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), 45.25

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[1]

Following a speech to this effect all the envoys again cast themselves down in the posture of suppliants, waving their olive-branches; after some time they were made to rise and left the senate-house.

[2] Then the roll-call of opinions began. The chief enemies of the Rhodians were those who had been conducting the war in Macedonia as consuls, praetors, or staff-officers.

[3] Great aid to the cause of Rhodes was given by Marcus Porcius Cato, who, though of a harsh temperament, on this occasion played the part of a tolerant and mild senator.

[4] I shall not include here a pale wraith of this eloquent man by reporting what he said; his own speech is preserved in written form, as part of the fifth book of ¹ his

Beginnings.

[5] The reply to the Rhodians was couched in such form that they were neither declared enemies nor continued to be allies.

Philocrates and Astymedes were the leaders of this embassy.

[6] It was decided that some of them with Philocrates should report to Rhodes about the embassy, while some remained at Rome with Astymedes to keep track of what was being done and inform their people. For the time being orders were given that they should withdraw their governors from Lycia and Caria by a certain date.

[7] These actions were reported at Rhodes; of themselves they would have been grievous, but were turned into a cause for rejoicing, because the Rhodians were relieved of fear of a greater evil, since they had feared war. So they immediately voted a crown of twenty thousand gold pieces. They sent Theodotus, ³ the admiral of their fleet, on this embassy. They wanted to ask the Romans for an alliance in such fashion that no decree of the people concerning it should be passed or committed to dispatches, because if they did not obtain their request, the disgrace of an open repulse would be greater.

[8] The admiral of the fleet alone had the right to negotiate for such a purpose without the passing of any enabling resolution.

[9] For the Rhodians had for all these years ⁴ maintained their friendship in such a way as not to bind themselves to the Romans by any treaty of alliance, precisely for the purpose of not cutting off hope on ⁵ the part of the kings that they would come to their aid, if need arose, as well as their own hope of reaping a harvest from the good will and good fortune of the kings.

[10] At this time they felt that they should by all means seek an alliance, not to protect themselves against other peoples, for they feared no one but the Romans, but to alleviate the Romans' suspicion of themselves.

[11] At about the same time the Caunians revolted from them, and Mylassa seized the towns of the Euromenses.

[12] The spirit of Rhodes was not so broken that they did not perceive that if Lycia and Caria were taken away by the Romans, and the rest of their possessions either freed themselves by revolt or were seized by the neighbours, they would be hemmed in by the shores of a small island of infertile soil, which could by no means support the population of so large a city. Troops were therefore promptly sent and the Caunians compelled to accept their rule, even though forces of Cibyra were called in by the Caunians.

[13] Mylassa too and Alabanda, which had also come to join Mylassa in taking away the province of Euromus, ⁶ were defeated in battle near Orthosia.

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.) — 45.25 focus

[1] secundum talem orationem universi rursus prociderunt supplices ramosque oleae iactantes; tandem excitati curia excesserunt. tunc sententiae interrogari coeptae.

[2] infestissimi Rhodiis erant, qui consules praetoresve aut legati gesserant in Macedonia bellum. plurimum causam eorum adiuvit M. Porcius Cato, qui, asper ingenio, tum lenem mitemque senatorem egit.

[3] non inseram simulacrum veri copiose, quae dixerit, referendo: ipsius oratio scripta extat, Originum quinto libro inclusa.

[4] Rhodiis responsum ita redditum est, ut nec hostes fierent nec socii permanerent. Philocrates et Astymedes principes legationis erant.

[5] partim cum Philocrate renuntiare Rhodum legationem placuit, partim cum Astymede Romae subsistere, qui, quae agerentur, scirent certioresque suos facerent.

[6] in praesentia deducere ante certam diem ex Lycia Cariaque iusserunt praefectos. haec Rhodum nuntiata, quae per se tristia fuissent, quia maioris mali levatus erat timor, cum bellum timuissent, in gaudium verterunt.

[7] itaque extemplo coronam viginti milium aureorum decreverunt; Theodotum, praefectum classis, in eam legationem miserunt. societatem ab Romanis ita volebant peti, ut nullum de ea re scitum populi fieret aut litteris mandaretur, quod, nisi impetrarent, maior a repulsa ignominia esset.

[8] praefecti classis id unius erat ius, ut agere de ea re sine rogatione ulla perlata posset nam ita per tot annos in amicitia fuerant,

[9] ut sociali foedere se cum Romanis non inligarent, ob nullam aliam causam, quam ne spem regibus absciderent auxilii sui, si quid opus esset, neu sibi ipsis fructus ex benignitate et fortuna eorum percipiendi.

[10] tunc utique petenda societas videbatur, non quae tutiores eos ab aliis faceret — nec enim timebant quemquam praeter Romanos — , sed quae ipsis Romanis minus suspectos.

[11] sub idem fere tempus et Caunii descivere ab iis, et Mylassenses Euromensium oppida occuparunt.

[12] non ita fracti animi civitatis erant, ut non sentirent, si Lycia et Caria ademptae ab Romanis forent, cetera aut se ipsa per defectionem liberarent aut a finitumis occuparentur, includi se insulae parvae et sterilis agri litoribus, quae nequaquam alere tantae urbis populum posset.

[13] missa igitur iuventute propere et Caunios, quamquam Cibyratarum asciverant auxilia, coegerunt imperio parere; et Mylassensis Alabandensisque, qui Euromensium provinciam ademptum et ipsi coniuncto exercitu venerant, circa Orthosiam acie vicerunt.

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).) — 45.25 focus

[1]

secundum talem orationem universi rursus prociderunt supplices ¹ ramosque oleae iactantes; tandem excitati curia excesserunt. tunc tune sententiae sentehtiae interrogari coeptae.

[3] non inseram simulacrum viri copiosi, ² quae dixerit referendo: ipsius oratio scripta extat, Originum quinto libro inclusa.

[4] Rhodiis³ responsum ita redditum est ut nec hostes fierent nec socii permanerent.

Philocrates et Astymedes principes legationis erant.

[5] partim⁴ cum Philocrate renuntiare Rhodum legationem placuit, partim cum Astymede Romae subsistere, qui ⁵ quae agerentur scirent ⁶ certioresque suos facerent. ⁷

[7] itaque extemplo coronam viginti milium aureorum decreverunt; Theodotum, praefectum classis, in eam legationem miserunt. societatem ab Romanis ita volebant peti ut nullum de ea re scitum populi fieret aut litteris mandaretur, quod, nisi impetrarent, maior a repulsa ignominia ⁹ esset. praefecti classis id unius erat ius,

[8] ut agere de ea re sine rogatione ulla perlata posset.

[9] nam ita per tot annos in amicitia fuerant, ut sociali foedere se cum Romanis non inligarent, ob nullam aliam causam, quam ne spem regibus absciderent ¹⁰ auxilii sui, si quid ¹¹ opus esset, neu sibi ipsis fructus ex benignitate et fortuna eorum percipiendi.

[10] tunc tune utique petenda societas videbatur, non quae tutiores eos ab aliis faceret—nec enim timebant quemquam praeter Romanos—sed quae ipsis Romanis minus suspectos.

[11] sub idem fere tempus et Caunii descivere ab iis, et Mylassenses Euromensium oppida occuparunt.

[12] non ita fracti animi civitatis erant, ut non sentirent, si Lycia et Caria ademptae ab Romanis forent, cetera aut se ipsa per defectionem liberarent aut a finitimis occuparentur, includi se insulae parvae et sterilis agri litoribus, quae nequaquam alere tantae urbis populum posset.

[13] missa igitur iuventute propere et Caunios, quamquam Cibyratarum asciverant auxilia, coegerunt imperio parere; et Mylassensis Alabandensisque, qui Euromensium ¹² provinciam ademptum et ipsi coniuncto exercitu venerant, ¹³ circa Orthosiam acie vicerunt.

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 45.25 focus

[1]

secundum talem orationem universi rursus prociderunt ramosque oleae supplices iactantes tandem excitati curia ¹ excesserunt.

[2] tunc sententiae interrogari coeptae. infestissimi Rhodiis erant, qui consules praetoresve aut legati gesserant in Macedonia bellum. plurimum causam eorum adiuvit M. Porcius Cato, qui, asper ingenio, tum lenem mitemque senatorem egit.

[3] non inseram simulacrum viri copiosi, quae dixerit, referendo; ipsius oratio scripta exstat Originum quinto libro inclusa.

[4] Rhodiis responsum ita redditum est, ut nec hostes fierent nec socii permanerent.

[5] Philocrates et Astymedes principes legationis erant. partim cum Philocrate renuntiare Rhodum legationem placuit, ² partim cum Astymede Romae subsistere, qui, quae agerentur, scirent certioresque suos facerent.

[7] itaque extemplo coronam viginti milium aureorum decreverunt; Theaetetum, praefectum classis, in eam legationem miserunt. societatem ab Romanis ita volebant peti, ut nullum de ea re scitum populi fieret aut litteris mandaretur, quod, nisi impetrarent, maior a repulsa ignominia esset.

[8] praefecti classis id unius erat ius, ³ ut agere de ea re sine rogatione ulla perlata posset.

[9] nam ita per tot annos in amicitia fuerant, ut sociali foedere se cum Romanis non inligarent, ob nullam aliam causam, quam ne spem regibus absciderent auxilii sui, si quid opus esset, neu sibi ipsis fructus ex benignitate et fortuna eorum percipiendi.

[10] tunc utique petenda societas videbatur, non quae tutiores eos ab aliis faceret — nec enim timebant quemquam praeter Romanos —, sed quae ipsis Romanis minus suspectos.

[11] sub idem fere tempus et Caunii descivere ab iis, et Mylasenses Euromensium oppida ⁴ occuparunt.

[13] missa igitur iuventute propere et Caunios, quamquam Cibyratarum asciverant auxilia, coegerunt imperio parere, et Mylasensis Alabandensisque, qui Euromensium provinciam ademptum et ipsi coniuncto exercitu venerant, circa Orthosiam acie vicerunt.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 45.25 focus

[1]

After so mournful a speech, they all prostrated themselves again, and as supplicants, held out olive branches; but at length they were raised, and withdrew from the senate-house.

[2] They then began to ask the opinions of the senators. The most inveterate against the Rhodians were those, who as consuls, praetors, or lieutenant-generals, had been engaged in the war with Macedon. Marcus Porcius Cato was the principal supporter of their cause, who, though naturally austere, acted his part as a senator, on this occasion, with much mild- ness and lenity.

[3] I will not introduce here a specimen of his copious eloquence, by relating what he said: his speech is extant, and is comprised in the fifth book of his Antiquities.

[4] The answer given to the Rhodians was, that

they should neither be declared enemies, nor any longer remain in alliance with Rome.

[5] At the head of this embassy were Philocrates and Astymedes. They determined that half their number, with Philocrates, should carry home to Rhodes an account of their proceedings; and that the other half, with Astymedes, should remain at Rome, that they might be acquainted with what passed, and inform their countrymen.

[6] For the present, they were commanded to remove their governors out of Lycia and Caria, before a certain day. This intelligence was announced at Rhodes; and although it was galling in itself, yet as the Rhodians were relieved from the dread of a greater evil, for they had feared a war, the announcement created joy.

[7] They therefore immediately voted a present, amounting in value to twenty thousand pieces of gold, and deputed Theatetus, the commander of their fleet, on that embassy. They wished to procure an alliance with the Romans; but, in such a manner, as that no order of the people should pass concerning it, nor any thing be committed to writing; for in either of these cases, if they failed in suc- ceeding, there would be greater disgrace in the refusal.

[8] The admiral of the fleet was empowered, singly, to negotiate that business, if he could effect it without any law being brought forward at Rome on the subject;

[9] for, during a considerable length of time, they had maintained a friendship with the Romans, in such a manner as not to bind themselves by a treaty of alliance, for no other reason than that they might neither preclude the kings from all hope of their assistance, if any of them should need it, nor themselves from a participation of the advantages which might accrue from the good fortune and liberality of the said kings.

[10] At this time, however, an alliance seemed particularly desirable, not to render them more secure from others, (for excepting the Romans, they feared none,) but to make them less suspected by the Romans themselves.

[11] About this time, the Caunians revolted from them, and the Mylasensians seized on the towns of the Euromensians. The spirit of their community was not so totally broken as to hinder their perceiving, that, if Lycia and Caria were taken from them by the Romans, their other provinces would either assert their own freedom by a revolt, or be seized on by their neighbours;

[12] and that they themselves would then be shut up in a small island; within the shores of a barren country, which could by no means maintain the numerous people in so large a city.

[13] They therefore sent out, with all speed, a body of troops, and reduced the Caunians to obedience, though they had received succours from Cybara: and afterwards defeated in a battle at Orthosia the Mylassians and Alabandians, who, having seized the province of Euroma, had marched against them with their allied forces.

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.) — 45.25 focus

[1]

Such was the speech. At its close they all again prostrated themselves, waving their suppliant olive branches to and fro. At last they rose and left the senate-house.

[2] Then the senators were asked to state their view. The bitterest opponents of the Rhodians were those who as consuls or praetors or staff officers had taken part in the war.

[3] The one who did most to help them was M. Porcius Cato, who though naturally stern and inflexible acted on this occasion the part of a lenient and conciliatory senator.

[4] I will not insert a specimen of his fluency and eloquence by transcribing his speech, it is extant in the Fifth Book of his Origines. The reply made to the Rhodians was to the effect that they would neither be declared enemies nor allowed to remain as allies.

[5] The leaders of the deputation were Philocrates and Astymedes. Some of the delegates decided to accompany Philocrates back to Rhodes with the report of the proceedings, others elected to remain in Rome with Astymedes so that they could find out what was going on and inform their countrymen.

[6] For the time being they were only required to withdraw their governors from Lycia and Caria. This would in itself have created a painful impression, but as they were relieved from the apprehension of a worse evil, that of war, the announcement was received with joy.

[7] They at once decreed a crown of 20,000 gold pieces in value and sent it to Theaetetus, the commandant of the fleet, for him to carry it to Rome. They wished him to press for an alliance with Rome, but in such a way that the terms would not be submitted to the people, nor reduced to writing, because in case he was unsuccessful the failure would be all the more humiliating.

[8] It was the sole prerogative of the commandant of the fleet to act in these matters without any formal decree being made.

[9] For all those years they had maintained friendly relations with Rome without binding themselves by an express treaty of alliance, their only reason being that they did not wish to preclude the kings from all hopes of their assistance should it ever be needed, nor themselves from the advantage to be derived from the bounty and good fortune of those monarchs.

[10] Under present circumstances it seemed especially desirable that an alliance should be formed, not to give them additional security against other nations-for they feared none but the Romans-but to make them less suspected by the Romans themselves.

[11] Just at this time the Caunians revolted from them and the Mylasensians seized the towns of the Euromensians.

[12] The Rhodian government was not so broken in spirit as not to become aware that if Lycia and Caria had been taken from them by Rome the other subject countries would either win their freedom by revolt or be seized by their neighbours, and they themselves would be shut up in a small and unfertile island which was quite incapable of supporting the population of so large a city. A body of troops was accordingly despatched to the disaffected districts and reduced the Caunians to submission, though they had summoned help from the Cibyratae.

[13] They also defeated in an action near Orthosia the Mylasensians and Alabandians who had joined forces to wrest from them the province of Euromos.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. B.C. 167

2. Small parts of this speech are reported by Gellius VI (VII) 3, especially 35. 37. 50, where arguments appear which Livy puts into the mouth of the Rhodian. Cato was an antiimperialist, at least as to expansion eastward, which involved contact with what he regarded as the debilitating culture of Greece, so that his attitude in this matter was sincere, not a pose.

3. Frequently mentioned by Polybius as a pro-Roman, e.g., XXVII. 14 (11), where the name is given as Theaedetus.

4. Polybius XXX. 5. 6 says 140 years; the first embassy from Rhodes recorded by Livy in the extant text is over 100 years later, in 201 B.C. , XXXI. ii. 1.

5. B.C. 167

6. Alabanda and Mylassa lay to north and south, respectively, of Euromus. Rhodes had been interested in Euromus for some time, as shown by XXXII. xxxiii. 6, and probably by XXXIII. xxx. 3. If Livy's order of events is right, this early interest would explain why Rhodes kept Euromus, after the

liberation

of Caria by the Romans; but Polybius puts the

liberation

after an interval following the return of the embassy, and the fighting may have taken place during this interval. Mylassa was left

tax-exempt,

presumably autonomous, by the settlement with Antiochus, XXXVIII.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 45.25

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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