniam provinciam gratulationem factam, quam cum aut consul sum creatus, ² aut quo die magistratum inii, ³

[3]

neque id ob aliam causam, quam quia bello in Macedonia, quod diu trahitur, existimastis dignum maiestate populi Romani exitum per me imponi posse. deos quoque huic favisse sorti spero eosdemque in rebus gerendis adfuturos esse.

[4]

haec partim ominari, ⁴ partim sperare possum; illud adfirmare pro certo audeo, ⁵ me omni ope adnisurum esse, ne ⁶ frustra vos hanc spem de me conceperitis.

[5]

quae ad bellum opus sunt et senatus decrevit et, quoniam extemplo proficisci placet neque ego in mora sum, C. Licinius collega, vir egregius, aeque enixe parabit ac si ipse id bellum gesturus esset.

[6]

vos quae scripsero senatui ac vobis, iis modo credite et cavete rumores credulitate vestra alatis, ⁷ quorum auctor nemo extabit.

[7]

nam nunc quidem, quod vulgo fieri, hoc praecipue bello, ⁸ animadverti, nemo tam famae contemptor est cuius non debilitari animus possit.

[8]

in omnibus circulis atque etiam, si dis placet, in conviviis sunt qui exercitus in Macedoniam ducant, ubi castra locanda sint sciant, quae loca praesidiis occupanda, quando aut quo saltu intranda Macedonia, ubi horrea ponenda, qua terra, mari subvehantur commeatus, quando cum hoste manus conserendae, quando quiesse sit melius.

[9]

nec quid faciendum ⁹ sit modo statuunt, sed quidquid aliter quam ipsi censuere factum est, consulem veluti dicta die accusant.

[10]

haec magna impedimenta res gerentibus sunt. ¹⁰ neque enim omnes tam firmi et constantis animi contra adversum rumorem esse possunt, quam ¹¹ Q. Fabius fuit qui suum imperium minui per vanitatem populi maluit quam secunda fama male rem publicam gerere.

[11]

non sum is, Quirites, ¹² qui non existimem admonendos duces esse: immo eum qui de sua unius sententia omnia gerat, superbum iudico magis quam sapientem. quid ergo est?

[12]

primum a prudentibus et proprie rei militaris peritis et usu doctis monendi imperatores sunt; deinde ab iis ¹³ qui intersunt gerendis rebus, qui loca, ¹⁴ qui hostem, qui temporum opportunitatem vident, qui in eodem velut navigio participes sunt periculi.

[13]

itaque si quis est qui, quod e re publica sit, suadere se mihi in eo bello quod gesturus sum confidat, is ne deneget operam rei publicae et in Macedoniam mecum veniat. nave , equo, tabernaculo, ¹⁵ viatico etiam a me iuvabitur;

[14]

si quem id facere piget et ¹⁶ otium urbanum militiae laboribus praeoptat, e terra ne gubernaverit.

[15]

sermonum satis ipsa praebet urbs; iis loquacitatem ¹⁷ suam contineat: nos castrensibus consiliis contentos futuros esse sciat.

Ab hac contione Latinis, quae pridie kal.

[16] Apriles fuerunt in monte sacrificio rite perpetrate protinus inde et consul et praetor Cn. Octavius in Macedoniam profecti sunt.

[17] traditum memoriae est ¹⁸ maiore quam solita frequentia prosequentium consulem celebratum, ac prope certa spe ominatos esse homines, finem esse Macedonico bello maturumque reditum cum egregio triumpho consulis fore.

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 44.22 focus

[1]

senatus consultis perfectis L. Aemilius consul e curia in contionem processit orationemque talem habuit. ‘animadvertisse videor,

[2] Quirites, maiorem mihi sortito Macedoniam provinciam gratulationem factam, quam cum aut consul sum consalutatus, aut quo die magistratum inii,

[3] neque id ob aliam causam, quam quia bello in Macedonia, quod diu trahitur, existimastis dignum maiestate populi Romani exitum per me imponi posse. deos quoque huic favisse sorti spero eosdemque in rebus gerendis adfuturos esse.

[4] haec partim ominari, partim sperare possum; illud adfirmare pro certo audeo, me omni ope adnisurum esse, ne¹ frustra vos hanc spem de me conceperitis.

[6] vos, quae scripsero senatui aut vobis ru mores credulitate vestra alatis, quorum auctor nemo extabit.

[7] nam nunc quidem, quod vulgo fieri, hoc praecipue bello animadverti, nemo tam famae contemptor est, cuius non debilitari animus possit.

[8] in omnibus circulis atque ² etiam, si dis placet, in conviviis sunt, qui exercitus in Macedoniam ducant, ubi castra locanda sint sciant, quae loca praesidiis occupanda, quando aut quo saltu intranda Macedonia, ubi horrea ponenda, qua terra, mari subvehantur commeatus, quando cum hoste manus conserendae, quando quiesse sit melius.

[9] nec, quid faciendum sit, modo statuunt, sed, quidquid aliter, quam ipsi censuere, factum est, consulem veluti dicta die accusant.

[10] haec magna impedimenta res gerentibus sunt; neque enim omnes tam firmi et constantis animi contra adversum rumorem esse possunt, quam Q. Fabius fuit, qui suum imperium minui per vanitatem populi maluit quam secunda fama male rem publicam gerere.

[11] non sum is, qui non existumem admonendos duces esse; immo eum, qui de sua unius sententia omnia gerat, superbum iudico ³ magis quam sapientem.

[14] si quem id facere piget et otium urbanum militiae laboribus praeoptat, e terra ne gubernaverit.

[15] sermonum satis ipsa praebet urbs; iis loquacitatem suam contineat; nos castrensibus consilis contentos futuros esse sciat.

[16] ’ ab hac contione, Latinis, quae pridie kal. Apriles fuerunt, in monte sacrificio rite perpetrato protinus inde et consul et praetor Cn. Octavius in ⁴ Macedoniam profecti sunt.

[17] traditum memoriae est maiore quam solita frequentia prosequentium consulem celebratum, ac prope certa spe ominatos esse homines adesse finem Macedonico bello maturumque reditum cum egregio triumpho consulis fore.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 44.22 focus

[1]

When the senate had passed these decrees, the consul Lucius Aemilius went out from the senate-house into the assembly of the people, whom he addressed in a discourse to this effect:

[2]

Romans, I think I have perceived that your congratulations, on my obtaining, by lot, the province of Macedonia, were warmer than either when I was saluted consul, or on the day when I entered on office; and that for no other reason, than your having conceived an opinion, that by me the war with Perseus, which has been long protracted, may be brought to a conclusion becoming the majesty of the Roman people.

[3]

I trust that the gods also have favoured this disposal of the lots, and will give me their aid in the conduct of affairs.

[4]

Some of these consequences I can prognosticate; others I can hope for. One thing I regard as certain, and venture to affirm; that I will endeavour, by every exertion in my power, that this hope which you have conceived of me may not be frustrated.

[5]

Every thing necessary for the service, the senate has ordered; and as it has been resolved, that I am to go abroad immediately, and I do not wish to delay, my colleague, Caius Licinius, an admirable man, will make the preparations with as much zeal, as if he himself were to carry on that war.

[6]

Do you give full credit to whatever I shall write to you, or to the senate; but do not by your credulity encourage mere rumours, of which no man shall appear as the responsible author.

[7]

For, no man is so entirely regardless of reputation, as that his spirits cannot be damped; which I have observed has commonly occurred, especially in this war.

[8]

In every circle, and, truly, at every table, there are people who lead armies into Macedonia; who know where the camp ought to be placed; what posts ought to be occupied by troops; when and through what pass Macedonia should be entered; where magazines should be formed; how provisions should be conveyed by land and sea; and when it is proper to engage the enemy, when to lie quiet.

[9]

And they not only determine what is best to be done, but if any thing is done in any other manner than what they have pointed out, they arraign the consul, as if he were on his trial.

[10]

These are great impediments to those who have the management of affairs; for every one cannot encounter injurious reports with the same constancy and firmness of mind as Fabius did, who chose to let his own authority be diminished through the folly of the people, rather than to mismanage the public business with a high reputation.

[11]

I am not one of those who think that commanders ought never to receive advice; on the contrary, I should deem that man more proud than wise, who did every thing of his own single judgment. What then is my opinion?

[12]

That commanders should be counselled, chiefly, by persons of known talent; by those, especially, who are skilled in the art of war, and who have been taught by experience; and next, by those who are present at the scene of action, who see the country, who see the enemy; who see the advantages that occasions offer, and who, embarked, as it were, in the same ship, are sharers of the danger.

[13]

If, therefore, any one thinks himself qualified to give advice respecting the war which I am to conduct, which may prove advantageous to the public, let him not refuse his assistance to the state, but let him come with me into Macedonia. He shall be furnished by me with a ship, a horse, a tent; and even with his travelling charges.

