Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, Rev. Canon Roberts (Translator), 9.39

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Section

← Previous Next →

[1] The following day, after fresh auspices had been taken, the Dictator was invested with his official powers. He took command of the legions which were raised during the scare connected with the expedition through the Ciminian forest, and led them to Longula.

[2] Here he took over the consul's troops, and with the united force went into the field. The enemy showed no disposition to shirk battle, but while the two armies stood facing each other fully prepared for action, yet neither anxious to begin, they were overtaken by night.

[3] Their standing camps were within a short distance of each other, and for some days they remained

[4] quiet, not, however, through any distrust of their own strength or any feeling of contempt for the enemy.

[5] Meantime the Romans were meeting with success in Etruria, for in an engagement with the Umbrians the enemy were unable to keep up the fight with the spirit with which they began it, and, without any great loss, were completely routed. An engagement also took place at Lake Vadimonis, where the Etruscans had concentrated an army raised under a lex sacrata,¹ in which each man chose his comrade.

[6] As their army was more numerous than any they had previously raised, so they exhibited a higher courage than they had ever shown before. So savage was the feeling on both sides that, without discharging a single missile, they began the fight at once with swords.

[7] The fury displayed in the combat, which long hung in the balance, was such that it seemed as though it was not the Etruscans who had been so often defeated that we were fighting with, but some new, unknown people. There was not the slightest sign of yielding anywhere; as the men in the first line fell, those in the second took their places, to defend the standards.

[8] At length the last reserves had to be brought up, and to such an extremity of toil and danger had matters come that the Roman cavalry dismounted, and, leaving their horses in charge, made their way over piles of armour and heaps of slain to the front ranks of the infantry.

[9] They appeared like a fresh army amongst the exhausted combatants, and at once threw the Etruscan standards into confusion.

[10] The rest of the men, worn out as they were, nevertheless followed up the cavalry attack, and at last broke through the enemy's ranks. Their determined resistance was now overcome, and when once their maniples began to give way, they soon took to actual flight.

[11] That day broke for the first time the power of the Etruscans after their long-continued and abundant prosperity. The main strength of their army was left on the field, and their camp was taken and plundered.

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.) — 9.39 focus

[1] dictator postero die auspiciis repetitis pertulit legem; et profectus cum legionibus ad terrorem traducti silvam Ciminiam exercitus nuper scriptis ad Longulam pervenit acceptisque a Marcio consule veteribus militibus in aciem copias eduxit.

[2] nec hostes detractare visi pugnam. instructos deinde armatosque, cum ab neutris proelium inciperet, nox oppressit. quieti aliquamdiu,

[3] nec suis diffidentes viribus nec hostem spernentes, stativa in propinquo habuere. **nam

[4] et cum Vmbrorum Umbrorum exercitu acie depugnatum est; fusi tamen magis quam caesi hostes, quia coeptam acriter non tolerarunt pugnam;

[5] et ad Vadimonis lacum Etrusci lege sacrata coacto exercitu, cum vir virum legisset, quantis numquam alias ante simul copiis simul animis dimicarunt;

[6] tantoque irarum certamiine certamine gesta res est, ut ab neutra parte emissa sint tela. gladiis pugna coepit et acerrime commissa ipso certamine, quod aliquamdiu anceps fuit, accensa est, ut non cum Etruscis totiens victis, sed cum aliqua nova gente videretur dimicatio esse.

[7] nihil ab ulla parte movetur fugae; cadunt antesignani, et, ne nudentur propugnatoribus signa, fit ex secunda prima acies. ab ultimis deinde subsidiis cietur miles;

[8] adeoque ad ultimum laboris ac periculi ventum est, ut equites Romani omissis equis ad primos ordines peditum per arma, per corpora evaserint. ea velut nova inter fessos exorta acies turbavit signa Etruscorum;

[9] secuta deinde impetum eorum,

[10] utcumque adfecta erat, cetera multitudo tandem perrumpit ordines hostium. tunc vinci pertinacia coepta et averti manipuli quidam, et, — ut semel dedere terga, etiam ceteri omnes capessere fugam.

[11] ille primum dies fortuna vetere abundantes Etruscorum fregit opes. caesum in acie, quod roboris fuit; castra eodem impetu capta direptaque.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 9.39 focus

[1]

dictator postero die auspiciis repetitis pertulit legem; et profectus cum legionibus ad terrorem traducti silvam Ciminiam exercitus nuper

[2] scriptis ad Longulam pervenit acceptisque a Marcio consule veteribus militibus in aciem copias eduxit. nec hostes detractare visi pugnam. instructos deinde armatosque, cum ab neutris proelium inciperet, nox oppressit.

[3] quieti aliquamdiu nec suis diffidentes viribus nec hostem spernentes, stativa in ¹ propinquo habuere. ²

[4] interea Etrusci ³ lege sacrata coacto exercitu, cum vir virum legisset, quantis nunquam alias ante simul copiis simul animis dimicarunt;

[5] tantoque irarum certamine gesta res est ut ab neutra parte emissa sint tela. gladiis pugna coepit et acerrime commissa ipso certamine, quod aliquamdiu anceps fuit, accensa est, ut non cum Etruscis totiens victis, sed cum aliqua nova gente videretur dimicatio esse.

[6] nihil ab ulla parte movetur fugae; cadunt antesignani, et ne nudentur propugnatoribus signa, fit ex secunda prima acies.

[7] ab ultimis deinde subsidiis cietur miles; adeoque ad ultimum laboris ac periculi ventum est ut equites Romani omissis equis ad primos ordines peditum per arma, per corpora evaserint. ea velut nova inter fessos exorta acies turbavit signa Etruscorum;

[8] secuta deinde impetum eorum, utcumque adfecta erat, cetera multitudo tandem perrumpit ordines hostium.

