Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, Rev. Canon Roberts (Translator), 7.37

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[1] After this success the consul summoned an Assembly, and in the presence of his fellow-soldiers pronounced a eulogy on Decius not only for his former services but also for this crowning proof of his soldierly qualities. In addition to the other military rewards he presented him with a golden chaplet and a hundred oxen, and one white oxen of especial beauty, the horns of which had been gilded.

[2] The men who had been with him on the height were rewarded with a standing order for double rations and also with one ox and two tunics apiece. After the consul had made the presentation, the legionaries, amidst loud cheers, placed on Decius' head an “obsidial” wreath of grass.¹ Another similar wreath was bestowed upon him by his own

[3] men. With these decorations upon him he sacrificed the beautiful ox to Mars and presented the hundred oxen which had been given him to the men who had accompanied him on his expedition. The legionaries also contributed a pound of meal and a pint of wine for each of them. During all these proceedings enthusiastic cheering went on through the whole camp.

[4] After² the rout it had suffered at the hands of Valerius, the Samnite army was determined to put its fortunes to the proof in a final conflict, and a third battle was fought at Suessula. The whole fighting strength of the nation was

[5] brought up. The alarming news was sent in haste to Capua; from there horsemen galloped to the Roman camp to beg for help

[6] from Valerius. He at once ordered an advance, and leaving a strong force to protect the camp and the baggage, proceeded by forced marches to Suessula. He selected a site for his camp not far from the enemy, and very restricted in area, as with the exception of the horses there were no baggage, animals, or camp-followers to be

[7] provided for. The Samnite army, assuming that there would be no delay in giving battle, formed their lines, and as no enemy advanced against them they marched on towards the Roman camp prepared to

[8] assault it. When they saw the soldiers on the rampart and learnt from the report of the reconnoitring parties who had been sent in every direction that the camp was of small dimensions, they concluded that only a weak force of the enemy

[9] held it. The whole army began to clamour for the fosse to be filled up and the rampart torn down that they might force their way into the camp. If the generals had not checked the impetuosity of their men, their recklessness would have terminated

[10] the war. As it was, however, their huge numbers were exhausting their supplies, and owing to their previous inaction at Suessula and the delay in bringing on an action they were not far from absolute scarcity. They determined, therefore, since, as they imagined, the enemy was afraid to venture outside his camp, to send foraging parties into

[11] the fields. Meantime they expected that as the Romans made no movement and had brought only as much corn as they could carry with the rest of their equipment on their shoulders, they, too, would soon be in want

[12] of everything. When the consul saw the enemy scattered through the fields and only a few left on outpost duty in front of the camp, he addressed a few words of encouragement to his men and led them out to storm the

[13] Samnite camp. They carried it at the first rush; more of the enemy were killed in their tents than at the gates or on the rampart. All the standards which were captured he ordered to be collected together. Leaving two legions to hold the camp, he gave strict orders that they were not to touch the booty till

[14] he returned. He went forward with his men in open column and sent the cavalry to round up the scattered Samnites, like so much game, and drive them against

[15] his army. There was an immense slaughter, for they were too much terrified to think under what standard to rally or whether to make for their camp or flee

[16] further afield. Their fears drove them into such a hasty flight that as many as 40,000 shields — far more than the number of the slain —and military standards, including those captured in the storming of the camp, to the number of 170 were brought to

[17] the consul. He then returned to the Samnite camp and all the booty there was given to the soldiers.

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.) — 7.37 focus

[1] ita rebus gestis consul advocata contione P. Deci non coeptas solum ante, sed cumulatas nova virtute laudes peragit et praeter militaria alia dona aurea corona eum et centum bubus eximioque uno albo opimo auratis cornibus donat.

[2] milites, qui in praesidio simul fuerant, duplici fruniento frumento in perpetuum, in praesentia singulis bubus privisque binisque tunicis donati. secundum consulis donationem legiones gramineam coronam obsidialem, clamore donum adprobantes, Decio inponunt. altera corona, eiusdem honoris index, a praesidio suo inposita est.

[3] his decoratus insignibus bovem eximium Marti immolavit, centum boves militibus dono dedit, qui secum in expeditione fuerant. iisdem militibus legiones libras farris et sextarios vini contulerunt; omniaque ea ingenti alacritate per clamorem militarem, indicem omnium adsensus, gerebantur. Tertia pugna ad Suessulam commissa est,

[4] qua fugatus a M. Valerio Samnitium exercitus, omni robore iuventutis domo accito, certamine ultimo fortunam experiri statuit.

[5] ab Suessula nuntii trepidi Capuam, inde equites citati ad Valerium consulem opem oratum veniunt.

[6] confestim signa mota relictisque inpedimentis et castrorum valido praesidio raptim agitur agmen; nec procul ab hoste locum perexiguum, ut quibus praeter equos ceterorum iumentorum calonumque turba abesset, eastris castris cepit. Samnitium exercitus,

[7] velut baud haud ulla mora pugnae futura esset, aciem instruit; deinde, postquam nemo obvius ibat, infestis signis ad castra hostium succedit.

[8] ubi ut militem in vallo vidit missique ab omni parte exploratum, quam in exiguum orbem contracta castra essent,

[9] paucitatem inde hostium colligentes, rettulerunt, fremere omnis acies conplendas esse fossas scindendumque vallum et in castra inrumpendum;

[10] transactumque ea temeritate bellum foret, ni duces continuissent impetum militum. ceterum, quia multitudo sua commeatibus gravis et prius sedendo ad Suessulam et tur tum certaminis mora baud haud procul ab rerum omnium inopia esset, placuit, dum inclusus paveret hostis, frumentatum per agros militem duci:

[11] interim quieto Romano, qui expeditus, quantum umeris inter arma geri posset frumenti, secum attulisset, defutura omnia. Consul consul palatos per agros cum vidisset hostes,

[12] stationes infrequentes relictas, paucis milites adhortatus ad castra oppugnanda ducit.

[13] quae cum primo clamore atque impetu cepisset, pluribus hostium in tentoriis suis quam in portis valloque caesis, signa captiva in unum locum conferri iussit relictisque duabus legionibus custodiae et praesidii causa gravi edicto monitis, ut, done donec ipse revertisset, praeda abstinerent, profectus agmine instructo,

[14] cum praemissus eques velut indagine dissipates dissipatos Samnites ageret, caedem ingentem fecit. nam neque,

[15] quo signo coirent inter se, neque, utrum castra peterent an longiorem intenderent fugam, territis constare poterat;

[16] tantumque fugae ac formidinis fuit, ut ad quadraginta milia scutorum, nequaquam tot caesis, et signa militaria cum iis, quae in castris capta erant, ad centum septuaginta ad consulem deferrentur.

[17] turn tum in castra hostium reditum ibique omnis praeda militi data.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 7.37 focus

[1]

ita rebus gestis consul aduocata contione P. Deci non coeptas solum ante sed cumulatas noua uirtute laudes peragit et praeter militaria alia dona aurea corona eum et centum bubus eximioque uno albo opimo auratis cornibus donat.

[2] milites, qui in praesidio simul fuerant, duplici frumento in perpetuum, in praesentia priuis bubus binisque tunicis donati. secundum consulis donationem legiones gramineam coronam obsidialem, clamore donum approbantes, Decio imponunt; altera corona, eiusdem honoris index, a praesidio suo imposita est.

[3] his decoratus insignibus bouem eximium Marti immolauit, centum boues militibus dono dedit qui secum in expeditione fuerant. iisdem militibus legiones libras farris et sextarios uini contulerunt; omniaque ea ingenti alacritate per clamorem militarem, indicem omnium adsensus, gerebantur.

[4] tertia pugna ad Suessulam commissa est; quia fugatus a M. Ualerio Samnitium exercitus, omni robore iuuentutis domo accito, certamine ultimo fortunam experiri statuit.

[5] ab Suessula nuntii trepidi Capuam, inde equites citati ad Ualerium consulem opem oratum ueniunt.

[6] confestim signa mota relictisque impedimentis castrorum cum ualido praesidio raptim agitur agmen; nec procul ab hoste locum perexiguum, ut quibus praeter equos ceterorum iumentorum calonumque turba abesset, castris cepit.

[7] Samnitium exercitus, uelut haud ulla mora pugnae futura esset, aciem instruit; deinde, postquam nemo obuius ibat, infestis signis ad castra hostium succedit.

[8] ibi ut militem in uallo uidit missique ab omni parte exploratum quam in exiguum orbem contracta castra essent—paucitatem inde hostium colligentes—rettulerunt,

[9] fremere omnis acies complendas esse fossas scindendumque uallum et in castra inrumpendum; transactumque ea temeritate bellum foret, ni duces continuissent impetum militum.

[10] ceterum, quia multitudo sua commeatibus grauis et prius sedendo ad Suessulam et tum certaminis mora haud procul ab rerum omnium inopia esset, placuit, dum inclusus paueret hostis, frumentatum per agros militem duci:

[11] interim quieto Romano, qui expeditus quantum umeris inter arma geri posset frumenti secum attulisset, defutura omnia.

[12] consul palatos per agros cum uidisset hostes, stationes infrequentes relictas, paucis milites adhortatus ad castra oppugnanda ducit.

[13] quae cum primo clamore atque impetu cepisset, pluribus hostium in tentoriis suis quam in portis ualloque caesis signa captiua in unum locum conferri iussit; relictisque duabus legionibus custodiae et praesidii causa, graui edicto monitis ut, donec ipse reuertisset, praeda abstinerent,

[14] profectus agmine instructo, cum praemissus eques uelut indagine dissipatos Samnites ageret, caedem ingentem fecit.

[15] nam neque quo signo coirent inter se neque utrum castra peterent an longiorem intenderent fugam, territis constare poterat;

[16] tantumque fugae ac formidinis fuit, ut ad quadraginta milia scutorum—nequaquam tot caesis—et signa militaria cum iis quae in castris capta erant ad centum septuaginta ad consulem deferrentur.

[17] tum in castra hostium reditum ibique omnis praeda militi data.

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).) — 8.37 focus

[1]

dictator triumphans urbem est ¹ ingressus; et cum se dictatura abdicare vellet, iussu patrum, priusquam abdicaret, consules creavit C. Sulpicium Longum iterum Q. Aemilium Cerretanum.

[2] Samnites infecta pace, quia de condicionibus ambigebatur, ² indutias annuas ab urbe rettulerunt. nec earumipsarum sancta fides fuit; adeo, postquam Papirium abisse magistratu nuntiatum est, arrecti ad bellandum animi sunt.

[3] C. Sulpicio Q. Aemilio—Aulium ³ quidam annales habent—consulibus ad defectionem Samnitium Apulum novum bellum accessit. utroque exercitus missi. Sulpicio Samnites, Apuli Aemilio sorte evenerunt.

[4] sunt qui non ipsis Apulis bellum inlatum, sed socios eius gentis populos ab Samnitium vi atque iniuriis defensos scribant;

[5] ceterum fortuna Samnitium, vix a se ipsis eo tempore propulsantium bellum, propius ut sit vero facit non Apulis ab ⁴ Samnitibus arma inlata, sed cum utraque simul gente bellum Romanis fuisse.

[6] nec tamen res ulla memorabilis mnemorabilis acta; ager Apulus Samniumque Samnniumque evastatum; hostes nec hic nec illic inventi.

Romae nocturnus terror ita ex somno trepidam repente civitatem excivit ut Capitolium atque arx moeniaque et portae plena armatorum fuerint;

[7] et cum concursatum clamatumque ad arma omnibus locis esset, prima luce nec auctor nec causa terroris comparuit.

[8] eodem anno de Tusculanis Flavia rogatione populi fuit iudicium. M. Flavius ⁵ tribunus plebis tulit ad populum ut in Tusculanos animadverteretur, quod eorum ⁶ ope ac consilio Veliterni Privernatesque populo Romano bellum fecissent.

[9] populus Tusculanus cum coniugibus ac liberis Romam venit. ea multitudo multitude veste mutata et specie reorum tribus circuit, genibus se omnium advolvens;

[10] plus itaque misericordia ad poenae veniam impetrandam quam causa ad crimen purgandum valuit.

[11] tribus omnes praeter Polliam antiquarunt legem. polliae sententia fuit puberes verberatos necari, coniuges liberosque sub corona lege belli venire.

[12] memoriam eius irae Tusculanis in poenae tam atrocis auctores mansisse ad patrum aetatem constat, nec quemquam ferme ex Pollia tribu candidatum Papiriam ferre solitum.

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)) — 7.37 focus

[1]

The battle having sped thus, the consul called an assembly, and pronounced a panegyric upon Decius, in which he rehearsed, in addition to his former services, the fresh glories which his bravery had achieved. Besides other military gifts, he bestowed on him a golden chaplet and a hundred oxen, and one choice white one, fat, and with gilded horns.

[2] The soldiers who had been on the hill with him were rewarded with a double: ration ¹ in perpetuity, and for the present an ox apiece and two tunics. Following the consul's award, the legions, accompanying the gift with their cheers, placed on Decius's head a wreath of grass, ² to signify his rescuing them from a siege; and his own detachment crowned him with a second wreath, indicative of the same honour.

[3] Adorned with these insignia, he sacrificed the choice ox to Mars, and presented the hundred others to the soldiers who had served with him on the expedition. To these same soldiers the legions contributed a pound of spelt and a pint of wine for each man. All these awards were carried out amid the greatest cheerfulness, the shouts of the soldiers testifying to the general approval.

[4] A third engagement was fought at Suessula, for the Samnites, after the rout inflicted on them by Marcus Valerius, had called out all the men they had of military age, determined to try their fortune in a final encounter.

[5] From Suessula the alarming news was carried to Capua, whence gallopers were dispatched to Valerius the consul, to implore assistance.

[6] The troops were immediately set in motion, and leaving behind the baggage and a strong garrison for the camp, made a rapid march, and being got within a short distance of the enemy, encamped in a very small compass, for they had only their horses with them and neither beasts of burden nor a crowd of camp-followers.

[7] The Samnites, assuming that the battle would not be delayed, formed up in line; then, as no one came out to meet them, they advanced against the enemy's camp.

[8] When they saw the soldiers on the rampart, and when the scouts whom they had dispatched to spy out the camp on every hand ³ reported how straitened its dimensions were, inferring thence the paucity of their foes, the whole army began to murmur that they ought to fill up the trenches, breach the rampart, and burst into the enclosure;

[9] and their rashness would have brought the war to a conclusion, had not the commanders restrained the ardour of their men.

[10] But since their numbers were a burden on the commissariat, and since, owing first to their sitting down before Suessula and afterwards to the delay in fighting, they were almost reduced to want for everything, they decided that while the enemy were cowering within their works, they would send their soldiers over the country-side to forage:

[11] meantime the Romans, remaining inactive, would be reduced to destitution, for they had come in light marching order, with only so much corn as they could carry, along with their armour, on their shoulders.

[12] Seeing the Samnites dispersed about the fields, and their stations thinly manned, the consul addressed a few words of encouragement to his soldiers and led them to the assault of the enemy's camp.

[13] Having taken it at the first shout and rush, and slain more men in their tents than at the gates and on the breastworks, he ordered the captured standards to be collected in one spot.

[14] Then, leaving two legions to guard them and defend the place, — with strict injunctions to refrain from spoiling until he himself returned, —he marched out in serried column, and sending the cavalry on before to surround the scattered Samnites, as with a cordon of hunters, and so drive them in, he made a prodigious slaughter of them.

[15] For in their terror they were unable to agree either under what standard they ⁴ should rally, or whether they should make for their camp or direct their flight towards some more remote place;

[16] and so great was their discomfiture and panic, that the Romans brought in to the consul no less than forty thousand shields —though not near so many men were slain —and of military standards, including those which had been captured in the camp, no fewer than a hundred and seventy.

[17] The victors then returned to the enemy's camp and there the plunder was all given to the soldiers.

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 7.37 focus

[1]

Matters being thus conducted, the consul, having sum- moned an assembly, pronounces a panegyric on Decius, not only that which had been commenced on a previous occasion, but as now completed by his recent deserts; and besides other military gifts, he presents him with a golden crown and one hundred oxen, and with one white one of distinguished beauty, richly decorated with gilded horns.

[2] The soldiers who had been in the guard with him, were presented with a double allowance of corn for ever; for the present, with an ox and two vests each. Immediately after the consuls' donation, the legions place on the head of Decius a crown of grass, indicative of their deliverance from a blockade, expressing their approbation of the present with a shout.

[3] Decorated with these emblems, he sacrificed the beautiful ox to Mars; the hundred oxen he bestowed on the soldiers, who had been with him in the expedition. On the same soldiers the legions conferred, each a pound of corn and a pint of wine; and all these things were performed with great alacrity, with a military shout, a token of the approbation of all.

[4] The third battle was fought near Suessula, in which the army of the Samnites, having been routed by Marcus Valerius, having summoned from home the flower of their youth, determined on trying their strength by a final contest. From Suessula messengers came in great haste to Capua, and from thence horsemen in full speed to the consul Valerius, to implore aid.

[5] The troops were immediately put in motion; and the baggage in the camp being left with a strong guard, the army moves on with rapidity;

[6] and they select at no great distance from the enemy a very narrow spot (as, with the exception of their horses, they were unaccompanied by a crowd of cattle and servants). The army of the Samnites, as if there was to be no delay in coming to an engagement, draw up in order of battle;

[7] then, when no one came to meet them, they advance to the enemy's camp in readiness for action.

[8] There when they saw the soldiers on the rampart, and persons sent out to reconnoitre in every direction, brought back word into how narrow a compass the camp had been contracted, inferring thence the scanty number of the enemy.

[9] The whole army began to exclaim, that the trenches ought to be filled up, the rampart to be torn down, and that they should force their way into the camp; and by that temerity the war would have been soon over, had not the generals restrained the impetuosity of the soldiers.

[10] However, as their own numbers bore heavily on their supplies, and in consequence, first of their sitting down so long at Suessula, and then by the delay of the contest, they were not far from a want of provisions, it was determined, whilst the enemy remained shut up as if through fear, that the soldiers should be led through the country to forage;

[11] [supposing] in the mean time, that all supplies would fail the Romans also, who having marched in haste, had brought with him only as much corn as could be carried on his shoulders amid his arms.

[12] The consul, after he had observed the enemy scattered through the country, that the posts were left but insufficiently attended, having in a few words encouraged his men, leads them on to besiege the camp.

[13] After he had taken this on the first shout and contest, more of the enemy being slain in their tents than at the gates and rampart, he ordered the captive standards to be collected into one place, and having left behind two legions as a guard and protection, after giving them strict order that they should abstain from the booty, until he himself should return;

[14] having set out with his troops in regular order, the cavalry who had been sent on driving the dispersed Samnites as it were by hunting toils, he committed great slaughter among them.

[15] For in their terror they could neither determine by what signal they should collect themselves into a body, whether they should make for the camp, or continue their flight to a greater distance.

[16] And so great was their terror, and so precipitate their flight, that to the number of forty thousand shields, though by no means were so many slain, and one hundred and seventy standards, with those which had been taken in the camp, were brought to the consul.

[17] Then they returned to the enemy's camp; and there all the plunder was given up to the soldiers.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. The “wreath of the blockade.” —This was regarded as the highest of all military distinctions, and was always the gift of the whole army or particular body of troops who had been delivered, or rescued from a position in which they had been completely shut in by the enemy. The grass was taken, according to Festus, from the place which the force had occupied while it was invested.

2. Battle of Suessula —final Defeat of the Samnites.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 7.37

Rev. Canon Roberts (Translator)

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