Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor), 29.31

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[1]

Hasdrubal tum forte, cum haec gerebantur, apud Syphacem erat; qui Numidae, haud sane multum ad se pertinere credenti utrum penes Lacumazen an Masinissam regnum Maesuliorum esset, falli eum magnopere ait,

[2] si Masinissam eisdem contentum fore quibus patrem Galam aut patruum eius Oezalcen credat: multo maiorem indolem in eo animi ingeniique esse quam in ullo gentis eius umquam fuisset;

[3] saepe eum in Hispania rarae inter homines virtutis specimen dedisse sociis pariter hostibusque. et Syphacem et Carthaginienses, nisi orientem illum ignem oppressissent, ingenti mox incendio, cum iam nullam opem ferre possent, arsuros;

[4] adhuc teneras et fragiles vires eius esse, vixdum coalescens foventis regnum. instando stimulandoque pervincit ¹ ut exercitum ad fines Maesuliorum

[5] admoveat atque in agro de quo saepe cum Gala non verbis modo disceptatum, sed etiam armis certatum fuerat, tamquam haud dubie iuris sui, castra locet. si quis arceat, quod ² maxime opus sit, acie dimicaturum;

[6] sin per metum agro cedatur, in medium regnum ³ eundum. aut sine certamine concessuros in dicionem eius Maesulios aut nequaquam pares futuros futures armis.

[7] his vocibus incitatus Syphax Masinissae bellum ⁴ infert, et primo certamine Maesulios fundit fugatque. Masinissa cum paucis equitibus ex acie in montem— Bellum ⁵ incolae vocant—perfugit.

[8] familiae aliquot cum mapalibus pecoribusque suis—ea pecunia illis est—persecuti ⁶ sunt regem; cetera Maesuliorum multitudo multitude in dicionem Syphacis concessit.

[9] quem ceperant exsules montem herbidus aquosusque est; et quia pecori bonus alendo erat, hominum quoque came ac lacte vescentium abunde sufficiebat alimentis.

[10] inde nocturnis primo ac furtivis incursionibus, deinde aperto latrocinio infesta omnia circa esse; maxime uri Carthaginiensis ager, quia et plus praedae quam inter Numidas et latrocinium tutius erat.

[11] iamque adeo licenter eludebant ut ad mare devectam praedam venderent mercatoribus appellentibus naves ad id ipsum, pluresque quam iusto saepe in bello Carthaginienses ⁷ caderent caperenturque.

[12] deplorabant ea apud Syphacem Carthaginienses infensumque et ipsum ad reliquias belli persequendas instigabant. Sed vix regium videbatur latronem vagum in montibus consectari;

Ab urbe condita. Titus Livius (Livy). Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor). Medford, MA. .

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Ab urbe condita (Latin) (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).)

Editions (2)

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Pars I-IV, Libri I-XL. Editio Stereotypica. Weissenborn, Wilhelm; Mueller, Moritz, editors. Leipzig: Teubner, 1884-1911.) — 29.31 focus

[1] Hasdrubal tum forte, cum haec gerebantur, apud Syphacem erat; qui Numidae, baud haud sane multum ad se pertinere credenti,

[2] utrum penes Lacumazen an Masinissam regnum Maesuliorum esset, falli eum magnopere ait, si Masinissam eisdem contentum fore, quibus patrem Galam aut patruum eius Oezalcen, credat: multo maiorem indolem in eo animi ingeniique esse, quam in ullo gentis eius umquam fuisset;

[4] adhuc teneras et fragiles vires eius esse, vixdum coalescens foventis regnum. instando stimulandoque pervincit, ut exercitum ad fines Maesuliorum admoveat atque in agro,

[5] de quo saepe cum Gala non verbis modo disceptatum, sed etiam armis certatum fuerat, tamquam haud dubie iuris sui, castra locet: si quis arceat, quod maxime opus sit, acie dimicaturum;

[6] sin per metum agro cedatur, in medium regnum eundum; aut sine certamine concessuros in dicionem eius Maesulios aut nequaquam pares futuros armis.

[7] his vocibus incitatus Syphax Masinissae bellum infert, et primo certamine Maesulios fundit fugatque.

[8] Masinissa cum paucis equitibus ex acie in montem — Bellum incolae vocant perfugit. familiae aliquot cum mapalibus pecoribusque suis — ea pecunia illis est — persecuti sunt regem;

[9] cetera Maesuliorum multitude multitudo in dicionem Syphacis concessit. quem ceperant exules montem herbidus aquosusque est; et quia pecori bonus alendo erat, hominum quoque carne ac lacte vescentium abunde sufficiebat alimentis.

[10] inde nocturnis primo ac furtivis incursionibus, deinde aperto latrocinio infesta omnia circa esse; maxime uri Carthaginiensis ager, quia et plus praedae, quam inter Numidas, et latrocinium tutius erat.

[11] iamque adeo licenter eludebant, ut ad mare devectam praedam venderent mercatoribus appellentibus naves ad id ipsum, pluresque quam iusto saepe in bello Carthaginienses caderent caperenturque.

[12] deplorabant ea apud Syphacem Carthaginienses infensumque et ipsum ad reliquias belli persequendas instigabant. sed vix regium videbatur latronem vagum in montibus consectari;

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 29.31 focus

[1]

Hasdrubal tum forte cum haec gerebantur apud Syphacem erat; qui Numidae, haud sane multum ad se pertinere credenti utrum penes Lacumazen an Masinissam regnum Maesuliorum esset, falli eum magno opere ait si Masinissam eisdem contentum fore quibus patrem Galam aut patruum eius Oezalcem credat:

[2] multo maiorem indolem in eo animi ingeniique esse quam in ullo gentis eius unquam fuisset; saepe eum in Hispania rarae inter homines uirtutis specimen dedisse sociis pariter hostibusque;

[3] et Syphacem et Carthaginienses nisi orientem illum ignem oppressissent ingenti mox incendio cum iam nullam opem ferre possent arsuros;

[4] adhuc teneras et fragiles uires eius esse uixdum coalescens fouentis regnum. instando stimulandoque peruincit ut exercitum ad fines Maesuliorum admoueat atque in agro de quo saepe cum Gala non uerbis modo disceptatum sed etiam armis certatum fuerat,

[5] tamquam haud dubie iuris sui, castra locet. si quis arceat, id quod maxime opus sit, acie dimicaturum:

[6] sin per metum agro cedatur, in medium regni eundum. aut sine certamine concessuros in dicionem eius Maesulios aut nequaquam pares futuros armis. his uocibus incitatus Syphax Masinissae bellum infert.

[7] et primo certamine Maesulios fundit fugatque; Masinissa cum paucis equitibus ex acie in montem—Bellum incolae uocant—perfugit.

[8] familiae aliquot cum mapalibus pecoribusque suis—ea pecunia illis est—persecuti sunt regem: cetera Maesuliorum multitudo in dicionem Syphacis concessit.

[9] quem ceperant exsules montem herbidus aquosusque est; et quia pecori bonus alendo erat, hominum quoque carne ac lacte uescentium abunde sufficiebat alimentis. inde nocturnis primo ac furtiuis incursionibus, deinde aperto latrocinio infesta omnia circa esse;

[10] maxime uri Carthaginiensis ager, quia et plus praedae quam inter Numidas et latrocinium tutius erat.

[11] iamque adeo licenter eludebant ut ad mare deuectam praedam uenderent mercatoribus adpellentibus naues ad id ipsum, pluresque quam iusto saepe in bello Carthaginienses caderent caperenturque. deplorabant ea apud Syphacem Carthaginienses infensumque et ipsum ad reliquias belli persequendas instigabant;

[12] sed uix regium uidebatur latronem uagum in montibus consectari;

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)) — 29.31 focus

[1]

Hasdrubal happened to be with Syphax ¹ all the time that these events were in progress. And when the Numidian said he believed it was of no great importance to him whether the kingdom of the Maesulians was in the hands of Lacumazes or of Masinissa, Hasdrubal said he was very much mistaken if he believed that Masinissa would be content with what had satisfied his father Gala or his uncle Oezalces;

[2] that he had in him a far greater gift of spirit and talent than had ever been found in any man of his tribe; that often in Spain he had given allies and enemies alike evidence of a courage rare among men.

[3] He added that unless Syphax and the Carthaginians should put out that incipient flame, they would be consumed later by a mighty conflagration when they could no longer cope with it; that Masinissa's strength was still slight and frail, while he was nursing a kingdom whose wounds had barely begun to heal.

[4] By insisting and goading him on Hasdrubal brought him to the point of advancing his army to the frontier of the Maesulians and pitching his camp as though upon soil to which he was unquestionably entitled —land concerning which he had not only argued with Gala repeatedly but had contended also in arms.

[5] If anyone should try to drive him away he would fight a regular battle, which would be greatly to his advantage.

[6] But if Masinissa in fear should withdraw from that region they must advance into the interior of the kingdom. Either the Maesulians would submit without resistance to the rule of Syphax, or they would be no match for him in arms.

Aroused by these words Syphax made war upon ² Masinissa and in the first engagement routed the Maesulians and put them to flight.

[7] Masinissa with a few horsemen fled from the battle-field to a mountain called Bellus by the natives. ³

[8] A considerable number of households followed the king with their portable huts ⁴ and their flocks, the latter being their only wealth. But the rest, the mass of the Maesulians, submitted to the rule of Syphax.

[9] The mountain which the fugitives had occupied is well supplied with grass and water and being suitable for the support of cattle, it was quite capable of sustaining men also who lived on flesh and milk. From it they rendered all the surrounding country unsafe, first by stealthy raids in the night and later by open brigandage.

[10] Most of all it was Carthaginian territory that was ravaged, because there was more plunder than among the Numidians, and also brigandage was safer.

[11] By this time they played their game so openly as to bring their booty down to the sea and sell it to traders who put in with their vessels for that very purpose; and more Carthaginians fell or were captured than occurred often in regular warfare.

The Carthaginians complained of all this to Syphax and, as he also was enraged, they spurred him on to complete what was left of the war.

[12] But it seemed hardly becoming for a king to pursue a nomad bandit in the mountains.

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 29.31 focus

[1]

It happened that Hasdrubal was with Syphax at the time these things were taking place. He told the Numidian, who considered that it could make very little difference to him whether the government of the Massylians was in the hands of Lacumaces or Masinissa, that

he was very much mistaken if he supposed that Masinissa would be content with the same power which his father Gala or his uncle Œsalces enjoyed.

[2]

That he possessed a much greater degree of spirit, and a more enterprising turn of mind, than had ever existed in any one of that race. That he had frequently, when in Spain, exhibited proofs to his allies, as well as to his enemies, of such valour as was rarely found among men.

[3]

That both Syphax and the Carthaginians, unless they smothered that rising flame, would soon find themselves enveloped in a vast conflagration, when they could not help themselves.

[4]

That as yet his strength was feeble, and such as might easily be broken, while he was trying to keep together a kingdom, which was not yet firmly cemented.

By continually urging and goading him on, he succeeded in inducing him to lead an army to the frontiers of the Massylians, and to pitch his camp in a country for which he had not only disputed verbally, but had fought battles with Gala, as though it had been his own by uncontested right.

[5] He alleged, that

if any one should attempt to dislodge him, which was what he most wanted, he would have an opportunity of fighting; but, if the ground were given up to him through fear, he must march into the heart of the kingdom.

[6]

That the Massylians would either submit to his authority without a contest, or would be inferior to him in arms.

Syphax, impelled by these arguments, made war on Masinissa, and, in the first engagement, routed and put him to flight.

[7] Masinissa, with a few horsemen, effected his escape from the field to a mountain called by the natives Balbus.

[8] Several families, with their tents and cattle, which form their wealth, followed the king; the rest of the Massylian people submitted to Syphax.

[9] The mountain, which the exiles had seized, had plenty of grass and water; and, as it was well adapted for feeding cattle, afforded an abundant supply of food for men who live upon flesh and milk. From this place they infested all the surrounding country; at first with nightly and clandestine incursions, but afterwards with open depredations. The lands of the Carthaginians suffered the severest devastation, because there was not only a greater quantity of booty there than among the Numidians, but their plunder would be safer.

[10] And now they did it with so much boldness and defiance, that, carrying their booty down to the sea, they sold it to merchants, who brought their ships to land for that very purpose;

[11] while a greater number of Carthaginians were slain and made prisoners, than frequently happens in a regular war. The Carthaginians complained bitterly of these occurrences to Syphax, and urged him strongly to follow up this remnant of the war, though he was himself highly incensed at them.

[12] But he considered it hardly suitable to the dignity of a king to pursue a vagabond robber through the mountains.

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.) — 29.31 focus

[1]

.Hasdrubal happened to be on a visit to Syphax at the time. The Numidian did not consider it a matter of much importance to him whether the Maesulian throne was occupied by Lacumazes or Masinissa, but Hasdrubal warned him that he was making a very great mistake if he supposed that Masinissa would be content with the same frontiers as his father Gala.

[2] "That man," he said, "possessed much more ability and much more force of character than any one of that nation had hitherto shown. In Spain he had often exhibited to friends and foes alike proofs of a courage rare amongst men.

[3] Unless Syphax and the Carthaginians stifled that rising flame, they would soon be involved in a conflagration which nothing could check. As yet his power was weak and insecure, he was nursing a realm whose wounds had not yet closed."

[4] By continually urging these considerations, Hasdrubal persuaded him to move his army up to the frontiers of Maesulia and fix his camp on territory which he claimed as beyond question forming part of his dominions, a claim which Gala had contested not only by argument, but by force of arms.

[5] He advised him in case any one offered opposition-and he only wished they would-to be prepared to fight; if they for fear of him retired he must advance into the heart of the kingdom.

[6] The Maesulii would either submit to him without a struggle or they would find themselves hopelessly outmatched in arms. Encouraged by these representations Syphax commenced war with Masinissa, and in the very first battle defeated and routed the Maesulians.

[7] Masinissa with a few horsemen escaped from the field and fled to a mountain range called by the natives Bellum. Several households with their tent-wagons and cattle-their sole wealth-followed the king; the bulk of the population submitted to Syphax.

[8] The mountain district which the fugitives had taken possession of was grassy and well watered, and as it afforded excellent pasturage for cattle it provided ample sustenance for men who lived on flesh and milk.

[9] From these heights they harried the whole country round, at first in stealthy nocturnal incursions, and afterwards in open brigandage. They ravaged the Carthaginian territory mainly, because it offered more plunder and depredation was a safer work there than amongst the Numidians.

[10] At last they reached such a pitch of audacity that they carried their plunder down to the sea and sold it to traders who brought their ships up for the purpose.

[11] More Carthaginians fell or were made prisoners in these forays than often happens in regular warfare. The authorities at Carthage complained loudly of all this to Syphax and pressed him to follow up these remnants of the war.

[12] Angry as he was, however, he hardly thought it part of his duties as a king to hunt down a robber at large on the mountains.

Notes on the current edition

Ab urbe condita

1. pervincit P (1) NH; -vicit JK Aldus, Froben.

2. quod N3 or N 2 HJK Aldus, Froben: id quod x most Eds. : ut quod P (1) N.

3. regnum P (1) n Aldus, Eds. : regni Sp N3 JK Froben 2, Conway .

4. A.U.C. 550

5. Bellum P (1) N: balbum HJK Aldus, Froben.

6. persecuti P (3) Sp HJFroben 2: pro- AN Aldus.

7. Carthaginienses P (1) n Aldus: -sium Sp ?A3 HJK Froben 2.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 29.31

Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor)

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