Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor), 30.18

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[1]

eadem aestate qua haec decreta Romae et in Africa gesta sunt P. Quinctilius Varus praetor et M. Cornelius proconsul in agro Insubrum Gallorum cum Magone Poeno signis conlatis pugnarunt. praetoris legiones in prima acie fuerunt;

[2] Cornelius suas in subsidiis tenuit, ipse ad prima signa equo advectus; proque duobus cornibus praetor ac proconsul milites ad inferenda in hostes signa summa vi hortabantur.

[3] postquam nihil commovebant, tum Quinctilius Cornelio:

lentior , ut vides, fit pugna, et induratur ¹ praeter spem resistendo hostium timor, ac ² ne vertat in audaciam periculum est.

[4]

equestrem procellam excitemus oportet, si turbare ac statu movere ³ volumus. itaque vel tu ad prima signa proelium sustine, ego inducam in pugnam equites; vel ego hic in prima acie rem geram, tu quattuor legionum equites in hostem emitte.

[5] utram vellet praetor muneris partem proconsule accipiente, Quinctilius praetor cum filio, cui Marco praenomen erat, inpigro iuvene, ad equites pergit iussosque escendere in equos repente in hostem emittit.

[6] tumultum equestrem auxit clamor ab legionibus additus, nec stetisset hostium acies, ni Mago ad primum equitum motum paratos elephantos extemplo in proelium induxisset.

[7] ad quorum stridorem odoremque et aspectum territi equi vanum equestre auxilium fecerunt. et ut . . . ⁴ permixtus, ubi cuspide uti et comminus gladio posset, roboris maioris Romanus eques erat, ita in ablatum paventibus procul equis melius ex intervallo Numidae iaculabantur.

[8] simul et peditum legio duodecima, magna ex parte caesa, pudore magis quam viribus tenebat locum;

[9] nec diutius tenuisset, ni ex subsidiis tertia decuma legio in primam aciem inducta proelium dubium excepisset. ⁵ Mago quoque ⁶ ex subsidiis Gallos integrae legioni opposuit.

[10] quibus haud magno ⁷ certamine fusis hastati legionis undecimae conglobant sese atque elephantos iam etiam peditum aciem turbantes invadunt.

[11] In quos cum pila confertos coniecissent, nullo ferme frustra emisso, omnes retro in aciem suorum averterunt; quattuor gravati volneribus conruerunt.

[12] tum primum ⁸ commota hostium acies, simul omnibus equitibus, ⁹ ut aversos videre elephantos, ad augendum pavorem ac tumultum effusis. Sed donec stetit ante signa Mago, gradum sensim referentes, ordines et ¹⁰ tenorem pugnae servabant;

[13] postquam femine transfixo cadentem auferrique ex proelio prope exsanguem videre, extemplo in fugam omnes versi. ad quinque milia hostium eo die caesa et signa militaria duo et viginti capta.

[14] nec Romanis incruenta victoria fuit; duo milia et trecenti de exercitu praetoris, pars multo maxima ex legione duodecima, amissi; inde et tribuni militum duo, M. Cosconius et M. Maevius; tertiae decimae quoque legionis,

[15] quae postremo proelio adfuerat, C. Helvius tribunus militum in restituenda pugna cecidit; et duo et viginti ferme equites inlustres, ¹¹ obtriti ab elephantis, cum centurionibus aliquot perierunt. et longius certamen fuisset, ni volnere ducis concessa victoria esset.

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.) — 30.18 focus

[1] eadem aestate, qua haec decreta Romae et in Africa gesta sunt, P. Quinctilius Varus praetor et M. Cornelius proconsul in agro Insubrum Gallorum cum Magone Poeno signis conlatis pugnarunt. praetoris legiones in prima acie fuerunt;

[2] Cornelius suas in subsidiis tenuit, ipse ad prima signa equo advectus; proque duobus cornibus praetor ac proconsul milites ad inferenda in hostes signa summa vi hortabantur.

[3] postquam nihil commovebant, tum Quinctilius Cornelio: “lentior, ut vides, fit pugna, et induratur praeter spem resistendo hostium timor, ac, ne vertat in audaciam, periculum est.

[4] equestrem procellam excitemus oportet, si turbare ac statu movere volumus. itaque vel tu ad prima signa proelium sustine, ego inducam in pugnam equites; vel ego hic in prima acie rem geram, tu quattuor legionum equites in hostem emitte.”

[5] utram vellet praetor muneris parter partem proconsule accipiente, Quinctilius praetor cum filio, cui Marco praenomen erat, inpigro iuvene ad equites pergit iussosque escendere in equos repente in hostem emittit.

[6] tumultum equestrem auxit clamor ab legionibus additus. nec stetisset hostium acies, ni Mago ad primum equitum motum paratos elephantos extemplo in proelium induxisset.

[7] ad quorum stridorem odoremque et aspectum territi equi vanum equestre auxilium fecerunt. et ut turbae permixtus, ubi cuspide uti et comminus gladio posset, roboris maioris Romanus eques erat, ita in ablatum paventibus procul equis melius ex intervallo Numidae iaculabantur.

[8] simul et peditum legio duodecima, magna ex parte caesa, pudore magis quam viribus tenebat locum;

[9] nec diutius tenuisset, ni ex subsidiis tertia decuma legio in primam aciem inducta proelium dubium excepisset. Mago quoque ex subsidiis Gallos integrae legioni opposuit.

[10] quibus haud magno certamine fusis hastati legionis undecimae conglobant sese atque elephantos iam etiam peditum aciem turbantes invadunt.

[11] in quos cum pila confertos coniecissent, nullo ferme frustra emisso omnes retro in aciem suorum averterunt; quattuor gravati vulneribus conruerunt.

[12] tum primum commota hostium acies, simul omnibus equitibus, ut aversos videre elephantos, ad augendum pavorem ac tumultum effusis. sed donec stetit ante signa Mago, gradum sensim referentes ordines et tenorem pugnae servabant;

[13] postquam femine transfixo cadentem auferrique proelio prope exsanguem videre, extemplo in fugam omnes versi. ad quinque milia hostium eo die caesa et signa militaria duo et viginti capta.

[14] nec Romanis incruenta victoria fuit: duo milia et trecenti de exercitu praetoris, pars multo maxima ex legione duodecima amissi;

[15] inde et tribuni militum duo, M. Cosconius et M. Maevius; tertiae decimae quoque legionis, quae postremo proelio adfuerat, C. Helvius tribunus militum in restituenda pugna cecidit, et duo et viginti ferme inlustres equites obtriti ab elephantis cum centurionibus aliquot perierunt. et longius certamen fuisset, ni vulnere ducis concessa victoria esset.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 30.18 focus

[1]

eadem aestate qua haec decreta Romae et in Africa gesta sunt P. Quinctilius Uarus praetor et M. Cornelius proconsul in agro Insubrum Gallorum cum Magone Poeno signis conlatis pugnarunt.

[2] praetoris legiones in prima acie fuerunt: Cornelius suas in subsidiis tenuit, ipse ad prima signa equo aduectus; proque duobus cornibus praetor ac proconsul milites ad inferenda in hostes signa summa ui hortabantur. postquam nihil commouebant, tum Quinctilius Cornelio:

[3] 'lentior, ut uides, fit pugna, et induratur praeter spem resistendo hostium timor, ac ne uertat in audaciam periculum est.

[4] equestrem procellam excitemus oportet si turbare ac statu mouere uolumus. itaque uel tu ad prima signa proelium sustine, ego inducam in pugnam equites; uel ego hic in prima acie rem geram, tu quattuor legionum equites in hostem emitte.'

[5] utram uellet praetor muneris partem proconsule accipiente, Quinctilius praetor cum filio, cui Marco praenomen erat, impigro iuuene, ad equites pergit iussosque escendere in equos repente in hostem emittit.

[6] tumultum equestrem auxit clamor ab legionibus additus, nec stetisset hostium acies ni Mago ad primum equitum motum paratos elephantos extemplo in proelium induxisset;

[7] ad quorum stridorem odoremque et adspectum territi equi uanum equestre auxilium fecerunt. et ut rem† permixtus, ubi cuspide uti et comminus gladio posset, roboris maioris Romanus eques erat, ita in ablatum pauentibus procul equis melius ex interuallo Numidae iaculabantur.

[8] simul et peditum legio duodecima magna ex parte caesa pudore magis quam uiribus tenebat locum;

[9] nec diutius tenuisset ni ex subsidiis tertia decima legio in primam aciem inducta proelium dubium excepisset. Mago quoque ex subsidiis Gallos integrae legioni opposuit.

[10] quibus haud magno certamine fusis hastati legionis undecimae conglobant sese atque elephantos iam etiam peditum aciem turbantes inuadunt;

[11] in quos cum pila confertos coniecissent nullo ferme frustra emisso, omnes retro in aciem suorum auerterunt; quattuor grauati uolneribus corruerunt.

[12] tum primum commota hostium acies, simul omnibus equitibus, ut auersos uidere elephantos, ad augendum pauorem ac tumultum effusis. sed donec stetit ante signa Mago, gradum sensim referentes, ordines et tenorem pugnae seruabant:

[13] postquam femine transfixo cadentem auferrique ex proelio prope exsanguem uidere, extemplo in fugam omnes uersi. ad quinque milia hostium eo die caesa et signa militaria duo et uiginti capta.

[14] nec Romanis incruenta uictoria fuit; duo milia et trecenti de exercitu praetoris, pars multo maxima ex legione duodecima, amissi; inde et tribuni militum duo, M. Cosconius et M. Maeuius ;

[15] tertiae decimae quoque legionis, quae postremo proelio adfuerat, C. Heluius tribunus militum in restituenda pugna cecidit; et duo et uiginti ferme equites inlustres, obtriti ab elephantis, cum centurionibus aliquot perierunt. et longius certamen fuisset ni uolnere ducis concessa uictoria esset.

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)) — 30.18 focus

[1]

In the same summer in which these measures were taken at Rome and these operations carried on in Africa, Publius Quinctilius Varus, a praetor, and Marcus Cornelius, the proconsul, fought a pitched battle with Mago the Carthaginian in the territory of the Insubrian Gauls. ¹ The praetor's legions were in the first line.

[2] Cornelius kept his legions in reserve while he himself rode up to the front. And from in front of the two wings praetor and proconsul kept urging the soldiers to advance their ranks against the enemy with all their strength.

[3] When they failed to drive the enemy back, Quinctilius then said to Cornelius:

The battle is slowing down, as you see, and their unexpected resistance is hardening ² the enemy against fright, and the danger is that fear may turn into daring. We must rouse our cavalry to a sudden charge if we wish to confuse and dislodge them.

[4]

Accordingly, either do you in the front line keep up the fight, and I will lead the cavalry into the fray. Or I will command here at the front, and you shall send out the horse of four legions into the enemy.

[5] As the proconsul was ready to accept whichever part of the task the praetor wished him to take, Quinctilius, the praetor, with his son, an active youth whose praenomen was Marcus, made his way to the cavalry and ordering them to mount suddenly sent them out against the enemy.

[6] The confusion wrought by the cavalry was heightened also by the shouting of the legions, and the enemy's line would not have kept its position if Mago at the first movement of the cavalry had not at once led the elephants, which were kept in readiness, into battle.

[7] Terrified by their roar and odour and by the sight of them the horses made the assistance of the cavalry useless. And although, so long as they were in the thick of the fight, where they could make use of the lance and, at close quarters, of the sword, the Roman horsemen were the stronger, still when they were carried to a distance by frightened horses, the Numidians were the more successful in hurling javelins from a longer range.

[8] Of the infantry also the twelfth legion at the same time was largely cut to pieces and holding its ground more from a sense of honour than by its strength.

[9] And it would not have held on long if the thirteenth legion, brought up from the reserves into the front line, had not taken over the indecisive battle.

[10] Mago likewise brought up Gauls from his reserves to face the fresh ³ legion. After these had been routed with no great effort, the hastati of the eleventh legion massed together and attacked the elephants, which by this time were bringing disorder even to the-infantry line.

[11] When the legionaries had hurled javelins against them in their close order, scarcely one missile being without effect, they drove all the elephants back into their own battle-line.

[12] Four of them, hampered by wounds, fell to the ground. Then for the first time the enemy's line was driven back, since all the cavalry, on seeing the elephants in flight, dashed out to increase the panic and confusion.

[13] But so long as Mago stood before the standards, his men as they slowly retired kept their ranks and continued to fight. After they saw him falling with his thigh pierced, and then borne almost lifeless from the battlefield, at once they all took to flight.

[14] About five thousand of the enemy were slain that day and twenty-two military standards were captured. Nor was it a bloodless victory for the Romans. Two thousand three hundred were lost from the army of the praetor, much the larger part of them from the twelfth legion; from it also two tribunes of the soldiers, Marcus Cosconius and Marcus Maevius.

[15] Of the thirteenth legion also, which had taken part in the last phase of the battle, Gaius Helvius, tribune of the soldiers, fell while rallying the men. And about twenty-two knights of the upper class were trampled by the elephants and perished together with a number of centurions. Also the engagement would have lasted even longer, had not victory been conceded because of the general's wound.

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 30.18 focus

[1]

The same summer during which these decrees were passed at Rome, and these transactions took place in Africa, Publius Quinctilius Varus, the praetor, and Marcus Cornelius, the proconsul, fought a pitched battle with Mago the Carthaginian in the territories of the Insubrian Gauls.

[2] The legions of the praetor were in the first line; Cornelius kept his in reserve, riding forward into the front himself, and the praetor and proconsul, leading on the two wings, exhorted the soldiers to attack the enemy with the utmost vigour.

[3] Finding they produced no impression upon the enemy, Quinctilius said to Cornelius:

The battle, as you perceive, does not proceed with spirit, the enemy, having succeeded in their resistance beyond expectation, have become callous to fear, and there is danger lest it should be converted into boldness.

[4]

We must stir up a tempest of cavalry if we wish to disorder and drive them from their ground; therefore, either do you sustain the fight in front, and I will lead the cavalry into the action; or else, I will act in the front line and you send out the cavalry of the four legions against the enemy.

[5] The proconsul offering to take whichever part of the service the praetor pleased, Quinctilius the praetor, with his son, surnamed Marcus, a spirited youth, went off to the cavalry, and desiring them to mount, instantly led them to the charge. The confusion occasioned by these was increased by a shout raised by the legions;

[6] nor would the line of the enemy have stood unbroken, had not Mago, as soon as he saw the cavalry in motion, immediately brought into the action his elephants, which he kept in readiness. The horses were so terrified at the snorting, the smell, and appearance of these animals, that the aid of the cavalry was rendered ineffectual.

[7] As the Roman horseman had the advantage in point of efficiency in a close fight, when he could use his javelin and sword hand to hand, so the Numidians had the advantage when throwing their darts from a distance upon enemies borne away from them by their terrified horses.

[8] At the same time the twelfth legion, though a great number of them were slain, maintained their ground through shame rather than a reliance on their strength;

[9] but they would not have continued to do so longer, had not the thirteenth legion, brought up into the front line from the reserve, taken up the doubtful conflict. Mago, also, bringing up the Gauls from his reserve, opposed them to the fresh legion.

[10] The Gauls being routed without any great effort, the spearmen of the eleventh legion formed themselves into a circular body and charged the elephants, which were now disordering the line of infantry;

[11] and as scarcely one of the javelins which they threw upon them failed of taking effect, as they were close together, they turned them all upon the line of their own party.

[12] Four of them fell overpowered with wounds. It was then that the front line of the enemy gave ground, the whole body of the Roman infantry at the same time rushing forward to increase the panic and confusion, on seeing the elephants turn their backs.

[13] As long as Mago stood in front, the troops stepped back slowly, preserving their ranks and not relaxing their ardour in fighting; but when they saw him falling, from a wound in his thigh, which was transfixed, and carried off the field almost lifeless, in an instant they all betook themselves to flight.

[14] As many as five thousand of the enemy were slain, and twenty-two military standards captured on that day. Nor did the Romans obtain a bloodless victory. Two thousand three hundred of the army of the praetor, by far the greater part of whom belonged to the twelfth legion, were lost.

[15] Two military tribunes, Marcus Cosconius and Marcus Maenius, of the same legion; and of the thirteenth legion also, which joined in the action at its close, Cneius Helvius, a military tribune, fell in restoring the fight; and about twenty-two distinguished horsemen, together with several centurions, were trampled upon and killed by the elephants. The contest would have continued longer, had not the enemy conceded the victory, in consequence of the wound of their general.

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.) — 30.18 focus

[1]

During this summer P. Quintilius Varus the praetor and M. Cornelius the proconsul fought a regular engagement with Mago. The praetor's legions formed the fighting line; Cornelius kept his in reserve, but rode to the front and took command of one wing, the praetor leading the other, and both of them exhorted the soldiers to make a furious charge on the enemy.

[2] When they failed to make any impression upon them, Quintilius said to Cornelius, "As you see, the battle is progressing too slowly; the enemy finding themselves offering an unhoped-for resistance have steeled themselves against fear, there is danger of this fear passing into audacity.

[3] We must let loose a hurricane of cavalry against them if we want to shake them and make them give ground.

[4] Either, then, you must keep up the fighting at the front and I will bring the cavalry into action, or I will remain here and direct the operations of the first line while you launch the cavalry of the four legions against the enemy." The proconsul left it to the praetor to decide what he would do.

[5] Quintilius, accordingly, accompanied by his son Marcus, an enterprising and energetic youth, rode off to the cavalry, ordered them to mount and sent them at once against the enemy.

[6] The effect of their charge was heightened by the battle-shout of the legions, and the hostile lines would not have stood their ground, had not Mago, at the first movement of the cavalry, promptly brought his elephants into action.

[7] The appearance of these animals, their trumpeting and smell so terrified the horses as to render the assistance of the cavalry futile. When engaged at close quarters and able to use sword and lance the Roman cavalryman was the better fighter, but when carried away by a frightened horse, he was a better target for the Numidian darts.

[8] As for the infantry, the twelfth legion had lost a large proportion of their men and were holding their ground more to avoid the disgrace of retreat than from any hope of offering effectual resistance.

[9] Nor would they have held it any longer if the thirteenth legion which was in reserve had not been brought up and taken part in the doubtful conflict. To oppose this fresh legion Mago brought up his reserves also.

[10] These were Gauls, and the hastati of the eleventh legion had not much trouble in putting them to rout.

[11] They then closed up and attacked the elephants who were creating confusion in the Roman infantry ranks. Showering their darts upon them as they crowded together, and hardly ever failing to hit, they drove them all back upon the Carthaginian lines, after four had fallen, severely wounded.

[12] At last the enemy began to give ground, and the whole of the Roman infantry, when they saw the elephants turning against their own side, rushed forward to increase the confusion and panic.

[13] As long as Mago kept his station in front, his men retreated slowly and in good order, but when they saw him fall, seriously wounded and carried almost fainting from the field, there was a general flight.

[14] The losses of the enemy amounted to 5000 men, and 22 standards were taken. The victory was a far from bloodless one for the Romans, they lost 2300 men in the praetor's army, mostly from the twelfth legion, and amongst them two military tribunes, M. Cosconius and M. Maevius.

[15] The thirteenth legion, the last to take part in the action, also had its losses; C. Helvius, a military tribune, fell whilst restoring the battle, and twenty-two members of the cavalry corps, belonging to distinguished families, together with some of the centurions were trampled to death by the elephants. The battle would have lasted longer had not Mago's wound given the Romans the victory.

Notes on the current edition

Ab urbe condita

1. induratur x Madvig, Conway: -atus P(3)NHVJK Aldus, Froben , Gronovius, Madvig 1863.

2. A.U.C. 551

3. movere P 4 M 2 HVJK Aldus, Froben: -eri P(3)N.

4. something has beenlost here or reduced to the unintelligible rem of P (3) N: om. A3 HVJ Froben 2, most Eds. a missing dative is supplied, turmae Madvig 1886, or turbae M. Müller. J 1 k emend to in rem (peritus), Aldus to in rem (permistis).

5. excepisset AYN3 HVJK Aldus, Froben; -petisset P (3) N.

6. quoque N3 HVJK: que P (3) n Aldus, Froben.

7. A.U.C. 551

8. primum duker : prima P (3) NHVJK Aldus, Froben.

9. equitibus Alschefski , Eds.: peditibus P (3) NHVJK luterbacher .

10. et P (3) N: om. HVJK Aldus, Froben.

11. inlustres, before the noun in HVJK.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 30.18

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

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