Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, D. Spillan, A.M., M.D. (Translator), Cyrus Edmonds (Translator), William A. McDevitte (Translator), 1.25

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[1]

The treaty being concluded, the twin-brothers, as had been agreed, take arms. Whilst their respective friends exhortingly reminded each party "that their country's gods, their country and parents, all their countrymen both at home and in the army, had their eyes then fixed on their arms, on their hands; naturally brave, and animated by the exhortations of their friends, they advance into the midst between the two lines.

[2] The two armies sat down before their respective camps, free rather from present danger than from anxiety: for the sove- reign power was at stake, depending on the valour and fortune of so few. Accordingly, therefore, eager and anxious, they have their attention intensely riveted on a spectacle far from pleasing. The signal is given.:

[3] and the three youths on each side, as if in battle-array, rush to the charge with determined fury, bearing in their breasts the spirits of mighty armies: nor do the one or the other regard their personal danger; the public dominion or slavery is present to their mind, and the fortune ¹ of their country, which was ever after destined to be such as they should now establish it.

[4] As soon as their arms clashed on the first encounter, and their burnished swords glittered, great horror strikes the. spectators; and, hope inclining to neither side, their voice and breath were suspended.

[5] Then having engaged hand to hand, when not only the movements of their bodies, and the rapid brandishings of their arms and weapons, but wounds also and blood were seen, two of the Romans fell lifeless, one upon the other, the three Albans being wounded.

[6] And when the Alban army raised a shout of joy at their fall, hope entirely, anxiety however not yet, deserted the Roman legions, alarmed for the lot of the one, whom the three Curiatii surrounded.

[7] He happened to be unhurt, so that, though alone he was by no means a match for them all together, yet he was confident against each singly. In order therefore to separate their attack, he takes to flight, presuming that they would pursue him with such swiftness as the wounded state of his body would suffer each.

[8] He had now fled a considerable distance from the place where they had fought, when, looking behind, he perceives them pursuing him at great intervals from each other; and that one of them was not far from him. On him he turned round with great fury.

[9] And whilst the Alban army shouts out to the Curiatii to succour their brother, Horatius, victorious in having slain his antagonist, was now proceeding to a second attack. Then the Romans encourage their champion with a shout such as is usually (given) by persons cheering in consequence of unexpected success: he also hastens to put an end to the combat.

[10] Wherefore before the other, who was not far off, could come up, he despatches the second Curiatius also.

[11] And now, the combat being brought to an equality of numbers, one on each side remained, but they were equal neither in hope nor in strength. The one his body untouched by a weapon, and a double victory made courageous for a third contest: the other dragging along his body exhausted from the wound, exhausted from running, and dispirited by the slaughter of his brethren before his eyes, presents himself to his victorious antagonist. Nor was that a fight.

[12] The Roman, exulting, says,

Two I have offered to the shades of my brothers: the third I will offer to the cause of this war, that the Roman may rule over the Alban.

He thrusts his sword down into his throat, whilst faintly sustaining the weight of his armour: he strips him as he lies prostrate.

[13] The Romans receive Horatius with triumph and congratulation; with so much the greater joy, as success had followed so close on fear. They then turn to the burial of their friends with dispositions by no means alike; for the one side was elated with (the acquisition of) empire, the other subjected to foreign jurisdiction:

[14] their sepulchres are still extant in the place where each fell; the two Roman ones in one place nearer to Alba, the three Alban ones towards Rome; but distant in situation from each other, and just as they fought. ²

Ab urbe condita. Titus Livius (Livy). D. Spillan, A.M., M.D. (Translator), Cyrus Edmonds (Translator), William A. McDevitte (Translator). Medford, MA. .

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Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

History of Rome (English) (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's 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.) — 1.25 focus

[1] — Foedere icto trigemini, sicut convenerat, arma capiunt. cum sui utrosque adhortarentur, deos patrios, patriam ac parentes, quicquid civium domi, quicquid in exercitu sit, illorum tune tunc arma, illorum intueri manus, feroces et suopte ingenio et pleni adhortantium vocibus in medium inter duas acies procedunt.

[2] consederant utrimque pro castris duo exercitus periculi magis praesentis quam curae expertes; quippe imperium agebatur in tam paucorum virtute atque fortuna positum. itaque ergo erecti suspensique in minime gratum spectaculum animos intendunt.

[3] datur signum infestisque armis velut acies terni iuvenes magnorum exercituum animos gerentes concurrunt. nec his nec illis periculum suum, publicum imperium servitiumque obversatur animo futuraque ea deinde patriae fortuna, quam ipsi fecissent.

[4] ut primo statim concursu concrepuere arma micantesque fulsere gladii, horror ingens spectantis perstringit; et neutro inclinata spe torpebat vox spiritusque.

[5] consertis deinde manibus cum iam non motus tantum corporum agitatioque anceps telorum armorumque sed vulnera quoque et sanguis spectaculo essent, duo Romani, super alium alius, vulneratis tribus Albanis expirantes corruerunt.

[6] ad quorum casum cum conclamasset gaudio Albanus exercitus, Romanas legiones iam spes tota, nondum tamen cura deseruerat, exanimes vice unius, quem tres Curiatii circumsteterant.

[7] forte is integer fuit, ut universis solus nequaquam par, sic adversus singulos ferox. ergo, ut segregaret pugnam eorum, capessit fugam, ita ratus secuturos, ut quemque vulnere adfectur adfectum corpus sineret.

[8] iam aliquantum spatii ex eo loco, ubi pugnatum est, aufugerat, cum respiciens videt magnis intervallis sequentes; unum haud procul ab sese abesse.

[9] in eum magno impetu rediit, et dum Albanus exercitus inclamat Curiatios, uti opem ferant fratri, iam Horatius caeso hoste victor secundam pugnam petebat. tune tunc clamore, qualis ex insperato faventium solet, Romani adiuvant militem suum; et ille defungi proelio festinat.

[10] prius itaque, quam alter, qui nec procul aberat, consequi posset, et alterum Curiatium conficit;

[11] iamque aequato Marte singuli supererant, sed nec spe nec viribus pares. alterum intactum ferro corpus et geminata victoria ferocem in certamen tertium dabat; alter fessum vulnere, fessum cursu trahens corpus victusque fratrum ante se strage victori obicitur hosti.

[12] nec illud proelium fuit. Romanus exultans exsultans “duos” inquit “fratrum Manibus dedi; tertium causae belli huiusce, ut Romanus Albano imperet, dabo.” male sustinenti arma gladium superne iugulo defigit; iacentem spoliat.

[13] Romani ovantes ac gratulantes Horatium accipiunt eo maiore cum gaudio, quo prope metum res fuerat. ad sepulturam inde suorum nequaquam paribus animis vertuntur, quippe imperio alteri aucti, alteri dicionis alienae facti.

[14] sepulcra extant, quo quisque loco cecidit, duo Romana uno loco propius Albam, tria Albana Romam versus, sed distantia locis, ut et pugnatum est.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 1.25 focus

[1]

foedere icto trigemini, sicut conuenerat, arma capiunt. cum sui utrosque adhortarentur, deos patrios, patriam ac parentes, quidquid ciuium domi, quidquid in exercitu sit, illorum tunc arma, illorum intueri manus, feroces et suopte ingenio et pleni adhortantium uocibus in medium inter duas acies procedunt.

[2] consederant utrimque pro castris duo exercitus, periculi magis praesentis quam curae expertes; quippe imperium agebatur in tam paucorum uirtute atque fortuna positum. itaque ergo erecti suspensique in minime gratum spectaculum animo incenduntur.

[3] datur signum infestisque armis uelut acies terni iuuenes magnorum exercituum animos gerentes concurrunt. nec his nec illis periculum suum, publicum imperium seruitiumque obuersatur animo futuraque ea deinde patriae fortuna quam ipsi fecissent.

[4] ut primo statim concursu increpuere arma micantesque fulsere gladii, horror ingens spectantes perstringit et neutro inclinata spe torpebat uox spiritusque.

[5] consertis deinde manibus cum iam non motus tantum corporum agitatioque anceps telorum armorumque sed uolnera quoque et sanguis spectaculo essent, duo Romani super alium alius, uolneratis tribus Albanis, exspirantes corruerunt.

[6] ad quorum casum cum conclamasset gaudio Albanus exercitus, Romanas legiones iam spes tota, nondum tamen cura deseruerat, exanimes uice unius quem tres Curiatii circumsteterant.

[7] forte is integer fuit, ut uniuersis solus nequaquam par, sic aduersus singulos ferox. ergo ut segregaret pugnam eorum capessit fugam, ita ratus secuturos ut quemque uolnere adfectum corpus sineret.

[8] iam aliquantum spatii ex eo loco ubi pugnatum est aufugerat, cum respiciens uidet magnis interuallis sequentes, unum haud procul ab sese abesse.

[9] in eum magno impetu rediit; et dum Albanus exercitus inclamat Curiatiis uti opem ferant fratri, iam Horatius caeso hoste uictor secundam pugnam petebat. tunc clamore qualis ex insperato fauentium solet Romani adiuuant militem suum;

[10] et ille defungi proelio festinat. prius itaque quam alter— nec procul aberat—consequi posset, et alterum Curiatium conficit;

[11] iamque aequato Marte singuli supererant, sed nec spe nec uiribus pares. alterum intactum ferro corpus et geminata uictoria ferocem in certamen tertium dabat: alter fessum uolnere, fessum cursu trahens corpus uictusque fratrum ante se strage uictori obicitur hosti. nec illud proelium fuit.

[12] Romanus exsultans 'duos' inquit, 'fratrum manibus dedi; tertium causae belli huiusce, ut Romanus Albano imperet, dabo.' male sustinenti arma gladium superne iugulo defigit, iacentem spoliat.

[13] Romani ouantes ac gratulantes Horatium accipiunt, eo maiore cum gaudio, quo prope metum res fuerat. ad sepulturam inde suorum nequaquam paribus animis uertuntur, quippe imperio alteri aucti, alteri dicionis alienae facti.

[14] sepulcra exstant quo quisque loco cecidit, duo Romana uno loco propius Albam, tria Albana Romam uersus sed distantia locis ut et pugnatum est.

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).) — 1.25 focus

[1]

foedere icto trigemini, sicut convenerat, arma capiunt. cum sui utrosque adhortarentur, deos patrios, patriam ac parentes, quicquid civium domi, quicquid in exercitu sit, illorum tunc tune arma, illorum intueri manus, feroces et suopte ingenio et pleni adhortantium vocibus in medium inter duas acies ¹ procedunt.

[4] ut primo statim concursu concrepuere ³ arma micantesque fulsere gladii, horror ingens spectantis perstringit; et neutro inclinata spe torpebat vox spiritusque.

[6] ad quorum casum cum conclamasset gaudio Albanus exercitus, Romanas legiones iam spes tota, nondum tamen cura deseruerat, exanimes vice unius quem tres Curiatii circumsteterant.

[7] forte is integer fuit, ut universis solus nequaquam par, sic adversus singulos ferox. ergo , ut segregaret pugnam eorum, capessit fugam, ita ratus secuturos ut quemque ⁴ vulnere adfectum corpus sineret.

[8] iam aliquantum spatii ex eo loco ubi pugnatum est aufugerat, cum respiciens videt magnis intervallis sequentes; unum haud procul ab sese abesse.

[9] in eum magno impetu rediit, et dum Albanus exercitus inclamat Curiatiis uti opem ferant fratri, iam Horatius caeso hoste victor secundam seculndam pugnam petebat. tunc clamore, qualis ex insperato faventium solet, Romani adiuvant militem suum; et ille defungi proelio festinat.

[10] prius itaque quam alter—nec ⁵ procul aberat—consequi posset, et alterum Curiatium conficit;

[11] iamque aequato Marte singuli supererant, sed nec spe nec viribus pares. alterum intactum ferro corpus et geminata victoria ferocem in certamen tertium dabat: alter fessum vulnere fessum cursu trahens corpus, victusque fratrum ante se strage victori obicitur hosti.

[12] nec illud proelium fuit. Romanus exsultans

duos ,

inquit,

fratrum Manibus dedi: tertium causae ⁶ belli huiusce, ut Romanus Albano imperet, dabo.

male sustinenti arma gladium superne iugulo defigit; iacentem spoliat.

[13] Romani ovantes ac gratulantes Horatium accipiunt eo maiore cum gaudio quo prope metum res fuerat. ad sepulturam inde suorum nequaquam paribus animis vertuntur, quippe ⁷ imperio alteri aucti, alteri dicionis alienae facti.

[14] sepulcra exstant, quo quisque loco cecidit, duo Romana uno loco propius Albam, tria Albana Romam versus, sed distantia locis, ut et pugnatum est.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (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)) — 1.25 focus

[1]

When the treaty had been established, the brothers armed themselves, in accordance with the agreement. On either side the soldiers urged on their champions. They reminded them that their fathers' gods, their native land, their parents, and all their countrymen, whether at home or with the army, had their eye only on their swords and their right hands.

[2] Eager for the combat, as well owing to their native spirit as to the shouts of encouragement which ¹ filled their ears, the brothers advanced into the space between the two lines of battle. The two armies were drawn up, each in front of its own camp, no longer in any immediate danger, but their concern as great as ever; and no wonder, since empire was staked on those few men's valour and good fortune!

[3] Alert, therefore, and in suspense, they concentrated their attention upon this unpleasing spectacle. The signal was given, and with drawn steel, like advancing battle-lines, the six young men rushed to the charge, breathing the courage of great armies. Neither side thought of its own danger, but of the nation's sovereignty or servitude, and how from that day forward their country must experience the fortune they should themselves create.

[4] The instant they encountered, there was a clash of shields and a flash of glittering blades, while a deep shudder ran through the onlookers, who, as long as neither side had the advantage, remained powerless to speak or breathe.

[5] Then, in the hand-to-hand fight which followed, wherein were soon exhibited to men's eyes not only struggling bodies and the play of the sword and shield, but also bloody wounds, two of the Romans fell, fatally wounded, one upon the other, while all three of the Albans were wounded.

[6] At the fall of the Romans a shout of joy burst from the Alban army, while the Roman levies now bade farewell to all their hopes; but not to their anxiety, for they were horror-stricken at the plight of the single warrior whom the three Curiatii had surrounded.

[7] He happened to have got no hurt, and though no match for his enemies together, was ready to fight them one at a time. So, to divide their attack, he fled, thinking that each of them would pursue him ² with what speed his wounds permitted.

[8] He had already run some little distance from the spot where they had fought, when, looking back, he saw that they were following at wide intervals and that one of them had nearly overtaken him.

[9] Facing about, he ran swiftly up to his man, and while the Alban host were calling out to the Curiatii to help their brother, Horatius had already slain him, and was hastening, flushed with victory, to meet his second antagonist. Then with a cheer, such as is often drawn from partisans by a sudden turn in a contest, the Romans encouraged their champion, and he pressed on to end the battle.

[10] And so, before the third Curiatius could come up —and he was not far off —Horatius dispatched the second.

[11] They were now on even terns, one soldier surviving on each side, but in hope and vigour they were far from equal. The one, unscathed and elated by his double victory, was eager for a third encounter. The other dragged himself along, faint from his wound and exhausted with running; he thought how his brothers had been slaughtered before him, and was a beaten man when he faced his triumphant foe. What followed was no combat.

[12] The Roman cried exultantly,

Two victims I have given to the shades of my brothers: the third I will offer up to the cause of this war, that Roman may rule Alban.

His adversary could barely hold up his shield.

[13] With a downward thrust Horatius buried his sword in the Alban's throat, and despoiled him where he lay. The Romans welcomed their hero with jubilations and thanksgivings, and their joy was all the greater that they had come near despairing. The burial of their dead then claimed the attention of the two armies, —with widely different feelings, ³ since one nation was exalted with imperial power, the other made subject to a foreign sway.

