Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, Rev. Canon Roberts (Translator), 4.26

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[1] The¹ reason for this decision was the report sent in by the Latins and Hernicans of a sudden rising amongst the Volscians and Aequi.

[2] T. Quinctius Cincinnatus —surnamed Poenus —the son of Lucius, and Gnaeus Julius Mento were made consuls. War very soon broke out.

[3] After a levy had been raised under the Lex Sacrata², which was the most powerful means they possessed of compelling men to serve, the armies of both nations advanced and concentrated on Algidus, where they entrenched themselves, each in a separate

[4] camp. Their generals showed greater care than on any previous occasion in the construction of their lines and the exercising of the troops. The reports of this increased the alarm in

[5] Rome. In view of the fact that these two nations after their numerous defeats were now renewing the war with greater energy than they had ever done before, and, further, that a considerable number of the Romans fit for active service had been carried off by the epidemic, the senate decided upon the nomination of a

[6] Dictator. But the greatest alarm was caused by the perverse obstinacy of the consuls and their incessant wranglings in the senate. Some authorities assent that these consuls fought an unsuccessful action at Algidus and that this was the reason why a Dictator was

[7] nominated. It is at all events generally agreed that whilst at variance in other matters, they were at one in opposing the senate and preventing the appointment of a Dictator. At last, when each report that came in was more alarming than the last, and the consuls refused to accept the authority of the senate, Quintus Servilius Priscus, who had filled the highest offices in the State with distinction, said, “Tribunes of the

[8] plebs! now that matters have come to extremities, the senate calls upon you in this crisis of the commonwealth, by virtue of the authority of your office, to compel the consuls to nominate a Dictator.” On hearing this appeal, the tribunes considered that a favourable opportunity presented itself for augmenting their authority, and they retired to

[9] deliberate. Then they formally declared in the name of the whole college of tribunes that it was their determination that the consuls should bow to the will of the senate; if they offered any further opposition to the unanimous decision of that most august order, they, the tribunes, would order them to be thrown into

[10] prison.³ The consuls preferred defeat at the hands of the tribunes rather than at those of the senate. If, they said, the consuls could be coerced by the tribunes in virtue of their authority, and even sent to prison —and what more than this had ever a private citizen to fear? —then the senate had betrayed the rights and privileges of the highest office in the State, and made an ignominious surrender, putting the consulship under the yoke of

[11] the tribunitian power. They could not even agree as to who should nominate the Dictator, so they cast lots and the lot fell to T. Quinctius. He nominated A. Postumius Tubertus, his father-in-law, a stern and resolute commander. The Dictator named L. Julius as the Master

[12] of the Horse. Orders were issued for a levy to be raised and for all business, legal and otherwise, to be suspended in the City, except the preparations for war. The investigation of claims for exemption from military service was postponed till the end of the war, so even in doubtful cases men preferred to give in their names. The Hernici and the Latins were ordered to furnish troops; both nations carried out the Dictator's orders most zealously.

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.) — 4.26 focus

[1] tumultus causa fuit, quem ab Aequis et Volscis Latini atque Hernici nuntiarant.

[2] T. Quinctius Luci filius Cincinnatus — eidem et Poeno cognomen additur — et Cn. lulius Iulius Mento consules facti. nec ultra terror belli est dilatus.

[3] lege sacrata, quae maxima apud eos vis cogendae militiae erat, dilectu habito utrimque validi exercitus profecti in Algidum convenere ibique seorsum Aequi,

[4] seorsum Volsci castra communivere, intentiorque quam umquam ante muniendi exercendique militem cura ducibus erat.

[5] eo plus nuntii terroris Romam attulere. senatui dictatorem dici placuit, quia etsi saepe victi populi maiore tamen conatu quam alias umquam rebellarant et aliquantum Romanae iuventutis morbo absumptum erat.

[6] ante omnia pravitas consulum discordiaque inter ipsos et certamina in consiliis omnibus terrebant. sunt qui male pugnatum ab his consulibus in Algido auctores sint eamque causam dictatoris creandi fuisse.

[7] illud satis constat, ad alia discordes in uno adversus patrum voluntatem consensisse, ne dicerent dictatorem, donec, cum alia aliis terribiliora adferrentur nec in auctoritate senatus consules essent, Q. Servilius Priscus summis honoribus egregie usus “vos” inquit, “tribuni plebis,

[8] quoniam ad extrema ventum est, senatus appellat, ut in tanto discrimine rei publicae dictatorem dicere consules pro potestate vestra cogatis.”

[9] qua voce audita occasionem oblatam rati tribuni augendae potestatis secedunt proque collegio pronuntiant placere consules senatui dicto audientes esse; si adversus consensum amplissimi ordinis ultra tendant, in vincla se duci eos iussuros.

[10] consules ab tribunis quam ab senatu vinci maluerunt proditum a patribus summi imperil imperii ins ius datumque sub iugum tribuniciae potestati consulatum memorantes, si quidem cogi aliquid pro potestate ab tribuno consules et — quo quid ulterius privato timendum foret? — in vincla etiam duci possent.

