Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, ed. Robert Seymour Conway, ed. Charles Flamstead Walters, ed. Stephen Keymer Johnson, 10.37

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[1]

Consul alter Postumius, quia in Samnitibus materia belli deerat, in Etruriam ¹ transducto exercitu primum pervastaverat Volsiniensem agrum; ² dein cum egressis ad tuendos fines.

[2] haud procul moenibus ipsorum depugnat; duo milia octingenti ³ Etruscorum caesi; ceteros propinquitas urbis tutata est.

[3] in Rusellanum ⁴ agrum exercitus traductus; ibi non agri tantum vastati sed oppidum etiam expugnatum; capta amplius duo milia hominum, minus duo milia circa muros caesa.

[4] pax tamen clarior maiorque quam bellum in Etruria eo anno fuerat parta est. tres validissimae urbes, Etruriae capita, Volsinii Perusia Arretium, pacem petiere;

[5] et vestimentis militum frumentoque pacti cum consule, ut mitti Romam oratores liceret, indutias in quadraginta annos impetraverunt. multa praesens quingentum milium aeris in singulas ⁵ civitates imposita.

[6] ob hasce res gestas consul cum triumphum ab senatu moris magis causa quam spe impetrandi

[7] petisset videretque alios quod tardius ab urbe exisset, alios quod iniussu senatus ex Samnio in Etruriam transisset, partim suos inimicos, partim collegae amicos ad solacium aequatae repulsae sibi quoque negare triumphum,

[8]

non ita

inquit,

patres conscripti, vestrae maiestatis meminero, ut me consulem esse obliviscar. eodem iure imperii quo bella gessi, bellis feliciter gestis, Samnio atque Etruria subactis, ⁶ victoria et pace parta triumphabo.

[9] ita senatum reliquit. inde inter tribunos plebis contentio orta; pars intercessuros, ne novo exemplo triumpharet aiebat, pars auxilio se adversus collegas triumphanti futuros.

[10] iactata res ad populum est vocatusque eo consul cum M. Horatium L. ⁷ Valerium consules, C. Marcium Rutulum ⁸ nuper, patrem eius qui tunc censor esset, non ex auctoritate senatus sed iussu populi triumphasse diceret,

[11] adiciebat se quoque laturum fuisse ad populum, ni sciret mancipia nobilium, tribunos plebis, legem impedituros; voluntatem sibi ac favorem consentientis populi pro omnibus iussis esse ac futura.

[12] posteroque die auxilio tribunorum plebis trium adversus intercessionem septem tribunorum et consensum senatus celebrante populo diem triumphavit.

[13] et huius anni parum constans memoria est. Postumium auctor est Claudius in Samnio captis aliquot urbibus in Apulia fusum fugatumque saucium ipsum cum paucis Luceriam compulsum: ab Atilio in Etruria res gestas eumque triumphasse.

[14] Fabius ambo consules in Samnio et ad Luceriam res gessisse scribit traductumque in Etruriam exercitum—sed ab ⁹ utro consule non adicit ¹⁰ —et ad Luceriam utrimque

[15] multos occisos inque ea pugna Iovis Statoris aedem votam, ut Romulus ante voverat; sed fanum tantum, id est locus templo effatus, fuerat.

[16] ceterum hoc demum anno ut aedem etiam fieri senatus iuberet bis eiusdem voti damnata re publica ¹¹ in religionem venit.

Ab urbe condita. Titus Livius (Livy). ed. Robert Seymour Conway, ed. Charles Flamstead Walters, ed. Stephen Keymer Johnson. Medford, MA. .

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

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

Editions (2)

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Pars I-IV, Libri I-XL. Editio Stereotypica. Weissenborn, Wilhelm; Mueller, Moritz, editors. Leipzig: Teubner, 1884-1911.) — 10.37 focus

[1] consul alter Postumius, quia in Samnitibus materia belli deerat, in Etruriam transducto exercitu primum pervastaverat Volsiniensem agrum;

[2] dein cum egressis ad tuendos fines baud haud procul moenibus ipsorum depugnat; duo milia octingenti Etruscorum caesi;

[3] ceteros propinquitas urbis tutata est. in Rusellanum agrum exercitus traductus; ibi non agri tantum vastati sed oppidum etiam expugnatum; capta amplius duo milia hominum, minus duo milia circa muros caesa.

