Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae, John C. Rolfe (Translator), 23.5.20

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[20] Our forefathers spent many ages in eradicating whatever caused them trouble. Carthage was conquered in a long and difficult war, but our distinguished leader¹ feared that she might survive the victory. Scipio utterly destroyed Numantia,² after undergoing many vicissitudes in its siege. Rome laid Fidenae³ low, in order that no rivals of her power might grow up, and for that same reason crushed Falerii and Veil;⁴ and even trustworthy ancient histories would have difficulty in convincing us that those cities were ever powerful.⁵

Res Gestae. Ammianus Marcellinus. John C. Rolfe (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1935-1940.

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Current edition Perseus

History (English) (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Res Gestae Perseus (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., editor. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).) — 23.5.20 focus

[20] Plures absumptae sunt maioribus nostris aetates, ut interirent radicitus quae vexabant. Devicta est perplexo et diuturno Marte Carthago, sed eam earn dux inclytus timuit superesse victoriae. Evertit funditus Numantiam Scipio, post multiplices casus obsidionis emensos. Fidenas ne imperio subcrescerent aemulae Roma subvertit, et Faliscos ita oppressit et Veios, et suadere nobis laborat monumentorum veterum fides, ut has civitates aliquando valuisse credamus.

Notes on the current edition

History

1. Scipio Aemilianus; cf. Seneca, Dial. xi. 14, 5,

quid referam Aemilianum Scipionem . . . vir in hoc natus, ne urbi Romanae aut Scipio deesset aut Carthago superesset.

2. Cf. Florus, i. 24, 18. The siege lasted, with interruptions, for thirteen years.

3. Cf. Livy, iv. 17 ff.

4. Cf. Livy, v. 25-27.

5. Cf. Flor. i. 6, 11,

laborat annalium fides, ut Veios fuisse credamus

, Our trust in our annals has a difficult task to make us believe that Veii ever existed. Florus, L.C.L., p. 41.

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae 23.5.20

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

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