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), 45.6

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[1]

However, when he committed this terrible crime against his pre-eminent remaining friend, who had been tested in so many vicissitudes and had been betrayed because he had not betrayed the king, Perseus turned all hearts against him.

[2] Each one individually deserted to the Romans.

By fleeing they forced the king too, left almost alone, to adopt some plan of flight; finally he appealed to Oroandes the Cretan, who knew the coast of Thrace from having made trading voyages there, to take him aboard a scout-ship and carry him to Cotys.

[3] There is a harbour Demetrium on a ¹ certain headland of Samothrace; ² the scout-ship was anchored there. At sun-down the needful equipment was carried to the shore; all the money that could be brought secretly was also carried down.

[4] In the middle of the night, the king himself with three companions of his flight went by a back door of the house into a garden next to his bedroom and thence, after scrambling with difficulty over a wall, reached the sea. ³

[5] Oroandes had waited just long enough for the money to be brought down, and in the early darkness had weighed anchor and was sailing directly for Crete.

[6] When the ship was not found at the harbour, Perseus wandered about for some time on the shore and, finally, fearing the imminent approach of dawn, did not dare to return to the house where he was entertained, but took cover near an out-of-the-way corner on one side of the temple.

[7] Among the Macedonians there were Royal Pages, ⁴ so-called, sons of the chief men chosen to wait upon the king; this troop, having accompanied the king in his flight had not even then left him, until by order of Gnaeus Octavius, announcement was made by a herald that if the Royal

[8] Pages and the other Macedonians who were in Samothrace surrendered to the Romans, they would secure their safety, their freedom, and all their possessions which they either had with them, or had left in Macedonia.

[9] At this word, they all made their way to the Romans, and reported their names to Gaius Postumius, a military tribune. The king's young children were also handed over to Octavius by Ion of Thessalonica, and no one was left ⁵ with the king except Philip, his oldest son.

[10] Then Perseus surrendered himself and his son to Octavius, railing at his fortune and the gods in whose temple he was, who had done nothing to aid their suppliant. ⁶

[11] He was ordered to be placed in the flagship, and what was left of the money was brought there. The fleet immediately sailed back to Amphipolis.

[12] Thence Octavius sent the king to the consul's camp, sending ahead dispatches to inform the consul that the king was a prisoner and was being brought to him.

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.) — 45.6 focus

[1] ceterum tanto facinore in unicum relictum amicum admisso, per tot casus expertum proditumque, quia non prodiderat, omnium ab se abalienavit animos.

[2] pro se quisque transire ad Romanos; fugaeque consilium capere solum prope relictum coegerunt; Oroandem denique Cretensem, cui nota Threciae ora erat, quia mercaturas in ea regione fecerat, appellat, ut se sublatum in lembum ad Cotym deveheret.

[3] Demetrium est portus in promunturio quodam Samothracae; ibi lembus stabat. sub occasum solis deferuntur, quae ad usum necessaria erant; defertur et pecunia, quanta clam deferri poterat.

[4] rex ipse nocte media cum tribus consciis fugae per posticum aedium in propincum cubiculo hortum atque inde maceriam aegre transgressus ad mare pervenit.

[5] Oroandes tantum moratus, dum pecunia deferretur, primis tenebris solverat navem ac per altum Cretam petebat.

[6] postquam in portu navis non inventa est, vagatus Perseus aliquamdiu in litore, postremo timens lucem iam adpropinquantem, in hospitium redire non ausus in latere templi prope angulum obscurum delituit.

[7] pueri regii apud Macedonas vocabantur principum liberi ad ministerium electi regis; ea cohors persecuta regem fugientem ne tum quidem abscedebat, donec iussu Cn. Octavi pronuntiatum est per praeconem regios pueros Macedonasque alios,

[8] qui Samothracae essent, si transirent ad Romanos, incolumitatem libertatemque et sua omnia servaturos, quae aut secum haberent aut in Macedonia reliquissent.

[9] ad hanc vocem transitio omnium facta est, nominaque dabant ad C. Postumium tribunum militum. liberos quoque parvos regios Ion Thessalonicensis Octavio tradidit, nec quisquam praeter Philippum, maximum natu e filiis, cum rege relictus.

[10] tum sese filiumque Octavio tradidit, fortunam deosque, quorum in templo erat, nulla ope supplicem iuvantis accusans.

[11] in praetoriam navem inponi iussus, eodem et pecunia, quae superfuit, delata est;

[12] extemploque classis Amphipolim repetit. inde Octavius regem in castra ad consulem misit praemissis litteris, ut in potestate cum esse et adduci sciret.