[14] The graves may still be seen where each soldier fell: two Roman graves in one spot, nearer Alba; those of the three Albans towards Rome, but separated, just as they had fought.

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.) — 1.25 focus

[1] On the conclusion of the treaty the six combatants armed themselves. They were greeted with shouts of encouragement from their comrades, who reminded them that their fathers' gods, their fatherland, their fathers, every fellow-citizen, every fellowsoldier, were now watching their weapons and the hands that wielded them. Eager for the contest and inspired by the voices round them, they advanced into the open space between the opposing lines.

[2] The two armies were sitting in front of their respective camps, relieved from personal danger but not from anxiety, since upon the fortunes and courage of this little group hung the issue of dominion. Watchful and nervous, they gaze with feverish intensity on a spectacle by no means entertaining.

[3] The signal was given, and with uplifted swords the six youths charged like a battle-line with the courage of a mighty host. Not one of them thought of his own danger; their sole thought was for their country, whether it would be supreme or subject, their one anxiety that they were deciding its future fortunes.

[4] When, at the first encounter, the flashing swords rang on their opponents shields a deep shudder ran through the spectators, then a breathless silence followed as neither side seemed to be gaining any advantage.

[5] Soon, however, they saw something more than the swift movements of limbs and the rapid play of sword and shield: blood became visible flowing from open wounds. Two of the Romans fell one on the other, breathing out their life, whilst all the three Albans were wounded.

[6] The fall of the Romans was welcomed with a burst of exultation from the Alban army; whilst the Roman legions, who had lost all hope, but not all anxiety, trembled for their solitary champion surrounded by the three Curiatii.

[7] It chanced that he was untouched, and though not a match for the three together, he was confident of victory against each separately. So, that he might encounter each singly, he took to flight, assuming that they would follow as well as their wounds would allow.

[8] He had run some distance from the spot where the combat began, when, on looking back, he saw them following at long intervals from each other, the foremost not far from him.

[9] He turned and made a desperate attack upon him, and whilst the Alban army were shouting to the other Curiatii to come to their brother's assistance, Horatius had already slain his foe and, flushed with victory, was awaiting the second encounter. Then the Romans cheered their champion with a shout such as men raise when hope succeeds to despair, and he hastened to bring the fight to a close.

[10] Before the third, who was not far away, could come up, he despatched the second Curiatius.

[11] The survivors were now equal in point of numbers, but far from equal in either confidence or strength. The one, unscathed after his double victory, was eager for the third contest; the other, dragging himself wearily along, exhausted by his wounds and by his running, vanquished already by the previous slaughter of his brothers, was an easy conquest to his victorious foe. There was, in fact, no fighting.

[12] The Roman cried exultingly: “Two have I sacrificed to appease my brothers' shades; the third I will offer for the issue of this fight, that the Roman may rule the Alban .” He thrust his sword downward into the neck of his opponent, who could no longer lift his shield, and then despoiled him as he lay.

[13] Horatius was welcomed by the Romans with shouts of triumph, all the more joyous for the fears they had felt. Both sides turned their attention to burying their dead champions, but with very different feelings, the one rejoicing in wider dominion, the other deprived of their liberty and under alien rule.

[14] The tombs stand on the spots where each fell; those of the Romans close together, in the direction of Alba; the three Alban tombs, at intervals, in the direction of Rome .

Notes on the current edition

History of Rome, books 1-10, 21-45

1. The order is: fortuna patrice deindefutura ea quam ipsi f. (animo obvers); the fortune of their country, the high or humble character of which for the future depended on their exertions on that occasion.

2. The two Roman champions, we have seen, fell in the one place, super alium alius; consequently were buried together; whilst the Curiatii fell in different places, as Horatius contrived to separate them to avoid their joint attack.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 1.25

D. Spillan, A.M., M.D. (Translator), Cyrus Edmonds (Translator), William A. McDevitte (Translator)

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