[4] pax tamen clarior maiorque, quam bellum in Etruria eo anno fuerat, parta est: tres validissimae urbes, Etruriae capita, Volsinii, Perusia, Arretium, pacem petiere;

[6] ob hasce res gestas consul cum triumphum ab senatu moris magis causa quam spe inpetrandi petisset videretque alios,

[7] quod tardius ab urbe exisset, alios, quod iniussu senatus ex Samnio in Etruriam transisset, partim suos inimicos, partim collegae amicos, ad solacium aequatae repulsae sibi quoque negare triumphum,

[8] “non ita” inquit, “patres conscripti, vestrae maiestatis meminero, ut me consulem esse obliviscar. eodem iure imperil, quo bella gessi, bellis feliciter gestis, Samnio atque Etruria subactis, victoria et pace parta triumphabo.” ita senatum reliquit. inde inter tribunos plebis contentio orta;

[9] pars intercessuros, ne novo exemplo triumpharet, aiebant, pars auxilio se adversus collegas triumphanti futuros.

[10] iactata res ad populum est vocatusque eo consul cum M. Horatium L. Valerium consules, C. Marcium Rutilum nuper, patrem eius, qui tunc censor esset, non ex auctoritate senatus,

[11] sed iussu populi triumphasse diceret, adiciebat se quoque laturum fuisse ad populum, ni sciret mancupia mancipia nobilium tribunos plebis legem inpedituros; voluntatem sibi ac favorem consentientis populi pro omnibus iussis esse ac futura.

[12] posteroque die auxilio tribunorum plebis trium adversus intercessionem septem tribunorum et consensum senatus celebrante populo diem triumphavit. Et et huius anni parum constans memoria est.

[13] Postumium auctor est Claudius, in Samnio captis aliquot urbibus, in Apulia fusum fugatumque, saucium ipsum cum paucis Luceriam conpulsum; ab Atilio in Etruria res gestas eumque triumphasse.

[14] Fabius ambo consules in Samnio et ad Luceriam res gessisse scribit traductumque in Etruriam exercitum — sed ab utro consule, non adicit —

[15] et ad Luceriam utrimque multos occisos inque ea pugna Iovis Statoris aedem votam, ut Romulus ante voverat; sed fanum tantum, id est locus templo effatus, fuerat.

[16] ceterum hoc demum anno, ut aedem etiam fieri senatus iuberet, bis eiusdem voti damnata re publica, in religionem venit.

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).) — 10.37 focus

[1]

Consul alter Postumius, quia in Samnitibus materia belli deerat, in Etruriam ¹ transducto exercitu primum pervastaverat Volsiniensem agrum; ² dein cum egressis ad tuendos fines.

[2] haud procul moenibus ipsorum depugnat; duo milia octingenti ³ Etruscorum caesi; ceteros propinquitas urbis tutata est.

[3] in Rusellanum ⁴ agrum exercitus traductus; ibi non agri tantum vastati sed oppidum etiam expugnatum; capta amplius duo milia hominum, minus duo milia circa muros caesa.

[4] pax tamen clarior maiorque quam bellum in Etruria eo anno fuerat parta est. tres validissimae urbes, Etruriae capita, Volsinii Perusia Arretium, pacem petiere;

[6] ob hasce res gestas consul cum triumphum ab senatu moris magis causa quam spe impetrandi

[8]

non ita

inquit,

[9] ita senatum reliquit. inde inter tribunos plebis contentio orta; pars intercessuros, ne novo exemplo triumpharet aiebat, pars auxilio se adversus collegas triumphanti futuros.

[11] adiciebat se quoque laturum fuisse ad populum, ni sciret mancipia nobilium, tribunos plebis, legem impedituros; voluntatem sibi ac favorem consentientis populi pro omnibus iussis esse ac futura.

[12] posteroque die auxilio tribunorum plebis trium adversus intercessionem septem tribunorum et consensum senatus celebrante populo diem triumphavit.

[14] Fabius ambo consules in Samnio et ad Luceriam res gessisse scribit traductumque in Etruriam exercitum—sed ab ⁹ utro consule non adicit ¹⁰ —et ad Luceriam utrimque

[15] multos occisos inque ea pugna Iovis Statoris aedem votam, ut Romulus ante voverat; sed fanum tantum, id est locus templo effatus, fuerat.

[16] ceterum hoc demum anno ut aedem etiam fieri senatus iuberet bis eiusdem voti damnata re publica ¹¹ in religionem venit.

Translations (3)

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)) — 10.37 focus

[2] The other consul, Postumius, in default of enemies in Samnium, transferred his army to Etruria.

there he first devastated the lands of the ¹ Volsinienses, and then, when they came out to defend their territory, defeated them at no great distance from their own walls. two thousand eight hundred Etruscans were slain; the rest were saved by their nearness to the city.

[3] The army was then led into the territory of Rusellae. there not only were the fields laid waste, but the town was captured too. more than two thousand were made prisoners and somewhat fewer were killed in the fighting about the walls.

[4] yet a peace was made that year in Etruria that was more glorious and of more importance than the fighting had been. three very powerful cities, the chief places in that country, namely Volsinii, Perusia, and Arretium, made overtures of peace, and arranged with the consul, in return for clothing and corn for his troops, to be permitted to send ambassadors to Rome, who obtained a truce for forty years.

[5] a fine of five hundred thousand asses, to be paid at once, was assessed upon each state.

[6] in view of these achievements, the consul asked the senate for a triumph, more as a matter of custom than with any hope of obtaining his request.

[7] when he perceived that some were for denying him on the ground of his tardiness in leaving the City, and others because he had gone over without the authorization of the senate from Samnium into Etruria —a part of these critics being his personal enemies, and the rest friends of his colleague, who were minded to console the latter for his rebuff by denying a triumph to Postumius also —seeing,

[8] I say, how matters stood, he spoke as follows:

i shall not be so mindful, Conscript Fathers, of your dignity as to forget that I am consul. in virtue of the same authority with which I conducted my wars, I intend, now that those ² wars are happily concluded with the subjugation of Samnium and Etruria and the winning of victory and peace, to celebrate a triumph.

[9] so saying he left the senate. a dispute then arose amongst the tribunes of the plebs; some declared that they would interpose their veto to prevent this unprecedented kind of triumph, others that they would support his claims against the opposition of their colleagues.

[10] The question was discussed in an assembly and the consul was asked to speak. he reminded them that Marcus Horatius and Lucius Valerius, the consuls, and lately Gaius Marcius Rutulus, father of him who was then censor, had triumphed not by authorization of the senate but by command of the people;

[11] and he added that he, too, would have referred the question to the people, had he not known that there were tribunes who were owned by the nobles and would obstruct the law ³ ; but the wishes and approbation of the

[12] people when they were of one accord had all the binding force with him —and ever would have of any orders whatsoever.

[13] and so, on the following day, with the support of three tribunes of the plebs, against the opposition of seven who forbade the proceedings and a unanimous senate, Postumius triumphed, with the people thronging in attendance.

of this year, too, the tradition is uncertain. ⁴ Postumius , if we follow Claudius, ⁵ after capturing several cities in Samnium, was defeated in Apulia and put to flight, and, being wounded himself, was forced to take refuge with a few followers in Luceria; while Atilius campaigned in Etruria and obtained a triumph.

[14] Fabius⁶ writes that both consuls fought in Samnium and at Luceria; that the army was led over into Etruria —by which consul he does not state ⁷ —and

[15] that at Luceria both sides suffered heavy losses; in the course of the battle a temple was vowed to Jupiter Stator, as Romulus had vowed one before; but only the fanum, or place set apart for the temple, had been consecrated;

[16] this year, however, their scruples demanded that the senate should order the erection of the building, since the state had now been obligated for the second time by the same vow.

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 10.37 focus

[1]

The other consul, Postumius, because there was no employment for his arms in Samnium, having led over his forces into Etruria, first laid waste the lands of the Volsinians;

[2] and afterwards, on their marching out to protect their country, gained a decisive victory over them, at a small distance from their own walls. Two thousand two hundred of the Etrurians were slain; the proximity of their city protected the rest.

[3] The army was then led into the territory of Rusella, and there, not only were the lands wasted, but the town itself taken. More than two thousand men were made prisoners, and somewhat less than that number killed on the walls.

[4] But a peace, effected that year in Etruria, was still more important and honourable than the war had been. Three very powerful cities, the chief ones of Etruria, (Volsinii, Perusia, and Arretium,) sued for peace;

[5] and having stipulated with the consul to furnish clothing and corn for his army, on condition of being permitted to send deputies to Rome, they obtained a truce for forty years, and a fine was imposed on each state of five hundred thousand asses,¹ to be immediately paid.

[6] When the consul demanded a triumph from the senate, in consideration of these services, rather to comply with the general practice, than in hope of succeeding;

[7] and when he saw that one party, his own personal enemies, another party, the friends of his colleague, refused him the triumph, the latter to console a similar refusal, some on the plea that he had been rather tardy in taking his departure from the city; others, that he had passed from Samnium into Etruria without orders from the senate; he said, "Conscript fathers, I shall not be so far mindful of your dignity, as to forget that I am consul.

[8] By the same right of office by which I conducted the war, I shall now have a triumph, when this war has been brought to a happy conclusion, Samnium and Etruria being subdued, and victory and peace procured. With these words he left the senate.

[9] On this arose a contention between the plebeian tribunes; some of them declaring that they would protest against his triumphing in a manner unprecedented; others, that they would support his pretensions, in opposition to their colleagues.

[10] The affair came at length to be discussed before the people, and the consul being summoned to attend, when he represented, that Marcus Horatius and Lucius Valerius, when consuls, and lately Caius Marcus Rutilus, father of the present censor, had triumphed, not by direction of the senate, but by that of the people;

[11] he then added that

he would in like manner have laid his request before the public, had he not known that some plebeian tribunes, the abject slaves of the nobles, would have obstructed the law. That the universal approbation and will of the people were and should be with him equivalent to any order whatsoever.

[12] Accordingly, on the day following, by the support of three plebeian tribunes, in opposition to the protest of the other seven, and the declared judgment of the senate, he triumphed; and the people paid every honour to the day.

[13] The historical accounts regarding this year are by no means consistent; Claudius asserts, that Postumius, after having taken several cities in Samnium, was defeated and put to flight in Apulia; and that, being wounded himself, he was driven, with a few attendants, into Luceria. That the war in Etruria was conducted by Atilius, and that it was he who triumphed.

[14] Fabius writes, that the two consuls acted in conjunction, both in Samnium and at Luceria; that an army was led over into Etruria, but by which of the consuls he has not mentioned;

[15] that at Luceria, great numbers were slain on both sides; and that in that battle, the temple of Jupiter Stator was vowed, the same vow having been formerly made by Romulus, but the fane only, that is, the area appropriated for the temple, had been yet consecrated.

[16] However, in this year, the state having been twice bound by the same vow, it became a matter of religious obligation that the senate should order the temple to be erected.

History of Rome Perseus (Volumes 1-2. Roberts, Canon, Rev, translator. London, New York: J. M. Dent and Sons; E. P. Dutton and Co., 1912.) — 10.37 focus

[1] The other consul, Postumius, finding nothing for his troops to do amongst the Samnites, led them into Etruria and began to lay waste the district of Volsinia.

[2] The townsmen came out to defend their borders and a battle ensued not far from their walls ; 2800 of the Etruscans were killed, the rest were saved by the proximity of their city.

[3] He then passed over into the Rusellan territory; there, not only were the fields harried, but the town itself was successfully assaulted. More than 2000 were made prisoners, and under 2000 killed in the storming of the place. The peace which ensued this year in Etruria was more important and redounded more to the honour of Rome than even the war which led to it.

[4] Three very powerful cities, the chief cities in Etruria, Vulsinii, Perusia, and Arretium, sued for peace, and after agreeing to supply the troops with clothing and corn, they obtained the consul's consent to send spokesmen to Rome, with the result that they obtained a forty years' truce.

[5] Each of the cities was at once to pay an indemnity of 500,000 ases. For these services the consul asked the senate to decree him a triumph.

[6] The request was made more as a matter of form, to comply with the established custom, than from any hope of obtaining it . He saw that some who were his personal enemies and others who were friends of his colleague refused his request on various grounds, some alleging that he had been

[7] too late in taking the field, others that he had transferred his army from Samnium to Etruria without any orders from the senate, whilst a third party were actuated by a desire to solace Atilius for the refusal which he had met with.

[8] In face of this opposition he simply said: “Senators, I am not so mindful of your authority as to forget that I am consul. By the same right and authority by which I have conducted wars, now that these wars have been brought to a successful close, Samnium and Etruria subdued, victory and peace secured, I shall celebrate my triumph.” And with that he left the senate.

[9] A sharp contention now broke out between the tribunes of the plebs. Some declared that they should interpose to prevent his obtaining a triumph in a way which violated all precedent, others asserted that they should give him their support in spite of their colleagues.

[10] The matter was brought before the Assembly, and the consul was invited to be present. In his speech he alluded to the cases of the consuls M. Horatius and L. Valerius and the recent one of Gaius Marcius Rutilus, the father of the man who was censor at the time. All these, he said, had been allowed a triumph, not on the authority of the senate but by an order of the people.

[11] He would have brought the question before the people himself had he not been aware that certain tribunes of the plebs who were bound hand and foot to the nobles would veto the proposal.

[12] He regarded the goodwill and favour of a unanimous people as tantamount to all the formal orders that were made. Supported by three of the tribunes against the veto of the remaining seven and against the unanimous voice of the senate he celebrated his triumph on the following day amidst a great outburst of popular enthusiasm.

[13] The records of this year vary widely from each other. Accord — ing to Claudius, Postumius, after taking some cities in Samnium, was routed and put to flight in Apulia, he himself being wounded, and was driven with a small body of his troops to Luceria; the victories in Etruria were won by Atilius and it was he who celebrated the triumph.

[14] Fabius tells us that both consuls conducted the campaign in Samnium and at Luceria, and that the army was transferred to Etruria, but he does not say by which consul.

[15] He also states that at Luceria the losses were heavy on both sides, and that a temple was vowed to Jupiter Stator in that battle. This same vow Romulus had made many centuries before, but only the fanum, that is the site of the temple, had been consecrated.

[16] As the State had become thus doubly pledged, it became necessary to discharge its obligation to the god, and the senate made an order this year for the construction of the temple.

Notes on the current edition

Ab urbe condita

1. in Etruriam s: etruriam W.

2. A.U.C. 460

3. octingenti (dccc) A 5 drakenborch : accc ( or other corruptions ) W.

4. Rusellanum Gronovius (chap. iv. § 5): rosellanum ( or other corruptions ) W.

5. aeris in singulas andreas (ed. rom . 1469): aerisingulas MPT: aeris singulas M 3: aeris singulis P2 UT 2 A 6: aeris R2: aeris in R 2: omitted by DLA.

6. A.U.C. 460

7. M. Horatium L. glareanus and Sigonius: L. Horatium M. W. ( cf. C..L. 12, p. 44, A.U.C. 305).

8. Rutulum ( see III. vii. 6 and vii. xxxviii. 8) rutilium W.

9. A.U.C. 460

10. adicit (adii-) Madvig : adiecit W.

11. re publica A x2 Gronovius : respublica W.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 10.37

ed. Robert Seymour Conway, ed. Charles Flamstead Walters, ed. Stephen Keymer Johnson

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