[11] sors, ut dictatorem diceret — nam ne id quidem inter collegas convenerat , T. Quinctio evenit. is A. Postumium Tubertum, socerum suum, severissimi imperil imperii virum, dictatorem dixit; ab eo L. Iulius magister equitum est dictus.

[12] dilectus simul edicitur et iustitium, neque aliud tota urbe agi quam bellum apparari. cognitio vacantium militiae munere post bellum differtur. ita dubii quoque inclinant ad nomina danda. et Hernicis Latinisque milites imperati; utrimque enixe oboeditum dictatori est.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 4.26 focus

[1]

tumultus causa fuit, quem ab Aequis et ¹ Volscis Latini atque Hernici nuntiarant.

[2] T. Quinctius L. f. Cincinnatus—eidem et Poeno cognomen additur—et Cn. ² Iulius Mento consules facti.

[3] nec ultra terror belli est dilatus. lege sacrata, quae maxima apud eos vis cogendae militiae erat, dilectu ³ habito utrimque utrimnque validi exercitus profecti in Algidum convenere,

[4] ibique seorsum Aequi, seorsum Volsci castra communivere, intentiorque quam unquam ante muniendi exercendique militem cura ducibus erat.

[5] eo plus nuntii terroris Romam attulere. senatui dictatorem dici placuit, quia etsi saepe victi populi maiore tamen conatu quam alias unquam rebellarant, et aliquantum Romanae iuventutis morbo absumptum erat.

[7] illud satis constat ad alia discordes in uno adversus patrum voluntatem consensisse ne dicerent dictatorem, donec donee cum alia aliis terribiliora adferrentur nec in auctoritate senatus consules essent, Q. Servilius Priscus, summis honoribus egregie usus,

[8]

Vos

inquit,

tribuni plebis, quoniam ad extrema ventum est, senatus appellat ut in tanto discrimine rei publicae dictatorem dicere consules pro potestate vestra cogatis.

[10] consules ab tribunis quam ab senatu vinci maluerunt, proditum a patribus summi imperii ius datumque sub iugum tribuniciae potestati consulatum memorantes, si quidem cogi aliquid pro potestate ab tribuno consules et—quo quid ulterius private timendum foret?—in vincla etiam duci possent.

[11] sors , ut dictatorem diceret—nam ne id quidem inter collegas convenerat — T. Quinctio evenit. is A. Postumium Tubertum, socerum suum, severissimi imperii virum, dictatorem dixit; ab eo L. Iulius magister equitum est dictus.

[12] dilectus simul edicitur et iustitium, neque aliud tota urbe agi quam bellum apparari. cognitio vacantium militiae munere post bellum differtur; ita dubii quoque inclinant ad nomina danda. et Hernicis Latinisque milites imperati; utrimque enixe oboeditum dictatori est.

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).) — 4.26 focus

[1]

tumultus causa fuit, quem ab Aequis et ¹ Volscis Latini atque Hernici nuntiarant.

[2] T. Quinctius L. f. Cincinnatus—eidem et Poeno cognomen additur—et Cn. ² Iulius Mento consules facti.

[3] nec ultra terror belli est dilatus. lege sacrata, quae maxima apud eos vis cogendae militiae erat, dilectu ³ habito utrimque utrimnque validi exercitus profecti in Algidum convenere,

[4] ibique seorsum Aequi, seorsum Volsci castra communivere, intentiorque quam unquam ante muniendi exercendique militem cura ducibus erat.

[8]

Vos

inquit,

tribuni plebis, quoniam ad extrema ventum est, senatus appellat ut in tanto discrimine rei publicae dictatorem dicere consules pro potestate vestra cogatis.

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)) — 4.26 focus

[1]

The reason alleged was a sudden outbreak B..431 of hostilities on the part of the Aequi and Volsci, which the Latins and the Hernici had reported.

[2] Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus, son of Lucius —the same who is given the added surname Poenus, — and Gnaeus Julius Mento were made consuls. Nor was the fear of war deferred.

[3] After a levy, held under a lex sacrata¹ which was their most effective means of collecting soldiers, strong armies marched ² out from both nations and met on Algidus, where the Aequi encamped

[4] in one place and the Volsci in another, and their generals took more pains than ever before to intrench, and to drill their men. For this reason the report occasioned the more dismay in Rome.

[5] The senate resolved that a dictator should be appointed, since, though often beaten, those nations had renewed the war with greater efforts than at any previous time, and a considerable proportion of the young Romans had been carried off by the plague.

[6] Above all, men were frightened by the wrong-headedness of the consuls, their want of harmony between themselves, and their opposition to each other in all their plans. Some writers say that these consuls were defeated on Algidus, and that this was the reason of the dictator's being named.

