Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor), 30.12

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[1]

Ibi Syphax, dum obequitat hostium turmis, si pudore,

[2] si periculo suo fugam sistere posset, equo graviter icto effusus opprimitur capiturque et vivus, laetum ante omnes Masinissae praebiturus spectaculum, ad Laelium pertrahitur. ¹

[3] caedes² in eo proelio minor quam victoria fuit, quia equestri tantummodo proelio certatum fuerat.

[4] non plus quinque milia occisa, minus dimidium eius hominum captum est impetu in castro facto, quo perculsa rege amisso multitudo se contulerat.

[5] Cirta caput regni Syphacis erat, eoque se ³ ingens ⁴ hominum ex fuga ⁵ contulit vis. ⁶

[6] Masinissa sibi quidem dicere nihil esse in praesentia pulchrius quam victorem recuperatum tanto post intervallo patrium invisere regnum; sed tam secundis quam adversis rebus non dari spatium ad cessandum.

[7] si se Laelius cum equitatu vinctoque ⁷ Syphace Cirtam praecedere sinat, trepida omnia metu se oppressurum; Laelium cum peditibus subsequi modicis itineribus posse.

[8] adsentiente Laelio praegressus Cirtam evocari ad conloquium principes Cirtensium iubet. Sed apud ignaros regis casus nec quae acta essent promendo nec minis nec suadendo ante valuit quam rex vinctus in conspectum datus est. ⁸

[9] tum ad spectaculum tam foedum comploratio orta, et partim pavore moenia sunt deserta, partim repentino consensu gratiam apud victorem quaerentium patefactae portae.

[10] et Masinissa praesidio circa portas opportunaque moenium dimisso, ne cui fugae pateret exitus, ad regiam occupandam citato vadit equo.

[11] intranti vestibulum in ipso limine Sophoniba, ⁹ uxor Syphacis, filia Hasdrubalis Poeni, occurrit; et cum in medio agmine armatorum Masinissam ¹⁰ insignem cum armis tum cetero habitu conspexisset, regem esse, id quod erat, rata, genibus advoluta eius

[12]

omnia quidem ut posses

¹¹ inquit

in nobis ¹² di dederunt virtusque et felicitas tua; sed si captivae apud dominum vitae necisque suae vocem supplicem mittere licet, si genua, si victricem attingere dextram, precor quaesoque per maiestatem regiam,

[13]

in qua paulo ante nos quoque fuimus, per gentis Numidarum nomen, quod tibi cum Syphace commune fuit, per huiusce regiae deos, qui te melioribus ominibus accipiant quam Syphacem hinc miserunt,

[14]

hanc veniam supplici des ut ipse quodcumque fert ¹³ animus de captiva tua ¹⁴ statuas neque me in cuiusquam Romani superbum et crudele arbitrium venire sinas.

[15]

si nihil aliud quam Syphacis uxor fuissem, tamen Numidae atque in eadem mecum Africa geniti quam alienigenae et externi fidem experiri mallem;

[16]

quid Carthaginiensi ab Romano, quid filiae Hasdrubalis timendum sit vides. si nulla re alia potes, morte me ut vindices ab Romanorum arbitrio oro obtestorque.

[17] forma erat insignis et florentissima aetas. itaque cum modo genua modo ¹⁵ dextram amplectens in id ne cui Romano traderetur fidem exposceret, propiusque blanditias iam ¹⁶ oratio esset

[18] quam preces, non in misericordiam modo prolapsus est animus victoris, sed, ut est genus Numidarum in ¹⁷ Venerem praeceps, amore captivae victor captus. data dextra in id quod petebatur obligandae fidei in regiam concedit.

[19] institit deinde reputare ¹⁸ secum ipse quem ad modum promissi fidem praestaret. quod cum expedire non posset, ab amore temerarium atque impudens mutuatur consilium;

[20] nuptias in eum ipsum diem parari repente iubet, ne quid relinqueret integri ¹⁹ aut Laelio aut ipsi Scipioni consulendi velut in captivam quae Masinissae iam nupta foret.

[21] factis nuptiis supervenit Laelius, et adeo non dissimulavit improbare se factum ut primo etiam cum Syphace et ceteris captivis detractam eam lecto ²⁰ geniali mittere ad Scipionem conatus sit.

[22] victus deinde precibus Masinissae orantis ut arbitrium -utrius regum duorum fortunae accessio Sophoniba- esset ad Scipionem reiceret, misso Syphace et captivis ceteras urbes Numidiae quae praesidiis regiis tenebantur adiuvante Masinissa recipit. ²¹

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.) — 30.12 focus

[1] ibi Syphax, dum obequitat hostium turmis, si pudore, si periculo suo fugam sistere posset, equo graviter icto effusus opprimitur capiturque et vivus,

[2] laetum ante omnes Masinissae praebiturus spectaculum, ad Laelium pertrahitur.

[3] Cirta caput regni Syphacis erat eoque se ingens vis hominum ex fuga contulerat.

[4] caedes in eo proelio minor quam victoria fuit, quia equestri tantummodo proelio certatum fuerat.

[5] non plus quinque milia occisa, minus dimidium eius hominum captum est impetu in castro facto, quo perculsa rege amisso multitudo se contulerat.

[7] si se Laelius cum equitatu vinctoque Syphace Cirtam praecedere sinat, trepida omnia metu se oppressurum; Laelium cum peditibus subsequi modicis itineribus posse.

[8] adsentiente Laelio praegressus Cirtam evocari ad conloquium principes Cirtensium iubet. sed apud ignaros regis casus nec, quae acta essent, promendo nee nec minis nec suadendo ante valuit, quam rex vinetus uinctus in conspectum datus est.

[9] tum ad spectaculum tam foedum comploratio orta, et partim pavore moenia sunt deserta, partim repentino consensu gratiam apud victorem quaerentium patefactae portae.

[10] et Masinissa praesidio circa portas opportunaque moenium dimisso, ne cui fugae pateret exitus, ad regiam occupandam citato vadit equo. intranti vestibulum in ipso limine Sophoniba,

[11] uxor Syphacis, filia Hasdrubalis Poeni, occurrit; et cum in medio agmine armatorum Masinissam insignem cum armis tum cetero habitu conspexisset, regem esse, id quod erat, rata, genibus advoluta eius:

[12] “omnia quidem ut posses” inquit “in nobis, di dederunt virtusque et felicitas tua; sed si captivae apud dominum vitae necisque suae vocem supplicem mittere licet, si genua,

[13] si victricem attingere dexteram, precor quaesoque per maiestatem regiam, in qua paulo ante nos quoque fuimus, per gentis Numidarum nomen, quod tibi cum Syphace commune fuit, per huiusce regiae deos,

[14] qui te melioribus ominibus accipiant, quam Syphacem hinc miserunt, hanc veniam supplici des, ut ipse, quodcumque fert animus, de captiva tua statuas neque me in cuiusquam Romani superbum et crudele arbitrium venire sinas.

[15] si nihil aliud quam Syphacis uxor fuissem, tamen Numidae atque in eadem mecum Africa geniti quam alienigenae et externi fidem experiri mallem;

[16] quid Carthaginiensi ab Romano, quid filiae Hasdrubalis timendum sit, vides. si nulla re alia potes, morte me ut vindices ab Romanorum arbitrio,

[17] oro obtestorque.” forma erat insignis et florentissima aetas; itaque cum modo genua modo dextram amplectens in id, ne cui Romano traderetur, fidem exposceret, propiusque blanditias iam oratio esset quam preces,

[18] non in misericordiam modo prolapsus est animus victoris, sed, ut est genus Numidarum in Venerem praeceps, amore captivae victor captus. data dextra in id, quod petebatur, obligandae fidei in regiam concedit.

[19] institit deinde reputare secum ipse, quem ad modum promissi fidem praestaret. quod cum expedire non posset, ab amore temerarium atque impudens mutuatur consilium:

[20] nuptias in eum ipsum diem parari repente iubet, ne quid relinqueret integri aut Laelio aut ipsi Scipioni consulendi velut in captivam, quae Masinissae iam nupta foret.

[21] factis nuptiis supervenit Laelius, et adeo non dissimulavit improbare se factum, ut primo etiam cum Syphace et ceteris captivis detractam ear eam lecto geniali mittere ad Scipionem conatus sit.

[22] victus deinde precibus Masinissae orantis, ut arbitrium, utrius regum duorum fortunae accessio Sophoniba esset, ad Scipionem reiceret, misso Syphace et captivis ceteras urbes Numidiae, quae praesidiis regiis tenebantur, adiuvante Masinissa recipit.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 30.12 focus

[1]

ibi Syphax dum obequitat hostium turmis si pudore, si periculo suo fugam sistere posset,

[2] equo grauiter icto effusus opprimitur capiturque et uiuus, laetum ante omnes Masinissae praebiturus spectaculum, ad Laelium pertrahitur.

[3] caedes in eo proelio minor quam uictoria fuit quia equestri tantummodo proelio certatum fuerat:

[4] non plus quinque milia occisa, minus dimidium eius hominum captum est impetu in castra facto quo perculsa rege amisso multitudo se contulerat. Cirta caput regni Syphacis erat;

[5] eoque ex fuga ingens hominum se contulerat uis.

[6] Masinissa sibi quidem dicere nihil esse in praesentia pulchrius quam uictorem reciperatum tanto post interuallo patrium inuisere regnum, sed tam secundis quam aduersis rebus non dari spatium ad cessandum;

[7] si se Laelius cum equitatu uinctoque Syphace Cirtam praecedere sinat, trepida omnia metu se oppressurum; Laelium cum peditibus subsequi modicis itineribus posse.

[8] adsentiente Laelio praegressus Cirtam euocari ad conloquium principes Cirtensium iubet. sed apud ignaros regis casus nec quae acta essent promendo nec minis nec suadendo ante ualuit quam rex uinctus in conspectum datus est.

[9] tum ad spectaculum tam foedum comploratio orta, et partim pauore moenia sunt deserta, partim repentino consensu gratiam apud uictorem quaerentium patefactae portae.

[10] et Masinissa praesidio circa portas opportunaque moenium dimisso ne cui fugae pateret exitus, ad regiam occupandam citato uadit equo. intranti uestibulum in ipso limine Sophoniba, uxor Syphacis, filia Hasdrubalis Poeni, occurrit;

[11] et cum in medio agmine armatorum Masinissam insignem cum armis tum cetero habitu conspexisset, regem esse, id quod erat, rata genibus aduoluta eius 'omnia quidem ut possis' inquit 'in nobis di dederunt uirtusque et felicitas tua;

[12] sed si captiuae apud dominum uitae necisque suae uocem supplicem mittere licet,

[13] si genua, si uictricem attingere dextram, precor quaesoque per maiestatem regiam, in qua paulo ante nos quoque fuimus, per gentis Numidarum nomen, quod tibi cum Syphace commune fuit, per huiusce regiae deos, qui te melioribus ominibus accipiant quam Syphacem hinc miserunt,

[14] hanc ueniam supplici des ut ipse quodcumque fert animus de captiua tua statuas neque me in cuiusquam Romani superbum et crudele arbitrium uenire sinas.

[15] si nihil aliud quam Syphacis uxor fuissem, tamen Numidae atque in eadem mecum Africa geniti quam alienigenae et externi fidem experiri mallem:

[16] quid Carthaginiensi ab Romano, quid filiae Hasdrubalis timendum sit uides. si nulla re alia potes, morte me ut uindices ab Romanorum arbitrio oro obtestorque.' forma erat insignis et florentissima aetas.

[17] itaque cum modo dextram amplectens in id ne cui Romano traderetur fidem exposceret propiusque blanditias iam oratio esset quam preces,

[18] non in misericordiam modo prolapsus est animus uictoris, sed, ut est genus Numidarum in uenerem praeceps, amore captiuae uictor captus. data dextra in id quod petebatur obligandae fidei in regiam concedit.

[19] institit deinde reputare secum ipse quemadmodum promissi fidem praestaret. quod cum expedire non posset, ab amore temerarium atque impudens mutuatur consilium;

[20] nuptias in eum ipsum diem parari repente iubet ne quid relinqueret integri aut Laelio aut ipsi Scipioni consulendi uelut in captiuam quae Masinissae iam nupta foret.

[21] factis nuptiis superuenit Laelius et adeo non dissimulauit improbare se factum ut primo etiam cum Syphace et ceteris captiuis detractam eam geniali mittere ad Scipionem conatus sit.

[22] uictus deinde precibus Masinissae orantis ut arbitrium utrius regum duorum fortunae accessio Sophoniba esset ad Scipionem reiceret, misso Syphace et captiuis ceteras urbes Numidiae quae praesidiis regiis tenebantur adiuuante Masinissa recipit.

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)) — 30.12 focus

[1]

Then Syphax, while riding up to the enemy's troops of cavalry in the hope that by putting his men to shame, by exposing himself, he might be able to stem their flight, was thrown from a horse which had been seriously wounded, was overpowered, captured and brought alive to Laelius, a welcome sight presently to Masinissa above all others.

[2] The slaughter in that battle was not in proportion to the scale of the victory, since only a cavalry battle had been fought.

[3] Not more than five thousand men were slain; less than half of that number were captured in an attack upon the camp, to which very many men, losing heart with the loss of their king, had retreated.

Cirta ¹ was the capital of the kingdom of Syphax, ² and to that city came a vast number of men from the rout. Masinissa said that, while for himself nothing was at that moment more attractive than to visit as victor his ancestral kingdom, recovered after so long an interval, nevertheless in success as well as in misfortune no time is allowed for loitering.

[5] If Laelius should permit him to go on in advance to Cirta with the cavalry and with Syphax in chains, he would surprise everybody in the excitement due to alarm. Laelius, he said, could follow with the infantry in short marches.

[6] With Laelius' assent he went to Cirta in advance and ordered that the leading Cirtensians be called out of the city to a conference. But with men who were unaware of the king's misadventure he accomplished nothing by revealing what had taken place, nor by threats nor by persuasion, until the king was placed before their eyes in chains.

[7] Then before a sight so grievous wailing began, and in alarm some deserted the walls, others with the sudden agreement of men who curry favour with the victor threw open the gates.

[8] And Masinissa, first sending detachments to all the gates and to favourable points on the walls, that no one might have a way of escape open to him, rode at full speed to take possession of the palace.

As he was entering the forecourt ³ Sophoniba, ⁴ the wife of Syphax, daughter of Hasdrubal the Carthaginian, met him at the very threshold.

[9] And when in the midst of the column of armed men she ⁵ caught sight of Masinissa, conspicuous both by his arms and the rest of his dress, thinking it was the king, as was the fact, she clasped his knees and said:

All power over us has indeed been given you by the gods and by your courage and good fortune.

[10]

But if a captive is permitted in the house of the master of her life and death to lift the

[11]

voice of a suppliant, if she may touch his knees, his victorious right hand, I pray and entreat you by the royal state in which we too have lived a short time ago, by the name of the Numidian race, which you have shared with Syphax, by the gods of this palace here —and may they receive you under better auspices than those under which they sent Syphax away!

[12]

—I beg you to grant this favour to a suppliant, that, whatever your inclination, you yourself decide in regard to your captive and do not suffer me to be subjected to the haughty and cruel decision of any Roman.

[13]

If I had been nothing else than the wife of Syphax, still I should have preferred to trust the word of a Numidian and a man born in the same Africa as myself rather than that of a foreigner by birth and nationality.

