Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, Rev. Canon Roberts (Translator), 10.40

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[1] These details the consul had gathered from information supplied by deserters, and his mention of them increased the exasperation of the troops. Assured of the favour of heaven and satisfied that humanly speaking they were more than a match for their foes, they clamoured with one voice to be led to battle, and were intensely disgusted at finding that it was put off till the morrow; they chafed angrily at the delay of a whole day and night.

[2] After receiving the reply from his colleague, Papirius rose quietly in the third watch of the night and sent a pullarius to observe the omens.

[3] There was not a man, whatever his rank or condition, in the camp who was not seized by the passion for battle, the highest and lowest alike were eagerly looking forward to it;

[4] the general was watching the excited looks of the men, the men were looking at their general, the universal excitement extended even to those who were engaged in observing the sacred birds. The chickens refused to eat, but the pullarius ventured to misrepresent matters, and reported to the consul that they had eaten so greedily that the corn dropped from their mouths on to the ground.¹

[5] The consul, delighted at the news, gave out that the omens could not have been more favourable; they were going to engage the enemy under the guidance and blessing of heaven.

[6] He then gave the signal for battle. Just as they were taking up their position, a deserter brought word that 20 cohorts of the Samnites, comprising about 400 men each, had gone to Cominium.

[7] He instantly despatched a message to his colleague in case he should not be aware of this movement, and ordered the standards to be advanced more rapidly. He had already posted the reserves in their respective positions and told off an officer to take command of each detach- ment.

[8] The right wing of the main army he entrusted to L. Volumnius, the left to L. Scipio, and two other members of his staff, C. Caedicius and T. Trebonius, were placed in command of the cavalry. He gave orders for Spurius Nautius to remove the pack-saddles from the mules and to take them together with three of the auxiliary cohorts by a circuitous route to some rising ground visible from the battlefield, where during

[9] the pro- gress of the fight he was to attract attention by raising as great a cloud of dust as possible. While the consul was busy with these arrangements an alterca- tion began between the pullarii about the omens which had been observed in the morning. Some of the Roman Cavalry overheard it and thought it of sufficient importance to justify them in reporting to Spurius Papirius, the consul's nephew, that the omens were being called in question.

[10] This young man, born in an age when men were not yet taught to despise the gods, inquired into the matter in order to make quite sure that what he was reporting was true and then laid it before the consul.

[11] He thanked him for the trouble be had taken and bade him have no fears. “But,” he continued, “if the man who is watching the omens makes a false report, he brings down the divine wrath on his own head.

[12] As far as I am concerned, I have received the formal intimation that the chickens ate eagerly, there could be no more favourable omen for the Roman people and army.” He then issued instructions to the centurions to place the pullarius in front of the fighting line.

[13] The standards of the Samnites were now advancing, followed by the army in gorgeous array; even to their enemies they presented a magnificent sight. Before the battle-shout was raised or the lines closed a chance javelin struck the pullarius and he fell in front of the standards.

[14] When this was reported to the consul he remarked, “The gods are taking their part in the battle, the guilty man has met with his punishment.” While the consul was speaking a crow in front of him gave a loud and distinct caw. The consul welcomed the augury and declared that the gods had never more plainly manifested their presence in human affairs. He then ordered the charge to be sounded and the battle-shout to be raised.

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.) — 10.40 focus

[1] haec conperta perfugarum indiciis cum apud infensos iam sua sponte milites disseruisset, simul divinae humanaeque spei pleni clamore consentienti pugnam poscunt; paenitet in posterum diem dilatum certamen;

[2] moram diei noctisque oderunt. tertia vigilia noctis, iam relatis litteris a collega, Papirius silentio surgit et pullarium in auspicium mittit.

[3] nullum erat genus hominum in castris intactum cupiditate pugnae, summi infimique aeque intenti erant; dux militum, miles ducis ardorem spectabat.

[4] is ardor omnium etiam ad eos, qui auspicio intererant, pervenit; nam cum pulli non pascerentur, pullarius auspicium mentiri ausus tripudium solistimum consuli nuntiavit.

[5] consul laetus auspicium egregium esse et deis auctoribus rem gesturos pronuntiat signumque pugnae proponit.

[6] exeunti iam forte in aciem nuntiat perfuga viginti cohortes Samnitium — quadringenariae ferme erant — Cominium profectas. quod ne ignoraret collega, extemplo nuntium mittit; ipse signa ocius proferri iubet; subsidia suis quaeque locis et praefectos subsidiis adtribuerat;

[7] dextro cornu L. Volumnium, sinistro L. Scipionem, equitibus legatos alios, C. Caedicium et T. Trebonium, praefecit;

[8] Sp. Nautium mulos detractis clitellis cum tribus cohortibus alariis in tumulum conspectum propere circumducere iubet atque inde inter ipsam dimicationem quanto maxime posset moto pulvere se ostendere. Dum dum his intentus imperator erat,

[9] altercatio inter pullarios orta de auspicio eius diei exauditaque ab equitibus Romanis, qui rem haud spernendam rati Sp. Papirio, fratris filio consulis, ambigi de auspicio renuntiaverunt.

[10] iuvenis ante doctrinam deos spernentem natus rem inquisitam, ne quid inconpertum deferret, ad consulem detulit.

[11] cui ille: “tu quidem macte virtute diligentiaque esto! ceterum qui auspicio adest, si quid falsi nuntiat, in semet ipsum religionem recipit; mihi quidem tripudium nuntiatum, populo Romano exercituique egregium auspicium, est.”

[12] centurionibus deinde imperavit, uti pullarios inter prima signa constituerent. promovent et Samnites signa; insequitur acies ornata armataque, ut hostibus quoque magnificum spectaculum esset.

[13] priusquam clamor tolleretur concurrereturque, emisso temere pilot pilo ictus pullarius ante signa cecidit. quod ubi consuli nuntiatum est, “di in proelio sunt” inquit;

[14] “habet poenam noxium caput.” ante consulem haec dicentem corvus voce clara occinuit; quo laetus augurio consul, adfirmans numquam humanis rebus magis praesentes interfuisse deos, signa canere et clamorem tolli iussit.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 10.40 focus

[1]

haec comperta perfugarum indiciis cum apud infensos iam sua sponte milites disseruisset, simul divinae humanaeque spei pleni clamore consentienti pugnam poscunt; paenitet in posterum diem dilatum certamen; moram diei noctisque oderunt.

[2] tertia vigilia noctis, iam relatis litteris a collega, Papirius silentio surgit et pullarium in auspicium mittit.

[3] nullum erat genus hominum in castris intactum cupiditate pugnae, summi infimique aeque intenti erant; dux militum, miles ducis ardorem spectabat.

[4] is ardor omnium etiam ad eos qui auspicio intererant pervenit; nam cum pulli non pascerentur, pullarius auspicium mentiri ausus tripudium solistimum consuli nuntiavit.

[5] Consul laetus auspicium egregium esse et deis auctoribus rem gesturos ¹ pronuntiat signumque pugnae proponit.

[6] exeunti iam forte in aciem nuntiat perfuga viginti cohortes Samnitium—quadringenariae ferme erant—Cominium profectas. quod ne ignoraret collega, extemplo nuntium mittit; ipse signa ocius proferri iubet;

[7] subsidia ² suis quaeque locis et praefectos subsidiis attribuerat; dextro cornu L. Volumnium, sinistro L. Scipionem, equitibus legatos alios, C. Caedicium et T. Trebonium, ³ praefecit;

[8] Sp . Nautium mulos detractis clitellis cum tribus cohortibus ⁴ alariis in tumulum conspectum propere circumducere iubet atque inde inter ipsam dimicationem quanto maxime posset moto pulvere se ⁵ ostendere.

[9] dum his intentus imperator erat, altercatio inter pullarios orta de auspicio eius diei exauditaque ab equitibus Romanis, qui rem haud spernendam rati Sp. Papirio, fratris fratis filio consulis, ambigi de auspicio renuntiaverunt.

[10] iuvenis ante doctrinam deos spernentem natus rem inquisitam, ne quid incompertum deferret, ad consulem detulit.

[11] cui ille:

tu quidem macte virtute diligentiaque esto! ceterum qui auspicio adest si quid falsi nuntiat, in semet ipsum religionem recipit: mihi quidem tripudium ⁶ nuntiatum; populo Romano exercituique egregium auspicium est.

[12] centurionibus deinde imperavit uti pullarios inter prima signa constituerent. promovent et Samnites signa; insequitur acies ornata armataque, ut hostium ⁷ quoque magnificum spectaculum esset.

[13] priusquam clamor tolleretur concurrereturque, emisso temere pilo ictus pullarius ante signa cecidit. quod ubi consuli nuntiatum est,

Di in proelio sunt

inquit;

habet poenam noxium caput!

[14] ante consulem haec dicentem corvus voce clara occinuit; quo laetus augurio consul, adfirmans nunquam humanis rebus magis praesentes interfuisse deos, signa canere et clamorem tolli iussit.

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).) — 10.40 focus

[1]

[2] tertia vigilia noctis, iam relatis litteris a collega, Papirius silentio surgit et pullarium in auspicium mittit.

[3] nullum erat genus hominum in castris intactum cupiditate pugnae, summi infimique aeque intenti erant; dux militum, miles ducis ardorem spectabat.

[4] is ardor omnium etiam ad eos qui auspicio intererant pervenit; nam cum pulli non pascerentur, pullarius auspicium mentiri ausus tripudium solistimum consuli nuntiavit.

[5] Consul laetus auspicium egregium esse et deis auctoribus rem gesturos ¹ pronuntiat signumque pugnae proponit.

[6] exeunti iam forte in aciem nuntiat perfuga viginti cohortes Samnitium—quadringenariae ferme erant—Cominium profectas. quod ne ignoraret collega, extemplo nuntium mittit; ipse signa ocius proferri iubet;

[7] subsidia ² suis quaeque locis et praefectos subsidiis attribuerat; dextro cornu L. Volumnium, sinistro L. Scipionem, equitibus legatos alios, C. Caedicium et T. Trebonium, ³ praefecit;

[10] iuvenis ante doctrinam deos spernentem natus rem inquisitam, ne quid incompertum deferret, ad consulem detulit.

[11] cui ille:

[12] centurionibus deinde imperavit uti pullarios inter prima signa constituerent. promovent et Samnites signa; insequitur acies ornata armataque, ut hostium ⁷ quoque magnificum spectaculum esset.

[13] priusquam clamor tolleretur concurrereturque, emisso temere pilo ictus pullarius ante signa cecidit. quod ubi consuli nuntiatum est,

Di in proelio sunt

inquit;

habet poenam noxium caput!

[14] ante consulem haec dicentem corvus voce clara occinuit; quo laetus augurio consul, adfirmans nunquam humanis rebus magis praesentes interfuisse deos, signa canere et clamorem tolli iussit.

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)) — 10.40 focus

[2] These fears had been made known to Papirius by deserters; and when he had described them to his soldiers, incensed as they already were of themselves, their hopes both of gods and men ran high, and they called out in unison demanding battle; they were vexed at the postponement of the struggle until the morrow, and to wait for a day and night disgusted them.

in the third watch of the night, having now received his colleague's answer, Papirius rose silently and sent the keeper of the chickens ¹ to take the auspices.

[3] there was no class of men in camp who were not affected by the lust of battle; both high and low felt the same eagerness; the general could see the ardour of the men, the men that of their general.

[4] this universal zeal spread even to those who took the auspices, for when the chickens refused to feed, their keeper dared to falsify the presage and reported that the corn danced on the ground as it fell from their greedy beaks.

[5] The consul joyfully announced that the omens were most favourable, and that the gods ² would be with them as they fought.

[6] so saying, he displayed the signal for a battle. it chanced, as he was already moving out to the field, that a deserter came up with the information that twenty cohorts of the Samnites —of about four hundred each —had set out for Cominium.

[7] that his colleague might not be ignorant of this, he instantly dispatched a messenger to him, and ordered his own troops to advance in double time.

[8] he had assigned supports to take their posts at favourable points and officers to command them; the right wing he had given to Lucius Volumnius, the left to Lucius Scipio; to lead the cavalry he appointed the other lieutenants, Gaius Caedicius and Titus Trebonius. Spurius Nautius he directed to remove the pack —saddles from the mules, and with three cohorts of auxiliaries to make a hasty detour to a hill which lay in full view, and thence to show himself, in the heat of the engagement, raising as much dust as possible. ³

while the general was thus employed, a dispute which broke out amongst the keepers of the chickens about the auspices for that day was overheard by some Roman cavalrymen, who, deeming it no negligible matter, reported to Spurius Papirius, the consul's nephew, that the auspices were being called in

[9] question. The young man had been born before the learning that makes light of the gods, ⁴ and having inquired into the affair, that he might not be the bearer of an uncertain rumour, acquainted the consul with

[10] it. The consul replied:

for yourself, I commend your conduct and your diligence; but he who takes the auspices, if he reports aught that is false, draws down the wrath of Heaven upon

[11]

himself; as for me, I was told that the corn had ⁵ danced; it is an excellent omen for the Roman People and the army.

he then ordered the centurions to station the keepers of the chickens in the front rank. The Samnites, too, advanced their standards, which were followed by the battle —line in gorgeous armour —a splendid spectacle, though composed of

[12] enemies. before the first shout and the clash of arms, a random javelin struck the chicken —keeper and he fell before the

[13] standards. The consul, on being told of this, exclaimed,

The gods are present in the battle; the guilty wretch has paid the penalty!

in front of the consul a raven, just as he spoke, uttered a clear cry, and Papirius, rejoiced with the augury, and declaring that never had the gods been more instant to intervene in human affairs, bade sound the trumpets and give a cheer.

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 10.40 focus

[1]

When the consul had recounted these particulars, as- certained from the information of the deserters, to the soldiers already enraged of themselves, they then, filled with confidence in both divine and human aid, with one universal shout, demanded the battle; were dissatisfied at the action being deferred to the following day; they are impatient under the intended delay of a day and a night.

[2] Papirius, at the third watch, having received his colleague's letter, arose in silence, and sent the keeper of the chickens to take the auspices.

[3] There was no one description of men in the camp who felt not earnest wishes for the fight: the highest and the lowest were equally eager; the general watching the ardour of the soldiers, and the soldiers that of the general.

[4] This universal zeal spread even to those employed in taking the auspices; for the chickens having refused to feed, the auspex ventured to misrepresent the omen, and reported to the consul that they had fed voraciously. ¹ The consul, highly pleased, and giving notice that the auspices were excellent, and that they were to act under the direction of the gods, displayed the signal for battle. Just as he was going out to the field, he happened to receive intelligence from a deserter, that twenty cohorts of Samnites, consisting of about four hundred each, had marched towards Cominium. Lest his colleague should be ignorant of this, he instantly despatched a messenger to him, and then

[5] ordered the troops to advance with speed, having already assigned to each division of the army its proper post, and appointed general officers to command them. The command of the right wing he gave to Lucius Volumnius, that of the left to Lucius Scipio, that of the cavalry to the other lieutenants-general, Caius Caedicius

[6] and Caius Trebonius. He ordered Spurius Nautius to take off the panniers from the mules, and to lead them round quickly, together with his auxiliary cohorts, to a rising ground in view; and there to show himself during the heat of the engagement, and to raise as much dust as possible. While

[7] the general was employed in making these dispositions, a dispute arose among the keepers of the chickens, about the auspices of the day, which was overheard by some Roman horsemen, who, deeming it a matter not to be slighted, informed Spurius

[8] Papirius, the consul's nephew, that there was a doubt about the auspices. The youth, born in an age when that sort of learning which inculcates contempt of the gods was yet unknown, examined into the affair, that he might not carry an uncertain

[9] report to the consul; and then acquainted him with it. His answer was,

I very much applaud your conduct and zeal. However, the person who officiates in taking the auspices, if he makes a false report, draws on his own head the evil portended; but to the Roman people and their army, the favourable omen reported to me is an excellent auspice.

He then commanded the centurions to place the keepers of the chickens in the front of the line. The Samnites likewise brought forward their standards; their main body followed, armed and decorated in such

[10] a manner, that the enemy afforded a magnificent show. Before the shout was raised, or the battle begun, the auspex, wounded by a random cast of a javelin, fell before the standards; which

[11] being told to the consul, he said,

The gods are present in the battle; the guilty has met his punishment.

While the consul uttered these words, a crow, in front of him, cawed with a clear voice; at which augury, the consul being rejoiced, and affirming, that never had the gods interposed in a more striking manner in human affairs, ordered the charge to be sounded and the shout to be raised.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. The auspices were taken from the observation of birds, either from their flight, as in the case of the vultures seen by Romulus and Remus, or from their cries or notes, as in the case of the eagle mentioned as portending the royalty of the Tarquins, or thirdly from the way they took their food. These latter were sacred chickens kept in cages, which always accompanied the Imperator on his campaigns. The pullarii were the augurs in charge of the chickens whose business it was to take the auspices from them. If the birds refused their corn it was naturally regarded as a bad omen, but if, going to the other extreme, they picked it up so greedily that some fell from their bills, the omen was in the highest degree favourable. There was a special term applied to the way the corn thus dropped on to the ground, which was ultimately used a general description of the method of augury.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 10.40

Rev. Canon Roberts (Translator)

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