Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, D. Spillan, A.M., M.D. (Translator), Cyrus Edmonds (Translator), William A. McDevitte (Translator), 2.65

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[1]

When day dawned, the Romans, invigorated and refreshed with sleep, on being marched out to battle, at the first onset overpowered the Volscians, wearied from standing and want of rest; though the enemy rather retired than were routed, because in the rear there were hills to which there was a secure retreat, the ranks behind the first line being unbroken.

[2] The consul, when they came to the uneven ground, halts his army; the soldiers were kept back with difficulty; they cried out and demanded to be allowed to pursue the enemy now discomfited. The cavalry, crowding around the general, proceed more violently: they cry out that they would proceed before the first line.

[3] Whilst the consul hesitates, relying on the valour of his men, yet having little confidence in the place, they all cry out that they would proceed; and execution followed the shout. Fixing their spears in the ground, in order that they may be lighter to ascend the steeps, they run upwards.

[4] The Volscians, having discharged their missile weapons at the first onset, fling the stones lying at their feet on them as they advanced upwards, and having thrown them into confusion by incessant blows, they drove them from the higher ground: thus the left wing of the Romans was nearly overborne, had not the consul dispelled their fear by exciting a sense of shame as they were just retreating, chiding at the same time their temerity and their cowardice. At first they stood their ground with determined firmness; then, according as their strength carried them against those in possession of the ground, they venture to advance themselves; and by renewing the shout they encourage the whole body to move on; then again making a new effort, they force their way up and surmount the disadvantage of the ground.

[5] They were on the point of gaining the summit of the eminence, when the enemy turned their backs, and the pursued and pursuers with precipitate speed rushed into the camp almost in a body.

[6] In this consternation the camp is taken; such of the Volscians as were able to make their escape, take the road to Antium. The Roman army also was led to Antium; after being invested for a few days it surrenders without any additional force of the besiegers, ¹ but because their spirits had sunk ever since the unsuccessful battle and the loss of their camp.

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.) — 2.65 focus

[1] ubi inluxit, Romanus integer satiatusque somno productus in aciem fessum stando et vigiliis Volscum primo impetu perculit;

[2] quamquam cessere magis quam pulsi hostes sunt, quia ab tergo erant clivi, in quos post principia integris ordinibus tutus receptus fuit. consul, ubi ad iniquum locum ventum est, sistit aciem. miles aegre teneri, clamare et poscere, ut perculsis instare liceat.

[3] ferocius agunt equites; circumfusi duci vociferantur se ante signa ituros. dum cunctatur consul virtute militum fretus, loco parum fidens, conclamant se ituros, clamoremque res est secuta. fixis in terram pilis, quo leviores ardua evaderent, cursu subeunt.

[4] Volscus effusis ad primum impetum missilibus telis saxa obiacentia pedibus ingerit in subeuntes turbatosque ictibus crebris urget ex superior loco. sic prope oneratum est sinistrum Romanis cornu, ni referentibus iam gradum consul increpando simul temeritatem simul ignaviam pudore metum excussisset.

[5] restitere primo obstinatis animis; deinde, ut obtinentes locum vires refecerant, audent ultro gradum inferre et clamore renovato commovent aciem; tur tum rursus impetu capto enituntur atque exsuperant iniquitatem loci. iam prope erat,

[6] ut in summum clivi iugum evaderent, cum terga hostes dedere effusoque cursu paene agmine uno fugientes sequentesque castris incidere.

[7] in eo pavore castra capiuntur. qui Volscorum effugere potuerunt, Antium petunt. Antium et Romanus exercitus ductus. paucos circumsessum dies deditur, nulla oppugnantium nova vi, sed quod iam inde ab infelici pugna castrisque amissis ceciderant animi.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 2.65 focus

[1]

ubi inluxit, Romanus integer satiatusque somno productus in aciem fessum stando et uigiliis Uolscum primo impetu perculit;

[2] quamquam cessere magis quam pulsi hostes sunt, quia ab tergo erant cliui in quos post principia integris ordinibus tutus receptus fuit. consul ubi ad iniquum locum uentum est, sistit aciem. miles aegre teneri, clamare et poscere ut perculsis instare liceat.

[3] ferocius agunt equites; circumfusi duci uociferantur se ante signa ituros. dum cunctatur consul uirtute militum fretus, loco parum fidens, conclamant se ituros clamoremque res est secuta. fixis in terram pilis quo leuiores ardua euaderent, cursu subeunt.

[4] Uolscus effusis ad primum impetum missilibus telis, saxa obiacentia pedibus ingerit in subeuntes, turbatosque ictibus crebris urget ex superiore loco. sic prope oneratum est sinistrum Romanis cornu, ni referentibus iam gradum consul increpando simul temeritatem, simul ignauiam, pudore metum excussisset.

[5] restitere primo obstinatis animis; deinde ut obtinentes locum uim referebant, audent ultro gradum inferre et clamore renouato commouent aciem; tum rursus impetu capto enituntur atque exsuperant iniquitatem loci.

[6] iam prope erat ut in summum cliui iugum euaderent cum terga hostes dedere, effusoque cursu paene agmine uno fugientes sequentesque castris incidere. in eo pauore castra capiuntur: qui Uolscorum effugere potuerunt, Antium petunt.

[7] Antium et Romanus exercitus ductus. paucos circumsessum dies deditur, nulla oppugnantium noua ui, sed quod iam inde ab infelici pugna castrisque amissis ceciderant animi.

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).) — 2.65 focus

[1]

ubi inluxit, Romanus integer satiatusque ¹ somno productus in aciem fessum stando et vigiliis Volscum primo impetu perculit;

[2] quamquam cessere magis quam pulsi hostes sunt, quia ab tergo erant clivi, in quos post principia integris ordinibus tutus receptus fuit. Consul , ubi ad iniquum locum ventum est, sistit aciem. miles aegre teneri, clamare, et poscere ut perculsis instare liceat.

[3] ferocius agunt equites; circumfusi duci vociferantur se ante signa ituros. dum cunctatur consul virtute militum fretus, ² loco parum fidens, conclamant se ituros, clamoremque res est secuta. fixis in terram pilis, quo leviores ardua evaderent, cursu subeunt.

[4] volscus effusis ad primum impetum missilibus telis saxa obiacentia pedibus ingerit in subeuntes, turbatosque ictibus crebris urget ex superiore loco. sic prope oneratum est sinistrum Romanis cornu, ni referentibus iam gradum consul increpando simul temeritatem simul ignaviam pudore metum excussisset.

[5] restitere primo obstinatis animis; deinde, ut obtinentes locum vim pro vi referebant, ³ audent ultro gradum inferre et clamore renovato commovent aciem; tum rursus impetu capto enituntur atque exsuperant iniquitatem loci.

[6] iam prope erat ut in summum clivi iugum evaderent, cum terga hostes dedere effusoque cursu paene agmine uno fugientes sequentesque castris incidere. in eo pavore castra capiuntur. qui Volscorum effugere potuerunt Antium petunt.

[7] Antium et Romanus exercitus ductus. paucos circumsessum dies deditur, nulla oppugnantium nova vi, sed quod iam inde ab infelici pugna castrisque amissis ceciderant animi.

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)) — 2.65 focus

[1]

As soon as it was light, the Romans, who ¹ were fresh and had enjoyed a good sleep, were led out into line of battle.

[2] The Volsci, weary from standing and from loss of sleep, were driven back at the first assault; though it was rather a retreat than a rout, for behind them were hills, to which, under cover of the first line, they withdrew safely and in good order. The consul ordered a halt when his army reached rising ground. The infantry could hardly be restrained, noisily demanding permission to press on after the fleeing enemy.

[3] Still more ardent were the cavalry. They swarmed about the general, and shouted that they were going on before the standards. While the ² consul was hesitating, feeling certain of the valour of his troops but doubtful of the ground, the men cried out that they were going, and instantly made good their word. Planting their spears in the ground, that they might be the lighter for the ascent, they went up at a run.

[4] The Volsci, having discharged their javelins at the first onset, picked up the stones which lay about under their feet, and flung them at their enemies as they mounted. Confused by this rain of missiles from above, the left wing of the Romans was nearly overwhelmed, and had already begun to retreat, when the consul, reproaching them at once with rashness and with cowardice, succeeded in shaming them out of their fear.

[5] First they made a resolute stand; then, after holding their ground and returning blow for blow, they even dared to press forward and, renewing their cheers, set their line in motion; then with another rush they struggled upward and scaled the height; and they were just emerging upon the summit of the ridge, when the enemy turned and fled.

[6] Running at full speed, and almost in one body, the pursued and the pursuers reached the Volscian camp, which was captured in the panic. Those of the Volsci who succeeded in escaping made for Antium, and to Antium marched the Roman army also.

[7] After a blockade of a few days the place surrendered; the besiegers had not delivered any new attack, but the Volsci had lost heart from the moment of their unsuccessful battle and the capture of their camp.

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.) — 2.65 focus

[1] At daybreak the Romans, fresh from their undisturbed sleep, were led into action, and at the first charge broke the Volscians, worn out as they were with standing and want of sleep.

[2] It was, however, a retreat rather than a rout, for in their rear there were hills to which all behind the front ranks safely retired. When they reached the rising ground, the consul halted his army. The soldiers were with difficulty restrained, they clamoured to be allowed to follow up the beaten foe.

[3] The cavalry were much more insistent, they crowded round the general and loudly declared that they would go on in advance of the infantry. While the consul, sure of the courage of his men, but not reassured as to the nature of the ground, was still hesitating, they shouted that they would go on, and followed up their shouts by making an advance. Fixing their spears in the ground that they might be more lightly equipped for the ascent, they went up at a run.

[4] The Volscians hurled their javelins at the first onset, and then flung the stones lying at their feet upon the enemy as they came up. Many were hit, and through the disorder thus created they were forced back from the higher ground.In this way the Roman left wing was nearly overwhelmed, but through the reproaches which the consul cast upon his retreating men for their rashness as well as their cowardice, he made their fear give way to the sense of shame.

[5] At first they stood and offered a firm resistance, then when by holding their ground they had recovered their energies they ventured upon an advance. With a renewed shout the whole line went forward, and pressing on in a second charge they surmounted the difficulties of the ascent,

[6] and were just on the point of reaching the summit when the enemy turned and fled. With a wild rush, pursuers and fugitives almost in one mass dashed into the camp,

[7] which was taken. Those of the Volscians who succeeded in escaping made for Antium ; thither the Roman army was led. After a few days' investment the place was surrendered, not owing to any unusual efforts on the part of the besiegers, but simply because after the unsuccessful battle and the loss of their camp the enemy had lost heart.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. Additional force of the, &c. Crevier understands this to signify that the Romans did not employ a greater 7 force for besieging Antium, than they had employed the preceding year, and which at that time seemed insufficient for the purpose. Others understand the words to signify that they surrendered without waiting for the Romans to make any additional efforts to take the town.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 2.65

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

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