Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, Rev. Canon Roberts (Translator), 3.29

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[1] Their camp was found to be full of everything —for they had been sent away with only their shirts on —and the Dictator gave the whole of the spoil to his own soldiers alone.

[2] Addressing the consul and his army in a tone of severe rebuke, “You, soldiers,” he said, “will go without your share of the spoil, for you all but fell a spoil yourselves to the enemy from whom it was taken; and you, L. Minucius, will command these legions as a staff officer, until you begin to show the spirit of a consul.”

[3] Minucius laid down his consulship and remained with the army under the Dictator's orders. But such obedience did men in those days pay to authority when ably and wisely exercised, that the soldiers, mindful of the service he had done them rather than of the disgrace inflicted on them, voted to the Dictator a gold crown a pound in weight, and when he left they saluted him as their “patron.” ¹

[4] Quintus Fabius, the prefect of the City, convened a meeting of the senate, and they decreed that Quinctius, with the army he was bringing home, should enter the City

[5] in triumphal procession. The commanding officers of the enemy were led in front, then the military-standards were borne before the general's chariot, the arm followed

[6] loaded with spoil. It is said that tables spread with provisions stood before all the houses, and the feasters followed the chariot with songs of triumph and the customary jests and lampoons. On that day the freedom of the City was bestowed on L. Mamilius the Tusculan, amidst universal approval.

[7] The Dictator would at once have laid down his office had not the meeting of the Assembly for the trial of M. Volscius detained him: fear of the Dictator prevented the tribunes from obstructing it. Volscius was condemned and went into exile at Lanuvium . Quinctius resigned on the sixteenth day the dictatorship which had been conferred upon him for six months. During that period the consul Nautius fought a brilliant action with the Sabines at Eretum, who suffered a severe defeat, in addition to the ravaging

[8] of their fields. Fabius Quintus was sent to succeed Alinucius in command at Algidus. Towards the end of the year, the tribunes began to agitate the Law, but as two armies were absent, the senate succeeded in preventing any measure from being brought before the plebs. The latter gained their point, however, in securing the reelection of the tribunes for

[9] the fifth time. It is said that wolves pursued by dogs were seen in the Capitol; this prodigy necessitated its purification. These were the events of the year.

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

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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.) — 3.29 focus

[1] castris hostium receptis plenis omnium rerum — nudos enim emiserat — praedam omnem suo tantum militi dedit;

[2] consularem exercitum ipsumque consulem increpans “carebis” inquit “praedae parte, miles, ex eo hoste, cui prope praedae fuisti; et tu, L. Minuci, donec consularem animum incipias habere, legatus his legionibus praeeris.”

[3] ita se Minucius abdicat consulatu iussusque ad exercitum manet. sed adeo tum imperio meliori animus mansuete oboediens erat, ut beneficii magis quam ignominiae hic exercitus memor et coronam auream dictatori libram pondo decreverit et proficiscentem eum patronum salutaverit.

[4] Romae a Q. Fabio praefecto urbis senatus habitus triumphantem Quinctium quo veniebat agmine urbem ingredi iussit. ducti ante currum hostium duces, militaria signa praelata, secutus exercitus praeda onustus. epulae instructae dicuntur fuisse ante omnium domus,

[5] epulantesque cum carmine triumphali et sollemnibus iocis comisantium modo currum secuti sunt.

[6] eo die L. Mamilio Tusculano adprobantibus cunctis civitas data est. confestim se dictator magistratu abdicasset, ni comitia M. Volsci, falsi testis, tenuissent: ea ne inpedirent tribuni, dictatoris obstitit metus. Volscius damnatus Lanuvium in exilium abiit.

[7] Quinctius sexto decimo die dictatura in sex menses accepta se abdicavit. per eos dies consul Nautius ad Eretum cum Sabinis egregie pugnat; ad vastatos agros ea quoque clades accessit Sabinis. Minucio Fabius successor in Algidum missus.

[8] extremo anno agitatum de lege ab tribunis est; sed quia duo exercitus aberant, ne quid ferretur ad populum, patres tenuere; plebes vicit, ut quintum eosdem tribunos crearent.

[9] lupos visos in Capitolio ferunt a canibus fugatos; ob id prodigium lustratum Capitolium esse. haec eo anno gesta.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 3.29 focus

[1]

castris hostium receptis plenis omnium rerum—nudos enim emiserat—praedam omnem suo tantum militi dedit;

[2] consularem exercitum ipsumque consulem increpans,

carebis

inquit

praedae parte, ¹ miles, ex eo hoste cui prope praedae fuisti; et tu, L. Minuci, donec consularem animum incipias habere, legatus his legionibus praeeris.

[3] ita se Minucius abdicat consulatu iussusque ad exercitum manet. sed adeo tum imperio meliori animus mansuete oboediens erat ut beneficii magis quam ignominiae hic exercitus memor et coronam auream dictatori libram pondo decreverit et proficiscentem eum patronum salutaverit.

[5] epulae instructae dicuntur fuisse ante omnium domus, epulantesque cum carmine triumphali et ² sollemnibus iocis comisantium modo currum secuti sunt.

[6] eo die L. Mamilio Tusculano adprobantibus cunctis civitas data est. confestim se dictator magistratu abdicasset, ni comitia M. Volsci, falsi testis, tenuissent. ea ne impedirent tribuni dictatoris obstitit metus.

[7] Volscius damnatus Lanuvium in exsilium ³ abiit. Quinctius sexto decimo die dictatura in sex menses accepta se abdicavit. per eos dies consul Nautius ad Eretum cum Sabinis egregie pugnat; ad vastatos agros ea quoque clades accessit Sabinis. Minucio Fabius ⁴⁵ successor in Algidum missus.

[8] extremo anno agitatum de lege ab tribunis est; sed quia duo exercitus aberant, ne quid ferretur ad populum patres tenuere; plebes vicit ut quintum eosdem tribunos crearet. ⁶ lupos visos in Capitolio ferunt a canibus fugatos;

[9] ob id prodigium lustratum Capitolium esse. haec eo anno gesta.

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).) — 3.29 focus

[1]

castris hostium receptis plenis omnium rerum—nudos enim emiserat—praedam omnem suo tantum militi dedit;

[2] consularem exercitum ipsumque consulem increpans,

carebis

inquit

praedae parte, ¹ miles, ex eo hoste cui prope praedae fuisti; et tu, L. Minuci, donec consularem animum incipias habere, legatus his legionibus praeeris.

[5] epulae instructae dicuntur fuisse ante omnium domus, epulantesque cum carmine triumphali et ² sollemnibus iocis comisantium modo currum secuti sunt.

[9] ob id prodigium lustratum Capitolium esse. haec eo anno gesta.

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)) — 3.29 focus

[1]

Having taken possession of the enemy's camp, which abounded in all sorts of supplies —for he had sent them out with nothing but their tunics —he

[2] gave all the booty to his own troops exclusively, rebuking the consular army and the consul himself in these terms:

You shall have no ¹ share, soldiers, in the spoils of that enemy to whom you almost fell a spoil; and you, Lucius Minucius, until you begin to have the spirit of a consul, shall command these legions as my lieutenant.

[3] So Minucius abdicated the consulship, and remained, as he was ordered to do, with the army. ² But so tame and submissive was the temper of this army now towards a better commander, that, considering rather the benefit they had received at his hands than the humiliation, they voted the dictator a golden chaplet of a pound in weight, and when he departed, saluted him as their protector.

[4] At Rome the senate, being convened by Quintus Fabius, the prefect of the City, commanded Quinctius to enter the gates in triumph, with the troops that accompanied him.

[5] Before his chariot were led the generals of the enemy; the military standards were borne on ahead; after them came the soldiers, laden with booty. It is said that tables were spread before all the houses, and the troops, feasting as they marched, with songs of triumph and the customary jokes, followed the chariot like revellers.

[6] On that day Lucius Mamilius the Tusculan was granted citizenship, with the approval of all. ³ Cincinnatus would at once have resigned his office, had not the trial of Marcus Volscius, the false witness, caused him to delay.

[7] The awe in which the tribunes held the dictator prevented them from interfering with the trial. Volscius was condemned and went into exile at Lanuvium. On the sixteenth day Quinctius surrendered the dictatorship which he had received for six months. During that period the consul Nautius fought a successful engagement at Eretum with the Sabines, who in addition to the devastation of their fields now suffered this new ⁴ disaster. Fabius was sent to Mount Algidus to succeed Minucius.

[8] At the close of the year there was some agitation for the law on the part of the tribunes; but since two armies were abroad, the senators insisted that no proposal should be laid before the people; the plebs were successful in electing the same tribunes for the fifth time.

[9] It is said that wolves were seen on the Capitol, pursued by dogs; because of which prodigy the Capitol was purified. Such were the events of this year.

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 3.29 focus

[1]

The enemy's camp being taken, which was full of every thing, (for he had sent them away naked,) he distributed all the booty among his own soldiers only:

[2] chiding the consul's army and the consul himself, he says,

Soldiers, ye shall do without any portion of the spoil taken from that enemy to which you were well nigh becoming a spoil: and you, Lucius Minutius, until you begin to assume the spirit of a consul, shall command these legions as lieutenant-general.

[3] Minutius accordingly resigns his office of consul, and remains with the army, as he had been commanded. But so meekly obedient were the minds of men at that time to authority combined with superior merit, that this army, mindful of the kindness (conferred) rather than of the slur (cast on them), both voted a golden crown of a pound weight to the dictator, and saluted him as their patron when setting out.

[4] The senate at Rome, being convened by Quintus Fabius, praefect of the city, ordered Quintius to enter the city in triumph, in the order of march in which he was coming.

[5] The leaders of the enemy were led before his car: the military standards were carried before him: his army followed laden with spoil. Tables with provisions are said to have been laid out before the houses of all, and (the soldiers) partaking of the entertainment, followed the car with the triumphal hymn and the usual jests, after the manner of revellers.

[6] On that day the freedom of the state was granted to Lucius Mamilius of Tusculum, with universal approbation.

[7] The dictator would have laid down his office, had not the assembly for the trial of Marcus Volscius, the false witness, detained him; the fear of the dictator prevented the tribunes from obstructing it. Volscius was condemned and went into exile to Lanuvium. Quintius laid down his dictatorship on the sixteenth day, having received it for six months. During those days the consul Nautius engages the Sabines at Eretum with distinguished success. Besides the devastation of their lands, this additional blow also befell the Sabines. Fabius Quintus was sent to Algidum as successor to Minucius.

[8] Towards the end of the year the tribunes began to agitate the question of the law; but because two armies were abroad, the patricians carried the point, that no business should be proposed to the people. The commons succeeded in electing the same tribunes for the fifth time.

[9] They report that wolves seen in the Capitol were driven away by dogs; that on account of that prodigy the Capitol was purified. Such were the transactions in that year.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. patron—The patron was bound to defend and protect those dependent on him —his clients —especially those who had not strictly legal rights. The soldiers regarded the Dictator as their protector and deliverer from slavery and death.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 3.29

Rev. Canon Roberts (Translator)

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