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).) — 45.6 focus

[1]

ceterum tanto facinore in unicum relictum amicum admisso, ¹ per tot casus expertum proditumque, quia non prodiderat, omnium ab se abalienavit animos. pro se quisque transire ad Romanos,

[2] fugaeque consilium capere solum prope relictum coegerunt; Oroandem denique ² Cretensem, cui nota Threciae ora erat quia mercaturas in ea regione fecerat, appellat ut se sublatum in ³ lembum ad Cotym deveheret.

[3] Demetrium est portus in promunturio ⁴ quodam Samothracae; ibi lembus stabat. sub occasum solis deferuntur quae ad usum necessaria erant; defertur et pecunia quanta clam deferri poterat.

[4] Rex ipse nocte media cum tribus consciis fugae per ⁵ posticum aedium in propinquum cubiculo hortum atque inde maceriam aegre transgressus ad mare pervenit.

[5] Oroandes tantum moratus, ⁶ dum pecunia deferretur, primis tenebris solverat navem ac per altum Cretam petebat.

[7] pueri regii apud Macedonas vocabantur principum liberi ad ministerium electi regis; ea cohors persecuta regem fugientem ne tum quidem abscedebat, donec done iussu Cn. Octavi pronuntiatum est per praeconem regios pueros Macedonasque alios,

[8] qui Samothracae essent, si transirent ad Romanos, incolumitatem libertatemque et sua omnia servaturos, quae aut secum haberent ⁷ aut in Macedonia reliquissent.

[9] ad hanc vocem transitio omnium facta est, nominaque dabant ad C. Postumium tribunum militum. liberos quoque parvos regios Ion Thessalonicensis Octavio ⁸ tradidit, nec quisquam praeter Philippum, maximum natue ⁹ filiis, cum rege relictus.

[10] tum sese filiumque Octavio tradidit, fortunam deosque, quorum in templo erat, ¹⁰ nulla ope supplicem iuvantis accusans.

[11] in praetoriam navem imponi iussus, eodem et pecunia quae superfuit delata est; extemploque classis Amphipolim repetit.

[12] inde Octavius regem in castra ad consulem misit praemissis litteris, ut in potestate eum esse et adduci sciret.

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 45.6 focus

[1]

ceterum tanto facinore in unicum relictum amicum admisso, per tot casus expertum proditumque, quia non prodiderat, omnium ab se abalienavit animos.

[2] pro se quisque transire ad Romanos; fugaeque consilium capere solum prope ¹ relictum coegerunt; Oroandemque Cretensem, cui nota Threciae ora erat, quia mercaturas in ea regione fecerat, appellat, ut se sublatum in lembum ad Cotym deveheret.

[3] Demetrium est portus in promunturio quodam Samothracae; ibi lembus stabat. sub occasum solis deferuntur, quae ad usum necessaria erant, defertur et pecunia, quanta clam deferri poterat.

[4] rex ipse nocte media cum tribus consciis fugae per posticum aedium in propincum cubiculo hortum atque inde, maceriam aegre transgressus, ad mare pervenit.

[5] Oroandes tantum moratus, dum pecunia deferretur, primis tenebris solverat navem ac per altum Cretam petebat.

[7] pueri regii apud Macedonas vocabantur principum liberi ²ad ministerium electi regis. ea cohors persecuta regem fugientem ne tum quidem abscedebat, donec iussu Cn. Octavi pronuntiatum est per praeconem,

[8] regios pueros Macedonasque alios, qui Samothracae essent, si transirent ad Romanos, incolumitatem libertatemque et sua omnia servaturos, quae aut secum haberent aut in Macedonia reliquissent.

[10] tum sese filiumque Octavio tradidit, fortunam deosque, quorum in templo erat, nulla ope supplicem iuvantis accusans.

[11] in praetoriam navem inponi iussus, eodem et pecunia, quae superfuit, delata est, extemploque classis Amphipolim repetiit.

[12] inde Octavius regem in castra ad consulem misit praemissis litteris, ut in potestate eum esse et adduci sciret. ³

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 45.6 focus

[1]

But by such an atrocious act, committed on his only remaining friend, on one whose fidelity he had experienced on so many trying occasions, and who, in return for not proving a traitor, was himself betrayed, he alienated the feelings of every one.

[2] All went over to the Romans as soon as they could, and consequently obliged him, now left almost alone, to adopt the design of flying. He applied to a Cretan, called Oroandes, to whom the coast of Thrace was well known, since he carried on traffic in that country, to take him on board his vessel, and convey him to Cotys.