[9] tunc tune vinci pertinacia coepta et averti manipuli quidam, et, ut semel dedere hi terga, ⁴ etiam ceteri item ⁵ capessere fugam.

[10] ille primum dies fortuna vetere ⁶ abundantes Etruscorum fregit opes. caesum in acie, quod roboris fuit; castra eodem impetu capta direptaque.

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).) — 9.39 focus

[1]

dictator postero die auspiciis repetitis pertulit legem; et profectus cum legionibus ad terrorem traducti silvam Ciminiam exercitus nuper

[3] quieti aliquamdiu nec suis diffidentes viribus nec hostem spernentes, stativa in ¹ propinquo habuere. ²

[4] interea Etrusci ³ lege sacrata coacto exercitu, cum vir virum legisset, quantis nunquam alias ante simul copiis simul animis dimicarunt;

[6] nihil ab ulla parte movetur fugae; cadunt antesignani, et ne nudentur propugnatoribus signa, fit ex secunda prima acies.

[8] secuta deinde impetum eorum, utcumque adfecta erat, cetera multitudo tandem perrumpit ordines hostium.

[9] tunc tune vinci pertinacia coepta et averti manipuli quidam, et, ut semel dedere hi terga, ⁴ etiam ceteri item ⁵ capessere fugam.

[10] ille primum dies fortuna vetere ⁶ abundantes Etruscorum fregit opes. caesum in acie, quod roboris fuit; castra eodem impetu capta direptaque.

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)) — 9.39 focus

[2] next day the dictator sought the auspices afresh and carried the law through. then , setting out with the legions which had recently been recruited on account of

the fear occasioned by the army's march through the Ciminian Forest, he came to the vicinity of Longula, ¹ and taking over from Marcius the consul his veteran troops, marched out and offered battle, which the enemy on their part seemed willing to accept.

[3] but while the two armies stood armed and ready for the conflict, which neither cared to begin, night overtook them.

[4] for some time after that they remained quietly in the camps they had established near one another, neither lacking ² confidence in themselves nor yet making light of their adversaries.

[5] meanwhile the Etruscans, employing a lex sacrata, ³ had raised an army in which each man had chosen his comrade, and joined battle, with greater forces, and at the same time with greater valour, than ever before.

[6] The field was contested with such rivalry of rage that neither side discharged a missile. The battle began with swords, and, furious at the outset, waxed hotter as the struggle continued, for the victory was long undecided. it seemed as though the Romans were contending, not with the so oft defeated Etruscans, but with some new race.

[7] no sign of flight was visible in any quarter. as the front —rankers fell, the second line moved up to replace the first, that the standards might not want defenders.

[8] after that the last reserves were called upon; and to such extremity of distress and danger did the Romans come that their cavalry dismounted, and made their way over arms and over bodies to the front ranks of the infantry. like a fresh line springing up amongst the exhausted combatants, they wrought havoc in the companies of the Etruscans.

[9] then the rest of the soldiers, following up their charge, despite of weariness, at last broke through the enemy's ranks.

[10] at this their stubbornness began to be overcome, and certain companies to face about; and when these had once turned tail, the rest likewise took to flight.

[11] that day for the first time broke the might of the ⁴ Etruscans, which had long flourished in prosperity. their strength was cut off in the battle, and their camp was taken and plundered in the same attack.

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 9.39 focus

[1]

Next day the dictator, taking the auspices anew, obtained the order, and, marching out at the head of the legions, lately raised on the alarm occasioned by the army passing the Ciminian forest, came to Longula;

[2] where having received the old troops of the consul Marcius, he led on his forces to battle; nor did the enemy seem to decline the combat. However, they stood drawn up for battle and under arms, until night came on; neither side choosing to begin the fray.

[3] After this, they continued a considerable time encamped near each other, without coming to action; neither diffident of their own strength, nor despising the adversary.

[4] Meanwhile matters went on actively in Etruria; for a decisive battle was fought with the Umbrians, in which the enemy was routed, but lost not many men, for they did not maintain the fight with the vigour with which they began it.

[5] Besides this the Etrurians, having raised an army under the sanctions of the devoting law, each man choosing another, came to an engagement at the Cape of Vadimon, with more numerous forces, and, at the same time, with greater spirit than they had ever shown before.

[6] The battle was fought with such animosity that no javelins were thrown by either party: swords alone were made use of; and the fury of the combatants was still higher inflamed by the long-continued contest; so that it appeared to the Romans as if they were disputing, not with Etrurians, whom they had so often conquered, but with a new race.

[7] Not the semblance of giving ground appeared in any part; the first lines fell; and lest the standards should be exposed, without defence, the second lines were formed in their place.

[8] At length, even the men forming the last reserves were called into action; and to such an extremity of difficulty and danger had they come, that the Roman cavalry dismounted, and pressed forward, through heaps of arms and bodies, to the front ranks of the infantry.

[9] These starting up a new army, as it were, among men now exhausted, disordered the battalions of the Etrurians; and the rest, weak as their condition was, seconding their assault, broke at last through the enemy's ranks.

[10] Their obstinacy then began to give way: some companies quitted their posts, and, as soon as they once turned their backs, betook themselves to more decided flight.

[11] That day first broke the strength of the Etrurians, now grown exuberant through a long course of prosperity; all the flower of their men were cut off in the field, and in the same assault their camp was seized and sacked.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. For the Lex Sacrata, see note 15 to Book IV. We see here that it was common to most of the old Italian nationalities. An army so raised was regarded as a devoted body pledged under the most fearful oaths to absolute obedience to their general and also to fight to the death. The most notable instance of this method of raising troops occurs in the following book.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 9.39

Rev. Canon Roberts (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers