Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, D. Spillan, A.M., M.D. (Translator), Cyrus Edmonds (Translator), William A. McDevitte (Translator), 1.27

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Section

← Previous Next →

[1]

Nor did the peace with Alba continue long. The dissatisfaction of the populace, because the fortune of the state had been hazarded on three soldiers, perverted the weak mind of the dictator; and because honourable measures had not turned out well, he began to conciliate their affections by perfidious means.

[2] Accordingly, as one formerly seeking peace in war, so now seeking war in peace, because he perceived that his own state possessed more courage than strength, he stirs up other nations to make war openly and by proclamation: ¹ for his own people he reserves treachery under the mask of alliance.

[3] The Fidenates, a Roman colony, having gained over the Veientes as partisans in the confederacy, are instigated to declare war and take up arms under a compact of desertion on the part of the Albans.

[4] When Fidenae had openly ² revolted, Tullus, after summoning Mettus and his army from Alba, marches against the enemy. When he crossed the Anio, he pitches his camp at the ³ conflux of the rivers. Between that place and Fidenae, the army of the Veientes had crossed the Tiber.

[5] These, in line of battle, occupied the right wing near the river; the Fidenates are posted on the left nearer the mountains. Tullus stations his own men opposite the Veientian foe; the Albans he opposes to the legion of the Fidenates. The Alban had not more courage than fidelity. Neither daring therefore to keep his ground, nor to desert openly, he files off slowly to the mountains.

[6] After this, when he supposed he had gone far enough, he ⁴ halts his entire army; and being still irresolute in mind, in order to waste time, he opens his ranks. His design was, to turn his forces to that side to which fortune should give

[7] success. At first the Romans who stood nearest were astonished, when they perceived their flanks were uncovered by the departure of their allies; then a horseman in full gallop announces to the king that the Albans were moving off. Tullus, in this perilous juncture, vowed twelve Salii, and temples to Paleness and

[8] Panic. Rebuking the horseman in a loud voice, so that the enemy might hear him, he orders him to return to the fight,

that there was no occasion for alarm; that by his order the Alban army was marching round to fall on the unprotected rear of the

[9]

Fidenates.

He likewise commands him to order the cavalry to raise their spears aloft; this expedient intercepted from a great part of the Roman infantry the view of the Alban army retreating. Those who saw it, believing what they had heard the king say, fought with the greater ardour. The alarm is now transferred to the enemy; they had both heard what had been pronounced so audibly, and a great part of the Fidenates, as having been joined as colonists to the Romans, understood

[10] Latin. Therefore, that they might not be intercepted from the town by a sudden descent of the Albans from the hills, they take to flight. Tullus presses forward, and having routed the wing of the Fidenates, returned with greater fury against the Veientes, disheartened by the panic of the others: nor did they sustain his charge; but the river, opposed to them behind, prevented a precipitate

[11] flight. Whither when their flight led, some, shamefully throwing down their arms, rushed blindly into the river; others, while they linger on the banks, doubting whether to fly or fight, were overpowered. Never before had the Romans a more desperate battle.

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

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

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.) — 1.27 focus

[1] nec diu pax Albana mansit. invidia vulgi, quod tribus militibus fortuna publica conmissa fuerat, vanum ingenium dictatoris corrupit et, quoniam recta consilia baud haud bene evenerant, pravis reconciliare popularium animos coepit.

[2] igitur, ut prius in bello pacem, sic in pace bellum quaerens, quia suae civitati animorum plus quam virium cernebat esse, ad bellum palam atque ex edicto gerundum alios concitat populos, suis per speciem societatis proditionem reservat.

[3] Fidenates, colonia Romana, Veientibus sociis consilii adsumptis pacto transitionis Albanorum ad bellum atque arma incitantur.

[4] cum Fidenae aperte descissent, Tullus Mettio exercituque eius ab Alba accito contra hostes ducit. ubi Anienem transiit, ad Confluentis collocat castra. inter eum locum et Fidenas Veientium exercitus Tiberim transierat.

[5] hi in acie prope flumen tenuere dextrum cornu; in sinistro Fidenates propius montes consistunt. Tullus adversus Veientem hostem derigit suos, Albanos contra legionem Fidenatium conlocat. Albano non plus animi erat quam fidei. nec manere ergo nec transire aperte ausus sensim ad montes succedit;

[6] inde, ubi satis subisse sese ratus est, erigit totam aciem fluctuansque animo, ut tereret tempus, ordines explicat. consilium erat, qua fortuna rem daret, ea inclinare vires.

[7] miraculo primo esse Romanis, qui proximi steterant, ut nudari latera sua sociorum digressu senserunt; inde eques citato equo nuntiat regi abire Albanos. Tullus in re trepida duodecim vovit Salios fana,:ue Pallori ac Pavori. Pauori.

[8] equitem clara increpans voce, ut hostes exaudirent, redire in proelium iubet: nihil trepidatione opus esse; suo iussu circumduci Albanum exercitum, ut Fidenatium nuda terga invadant;

[9] item imperat, ut hastas equites erigerent. id factum magnae parti peditum Romanorum conspectum abeuntis Albani exercitus intersaepsit; qui viderant, id, quod ab rege auditum erat, rati, eo acrius pugnant. terror ad hostes transit; et audiverant clara voce dictum, et magna pars Fidenatium, ut qui coloni additi Romanis essent, Latine sciebant.

[10] itaque, ne subito ex collibus decursu Albanorum intercluderentur ab oppido, terga vertunt. instat Tullus fusoque Fidenatium cornu in Veientem alieno pavore perculsum ferocior redit. nec illi tulere impetum, sed ab effusa fuga flumen obiectum ab tergo arcebat.

[11] quo postquam fuga inclinavit, alii arma foede iactantes in aquam caeci ruebant, alii, dum cunctantur in ripis, inter fugae pugnaeque consilium oppressi. non alia ante Romana pugna atrocior fuit.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 1.27 focus

[1]

nec diu pax Albana mansit. inuidia uolgi quod tribus militibus fortuna publica commissa fuerit, uanum ingenium dictatoris corrupit, et quoniam recta consilia haud bene euenerant, prauis reconciliare popularium animos coepit.

[2] igitur ut prius in bello pacem, sic in pace bellum quaerens, quia suae ciuitati animorum plus quam uirium cernebat esse, ad bellum palam atque ex edicto gerundum alios concitat populos, suis per speciem societatis proditionem reseruat.

[3] Fidenates, colonia Romana, Ueientibus sociis consilii adsumptis, pacto transitionis Albanorum ad bellum atque arma incitantur.

[4] cum Fidenae aperte descissent, Tullus Mettio exercituque eius ab Alba accito contra hostes ducit. ubi Anienem transiit, ad confluentes conlocat castra. inter eum locum et Fidenas Ueientium exercitus Tiberim transierat.

[5] hi et in acie prope flumen tenuere dextrum cornu; in sinistro Fidenates propius montes consistunt. Tullus aduersus Ueientem hostem derigit suos, Albanos contra legionem Fidenatium conlocat. Albano non plus animi erat quam fidei. nec manere ergo nec transire aperte ausus sensim ad montes succedit;

[6] inde ubi satis subisse sese ratus est, erigit totam aciem, fluctuansque animo ut tereret tempus ordines explicat. consilium erat qua fortuna rem daret, ea inclinare uires.

[7] miraculo primo esse Romanis qui proximi steterant ut nudari latera sua sociorum digressu senserunt; inde eques citato equo nuntiat regi abire Albanos. Tullus in re trepida duodecim uouit Salios fanaque Pallori ac Pauori.

[8] equitem clara increpans uoce ut hostes exaudirent, redire in proelium iubet: nihil trepidatione opus esse; suo iussu circumduci Albanum exercitum ut Fidenatium nuda terga inuadant;

[9] idem imperat ut hastas equites erigerent. id factum magnae parti peditum Romanorum conspectum abeuntis Albani exercitus intersaepsit; qui uiderant, id quod ab rege auditum erat rati, eo acrius pugnant. terror ad hostes transit; et audiuerant clara uoce dictum, et magna pars Fidenatium, ut quibus coloni additi Romani essent, Latine sciebant.

[10] itaque ne subito ex collibus decursu Albanorum intercluderentur ab oppido, terga uertunt. instat Tullus fusoque Fidenatium cornu in Ueientem alieno pauore perculsum ferocior redit. nec illi tulere impetum, sed ab effusa fuga flumen obiectum ab tergo arcebat.

[11] quo postquam fuga inclinauit, alii arma foede iactantes in aquam caeci ruebant, alii dum cunctantur in ripis inter fugae pugnaeque consilium oppressi. non alia ante Romana pugna atrocior fuit.

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).) — 1.27 focus

[1]

nec diu pax Albana mansit. invidia volgi, quod tribus militibus fortuna publica commissa fuerit, ¹ vanum ingenium dictatoris corrupit, et, quoniam recta consilia haud bene evenerant, pravis reconciliare popularium animos coepit.

[2] igitur , ut ² prius in bello pacem, sic in pace bellum quaerens, quia suae civitati animorum plus quam virium cernebat esse, ad bellum palam atque ex edicto gerundum alios concitat populos, suis per speciem societatis proditionem reservat.

[3] Fidenates colonia Romana Veientibus sociis consilii adsumptis pacto transitionis Albanorum ad bellum atque arma incitantur.

[4] cum Fidenae aperte descissent, Tullus Mettio exercituque eius ab Alba accito contra hostes ducit. ubi Anienem transiit, ³ ad confluentis conlocat castra. inter eum locum et Fidenas Veientium exercitus Tiberim transierat.

[5] hi in ⁴ acie prope flumen tenuere dextrum cornu: in sinistro Fidenates propius montes consistunt. Tullus adversus Veientem hostem derigit ⁵ suos, Albanos contra legionem Fidenatium conlocat. Albano non plus animi erat quam fidei. nec manere ergo nec transire aperte ausus sensim ad montes succedit;

[6] inde, ubi satis subisse sese ratus est, erigit totam aciem, fluctuansque animo ut tereret tempus ordines explicat. consilium erat, qua fortuna rem daret ea inclinare vires.

[7] miraculo primo esse Romanis qui proximi steterant, ut nudari latera sua sociorum digressu senserunt; inde eques citato equo nuntiat regi abire Albanos. Tullus in re ⁶ trepida duodecim vovit Salios fanaque Pallori ac Pavori.

[8] equitem clara increpans voce, ut hostes exaudirent, redire in proelium iubet: nihil trepidatione opus esse; suo iussu circumduci Albanum exercitum, ut Fidenatium nuda terga invadant; idem imperat ut hastas equites erigerent. ⁷

[9] id factum magnae parti peditum Romanorum conspectum abeuntis Albani exercitus intersaepsit: qui viderant, id quod ab rege auditum erat rati, eo acrius pugnant. terror ad hostes transit; et audiverant clara voce dictum, et magna pars Fidenatium, ut quibus coloni additi Romani ⁸ essent, Latine sciebant.

[10] itaque , ne subito ex collibus decursu Albanorum intereluderentur ab oppido, terga vertunt. instat Tullus fusoque Fidenatium cornu in Veientem alieno pavore perculsum ferocior redit. nec illi tulere impetum, sed ab effusa fuga flumen obiectum ab tergo arcebat.

[11] quo postquam fuga inclinavit, alii arma foede foedle iactantes in aquam caeci ruebant, alii, dum cunctantur in ripis, inter fugae pugnaeque consilium oppressi. non alia ante Romana pugna atrocior fuit.

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)) — 1.27 focus

[1]

But the peace with Alba did not last long. The discontent of the people, who criticized the dictator for having confided the nation's welfare to three soldiers, broke down his weak character, and since honest measures had proved unsuccessful, he resorted to evil ones to regain the favour of his ¹ countrymen.

[2] Accordingly, just as in war he had sought peace, so now in time of peace he desired war. But seeing that his own state was richer in courage than in strength, he stirred up other tribes to make war openly after due declaration; while for his own people he reserved the part of the traitor under the disguise of friendship.

[3] The men of Fidenae, a Roman colony, and the Veientes, whom they admitted to a share in their designs, were induced to commence hostilities by a promise that the Albans would go over to their side.

[4] Fidenae having openly revolted, Tullus summoned Mettius and his army from Alba, and led his forces against the enemy. Crossing the Anio, he pitched his camp at the confluence of the rivers. The Veientine army had crossed the Tiber between that place and Fidenae.

[5] These troops, drawn up next the river, formed the right wing; on the left the Fidenates were posted, nearer the mountains. Tullus marshalled his own men against the Veientine enemy; the Albans he posted opposite the army of Fidenae. The Alban commander was as wanting in courage as in loyalty. Not daring, therefore, either to hold his ground or openly to desert, he drew off by imperceptible degrees in the direction of the mountains.

[6] Then, when he thought he had got near enough to them, he brought up his whole battle-line to an elevated position, and still irresolute, deployed his ranks with the object of consuming time. His purpose was to swing his forces to the side which fortune favoured.

[7] At first the Romans posted next to the Albans were amazed when they perceived that their flank was being uncovered by the withdrawal of their allies; then a horseman galloped up to the king, and told him that ² the Albans were marching off. In this crisis Tullus vowed to establish twelve Salian priests, ³ and to build shrines to Pallor and Panic.

[8] The horseman he reprimanded in a loud voice, that the enemy might overhear him, and ordered him to go back and fight; there was no occasion for alarm; it was by his own command that the Alban army was marching round, that they might attack the unprotected rear of the Fidenates.

[9] He also ordered the cavalry to raise their spears. This manœuvre hid the retreat of the Alban army from a large part of the Roman foot-soldiers; those who had seen it, believing what the king had been heard to say, fought all the more impetuously. The enemy in their turn now became alarmed; they had heard Tullus's loud assertion, and many of the Fidenates, having had Romans among them as colonists, knew Latin.

[10] And so, lest the Albans should suddenly charge down from the hills and cut them off from their town, they beat a retreat. Tullus pressed them hard, and having routed the wing composed of the Fidenates, returned, bolder than ever, to the Veientes, who were demoralized by the panic of their neighbours.

[11] They, too, failed to withstand his attack, but their rout was stopped by the river in their rear When they had fled thus far, some basely threw away their arms and rushed blindly into the water, others hesitated on the bank and were overtaken before they had made up their minds whether to flee or resist. Never before had the Romans fought a bloodier battle.

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.) — 1.27 focus

[1] But¹ the peace with Alba was not a lasting one. The Alban dictator had incurred general odium through having entrusted the fortunes of the State to three soldiers, and this had an evil effect upon his weak character.

[2] As straightforward counsels had turned out so unfortunate, he tried to recover the popular favour by resorting to crooked ones, and as he had previously made peace his aim in war , so now he sought the occasion of war in peace. He recognised that his State possessed more courage than strength, he therefore incited other nations to declare war openly and formally, whilst he kept for his own people an opening for treachery under the mask of an alliance.

[3] The people of Fidenae, where a Roman colony existed, were induced to go to war by a compact on the part of the Albans to desert to them; the Veientines were taken into the plot.

[4] When Fidenae had broken out into open revolt, Tullus summoned Mettius and his army from Alba and marched against the enemy. After crossing the Anio he encamped at the junction of that river with the Tiber .

[5] The army of the Veientines had crossed the Tiber at a spot between his camp and Fidenae. In the battle they formed the right wing near the river, the Fidenates were on the left nearer the mountains. Tullus formed his troops in front of the Veientines, and stationed the Albans against the legion of the Fidenates. The Alban general showed as little courage as fidelity; afraid either to keep his ground or to openly desert, he drew away gradually towards the mountains.

[6] When he thought he had retired far enough, he halted his entire army, and still irresolute, he began to form his men for attack, by way of gaining time, intending to throw his strength on the winning side.

[7] Those Romans who had been stationed next to the Albans were astounded to find that their allies had withdrawn and left their flank exposed, when a horseman rode up at full speed and reported to the king that the Albans were leaving the field. In this critical situation, Tullus vowed to found a college of twelve Salii and to build temples to Pallor and Pavor.

[8] Then, reprimanding the horseman loud enough for the enemy to hear, he ordered him to rejoin the fighting line, adding that there was no occasion for alarm, as it was by his orders that the Alban army was making a circuit that they might fall on the unprotected rear of the Fidenates.

[9] At the same time he ordered the cavalry to raise their spears; this action hid the retreating Alban army from a large part of the Roman infantry. Those who had seen them, thinking that what the king had said was actually the case, fought all the more keenly. It was now the enemies' turn to be alarmed; they had heard clearly the words of the king, and, moreover, a large part of the Fidenates who had formerly joined the Roman colonists understood Latin.

[10] Fearing to be cut off from their town by a sudden charge of the Albans from the hills, they retreated. Tullus pressed the attack, and after routing the Fidenates, returned to attack the Veientines with greater confidence, as they were already demoralized by the panic of their allies.

[11] They did not wait for the charge , but their flight was checked by the river in their rear. When they reached it, some, flinging away their arms, rushed blindly into the water, others, hesitating whether to fight or fly, were overtaken and slain. Never had the Romans fought in a bloodier battle.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. The part which he reserves for himself and the Albans is to play the traitors to Tullus in the hour of need, wearing meanwhile the mark of friendship to Rome.

2. The fact is, that the subject population rose up against the Roman colonists, drove them out of the town, and asserted their independence. Nieb. i. 24. 5.

3. The Tiber and the Anio.

4. Erigit —

he makes it halt,

from the French faire alte, or formerly haut, because soldiers then stand upright and hold their spears erect.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 1.27

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

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers