Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, ed. Robert Seymour Conway, ed. Charles Flamstead Walters, ed. Stephen Keymer Johnson, 9.40

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[1]

pari subinde periculo gloriaeque eventu ¹ bellum in Samnitibus erat, qui praeter ceteros cetoros belli apparatus, ut acies sua fulgeret novis armorum insignibus fecerunt.

[2] duo exercitus erant; scuta alterius auro, alterius argento caelaverunt; forma erat scuti: summum latius, qua pectus atque umeri teguntur, fastigio aequali; ad imum cuneatior mobilitatis causa.

[3] spongia pectori tegumentum et sinistrum crus ocrea tectum; galeae cristatae, quae speciem speeiem magnitudini corporum adderent. tunicae auratis militibus versicolores, argentatis linteae candidae. his vaginae argenteae, baltea argentea: auratae vaginae, aurea baltea illis erant, et equorum inaurata tapeta. ² his dextrum cornu datum; illi in sinistro consistunt.

[4] notus iam Romanis apparatus insignium armorum fuerat doctique a ducibus erant horridum militem esse debere, non caelatum auro et argento sed ferro et animis fretum:

[5] quippe illa praedam verius quam arma esse, nitentia ante rem, deformia inter sanguinem et volnera.

[6] virtutem esse militis decus et omnia illa victoriam sequi et ³ ditem hostem quamvis pauperis victoris praemium esse.

[7] his Cursor vocibus instinctos milites in proelium ducit. dextro ipse cornu consistit, sinistro praefecit magistrum equitum.

[8] simul est concursum, ingens fuit cum hoste certamen, non segnius inter dictatorem et magistrum equitum ab utra parte victoria inciperet.

[9] prior forte iunius lunius commovit hostem, laevo dextrum cornu, sacratos more Samnitium milites eoque candida veste et paribus candore armis insignes; eos se Orco mactare Iunius dictitans ⁴ cum intulisset signa turbavit ordines et haud dubie impulit aciem.

[10] quod ubi sensit dictator,

ab laevone cornu victoria incipiet

inquit,

et dextrum cornu, dictatoris acies, alienam pugnam sequetur, non partem maximam victoriae trahet?

[11] concitat milites; nec peditum virtuti equites aut legatorum studia ducibus cedunt.

[12] M. Valerius a dextro, P. Decius ab laevo cornu, ambo consulares, ad equites in cornibus positos evehuntur adhortatique eos ut partem secum capesserent decoris in transversa latera hostium incurrunt.

[13] is novus additus terror cum ex parte utraque circumvasisset aciem et ad terrorem hostium legiones Romanae redintegrato clamore intulissent gradum, tum fuga ab Samnitibus coepta. iam strage hominum ⁵ armorumque insignium campi repleri. ac primo pavidos Samnites castra sua accepere, deinde ne ea quidem retenta; captis direptisque ante noctem iniectus ignis.

[14] dictator ex senatus consulto triumphavit, cuius triumpho triumph longe maximam speciem captiva arma praebuere.

[15] tantum magnificentiae visum in iis, ⁶ ut aurata scuta dominis argentariarum ⁷ ad forum ornandum dividerentur. inde natum initium dicitur fori ornandi ab aedilibus cum tensae ducerentur.

[16] et Romani quidem ad honorem deum insignibus armis hostium usi sunt: Campani ab superbia et odio Samnitium gladiatores, quod spectaculum inter epulas erat, eo ornatu armarunt Samnitiumque nomine compellarunt.

[17] eodem anno cum reliquiis ⁸ Etruscorum ad Perusiam, quae et ipsa indutiarum fidem ruperat, Fabius consul nec dubia nec difficili victoria dimicat.

[18] ipsum oppidum—nam ad moenia victor accessit—cepisset, ni legati dedentes urbem exissent.

[19] praesidio Perusiae imposito, legationibus Etruriae amicitiam petentibus ⁹ prae se Romam ad senatum missis consul praestantiore etiam quam dictator victoria triumphans urbem est invectus;

[20] quin etiam devictorum Samnitium decus magna ex parte ad legatos, P. Decium et M. Valerium, est versum; quos populus proximis comitiis ingenti consensu consulem alterum, alterum praetorem declaravit.

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

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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.) — 9.40 focus

[1] pari subinde periculo gloriaeque eventu bellum in Samnitibus erat, qui praeter ceteros belli apparatus, ut acies sua fulgeret novis armorum insignibus, fecerunt.

[2] duo exercitus erant; scuta alterius auro, alterius argento caelaverant; forma erat scuti: summum latius, qua pectus atque umeri teguntur, fastigio aequali; ad imum cuneatior mobilitatis causa. spongia pectori tegumentum,

[3] et sinistrum crus ocrea tectum; galeae cristatae, quae speciem magnitudini corporum adderent. tunicae auratis militibus versicolores, argentatis linteae candidae. his dextrum cornu datum; illi in sinistro consistunt.

[4] notus iam Romanis apparatus insignium armorum fuerat, doctique a ducibus erant horridum militem esse debere, non caelatum auro et argento, sed ferro et animis fretum;

[5] quippe illa praedam verius quam arma esse, nitentia ante rem, deformia inter sanguinem et vulnera;

[6] virtutem esse militis decus, et omnia illa victoriam sequi et ditem hostem quamvis pauperis victoris praemium esse.

[7] his Cursor vocibus instinctos milites in proelium ducit. dextro ipse cornu consistit, sinistro praefecit magistrum equitum. Simul simul est concursum,

[8] ingens fuit cum hoste certamen, non segnius inter dictatorem et magistrum equitum, ab utra parte victoria incipereret.

[9] prior forte Iunius commovit hostem, laevo dextrum cornu, sacratos more Samnitium milites eoque candida veste et paribus candore armis insignes. eos se Orco mactare Iunius dictitans cum intulisset signa, turbavit ordines et haud dubie inpulit aciem.

[10] quod ubi sensit dictator, “ab laevone cornu victoria incipiet” inquit, “et dextrum cornu, dictatoris acies, alienam pugnam sequetur, non partem maximam victoriae trahet?”

[11] concitat milites; nec peditum virtuti equites aut legatorum studia ducibus cedunt.

[12] M. Valerius a dextro, P. Decius ab laevo cornu, ambo consulares, ad equites in cornibus positos evehuntur adhortatique eos, ut partem secum capesserent decoris, in transversa latera hostium incurrunt.

[13] is novus additus terror cum ex parte utraque circumvasisset aciem et ad terrorem hostium legiones Romanae redintegrato clamore intulissent gradum, turn tum fuga ab Samnitibus coepta.

[14] iam strage hominum armorumque insignium campi repleri. ac primo pavidos Samnites castra sua accepere, deinde ne ea quidem retenta; captis direptisque ante noctem iniectus ignis.

[15] dictator ex senatus consulto triumphavit, cuius triumpho longe maximam speciem captiva arma praebuere.

[16] tantum magnificentiae visum in iis, ut aurata scuta dominis argentariarum ad forum ornandum dividerentur. inde natum initium dicitur fori ornandi ab aedilibus, cum tensae ducerentur.

[17] et Romani quidem ad honorem deum insignibus armis hostium usi sunt; Campani ab superbia et odio Samnitium gladiatores, quod spectaculum inter epulas erat, eo ornatu armarunt Samnitiumque nomine conpellarunt. compellarunt.

[18] eodem anno cum reliquiis Etruscorum ad Perusiam, quae et ipsa indutiarum fidem ruperat, Fabius consul nec dubia nec difficili victoria dimicat.

[19] ipsum oppidum — nam ad moenia victor accessit — cepisset, ni legati dedentes urbem exissent.

[20] praesidio Perusiae inposito, legationibus Etruriae amicitiam petentibus prae se Romam ad senatum missis consul praestantiore etiam quam dictator victoria triumphans urbem est invectus;

[21] quin etiam devictorum Samnitium decus magna ex parte ad legatos, P. Decium et M. Valerium, est versum; quos populus proximis comitiis ingenti consensu consulem alterum, alterum praetorem declaravit.

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).) — 9.40 focus

[1]

pari subinde periculo gloriaeque eventu ¹ bellum in Samnitibus erat, qui praeter ceteros cetoros belli apparatus, ut acies sua fulgeret novis armorum insignibus fecerunt.

[2] duo exercitus erant; scuta alterius auro, alterius argento caelaverunt; forma erat scuti: summum latius, qua pectus atque umeri teguntur, fastigio aequali; ad imum cuneatior mobilitatis causa.

[4] notus iam Romanis apparatus insignium armorum fuerat doctique a ducibus erant horridum militem esse debere, non caelatum auro et argento sed ferro et animis fretum:

[5] quippe illa praedam verius quam arma esse, nitentia ante rem, deformia inter sanguinem et volnera.

[6] virtutem esse militis decus et omnia illa victoriam sequi et ³ ditem hostem quamvis pauperis victoris praemium esse.

[7] his Cursor vocibus instinctos milites in proelium ducit. dextro ipse cornu consistit, sinistro praefecit magistrum equitum.

[8] simul est concursum, ingens fuit cum hoste certamen, non segnius inter dictatorem et magistrum equitum ab utra parte victoria inciperet.

[10] quod ubi sensit dictator,

ab laevone cornu victoria incipiet

inquit,

et dextrum cornu, dictatoris acies, alienam pugnam sequetur, non partem maximam victoriae trahet?

[11] concitat milites; nec peditum virtuti equites aut legatorum studia ducibus cedunt.

[14] dictator ex senatus consulto triumphavit, cuius triumpho triumph longe maximam speciem captiva arma praebuere.

[15] tantum magnificentiae visum in iis, ⁶ ut aurata scuta dominis argentariarum ⁷ ad forum ornandum dividerentur. inde natum initium dicitur fori ornandi ab aedilibus cum tensae ducerentur.

[17] eodem anno cum reliquiis ⁸ Etruscorum ad Perusiam, quae et ipsa indutiarum fidem ruperat, Fabius consul nec dubia nec difficili victoria dimicat.

[18] ipsum oppidum—nam ad moenia victor accessit—cepisset, ni legati dedentes urbem exissent.

[19] praesidio Perusiae imposito, legationibus Etruriae amicitiam petentibus ⁹ prae se Romam ad senatum missis consul praestantiore etiam quam dictator victoria triumphans urbem est invectus;

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)) — 9.40 focus

[2] The war in Samnium, immediately afterwards, ¹ was attended with equal danger and an equally glorious conclusion. The enemy, besides their other warlike preparations, had made their battle —line to glitter with new and splendid arms.

there were two corps: the shields of the one were inlaid with gold, of the other with silver. The shape of the shield was this: the upper part, where it protected the breast and shoulders, was rather broad, with a level top; below it was somewhat tapering, to make it easier to handle.

[3] they wore a sponge ² to protect the breast, and the left leg was covered with a greave. their helmets were crested, to make their stature appear greater. The tunics of the gilded warriors were parti —coloured; those of the silvern ones were linen of a dazzling white.

[4] The latter had silver sheaths and silver baldrics: the former gilded sheaths and golden baldrics, and their horses had gold —embroidered saddle —cloths.

[5] The right wing was assigned to these: the others took up their post on the left. The Romans had already learned of these splendid accoutrements, and their generals had taught them that a soldier should be rough to look on, not adorned with gold and silver but putting his trust in iron and in courage:

[6] indeed those other things were more truly spoil than arms, shining bright before a battle, but losing their beauty in the midst of blood and wounds;

[7] manhood they said, was the adornment of a soldier; all those other ³ things went with the victory, and a rich enemy was the prize of the victor, however poor.

whilst his men were animated by these words, Cursor led them into battle.

[8] he took up his own post on the right, and committed the left to the master of the horse.

[9] from the moment of encountering, there was a mighty struggle with the enemy, and a struggle no less sharp between the dictator and the master of the horse, to decide which wing was to inaugurate the victory. it so happened that Junius was the first to make an impression on the Samnites. with the Roman left he faced the enemy's right, where they had consecrated themselves, as their custom was, and for that reason were resplendent in white coats and equally white armour.

[10] declaring that he offered up these men in sacrifice to Orcus ⁴ ,Junius charged, threw their ranks into disorder, and clearly made their

[11] line recoil. when the dictator saw this, he cried,

shall the victory begin upon the left? shall the right, the dictator's division, follow the attack of others? shall it not carry off the honours of

[12]

the victory?

this fired the soldiers with new energy; nor did the cavalry display less valour than the foot, or the lieutenants less enthusiasm than the generals. Marcus Valerius on the right and Publius Decius on the left, both men of consular rank, rode out to the cavalry, which was posted on the wings, and, exhorting them to join with themselves in seizing a share of glory, charged obliquely against the

[13] enemy's flanks. thus a new and appalling danger enveloped their line on either side, and when the Roman legions, observing the terror of the Samnites, pressed forward with redoubled shouts, the enemy began

[14] to flee. The⁵ fields were soon heaped with slain and with glittering armour. at first the frightened Samnites found a refuge in their camp, but presently even that had to be abandoned, and ere nightfall it had been taken, sacked, and set on fire.

[15] The dictator, as decreed by the senate, celebrated a triumph, in which by far the finest show was afforded by the

[16] captured armour. so magnificent was its appearance that the shields inlaid with gold were divided up amongst the owners of the moneychangers' booths, to be used in decking out the Forum. ⁶ from this is said to have come the custom of the aediles adorning the Forum whenever the tensae, or covered chariots of the gods, were

[17] conducted through it. ⁷ so the Romans made use of the splendid armour of their enemies to do honour to the gods; while the Campanians, in consequence of their pride and in hatred of the Samnites, equipped after this fashion the gladiators who furnished them entertainment at their feasts, and bestowed on them the

[18] name of Samnites. ⁸

in the same year the consul Fabius fought a battle with the remnants of the Etruscan forces near Perusia —which, together with other cities, had broken the truce ⁹ —and gained an easy

[19] and decisive victory. he would have taken the town itself —for after the battle he marched up to the walls —had not ambassadors come out and

[20] surrendered the place. having placed a garrison in Perusia and having sent on before him to the senate in Rome the Etruscan ¹⁰ deputations which had come to him seeking friendship, the consul was borne in

[21] triumph into the City, after gaining a success more brilliant even than the dictator's; indeed the glory of conquering the Samnites was largely diverted upon the lieutenants, Publius Decius and Marcus Valerius, of whom, at the next election, the people with great enthusiasm made the one consul and the other praetor.

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 9.40 focus

[1]

Equal danger, and an issue equally glorious, soon after attended the war with the Samnites; who, besides their many preparations for the field, made their army to glitter with new decorations of their armour.

[2] Their troops were in two divisions, one of which had their shields embossed with gold, the other with silver. The shape of the shield was this; broad at the middle to cover the breast and shoulders, the summit being flat, sloping off gradually so as to become pointed below, that it might be wielded with ease;

[3] a loose coat of mail also served as a protection for the breast, and the left leg was covered with a greave; their helmets were adorned with plumes, to add to the appearance of their stature.

[4] The golden-armed soldiers wore tunics of various colours; the silver-armed, of white linen. To the latter the right wing was assigned; the former took post on the left.

[5] The Romans had been apprized of these splendid accoutrements, and had been taught by their commanders, that

a soldier ought to be rough; not decorated with gold and silver, but placing his confidence in his sword. That matters of this kind were in reality spoil rather than armour; glittering before action, but soon becoming disfigured amid blood and wounds.

[6]

That the brightest ornament of a soldier was valour; that all those trinkets would follow victory, and that those rich enemies would be valuable prizes to the conquerors, however poor.

[7] Cursor, having animated his men with these observations, led them on to battle.

[8] He took post himself on the right wing, he gave the command of the left to the master of the horse. As soon as they engaged, the struggle between the two armies became desperate, while it was no less so between the dictator and the master of the horse, on which wing victory should first show itself.

[9] It happened that Junius first, with the left wing, made the right of the enemy give way; this consisted of men devoted after the custom of Samnites, and on that account distinguished by white garments and armour of equal whiteness.

[10] Junius, saying

he would sacrifice these to Pluto,

pressed forward, disordered their ranks, and made an evident impression on their line: which being perceived by the dictator, he exclaimed,

Shall the victory begin

[11]

on the left wing, and shall the right, the dictator's own troops, only second the arms of others, and not claim the greatest share of the victory?

[12] This spurred on the soldiers: nor did the cavalry yield to the infantry in bravery, nor the ardour of lieutenants-general to that of the commanders. Marcius Valerius from the right wing, and Publius Decius from the left, both men of consular rank, rode off to the cavalry, posted on the extremities of the line, and, exhorting them to join in putting in for a share of the honour, charged the enemy on the flanks.

[13] When the addition of this new alarm assailed the enemies' troops on both sides, and the Roman legions, having renewed the shout to confound the enemy, rushed on, they began to fly.

[14] And now the plains were quickly filled with heaps of bodies and splendid armour. At first, their camp received the dismayed Samnites; but they did not long retain even the possession of that: before night it was taken, plundered, and burnt.

[15] The dictator triumphed, in pursuance of a decree of the senate;

[16] and the most splendid spectacle by far, of any in his procession, was the captured arms: so magnificent were they deemed, that the shields, adorned with gold, were distributed among the owners of the silver shops, to serve as embellishments to the forum.

[17] Hence, it is said, arose the custom of the forum being decorated by the aediles, when the grand processions are made, on occasion of the great games. The Romans, indeed, converted these extraordinary arms to the honour of the gods:

[18] but the Campanians, out of pride, and in hatred of the Samnites, gave them as ornaments to their gladiators, who used to be exhibited as a show at their feasts, and whom they distinguished by the name of Samnites.

[19] During this year, the consul Fabius fought with the remnants of the Etrurians at Perusia, which city also had violated the truce, and gained an easy and decisive victory.

[20] He would have taken the town itself; (for he marched up to the walls,) had not deputies come out and capitulated. Having placed a garrison at Perusia, and sent on before him to the Roman senate the embassies of Etruria, who solicited friendship, the consul rode into the city in triumph, for successes more important than those of the dictator.

[21] Besides, a great share of the honour of reducing the Samnites was attributed to the lieutenants-general, Publius Decius and Marcius Valerius: whom, at the next election, the people, with universal consent, declared the one consul, the other praetor.

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.) — 9.40 focus

[1] Equally hard fighting and an equally brilliant success characterised the campaign which immediately followed against the Samnites. In addition to their usual preparations for war, they had new glittering armour made in which their troops were quite resplendent.

[2] There were two divisions; one had their shields plated with gold, the other with silver. The shield was made straight and broad at the top to cover the chest and shoulders, then became narrower towards the bottom to allow of it being more easily moved about.

[3] To protect the front of the body they wore coats of chain armour; the left leg was covered with a greave, and their helmets were plumed to give them the appearance of being taller than they really were.

[4] The tunics of the men with gold plated shields were in variegated colours, those with the silver shields had tunics of white linen. The latter were assigned to the right wing, the former were posted on the left.

[5] The Romans knew that all this splendid armour had been provided, and they had been taught by their generals that a soldier ought to inspire dread not by being decked out in gold and silver but by trusting to his courage and his sword.

[6] They looked upon those things as a spoil for the enemy rather than a defence for the wearer, resplendent enough before a battle but soon stained and fouled by wounds and bloodshed.

[7] They knew that the one ornament of the soldier was courage, and all that finery would belong to whichever side won the victory; an enemy however rich was the prize of the victor, however poor the victor might be. With this teaching fresh in their minds, Cursor led his men into battle.

[8] He took his place on the right wing, and gave the command of the left to the Master of the Horse.

[9] As soon as the two lines came into collision, a contest began between the Dictator and the Master of the Horse, quite as keen as the struggle against the enemy, as to whose division should be the first to win the victory. Junius happened to be the first to dislodge the enemy.

[10] Bringing up his left wing against the enemy's right, where the "devoted" soldiers were posted, conspicuous in their white tunics and glittering armour, he declared that he would sacrifice them to Orcus, and, pushing the attack, he shook their ranks and made them visibly give way.

[11] On seeing this, the Dictator exclaimed, “Shall the victory begin on the left wing? Is the right wing, the Dictator's own division, going to follow where another had led the way in battle, and not win for itself the greatest share of the victory?”

[12] This roused the men; the cavalry behaved with quite as much gallantry as the infantry, and the staff-officers displayed no less energy than the generals.

[13] M. Valerius on the right wing, and P. Decius on the left, both men of consular rank, rode up to the cavalry who were covering the flanks and urged them to snatch some of the glory for themselves. They charged the enemy on both flanks, and the double attack increased the consternation of the enemy.

[14] To complete their discomfiture, the Roman legions again raised their battleshout and charged home. Now the Samnites took to flight, and soon the plain was filled with shining armour and heaps of bodies.

[15] At first the terrified Samnites found shelter in their camp, but they were not able even to hold that; it was captured, plundered, and burnt before nightfall. The senate decreed a triumph for the Dictator.

[16] By far the greatest sight in the procession was the captured armour, and so magnificent were the pieces considered that the gilded shields were distributed amongst the owners of the silversmiths' shops to adorn the Forum.

[17] This is said to be the origin of the custom of the aediles decorating the Forum when the symbols of three Capitoline deities are conducted in procession through the City on the occasion of the Great Games. Whilst the Romans made use of this armour to honour the gods, the Campanians, out of contempt and hatred towards the Samnites, made the gladiators who performed at their banquets wear it, and they then called them “Samnites.”

[18] The consul Fabius fought a battle this year with the remnants of the Etruscans at Perusia, for this city had broken the truce.

[19] He gained an easy and decisive victory, and after the battle he approached the walls and would have taken the place had not envoys been sent on to surrender it.

[20] After he had stationed a garrison in Perusia, deputations came to him from different cities in Etruria to ask for a restoration of amicable relations; these he sent on to the senate at Rome.

[21] Then he entered the city in triumphal procession, after achieving a more solid success than the Dictator, especially as the defeat of the Samnites was put down largely to the credit of the staff-officers, P. Decius and M. Valerius. These men were chosen by an almost unanimous vote at the next elections —one as consul, the other as praetor.

Notes on the current edition

Ab urbe condita

1. A.U.C. 446

2. The words his vaginae—tapeta are not found in the MSS. of Livy. nonius (194, 20) cites ( as from Liv. IX ) auratae vaginae, aurata baltea illis erant, and Auctor explan. in donatum , and Probus ( cf. keil , Gram, Lat. IV 542 and 129) ascribe to Livy (

Livy or Virgil,

Probus ) erant et equorum inaurata tapeta. Walters and Conway suggest placing them as in the text, prefixing his vaginae argenteae, baltea argentea which they conjecture to have stood in the original ( class . Quart. 12 (1918) p. 103).

3. A.U.C. 464

4. intulisset T 2 ( or T 1) s: intulissent W.

5. A.U.C. 446

6. iis Us: hiis A: his W.

7. argentariarum muretus : argentariorum (-oriorum O ) W.

8. reliqniis F 3 s: reliquis W.

9. A.U.C. 446

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 9.40

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

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