[14]

What a Carthaginian woman, what a daughter of Hasdrubal has to fear from a Roman you see. If by no other means you are able to do so, I beg and implore you to save me by death from the decision of Romans.

Her beauty was conspicuous and her age at full bloom.

[15] Consequently while she was clasping now his knees and now his right hand, begging for his promise not to surrender her to any Roman, and her words were now more nearly those of a charmer than of a

[16] suppliant, the heart of the victor was quickly moved not to pity only, but with the amorous susceptibility of the Numidian race the victor was ⁶ captivated by love of the captive. He gave her his right hand as a pledge for the fulfilment of her request and withdrew into the palace.

[17] Then he began by himself to consider how he could guarantee that the promise would be kept. As he was unable to solve that problem he borrowed from love a plan that was reckless and unbecoming.

[18] He promptly ordered preparations to be made for a wedding the very same day, in order not to leave any decision open either to Laelius or to Scipio himself in regard to her as a captive when she should be already married to Masinissa.

[19] After the wedding Laelius arrived, and so far was he from concealing his disapproval of the act that at first he even attempted to tear her away from the marriage couch and send her to Scipio with Syphax and the rest of the captives.

[20] He was then persuaded by the entreaties of Masinissa, who begged him to refer to Scipio the decision which of the two kings was to have Sophoniba share his lot. Whereupon, after sending Syphax and the captives away, he with Masinissa's aid subdued the remaining cities of Numidia which were held by the king's garrisons.

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 30.12 focus

[1]

It was then that Syphax, while riding up to the troops of the enemy to try if, either by shame or by exposing his own person to danger, he could stop their flight, being thrown from his horse, which was severely wounded, was overpowered, and being made prisoner, was dragged alive into the presence of Laelius;

[2] a spectacle calculated to afford peculiar satisfaction to Masinissa.

[3] Cirta was the capital of the dominions of Syphax; to which a great number of men fled.

[4] The number of the slain in this battle was not so great as the victory was important, because the cavalry only had been engaged.

[5] Not more than five thousand were slain, and less than half that number were made prisoners in an attack upon the camp, to which the multitude, dismayed at the loss of their king, had fled.

[6] Masinissa declared that nothing could be more highly gratifying to him than, having gained this victory, to go now and visit his hereditary dominions, which he had regained after having been kept out of them so long a time; but it was not proper in prosperity any more than in adversity to lose any time.

[7] That if Laelius would allow him to go before him to Cirta with the cavalry and the captive Syphax, he should overpower the enemy while all was in a state of consternation and dismay; and that Laelius might follow with the infantry at a moderate rate.

[8] Laelius assenting, he advanced to Cirta, and ordered the principal inhabitants to be called out to a conference. But as they were not aware of what had befallen their king, he was unable to prevail upon them, either by laying before them what had passed, by threats, or by persuasion, until the king was presented to their view in chains.

[9] A general lamentation arose at this shocking exhibition, and while some deserted the walls in a panic, others, who sought to ingratiate themselves with the victor, suddenly came to an agreement to throw open the gates.

[10] Masinissa, having sent troops to keep guard near the gates, and at such parts of the wall as required it, that no one might have a passage out to escape by, galloped off to seize the palace.

[11] While entering the porch, Sophonisba, the wife of Syphax and daughter of Hasdrubal the Carthaginian, met him in the very threshold, and seeing Masinissa in the midst of the armed band, for he was distinguished both by his arms and also by his habiliments, she concluded, as was really the case, that he was the king; and, falling down at his knees, thus addressed him:

[12]

The gods, together with your own valour and good fortune, have given you the power of disposing of us as you please.

[13]

But if a captive may be allowed to give utterance to the voice of supplication before him who is the sovereign arbiter of her life or death; if she may be permitted to touch his knees and his victorious right hand, I entreat and beseech you by the majesty of royalty, which we also a short time ago possessed; by the name of the Numidian race, which was common to Syphax and yourself; by the guardian deities of this palace, (and O! may they receive you more auspiciously than they sent Syphax from it!)

[14]

that you would indulge a suppliant by determining yourself whatever your inclination may suggest respecting your captive, and not suffer me to be placed at the haughty and merciless disposal of any Roman.

[15]

Were I nothing more than the wife of Syphax, yet would I rather make trial of the honour of a Numidian, one born in Africa, the same country which gave me birth, than of a foreigner and an alien.

[16]

You know what a Carthaginian, what the daughter of Hasdrubal, has to fear from a Roman. If you cannot effect it by any other means, I beg and beseech you that you will by my death rescue me from the power of the Romans.

She was remarkably beautiful, and in the full bloom of youth.

[17] Accordingly, while she pressed his right hand, and only implored him to pledge himself that she should not be delivered up to any Roman, her language assuming the character of amorous blandishment rather than

[18] entreaty, the heart of the conqueror not only melted with compassion, but, as the Numidians are an excessively amorous race, he became the slave of his captive; and giving his right hand as a pledge for the performance of her request, withdrew into the palace.

[19] He then set upon reflecting in what manner he could make good his promise; and not being able to hit upon any expedient, his passion suggested to him an inconsiderate and barefaced alternative.

[20] He ordered that preparations should be instantly made for celebrating the nuptials that very day; in order that he might not leave it at all open to Laelius, or Scipio himself, to adopt any measure respecting her as a captive who had become the wife of Masinissa.

[21] After the nuptials were concluded, Laelius came up; and so far was he from dissembling his disapprobation of the proceeding, that at first he would even have had her dragged from the marriage bed and sent with Syphax and the rest of the captives to Scipio:

[22] but afterwards, having been prevailed upon by the entreaties of Masinissa, who begged of him to leave it to Scipio to decide which of the two kings should have his fortunes graced by the accession of Sophonisba, he sent away Syphax and the prisoners; and, aided by Masinissa, employed himself in reducing the rest of the cities of Numidia, which were occupied by the king's garrisons.

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.) — 30.12 focus

[1]

Syphax was riding up to the hostile squadrons in the hope that either a sense of honour or his own personal danger might check the flight of his men, when his horse was severely wounded and he was thrown, overpowered and made prisoner, and carried off to Laelius.

[2] Masinissa was especially delighted to see him as a captive. Cirta was Syphax's capital, and a considerable number escaped to that city.

[3] The losses sustained were insignificant compared with the importance of the victory, for the fighting had been confined to the cavalry.

[4] There were not more than 5000 killed, and in the storming of the camp, whither the mass of troops had fled after losing their king, less than half that number were made prisoners.

[5] Masinissa told Laelius that nothing would delight him more for the moment than to visit as conqueror his ancestral dominions which had after so many years been recovered, but prompt action was as necessary in success as in defeat.

[6] He suggested that he should be allowed to go on with the cavalry and the vanquished Syphax to Cirta, which he would be able to surprise amidst the general confusion and alarm; Laelius might follow with the infantry by easy stages.

[7] Laelius gave his consent and Masinissa advanced to Cirta and ordered the leading citizens to be invited to a conference. They were ignorant of what had happened to the king, and though Masinissa told them all that had occurred he found threats and persuasion equally unavailing until the king was brought before them in chains.

[8] At this painful and humiliating spectacle there was an outburst of grief, the defences were abandoned, and there was a unanimous resolve to seek the victor's favour by opening the gates to him.

[9] After placing guards round all the gates and at suitable places in the fortifications he galloped up to the palace to take possession of it.

As he was entering the vestibule, on the very threshold in fact, he was met by Sophonisba, the wife of Syphax and daughter of the Carthaginian Hasdrubal.

[10] When she saw him surrounded by an armed escort, and conspicuous by his arms and general appearance, she rightly guessed that he was the king, and throwing herself at his feet, exclaimed: "Your courage and good fortune aided by the gods have given you absolute power over us.

[11] But if a captive may utter words of supplication before one who is master of her fate,

[12] if she may touch his victorious right hand, then I pray and beseech you by the kingly greatness in which we too not long ago were clothed, by the name of Numidian which you and Syphax alike bear, by the tutelary deities of this royal abode who, I pray, may receive you with fairer omens than those with which they sent him hence, grant this favour at

[13] least to your suppliant that you yourself decide your captive's fate whatever it may be, and do not leave me to fall under the cruel tyranny of a Roman.

[14] Had I been simply the wife of Syphax I would still choose to trust to the honour of a Numidian, born under the same African sky as myself, rather than that of an alien and a foreigner.

[15] But I am a Carthaginian, the daughter of Hasdrubal, and you see what I have to fear. If no other way is possible then I implore you to save me by death from falling into Roman hands."

[16] Sophonisba was in the bloom of youth and in all the splendour of her beauty, and as she held Masinissa's hand and begged him to give his word that she should not be surrendered to the Romans, her tone became one of blandishment rather than entreaty.

[17] A slave to passion like all his countrymen, the victor at once fell in love with his captive. He gave her his solemn assurance that he would do what she wished him to do and then retired into the palace.

[18] Here he considered in what way he could redeem his promise, and as he saw no practical way of doing so he allowed his passion to dictate to him as a method equally reckless and indecent.

[19] Without a moment's delay he made preparations for celebrating his nuptials on that very day, so that neither Laelius nor Scipio might be free to treat as a prisoner one who was now Masinissa's wife.

[20] When the marriage ceremony was over Laelius appeared on the scene, and, far from concealing his disapproval of what had been done, he actually attempted to drag her from her bridegroom's arms and send her with Syphax and the other prisoners to Scipio.

[21] However, Masinissa's remonstrances so far prevailed that it was left to Scipio to decide which of the two kings should be the happy possessor of Sophonisba. After Laelius had sent Syphax and the other prisoners away, he recovered, with Masinissa's aid, the remaining cities in Numidia which were still held by the king's garrisons.

Notes on the current edition

Ab urbe condita

1. pertrahitur P (3) n Aldus: at- ( or ad-) HJK Froben 2.

2. Caedes, etc., this sentence and the following in the MSS. and most eds. follow Cirta . vis (§ 3, p. 406): transferred to this position, as logical order requires, by Madvig, Conway.

3. se A3 HVJK Aldus, Froben: om. P (3) N: placed after hominum by Conway.

4. A.U.C. 551

5. ex fuga HVJK Aldus,Froben: om. P (3) N.

6. contulit vis P (3) N: vis contulit AN: vis ... contulerat A3 HVJK Aldus, Froben: contuierat vis Conway :

7. vinctoque A x Gronovius, Eds.: victoque P (3) NJK.

8. est HVJK Froben 2: esset P (3) n Aldus.

9. Sophoniba P 2 (3)N: Sophonisba VJK Aldus, Froben.

10. A.U.C. 551

11. posses P (3) n Aldus, Froben: possis A3 HVJK Conway.

12. in nobis ( omitting inquit) P(3)N: in nos A3 N3 ( alt. ) HVJK Aldus , Froben.

13. fert P (3) B 2 N: feret HJK Aldus, Froben: ferret V: om. B.

14. tua N3 or N 2 HVJK: om. P (3) n Aldus, Froben.

15. modo genua modo Gronovius : modo A3 ? ( alt. ) N3 HJK Aldus , Froben: domo P (3) N.

16. iam AHVJK Aldus, Froben: om. P (3).

17. A.U.C. 551

18. Institit deinde reputare A3 N3 HVJK Eds.: P, omitting a line,-has only -re: confusion in P 2(3) N.

19. relinqueret integri P (3) n Aldus, Froben : -eret integrum HVJK: -eretur integrum Sp .

20. lecto Madvig : om. P (3) NHVJK: thoro Aldus , Froben.

21. recipit P (3) B 2 NSpHJK Froben 2: recepit b Aldus.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 30.12

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

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