Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, Rev. Canon Roberts (Translator), 10.36

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[1] They piled their knapsacks in the centre and formed up in order of battle.

[2] There was by this time only a narrow space between the two armies, and each side were standing motionless waiting for the others to raise the battle-shout and begin the attack.

[3] Neither of them had any heart for fighting, and they would have marched off in opposite directions if they were not each apprehensive that the other would attack them on the retreat. In this timid and reluctant mood they commenced a feeble fight, without receiving any order to attack or raising any regular battle-shout, and not a man stirred a foot from where he stood.

[4] Then the consul, in order to infuse some spirit into the combatants, sent a few troops of cavalry to make a demonstration; most of them were thrown from their horses and the rest got into hopeless confusion. A rush was made by the Samnites to overpower those who had been dismounted; this was met by a rush from the Roman ranks to protect their comrades.

[5] This made the fighting somewhat more lively, but the Samnites rushed forward with more dash and in greater numbers, whilst the disordered Roman cavalry on their terrified horses were riding down their own supports.

[6] The demoralisation which began here extended to the whole army; there was a general flight, and the Samnites had none to fight with but the rearmost of their foes.

[7] At this critical moment the consul galloped back to the camp and posted a cavalry detachment before the gate with strict orders to treat as an enemy any one who made for the rampart whether Roman or Samnite. He then stopped his men who were running back to the camp in disorder, and in menacing tones called out, “Where are you going, soldiers?

[8] Here, too, you will find armed men, and not one of you shall enter the camp while your consul is alive unless you come as victors; now make your choice whether you would rather fight with your own countrymen or with the enemy.”

[9] While the consul was speaking, the cavalry closed round the fugitives with levelled spears and peremptorily ordered them to return to the battlefield. Not only did the consul's courage help them to rally, but Fortune also favoured them. As the Samnites were not in close pursuit there was space enough for the standards to wheel round and the whole army to change front from the camp to the enemy.

[10] Now the men began to encourage each other, the centurions snatched the standards from the hands of the bearers and carried them forward, pointing out at the same time to their men how few the enemy were, and in what loose order they were coming.

[11] In the middle of it all the consul, raising his hands towards heaven and speaking in a loud voice so that he might be well heard, vowed a temple to Jupiter Stator¹ if the Roman army stayed its flight and renewed the battle and defeated and slew the Samnites.

[12] The officers and men, infantry and cavalry alike, exerted themselves to the utmost to restore the battle. Even the divine providence seemed to have looked with favour on the Romans, so easily did matters take a favourable turn. The enemy were repulsed from the camp, and in a short time were driven back to the ground where the battle began.

[13] Here their movements were hampered by the heap of knapsacks they had piled up in their centre; to prevent these from being plundered they took up their position round them.

[14] But the Roman infantry pressed upon them in front and the cavalry attacked them in rear, so between the two they were all either killed or made prisoners. The latter amounted to 7800, these were all stripped and sent under the yoke.

[15] The number of those killed was reported to be 4800. The Romans had not much cause for rejoicing over their victory, for when the consul reckoned up the losses sustained through the two days' fighting the number of missing was returned as 7800. During these incidents in Apulia, the Samnites made an attempt with a second army upon the Roman colony at Interamna, situated on the Latin road.

[16] Failing to get possession of the city, they ravaged the fields and proceeded to carry off, along with their other plunder, a number of men and several head of cattle and some colonists whom they had captured.

[17] They fell in with the consul, who was returning from his victorious campaign in Luceria, and not only lost their booty, but their long straggling column was quite unprepared for attack and was consequently cut up.

[18] The consul issued a notice summoning the owners of the plundered property to Interamna to identify and recover what belonged to them, and leaving his army there, started for Rome to conduct the elections.

[19] He requested to be allowed a triumph, but this honour was refused him on the ground that he had lost so many thousands of men, and also because he had sent his prisoners under the yoke without its having been made a condition of their surrender. ²

Ab urbe condita. Titus Livius (Livy). Rev. Canon Roberts (Translator). Medford, MA. 1997-10-28.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

History of Rome (English) (Volumes 1-2. Roberts, Canon, Rev, translator. London, New York: J. M. Dent and Sons; E. P. Dutton and Co., 1912.)