[14]

But if he thinks this too much trouble, and prefers the repose of a city life to the toils of war, let him not, on land, assume the office of a pilot. The city, in itself, furnishes abundance of topics for conversation;

[15]

let it confine its passion for talking, and rest assured, that we shall be content with such councils as shall be framed within our camp.

[16] Soon after this speech, the Latin festival having been celebrated on the day before the calends of April, and the sacrifice on the mount affording favourable omens, the consul, and Cneius Octavius, the prae- tor, set out directly for Macedonia.

[17] There is a tradition that the consul, at his departure, was escorted by multitudes unusually numerous; and that people, with confident hope, presaged a conclusion of the Macedonian war, and the speedy return of the consul, to a glorious triumph.

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.) — 44.22 focus

[1]

After the senate had made all these arrangements, the consul L. Aemilius left the House and proceeded to the Assembly, where he delivered the following speech:

[2] "I think, Quirites, that my having received, through the ballot, Macedonia as my province has been greeted more warmly than when I was congratulated on my election as consul, or on the day when I entered on office. And the sole reason for this, I believe, is that you thought I could be the means of bringing this long-protracted war to such a close as shall be worthy of the greatness of Rome.

[3] I hope that the decision of the ballot has been regarded with favour by the gods also, and that they will aid me in executing the task before me.

[4] Some things I can prognosticate, others I can feel hopeful about. This I venture to affirm with absolute certainty-I will strive to the utmost of my power, that the hopes you have formed of me shall not turn out to be vain.

[5] All measures necessary for the war the senate has already taken, and as they have decided that I must start immediately, and there is nothing to hinder me, my distinguished colleague, C. Licinius, will carry out those measures with as much energy as if he himself were going to conduct the war.

[6] "What I write to the senate or to you, I ask you to believe, and not strengthen, by giving credence to them, the idle rumours of which no one will confess himself the author.

[7] For it is a common experience, and I have noticed it especially in this war, that no one can be so indifferent to public opinion as not to find his courage and energy influenced by it.

[8] In all public places where people congregate, and actually-would you believe it! —in private parties, there are men who know who are leading the armies into Macedonia, where their camps ought to be placed, what strategical positions ought to be occupied, when and by what pass Macedonia ought to be entered, where the magazines are to be formed, by what mode of land and sea transport

[9] supplies are to be conveyed, when actions are to be fought, and when it is better to remain inactive.

[10] And they not only lay down what ought to be done, but when anything is done contrary to their opinion they arraign the consul as though he were being impeached before the Assembly. This greatly interferes with the successful prosecution of a war, for it is not everybody who can show such firmness and resolution in the teeth of hostile criticism as Fabius did; he preferred to have his authority weakened by the ignorance and caprice of the people rather than gain popularity by disservice to the State.

[11] I am not one of those who think that generals are not to be advised; on the contrary, the man who always acts on his own initiative shows, in my judgment, more arrogance than wisdom.

[12] How then does the case stand? Commanders ought first of all to get the advice of thoughtful and far-seeing men who have special experience of military affairs; then from those who are taking part in the operations, who know the country and recognise a favourable opportunity when it comes, who, like comrades on a voyage, share the same dangers.

[13] If, then, there is any man who in the interests of the commonwealth feels confident that he can give me good advice in the war which I am to conduct, let him not refuse to help his country, but go with me to Macedonia. I will supply him with a ship, a horse, a tent, and with his travelling expenses as well.

[14] If anyone thinks this too much trouble, let him not try to act as a sea pilot whilst he is on land.

[15] The city itself affords plenty of subjects for conversation, let him confine his loquacity to these; he may rest assured that the discussions in our councils of war will satisfy us."

[16] After delivering this speech and offering the customary sacrifice on the Alban Mount at the Latin Festival on March 31, the consul left, in company with the praetor, for Macedonia.

[17] It is recorded that the consul was escorted by an unusually large crowd of well-wishers, and that people predicted with hopeful confidence the near close of the Macedonian war and the early return and brilliant triumph of the consul.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. B.C. 168

2. B.C. 168

3. Polybius XXIX. 1 (la) also mentions Paulus' attack on the armchair generals, which President Roosevelt used effectively (New York Times, Mar. 18, 1942, p. 10). In sec. 2, cf. the note on the text, it is possible that there was a reference to Paulus' reluctance to assume the consulship in this year, a reluctance to which Plutarch, Aemilius x f., refers both as a fact and as an item in Paulus' speech.

4. The date had been set for two weeks later, according to xix. 4 above; it seems unlikely that the date, once announced, could have been advanced, and there is probably a confusion in the text between Ides and Kalends either here or above.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 44.22

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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