[3] At one of the promontories of Samothrace, is the harbour of Demetrium; there the vessel lay.

[4] About sun-set every thing necessary for the voyage was carried thither, together with as much money as could be transported with secrecy; and at midnight, the king himself, with three persons, who were privy to his flight, going out through a back door into a garden near his chamber, and having, with much difficulty, climbed over the wall, went down to the shore.

[5] Oroandes had set sail, at the dusk of the evening, the very moment the money arrived, and was now steering for Crete.

[6] Perseus, after he could not find the ship in the harbour, wandered about for a long time on the coast, but at last, fearing the approach of day, and not daring to return to his lodging, he hid himself in a dark corner at one side of the temple.

[7] The royal pages was the name given among the Macedonians to a band of the children of the leading noblemen, who were selected to wait on the king: this band had accompanied Perseus in his flight, and did not even now desert him, until a proclamation was made by the herald of Cneius Octavius, that,

if the

[8]

royal pages, and other Macedonians, then in Samothrace, would come over to the Romans, they should have impunity, liberty, and all their property, both what they had in the island, and what they had left in Macedon.

[9] On this notice they all passed over to the Romans, and gave in their names to Caius Postumius, a military tribune. Ion of' Thessalonica delivered up to Octavius the king's younger children also; nor was any one now left with Perseus, except Philip, his eldest son.

[10] Then, after uttering many execrations against fortune, and the gods to whom the temple belonged, for not affording aid to a suppliant, he surrendered himself and his son to Octavius, who gave orders to put him on board the praetor's ship;

[11] the remainder of his money was put on board the same ship; and the fleet immediately returned to Amphipolis.

[12] Thence Octavius sent the king into the camp to the consul, having previously sent forward a letter to inform him that he was a prisoner, and on the road thither.

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.) — 45.6 focus

[1]

However, the commission of such a crime against his one remaining friend, who had been tested through so many misfortunes and who had been betrayed because he would not betray his master, alienated all men's sympathies from him.

[2] Each thinking only of himself went over to the Romans, and as he was left all but alone he was compelled to form plans for flight. There was a Cretan named Oroandas who was familiar with the coast of Thrace through his trading journeys. Perseus called upon him to take him on board with him to Cotys.

[3] There was a bay formed by one of the headlands of Samothrace, named from the adjacent temple of Demeter the Demetrium, and there the boat was lying. Just after sunset everything required for use, and as much of the money as could be carried without detection, was put on board.

[4] The king with three who shared his flight went out at midnight through a door at the back of the house into the garden which was close to his room, and after climbing the wall with considerable difficulty succeeded in reaching the shore.

[5] Oroandas had only waited till the money was on board, and as soon as it grew dark weighed anchor and put out to sea for Crete.

[6] As no ship was to be found in the harbour Perseus wandered about for some time on the shore. At last, dreading the approach of day, he did not dare to return to his quarters but hid himself in a dark corner on one side of the temple.

[7] The children of the Macedonian nobility who were chosen to wait on the king used to be known as "the royal pages."

[8] These boys had followed the king in his flight, and even now refused to desert him until a proclamation was published by order of Cnaeus Octavius, stating that the royal pages and any other Macedonians who were in Samothrace would, if they went to the Romans, preserve their personal safety and liberty, and all their property, both what they had with them and what they had left in Macedonia.

[9] After this pronouncement all went over and reported themselves to C. Postumius, one of the military tribunes. Ion, the Thessalian, also gave up the king's little children to Octavius, and now no one was left with the king except his eldest son Philip.

[10] Then Perseus, inveighing against Fortune and the gods in whose temple he was for refusing all aid to their suppliants, surrendered himself and his son into the hands of Octavius.

[11] Orders were given for him to be put on board the commander's ship, together with what remained of the money. The fleet at once sailed back to Amphipolis.

[12] From there Octavius sent the king to the consul's camp, having previously advised him that the king was being brought to his camp as a prisoner.

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. A temple of Demeter stood there, of. below, sec. 6. The temple is mentioned in I.G. XII. 8. The promontory of Kamariotissa marks the site approximately.

3. Perseus' wife accompanied him, according to Plutarch, Aemilius xxvi, and was one of the causes of delay, being quite unathletic.

4. These pages are also described by Curtius VIII. vi. 2.

5. B.C. 168

6. Diodorus XXIX. 28 points out that he had forfeited his claim on the gods by his disloyalty toward his brother.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 45.6

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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