Editions (3)

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Pars I-IV, Libri I-XL. Editio Stereotypica. Weissenborn, Wilhelm; Mueller, Moritz, editors. Leipzig: Teubner, 1884-1911.) — 10.36 focus

[1] in medium sarcinas coniciunt; armati suis quisque ordinibus instruunt aciem.

[2] iam exiguum inter duas acies erat spatium, et stabant expectantes, dum ab hostibus prius impetus, prius clamor inciperet. neutris animus est ad pugnandum,

[3] diversique integri atque intacti abissent, ni cedenti instaturum alterum timuissent. sua sponte inter invitos tergiversantisque segnis pugna clamore incerto atque inpari coepit; nec vestigio quisquam movebatur.

[4] tum consul Romanus, ut rem excitaret, equitum paucas turmas extra ordinem inmisit; quorum cum plerique delapsi ex equis essent et alii turbati, et a Samnitium acie ad opprimendos eos, qui ceciderant, et ad suos tuendos ab Romanis procursum est.

[5] inde paulum inritata pugna est; sed aliquanto et inpigre magis et plures procurrerant Samnites, et turbatus eques sua ipse subsidia territis equis proculcavit.

[6] hinc fuga coepta totam avertit aciem Romanam; iamque in terga fugientium Samnites pugnabant, cum consul equo praevectus ad portam castrorum ac statione equitum ibi opposita edictoque,

[7] ut, quicumque ad vallum tenderet, sive ille Romanus sive Samnis esset, pro hoste haberetur, haec ipse minitans obstitit effuse tendentibus suis in castra.

[8] “quo pergis” inquit, “miles? et hic arma et viros invenies nec vivo consule tuo nisi victor castra intrabis; proinde elige, cum cive an hoste pugnare malis.”

[9] Haec haec dicente consule equites infestis cuspidibus circumfunduntur ac peditem in pugnam redire iubent. non virtus solum consulem sed fors etiam adiuvit, quod non institerunt Samnites spatiumque circumagendi signa vertendique aciem a castris in hostem fuit.

[10] tur tum alii alios hortari, ut repeterent pugnam; centuriones ab signiferis rapta signa inferre et ostendere suis paucos et ordinibus inconpositis effuse venire hostes.

[11] inter haec consul manus ad caelum attollens voce clara, ita ut exaudiretur, templum Iovi Statori vovet, si constitisset a fuga Romana acies redintegratoque proelio cecidisset vicissetque legiones Samnitium.

[12] omnes undique adnisi ad restituendam pugnam, duces milites, peditum equitumque vis. numen etiam deorum respexisse nomen Romanum visum; adeo facile inclinata res repulsique a castris hostes, mox etiam redacti ad eum locum, in quo commissa pugna erat.

[13] ibi obiacente sarcinarum cumulo, quas coniecerant in medium, haesere inpediti; deinde, ne diriperentur res, orbem armatorum sarcinis circumdant.

[14] turn tum vero eos a fronte urgere pedites, ab tergo circumvecti equites; ita in medio caesi captique. captivorum numerus fuit septem milium octingentorum, qui omnes nudi sub iugum missi;

[15] caesos rettulere ad quattuor milia octingentos. ne Romanis quidem laeta victoria fuit; recensente consule biduo acceptam cladem amissorum militum numerus relatus septem milium octingentorum. Dum dum haec in Apulia gerebantur,

[16] altero exercitu Samnites Interamnam, coloniam Romanam, quae ad viam Latinam est, occupare conati urbem non tenuerunt;

[17] agros depopulati, cum praedam aliam inde mixtam hominum atque pecudum colonosque captos agerent, in victorem incidunt consulem ab Luceria redeuntem; nec praedam solum amittunt, sed ipsi longo atque inpedito agmine inconpositi caeduntur.

[18] consul Interamnam edicto dominis ad res suas noscendas recipiendasque evocatis et exercitu ibi relicto comitiorum causa Romam est profectus.

[19] cui de triumpho agenti negatus honos et ob amissa tot milia militum et quod captivos sine pactione sub iugum misisset.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 10.36 focus

[1]

in medium ¹ sarcinas coniciunt; armati suis quisque ordinibus instruunt aciem.

[2] iam exiguum inter duas acies erat spatium, et stabant exspectantes dum ab hostibus prius impetus prius clamor inciperet.