[7] Thus much is clear: though they might differ in other matters, they were agreed on one thing, to oppose the wishes of the Fathers for the appointment of a dictator; until, as the reports grew more and more alarming, and the consuls refused to be guided by the senate, Quintus Servilius Priscus, a man who had filled with distinction the highest offices, cried out,

To you, tribunes of the plebs, since matters

[8]

have come to an extremity, the senate appeals, that in this great national crisis you may compel the consuls, by virtue of your authority, to name a dictator.

[9] Hearing this the tribunes felt that an opportunity had come for increasing their power; they conferred apart, and then announced, in behalf of the college, that they were resolved that the consuls should obey the senate; if they persisted further to oppose the unanimous opinion of that most ³ honourable order, they should command them to be put in prison. The consuls preferred to be defeated by the tribunes rather than by the senate.

[10] They declared that the senators had betrayed the rights of the highest office in the state and had ignominiously surrendered the consulship to the tribunician power, since apparently it was possible for the consuls to be subjected to the official compulsion of a tribune, and even —what could a private citizen fear more than that? —be carried off to gaol.

[11] It was determined by lot —for the colleagues had not been able to agree even about this —that Titus Quinctius should name the dictator. He appointed Aulus Postumius Tubertus, his father-in-law, a man of the sternest authority; and by him Lucius Julius was chosen master of the horse. At the same time a levy was proclaimed and a cessation of legal business, and it was ordered that nothing else should be done in all the City but prepare for war.

[12] The examination of those who claimed exemption from military service was put over till after the war, and so even those whose cases were uncertain were disposed to give in their names. ⁴ Men were required also of the Hernici and the Latins, and in both instances the dictator was zealously obeyed.

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 4.26 focus

[1]

The cause was the rising, which the Hernicians and Latins announced as about to take place on the part of the Aequans and Volscians.

[2] Titus Quintius Cincinnatus, son of Lucius, (to the same person the cognomen of Pennus also is annexed,) and Caius Julius Mento were elected consuls: nor was the terror of war longer deferred.

[3] A levy being held under the devoting law, which with them is the most powerful instrument of forcing men into service, powerful armies set out from thence, and met at Algidum;

[4] and there the Aequans and Volscians fortified their camps separately; and the general took greater care than ever before to fortify their posts and train their soldiers; so much the more terror did the messengers bring to Rome.

[5] The senate wished that a dictator should be appointed, because though these nations had been often conquered, yet they renewed hostilities with mope vigorous efforts than ever before, and a considerable number of the Roman youth had been carried off by sickness.

[6] Above all, the perverseness of the consuls, and the disagreement between them, and their contentions in all the councils, terrified them. There are some who state that an unsuccessful battle was fought by these consuls at Algidum, and that such was the cause of appointing a dictator.

[7] This much is certain, that, though differing in other points, they perfectly agreed in one against the wishes of the patricians, not to nominate a dictator; until when accounts were brought, one more alarming than another, and the consuls would not be swayed by the authority of the senate, Quintus Servilius Priscus, who had passed through the highest honours with singular honour, says,

Tri- bunes of the people,

[8]

since we are come to extremities, the senate calls on you, that you would, by virtue of your authority, compel the consuls to nominate a dictator in so critical a conjuncture of the state.

[9] On hearing this, the tribunes, conceiving that an opportunity was presented to them of extending their power, retire together, and declare for their college, that

it was their wish that the consuls should be obedient to the instruction of the senate; if they persisted further against the consent of that most illustrious order, that they would order them to be taken to prison.

[10] The consuls were better pleased to be overcome by the tribunes than by the senate, alleging that the prerogatives of the highest magistracy were betrayed by the patricians and the consulship subjugated to tribunitian power, inasmuch as the consuls were liable to be overruled by a tribune in any particular by virtue of his power, and (what greater hardship could a private man have to dread?) even to be carried off to prison.

[11] The lot to nominate the dictator (for the colleagues had not even agreed on that) fell on Titus Quintius. He appointed a dictator, Aulus Postumius Tubertus, his own father-in-law, a man of the utmost strictness in command: by him Lucius Julius was appointed master of the horse: a suspension of civil business is also proclaimed;

[12] and, that nothing else should be attended to throughout the city but preparations for war, the examination of the cases of those who claimed exemption from the military service is deferred till after the war. Thus even doubtful persons are induced to give in their names. Soldiers were also enjoined of the Hernicians and Latins: the most zealous obedience is shown to the dictator on both sides.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. War with the Volscians and Aequi.

2. Lex Sacrata. —A law, the violation of which exposed the offender, his family and property, to be devoted ( sacer) to some deity, and whoever killed him was held to have sacrificed him to that deity. Such was the Law of Publicola; as also that which secured the inviolability of the tribunes of the plebs and subsequently of other magistrates. In the present case everyone who refused to serve was so “devoted,” probably by a priest of Mars.

3. This marks an important stage in the growth of the tribunitian power. Hitherto they could only control the consul's acts by inhibition and the protection of those who refused obedience to the consul's orders; now they assumed executive power. But, illegal though the proceeding would have been, they had the support of all the citizens —plebs and senate alike —hence the resistance of the consuls was futile.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 4.26

Rev. Canon Roberts (Translator)

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