[3] neutris animus est ad pugnandum, diversique integri atque intacti abissent, ni cedenti instaturum alterum timuissent. sua sponte inter invitos tergiversantesque segnis pugna clamore incerto atque impari coepit; nec vestigio quisquam movebatur.

[4] tum consul Romanus, ut rem excitaret, equitum paucas turmas extra ordinem immisit; quorum cum plerique delapsi ex equis essent et alii turbati, et a Samnitium acie ad opprimendos eos qui ceciderant et ad suos tuendos ab Romanis procursum est.

[5] inde paulum inritata pugna est; sed aliquanto et impigre magis et plures procurrerant Samnites et turbatus eques sua ipse subsidia territis equis proculcavit.

[6] hinc fuga coepta totam avertit aciem Romanam; iamque in terga fugientium Samnites pugnabant, cum consul equo praevectus ad portam castrorum ac

[7] statione equitum ibi opposita edictoque ut quicumque ² ad vallum tenderet, sive ille Romanus sive Samnis esset, pro hoste haberetur, ³ haec ipse minitans obstitit profuse tendentibus tendentious suis in castra.

[8]

quo pergis

inquit,

miles? et hic arma et viros invenies nec vivo consule tuo nisi victor castra intrabis; proinde elige, cum cive an hoste pugnare malis.

[9] haec dicente consule equites infestis cuspidibus circumfunduntur ac peditem in pugnam redire iubent. non virtus solum consulis sed fors etiam adiuvit, quod non institerunt Samnites spatiumque circumagendi signa vertendique aciem a castris in hostem fuit. tum alii alios hortari ut repeterent pugnam;

[10] centuriones ab signiferis rapta signa inferre et ostendere suis paucos et ordinibus inconpositis effuse venire hostes.

[13] ibi obiacente sarcinarum ⁴ cumulo, quas coniecerant in medium, haesere impediti; deinde, ne diriperentur res, orbem armatorum sarcinis circumdant.

[14] tum vero eos a fronte urgere pedites, ab tergo circumvecti equites; ita in medio caesi captique. captivorum numerus fuit septem milium octingentorum, ⁵ qui omnes nudi sub iugum missi; caesos rettulere ad quattuor milia octingentos. ne Romanis quidem laeta victoria fuit;

[15] recensente consule biduo acceptam cladem amissorum militum numerus relatus septem milium octingentorum.

[16] dum haec in Apulia gerebantur, altero exercitu Samnites Interamnam, coloniam Romanam, quae via Latina est, occupare conati urbem non tenuerunt; agros depopulati,

[17] cum praedam aliam inde mixtam hominum atque pecudum colonosque captos agerent, in victorem incidunt consulem ab Luceria redeuntem; nec praedam solum amittunt sed ipsi longo atque impedito agmine incompositi caeduntur.

[18] Consul Interamnam edicto dominis ad res suas noscendas recipiendasque revocatis et exercitu ibi relicto comitiorum causa Romam est profectus.

[19] cui de triumpho agenti negatus honos et ob amissa tot milia militum et quod captivos sine pactione sub iugum misisset.

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).) — 10.36 focus

[1]

in medium ¹ sarcinas coniciunt; armati suis quisque ordinibus instruunt aciem.

[2] iam exiguum inter duas acies erat spatium, et stabant exspectantes dum ab hostibus prius impetus prius clamor inciperet.

[5] inde paulum inritata pugna est; sed aliquanto et impigre magis et plures procurrerant Samnites et turbatus eques sua ipse subsidia territis equis proculcavit.

[6] hinc fuga coepta totam avertit aciem Romanam; iamque in terga fugientium Samnites pugnabant, cum consul equo praevectus ad portam castrorum ac

[8]

quo pergis

inquit,

miles? et hic arma et viros invenies nec vivo consule tuo nisi victor castra intrabis; proinde elige, cum cive an hoste pugnare malis.

[10] centuriones ab signiferis rapta signa inferre et ostendere suis paucos et ordinibus inconpositis effuse venire hostes.

[13] ibi obiacente sarcinarum ⁴ cumulo, quas coniecerant in medium, haesere impediti; deinde, ne diriperentur res, orbem armatorum sarcinis circumdant.

[15] recensente consule biduo acceptam cladem amissorum militum numerus relatus septem milium octingentorum.

[16] dum haec in Apulia gerebantur, altero exercitu Samnites Interamnam, coloniam Romanam, quae via Latina est, occupare conati urbem non tenuerunt; agros depopulati,

[18] Consul Interamnam edicto dominis ad res suas noscendas recipiendasque revocatis et exercitu ibi relicto comitiorum causa Romam est profectus.

[19] cui de triumpho agenti negatus honos et ob amissa tot milia militum et quod captivos sine pactione sub iugum misisset.

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)) — 10.36 focus

[2] they heaped up their baggage together, and, being armed, went every man to his own place in the ranks, and the battle —line was formed.

and now there was but a little space between the armies, and they halted, each waiting for the other to be first to attack and first to raise a cheer.

[3] neither side had any stomach for fighting, and they would have gone off in opposite directions, scatheless and unhurt, had they not been afraid that, if they retired, their enemies would advance.

[4] no signal was given, but though unwilling and reluctant, they began to fight, in a half —hearted manner, with an uncertain and unequal shout; nor would any man stir from his place.

then the Roman consul, to put some life into the work, detached a few troops of cavalry and sent them in. of these the most part were unhorsed, and, the rest being thrown into confusion, there was a rush on the part of the Samnites to dispatch the fallen and on that of the Romans to save their comrades.

[5] this infused a little spirit into the fighting; but the Samnites had charged somewhat more briskly and in greater numbers, and the disordered cavalry, their horses becoming terrified, rode down their own supports, who began a flight that spread to the whole Roman army.

[6] and now the Samnites were on the backs of the fugitives, when the consul, galloping

[7] on before to the gate of the camp, posted there a guard of horse and commanded them, ¹ whosoever should make for the rampart, be he Roman or Samnite, to treat him as a foe. he likewise threatened the men himself, and stopped them as they made in disorder for the camp.

[8]

where are you going, men?

he shouted:

here too you will find arms and soldiers, and while your consul lives you shall not enter the camp, except as victors. choose , therefore, whether you would sooner fight with fellow —citizens or enemies!

[9] as the consul spoke these words, the cavalry gathered round the infantry and levelling their spears bade them return into the battle. not only the consul's bravery but Fortune also helped; for the Samnites did not press their advantage, and he had time to reverse his standards and change his front from the camp to the enemy.

[10] they then began to encourage each other to resume the fight; the centurions snatched the standards from the standard —bearers and carried them forward, pointing out to their men that the enemy were few in number and were coming on in irregular and ill —formed ranks.

[11] at this juncture the consul lifted up his hands to heaven, and in a clear voice, so as to be overheard, vowed a temple to Jupiter the Stayer, if the Roman army should stay its flight, and renewing the struggle cut to pieces and overcome the legions of the Samnites.

[12] everybody , all along the line —officers, soldiers, infantry and horse —made an effort to restore the day. it even seemed that the divine power of the gods was concerned for the renown of Rome, so easily was the struggle turned and the enemy repulsed from the camp, and in a short time driven back to the place where the fighting had begun.

[13] there they were held up by the heap of ² bundles which they had piled together, and, to keep their effects from being rifled, they formed around them a circle of armed men.

[14] then the foot —soldiers fell hotly upon them in the front, and the cavalry rode round and assailed them in the rear; and so between the two they were slaughtered or made prisoners. The number of the captives was seven thousand eight hundred, who were all stripped and sent under the yoke: the slain were reported at four thousand eight hundred.

[15] even the Romans had no joy of their victory, for the consul found, on reckoning up the two days' casualties, that he had lost seven thousand eight hundred men.

[16] whilst these affairs were taking place in Apulia, the Samnites with a second army attempted to seize Interamna, a Roman colony on the Latin Way, but could not take it;

[17] having pillaged the farms, they were driving off a miscellaneous booty of men and beasts, together with the captured settlers, when they encountered the victorious consul returning from Luceria, and not only lost their spoils, but, marching without order in a long and encumbered column, were massacred themselves.

[18] The consul made proclamation summoning the owners back to Interamna to identify and receive again their property, and, leaving there his army, went to Rome for the purpose of conducting the elections.

[19] when he sought to obtain a triumph, the honour was denied him, on the ground that he had lost so many thousand men, and because he had sent the prisoners under the yoke, though they had made no terms. ³

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 10.36 focus

[1]

They then threw the baggage in a heap in the centre, and, with their arms prepared for battle, formed their line, each falling into his post.

[2] There was now but a small interval between the two armies, and both stood, waiting until the shout and onset should be begun by their adversary.

[3] Neither party had any inclination to fight, and they would have separated, and taken different roads, unhurt and untouched, but that each had a dread of being harassed, in retreat, by the other. Notwithstanding this shyness and reluctance, an engagement unavoidably began, but spiritless, and with a shout which discovered neither resolution nor steadiness; nor did any move a foot from his post.

[4] The Roman consul, then, in order to infuse life into the action, ordered a few troops of cavalry to advance out of the line and charge: most of whom being thrown from their horses and the rest put in disorder, several parties ran forward, both from the Samnite line, to cut off those who had fallen, and from the Roman, to protect their friends.

[5] In consequence the battle became a little more brisk, but the Samnites had come forward with more briskness, and also in greater numbers, and the disordered cavalry, with their affrighted horses, trod down their own party who came to their relief. Flight commencing in this quarter, caused the whole Roman line to turn their backs.

[6] And now the Samnites had no employment for their arms but against the rear of a flying enemy, when the

[7] consul, galloping on before his men to the gate of the camp, posted there a body of cavalry, with orders to treat as an enemy any person who should make towards the rampart, whether Roman or Samnite; and, placing himself in the way of his men, as they pressed in disorder towards the camp, denounced threats to the same purport:

Whither are you going, soldiers?

[8] said he;

here also you will find both men and arms; nor, while your consul lives, shall you pass the rampart, unless victorious. Choose therefore which you will prefer, fighting against your own countrymen, or the enemy.

[9] While the consul was thus speaking the cavalry gathered round, with the points of their spears presented, and ordered the infantry to return to the fight. Not only his own brave spirit, but fortune likewise aided the consul, for the Samnites did not push their advantage; so that he had time to wheel round his battalions, and to change his front from the camp towards the enemy.

[10] The men then began to encourage each other to return to the battle, while the centurions snatched the ensigns from the standard-bearers and bore them forward, pointing out to the soldiers the enemy, coming on in a hurry, few in number, and with their ranks disordered.

[11] At the same time the consul, with his hands lifted up towards heaven, and raising his voice so as to be heard at a distance, vowed a temple to Jupiter Stator, if the Roman army should rally from flight, and, renewing the battle, cut down and defeat the Samnites.

[12] All divisions of the army, now, united their efforts to restore the fight; officers, soldiers, the whole force, both of cavalry and infantry; even the powers of heaven seemed to have looked, with favour, on the Roman cause; so speedily was a thorough change effected in the fortune of the day, the enemy being repulsed from the camp, and, in a short time, driven back to the spot where the battle had commenced.

[13] Here they stopped, being obstructed by the heap of baggage, lying in their way, where they had thrown it together; and then, to prevent the plundering of their effects, formed round them a circle of troops.

[14] On this, the infantry assailed them vigorously in front, while the cavalry, wheeling, fell on their rear: and, being thus enclosed between the two, they were all either slain, or taken prisoners. The number of the prisoners was seven thousand two hundred, who were all sent under the yoke; the killed amounted to four thousand eight hundred.

[15] The victory did not prove a joyous one, even on the side of the Romans: when the consul took an account of the loss sustained in the two days, the number returned, of soldiers lost, was seven thousand three hundred.

[16] During these transactions in Apulia, the Samnites with the other army having attempted to seize on Iteramna, a Roman colony situated on the Latin road, did not however obtain the town;

[17] whence, after ravaging the country, as they were driving off spoil, consisting of men and cattle, together with the colonists whom they had taken, they met the consul returning victorious from Luceria, and not only lost their booty, but marching in disorder, in a long train, and hea- vily encumbered, were themselves cut to pieces.

[18] The consul, by proclamation, summoned the owners to Interamna, to claim and receive again their property, and leaving his army there, went to Rome to hold the elections.

[19] On his applying for a triumph, that honour was refused him, because he had lost so many thousands of his soldiers; and also, because he had sent the prisoners under the yoke without imposing any conditions.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. Jupiter Stator=“Jove the Stayer,” see Vol. I. p. 16.

2. It would appear from this that the enemy when arranging the terms of surrender must expressly declare their consent to being thus treated. This condition was imposed by Pontius on the occasion of the Caudine disaster and accepted by the Romans (Book Ix. chap. iv.; see also chap. xlii. in the same book).

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 10.36

Rev. Canon Roberts (Translator)

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