Selections from Viri Romae (Latin) C. F. L_Homond 3353 downloads.pdf

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Selections from Viri Romae

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you
will have to check the laws of the country where you are located
before using this eBook.

Title: Selections from Viri Romae

Author: C. F. L'Homond

Editor: Robert Arrowsmith
Charles Knapp

Release date: August 1, 2010 [eBook #33311]
Most recently updated: January 6, 2021

Language: English, Latin

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33311

Credits: Produced by Louise Hope, Juliet Sutherland and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SELECTIONS
FROM VIRI ROMAE ***

This text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding,
mainly vowels with macron (“long” mark):
ĀĒĪŌŪ
ā ē ī ō ū ȳ (long y is rare)
If any of these characters do not display properly—in particular, if the diacritic
does not appear directly above the letter—or if the apostrophes and quotation
marks in this paragraph appear as garbage, you may have an incompatible
browser or unavailable fonts. First, make sure that the browser’s “character
set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8). You may also need to change
your browser’s default font.
There is no Greek in this book.
For this e-text, the Selections are given twice, in “stripped” and as-printed
form. In the stripped form, all footnote anchors, page and line numbers have
been omitted, along with macrons, illustrations and sidenotes, leaving only the
original Viri Romae text.
The book as printed includes several hundred cross-references to footnotes
identified by page number, and to text passages identified by line number.
Line numbers (by multiples of 5) are shown in the left margin; footnote
numbering starts from 1 on each page. Words split across line or page breaks
may appear on either the first or second line, depending on space.
Contents
Introduction
Viri Romae (“stripped” text)
Viri Romae (as printed)
Exercises
Vocabulary
Publisher’s Advertising
The map of the Mediterranean area, shown here at the end of the Exercises,
was printed as a foldout facing page 68 (middle of selection XXIII).

larger view

SELECTIONS

FROM

VIRI ROMAE
EDITED BY

ROBERT ARROWSMITH, Ph.D.
LATE PROFESSOR OF GREEK AND LATIN, TEACHERS COLLEGE

AND

CHARLES KNAPP, Ph.D.
INSTRUCTOR IN LATIN, BARNARD COLLEGE

NEW YORK ·:· CINCINNATI ·:· CHICAGO

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

Copyright, 1896, by
AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY.

VIRI ROMAE.
W. P. 18

PREFACE

Upon the reviving perception of the true scope of Latin teaching has
followed a return to some of the methods of former times, which, with all
their faults, were yet imbued with the true spirit of the Classics. Since for
many years the study of Latin lay in bondage to the spirit which regarded
the language merely as a corpus vile for grammatical dissection, and
ignored the rich literature lying beyond the classical trinity of authors, it is
not surprising that it fell into disfavor as unsuited to the requirements of the
times. The revival upon which the study has now entered is due largely to a
recognition of the fact that mental culture rather than mere mental training
is its true aim, and that, with this aim kept steadily in view, the study of
Latin is not a barren waste of time and energy, but a most potent agency in
securing that broad and sympathetic culture which must ever remain the
mark of the educated man. The results of classical study most valuable to
the character are surely not to be found in the ability, usually lost after a few
years, to recite paradigms faultlessly, to give the principal parts of verbs,
and to enumerate the various kinds of cum-constructions and the
subdivisions of the ablative. Of far greater worth are the mental breadth and
sympathy, the weakening of prejudice and Philistinism, and the increased
power of entering into higher forms of enjoyment which must inevitably
flow from the study of the life of a great people as revealed in its literature
and art.
This conception of the sphere of Latin study has brought with it some
modifications of the initial steps and a return to some of the texts in use
fifty years since. In the traditional sequence of authors, and particularly in
the selection of a purely military work as the means by which to introduce

the student to the language, the entrance into the fields of Latin literature
has frequently been made so distasteful as to destroy the desire for further
exploration. More attractive paths, however, are opening to the beginner;
and of these the Viri Romae offers in a notable degree material of real
interest to the young, and, from the very outset, gives a foretaste of the
contents of the literature.
The history of this work is of interest, as showing an early recognition of
the correctness of the standpoint to which we are now returning. It was
compiled by a Professor of the University of Paris, Charles François
Lhomond, who lived from 1727 to 1794, and enjoyed an enviable
reputation as a successful teacher, especially of younger pupils. His
experience taught him the need of an introductory text combining interest of
story with simplicity of style. The best proof of the excellence of his work
is the fact that it has ever since remained a favorite with teachers of Latin.
The material is taken from the works of various authors, chiefly Livy and
Eutropius, but was simplified by Lhomond in vocabulary and construction
wherever necessary to fit it to the requirements of beginners. As its title
indicates, it deals with the early stories of Rome, so fascinating in any dress
to the young, and it is therefore eminently fitted to arouse a desire for
further reading.
The present edition has been prepared with reference to the difficulties most
likely to embarrass the young pupil at the outset of the new study. One of
the most perplexing of these difficulties is the inability to discover in an
alphabetical vocabulary the inflected forms encountered in the text. This is
met, in part at least, by giving in italics in the footnotes the vocabulary form
of verbs not easily recognizable. For a similar reason grammatical
constructions are, on their first occurrence, explained in simple language, or
their nature briefly indicated, in order that the student may more
intelligently consult the grammatical references which follow. For purposes
of comparison, and as a means of helping the pupil to form proper habits of
study and observation, subsequent occurrences are referred to previous
instances, or to the tables of constructions on pages xvi-xxvi.
Although the compiler of the Viri Romae greatly simplified the language of
his authorities, there yet remain in the early part of the book many

constructions which the beginner is not fitted to discuss. It is strongly
recommended, therefore, that the treatment of the more difficult and
complex of these constructions be postponed to a later period. At the outset
the attention of the pupil should be centered upon matters of primary
importance and upon the simplest and most common usages, such as the
form of the sentence, the relation of its parts to one another, the significance
of terminations, and the modes of expressing the constantly recurring
relations of time, place, cause, means, purpose, and result. Even these
should be treated as simply as possible and with constant regard to English
usage. It is the experience of many teachers that reference to a Latin
grammar to explain a construction possessed by English as well as by Latin
frequently creates a difficulty where the student, if left to his own devices,
would have experienced none.
The notes on matters of Roman custom have been made intentionally full
with the aim of adding reality to the stories, and of inducing the pupil,
under the teacher’s guidance, to discover for himself further details. The use
of other accounts, whether in ancient or modern authors, of photographs,
plates, and other graphic aids can not be too strongly encouraged, in
accordance with the dictum of Horace:—
Segnius irritant animos demissa per aures
Quam quae sunt oculis subiecta fidelibus.
All vowels known to be long have been carefully marked. The text of this
edition is, in the main, that of C. Holzer (tenth edition, Stuttgart, 1889). In
orthography, however, Brambach has been followed. In the vocabulary
compound verbs are given under the simple verbs as an aid to the fuller
appreciation of the methods by which they are formed and their meanings
derived. The exercises in prose composition have been made simple in
order that they may occupy their legitimate place as subordinate and
auxiliary to the development of the more important reading power.
The thanks of the editors are due to Mr. E. G. Warner, of the Brooklyn
Polytechnic Institute, for his hearty coöperation in the work, and
particularly for the labor which he has expended upon the exercises.

ROBERT ARROWSMITH.
CHARLES KNAPP.
August, 1895.

CONTENTS

PAGE

Suggestions to the Student ix
Plan of Rome xxviii
I. Rōmānī Imperiī Exōrdium 1
II. Rōmulus 4
III. Numa Pompilius 8
IV. Tullus Hostīlius 10
V. Ancus Mārcius 15
VI. Lūcius Tarquinius Prīscus 17
VII. Servius Tullius 19
VIII. Tarquinius Superbus 22
IX. Iūnius Brūtus 25
X. Mūcius Scaevola 26
XI. Fabiī Trecentī Sex 27
XII. Lūcius Virgīnius 29
XIII. Titus Mānlius Torquātus 30

XIV. Pūblius Decius 35
XV. Mānius Curius 36
XVI. Gāius Duīlius 38
XVII. Mārcus Atīlius Rēgulus 39
XVIII. Appius Claudius Pulcher 42
XIX. Quīntus Fabius Māximus 43
XX. Aemilius Paulus et Terentius Varrō 48
XXI. Pūblius Cornēlius Scīpio Āfricānus 52
XXII. Tiberius Gracchus et Gāius Gracchus 63
XXIII. Gāius Marius 68
XXIV. Lūcius Cornēlius Sulla 74
XXV. Lūcius Lūcullus 77
XXVI. Gnaeus Pompēius Māgnus 80
XXVII. Gāius Iūlius Caesar 86
XXVIII. Mārcus Tullius Cicerō 96
XXIX. Mārcus Brūtus 102
XXX. Octāviānus Caesar Augustus 103
Exercises for Translation 112
Vocabulary 131

SUGGESTIONS TO THE STUDENT

To read Latin quickly and intelligently, and to enjoy the reading properly,
we must possess (1) a vocabulary, i.e. a collection of Latin words with
whose meanings, whether used singly or in combination, we are thoroughly
familiar; (2) a knowledge of the inflectional system of the language, i.e. its
declensions and conjugations; (3) a knowledge of its syntax; and
(4) a knowledge of the plan upon which the Latin sentence is constructed,
or, in other words, we must be able to overcome the difficulties arising out
of the peculiar order of the words and clauses that form a Latin sentence.
Vocabulary.—Words are the material out of which sentences are
constructed. Hence it is of prime importance to know their meanings. The
best way, in fact the only way, to acquire a vocabulary, is by constant
reading, and by noting carefully the force of individual words as they occur.
It soon becomes evident that certain words are very frequently used,
especially verbs which denote actions that have to do with everyday life,
such as dīcō, eō, faciō, habeō, veniō, sum, and their compounds. These at
least must be mastered at the very outset. It is worth while to notice what
prefixes are used in forming compound verbs, and the modifications of
meaning which they produce. If the force of the simple verb is mastered,
a little practice will enable the student to detect at sight the meaning of any
of its compounds without reference to any dictionary.
It is useful also to group together in memory words derived from the same
stem, e.g. canō, cantus; certō, certāmen; dūcō, dux; regō, rēx, rēgius;
caedō, caedēs. A specially interesting study consists in noting the English
words which go back to Latin originals. From various causes a large part of
our English vocabulary is borrowed from Latin. Cf. donate with dōnō and
dōnum, lucid with lūx, regent with rēx and regō.
Finally, it will be found very helpful constantly to read Latin aloud, for thus
the ear will help the eye and words will have meaning when heard as well
as when seen. Indeed, we ought to use our ears far more than our eyes in
acquiring a Latin vocabulary, in order that Latin words, when heard, shall
suggest at once to our minds the same pictures which they suggested to the
minds of Roman boys.
Inflections and Syntax.—It is not enough, however, to be familiar with the
meanings of individual words, however many we may succeed in

mastering. We must possess a knowledge also of inflections, i.e. of the
declensions and conjugations, which tell us how individual words may be
altered in form in order to express different relations to other words, and of
syntax, which tells us how words are combined together into sentences.
A knowledge of inflections and an understanding of syntax are the tools by
which we arrive at the meaning of sentences as a whole. As the wise
workman uses the best and most efficient tools, so one who undertakes to
read Latin with speed and pleasure must make his mastery of inflections
and syntax as complete as possible. It is assumed that students of this book
have already had some drill in the commoner inflections. The principles of
syntax can best be studied as they occur in actual reading. The commonest,
and therefore most important, are discussed in the notes and illustrated by
appropriate references to the grammars in common use and by the tables of
constructions on pages xvi to xxvi. A very practical way of fixing the
principles of syntax firmly in mind is by frequent translation from English
into Latin. It should be remembered, however, that we study syntax simply
because such study enables us to read and enjoy the great works of Latin
literature.
The Order of Words.—The greatest difficulty that confronts the student of
Latin literature is the fact that the order of the words in a Latin sentence is
widely different from that which he ordinarily finds in an English sentence.
This difference is due mainly to two causes. (1) Every Latin sentence is a
kind of word picture, in which the meaning is developed stroke by stroke,
the separate parts being introduced in the order of their importance. (2) It
is a principle of Latin to keep the meaning in suspense until the very end, so
that the last word completes not only the form, but also the meaning of the
sentence. Both these principles may be seen at work in lines 1 to 5 of
selection I, page 1. Proca naturally stands first, partly because the whole
work is a story of the deeds of men, partly because at this point he is
especially important, as being the reigning king, with power to choose his
own successor. The phrase rēx Albānōrum very properly follows, as
defining the scene of the action. Numitor and Amūlius are next mentioned
because the Latin loves to emphasize contrasts of persons. The sense of the
whole is not complete till we reach the very last word, habuit. In the next
sentence Numitōrī is first, because now Numitor is more important, as being

Proca’s successor. The relative clause quī . . . erat not only states a fact, but
also gives the reason why Proca bequeathed his kingdom (rēgnum relīquit)
to Numitor. So in the words ut . . . fēcit, the ut-clause tells why Amulius
performed the act indicated by the words Rhēam Silviam . . . fēcit, so that by
the time we know what the act was we know also exactly why it was
performed. The Latin thus pictures the parts of the scene in their true order,
for the motive in every case precedes the act. We see therefore that,
however strange at times the Latin order may seem to be, there is always
good reason for it. It is our task at the outset, as it soon will be our pleasure,
to determine just what this reason is.
Now this freer order of words in the Latin sentence is rendered possible by
the fact that Latin possesses an elaborate inflectional system, whereas
English does not. Note, however, that one familiar with Latin declensions
would know at once that in the first sentence discussed above Proca was
actor (i.e. subject), and Numitor and Amulius acted upon (i.e. object). So in
the sentence ut . . . fēcit it is clear that Amulius is the actor and that Rhea
Silvia is acted upon. Thus the inflectional system serves to relieve, in part at
least, the very difficulty which it creates.
How to Read.—By far the best way for the beginner to make himself
familiar with the Latin order and its meaning is to make a practice from the
very outset of reading the sentence aloud from beginning to end before
attempting to translate at all. If the meaning is not clear at once,
a repetition of such reading will often serve to make it clear, provided the
student knows the force of the individual words and constructions. If he
does not, he must seek the aid of the vocabulary or the notes. Then let him
read the sentence once more aloud, slowly and carefully. He should not,
however, look into either vocabulary or notes until he has read the Latin
through at least once. Progress at first will necessarily be slow, but it will be
sure. By every page read in the manner indicated above the pupil is
preparing himself to read with more and more intelligence and pleasure the
pages that remain. Besides, in this way he reads his Latin precisely as he
reads English, word after word, in the order in which it is written, and
precisely as a Roman boy 1800 years ago read his Latin story or poem. He
will gain further the advantage of training his ear as well as his eye and of
making it do its fair share of the work. In translating, too, it will be wise to

follow as closely as possible the Latin order. Often it will be found that the
resulting English order, even if not very common, is none the less
intelligible. So the sentence ut . . . fēcit discussed above may be translated
almost exactly in the Latin order.

Latin Composition
Its Value.—An exercise which is very practical and helpful, and which may
also become extremely delightful, is the rendering into Latin of English
sentences based upon that portion of the Latin text which has already been
carefully studied. This exercise is helpful, because it calls upon us to put
into practice the knowledge which we have acquired in reading; it may
become delightful because it shows us accurately the measure of our
advance and thus affords us the pleasure which comes from the feeling that
one is making sure progress in a given line of study.
Essentials.—To write Latin well one needs precisely the things which we
found necessary in reading (page ix). The words and constructions required
in the sentences for translation given on pages 112 to 129 are illustrated by
the corresponding pages of the Latin text. The pupil should always
endeavor to recall the word, inflectional form, phrase, or construction for
himself before referring to his text or to his grammar. In other words, he
should make the exercise one of thought rather than of mere mechanical
copying from a printed model.
The Object.—We read the Latin text in order to understand the thoughts of
the writer. So in turning English sentences into Latin our chief object is to
clothe the thoughts which such sentences convey in proper Latin dress, not
merely to substitute Latin words for English words. Every language has its
own peculiar expressions, which are called idioms. Such expressions can
never be literally translated from one language into another. Hence in
attempting to turn an English sentence into Latin, we must begin by noting
carefully the thought which it expresses, and then consider how the Romans
gave expression to that thought.
Choice of Expression.—In Latin, just as in English, it often happens that
the same thought may be expressed in several ways, which differ greatly in

the words used as well as in the form and expression. In English it is often
impossible to give a reason for the choice of one form of expression in
preference to others. Sometimes the choice is made consciously for the sake
of variety, or because there is a very slight shade of difference in meaning,
—so slight that we can perhaps feel it, but cannot put it into words;
sometimes unconsciously, because every one falls into the habit of using
certain phrases and manners of speech with no deeper reason than the habit.
The same is true of Latin writers. Their various forms of expression have
been noted and collected, and we find them laid down in the grammars as
rules. Some of these expressions are found to be used by the best writers
more frequently than others, and these are considered the best models. But
the student must avoid the error of confining himself absolutely to one iron-
bound form because most stress is laid upon it by the grammars, if he finds
other modes of expression in the writings of good authors. By searching out
the greatest variety of forms in which an idea may be expressed, by trying
to discover the differences in meaning between them, and by placing
yourself as far as possible in the writer’s place, you will gain a far greater
grasp and appreciation of the language than by learning a single rigid rule
and forcing it to fit every case.
One of the central ideas of the following exercises, then, should be to render
the thought in as many ways as possible, drawing your authority from the
text on which the exercise is based, as well as from your grammar.
Examine the tables on pages xvi to xxvi, where you will find several of the
most important constructions treated. Compare the examples given and try
to trace out the reasons for the different forms. In many cases you will not
be able to do so, and are free to choose one of several modes of expression.
In others the meaning of the sentences and the aid of the grammar will give
the reason for your choice.
Caution.—The pupil should note that all the words and constructions
necessary to enable him to write in Latin the sentences given below, pages
112 to 129, are to be found on the pages of the Latin text upon which the
exercises are based. An English-Latin vocabulary or dictionary is, therefore,
wholly unnecessary. Additional sentences based on the text may be made up
by student or teacher as required.

Tables of Constructions
The following tables have been prepared for the purpose of affording the
pupil material for study and comparison, by grouping together under
appropriate heads examples of certain constructions as they actually occur
in this book. It is expected that they will be helpful to the student in two
ways: (1) by supplementing and illustrating the notes, and (2) by affording
him guides which he may follow in his writing of Latin. No attempt
whatever has been made to include under any given head all the examples
that are to be found in the text. The pupil will find it both interesting and
instructive to add to the lists himself as he finds new instances in his own
reading.

A. EXPRESSIONS OF PLACE
1 . P l a c e at o r n e a r w h i c h :
Rōmae, VII, 26, and often; Tarentī, XV, 30; salūbriōra mīlitiae quam domī
esse iuvenum corpora, IV, 70 (locative: chiefly used with names of
towns);—in siccō, I, 10; in iīs locīs, I, 11; in (on) sinistrīs manibus, II,
21; in colle Quirīnālī, II, 54; in ārā, III, 4; in mediā urbe, V, 23; ponte
. . in (over) Tiberī factō, in (at) ōre Tiberis, V, 27;—multīs locīs, XXV,
17; terrā marīque, XXI, 125;—apud Tīcīnum amnem . . apud
Trebiam, XIX, 16;—ad Caprae palūdem, II, 44; ad tertium lapidem,
XIII, 12; ad flūmen Bagradam, XVII, 18.

B. EXPRESSIONS OF MOTION
1. Place from which:
Curibus . . accītus est, III, 2; Tarquiniīs . . profectus, VI, 1 (simple abl.,
especially with names of towns);—ā portā . . pergit, XIII, 5; ab urbe
profectus, XIII, 13; ā lūdīs pūblicīs revertēns, XVIII, 17;—dēlābitur ē
caelō scissō scūtum, III, 15; ex eō locō . . aufūgerat, IV, 20; dōnec

novae cōpiae ex Āfricā advenīrent, XVII, 3; ex angustiīs ēvāsit,
XIX, 38.
2 . P l a c e t o wa r d s w h i c h :
Albam properāvit, I, 25; Quī cum Rōmam vēnisset, III, 3; Rōmam also in
IV, 64, V, 20, and often; Pergunt inde Collātiam, VIII, 21; Profectus
Delphōs, IX, 4; Carthāginem rediit, XVII, 54; domum dēdūcunt, IV,
31; domum refugiēns, VII, 45; cum . . domum redīret, VII, 48 (simple
accusative, chiefly with names of towns);—Cum lupa saepius ad
parvulōs . . reverterētur, I, 16; Remum . . ad Amūlium rēgem
perdūxērunt, I, 27; ad Gabīnōs sē contulit, VIII, 4;—in Āfricam . .
trāiēcit, XVII, 15; in Ītaliam vēnit, XIX, 15; abiēcit in Tiberim, I, 7;
Sabīnōs in urbem recēpit, II, 38; aciem in (to) collem subdūxit, IV, 58;
cum in (upon) tribūnal ēscendisset, XII, 20; In (against) eum . . rediit,
IV, 22; ausae sunt sē inter tēla . . īnferre, II, 36.
3 . W ay b y w h i c h :
portā (abl. of means) quā profectī erant, XI, 19; Per (over) loca alta
āgmen dūcēbat, XIX, 23; Quī cum . . per montēs, per silvās hūc illūc
discurrerent, XIX, 35.

C. EXPRESSIONS OF TIME 1
1 . T i m e at w h i c h :
Posterō diē, IV, 61, VIII, 24; Prīmō impetū, II, 29; Kalendīs Mārtiīs, III,
20; eā tempestāte, VI, 17; nocte mediā, XIX, 68.
2. Time within which or in the course of which:
Annō trecentēsimō ab urbe conditā, XII, 1; eōdem annō, XIII, 11; bellō
Latīnō, XIV, 11; hōc bellō, XIV, 12; in proeliō, VI, 26; In proeliō
quōdam, in quō, VII, 8; In quō bellō, XV, 2. 2
3. Age:

fīlium tredecim annōrum, VI, 25; Hannibal . . novem annōs nātus,
XIX, 1.

D. DURATION OF TIME AND EXTENT OF SPACE
1 . D u r at i o n o f t i m e :
Rōmulus septem et trīgintā rēgnāvit annōs, III, 38; rēgnāvit annōs duōs et
trīgintā, IV, 75; rēgnāvit annōs quattuor et quadrāgintā, VII, 52; per
tōtum bīduum, XIII, 87; omnī deinde vītā, XIII, 60. (This last form
should not be imitated.)
2 . E x t e n t o f s pa c e :
Iam aliquantum spatiī . . aufūgerat, IV, 20; centum et vīgintī pedēs
longum, XVII, 27; quīnque diērum iter . . abest, XXI, 163.

E. EXPRESSIONS OF PURPOSE
1. Pure purpose: ut or nē with the subjunctive:
ut eum subole prīvāret, I, 3; ut populum ferum religiōne mītigāret, III, 3;
ut esset index pācis et bellī, III, 25;—nē fūrtō auferrī posset, III, 16; nē
duo violenta ingenia mātrimōniō iungerentur, VII, 38.
2. Relative clause:
mīsit quī societātem . . peterent, II, 5; Centum . . ēlēgit, quōrum cōnsiliō
omnia ageret, II, 40; sacerdōtēs lēgit, quī ancīlia . . cūstōdīrent et . .
ferrent, III, 19; Rōmam missus, ubi (= ut ibi) . . interesset, XXVIII, 8.
3. Quō 3 (whereby) with subjunctive:
quō frequentius habitārētur, IV, 66 (see note); quō minor turba Rōmae
foret, XVIII, 21; quō diūtius in magistrātū esset, XIX, 46.
4. Gerundive:

coniugī dedit ēducandōs, I, 19; īgnem . . perpetuō alendum virginibus
dedit, III, 4; agellum colendum locāvit, XVII, 36; ad exercitum
lūstrandum, II, 44; mīlitēs ad vindicandum facinus accendit, XII, 26.
5. Future participle:
quasi dē pāce āctūrus, rē vērā ut tempus extraheret, XVII, 2 (see note).
6. Supine:
aquam . . petītum ierat, II, 17; ē suīs ūnum . . mittit scīscitātum, VIII, 8;
Cum . . lēgātī Rōmam vēnissent conquestum, XIII, 81; pecora . . quae
pāstum prōpulsa essent, XIX, 63.
7. Substantive clauses:
adfīrmāns . . Rōmulum . . praecipere ut sēditiōnibus abstinērent et rem
mīlitārem colerent, II, 51-53; Latīnōrum populīs suāsit ut . . fānum
Diānae . . in Aventīnō monte aedificārent, VII, 25; optāvit ut frāter . .
revīvīsceret atque iterum classem āmitteret, XVIII, 19; ēdīxit nē quis
. . in hostēs pūgnāret, XIII, 42; Veritus autem nē . . poenās daret, XVI,
21; petiit ā patribus cōnscrīptīs nē quid dē eā rē statuerent, XIII, 83.

F. EXPRESSIONS OF RESULT
1. Pure result: ut or ut nōn with the subjunctive:
ita omnium animōs eā pietāte imbuit ut fidēs . . cīvēs continēret, III, 33;
adeō frāctī . . sunt spīritūs . . ut nūllī reī posthāc nisi sacrīs operam
daret, IV, 72; ita eōs adliciēns ut apud omnēs plūrimum posset, VIII, 6.
Note that in the main clause there is usually some word like ita, adeō, tam, tālis, is, which paves the
way for the result clause.

2. Relative (characteristic):
invenīrī potuit nēmō, quī . . peteret, XXIII, 119; Ūnus adulēscēns fuit, quī
audēret querī, XXIV, 50. Here too belongs quīn with the subjunctive:
haud procul erat quīn . . āgnōsceret, I, 33; nōn esse dubium quīn . .
oportēret, XVI, 27; Nēminī dubium est quīn . . restituerit, XIX, 105.

3. Substantive:
(Rōmulus dīxit) futūrum ut omnium gentium dominī exsisterent, II, 53;
oportet dīsciplīnam, quam solvistī, . . restituās, XIII, 54; concessum
est ut . . praecinente tībīcine ā cēnā redīret, XVI, 16.

G. TEMPORAL CLAUSES 4
1. Ubi, ut, or postquam with the indicative mood, especially the
perfect tense:
Ubi spectāculī tempus vēnit, II, 11; Ut . . increpuēre arma micantēsque
fulsēre gladiī, IV, 13; Is postquam adolēvit, VII, 7; Quī postquam
frequentēs convēnēre, XIII, 52.
2. Dum (while) with the indicative (the tense employed is
generally the present):
Ea rēs dum Numitōris animum anxium tenet, I, 36; dum Albānus exercitus
inclāmat Cūriātiīs, IV, 23; Latīnus dum ad Tiberim dēscendit, sacerdōs
bovem immolāvit, VII, 34.
3. Dum, dōnec (until) with the subjunctive:
dum convalēsceret (indirect discourse also), VII, 17; ut tempus extrāheret,
dōnec novae cōpiae ex Āfricā advenīrent, XVII, 3 (partly purpose).
4. Antequam and priusquam with the subjunctive:
Alterum . . priusquam tertius posset cōnsequī, interfēcit, IV, 24;
priusquam eīs bellum indīceret, lēgātum mīsit quī rēs repeteret, V, 7;
petiit . . nē quid . . statuerent antequam ipse īnspexisset Macedonum . .
causam, XIII, 83 (indirect discourse).
5. Cum with the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive:
cum iīs īnsidiātī essent latrōnēs, I, 22; cum Numitor . . comparāret, I, 30;
cum (as) Rōmae appropinquārent, II, 15; cum (while) . . cōntiōnem . .

habēret, II, 44; Quī cum Rōmam vēnisset, III, 2. This form of temporal
clause is extremely common.

H. CAUSAL CLAUSES 5
1. Relative clause with the subjunctive:
quīppe quī cerneret ferrum ante oculōs micāns, accūsātiōnem dīmīsit, XIII,
8; cum in eam cīvitātem animadvertere dēcrēvisset quae (= cum ea) sibi
adversāta fuisset, XXVII, 37.
2. Cum with the subjunctive:
Cum vērō uxōrēs . . nōn habērent, lēgātōs circā vīcīnās gentēs mīsit, II, 3;
cum sē invidiōsum . . vidēret, Vēientēs . . adversus Rōmānōs
concitāvit, IV, 55; Cum . . facinora clandestīna fierent, Ancus carcerem
. . aedificāvit, V, 21-25.
3. Quod, 6 quia, quoniam, or quandō, with the indicative:
quia tribus impār erat, . . fugam capessīvit, IV, 18; quandōquidem . .
pūgnāvistī, XIII, 53; quia nōn pāruistī, XIII, 77.
4. Quod with the subjunctive:
cum sē invidiōsum apud cīvēs vidēret, quod bellum ūnō paucōrum
certāmine fīnīsset, IV, 55-56 (see note); Tarquinius fīlium . . quod in
proeliō hostem percussisset, praetextā . . dōnāvit, VI, 25-27.
5. Quasi with the subjunctive (assumed reason):
eum accūsantēs, quasi Numitōris agrōs īnfēstāre solitus esset, I, 28; Is cum
īrātus ad mortem dūcī iussisset mīlitem, quasi (because, as was
supposed,) interfēcisset commīlitōnem, XIII, 65.
Note.—These clauses resemble those in 4, as giving the reason ascribed to some one other than the
writer. They show also that the reason is fictitious, and invented by the person who advances it.

I. CONCESSIVE OR ADVERSATIVE CLAUSES

1. Cum (although) with the subjunctive:
cum retinērētur ā propinquīs et amīcīs, tamen Carthāginem rediit,
XVII, 53.
2. Quamquam with the indicative:
quamquam . . pellēbātur, XXI, 242.
3. Quamvīs with the subjunctive:
quamvīs sīs molestus, XXVI, 158.

J. CUM CLAUSES
The temporal, causal, and concessive uses of cum have already
been given separately. Cum was originally a temporal conjunction.
From the temporal idea were developed its other meanings. So the
English when frequently contains the ideas of time and cause, or
time and concession combined, and while also is frequently at once
temporal and concessive. So cum also may represent these ideas in
combination as well as separately. In many cases, indeed, it is
difficult, if not impossible, to decide which meaning is more
prominent: cf.
Cum (when and since) lupa saepius ad parvulōs . . reverterētur, I, 16; Hīs
artibus cum (when and although) Hannibalem Fabius . . clausisset, ille
. . sē expedīvit, XIX, 31.

K. THE ABLATIVE ABSOLUTE
1. Form.—
The ablative absolute consists usually of a noun and a participle.
The participle is generally passive, but often active: Eō rēgnante,
IV, 3; relābente flūmine, I, 9.

2. Often, however, the ablative absolute consists of a noun and
adjective, or of two nouns, or a noun and pronoun. In such cases
there is an ellipsis of the lost present participle of sum:
māgnā glōriā bellī, IV, 75; parī ferē ōrnātū, X, 6; Appiō iūdice, XII, 15;
Valeriō et Cossō cōnsulibus, XIV, 1.
3. M e a n i n g . —The ablative absolute may denote
Time; compare Temporal Clauses, G 1, 2, and 5.
pulsō frātre, rēgnāvit, I, 3; Eā rē cōgnitā, parvulōs . . abiēcit in Tiberim, I,
5; armātīs pāstōribus, Albam properāvit, I, 25.
Note.—This is the original and most frequent use of the ablative absolute.

4. C a u s e : compare Causal Clauses, H 2 and 3.
ortā inter eōs contentiōne, I, 40; dūrissimā squāmārum lōrīcā omnia tēla
facile repellente, XVII, 22; in cōnfertā multitūdine aegrē prōcēdente
carpentō, XVIII, 17.
5. Concession:
agrum ēius, omnibus circā vāstātīs, intāctum relīquit, XIX, 39.
6. Often time and cause together: compare note on Cum Clauses,
J. Examples are:
mīlitibus sēgnius dīmicantibus, raptum sīgnum in hostem mīsit, VII, 9;
occīsō Tatiō, ad Rōmulum potentātus omnis recidit, II, 40.
7. Condition:
rē male gestā (if he fails), XVI, 31; nē, dēsertō agrō, nōn esset (lest, if he
neglected his farm, he might not have), XVII, 34.
8. Means:
advectīs ballistīs et catapultīs (by bringing up, etc.) . . dēiciendus hostis
fuit, XVII, 23.
9 . A t t e n d a n t c i r c u m s ta n c e :

crīnibus passīs, II, 36; māgnā glōriā bellī rēgnāvit, IV, 75; scrībā cum rēge
parī ferē ōrnātū sedēbat, X, 6.
10. The ablative absolute is often best translated by the English
perfect active participle with an object: armātīs pāstōribus, I, 25,
having armed the shepherds. A combination of an abl. abs. and a
finite verb is often best rendered by two verbs in the same mood
and tense: interēmptō Amūliō, Numitōrem in rēgnum restituit, I,
37, he killed Amulius and restored Numitor to the throne.

L. PARTICIPLES
In Latin the participles, especially the perfect passive participle, are used far
more frequently than in English, and with a much larger variety of
meanings. The use of the participle tends to produce brevity of expression.
Thus the Latin participle may be equivalent to
1 . A r e l at i v e c l a u s e :
raptae mulierēs, II, 35; Rōmānus . . male sustinentem (= quī male
sustinēbat) arma Cūriātium cōnficit, IV, 29; ab laniō cultrō adreptō
(with a knife which he caught up from a butcher’s stall), XII, 24;
volentibus (= eīs quī volēbant) cōnsulere sē dē iūre praebuit, XIII, 97.
2. A causal clause:
necessitāte compulsus indicāvit, I, 24; nōmina mūtāre nōn potuit dēterritus
. . Nāviī auctōritāte, VI, 16; Hōc terrōre cēterī adāctī nōmina prōmptius
dedērunt, XV, 25.
3. A concessive clause:
victus (though beaten) crucis supplicium effūgit, XVI, 30.
4. Latin often uses a perfect passive participle in agreement with
a noun, where, judging from English usage, we should expect a
noun with a limiting genitive:

ob virginēs raptās (on account of the seizure of the maidens), II, 14; Annō
trecentēsimō ab urbe conditā (from the founding of the city), XII, 1.
5. English is fond of coördinated verbs, that is, verbs in exactly
the same mood, tense, and construction, e.g. ‘They took the ass and
saddled him.’ Latin, however, objects to such constructions, and
prefers to replace the former of the two verbs by some other form
of expression, e.g. a passive or deponent participle. We have to
notice here two classes of sentences:
(a) Such sentences as fulmine īctum cōnflagrāsse, IV, 74, which =
fulmine īctum esse et cōnflagrāsse, i.e. ‘he was struck by lightning and
burned,’ etc.
(b) such sentences as the following: parvulōs alveō impositōs abiēcit, I,
6 = parvulōs alveō imposuit et abiēcit; ēlatam secūrim in ēius caput
dēiēcit, VI, 37 = extulit secūrim et in ēius caput dēiēcit; cōniugem ē
Cūriā ēvocātum . . rēgem salūtāvit, VII, 47 = cōniugem ē Cūriā
ēvocāvit et eum rēgem salūtāvit.

M. INDIRECT DISCOURSE
1 . I n d i r e c t D i s c o u r s e d e f i n e d .—
The terms Direct Discourse and Indirect Discourse denote the two
distinct ways in which a writer may quote the statement or
represent the thought of another person. If the writer gives the
exact words in which the statement was made, or in which the
thought was formulated (if put into words at all), he is said to use
the direct discourse. If, on the other hand, he gives merely the
substance or the gist of his own or another’s statements or
thoughts, he is said to use the indirect discourse. In Latin, as in
English, the indirect discourse is more common than the direct.

2. In passing from the direct discourse to the indirect, numerous
changes become necessary. These may, however, be readily
grouped under two heads: (a) those which occur in principal
clauses, and (b) those which occur in subordinate clauses.
3 . C h a n g e s i n P r i n c i pa l C l a u s e s .—
Principal clauses may be declarative, interrogative, or imperative;
that is, they may make a statement, ask a question, or give
expression to a command. We thus have to consider three forms of
principal clauses: (a) Statements, (b) Questions, (c) Commands.
4 . S tat e m e n t s i n I n d i r e c t D i s c o u r s e .
All Statements of the Direct Discourse, on passing into the
Indirect, fall into the infinitive mood, because they become objects
of verbs of saying:
adfīrmāns vīsum (sc. esse) ā sē Rōmulum . . eundemque praecipere, II, 51
(direct form, vīsus est ā mē Rōmulus . . īdemque praecipit);
prōclāmābat fīliam suam iūre caesam esse, IV, 43 (direct form, fīlia mea
iūre caesa est); minātur sē vī abstrāctūrum, XII, 12 (direct form (ego)
vī tē abstraham).
5. Questions in Indirect Discourse.
All Questions of the Direct Discourse, on passing into the
Indirect, fall into the subjunctive mood, because they are in reality
dependent on a verb of asking. No example of a question in formal
indirect discourse occurs in the selections contained in this book.
Indirect questions (cf. p. 3, n. 2), however, fall under this general
head as giving some one’s thoughts without quoting his exact
words.
6. Commands in Indirect Discourse.

All Commands of the Direct Discourse, on passing into the
Indirect, fall into the subjunctive, because they are in reality
dependent on some verb like imperāvit, to be supplied in thought:
proinde nē gravārētur sē spectandum praebēre, XXI, 289 (direct form,
Nōlī gravārī tē spectandum praebēre); satis cōnstat Sullam . .
prōclāmāsse, vincerent, dummodo scīrent, XXVII, 12-15 (direct form,
Vincite, dummodo sciātis).
7 . S u b o r d i n at e C l a u s e s i n I n d i r e c t D i s c o u r s e .
All Subordinate Clauses of the Indirect Discourse have their
verbs in the subjunctive mood:
Tatius . . Tarpēiae optiōnem mūneris dedit, sī . . perdūxisset, II, 19-21
(direct form, dō or dabō optiōnem mūneris, sī . . perdūxeris: see note);
Illa petiit quod gererent, II, 21 (direct form, Petō quod . . geritis).
1 See also below, Ablative Absolute, K 3.
2 The form with in is the more exact.
3 This is merely a special form of (2), but its importance entitles it to separate treatment.
4 Cf. also Ablative Absolute, K 3.
5 Cf. also Ablative Absolute, K 4.
6 These conjunctions are regularly used with the indicative. They are employed with the
subjunctive only when the writer is indirectly quoting the reason given by some one else.

The grammatical references in the footnotes are to the Latin Grammars in
most common use; H = Harkness’ Complete Latin Grammar, references to
Harkness’ Standard Grammar being inclosed in parentheses; M = Lane &
Morgan; A = Allen & Greenough; G = Gildersleeve; B = Bennett.

The original Latin city comprised only the Palatine and a small portion of the surrounding territory.
The Etruscans inhabited the Caelian Hill, and extended toward the Esquiline. The Sabine town
occupied the Quirinal, which was originally connected with the Capitoline, on which was the Sabine
citadel, by a ridge sloping toward the Forum and the Campus Martius. Ancus Marcius added to the
city the Aventine, and built a fortress on the Janiculum. Servius Tullius added the Viminal and

Esquiline, and inclosed the seven hills with a line of fortifications, of which one portion is still
traceable. The ridge connecting the Capitoline and Quirinal was a barrier which cut the town in two.
The only means of communication between the two halves of the city, when its population had
reached nearly two million inhabitants, were the narrow strip of land between the Capitoline and the
river and a lane ten feet wide crossing the ridge. To relieve the pressure, this ridge was cut away by
the Emperor Trajan, in whose Forum on the site of the excavations stands the well-known ‘Trajan’s
Column,’ 140 feet high, ‘erected to show to posterity how high was the mountain leveled by the
Emperor.’ The business portion of the modern city occupies the Campus Martius, its main artery, the
famous ‘Corso,’ following the line of the ancient street shown on the plan. See Lanciani, Ancient
Rome, p. 86.

URBIS ROMAE VIRI INLUSTRES
“Stripped” text

I. Romani imperii exordium As printed

Proca, rex Albanorum, Numitorem et Amulium filios habuit. Numitori, qui
natu maior erat, regnum reliquit; sed Amulius, pulso fratre, regnavit et, ut
eum subole privaret, Rheam Silviam, eius filiam, Vestae sacerdotem fecit,
quae tamen Romulum et Remum geminos edidit. Ea re cognita Amulius
ipsam in vincula coniecit, parvulos alveo impositos abiecit in Tiberim, qui
tunc forte super ripas erat effusus; sed, relabente flumine, eos aqua in sicco
reliquit. Vastae tum in iis locis solitudines erant. Lupa, ut fama traditum est,
ad vagitum accurrit, infantes lingua lambit, ubera eorum ori matremque se
gessit.
Cum lupa saepius ad parvulos veluti ad catulos reverteretur, Faustulus,
pastor regius, re animadversa eos tulit in casam et Accae Larentiae coniugi
dedit educandos. Adulti deinde hi inter pastores primo ludicris certaminibus
vires auxere, deinde venando saltus peragrare et latrones a rapina pecorum
arcere coeperunt. Quare cum iis insidiati essent latrones, Remus captus est,
Romulus vi se defendit. Tum Faustulus, necessitate compulsus, indicavit

Romulo quis esset eorum avus, quae mater. Romulus statim armatis
pastoribus Albam properavit.
Interea Remum latrones ad Amulium regem perduxerunt, eum accusantes,
quasi Numitoris agros infestare solitus esset; itaque Remus a rege Numitori
ad supplicium traditus est; at cum Numitor, adulescentis vultum
considerans, aetatem minimeque servilem indolem compararet, haud procul
erat quin nepotem agnosceret. Nam Remus oris lineamentis erat matri
simillimus aetasque expositionis temporibus congruebat. Ea res dum
Numitoris animum anxium tenet, repente Romulus supervenit, fratrem
liberat, interempto Amulio avum Numitorem in regnum restituit.
Deinde Romulus et Remus urbem in iisdem locis, ubi expositi ubique
educati erant, condiderunt; sed orta inter eos contentione, uter nomen novae
urbi daret eamque imperio regeret, auspicia decreverunt adhibere. Remus
prior sex vultures, Romulus postea duodecim vidit. Sic Romulus, victor
augurio, urbem Romam vocavit. Ad novae urbis tutelam sufficere vallum
videbatur. Cuius angustias inridens cum Remus saltu id traiecisset, eum
iratus Romulus interfecit, his increpans verbis: “Sic deinde, quicumque
alius transiliet moenia mea!” Ita solus potitus est imperio Romulus.

II. Romulus, Romanorum rex primus As printed
753-715 b.c.

Romulus imaginem urbis magis quam urbem fecerat; incolae deerant. Erat
in proximo lucus; hunc asylum fecit. Et statim eo mira vis latronum
pastorumque confugit. Cum vero uxores ipse populusque non haberent,
legatos circa vicinas gentes misit, qui societatem conubiumque novo populo
peterent. Nusquam benigne audita legatio est; ludibrium etiam additum:
“Cur non feminis quoque asylum aperuistis? Id enim compar foret
conubium.” Romulus, aegritudinem animi dissimulans, ludos parat; indici
deinde finitimis spectaculum iubet. Multi convenere studio etiam videndae
novae urbis, maxime Sabini cum liberis et coniugibus. Ubi spectaculi

tempus venit eoque conversae mentes cum oculis erant, tum signo dato
iuvenes Romani discurrunt, virgines rapiunt.
Haec fuit statim causa belli. Sabini enim ob virgines raptas bellum adversus
Romanos sumpserunt, et cum Romae appropinquarent, Tarpeiam virginem
nacti sunt, quae aquam forte extra moenia petitum ierat. Huius pater
Romanae praeerat arci. Titus Tatius, Sabinorum dux, Tarpeiae optionem
muneris dedit, si exercitum suum in Capitolium perduxisset. Illa petiit quod
Sabini in sinistris manibus gererent, videlicet aureos anulos et armillas.
Quibus dolose promissis, Tarpeia Sabinos in arcem perduxit, ubi Tatius
scutis eam obrui iussit; nam et ea in laevis habuerant. Sic impia proditio
celeri poena vindicata est.
Deinde Romulus ad certamen processit, et in eo loco, ubi nunc Romanum
Forum est, pugnam conseruit. Primo impetu vir inter Romanos insignis,
nomine Hostilius, fortissime dimicans cecidit; cuius interitu consternati
Romani fugere coeperunt. Iam Sabini clamitabant: “Vicimus perfidos
hospites, imbelles hostes. Nunc sciunt longe aliud esse virgines rapere,
aliud pugnare cum viris.” Tunc Romulus, arma ad caelum tollens, Iovi
aedem vovit, et exercitus seu forte seu divinitus restitit. Itaque proelium
redintegratur; sed raptae mulieres crinibus passis ausae sunt se inter tela
volantia inferre et hinc patres, hinc viros orantes, pacem conciliarunt.
Romulus, foedere cum Tatio icto, et Sabinos in urbem recepit et regnum
cum Tatio sociavit. Verum haud ita multo post, occiso Tatio, ad Romulum
potentatus omnis recidit. Centum deinde ex senioribus elegit, quorum
consilio omnia ageret, quos senatores nominavit propter senectutem. Tres
equitum centurias constituit, populum in triginta curias distribuit. His ita
ordinatis, cum ad exercitum lustrandum contionem in campo ad Caprae
paludem haberet, subito coorta est tempestas cum magno fragore
tonitribusque et Romulus e conspectu ablatus est. Ad deos transisse vulgo
creditus est; cui rei fidem fecit Iulius Proculus, vir nobilis. Orta enim inter
patres et plebem seditione, in contionem processit, iureiurando adfirmans
visum a se Romulum augustiore forma, eundemque praecipere ut
seditionibus abstinerent et rem militarem colerent; futurum ut omnium

gentium domini exsisterent. Aedes in colle Quirinali Romulo constituta,
ipse pro deo cultus et Quirinus est appellatus.

III. Numa Pompilius, Romanorum rex secundus As printed
716-673 b.c.

Successit Romulo Numa Pompilius, vir inclita iustitia et religione. Is
Curibus, ex oppido Sabinorum, accitus est. Qui cum Romam venisset, ut
populum ferum religione mitigaret, sacra plurima instituit. Aram Vestae
consecravit, et ignem in ara perpetuo alendum virginibus dedit. Flaminem
Iovis sacerdotem creavit eumque insigni veste et curuli sella adornavit.
Dicitur quondam ipsum Iovem e caelo elicuisse. Hic, ingentibus fulminibus
in urbem demissis, descendit in nemus Aventinum, ubi Numam docuit
quibus sacris fulmina essent procuranda, et praeterea imperii certa pignora
populo Romano daturum se esse promisit. Numa laetus rem populo
nuntiavit. Postridie omnes ad aedes regias convenerunt silentesque
exspectabant quid futurum esset. Atque sole orto delabitur e caelo scisso
scutum, quod ancile appellavit Numa. Id ne furto auferri posset, Mamurium
fabrum undecim scuta eadem forma fabricare iussit. Duodecim autem
Salios Martis sacerdotes legit, qui ancilia, secreta illa imperii pignora,
custodirent et Kalendis Martiis per urbem canentes et rite saltantes ferrent.
Annum in duodecim menses ad cursum lunae descripsit; nefastos fastosque
dies fecit; portas Iano gemino aedificavit ut esset index pacis et belli; nam
apertus, in armis esse civitatem, clausus, pacatos circa omnes populos,
significabat.
Leges quoque plurimas et utiles tulit Numa. Ut vero maiorem institutis suis
auctoritatem conciliaret, simulavit sibi cum dea Egeria esse conloquia
nocturna eiusque monitu se omnia, quae ageret, facere. Lucus erat, quem
medium fons perenni rigabat aqua; eo saepe Numa sine arbitris se inferebat,
velut ad congressum deae; ita omnium animos ea pietate imbuit, ut fides ac
iusiurandum non minus quam legum et poenarum metus cives contineret.

Bellum quidem nullum gessit, sed non minus civitati profuit quam
Romulus. Morbo exstinctus in Ianiculo monte sepultus est. Ita duo deinceps
reges, ille bello, hic pace, civitatem auxerunt. Romulus septem et triginta
regnavit annos, Numa tres et quadraginta.

IV. Tullus Hostilius, Romanorum rex tertius As printed
673-641 b.c.

Mortuo Numa Tullus Hostilius rex creatus est. Hic non solum proximo regi
dissimilis, sed ferocior etiam Romulo fuit. Eo regnante bellum inter
Albanos et Romanos exortum est. Ducibus Hostilio et Fufetio placuit rem
paucorum certamine finiri. Erant apud Romanos trigemini fratres Horatii,
tres apud Albanos Curiatii. Cum eis agunt reges ut pro sua quisque patria
dimicent ferro. Foedus ictum est ea lege, ut, unde victoria, ibi imperium
esset.
Icto foedere trigemini arma capiunt et in medium inter duas acies
procedunt. Consederant utrimque duo exercitus. Datur signum, infestique
armis terni iuvenes, magnorum exercituum animos gerentes, concurrunt. Ut
primo concursu increpuere arma micantesque fulsere gladii, horror ingens
spectantes perstringit. Consertis deinde manibus, statim duo Romani alius
super alium exspirantes ceciderunt; tres Albani vulnerati. Ad casum
Romanorum conclamavit gaudio exercitus Albanus. Romanos iam spes tota
deserebat. Unum Horatium tres Curiatii circumsteterant. Forte is integer
fuit; sed quia tribus impar erat, ut distraheret hostes, fugam capessivit,
singulos per intervalla secuturos esse ratus. Iam aliquantum spatii ex eo
loco, ubi pugnatum est, aufugerat, cum respiciens videt unum e Curiatiis
haud procul ab sese abesse. In eum magno impetu redit, et dum Albanus
exercitus inclamat Curiatiis ut opem ferant fratri, iam Horatius eum
occiderat. Alterum deinde, priusquam tertius posset consequi, interfecit.
Iam singuli supererant, sed nec spe nec viribus pares. Alter erat intactus
ferro et geminata victoria ferox; alter fessum vulnere, fessum cursu trahebat

corpus. Nec illud proelium fuit. Romanus exsultans male sustinentem arma
Curiatium conficit, iacentem spoliat. Romani ovantes ac gratulantes
Horatium accipiunt et domum deducunt. Princeps ibat Horatius, trium
fratrum spolia prae se gerens. Cui obvia fuit soror, quae desponsa fuerat uni
ex Curiatiis, visoque super umeros fratris paludamento sponsi, quod ipsa
confecerat, flere et crines solvere coepit. Movet ferocis iuvenis animum
comploratio sororis in tanto gaudio publico; itaque stricto gladio transfigit
puellam, simul eam verbis increpans: “Abi hinc cum immaturo amore ad
sponsum, oblita fratrum, oblita patriae. Sic eat, quaecumque Romana
lugebit hostem.”
Atrox id visum est facinus patribus plebique; quare raptus est in ius
Horatius et apud iudices condemnatus. Iam accesserat lictor iniciebatque
laqueum. Tum Horatius ad populum provocavit. Interea pater Horatii senex
proclamabat filiam suam iure caesam esse; et iuvenem amplexus spoliaque
Curiatiorum ostentans, orabat populum ne se, quem paulo ante cum egregia
stirpe conspexissent, orbum liberis faceret. Non tulit populus patris lacrimas
iuvenemque absolvit admiratione magis virtutis quam iure causae. Ut tamen
caedes manifesta expiaretur, pater quibusdam sacrificiis peractis transmisit
per viam tigillum et filium capite adoperto velut sub iugum misit; quod
tigillum Sororium appellatum est.
Non diu pax Albana mansit; nam Mettius Fufetius, dux Albanorum, cum se
invidiosum apud cives videret, quod bellum uno paucorum certamine
finisset, ut rem corrigeret, Veientes Fidenatesque adversus Romanos
concitavit. Ipse, a Tullo in auxilium arcessitus, aciem in collem subduxit, ut
fortunam belli exspectaret et sequeretur. Qua re Tullus intellecta magna
voce ait suo illud iussu Mettium facere, ut hostes a tergo circumvenirentur.
Quo audito hostes territi et victi sunt. Postero die Mettius cum ad
gratulandum Tullo venisset, iussu illius quadrigis religatus et in diversa
distractus est. Deinde Tullus Albam propter ducis perfidiam diruit et
Albanos Romam transire iussit.
Roma interim crevit Albae ruinis; duplicatus est civium numerus; mons
Caelius urbi additus et, quo frequentius habitaretur, eam sedem Tullus

regiae cepit ibique deinde habitavit. Auctarum virium fiducia elatus bellum
Sabinis indixit. Pestilentia insecuta est; nulla tamen ab armis quies dabatur.
Credebat enim rex bellicosus salubriora militiae quam domi esse iuvenum
corpora, sed ipse quoque diuturno morbo est implicitus. Tunc vero adeo
fracti simul cum corpore sunt spiritus illi feroces, ut nulli rei posthac nisi
sacris operam daret. Memorant Tullum fulmine ictum cum domo
conflagrasse. Tullus magna gloria belli regnavit annos duos et triginta.

V. Ancus Marcius, Romanorum rex quartus As printed
641-616 b.c.

Tullo mortuo Ancum Marcium regem populus creavit. Numae Pompilii
nepos Ancus Marcius erat, aequitate et religione avo similis. Tunc Latini,
cum quibus Tullo regnante ictum foedus erat, sustulerant animos, et
incursionem in agrum Romanum fecerunt. Ancus, priusquam eis bellum
indiceret, legatum misit, qui res repeteret, eumque morem posteri
acceperunt. Id autem hoc modo fiebat. Legatus, ubi ad fines eorum venit a
quibus res repetuntur, capite velato “Audi, Iuppiter,” inquit “audite, fines
huius populi. Ego sum publicus nuntius populi Romani; verbis meis fides
sit.” Deinde peragit postulata. Si non deduntur res quas exposcit, hastam in
fines hostium emittit bellumque ita indicit. Legatus, qui ea de re mittitur,
Fetialis ritusque belli indicendi Ius Fetiale appellatur.
Legato Romano res repetenti superbe responsum est a Latinis; quare bellum
hoc modo eis indictum est. Ancus, exercitu conscripto, profectus Latinos
fudit et compluribus oppidis deletis cives Romam traduxit. Cum autem in
tanta hominum multitudine facinora clandestina fierent, Ancus carcerem in
media urbe ad terrorem increscentis audaciae aedificavit. Idem nova moenia
urbi circumdedit, Ianiculum montem ponte sublicio in Tiberi facto urbi
coniunxit, in ore Tiberis Ostiam urbem condidit. Pluribus aliis rebus intra
paucos annos confectis; immatura morte praereptus obiit.

VI. Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, Romanorum rex As printed
quintus
616-578 b.c.

Anco regnante Lucius Tarquinius, Tarquiniis, ex Etruriae urbe, profectus,
cum coniuge et fortunis omnibus Romam commigravit. Additur haec
fabula: advenienti aquila pilleum sustulit et super carpentum, cui Tarquinius
insidebat, cum magno clangore volitans rursus capiti apte reposuit; inde
sublimis abiit. Tanaquil coniux, caelestium prodigiorum perita, regnum ei
portendi intellexit; itaque, virum complexa, excelsa et alta sperare eum
iussit. Has spes cogitationesque secum portantes urbem ingressi sunt,
domicilioque ibi comparato Tarquinius pecunia et industria dignitatem
atque etiam Anci regis familiaritatem consecutus est; a quo tutor liberis
relictus regnum intercepit et ita administravit, quasi iure adeptus esset.
Tarquinius Priscus Latinos bello domuit; Circum Maximum aedificavit; de
Sabinis triumphavit; murum lapideum urbi circumdedit. Equitum centurias
duplicavit, nomina mutare non potuit, deterritus, ut ferunt, Atti Navii
auctoritate. Attus enim, ea tempestate augur inclitus, id fieri posse negabat,
nisi aves addixissent; iratus rex in experimentum artis eum interrogavit,
fierine posset quod ipse mente concepisset; Attus augurio acto fieri posse
respondit. “Atqui hoc” inquit rex “agitabam, num cotem illam secare
novacula possem.” “Potes ergo” inquit augur, et rex secuisse dicitur.
Tarquinius filium tredecim annorum, quod in proelio hostem percussisset,
praetexta bullaque donavit; unde haec ingenuorum puerorum insignia esse
coeperunt.
Supererant duo Anci filii, qui, aegre ferentes se paterno regno fraudatos
esse, regi insidias paraverunt. Ex pastoribus duos ferocissimos deligunt ad
patrandum facinus. Ei simulata rixa in vestibulo regiae tumultuantur.
Quorum clamor cum penitus in regiam pervenisset, vocati ad regem
pergunt. Primo uterque vociferari coepit et certatim alter alteri obstrepere.
Cum vero iussi essent in vicem dicere, unus ex composito rem orditur;

dumque intentus in eum se rex totus avertit, alter elatam securim in eius
caput deiecit, et relicto in vulnere telo ambo foras se proripiunt.

VII. Servius Tullius, Romanorum rex sextus As printed
578-534 b.c.

Post hunc Servius Tullius suscepit imperium, genitus ex nobili femina,
captiva tamen et famula. Qui cum in domo Tarquinii Prisci educaretur,
ferunt prodigium visu eventuque mirabile accidisse. Flammae species pueri
dormientis caput amplexa est. Hoc visu Tanaquil summam ei dignitatem
portendi intellexit coniugique suasit ut eum haud secus ac suos liberos
educaret. Is postquam adolevit, et fortitudine et consilio insignis fuit. In
proelio quodam, in quo rex Tarquinius adversus Sabinos conflixit, militibus
segnius dimicantibus, raptum signum in hostem misit. Cuius recipiendi
gratia Romani tam acriter pugnaverunt, ut et signum et victoriam referrent.
Quare a Tarquinio gener adsumptus est; et cum Tarquinius occisus esset,
Tanaquil, Tarquinii uxor, mortem eius celavit, populumque ex superiore
parte aedium adlocuta ait regem grave quidem, sed non letale vulnus
accepisse, eumque petere, ut interim dum convalesceret, Servio Tullio dicto
audientes essent. Sic Servius Tullius regnare coepit, sed recte imperium
administravit. Sabinos subegit; montes tres, Quirinalem, Viminalem,
Esquilinum urbi adiunxit; fossas circa murum duxit. Idem censum
ordinavit, et populum in classes et centurias distribuit.
Servius Tullius aliquod urbi decus addere volebat. Iam tum inclitum erat
Dianae Ephesiae fanum. Id communiter a civitatibus Asiae factum fama
ferebat. Itaque Latinorum populis suasit ut et ipsi fanum Dianae cum
populo Romano Romae in Aventino monte aedificarent. Quo facto, bos
mirae magnitudinis cuidam Latino nata dicitur, et responsum somnio datum
eum populum summam imperii habiturum, cuius civis bovem illam Dianae
immolasset. Latinus bovem ad fanum Dianae egit et causam sacerdoti
Romano exposuit. Ille callidus dixit prius eum vivo flumine manus abluere

debere. Latinus dum ad Tiberim descendit, sacerdos bovem immolavit. Ita
imperium civibus sibique gloriam adquisivit.
Servius Tullius filiam alteram ferocem, mitem alteram habens, cum
Tarquinii filios pari esse animo videret, ferocem miti, mitem feroci in
matrimonium dedit, ne duo violenta ingenia matrimonio iungerentur. Sed
mites seu forte seu fraude perierunt; feroces morum similitudo coniunxit.
Statim Tarquinius a Tullia incitatus advocato senatu regnum paternum
repetere coepit. Qua re audita Servius dum ad Curiam contendit, iussu
Tarquinii per gradus deiectus et domum refugiens interfectus est. Tullia
carpento vecta in Forum properavit et coniugem e Curia evocatum prima
regem salutavit; cuius iussu cum e turba ac tumultu decessisset domumque
rediret, viso patris corpore, cunctantem et frena mulionem inhibentem super
ipsum corpus carpentum agere iussit, unde vicus ille Sceleratus dictus est.
Servius Tullius regnavit annos quattuor et quadraginta.

VIII. Tarquinius Superbus, Romanorum rex septimus As printed
et ultimus
534-510 b.c.

Tarquinius Superbus regnum sceleste occupavit. Tamen bello strenuus
Latinos Sabinosque domuit. Urbem Gabios in potestatem redegit fraude
Sexti filii. Is cum indigne ferret eam urbem a patre expugnari non posse, ad
Gabinos se contulit, patris saevitiam in se conquerens. Benigne a Gabinis
exceptus paulatim eorum benevolentiam consequitur, fictis blanditiis ita eos
adliciens, ut apud omnes plurimum posset, et ad postremum dux belli
eligeretur. Tum e suis unum ad patrem mittit sciscitatum quidnam se facere
vellet. Pater nuntio filii nihil respondit, sed velut deliberabundus in hortum
transiit ibique inambulans sequente nuntio altissima papaverum capita
baculo decussit. Nuntius, fessus exspectando, rediit Gabios. Sextus, cognito
silentio patris et facto, intellexit quid vellet pater. Primores civitatis
interemit patrique urbem sine ulla dimicatione tradidit.

Postea rex Ardeam urbem obsidebat. Ibi cum in castris essent, Tarquinius
Collatinus, sorore regis natus, forte cenabat apud Sextum Tarquinium cum
iuvenibus regiis. Incidit de uxoribus mentio; cum suam unusquisque
laudaret, placuit experiri. Itaque citatis equis Romam avolant; regias nurus
in convivio et luxu deprehendunt. Pergunt inde Collatiam; Lucretiam,
Collatini uxorem, inter ancillas lanae deditam inveniunt. Ea ergo ceteris
praestare iudicatur. Paucis interiectis diebus Sextus Collatiam rediit et
Lucretiae vim attulit. Illa postero die, advocatis patre et coniuge, rem
exposuit et se cultro, quem sub veste abditum habebat, occidit. Conclamat
vir paterque et in exitium regum coniurant. Tarquinio Romam redeunti
clausae sunt urbis portae et exsilium indictum.
In antiquis annalibus memoriae haec sunt prodita. Anus hospita atque
incognita ad Tarquinium quondam Superbum regem adiit, novem libros
ferens, quos esse dicebat divina oracula: eos se velle venumdare. Tarquinius
pretium percontatus est: mulier nimium atque immensum poposcit. Rex,
quasi anus aetate desiperet, derisit. Tum illa foculum cum igni apponit et
tres libros ex novem deurit; et, ecquid reliquos sex eodem pretio emere
vellet, regem interrogavit. Sed Tarquinius id multo risit magis, dixitque
anum iam procul dubio delirare. Mulier ibidem statim tres alios libros
exussit; atque id ipsum denuo placide rogat, ut tres reliquos eodem illo
pretio emat. Tarquinius ore iam serio atque attentiore animo fit; eam
constantiam confidentiamque non neglegendam intellegit: libros tres
reliquos mercatur nihilo minore pretio quam quod erat petitum pro
omnibus. Sed eam mulierem tunc a Tarquinio digressam postea nusquam
loci visam constitit. Libri tres in sacrario conditi Sibyllinique appellati. Ad
eos, quasi ad oraculum, Quindecemviri adeunt, cum dii immortales publice
consulendi sunt.

IX. Iunius Brutus, Romanorum consul primus As printed

Iunius Brutus, sorore Tarquinii Superbi natus, cum eandem fortunam
timeret, in quam frater inciderat, qui ob divitias et prudentiam ab avunculo
erat occisus, stultitiam finxit, unde Brutus dictus est. Profectus Delphos
cum Tarquinii filiis, quos pater ad Apollinem muneribus honorandum
miserat, baculo sambuceo aurum inclusum dono tulit deo. Peractis deinde
mandatis patris, iuvenes Apollinem consulunt quisnam ex ipsis Romae
regnaturus esset. Responsum est eum Romae summam potestatem
habiturum, qui primus matrem osculatus esset. Tunc Brutus, velut si casu
prolapsus cecidisset, terram osculatus est, scilicet quod ea communis mater
omnium mortalium esset.
Expulsis regibus duo consules creati sunt, Iunius Brutus et Tarquinius
Collatinus Lucretiae maritus. At libertas modo parta per dolum et
proditionem paene amissa est. Erant in iuventute Romana adulescentes
aliquot, sodales adulescentium Tarquiniorum. Hi cum legatis, quos rex ad
bona sua repetenda Romam miserat, de restituendis regibus conloquuntur,
ipsos Bruti consulis filios in societatem consilii adsumunt. Sermonem
eorum ex servis unus excepit; rem ad consules detulit. Datae ad Tarquinium
litterae manifestum facinus fecerunt. Proditores in vincula coniecti sunt,
deinde damnati. Stabant ad palum deligati iuvenes nobilissimi; sed a ceteris
liberi consulis omnium in se oculos avertebant. Consules in sedem
processere suam, missique lictores nudatos virgis caedunt securique feriunt.
Supplicii non spectator modo, sed et exactor erat Brutus. qui tunc patrem
exuit, ut consulem ageret.
Tarquinius deinde bello aperto regnum reciperare conatus est. Equitibus
praeerat Aruns, Tarquinii filius: rex ipse cum legionibus sequebatur.
Obviam hosti consules eunt; Brutus ad explorandum cum equitatu
antecessit. Aruns, ubi procul Brutum agnovit, inflammatus ira “Ille est vir”
inquit “qui nos patria expulit; ipse en ille nostris decoratus insignibus
magnifice incedit.” Tum concitat calcaribus equum atque in ipsum
consulem dirigit; Brutus avide se certamini offert. Adeo infestis animis
concurrerunt, ut ambo hasta transfixi caderent; fugatus tamen proelio est
Tarquinius. Alter consul Romam triumphans rediit. Bruti conlegae funus,

quanto potuit apparatu, fecit. Brutum matronae, ut parentem, annum
luxerunt.

X. Mucius Scaevola As printed

Cum Porsena Romam obsideret, Mucius, vir Romanae constantiae, senatum
adiit et veniam transfugiendi petiit, necem regis repromittens. Accepta
potestate cum in castra Porsenae venisset, ibi in confertissima turba prope
tribunal constitit. Stipendium tunc forte militibus dabatur et scriba cum rege
pari fere ornatu sedebat. Mucius, ignorans uter rex esset, illum pro rege
occidit. Apprehensus et ad regem pertractus dextram accenso ad sacrificium
foculo iniecit, velut manum puniens, quod in caede peccasset. Attonitus
miraculo rex iuvenem amoveri ab altaribus iussit. Tum Mucius, quasi
beneficium remunerans, ait trecentos adversus eum sui similes coniurasse.
Qua re ille territus bellum acceptis obsidibus deposuit. Mucio prata trans
Tiberim data, ab eo Mucia appellata. Statua quoque ei honoris gratia
constituta est.

XI. Fabii trecenti sex As printed
479-477 b.c.

Cum adsiduis Veientium incursionibus vexarentur Romani, Fabia gens
senatum adit; consul Fabius pro gente loquitur: “Vos alia bella curate;
Fabios hostes Veientibus date: id bellum privato sumptu gerere nobis in
animo est.” Gratiae ei ingentes actae sunt. Consul e Curia egressus,
comitante Fabiorum agmine, domum rediit. Manat tota urbe rumor; Fabium
ad caelum laudibus ferunt. Fabii postero die arma capiunt. Numquam
exercitus neque minor numero neque clarior fama et admiratione hominum
per urbem incessit. Ibant sex et trecenti milites, omnes patricii, omnes unius
gentis. Ad Cremeram flumen perveniunt. Is opportunus visus est locus
communiendo praesidio. Hostes non semel fusi pacem supplices petunt.

Veientes pacis impetratae cum brevi paenituisset, redintegrato bello inierunt
consilium insidiis ferocem hostem captandi. Multo successu Fabiis audacia
crescebat. Cum igitur palati passim agros popularentur, pecora a Veientibus
obviam acta sunt; ad quae progressi Fabii in insidias delapsi omnes ad
unum perierunt. Dies, quo id factum est, inter nefastos relatus est; porta,
qua profecti erant, Scelerata est appellata. Unus omnino superfuit ex ea
gente, qui propter aetatem impuberem domi relictus erat. Is genus
propagavit ad Quintum Fabium Maximum, qui Hannibalem mora fregit.

XII. Lucius Virginius As printed

Anno trecentesimo ab urbe condita pro duobus consulibus decemviri creati
sunt, qui adlatas e Graecia leges populo proponerent. Duodecim tabulis eae
sunt perscriptae. Ceterum decemviri sua ipsorum insolentia in exitium acti
sunt. Nam unus ex iis Appius Claudius virginem plebeiam adamavit. Quam
cum Appius non posset pretio ac spe perlicere, unum e clientibus
subornavit, qui eam in servitutem deposceret, facile victurum se sperans,
cum ipse esset et accusator et iudex. Lucius Virginius, puellae pater, tunc
aberat militiae causa. Cliens igitur virgini venienti in Forum (namque ibi in
tabernis litterarum ludi erant) iniecit manum, adfirmans suam esse servam.
Eam sequi se iubet; ni faciat, minatur se vi abstracturum. Pavida puella
stupente, ad clamorem nutricis fit concursus. Itaque cum ille puellam vi non
posset abducere, eam vocat in ius, ipso Appio iudice.
Interea missi nuntii ad Virginium properant. Is commeatu sumpto a castris
profectus prima luce Romam advenit, cum iam civitas in Foro exspectatione
erecta stabat. Virginius statim in Forum lacrimabundus et civium opem
implorans filiam suam deducit. Neque eo setius Appius, cum in tribunal
escendisset, Virginiam clienti suo addixit. Tum pater, ubi nihil usquam
auxilii vidit, “Quaeso,” inquit “Appi, ignosce patrio dolori; sine me filiam
ultimum adloqui.” Data venia pater cum filiam seduxisset, ab lanio cultro
adrepto pectus puellae transfigit. Tum vero sibi viam facit et respersus

cruore ad exercitum profugit et milites ad vindicandum facinus accendit.
Concitatus exercitus montem Aventinum insedit; decem tribunos militum
creavit; decemviros magistratu se abdicare coegit eosque omnes aut morte
aut exilio multavit; ipse Appius Claudius in carcerem coniectus mortem sibi
conscivit.

XIII. Titus Manlius Torquatus As printed

Titus Manlius ob ingenii et linguae tarditatem a patre rus relegatus erat. Qui
cum audivisset patri diem dictam esse a Pomponio, tribuno plebis, cepit
consilium rudis quidem et agrestis animi, sed pietate laudabile. Cultro
succinctus mane in urbem atque a porta confestim ad Pomponium pergit:
introductus cultrum stringit et super lectum Pomponii stans se eum
transfixurum minatur, nisi ab incepta accusatione desistat. Pavidus tribunus,
quippe qui cerneret ferrum ante oculos micans, accusationem dimisit. Ea res
adulescenti eo maiori fuit honori quod animum eius acerbitas paterna a
pietate non avertisset, ideoque eodem anno tribunus militum factus est.
Cum postea Galli ad tertium lapidem trans Anienem fluvium castra
posuissent, exercitus Romanus ab urbe profectus in citeriore ripa fluvii
constitit. Pons in medio erat: tunc Gallus eximia corporis magnitudine in
vacuum pontem processit et quam maxima voce potuit “Quem nunc” inquit
“Roma fortissimum habet, is procedat agedum ad pugnam, ut eventus
certaminis nostri ostendat utra gens bello sit melior.” Diu inter primores
iuvenum Romanorum silentium fuit. Tum Titus Manlius ex statione ad
imperatorem pergit: “Iniussu tuo,” inquit, “imperator, extra ordinem
numquam pugnaverim, non si certam victoriam videam; si tu permittis, volo
ego illi beluae ostendere me ex ea familia ortum esse, quae Gallorum
agmen ex rupe Tarpeia deiecit.” Cui imperator “Macte virtute,” inquit “Tite
Manli, esto: pergeet nomen Romanum invictum praesta.”
Armant deinde iuvenem aequales: scutum capit, Hispano cingitur gladio, ad
propiorem pugnam habili. Exspectabat eum Gallus stolide laetus et linguam

ab inrisu exserens. Ubi constitere inter duas acies, Gallus ensem cum
ingenti sonitu in arma Manlii deiecit. Manlius vero inter corpus et arma
Galli sese insinuans uno alteroque ictu ventrem transfodit et in spatium
ingens ruentem porrexit hostem; iacenti torquem detraxit, quem cruore
respersum collo circumdedit suo. Defixerat pavor cum admiratione Gallos;
Romani alacres obviam militi suo progrediuntur et gratulantes laudantesque
ad imperatorem perducunt. Manlius inde Torquati cognomen accepit.
Idem Manlius, postea consul factus bello Latino, ut disciplinam militarem
restitueret, edixit ne quis extra ordinem in hostes pugnaret. T. Manlius,
consulis filius, cum propius forte ad stationem hostium accessisset, is, qui
Latino equitatui praeerat, ubi consulis filium agnovit, “Visne” inquit
“congredi mecum, ut singularis certaminis eventu cernatur, quantum eques
Latinus Romano praestet?” Movit ferocem animum iuvenis seu ira seu
detrectandi certaminis pudor. Itaque oblitus imperii paterni in certamen ruit
et Latinum ex equo excussum transfixit spoliisque lectis in castra ad patrem
venit. Extemplo filium aversatus consul milites classico advocat. Qui
postquam frequentes convenere, “Quandoquidem” inquit “tu, fili, contra
imperium consulis pugnasti, oportet disciplinam, quam solvisti, poena tua
restituas. Triste exemplum, sed in posterum salubre iuventuti eris. I, lictor,
deliga ad palum.” Metu omnes obstupuere; sed postquam cervice caesa
fusus est cruor, in questus et lamenta erupere. Manlio Romam redeunti
seniores tantum obviam exierunt: iuventus et tunc eum et omni deinde vita
exsecrata est.
Operae pretium erit aliud severitatis disciplinae Romanae exemplum
proferre, simul ut appareat quam facile severitas in crudelitatem et furorem
abeat. Cn. Piso fuit vir a multis vitiis integer, sed pravus et cui placebat pro
constantia rigor. Is cum iratus ad mortem duci iussisset militem, quasi
interfecisset commilitonem, cum quo egressus erat e castris et sine quo
redierat, roganti tempus aliquod ad conquirendum non dedit. Damnatus
miles extra castrorum vallum ductus est et iam cervicem porrigebat, cum
subito apparuit ille commilito, qui occisus dicebatur. Tunc centurio
supplicio praepositus condere gladium carnificem iubet. Ambo

commilitones alter alterum complexi ingenti concursu et magno gaudio
exercitus deducuntur ad Pisonem. Ille conscendit tribunal furens et
utrumque ad mortem duci iubet, adicit et centurionem, qui damnatum
militem reduxerat, haec praefatus: “Te morte plecti iubeo, quia iam
damnatus es; te, quia causa damnationis commilitoni fuisti; te, quia iussus
occidere militem imperatori non paruisti.”
Ceterum Manlianae gentis propriam fere fuisse illam in filios acerbitatem
alius Manlius, illius de quo supra diximus nepos, ostendit. Cum
Macedonum legati Romam venissent conquestum de Silano, Manlii
Torquati filio, quod praetor provinciam expilasset, pater, avitae severitatis
heres, petiit a patribus conscriptis ne quid de ea re statuerent, antequam ipse
inspexisset Macedonum et filii sui causam. Id a senatu libenter concessum
est viro summae dignitatis, consulari iurisque civilis peritissimo. Itaque,
instituta domi cognitione causae, solus per totum biduum utramque partem
audiebat ac tertio die pronuntiavit filium suum videri non talem fuisse in
provincia, quales eius maiores fuissent, et in conspectum suum deinceps
venire vetuit. Tam tristi patris iudicio perculsus lucem ulterius intueri non
sustinuit et proxima nocte vitam suspendio finivit. Peregerat Torquatus
severi et religiosi iudicis partes, satisfactum erat rei publicae, habebat
ultionem Macedonia, at nondum erat inflexus patris rigor. Igitur ne
exsequiis quidem filii interfuit, ut patribus mos erat apud Romanos, et eo
ipso die, quo funus eius ducebatur, aures, ut solebat, volentibus consulere se
de iure praebuit.

XIV. Publius Decius As printed

P. Decius, Valerio Maximo et Cornelio Cosso consulibus, tribunus militum
fuit. Exercitu Romano in angustiis Gauri montis clauso Decius editum
collem conspexit imminentem hostium castris. Accepto praesidio verticem
occupavit, hostes terruit, consuli spatium dedit ad subducendum agmen in
aequiorem locum. Ipse, colle, quem insederat, undique armatis circumdato,

intempesta nocte per medias hostium custodias somno oppressas incolumis
evasit. Qua re ab exercitu donatus est corona civica, quae dabatur ei, qui
cives in bello servasset. Consul fuit bello Latino cum Manlio Torquato. Hoc
bello cum utrique consuli somnio obvenisset eos victores futuros, quorum
dux in proelio cecidisset, convenit inter eos uti, utrius cornu in acie
laboraret, is diis se Manibus devoveret. Inclinante sua parte Decius se et
hostes diis Manibus devovit. Armatus in equum insiluit ac se in medios
hostes immisit: corruit obrutus telis et victoriam suis reliquit.

XV. Manius Curius As printed

Manius Curius contra Samnites profectus eos ingentibus proeliis vicit. In
quo bello cum permultum agri hominumque maximam vim cepisset, ipse
inde ditari adeo noluit, ut, cum interversae pecuniae argueretur, catillo
ligneo, quo uti ad sacrificia consueverat, in medium prolato iuraret se nihil
amplius de praeda hostili in domum suam convertisse. Curio ad focum
sedenti in agresti scamno et ex ligneo catillo cenanti cum magnum auri
pondus Samnites attulissent, repudiati ab eo sunt dixitque non aurum habere
sibi praeclarum videri, sed iis qui haberent aurum imperare. Quo responso
Curius Samnitibus ostendit se neque acie vinci neque pecunia corrumpi
posse. Agri capti septena iugera populo viritim divisit; cumque ipsi senatus
iugera quinquaginta adsignaret, plus accipere noluit quam singulis civibus
erat datum, dixitque perniciosum esse civem, qui eo, quod reliquis
tribueretur, contentus non esset.
Postea consul creatus adversus Pyrrhum missus est: cumque in Capitolio
delectum haberet et iuniores taedio belli nomina non darent, coniectis in
urnam omnium tribuum nominibus primum nomen urna extractum citari
iussit et cum adulescens non responderet, bona eius hastae subiecit, deinde
cum is questus de iniuria consulis tribunos plebis appellasset, ipsum quoque
vendidit, nihil opus esse rei publicae eo cive, qui nesciret parere, dicens.
Neque tribuni plebis adulescenti auxilio fuerunt; posteaque res in

consuetudinem abiit, ut delectu rite acto, qui militiam detrectaret, in
servitutem venderetur. Hoc terrore ceteri adacti nomina promptius dederunt.
His copiis Curius Pyrrhi exercitum cecidit deque eo rege triumphavit.
Insignem triumphum fecerunt quattuor elephanti cum turribus suis, tum
primum Romae visi. Victus rex relicto Tarenti praesidio in Epirum revertit.
Cum autem bellum renovaturus putaretur, Manium Curium iterum
consulem fieri placuit. Sed inopinata mors regis Romanos metu liberavit.
Pyrrhus enim, dum Argos oppugnat, urbem iam ingressus a iuvene quodam
Argivo lancea leviter vulneratus est. Mater adulescentis, anus paupercula,
cum aliis mulieribus e tecto domus proelium spectabat; quae cum vidisset
Pyrrhum in auctorem vulneris sui magno impetu ferri, periculo filii sui
commota protinus tegulam corripuit et utraque manu libratam in caput regis
deiecit.

XVI. Gaius Duilius As printed

Gaius Duilius Poenos navali pugna primus devicit. Qui cum videret naves
Romanas a Punicis velocitate superari, manus ferreas sive corvos,
machinam ad comprehendendas hostium naves tenendasque utilem,
excogitavit. Quae manus ubi hostilem apprehenderant navem, superiecto
ponte transgrediebatur Romanus et in ipsorum ratibus comminus
dimicabant, unde Romanis, qui robore praestabant, facilis victoria fuit.
Celeriter sunt expugnatae naves Punicae triginta, in quibus etiam praetoria
septiremis capta est, mersae tredecim.
Duilius victor Romam reversus primus navalem triumphum egit. Nulla
victoria Romanis gratior fuit, quod invicti terra iam etiam mari plurimum
possent. Itaque Duilio concessum est, ut per omnem vitam praelucente
funali et praecinente tibicine a cena rediret.
Hannibal, dux classis Punicae, e navi quae iam capiebatur, in scapham saltu
se demittens Romanorum manus effugit. Veritus autem, ne in patria classis
amissae poenas daret, civium odium astutia avertit, nam ex illa infelici

pugna priusquam cladis nuntius domum perveniret quendam ex amicis
Carthaginem misit. Qui postquam curiam intravit, “Consulit” inquit “vos
Hannibal, cum dux Romanorum magnis copiis maritimis instructis
advenerit, num cum eo confligere debeat?” Acclamavit universus senatus
non esse dubium quin confligi oporteret. Tum ille “Conflixit” inquit “et
superatus est.” Ita non potuerunt factum damnare, quod ipsi fieri debuisse
iudicaverant. Sic Hannibal victus crucis supplicium effugit: nam eo poenae
genere dux re male gesta apud Poenos adficiebatur.

XVII. Marcus Atilius Regulus As printed

Marcus Regulus cum Poenos magna clade adfecisset, Hanno
Carthaginiensis ad eum venit, quasi de pace acturus, re vera ut tempus
extraheret, donec novae copiae ex Africa advenirent. Is ubi ad consulem
accessit, exortus est militum clamor auditaque vox, idem huic faciendum
esse, quod paucis ante annis Cornelio consuli a Poenis factum esset.
Cornelius enim, velut in conloquium per fraudem evocatus, a Poenis
comprehensus erat et in vincula coniectus. Iam Hanno timere incipiebat, sed
periculum astuto responso avertit: “Hoc vero” inquit “si feceritis, nihilo
eritis Afris meliores.” Consul tacere iussit eos, qui par pari referri volebant,
et conveniens gravitati Romanae responsum dedit: “Isto te metu, Hanno,
fides Romana liberat.” De pace, quia neque Poenus serio agebat et consul
victoriam quam pacem malebat, non convenit.
Regulus deinde in Africam primus Romanorum ducum traiecit. Clypeam
urbem et trecenta castella expugnavit, neque cum hominibus tantum, sed
etiam cum monstris dimicavit. Nam cum ad flumen Bagradam castra
haberet, anguis mira magnitudine exercitum Romanorum vexabat; multos
milites ingenti ore corripuit; plures caudae verbere elisit; nonnullos ipso
pestilentis halitus adflatu exanimavit. Neque is telorum ictu perforari
poterat, durissima squamarum lorica omnia tela facile repellente.
Confugiendum fuit ad machinas advectisque ballistis et catapultis, velut arx

quaedam munita, deiciendus hostis fuit. Tandem saxorum pondere
oppressus iacuit, sed cruore suo flumen corporisque pestifero adflatu vicina
loca infecit Romanosque castra inde submovere coegit. Corium beluae,
centum et viginti pedes longum, Romam misit Regulus.
Huic ob res bene gestas imperium in annum proximum prorogatum est.
Quod ubi cognovit Regulus, scripsit senatui vilicum suum in agello, quem
septem iugerum habebat, mortuum esse et servum, occasionem nactum,
aufugisse ablato instrumento rustico ideoque petere se ut sibi successor in
Africam mitteretur, ne, deserto agro, non esset unde uxor et liberi alerentur.
Senatus, acceptis litteris, res quas Regulus amiserat publica pecunia redimi
iussit, agellum colendum locavit, alimenta coniugi ac liberis praebuit.
Regulus deinde multis proeliis Carthaginiensium opes contudit eosque
pacem petere coegit. Quam cum Regulus nollet nisi durissimis
condicionibus dare, a Lacedaemoniis illi auxilium petierunt.
Lacedaemonii Xanthippum, virum belli peritissimum, Carthaginiensibus
miserunt, a quo Regulus victus est ultima pernicie: nam duo tantum milia
hominum ex omni Romano exercitu refugerunt et Regulus ipse captus et in
carcerem coniectus est. Inde Romam de permutandis captivis missus est
dato iureiurando. ut, si non impetrasset, rediret ipse Carthaginem. Qui cum
Romam venisset, inductus in senatum mandata exposuit; sententiam ne
diceret recusavit; quamdiu iureiurando hostium teneretur, se non esse
senatorem. Iussus tamen sententiam dicere, negavit esse utile captivos
Poenos reddi, illos enim adulescentes esse et bonos duces, se iam
confectum senectute. Cuius cum valuisset auctoritas, captivi retenti sunt,
ipse, cum retineretur a propinquis et amicis, tamen Carthaginem rediit:
neque vero tunc ignorabat se ad crudelissimum hostem et ad exquisita
supplicia proficisci, sed iusiurandum conservandum putavit. Reversum
Carthaginienses omni cruciatu necaverunt: palpebris enim resectis
aliquamdiu in loco tenebricoso tenuerunt: deinde cum sol esset
ardentissimus, repente eductum intueri caelum coegerunt; postremo in
arcam ligneam, undique clavis praeacutis horrentem et tam angustam, ut
erectus perpetuo manere cogeretur, incluserunt. Ita dum fessum corpus,

quocumque inclinabat, stimulis ferreis confoditur, vigiliis et dolore continuo
interemptus est. Hic fuit Atilii Reguli exitus, ipsa vita clarior et inlustrior.

XVIII. Appius Claudius Pulcher As printed

Appius Claudius, vir stultae temeritatis, consul adversus Poenos profectus
priorum ducum consilia palam reprehendebat seque, quo die hostem
vidisset, bellum confecturum esse iactitabat. Qui cum, antequam navale
proelium committeret, auspicia haberet pullariusque ei nuntiasset, pullos
non exire e cavea neque vesci, inridens iussit eos in aquam mergi, ut saltem
biberent, quoniam esse nollent. Ea res cum, quasi iratis diis, milites ad
omnia segniores timidioresque fecisset, commisso proelio magna clades a
Romanis accepta est: octo eorum milia caesa sunt, viginti milia capta. Qua
re Claudius postea a populo condemnatus est damnationisque ignominiam
voluntaria morte praevenit. Ea res calamitati fuit etiam Claudiae, consulis
sorori: quae a ludis publicis revertens, in conferta multitudine aegre
procedente carpento, palam optavit ut frater suus Pulcher revivisceret atque
iterum classem amitteret, quo minor turba Romae foret. Ob vocem illam
impiam Claudia quoque damnata gravisque ei dicta est multa.

XIX. Quintus Fabius Maximus As printed

Hannibal, Hamilcaris filius, novem annos natus, a patre aris admotus odium
in Romanos perenne iuravit. Quae res maxime videtur concitasse secundum
Punicum bellum. Nam, mortuo Hamilcare, Hannibal causam belli quaerens
Saguntum, civitatem Hispaniae Romanis foederatam evertit. Quapropter
Roma missi sunt Carthaginem legati, qui Hannibalem, mali auctorem,
exposcerent. Tergiversantibus Poenis Quintus Fabius, legationis princeps,
sinu ex toga facto “Hic” inquit “vobis bellum et pacem portamus; utrum
placet, sumite.” Poenis daret utrum vellet succlamantibus, Fabius, excussa

toga, bellum se dare dicit. Poeni accipere se responderunt et, quibus
acciperent animis, iisdem se gesturos.
Hannibal superatis Pyrenaei et Alpium iugis in Italiam venit. Publium
Scipionem apud Ticinum amnem, Sempronium apud Trebiam, Flaminium
apud Trasumenum profligavit.
Adversus hostem totiens victorem missus Quintus Fabius dictator
Hannibalis impetum mora fregit; namque, priorum ducum cladibus edoctus
belli rationem mutare et adversus Hannibalem, successibus proeliorum
insolentem, recedere ab ancipiti discrimine et tueri tantummodo Italiam
constituit Cunctatorisque nomen et laudem summi ducis meruit. Per loca
alta agmen ducebat modico ab hoste intervallo, ut neque omitteret eum
neque cum eo congrederetur; castris, nisi quantum necessitas cogeret, miles
tenebatur. Dux neque occasioni rei bene gerendae deerat, si qua ab hoste
daretur, neque ullam ipse hosti dabat. Itaque cum ex levibus proeliis
superior discederet, militem minus iam coepit aut virtutis suae aut fortunae
paenitere.
His artibus cum Hannibalem Fabius in agro Falerno locorum angustiis
clausisset, ille sine ullo exercitus detrimento se expedivit. Namque arida
sarmenta in boum cornibus deligata principio noctis incendi bovesque ad
montes, quos Romani insederant, agi iussit. Qui cum accensis cornibus per
montes, per silvas huc illuc discurrerent, Romani miraculo attoniti
constiterunt; ipse Fabius, insidias esse ratus, militem extra vallum egredi
vetuit. Interea Hannibal ex angustiis evasit.
Dein Hannibal, ut Fabio apud suos conflaret invidiam, agrum eius, omnibus
circa vastatis, intactum reliquit. At Fabius, misso Romam Quinto filio,
inviolatum ab hoste agrum vendidit eiusque pretio captivos Romanos
redemit.
Haud grata tamen Romanis erat Fabii cunctatio: eumque pro cauto timidum,
pro cunctatore segnem vocitabant. Augebat invidiam Minucius, magister
equitum, dictatorem criminando: illum in ducendo bello sedulo tempus
terere, quo diutius in magistratu esset solusque et Romae et in exercitu

imperium haberet. His sermonibus accensa plebs dictatori magistrum
equitum imperio aequavit. Hanc iniuriam aequo animo tulit Fabius
exercitumque suum cum Minucio divisit. Cum autem Minucius temere
proelium commisisset, ei periclitanti auxilio venit Fabius. Cuius subito
adventu repressus Hannibal receptui cecinit, palam confessus ab se
Minucium, se a Fabio victum esse. Redeuntem ex acie dixisse eum ferunt
tandem eam nubem, quae sedere in iugis montium solita esset, cum procella
imbrem dedisse. Minucius autem periculo liberatus castra cum Fabio iunxit
et patrem eum appellavit idemque facere milites iussit.
Postea Hannibal Tarento per proditionem potitus est. Hanc urbem ut Poenis
traderent, tredecim fere nobiles iuvenes Tarentini coniuraverant. Hi, nocte
per speciem venandi urbe egressi, ad Hannibalem, qui haud procul castra
habebat, venerunt. Cui cum quid pararent exposuissent, conlaudavit eos
Hannibal monuitque ut redeuntes pecora Carthaginiensium, quae pastum
propulsa essent, ad urbem agerent et veluti praedam ex hoste factam aut
praefecto aut custodibus portarum donarent. Id iterum ac saepius ab iis
factum eoque consuetudinis adducta res est, ut, quocumque noctis tempore
sibilo dedissent signum, porta urbis aperiretur. Tunc Hannibal eos nocte
media cum decem milibus hominum delectorum secutus est. Ubi portae
appropinquarunt, nota iuvenum vox et familiare signum vigilem excitavit.
Duo primi inferebant aprum vasti corporis. Vigil incautus, dum beluae
magnitudinem miratur, venabulo occisus est. Ingressi proditores ceteros
vigiles sopitos obtruncant. Tum Hannibal cum suo agmine ingreditur:
Romani passim trucidantur. Livius Salinator, Romanorum praefectus, cum
iis, qui caedi superfuerunt, in arcem confugit.
Profectus igitur Fabius ad recipiendum Tarentum urbem obsidione cinxit.
Leve dictu momentum ad rem ingentem perficiendam eum adiuvit.
Praefectus praesidii Tarentini deperibat amore mulierculae, cuius frater in
exercitu Fabii erat. Miles iussus a Fabio pro perfuga Tarentum transiit ac
per sororem praefectum ad tradendam urbem perpulit. Fabius vigilia prima
accessit ad eam partem muri, quam praefectus custodiebat. Adiuvantibus
recipientibusque eius militibus, Romani in urbem transcenderunt. Inde,

proxima porta refracta, Fabius cum exercitu intravit. Hannibal nuntiata
Tarenti oppugnatione, cum ad opem ferendam festinans captam urbem esse
audivisset, “Et Romani” inquit “suum Hannibalem habent: eadem, qua
ceperamus, arte Tarentum amisimus.”
Cum postea Livius Salinator coram Fabio gloriaretur, quod arcem
Tarentinam retinuisset, dixissetque eum sua opera Tarentum recepisse,
“Certe” inquit Fabius ridens, “nam nisi tu amisisses, ego numquam
recepissem.”
Quintus Fabius iam senex filio suo consuli legatus fuit; cumque in eius
castra veniret, filius obviam patri progressus est, duodecim lictoribus pro
more antecedentibus. Equo vehebatur senex neque appropinquante consule
descendit. Iam ex lictoribus undecim verecundia paternae maiestatis taciti
praeterierant. Quod cum consul animadvertisset, proximum lictorem iussit
inclamare Fabio patri ut ex equo descenderet. Pater tum desiliens “Non ego,
fili,” inquit “tuum imperium contempsi, sed experiri volui num scires
consulem te esse.” Ad summam senectutem vixit Fabius Maximus, dignus
tanto cognomine. Cautior quam promptior habitus est, sed insita eius
ingenio prudentia ei bello, quod tum gerebatur, proprie apta erat. Nemini
dubium est quin rem Romanam cunctando restituerit. Ut Scipio pugnando,
ita hic non dimicando maxime civitati Romanae succurrisse visus est. Alter
enim celeritate sua Carthaginem oppressit, alter cunctatione id egit, ne
Roma opprimi posset.

XX. Aemilius Paulus et Terentius Varro As printed

Hannibal in Apuliam pervenerat. Adversus eum Roma profecti sunt duo
consules, Aemilius Paulus et Terentius Varro. Paulo Fabii cunctatio magis
placebat; Varro autem, ferox et temerarius, acriora sequebatur consilia.
Ambo consules ad vicum, qui Cannae appellabatur, castra communiverunt.
Ibi deinde Varro, invito conlega, aciem instruxit et signum pugnae dedit.
Hannibal autem ita constituerat aciem, ut Romanis et solis radii et ventus ab

oriente pulverem adflans adversi essent. Victus caesusque est Romanus
exercitus; nusquam graviore vulnere adflicta est res publica. Aemilius
Paulus telis obrutus cecidit: quem cum media in pugna sedentem in saxo
oppletum cruore conspexisset quidam tribunus militum, “Cape” inquit
“hunc equum et fuge, Aemili. Etiam sine tua morte lacrimarum satis
luctusque est.” Ad ea consul: “Tu quidem macte virtute esto! Sed cave
exiguum tempus e manibus hostium evadendi perdas! Abi, nuntia patribus
ut urbem muniant ac prius quam hostis victor adveniat, praesidiis firment.
Me in hac strage meorum militum patere exspirare.” Alter consul cum
paucis equitibus Venusiam perfugit. Consulares aut praetorii occiderunt
viginti, senatores capti aut occisi triginta, nobiles viri trecenti, militum
quadraginta milia, equitum tria milia et quingenti. Hannibal in testimonium
victoriae suae tres modios aureorum anulorum Carthaginem misit, quos de
manibus equitum Romanorum et senatorum detraxerat.
Hannibali victori cum ceteri gratularentur suaderentque ut quietem iam ipse
sumeret et fessis militibus daret, unus ex eius praefectis, Maharbal, minime
cessandum ratus, Hannibalem hortabatur ut statim Romam pergeret, die
quinto victor in Capitolio epulaturus. Cumque Hannibal illud non probasset,
Maharbal “Non omnia nimirum” inquit “eidem dii dedere. Vincere scis,
Hannibal; victoria uti nescis.” Mora huius diei satis creditur saluti fuisse
urbi et imperio. Hannibal cum victoria posset uti, frui maluit, relictaque
Roma in Campaniam divertit, cuius deliciis mox exercitus ardor elanguit,
adeo ut vere dictum sit Capuam Hannibali Cannas fuisse.
Numquam tantum pavoris Romae fuit, quantum ubi acceptae cladis nuntius
advenit. Neque tamen ulla pacis mentio facta est; quin etiam animo civitas
adeo magno fuit, ut Varroni ex tanta clade redeunti obviam irent et gratias
agerent, quod de re publica non desperasset: qui, si Poenorum dux fuisset,
temeritatis poenas omni supplicio dedisset. Non autem vitae cupiditate, sed
rei publicae amore se superfuisse reliquo aetatis suae tempore approbavit.
Nam et barbam capillumque submisit, et postea numquam recubans cibum
cepit; honoribus quoque, cum ei deferrentur a populo, renuntiavit. dicens
felicioribus magistratibus rei publicae opus esse. Dum igitur Hannibal

segniter et otiose agebat. Romani interim respirare coeperunt. Arma non
erant: detracta sunt templis vetera hostium spolia. Deerat iuventus: servi
manumissi et armati sunt. Egebat aerarium: opes suas libens senatus in
medium protulit, nec praeter quod in bullis singulisque anulis erat
quidquam sibi auri reliquerunt. Patrum exemplum secuti sunt equites
imitataeque equites omnes tribus. Denique vix suffecere tabulae, vix
scribarum manus, cum omnes privatae opes in publicum deferrentur.
Cum Hannibal redimendi sui copiam captivis Romanis fecisset, decem ex
ipsis Romam ea de re missi sunt; nec pignus aliud fidei ab iis postulatum
est, quam ut iurarent se, si non impetrassent, in castra esse redituros. Eos
senatus non redimendos censuit responditque eos cives non esse
necessarios, qui, cum armati essent, capi potuissent. Unus ex iis legatis e
castris Poenorum egressus, veluti aliquid oblitus, paulo post in castra erat
regressus, deinde comites ante noctem adsecutus erat. Is ergo, re non
impetrata, domum abiit; reditu enim in castra se liberatum esse iureiurando
interpretabatur. Quod ubi innotuit, iussit senatus illum comprehendi et
vinctum duci ad Hannibalem. Ea res Hannibalis audaciam maxime fregit,
quod senatus populusque Romanus rebus adflictis tam excelso esset animo.

XXI. Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus As printed

Publius Cornelius Scipio nondum annos pueritiae egressus patrem singulari
virtute servavit; qui cum pugna apud Ticinum contra Hannibalem commissa
graviter vulneratus in hostium manus iam iam venturus esset, filius
interiecto corpore Poenis inruentibus se opposuit et patrem periculo
liberavit. Quae pietas Scipioni postea aedilitatem petenti favorem populi
conciliavit. Cum obsisterent tribuni plebis, negantes rationem eius esse
habendam, quod nondum ad petendum legitima aetas esset, “Si me” inquit
Scipio “omnes Quirites aedilem facere volunt, satis annorum habeo.” Tanto
inde favore ad suffragia itum est, ut tribuni incepto desisterent.

Post cladem Cannensem Romani exercitus reliquiae Canusium perfugerant;
cumque ibi tribuni militum quattuor essent, tamen omnium consensu ad
Publium Scipionem, admodum adulescentem, summa imperii delata est.
Quibus consultantibus nuntiat Publius Furius Philus, consularis viri filius,
nobiles quosdam iuvenes propter desperationem consilium de Italia
deserenda inire. Statim in hospitium Metelli, qui conspirationis erat
princeps, se contulit Scipio, et cum concilium ibi iuvenum, de quibus
adlatum erat, invenisset, stricto super capita consultantium gladio, “Iurate”
inquit “vos neque ipsos rem publicam populi Romani deserturos, neque
alium civem Romanum deserere passuros: qui non iuraverit, in se hunc
gladium strictum esse sciat.” Haud secus pavidi, quam si victorem
Hannibalem cernerent, iurant omnes custodiendosque semet ipsos Scipioni
tradunt.
Cum Romani duas clades in Hispania accepissent duoque ibi summi
imperatores intra dies triginta cecidissent, placuit exercitum augeri eoque
proconsulem mitti; nec tamen quem mitterent satis constabat. Ea de re
indicta sunt comitia. Primo populus exspectabat ut, qui se tanto dignos
imperio crederent, nomina profiterentur; sed nemo audebat illud imperium
suscipere. Maesta igitur civitas ac prope inops consilii comitiorum die in
campum descendit. Subito P. Cornelius Scipio, quattuor et viginti ferme
annos natus, professus se petere, in superiore, unde conspici posset, loco
constitit. In quem postquam omnium ora conversa sunt, ad unum omnes
Scipionem in Hispania proconsulem esse iusserunt. At postquam animorum
impetus resedit, populum Romanum coepit facti paenitere: aetati Scipionis
maxime diffidebant. Quod ubi animadvertit Scipio, advocata contione ita
magno elatoque animo de bello, quod gerendum esset, disseruit, ut homines
cura liberaret speque certissima impleret.
Profectus igitur in Hispaniam Scipio Carthaginem Novam, quo die venit,
expugnavit. Eo congestae erant omnes paene Africae et Hispaniae opes, ibi
arma, ibi pecunia, ibi totius Hispaniae obsides erant: quibus omnibus
potitus est Scipio. Inter captivos ad eum adducta est eximiae formae adulta
virgo. Quam ubi comperit inlustri loco inter Celtiberos natam principique

eius gentis adulescenti desponsam esse, arcessitis parentibus et sponso eam
reddidit. Parentes virginis, qui ad eam redimendam satis magnum auri
pondus attulerant, Scipionem orabant ut id a se donum acciperet. Scipio
aurum ante pedes poni iussit vocatoque ad se virginis sponso, “Super
dotem” inquit “quam accepturus a socero es, haec tibi a me dotalia dona
accedent” aurumque tollere ac sibi habere iussit. Ille domum reversus ad
referendam Scipioni gratiam Celtiberos Romanis conciliavit.
Deinde Scipio Hasdrubalem victum ex Hispania expulit. Castris hostium
potitus omnem praedam militibus concessit, captivos Hispanos sine pretio
domum dimisit; Afros vero vendi iussit. Erat inter eos puer adultus regii
generis, forma insigni: quem cum percontaretur Scipio quis et cuias esset, et
cur id aetatis in castris fuisset, “Numida sum” inquit puer, “Massivam
populares vocant: orbus a patre relictus, apud avum maternum, Numidiae
regem, educatus sum. Cum avunculo Masinissa, qui nuper subsidio
Carthaginiensibus venit, in Hispaniam traieci; prohibitus propter aetatem a
Masinissa numquam ante proelium inii. Eo die, quo pugnatum est cum
Romanis, inscio avunculo, clam armis equoque sumpto, in aciem exii: ibi,
prolapso equo, captus sum a Romanis.” Scipio eum interrogat velletne ad
avunculum reverti. Cum, effusis gaudio lacrimis, id vero se cupere puer
diceret, tum Scipio puero anulum aureum equumque ornatum donat
datisque qui tuto deducerent equitibus dimisit.
Cum Publius Cornelius Scipio se erga Hispanos clementer gessisset,
circumfusa multitudo eum regem ingenti consensu appellavit; at Scipio,
silentio per praeconem facto, “Nomen imperatoris” inquit, “quo me mei
milites appellarunt, mihi maximum est: regium nomen, alibi magnum,
Romae intolerabile est. Si id amplissimum iudicatis, quod regale est, vobis
licet existimare regalem in me esse animum; sed oro vos ut a regis
appellatione abstineatis.” Sensere etiam barbari magnitudinem animi, qua
Scipio id aspernabatur, quod ceteri mortales admirantur et concupiscunt.
Scipio recepta Hispania cum iam bellum in ipsam Africam transferre
meditaretur, conciliandos prius regum et gentium animos existimavit.
Syphacem, Maurorum regem, opulentissimum totius Africae regem, quem

magno usui sibi fore speraret, primum tentare statuit. Itaque legatum cum
donis ad eum misit C. Laelium, quocum intima familiaritate vivebat.
Syphax amicitiam Romanorum se accipere adnuit, sed fidem nec dare nec
accipere, nisi cum ipso coram duce Romano, voluit. Scipio igitur in
Africam traiecit. Forte ita incidit, ut eo ipso tempore Hasdrubal pulsus
Hispania ad eundem portum appelleret, Syphacis amicitiam pariter
petiturus. Uterque a rege in hospitium invitatus. Cenatum simul apud regem
est; eodem etiam lecto Scipio atque Hasdrubal accubuerunt. Tanta autem
inerat comitas in Scipione, ut non Syphacem modo, sed etiam hostem
infestissimum Hasdrubalem sibi conciliaret. Scipio, foedere icto cum
Syphace, in Hispaniam ad exercitum rediit.
Masinissa quoque amicitiam cum Scipione iungere iam dudum cupiebat.
Quare ad eum tres Numidarum principes misit ad tempus locumque
conloquio statuendum. Duos pro obsidibus retineri a Scipione iubet;
remisso tertio, qui Masinissam ad locum constitutum adduceret, Scipio et
Masinissa cum paucis in conloquium venerunt. Ceperat iam ante Numidam
ex fama rerum gestarum admiratio viri, sed maior praesentis veneratio
cepit: erat enim in vultu maiestas summa; accedebat promissa caesaries
habitusque corporis, non cultus munditiis, sed virilis vere ac militaris, et
florens iuventa. Prope attonitus ipso congressu Numida gratias de filio
fratris remisso agit: adfirmat se ex eo tempore eam quaesivisse occasionem,
quam tandem oblatam non omiserit; cupere se illi et populo Romano
operam navare. Laetus eum Scipio audivit atque in societatem recepit.
Scipio deinde Romam rediit et ante annos consul factus est. Sicilia ei
provincia decreta est permissumque ut in Africam inde traiceret. Qui cum
vellet ex fortissimis peditibus Romanis trecentorum equitum numerum
complere, nec posset illos subito armis et equis instruere, id prudenti
consilio perfecit. Namque ex omni Sicilia trecentos iuvenes nobilissimos et
ditissimos, qui equis militarent et secum in Africam traicerent, legit
diemque iis edixit, qua equis armisque instructi atque ornati adessent.
Gravis ea militia, procul domo, terra marique multos labores, magna
pericula adlatura videbatur; neque ipsos modo, sed parentes cognatosque

eorum ea cura angebat. Ubi dies quae dicta erat advenit, arma equosque
ostenderunt, sed omnes fere longinquum et grave bellum horrere apparebat.
Tunc Scipio militiam iis se remissurum ait, si arma et equos militibus
Romanis voluissent tradere. Laeti condicionem acceperunt iuvenes Siculi.
Ita Scipio sine publica impensa suos instruxit ornavitque equites.
Tunc Scipio ex Sicilia in Africam vento secundo profectus est tanto militum
ardore, ut non ad bellum duci viderentur, sed ad certa victoriae praemia.
Celeriter naves e conspectu Siciliae ablatae sunt conspectaque brevi Africae
litora. Scipio cum egrediens ad terram navi prolapsus esset et ob hoc
attonitos milites cerneret, id, quod trepidationem adferebat, in hortationem
convertens, “Africam oppressi” inquit, “milites!” Expositis copiis in
proximis tumulis castra metatus est. Ibi speculatores hostium in castris
deprehensos et ad se perductos nec supplicio adfecit nec de consiliis ac
viribus Poenorum percontatus est, sed circa omnes Romani exercitus
manipulos curavit deducendos; dein interrogatos num ea satis
considerassent, quae speculari erant iussi, prandio dato incolumes dimisit.
Scipioni in Africam advenienti Masinissa se coniunxit cum parva equitum
turma. Syphax vero a Romanis ad Poenos defecerat. Hasdrubal, Poenorum
dux, Syphaxque Scipioni se opposuerunt, qui utriusque castra una nocte
perrupit et incendit. Syphax ipse captus et vivus ad Scipionem pertractus
est. Syphacem in castra adduci cum esset nuntiatum, omnis velut ad
spectaculum triumphi multitudo effusa est; praecedebat ipse vinctus,
sequebatur grex nobilium Maurorum. Movebat omnes fortuna viri, cuius
amicitiam olim Scipio petierat. Regem aliosque captivos Romam misit
Scipio; Masinissam, qui egregie rem Romanam adiuverat, aurea corona
donavit.
Haec et aliae, quae sequebantur, clades Carthaginiensibus tantum terroris
intulerunt, ut Hannibalem ex Italia ad tuendam patriam revocarent.
Frendens gemensque ac vix lacrimis temperans is dicitur legatorum verba
audisse mandatisque paruisse. Respexit saepe Italiae litora, semet accusans,
quod non victorem exercitum statim ab Cannensi pugna Romam duxisset.
Zamam venerat Hannibal, quae urbs quinque dierum iter a Carthagine

abest, et nuntium ad Scipionem misit ut conloquendi secum potestatem
faceret. Scipio cum conloquium haud abnuisset, dies locusque constituitur.
Itaque congressi sunt duo clarissimi suae aetatis duces. Steterunt
aliquamdiu taciti mutuaque admiratione defixi. Cum vero de condicionibus
pacis inter eos non convenisset, ad suos se receperunt, renuntiantes armis
decernendum esse. Commisso deinde proelio Hannibal victus cum quattuor
equitibus fugit. Ceterum constat utrumque de altero confessum esse nec
melius instrui aciem nec acrius potuisse pugnari.
Carthaginienses metu perculsi ad petendam pacem oratores mittunt triginta
civitatis principes. Qui ubi in castra Romana venerunt, veniam civitati
petebant non culpam purgantes, sed initium culpae in Hannibalem
transferentes. Victis leges imposuit Scipio. Legati, cum nullas condiciones
recusarent, Romam profecti sunt, ut, quae a Scipione pacta essent, ea
patrum ac populi auctoritate confirmarentur. Ita pace terra marique parta,
Scipio exercitu in naves imposito Romam revertit. Ad quem advenientem
concursus ingens factus est; effusa non ex urbibus modo, sed etiam ex agris
multitudo viam obsidebat. Scipio inter gratulantium plausus triumpho
omnium clarissimo urbem est invectus primusque nomine victae a se gentis
est nobilitatus Africanusque appellatus.
Ex his rebus gestis virum eum esse virtutis divinae vulgo creditum est. Id
etiam dicere haud piget, quod scriptores de eo litteris mandaverunt,
Scipionem consuevisse, priusquam dilucesceret, in Capitolium ventitare ac
iubere aperiri cellam Iovis ibi solum diu demorari, quasi consultantem de re
publica cum Iove: aedituosque eius templi saepe esse miratos, quod eum id
temporis in Capitolium ingredientem canes, semper in alios saevientes, non
latrarent. Has vulgi de Scipione opiniones confirmare atque approbare
videbantur dicta factaque eius pleraque admiranda, ex quibus est unum
huiuscemodi. Adsidebat oppugnabatque oppidum in Hispania, situ
moenibusque ac defensoribus validum et munitum, re etiam cibaria
copiosum, neque ulla eius potiundi spes erat. Quodam die ius in castris
sedens dicebat Scipio atque ex eo loco id oppidum procul videbatur. Tum e
militibus, qui in iure apud eum stabant, interrogavit quispiam ex more in

quem diem locumque vades sisti iuberet. Et Scipio manum ad ipsam oppidi,
quod obsidebatur, arcem protendens, “Perendie” inquit “sese sistant illo in
loco,” atque ita factum. Die tertia, in quam vades sisti iusserat, oppidum
captum est. Eodem die in arce eius oppidi ius dixit.
Hannibal, a Scipione victus suisque invisus, ad Antiochum, Syriae regem,
confugit eumque hostem Romanis fecit. Missi sunt Roma legati ad
Antiochum, in quibus erat Scipio Africanus, qui cum Hannibale Ephesi
conlocutus ab eo quaesivit, quem fuisse maximum imperatorem crederet.
Respondit Hannibal Alexandrum, Macedonum regem, maximum sibi videri,
quod parva manu innumerabiles exercitus fudisset. Quaerenti deinde, quem
secundum poneret, “Pyrrhum” inquit, “quod primus castra metari docuit
nemoque illo elegantius loca cepit et praesidia deposuit.” Sciscitanti
denique quem tertium duceret, semet ipsum dixit. Tum ridens Scipio
“Quidnam tu diceres” inquit “si me vicisses?” “Tum me vero” respondit
Hannibal “et ante Alexandrum et ante Pyrrhum et ante omnes alios
imperatores posuissem.” Ita improviso adsentationis genere Scipionem e
grege imperatorum velut inaestimabilem secernebat.
Scipio ipse fertur quondam dixisse, cum eum quidam parum pugnacem
dicerent, “Imperatorem me mater, non bellatorem peperit.” Idem dicere
solitus est non solum dandam esse viam fugientibus, sed etiam muniendam.
Decreto adversus Antiochum bello cum Syria provincia obvenisset Lucio
Scipioni, quia parum in eo putabatur esse animi, parum roboris, senatus
gerendi huius belli curam mandari volebat conlegae eius C. Laelio. Surgens
tunc Scipio Africanus, frater maior Lucii Scipionis, illam familiae
ignominiam deprecatus est: dixit in fratre suo summam esse virtutem,
summum consilium seque ei legatum fore promisit. Quod cum ab eo esset
dictum, nihil est de Lucii Scipionis provincia commutatum: itaque frater
natu maior minori legatus in Asiam profectus est et tam diu eum consilio
operaque adiuvit, donec triumphum ille et cognomen Asiatici peperisset.
Eodem bello filius Scipionis Africani captus est et ad Antiochum deductus.
Benigne et liberaliter adulescentem rex habuit, quamquam ab eius patre tum

maxime finibus imperii pellebatur. Cum deinde pacem Antiochus a
Romanis peteret, legatus eius Publium Scipionem adiit eique filium sine
pretio redditurum regem dixit, si per eum pacem impetrasset. Cui Scipio
respondit “Abi, nuntia regi, me pro tanto munere gratias agere; sed nunc
aliam gratiam non possum referre, quam ut ei suadeam ut bello absistat et
pacis condicionem nullam recuset.” Pax non convenit; tamen Antiochus
Scipioni filium remisit tantique viri maiestatem venerari quam dolorem
suum ulcisci maluit.
Victo Antiocho cum praedae ratio a L. Scipione reposceretur, Africanus
prolatum ab eo librum, quo acceptae et expensae summae continebantur et
refelli inimicorum accusatio poterat, discerpsit, indignatus de ea re dubitari,
quae sub ipso legato administrata esset. Quin etiam hunc in modum verba
fecit: “Non est quod quaeratis, patres conscripti, num parvam pecuniam in
aerarium rettulerim, qui antea illud Punico auro repleverim, neque mea
innocentia potest in dubium vocari. Cum Africam totam potestati vestrae
subiecerim, nihil ex ea praeter cognomen rettuli. Non igitur me Punicae,
non fratrem meum Asiaticae gazae avarum reddiderunt; sed uterque
nostrum invidia quam pecunia est locupletior.” Tam constantem
defensionem Scipionis universus senatus comprobavit.
Deinde Scipioni Africano duo tribuni plebis diem dixerunt, quod praeda ex
Antiocho capta aerarium fraudasset. Ubi causae dicendae dies venit, Scipio
magna hominum frequentia in Forum est deductus. Iussus causam dicere
rostra conscendit et, corona triumphali capiti suo imposita, “Hoc ego die”
inquit “Hannibalem Poenum, imperio nostro inimicissimum, magno proelio
vici in terra Africa pacemque nobis et victoriam peperi insperabilem. Ne
igitur simus adversus deos ingrati, sed censeo relinquamus nebulones hos
eamusque nunc protinus in Capitolium Iovi optimo maximo supplicatum.”
A rostris in Capitolium ascendit; simul se universa contio ab accusatoribus
avertit et secuta Scipionem est, nec quisquam praeter praeconem, qui reum
citabat, cum tribunis remansit. Celebratior is dies favore hominum fuit,
quam quo triumphans de Syphace rege et Carthaginiensibus urbem est

ingressus. Inde, ne amplius tribuniciis iniuriis vexaretur, in Literninum
concessit, ubi reliquam egit aetatem sine urbis desiderio.
Cum in Liternina villa se contineret, complures praedonum duces ad eum
videndum forte confluxerunt. Quos cum ad vim faciendam venire
existimasset, praesidium servorum in tecto conlocavit aliaque parabat, quae
ad eos repellendos opus erant. Quod ubi praedones animadverterunt,
abiectis armis ianuae appropinquant et clara voce nuntiant Scipioni se non
vitae eius hostes, sed virtutis admiratores venisse, conspectum tanti viri,
quasi caeleste aliquod beneficium, expetentes; proinde ne gravaretur se
spectandum praebere. Haec postquam audivit Scipio, fores reserari eosque
introduci iussit. Illi postes ianuae tamquam religiosissimam aram venerati,
cupide Scipionis dextram apprehenderunt ac diu deosculati sunt; deinde
positis ante vestibulum donis laeti, quod sibi Scipionem ut viderent
contigisset, domum reverterunt. Paulo post mortuus est Scipio moriensque
ab uxore petiit ne corpus suum Romam referretur.

XXII. Tiberius Gracchus et Gaius Gracchus As printed

Tiberius et Gaius Gracchi Scipionis Africani ex filia nepotes erant. Horum
adulescentia bonis artibus et magna omnium spe exacta est: ad egregiam
enim indolem optima accedebat educatio. Erant enim diligentia Corneliae
matris a pueris docti et Graecis litteris eruditi. Maximum matronis
ornamentum esse liberos bene institutos merito putabat mater illa
sapientissima. Cum Campana matrona, apud illam hospita, ornamenta sua,
illo saeculo pulcherrima, ostentaret ei muliebriter, Cornelia traxit eam
sermone quousque e schola redirent liberi. Quos reversos hospitae
ostendens, “Haec” inquit “mea ornamenta sunt.” Nihil quidem his
adulescentibus neque a natura neque a doctrina defuit; sed ambo rem
publicam, quam tueri poterant, perturbare maluerunt.
Tiberius Gracchus, tribunus plebis creatus, a senatu descivit: populi
favorem profusis largitionibus sibi conciliavit; agros plebi dividebat;

provincias novis coloniis replebat. Cum autem tribuniciam potestatem sibi
prorogari vellet et palam dictitasset, interempto senatu omnia per plebem
agi debere, viam sibi ad regnum parare videbatur. Quare cum convocati
patres deliberarent quidnam faciendum esset, statim Tiberius Capitolium
petit, manum ad caput referens, quo signo salutem suam populo
commendabat. Hoc nobilitas ita accepit, quasi diadema posceret,
segniterque cessante consule, Scipio Nasica, cum esset consobrinus Tiberii
Gracchi, patriam cognationi praeferens sublata dextra proclamavit: “Qui
rem publicam salvam esse volunt, me sequantur!” Dein optimates, senatus
atque equestris ordinis pars maior in Gracchum inruunt, qui fugiens
decurrensque Clivo Capitolino fragmento subsellii ictus vitam, quam
gloriosissime degere potuerat, immatura morte finivit. Mortui Tiberii corpus
in flumen proiectum est.
Gaium Gracchum idem furor, qui fratrem, Tiberium, occupavit. Tribunatum
enim adeptus, seu vindicandae fraternae necis, seu comparandae regiae
potentiae causa, pessima coepit inire consilia: maximas largitiones fecit;
aerarium effudit: legem de frumento plebi dividendo tulit: civitatem
omnibus Italicis dabat. His Gracchi consiliis quanta poterant contentione
obsistebant omnes boni, in quibus maxime Piso, vir consularis. Is cum
multa contra legem frumentariam dixisset, lege tamen lata ad frumentum
cum ceteris accipiendum venit. Gracchus ubi animadvertit in contione
Pisonem stantem, eum sic compellavit audiente populo Romano: “Qui tibi
constas, Piso, cum ea lege frumentum petas, quam dissuasisti?” Cui Piso
“Nolim quidem, Gracche” inquit, “mea bona tibi viritim dividere liceat; sed
si facies, partem petam.” Quo responso aperte declaravit vir gravis et
sapiens lege, quam tulerat Gracchus, patrimonium publicum dissipari.
Decretum a senatu est ut videret consul Opimius ne quid detrimenti res
publica caperet: quod nisi in maximo discrimine decerni non solebat. Gaius
Gracchus, armata familia, Aventinum occupavit. Consul, vocato ad arma
populo, Gaium aggressus est, qui pulsus profugit et, cum iam
comprehenderetur, iugulum servo praebuit, qui dominum et mox semet
ipsum super domini corpus interemit. Ut Tiberii Gracchi antea corpus, ita

Gaii mira crudelitate victorum in Tiberim deiectum est. Caput autem a
Septimuleio, amico Gracchi, ad Opimium relatum auro repensum fertur.
Sunt qui tradunt infuso plumbo eum partem capitis, quo gravius efficeretur,
explesse.
Occiso Tiberio Graccho cum senatus consulibus mandasset, ut in eos, qui
cum Graccho consenserant, animadverteretur, Blosius quidam, Tiberii
amicus, pro se deprecatum venit, hanc, ut sibi ignosceretur, causam
adferens, quod tanti Gracchum fecisset, ut, quidquid ille vellet, sibi
faciendum putaret. Tum consul “Quid?” inquit “si te Gracchus templo Iovis
in Capitolio faces subdere iussisset, obsecuturusne voluntati illius fuisses
propter istam, quam iactas, familiaritatem?” “Numquam” inquit Blosius
“voluisset id quidem, sed si voluisset, paruissem.” Nefaria est ea vox, nulla
enim est excusatio peccati, si amici causa peccaveris.
Exstat Gaii Gracchi e Sardinia Romam reversi oratio, in qua cum alia tum
haec de se narrat: “Versatus sum in provincia, quomodo ex usu vestro
existimabam esse, non quomodo ambitioni meae conducere arbitrabar.
Nemo possit vere dicere assem aut eo plus in muneribus me accepisse aut
mea causa quemquam sumptum fecisse. Zonas, quas Roma proficiscens
plenas argenti extuli, eas ex provincia inanes rettuli. Alii amphoras, quas
vini plenas extulerunt, eas argento repletas domum reportarunt.”

XXIII. Gaius Marius As printed

C. Marius, humili loco natus, militiae tirocinium in Hispania duce Scipione
posuit. Erat imprimis Scipioni carus ob singularem virtutem et impigram ad
pericula et labores alacritatem. Cum aliquando inter cenam Scipionem
quidam interrogasset, si quid illi accidisset, quemnam res publica aeque
magnum habitura esset imperatorem, Scipio, percusso leniter Marii umero,
“Fortasse hunc” inquit. Quo dicto excitatus Marius dignos rebus, quas
postea gessit, spiritus concepit.

Q. Metellum in Numidiam contra Iugurtham missum, cuius legatus erat,
cum ab eo Romam missus esset, apud populum Romanum criminatus est
bellum ducere: si se consulem fecissent, brevi tempore aut vivum aut
mortuum Iugurtham se in potestatem populi Romani redacturum. Itaque
creatus est consul et in Metelli locum suffectus. Bellum ab illo prospere
coeptum confecit. Iugurtha ad Gaetulos perfugerat eorumque regem
Bocchum adversus Romanos concitaverat. Marius Gaetulos et Bocchum
aggressus fudit; castellum in excelsa ripa positum, ubi regii thesauri erant,
non sine multo labore expugnavit. Bocchus, bello defessus, legatos ad
Marium misit, pacem orantes. Sulla quaestor, a Mario ad regem remissus,
Boccho persuasit ut Iugurtham Romanis traderet. Iugurtha igitur vinctus ad
Marium deductus est; quem Marius triumphans ante currum egit et in
carcerem caenosum inclusit. Quo cum Iugurtha detracta veste ingrederetur,
os ridentis in modum diduxisse et stupens similisque desipienti exclamasse
fertur: “Pro! quam frigidum est vestrum balneum!” Paucis diebus post in
carcere necatus est.
Marius post bellum Numidicum iterum consul creatus bellumque ei contra
Cimbros et Teutones decretum est. Hi novi hostes, ab extremis Germaniae
finibus profugi, novas sedes quaerebant, exclusique Gallia et Hispania cum
in Italiam remigrarent, a Romanis ut aliquid sibi terrae darent petierunt.
Repulsi, quod nequiverant precibus, armis petere constituunt. Tres duces
Romani impetus barbarorum non sustinuerunt. Omnes fugati, exuti castris.
Actum erat de imperio Romano, nisi Marius fuisset. Hic primo Teutones
sub ipsis Alpium radicibus adsecutus proelio oppressit. Vallem fluviumque
medium hostes tenebant: Romanis aquarum nulla copia. Aucta necessitate
virtus causa victoriae fuit. Nam flagitante aquam exercitu Marius “Viri”
inquit “estis, en illic aquam habetis.” Itaque tanto ardore pugnatum est
eaque caedes hostium fuit, ut Romani victores de cruento flumine non plus
aquae biberent quam sanguinis barbarorum. Caesa traduntur hostium
ducenta milia, capta nonaginta. Rex ipse Teutobochus in proximo saltu
comprehensus insigne spectaculum triumphi fuit: quippe vir proceritatis
eximiae super tropaea ipsa eminebat.

Deletis Teutonibus, C. Marius in Cimbros se convertit. Qui cum ex alia
parte Italiam ingressi Athesim flumen non ponte nec navibus, sed iniectis
arborum truncis, velut aggere, traiecissent, occurrit iis C. Marius. Cimbri
legatos ad consulem miserunt, agros urbesque sibi et fratribus postulantes,
Teutonum enim cladem ignorabant. Quaerente Mario quos illi fratres
dicerent, cum Teutones nominassent, ridens Marius “Omittite” inquit
“fratres; tenent hi acceptam a nobis terram aeternumque tenebunt.” Tum
legati se ludibrio haberi sentientes ultionem Mario minati sunt, simul atque
Teutones advenissent. “Atqui adsunt” inquit Marius “nec sane civile foret
vos fratribus vestris non salutatis discedere.” Tum vinctos adduci iussit
Teutonum duces, qui in proelio capti erant.
His rebus auditis, Cimbri egrediuntur castris et cum paucis suorum ad
vallum Romanum adequitans Boiorix, Cimbrorum dux, Marium ad pugnam
provocat et diem pugnae a Romanorum imperatore petit. Proximum dedit
consul. Marius cum aciem ita instituisset, ut pulvis in oculos et ora hostium
ferretur, incredibili strage prostrata est illa Cimbrorum multitudo: caesa
traduntur centum octoginta hominum milia. Nec minor cum uxoribus pugna
quam cum viris fuit, cum obiectis undique plaustris, desuper, quasi e
turribus, lanceis contisque pugnarent. Victae tamen cum missa ad Marium
legatione libertatem non impetrassent, suffocatis elisisque infantibus suis
aut mutuis conciderunt vulneribus aut vinculo e crinibus suis facto ab
arboribus pependerunt. Canes quoque defendere, Cimbris caesis, eorum
domos. Marius pro duobus triumphis, qui offerebantur, uno contentus fuit.
Primores civitatis, qui ei aliquamdiu ut novo homini ad tantos honores
evecto inviderant, conservatam ab eo rem publicam fatebantur. In ipsa acie
Marius duas Camertium cohortes, mira virtute vim Cimbrorum sustinentes
contra legem civitate donaverat. Quod quidem factum et vere et egregie
postea excusavit, dicens inter armorum strepitum verba se iuris civilis
exaudire non potuisse.
Illa tempestate primum Romae bellum civile commotum est. Causam bello
dedit C. Marius. Cum enim Sulla consul contra Mithridatem, regem Ponti,
missus fuisset, Sulpicius, tribunus plebis, legem ad populum tulit ut Sullae

imperium abrogaretur, C. Mario bellum decerneretur Mithridaticum. Qua re
Sulla commotus cum exercitu ad urbem venit, eam armis occupavit,
Sulpicium interfecit, Marium fugavit. Marius hostes persequentes fugiens
aliquamdiu in palude delituit. Sed paulo post repertus extractusque, ut erat
nudo corpore caenoque oblitus, iniecto in collum loro Minturnas raptus et in
custodiam coniectus est. Missus est ad eum occidendum servus publicus,
natione Cimber, quem Marius vultus auctoritate deterruit. Cum enim
hominem ad se stricto gladio venientem vidisset “Tune, homo,” inquit “C.
Marium audebis occidere?” Quo audito attonitus ille ac tremens abiecto
ferro fugit, Marium se non posse occidere clamitans. Marius deinde ab iis,
qui prius eum occidere voluerant, e carcere emissus est.
Accepta navicula in Africam traiecit et in agrum Carthaginiensem pervenit.
Ibi cum in locis solitariis sederet, venit ad eum lictor Sextilii praetoris, qui
tum Africam obtinebat. Ab hoc, quem numquam laesisset, Marius
humanitatis tamen aliquod officium exspectabat; at lictor decedere eum
provincia iussit, nisi in se animadverti vellet: torveque intuentem et vocem
nullam emittentem Marium rogavit tandem ecquid renuntiari praetori
vellet? Marius “Abi” inquit, “nuntia vidisse te Gaium Marium in
Carthaginis ruinis sedentem.” Duobus clarissimis exemplis de inconstantia
rerum humanarum eum admonebat, cum et urbis maximae excidium et viri
clarissimi casum ante oculos poneret.
Profecto ad bellum Mithridaticum Sulla, Marius revocatus a Cinna in
Italiam rediit, efferatus magis calamitate quam domitus. Cum exercitu
Romam ingressus eam caedibus et rapinis vastavit; omnes adversae
factionis nobiles variis suppliciorum generibus adfecit: quinque dies
continuos totidemque noctes illa scelerum omnium duravit licentia. Hoc
tempore admiranda sane populi Romani abstinentia fuit. Cum enim Marius
occisorum domos multitudini diripiendas obiecisset, inveniri potuit nemo,
qui civili luctu praedam peteret: quae quidem tam misericors continentia
plebis tacita quaedam crudelium victorum vituperatio fuit. Tandem Marius,
senio et laboribus confectus, in morbum incidit et ingenti omnium laetitia
vitam finivit. Cuius viri si examinentur cum virtutibus vitia, haud facile sit

dictu utrum bello melior, an pace perniciosior fuerit: namque quam rem
publicam armatus servavit, eam primo togatus omni genere fraudis,
postremo armis hostiliter evertit.
Erat Marius durior ad humanitatis studia et ingenuarum artium contemptor.
Cum aedem Honoris de manubiis hostium vovisset, spreta peregrinorum
marmorum nobilitate artificumque Graecorum arte, eam vulgari lapide per
artificem Romanum curavit aedificandam. Et Graecas litteras despiciebat,
quod doctoribus suis parum ad virtutem profuissent. At idem fortis, validus,
adversus dolorem confirmatus. Cum ei varices in crure secarentur, vetuit se
adligari. Acrem tamen fuisse doloris morsum ipse ostendit: nam medico,
alterum crus postulanti, noluit praebere, quod maiorem esse remedii quem
morbi dolorem iudicaret.

XXIV. Lucius Cornelius Sulla As printed
138-78 b.c.

Cornelius Sulla cum parvulus a nutrice ferretur, mulier obvia “Salve” inquit
“puer tibi et rei publicae tuae felix,” et statim quaesita quae haec dixisset,
non potuit inveniri.
Hic bello Iugurthino quaestor Marii fuit. Qui cum usque ad quaesturae
comitia vitam libidine, vino, ludicrae artis amore inquinatam perduxisset,
C. Marius consul moleste tulisse traditur, quod sibi gravissimum bellum
gerenti tam delicatus quaestor sorte obvenisset. Eiusdem tamen, postquam
in Africam venit, virtus enituit. Bello Cimbrico, legatus consulis bonam
operam navavit. Consul ipse deinde factus, pulso in exsilium Mario,
adversus Mithridatem profectus est. Mithridates enim, Ponticus rex, vir
bello acerrimus, virtute eximius, odio in Romanos non inferior Hannibale,
occupata Asia necatisque in ea omnibus civibus Romanis, quos quidem
eadem die atque hora per omnes civitates interimi iusserat, Europae quoque
Italiaeque imminere videbatur. Ac primo Sulla illius praefectos duobus
proeliis in Graecia profligavit; dein transgressus in Asiam Mithridatem

ipsum fudit; et oppressisset, nisi ad bellum civile adversus Marium
festinans qualemcumque pacem componere maluisset. Mithridatem tamen
pecunia multavit; Asia aliisque provinciis, quas occupaverat, decedere
paternisque finibus contentum esse coegit.
Sulla propter motus urbanos cum victore exercitu Romam properavit; eos,
qui Mario favebant, omnes superavit. Nihil autem ea victoria fuit crudelius.
Sulla, urbem ingressus et dictator creatus, vel in eos, qui se sponte
dediderant, iussit animadverti. Quattuor milia deditorum inermium civium
in Circo interfici iussit. Quis autem illos potest computare, quos in urbe
passim, quisquis voluit, occidit, donec admoneret Fufidius quidam vivere
aliquos debere, ut essent, quibus imperaret. Novo et inaudito exemplo
tabulam proscriptionis proposuit, qua nomina eorum, qui occidendi essent,
continebantur; cumque omnium orta esset indignatio, postridie plura etiam
adiecit nomina. Ingens caesorum fuit multitudo. Nec solum in eos saevivit,
qui armis contra se dimicavissent, sed etiam quieti animi cives propter
pecuniae magnitudinem proscriptorum numero adiecit. Civis quidam
innoxius, cui fundus in agro Albano erat, cum legens proscriptorum nomina
se quoque videret ascriptum, “Vae” inquit “misero mihi! me fundus Albanus
persequitur.” Neque longe progressus a quodam, qui eum agnoverat,
confossus est.
Depulsis prostratisque inimicorum partibus Sulla Felicem se edicto
appellavit, cumque eius uxor geminos eodem tunc partu edidisset, puerum
Faustum puellamque Faustam nominari voluit. Sed paucis annis post
repente contra omnium exspectationem dictaturam deposuit. Dimissis
lictoribus diu in Foro cum amicis deambulavit. Stupebat populus eum
privatum videns, cuius modo tam formidolosa fuerat potestas; quodque non
minus mirandum fuit, privato ei non solum salus, sed etiam dignitas
constitit, qui cives innumeros occiderat. Unus adulescens fuit, qui auderet
queri et recedentem usque ad fores domus maledictis incessere. Atque ille,
cuius iram potentissimi viri maximaeque civitates nec effugere nec placare
potuerant, unius adulescentuli contumelias patienti animo tulit, id tantum in

limine iam dicens: “Hic adulescens efficiet ne quis posthac tale imperium
deponat.”
Sulla deinde in villam profectus rusticari et venando vitam agere coepit. Ibi
morbo correptus interiit, vir ingentis animi, cupidus voluptatum, sed gloriae
cupidior; litteris Graecis atque Latinis eruditus et virorum litteratorum adeo
amans, ut sedulitatem etiam mali cuiusdam poetae aliquo praemio dignam
duxerit: nam cum ille epigramma in eum fecisset eique subiecisset, Sulla
statim praemium ei dari iussit, sed ea lege, ne quid postea scriberet. Ante
victoriam laudandus, in iis vero, quae secuta sunt, numquam satis
vituperandus, urbem enim et Italiam civilis sanguinis fluminibus inundavit.
Non solum in vivos saeviit, sed ne mortuis quidem pepercit: nam Gai Marii,
cuius, etsi postea hostis, aliquando tamen quaestor fuerat, erutos cineres in
flumen proiecit. Qua crudelitate rerum praeclare gestarum gloriam corrupit.

XXV. Lucius Lucullus As printed

Lucius Lucullus ingenio, doctrina, virtute fuit insignis. In Asiam quaestor
profectus ibi per multos annos admirabili quadam laude provinciae praefuit,
deinde absens factus aedilis, continuo praetor, inde ad consulatum promotus
est, quem ita gessit, ut omnes diligentiam admirarentur, ingenium
agnoscerent. Post ad Mithridaticum bellum missus a senatu non modo
opinionem vicit omnium, sed etiam gloriam superiorum ducum. Idque eo
fuit mirabilius, quod ab eo laus imperatoria non admodum exspectabatur,
qui adulescentiam in forensi opera, quaesturae diuturnum tempus in Asiae
pace consumpserat; sed incredibilis quaedam ingenii magnitudo non
desideravit usus disciplinam. Itaque cum totum iter et navigationem
consumpsisset partim in percontando a peritis, partim in rebus gestis
legendis, in Asiam factus imperator venit, cum esset Roma profectus rei
militaris rudis.
Lucullus eo bello magnas ac memorabiles res gessit; Mithridatem saepe
multis locis fudit; Tigranem, regum maximum, in Armenia vicit,

ultimamque bello manum magis noluit imponere, quam non potuit; sed
alioqui per omnia laudabilis et bello paene invictus pecuniae cupidini
nimium deditus fuit; quam tamen ideo expetebat, ut per luxuriam
effunderet. Itaque postquam de Mithridate triumphavit, abiecta omnium
rerum cura coepit delicate ac molliter vivere otioque et luxu diffluere:
magnifice et immenso sumptu villas aedificavit atque ad eorum usum mare
ipsum vexavit. Nam in quibusdam locis moles mari iniecit; in aliis,
suffossis montibus, mare in terras induxit, unde eum haud infacete
Pompeius Xerxem togatum vocare adsueverat.
Habebat Lucullus villam prospectu et ambulatione pulcherrimam. Quo cum
venisset Pompeius, id unum reprehendit, quod ea habitatio esset quidem
aestate peramoena, sed hieme minus commoda videretur; cui Lucullus
“Putasne” inquit “me minus sapere quam hirundines, quae adveniente
hieme sedem commutant?” Villarum magnificentiae respondebat epularum
sumptus. Cum aliquando modica ei, utpote soli, cena esset posita, coquum
graviter obiurgavit, eique excusanti ac dicenti se non debuisse lautum
parare convivium, quod nemo esset ad cenam invitatus, “Quid ais?” inquit
iratus Lucullus. “Nesciebasne Lucullum hodie cenaturum esse apud
Lucullum?”
Laudanda est Luculli impensa et studium in libris. Nam et multos et
optimos conquisivit eosque liberaliter dedit utendos. Patebat omnibus
bibliotheca, et in porticus ei adiectas velut ad Musarum aedem veniebant
maxime Graeci tempusque ibi iucunde inter se traducebant ab aliis curis
liberi. Saepe cum iis versabatur Lucullus et inter magnam doctorum
virorum turbam ambulabat.

XXVI. Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus As printed

Gnaeus Pompeius, stirpis senatoriae, bello civili se et patrem consilio
servavit. Cum enim Pompei pater exercitui suo ob avaritiam esset invisus,
facta in eum conspiratione, Terentius quidam, Gnaei Pompei filii

contubernalis, hunc occidendum suscepit, dum alii tabernaculum patris
incenderent. Quae res cum iuveni Pompeio cenanti nuntiata esset, nihil
periculo motus solito hilarius bibit et cum Terentio eadem, qua antea,
comitate usus est. Deinde cubiculum ingressus clam subduxit se tentorio et
firmam patri circumdedit custodiam. Terentius tum destricto ense ad lectum
Pompei accessit multisque ictibus stragula percussit. Orta mox seditione
Pompeius se in media coniecit agmina, militesque tumultuantes precibus et
lacrimis placavit ac duci reconciliavit.
Eodem bello Pompeius partes Sullae secutus ita se gessit ut ab eo maxime
diligeretur. Annos tres et viginti natus, ut Sullae auxilio veniret, paterni
exercitus reliquias conlegit, statimque dux peritus exstitit. Magnus illius
apud militem amor, magna apud omnes admiratio fuit; nullus ei labor
taedio, nulla defatigatio molestiae erat. Cibi vinique temperans, somni
parcus; inter milites corpus exercens cum alacribus saltu, cum velocibus
cursu, cum validis luctando certabat. Tum ad Sullam iter intendit et in eo
itinere tres hostium exercitus aut fudit aut sibi adiunxit. Quem ubi Sulla ad
se accedere audivit egregiamque sub signis iuventutem aspexit, desiliit ex
equo Pompeiumque salutavit imperatorem et postea ei venienti solebat sella
adsurgere et caput aperire et equo descendere, quem honorem nemini nisi
Pompeio tribuebat.
Postea Pompeius in Siciliam profectus est, ut eam a Carbone, Sullae
inimico, occupatam reciperet. Carbo comprehensus et ad Pompeium ductus
est: quem Pompeius, etsi Carbo muliebriter mortem extimescens demisse et
flebiliter mortem deprecabatur, ad supplicium duci iussit. Longe moderatior
fuit Pompeius erga Sthenium, Siciliae cuiusdam civitatis principem. Cum
enim in eam civitatem animadvertere decrevisset, quae sibi adversata
fuisset, inique eum facturum Sthenius exclamavit, si ob unius culpam
omnes puniret. Interroganti Pompeio quisnam ille unus esset, “Ego” inquit
Sthenius “qui cives meos ad id induxi.” Tam libera voce delectatus
Pompeius omnibus et Sthenio ipsi pepercit.
Transgressus inde in Africam Iarbam, Numidiae regem, qui Marii partibus
favebat, bello persecutus intra dies quadraginta oppressit et Africam subegit

adulescens quattuor et viginti annorum. Deinde cum litterae ei a Sulla
redditae essent, quibus exercitu dimisso cum una legione successorem
exspectare iubebatur, Pompeius, quamquam aegre id ferebat, tamen paruit
et Romam revertit. Revertenti incredibilis hominum multitudo obviam ivit;
Sulla quoque laetus eum excepit et Magni cognomine consalutavit. Nihilo
minus Pompeio triumphum petenti restitit: neque vero ea re a proposito
deterritus est Pompeius aususque dicere plures adorare solem orientem
quam occidentem: quo dicto innuebat Sullae potentiam minui, suam
crescere. Ea voce audita Sulla, confidentia adulescentis perculsus,
“Triumphet! triumphet!” exclamavit.
Metello iam seni et bellum in Hispania segnius gerenti conlega datus
Pompeius adversus Sertorium vario eventu dimicavit. Maximum ibi in
proelio quodam periculum subiit: cum enim vir vasta corporis magnitudine
impetum in eum fecisset, Pompeius manum amputavit; sed multis in eum
concurrentibus vulnus in femore accepit et a suis fugientibus desertus in
hostium potestate erat. At praeter spem evasit: barbari enim equum eius
auro phalerisque eximiis instructum ceperant. Dum igitur praedam inter se
altercantes partiuntur, Pompeius eorum manus effugit. Altero proelio cum
Metellus Pompeio laboranti auxilio venisset, Sertorius recedere coactus
dixisse fertur: “Nisi anus illa supervenisset, ego hunc puerum verberibus
castigatum Romam dimisissem.” Metellum anum appellabat, quia is, iam
senex, ad mollem et effeminatam vitam deflexerat. Sertorio interfecto
Pompeius Hispaniam recepit.
Cum piratae illa tempestate maria omnia infestarent et quasdam etiam
Italiae urbes diripuissent, ad eos opprimendos cum imperio extraordinario
missus est Pompeius. Nimiae viri potentiae obsistebant quidam ex
optimatibus et imprimis Quintus Catulus. Qui cum in contione dixisset esse
quidem praeclarum virum Cn. Pompeium, sed non esse uni omnia
tribuenda, adiecissetque: “Si quid huic acciderit, quem in eius locum
substituetis?” summo consensu succlamavit universa contio, “Te, Quinte
Catule.” Tam honorifico civium testimonio victus Catulus e contione
discessit. Pompeius, dispositis per omnes maris recessus navibus, brevi

terrarum orbem illa peste liberavit; praedones multis locis victos fudit;
eosdem in deditionem acceptos in urbibus et agris procul a mari conlocavit.
Nihil hac victoria celerius, nam intra quadragesimum diem piratas toto mari
expulit.
Confecto bello piratico, Gnaeus Pompeius contra Mithridatem profectus in
Asiam magna celeritate contendit. Proelium cum rege conserere cupiebat,
neque opportuna dabatur pugnandi facultas, quia Mithridates interdiu castris
se continebat, noctu vero haud tutum erat congredi cum hoste in locis
ignotis. Nocte tamen aliquando cum Pompeius Mithridatem aggressus esset,
luna magno fuit Romanis adiumento. Quam cum Romani a tergo haberent,
umbrae corporum longius proiectae ad primos usque hostium ordines
pertinebant, unde decepti regii milites in umbras, tamquam in propinquum
hostem, tela mittebant. Victus Mithridates in Pontum profugit. Pharnaces
filius bellum ei intulit, qui, occisis a patre fratribus, vitae suae ipse timebat.
Mithridates a filio obsessus venenum sumpsit; quod cum tardius subiret,
quia adversus venena multis antea medicamentis corpus firmaverat, a milite
Gallo, a quo ut adiuvaret se petierat, interfectus est.
Tigrani deinde, Armeniae regi, qui Mithridatis partes secutus erat, Pompeius
bellum intulit eumque ad deditionem compulit. Qui cum procubuisset ad
genua Pompei, eum erexit, et benignis verbis recreatum diadema, quod
abiecerat, capiti reponere iussit, aeque pulchrum esse iudicans et vincere
reges et facere. Inde in Iudaeam profectus Romanorum primus Iudaeos
domuit, Hierosolyma, caput gentis, cepit, templumque iure victoriae
ingressus est. Rebus Asiae compositis, in Italiam versus ad urbem venit,
non, ut plerique timuerant, armatus, sed dimisso exercitu, et tertium
triumphum biduo duxit. Insignis fuit multis novis inusitatisque ornamentis
hic triumphus; sed nihil inlustrius visum, quam quod tribus triumphis tres
orbis partes devictae causam praebuerant: Pompeius enim, quod antea
contigerat nemini, primum ex Africa, iterum ex Europa, tertio ex Asia
triumphavit, felix opinione hominum futurus, si, quem gloriae, eundem
vitae finem habuisset neque adversam fortunam esset expertus iam senex.

Posteriore enim tempore orta inter Pompeium et Caesarem gravi
dissensione, quod hic superiorem, ille parem ferre non posset, bellum civile
exarsit. Caesar infesto exercitu in Italiam venit. Pompeius, relicta urbe ac
deinde Italia ipsa, Thessaliam petit et cum eo consules senatusque omnis:
quem insecutus Caesar apud Pharsalum acie fudit. Victus Pompeius ad
Ptolemaeum, Aegypti regem, cui tutor a senatu datus erat, profugit, qui
Pompeium interfici iussit. Latus Pompei sub oculis uxoris et liberorum
mucrone confossum est, caput praecisum, truncus in Nilum coniectus.
Deinde caput cum anulo ad Caesarem delatum est, qui eo viso lacrimas non
continens illud multis pretiosissimisque odoribus cremandum curavit.
Is fuit Pompei post tres consulatus et totidem triumphos vitae exitus. Erant
in Pompeio multae et magnae virtutes ac praecipue admiranda frugalitas.
Cum ei aegrotanti praecepisset medicus ut turdum ederet, negarent autem
servi eam avem usquam aestivo tempore posse reperiri, nisi apud Lucullum,
qui turdos domi saginaret, vetuit Pompeius turdum inde peti, medicoque
dixit: “Ergo, nisi Lucullus perditus deliciis esset, non viveret Pompeius?”
Aliam avem, quae parabilis esset, sibi iussit apponi.
Viris doctis magnum honorem habebat Pompeius. Ex Syria decedens,
confecto bello Mithridatico, cum Rhodum venisset, Posidonium cupiit
audire; sed cum audivisset eum graviter esse aegrum, quod vehementer eius
artus laborarent, voluit tamen nobilissimum philosophum visere. Mos erat
ut, consule aedes aliquas ingressuro, lictor fores percuteret, admonens
consulem adesse, at Pompeius fores Posidonii percuti honoris causa vetuit.
Quem ut vidit et salutavit, moleste se dixit ferre, quod eum non posset
audire. At ille “Tu vero” inquit “potes, nec committam ut dolor corporis
efficiat ut frustra tantus vir ad me venerit.” Itaque cubans graviter et copiose
de hoc ipso disputavit: nihil esse bonum nisi quod honestum esset, nihil
malum dici posse, quod turpe non esset. Cum vero dolores acriter eum
pungerent, saepe “Nihil agis,” inquit “dolor! quamvis sis molestus,
numquam te esse malum confitebor.”

XXVII. Gaius Iulius Caesar As printed

C. Iulius Caesar, nobilissima Iuliorum genitus familia, annum agens sextum
et decimum patrem amisit. Corneliam, Cinnae filiam, duxit uxorem; cuius
pater cum esset Sullae inimicissimus, is Caesarem voluit compellere ut eam
repudiaret; neque id potuit efficere. Qua re Caesar bonis spoliatus cum
etiam ad necem quaereretur, mutata veste nocte urbe elapsus est et
quamquam tunc quartanae morbo laborabat, prope per singulas noctes
latebras commutare cogebatur; et comprehensus a Sullae liberto, ne ad
Sullam perduceretur, vix data pecunia evasit. Postremo per propinquos et
adfines suos veniam impetravit. Satis constat Sullam, cum deprecantibus
amicissimis et ornatissimis viris aliquamdiu denegasset atque illi
pertinaciter contenderent, expugnatum tandem proclamasse, vincerent,
dummodo scirent eum, quem incolumem tanto opere cuperent, aliquando
optimatium partibus, quas secum simul defendissent, exitio futurum; nam
Caesari multos Marios inesse.
Stipendia prima in Asia fecit. In expugnatione Mitylenarum corona civica
donatus est. Mortuo Sulla, Rhodum secedere statuit, ut per otium Apollonio
Moloni, tunc clarissimo dicendi magistro, operam daret. Huc dum traicit, a
praedonibus captus est mansitque apud eos prope quadraginta dies. Per
omne autem illud spatium ita se gessit, ut piratis pariter terrori
venerationique esset. Comites interim servosque ad expediendas pecunias,
quibus redimeretur, dimisit. Viginti talenta piratae postulaverant: ille
quinquaginta daturum se spopondit. Quibus numeratis cum expositus esset
in litore, confestim Miletum, quae urbs proxime aberat, properavit ibique
contracta classe invectus in eum locum, in quo ipsi praedones erant, partem
classis fugavit, partem mersit, aliquot naves cepit piratasque in potestatem
redactos eo supplicio, quod illis saepe minatus inter iocum erat, adfecit
crucique suffixit.
Quaestori ulterior Hispania obvenit. Quo profectus cum Alpes transiret et ad
conspectum pauperis cuiusdam vici comites per iocum inter se disputarent
num illic etiam esset ambitioni locus, serio dixit Caesar malle se ibi primum

esse, quam Romae secundum. Dominationis avidus a prima aetate regnum
concupiscebat semperque in ore habebat hos Euripidis, Graeci poetae,
versus:
Nam si violandum est ius, regnandi gratia
Violandum est. Aliis rebus pietatem colas.
Cumque Gades, quod est Hispaniae oppidum, venisset, animadversa apud
Herculis templum magni Alexandri imagine ingemuit et quasi pertaesus
ignaviam suam, quod nihildum a se memorabile actum esset in ea aetate,
qua iam Alexander orbem terrarum subegisset, missionem continuo
efflagitavit ad captandas quam primum maiorum rerum occasiones in urbe.
Aedilis praeter comitium ac Forum etiam Capitolium ornavit porticibus.
Venationes autem ludosque et cum conlega M. Bibulo et separatim edidit:
quo factum est ut communium quoque impensarum solus gratiam caperet.
His autem rebus patrimonium effudit tantumque conflavit aes alienum, ut
ipse diceret sibi opus esse millies sestertium, ut haberet nihil.
Consul deinde creatus cum M. Bibulo, societatem cum Gnaeo Pompeio et
Marco Crasso iunxit Caesar, ne quid ageretur in re publica, quod
displicuisset ulli ex tribus. Deinde legem tulit ut ager Campanus plebi
divideretur. Cui legi cum senatus repugnaret, rem ad populum detulit.
Bibulus conlega in Forum venit, ut legi obsisteret, sed tanta in eum
commota est seditio, ut in caput eius cophinus stercore plenus effunderetur
fascesque ei frangerentur atque adeo ipse armis Foro expelleretur. Qua re
cum Bibulus per reliquum anni tempus domo abditus Curia abstineret, unus
ex eo tempore Caesar omnia in re publica ad arbitrium administrabat, ut
nonnulli urbanorum, si quid testandi gratia signarent, per iocum non, ut mos
erat, ‘consulibus Caesare et Bibulo’ actum scriberent, sed ‘Iulio et Caesare,’
unum consulem nomine et cognomine pro duobus appellantes.
Functus consulatu Caesar Galliam provinciam accepit. Gessit autem novem
annis, quibus in imperio fuit, haec fere: Galliam in provinciae formam
redegit; Germanos, qui trans Rhenum incolunt, primus Romanorum ponte
fabricato aggressus maximis adfecit cladibus. Aggressus est Britannos,

ignotos antea, superatisque pecunias et obsides imperavit. Hic cum multa
Romanorum militum insignia narrantur, tum illud egregium ipsius Caesaris,
quod, nutante in fugam exercitu, rapto fugientis e manu scuto in primam
volitans aciem proelium restituit. Idem alio proelio legionis aquiliferum
ineundae fugae causa iam conversum faucibus comprehensum in
contrariam partem detraxit dextramque ad hostem tendens “Quorsum tu”
inquit “abis? Illic sunt, cum quibus dimicamus.” Qua adhortatione omnium
legionum trepidationem correxit vincique paratas vincere docuit.
Interfecto interea apud Parthos Crasso et defuncta Iulia, Caesaris filia, quae,
nupta Pompeio, generi socerique concordiam tenebat, statim aemulatio
erupit. Iam pridem Pompeio suspectae Caesaris opes et Caesari Pompeiana
dignitas gravis, nec hic ferebat parem, nec ille superiorem. Itaque cum
Caesar in Gallia detineretur, et, ne imperfecto bello discederet, postulasset
ut sibi liceret, quamvis absenti, alterum consulatum petere, a senatu,
suadentibus Pompeio eiusque amicis, negatum ei est. Hanc iniuriam
acceptam vindicaturus in Italiam rediit et bellandum ratus cum exercitu
Rubiconem flumen, qui provinciae eius finis erat, transiit. Hoc ad flumen
paulum constitisse fertur ac reputans quantum moliretur, conversus ad
proximos, “Etiamnunc” inquit “regredi possumus; quod si ponticulum
transierimus, omnia armis agenda erunt.” Postremo autem “Iacta alea esto!”
exclamans exercitum traici iussit plurimisque urbibus occupatis Brundisium
contendit, quo Pompeius consulesque confugerant.
Qui cum inde in Epirum traiecissent, Caesar, eos secutus a Brundisio,
Dyrrachium inter oppositas classes gravissima hieme transmisit; copiisque
quas subsequi iusserat diutius cessantibus, cum ad eas arcessendas frustra
misisset, mirae audaciae facinus edidit. Morae enim impatiens castris noctu
egreditur, clam naviculam conscendit, obvoluto capite, ne agnosceretur, et
quamquam mare saeva tempestate intumescebat, in altum tamen protinus
dirigi navigium iubet et, gubernatore trepidante, “Quid times?” inquit
“Caesarem vehis!” neque prius gubernatorem cedere adversae tempestati
passus est, quam paene obrutus esset fluctibus.

Deinde Caesar in Epirum profectus Pompeium Pharsalico proelio fudit, et
fugientem persecutus, ut occisum cognovit, Ptolemaeo regi, Pompeii
interfectori, a quo sibi quoque insidias tendi videret, bellum intulit; quo
victo in Pontum transiit Pharnacemque, Mithridatis filium, rebellantem et
multiplici successu praeferocem intra quintum ab adventu diem, quattuor,
quibus in conspectum venit, horis una profligavit acie, more fulminis, quod
uno eodemque momento venit, percussit, abscessit. Nec vana de se
praedicatio est Caesaris ante victum hostem esse quam visum. Pontico
postea triumpho trium verborum praetulit titulum: “Veni, vidi, vici.” Deinde
Scipionem et Iubam, Numidiae regem, reliquias Pompeianarum partium in
Africa refoventes, devicit.
Victorem Africani belli Gaium Caesarem gravius excepit Hispaniense, quod
Cn. Pompeius, Magni filius, adulescens fortissimus, ingens ac terribile
conflaverat, undique ad eum auxiliis paterni nominis magnitudinem
sequentium ex toto orbe confluentibus. Sua Caesarem in Hispaniam
comitata fortuna est: sed nullum umquam atrocius periculosiusque ab eo
initum proelium, adeo ut, plus quam dubio Marte, descenderet equo
consistensque ante recedentem suorum aciem increpans fortunam, quod se
in eum servasset exitum, denuntiaret militibus vestigio se non recessurum;
proinde viderent, quem et quo loco imperatorem deserturi essent.
Verecundia magis quam virtute acies restituta est. Cn. Pompeius victus et
interemptus est. Caesar, omnium victor, regressus in urbem omnibus, qui
contra se arma tulerant, ignovit et quinquies triumphavit.
Bellis civilibus confectis, conversus iam ad ordinandum rei publicae statum
fastos correxit annumque ad cursum solis accommodavit, ut trecentorum
sexaginta quinque dierum esset et, intercalario mense sublato, unus dies
quarto quoque anno intercalaretur. Ius laboriosissime ac severissime dixit.
Repetundarum convictos etiam ordine senatorio movit. Peregrinarum
mercium portoria instituit: legem praecipue sumptuariam exercuit. De
ornanda instruendaque urbe, item de tuendo ampliandoque imperio plura ac
maiora in dies destinabat: imprimis ius civile ad certum modum redigere
atque ex immensa legum copia optima quaeque et necessaria in paucissimos

conferre libros; bibliothecas Graecas et Latinas, quas maximas posset,
publicare; siccare Pomptinas paludes: viam munire a Mari Supero per
Apennini dorsum ad Tiberim usque: Dacos, qui se in Pontum effuderant,
coercere: mox Parthis bellum inferre per Armeniam.
Haec et alia agentem et meditantem mors praevenit. Dictator enim in
perpetuum creatus agere insolentius coepit: senatum ad se venientem sedens
excepit et quendam, ut adsurgeret monentem, irato vultu respexit. Cum
Antonius, Caesaris in omnibus bellis comes et tunc consulatus conlega,
capiti eius in sella aurea sedentis pro rostris diadema, insigne regium,
imposuisset, id ita ab eo est repulsum, ut non offensus videretur. Quare
coniuratum in eum est a sexaginta amplius viris, Cassio et Bruto ducibus
conspirationis, decretumque eum Idibus Martiis in senatu confodere.
Plurima indicia futuri periculi obtulerant dii immortales. Uxor Calpurnia,
territa nocturno visu, ut Idibus Martiis domi subsisteret orabat et Spurinna
haruspex praedixerat ut proximos dies triginta quasi fatales caveret, quorum
ultimus erat Idus Martiae. Hoc igitur die Caesar Spurinnae “Ecquid scis”
inquit “Idus Martias iam venisse?” et is “Ecquid scis illas nondum
praeterisse?” Atque cum Caesar eo die in senatum venisset, adsidentem
conspirati specie officii circumsteterunt ilicoque unus, quasi aliquid
rogaturus, propius accessit renuentique ab utroque umero togam
apprehendit. Deinde clamantem “Ista quidem vis est!” Casca, unus e
coniuratis, adversum vulnerat paulum infra iugulum. Caesar Cascae
bracchium adreptum graphio traiecit conatusque prosilire alio vulnere
tardatus est. Dein ut animadvertit undique se strictis pugionibus peti, toga
caput obvolvit et ita tribus et viginti plagis confossus est. Cum Marcum
Brutum, quem filii loco habebat in se inruentem vidisset, dixisse fertur: “Tu
quoque, mi fili!”
Illud inter omnes fere constitit talem ei mortem paene ex sententia
obtigisse. Nam et quondam cum apud Xenophontem legisset Cyrum ultima
valetudine mandasse quaedam de funere suo, aspernatus tam lentum mortis
genus subitam sibi celeremque optaverat, et pridie quam occideretur, in
sermone nato super cenam quisnam esset finis vitae commodissimus,

repentinum inopinatumque praetulerat. Percussorum autem neque triennio
quisquam amplius supervixit neque sua morte defunctus est. Damnati
omnes alius alio casu perierunt, pars naufragio, pars proelio; nonnulli semet
eodem illo pugione, quo Caesarem violaverant, interemerunt.
Quo rarior in regibus et principibus viris moderatio, hoc laudanda magis est.
C. Iulius Caesar victoria civili clementissime usus est; cum enim scrinia
deprehendisset epistularum ad Pompeium missarum ab iis, qui videbantur
aut in diversis aut in neutris fuisse partibus, legere noluit, sed combussit, ne
forte in multos gravius consulendi locum darent. Cicero hanc laudem
eximiam Caesari tribuit, quod nihil oblivisci soleret nisi iniurias. Simultates
omnes, occasione oblata, libens deposuit. Ultro ac prior scripsit C. Calvo
post famosa eius adversum se epigrammata. Valerium Catullum, cuius
versiculis famam suam laceratam non ignorabat, adhibuit cenae.
C. Memmii suffragator in petitione consulatus fuit, etsi asperrimas fuisse
eius in se orationes sciebat.
Fuisse traditur excelsa statura, ore paulo pleniore, nigris vegetisque oculis,
capite calvo; quam calvitii deformitatem, quod saepe obtrectatorum iocis
obnoxia erat, aegre ferebat. Ideo ex omnibus decretis sibi a senatu
populoque honoribus non alium aut recepit aut usurpavit libentius quam ius
laureae perpetuo gestandae. Vini parcissimum eum fuisse ne inimici quidem
negaverunt. Verbum Catonis est unum ex omnibus Caesarem ad evertendam
rem publicam sobrium accessisse. Armorum et equitandi peritissimus,
laboris ultra fidem patiens; in agmine nonnumquam equo, saepius pedibus
anteibat, capite detecto, seu sol, seu imber erat. Longissimas vias incredibili
celeritate conficiebat, ut persaepe nuntios de se praeveniret: neque eum
morabantur flumina, quae vel nando vel innixus inflatis utribus traiciebat.

XXVIII. Marcus Tullius Cicero As printed

Marcus Tullius Cicero, equestri genere, Arpini, quod est Volscorum
oppidum, natus est. Ex eius avis unus verrucam in extremo naso sitam

habuit, ciceris grano similem; inde cognomen Ciceronis genti inditum.
Suadentibus quibusdam ut id nomen mutaret, “Dabo operam” inquit “ut
istud cognomen nobilissimorum nominum splendorem vincat.” Cum a patre
Romam missus, ubi celeberrimorum magistrorum scholis interesset, eas
artes disceret, quibus aetas puerilis ad humanitatem solet informari, tanto
successu tantaque cum praeceptorum tum ceterorum discipulorum
admiratione id fecit, ut, cum fama de Ciceronis ingenio et doctrina ad alios
manasset, non pauci, qui eius videndi et audiendi gratia scholas adirent,
reperti esse dicantur.
Cum nulla re magis ad summos in re publica honores viam muniri posse
intellegeret quam arte dicendi et eloquentia, toto animo in eius studium
incubuit, in quo quidem ita versatus est, ut non solum eos, qui in Foro et
iudiciis causas perorarent, studiose sectaretur, sed privatim quoque
diligentissime se exerceret. Primum eloquentiam et libertatem adversus
Sullanos ostendit. Nam cum Roscium quendam, parricidii accusatum, ob
Chrysogoni, Sullae liberti, qui in eius adversariis erat, potentiam nemo
defendere auderet, tanta eloquentiae vi eum defendit Cicero, ut iam tum in
arte dicendi nullus ei par esse videretur. Ex quo invidiam veritus Athenas
studiorum gratia petiit, ubi Antiochum philosophum studiose audivit. Inde
eloquentiae causa Rhodum se contulit, ubi Molonem, Graecum rhetorem
tum disertissimum, magistrum habuit. Qui cum Ciceronem dicentem
audivisset, flevisse dicitur, quod per hunc Graecia eloquentiae laude
privaretur.
Romam reversus quaestor Siciliam habuit. Nullius vero quaestura aut
gratior aut clarior fuit; cum magna tum esset annonae difficultas, initio
molestus erat Siculis, quos cogeret frumenta in urbem mittere; postea vero,
diligentiam et iustitiam et comitatem eius experti, maiores quaestori suo
honores quam ulli umquam praetori detulerunt. E Sicilia reversus Romam
in causis dicendis ita floruit, ut inter omnes causarum patronos et esset et
haberetur princeps.
Consul deinde factus L. Sergii Catilinae coniurationem singulari virtute,
constantia, cura compressit. Catilinae proavum, M. Sergium, incredibili

fortitudine fuisse Plinius refert. Stipendia is fecit secundo bello Punico.
Secundo stipendio dextram manum perdidit: stipendiis duobus ter et vicies
vulneratus est: ob id neutra manu, neutro pede satis utilis, plurimisque
postea stipendiis debilis miles erat. Bis ab Hannibale captus, bis vinculorum
eius profugus, viginti mensibus nullo non die in catenis aut compedibus
custoditus. Sinistra manu sola quater pugnavit, duobus equis, insidente eo,
suffossis. Dextram sibi ferream fecit eaque religata proeliatus Cremonam
obsidione exemit, Placentiam tutatus est, duodena castra hostium in Gallia
cepit. Ceteri profecto, Plinius addit, victores hominum fuere, Sergius vicit
etiam fortunam.
Singularem huius viri gloriam foede dehonestavit pronepotis scelus. Hic
enim rei familiaris, quam profuderat, inopia multorumque scelerum
conscientia in furorem actus et dominandi cupiditate incensus
indignatusque, quod in petitione consulatus repulsam passus esset,
coniuratione facta senatum confodere, consules trucidare, urbem incendere,
diripere aerarium constituerat. Actum erat de pulcherrimo imperio, nisi illa
coniuratio in Ciceronem et Antonium consules incidisset, quorum alter
industria rem patefecit, alter manu oppressit. Cum Cicero, habito senatu, in
praesentem reum perorasset, Catilina, incendium suum ruina se
restincturum esse minitans, Roma profugit et ad exercitum, quem paraverat,
proficiscitur, signa inlaturus urbi. Sed socii eius, qui in urbe remanserant,
comprehensi in carcere necati sunt. A. Fulvius, vir senatorii ordinis, filium,
iuvenem et ingenio et forma inter aequales nitentem, pravo consilio
Catilinae amicitiam secutum inque castra eius ruentem, ex medio itinere
retractum supplicio mortis adfecit, praefatus non se Catilinae illum adversus
patriam, sed patriae adversus Catilinam genuisse.
Neque eo magis ab incepto Catilina destitit, sed infestis signis Romam
petens Antonii exercitu opprimitur. Quam atrociter dimicatum sit exitus
docuit: nemo hostium bello superfuit; quem quisque in pugnando ceperat
locum, eum amissa anima tegebat. Catilina longe a suis inter hostium
cadavera repertus est: pulcherrima morte, si pro patria sic concidisset!
Senatus populusque Romanus Ciceronem patrem patriae appellavit. Cicero

ipse in oratione pro Sulla palam praedicat consilium patriae servandae
fuisse iniectum sibi a diis, cum Catilina coniurasset adversus eam. “O dii
immortales,” inquit “vos profecto incendistis tum animum meum cupiditate
conservandae patriae. Vos avocastis me a cogitationibus omnibus ceteris et
convertistis ad salutem unam patriae. Vos denique praetulistis menti meae
clarissimum lumen in tenebris tantis erroris et inscientiae. Tribuam enim
vobis, quae sunt vestra. Nec vero possum tantum dare ingenio meo, ut
dispexerim sponte mea in tempestate illa turbulentissima rei publicae, quid
esset optimum factu.”
Paucis post annis Ciceroni diem dixit Clodius tribunus plebis, quod cives
Romanos indicta causa necavisset. Senatus maestus, tamquam in publico
luctu, veste mutata pro eo deprecabatur. Cicero, cum posset armis salutem
suam defendere, maluit urbe cedere quam sua causa caedem fieri.
Proficiscentem omnes boni flentes prosecuti sunt. Dein Clodius edictum
proposuit ut Marco Tullio igni et aqua interdiceretur: illius domum et villas
incendit. Sed vis illa non diuturna fuit, mox enim totus fere populus
Romanus ingenti desiderio Ciceronis reditum flagitare coepit et maximo
omnium ordinum studio Cicero in patriam revocatus est. Nihil per totam
vitam Ciceroni itinere, quo in patriam rediit, accidit iucundius. Obviam ei
redeunti ab universis itum est: domus eius publica pecunia restituta est.
Gravissimae illa tempestate inter Caesarem et Pompeium ortae sunt
inimicitiae, ut res nisi bello dirimi non posse videretur. Cicero quidem
summo studio enitebatur ut eos inter se reconciliaret et a belli civilis
calamitatibus deterreret, sed cum neutrum ad pacem ineundam permovere
posset, Pompeium secutus est. Sed victo Pompeio, a Caesare victore veniam
ultro accepit. Quo interfecto Octavianum, Caesaris heredem, fovit,
Antonium impugnavit effecitque ut a senatu hostis iudicaretur.
Sed Antonius, inita cum Octaviano societate, Ciceronem iam diu sibi
inimicum proscripsit. Qua re audita, Cicero transversis itineribus in villam,
quae a mari proxime aberat, fugit indeque navem conscendit, in
Macedoniam transiturus. Unde aliquotiens in altum provectum cum modo
venti adversi rettulissent, modo ipse iactationem maris pati non posset,

taedium tandem eum et fugae et vitae cepit regressusque ad villam “Moriar”
inquit “in patria saepe servata.” Satis constat, adventantibus percussoribus,
servos fortiter fideliterque paratos fuisse ad dimicandum, ipsum deponi
lecticam et quietos pati, quod sors iniqua cogeret, iussisse. Prominenti ex
lectica et immotam cervicem praebenti caput praecisum est. Manus quoque
abscissae; caput relatum est ad Antonium eiusque iussu cum dextra manu in
rostris positum.
Quamdiu res publica Romana per eos gerebatur, quibus se ipsa commiserat,
in eam curas cogitationesque fere omnes suas conferebat Cicero et plus
operae ponebat in agendo quam in scribendo. Cum autem dominatu unius
C. Iulii Caesaris omnia tenerentur, non se angoribus dedidit nec indignis
homine docto voluptatibus. Fugiens conspectum Fori urbisque rura
peragrabat abdebatque se, quantum licebat, et solus erat. Nihil agere autem
cum animus non posset, existimavit honestissime molestias posse deponi, si
se ad philosophiam rettulisset, cui adulescens multum temporis tribuerat, et
omne studium curamque convertit ad scribendum: atque ut civibus etiam
otiosus aliquid prodesse posset, elaboravit ut doctiores fierent et
sapientiores, pluraque brevi tempore, eversa re publica, scripsit, quam
multis annis ea stante scripserat. Sic facundiae et Latinarum litterarum
parens evasit paruitque virorum sapientium praecepto, qui docent non
solum ex malis eligere minima oportere, sed etiam excerpere ex his ipsis, si
quid insit boni.
Multa exstant facete ab eo dicta. Cum Lentulum, generum suum, exiguae
staturae hominem, vidisset longo gladio accinctum, “Quis” inquit “generum
meum ad gladium adligavit?”—Matrona quaedam iuniorem se, quam erat,
simulans dictitabat se triginta tantum annos habere; cui Cicero “Verum est,”
inquit “nam hoc viginti annos audio.”—Caesar, altero consule mortuo die
Decembris ultima, Caninium consulem hora septima in reliquam diei
partem renuntiaverat; quem cum plerique irent salutatum de more,
“Festinemus” inquit Cicero “priusquam abeat magistratu.” De eodem
Caninio scripsit Cicero: “Fuit mirifica vigilantia Caninius, qui toto suo
consulatu somnum non viderit.”

XXIX. Marcus Brutus As printed

M. Brutus, ex illa gente, quae Roma Tarquinios eiecerat, oriundus, Athenis
philosophiam, Rhodi eloquentiam didicit. Eius pater, qui Sullae partibus
adversabatur, iussu Pompei interfectus erat, unde Brutus cum eo graves
gesserat simultates. Bello tamen civili Pompei causam, quod iustior
videretur, secutus dolorem suum rei publicae utilitati posthabuit. Victo
Pompeio Brutus a Caesare servatus est et praetor etiam factus. Postea vero,
cum Caesar superbia elatus senatum contemnere et regnum adfectare
coepisset, populus, praesenti statu haud laetus, vindicem libertatis
requirebat. Subscripsere quidam L. Bruti statuae: “Utinam viveres!” Item
ipsius Caesaris statuae: “Brutus, quia reges eiecit, primus consul factus est;
hic, quia consules eiecit, postremo rex factus est.” Inscriptum quoque est
M. Bruti praetoris tribunali: “Dormis, Brute!”
Cognita populi Romani voluntate, Brutus adversus Caesarem conspiravit.
Pridie quam Caesar est occisus, Porcia, Bruti uxor, Catonis filia, consilii
conscia, egresso cubiculum Bruto, cultellum tonsorium quasi unguium
resecandorum causa poposcit eoque velut forte elapso se vulneravit.
Clamore deinde ancillarum in cubiculum revocatus obiurgare eam coepit,
quod tonsoris praeripuisset officium. Cui secreto Porcia “Non est” inquit
“hoc temerarium factum meum, sed in tali statu nostro mei erga te amoris
certissimum indicium. Experiri enim volui, si tibi propositum ex sententia
parum cessisset, quam aequo animo me ferro essem interemptura.” Quibus
verbis auditis Brutus ad caelum manus et oculos sustulisse dicitur et
exclamavisse: “Utinam dignus tali coniuge maritus videri possem!”
Interfecto Caesare, cum Antonius vestem eius sanguinolentam ostentans
populum veluti furore quodam adversus coniuratos inflammasset, Brutus in
Macedoniam concessit ibique apud urbem Philippos adversus Antonium et
Octavianum dimicavit. Victus acie, cum in tumulum se nocte recepisset,
audita Cassii morte, ne in hostium manus veniret, uni ex comitibus latus
transfodiendum praebuit. Antonius Bruti corpus liberto suo sepeliendum
tradidit, quoque honoratius cremaretur, inici ei suum paludamentum iussit,

iacentem non hostem, sed civem deposito existimans odio. Cumque
interceptum a liberto paludamentum comperisset, ira percitus protinus in
eum animadvertit, praefatus: “Quid? tu ignorasti cuius tibi viri sepulturam
commisissem?” Non eadem fuit Octaviani erga Brutum moderatio, is enim
avulsum Bruti caput Romam misit, ut Gai Caesaris statuae subiceretur.
Porcia cum victum et interemptum virum suum cognovisset, quia ferrum
non dabatur, ardentes ore carbones hausit, virilem patris exitum mulier
imitata novo mortis genere.

XXX. Octavianus Caesar Augustus As printed

Octavianus, Iuliae, Gai Caesaris sororis, nepos, quartum annum agens
patrem amisit. Ab avunculo adoptatus profectum eum in Hispanias adversus
Gnaei Pompei liberos secutus est. Deinde ab eo Apolloniam missus studiis
vacavit. Utque primum occisum Caesarem heredemque se comperit, in
urbem regressus hereditatem adiit, nomen Caesaris sumpsit conlectoque
veteranorum exercitu opem Decimo Bruto tulit, qui ab Antonio Mutinae
obsidebatur. Cum autem urbis aditu prohiberetur, ut Brutum de omnibus
rebus certiorem faceret, primo litteras misit plumbeis laminis inscriptas,
quas ad bracchium religatas urinatores Scultennam amnem transnantes ad
Brutum deferebant. Quin et avibus internuntiis utebatur. Columbis enim,
quas inclusas ante fame adfecerat, epistulas ad collum religabat easque a
proximo moenibus loco emittebat. Illae, lucis cibique avidae, altissima
aedificiorum petentes excipiebantur a Decimo Bruto, qui eo modo de
omnibus rebus certior fiebat, utique postquam disposito quibusdam locis
cibo columbas illuc devolare instituerat.
Bellum Mutinense Octavianus duobus proeliis confecit, quorum in altero
non ducis modo, sed militis etiam functus est officio atque in media
dimicatione, aquilifero legionis suae graviter saucio, aquilam umeris
subisse diuque fertur portasse. Postea reconciliata cum Antonio
gratiaiunctisque cum eo copiis, ut Gai Caesaris necem ulcisceretur, ad

urbem hostiliter accessit misitque qui nomine exercitus sibi consulatum
deposcerent. Cunctante senatu centurio, princeps legationis, reiecto sagulo,
ostendens gladii capulum non dubitavit in Curia dicere: “Hic faciet, si vos
non feceritis.”
Ita cum Octavianus vicesimo aetatis anno consulatum invasisset, pacem
fecit cum Antonio et Lepido, ita ut triumviri rei publicae constituendae per
quinquennium essent ipse et Lepidus et Antonius, et ut suos quisque
inimicos proscriberent. Quae proscriptio Sullana longe crudelior fuit.
Exstant autem ex ea multa vel extremae impietatis vel mirae fidei ac
constantiae exempla. T. Toranius, triumvirorum partes secutus, proscripti
patris sui, praetorii et ornati viri, latebras, aetatem notasque corporis, quibus
agnosci posset, centurionibus edidit, qui eum persecuti sunt. Alius quidam
cum proscriptum se cognovisset, ad clientem suum confugit; sed filius eius
per ipsa vestigia patris militibus ductis occidendum eum in conspectu suo
obiecit.
Cum C. Plotius Plancus a triumviris proscriptus in regione Salernitana
lateret, servi eius, comprehensi multumque ac diu torti, negabant se scire
ubi dominus esset. Non sustinuit deinde Plancus tam fideles tamque boni
exempli servos ulterius cruciari; sed processit in medium iugulumque
gladiis militum obiecit. Senatoris cuiusdam servus cum ad dominum
proscriptum occidendum milites advenisse cognosset, commutata cum eo
veste, permutato etiam anulo, illum postico clam emisit, se autem in
cubiculum ad lectulum recepit et ut dominum occidi passus est. “Quanti viri
est” addit Seneca, “cum praemia proditionis ingentia ostendantur, praemium
fidei mortem concupiscere!”
Octavianus deinde M. Brutum, interfectorem Caesaris, bello persecutus id
bellum, quamquam invalidus atque aeger, duplici proelio transegit; quorum
priore castris exutus vix fuga evasit. Victor acerbissime se gessit: in
nobilissimum quemque captivum non sine verborum contumelia saeviit.
Uni suppliciter sepulturam precanti respondisse dicitur iam istam in
volucrum fore potestate. Alios, patrem et filium, pro vita rogantes sortiri
fertur iussisse ut alterutri concederetur, ac cum, patre quia se obtulerat

occiso, filius quoque voluntaria occubuisset nece, spectasse utrumque
morientem. Orare veniam vel excusare se conantibus, una voce occurrebat
moriendum esse. Scribunt quidam trecentos ex dediticiis electos ad aram
divo Iulio exstructam Idibus Martiis hostiarum more mactatos.
Abalienatus postea est ab Antonio, quod is, repudiata Octavia sorore,
Cleopatram, Aegypti reginam, duxisset uxorem: quae quidem mulier cum
Antonio luxu et deliciis certabat. Una se cena centies sestertium
absumpturam aliquando dixerat. Cupiebat discere Antonius, sed fieri posse
non arbitrabatur. Postero igitur die magnificam alias cenam, sed cottidianam
Antonio apposuit inridenti, quod promisso stare non potuisset. At illa inferri
mensam secundam iussit. Ex praecepto ministri unum tantum vas ante eam
posuere aceti, cuius asperitas visque margaritas resolvit. Exspectante igitur
Antonio quidnam esset actura, margaritam, quam auribus gerebat, detraxit
et aceto liquefactam absorbuit. Victum Antonium omnes, qui aderant,
pronuntiaverunt.
Octavianus cum Antonio apud Actium, qui locus est in Epiro, navali proelio
dimicavit. Victum et fugientem persecutus Aegyptum petiit, et
Alexandream, quo Antonius cum Cleopatra confugerat, obsedit. Antonius in
ultima rerum desperatione, cum habitu regis in solio regali sedisset, mortem
sibi ipse conscivit. Cleopatra, quam Octavianus, Alexandrea in potestatem
redacta, magno opere cupiebat vivam comprehendi triumphoque servari,
aspidem sibi adferendam curavit eiusque morsu periit. Cleopatrae mortuae
communem cum Antonio sepulturam tribuit.
Tandem Octavianus, hostibus victis solus imperio potitus, clementem se
exhibuit. Omnia deinceps in eo plena mansuetudinis et humanitatis. Multis
ignovit vel iis qui saepe graviter eum offenderant. Reversus in Italiam
triumphans Romam ingressus est. Tum bellis toto orbe compositis Iani
gemini portas sua manu clausit, quae bis tantum antea clausae fuerant,
primum sub Numa rege, iterum post primum Punicum bellum. Tunc omnes
praeteritorum malorum oblivio cepit populusque Romanus praesentis otii
laetitia perfruebatur. Octaviano maximi honores a senatu delati sunt. Ipse
Augustus cognominatus et in honorem eius mensis Sextilis eodem nomine

appellatus est, quod illo mense bellis civilibus finis esset impositus. Patris
patriae cognomen universi maximo consensu detulerunt ei. Deferentibus
lacrimans respondit Augustus his verbis: “Compos factus votorum meorum,
patres conscripti, quid habeo aliud, quod deos immortales precer, quam ut
hunc consensum vestrum ad ultimum vitae finem mihi perferre liceat!”
Dictaturam magna vi offerente populo deprecatus est. Domini
appellationem semper exhorruit eamque sibi tribui edicto vetuit. Immo de
restituenda re publica non semel cogitavit, sed reputans et se privatum non
sine periculo fore, et rem publicam plurium arbitrio commissum iri,
summam retinuit potestatem, id vero studuit ne quem novi status paeniteret.
Bene de iis etiam, quos adversarios expertus erat, et sentiebat et loquebatur.
Legentem aliquando unum e nepotibus invenit; cumque puer territus
volumen Ciceronis, quod manu tenebat, veste tegeret, Augustus librum
cepit eoque statim reddito, “Hic vir,” inquit “fili mi, doctus fuit et patriae
amans.”
Pedibus saepe per urbem incedebat summaque comitate adeuntes
excipiebat. Convenit aliquando eum veteranus miles, qui vocatus in ius
periclitabatur rogavitque ut sibi adesset. Statim Augustus unum e comitatu
suo elegit advocatum, qui litigatorem commendaret. Tum veteranus
exclamavit: “At non ego, te periclitante bello Actiaco, vicarium quaesivi,
sed ipse pro te pugnavi,” simulque detexit cicatrices. Erubuit Augustus
atque ipse venit in advocationem.
Cum post Actiacam victoriam Octavianus Romam reverteretur, occurrit ei
inter gratulantes opifex quidam corvum tenens, quem instituerat haec
dicere: “Ave, Caesar, victor, imperator!” Miratus Caesar officiosam avem
viginti milibus nummorum emit. Socius opificis, ad quem nihil ex illa
liberalitate pervenerat, adfirmavit Caesari habere illum et alium corvum,
quem ut adferre cogeretur rogavit. Adlatus verba, quae didicerat, expressit:
“Ave, Antoni, victor, imperator!” Nihil exasperatus Caesar satis duxit iubere
illum dividere donativum cum contubernali. Salutatus similiter a psittaco
emi eum iussit.

Exemplum sutorem pauperem sollicitavit ut corvum institueret ad parem
salutationem. Qui impendio exhaustus saepe ad avem non respondentem
dicere solebat “Opera et impensa periit!” Aliquando tamen corvus coepit
dicere dictam salutationem. Hac audita, dum transit, Augustus respondit:
“Satis domi talium salutatorum habeo.” Superfuit corvo memoria, ut et illa,
quibus dominum querentem solebat audire, subtexeret: “Opera et impensa
periit.” Ad quod Caesar risit emique avem iussit, quanti nullam ante emerat.
Solebat Graeculus quidam descendenti e palatio Caesari honorificum
aliquod epigramma porrigere. Id cum frustra saepe fecisset et tamen rursus
eum idem facturum duxisset Augustus, breve sua manu in charta exaravit
Graecum epigramma et Graeculo advenienti obviam misit. Ille inter
legendum laudare mirarique tam voce quam vultu gestuque. Deinde cum
accessisset ad sellam, qua Caesar vehebatur, demissa in pauperem
crumenam manu paucos denarios protulit, quos principi daret, dixitque se
plus daturum fuisse, si plus habuisset. Secuto omnium risu, dispensatorem
Caesar vocavit et satis grandem pecuniae summam numerari Graeculo
iussit.
Augustus fere nulli se invitanti negabat. Exceptus igitur a quodam cena
satis parca et paene cottidiana, hoc tantum insusurravit: “Non putabam me
tibi esse tam familiarem.” Cum aliquando apud Pollionem quendam cenaret
fregissetque unus e servis vas crystallinum, rapi eum ad mortem Pollio
iussit et obici muraenis quas ingens piscina continebat. Evasit e manibus
puer et ad pedes Caesaris confugit, nihil aliud petiturus quam ut aliter
periret nec esca piscium fieret. Motus est novo crudelitatis genere Caesar et
illum quidem mitti, crystallina autem omnia coram se frangi iussit
complerique piscinam.
Augustus in quadam villa aegrotans noctes inquietas agebat, rumpente
somnum eius crebro noctuae cantu. Qua molestia cum liberari se
vehementer cupere significasset, miles quidam, aucupii peritus, noctuam
prehendendam curavit, vivamque Augusto attulit, spe ingentis praemii. Cui
cum Augustus mille nummos dari iussisset, ille minus dignum praemium
existimans dicere ausus est: “Malo ut vivat,” et avem dimisit. Imperatori

nec ad irascendum causa deerat nec ad ulciscendum potestas: hanc tamen
iniuriam aequo animo tulit Augustus hominemque impunitum abire passus
est.
Augustus amicitias neque facile admisit et constantissime retinuit. Imprimis
familiarem habuit Maecenatem, equitem Romanum; qui ea, qua apud
principem valebat, gratia ita semper usus est, ut prodesset omnibus, quibus
posset, noceret nemini. Ius aliquando dicebat Augustus et multos capite
damnaturus videbatur. Aderat tum Maecenas, qui per circumstantium
turbam perrumpere et ad tribunal propius accedere conabatur. Quod cum
frustra tentasset, haec verba in tabella scripsit: “Surge tandem, carnifex!”
eamque tabellam ad Augustum proiecit. Qua lecta is statim surrexit neque
quisquam est morte multatus.
Habitavit Augustus in aedibus modicis, neque laxitate neque cultu
conspicuis, ac per annos amplius quadraginta in eodem cubiculo hieme et
aestate mansit. Suppellex quoque eius vix privatae elegantiae erat. Raro
veste alia usus est quam confecta ab uxore, sorore, filia neptibusque. Item
tamen Romam, quam pro maiestate imperii non satis ornatam invenerat,
adeo excoluit, ut iure gloriaretur marmoream se relinquere, quam latericiam
accepisset.
Forma fuit Augustus eximia et per omnes aetatis gradus venustissima. Erat
tamen omnis lenocinii neglegens et in capite comendo tam incuriosus, ut eo
ipso tempore, quo illud tonsoribus committeret, aut legeret aliquid aut etiam
scriberet.
Paucis annis antequam moreretur, gravissimam in Germania accepit
cladem, tribus legionibus cum duce Varo legatisque et auxiliis omnibus
caesis. Hac nuntiata excubias per urbem indixit, ne quis tumultus exsisteret,
et magnos ludos Iovi optimo maximo vovit, si res publica in meliorem
statum vertisset. Adeo denique consternatum ferunt, ut, per continuos
menses barba capilloque submisso, caput interdum foribus inlideret,
vociferans: “Quintili Vare, legiones redde!” diemque cladis quotannis
maestum habuerit ac lugubrem.

Tandem adflicta valetudine in Campaniam concessit, ubi, remisso ad otium
animo, nullo hilaritatis genere abstinuit. Supremo vitae die petito speculo
capillum sibi comi iussit et amicos circumstantes percontatus ecquid iis
videretur mimum vitae commode transegisse, adiecit solitam clausulam:
“Edite strepitum vosque omnes cum gaudio applaudite.” Obiit Nolae
sextum et septuagesimum annum agens.

URBIS RŌMAE VIRĪ INLŪSTRĒS
Complete text as printed

I. Rōmānī imperiī exōrdium Text-only version

Proca, 1 rēx Albānōrum, Numitōrem et Amūlium fīliōs habuit.
Numitōrī, quī nātū 2 māior erat, rēgnum relīquit; 3 sed Amūlius,
pulsō 4 frātre, rēgnāvit et, ut 5 eum subole 6 prīvāret, 5 Rhēam
Silviam, ēius fīliam, Vestae 1 sacerdōtem fēcit, quae 2 tamen
5 Rōmulum et Remum geminōs ēdidit. 3 Eā 4 rē cōgnitā Amūlius ipsam 5
in vincula coniēcit, 6 parvulōs
alveō 7 impositōs 8 abiēcit in
Tiberim, quī tunc forte super
rīpās erat effūsus 9; sed, relābente
TEMPLE OF VESTA 10 flūmine, eōs aqua in siccō
From a coin relīquit. Vāstae tum in iīs
locīs sōlitūdinēs erant. Lupa,
ut fāmā 10 trāditum est, ad vāgītum 11 accurrit,
īnfantēs linguā 10 lambit, ūbera eōrum ōrī 7
15 mātremque 12 sē gessit.

Cum 13 lupa saepius 14 ad A VESTAL
parvulōs velutī ad catulōs reverterētur, 13 Faustulus,

pāstor
rēgius, 15 rē 16 animadversā eōs tulit in casam et
Accae Lārentiae coniugī dedit 17 ēducandōs. 18 Adultī 19 deinde
20 hī inter pāstōrēs prīmō lūdicrīs 20 certāminibus vīrēs auxēre, 21
deinde vēnandō 22 saltūs peragrāre et latrōnēs ā rapīnā 23 pecorum
arcēre coepērunt. Quārē cum 13 iīs īnsidiātī essent 13 latrōnēs,
Remus captus est, Rōmulus 24 vī sē dēfendit. Tum Faustulus,
necessitāte compulsus, 1 indicāvit Rōmulō quis esset 2 eōrum
25 avus, quae māter. Rōmulus statim armātīs 3 pāstōribus Albam 4
properāvit.
Intereā Remum latrōnēs ad Amūlium rēgem perdūxērunt, 5
eum accūsantēs, quasi 6 Numitōris agrōs īnfēstāre solitus 7 esset;
itaque Remus ā rēge Numitōrī ad 8 supplicium
30 trāditus est; at cum Numitor,
adulēscentis vultum cōnsīderāns, aetātem 9
minimēque servīlem indolem comparāret,
haud 10 procul erat quīn nepōtem āgnōsceret.
Nam Remus ōris līneāmentīs 11 erat mātrī 12
CASA
35 simillimus 13 aetāsque expositiōnis temporibus
congruēbat. Ea rēs dum Numitōris animum anxium tenet, 14
repente Rōmulus supervenit, 15 frātrem līberat, 15 interēmptō Amūliō
avum Numitōrem in rēgnum restituit. 15
B.C. Deinde Rōmulus et Remus urbem in iīsdem locīs, ubi expositī 16
754.
40 ubique ēducātī erant, condidērunt 17; sed ortā 18 inter eōs
contentiōne, uter nōmen novae urbī daret 19 eamque imperiō
regeret, auspicia 20 dēcrēvērunt 21 adhibēre. Remus prior 22 sex
vulturēs, Rōmulus posteā duodecim vīdit. Sīc Rōmulus, victor
auguriō, 1 urbem Rōmam vocāvit. Ad 2 novae urbis tūtēlam sufficere
45 vāllum vidēbātur. Cūius 3 angustiās inrīdēns cum Remus
saltū id trāiēcisset, eum īrātus 4 Rōmulus interfēcit, hīs increpāns
verbīs: “Sīc 5 deinde, quīcumque alius trānsiliet moenia mea!”
Ita sōlus potītus est imperiō 6 Rōmulus.

Among the few Trojans who escaped after the fall of Troy was Aeneas, the son of Venus
and the hero Anchises. After many wanderings Aeneas reached Italy, married there Lavinia,
the daughter of Latinus, king of the Latins, and founded a town called Lavinium, from the
name of his wife. He was succeeded by his son Ascanius, who founded a second city,
called Alba Longa, and transferred thither the seat of government. The date traditionally
assigned to the capture of Troy was 1184 b.c. Hence it is clear that Alba Longa was settled
more than 400 years before the foundation of Rome in 754 b.c. To fill this gap a list of
fourteen Alban kings, all descendants of Aeneas, was given by the Roman writers. How
Rome itself was founded from Alba Longa is described in the text. It should be kept
constantly in mind that little faith is to be put in these traditional accounts of Rome’s early
history, at least as far as details are concerned. Latin writers tell us that the oldest records of
the city perished in the sack of Rome by the Gauls in 388 b.c. The first historical work
written by a Roman was published about 215 b.c., more than 500 years after the foundation
of the city. Many of the stories were obviously invented to account for institutions which
existed in the later times, and the traditional narrative is full of inconsistencies and
contradictions.

Skip to next selection.

1.1 Proca was the twelfth king of Alba Longa.
1.2 nātū māior: ‘greater by birth’ = ‘elder.’
1.3 from relinquō.
1.4 pulsō (pellō) frātre: abl. abs.; ‘his brother having been driven out’ (pass.) = ‘having
driven out,’ or ‘when he had driven out his brother’ (act.): H 489 (431): M 638: A 255:
G 409: B 227.
1.5 ut prīvāret: purpose: H 568 (497, II): M 893: A 317, 1: G 545: B 282.
1.6 abl. of separation: H 462 (414, I): M 601: A 243, a: G 405: B 214, 1, c.
2.1 See Voc., Vesta.
2.2 quae = sed ea.
2.3 ēdō.
2.4 eā rē cōgnitā (cōgnōscō): cf. p. 1, n. 4.
2.5 i.e. Rhea Silvia.
2.6 coniciō.
2.7 dat. with compound verb: H 429 (386): M 534: A 228: G 347: B 187, III.
2.8 impositōs (impōnō) abiēcit (abiciō) = imposuit et abiēcit. English is fond of
coördination of clauses; Latin prefers to subordinate clause to clause. Hence, in general,
Latin avoids two coördinated verbs. See p. xxiv, L 5, and H 639 (549, 5): A 292, r.: G 664,
r. 1, 2: B 337, 2.

2.9 effundō.
2.10 abl. of means: H 476 (420): M 645: A 248, c, 1: G 401: B 218.

2.11 ad vāgītum: ‘to (their) squalling,’ i.e. to them as they were crying.
2.12 mātrem sē gessit (gerō): ‘conducted herself, acted like a mother.’
2.13 not only ‘when,’ but also ‘because the wolf kept coming back.’ See p. xxii, J.
2.14 ‘very often.’ The comparative often has this intensive force.
2.15 adj. = the genitive of rēx.
2.16 rē . . . tulit (ferō) = rem animadvertit et eōs tulit; cf. p. xxiii, K 10.
2.17 dō.
2.18 = ut ēducārentur. The gerundive expresses purpose here, as often. See p. xviii, E 4:
H 622 (544, n. 2): M 994: A 294, d: G 430: B 337, 7, 2.
2.19 adultī (adolēscō): ‘having grown’ = ‘when grown.’
2.20 lūdicrīs certāminibus: ‘with playful contests,’—such as running, wrestling, and
boxing. For the case, cf. n. 10.
2.21 = auxērunt (augeō).
2.22 The abl. of the gerund here denotes manner.
2.23 ‘from the seizure of’ = ‘from stealing.’
2.24 = ‘but Romulus.’
3.1 compellō.
3.2 indir. quest.: H 649, II (529, I): M 810: A 334: G 467: B 300.
3.3 See p. 1, n. 4.
3.4 acc. of limit without preposition: H 418 (380, II): M 515: A 258, b: G 337: B 182, 1, a;
cf. English ‘to go home.’
3.5 perdūcō.
3.6 ‘because, as they said’; quasi often denotes a statement or thought of some person other
than the writer himself. See p. xxi, H 5.
3.7 soleō.
3.8 ad supplicium: ‘to be punished’; ad with its noun often denotes purpose.
3.9 aetātem . . . comparāret: ‘compared his age with his nature, (which was) by no means
that of a slave’; i.e. his appearance and demeanor indicated that he belonged to a higher
station than the shepherds.
3.10 haud . . . āgnōsceret: ‘he came very near to recognizing him’; how literally? In this
construction quīn = ut nōn, and the subjunctive is one of result: H 595 (504): M 913:
A 319, d: G 555: B 284, 3.
3.11 abl. of specification: H 480 (424): M 650: A 253: G 397: B 226, 1.
3.12 similis is construed with both gen. and dat.
3.13 ‘very like’; cf. a similar use of the comparative in l. 16.
3.14 dum, ‘while,’ regularly takes the pres. indic. where English uses the imperfect: H 533,
4 (467, 4): M 917: A 276, e: G 570, r.: B 293.
3.15 historical presents: H 532, 3 (467, III): M 734: A 276, d: G 229: B 259, 3.
3.16 expōnō.

3.17 condō.
3.18 ortā (orior) . . . contentiōne = ‘because a strife arose’; see p. xxiii, K 4.
3.19 indir. quest. depending on contentiōne; cf. n. 2. The strife centered in the question,
“Which of us shall rule?”
3.20 Romulus stood on the Palatine Hill, and Remus on the Aventine.
3.21 dēcernō.
3.22 ‘first.’
4.1 ‘by virtue of the augury’; abl. of cause: H 475 (416): M 612: A 245: G 408: B 219.
4.2 Ad . . . tūtēlam: ‘to guard the new city.’ Cf. p. 3, n. 8.
4.3 Render ‘its.’ Latin is fond of closely connecting successive clauses, and for this purpose
often employs a relative pronoun, where English uses a simple demonstrative, or a
demonstrative or personal pronoun with a conjunction,—generally and, often but or for: cf.
p. 2, n. 2.
4.4 ‘in anger.’ An adjective may often be best rendered by an adverb or adverbial phrase.
4.5 Sc. pereat (subjunctive of wish).
4.6 H 477, I (421, I): M 646: A 249: G 407: B 218, 1.

TIBER STATUE
Paris

II. Rōmulus, Rōmānōrum rēx prīmus Text-only version
753-715 b.c.

Rōmulus 7 imāginem urbis magis quam urbem fēcerat; incolae
deerant. 8 Erat in 9 proximō lūcus 10; hunc asȳlum fēcit. Et
statim eō mīra vīs 11 latrōnum pāstōrumque cōnfūgit. Cum 12 vērō
uxōrēs ipse 1 populusque nōn habērent, lēgātōs circā vīcīnās
5 gentēs mīsit, 2 quī 3 societātem cōnūbiumque 4 novō populō

peterent. 3 Nūsquam benīgnē audīta lēgātiō est; lūdibrium etiam
additum 5: “Cūr nōn fēminīs quoque asȳlum aperuistis? Id
enim compār foret 6 cōnūbium.” Rōmulus, aegritūdinem animī
dissimulāns, lūdōs parat; indīcī 7 deinde fīnitimīs spectāculum
10 iubet. Multī convēnēre 8 studiō etiam 9 videndae novae urbis,
māximē Sabīnī cum līberīs et coniugibus. Ubi spectāculī tempus
vēnit eōque 10 conversae 11 mentēs 12 cum oculīs erant, tum sīgnō
datō iuvenēs Rōmānī discurrunt, virginēs rapiunt. 13
Haec 14 fuit statim causa bellī. Sabīnī enim ob 15 virginēs raptās
15 bellum adversus Rōmānōs sūmpsērunt, 16 et cum
Rōmae 17 appropinquārent, Tarpēiam virginem nactī
sunt, 18 quae aquam forte 19 extrā moenia petītum 20
ierat. Hūius pater Rōmānae praeerat arcī. Titus
Tatius, Sabīnōrum dux, Tarpēiae optiōnem mūneris ARMILLA

20 dedit, sī exercitum suum in Capitōlium
perdūxisset. 1 Illa petiit quod 2 Sabīnī in sinistrīs manibus 3 gererent, 4
vidēlicet aureōs ānulōs et armillās. Quibus dolōsē prōmissīs,
Tarpēia Sabīnōs in arcem perdūxit, ubi Tatius
scūtīs 5 eam obruī iussit; nam et 6 ea in laevīs 7
25 habuerant. 8 Sīc impia prōditiō celerī poenā 5 vindicāta
est.
Deinde Rōmulus ad certāmen prōcessit, et in DEATH OF TARPĒIA
eō locō, ubi nunc Rōmānum Forum 9 est, pūgnam
cōnseruit. Prīmō 10 impetū vir inter 11 Rōmānōs īnsīgnis, nōmine 12
30 Hostīlius, fortissimē dīmicāns cecidit; cūius interitū 13 cōnsternātī
Rōmānī fugere coepērunt. Iam Sabīnī clāmitābant: “Vīcimus
perfidōs hospites, 14 imbellēs hostēs. Nunc sciunt longē 15 aliud
esse virginēs rapere, 16 aliud pūgnāre 16 cum virīs.” Tunc Rōmulus,
arma ad caelum tollēns, Iovī aedem 17 vōvit, et exercitus seu forte
35 seu dīvīnitus restitit. 18 Itaque proelium redintegrātur; sed raptae
mulierēs crīnibus 19 passīs ausae sunt sē inter tēla volantia īnferre
et hinc patrēs, hinc virōs ōrantēs, 20 pācem conciliārunt.

Rōmulus, foedere 21 cum Tatiō īctō, et Sabīnōs in urbem recēpit
et rēgnum 1 cum Tatiō sociāvit. Vērum haud ita multō post,
40 occīsō 2 Tatiō, ad Rōmulum potentātus omnis recidit. 3 Centum
deinde ex seniōribus ēlēgit, quōrum cōnsiliō 4 omnia ageret, 5 quōs
senātōrēs nōmināvit propter senectūtem. Trēs equitum 6 centuriās
cōnstituit, populum in trīgintā cūriās distribuit. Hīs ita
ōrdinātīs, cum 7 ad 8 exercitum lūstrandum cōntiōnem in campō 9 ad
45 Caprae 10 palūdem habēret, subitō coorta est
tempestās cum māgnō fragōre tonitribusque et
Rōmulus ē cōnspectū ablātus 11 est. Ad deōs
trānsīsse vulgō crēditus 12 est; cuī 13 reī fidem
fēcit Iūlius Proculus, vir nōbilis. Ortā 14 enim
RŌMULUS AS QUIRĪNUS
50 inter patrēs et plēbem sēditiōne, in cōntiōnem From a coin
prōcessit, iūreiūrandō adfīrmāns vīsum ā sē
15 16

Rōmulum augustiōre 17 fōrmā, eundemque 18 praecipere 19 ut sēditiōnibus
abstinērent 20 et rem mīlitārem colerent 20; futūrum 21 ut
omnium gentium dominī exsisterent. Aedēs in colle Quirīnālī
55 Rōmulō 1 cōnstitūta, 2 ipse 3 prō deō cultus 2 et Quirīnus est
appellātus.
Skip to next selection.

4.7 It has been suggested that the name Rōmulus is derived from Rōma, and that this in turn
was made from an ancient word Rumon, ‘river.’ Rōma would then be ‘the town by the
river,’ ‘Rivertown’ (cf. English ‘Watertown,’ etc.), and Rōmulus would be ‘the man from
Rivertown.’
4.8 dēsum.
4.9 in proximō: ‘near by.’ Phrases consisting of a preposition and a neuter adjective are
common, and have the force of adjectives or adverbs.
4.10 This grove lay between the two summits of the Capitoline Hill.
4.11 vīs often means ‘number,’ as here, or ‘quantity’; ‘power’ is used in the same sense in
some parts of Great Britain.
4.12 cum: ‘since’: H 598 (517): M 863: A 326: G 586: B 286, 2.
5.1 = Rōmulus. Cf. ipsam, I, 5.
5.2 mittō.

5.3 quī . . . peterent: rel. clause of purpose; see p. xviii, E 2, and H 590 (497, I): M 835:
A 317, 2: G 630: B 282, 2.
5.4 In early times the right of intermarriage did not exist between neighboring tribes,
except by special treaty.
5.5 Sc. est, which, like esse, is often omitted with the passive, especially in rapid narrative.
5.6 = esset: H 205, 2 (204, 2): M 327: A 119, n.: G 116, n. 1, c: B 100, n. 2.
5.7 indīcī . . . iubet: ‘he bids a show to be announced.’ Such an announcement would carry
with it an invitation to be present.
5.8 Cf. p. 2, n. 21.
5.9 i.e. they were not only interested in the games, but they were also curious to see the
new city.
5.10 = in spectāculum.
5.11 convertō.
5.12 mentēs cum oculīs: ‘minds and eyes alike.’ The emphasis is on mentēs; they were
thinking only of the show.
5.13 In rapid historical narrative, clauses are often set side by side without a connective.
See also n. 5 above.
5.14 Haec, referring to the matters related in the preceding paragraph, should theoretically
be neuter, but is feminine because the predicate noun causa is feminine. Such attraction is
the rule in Latin. H 396, 2 (445, 4): A 195, d: G 211, 5: B 246, 5.
5.15 ob virginēs raptās: ‘on account of the stolen maidens’ = ‘on account of the seizure of
the maidens.’ A participle agreeing with a noun is preferred in Latin to an abstract noun
with a dependent genitive.
5.16 sūmō.
5.17 dat.; why?
5.18 ‘they happened upon’ (nancīscor).
5.19 forte . . . ierat: ‘had gone by chance’ = ‘happened to have gone.’ Forte is often best
rendered by a clause: ‘as it happened,’ or ‘it so happened.’
5.20 supine denoting purpose; see p. xviii, E 6, and H 633 (546): M 1005: A 302: G 435:
B 340, 1.
6.1 The subjunctive here, as in gererent, is due to implied indirect discourse; sī
perdūxisset represents the fut. perf. indic. of direct discourse sī perdūxeris, ‘if you shall
have led’ = ‘if you (shall) lead’; H 646 (527, I): M 1034, 1038: A 337: G 656-7: B 319, b.
6.2 ‘that which.’
6.3 manus often = ‘arm,’ just as pēs = ‘leg.’
6.4 gererent: either ‘wore’ or ‘bore.’ Tarpeia meant it in the former sense; Tatius chose to
understand it in the latter.
6.5 Why abl.?
6.6 et ea = ea quoque: ‘these too,’ as well as the armillae and ānulī.
6.7 Sc. manibus.

6.8 Note the tense; they had had these, too, on their arms when the bargain was struck.
6.9 See Vocab., Forum.
6.10 Prīmō impetū: ‘in the very first charge.’ The ablative fixes the time of cecidit.
6.11 inter . . . īnsīgnis: ‘the most conspicuous of the Romans.’ How literally?
6.12 abl. of specification.
6.13 = morte. The abl. includes the ideas of means and cause.
6.14 ‘hosts.’ The relation of host and guest was regarded by the Romans, as by other
ancient peoples, as peculiarly sacred.
6.15 longē aliud . . . aliud: ‘one thing . . . quite another.’ Note here the difference between
the English and the Latin idiom.
6.16 Infinitives, because the clauses in which they stand are subjects of esse; H 615 (538):
M 972: A 270: G 422: B 377.
6.17 This temple was called the Temple of Iuppiter Stator, i.e. the ‘Stayer,’ the god who
had stayed the army’s flight.
6.18 resistō: ‘maintained its ground,’ ‘held its own,’ as contrasted with its previous flight
(fugere coepērunt).
6.19 crīnibus passīs (pandō): ‘with streaming hair.’
6.20 ‘by beseeching’; the abl. of the gerund (ōrandō) might have been used.
6.21 foedere . . . īctō (īcō): ‘having struck a treaty.’ How literally? The abl. abs. is one of
the regular substitutes in Latin for the missing perfect active participle. In the phrase foedus
īcere, the verb suggests the striking of the victims in the sacrifice which accompanied the
making of the treaty.
7.1 rēgnum . . . sociāvit: i.e. henceforth there were two kings.
7.2 By the inhabitants of Laurentum, whose ambassadors he had insulted.
7.3 Note the force of the prefix: the sovereignty ‘came back,’ or ‘devolved again’ upon
Romulus, precisely as before he shared it with Tatius.
7.4 abl. of means.
7.5 Cf. p. 5, n. 3.
7.6 See Vocab., eques.
7.7 ‘When’: H 600, II (521, II): M 858: A 325: G 585: B 288.
7.8 ad . . . lūstrandum = ut . . . lūstrāret. What does the gerundive construction express?
7.9 Sc. Mārtiō. See Vocab., campus, and map, p. xxviii.
7.10 Caprae palūdem: ‘Goat Swamp.’
7.11 auferō.
7.12 crēditus est: we would say: ‘it was believed that he,’ etc.; Latin prefers the personal
construction, and says: ‘he was believed to have,’ etc.
7.13 cuī . . . fēcit: literally ‘for which thing he made (i.e. secured) belief (i.e. general
acceptance).’
7.14 What does the abl. abs. here express? See p. xxiii, K 6.
7.15 prōcēdō.

7.16 Sc. esse. vīsum esse and praecipere depend on adfīrmāns: see H 642 (523, I):
M 1023: A 336, 2: G 650: B 314: and p. xxv, M 4.
7.17 augustiōre fōrmā: ‘of more imposing presence’ (than he was while on earth); abl. of
characteristic, H 473, 2 (419, II): M 643: A 251: G 400: B 224.
7.18 i.e. Rōmulum.
7.19 Note the change of tense from that in vīsum (esse) above. Proculus actually said:
(Rōmulus) praecipit, i.e. he used the historical present. Above vīsum (esse) represents vīsus
est of the direct discourse.
7.20 substantive clause of purpose; H 565 (498, I): M 892: A 331: G 546: B 295, 4.
7.21 futūrum ut . . . exsisterent gives the statement, not of Proculus, but of Romulus
himself. The inf. futūrum (esse) depends on a verb of saying implied in praecipere.
Romulus said exsistētis. Since, however, exsistō has no supine and so no future participle,
no direct future infinitive can be formed from it. Hence the phrase futūrum ut with
subjunctive becomes necessary: ‘it would happen that they would become,’ etc.
8.1 ‘in honor of Romulus’; dat. of advantage.
8.2 With cōnstitūta and cultus (colō) sc. est.
8.3 For the omission of the conjunction before ipse, cf. p. 5, n. 13.

III. Numa Pompilius, Rōmānōrum rēx Text-only version
secundus
716-673 b.c.

Successit Rōmulō Numa Pompilius, vir inclitā iūstitiā 4 et
religiōne. 4 Is Curibus, 5 ex oppidō Sabīnōrum, accītus est. Quī cum
Rōmam vēnisset, ut 6 populum ferum religiōne mītigāret, sacra
plūrima īnstituit. Āram Vestae cōnsecrāvit, et īgnem 7 in ārā
5 perpetuō alendum virginibus dedit. Flāminem 8
Iovis sacerdōtem creāvit eumque īnsīgnī veste 9
et curūlī 10 sellā adōrnāvit. Dīcitur 11 quondam
ipsum Iovem ē caelō ēlicuisse. 12 Hīc, ingentibus
fulminibus in urbem dēmissīs, dēscendit in nemus
SELLA CURŪLIS
10 Aventīnum, ubi Numam docuit quibus sacrīs From a coin
fulmina essent prōcūranda, et praetereā imperiī
13 13

certa 1 pīgnora populō Rōmānō datūrum sē esse prōmīsit. Numa
laetus rem populō nūntiāvit. Postrīdiē omnēs ad aedēs 2 rēgiās

convēnērunt silentēsque exspectābant 3 quid futūrum esset. 4 Atque
15 sōle ortō dēlābitur ē caelō scissō 5 scūtum, quod
ancīle appellāvit Numa. Id nē 6 fūrtō auferrī
posset, 6 Māmurium fabrum ūndecim scūta eādem
fōrmā fabricāre iussit. Duodecim autem Saliōs 7
Mārtis sacerdōtēs lēgit, quī ancīlia, sēcrēta ANCĪLIA
20 illa imperiī pīgnora, cūstōdīrent 8 et Kalendīs From a coin
Mārtiīs per urbem canentēs et rīte saltantēs
ferrent. 8 Annum in duodecim 9 mēnsēs ad
cursum lūnae dēscrīpsit; nefāstōs 10 fāstōsque
diēs fēcit; portās Iānō 11 geminō 12 aedificāvit
25 ut esset index pācis et bellī; nam apertus, 13 in
armīs esse cīvitātem, clausus, 13 pācātōs circā
omnēs populōs, sīgnificābat. IĀNUS
Lēgēs 14 quoque plūrimās et ūtilēs tulit
Numa. Ut vērō māiōrem īnstitūtīs 15 suīs auctōritātem conciliāret,
30 simulāvit 1 sibi 2 cum deā Ēgeriā esse conloquia nocturna ēiusque 3
monitū sē omnia, quae ageret, facere. Lūcus erat, quem 4 medium
fōns perennī rigābat aquā; eō saepe Numa sine arbitrīs 5 sē
īnferēbat, velut 6 ad congressum deae; ita 7 omnium animōs eā 7
pietāte imbuit, ut fidēs 8 ac iūsiūrandum nōn minus quam lēgum
35 et poenārum metus cīvēs continēret. 9 Bellum quidem 10 nūllum
gessit, sed 10 nōn minus cīvitātī prōfuit quam Rōmulus. 11 Morbō 12
exstīnctus in Iāniculō monte sepultus 13 est. Ita duo 14 deinceps
rēgēs, ille bellō, hīc pāce, cīvitātem auxērunt. Rōmulus septem
et trīgintā rēgnāvit annōs, 15 Numa trēs et quadrāgintā.
Skip to next selection.

8.4 See p. 7, n. 17.
8.5 Curibus . . . Sabīnōrum: ‘from Cures, a town of the Sabines.’ H 462 (412, II): M 605:
A 258, a: G 391: B 229, 1. ‘At Cures, a town of the Sabines,’ would be Curibus, in oppidō
Sabīnōrum. The two phrases well illustrate the difference between the treatment of names

of towns, and that of common nouns, in expressions intended to denote rest in a place, or
motion from a given point.
8.6 ut . . . mītigāret: purpose clause, to be joined with what follows. Phrases and clauses
often thus precede the words which they modify.
8.7 īgnem . . . alendum: for the form of expression, see p. 2, n. 18.
8.8 Flāminem . . . creāvit: ‘he appointed a priest to be Jupiter’s Flamen.’ See Vocab.,
flāmen.
8.9 The distinctive parts of the dress worn by the Flāminēs were (1) a close-fitting woolen
cap, from which projected a stick of olive wood, called apex; (2) the toga praetexta (see
Vocab., toga); and (3) a laurel crown.
8.10 See Vocab., sella.
8.11 Cf. p. 7, n. 12.
8.12 ēliciō.
8.13 The Romans derived many omens from thunder. Prōcūrāre is the technical word for
‘caring for’ an omen, i.e. warding off all harmful effects by sacrifices.
9.1 ‘trustworthy.’ This word never = ‘certain,’ as in the phrase ‘a certain man.’ In that sense
quīdam is used.
9.2 aedēs rēgiās: ‘the palace.’ What two meanings does aedēs bear?
9.3 ‘waited (to see) what,’ etc.
9.4 Why subjunctive? See p. 3, n. 2.
9.5 scindō. dēlābitur . . . scūtum: ‘the heavens were opened and a shield descended.’
9.6 Negative clause of purpose: H 568 (497, II): M 893: A 317, 1: G 545, 3: B 282. On the
possession of this ancīle Rome’s power was believed to depend; hence Numa’s care in
guarding it.
9.7 Saliōs . . . fēcit: ‘he chose twelve Salii as priests of Mars.’
9.8 Why subjunctive? Cf. p. 5, n. 3.
9.9 Roman writers say that before Numa’s time the year contained only ten months,
a statement hardly credible.
9.10 nefāstōs . . . fēcit: ‘he made a distinction between diēs nefāstī and diēs fāstī.’ See
Vocab., fāstus and nefāstus.
9.11 Cf. p. 8, n. 1.
9.12 ‘two-headed.’ The reference is to a temple of Janus in the Forum, with two doors
opposite each other, so that the whole structure resembled an arch.
9.13 Both adjectives = temporal clauses, signifying respectively ‘when open,’ ‘when shut.’
They agree with Iānus understood, which means the temple, not the god. After Numa’s
time the temple remained open till 235 b.c. It was opened again in the same year, and not
closed till 29 b.c.
9.14 Lēgēs quoque: ‘Laws too,’ i.e. laws as well as religious ceremonies and priestly
orders.
9.15 īnstitūtīs: dative with conciliāret.

10.1 How different in meaning from dissimulāns, II, 9?
10.2 sibi . . . esse conloquia: ‘that he had conversations.’ sibi is dat. of the possessor;
H 430 (387): M 542: A 231: G 349: B 190.
10.3 ēius monitū: ‘at her suggestion.’ Cf. quōrum cōnsiliō, II, 41.
10.4 quem medium: ‘the middle of which.’
10.5 Here in its original sense of ‘witness.’
10.6 velut . . . deae: ‘giving it out that he was going to meet the goddess’; velut is used
here as quasi is in I, 28. See note there. For ad congressum see p. 3, n. 8. deae is dat. after
the prefix in congressum; cf. H 429 (386): M 532: A 228: G 347: B 187, III.
10.7 ita and eā reinforce each other. ‘To such a degree (ita), and with such (eā) piety,’ etc.
10.8 Here = ‘respect for their oaths (and obligations).’ fidēs ac iūsiūrandum together =
‘their own moral sense,’ as opposed to the restraints of the law.
10.9 subjunctive of result: H 570 (500, II): M 905: A 319, 1: G 552, 2: B 284.
10.10 quidem is concessive, and so = ‘to be sure, it is true.’ Hence quidem . . . sed =
quamquam . . . sed tamen.
10.11 Sc. prōfuerat.
10.12 Morbō exstīnctus (exstinguō) means that he died a natural death. We are to feel a
contrast here to the miraculous disappearance of Romulus, as described on page 7.
10.13 sepeliō.
10.14 duo deinceps rēgēs: ‘two successive kings.’ When an adverb like deinceps stands
between an adjective and a noun, it has the value of an adjective.
10.15 acc. of extent of time: H 417 (379): M 513: A 256, 2: G 336: B 181. See also p. xvii,
D 1.

IV. Tullus Hostīlius, Rōmānōrum rēx tertius Text-only version
673-641 b.c.

Mortuō 16 Numā Tullus Hostīlius rēx creātus est. Hīc nōn
sōlum proximō 17 rēgī dissimilis, sed ferōcior etiam Rōmulō 18 fuit.
Eō rēgnante 1 bellum inter Albānōs et Rōmānōs exortum 2 est.
Ducibus 3 Hostīliō et Fūfetiō placuit rem 4 paucōrum certāmine 5
5 fīnīrī. Erant apud Rōmānōs trigeminī frātrēs Horātiī, trēs apud
Albānōs Cūriātiī. Cum 6 eīs agunt rēgēs ut prō suā quisque
patriā dīmicent 7 ferrō. Foedus 8 īctum est eā 9 lēge, ut, unde 10
victōria, ibi imperium esset.

Īctō foedere trigeminī arma capiunt et in medium inter duās
10 aciēs prōcēdunt. Cōnsēderant utrimque duo exercitūs. Datur
sīgnum, īnfēstīque 11 armīs ternī 12 iuvenēs, māgnōrum 13 exercituum
animōs gerentēs, concurrunt. Ut prīmō concursū increpuēre 14
arma micantēsque fulsēre 15 gladiī, horror ingēns spectantēs 16
perstringit. Cōnsertīs 17 deinde manibus, statim duo Rōmānī alius
15 super alium exspīrantēs cecidērunt 18; trēs Albānī vulnerātī. Ad 19
cāsum Rōmānōrum conclāmāvit gaudiō exercitus Albānus. Rōmānōs
iam spēs tōta dēserēbat. Ūnum Horātium trēs Cūriātiī
circumsteterant. 20 Forte 21 is integer fuit; sed quia tribus impār
erat, ut distraheret hostēs, fugam capessīvit, 22 singulōs 23 per intervālla
20 secūtūrōs esse ratus. Iam aliquantum 1 spatiī ex eō locō,
ubi pūgnātum est, aufūgerat, cum respiciēns videt ūnum ē Cūriātiīs
haud procul ab sēsē abesse. In 2 eum māgnō impetū redit,
et dum Albānus exercitus inclāmat 3 Cūriātiīs ut opem ferant
frātrī, iam Horātius eum occīderat. Alterum 4 deinde, priusquam 5
25 tertius posset 5 cōnsequī, interfēcit.

Iam singulī 6 supererant, 7 sed nec spē nec vīribus parēs. 8 Alter 9
erat intāctus ferrō et geminātā victōriā ferōx 10; alter fessum 11 vulnere,
fessum cursū trahēbat 12 corpus. Nec illud proelium fuit.
Rōmānus exsultāns male sustinentem arma Cūriātium cōnficit, 13
30 iacentem 14 spoliat. Rōmānī ovantēs 15 ac grātulantēs Horātium
accipiunt et domum 16 dēdūcunt. Prīnceps ībat Horātius, trium frātrum
spolia prae sē gerēns. Cuī 17 obvia fuit soror, quae dēspōnsa
fuerat ūnī ex Cūriātiīs, vīsōque 18 super umerōs frātris palūdāmentō
spōnsī, quod ipsa cōnfēcerat, flēre et crīnēs 19 solvere coepit. Movet
35 ferōcis iuvenis animum complōrātiō sorōris in tantō gaudiō pūblicō;
itaque strictō 20 gladiō trānsfīgit puellam, simul eam verbīs 21 increpāns:
“Abī 22 hinc cum immātūrō amōre ad spōnsum, oblīta 23
frātrum, oblīta patriae. Sīc eat, 1 quaecumque Rōmāna lūgēbit
hostem.”

40 Atrōx id vīsum est facinus 2 patribus 3 plēbīque; quārē raptus
est in iūs 4 Horātius et apud iūdicēs condemnātus. Iam accesserat
līctor 5 iniciēbatque 6 laqueum. Tum Horātius ad populum prōvocāvit.
Intereā pater Horātiī senex prōclāmābat fīliam suam iūre
caesam 7 esse; et iuvenem amplexus 8 spoliaque Cūriātiōrum
45 ostentāns, ōrābat populum nē 9 sē, quem paulō
ante cum ēgregiā stirpe cōnspexissent, 10 orbum
līberīs 11 faceret. 9 Nōn tulit populus patris lacrimās
iuvenemque 12 absolvit admīrātiōne 13 magis
virtūtis quam iūre 13 causae. Ut tamen caedēs
50 manifēsta expiārētur, pater quibusdam 14 sacrificiīs
perāctīs trānsmīsit per viam 15 tigillum et fīlium
capite adopertō velut sub iugum 16 mīsit; quod
tigillum Sorōrium 17 appellātum est.
FASCĒS
Nōn diū pāx 18 Albāna mānsit 19; nam Mettius
55 Fūfetius, dux Albānōrum, cum 20 sē invidiōsum apud cīvēs vidēret, 20
quod 1 bellum ūnō 2 paucōrum certāmine fīnīsset, ut 3 rem corrigeret,
Vēientēs Fīdēnatēsque adversus Rōmānōs concitāvit. Ipse,
ā Tullō in 4 auxilium arcessītus, aciem in collem subdūxit, ut fortūnam
bellī exspectāret et sequerētur. Quā 5 rē Tullus intellēctā
60 māgnā vōce ait 6 suō illud iussū Mettium facere, ut hostēs ā tergō
circumvenīrentur. Quō audītō hostēs territī et victī sunt. Posterō
diē Mettius cum ad grātulandum Tullō vēnisset, iussū illīus
quadrīgīs 7 religātus et in 8 dīversa distrāctus 9 est. Deinde Tullus Albam
propter ducis perfidiam dīruit et Albānōs Rōmam trānsīre iussit. 10
65 Rōma interim crēvit 11 Albae ruīnīs 12; duplicātus est cīvium
numerus; mōns Caelius urbī additus et, quō 13 frequentius
habitārētur, 13 eam 14 sēdem Tullus rēgiae cēpit ibique deinde habitāvit.
Auctārum 15 vīrium fīdūciā ēlātus 16 bellum Sabīnīs indīxit. Pēstilentia
īnsecūta 1 est; nūlla tamen ab armīs quiēs dabātur. Crēdēbat
70 enim rēx bellicōsus 2 salūbriōra mīlitiae 3 quam domī esse
iuvenum 4 corpora, sed ipse quoque 5 diuturnō morbō est implicitus.

Tunc vērō adeō 6 frāctī 7 simul cum corpore sunt spīritūs 8
illī ferōcēs, ut nūllī reī posthāc nisi sacrīs operam daret. Memorant
Tullum fulmine 9 īctum cum domō cōnflagrāsse. Tullus
75 māgnā glōriā bellī rēgnāvit annōs duōs et trīgintā.

Skip to next selection.

10.16 Mortuō Numā: abl. abs. = post Numae mortem.
10.17 proximō rēgī: ‘his predecessor.’ Join with dissimilis, which has the same
constructions as similis (p. 3, n. 12). Proximus may mean ‘nearest (in the past)’ = ‘last,’ or
‘nearest (in the future)’ = ‘next.’ The context must determine the sense.
10.18 abl. of comparison. H 471 (417): M 615: A 247: G 398: B 217.
11.1 Eō rēgnante: ‘during his reign.’ How does this abl. abs. differ from those in I, lines 3,
5, 18, 37, and 40? Cf. p. xxii, K 1.
11.2 exorior.
11.3 Ducibus . . . placuit: ‘the leaders agreed that,’ etc. The subject of placuit is the clause
rem . . . fīnīrī.
11.4 The meanings of rēs are extremely varied. Here rem may be translated ‘dispute,’ and
so practically = bellum above. For the mood of fīnīrī, see p. 6, n. 16.
11.5 The abl. here denotes both the means by which and the manner in which the quarrel
was to be ended.
11.6 Cum . . . rēgēs: ‘the kings urge them.’ How literally?
11.7 Cf. p. 1, n. 5.
11.8 Cf. p. 6, n. 21.
11.9 eā lēge ut: ‘with the understanding that,’ ‘with the proviso (lēge) that.’ The clause ut
. . . esset expresses the purpose which the leaders had in mind in striking the treaty.
11.10 Sc. fuisset. unde = quā ex parte. We would rather say, ‘on which side.’ Latin often
thus prefers to view an idea as one of motion from a place where the English views it rather
as that of rest at a point. Why?
11.11 īnfēstī armīs: ‘hostile in (respect of) arms,’ i.e. ‘with hostile arms.’
11.12 ‘three on each side.’ Why do we give this meaning to the adjective?
11.13 māgnōrum . . . gerentēs: ‘breathing the spirit of mighty armies.’ So we speak of a
person as ‘a host in himself.’
11.14 increpuēre describes the sound made by the spears as they struck the shields.
11.15 fulgeō.
11.16 = spectātōrēs.
11.17 cōnserō.
11.18 cadō.

11.19 Ad cāsum: we say ‘at the fall,’ but the Latin thinks of the shout as rising against (i.e.
to greet) the fall.
11.20 circumstō.
11.21 Cf. p. 5, n. 19.
11.22 fugam capessīvit: ‘took (to) flight’; cf. ‘to take to one’s heels.’
11.23 singulōs per intervālla: ‘one by one, at intervals.’
12.1 aliquantum spatiī: ‘some distance.’ spatiī is a partitive genitive; aliquantum is an
acc. of extent of space: H 417 (379): M 513: A 257: G 335: B 181.
12.2 In . . . redit (redeō): ‘he turned and made a furious attack upon him.’ How literally?
12.3 inclāmat . . . ferant: ‘was shouting . . . (bidding them) to bear aid.’ For inclāmat, see
p. 3, n. 14.
12.4 = secundum, as often.
12.5 H 605, II (520, 2): M 880: A 327: G 577: B 292.
12.6 ‘one on each side.’ Cf. ternī, l. 11, and note there.
12.7 supersum.
12.8 ‘equally matched.’
12.9 alter . . . alter: ‘the one . . . the other (of the two).’ With intāctus cf. integer, l. 18.
12.10 ‘inspirited, emboldened.’
12.11 The repetition of fessum gives emphasis by dwelling upon the fact.
12.12 ‘was dragging,’ i.e. instead of moving with life and vigor. We would rather say,
‘could barely drag his body along.’ So we would render male sustinentem arma, l. 29, as
‘barely able to endure (the weight of) his armor.’
12.13 = occidit.
12.14 ‘as he lay prostrate.’
12.15 ovantēs ac grātulantēs: ‘with rejoicing and congratulations.’ Participles, like
adjectives, may have adverbial force.
12.16 accus. of limit of motion; cf. p. 3, n. 4.
12.17 Cf. p. 4, n. 3.
12.18 vīsō . . . spōnsī: ‘when she saw her lover’s cloak,’ etc. Cf. p. 1, n. 4.
12.19 crīnēs solvere: a common token of grief among the Romans. Cf. crinibus passīs,
II, 36.
12.20 stringō.
12.21 verbīs increpāns: cf. hīs increpāns verbīs, I, 46.
12.22 abeō.
12.23 oblīta (oblivīscor) frātrum: ‘you who have forgotten,’ or ‘since you have forgotten.’
For the genitives frātrum and patriae, see H 454 (406, II): M 588: A 219: G 376: B 206,
1. Cf. the English ‘forgetful of.’ For the repetition of oblīta see n. 11.
13.1 ‘fare, perish.’ The subject is fēmina, or illa fēmina, as suggested by quaecumque.
How? With the whole sentence cf. Sīc . . . mea, I, 47, and see note there.

13.2 facinus, by its derivation from faciō, properly = ‘a deed,’ whether good or bad, but
generally ‘a crime.’
13.3 = senātōribus, who were officially styled Patrēs Cōnscrīptī. patribus plēbīque
virtually = omnibus.
13.4 ‘court.’
13.5 See Vocab., līctor.
13.6 The tense has dramatic force and = ‘was (actually) putting on.’
13.7 caedō.
13.8 amplector.
13.9 clause of negative purpose: see p. 9, n. 6.
13.10 cōnspiciō. The subjunctive may be explained (1) as caused by attraction to faceret,
H 652, 1 (529, II): M 793: A 342: G 663: B 324, or (2) as in informal indir. disc.
13.11 abl. of separation (cf. p. 1, n. 6), to be joined with orbum faceret, which = orbāret.
13.12 After a negative clause the Romans often use que or et, where the English idiom
requires but.
13.13 why abl.? see p. 4, n. 1.
13.14 Cf. p. 6, n. 21.
13.15 ‘a (certain) street.’ The street referred to ran up the slope of the Esquiline Hill.
13.16 See Vocab., iugum. The father of Horatius, by making him pass, as it were, beneath
the yoke, symbolically executed the sentence of death passed by the judges.
13.17 Sc. Tigillum. Livy says that this beam was renewed from time to time at public
expense, even down to his own day. Another memorial of this fight was the Pīla
(‘Column’) Horātia, adjoining the Forum, on which Horatius is said to have hung the
spoils taken from the Curiatii.
13.18 pāx Albāna = pāx cum Albā īcta.
13.19 maneō.
13.20 cum . . . vidēret: subjunctive of cause. See p. 2, n. 13; p. 4, n. 12; and p. xx, H 2.
14.1 quod . . . fīnīsset: ‘because (as they said),’ etc. The subjunctive is due to the implied
indirect discourse, and expresses the thought, not of the writer, but of Mettius’ subjects. See
p. xxi, H 4.
14.2 ūnō . . . certāmine: ‘by one contest (only), and that a contest in which but few
fought.’ Cf. l. 4.
14.3 ut . . . corrigeret: ‘to set the matter straight,’ i.e. to regain the good will of his people.
Join this clause with what follows.
14.4 in auxilium: ‘to give aid,’ an expression of purpose. Cf. ad supplicium, I, 29, and
note. Tullus summoned Mettius in accordance with the treaty made before the fight
between the Horatii and the Curiatii (l. 7).
14.5 Quā rē . . . intellēctā (intellegō): ‘when he noticed this state of things.’ For quā, see
p. 4, n. 3.

14.6 ait . . . circumvenīrentur: Tullus’ purpose in making this statement was partly to
frighten the enemy, partly to reassure his own men. Livy relates that Tullus had stationed
his own forces against the Veientes, the Albans against the Fidenates. The withdrawal of
Mettius exposed the flank of the Romans to attack from the Fidenates, and so was regarded
at once by the Romans as proof of treachery.
14.7 abl. of separation (cf. p. 1, n. 6). ligāre and its compounds are construed with either
(1) the simple ablative, or (2) the ablative with ab, dē, or ex.
14.8 in . . . est: ‘was torn limb from limb.’
14.9 distrahō.
14.10 iubeō.
14.11 crēscō.
14.12 abl. of means.
14.13 quō . . . habitārētur: ‘that it might be more densely inhabited,’ i.e. that a larger
number of people might be induced to live there. In purpose clauses containing a
comparative, quō is used instead of ut: H 568, 7 (497, 2): M 909: A 317, b: G 545, 2;
B 282, a. This quō is the abl. sing. neut. of the relative pronoun, and = ut eō, ‘that thereby.’
14.14 eam . . . cēpit (capiō): ‘Tullus chose it (the mountain) as the site of his palace,’ Why
is eam feminine, although referring to mōns Caelius, which is masculine? Cf. p. 5, n. 14.
14.15 Auctārum . . . fīdūciā: ‘because of the confidence (begotten) of his increased
strength,’ or ‘by his confidence in his increased strength.’ In the former case the gen. is
subjective; in the latter it is objective; H 440, 1 and 2 (396, II and III): M 553, 571: A 213,
1, 2: G 363, 1 and 2: B 199, 200.
14.16 efferō.
15.1 īnsequor.
15.2 bellicōsus = a causal clause quod ipse bellicōsus erat.
15.3 mīlitiae quam domī: ‘in war than in peace.’ See H 484, 2 (426, 2): M 622: A 258, d:
G. 411, r. 2: B 232, 2; xvi, A 1.
15.4 = ‘the fighting men,’ because iuvenēs (men under 45) were eligible for military duty.
15.5 sed ipse quoque: ‘but (i.e. in spite of this statement) he too.’
15.6 ‘so completely.’
15.7 frangō.
15.8 spīritūs illī ferōcēs: ‘that high spirit of his’; illī = ‘that for which he was so famous.’
Cf. l. 2.
15.9 fulmine īctum . . . cōnflagrāsse = fulmine īctum esse et cōnflagrāsse. Instead of using
two coördinated verbs with a common subject, Latin regularly represents the first verb by a
perf. pass. part., or by the past part. of a deponent verb, in agreement with that common
subject. Cf. p. 2, n. 8, and p. xxiv, L 5.

V. Ancus Mārcius, Rōmānōrum rēx quārtus Text-only version
641-616 b.c.

Tullō mortuō 10 Ancum Mārcium rēgem 11
populus creāvit. Numae Pompiliī nepōs
Ancus Mārcius erat, aequitāte 12 et
religiōne 12 avō similis. Tunc Latīnī, cum quibus
5 Tullō rēgnante īctum foedus erat,
sustulerant 13 animōs, et incursiōnem in agrum NUMA AND ANCUS
Rōmānum fēcērunt. Ancus, priusquam 14 eīs MĀRCIUS
bellum indīceret, 14 lēgātum mīsit, quī 15 rēs
repeteret, eumque 1 mōrem posterī accēpērunt. Id autem hōc
10 modō fīēbat. Lēgātus, ubi ad fīnēs eōrum venit ā quibus rēs
repetuntur, capite 2 vēlātō “Audī, Iuppiter,” inquit 3 “audīte,
fīnēs hūius 4 populī. Ego sum pūblicus 5 nūntius populī Rōmānī;
verbīs 6 meīs fidēs sit.” Deinde peragit pōstulāta. Sī nōn dēduntur
rēs quās expōscit, hastam in fīnēs hostium ēmittit bellumque
15 ita indīcit. Lēgātus, quī eā dē rē mittitur, Fētiālis 7 rītusque bellī
indīcendī Iūs Fētiāle appellātur.
Lēgātō Rōmānō rēs repetentī superbē respōnsum 8 est ā Latīnīs;
quārē bellum hōc 9 modō eīs indictum est. Ancus, exercitū
cōnscrīptō, profectus 10 Latīnōs fūdit et
20 complūribus oppidīs dēlētīs cīvēs Rōmam
trādūxit 11. Cum 12 autem in tantā hominum
multitūdine facinora clandestīna
fierent, Ancus carcerem 13 in mediā urbe
ad 14 terrōrem incrēscentis audāciae aedificāvit.
25 Īdem nova moenia urbī circumdedit,
CARCER MAMERTĪNUS
Iāniculum montem ponte 15 subliciō
in Tiberī factō urbī cōniūnxit, in ōre 1 Tiberis Ōstiam urbem
condidit. Plūribus aliīs rēbus intrā paucōs annōs cōnfectīs;
immātūrā morte praereptus obiit.

Skip to next selection.

15.10 What is the force of this abl. abs.?
15.11 rēgem populus creāvit: This phrase, as it stands, is somewhat misleading. As a
matter of fact, the kingship was neither hereditary nor elective. On the death of a king an
interrēx, or regent, was chosen, who took the auspices, and the augurs inferred from the
signs that the gods favored a certain candidate. He was then elected by the Assembly, and
the choice was confirmed by the Senate.
15.12 abl. of specification.
15.13 sustulerant (tollō) animōs: ‘had plucked up courage.’
15.14 Cf. priusquam . . . posset, IV, 25, and note.
15.15 quī . . . repeteret: relative clause of purpose. Rēs repetere = ‘to demand the (stolen)
things,’ is a technical phrase of war, and = ‘to demand restitution or satisfaction.’ The
opposite is rēs reddere, or rēs dēdere, as in l. 13.
16.1 eum mōrem . . . accēpērunt: ‘that custom posterity (the Romans of later times)
adopted.’ Traces of the custom appear as late as the reign of Augustus.
16.2 While praying, the Romans covered their faces with a fold of the toga, that no
untoward sight might interrupt their devotions. The lēgātus here covers his face, because he
is praying to Jupiter and to the fīnēs, which are personified.
16.3 This word, rather than dīxit, is used with direct discourse, and regularly stands, as
here, within the quotation.
16.4 The lēgātus, of course, said fīnēs Albānōrum, or Vēientium, as the case might be.
16.5 ‘official,’ i.e. duly accredited.
16.6 verbīs . . . sit = verbīs meīs crēdite. Cf. II, 48, cuī reī fidem fēcit. sit is a hortatory
subjunctive; H 559, 1 (484, II): M 713: A 266: G 263: B 274.
16.7 See Vocab., fētiālis.
16.8 respōnsum . . . Latīnīs = Latīnī respondērunt. The impersonal passive is common.
16.9 hōc: ‘described above,’ in lines 9-16. In l. 9 hōc = ‘described below.’ Hīc more often
bears the latter sense, i.e. it refers to what follows.
16.10 profectus . . . fūdit (fundō): cf. p. 15, n. 9.
16.11 ‘transferred, removed.’
16.12 Cum . . . fierent: a causal clause; cf. p. 13, n. 20.
16.13 See Vocab., carcer.
16.14 ad . . . audāciae = ut incrēscentem audāciam terrēret. Cf. p. 3, n. 8, and ad
congressum deae, III, 33. audāciae is objective genitive: cf. p. 14, n. 15.
16.15 ponte subliciō: abl. abs., with factō, expressing means. This bridge, the earliest and
most famous of the bridges over the Tiber, derived its name from the circumstance that it
was always made of wood and supported on piles (sublicae). It is this bridge that figures so
largely in Macaulay’s Lays of Ancient Rome, Horatius, stanzas xxix. ff.

17.1 in ōre: ‘at the mouth.’ The town Ostia got its name from its position in ōre Tiberis. It
was the port of Rome, and thus attained great importance. Great harbors were built there in
the days of the Empire, the remains of which, as well as of the warehouses built for the
storage of merchandise from abroad, are still visible.

VI. Lūcius Tarquinius Prīscus, Rōmānōrum rēx Text-only version
quīntus
616-578 b.c.

Ancō rēgnante Lūcius Tarquinius, Tarquiniīs, 2 ex Etrūriae urbe,
profectus, 3 cum coniuge et fortūnīs omnibus Rōmam commigrāvit.
Additur haec fābula: advenientī 4 aquila pilleum sustulit 5 et super
carpentum, 6 cuī 7 Tarquinius īnsidēbat, cum māgnō clangōre volitāns
5 rūrsus 8 capitī 9 aptē reposuit; inde sublīmis 10 abiit. Tanaquil
coniux, caelestium 11 prōdigiōrum perīta, rēgnum 12 eī portendī
intellēxit; itaque, virum complexa, excelsa 13 et alta 13 spērāre
eum iussit. Hās spēs cōgitātiōnēsque sēcum portantēs urbem
ingressī 1 sunt, domiciliōque ibi comparātō Tarquinius pecūniā et
10 indūstriā dīgnitātem atque etiam Ancī rēgis familiāritātem
cōnsecūtus 2 est; ā quō tūtor līberīs relīctus 3 rēgnum intercēpit et ita
administrāvit, quasi 4 iūre adeptus 5 esset.
Tarquinius Prīscus Latīnōs bellō domuit; Circum 6 Māximum
aedificāvit; dē 7 Sabīnīs triumphāvit; mūrum 8 lapideum urbī
15 circumdedit. Equitum centuriās 9 duplicāvit,
nōmina mūtāre nōn potuit, dēterritus, ut ferunt,
Attī Nāviī auctōritate. Attus enim, eā
tempestāte 10 augur inclitus, id fierī posse negābat,
nisi 11 avēs addīxissent 11; īrātus rēx in 12
20 experīmentum artis eum interrogāvit, fierīne posset 13
quod ipse mente concēpisset 14; Attus auguriō
āctō fierī posse respondit. “Atquī hōc” 15 inquit
rēx “agitābam, num cōtem illam secāre

novāculā possem.” 13 “Potes 16 ergō” inquit AUGUR

25 augur, et rēx secuisse dīcitur. Tarquinius fīlium tredecim
annōrum, 17 quod in proeliō hostem percussisset, 18 praetextā 19
bullāque 1 dōnāvit; unde 2 haec 3 ingenuōrum puerōrum īnsīgnia esse
coepērunt.
Supererant 4 duo Ancī fīliī, quī, aegrē ferentēs sē paternō 5
30 rēgnō fraudātōs esse, 6 rēgī īnsidiās parāvērunt. Ex pāstōribus
duōs ferōcissimōs dēligunt ad patrandum facinus. Eī simulātā
rixā in vēstibulō rēgiae tumultuantur. Quōrum 7 clāmor cum 8
penitus in rēgiam pervēnisset, vocātī ad rēgem pergunt. Prīmō
uterque vōciferārī coepit et certātim 9 alter alterī obstrepere.
35 Cum vērō iussī essent in vicem dīcere, ūnus ex 10 compositō rem
ōrdītur; dumque intentus in eum sē rēx tōtus āvertit, alter
ēlātam 11 secūrim in ēius caput dēiēcit, et relīctō 12 in vulnere
tēlō ambō forās sē prōripiunt.
Skip to next selection.

17.2 Tarquiniīs . . . urbe: ‘from Tarquinii, a city of Etruria.’ Cf. p. 8, n. 5.
17.3 proficīscor.
17.4 Sc. Rōmam: ‘while on his way to Rome.’ The participle agrees with eī understood,
which is a dat. of separation, or disadvantage, with sustulit: H 427 (385, 2): M 539: A 229:
G 345, r. 1: B 188, 2, d.
17.5 tollō.
17.6 A two-wheeled carriage, with curtains and an awning.
17.7 cuī: ‘in which.’ Why dat.?
17.8 rūrsus . . . reposuit: since repōnō = ‘to put back,’ or ‘to place again,’ rūrsus is
unnecessary.
17.9 More often repōnō is followed by in with the abl., or the acc.
17.10 sublīmis abiit: ‘flew high up in the air and departed.’
17.11 caelestium . . . perīta: ‘skilled in (interpreting) portents from heaven.’ The Romans
regarded the Etruscans as exceptionally skillful in such matters. For the gen., see H 451, 1
(399, I, 2). M 573: A 218, a: G 374: B 204, 1.
17.12 rēgnum eī portendī intellēxit: ‘perceived that the sign indicated that he was to be
king.’ How literally? According to Livy, the significance of the omen lay in these facts: It
came from a favorable quarter of the sky (which, to the Romans, was the east); it concerned
his head, the supreme part of his being; hence the removal of his cap by the eagle, the bird
of Jupiter, ‘king of gods and men,’ and its restoration, implied that his cap was to be
removed and replaced by a crown.
17.13 neuter plural adjectives, used as nouns: ‘an exalted destiny.’
18.1 ingredior.
18.2 cōnsequor.
18.3 relinquō.
18.4 H 584 (513, II): M 944, 945: A 312, and n. 1: G 602 and r.: B 307.
18.5 adipīscor.
18.6 Circum Māximum: see map, p. xxviii. In its final form it could accommodate nearly
300,000 spectators. The Romans of the Empire were passionately devoted to the chariot
races of the circus. For a good description of a Roman circus, see Lew Wallace’s Ben Hur,
Book V, Chap. XII.
18.7 dē Sabīnīs triumphāvit: ‘he triumphed over’; lit., ‘he got a triumph out of.’ See
Vocab., triumphus.
18.8 mūrum . . . circumdedit: ‘he built a stone wall round the city.’ According to Livy, the
wall was merely begun by Tarquin and finished by his successor, Servius Tullius.

18.9 Cf. II, 42. Livy says that when Romulus formed the three centuries of horsemen he
called one Ramnēs, after his own name, another Titiēnsēs, after King Tatius. Tarquin
desired to name the new centuries after himself.
18.10 = tempore.
18.11 nisi . . . addīxissent: ‘unless the birds gave consent,’ i.e. without taking the auspicia
and finding them favorable. Cf. I, 42. The subjunctive is due to the indirect discourse. For
the tense, see p. 6, n. 1.
18.12 in experīmentum artis: ‘to test his art.’ Cf. p. 14, n. 4.
18.13 Cf. p. 3, n. 2.
18.14 Cf. p. 6, n. 1. The king said ‘Potestne fierī quod in mente concēpī?’
18.15 hōc is emphatic, ‘Ah, but what I had in mind was this.’
18.16 Potes ergō: ‘well, you can.’
18.17 descriptive gen.: H 440, 3 (396, V): M 558: A 215: G 365: B 203.
18.18 Cf. p. 14, n. 1.
18.19 Sc. togā.
19.1 See Vocab., bulla.
19.2 = ex quō: ‘in consequence of this circumstance.’
19.3 Cf. p. 5, n. 14, and p. 16, n. 9.
19.4 ‘were still alive.’
19.5 = patris. Cf. the use of rēgius, I, 17.
19.6 The infinitive depends on aegrē ferentēs. Phrases expressive of emotion, whether of
joy or of sorrow, are often followed by the infinitive with subject accus.
19.7 Cf. p. 4, n. 3.
19.8 The conjunction of the subordinate clause is often preceded by one or two words,
sometimes by a larger number.
19.9 certātim . . . obstrepere: ‘to (try to) drown each other’s voices’; lit., ‘in eager rivalry
to make noise one against (ob) the other.’ Why is alterī dative?
19.10 ex compositō: ‘according to previous agreement.’
19.11 ēlātam secūrim . . . dēiēcit = extulit (‘raised’) et dēiēcit. Cf. p. 2, n. 8.
19.12 relīctō . . . tēlō: we say, ‘leaving the weapon—they flee,’ i.e. we treat the two actions
as simultaneous. The Romans say more exactly: ‘having left—they flee,’ i.e. the act of
leaving is viewed as prior to that of flight.

VII. Servius Tullius, Rōmānōrum rēx sextus Text-only version
578-534 b.c.

Post hunc Servius Tullius suscēpit imperium, genitus ex nōbilī
fēminā, 13 captīvā tamen et famulā. Quī cum in domō Tarquiniī
Prīscī ēducārētur, ferunt 14 prōdigium 15 vīsū ēventūque mīrābile
accidisse. Flammae 1 speciēs puerī dormientis caput amplexa est.
5 Hōc vīsū Tanaquil summam 2 eī dīgnitātem portendī intellēxit
coniugīque suāsit ut 3 eum haud secus ac suōs līberōs 4
ēducāret. 3 Is postquam adolēvit, et fortitūdine et cōnsiliō
īnsīgnis fuit. In proeliō quōdam, 5 in quō rēx Tarquinius
adversus Sabīnōs cōnflīxit, mīlitibus 6 sēgnius
10 dīmicantibus, raptum 7 sīgnum in hostem mīsit. Cūius 8
recipiendī grātiā Rōmānī tam ācriter pūgnāvērunt, ut et
sīgnum et victōriam referrent. Quārē ā Tarquiniō gener
adsūmptus est; et cum Tarquinius occīsus esset, Tanaquil,
Tarquiniī uxor, mortem ēius cēlāvit, populumque
15 ex superiōre 9 parte aedium adlocūta 10 ait rēgem grave
SIGNUM
quidem, sed nōn lētāle vulnus accēpisse, eumque petere, ut
interim dum convalēsceret, 11 Serviō Tulliō 12 dictō audientēs essent.
Sīc 13 Servius Tullius rēgnāre coepit, sed rēctē imperium administrāvit.
Sabīnōs subēgit 14; montēs trēs, Quirīnālem, Vīminālem, Ēsquilīnum
20 urbī adiūnxit; fossās 15 circā mūrum dūxit. Īdem cēnsum 16
ōrdināvit, et populum in classēs 17 et centuriās 18 distribuit.
Servius Tullius aliquod urbī decus addere volēbat. Iam 1 tum
inclitum erat Diānae Ephesiae fānum. 2 Id commūniter 3 ā cīvitātibus
Asiae factum fāma ferēbat. Itaque Latīnōrum
25 populīs suāsit ut et 4 ipsī fānum Diānae
cum 5 populō Rōmānō Rōmae in Aventīnō monte
aedificārent. Quō 6 factō, bōs mīrae māgnitūdinis 7
cuīdam Latīnō nāta 8 dīcitur, et respōnsum somniō
datum 8 eum populum summam imperiī habitūrum, 8
30 cūius cīvis bovem illam Diānae immolāsset. 9
Latīnus 10 bovem ad fānum Diānae ēgit et causam
sacerdōtī Rōmānō exposuit. Ille callidus 11 dīxit DIANA OF EPHESUS

prius eum vīvō flūmine manūs abluere dēbēre.
Latīnus dum ad Tiberim 12 dēscendit, sacerdōs bovem immolāvit.
35 Ita imperium cīvibus sibique glōriam adquīsīvit.

Servius Tullius fīliam alteram ferōcem, mītem alteram habēns, 13
cum Tarquiniī fīliōs parī esse animō 14 vidēret, ferōcem 15 mītī,
mītem ferōcī in mātrimōnium dedit, nē duo violenta ingenia
mātrimōniō iungerentur. Sed mītēs seu forte seu fraude periērunt;
40 ferōcēs mōrum similitūdō coniūnxit. Statim Tarquinius
ā Tulliā 1 incitātus advocātō 2 senātū rēgnum
paternum repetere coepit. Quā 3 rē
audītā Servius dum ad Cūriam contendit,
iussū Tarquiniī per gradūs 4 dēiectus et
45 domum refugiēns interfectus est. Tullia
carpentō vecta in Forum properāvit et
cōniugem ē Cūriā ēvocātum prīma rēgem
SACRIFICE
salūtāvit; cūius iussū cum ē turbā ac
tumultū dēcessisset 5 domumque redīret,
50 vīsō patris corpore, cunctantem et frēna mūliōnem inhibentem
super ipsum 6 corpus carpentum agere iussit, unde 7 vīcus ille
Scelerātus dictus est. Servius Tullius rēgnāvit annōs quattuor et
quadrāgintā.
Skip to next selection.

19.13 Livy relates that at the capture of the Latin town Corniculum, Servius’ father was
killed and his mother taken prisoner. Out of respect to her high rank, Tanaquil set her free
and welcomed her to the palace. There Servius was born, and he was brought up in
Tarquin’s household.
19.14 ferunt . . . accidisse: in English, the verb corresponding to ferunt would be
parenthetical, thus: ‘a prodigy, they say, happened.’
19.15 prōdigium . . . mīrābile: ‘a prodigy, strange to look upon, and marvelously
fulfilled.’ vīsū and ēventū are ablatives of specification to mīrābile: H 480 (424): M 650:
A 253: G 397: B 226, 1.

20.1 Flammae speciēs: ‘the semblance of fire.’ We may render the whole sentence, ‘Fire
seemed to envelop,’ etc.
20.2 summam . . . intellēxit: cf. p. 17, n. 12.
20.3 Cf. p. 1, n. 5.
20.4 governed by ēducābat understood.
20.5 quīdam and ūnus often have no more force than the English indefinite article.
20.6 mīlitibus . . . dīmicantibus: causal.
20.7 raptum . . . mīsit: cf. p. 2, n. 8. To lose the standard was as much of a disgrace then as
it is now to lose the flag.
20.8 Cūius . . . grātiā: an expression of purpose = quod ut reciperet.
20.9 Roman houses in general had no windows on the ground floor.
20.10 Cf. p. 19, n. 12.
20.11 H 603, 2 (519, 2): M 921: A 328: G 572: B 293, III, 2, and p. xx, G 3.
20.12 dat. with dictō audientēs essent, which together = pārērent: H 426 (385, I): M 530:
A 227 and n. 2: G 346 and n. 5: B 187, II. dictō is dat. with audientēs, which here itself =
‘obeying.’
20.13 i.e. instead of being formally chosen king by the senate and people (p. 15, n. 11).
20.14 subigō.
20.15 fossās . . . dūxit: this statement harmonizes with VI, 14: see note there. Remains of
the wall and ditch are extant, especially along the east side of the Esquiline, Viminal, and
Quirinal hills.
20.16 The census was not, as with us, a mere enumeration of the inhabitants, but an
enrollment and classification of them according to property for purposes of taxation and
military service. Hence the clause in . . . distribuit is in part an explanation of cēnsum
ōrdināvit.
20.17 These classes were six in number.
20.18 According to Livy, there were 193 centuries. At elections each century cast a single
vote, the opinion of the majority of its members being regarded as the voice of the whole
century. The first, or richest class, contained 98 centuries, and so controlled 98 votes, more
than a majority.
21.1 Iam tum: ‘even in those early days.’
21.2 This temple was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. See Acts xix, 24 f.
21.3 commūniter . . . factum (esse): ‘that the states of Asia had united in building it.’ How
literally?
21.4 et ipsī = etiam ipsī, or ipsī quoque: ‘they too,’ i.e. as well as the cīvitātēs Asiae.
21.5 ‘in conjunction with.’ The whole might have been expressed thus: ut illī (i.e. the
Latīnī) et populus Rōmānus . . . aedificārent. Cf. lines 23, 24.
21.6 Quō factō = postquam hōc (i.e. the building of the temple) factum est.
21.7 Cf. p. 18, n. 17.

21.8 Sc. esse. For the personal construction dīcitur, see H 611, 1 (534, I and n. 1): M 962:
A 330, b, 1: G 528, 1: B 332.
21.9 Subjunctive, because in a subordinate clause of indir. disc. For the tense, cf. p. 6, n. 1.
21.10 ‘The (aforesaid) Latin,’ mentioned in l. 28. This is one of the cases where Latin
suffers from the lack of the definite article.
21.11 ‘cunningly.’ Cf. p. 4, n. 4.
21.12 The Tiber ran close to the foot of the Aventine hill on which (l. 26) the temple of
Diana stood.
21.13 = cum habēret, ‘since he had.’ cum . . . vidēret is also causal.
21.14 abl. of quality: H 473, 2 (419, II): M 643: A 251: G 400: B 224.
21.15 ferōcem . . . ferōcī: note that the order in the second of these two pairs of words is
the reverse of that in the first. Cf. l. 36, alteram ferōcem, mītem alteram. This arrangement
is called Chiasmus: H 666, 2 (562): M 1150: A 344, f, and n.: G 682, and r.: B 350, II, c).
22.1 The daughter of Tullius.
22.2 advocātō . . . coepit = senātum advocāvit et . . . coepit. Cf. p. 2, n. 8.
22.3 quā rē . . . contendit: ‘while Servius, after he had heard of this action, was hastening,’
etc. For the tense of contendit, see p. 3, n. 14.
22.4 Sc. Cūriae.
22.5 dēcessisset . . . redīret: ‘had departed . . . and was returning.’
22.6 super ipsum corpus: ‘over the very body’; ipsum emphasizes the wickedness of
Tullia. Roman feeling usually required that the utmost respect be shown to the bodies of
the dead.
22.7 Used here as in VI, 27.

VIII. Tarquinius Superbus, Rōmānōrum rēx Text-only version
septimus et ūltimus
534-510 b.c.

Tarquinius Superbus rēgnum scelestē 8 occupāvit. 9 Tamen bellō
strēnuus Latīnōs Sabīnōsque domuit. Urbem Gabiōs in potestātem
redēgit fraude Sextī fīliī. Is cum indīgnē ferret eam urbem
ā patre expūgnārī nōn posse, 10 ad Gabīnōs sē contulit, patris saevitiam
5 in sē conquerēns. Benīgnē ā Gabīnīs exceptus paulātim
eōrum benevolentiam cōnsequitur, fīctīs blanditiīs ita eōs adliciēns,
ut apud omnēs plūrimum posset, 1 et ad postrēmum dux bellī

ēligerētur. Tum ē suīs ūnum ad patrem mittit scīscitātum 2
quidnam sē 3 facere vellet. Pater nūntiō fīliī nihil respondit, sed
10 velut dēlīberābundus 4 in hortum trānsiit ibique inambulāns
sequente nūntiō altissima 5 papāverum capita baculō dēcussit.
Nūntius, fessus exspectandō, rediit Gabiōs. Sextus, cōgnitō
silentiō patris et factō, 6 intellēxit 7 quid vellet pater. Prīmōrēs
cīvitātis interēmit patrīque urbem sine ūllā dīmicātiōne
15 trādidit.

Posteā rēx Ardeam urbem obsidēbat. Ibi cum in castrīs essent,
Tarquinius Collātīnus, sorōre 8 rēgis nātus, forte cēnābat apud
Sextum Tarquinium cum iuvenibus 9 rēgiīs. Incidit 10 dē uxōribus
mentiō; cum suam ūnusquisque laudāret, placuit experīrī.
20 Itaque citātīs 11 equīs Rōmam āvolant; rēgiās 12 nurūs in convīviō 13
et lūxū dēprehendunt. Pergunt inde Collātiam 14; Lucrētiam,
Collātīnī uxōrem, inter ancillās lānae 15 dēditam inveniunt. Ea
ergō cēterīs praestāre iūdicātur. Paucīs interiectīs diēbus Sextus
Collātiam rediit et Lucrētiae vim 16 attulit. Illa posterō diē, advocātīs
25 patre et coniuge, rem exposuit et sē cultrō, quem sub veste
abditum habēbat, occīdit. Conclāmat vir paterque et in 1 exitium
rēgum coniūrant. Tarquiniō 2 Rōmam redeuntī clausae sunt
urbis portae et exsilium indictum. 3
In antīquīs annālibus memoriae haec sunt prōdita. 4 Anus
30 hospita atque incōgnita ad Tarquinium quondam Superbum rēgem
adiit, 5 novem librōs ferēns, quōs esse dīcēbat dīvīna ōrācula: eōs
sē velle 6 vēnumdare. Tarquinius pretium percontātus est: mulier
nimium atque immēnsum popōscit. Rēx, quasi 7 anus aetāte dēsiperet,
dērīsit. 8 Tum illa foculum cum īgnī appōnit et trēs librōs
35 ex novem deūrit; et, ecquid reliquōs sex eōdem pretiō 9 emere
vellet, rēgem interrogāvit. Sed Tarquinius id multō rīsit magis,
dīxitque anum iam procul dubiō dēlīrāre. Mulier ibīdem statim
trēs aliōs librōs exūssit 10; atque id 11 ipsum dēnuō placidē rogat,
ut 12 trēs reliquōs eōdem illō pretiō emat. Tarquinius ōre 13 iam

40 sēriō atque attentiōre animō 13 fit; eam 14 cōnstantiam cōnfīdentiamque
nōn neglegendam 15 intellegit: librōs trēs reliquōs mercātur
nihilō minōre pretiō 9 quam quod erat petītum prō omnibus. Sed
eam mulierem tunc ā Tarquiniō dīgressam 16 posteā nūsquam locī
vīsam 15 cōnstitit. Librī 17 trēs in sacrāriō conditī Sibyllīnīque
45 appellātī. Ad eōs, quasi ad ōrāculum, Quīndecemvirī adeunt, cum
diī immortālēs pūblicē cōnsulendī sunt.
Skip to next selection.

22.8 Cf. the whole description VII, 40-53.
22.9 not ‘occupied.’
22.10 The infinitive depends on indīgnē ferret, an expression of emotion. Cf. p. 19, n. 6.
23.1 plūrimum posset: ‘he possessed great influence.’ plūrimum is an accusative of
extent.
23.2 Cf. p. 5, n. 20.
23.3 sē refers to Sextus. Sextus asked his father through the messenger: Quidnam mē facere
vīs?
23.4 Adjectives ending in -bundus generally have the force of the English present participle
active.
23.5 altissima . . . capita = ‘the heads of the tallest poppies.’ How literally?
23.6 factō is here a noun.
23.7 It has been shown that the whole of this story was derived from Greek sources, and
that the incident described in the text is, so far as Gabii is concerned, without foundation.
23.8 H 469, 2 (415, II): M 609: A 244: G 395: B 215.
23.9 iuvenibus rēgiīs: ‘the princes.’
23.10 Incidit . . . mentiō: ‘the conversation happened to turn on (the merits of) their
(respective) wives.’ How literally?
23.11 citātīs equīs: ‘at top speed.’ How literally?
23.12 rēgiās nurūs: ‘the king’s daughters-in-law,’ i.e. the princes’ wives.
23.13 convīviō et lūxū: ‘a banquet and luxury’ = ‘a luxurious banquet.’
23.14 The home of Collatinus.
23.15 lānae dēditam: ‘wholly intent on spinning.’ In the oldest times the Roman
housewife made all the garments of the household. Hence a frequent laudatory inscription
on the tombstones of Roman ladies is lānam fēcit. Macaulay had this feature of Roman life
in mind when (Horatius, stanza LXX) he wrote:
“When the goodwife’s shuttle merrily

Goes flashing through the loom.”
23.16 vim attulit (adferō): ‘outraged.’
24.1 in exitium rēgum: ‘to kill the royal family (rēgum).’ For in exitium cf. p. 14, n. 4.
24.2 dat. of disadvantage. Translate: ‘against T., on his return to Rome.’
24.3 Sc. est.
24.4 prōdō.
24.5 adeō.
24.6 infin. because dependent on dīxit understood, to be supplied from dīcēbat.
24.7 quasi . . . dēsiperet: ‘thinking that the old woman’s mind was failing through age.’
See p. 3, n. 6.
24.8 dērīdeō.
24.9 abl. of price: H 478 (422): M 652: A 252: G 404: B 225.
24.10 exūrō.
24.11 explained by the clause ut . . . emat.
24.12 ut . . . emat: a substantive clause of purpose depending on rogat: H 565 (498, I):
M 894: A 331: G 546: B 295, 4.
24.13 abl. of quality with fit.
24.14 = tālem, as often.
24.15 sc. esse.
24.16 dīgressam (dīgredior) = postquam dīgressa est.
24.17 Librī . . . appellātī: the Sibyllae were inspired maidens devoted to the worship of
Apollo. The most famous, from whom Tarquin was believed to have received the Sibylline
books, lived at Cumae, on the coast of Campania, in Italy. The books were placed in a vault
beneath the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. When this temple was burned in 83 b.c., the
senate sent envoys to Greece to make a new collection of oracular sayings. These also were
deposited for a time in the temple of Jupiter after its restoration.

IX. Iūnius Brūtus, Rōmānōrum cōnsul prīmus Text-only version

Iūnius Brūtus, sorōre 1 Tarquiniī Superbī nātus, cum 2 eandem
fortūnam timēret, in quam frāter inciderat, quī ob dīvitiās et
prūdentiam ab avunculō erat occīsus, stultitiam finxit, unde
Brūtus dictus est. Profectus 3 Delphōs 4 cum Tarquiniī fīliīs,
5 quōs pater ad Apollinem mūneribus honōrandum mīserat, baculō 5
sambūceō aurum inclūsum dōnō 6 tulit deō. Perāctīs deinde
mandātīs patris, iuvenēs Apollinem cōnsulunt quisnam ex ipsīs

Rōmae 7 rēgnātūrus esset. 8 Respōnsum est eum Rōmae 7 summam
potestātem habitūrum, quī prīmus mātrem ōsculātus esset. 9 Tunc
10 Brūtus, velut sī cāsū prōlāpsus 10 cecidisset, terram ōsculātus est,
scīlicet quod ea commūnis māter omnium mortālium esset.
B.C. Expulsīs rēgibus duo cōnsulēs 11 creātī sunt, Iūnius Brūtus et
509.
Tarquinius Collātīnus 12 Lucrētiae marītus. At lībertās
modo parta 13 per dolum et prōditiōnem paene āmissa est.
15 Erant in iuventūte Rōmānā adulēscentēs aliquot, sodālēs
adulēscentium Tarquiniōrum. 14 Hī cum lēgātīs, quōs rēx ad bona sua
repetenda Rōmam mīserat, dē restituendīs rēgibus conloquuntur,
ipsōs Brūtī cōnsulis fīliōs in societātem cōnsiliī adsūmunt. Sermōnem
eōrum ex servīs ūnus excēpit; rem ad cōnsulēs dētulit.
20 Datae 15 ad Tarquinium lītterae manifēstum facinus fēcērunt.
Prōditōrēs in vincula coniectī sunt, deinde damnātī. Stābant ad
pālum dēligātī iuvenēs nōbilissimī; sed ā cēterīs līberī cōnsulis
omnium in sē oculōs āvertēbant. Cōnsulēs in sēdem prōcessēre 16
suam, missīque līctōrēs nūdātōs 1 virgīs caedunt secūrīque feriunt.
25 Suppliciī nōn spectātor modo, sed et 2 exāctor erat Brūtus,
quī tunc patrem exuit, ut cōnsulem ageret. 3
Tarquinius deinde bellō apertō rēgnum reciperāre cōnātus 4 est.
Equitibus praeerat Ārūns, Tarquiniī fīlius: rēx ipse cum legiōnibus
sequēbātur. Obviam hostī 5 cōnsulēs
30 eunt; Brūtus ad explōrandum cum equitātū
antecessit. Ārūns, ubi procul Brūtum
āgnōvit, 6 īnflammātus īrā “Ille est vir” inquit
“quī nōs patriā expulit; ipse 7 ēn ille nostrīs
decorātus īnsīgnibus māgnificē incēdit.” Tum
35 concitat calcāribus equum atque in ipsum cōnsulem
dīrigit; Brūtus avidē sē certāminī offert. Adeō 8 īnfēstīs
animīs concurrērunt, ut ambō hastā trānsfīxī caderent; fugātus
tamen proeliō est Tarquinius. Alter 9 cōnsul Rōmam triumphāns

rediit. Brūtī conlēgae fūnus, quantō 10 potuit apparātū, fēcit.
40 Brūtum mātrōnae, ut parentem, annum lūxērunt. 11

Skip to next selection.

25.1 Cf. p. 23, n. 8.
25.2 cum: causal; cf. p. 4, n. 12; also p. xx, H 2.
25.3 proficīscor.
25.4 Cf. p. 3, n. 4.
25.5 Join with inclūsum, and cf. p. 2, n. 7.
25.6 dat. of purpose or service: H 433 (390): M 548: A 233, a: G 356: B 191, 2. This dat. is
specially common in connection with another dat., as deō here (dat. of advantage).
25.7 locative: H 483 (425, II): M 620: A 258, c, 2: G 411: B 228, 1.
25.8 Cf. p. 3, n. 2. The whole clause is the object of cōnsulunt, ‘consult (by asking).’
25.9 Cf. p. 6, n. 1. The oracle said: Is . . . habēbit, quī . . . erit.
25.10 prōlāpsus (prōlābor) cecidisset (cadō) = prōlāpsus esset et cecidisset.
25.11 See Vocab., cōnsul.
25.12 Cf. VIII, 17.
25.13 pariō.
25.14 The sons of Tarquin, mentioned above, l. 4.
25.15 = quae datae erant. datae = missae, and so is construed with ad and the accusative.
25.16 = prōcessērunt.
26.1 nūdātōs virgīs caedunt = nūdant (eōs) et virgīs caedunt.
26.2 = etiam.
26.3 What does the subjunctive express?
26.4 cōnor.
26.5 dat. after ob in obviam. The rule regarding compound verbs (p. 2, n. 7) holds true
often of nouns, adjectives, and adverbs.
26.6 āgnōscō.
26.7 ipse . . . incēdit: the spirit of this dramatic sentence may be reproduced thus: ‘Look at
him (ēn ille)! He is actually adorned with our insignia! See in what a lordly way he
advances!’
26.8 Adeō, ‘such,’ in part qualifies īnfēstīs, in part paves the way for the result clause ut
. . . caderent.
26.9 Alter: ‘the remaining.’ Why may it be so translated?
26.10 quantō . . . apparātū: ‘with the greatest possible splendor.’
26.11 lūgeō.

X. Mūcius Scaevola Text-only version

Cum Porsena 12 Rōmam obsidēret, Mūcius, vir Rōmānae 13
cōnstantiae, senātum adiit et veniam 14 trānsfugiendī petiit, necem
B.C. rēgis reprōmittēns. Acceptā potestāte cum in castra Porsenae
1
507 vēnisset, ibi in cōnfertissimā turbā prope tribūnal cōnstitit.
5 Stīpendium tunc forte 2 mīlitibus dabātur et scrība cum
rēge parī 3 ferē ōrnātū sedēbat. Mūcius, īgnōrāns uter rēx esset,
illum prō rēge occīdit. Apprehēnsus et ad rēgem pertrāctus 4
dextram accēnsō 5 ad sacrificium foculō iniēcit, velut manum
pūniēns, quod 6 in caede peccāsset. Attonitus mīrāculō rēx
10 iuvenem āmovērī ab altāribus iussit. Tum Mūcius, quasi beneficium
remūnerāns, ait trecentōs adversus eum 7 suī similēs coniūrāsse.
Quā rē ille territus 8 bellum acceptīs obsidibus dēposuit. 9
Mūciō prāta trāns Tiberim data, 10 ab eō Mūcia appellāta. Statua
quoque eī 11 honōris grātiā cōnstitūta est.
Skip to next selection.

26.12 Tarquinius Superbus had applied to Porsena, king of the Etruscan city of Clusium,
for aid in the recovery of his throne. Porsena gathered a large army and marched against
Rome. For this story, see Macaulay’s Lays of Ancient Rome, Horatius. Modern authorities
on Roman history maintain that Porsena was so successful in his operations that he
compelled the Romans to submit to a very humiliating treaty.
26.13 We would say, ‘truly Roman.’
26.14 veniam trānsfugiendī: ‘permission to go over (to the enemy).’
27.1 Acceptā (accipiō) . . . vēnisset = Cum potestātem accēpisset et . . . vēnisset.
27.2 Cf. p. 5, n. 19.
27.3 parī . . . ōrnātū: abl. abs. to denote an attendant circumstance: H 489, 1 (431, 1):
M 640: A 255, d, 5: G 409, n.: B 227.
27.4 pertrahō.
27.5 accendō.
27.6 quod . . . peccāsset expresses Scaevola’s thought: see H 588, II (516, II): M 851:
A 321: G 541: B 286, 1, and cf. p. 14, n. 1, and p. xxi, H 4.
27.7 eum refers to the king, suī to Scaevola. Scaevola’s speech was: Trecentī adversus tē
meī similēs coniūrāvērunt.

27.8 terreō.
27.9 dēpōnō.
27.10 Sc. sunt.
27.11 dat. of advantage with cōnstitūta est.

XI. Fabiī trecentī sex Text-only version
479-477 b.c.

Cum 12 adsiduīs Vēientium 13 incursiōnibus vexārentur 12 Rōmānī,
Fabia gēns senātum adit; cōnsul Fabius prō gente loquitur:
“Vōs alia bella cūrāte; Fabiōs 14 hostēs Vēientibus date: id
bellum prīvātō sūmptū 15 gerere nōbīs 16 in animō est.” Grātiae eī
5 ingentēs āctae sunt. Cōnsul ē Cūriā ēgressus, comitante 1
Fabiōrum āgmine, domum rediit. Mānat tōtā urbe rūmor; Fabium
ad 2 caelum laudibus ferunt. Fabiī posterō diē arma capiunt.
Numquam 3 exercitus neque minor numerō neque clārior fāmā et
admīrātiōne hominum per urbem incessit. Ībant sex et trecentī
10 mīlitēs, omnēs patriciī, omnēs ūnīus gentis. Ad Cremeram flūmen
perveniunt. Is opportūnus vīsus est locus commūniendō praesidiō. 4
Hostēs nōn 5 semel fūsī pācem supplicēs 6 petunt.
Vēientēs 7 pācis impetrātae cum brevī paenituisset, 8 redintegrātō
bellō iniērunt cōnsilium īnsidiīs ferōcem hostem captandī.
15 Multō successū Fabiīs 9 audācia crēscēbat. Cum igitur pālātī
passim agrōs populārentur, pecora ā Vēientibus obviam 10 ācta
sunt; ad quae prōgressī Fabiī in īnsidiās dēlāpsī 11 omnēs ad
ūnum periērunt. Diēs, quō id factum est, inter nefāstōs relātus 12
est; porta, quā profectī erant, Scelerāta est appellāta. Ūnus
20 omnīnō superfuit ex eā gente, quī propter aetātem impūberem
domī 13 relīctus 14 erat. Is 15 genus propāgāvit ad Quīntum 16 Fabium
Māximum, quī Hannibalem morā 17 frēgit. 18
Skip to next selection.

27.12 The subjunctive expresses both time and cause: cf. p. 2, n. 13, and p. xxii, J.
27.13 The Veientes fought almost constantly against Rome from a very early time (cf. IV,
57; Livy says that they were defeated by Romulus) till their city was completely destroyed
in 396 b.c.
27.14 Fabiōs . . . date: ‘give the Veientes the Fabii as their enemies,’ i.e. let the war against
the Veientes be the special business of the Fabii.
27.15 Cf. p. 24, n. 9.
27.16 nōbīs . . . est: since nōbīs is a dat. of possession (H 430 (387): M 542: A 231: G 349:
B 190) with est, the phrase exactly = ‘we have it in mind.’ The subject of est is the clause
id . . . gerere. Fabiōs is strongly opposed to vōs.
28.1 comitante . . . āgmine: ‘the Fabii accompanying him in a body.’ How literally?
28.2 ad . . . ferunt: so we ‘laud a person to the skies.’
28.3 Numquam . . . neque . . . neque: in Latin, as in English, two negatives neutralize
each other and make an affirmative. To this law there are two regular exceptions in Latin:
When a general negative like nōn, numquam, or nēmō is followed (1) by neque . . . neque
or (2) by the emphatic nē . . . quidem. In the former case the negation is distributed by the
neque . . . neque into two (or more) clauses or phrases; in the latter, the full weight of the
negation is concentrated upon a single word or phrase. In English a single negative is
always to be employed.
28.4 dat. of purpose: cf. p. 25, n. 6. This construction is especially frequent with phrases
consisting of a gerundive and a noun.
28.5 nōn semel: ‘not once (only),’ i.e. repeatedly.
28.6 Cf. p. 4, n. 4.
28.7 Vēientēs . . . paenituisset: lit., ‘when it had repented the V. of the peace which they
had secured.’ What is our idiom? paenituisset is wholly impersonal; Vēientēs is acc.,
though logically its subject, and pācis is gen., though logically its object. H 457 (409, III):
M 585: A 221, b: G 377: B 209.
28.8 See p. 2, n. 13.
28.9 dat. of reference: H 425, 4, n. (384, 4, n. 2): M 537: A 235, a: G 346: B 187, II.
28.10 Sc. eīs: ‘to meet them.’
28.11 dēlābor.
28.12 refero.
28.13 locative: H 484, 2 (426, 2): M 622: A 258, d: G 411, r. 2: B 232, 2.
28.14 relinquō.
28.15 Is . . . Māximum: freely ‘he saved the family from extinction and became the
ancestor of Maximus.’
28.16 See Selection XIX.
28.17 Fabius, by his ‘policy of masterly inactivity,’ gained the title of Cunctātor, ‘the
Delayer.’

28.18 frangō.

XII. Lūcius Virgīnius Text-only version

Annō trecentēsimō 1 ab urbe 2 conditā prō duōbus cōnsulibus
decemvirī creātī sunt, quī 3 adlātās ē Graeciā lēgēs populō
prōpōnerent. 4 Duodecim 5 tabulīs 6 eae sunt perscrīptae. Cēterum
decemvirī 7 suā 8 ipsōrum īnsolentiā in exitium āctī sunt. Nam
5 ūnus ex iīs Appius Claudius virginem plēbēiam adamāvit. Quam 9
cum Appius nōn posset pretiō ac spē perlicere, ūnum ē
clientibus 10 subōrnāvit, quī eam in 11 servitūtem dēpōsceret, 12 facile
victūrum 13 sē spērāns, cum ipse esset et accūsātor et iūdex. Lūcius
Virgīnius, puellae pater, tunc aberat mīlitiae causā. Cliēns igitur
10 virginī 14 venientī in Forum (namque ibi in tabernīs litterārum 15
lūdī erant) iniēcit manum, adfīrmāns suam esse servam. Eam
sequī sē iubet; nī faciat, 16 minātur sē vī abstrāctūrum. Pavidā
puellā 17 stupente, 17 ad clāmōrem nūtrīcis fit concursus. Itaque cum
ille puellam vī nōn posset abdūcere, eam vocat in iūs, ipsō
15 Appiō 17 iūdice. 17

Intereā missī nūntiī ad Virgīnium properant. Is commeātū
sūmptō ā castrīs profectus prīmā lūce Rōmam advēnit, cum iam
cīvitās in Forō exspectātiōne ērēcta stābat. Virgīnius statim in
Forum lacrimābundus et cīvium opem implōrāns fīliam suam
20 dēdūcit. Neque 1 eō sētius Appius, cum in tribūnal ēscendisset,
Virgīniam clientī suō addīxit. Tum pater, ubi nihil ūsquam
auxiliī 2 vīdit, “Quaesō,” inquit “Appī, īgnōsce patriō dolōrī 3;
sine mē fīliam ultimum adloquī.” Datā veniā pater cum fīliam
sēdūxisset, ab laniō cultrō 4 adreptō pectus puellae trānsfīgit.
25 Tum vērō sibi viam facit et respersus cruōre ad exercitum profugit
et mīlitēs ad vindicandum facinus accendit. Concitātus
exercitus montem Aventīnum īnsēdit; decem tribūnōs 5 mīlitum
creāvit; decemvirōs magistrātū sē abdicāre coēgit 6 eōsque omnēs

B.C. aut morte aut exiliō multāvit; ipse Appius Claudius in carcerem
449. 30 coniectus mortem sibi cōnscīvit. 7

Skip to next selection.

29.1 The dating is not exact, as the Decemvirs were elected in 451 b.c.
29.2 Cf. p. 5, n. 15.
29.3 quī . . . prōpōnerent: i.e. after studying the laws of Greece, they were to draw up a
code and submit it to the people.
29.4 Cf. p. 5, n. 3.
29.5 From this circumstance the code was known as the Lēgēs XII Tabulārum.
29.6 abl. of means; we say ‘on tablets.’ The tablets were of bronze. For many centuries
Roman schoolboys had to commit these laws to memory.
29.7 The Decemvirs had been elected for one year, at the end of which time they reported
their work still unfinished, and a second board was chosen. The story that follows concerns
the second board. All accounts agree that the rule of the first board was in all respects just.
29.8 suā ipsōrum: a strong expression for ‘their own.’
29.9 Cf. p. 4, n. 3.
29.10 See Vocab., cliēns.
29.11 in servitūtem expresses purpose (cf. p. 14, n. 4), and so = ut serva esset.
29.12 Cf. p. 5, n. 3.
29.13 vincō.
29.14 Join with iniēcit manum, and cf. p. 2, n. 7.
29.15 litterārum lūdī: schools where children were taught their A B C’s, i.e. what we
should call ‘primary schools.’
29.16 subjunctive as the subordinate clause of the indirect quotation, which depends on
minātur. The threat was: Nī (id) fēceris, vī (tē) abstraham.
29.17 abl. abs.
30.1 Neque eō sētius: ‘nevertheless.’ How literally? eō = ‘for that reason.’
30.2 partitive gen. with nihil: H 441 (397, 1): M 564: A 216, a, 3: G 369: B 201, 2.
30.3 dat. with īgnōsce: H 426, 2 (385, II): M 531: A 227: G 346: B 187, II, a.
30.4 cultrō . . . trānsfīgit: cf. p. 2, n. 8.
30.5 tribūnōs: two armies were in the field against the Sabines and Aequians. The eight
Decemvirs who commanded them were deposed, and ten tribunes, or ‘captains,’ were
chosen in their place.
30.6 cōgō.
30.7 cōnscīscō. With this whole story cf. Macaulay’s Lays, Virginia.

XIII. Titus Mānlius Torquātus Text-only version

Titus Mānlius ob ingeniī et linguae tarditātem ā patre rūs 8
relēgātus erat. Quī cum audīvisset patrī 9 diem dictam esse ā
Pompōniō, tribūnō plēbis, cēpit cōnsilium rudis quidem et agrestis
animī, 10 sed pietāte laudābile. Cultrō succinctus māne in
5 urbem atque ā portā cōnfēstim ad 11 Pompōnium pergit:
intrōductus 12 cultrum stringit et super lectum Pompōniī stāns sē eum
trānsfīxūrum minātur, nisi ab inceptā accūsātiōne dēsistat. 13 Pavidus
tribūnus, quīppe 1 quī cerneret ferrum ante oculōs micāns, accūsātiōnem
dīmīsit. Ea rēs adulēscentī 2 eō 3 māiōrī 4 fuit honōrī
10 quod animum ēius acerbitās paterna ā pietāte nōn āvertisset,
ideōque eōdem annō tribūnus mīlitum factus est.
Cum posteā Gallī 5 ad tertium 6 lapidem trāns Aniēnem fluvium
castra posuissent, exercitus Rōmānus ab urbe profectus in citeriōre
rīpā fluviī cōnstitit. Pōns in mediō 7 erat: tunc Gallus
B.C. 15 eximiā corporis māgnitūdine in vacuum pontem
361. prōcessit et quam 8 māximā vōce potuit “Quem
nunc” inquit “Rōma fortissimum habet, is prōcēdat 9
agedum ad pūgnam, ut ēventus certāminis nostrī
ostendat utra gēns bellō sit melior.” Diū inter
20 prīmōrēs iuvenum Rōmānōrum silentium fuit. Tum
Titus Mānlius ex statiōne ad imperātōrem pergit:
“Iniussū 10 tuō,” inquit, “imperātor, extrā ōrdinem MĪLIĀRIUM
numquam pūgnāverim, 11 nōn sī certam victōriam
videam 11; sī tū permittis, volō ego illī bēluae ostendere mē ex eā
25 familiā ortum esse, quae Gallōrum āgmen ex rūpe Tarpēiā dēiēcit.” 12
Cuī imperātor “Macte 1 virtūte,” inquit “Tite Mānlī, estō: perge
et nōmen Rōmānum invictum praestā.”
Armant deinde iuvenem aequālēs: scūtum capit, Hispānō 2
cingitur 3 gladiō, ad propiōrem 4 pūgnam habilī. Exspectābat eum
30 Gallus stolidē laetus et linguam ab inrīsū exserēns.

Ubi cōnstitēre 5 inter duās aciēs, Gallus ēnsem cum
ingentī sonitū in arma Mānliī dēiēcit. Mānlius vērō
inter corpus et arma Gallī sēsē īnsinuāns ūnō 6 alterōque
īctū ventrem trānsfōdit et in spatium ingēns
35 ruentem porrēxit hostem; iacentī 7 torquem dētrāxit,
quem cruōre respersum 8 collō 9 circumdedit 10 suō.
Dēfīxerat pavor 11 cum admīrātiōne Gallōs; Rōmānī
alacrēs obviam mīlitī suō prōgrediuntur et grātulantēs
laudantēsque ad imperātōrem perdūcunt. Mānlius
40 inde Torquātī cōgnōmen accēpit.

B.C. Īdem Mānlius, posteā cōnsul factus bellō Latīnō,
340.
ut dīsciplīnam mīlitārem restitueret, ēdīxit nē 12 quis GLADIUS

extrā ōrdinem in hostēs pūgnāret. T. Mānlius, 13
cōnsulis fīlius, cum propius forte ad statiōnem hostium
45 accessisset, is, quī Latīnō equitātuī praeerat, ubi cōnsulis fīlium
āgnōvit, 14 “Vīsne” inquit “congredī mēcum, ut singulāris certāminis
ēventū cernātur, quantum eques Latīnus Rōmānō praestet?”
Mōvit ferōcem animum iuvenis seu īra seu dētrēctandī 15
certāminis pudor. Itaque oblītus 1 imperiī 2 paternī in certāmen
50 ruit et Latīnum 3 ex equō excussum trānsfīxit spoliīsque lēctīs
in castra ad patrem vēnit. Extemplō fīlium āversātus
cōnsul mīlitēs classicō advocat. Quī postquam
frequentēs convēnēre, “Quandōquidem” inquit “tū,
fīlī, contrā imperium cōnsulis pūgnāstī, oportet 4
55 dīsciplīnam, quam solvistī, poenā 5 tuā restituās.
Trīste exemplum, sed in 6 posterum salūbre iuventūtī
LĪCTOR
eris. Ī, 7 līctor, dēligā 8 ad pālum.” Metū omnēs
obstupuēre; sed postquam cervīce caesā fūsus est cruor, in questūs
et lāmenta ērūpēre. 9 Mānliō Rōmam redeuntī seniōrēs tantum
60 obviam exiērunt: iuventūs et tunc eum et omnī 10 deinde vītā
exsecrāta est.

Operae pretium erit aliud sevēritātis dīsciplīnae Rōmānae
exemplum prōferre, simul ut appāreat quam facile sevēritās in 11
crūdēlitātem et furōrem abeat. Cn. Pīsō fuit 12 vir ā multīs vitiīs
65 integer, sed prāvus et cuī 13 placēbat prō cōnstantiā rigor. Is
cum īrātus ad mortem dūcī iussisset mīlitem, quasi 14 interfēcisset
commīlitōnem, cum quō ēgressus erat ē castrīs et sine quō redierat,
rogantī 15 tempus aliquod ad conquīrendum 16 nōn dedit.
Damnātus mīles extrā castrōrum vāllum ductus est et iam cervīcem
70 porrigēbat, cum subitō appāruit ille commīlitō, quī occīsus 17
dīcēbātur. Tunc centuriō suppliciō praepositus condere gladium
carnificem iubet. Ambō commīlitōnēs alter alterum complexī
ingentī concursū et māgnō gaudiō exercitūs dēdūcuntur ad Pīsōnem.
Ille cōnscendit tribūnal furēns et utrumque ad mortem
75 dūcī iubet, adicit et centuriōnem, quī damnātum mīlitem redūxerat,
haec praefātus 1: “Tē morte plectī iubeō, quia iam damnātus
es; tē, quia causa damnātiōnis commīlitōnī fuistī; tē, quia
iussus occīdere mīlitem imperātōrī 2 nōn pāruistī.”
Cēterum Mānliānae gentis 3 propriam ferē fuisse 4 illam in
80 fīliōs acerbitātem alius Mānlius, illīus dē quō suprā dīximus
nepōs, ostendit. Cum Macedonum lēgātī Rōmam vēnissent
conquestum 5 dē Sīlānō, Mānliī Torquātī fīliō, quod praetor 6 prōvinciam
expīlāsset, 7 pater, avītae sevēritātis hērēs, petiit ā patribus 8
cōnscrīptīs nē quid dē eā rē statuerent, antequam ipse īnspexisset
85 Macedonum et fīliī suī causam. Id ā senātū libenter concessum
est virō summae 9 dīgnitātis, cōnsulārī iūrisque cīvīlis perītissimō.
Itaque, īnstitūtā domī cōgnitiōne causae, sōlus per tōtum bīduum
utramque partem audiēbat ac tertiō diē prōnūntiāvit fīlium suum
vidērī nōn tālem fuisse in prōvinciā, quālēs ēius māiōrēs fuissent,
90 et in cōnspectum suum deinceps venīre vetuit. Tam trīstī patris
iūdiciō perculsus 10 lūcem 11 ulterius intuērī nōn sustinuit et
proximā 12 nocte vītam suspendiō fīnīvit. Perēgerat 13 Torquātus sevērī
et religiōsī iūdicis partēs, 14 satisfactum erat reī pūblicae, habēbat

ultiōnem Macedonia, at nōndum erat īnflexus patris rigor. Igitur
95 nē 15 exsequiīs quidem fīliī interfuit, ut patribus mōs erat apud
Rōmānōs, et eō ipsō diē, quō fūnus ēius dūcēbātur, aurēs, ut
solēbat, volentibus cōnsulere sē dē iūre praebuit.
Skip to next selection.

30.8 Cf. p. 3, n. 4.
30.9 patrī . . . esse: ‘that a day had been set against his father (for trial),’ i.e. ‘that his father
had been summoned to appear for trial.’ Among the charges against the elder Manlius was
that of cruelty to his son. patrī is a dat. of disadvantage.
30.10 cēpit . . . laudābile: ‘he formed a plan (which, though it gave token) of a rough and
uncouth temper (was) nevertheless commendable by reason of the filial devotion (which it
showed).’ For quidem . . . sed, cf. p. 10, n. 10. animī is a genitive of quality or description
with cōnsilium.
30.11 ad Pompōnium = ‘to (the house of) Pomponius.’
30.12 = a temporal clause: ‘when he had been ushered in.’
30.13 For the mood, cf. p. 29, n. 16.
31.1 quīppe quī: ‘since indeed he,’ etc. quī = cum is (cf. p. 4, n. 3), and the relative clause
has its verb in the subjunctive because it expresses a reason: H 592, 1 (517, 3, 1)): M 840:
A 320, e, n. 1: G 633: B 283, 3, a.
31.2 dat. of advantage.
31.3 eō = ‘for this reason,’ explained by quod . . . āvertisset.
31.4 māiōrī fuit honōrī: ‘was all the more credit’; cf. p. 25, n. 6.
31.5 In the fifth century b.c. the Gauls left their homes in northwestern Europe, and,
crossing the Alps, gained control of the fertile valley of the Po. Hence that part of the
Italian peninsula was called Gallia Cisalpina. Thence they made raids into the lands to the
south.
31.6 With tertium sc. ab urbe Rōmā. On all the roads leading from Rome milestones were
set up to mark the distance from the gate in the Servian Wall (see map, p. xxviii), by which
the road issued from the capital.
31.7 Sc. duōrum exercituum, i.e. ‘between the two armies.’
31.8 quam . . . potuit: cf. p. 26, n. 10.
31.9 subjunctive of exhortation or command: H 559, 1 (484, II): M 713: A 266: G 263, 3:
B 274.
31.10 Iniussū tuō: ‘without your consent.’
31.11 subjunctive in an ideal condition: H 576 (509): M 936: A 307, b: G 596: B 303.
31.12 In 388 b.c. the Gauls had captured and destroyed all of Rome save the Capitol, which
was commanded by M. Manlius, the father of Titus. He was aroused one night by the

cackling of the sacred geese, to find that the Gauls had climbed by a secret path, and had
almost effected an entrance. He awoke the garrison, hurled the foremost Gauls back upon
their companions, and thus saved the Capitol.
32.1 macte virtūte . . . estō: lit., ‘be glorified in (respect of) your valor.’ The phrase is in
part an expression of commendation, like our ‘bravo!’ in part a prayer, like ‘success attend
thee!’
32.2 A straight, two-edged sword, not more than two feet long, used for thrusting rather
than for striking. The Gallic sword was long and without point.
32.3 = cingit sē, i.e. ‘girds himself,’ not ‘is girded.’
32.4 ‘nearer,’ i.e. hand to hand.
32.5 cōnsistō. What tense?
32.6 ūnō alterōque īctū: ‘with one stroke after the other’; i.e. he killed him with two quick
blows.
32.7 Sc. eī, and render ‘from him as he lay (dead).’ See p. 17, n. 4.
32.8 respergō.
32.9 What case?
32.10 In its compounds, dare more often = ‘to put’ than ‘to give.’
32.11 pavor cum admīrātiōne = pavor et admīrātiō; cf. mentēs cum oculīs, II, 12.
32.12 nē quis . . . pūgnāret: ‘that no one should fight.’ For the subjunctive, see p. 9, n. 6.
32.13 Subject of accessisset. For its position, see p. 19, n. 7.
32.14 āgnōscō.
32.15 dētrēctandī . . . pudor: ‘his unwillingness to decline the fight.’ A literal translation
would be impossible. Pudor implies that he was ashamed to decline lest his refusal should
be attributed to cowardice.
33.1 oblivīscor.
33.2 dependent on oblītus: H 454 (406, II): M 588: A 219, 1: G 376: B 206, 1.
33.3 excussum trānsfīxit: cf. p. 2, n. 8.
33.4 oportet restituās: ‘it is fitting that you restore.’ Oportet is construed either with the
infinitive or with the subjunctive of result with ut omitted.
33.5 Why abl.?
33.6 in posterum (cf. p. 4, n. 9) = ‘for the future.’
33.7 Imperative of eō.
33.8 Cf. Stābant ad pālum dēligāti, IX, 21.
33.9 ērumpō.
33.10 omnī . . . vītā: ‘throughout his whole subsequent life.’ In this sense the simple acc.,
or the acc. with per is far more common. deinde, standing between an adj. and a noun, may
be rendered by an adj.: cf. p. 10, n. 14.
33.11 in . . . abeat: ‘passes over into,’ ‘degenerates into.’
33.12 fuit . . . sed: we would say, ‘was, to be sure, . . . but, after all,’ i.e. ‘although he was
. . . yet.’ In this sense quidem . . . sed is commonly used: cf. p. 10, n. 10.

33.13 H 426 (385, I): M 531: A 227: G 346: B 187, II.
33.14 Cf. p. 3, n. 6.
33.15 Sc. mīlitī, and join with dedit.
33.16 Sc. commīlitōnem.
33.17 Sc. esse.
34.1 praefor.
34.2 H 426 (385): M 531: A 227: G 346: B 187, II.
34.3 Join with propriam. Proprius, like similis, is construed with both the gen. and the dat.
34.4 dependent on ostendit, l. 81.
34.5 supine of conqueror, expressing purpose. Cf. p. 5, n. 20.
34.6 ‘when praetor,’ or ‘during his praetorship.’
34.7 Many, indeed most, governors of provinces enriched themselves by extortion.
34.8 See Vocab., cōnscrīptus.
34.9 summae . . . perītissimō: these words contain the reasons why Id . . . concessum est.
34.10 percellō.
34.11 lūcem . . . sustinuit: ‘he refused to live longer.’ How literally?
34.12 The context must determine whether proximā nocte = ‘the next night’ or ‘last night.’
34.13 pergō.
34.14 ‘role.’ This meaning of partēs is borrowed from the theater.
34.15 nē . . . quidem is a very strong negative, and generally emphasizes some word or
phrase placed between the nē and the quidem.

XIV. Pūblius Decius Text-only version

B.C. P. Decius, 1 Valeriō 2 Māximō et Cornēliō Cossō cōnsulibus,
343. tribūnus mīlitum fuit. Exercitū Rōmānō in angustiīs Gaurī
montis clausō 3 Decius ēditum collem cōnspexit imminentem
hostium castrīs. Acceptō praesidiō verticem 4 occupāvit, hostēs
5 terruit, cōnsulī spatium dedit ad subdūcendum āgmen in aequiōrem
locum. Ipse, colle, quem īnsēderat, 5 undique
armātīs circumdatō, intempestā nocte
per 6 mediās hostium cūstōdiās somnō oppressās 7
incolumis ēvāsit. Quā rē ab exercitū
10 dōnātus est corōnā cīvicā, quae dabātur eī,
quī cīvēs in bellō servāsset. Cōnsul fuit bellō

B.C. Latīnō cum Mānliō 8 Torquātō. Hōc
340. bellō cum 9 utrīque cōnsulī somniō obvēnisset
eōs victōrēs futūrōs, quōrum dux in proeliō
cecidisset,
15 convēnit inter eōs utī, utrīus cornū in aciē labōrāret, is
diīs 10
sē Mānibus dēvovēret. Inclīnante suā parte Decius sē et CORŌNA CĪVICA

hostēs
diīs Mānibus dēvōvit. 11 Armātus in equum īnsiluit ac sē in mediōs
hostēs immīsit: corruit obrutus tēlīs et victōriam suīs relīquit.
Skip to next selection.

35.1 His full name was P. Decius Mus.
35.2 Valeriō . . . cōnsulibus: ‘in the consulship of,’ etc. For the abl. abs. consisting of two
nouns, see H 489 (431, 4): M 639: A 255, a: G 409: B 227, 1. For another method of dating
events, cf. XII, 1.
35.3 claudō.
35.4 Sc. collis.
35.5 īnsideō.
35.6 per . . . cūstōdiās: ‘through the midst of the enemy’s pickets.’ Cf. l. 17, in mediōs
hostēs, ‘against the enemy’s center.’ Note the difference between the Latin and the English
idioms. H 497, 4 (440, n. 1-2): M 565: A 193: G 291, r. 2: B 241, 1.
35.7 opprimō.
35.8 Cf. XIII, 41.
35.9 cum . . . obvēnisset: ‘when the two consuls had dreamed.’ How literally? The subject
of obvēnisset is eōs . . . cecidisset. So the subject of convēnit is utī . . . dēvovēret.
35.10 See Vocab., Mānēs.
35.11 Decius’ act was called dēvōtiō, and proceeded from the idea that for the victim
which the Manes seemed to be claiming another might be substituted. According to Livy,
Decius used this formula: “As a substitute for the commonwealth, the army, the legions,
and the allies of the Roman people I devote to the Manes myself and the legions and allies
of the enemy.”

XV. Mānius Curius Text-only version

Mānius Curius contrā Samnītēs profectus 1 eōs ingentibus proeliīs
vīcit. 2 In quō bellō cum permultum agrī 3 hominumque 3
māximam vim 4 cēpisset, 5 ipse inde 6 dītārī adeō 7 nōluit, ut, cum
interversae 8 pecūniae arguerētur, catīllō 9 līgneō, quō 10 ūtī ad
5 sacrificia cōnsuēverat, 11 in medium prōlātō iūrāret sē nihil amplius
dē praedā hostīlī in domum suam convertisse. Curiō 12 ad focum
sedentī in agrestī scamnō et ex līgneō catīllō cēnantī cum māgnum
aurī pondus Samnītēs attulissent, 13 repudiātī ab eō sunt dīxitque
nōn 14 aurum habēre 15 sibi praeclārum vidērī, sed iīs quī habērent
10 aurum imperāre. 15 Quō respōnsō Curius Samnītibus ostendit sē
neque aciē vincī neque pecūniā corrumpī posse. Agrī captī septēna
iūgera populō virītim dīvīsit 16; cumque ipsī senātus iūgera
quīnquāgintā adsīgnāret, plūs accipere nōluit quam singulīs cīvibus
erat datum, dīxitque perniciōsum esse cīvem, 17 quī eō, 18 quod
15 reliquīs tribuerētur, contentus nōn esset. 19

Posteā cōnsul creātus adversus Pyrrhum missus est: cumque
in Capitōliō dēlēctum habēret et iūniōrēs taediō 20 bellī nōmina 21
nōn darent, coniectīs in ūrnam omnium tribuum nōminibus
prīmum 22 nōmen ūrnā extrāctum citārī iussit et cum adulēscēns nōn
20 respondēret, bona 23 ēius hastae subiēcit, deinde cum is
questus 1 dē iniūriā cōnsulis tribūnōs 2 plēbis appellāsset, ipsum quoque
vēndidit, nihil 3 opus esse reī pūblicae eō cīve, 4 quī nescīret
pārēre, dīcēns. Neque tribūnī plēbis adulēscentī 5 auxiliō 5 fuērunt;
posteāque rēs 6 in cōnsuētūdinem abiit, ut dēlēctū rīte āctō,
25 quī 7 mīlitiam dētrēctāret, in servitūtem vēnderētur. Hōc 8 terrōre
cēterī adāctī 9 nōmina prōmptius dedērunt.
Hīs cōpiīs Curius Pyrrhī exercitum cecīdit 10 dēque eō rēge
triumphāvit. Īnsīgnem 11 triumphum fēcērunt quattuor elephantī
cum turribus suīs, tum prīmum Rōmae 12
30 vīsī. Victus rēx relīctō Tarentī 12 praesidiō
in Ēpīrum revertit. Cum 13 autem
bellum renovātūrus putārētur, Mānium

Curium iterum cōnsulem fierī placuit. 14
Sed inopīnāta mors rēgis Rōmānōs metū
35 līberāvit. Pyrrhus enim, dum Argōs
oppūgnat, 15 urbem iam ingressus ā iuvene
quōdam Argīvō lanceā leviter vulnerātus
est. Māter adulēscentis, anus paupercula,
cum aliīs mulieribus ē tēctō domūs proelium
40 spectābat; quae cum vīdisset Pyrrhum in
auctōrem vulneris
suī māgnō impetū ferrī, 16 perīculō fīliī suī commōta ELEPHANT
prōtinus tēgulam
corripuit et utrāque manū lībrātam 17 in caput rēgis dēiēcit.
Skip to next selection.

36.1 proficīscor.
36.2 vincō.
36.3 partitive gen.: cf. p. 30, n. 2.
36.4 Cf. p. 4, n. 11.
36.5 capiō.
36.6 i.e. from the ager, or the money derived from the sale of the hominēs.
36.7 Cf. p. 26, n. 8.
36.8 See p. 5, n. 15; cf. also H 456 (409, II): M 582: A 220: G 378: B 208, 1.
36.9 catīllō . . . prōlātō (prōferō) iūrāret = catīllum prōferret et iūrāret. Cf. p. 2, n. 8.
36.10 H 477, I (421, I): M 253: A 249: G 407: B 218, 1.
36.11 cōnsuēscō.
36.12 Join with attulissent.
36.13 adferō.
36.14 nōn . . . imperāre: ‘it was not the having gold that seemed to him glorious, but the
ruling over those who had it.’ Give Curius’ exact words.
36.15 subjects of vidērī: cf. p. 6, n. 16.
36.16 = distribuit.
36.17 We would say, ‘that citizen.’
36.18 H 476, 1 (421, III): M 629: A 254, b, 2: G 401, n. 6: B 219.
36.19 Why subjunctive?
36.20 abl. of cause.

36.21 nōmina dare = to hand in one’s name to a recruiting officer, i.e. ‘to volunteer.’
36.22 prīmum nōmen: i.e. the man whose name was first drawn.
36.23 bona . . . subiēcit: i.e. he sold his goods at auction. At Roman auctions, especially of
booty taken in war, a spear was set in the ground, just as nowadays a flag is exposed.
37.1 queror.
37.2 The tribūnī plēbis had been created for the express purpose of protecting the people
from unjust treatment by the patrician magistrates, especially the consuls. They could veto
the acts of any magistrate.
37.3 nihil (adv. acc.) . . . cīve: ‘the state had no need of that citizen.’
37.4 abl. with opus: H 477, III (414, IV): M 646: A 243, e: G 406: B 218, 2.
37.5 For the two datives see p. 25, n. 6.
37.6 rēs . . . ābiit: i.e. it became a regular custom. Cf. sevēritās . . . abeat, XIII, 63.
37.7 ‘whoever.’
37.8 Hōc terrōre: i.e. ‘by the terror occasioned by this (act).’
37.9 adigō.
37.10 At Beneventum, 275 b.c.
37.11 Īnsīgnem . . . elephantī: ‘this triumph was made notable by the presence of four
elephants.’ How literally?
37.12 Cf. p. 25, n. 7.
37.13 Cum . . . putārētur: with renovātūrus sc. esse. For the personal construction, see
p. 7, n. 12.
37.14 Sc. populō Rōmānō. Its subject is the clause Mānium . . . fierī; hence the infin. fierī.
37.15 ‘was besieging.’ Cf. p. 3, n. 14.
37.16 ‘rushing.’ How literally?
37.17 lībrātam . . . dēiēcit = lībrāvit et dēiēcit.

XVI. Gāius Duīlius Text-only version

Gāius Duīlius Poenōs nāvālī pūgnā prīmus 1 dēvīcit.
Quī cum vidēret nāvēs Rōmānās ā Pūnicīs
vēlōcitāte superārī, manūs ferreās sīve corvōs,
māchinam ad comprehendendās hostium nāvēs
5 tenendāsque ūtilem, excōgitāvit. Quae 2 manūs ubi
hostīlem apprehenderant nāvem, superiectō ponte
trānsgrediēbātur Rōmānus 3 et in ipsōrum 4 ratibus
comminus dīmicābant, unde 5 Rōmānīs, quī rōbore

praestābant, facilis victōria fuit. Celeriter sunt
10 expūgnātae nāvēs Pūnicae trīgintā, in quibus etiam
praetōria 6 septirēmis 7 capta est, mersae 8 tredecim.
Duīlius victor Rōmam reversus
prīmus
nāvālem triumphum ēgit. Nūlla
victōria
Rōmānīs grātior fuit, quod 9
COLUMNA RŌSTRĀTA
OF DUĪLIUS
invictī terrā
15 iam etiam marī plūrimum 10 TĪBĪCEN
possent. 9 Itaque
Duīliō concessum est, ut per omnem vītam
praelūcente fūnāli et praecinente tībīcine ā
cēnā redīret. 11
Hannibal, dux classis Pūnicae, ē nāvī
20 quae iam capiēbātur, in scapham saltū sē dēmittēns Rōmānōrum
manūs effūgit. Veritus autem, nē 12 in patriā classis 13 āmissae
poenās daret, cīvium odium āstūtiā āvertit, nam ex illā īnfēlīcī
pūgnā priusquam 1 clādis nūntius domum 2 pervenīret 1 quendam
ex amīcīs Carthāginem 2 mīsit. Quī postquam cūriam intrāvit,
25 “Cōnsulit” inquit “vōs Hannibal, cum 3 dux Rōmānōrum māgnīs
cōpiīs maritimīs īnstrūctīs advēnerit, 3 num cum eō cōnflīgere
dēbeat?” Acclāmāvit ūniversus senātus nōn esse dubium quīn 4
cōnflīgī oportēret. Tum ille “Cōnflīxit” inquit “et superātus
est.” Ita nōn potuērunt factum damnāre, quod ipsī fierī dēbuisse
30 iūdicāverant. Sīc Hannibal victus crucis supplicium effūgit:
nam eō 5 poenae genere dux rē 6 male gestā apud Poenōs
adficiēbātur.
Skip to next selection.

38.1 prīmus dēvīcit: ‘was the first (Roman) to conquer.’ Cf. prīmus ēgit, l. 12. H 497, and
1 (443 and 1): A 191: G 325, r. 6: B 239. Such a phrase as prīmus fuit dēvincere is never
used by good writers.
38.2 ‘These’; cf. p. 4, n. 3.
38.3 a collective noun: ‘the Romans.’
38.4 Sc. hostium.
38.5 = ‘and as a consequence.’
38.6 Cf. rēgius, I, 17. The Romans applied the term praetor to the commander of any
foreign force.
38.7 Sc. nāvis. At this time Carthaginian ships generally had five banks of oars. In building
the fleet commanded by Duilius, the Romans, it is said, took as their model a Carthaginian
vessel which had been wrecked on the coast of Italy.
38.8 mergō; sc. sunt.
38.9 Cf. p. 14, n. 1.
38.10 ‘were supreme’; cf. p. 23, n. 1.
38.11 In commemoration also of the victory the Columna Rōstrāta was erected in the
Forum.
38.12 nē . . . daret: a clause of purpose, dependent on veritus: H 567 (498, III) M 897:
A 331, f: G 550: B 296, 2.
38.13 classis āmissae: ‘for losing the fleet’; see p. 5, n. 15.
39.1 Cf. p. 12, n. 5.
39.2 Why accusative?
39.3 causal subjunctive.
39.4 quīn with a subjunctive of result is regularly used after negative expressions of doubt:
H 595, 1 (504, 3, 2): M 913: A 332, g, r.: G 555, 2: B 298.
39.5 eō . . . adficiēbātur: ‘in that way . . . was punished.’ How literally?
39.6 rē male gestā: ‘if unsuccessful.’ How literally?

XVII. Mārcus Atīlius Rēgulus Text-only version

B.C. Mārcus Rēgulus cum Poenōs māgnā clāde 7 adfēcisset, Hannō
256. Carthāginiēnsis ad eum vēnit, quasi dē pāce āctūrus, 8 rē

vērā ut 8 tempus extraheret, 8 dōnec 9 novae cōpiae ex Āfricā
advenīrent. 9 Is ubi ad cōnsulem accessit, exortus 10 est mīlitum
5 clāmor audītaque vōx, idem 11 huīc faciendum esse, quod paucīs
ante annīs 12 Cornēliō cōnsulī ā Poenīs factum esset. Cornēlius
enim, velut in conloquium per fraudem ēvocātus, ā Poenīs
comprehēnsus erat et in vincula coniectus. Iam Hannō timēre
incipiēbat, sed perīculum āstūtō respōnsō āvertit: “Hōc vērō” inquit
10 “sī fēceritis, 1 nihilō 2 eritis Āfrīs 3 meliōrēs.” Cōnsul tacēre
iussit eōs, quī pār 4 parī referrī volēbant, et conveniēns 5 gravitātī
Rōmānae respōnsum dedit: “Istō tē metū, Hannō, fidēs Rōmāna
līberat.” Dē pāce, quia neque Poenus sēriō agēbat et cōnsul
victōriam quam pācem mālēbat, nōn convēnit.
15 Rēgulus deinde in Āfricam prīmus 6 Rōmānōrum ducum trāiēcit.
Clypeam urbem et trecenta 7 castella expūgnāvit, neque 8
cum hominibus tantum, sed etiam cum mōnstrīs dīmicāvit. Nam
cum ad flūmen Bagradam castra habēret, anguis mīrā māgnitūdine
exercitum Rōmānōrum vexābat; multōs mīlitēs ingentī ōre corripuit;
20 plūrēs caudae verbere ēlīsit 9; nōnnūllōs ipsō pēstilentis
hālitūs adflātū exanimāvit. Neque is tēlōrum īctū perforārī
poterat, dūrissimā 10 squāmārum lōrīcā omnia tēla facile repellente.
Cōnfugiendum 11 fuit ad māchinās advectīsque ballistīs 12
et catapultīs, velut 13 arx quaedam mūnīta, dēiciendus hostis fuit.
25 Tandem saxōrum pondere oppressus 14 iacuit, sed cruōre suō flūmen
corporisque pēstiferō adflātū vīcīna loca īnfēcit Rōmānōsque castra
inde submovēre coēgit. 15 Corium bēluae, centum et vīgintī pedēs 16
longum, Rōmam mīsit Rēgulus.
Huīc ob rēs 17 bene gestās imperium in annum proximum prōrogātum
30 est. Quod ubi cōgnōvit Rēgulus, scrīpsit senātuī vīlicum
suum in agellō, quem septem iūgerum 1 habēbat, mortuum esse et
servum, occāsiōnem nactum, 2 aufūgisse ablātō īnstrūmentō 3
rūsticō ideōque petere sē ut sibi 4 successor in Āfricam mitterētur,
nē, dēsertō agrō, nōn esset unde 5 uxor et līberī alerentur. 6

35 Senātus, acceptīs litterīs, rēs quās Rēgulus āmīserat pūblicā pecūniā
redimī iussit, agellum colendum 7 locāvit, alimenta 8 coniugī ac
līberīs praebuit. Rēgulus deinde multīs proeliīs Carthāginiēnsium
opēs contudit 9 eōsque pācem petere coēgit. Quam cum
Rēgulus nōllet nisi dūrissimīs condiciōnibus 10 dare, ā
40 Lacedaemoniīs illī auxilium petiērunt.

B.C. Lacedaemoniī Xanthippum, virum bellī perītissimum,
255
Carthāginiēnsibus
mīsērunt, ā quō Rēgulus victus est ūltimā perniciē 10:
nam duo tantum mīlia hominum ex omnī Rōmānō
exercitū refūgērunt et Rēgulus ipse captus et in carcerem
B.C. 45 coniectus est. Inde Rōmam dē permūtandīs captīvīs missus
251 est datō iūreiūrandō. ut, 11 sī nōn impetrāsset, 12 redīret ipse
Carthāginem. Quī cum Rōmam vēnisset, inductus in senātum
mandāta exposuit; sententiam 13 nē dīceret recūsāvit; quamdiū 14
iūreiūrandō hostium tenērētur, sē nōn esse senātōrem. Iūssus
50 tamen sententiam dīcere, negāvit 15 esse ūtile captīvōs Poenōs
reddī, illōs enim adulēscentēs esse et bonōs ducēs, sē iam
cōnfectum 1 senectūte. Cūius cum 2 valuisset auctōritās, captīvī
retentī sunt, ipse, cum retinērētur ā propinquīs et amīcīs, tamen
Carthāginem rediit: neque vērō tunc īgnōrābat sē ad crūdēlissimum
55 hostem et ad exquīsīta supplicia proficīscī, sed iūsiūrandum
cōnservandum 3 putāvit. Reversum 4 Carthāginiēnsēs omnī
cruciātū necāvērunt: palpebrīs enim resectīs aliquamdiū in locō
tenebricōsō tenuērunt: deinde cum sōl esset ārdentissimus, repente
ēductum intuērī caelum coēgērunt; postrēmō in arcam līgneam,
60 undique clāvīs praeacūtīs horrentem et tam angustam, ut ērēctus
perpetuō manēre cōgerētur, inclūsērunt. Ita dum fessum corpus,
quōcumque inclīnābat, stimulīs ferreīs cōnfoditur, vigiliīs et dolōre
continuō interēmptus est. Hīc fuit Atīliī Rēgulī exitus, ipsā vītā
clārior et inlūstrior.
Skip to next selection.

39.7 clāde adfēcisset = ‘had inflicted defeat upon.’ Cf. eō genere . . . adficiēbātur, XVI,
31. The reference is to the naval victory off Ecnomus, in Sicily.
39.8 Note carefully the two ways of expressing purpose, the future participle being exactly
equivalent to ut with the subjunctive. See p. xviii, E 5; quasi = ‘as if,’ and is contrasted
with rē vērā, ‘in reality.’
39.9 The subjunctive in reality expresses purpose. See also p. xx, G 3.
39.10 exorior.
39.11 idem . . . esse: ‘the same thing ought to be done to him.’ The gerundive with esse
denotes either physical necessity (‘must’), or moral obligation (‘ought’).
39.12 abl. of the measure of difference: H 479 (423): M 655: A 250: G 403: B 223. paucīs
annīs is a sort of temporal adverb with ante.
40.1 Latin is extremely exact in the use of the tenses. Of two past actions the prior is
expressed by the pluperfect tense; of two future actions the prior is expressed by the future
perfect tense. Apply this principle here. We say simply, ‘if you do.’
40.2 Join with meliōrēs, and cf. p. 39, n. 12.
40.3 i.e. the Carthaginians. To the Roman mind Pūnica fidēs was a synonym for the vilest
treachery. So Livy says of the great Hannibal that his character was marred by ‘worse than
Punic treachery.’ For Āfrīs, see p. 10, n. 18.
40.4 pār . . . referrī = ‘retaliation.’ How literally?
40.5 ‘consistent with.’
40.6 prīmus . . . trāiēcit: cf. p. 38, n. 1.
40.7 indefinite, like our ‘hundreds of.’ Sēscentī and mīlle are often used in the same way.
40.8 = et nōn (cf. l. 13).
40.9 ēlīdō.
40.10 dūrissimā . . . repellente: what does the abl. abs. express?
40.11 Cōnfugiendum . . . ad: impersonal passive: ‘they had to resort to.’ Cf. p. 39, n. 11.
40.12 The ballistae and catapultae were the artillery of antiquity. It is said that from the
ballistae stones weighing one hundred pounds could be sent half a mile.
40.13 velut . . . mūnīta: to be taken with what follows.
40.14 opprimō.
40.15 cōgō.
40.16 acc. of extent (cf. p. 12, n. 1) with longum.
40.17 rēs bene gestās: ‘successes,’ ‘exploits.’ Contrast rē male gestā, XVI, 31, and note.
41.1 Cf. p. 18, n. 17.
41.2 occāsiōnem nactum (nancīscor): ‘seizing the opportunity.’
41.3 īnstrūmentō rūsticō: ‘his farming implements.’
41.4 Join with successor, and cf. p. 26, n. 5.
41.5 unde . . . alerentur: ‘the wherewithal to support,’ etc.
41.6 subjunctive partly of purpose, partly by attraction, for which see p. 13, n. 10.

41.7 colendum: ‘to be tilled’ (cf. p. 2, n. 18), for Regulus’ benefit. In such cases the
produce of the farm was divided equally between owner and tenant.
41.8 alimenta . . . praebuit: i.e. they were supported at public expense till the harvest of
that year was gathered. No salary was given to Roman officials.
41.9 contundō.
41.10 abl. of manner: H 473, 3 (419, III): M 635: A 248: G 399: B 220, 1.
41.11 ut . . . redīret gives the purpose of the Carthaginians in exacting the oath.
41.12 subjunctive in indirect discourse. Regulus said: Sī nōn impetrāverō, . . . redībō.
41.13 sententiam . . . recūsāvit: ‘he refused to express his opinion.’ recūsāre is construed
(1) with the simple infinitive; (2) with nē and a subjunctive of purpose; (3) with quīn or
quōminus and a subjunctive of result.
41.14 quamdiū . . . senātōrem: indirect discourse = ‘(saying that) as long as,’ etc.
41.15 negāvit esse ūtile: ‘he said that it was not expedient.’ In such sentences negāre
rather than nōn dīcere is used. The subject of esse is the clause captīvōs . . . reddī.
42.1 ‘exhausted.’
42.2 Here temporal, but in the next line adversative, as is shown by tamen: see p. xxii, J.
42.3 Sc. esse, and cf. p. 39, n. 11.
42.4 Sc. eum: ‘on his return.’ The story is given by no writer earlier than Cicero, and
modern historians are inclined to view the whole narrative as fictitious.

XVIII. Appius Claudius Pulcher Text-only version

B.C. Appius Claudius, vir stultae temeritātis, cōnsul adversus Poenōs
249. profectus priōrum ducum cōnsilia palam reprehendēbat
sēque, quō 5 diē hostem vīdisset, bellum cōnfectūrum esse
iactitābat. Quī cum, antequam nāvāle proelium committeret,
5 auspicia 6 habēret pullāriusque 7 eī nūntiāsset, pullōs nōn exīre ē
caveā neque vescī, inrīdēns iussit eōs in aquam mergī, ut saltem
biberent, quoniam ēsse 1 nōllent. Ea rēs cum, quasi 2 īrātīs diīs,
mīlitēs ad omnia sēgniōrēs timidiōrēsque
fēcisset, commissō proeliō 3
10 māgna clādēs ā Rōmānīs accepta est:
octō eōrum mīlia caesa sunt, vīgintī
mīlia capta. Quā re Claudius posteā ā
populō condemnātus est damnātiōnisque 4

īgnōminiam voluntāriā morte
15 praevēnit. Ea rēs calamitātī 5 fuit
etiam Claudiae, 5 cōnsulis sorōrī: quae
ā lūdīs pūblicīs revertēns, in 6 cōnfertā
multitūdine aegrē prōcēdente carpentō,
palam optāvit ut frāter suus Pulcher
20 revīvīsceret atque iterum classem āmitteret,
quō 7 minor turba Rōmae foret. 7 Ob vōcem illam
impiam
Claudia quoque damnāta gravisque 8 eī 9 dicta est
multa. SACRED CHICKENS
From the tomb of a Pullārius
Skip to next selection.

42.5 quō diē: we should expect diē quō, or eōdem diē quō, but the antecedent, as often, is
incorporated into the relative clause and made to agree with the pronoun: H 399, 3 (445, 9):
A 200, b: G 616: B 251, 4.
42.6 auspicia habēret: cf. auspicia adhibēre, I, 42.
42.7 pullārius . . . vescī: on setting out for the seat of war, the commanding general often
took with him a cage of sacred chickens, in charge of a special keeper (pullārius). If, when
food was thrown before them, the chickens ate so greedily that portions of the food fell
from their mouths to the ground, it was considered a very favorable omen. The
circumstance described in the text would be regarded by the superstitious soldiery as of
very dire significance.
43.1 infinitive of edō.
43.2 quasi . . . diīs: ‘because (as they supposed), the gods were angry.’ Cf. p. 3, n. 6. īrātīs
diīs is an abl. abs.
43.3 The battle was fought off Drepanum, in Sicily. Appius lost 93 out of 123 ships.
43.4 que here = ‘but,’ a meaning which it bears more frequently after negative sentences
(p. 13, n. 12).
43.5 Cf. p. 25, n. 6.
43.6 in . . . carpentō: an abl. abs., giving the cause of optāvit.
43.7 Cf. p. 14, n. 13.
43.8 gravis . . . multa: ‘a heavy fine was imposed upon her.’
43.9 dat. of disadvantage.

XIX. Quīntus Fabius Māximus Text-only version

B.C. Hannibal, Hamilcaris 10 fīlius, novem 11 annōs 12 nātus, ā
236. patre ārīs admōtus odium in Rōmānōs perenne iūrāvit.
Quae rēs māximē vidētur concitāsse secundum 13 Pūnicum bellum.
Nam, mortuō 1 Hamilcare, Hannibal causam bellī quaerēns Saguntum,
5 cīvitātem Hispāniae Rōmānīs 2 foederātam ēvertit.

B.C. Quāpropter Rōmā missī sunt Carthāginem
219. lēgātī, quī Hannibalem, malī auctōrem, expōscerent.
Tergiversantibus Poenīs Quīntus Fabius,
lēgātiōnis prīnceps, sinū ex togā factō “Hīc”
10 inquit “vōbīs bellum et pācem portāmus; utrum 3
placet, sūmite.” Poenīs daret 4 utrum vellet
succlāmantibus, Fabius, excussā 5 togā, bellum
sē dare dīcit. Poenī accipere sē respondērunt et, HANNIBAL

quibus 6 acciperent animīs, iīsdem sē gestūrōs. 7
15 Hannibal superātīs Pȳrēnaeī et Alpium iugīs in Ītaliam vēnit.
Pūblium 8 Scīpiōnem apud Tīcīnum 9 amnem, Semprōnium apud
Trebiam, Flāminium apud Trasumēnum prōflīgāvit.
Adversus hostem totiēns victōrem missus Quīntus Fabius
dictātor 10 Hannibalis impetum morā 11 frēgit; namque, priōrum ducum
20 clādibus ēdoctus bellī ratiōnem mūtāre et adversus 12 Hannibalem,
succēssibus proeliōrum īnsolentem, recēdere 13 ab ancipitī discrīmine
et tuērī tantummodo Ītaliam cōnstituit Cunctātōrisque
nōmen et laudem summī ducis meruit. Per loca alta āgmen
dūcēbat modicō ab hoste intervāllō, 14 ut neque omitteret 15 eum
25 neque cum eō congrederētur; castrīs, 1 nisi 2 quantum necessitās
cōgeret, 2 mīles tenēbātur. Dux neque occāsiōnī 3 reī 4 bene
gerendae deerat, sī qua ab hoste darētur, neque ūllam ipse hostī
dabat. Itaque cum ex levibus proeliīs superior discēderet,
mīlitem 5 minus iam coepit aut virtūtis suae aut fortūnae
30 paenitēre.

Hīs artibus cum Hannibalem Fabius in agrō Falernō locōrum
angustiīs clausisset, ille sine ūllō exercitūs dētrīmentō sē expedīvit.
Namque ārida sarmenta in boum cornibus dēligāta 6 prīncipiō 7
noctis incendī bovēsque ad montēs, quōs Rōmānī īnsēderant, agī
35 iussit. Quī cum accēnsīs cornibus per montēs, per silvās hūc
illūc discurrerent, Rōmānī mīrāculō attonitī cōnstitērunt; ipse
Fabius, īnsidiās esse ratus, 8 mīlitem extrā vāllum ēgredī vetuit.
Intereā Hannibal ex angustiīs ēvāsit.
Dein Hannibal, ut Fabiō apud suōs cōnflāret invidiam, agrum
40 ēius, omnibus circā vāstātīs, intāctum relīquit. At Fabius, missō
Rōmam Quīntō fīliō, inviolātum ab hoste agrum vēndidit ēiusque
pretiō captīvōs Rōmānōs redēmit.
Haud grāta tamen Rōmānīs erat Fabiī cunctātiō: eumque prō
cautō timidum, prō cunctātōre sēgnem 9 vocitābant. Augēbat
45 invidiam Minucius, magister 10 equitum, dictātōrem crīminandō:
illum in dūcendō bellō sēdulō tempus terere, 11 quō diūtius in
magistrātū esset sōlusque et Rōmae et in exercitū imperium
habēret. Hīs sermōnibus accēnsa plēbs dictātōrī 12 magistrum
equitum imperiō 1 aequāvit. Hanc iniūriam aequō 2 animō tulit
50 Fabius exercitumque suum cum Minuciō dīvīsit. Cum autem
Minucius temerē proelium commīsisset, eī 3 perīclitantī auxiliō
vēnit Fabius. Cūius subitō adventū repressus Hannibal receptuī 4
cecinit, palam cōnfessus 5 ab sē Minucium, sē ā Fabiō victum esse.
Redeuntem ex aciē dīxisse eum 6 ferunt tandem 7 eam nūbem, quae
55 sedēre in iugīs montium solita esset, cum procellā imbrem dedisse.
Minucius autem perīculō līberātus castra cum Fabiō iūnxit et
patrem eum appellāvit idemque facere mīlitēs iussit.
Posteā Hannibal Tarentō 8 per prōditiōnem potītus est. Hanc
urbem ut Poenīs trāderent, tredecim ferē nōbilēs iuvenēs Tarentīnī
60 coniūrāverant. Hī, nocte per 9 speciem vēnandī urbe ēgressī,
ad Hannibalem, quī haud procul castra habēbat, vēnērunt. Cuī
cum quid parārent exposuissent, conlaudāvit eōs Hannibal monuitque

ut 10 redeuntēs pecora Carthāginiēnsium, quae pāstum 11 prōpulsa
essent, ad urbem agerent 10 et velutī 12 praedam ex hoste
65 factam aut praefectō aut cūstōdibus portārum dōnārent. 10 Id
iterum ac saepius ab iīs factum eōque 13 cōnsuētūdinis adducta rēs
est, ut, quōcumque noctis tempore sībilō dedissent 14 sīgnum, porta
urbis aperīrētur. Tunc Hannibal eōs nocte mediā cum decem
mīlibus hominum dēlēctōrum secūtus est. Ubi portae appropinquārunt,
70 nōta iuvenum vōx et familiāre sīgnum vigilem excitāvit.
Duo prīmī īnferēbant aprum vāstī corporis. Vigil incautus, dum
bēluae māgnitūdinem mīrātur, vēnābulō occīsus est. Ingressī
prōditōrēs cēterōs vigilēs sōpītōs 1 obtruncant. Tum Hannibal
cum suō āgmine ingreditur: Rōmānī passim trucīdantur. Līvius
75 Salīnātor, Rōmānōrum praefectus, cum iīs, quī caedī superfuērunt,
in arcem cōnfūgit.
Profectus igitur Fabius ad recipiendum Tarentum urbem obsidiōne
cinxit. Leve 2 dictū mōmentum ad rem ingentem perficiendam
eum adiūvit. Praefectus praesidiī Tarentīnī dēperībat 3
80 amōre mulierculae, 4 cūius frāter in exercitū Fabiī erat. Mīles
iussus ā Fabiō prō perfugā Tarentum trānsiit ac per sorōrem
praefectum ad 5 trādendam urbem perpulit. Fabius vigiliā 6 prīmā
accessit ad eam partem mūrī, quam praefectus cūstōdiēbat. Adiuvantibus
recipientibusque ēius mīlitibus, Rōmānī in urbem trānscendērunt.
85 Inde, proximā portā refrāctā, 7 Fabius cum exercitū
intrāvit. Hannibal 8 nūntiātā Tarentī oppūgnātiōne, cum ad opem
ferendam fēstīnāns captam urbem esse audīvisset, “Et Rōmānī”
inquit “suum 9 Hannibalem habent: eādem, quā cēperāmus, arte
Tarentum āmīsimus.”
90 Cum posteā Līvius Salīnātor cōram Fabiō glōriārētur, quod 10
arcem Tarentīnam retinuisset, 10 dīxissetque eum 11 suā operā
Tarentum recēpisse, “Certē” inquit Fabius rīdēns, “nam nisi tū
āmīsissēs, 12 ego numquam recēpissem.” 12

Quīntus Fabius iam senex fīliō suō cōnsulī lēgātus fuit; cumque
95 in ēius castra venīret, fīlius obviam patrī prōgressus est,
duodecim līctōribus prō mōre antecēdentibus. Equō 1 vehēbātur
senex neque appropinquante cōnsule dēscendit. Iam ex līctōribus
ūndecim verēcundiā 2 paternae māiestātis tacitī praeterierant.
Quod cum cōnsul animadvertisset, proximum līctōrem iussit
100 inclāmāre 3 Fabiō patrī ut ex equō dēscenderet. Pater tum
dēsiliēns “Nōn ego, fīlī,” inquit “tuum imperium contempsī, sed
experīrī voluī num scīrēs cōnsulem tē esse.” Ad summam senectūtem
vīxit Fabius Māximus, dīgnus tantō cōgnōmine. 4 Cautior 5
quam prōmptior habitus est, sed īnsita 6 ēius ingeniō prūdentia eī
105 bellō, quod tum gerēbātur, propriē apta erat. Nēminī 7 dubium
est quīn 8 rem 9 Rōmānam cunctandō 10 restituerit. Ut Scīpiō
pūgnandō, 10 ita hīc nōn dīmicandō 10 māximē cīvitātī Rōmānae
succurrisse vīsus est. Alter enim celeritāte suā Carthāginem
oppressit, alter cunctātiōne id 11 ēgit, nē Rōma opprimī posset.
Skip to next selection.

43.10 In the latter part of the First Punic War Hamilcar had successfully maintained himself
for several years in Sicily against the Romans. Subsequently he built up a great
Carthaginian empire in Spain, partly to offset the losses which Carthage had sustained in its
struggle with Rome, and partly to supply it with the means for a renewal of the conflict.
43.11 novem . . . nātus: ‘when only nine years old.’
43.12 Cf. p. 10, n. 15.
43.13 This war lasted from 218 to 202 b.c.
44.1 When Hamilcar was killed in battle in Spain in 227, his son-in-law Hasdrubal took
command of the Carthaginian forces there. He in turn was succeeded by Hannibal in 219.
44.2 dat. with foederātam. Cf. H 428, 3 (385, 4, 3): A 248, a, r.: G 359: B 192, 1.
Compare the dat. used with iungō and mīsceō.
44.3 utrum is here a relative pronoun; hence the indicative placet, with which we must
supply vōbīs. In utrum vellet, however, utrum is interrogative: hence the subjunctive.
44.4 = a subjunctive in ind. disc. representing an original imperative. See p. xxvi, M 6.
44.5 excutiō.
44.6 quibus . . . animīs, iīsdem: abl. of manner. See p. 42, n. 5.
44.7 Sc. bellum.

44.8 P. Cornelius Scipio, father of the famous P. Cornelius Scipio Africanus Maior, and
consul in 218.
44.9 The first two battles were fought in 218, the third in 217.
44.10 See Vocab., dictātor.
44.11 Cf. p. 28, n. 17.
44.12 adversus Hannibalem = a causal clause: ‘since he was facing H.’ Here again the
Latin feels the lack of a participle to sum.
44.13 recēdere . . . discrīmine: ‘to avoid (any) hazardous risk.’ recēdere depends on
cōnstituit, l. 22.
44.14 modicō . . . intervāllō: we say, ‘at a moderate distance.’ For the abl., see p. 39, n. 12.
44.15 ‘let slip,’ ‘lose sight of.’
45.1 apparently = in castrīs, but really an abl. of means.
45.2 nisi . . . cōgeret: ‘except as far as necessity forced (Fabius to lead them forth).’
cōgeret is an example of the iterative subjunctive, used to denote the frequent repetition of
an act. It generally occurs in clauses containing a past tense, and is common in Livy, on
whom this story is based.
45.3 neque . . . deerat: ‘missed no chance of scoring a success.’
45.4 reī bene gerendae: cf. p. 40, n. 17.
45.5 mīlitem . . . paenitēre: ‘the soldiers began to be less discontented with (i.e. to be
more confident of),’ etc. For the construction, see p. 28, n. 7.
45.6 dēligāta . . . incendī = dēligārī et incendī.
45.7 Why abl.?
45.8 reor.
45.9 Render by a noun: ‘sluggard.’
45.10 See Vocab., magister.
45.11 indirect discourse, dependent on the verb of saying suggested by crīminandō.
45.12 Indirect object with aequāvit, which = aequum fēcit.
46.1 abl. of specification.
46.2 aequō animō is an abl. of manner (p. 41, n. 10), and = ‘patiently.’
46.3 eī . . . auxiliō: ‘to help him in his peril.’ Cf. p. 25, n. 6.
46.4 receptuī cecinit: ‘gave the signal for a retreat.’ receptuī is a dat. of purpose: cf. p. 25,
n. 6. canere is used of instrumental music (here of playing on the trumpet) as well as of
vocal.
46.5 cōnfiteor.
46.6 i.e. Hannibal.
46.7 tandem . . . dedisse: ‘the cloud . . . had at last brought wind and rain,’ i.e. Fabius,
after so long threatening the Carthaginians, had at last proceeded to active measures.
46.8 Cf. p. 4, n. 6.
46.9 per . . . vēnandī: ‘under pretense of hunting.’

46.10 a substantive clause of purpose, object of monuit.
46.11 supine of pāscō, denoting the purpose of prōpulsa essent: cf. p. 5, n. 20.
46.12 veluti . . . factam: ‘as if they (i.e. the cattle) were plunder captured from the foe.’
praedam is accus. by attraction to ea pecora, to be supplied as the object of dōnārent.
46.13 eō . . . est: lit., ‘to such a degree of custom was the matter brought,’ = ‘so customary
did this proceeding become.’ cōnsuētūdinis is a partitive gen. with eō, which strictly =
‘thither, to that point.’
46.14 subjunctive by attraction (p. 13, n. 10) to aperīrētur, which itself denotes result.
47.1 ‘who were buried in slumber.’ The perf. pass. part. here, as often, = a relative clause.
47.2 Leve . . . mōmentum: ‘a circumstance (almost too) trifling to mention.’ For dictū, see
p. 19, n. 15.
47.3 dēperībat amōre: ‘was dying for (lit. because of) love,’ i.e. was desperately in love
with.
47.4 objective gen. with amōre: cf. p. 14, n. 15.
47.5 ad . . . perpulit (perpellō): ‘drove him to,’ i.e. induced him to, etc.
47.6 ‘watch.’
47.7 refringō.
47.8 emphatic by reason of its position before the conjunction cum: cf. p. 19, n. 8.
47.9 suum Hannibalem: ‘a Hannibal of their own.’
47.10 Cf. p. 14, n. 1.
47.11 i.e. Fabius. Livius said: meā operā tū Tarentum recēpistī.
47.12 A conditional sentence, containing a supposition contrary to the facts: H 579 and n.
(510 and n. 1): M 938: A 308: G 597: B 304.
48.1 equō vehēbātur: ‘was riding.’ equō is an abl. of means.
48.2 verēcundiā . . . māiestātis: ‘out of respect for his dignity as a father.’ Explain the case
of verēcundiā, also of māiestātis. Roman fathers were as absolutely masters of their
children as they were of their slaves. Yet the rights of a son in official position took
precedence of the honors due a father.
48.3 Cf. p. 12, n. 3.
48.4 abl. with dīgnus: H 481 (421, III): M 654: A 245, a: G 397, n. 2: B 226, 2.
48.5 Cautior . . . est: = ‘he was accounted cautious rather than alert.’ See H 499 (444, 2):
M 429: A 192: G 299: B 240, 4.
48.6 īnsita . . . prūdentia: ‘his innate caution’; lit., the caution implanted in his nature. For
ingeniō, see p. 2, n. 7.
48.7 possessive dative: ‘no one has a doubt.’
48.8 Cf. p. 39, n. 4.
48.9 = rem pūblicam.
48.10 abl. of means. With cunctandō cf. morā, l. 19, and cunctātiōne, l. 109.
48.11 id . . . posset: ‘accomplished this, that it should be impossible to overthrow Rome.’
nē . . . posset is a clause of purpose, in apposition with id.

XX. Aemilius Paulus et Terentius Varrō Text-only version

B.C. Hannibal 12 in Āpūliam pervēnerat. Adversus eum Rōmā
216. profectī sunt duo cōnsulēs, Aemilius Paulus et Terentius
Varrō. Paulō Fabiī cunctātiō magis placēbat; Varrō 1 autem, ferōx
et temerārius, ācriōra sequēbātur cōnsilia. Ambō cōnsulēs ad
5 vīcum, quī Cannae appellābātur, castra commūnīvērunt. Ibi
deinde Varrō, invītō 2 conlēgā, aciem īnstrūxit et sīgnum pūgnae
dedit. Hannibal autem ita cōnstituerat aciem, ut Rōmānīs 3 et
sōlis radiī et ventus ab oriente pulverem adflāns adversī
essent. Victus caesusque est Rōmānus exercitus; nūsquam graviōre
10 vulnere adflīcta est rēs pūblica. Aemilius Paulus tēlīs obrutus
cecidit: quem cum mediā in pūgnā sedentem in saxō opplētum cruōre
cōnspexisset quīdam tribūnus mīlitum, “Cape” inquit “hunc
equum et fuge, Aemilī. 4 Etiam sine tuā morte lacrimārum satis
lūctūsque est.” Ad ea cōnsul 5: “Tū 6 quidem macte virtūte
15 estō! Sed cavē 7 exiguum tempus ē manibus hostium ēvādendī
perdās! Abī, nūntiā patribus ut urbem mūniant ac prius quam
hostis victor adveniat, praesidiīs fīrment. Mē in hāc strāge meōrum
mīlitum patere 8 exspīrāre.” Alter cōnsul cum paucīs equitibus
Venusiam perfūgit. Cōnsulārēs aut praetōriī occidērunt
20 vīgintī, senātōrēs captī aut occīsī trīgintā, nōbilēs
virī trecentī, mīlitum quadrāgintā mīlia, equitum
tria mīlia et quīngentī. Hannibal in 9 tēstimōnium
victōriae suae trēs modiōs aureōrum ānulōrum 10
Carthāginem mīsit, quōs dē manibus
25 equitum Rōmānōrum et senātōrum dētrāxerat. ĀNULUS

Hannibalī victōrī cum cēterī grātulārentur suādērentque ut
quiētem iam ipse sūmeret et fessīs mīlitibus daret, ūnus ex ēius
praefectīs, Maharbal, minimē 1 cessandum ratus, Hannibalem
hortābātur ut statim Rōmam pergeret, diē quīntō victor in
30 Capitōliō epulātūrus. 2 Cumque Hannibal illud nōn probāsset,

Maharbal “Nōn omnia nīmīrum” inquit “eīdem 3 diī dedēre.
Vincere scīs, Hannibal; victōriā ūtī nescīs.” Mora hūius diēī satis
crēditur salūtī 4 fuisse urbī 4 et imperiō. 4 Hannibal cum victōriā
posset ūtī, fruī māluit, relīctāque Rōmā in Campāniam dīvertit,
35 cūius 5 dēliciīs mox exercitūs ārdor ēlanguit, adeō ut vērē dictum
sit Capuam 6 Hannibalī Cannās fuisse.
Numquam tantum pavōris Rōmae fuit, quantum 7 ubi acceptae
clādis nūntius advēnit. Neque tamen ūlla pācis mentiō facta est;
quīn 8 etiam animō cīvitās adeō māgnō fuit, ut Varrōnī ex tantā
40 clāde redeuntī obviam īrent et grātiās agerent, quod dē rē pūblicā
nōn dēspērāsset: quī, sī Poenōrum dux fuisset, 9 temeritātis poenās
omnī suppliciō dedisset. 9 Nōn autem vītae cupiditāte, sed reī
pūblicae amōre sē superfuisse 10 reliquō aetātis suae tempore
approbāvit. Nam et barbam capillumque submīsit, 11 et posteā numquam
45 recubāns 12 cibum cēpit; honōribus quoque, cum eī dēferrentur ā
populō, renūntiāvit, dīcēns fēlīciōribus magistrātibus 1 reī pūblicae
opus esse. Dum igitur Hannibal sēgniter et ōtiōsē agēbat.
Rōmānī interim respīrāre 2
coepērunt. Arma nōn
50 erant: dētrācta sunt
templīs 3 vetera hostium
spolia. Deerat iuventūs:
CONVĪVIUM
servī manūmissī et armātī
sunt. Egēbat aerārium:
55 opēs suās libēns senātus in medium prōtulit, nec praeter quod in
bullīs singulīsque 4 ānulīs erat quidquam sibi aurī relīquērunt.
Patrum exemplum secūtī sunt equitēs imitātaeque equitēs omnēs
tribūs. Dēnique vix 5 suffēcēre tabulae, vix scrībārum manūs, cum
omnēs prīvātae opēs in pūblicum dēferrentur.
60 Cum Hannibal redimendī 6 suī cōpiam captīvīs Rōmānīs fēcisset,
decem ex ipsīs Rōmam eā dē rē missī sunt; nec pīgnus aliud
fideī ab iīs pōstulātum est, quam ut iūrārent sē, sī nōn impetrāssent,

in castra esse reditūrōs. Eōs senātus nōn redimendōs cēnsuit
responditque eōs cīvēs nōn esse necessāriōs, quī, cum armātī
65 essent, capī potuissent. Ūnus ex iīs lēgātīs ē castrīs Poenōrum
ēgressus, velutī 7 aliquid 8 oblītus, paulō post in castra erat
regressus, deinde comitēs ante noctem adsecūtus erat. Is ergō, rē
nōn impetrātā, domum abiit; reditū enim in castra sē līberātum
esse iūreiūrandō interpretābātur. 9 Quod ubi innōtuit, iussit senātus
70 illum comprehendī et vinctum dūcī ad Hannibalem. Ea rēs
Hannibalis audāciam māximē frēgit, quod senātus populusque
Rōmānus rēbus 1 adflīctīs tam excelsō esset animō.
Skip to next selection.

48.12 Since the battle at Lake Trasumenus (XIX, 17), there had been no general
engagement between the Romans and Hannibal. The latter, closely watched and followed
by Fabius, had marched into southern Italy, hoping to induce the peoples there to desert
Rome and join him. When Fabius resigned the dictatorship at the end of the legal period,
C. Terentius Varro and L. Aemilius Paulus were elected consuls. Their army numbered
80,000 men, and their instructions were to fight as speedily as possible.
49.1 A further cause of trouble between the consuls was the fact that Paulus was a patrician,
Varro a plebeian.
49.2 invītō conlēgā: abl. abs.: ‘though opposed by his colleague.’ How literally? The
consuls held supreme command on alternate days.
49.3 Construe with adversī.
49.4 H 83, 5 (51, 5): M 152: A 40, c: G 33, 2: B 25, 1.
49.5 sc. inquit.
49.6 Tū . . . estō: ‘God bless you!’ Cf. p. 32, n. 1.
49.7 cavē . . . perdās = cavē nē . . . perdās: ‘Take care lest,’ etc. For this form see H 561, 2
(489, 2): M 715: A 269, a, 3: G 271, 2: B 276, c. We really have two commands here side
by side, thus: ‘Take care’; ‘Don’t waste,’ etc.
49.8 imperative of patior.
49.9 in . . . suae: ‘to prove his victory.’
49.10 The custom of wearing rings was universal among the Romans, having arisen out of
their use as signets. Originally they were of iron. When gold rings were first used they
served to distinguish the higher classes.
50.1 minimē . . . ratus: ‘thinking that there ought to be no delay.’ With cessandum sc.
esse, and see p. 16, n. 8.

50.2 victor . . . epulātūrus: ‘for he would surely dine as victor on the Capitol.’ The fut.
part. is often thus used to denote the certain occurrence of a future event. Further, the
clause expresses the reason why Maharbal urged H. to proceed to Rome. What were
Maharbal’s exact words?
50.3 dat. sing.
50.4 Cf. p. 25, n. 6. Contrast the words of a modern historian: “Hannibal knew Rome better
than the simpletons who, in ancient and modern times, have fancied that he might have
terminated the struggle by a march on the enemy’s capital.”
50.5 cūius . . . fuisse: a gross exaggeration. Hannibal successfully maintained himself in
Italy till recalled in 203.
50.6 Capua, at this time the most powerful city in Italy next to Rome, had formed an
alliance with Hannibal after the battle of Cannae.
50.7 Sc. fuit.
50.8 quīn etiam: ‘on the contrary.’
50.9 For the construction, see p. 47, n. 12. For the fact, cf. XVI, 19 ff.
50.10 superfuisse . . . approbāvit: ‘he showed that he had effected his escape (lit., had
survived).’
50.11 ‘let grow.’ This manner of showing grief is often mentioned.
50.12 The Romans reclined on the left side at meals. Varro’s act was a kind of penance,
since it indicated that he denied himself the pleasures of the table.
51.1 magistrātibus . . . esse: cf. p. 37, notes 3 and 4.
51.2 ‘to repair their losses’; lit., ‘to get their breath again.’
51.3 dat.; cf. p. 2, n. 7. After a victory, captured arms, as well as a portion of the captured
treasure, were hung up in some temple as a thank-offering to the gods.
51.4 singulīs . . . ānulīs: ‘a ring apiece.’
51.5 vix . . . manūs: i.e. they hardly had clerks and tablets sufficient to keep the record of
contributions.
51.6 redimendī suī: ‘of ransoming themselves.’ H 626, 3 (542, I, n. 1): M 1000: A 298, a:
G 428, r. 1: B 339, 5.
51.7 velutī . . . oblītus: ‘pretending to have forgotten something.’ How literally?
51.8 A neuter pronoun or adjective is often used with verbs of remembering or forgetting.
Contrast oblīta frātrum, IV, 37, and note.
51.9 ‘maintained, held.’
52.1 abl. abs.: ‘though their affairs were at the lowest ebb.’

XXI. Pūblius Cornēlius Scīpiō Āfricānus Text-only version

Pūblius Cornēlius Scīpiō 2 nōndum annōs
pueritiae ēgressus patrem singulārī virtūte
servāvit; quī 3 cum pūgnā 4 apud Tīcīnum 5
contrā Hannibalem commissā graviter vulnerātus
5 in hostium manūs iam iam 6 ventūrus
esset, fīlius interiectō 7 corpore Poenīs inruentibus
sē opposuit et patrem perīculō līberāvit.
SCĪPIŌ
Quae 8 pietās Scīpiōnī posteā aedīlitātem
petentī favōrem populī conciliāvit. Cum obsisterent
10 tribūnī plēbis, negantēs 9 ratiōnem ēius esse habendam,
quod nōndum ad petendum lēgitima 10 aetās esset, “Sī mē” inquit
Scīpiō “omnēs Quirītēs aedīlem facere volunt, satis annōrum
habeō.” Tantō inde favōre ad suffrāgia itum 11 est, ut tribūnī
inceptō dēsisterent.
15 Post clādem Cannēnsem Rōmānī exercitūs reliquiae Canusium
perfūgerant; cumque ibi tribūnī mīlitum quattuor essent, tamen
omnium cōnsēnsū ad Pūblium Scīpiōnem, admodum 12 adulēscentem,
summa imperiī dēlāta est. Quibus cōnsultantibus nūntiat
Pūblius Fūrius Philus, cōnsulāris virī fīlius, nōbilēs quōsdam
20 iuvenēs propter dēspērātiōnem cōnsilium dē Italiā dēserendā
inīre. Statim in hospitium Metellī, quī cōnspīrātiōnis erat prīnceps,
sē contulit Scīpiō, et cum concilium ibi iuvenum, dē quibus
adlātum 1 erat, invēnisset, strictō super cāpita cōnsultantium
gladiō, “Iūrāte” inquit “vōs neque ipsōs rem pūblicam populī
25 Rōmānī dēsertūrōs, neque alium cīvem Rōmānum dēserere
passūrōs 2: quī 3 nōn iūrāverit, in sē hunc gladium strictum esse
sciat.” 4 Haud 5 secus pavidī, quam sī victōrem Hannibalem
cernerent, 6 iūrant omnēs cūstōdiendōsque sēmet ipsōs Scīpiōnī
trādunt.
B.C. 30 Cum Rōmānī duās clādēs in Hispāniā accēpissent duoque ibi
212.
summī imperātōrēs 7 intrā diēs trīgintā cecidissent, placuit 8
exercitum augērī eōque prōcōnsulem mittī; nec tamen

quem mitterent 9 satis cōnstābat. Eā dē rē indicta sunt comitia.
Prīmō populus exspectābat ut, quī sē tantō dīgnōs imperiō
35 crēderent, 10 nōmina profitērentur; sed nēmō audēbat illud imperium
suscipere. Maesta igitur cīvitās ac prope inops 11 cōnsiliī 12
comitiōrum diē in campum dēscendit. Subitō P. Cornēlius Scīpiō,
quattuor et vīgintī fermē annōs nātus, professus sē petere, 13 in
superiōre, unde 14 cōnspicī posset, locō cōnstitit. In quem
40 postquam omnium ōra conversa sunt, ad ūnum omnēs Scīpiōnem in
Hispāniā prōcōnsulem esse iussērunt. At postquam animōrum 15
impetus resēdit, populum 16 Rōmānum coepit factī paenitēre:
aetātī Scīpiōnis māximē diffīdēbant. Quod ubi animadvertit
Scīpiō, advocātā cōntiōne ita māgnō ēlātōque animō dē bellō,
45 quod gerendum esset, disseruit, ut hominēs cūrā līberāret spēque
certissimā implēret.
Profectus igitur in Hispāniam Scīpiō Carthāginem Novam,
quō 1 diē vēnit, expūgnāvit. Eō 2 congestae 3 erant omnēs paene
Āfricae et Hispāniae opēs, ibi arma, ibi pecūnia, ibi tōtīus Hispāniae
50 obsidēs erant: quibus omnibus potītus est Scīpiō. Inter
captīvōs ad eum adducta est eximiae fōrmae adulta virgō. Quam
ubi comperit inlūstrī locō inter Celtibērōs nātam prīncipīque ēius
gentis adulēscentī dēspōnsam esse, arcessītīs parentibus et spōnsō
eam reddidit. Parentēs virginis, quī ad eam redimendam satis 4
55 māgnum aurī pondus attulerant, Scīpiōnem ōrābant ut id ā sē
dōnum acciperet. Scīpiō aurum ante pedēs pōnī iūssit vocātōque
ad sē virginis spōnsō, “Super dōtem” inquit “quam acceptūrus
ā socerō es, haec tibi ā mē dōtālia dōna accēdent” aurumque
tollere āc sibi habēre iūssit. Ille domum reversus ad referendam
60 Scīpiōnī grātiam Celtibērōs Rōmānīs conciliāvit.

Deinde Scīpiō Hasdrubalem 5 victum 6 ex Hispāniā expulit.
Castrīs hostium potītus omnem praedam mīlitibus concessit,
captīvōs 7 Hispānōs sine pretiō domum dīmīsit; Āfrōs vērō vēndī
iussit. Erat inter eōs puer adultus rēgiī generis, 8 fōrmā

65 īnsīgnī 8: quem cum percontārētur Scīpiō quis et cūiās esset, et
cūr id 9 aetātis in castrīs fuisset, “Numida sum” inquit puer,
“Massīvam populārēs vocant: orbus ā patre relīctus, apud avum
māternum, Numidiae rēgem, ēducātus sum. Cum avunculō Masinissā,
quī nūper subsidiō Carthāginiēnsibus vēnit, in Hispāniam
70 trāiēcī; prohibitus propter aetātem ā Masinissā numquam ante
proelium iniī. Eō diē, quō pūgnātum est cum Rōmānīs, īnsciō
avunculō, clam armīs equōque sūmptō, in aciem exiī: ibi, prōlāpsō
equō, captus sum ā Rōmānīs.” Scīpiō eum interrogat velletne 1
ad avunculum revertī. Cum, effūsīs 2 gaudiō lacrimīs, id
75 vērō sē cupere puer dīceret, tum Scīpiō puerō ānulum aureum
equumque ōrnātum dōnat datīsque quī 3 tūtō dēdūcerent equitibus
dīmīsit.
Cum Pūblius Cornēlius Scīpiō sē ergā Hispānōs clēmenter gessisset,
circumfūsa multitūdō eum rēgem ingentī cōnsēnsū appellāvit;
80 at Scīpiō, silentiō per praecōnem factō, “Nōmen imperātōris”
inquit, “quō 4 mē meī mīlitēs appellārunt, mihi 5 māximum est:
rēgium 6 nōmen, alibī māgnum, Rōmae intolerābile est. Sī id
amplissimum iūdicātis, quod rēgāle est, vōbīs licet exīstimāre rēgālem
in mē esse animum; sed ōrō vōs ut ā rēgis appellātiōne abstineātis.”
85 Sēnsēre etiam barbarī māgnitūdinem animī, quā Scīpiō id
āspernābātur, quod cēterī mortālēs admīrantur et concupīscunt.
Scīpiō receptā Hispāniā cum iam bellum in ipsam Āfricam
trānsferre meditārētur, conciliandōs 7 prius rēgum et gentium
animōs exīstimāvit. Syphācem, Maurōrum rēgem, opulentissimum
90 tōtīus Āfricae rēgem, quem 8 māgnō ūsuī 9 sibi 9 fore 10 spērāret,
prīmum tentāre statuit. Itaque lēgātum cum dōnīs ad eum mīsit
C. Laelium, quōcum intimā familiāritāte vīvēbat. Syphāx amīcitiam
B.C. Rōmānōrum sē accipere adnuit, sed fidem nec dare
206. nec accipere, nisi cum ipsō cōram duce Rōmānō, voluit.
95 Scīpiō igitur in Āfricam trāiēcit. Forte ita incidit, ut eō ipsō
tempore Hasdrubal 1 pulsus Hispāniā ad eundem portum appelleret, 2

Syphācis amīcitiam pariter petītūrus. 3 Uterque ā rēge in
hospitium invītātus. Cēnātum 4 simul apud rēgem est; eōdem
etiam lectō 5 Scīpiō atque Hasdrubal accubuērunt. Tanta autem
100 inerat cōmitās in Scīpiōne, ut nōn Syphācem modo, sed etiam
hostem īnfēstissimum Hasdrubalem sibi conciliāret. Scīpiō, foedere
īctō cum Syphāce, in Hispāniam ad exercitum rediit.
Masinissa quoque amīcitiam cum Scīpiōne iungere iam dūdum 6
cupiēbat. Quārē ad eum trēs Numidārum prīncipēs mīsit ad
105 tempus locumque conloquiō statuendum. Duōs prō obsidibus retinērī
ā Scīpiōne iubet; remissō tertiō, quī Masinissam ad locum
cōnstitūtum addūceret, Scīpiō et Masinissa cum paucīs in
conloquium vēnērunt. Cēperat iam ante Numidam ex fāmā rērum
gestārum admīrātiō virī, sed māior praesentis 7 venerātiō cēpit:
110 erat enim in vultū māiestās summa; accēdēbat prōmissa caesariēs
habitusque corporis, nōn cultus 8 munditiīs, sed virīlis vērē ac
mīlitāris, et flōrēns iuventa. Prope attonitus ipsō congressū
Numida grātiās dē 9 fīliō frātris remissō agit: adfīrmat sē ex eō
tempore eam quaesīvisse 10 occāsiōnem, quam tandem oblātam 11
115 nōn omīserit; cupere sē illī et populō Rōmānō operam nāvāre.
Laetus eum Scīpiō audīvit atque in societātem recēpit.
Scīpiō deinde Rōmam rediit et ante annōs 12 cōnsul factus est.
Sicilia eī prōvincia dēcrēta est permissumque ut in Āfricam inde
trāiceret. Quī cum vellet ex fortissimīs peditibus Rōmānīs
120 trecentōrum equitum numerum complēre, nec posset illōs subitō
armīs et equīs īnstruere, id prūdentī cōnsiliō perfēcit. Namque
ex omnī Siciliā trecentōs iuvenēs nōbilissimōs et dītissimōs, quī
equīs mīlitārent 1 et sēcum in Āfricam trāicerent, 1 lēgit diemque
iīs ēdīxit, quā 2 equīs armīsque īnstrūctī atque ōrnātī adessent. 1
125 Gravis ea mīlitia, procul domō, terrā marīque multōs labōrēs,
māgna perīcula adlātūra vidēbātur; neque ipsōs modo, sed parentēs
cōgnātōsque eōrum ea cūra angēbat. Ubi diēs quae dicta
erat advēnit, arma equōsque ostendērunt, sed omnēs ferē

longinquum et grave bellum horrēre appārēbat. Tunc Scīpiō mīlitiam
130 iīs sē remissūrum ait, sī arma et equōs mīlitibus Rōmānīs
voluissent 3 trādere. Laetī condiciōnem accēpērunt iuvenēs Siculī.
Ita Scīpiō sine pūblicā impēnsā suōs īnstrūxit ōrnāvitque equitēs.
Tunc Scīpiō ex Siciliā in Āfricam ventō secundō profectus est
tantō mīlitum ārdōre, ut nōn ad bellum dūcī vidērentur, sed ad
135 certa victōriae praemia. Celeriter nāvēs ē cōnspectū Siciliae
ablātae sunt cōnspectaque brevī Āfricae lītora. Scīpiō cum ēgrediēns
ad terram nāvī prōlāpsus esset et ob hōc attonitōs mīlitēs
cerneret, id, quod trepidātiōnem adferēbat, in hortātiōnem convertēns,
“Āfricam oppressī” inquit, “mīlitēs!” Expositīs cōpiīs in
140 proximīs tumulīs castra mētātus 4 est. Ibi speculātōrēs hostium
in castrīs dēprehēnsōs 5 et ad sē perductōs 5 nec suppliciō adfēcit
nec dē cōnsiliīs ac vīribus Poenōrum percontātus est, sed circā
omnēs Rōmānī exercitūs manipulōs cūrāvit dēdūcendōs; dein
interrogātōs 6 num ea satis cōnsīderāssent, quae speculārī erant
145 iūssī, prandiō datō incolumēs dīmīsit.

Scīpiōnī in Āfricam advenientī Masinissa sē coniūnxit cum
parvā equitum turmā. Syphāx vērō ā Rōmānīs ad Poenōs dēfēcerat.
Hasdrubal, Poenōrum dux, Syphāxque Scīpiōnī sē opposuērunt,
quī utrīusque castra ūnā nocte perrūpit et incendit.
150 Syphāx ipse captus et vīvus ad Scīpiōnem pertrāctus est.
Syphācem in castra addūcī cum esset nūntiātum, omnis velut ad
spectāculum triumphī multitūdō effūsa est; praecēdēbat ipse 1
vinctus, sequēbātur grex nōbilium Maurōrum. Movēbat omnēs
fortūna 2 virī, cūius amīcitiam ōlim Scīpiō petierat. Rēgem
155 aliōsque captīvōs Rōmam mīsit Scīpiō; Masinissam, quī ēgregiē rem
Rōmānam adiūverat, aureā corōnā dōnāvit.
B.C. Haec et aliae, quae sequēbantur, clādēs Carthāginiēnsibus
203.
tantum terrōris intulērunt, ut Hannibalem ex Ītaliā ad
tuendam patriam revocārent. Frendēns gemēnsque ac vix
160 lacrimīs 3 temperāns is dīcitur lēgātōrum vērba audīsse

mandātīsque pāruisse. Respexit saepe Ītaliae lītora, sēmet accūsāns,
quod 4 nōn victōrem exercitum statim ab 5 Cannēnsī pūgnā Rōmam
dūxisset. Zamam vēnerat Hannibal, quae urbs quīnque diērum
iter 6 ā Carthāgine abest, et nūntium ad Scīpiōnem mīsit ut
165 conloquendī sēcum potestātem faceret. Scīpiō cum conloquium haud
abnuisset, diēs locusque cōnstituitur. Itaque congressī sunt duo
clārissimī suae aetātis ducēs. Stetērunt aliquamdiū tacitī mūtuāque
admīrātiōne dēfīxī. 7 Cum vērō dē condiciōnibus pācis inter
eōs nōn convēnisset, ad suōs sē recēpērunt, renūntiantēs armīs 8
B.C. 170 dēcernendum esse. Commissō deinde proeliō Hannibal
202. victus cum quattuor equitibus fūgit. Cēterum 9 cōnstat
utrumque dē alterō cōnfessum esse nec melius īnstruī aciem nec
ācrius potuisse pūgnārī.
Carthāginiēnsēs metū perculsī 1 ad petendam pācem ōrātōrēs
175 mittunt trīgintā cīvitātis prīncipēs. Quī ubi in castra Rōmāna
vēnērunt, veniam cīvitātī petēbant nōn culpam pūrgantēs, 2 sed
initium culpae in Hannibalem trānsferentēs. 2 Victīs lēgēs
imposuit Scīpiō. Lēgātī, cum nūllās condiciōnēs recūsārent, Rōmam
profectī sunt, ut, quae ā Scīpiōne pacta 3 essent, ea patrum ac
180 populī auctōritāte cōnfīrmārentur. Ita pāce terrā marīque
partā, 4 Scīpiō exercitū in nāvēs impositō Rōmam revertit. Ad
quem advenientem concursus ingēns factus est; effūsa nōn ex
urbibus modo, sed etiam ex agrīs multitūdō viam obsidēbat.
Scīpiō inter grātulantium plausūs triumphō omnium 5 clārissimō
185 urbem est invectus prīmusque nōmine victae ā sē gentis est
nōbilitātus Āfricānusque appellātus.
Ex hīs rēbus gestīs virum eum esse virtūtis dīvīnae vulgō
crēditum est. Id etiam dīcere haud piget, 6 quod scrīptōrēs dē
eō litterīs mandāvērunt, Scīpiōnem cōnsuēvisse, priusquam
190 dīlūcēsceret, in Capitōlium 7 ventitāre ac iubēre
aperīrī cellam Iovis ibi sōlum diū dēmorārī,
quasi cōnsultantem dē rē pūblicā cum Iove:

aedituōsque ēius templī saepe esse mīrātōs,
quod eum id 8 temporis in Capitōlium
195 ingredientem canēs, semper in aliōs saevientēs,
nōn lātrārent. Hās vulgī dē Scīpiōne
opīniōnēs cōnfīrmāre atque approbāre vidēbantur
dicta factaque ēius plēraque admīranda, ex
quibus est ūnum hūiuscemodī. Adsidēbat TEMPLE OF IUPPITER
CAPITŌLĪNUS
oppūgnābatque oppidum
200 in Hispāniā, sitū moenibusque ac dēfēnsōribus validum et
mūnītum, rē etiam cibāriā cōpiōsum, neque ūlla ēius potiundī
spēs erat. Quōdam diē iūs in castrīs sedēns dīcēbat Scīpiō atque
ex eō locō id oppidum procul vidēbātur. Tum ē 1 mīlitibus, quī
in iūre apud eum stābant, interrogāvit quispiam ex mōre in 2
205 quem diem locumque vadēs sistī iubēret. Et Scīpiō manum ad
ipsam oppidī, quod obsidēbātur, arcem prōtendēns, “Perendiē”
inquit “sēsē 3 sistant illō in locō,” atque ita factum. Diē 4 tertiā,
in quam vadēs sistī iusserat, oppidum captum est. Eōdem diē
in arce ēius oppidī iūs dīxit.
210 Hannibal, ā Scīpiōne victus suīsque invīsus, ad Antiochum,
Syriae rēgem, cōnfūgit eumque hostem Rōmānīs fēcit. Missī
sunt Rōmā lēgātī ad Antiochum, in quibus erat Scīpiō Āfricānus,
quī cum Hannibale Ephesī 5 conlocūtus ab eō quaesīvit, quem
fuisse māximum imperātōrem crēderet. Respondit Hannibal
215 Alexandrum, Macedonum rēgem, māximum sibi vidērī, quod
parvā manū innumerābilēs exercitūs fūdisset. Quaerentī deinde,
quem secundum pōneret, “Pyrrhum” inquit, “quod prīmus castra 6
mētārī docuit nēmōque illō 7 ēlegantius loca 8 cēpit et praesidia
dēposuit.” Scīscitantī dēnique quem tertium dūceret, sēmet ipsum
220 dīxit. Tum rīdēns Scīpiō “Quidnam tū dīcerēs 9” inquit “sī mē
vīcissēs 9?” “Tum 10 mē vērō” respondit Hannibal “et ante
Alexandrum et ante Pyrrhum et ante omnēs aliōs imperātōrēs

posuissem. 9” Ita imprōvīsō adsentātiōnis genere Scīpiōnem ē
grege imperātōrum velut inaestimābilem sēcernēbat.
225 Scīpiō ipse fertur quondam dīxisse, cum eum quīdam parum
pūgnācem dīcerent, “Imperātōrem mē māter, nōn bellātōrem 1
peperit. 2” Īdem dīcere solitus est nōn sōlum dandam esse viam
fugientibus, sed etiam mūniendam.
Dēcrētō adversus Antiochum bellō 3 cum Syria prōvincia
230 obvēnisset Lūciō Scīpiōnī, quia parum in eō putābātur esse animī, 4
parum rōboris, 4 senātus gerendī hūius bellī cūram mandārī volēbat
conlēgae ēius C. Laeliō. Surgēns tunc Scīpiō Āfricānus,
frāter māior Lūciī Scīpiōnis, illam familiae īgnōminiam
dēprecātus est: dīxit in frātre suō summam esse virtūtem, summum
235 cōnsilium sēque eī lēgātum fore prōmīsit. Quod cum ab eō esset
dictum, nihil 5 est dē Lūciī Scīpiōnis prōvinciā commūtātum:
itaque frāter nātū māior minōrī lēgātus in Asiam profectus est
et tam diū eum cōnsiliō operāque adiūvit, dōnec triumphum ille
et cōgnōmen Asiāticī peperisset.
240 Eōdem bellō fīlius Scīpiōnis Āfricānī captus est et ad Antiochum
dēductus. Benīgnē et līberāliter adulēscentem rēx habuit, 6
quamquam ab ēius patre tum 7 māximē fīnibus imperiī pellēbātur.
Cum deinde pācem Antiochus ā Rōmānīs peteret, lēgātus ēius
Pūblium Scīpiōnem adiit eīque fīlium sine pretiō redditūrum
245 rēgem dīxit, sī per eum pācem impetrāsset. 8 Cuī Scīpiō respondit
“Abī, nūntiā rēgī, mē prō tantō mūnere grātiās 9 agere; sed
nunc aliam grātiam nōn possum referre, quam ut eī suādeam 10 ut
bellō absistat et pācis condiciōnem nūllam recūset.” Pāx nōn
convēnit 11; tamen Antiochus Scīpiōnī fīlium remīsit tantīque virī
250 māiestātem venerārī quam dolōrem suum ulcīscī māluit.

Victō Antiochō cum praedae ratiō ā L. Scīpiōne repōscerētur,
Āfricānus prōlātum 1 ab eō librum, quō 2 acceptae et expēnsae
summae continēbantur et refellī inimīcōrum accūsātiō poterat,

discerpsit, indīgnātus 3 dē eā rē dubitārī, quae sub ipsō lēgātō
255 administrāta esset. Quīn etiam hunc 4 in modum verba fēcit:
“Nōn 5 est quod quaerātis, patrēs cōnscrīptī, num parvam pecūniam
in aerārium rettulerim, quī anteā illud Pūnicō aurō replēverim,
neque mea innocentia potest in dubium vocārī. Cum
Āfricam tōtam potestātī vestrae subiēcerim, nihil ex eā praeter
260 cōgnōmen rettulī. Nōn igitur mē Pūnicae, nōn frātrem meum
Asiāticae gazae avārum reddidērunt; sed uterque nostrum 6
invidiā quam pecūniā est locuplētior.” Tam cōnstantem dēfēnsiōnem
Scīpiōnis ūniversus senātus comprobāvit.
Deinde Scīpiōnī Āfricānō duo tribūnī plēbis diem dīxērunt,
265 quod praedā ex Antiochō captā aerārium fraudāsset. Ubi causae
dīcendae diēs vēnit, Scīpiō māgnā hominum frequentiā in Forum
est dēductus. Iussus causam dīcere rōstra cōnscendit et, corōnā 7 triumphālī
capitī suō impositā, “Hōc ego diē”
inquit “Hannibalem Poenum, imperiō nostrō
270 inimīcissimum, māgnō proeliō vīcī in terrā
Āfricā pācemque nōbīs et victōriam peperī
īnspērābilem. Nē 8 igitur sīmus adversus deōs
ingrātī, sed cēnseō relinquāmus 9 nebulōnēs hōs CORŌNA
TRIUMPHĀLIS
eāmusque nunc prōtinus in Capitōlium Iovī
275 optimō māximō supplicātum.” Ā rōstrīs in Capitōlium āscendit;
simul sē ūniversa cōntiō ab accūsātōribus āvertit et secūta Scīpiōnem
est, nec quisquam praeter praecōnem, quī reum citābat, cum
tribūnīs remānsit. Celebrātior is diēs favōre 1 hominum fuit, quam
quō 2 triumphāns dē Syphāce rēge et Carthāginiēnsibus urbem est
280 ingressus. Inde, nē amplius tribūnīciīs iniūriīs vexārētur, in
Līternīnum concessit, ubi reliquam ēgit aetātem sine urbis dēsīderiō.
Cum in Līternīnā vīllā sē continēret, complūrēs praedōnum
ducēs ad eum videndum forte cōnfluxērunt. Quōs cum ad vim
faciendam venīre exīstimāsset, praesidium servōrum in tēctō
285 conlocāvit aliaque parābat, quae 3 ad eōs repellendōs opus erant.

Quod ubi praedōnēs animadvertērunt, abiectīs armīs iānuae
appropinquant et clārā vōce nūntiant Scīpiōnī sē nōn vītae ēius hostēs,
sed virtūtis admīrātōrēs vēnisse, cōnspectum 4 tantī virī, quasi
caeleste aliquod beneficium, expetentēs; proinde nē 5 gravārētur
290 sē spectandum praebēre. Haec postquam audīvit Scīpiō, forēs
reserārī eōsque intrōdūcī iussit. Illī postēs iānuae tamquam
religiōsissimam āram venerātī, cupidē Scīpiōnis dextram
apprehendērunt ac diū deōsculātī sunt; deinde positīs ante vēstibulum
dōnīs laetī, quod sibi Scīpiōnem ut vidērent contigisset, domum
295 revertērunt. Paulō post mortuus est Scīpiō moriēnsque ab uxōre
petiit nē corpus suum Rōmam referrētur.
Skip to next selection.

52.2 See Vocab., Āfricānus and Scīpiō.
52.3 quī cum: ‘for when he.’ Cf. p. 4, n. 3.
52.4 ‘in (the course of) the battle.’ pūgna, like bellum and proelium, is often used in the abl.
of time without a prep.
52.5 Cf. XIX, 16.
52.6 iam iam . . . esset: ‘was on the very point of falling.’
52.7 interiectō corpore: ‘by interposing his body.’ See p. xxiii, K 8.
52.8 Quae pietās: ‘this act of devotion.’
52.9 negantēs . . . habendam: ‘by saying that no account should be taken of him.’ For
negantēs, see p. 41, n. 15. ratiōnem habēre is a phrase of mercantile life.
52.10 Scipio was less than twenty-five years old. In later times no one could be aedile till
he had completed his thirty-sixth year.
52.11 impersonal pass. from eō: ‘they proceeded.’
52.12 admodum adulēscentem: ‘though but,’ etc.
53.1 adlātum erat: impersonal pass.: ‘the news had been brought.’
53.2 patior.
53.3 quī . . . iūrāverit (fut. perf. indic.) = a conditional clause, sī quis nōn iūrāverit. Cf. quī
. . . crēderent, l. 35, below.
53.4 Cf. p. 31, n. 9.
53.5 Haud . . . sī: ‘Quite as much frightened as if.’
53.6 Cf. p. 47, n. 12.

53.7 P. Cornelius Scipio and Cn. Cornelius Scipio, respectively father and uncle of
Africanus.
53.8 Sc. senātuī or populō.
53.9 Cf. p. 3, n. 2.
53.10 Subjunctive by attraction: see p. 13, n. 10.
53.11 inops cōnsiliī: ‘at its wit’s end.’
53.12 The gen. is regularly used with adjectives denoting fullness or the opposite: H 451, 2
(399, I, 3): M 573: A 218, a: G 374: B 204, 1.
53.13 = ‘to be a candidate.’
53.14 unde . . . posset = ut inde . . . posset; cf. p. 5, n. 3.
53.15 animōrum impetus: ‘enthusiasm,’ ‘excitement.’
53.16 populum . . . paenitēre: cf. Vēientēs . . . paenituisset, XI, 13, and note.
54.1 Cf. p. 42, n. 5.
54.2 = in eum locum.
54.3 congerō.
54.4 satis often = our ‘tolerably.’
54.5 A brother of Hannibal.
54.6 victum . . . expulit = vīcit et expulit.
54.7 = ‘but the captives,’ etc. Cf. p. 2, n. 24, and p. 5, n. 13.
54.8 We have here side by side the gen. and the abl. of characteristic. For the difference
between them, see H 473, 2, n. 1 (419, 2): M 558: A 215, n.: G 400, r. 1.
54.9 id aetātis: ‘at that age,’ i.e. though he was so young. The accus. id is variously
explained: see H 416, 2 (378, 2): M 507: A 240, b: G 336, n. 2; B 185. aetātis is partitive
gen. (p. 30, n. 2) with id.
55.1 Why is vellet subjunctive?
55.2 effūsīs (effundō) . . . lacrimīs: ‘with tears of joy.’ How literally?
55.3 quī . . . dēdūcerent: ‘to escort him.’
55.4 quō . . . appellārunt: Roman soldiers, after a victory, hailed their general as
Imperator. It was a way of saying that the leader had won his spurs and had really earned
his title, which he had assumed on beginning the campaign.
55.5 ‘in my eyes,’ ‘to my mind’; a dative of reference.
55.6 rēgium nōmen = rēgis nōmen, ‘the title of king.’ Cf. nōmen imperātōris, l. 80, and
rēgis appellātiōne, l. 84.
55.7 Sc. esse.
55.8 quem . . . spērāret: causal rel. clause (p. 31, n. 1).
55.9 For the two datives, see p. 25, n. 6.
55.10 future infinitive of sum.
56.1 Son of Gisco (so also in l. 148); to be carefully distinguished from the Hasdrubal of
l. 61.

56.2 Sc. nāvem; ‘was sailing.’
56.3 = ut peteret. Cf. p. xviii, E 5.
56.4 Cēnātum . . . est (ab iīs): impers. pass.; ‘they dined.’
56.5 lectō . . . accubuērunt (accumbō): the writer has in mind the Roman custom,
according to which men reclined at meals, supporting themselves on the left elbow. Three
persons or more occupied the same couch.
56.6 iam dūdum cupiēbat: ‘had long desired.’ Iam diū, iam dūdum, and iam prīdem give
to the present the force of the English perfect, to the imperfect the force of the English
pluperfect.
56.7 Sc. ēius: ‘of him present’ = ‘now that he met him face to face.’
56.8 cultus (colō) munditiīs: ‘(too) elegantly adorned.’ How literally?
56.9 dē . . . remissō: ‘for the release of his nephew.’ For the construction, see p. 5, n. 15.
56.10 quaerō.
56.11 oblātam (offerō): ‘now that it was at last offered.’
56.12 ‘the legal time’; lēgitima aetās, l. 11. In later days forty-three was the legal age.
57.1 See p. 5, n. 3.
57.2 Sc. diē, for the gender of which, as in diēs, quae dicta erat, l. 127, see Vocab., diēs.
57.3 For mood and tense, see p. 6, n. 1. What did Scipio say?
57.4 ‘pitched,’ lit. ‘measured.’ The Roman camp was always laid out with great care,
according to a fixed plan, and was carefully fortified, even if the stay was to last but one
night.
57.5 The participles = rel. clauses: see p. xxiv, L 1.
57.6 interrogātōs (sc. eōs) . . . dīmīsit = interrogāvit (eōs) . . . et . . . dīmīsit, or cum (eōs)
. . . interrogāsset, . . . dīmīsit.
58.1 = Syphax. For ipse referring to the principal personage, see also I, 5, and II, 4.
58.2 ‘misfortune.’ So fāma = both ‘fame’ and ‘ill repute,’ valētūdō = both ‘health’ and
‘sickness.’
58.3 dat. of indir. object with temperāns.
58.4 quod . . . dūxisset. What does the subjunctive show?
58.5 ab . . . dūxisset: cf. p. 50, n. 4.
58.6 acc. of extent of space: cf. p. xvii, D 2.
58.7 ‘motionless.’
58.8 armīs . . . esse: ‘that the issue must be decided by arms.’ Note the method employed
in translating the impers. passive here and in lines 13, 23, and 98, and apply it to pūgnārī,
l. 173.
58.9 Cēterum cōnstat: ‘it is, however, well known.’
59.1 percellō.
59.2 Cf. negantēs, l. 10, and p. 6, n. 20.
59.3 pacta (pacīscor) essent: subjunctive by attraction: see p. 13, n. 10.

59.4 pariō.
59.5 i.e. of all ever celebrated in Rome.
59.6 haud piget: sc. mē; ‘I am not ashamed.’ piget is construed exactly like paenitet: see
p. 28, n. 7.
59.7 Here = the temple, sacred to Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva.
59.8 id temporis = eō tempore. Cf. note on id aetātis, l. 66.
60.1 Join ē mīlitibus with quispiam, l. 204.
60.2 in . . . iubēret: ‘when and where he bade (the accused) appear for trial.’ vadēs sistī is
the passive of vadēs sistere, a legal phrase = ‘to make one’s bail stand,’ i.e. to make it
effective, and so ‘to stand trial.’ Sistere often means ‘to produce in court,’ as in l. 207.
60.3 sēsē sistant: ‘let them produce themselves,’ i.e. appear for trial.
60.4 Diē tertiā = perendiē, l. 206. In counting days, the Romans usually included the day
from which they started.
60.5 locative.
60.6 Cf. n. on castra mētātus est, l. 140.
60.7 illō ēlegantius: ‘more judiciously than he.’ For illō, see p. 10, n. 18.
60.8 Sc. castrīs.
60.9 See p. 47, n. 12. dīcerēs is imperfect, as referring to present time; the other verbs
denote past time.
60.10 ‘in that event’; = sī tē vīcissem.
61.1 ‘a (mere) fighter.’
61.2 pariō.
61.3 This war lasted from 192 to 190.
61.4 partitive gen. with parum, which is here a noun. In l. 225 it was an adverb.
61.5 nihil . . . commūtātum: ‘no change was made.’ Note that nihil is an adverbial acc. of
degree, and that commūtātum est is impersonal.
61.6 ‘treated.’
61.7 tum māximē: ‘at that very moment.’
61.8 Explain mood and tense.
61.9 Distinguish between grātiās agere and grātiam referre.
61.10 Notice that suādeō = merely ‘to advise’; ‘to persuade’ is persuādeō.
61.11 ‘was not arranged.’
62.1 = quī prōlātus erat; cf. p. xxiv, L 1.
62.2 abl. of means (though rendered ‘in which’) both with continēbantur and refellī
poterat.
62.3 indīgnātus . . . dubitārī: ‘angry because doubts were raised.’ For the infin. see p. 19,
n. 6.
62.4 See p. 16, n. 9. verba fēcit: ‘he delivered a speech.’

62.5 Nōn . . . quaerātis: ‘there is no reason why you should ask’; lit., ‘there is not
(anything) as to which,’ etc. H 591, 4 (503, 1, n. 2): M 836: A 320, a: G 631, 2: B 283, 2.
62.6 nostrum, like vestrum, is regularly used only as a partitive gen.
62.7 A crown of laurel, worn by the general at his triumph.
62.8 Nē . . . sīmus: cf. p. 31, n. 9.
62.9 (ut) relinquāmus . . . eāmus is a substantive clause of purpose. For the omission of ut
see H 565, 4 (499, 2): M 781: A 331, f, r.: G 546, r. 2: B 295, 8.
63.1 abl. of specification.
63.2 quō (sc. diē) = eō diē quō.
63.3 quae . . . opus erant: ‘which were necessary’; lit. ‘which were a necessity.’ For a very
different construction with opus, cf. nihil opus esse . . . eō cīve, XV, 22, and note.
63.4 cōnspectum . . . expetentēs: ‘craving a chance to see so great a man, as a sort of
heaven-sent favor.’
63.5 nē . . . gravārētur: the subjunctive is used here in indir. disc., as representing an
imperative of the direct: H 642, 4 (523, III): M 1023: A 339: G 652: B 316.

XXII. Tiberius Gracchus et Gāius Gracchus Text-only version

Tiberius et Gāius Gracchī 6 Scīpiōnis Āfricānī 7 ex fīliā 8 nepōtēs
erant. Hōrum adulēscentia bonīs artibus et māgnā omnium spē
exācta est: ad ēgregiam enim indolem optima accēdēbat ēducātiō.
Erant enim dīligentiā Cornēliae mātris ā 1 puerīs doctī et Graecīs
5 lītterīs 2 ērudītī. Māximum mātrōnīs ōrnāmentum esse līberōs
bene īnstitūtōs meritō putābat māter illa sapientissima. Cum
Campāna mātrōna, apud illam hospita, 3 ōrnāmenta sua, illō
saeculō 4 pulcherrima, ostentāret eī muliebriter, 5 Cornēlia trāxit
eam sermōne quoūsque 6 ē scholā redīrent līberī. Quōs reversōs
10 hospitae ostendēns, “Haec” inquit “mea ōrnāmenta sunt.” Nihil 7
quidem hīs adulēscentibus neque 7 ā nātūrā neque 7 ā doctrīnā
dēfuit; sed 8 ambō rem pūblicam, quam tuērī poterant, perturbāre
māluērunt.
B.C. Tiberius Gracchus, tribūnus plēbis creātus, ā senātū dēscīvit:
134.
15 populī favōrem profūsīs largītiōnibus sibi conciliāvit;
agrōs 9 plēbī dīvidēbat; prōvinciās novīs colōniīs 10

replēbat. Cum autem tribūnīciam potestātem sibi prōrogārī 11 vellet
et palam dictitāsset, 1 interēmptō senātū omnia per plēbem agī
dēbēre, viam sibi ad rēgnum parāre vidēbātur. Quārē cum convocātī
20 patrēs dēlīberārent quidnam faciendum esset, statim Tiberius
Capitōlium petit, manum ad caput referēns, quō sīgnō salūtem
suam populō commendābat. Hōc 2 nōbilitās ita accēpit, quasi
diadēma pōsceret, sēgniterque cessante cōnsule, Scīpiō Nāsīca,
cum 3 esset cōnsōbrīnus Tiberiī Gracchī, patriam cōgnātiōnī
25 praeferēns sublātā dextrā prōclāmāvit: “Quī rem pūblicam salvam
esse volunt, mē sequantur!” Dein optimātēs, senātus atque
equestris 4 ōrdinis pars māior in Gracchum inruunt, quī fugiēns
dēcurrēnsque Clīvō Capitōlīnō frāgmentō subselliī īctus vītam,
quam glōriōsissimē dēgere 5 potuerat, immātūrā morte fīnīvit.
30 Mortuī Tiberiī corpus in flūmen prōiectum est.

B.C. Gāium Gracchum īdem furor, quī frātrem, Tiberium, occupāvit.
123.
Tribūnātum enim adeptus, 6 seu vindicandae frāternae necis,
seu comparandae rēgiae potentiae causā, pessima coepit inīre
cōnsilia: māximās largītiōnēs fēcit; aerārium 7 effūdit: lēgem dē
35 frūmentō plēbī dīvidendō tulit: cīvitātem 8 omnibus Ītalicīs dabat. 9
Hīs Gracchī cōnsiliīs quantā 10 poterant contentiōne obsistēbant
omnēs 1 bonī, in quibus māximē Pīsō, 2 vir cōnsulāris. Is
cum multa contrā lēgem frūmentāriam dīxisset, lēge tamen lātā
ad frūmentum cum cēterīs accipiendum vēnit. Gracchus ubi
40 animadvertit in cōntiōne Pīsōnem stantem, eum sīc compellāvit
audiente populō Rōmānō: “Quī 3 tibi cōnstās, Pīsō, cum eā lēge
frūmentum petās, quam dissuāsistī?” Cuī Pīsō “Nōlim 4 quidem,
Gracche” inquit, “mea bona tibi 5 virītim dīvidere liceat;
sed sī faciēs, partem petam.” Quō respōnsō apertē dēclārāvit vir
45 gravis et sapiēns lēge, quam tulerat Gracchus, patrimōnium pūblicum
dissipārī.
B.C. Dēcrētum ā senātū est ut 6 vidēret cōnsul Opīmius nē quid
121.
dētrīmentī rēs pūblica caperet: quod nisi in māximō

discrīmine dēcernī nōn solēbat. Gāius Gracchus, armātā
50 familiā, 7 Aventīnum occupāvit. Cōnsul, vocātō ad arma populō,
Gāium aggressus est, quī pulsus profūgit et, cum iam 8
comprehenderētur, iugulum servō praebuit, quī dominum et mox sēmet
ipsum super dominī corpus interēmit. Ut Tiberiī Gracchī anteā
corpus, ita Gāiī mīrā crūdēlitāte victōrum in Tiberim dēiectum
55 est. Caput autem ā Septimulēiō, amīcō Gracchī, ad Opīmium
relātum aurō 9 repēnsum fertur. Sunt 10 quī trādunt īnfūsō 11
plumbō eum partem capitis, quō gravius efficerētur, explēsse. 12
Occīsō Tiberiō Gracchō cum senātus cōnsulibus mandāsset, ut
in 1 eōs, quī cum Gracchō cōnsēnserant, animadverterētur, Blosius
60 quīdam, Tiberiī amīcus, prō sē dēprecātum 2 vēnit, hanc, ut 3 sibi
īgnōscerētur, causam adferēns, quod tantī 4 Gracchum fēcisset,
ut, quidquid ille vellet, sibi faciendum putāret. Tum cōnsul
“Quid?” inquit “sī tē Gracchus templō Iovis in Capitōliō facēs
subdere iussisset, 5 obsecūtūrusne voluntātī illīus fuissēs 5
65 propter istam, quam iactās, familiāritātem?” “Numquam” inquit
Blosius “voluisset 5 id quidem, 6 sed sī voluisset, 5 pāruissem. 5”
Nefāria est ea vōx, nūlla enim est excūsātiō peccātī, sī amīcī
causā peccāveris.
Exstat Gāiī Gracchī ē Sardiniā Rōmam reversī ōrātiō, in quā
70 cum 7 alia tum 7 haec dē sē nārrat: “Versātus sum in prōvinciā,
quōmodo ex 8 ūsū vestrō exīstimābam esse, nōn quōmodo ambitiōnī
meae condūcere arbitrābar. Nēmō possit vērē dīcere assem 9
aut eō plūs in mūneribus mē
accēpisse aut meā causā quemquam
75 sūmptum 10 fēcisse. Zōnās, quās
Rōmā proficīscēns plēnās
argentī 11 extulī, eās ex prōvinciā
inānēs rettulī. Aliī amphorās,
quās vīnī 11 plēnās extulērunt, eās
AMPHORAE

80 argentō 11 replētās domum
reportārunt.”
Skip to next selection.

63.6 When two persons of the same name are mentioned together, the cognomen is usually
put in the plural.
63.7 Africanus Maior.
63.8 Her brother was the adoptive father of the younger Scipio Africanus. The Gracchi
were thus connected with two of the most distinguished of the Roman clans, the Cornelian
and the Aemilian.
64.1 ā puerīs: we say, ‘from childhood.’
64.2 ‘literature’; abl. of means.
64.3 ‘guest.’
64.4 illō saeculō: temporal abl. We say: ‘for that age.’ The writer of these words was
familiar with the extraordinary luxury and extravagance that marked the later history of
Rome.
64.5 ‘with womanish pride.’ A tone of contempt often attaches to mulier and its derivatives.
64.6 construed here like dōnec, p. 39, n. 9.
64.7 Cf. p. 28, n. 3.
64.8 sed . . . māluērunt: this whole account of the Gracchi was manifestly written by one
who sympathized with the senatorial or aristocratic party. Modern scholars are divided in
their interpretations of the motives of the Gracchi.
64.9 The reference is to the ager pūblicus, or land gained in conquest. It belonged in theory
to the state, but the greater part of it had fallen into the hands of wealthy capitalists, who,
though possessing no legal title to the land, yet regarded it as their own, and resented any
attempt to interfere with their occupancy. Meanwhile, the number of small landholders was
constantly decreasing. These circumstances tended to drive numbers of poor people to the
cities, especially Rome. The universal employment of slave labor aggravated the trouble by
shutting the poor out from honest labor. Tiberius attempted to remedy these evils by
limiting the number of acres of the public land which might be held by any individual and
by distributing the lands thus redeemed among the poorer classes.
64.10 These colonies were intended to aid in relieving the distress at Rome by removing
part of the population and supplying such persons with lands.
64.11 It was a general rule that no magistrate should hold the same office for two
successive terms. Thus no man could be reëlected consul until ten years after the expiration
of the first term. When Tiberius, at the end of his year as tribune, presented himself for
reëlection, the aristocrats appealed to this rule. Gracchus might have replied that the rule
had often been set aside under special circumstances. Still, on the whole, his conduct seems
to have been unconstitutional.

65.1 This statement is probably wholly false. As the champions of the poor against the rich,
the Gracchi were hated by the aristocrats, and received no favors at the hands of Roman
historians.
65.2 Hōc . . . pōsceret: ‘The nobles interpreted this to mean that he was demanding a
kingly crown.’ pōsceret is subjunctive as giving in indirect discourse the thought of the
nobles; cf. p. 3, n. 6.
65.3 ‘although.’
65.4 See Vocab., equestris and eques.
65.5 dēgere potuerat: ‘he might have spent.’ Cf. tuērī poterant, l. 12.
65.6 adipīscor.
65.7 aerārium effūdit: ‘he wasted (the money in) the treasury.’ The reference is to the corn
law mentioned in the next sentence. This entitled all citizens residing in Rome to a certain
measure of corn monthly for less than the market price. The distribution was thus a
constant drain upon the treasury.
65.8 ‘citizenship.’
65.9 ‘tried to give.’ The imperfect tense, like the present, often denotes attempted action;
cf. dīvidēbat, l. 16, and commendābat, l. 22. He was unable to carry the law, as the citizens
of Rome itself were jealous of any extension of the franchise. The Italians did not obtain
citizenship till 89 b.c.
65.10 quantā . . . contentiōne: ‘with the greatest possible energy.’ Cf. quantō potuit
apparātū, IX, 39, and note.
66.1 omnēs bonī: ‘all loyal citizens.’ bonī, like optimātēs, often has this political meaning.
Cf. the derivation of aristocracy.
66.2 Sc. obsistēbat.
66.3 Quī . . . cōnstās: ‘How do you explain your conduct?’ How literally? See (4) quī in
vocabulary.
66.4 Nōlim: ‘I should hardly desire’; lit. ‘I should be unwilling.’ The subjunctive is often
thus used in a modest assertion: H 556 (486, n. 1): M 719: A 311, b: G 257, 2: B 280, 1. Cf.
possit, l. 72. Often, as here, the modesty is assumed ironically.
66.5 Join with liceat.
66.6 ut . . . caperet: this was the formula by which the senate conferred unlimited power
upon the consuls. Explain the subjunctives vidēret and caperet, and give the words of the
decree as passed by the senate.
66.7 here ‘household.’
66.8 iam comprehenderētur: ‘was on the point of being arrested.’
66.9 aurō . . . fertur: ‘is said to have been paid for with gold.’
66.10 Sunt quī trādunt: ‘there are (those) who relate,’ i.e. ‘some say.’
66.11 infūsō plumbō: ‘by pouring in lead.’ Cf. p. xxiii, K 8. It is said that Opimius had
promised to pay its weight in gold for the head of Gaius.
66.12 = explēvisse.

67.1 in eōs . . . animadverterētur: ‘punishment should be visited upon those.’
67.2 Cf. p. xviii, E 6.
67.3 ut . . . īgnōscerētur: a result clause, dependent on causam: ‘a reason as a result of
which he ought to be pardoned.’ The subjunctive at times expresses necessity or obligation
and propriety.
67.4 tantī . . . fēcisset: ‘he had so highly esteemed Gracchus.’ tantī is a so-called gen. of
price or value: H 448, 1 (405): M 576: A 252, a: G 380: B 203, 3. For fēcisset, cf. p. 14,
n. 1.
67.5 Cf. p. 47, n. 12.
67.6 quidem emphasizes id. This emphasis in English would be indicated by the stress of
the voice, thus: ‘he never would have dreamed of that.’ Cf. Nōlim quidem above, l. 42.
67.7 cum . . . tum: ‘not only . . . but also.’
67.8 ex ūsū vestrō: ‘to your interests.’
67.9 ‘a red cent,’ ‘a farthing,’ as we say.
67.10 sūmptum facere = ‘to be put to expense.’
67.11 Verbs and adjectives denoting fulness and want are construed with either the gen. or
the abl., the abl. in reality expressing means.

XXIII. Gāius Marius Text-only version

C. Marius, humilī locō nātus, 1 mīlitiae tīrōcinium in Hispāniā
duce Scīpiōne 2 posuit. 3 Erat imprīmīs Scīpiōnī cārus ob
singulārem virtūtem et impigram 4 ad perīcula et labōrēs alacritātem.
Cum aliquandō inter cēnam Scīpiōnem quīdam interrogāsset, sī
5 quid illī 5 accidisset, quemnam rēs pūblica aequē māgnum
habitūra esset imperātōrem, Scīpiō, percussō lēniter Mariī umerō,
“Fortāsse hunc” inquit. Quō dictō excitātus Marius dīgnōs
rēbus, quās posteā gessit, spīritūs concēpit.
Q. Metellum 6 in Numidiam contrā Iugurtham missum, 7 cūius
10 lēgātus erat, cum ab eō Rōmam missus esset, apud populum
Rōmānum crīminātus 8 est bellum dūcere 9: sī 10 sē cōnsulem
fēcissent, brevī tempore aut vīvum aut mortuum Iugurtham sē in
B.C. potestātem populī Rōmānī redāctūrum. Itaque creātus est
107. cōnsul et in Metellī locum suffectus. 11 Bellum ab illō
15 prōsperē coeptum cōnfēcit. Iugurtha ad Gaetūlōs perfūgerat

eōrumque rēgem Bocchum adversus Rōmānōs concitāverat. Marius
Gaetūlōs et Bocchum aggressus fūdit; castellum 12 in excelsā rīpā
positum, ubi rēgiī thēsaurī erant, nōn sine multō labōre expūgnāvit.
Bocchus, bellō dēfessus, lēgātōs ad Marium mīsit, pācem
20 ōrantēs. 13 Sulla 14 quaestor, ā Mariō ad rēgem remissus, Bocchō
persuāsit ut Iugurtham Rōmānīs trāderet. Iugurtha igitur
vinctus ad Marium dēductus est; quem Marius triumphāns ante
currum ēgit et in carcerem 1 caenōsum inclūsit. Quō cum Iugurtha
dētrāctā veste ingrederētur, ōs rīdentis 2 in modum dīdūxisse
25 et stupēns similisque dēsipientī exclāmāsse fertur: “Prō! quam
frīgidum est vestrum balneum!” Paucīs diēbus post in carcere
necātus est.

TRIUMPH

B.C. Marius post bellum Numidicum iterum cōnsul creātus bellumque
104. eī contrā Cimbrōs 3 et Teutonēs dēcrētum est. Hī novī
30 hostēs, ab extrēmīs Germāniae fīnibus profugī, novās sēdēs
quaerēbant, exclūsīque Galliā et Hispāniā cum 4 in Ītaliam
remigrārent, ā Rōmānīs ut aliquid sibi terrae darent petiērunt.
Repulsī, quod nequīverant 5 precibus, armīs petere cōnstituunt.
Trēs 6 ducēs Rōmānī impetūs barbarōrum nōn sustinuērunt.
35 Omnēs fugātī, 1 exūtī 1 castrīs. Āctum 2 erat dē imperiō Rōmānō,
nisi 3 Marius fuisset. Hīc prīmō Teutonēs sub ipsīs Alpium

rādīcibus adsecūtus proeliō 4 oppressit. Vallem fluviumque
medium 5 hostēs tenēbant: Rōmānīs 6 aquārum nūlla cōpia. Aucta
necessitāte virtūs causa victōriae fuit. Nam flāgitante aquam
40 exercitū Marius “Virī 7” inquit “estis, ēn illīc aquam habētis.”
Itaque tantō ārdōre pūgnātum est eaque caedēs hostium fuit, ut
Rōmānī victōrēs dē cruentō flūmine nōn plūs
aquae biberent quam sanguinis barbarōrum.
Caesa trāduntur hostium ducenta mīlia, capta
45 nōnāgintā. Rēx ipse Teutobochus in proximō
saltū comprehēnsus īnsīgne spectāculum triumphī
TROPAEUM
fuit: quīppe vir prōcēritātis eximiae
super tropaea ipsa ēminēbat.
Dēlētīs Teutonibus, C. Marius in Cimbrōs sē convertit. Quī
50 cum ex 8 aliā parte Ītaliam ingressī Athesim flūmen nōn ponte
nec nāvibus, sed iniectīs 9 arborum truncīs, velut aggere,
trāiēcissent, occurrit iīs C. Marius. Cimbrī lēgātōs ad cōnsulem
mīsērunt, agrōs urbēsque sibi et frātribus pōstulantēs, 10 Teutonum
enim clādem īgnōrābant. Quaerente 11 Mariō quōs illī frātrēs
55 dīcerent, cum Teutonēs nōmināssent, rīdēns Marius “Omittite 12”
inquit “frātrēs; tenent hī acceptam ā nōbīs terram aeternumque
tenēbunt.” Tum lēgātī sē lūdibriō 1 habērī sentientēs ultiōnem
Mariō minātī sunt, simul atque Teutonēs advēnissent. “Atquī
adsunt” inquit Marius “nec sānē cīvīle foret vōs frātribus vestrīs
60 nōn salūtātīs discēdere.” Tum vinctōs addūcī iussit Teutonum
ducēs, quī in proeliō captī erant.
Hīs rēbus audītīs, Cimbrī ēgrediuntur castrīs et cum paucīs
suōrum ad vāllum Rōmānum adequitāns Boiorix, Cimbrōrum
dux, Marium ad pūgnam prōvocat et diem pūgnae ā Rōmānōrum
65 imperātōre petit. Proximum dedit cōnsul. Marius cum aciem
ita īnstituisset, ut pulvis 2 in oculōs et ōra hostium ferrētur,
incrēdibilī strāge 3 prōstrāta 4 est illa Cimbrōrum multitūdō: caesa
trāduntur centum octōgintā hominum mīlia. Nec minor cum

uxōribus pūgna quam cum virīs fuit, cum obiectīs undique plaustrīs,
70 dēsuper, 5 quasi ē turribus, lanceīs contīsque pūgnārent.
Victae tamen cum missā ad Marium lēgātiōne lībertātem 6 nōn
impetrāssent, suffōcātīs ēlīsīsque 7 īnfantibus suīs aut mūtuīs 8
concidērunt vulneribus aut vinculō ē crīnibus suīs factō ab 9
arboribus pependērunt. Canēs quoque dēfendēre, Cimbrīs caesīs,
75 eōrum domōs. Marius prō duōbus triumphīs, quī offerēbantur,
ūnō contentus fuit. Prīmōrēs cīvitātis, quī eī aliquamdiū ut 10
novō hominī ad tantōs honōrēs ēvectō 11 invīderant, cōnservātam 12
ab eō rem pūblicam fatēbantur. In ipsā aciē Marius duās Camertium
cohortēs, mīrā virtūte vim Cimbrōrum sustinentēs 13 contrā
80 lēgem 14 cīvitāte dōnāverat. Quod quidem factum et vērē et
ēgregiē posteā excūsāvit, dīcēns inter armōrum strepitum verba
sē iūris cīvīlis exaudīre nōn potuisse.
B.C. Illā tempestāte prīmum Rōmae bellum cīvīle commōtum est.
88.
Causam bellō dedit C. Marius. Cum enim Sulla 1 cōnsul
85 contrā Mithridātem, 2 rēgem Pontī, missus fuisset, Sulpicius,
tribūnus plēbis, lēgem 3 ad populum tulit ut Sullae imperium
abrogārētur, C. Mariō bellum dēcernerētur Mithridāticum. Quā rē
Sulla commōtus cum exercitū ad urbem vēnit, eam armīs occupāvit,
Sulpicium interfēcit, Marium fugāvit. Marius hostēs persequentēs
90 fugiēns aliquamdiū in palūde dēlituit. 4 Sed paulō post
repertus extrāctusque, ut erat nūdō corpore caenōque oblitus, 5
iniectō in collum lōrō Minturnās raptus et in cūstōdiam coniectus
est. Missus est ad eum occīdendum servus 6 pūblicus, nātiōne
Cimber, quem Marius vultūs auctōritāte dēterruit. Cum enim
95 hominem ad sē strictō gladiō venientem vīdisset “Tūne, homō,”
inquit “C. Marium audēbis occīdere?” Quō audītō attonitus ille
ac tremēns abiectō ferrō fūgit, Marium sē nōn posse occīdere
clāmitāns. Marius deinde ab iīs, quī prius eum occīdere voluerant,
ē carcere ēmissus est.

100 Acceptā nāviculā in Āfricam trāiēcit et in agrum Carthāginiēnsem
pervēnit. Ibi cum in locīs sōlitāriīs 7 sedēret, vēnit ad eum
līctor Sextiliī praetōris, quī tum Āfricam obtinēbat. Ab hōc,
quem 8 numquam laesisset, Marius hūmānitātis tamen 9 aliquod
officium exspectābat; at līctor dēcēdere eum prōvinciā iussit,
105 nisi in sē animadvertī vellet: torvēque intuentem et vōcem nūllam
ēmittentem Marium rogāvit tandem ecquid renūntiārī praetōrī
vellet? Marius “Abī” inquit, “nūntiā vīdisse tē Gāium
Marium in Carthāginis ruīnīs sedentem.” Duōbus clārissimīs
exemplīs dē incōnstantiā rērum hūmānārum eum admonēbat,
110 cum et urbis māximae excidium et virī clārissimī cāsum ante
oculōs pōneret.
Profectō ad bellum Mithridāticum Sullā, Marius revocātus ā
Cinnā 1 in Ītaliam rediit, efferātus magis calamitāte quam domitus.
Cum exercitū Rōmam ingressus eam caedibus et rapīnīs
115 vāstāvit; omnēs adversae factiōnis nōbilēs variīs 2 suppliciōrum
generibus adfēcit: quīnque diēs continuōs totidemque noctēs illa
scelerum omnium dūrāvit licentia. 3 Hōc tempore admīranda sānē
populī Rōmānī abstinentia fuit. Cum enim Marius occīsōrum
domōs multitūdinī dīripiendās 4 obiēcisset, invenīrī potuit nēmō,
120 quī 5 cīvīlī 6 lūctū praedam peteret 5: quae quidem tam misericors
continentia plēbis tacita 7 quaedam crūdēlium victōrum vituperātiō
fuit. Tandem Marius, seniō et labōribus cōnfectus, in morbum
incidit et ingentī 8 omnium laetitiā vītam fīnīvit. Cūius virī sī
exāminentur cum virtūtibus vitia, haud facile sit dictū 9 utrum
125 bellō melior, an pāce perniciōsior fuerit: namque quam rem pūblicam
armātus 10 servāvit, eam prīmō togātus 10 omnī genere fraudis,
postrēmō armīs hostīliter ēvertit.
Erat Marius dūrior 1 ad hūmānitātis 2 studia et ingenuārum 3
artium contemptor. Cum aedem Honōris dē manubiīs hostium
130 vōvisset, sprētā 4 peregrīnōrum marmorum nōbilitāte artificumque
Graecōrum arte, eam vulgārī lapide 5 per artificem Rōmānum

cūrāvit aedificandam. Et Graecās litterās dēspiciēbat, quod 6
doctōribus suīs parum ad virtūtem prōfuissent. At īdem fortis,
validus, adversus dolōrem cōnfīrmātus. Cum eī varicēs in crūre
135 secārentur, vetuit sē adligārī. Ācrem tamen fuisse dolōris morsum
ipse ostendit: nam medicō, alterum crūs pōstulantī, nōluit
praebēre, quod māiōrem esse remediī quem morbī dolōrem iūdicāret.
Skip to next selection.

68.1 In 157 b.c., near Arpinum in Latium.
68.2 Sc. Āfricānō Minōre.
68.3 = dēposuit: ‘laid aside, completed, served.’
68.4 impigram . . . alacritātem: ‘his energetic eagerness in the direction of (ad),’ etc. =
‘his energy and eagerness to face,’ etc.
68.5 i.e. Scipio.
68.6 Subject of dūcere, l. 11.
68.7 = quī missus erat. Cf. coeptum, l. 15, and p. xxiv, L1.
68.8 crīminātus . . . dūcere: ‘charged him with prolonging.’ crīminārī is treated here as a
verb of saying.
68.9 = prōdūcere, ‘prolong.’ Simple verbs not infrequently have the meanings which are
more usually borne by some of their compounds. Cf. n. 3 above.
68.10 sī . . . redāctūrum: the words of Marius, reported in indir. disc. Cf. p. xxv, M 4, 7.
68.11 in . . . suffectus: ‘he was appointed to supersede Metellus.’ How literally?
68.12 This fortress lay on the steep, rocky bank of the river Malucha, which separated the
dominions of Jugurtha and Bocchus.
68.13 ōrantēs may be explained (1) as = quī pācem ōrābant (cf. n. 7 above); or (2) as
expressing purpose, and so = quī pācem ōrārent. In this latter sense, however, the fut. part.
active is commonly employed, not the present.
68.14 See next selection.
69.1 The Tullianum: see illustration on p. 16.
69.2 ‘of one smiling.’ Join with modum.
69.3 The Cimbri and Teutones had left their homes in Denmark as early as 113 b.c. Having
overrun Gaul, they made their way to the northern slopes of the Alps, defeating three
Roman armies on the way (cf. l. 34 below). They did not, however, at once enter Italy, but
turned off to Spain, whence they were speedily expelled by the natives.
69.4 For the position of cum, see p. 19, n. 8.
69.5 Sc. petere, or better adipīscī, ‘to secure.’
69.6 Cn. Papirius Carbo, 113; M. Iunius Silanus, 109; Q. Servilius Caepio, 105.

70.1 Sc. sunt.
70.2 Āctum . . . fuisset: ‘it was all up with the Romans had there not been a Marius.’ For
erat we should have expected esset, since we have an unreal condition; but the indic., the
mood of fact, is used to show that the ruin of the Romans actually was inevitable but for
one thing. H 581, 1 (511, 1): M 940: A 308, b: G 597, 2: B 304, 3.
70.3 nisi . . . fuisset: we would say, ‘but for Marius,’ or ‘if it hadn’t been for Marius.’
70.4 in 102, at Aquae Sextiae (now Aix), near Marseilles.
70.5 ‘that ran through (the valley).’
70.6 dat. of possession with erat (to be supplied). On the whole sentence Vallem . . . cōpia,
see p. 5, n. 13.
70.7 Virī . . . habētis: a rhetorical, but vigorous way of saying Sī virī (‘true men’) estis,
etc., i.e. the getting of water depends wholly on your own courage.
70.8 ‘from a different side’ (from that by which the Teutones had sought to enter Italy). The
Cimbri came through the Brenner Pass at the eastern side of the Italian Alps.
70.9 Sc. in flūmen.
70.10 Cf. p. 68, n. 13.
70.11 Quaerente . . . nōmināssent = two temporal clauses: ‘when Marius had asked . . .
and they had named.’
70.12 ‘Never mind.’
71.1 sē . . . habērī: ‘that they were being mocked.’ lūdibriō is a dat. of purpose: cf. p. 25,
n. 6.
71.2 pulvis . . . ferrētur: cf. XX, lines 7 and 8.
71.3 at the battle of Vercellae (101), near the modern Milan.
71.4 prōsternō.
71.5 ‘from above,’ i.e. from the tops of the wagons.
71.6 Captives were either killed or sold into slavery.
71.7 ēlīdō.
71.8 mūtuīs . . . vulneribus: ‘wounds inflicted by each other.’
71.9 ab . . . pependērunt: ‘hung from trees’ = ‘hanged themselves to trees.’
71.10 ut . . . hominī: ‘as (i.e. because he was) a new man,’ i.e. one whose ancestors had
never held any state office. Such a man was not necessarily of plebeian birth.
71.11 ēvectō: ‘when he had been elevated.’ eī . . . ēvectō may also be rendered ‘his
elevation.’
71.12 Sc. esse.
71.13 The part. gives the cause of dōnāverat.
71.14 In theory citizenship could be conferred only by action of the comitia tribūta, or
assembly in which the people met by tribes.
72.1 See next selection.
72.2 Mithridates the Great waged war thrice with the Romans, 88-84 b.c., 83-81, and 74-
66, till finally defeated by Pompey the Great. At the time referred to in the text he had

overrun Asia Minor and had entered Greece.
72.3 lēgem . . . tulit: ‘proposed a law before the people,’ i.e. submitted a proposed law to
their votes. The proposal was carried. In the civil strife that followed, Sulla led the
aristocratic, Marius and Cinna the popular party.
72.4 dēlitēscō.
72.5 oblinō.
72.6 servus pūblicus: i.e. a slave owned by the state. Cf. the phrase ager pūblicus, p. 64,
n. 9.
72.7 Carthage had been destroyed by the Romans in 149 b.c.
72.8 quem . . . laesisset (laedō): a causal rel. clause = ‘since he had,’ etc.: H 592 (517):
M 839: A 320, e: G 633: B 283, 3.
72.9 tamen looks back to quī . . . obtinēbat, l. 102. The thought is that Marius hoped for
some kindly consideration (hūmānitātis aliquod officium) from Sextilius, though his
official position would naturally constrain him to be hostile to an outlaw.
73.1 L. Cornelius Cinna, leader with Marius of the popular party and enemy of Sulla. He
was consul 86-84, but was killed by his own troops when he ordered them to cross to
Greece to fight Sulla, who was preparing to return home at the close of the first Mithridatic
War.
73.2 variīs . . . adfēcit: ‘he punished in various ways.’
73.3 ‘lawless reign,’ ‘wild revel.’
73.4 Cf. p. 2, n. 18.
73.5 quī . . . peteret: rel. clause of result: H 591, 1 (503, I): M 838: A 320: G 631: B 283.
73.6 cīvīlī lūctū: ‘at the price of (lit. by means of) grief to his fellow-citizens.’
73.7 tacita . . . fuit: ‘(though) unexpressed was in a sense (quaedam) a criticism,’ etc.
73.8 ingentī . . . laetitiā: ‘to the great joy of every one’; cf. p. 27, n. 3.
73.9 Join with facile, and see p. 19, n. 15.
73.10 armātus = bellō; togātus = pāce. Cf. l. 125. The toga was the regular dress of
civilians.
74.1 Erat dūrior ad: ‘He was rather hard as regards,’ i.e. ‘he had no liking for.’
74.2 ‘culture.’
74.3 ingenuārum artium: ‘polite accomplishments.’
74.4 spernō.
74.5 abl. of material: H 470, 1 (415, III): M 610: A 244, d: G 396, and 3.
74.6 quod . . . prōfuissent: ‘because (so he declared) it had been of little service to its
teachers in the direction of (attaining) virtue.’ Cf. quod . . . iūdicāret, l. 137, and see p. 14,
n. 1.

XXIV. Lūcius Cornēlius Sulla Text-only version
138-78 b.c.

Cornēlius Sulla cum parvulus ā nūtrīce ferrētur, mulier 7 obvia
“Salvē” inquit “puer tibi et reī pūblicae tuae fēlīx,” et statim
quaesīta 8 quae haec dīxisset, nōn potuit invenīrī. 9
B.C. Hīc bellō Iugurthīnō 10 quaestor Mariī fuit. Quī 11 cum 12 ūsque
107.
5 ad quaestūrae comitia vītam libīdine, vīnō, lūdicrae 13 artis
amōre inquinātam perdūxisset, 12 C. Marius cōnsul molestē
tulisse trāditur, quod sibi gravissimum bellum gerentī tam dēlicātus
quaestor sorte 14 obvēnisset. Ēiusdem tamen, postquam in
Āfricam vēnit, virtūs 1 ēnituit. Bellō 2 Cimbricō, lēgātus
10 cōnsulis 3 bonam operam nāvāvit. Cōnsul ipse deinde factus, pulsō
in exsilium Mariō, adversus Mithridātem 4 profectus est. Mithridātēs
enim, Ponticus rēx, vir bellō ācerrimus, virtūte eximius,
odiō in Rōmānōs nōn īnferior Hannibale, 5 occupātā Asiā necātīsque
in eā omnibus cīvibus Rōmānīs, 6 quōs quidem eādem diē
15 atque hōrā per omnēs cīvitātēs interimī iusserat, Eurōpae quoque
Ītaliaeque imminēre vidēbātur. Ac prīmō Sulla illīus praefectōs
duōbus proeliīs 7 in Graeciā prōflīgāvit; dein trānsgressus in
Asiam Mithridātem ipsum fūdit; et oppressisset, 8 nisi ad bellum
cīvīle adversus Marium fēstīnāns quālemcumque 9 pācem compōnere
20 māluisset. 8 Mithridātem tamen pecūniā 10 multāvit; Asiā 11
aliīsque prōvinciīs, 11 quās occupāverat, dēcēdere paternīsque
fīnibus contentum esse coēgit.
Sulla propter mōtūs urbānōs 12 cum victōre exercitū Rōmam
properāvit; eōs, quī Mariō favēbant, omnēs superāvit. Nihil
25 autem eā victōriā fuit crūdēlius. Sulla, urbem ingressus et dictātor 13

B.C. creātus, vel in eōs, quī sē sponte dēdiderant, iussit
82. animadvertī. Quattuor mīlia dēditōrum inermium cīvium
in Circō interficī iussit. Quis autem illōs potest computāre, quōs
in urbe passim, quisquis 14 voluit, occīdit, dōnec admonēret Fūfidius

30 quīdam vīvere aliquōs dēbēre, ut 15 essent, quibus 15 imperāret.
Novō 1 et inaudītō exemplō tabulam prōscrīptiōnis 2 prōposuit,
quā nōmina eōrum, quī occīdendī essent, continēbantur; cumque
omnium orta esset indīgnātiō, postrīdiē plūra etiam adiēcit nōmina.
Ingēns caesōrum fuit multitūdō. Nec sōlum in 3 eōs saevīvit, quī
35 armīs contrā sē dīmicāvissent, sed etiam quiētī animī cīvēs
propter pecūniae māgnitūdinem prōscrīptōrum numerō adiēcit.
Cīvis quīdam innoxius, cuī fundus in agrō Albānō erat, cum
legēns prōscrīptōrum nōmina sē quoque vidēret āscrīptum,
“Vae” inquit “miserō mihi 4! mē fundus Albānus persequitur.”
40 Neque 5 longē prōgressus ā quōdam, quī eum āgnōverat,
cōnfossus 6 est.
Dēpulsīs prōstrātīsque 7 inimīcōrum partibus Sulla Fēlīcem 8 sē
ēdictō appellāvit, cumque ēius uxor geminōs eōdem tunc partū
ēdidisset, puerum Faustum 8 puellamque Faustam 8 nōminārī voluit.
45 Sed paucīs annīs post repente contrā omnium exspectātiōnem

B.C. dictātūram dēposuit. Dīmissīs līctōribus diū in Forō cum
78. amīcīs deambulāvit. Stupēbat populus eum prīvātum vidēns,
cūius modo 9 tam formīdolōsa fuerat potestās; quodque nōn
minus mīrandum fuit, prīvātō eī nōn sōlum salūs, sed etiam dīgnitās
50 cōnstitit, 10 quī cīvēs innumerōs occīderat. Ūnus adulēscēns
fuit, quī 11 audēret querī et recēdentem ūsque ad forēs domūs
maledictīs incessere. Atque ille, cūius īram potentissimī virī
māximaeque cīvitātēs nec effugere nec plācāre potuerant, ūnīus
adulēscentulī contumēliās patientī animō tulit, id tantum in 12
55 līmine iam dīcēns: “Hīc adulēscēns efficiet 1 nē quis 2 posthāc
tāle imperium dēpōnat.”
Sulla deinde in vīllam profectus rūsticārī et vēnandō 3 vītam
agere coepit. Ibi morbō correptus interiit, vir ingentis animī,
cupidus voluptātum, sed glōriae cupidior; lītterīs 4 Graecīs atque
60 Latīnīs ērudītus et virōrum lītterātōrum adeō amāns, 5 ut
sēdulitātem etiam malī cūiusdam poētae aliquō praemiō dīgnam dūxerit:

nam cum ille epigramma in eum fēcisset eīque subiēcisset, 6
Sulla statim praemium eī darī iussit, sed eā lēge, 7 nē quid 2 posteā
scrīberet. Ante victōriam laudandus, 8 in iīs vērō, quae secūta
65 sunt, numquam 9 satis vituperandus, urbem enim et Ītaliam cīvīlis
sanguinis flūminibus inundāvit. Nōn sōlum in vīvōs saeviit,
sed nē mortuīs quidem pepercit 10: nam Gāī Mariī, cūius, etsī
posteā hostis, aliquandō tamen quaestor fuerat, ērutōs cinerēs in
flūmen prōiēcit. Quā crūdēlitāte rērum praeclārē gestārum glōriam
70 corrūpit.

Skip to next selection.

74.7 mulier obvia . . . inquit: ‘a woman met them and said.’
74.8 quaesīta . . . dīxisset: ‘though inquiries were made as to who had said this.’ How
literally? dīxisset is a subjunctive of indir. question dependent on quaesīta: cf. p. 3, n. 2.
74.9 Cf. VIII, 43.
74.10 Cf. XXIII, 20.
74.11 i.e. Sulla.
74.12 Cf. p. 13, n. 20.
74.13 lūdicrae artis: ‘the sportive art,’ i.e. what we would call ‘the stage,’ or ‘the drama.’
The better classes at Rome looked with disfavor on the theater. Since no free Roman was
allowed to appear upon the stage, the actors were slaves or freedmen. The praetor was
empowered to flog actors publicly at will.
74.14 After the election of the quaestors their posts were assigned to them by lot.
75.1 ‘ability.’ It was mainly through Sulla’s efforts that Jugurtha was captured.
75.2 Cf. XXIII, 49.
75.3 Q. Lutatius Catulus, colleague of Marius in 101.
75.4 Cf. 72, n. 2.
75.5 abl. of comparison with īnferior: cf. p. 10, n. 18.
75.6 This butchery occurred in 88. The number of victims is variously stated from 80,000
to 150,000.
75.7 At Chaeronea and Orchomenus in Boeotia. Both battles were fought in 86.
75.8 Cf. p. 47, n. 12.
75.9 quālemcumque pācem: ‘peace on any terms.’
75.10 abl. of the penalty: H 456, 3 (410, III): M 584: A 220, b: G 378, r. 3: B 208, 2, b.
75.11 Cf. p. 1, n. 6.
75.12 Cf. XXIII, 113-122.

75.13 Sulla’s dictatorship differed widely from those of former times (1) because his was
unlimited in time, whereas the old dictators held office for six months only; (2) his power
extended to every department of government, whereas formerly dictators had been created
to accomplish some one object.
75.14 quisquis voluit contains the subject of occīdit.
75.15 ut . . . imperāret: ‘that there might be people for him (Sulla) to rule over.’ For
quibus . . . imperāret, see p. 5, n. 3.
76.1 Novō . . . prōposuit: ‘He exposed to public view (in the Forum) a proscription list, an
unprecedented and unheard of act.’ exemplō: abl. of manner.
76.2 prōscrīptiōnis: Latin often uses a gen. where English employs an adj. or a noun with
adj. value.
76.3 in eōs saevīvit: ‘he vented his rage upon those.’
76.4 ethical dat.: H 432 (389, n. 2): M 541: A 235, e: G 351: B 188, 2, b.
76.5 Neque = et nōn, as often at the beginning of clauses.
76.6 cōnfodiō.
76.7 prōsternō.
76.8 These words all = ‘Lucky.’
76.9 ‘just now,’ ‘but a moment before.’
76.10 ‘remained intact.’
76.11 quī audēret is a rel. clause of result = tālis ut audēret. It characterizes or describes
the antecedent adulēscēns. See p. 73, n. 5.
76.12 in līmine iam: ‘when he was already at (on) his own threshold,’ i.e. even the brief
comment that he deigned to make was not uttered till the last moment.
77.3 vēnandō . . . coepit: cf. I, 21, vēnandō . . . coepērunt, and note.
77.4 Cf. p. 64, n. 2.
77.5 amāns is treated here as an adj., and so construed with the gen. Cf. cupidus
voluptātum, l. 59.
77.6 ‘had thrust up from below.’ Sulla was sitting on a tribunal in the Forum.
77.7 Cf. p. 11, n. 9.
77.8 Sc. erat.
77.9 numquam . . . vituperandus (est): ‘can never be blamed enough.’ In negative
sentences the gerundive often conveys this idea of possibility. For its other meanings, see
p. 39, n. 11.
77.10 parcō.

XXV. Lūcius Lūcullus Text-only version

Lūcius Lūcullus ingeniō, doctrīnā, virtūte fuit īnsīgnis. In
Asiam quaestor profectus ibi per multōs annōs admīrābilī quādam 11
laude 12 prōvinciae praefuit, deinde absēns factus 13 aedīlis,
B.C. continuō praetor, inde ad cōnsulātum
14 prōmōtus est, quem
74. 5 ita gessit, ut omnēs dīligentiam admīrārentur, ingenium
āgnōscerent. Post ad Mithridāticum 1 bellum missus ā senātū
nōn modo opīniōnem vīcit 2 omnium, sed etiam glōriam superiōrum
ducum. Idque eō 3 fuit mīrābilius, quod ab eō laus 4 imperātōria
nōn admodum exspectābātur, quī adulēscentiam in forēnsī 5 operā,
10 quaestūrae diuturnum tempus in 6 Asiae pāce cōnsūmpserat; sed
incrēdibilis quaedam 7 ingeniī māgnitūdō nōn dēsīdērāvit ūsūs 8
dīsciplīnam. Itaque cum tōtum iter 9 et nāvigātiōnem cōnsūmpsisset
partim in percontandō ā perītīs, 10 partim in rēbus 11 gestīs
legendīs, in Asiam factus 12 imperātor vēnit, cum esset Rōmā
15 profectus reī mīlitāris rudis. 13

Lūcullus eō bellō māgnās ac memorābilēs rēs gessit; Mithridātem
saepe multīs locīs fūdit; Tigrānem, 14 rēgum māximum, in
Armeniā vīcit, ultimamque 15 bellō manum magis nōluit impōnere,
quam nōn potuit; sed alioquī per omnia laudābilis 16 et bellō paene
20 invictus pecūniae cupīdinī nimium dēditus fuit; quam tamen
ideō expetēbat, ut per lūxuriam effunderet. Itaque postquam
dē Mithridāte triumphāvit, 17 abiectā omnium rērum cūrā coepit
dēlicātē ac molliter vīvere ōtiōque et lūxū diffluere: māgnificē et
immēnsō sūmptū vīllās aedificāvit atque ad eōrum ūsum 18 mare
25 ipsum vexāvit. Nam in quibusdam locīs mōlēs 1 marī iniēcit; in
aliīs, suffossīs montibus, mare in terrās indūxit, unde eum haud
īnfacētē Pompēius Xerxem togātum 2 vocāre adsuēverat. 3

VĪLLA

Habēbat Lūcullus vīllam prōspectū 4 et ambulātiōne pulcherrimam.
Quō cum vēnisset Pompēius, id ūnum reprehendit, quod
30 ea habitātiō esset 5 quidem aestāte peramoena, sed hieme minus
commoda vidērētur 5; cuī Lūcullus “Putāsne” inquit “mē minus
sapere quam hirundinēs, quae adveniente hieme sēdem commūtant?”
Vīllārum māgnificentiae respondēbat epulārum sūmptus.
Cum aliquandō modica eī, utpote 6 sōlī, cēna esset posita, coquum
35 graviter obiūrgāvit, eīque excūsantī ac dīcentī sē nōn dēbuisse
lautum parāre convīvium, quod nēmō esset 5 ad cēnam invītātus,
“Quid ais?” inquit īrātus Lūcullus. “Nesciēbāsne Lūcullum
hodiē cēnātūrum esse apud Lūcullum?”
Laudanda est Lūcullī impēnsa et studium in librīs. Nam et
40 multōs et optimōs conquīsīvit eōsque līberāliter dedit 1 ūtendōs.
Patēbat omnibus bibliothēca, et in porticūs eī adiectās velut ad
Mūsārum 2 aedem veniēbant māximē Graecī tempusque ibi iūcundē
inter sē trādūcēbant ab aliīs cūrīs līberī. Saepe cum iīs
versābātur Lūcullus et inter māgnam doctōrum virōrum turbam
45 ambulābat.

Skip to next selection.

77.1 efficiet nē . . . dēpōnat: ‘will prevent any one from resigning.’ For the subjunctive
dēpōnat, see p. 9, n. 6.
77.2 The indefinite pronoun quis occurs chiefly after sī, nisi, nē, and num. Elsewhere
aliquis is used.
77.11 Cf. p. 76, n. 1.
77.12 ‘ability.’
77.13 Sc. est.
77.14 The offices mentioned here formed the cursus honōrum, or official career, through
which all desirous of political distinction were required to pass. The aedileship, however,
might be omitted.
78.1 Cf. p. 72, n. 2. Lucullus assumed command against Mithridates in 74 b.c.
78.2 ‘surpassed,’ ‘outstripped.’
78.3 causal abl., explained by quod . . . exspectābātur.
78.4 ‘ability.’
78.5 forēnsī operā: ‘legal business,’ i.e. the practice of law. In or near the Forum were the
law courts, as well as business places in general.
78.6 in Asiae pāce: ‘in Asia, which was then at peace.’
78.7 quīdam is often used, as here, to soften a phrase which the writer fears may seem
exaggerated.
78.8 ūsūs dīsciplīnam: ‘the training of experience.’
78.9 iter et nāvigātiōnem: ‘voyage.’
78.10 ‘experts.’ Sc. reī mīlitāris.
78.11 rēbus gestīs: ‘history’; here, of course, military history especially.
78.12 Cf. our use of the word ‘finished.’
78.13 The statements in lines 9-15 are untrue, since Lucullus had served with distinction
under Sulla in the first Mithridatic War.
78.14 King of Armenia, and son-in-law of Mithridates, with whom he had formed alliance.
78.15 ultimam . . . potuit: ‘his failure to put the finishing touches (ultimam manum) to
the war was due more to unwillingness than to inability.’ How literally? Here too the
biographer shows his prejudice. Lucullus’ failure to end the war was due to the mutiny of
his soldiers, who were weary of their incessant exertions, and angry because L. did not
permit them to gratify their greed for plunder.
78.16 ‘(though) praiseworthy.’ invictus must be similarly translated.
78.17 Cf. p. 18, n. 7.
78.18 ‘convenience.’
79.1 mōlēs . . . iniēcit: ‘he built huge structures out into the sea.’
79.2 Cf. p. 73, n. 10. Xerxes, king of Persia, made an expedition against Greece in 480 b.c.,
in the course of which he executed certain important engineering works.
79.3 adsuēscō.

79.4 prōspectū . . . pulcherrimam: ‘with a very beautiful view and promenade.’
prōspectū and ambulātiōne are abl. of specification.
79.5 Why subjunctive?
79.6 utpote sōlī = quod sōlus erat. In phrases like this Latin suffers from the lack of a
present part. to sum.
80.1 dedit ūtendōs: i.e. loaned them. For ūtendōs, see p. 2, n. 18.
80.2 The Muses were patrons of literature in its various forms.

XXVI. Gnaeus Pompēius Māgnus Text-only version

Gnaeus Pompēius, 3 stirpis senātōriae, bellō 4
cīvīlī sē et patrem cōnsiliō servāvit. Cum enim
Pompēī pater exercituī suō ob avāritiam esset
invīsus, factā in eum cōnspīrātiōne, Terentius
5 quīdam, Gnaeī Pompēī fīliī 5 contubernālis, hunc 6
occīdendum suscēpit, dum 7 aliī tabernāculum
patris incenderent. 7 Quae rēs cum iuvenī Pompēiō
cēnantī nūntiāta esset, nihil perīculō mōtus POMPEY

solitō 8 hilarius bibit et cum Terentiō eādem,
10 quā 9 anteā, cōmitāte ūsus est. Deinde cubiculum ingressus clam
subdūxit sē tentōriō et fīrmam patrī circumdedit cūstōdiam.
Terentius tum dēstrictō ēnse ad lectum Pompēī accessit multīsque
īctibus strāgula percussit. 10 Ortā mox sēditiōne Pompēius sē in
media coniēcit āgmina, mīlitēsque tumultuantēs precibus et lacrimīs
15 plācāvit ac ducī reconciliāvit.

Eōdem bellō Pompēius partēs Sullae secūtus ita sē gessit ut ab
eō māximē dīligerētur. Annōs trēs et vīgintī nātus, ut Sullae
auxiliō venīret, paternī exercitūs reliquiās conlēgit, statimque
dux perītus exstitit. 1 Māgnus illīus apud mīlitem amor, māgna
20 apud omnēs admīrātiō fuit; nūllus eī 2 labor taediō, 2 nūlla
dēfatīgātiō molestiae 2 erat. Cibī 3 vīnīque 3 temperāns, somnī parcus 4;
inter mīlitēs corpus exercēns cum alacribus saltū, 5 cum vēlōcibus
cursū, 5 cum validīs luctandō 5 certābat. Tum ad Sullam iter

intendit et in eō itinere trēs hostium exercitūs aut fūdit aut sibi
25 adiūnxit. Quem ubi Sulla ad sē accēdere audīvit ēgregiamque
sub sīgnīs iuventūtem āspexit, dēsiliit ex equō Pompēiumque
salūtāvit imperātōrem et posteā eī 6 venientī solēbat sellā
adsurgere et caput aperīre et equō dēscendere, quem honōrem nēminī
nisi Pompēiō tribuēbat.
30 Posteā Pompēius in Siciliam profectus est, ut eam ā Carbōne,
Sullae inimīcō, occupātam reciperet. Carbō comprehēnsus et ad
Pompēium ductus est: quem Pompēius, etsi Carbō 7 muliebriter
mortem extimēscēns dēmissē et flēbiliter mortem dēprecābātur,
ad supplicium dūcī iussit. Longē moderātior fuit Pompēius ergā
35 Sthenium, Siciliae cūiusdam cīvitātis prīncipem. Cum enim in
eam cīvitātem animadvertere dēcrēvisset, quae 8 sibi adversāta
fuisset, inīquē eum factūrum Sthenius exclāmāvit, 9 sī ob ūnīus
culpam omnēs pūnīret. Interrogantī Pompēiō quisnam ille ūnus
esset, “Ego” inquit Sthenius “quī cīvēs meōs ad id indūxī.”
40 Tam līberā vōce dēlectātus Pompēius omnibus et Stheniō ipsī
pepercit. 1
Trānsgressus inde in Āfricam Iarbam, Numidiae rēgem, quī
Mariī partibus favēbat, bellō persecūtus intrā diēs quadrāgintā
oppressit et Āfricam subēgit adulēscēns 2 quattuor et vīgintī
45 annōrum. Deinde cum litterae eī ā Sullā redditae essent, quibus
exercitū 3 dīmissō cum ūnā legiōne successōrem exspectāre
iubēbātur, Pompēius, quamquam aegrē id ferēbat, tamen pāruit et
Rōmam revertit. Revertentī incrēdibilis hominum multitūdō
obviam īvit; Sulla quoque laetus eum excēpit et Māgnī
50 cōgnōmine cōnsalūtāvit. Nihilō minus Pompēiō triumphum petentī
restitit: neque vērō eā rē ā prōpositō dēterritus est Pompēius
aususque 4 dīcere plūrēs adōrāre sōlem orientem quam occidentem:
quō dictō innuēbat Sullae potentiam minuī, suam crēscere.
Eā vōce audītā Sulla, cōnfīdentiā adulēscentis perculsus, 5
55 “Triumphet! triumphet!” exclāmāvit.

Metellō 6 iam senī 7 et bellum in Hispāniā sēgnius gerentī
conlēga datus Pompēius adversus Sertōrium variō ēventū dīmicāvit.
Māximum ibi in proeliō quōdam perīculum subiit: cum enim vir
vāstā corporis māgnitūdine impetum in eum fēcisset, Pompēius
60 manum amputāvit; sed multīs 8 in eum concurrentibus vulnus in
femore accēpit et ā suīs fugientibus dēsertus in 9 hostium potestāte
erat. At praeter spem ēvāsit: barbarī enim equum ēius aurō
phalerīsque eximiīs īnstrūctum cēperant. Dum igitur praedam
inter sē altercantēs 10 partiuntur, Pompēius eōrum manūs effūgit.
65 Alterō proeliō cum Metellus Pompēiō labōrantī auxiliō vēnisset,
Sertōrius recēdere coāctus dīxisse fertur: “Nisi anus illa
supervēnisset, 1 ego hunc puerum verberibus castīgātum Rōmam
dīmīsissem.” 1 Metellum anum appellābat, quia is, iam senex, 2 ad
mollem et effēminātam vītam dēflexerat. Sertōriō interfectō
70 Pompēius Hispāniam recēpit.

Cum 3 pīrātae illā tempestāte
maria omnia īnfēstārent 3 et quāsdam
etiam Ītaliae urbēs dīripuissent, 3
B.C. ad eōs opprimendōs
67. 75 cum imperiō extraōrdināriō
missus est Pompēius. Nimiae NĀVIS PĪRĀTA
virī potentiae obsistēbant quīdam
ex optimātibus et imprīmīs Quīntus Catulus. Quī cum in cōntiōne
dīxisset esse quidem 4 praeclārum virum Cn. Pompēium, sed 4 nōn
80 esse ūnī omnia tribuenda, adiēcissetque: “Sī quid huīc acciderit,
quem in ēius locum substituētis?” summō cōnsēnsū succlāmāvit
ūniversa cōntiō, “Tē, Quīnte Catule.” Tam honōrificō cīvium
tēstimōniō victus Catulus ē cōntiōne discessit. Pompēius,
dispositīs 5 per omnēs maris recessūs nāvibus, brevī terrārum orbem
85 illā pēste līberāvit; praedōnēs multīs locīs victōs fūdit; eōsdem
in dēditiōnem acceptōs in urbibus et agrīs procul ā marī

conlocāvit. Nihil hāc victōriā celerius, nam intrā quadrāgēsimum
diem pīrātās tōtō marī expulit.
B.C. Cōnfectō bellō pīrāticō, Gnaeus Pompēius contrā Mithridātem
66.
90 profectus in Asiam māgnā celeritāte contendit. Proelium
cum rēge cōnserere cupiēbat, neque 6 opportūna dabātur
pūgnandī facultās, quia Mithridātēs interdiū castrīs sē continēbat,
noctū vērō haud tūtum erat congredī cum hoste in locīs īgnōtīs.
Nocte tamen aliquandō cum Pompēius Mithridātem aggressus
95 esset, lūna māgnō fuit Rōmānīs adiūmentō. Quam cum Rōmānī
ā 1 tergō habērent, umbrae corporum longius prōiectae ad prīmōs
ūsque hostium ōrdinēs pertinēbant, unde dēceptī rēgiī mīlitēs in
umbrās, tamquam in propinquum hostem, tēla mittēbant. Victus
Mithridātēs in Pontum profūgit. Pharnacēs fīlius bellum eī
100 intulit, quī, occīsīs ā patre frātribus, vītae suae ipse timēbat.
Mithridātēs ā fīliō obsessus 2 venēnum sūmpsit; quod cum tardius
subīret, quia adversus venēna multīs anteā medicāmentīs corpus
fīrmāverat, ā mīlite Gallō, ā 3 quō ut adiuvāret sē petierat,
interfectus est.
105 Tigrānī deinde, Armeniae rēgī, quī Mithridātis partēs secūtus
erat, Pompēius bellum intulit eumque ad dēditiōnem compulit.
Quī cum prōcubuisset ad genua Pompēī, eum
ērēxit, 4 et benīgnīs verbīs recreātum diadēma,
quod abiēcerat, capitī repōnere iussit, aequē 5
110 pulchrum esse iūdicāns et vincere rēgēs et
facere. Inde in Iūdaeam profectus Rōmānōrum
prīmus 6 Iūdaeōs domuit, Hierosolyma,
DIADĒMA
B.C. caput gentis, cēpit, templumque iūre 7
63. victōriae ingressus est. Rēbus Asiae
115 compositīs, in Italiam versus 8 ad urbem 9 vēnit, nōn, ut plērīque
timuerant, armātus, sed dīmissō exercitū, et tertium triumphum
bīduō 10 dūxit. Īnsīgnis fuit multīs novīs inūsitātīsque ōrnāmentīs
hīc triumphus; sed nihil inlūstrius vīsum, quam quod 11 tribus

triumphīs trēs orbis partēs dēvictae causam praebuerant: Pompēius
120 enim, quod 1 anteā contigerat nēminī, prīmum ex Āfricā,
iterum ex Eurōpā, tertiō ex Asiā triumphāvit, fēlīx opīniōne
hominum futūrus, sī, quem 2 glōriae, eundem vītae fīnem habuisset
neque adversam fortūnam esset expertus iam senex.
B.C. Posteriōre enim tempore ortā inter Pompēium et Caesarem 3
49.
125 gravī dissēnsiōne, quod 4 hīc 5 superiōrem, ille 5 parem ferre
nōn posset, bellum cīvīle exārsit. Caesar īnfēstō 6 exercitū
in Ītaliam vēnit. Pompēius, relīctā urbe ac deinde Ītaliā ipsā,
Thessaliam petit et cum eō cōnsulēs senātusque omnis: quem
īnsecūtus Caesar apud Pharsālum aciē fūdit. Victus Pompēius
130 ad Ptolemaeum, Aegyptī rēgem, cuī tūtor ā senātū datus erat,
profūgit, quī Pompēium interficī iussit. Latus Pompēī sub oculīs
uxōris et līberōrum mūcrōne cōnfossum est, caput praecīsum,
truncus in Nīlum coniectus. Deinde caput cum ānulō ad Caesarem
dēlātum est, quī eō vīsō lacrimās nōn continēns illud
135 multīs pretiōsissimīsque odōribus cremandum cūrāvit.

Is fuit Pompēī post trēs cōnsulātūs et totidem triumphōs vītae
exitus. Erant in Pompēiō multae et māgnae virtūtēs ac praecipuē
admīranda frūgālitās. Cum eī aegrōtantī praecēpisset
medicus ut turdum ederet, negārent autem 7 servī eam avem
140 ūsquam aestīvō tempore posse reperīrī, nisi apud Lūcullum, quī
turdōs domī sagīnāret, vetuit Pompēius turdum inde petī, medicōque
dīxit: “Ergō, 8 nisi Lūcullus perditus dēliciīs esset, nōn vīveret
Pompēius?” Aliam avem, quae parābilis esset, sibi iussit
appōnī.
145 Virīs 1 doctīs māgnum honōrem habēbat Pompēius. Ex Syriā
dēcēdēns, cōnfectō bellō Mithridāticō, cum Rhodum vēnisset,
Posīdōnium cupiit audīre 2; sed cum audīvisset eum graviter esse
aegrum, quod 3 vehementer ēius artūs labōrārent, voluit tamen
nōbilissimum philosophum vīsere. Mōs erat ut, cōnsule 4 aedēs
150 aliquās ingressūrō, līctor forēs percuteret, 5 admonēns cōnsulem

adesse, at Pompēius forēs Posīdōniī percutī honōris causā vetuit.
Quem ut vīdit et salūtāvit, molestē sē dīxit ferre, quod eum nōn
posset audīre. At ille “Tū vērō” inquit “potes, nec committam
ut dolor corporis efficiat 5 ut frūstrā tantus vir ad mē vēnerit. 5”
155 Itaque cubāns graviter et cōpiōsē dē hōc ipsō disputāvit: nihil
esse 6 bonum nisi quod honestum esset, nihil malum dīcī posse,
quod turpe nōn esset. Cum vērō dolōrēs ācriter eum pungerent,
saepe “Nihil agis,” inquit “dolor! quamvīs 7 sīs molestus, numquam
tē esse malum cōnfitēbor.”
Skip to next selection.

80.3 See Vocab., Pompēius.
80.4 The reference is to the war between Marius and Sulla. See selections XXIV and XXV.
80.5 Cf. iuvenī, l. 7. We should say ‘the younger.’ He was at this time but nineteen years of
age.
80.6 hunc . . . suscēpit: ‘undertook to kill him.’ How literally? For occīdendum, see p. 2,
n. 18.
80.7 dum, though meaning ‘while’ (cf. p. xx, G 2), takes the subjunctive here because of
the informal indir. disc. Terenti said: fīlium . . . suscipiam dum aliī incenditis.
80.8 solitō hilarius: ‘with (even) more gaiety than usual.’ solitō is here a noun. Neuter adj.
and part. are often so used. For its case, see p. 10, n. 18.
80.9 quā anteā: sc. ūsus erat.
80.10 percutiō.
81.1 ‘proved himself.’
81.2 See p. 25, n. 6.
81.3 objective gen. (p. 14, n. 15) with the part. temperāns, which here = a simple adj. So
somnī is obj. gen. with parcus.
81.4 Sc. erat.
81.5 abl. of specification.
81.6 eī venientī: ‘(as a mark of respect) to him when approaching.’ eī is a dat. of advantage
with adsurgere.
81.7 After quem, whose antecedent is Carbō, l. 31, this word might have been omitted
without loss of clearness. In fact, such omission is the more usual construction.
81.8 quae . . . fuisset: causal. Note that in forming the pluperfect subjunctive certain
writers often use fuisset for esset.
81.9 What were the exact words of Sthenius?

82.1 parcō.
82.2 ‘(being then) a young man.’ Cf. p. 44, n. 12.
82.3 exercitū dīmissō . . . exspectāre = exercitum dīmittere et . . . exspectāre.
82.4 Cf. p. 13, n. 12.
82.5 percellō.
82.6 Quintus Caecilius Metellus, proconsul in Spain 79-76 b.c.
82.7 senī: ‘because he was old.’
82.8 multīs . . . concurrentibus: the abl. abs. here denotes both time and cause; see p.
xxiii, K 6. The prefix in concurrentibus conveys the idea of ‘from every side.’
82.9 in . . . erat = ab hostibus captus est.
82.10 altercantēs partiuntur: lit., ‘wrangling they divided’ = ‘they wrangled about the
division.’
83.1 Why subjunctive?
83.2 ‘though already old.’ The thought is that luxury and effeminacy are especially
unbecoming to old age.
83.3 See p. xx, H 2. What is the meaning of the change of tense in dīripuissent?
83.4 Cf. p. 10, n. 10.
83.5 See p. xxiii, K 10.
83.6 neque . . . facultās: ‘but no opportunity,’ etc.
84.1 ā tergō: ‘in the rear.’ See p. 11, n. 10.
84.2 obsideō.
84.3 ā quō . . . petierat: ‘whom he had asked to help him.’ How literally? ut adiuvāret sē
is a substantive clause of purpose and object of petierat. See p. 7, n. 20.
84.4 ērigō.
84.5 aequē . . . facere: lit., ‘because he thought it an equally fine thing both to conquer
kings and to create them.’ The expression is somewhat careless. We would say: ‘as glorious
to create kings as to conquer them.’ aequē pulchrum is predicate, et vincere . . . et facere
subject to esse.
84.6 prīmus . . . domuit: cf. p. 38, n. 1.
84.7 iūre victōriae: ‘by right of (i.e. on the strength of) his victory.’
84.8 ‘turning’; lit., ‘having turned himself.’ Cf. n. on cingitur, XIII, l. 29.
84.9 ‘the City,’ i.e. Rome.
84.10 Cf. p. xvii, D 1.
84.11 quod . . . praebuerant: ‘the fact that the conquest of (the) three parts,’ etc. Cf. p. 5,
n. 15, and p. xxiv, L 4.
85.1 ‘something which’; its antecedent is the clause prīmum . . . triumphāvit below.
85.2 With quem glōriae, sc. fīnem habuit.
85.3 The famous C. Julius Caesar, for whom see next selection.

85.4 quod . . . posset: ‘because (as men said) the one,’ etc. For the subjunctive, see p. xxi,
H 4.
85.5 hīc . . . ille: ‘the one (Caesar) . . . the other (Pompey).’
85.6 īnfēstō exercitū: abl. of accompaniment: H 474, 2, n. 1 (419, III, 1, 1): M 634: A 243,
a, n.: G 392, r. 1: B 222, 1.
85.7 autem contrasts negārent with praecēpisset. There is a contrast also between servī
and medicus.
85.8 Ergō . . . Pompēius? The force of this sentence can be given only by a free rendering,
thus: ‘Shall it be said, then, that Pompey would not be alive, had not Lucullus ruined
himself by his luxury?’
86.1 Virīs . . . habēbat: ‘he highly honored learned men.’
86.2 audiō, like our ‘hear,’ is often used of listening to lectures or to teachers.
86.3 quod . . . labōrārent: i.e. because he had the gout.
86.4 cōnsule . . . ingressūrō: ‘whenever the consul,’ etc.; a temporal abl. abs.
86.5 Subjunctive in substantive clauses of result: see p. xix, F 3.
86.6 infinitive, because the clause in which it stands is in apposition to hōc. This use of the
infin. is common.
86.7 quamvīs sīs: concessive subjunctive: H 586, II (515, III): M 875: A 313, a: G 606:
B 308.

XXVII. Gāius Iūlius Caesar Text-only version

C. Iūlius Caesar, 8 nōbilissimā Iūliōrum genitus
familiā, 9 annum agēns sextum et decimum patrem
āmīsit. Cornēliam, Cinnae 10 fīliam, dūxit uxōrem;
cūius pater cum esset Sullae inimīcissimus, is 11
5 Caesarem voluit compellere ut eam repudiāret;
neque 12 id potuit efficere. Quā rē Caesar bonīs
spoliātus cum etiam ad necem quaererētur, mūtātā
veste nocte urbe ēlāpsus 13 est et quamquam tunc
quārtānae 1 morbō labōrābat, prope 2 per singulās CAESAR
noctēs latebrās
10 commūtāre cōgēbātur; et comprehēnsus ā Sullae lībērtō, nē 3 ad
Sullam perdūcerētur, vix datā 4 pecūniā ēvāsit. Postrēmō per
propinquōs et adfīnēs suōs veniam impetrāvit. Satis cōnstat

Sullam, cum dēprecantibus 5 amīcissimīs et ōrnātissimīs virīs
aliquamdiū dēnegāsset atque illī pertināciter contenderent,
15 expūgnātum tandem prōclāmāsse, vincerent, 6 dummodo scīrent 7 eum,
quem incolumem tantō opere cuperent, aliquandō optimātium
partibus, quās sēcum simul dēfendissent, exitiō futūrum; nam
Caesarī multōs Mariōs inesse.
Stīpendia prīma in Asiā fēcit. In expūgnātiōne Mitylēnārum
20 corōnā cīvicā dōnātus est. Mortuō Sullā, Rhodum sēcēdere
statuit, ut per otium Apollōniō Molōnī, tunc clārissimō dīcendī 8
magistrō, operam daret. Hūc dum trāicit, ā praedōnibus captus
est mānsitque apud eōs prope quadrāgintā diēs. Per omne autem
illud spatium ita sē gessit, ut pīrātīs pariter terrōrī venerātiōnīque
25 esset. Comitēs interim servōsque ad expediendās pecūniās, quibus
redimerētur, dīmīsit. Vīgintī talenta pīrātae pōstulāverant: ille
quīnquāgintā datūrum sē spopondit. Quibus numerātīs cum
expositus esset in lītore, cōnfēstim Mīlētum, quae urbs proximē 9
aberat, properāvit ibique contrāctā classe invectus in eum locum,
30 in quō ipsī praedōnēs erant, partem classis fugāvit, partem mersit,
aliquot nāvēs cēpit pīrātāsque in potestātem redāctōs eō suppliciō,
quod illīs saepe minātus inter iocum erat, adfēcit crucīque
suffīxit.
Quaestōrī ūlterior 1 Hispānia obvēnit. Quō profectus cum Alpēs
35 trānsīret et ad cōnspectum pauperis cūiusdam vīcī comitēs per
iocum inter sē disputārent num illīc 2 etiam esset ambitiōnī locus,
sēriō dīxit Caesar mālle sē ibi prīmum esse, quam Rōmae secundum.
Dominātiōnis avidus 3 ā prīmā aetāte rēgnum concupīscēbat
semperque in ōre habēbat hōs Eurīpidis, Graecī poētae, versūs:
40 Nam sī violandum est iūs, rēgnandī grātiā
Violandum est. Aliīs 4 rēbus pietātem colās. 5
Cumque Gadēs, quod est Hispāniae oppidum, vēnisset, animadversā
apud Herculis templum māgnī Alexandrī imāgine ingemuit

et quasi pertaesus īgnāviam suam, quod nihildum ā sē memorābile
45 āctum esset in eā aetāte, quā iam Alexander orbem terrārum
subēgisset, missiōnem continuō efflāgitāvit ad captandās quam prīmum
māiōrum rērum occāsiōnes in urbe.
Aedīlis praeter comitium ac Forum etiam Capitōlium ōrnāvit
porticibus. Vēnātiōnes autem lūdōsque 6 et cum conlēgā M. Bibulō
50 et sēparātim ēdidit: quō 7 factum est ut commūnium quoque
impēnsārum sōlus grātiam caperet. Hīs autem rēbus patrimōnium
effūdit tantumque cōnflāvit aes aliēnum, ut ipse dīceret sibi 8 opus
esse mīlliēs sēstertium, ut habēret nihil.
B.C. Cōnsul deinde creātus cum M. Bibulō, societātem 9 cum Gnaeō
60.
55 Pompēiō et Marcō Crassō iūnxit Caesar, nē quid agerētur in
rē pūblicā, quod displicuisset ūllī ex tribus. Deinde lēgem
tulit ut ager Campānus plēbī dīvīderētur. Cuī lēgī cum senātus
repūgnāret, rem ad populum dētulit. Bibulus conlēga in Forum
vēnit, ut lēgī obsisteret, sed tanta in eum commōta est sēditiō, ut
60 in caput ēius cophinus stercore plēnus effunderētur fascēsque eī
frangerentur atque adeō ipse armīs Forō expellerētur. Quā rē
cum Bibulus per reliquum annī tempus domō abditus Cūriā abstinēret,
ūnus ex eō tempore Caesar omnia in rē pūblicā ad arbitrium
administrābat, ut nōnnūllī urbānōrum, sī 1 quid tēstandī grātiā
65 sīgnārent, per iocum nōn, ut mōs erat, ‘cōnsulibus 2 Caesare et
Bibulō’ āctum 3 scrīberent, sed ‘Iūliō et Caesare,’ ūnum cōnsulem
nōmine et cōgnōmine prō duōbus appellantēs.
Fūnctus 4 cōnsulātū Caesar Galliam prōvinciam accēpit. Gessit
autem novem 5 annīs, quibus 5 in imperiō fuit, haec ferē: Galliam
70 in prōvinciae fōrmam redēgit; Germānōs, quī trāns Rhēnum
incolunt, prīmus Rōmānōrum ponte fabricātō aggressus māximīs
adfēcit clādibus. Aggressus est Britannōs, īgnōtōs anteā,
superātīsque 6 pecūniās et obsidēs imperāvit. Hīc 7 cum 8 multa
Rōmānōrum mīlitum īnsīgnia nārrantur, tum 8 illud 9 ēgregium ipsīus
75 Caesaris, quod, nūtante in fugam exercitū, raptō fugientis ē manū

scūtō in prīmam volitāns aciem proelium restituit. Īdem aliō
proeliō legiōnis aquiliferum ineundae fugae causā iam 10 conversum
faucibus comprehēnsum 11 in contrāriam partem dētrāxit dextramque
ad hostem tendēns “Quōrsum tū” inquit “abīs? Illīc sunt,
80 cum quibus dīmicāmus.” Quā adhortātiōne omnium legiōnum
trepidātiōnem corrēxit vincīque parātās vincere docuit.
B.C. Interfectō intereā apud Parthōs Crassō et dēfūnctā Iūliā,
53.
Caesaris fīliā, quae, nūpta Pompēiō, generī socerīque concordiam
tenēbat, 1 statim aemulātiō ērūpit. Iam prīdem Pompēiō
85 sūspectae 2 Caesaris opēs et Caesarī Pompēiāna dīgnitās gravis,
nec hīc 3 ferēbat parem, nec ille 3 superiōrem. Itaque cum
Caesar in Galliā dētinērētur, et, nē imperfectō bellō discēderet,
pōstulāsset ut sibi licēret, quamvīs absentī, 4 alterum cōnsulātum
petere, ā senātū, suādentibus Pompēiō ēiusque amīcīs, negātum eī
90 est. Hanc iniūriam acceptam vindicātūrus 5 in Ītaliam rediit et

B.C. bellandum ratus cum exercitū Rubicōnem flūmen, quī
6 7
49. prōvinciae ēius fīnis erat, trānsiit. Hōc ad flūmen paulum
cōnstitisse fertur ac reputāns quantum mōlīrētur, conversus ad
proximōs, “Etiamnunc” inquit “regredī possumus; quod sī ponticulum
95 trānsierimus, omnia armīs agenda erunt.” Postrēmō autem
“Iacta ālea estō!” exclāmāns exercitum trāicī iussit plūrimīsque
urbibus occupātīs Brundisium contendit, quō Pompēius cōnsulēsque
cōnfūgerant.
Quī cum inde in Ēpīrum trāiēcissent, Caesar, eōs secūtus ā
100 Brundisiō, Dyrrachium inter 8 oppositās classēs gravissimā hieme
trānsmīsit; cōpiīsque 9 quās subsequī iusserat diūtius cessantibus,
cum ad eās arcessendās frūstrā mīsisset, mīrae audāciae facinus
ēdidit. Morae enim impatiēns castrīs noctū ēgreditur, clam
nāviculam cōnscendit, obvolūtō capite, nē āgnōscerētur, et quamquam
105 mare saevā tempestāte intumēscēbat, in altum tamen prōtinus
dīrigī nāvigium iubet et, gubernātōre trepidante, “Quid timēs?”
inquit “Caesarem vehis!” neque prius 1 gubernātōrem cēdere

adversae tempestātī passus est, quam 1 paene obrutus esset 1
fluctibus.
B.C. 110 Deinde Caesar in Ēpīrum profectus Pompēium Pharsālicō
48.
proeliō fūdit, et fugientem persecūtus, ut occīsum cōgnōvit,
Ptolemaeō rēgī, Pompēiī interfectōrī, ā quō sibi quoque
īnsidiās tendī vidēret, bellum intulit; quō victō in Pontum
trānsiit Pharnacemque, Mithridātis fīlium, rebellantem et
115 multiplicī successū 2 praeferōcem intrā 3 quīntum ab adventū diem,
quattuor, quibus 4 in cōnspectum vēnit, hōrīs 4 ūnā prōflīgāvit
aciē, mōre fulminis, quod ūnō eōdemque mōmentō vēnit, percussit,
abscessit. Nec vāna dē sē praedicātiō est Caesaris ante
victum hostem esse quam vīsum. 5 Ponticō 6 posteā triumphō
120 trium verbōrum praetulit titulum: “Vēnī, vīdī, vīcī.” Deinde
Scīpiōnem 7 et Iubam, Numidiae rēgem, reliquiās Pompēiānārum
partium in Āfricā refoventēs, dēvīcit. 8
Victōrem Āfricānī bellī Gāium Caesarem gravius excēpit Hispāniēnse,
quod Cn. Pompēius, Māgnī 9 fīlius, adulēscēns fortissimus,
125 ingēns ac terribile cōnflāverat, undique ad eum auxiliīs 10
paternī nōminis māgnitūdinem sequentium 11 ex tōtō orbe cōnfluentibus.
Sua 1 Caesarem in Hispāniam comitāta fortūna est: sed
nūllum umquam atrōcius perīculōsiusque ab eō initum proelium,
adeō ut, plūs 2 quam dubiō Mārte, dēscenderet equō cōnsistēnsque
130 ante recēdentem suōrum aciem increpāns fortūnam, quod sē in
eum servāsset exitum, dēnūntiāret mīlitibus vēstīgiō sē nōn
recessūrum; proinde vidērent, 3 quem 4 et quō locō imperātōrem
dēsertūrī essent. Verēcundiā magis quam virtūte aciēs restitūta est.
Cn. Pompēius victus et interēmptus est. Caesar, omnium victor,
135 regressus in urbem omnibus, quī contrā sē arma tulerant, īgnōvit
et quīnquiēs triumphāvit.
Bellīs cīvīlibus cōnfectīs, conversus iam ad ōrdinandum reī
pūblicae statum fāstōs 5 corrēxit annumque ad cursum sōlis
accommodāvit, ut trecentōrum sexāgintā quīnque diērum esset

140 et, intercalāriō 5 mēnse sublātō, ūnus diēs quārtō quōque 6 annō
intercalārētur. Iūs labōriōsissimē ac sevērissimē dīxit.
Repetundārum 7 convictōs etiam ōrdine senātōriō mōvit. Peregrīnārum
mercium portōria īnstituit: lēgem 8 praecipuē sūmptuāriam exercuit.
Dē ōrnandā īnstruendāque urbe, item dē tuendō ampliandōque
145 imperiō plūra ac māiōra in diēs dēstinābat: imprīmīs iūs
cīvīle ad certum modum redigere 9 atque ex immēnsā lēgum cōpiā
optima quaeque et necessāria in paucissimōs cōnferre librōs;
bibliothēcās Graecās et Latīnās, quās 1 māximās posset, pūblicāre;
siccāre Pomptīnās palūdēs: viam munīre ā Marī Superō per Apennīnī
150 dorsum ad Tiberim ūsque: Dācōs, quī sē in Pontum effūderant,
coercēre: mox Parthīs bellum īnferre per Armeniam.
Haec et alia agentem et meditantem mors praevēnit. Dictātor
enim in perpetuum creātus agere īnsolentius coepit: senātum ad
sē venientem sedēns excēpit et quendam, ut adsurgeret monentem,
155 īrātō vultū respexit. Cum Antōnius, 2 Caesaris in omnibus bellīs
comes et tunc cōnsulātūs conlēga, capitī ēius in sellā aureā sedentis
prō rōstrīs diadēma, īnsīgne rēgium, imposuisset, id ita ab eō
est repulsum, ut nōn offēnsus vidērētur. Quārē coniūrātum in
eum est ā 3 sexāgintā amplius virīs, Cassiō et Brūtō ducibus
160 cōnspīrātiōnis, dēcrētumque eum Īdibus Mārtiīs in senātū cōnfodere.

Plūrima indicia futūrī perīculī obtulerant diī immortālēs. Uxor
Calpurnia, territa nocturnō vīsū, ut Īdibus Mārtiīs domī subsisteret
ōrābat et Spūrinna harūspex praedīxerat 4 ut proximōs diēs
trīgintā quasi fātālēs cavēret, quōrum ultimus erat Īdūs Mārtiae.
165 Hōc igitur diē Caesar Spūrinnae “Ecquid scīs” inquit “Īdūs
Mārtiās iam vēnisse?” et is “Ecquid scīs illās nōndum praeterīsse?”
Atque cum Caesar eō diē in senātum vēnisset, adsīdentem
cōnspīrātī speciē 5 officiī circumstetērunt īlicōque ūnus, quasi
aliquid rogātūrus, propius accessit renuentīque 6 ab 7 utrōque
170 umerō togam apprehendit. Deinde clāmantem “Ista quidem
vīs est!” Casca, ūnus ē coniūrātīs, adversum 8 vulnerat paulum

īnfrā iugulum. Caesar Cascae bracchium adreptum graphiō trāiēcit
cōnātusque prōsilīre aliō vulnere tardātus est. Dein ut
March 15, animadvertit undique sē strictīs pugiōnibus petī, togā caput
1
B.C. 44. 175 obvolvit et ita tribus et vīgintī plāgīs cōnfossus est. Cum
Mārcum Brūtum, quem fīliī locō habēbat in sē inruentem vīdisset,
dīxisse fertur: “Tū quoque, mī fīlī!”

THE DEATH OF CAESAR

Illud inter omnēs ferē cōnstitit tālem eī mortem paene ex
sententiā obtigisse. 2 Nam et quondam cum apud Xenophōntem
180 lēgisset Cȳrum ultimā valētūdine mandāsse quaedam dē fūnere
suō, āspernātus tam lentum mortis genus subitam sibi celeremque
optāverat, et prīdiē quam occīderētur, in sermōne nātō super
cēnam quisnam esset fīnis vītae commodissimus, repentīnum
inopīnātumque praetulerat. Percussōrum autem neque trienniō
185 quisquam amplius supervīxit neque suā 1 morte dēfūnctus est.
Damnātī omnēs alius aliō cāsū periērunt, pars naufragiō, pars

proeliō; nōnnūllī sēmet eōdem illō pugiōne, quō Caesarem violāverant,
interēmērunt.
Quō 2 rārior in rēgibus et prīncipibus virīs moderātiō, hōc
190 laudanda magis est. C. Iūlius Caesar victōriā cīvīlī 3
clēmentissimē ūsus est; cum enim scrīnia dēprehendisset epistulārum
ad Pompēium missārum ab iīs, quī 4 vidēbantur aut in dīversīs
aut in neutrīs fuisse partibus, legere nōluit, sed combūssit, nē 5
forte in multōs gravius cōnsulendī locum darent. Cicerō hanc
195 laudem eximiam Caesarī tribuit, quod nihil oblivīscī solēret nisi
iniūriās. Simultātēs omnēs, occāsiōne oblātā, libēns dēposuit.
Ultrō ac prior scrīpsit C. Calvō post fāmōsa ēius adversum sē
epigrammata. Valerium Catullum, cūius 6 versiculīs fāmam suam
lacerātam nōn īgnōrābat, adhibuit cēnae. C. Memmiī suffrāgātor
200 in petītiōne cōnsulātūs fuit, etsī asperrimās fuisse ēius in sē
ōrātiōnēs sciēbat.
Fuisse trāditur excelsā statūrā, 7 ōre 7 paulō 8 plēniōre, nigrīs
vegetīsque oculīs, 7 capite 7 calvō; quam calvitiī dēfōrmitātem,
quod saepe obtrēctātōrum iocīs obnoxia erat, aegrē ferēbat. Ideō
205 ex omnibus dēcrētīs sibi ā senātū populōque honōribus nōn alium
aut recēpit aut ūsūrpāvit libentius quam iūs laureae 9 perpetuō
gestandae. Vīnī 1 parcissimum eum fuisse nē inimīcī quidem
negāvērunt. Verbum Catōnis est ūnum ex omnibus Caesarem
ad ēvertendam rem pūblicam sōbrium accessisse. Armōrum et
210 equitandī perītissimus, labōris ultrā fidem patiēns; in āgmine
nōnnumquam equō, saepius pedibus anteībat, capite dētēctō, seu
sōl, seu imber erat. Longissimās viās incrēdibilī celeritāte
cōnficiēbat, ut 2 persaepe nūntiōs dē sē praevenīret: neque eum
morābantur flūmina, quae vel nandō vel innīxus īnflātīs utribus
215 trāiciēbat.

Skip to next selection.

86.8 See Vocab., Iūlius.
86.9 ablative of source.
86.10 Cf. p. 73, n. 1.
86.11 i.e. Sulla.
86.12 neque potuit: ‘but he was not able.’
86.13 ēlābor.
87.1 quārtānae (sc. febris) . . . labōrābat: ‘he was suffering from intermittent fever.’
morbō is abl. of cause.
87.2 prope . . . noctēs: ‘almost every night.’
87.3 nē . . . ēvāsit: ‘he barely, by giving money, escaped being surrendered to Sulla.’ nē . . .
perdūcerētur expresses the purpose of datā pecūniā.
87.4 Cf. p. xxiii, K 8.
87.5 = a rel. clause (cf. p. xxiv, L 1): ‘who pleaded (for Caesar)’; lit., ‘who sought to beg
him off.’
87.6 For the subjunctive, see p. 63, n. 5. Sulla said: Vincite, dummodo sciātis, etc. Translate
prōclāmāsse . . . scīrent thus: ‘cried out (bidding them) have their way, but at the same
time to (lit. provided they) realize.’
87.7 See H 587 (513, I): M 920: A 314: G 573: B 310.
87.8 ‘oratory.’
87.9 prope abesse = ‘to be near by,’ is a common idiom.
88.1 See Vocab., Hispānia.
88.2 i.e. even in so insignificant a place.
88.3 = quod avidus erat.
88.4 aliīs rēbus: ‘under other circumstances,’ ‘otherwise.’ For the case, see p. 27, n. 3.
88.5 The subjunctive here = an imperative: see p. 31, n. 9. Note also that colās is an
example of the indefinite or universal second person, since the command is addressed, not
to any particular individual, but to any one and every one.
88.6 lūdōs ēdidit: ‘he celebrated games.’ On the magnificence of the games which the
Aediles gave depended very largely their chance of promotion to the higher offices.
88.7 ‘whereby’; abl. of means.
88.8 sibi . . . sēstertium: with mīlliēs sc. centēna mīlia, and take sēstertium as gen. plural
from sēstertius, and dependent on mīlia. Translate: ‘that he needed 100,000,000 sesterces,’
i.e. about $4,000,000. See Vocab., sēstertius.
88.9 societātem . . . iūnxit: this combination is called ‘The First Triumvirate.’

89.1 sī . . . sīgnārent: an instance of the iterative subjunctive (p. 45, n. 2) = ‘whenever they
affixed their seals as witnesses.’
89.2 cōnsulibus . . . Bibulō: for this way of dating events, see XIV, 1.
89.3 Sc. esse.
89.4 fūnctus (fungor) = postquam fūnctus est.
89.5 Cf. p. xvii, C 2.
89.6 Sc. eīs, as dat. of indirect object with imperāvit. Caesar’s operations were confined to
the southern portion of Great Britain.
89.7 = Hōc tempore, i.e. during this campaign. The language of this whole sentence is
somewhat loose. The writer begins as if he were going to say: Hīc, cum . . . nārrantur, tum
Caesarem ipsum ēgregium fēcisse nārrant, but changes the construction at tum.
89.8 cum . . . tum: cf. p. 67, n. 7.
89.9 illud is explained by the clause quod . . . restituit. The episode occurred in one of
Caesar’s Gallic campaigns, not, as here stated, in Britain. It is related in the second book of
Caesar’s Gallic War. Cf. also Longfellow’s Courtship of Miles Standish, II.
89.10 iam conversum = quī iam conversus erat.
89.11 comprehēnsum . . . dētrāxit = comprehendit et . . . dētrāxit.
90.1 ‘preserved.’
90.2 Sc. erant; also erat with gravis. Through the influence of iam prīdem both verbs
have the force of Eng. pluperfects: H 535, 1 (469, 2): M 738: A 277, b: G 234: B 260, 4.
90.3 Point out the chiasmus (p. 21, n. 15) in Caesaris . . . superiōrem.
90.4 The law required a candidate to give notice of his candidacy in person at Rome within
seventeen days of the election. Caesar desired to stand for the consulship in 49 b.c.
90.5 Cf. p. xviii, E 5.
90.6 bellandum (sc. esse): an impersonal passive: ‘that war was necessary.’
90.7 quī . . . erat: this river also formed the boundary between Italy proper and Cisalpine
Gaul; hence by crossing it Caesar put himself in a position of open hostility to the
government.
90.8 = per, ‘through the midst of.’
90.9 cōpiīs . . . cēssantibus: causal abl. abs.: ‘when, because his forces . . . tarried too long,
he had sent,’ etc.
91.1 Cf. p. xx, G 4.
91.2 abl. both of cause and means. Join with praeferōcem.
91.3 intrā . . . vēnit: ‘within four days of his arrival (and) within four hours after he caught
sight of him.’
91.4 See p. xvii, C 2.
91.5 Strictly, we ought to have ante victum esse quam vīsus esset, the subjunctive being due
to the indirect discourse. Caesar said: ante victus est quam vīsus (est). The infinitive vīsum
(esse) is due to attraction of the neighboring infinitive victum esse.

91.6 Ponticō . . . triumphō: i.e. the procession in which he celebrated his victory in
Pontus. triumphō is dat. with praetulit.
91.7 Q. Metellus Pius Scipio, father-in-law of Pompey.
91.8 at Thapsus, 46 b.c.
91.9 Cf. XXVI, 49.
91.10 auxiliīs . . . cōnfluentibus: the abl. abs. denotes both cause and attendant
circumstance.
91.11 = eōrum quī sequēbantur. Cf. volentibus, XIII, 97.
92.1 ‘His own,’ i.e. his usual.
92.2 plūs . . . Mārte: ‘since the battle was more than doubtful.’ The battle was fought at
Munda, 45 b.c.
92.3 Cf. p. 63, n. 5.
92.4 = quālem. So quō = quālī.
92.5 fāstōs corrēxit: In III, 22, it is stated that Numa divided the year into twelve months
according to the course of the moon. This year contained only 355 days. In order, therefore,
to make the months coincide with the seasons to which they belong, Numa ordered that
every two years an extra month, called a mēnsis intercalāris, should be added. These
intercalary months were inserted after February 23d, and contained alternately 22 and 23
days. This arrangement made the average length of the year 366-1/4 days. A further cause
of confusion was the fact that the Pontifices, who had charge of the calendar, often, for
political reasons, omitted the intercalary month. In Caesar’s time the error amounted to
about three months. The calendar arranged by him is almost identical with that in use to-
day.
92.6 from quisque: ‘each,’ ‘every.’
92.7 Sc. rērum. rēs repetundae was a technical term for ‘extortion.’ For the gen., see p. 36,
n. 8.
92.8 A lēx sumptuāria was a law regulating the sums of money which might be spent for
various purposes. Caesar attempted especially to check extravagance in dress and at
banquets.
92.9 The infinitives in lines 146-151 are used because the clauses in which they stand are
in apposition to plūra ac māiōra, l. 144. See p. 86, n. 5.
93.1 quās . . . pūblicāre: ‘to throw open to the public as large libraries as possible.’
93.2 The celebrated Mark Antony.
93.3 ā . . . virīs: ‘by more than sixty men.’ For the case of virīs, see p. 10, n. 18.
93.4 ‘had warned him,’ not ‘had predicted’: hence it may be construed with a substantive
clause of purpose (ut . . . cavēret) as its object.
93.5 speciē officiī: ‘under pretense of doing him honor.’ Cf. per speciem vēnandī, XIX, 60.
93.6 Sc. eī: dat. of interest.
93.7 ‘by’; cf. p. 11, n. 10.

93.8 adversum (sc. eum) vulnerat: ‘wounds him in front.’ The wound was in the shoulder.
For adversum as = an adverbial phrase, cf. p. 4, n. 4.
94.1 ‘assailed.’
94.2 obtingō.
95.1 suā morte: ‘a natural death’; an ablative of manner.
95.2 Quō rārior . . . hōc laudanda magis: ‘The rarer . . . the more praiseworthy.’ Quō and
hōc are ablative of the degree of difference (a variety of the ablative of means): cf. p. 39,
n. 12.
95.3 i.e. over his fellow-citizens.
95.4 quī . . . partibus: ‘who had apparently belonged,’ etc. How literally? With dīversīs sc.
Pompēiō.
95.5 nē . . . darent: ‘that they might not by any chance give occasion to vigorous
measures,’ etc.
95.6 cūius . . . īgnōrābat: ‘by whose verses, as he very well knew, his own fair fame had
been wounded.’
95.7 ablatives of characteristic.
95.8 paulō plēniōre: ‘somewhat full.’
95.9 Sc. corōnae, and cf. the frequent omission of manus with dextra and sinistra.
96.1 Vīnī parcissimum: cf. Cibī vīnīque temperāns, somnī parcus, XXVI, 21, and note.
96.2 ut . . . praevenīret expresses result, not purpose.

XXVIII. Mārcus Tullius Cicerō Text-only version

Mārcus Tullius Cicerō, equestrī genere, Arpīnī,
quod est Volscōrum oppidum, nātus est. Ex ēius
avīs 3 ūnus verrūcam 4 in extrēmō nāsō 5 sitam
habuit, ciceris 6 grānō similem; inde cōgnōmen
5 Cicerōnis gentī inditum. Suādentibus quibusdam
ut id nōmen mūtāret, “Dabō operam”
inquit “ut istud cōgnōmen nōbilissimōrum
nōminum splendōrem vincat.” Cum ā patre CICERŌ
Rōmam missus, ubi 7 celeberrimōrum magistrōrum
10 scholīs interesset, eās artēs dīsceret, quibus aetās puerīlis ad
hūmānitātem 8 solet īnfōrmārī, tantō successū tantāque cum
praeceptōrum tum cēterōrum dīscipulōrum admīrātiōne id fēcit, ut,

cum fāma dē Cicerōnis ingeniō et doctrīnā ad aliōs mānāsset, 9
nōn paucī, quī ēius videndī et audiendī grātiā scholās adīrent,
15 repertī esse dīcantur.

Cum nūllā rē magis ad summōs in rē pūblicā honōrēs viam
mūnīrī posse intellegeret quam arte dīcendī et ēloquentiā, tōtō
animō in ēius studium incubuit, 1 in quō quidem ita versātus 2 est,
ut nōn sōlum eōs, quī in Forō et iūdiciīs 3 causās perōrārent, 4
20 studiōsē sectārētur, 5 sed prīvātim quoque dīligentissimē sē
exercēret. Prīmum ēloquentiam et lībertātem 6 adversus Sullānōs
ostendit. Nam cum Rōscium quendam, parricīdiī accūsātum, ob
Chrȳsogonī, Sullae lībērtī, 7 quī in ēius adversāriīs erat, potentiam
nēmō dēfendere audēret, tantā ēloquentiae vī eum dēfendit Cicerō,
25 ut iam tum in arte dīcendī nūllus eī pār esse vidērētur. Ex quō
invidiam veritus 8 Athēnās studiōrum grātiā petiit, ubi Antiochum
philosophum studiōsē audīvit. Inde ēloquentiae causā Rhodum
sē contulit, ubi Molōnem, Graecum rhētorem tum disertissimum, 9
magistrum habuit. Quī cum Cicerōnem dīcentem audīvisset,
30 flēvisse dīcitur, quod per hunc Graecia ēloquentiae laude
prīvārētur. 10
Rōmam reversus quaestor Siciliam habuit. Nūllīus vērō quaestūra
aut grātior aut clārior fuit; cum māgna tum esset annōnae 11
difficultās, initiō molestus erat Siculīs, quōs cōgeret frūmenta in
35 urbem mittere; posteā vērō, dīligentiam et iūstitiam et cōmitātem 12
ēius expertī, 13 māiōrēs quaestōrī suō honōrēs quam ūllī
umquam praetōrī dētulērunt. Ē Siciliā reversus Rōmam in causīs
dīcendīs ita flōruit, ut inter omnēs causārum patrōnōs 14 et esset
et habērētur prīnceps.
40 Cōnsul deinde factus L. Sergiī Catilīnae coniūrātiōnem singulārī
virtūte, cōnstantiā, cūrā compressit. 15 Catilīnae proavum, 16
M. Sergium, incrēdibilī fortitūdine fuisse Plīnius refert. Stīpendia 17
is fēcit secundō bellō Pūnicō. Secundō stīpendiō 18 dextram
manum perdidit: stīpendiīs 18 duōbus ter et vīciēs vulnerātus est:

45 ob id neutrā manū, neutrō pede satis ūtilis, plūrimīsque 19 posteā
stīpendiīs dēbilis 1 mīles erat. Bis ab Hannibale captus, bis 2
vinculōrum ēius profugus, vīgintī mēnsibus nūllō 3 nōn diē in
catēnīs 4 aut compedibus 5 cūstōdītus. Sinistrā manū sōlā quater
pūgnāvit, duōbus equīs, īnsidente eō, suffossīs. 6 Dextram sibi
50 ferream fēcit eāque religātā 7 proeliātus Cremōnam obsidiōne
exēmit, Placentiam tūtātus est, duodēna castra hostium in Galliā
cēpit. Cēterī profectō, Plīnius addit, victōrēs hominum fuēre,
Sergius vīcit etiam fortūnam.
Singulārem hūius virī glōriam foedē dehonestāvit pronepōtis 8
55 scelus. Hīc enim reī familiāris, quam profūderat, inopiā
multōrumque scelerum cōnscientiā in furōrem āctus et dominandī
cupiditāte incēnsus indīgnātusque, quod in petītiōne cōnsulātūs
repulsam 9 passus esset, coniūrātiōne factā senātum cōnfodere,
cōnsulēs trucīdāre, 10 urbem incendere, dīripere aerārium cōnstituerat.
60 Āctum 11 erat dē pulcherrimō imperiō, nisi illa coniūrātiō
in 12 Cicerōnem et Antōnium cōnsulēs incidisset, quōrum alter 13
indūstriā rem patefēcit, alter manū 14 oppressit. Cum Cicerō,
habitō senātū, in praesentem reum 15 perōrāsset, Catilīna, incendium
suum ruīnā 16 sē restinctūrum esse minitāns, Rōmā profūgit
65 et ad exercitum, quem parāverat, proficīscitur, sīgna inlātūrus
urbī. Sed sociī ēius, quī in urbe remānserant, comprehēnsī in
carcere necātī sunt. A. Fulvius, vir senātōriī ōrdinis, fīlium,
iuvenem et ingeniō et fōrmā inter aequālēs nitentem, 17 prāvō
cōnsiliō Catilīnae amīcitiam secūtum inque castra ēius ruentem,
70 ex mediō itinere retrāctum suppliciō mortis adfēcit, praefātus 18
nōn sē Catilīnae illum adversus patriam, sed patriae adversus
Catilīnam genuisse. 19
Neque eō magis ab inceptō Catilīna dēstitit, sed īnfēstīs sīgnīs
Rōmam petēns Antōniī exercitū opprimitur. Quam atrōciter
75 dīmicātum sit exitus docuit: nēmō hostium bellō superfuit;
quem quisque in pūgnandō cēperat locum, eum āmissā animā 1

tegēbat. Catilīna longē ā suīs inter hostium cadāvera 2 repertus
est: pulcherrimā morte, 3 sī prō patriā sīc concidisset! Senātus
populusque Rōmānus Cicerōnem patrem patriae appellāvit. Cicerō
80 ipse in ōrātiōne prō Sullā palam praedicat cōnsilium patriae
servandae fuisse iniectum sibi ā diīs, cum Catilīna coniūrāsset
adversus eam. “Ō diī immortālēs,” inquit “vōs profectō
incendistis tum animum meum cupiditāte cōnservandae patriae. Vōs
āvocāstis mē ā cōgitātiōnibus omnibus cēterīs et convertistis ad
85 salūtem ūnam patriae. Vōs dēnique praetulistis mentī meae
clārissimum lūmen in tenebrīs tantīs errōris et īnscientiae.
Tribuam enim vōbīs, quae sunt vestra. Nec vērō possum tantum
dare ingeniō meō, ut 4 dīspexerim sponte meā in tempestāte illā
turbulentissimā reī pūblicae, quid esset optimum factū.”
90 Paucīs post annīs Cicerōnī diem dīxit Clōdius tribūnus plēbis,
quod cīvēs Rōmānōs indictā 5 causā necāvisset. Senātus maestus, 6
tamquam in pūblicō lūctū, veste 7 mūtātā prō eō dēprecābātur.
Cicerō, cum posset armīs salūtem suam dēfendere, māluit urbe
cēdere quam suā causā caedem fierī. Proficīscentem omnēs bonī
95 flentēs prōsecūtī sunt. Dein Clōdius ēdictum prōposuit ut Mārcō
Tulliō 8 īgnī et aquā interdīcerētur: illīus domum et vīllās
incendit. Sed vīs illa nōn diuturna fuit, mox enim tōtus ferē populus
Rōmānus ingentī dēsīderiō Cicerōnis reditum flāgitāre coepit et
māximō omnium ōrdinum studiō Cicerō in patriam revocātus est.
100 Nihil per tōtam vītam Cicerōnī itinere, quō in patriam rediit,
accidit iūcundius. Obviam 1 eī redeuntī ab ūniversīs itum est: domus
ēius pūblicā pecūniā restitūta est.
Gravissimae illā tempestāte inter Caesarem et Pompēium ortae
sunt inimīcitiae, ut rēs 2 nisi bellō dīrimī nōn posse vidērētur.
105 Cicerō quidem summō studiō ēnītēbātur 3 ut eōs inter sē reconciliāret
et ā bellī cīvīlis calamitātibus dēterrēret, sed cum neutrum
ad pācem ineundam permovēre posset, Pompēium secūtus est.
Sed victō Pompēiō, ā Caesare victōre veniam ultrō accēpit. Quō

interfectō Octāviānum, Caesaris hērēdem, fōvit, 4 Antōnium
110 impūgnāvit effēcitque ut ā senātū hostis iūdicārētur.

Sed Antōnius, initā cum Octāviānō societāte, 5 Cicerōnem iam
diū sibi inimīcum prōscrīpsit. Quā rē audītā, Cicerō trānsversīs 6
itineribus in vīllam, quae ā marī proximē aberat, fūgit indeque
nāvem cōnscendit, in Macedoniam trānsitūrus. Unde aliquotiēns
115 in altum prōvectum cum modo 7 ventī adversī rettulissent, modo
ipse iactātiōnem maris patī nōn posset, taedium 8 tandem eum
et fugae et vītae cēpit regressusque ad vīllam “Moriar” inquit
“in patriā saepe servātā.” Satis cōnstat, adventantibus percussōribus,
servōs fortiter fidēliterque parātōs fuisse ad dīmicandum,
120 ipsum dēpōnī lectīcam 9 et quiētōs patī, quod
sors inīqua cōgeret, iussisse. Prōminentī 10
ex lectīcā et immōtam cervīcem 11 praebentī 10
caput praecīsum est. Manūs quoque abscissae;
caput relātum est ad Antōnium ēiusque LECTĪCA.
125 iussū cum dextrā manū in rōstrīs positum.

Quamdiū rēs pūblica Rōmāna per eōs gerēbātur, quibus sē ipsa
commīserat, in eam cūrās cōgitātiōnēsque ferē omnēs suās cōnferēbat
Cicerō et plūs 1 operae pōnēbat in agendō quam in scrībendō.
Cum autem dominātū ūnīus C. Iūliī Caesaris omnia tenērentur,
130 nōn sē angōribus 2 dēdidit nec indīgnīs homine doctō voluptātibus.
Fugiēns cōnspectum Forī urbisque rūra peragrābat abdēbatque
sē, quantum licēbat, et sōlus erat. Nihil agere autem cum
animus nōn posset, exīstimāvit honestissimē molestiās posse
dēpōnī, sī sē ad philosophiam rettulisset, cuī adulēscēns multum
135 temporis tribuerat, et omne studium cūramque convertit ad scrībendum:
atque ut cīvibus etiam ōtiōsus 3 aliquid prōdesse 4 posset,
ēlabōrāvit ut doctiōrēs fierent et sapientiōrēs, plūraque brevī
tempore, ēversā rē pūblicā, scrīpsit, quam multīs annīs eā stante
scrīpserat. Sīc fācundiae 5 et Latīnārum litterārum parēns
140 ēvāsit 6 pāruitque virōrum sapientium praeceptō, quī docent nōn

sōlum ex 7 malīs ēligere minima oportēre, sed etiam excerpere 8 ex
hīs ipsīs, sī quid īnsit bonī.
Multa exstant facētē 9 ab eō dicta. Cum Lentulum, generum 10
suum, exiguae statūrae hominem, vīdisset longō gladiō accinctum,
145 “Quis” inquit “generum meum ad gladium adligāvit?”—Mātrōna
quaedam iūniōrem sē, quam erat, simulāns dictitābat sē
trīgintā tantum annōs habēre; cuī Cicerō “Vērum est,” inquit
“nam hōc vīgintī annōs audiō.”—Caesar, alterō cōnsule mortuō
diē 11 Decembris ūltimā, Canīnium cōnsulem hōrā septimā in
150 reliquam diēī partem renūntiāverat; quem cum plērīque īrent
salūtātum dē mōre, “Fēstīnēmus” inquit Cicerō “priusquam abeat
magistrātū.” Dē eōdem Canīniō scrīpsit Cicerō: “Fuit mīrificā 12
vigilantiā Canīnius, quī tōtō suō cōnsulātū somnum nōn
vīderit. 13”
Skip to next selection.

The following selections have been edited for rapid reading or reading at sight:
96.3 ‘ancestors.’
96.4 ‘wart.’
96.5 ‘nose’; cf. nasal.
96.6 ciceris grānō: ‘a tiny chickpea.’
96.7 = ut.
96.8 ‘culture.’
96.9 ‘had spread.’
97.1 ‘applied himself.’
97.2 ‘engaged.’
97.3 ‘courts.’
97.4 ‘pleaded.’
97.5 ‘followed,’ ‘courted’ (cf. sequor).
97.6 ‘independence.’
97.7 ‘freedman.’
97.8 ‘fearing.’
97.9 ‘most eloquent.’
97.10 ‘was being deprived.’

97.11 annōnae difficultās: ‘a lack of corn.’
97.12 ‘courtesy.’
97.13 ‘having had proof of.’
97.14 ‘lawyers.’
97.15 ‘crushed.’
97.16 ‘great-grandfather.’
97.17 Cf. XXVII, 19.
97.18 ‘campaign.’
97.19 que here = ‘but.’
98.1 ‘though disabled.’
98.2 bis . . . profugus = bis vincula ēius profūgit.
98.3 nūllō nōn: ‘every.’
98.4 ‘chains.’
98.5 ‘shackles.’
98.6 ‘slain’; lit., ‘stabbed from below.’
98.7 ‘fastened’ (to the stump of his arm).
98.8 ‘great-grandson.’
98.9 ‘defeat’; a technical term of Roman politics.
98.10 ‘butcher.’
98.11 Āctum erat dē: ‘it would have been all up with.’
98.12 in . . . incidisset: ‘happened in the days of.’
98.13 Cicero.
98.14 ‘prowess.’
98.15 ‘culprit.’
98.16 ‘by a general downfall.’
98.17 ‘conspicuous’; lit., ‘shining.’
98.18 ‘having first said.’
98.19 from gīgnō, ‘to beget.’
99.1 ‘life.’
99.2 ‘corpses.’
99.3 Sc. concidisset.
99.4 ut . . . dīspexerim: ‘(as to say) that I should have of my own accord clearly
perceived.’
99.5 indictā causā: ‘with their cause unpleaded,’ i.e. without giving them a trial.
99.6 ‘mourning.’
99.7 veste mūtātā: i.e. changing their ordinary attire, which was white, for darker robes of
mourning.

99.8 Tulliō . . . interdīcerētur: lit., ‘that a ban should be laid on Tullius in respect of fire
and water,’ i.e. that he should be outlawed, and every one forbidden to aid him, even with
the necessaries of life.
100.1 Obviam . . . est: ‘all went to meet him.’
100.2 ‘trouble.’
100.3 ‘strove.’
100.4 ‘cherished,’ ‘supported.’
100.5 The reference is to the Second Triumvirate.
100.6 trānsversīs itineribus: i.e. by out of the way paths.
100.7 modo . . . modo: ‘now . . . now.’
100.8 ‘disgust.’
100.9 ‘litter,’ ‘sedan chair.’
100.10 ‘leaning out’; sc. eī, dat. of disadvantage with praecīsum est.
100.11 ‘neck.’
101.1 plūs . . . scrībendō: ‘he devoted more of his time to practical affairs than to
literature.’
101.2 ‘sorrow.’
101.3 etiam ōtiōsus: ‘even though at ease,’ i.e. not burdened with official duties. ōtiōsus
here, as often = prīvātus.
101.4 ‘benefit.’
101.5 ‘eloquence.’ Sc. Latīnae, to be derived from Latīnārum.
101.6 ‘became.’
101.7 ex . . . oportēre: we should say, ‘of two evils choose the less.’
101.8 ‘extract’; lit., ‘pluck.’
101.9 ‘wittily.’
101.10 ‘son-in-law.’
101.11 On this day the consuls went out of office.
101.12 ‘wondrous.’
101.13 causal subjunctive.

XXIX. Mārcus Brūtus Text-only version

M. Brūtus, ex illā gente, quae Rōmā Tarquiniōs
ēiēcerat, oriundus, 1 Athēnīs philosophiam,
Rhodī ēloquentiam didicit. Ēius pater, quī Sullae
partibus adversābātur, iussū Pompēī interfectus

5 erat, unde Brūtus cum eō gravēs gesserat 2
simultātēs. Bellō tamen cīvīlī Pompēī causam,
quod iūstior vidērētur, secūtus dolōrem suum reī
pūblicae ūtilitātī posthabuit. Victō Pompēiō
Brūtus ā Caesare servātus est et praetor etiam
10 factus. Posteā vērō, cum Caesar superbiā ēlātus senātum
contemnere et rēgnum adfectāre 3 coepisset, populus,
praesentī statū BRŪTUS

haud laetus, vindicem 4 lībērtātis requīrēbat. Subscrīpsēre
quīdam
L. Brūtī 5 statuae: “Utinam 6 vīverēs!” Item ipsīus Caesaris
statuae: “Brūtus, quia rēgēs ēiēcit, prīmus cōnsul factus
15 est; hīc, quia cōnsulēs ēiēcit, postrēmō rēx factus est.” Īnscrīptum
quoque est M. Brūtī praetōris tribūnālī: “Dormīs, 7 Brūte!”
Cōgnitā populī Rōmānī voluntāte, Brūtus adversus Caesarem
cōnspīrāvit. Prīdiē quam Caesar est occīsus, Porcia, Brūtī uxor,
Catōnis fīlia, cōnsiliī 8 cōnscia, ēgressō cubiculum 9 Brūtō,
20 cultellum 10 tōnsōrium quasi unguium 11 resecandōrum causā popōscit
eōque velut forte ēlāpsō sē vulnerāvit. Clāmōre deinde ancillārum 12
in cubiculum revocātus obiūrgāre 13 eam coepit, quod tōnsōris
praeripuisset officium. Cuī sēcrētō Porcia “Nōn est” inquit
“hōc temerārium 14 factum meum, sed in tālī statū nostrō meī
25 ergā tē amōris certissimum indicium. Experīrī enim voluī, sī 15
tibi prōpositum ex sententiā parum cessisset, quam aequō animō
mē ferrō essem interēmptūra.” Quibus verbīs audītīs Brūtus ad
caelum manūs et oculōs sustulisse dīcitur et exclāmāvisse: “Utinam
dīgnus tālī cōniuge marītus vidērī possem!”
30 Interfectō Caesare, cum Antōnius vestem ēius sanguinolentam 1
ostentāns populum velutī furōre quōdam adversus coniūrātōs
īnflammāsset, Brūtus in Macedoniam concessit ibique apud urbem
Philippōs adversus Antōnium et Octāviānum dīmicāvit. Victus
aciē, cum in tumulum 2 sē nocte recēpisset, audītā Cassiī morte,

35 nē in hostium manūs venīret, ūnī ex comitibus latus trānsfodiendum
praebuit. Antōnius Brūtī corpus lībertō suō sepeliendum 3
trādidit, quōque 4 honōrātius cremārētur, inicī eī suum
palūdāmentum 5 iussit, iacentem 6 nōn hostem, sed cīvem dēpositō
exīstimāns odiō. Cumque interceptum ā lībertō palūdāmentum
40 comperisset, īrā percitus 7 prōtinus in eum animadvertit, praefātus:
“Quid? tū īgnōrāstī cūius tibi virī sepultūram commīsissem?”
Nōn eadem fuit Octāviānī ergā Brūtum moderātiō, is
enim āvulsum 8 Brūtī caput Rōmam mīsit, ut Gāī Caesaris
statuae subicerētur. Porcia cum victum et interēmptum virum suum
45 cōgnōvisset, quia ferrum nōn dabātur, ārdentēs ōre carbōnes 9
hausit, virīlem patris 10 exitum mulier 11 imitāta novō mortis
genere.
Skip to next selection.

102.1 = ortus, nātus.
102.2 simultātēs gerere = ‘to carry on a feud.’
102.3 ‘to aim at.’
102.4 ‘champion.’
102.5 The Brutus of selection IX.
102.6 Utinam vīverēs! ‘O that you were yet alive.’ The subjunctive here expresses a wish
or prayer; cf. l. 29.
102.7 ‘you’re fast asleep.’
102.8 cōnsiliī cōnscia: ‘who was aware of,’ etc.
102.9 ‘sleeping-room.’
102.10 cultellum tōnsōrium: ‘a barber’s knife.’
102.11 ‘nails.’
102.12 ‘maids.’
102.13 ‘scold.’
102.14 ‘heedless,’ ‘random.’
102.15 sī . . . cessisset: ‘if your plan did not turn out according to your expectations.’ Join
with what follows.
103.1 ‘bloody.’
103.2 ‘hill.’
103.3 sepelīre = ‘to dispose of a body,’ whether by burial or by cremation.

103.4 quōque = ‘and in order that.’
103.5 ‘cloak.’
103.6 ‘the dead man.’
103.7 ‘thoroughly aroused.’
103.8 ‘torn (from the body).’
103.9 ‘coals.’
103.10 See Vocab., Catō.
103.11 ‘woman though she was.’

XXX. Octāviānus Caesar Augustus Text-only version

Octāviānus, Iūliae, Gāī Caesaris sorōris, nepōs, quārtum annum
agēns patrem āmīsit. Ab avunculō adoptātus profectum eum in
Hispāniās 12 adversus Gnaeī Pompēī līberōs secūtus est. Deinde
ab eō Apollōniam missus studiīs 13 vacāvit. Utque prīmum occīsum
5 Caesarem hērēdemque sē comperit, in urbem regressus
hērēditātem adiit, nōmen Caesaris sūmpsit conlēctōque veterānōrum
exercitū opem Decimō 1 Brūtō tulit, quī ab
Antōniō Mutinae obsidēbātur. Cum autem
urbis aditū prohibērētur, ut Brūtum dē omnibus
10 rēbus certiōrem faceret, prīmō lītterās
mīsit plumbeīs 2 lāminīs īnscrīptās, quās ad
bracchium 3 religātās ūrīnātōrēs 4 Scultennam
amnem trānsnantēs 5 ad Brūtum dēferēbant.
Quīn et avibus internūntiīs ūtēbātur. Columbīs 6 YOUNG AUGUSTUS
15 enim, quās inclūsās ante famē 7 adfēcerat,
epistulās ad collum religābat eāsque ā proximō moenibus locō
ēmittēbat. Illae, lūcis cibīque avidae, altissima aedificiōrum
petentēs excipiēbantur ā Decimō Brūtō, quī eō modō dē omnibus
rēbus certior fīēbat, utique 8 postquam dispositō quibusdam locīs
20 cibō columbās illūc dēvolāre īnstituerat.

Bellum Mutinēnse Octāviānus duōbus proeliīs cōnfēcit, quōrum
in alterō nōn ducis modo, sed mīlitis etiam fūnctus est officiō

atque in mediā dīmicātiōne, aquiliferō legiōnis suae graviter
sauciō, 9 aquilam umerīs subīsse diūque fertur portāsse. Posteā
25 reconciliātā cum Antōniō grātiā 10iūnctīsque cum eō cōpiīs, ut
Gāī Caesaris necem ulcīscerētur, ad urbem hostīliter accessit
mīsitque quī nōmine exercitūs sibi cōnsulātum dēpōscerent.
Cunctante senātū centuriō, prīnceps lēgātiōnis, rēiectō sagulō, 11
ostendēns gladiī capulum 12 nōn dubitāvit 13 in Cūriā dīcere: “Hīc
30 faciet, sī vōs nōn fēceritis.”

Ita cum Octāviānus vīcēsimō aetātis annō cōnsulātum invāsisset,
pācem fēcit cum Antōniō et Lepidō, ita ut triumvirī reī
pūblicae cōnstituendae per quīnquennium essent ipse et Lepidus
et Antōnius, et ut suōs quisque inimīcōs prōscrīberent. Quae
35 prōscrīptiō Sullānā longē crūdēlior fuit. Exstant autem ex eā
multa vel extrēmae impietātis vel mīrae fideī āc cōnstantiae
exempla. T. Tōranius, triumvirōrum partēs secūtus, prōscrīptī
patris suī, praetōriī et ōrnātī virī, latebrās, aetātem notāsque 1
corporis, quibus āgnōscī posset, centuriōnibus ēdidit, quī eum
40 persecūtī sunt. Alius quīdam cum prōscrīptum sē cōgnōvisset,
ad clientem suum cōnfūgit; sed fīlius ēius per ipsa vēstīgia
patris mīlitibus ductīs occīdendum eum in cōnspectū suō obiēcit.
Cum C. Plōtius Plancus ā triumvirīs prōscrīptus in regiōne
Salernitānā 2 latēret, servī ēius, comprehēnsī multumque āc diū
45 tortī, 3 negābant sē scīre ubi dominus esset. Nōn sustinuit deinde
Plancus tam fidēlēs tamque bonī exemplī servōs ulterius cruciārī;
sed prōcessit in medium iugulumque gladiīs mīlitum obiēcit.
Senātōris cūiusdam servus cum ad dominum prōscrīptum occīdendum
mīlitēs advēnisse cōgnōsset, commūtātā cum eō veste,
50 permūtātō etiam ānulō, illum postīcō 4 clam ēmīsit, sē autem in
cubiculum ad lectulum 5 recēpit et ut dominum occīdī passus est.
“Quantī 6 virī est” addit Seneca, 7 “cum praemia prōditiōnis
ingentia ostendantur, praemium fideī mortem concupīscere!”

Octāviānus deinde M. Brūtum, interfectōrem Caesaris, bellō
55 persecūtus id bellum, quamquam invalidus atque aeger, duplicī
proeliō trānsēgit; quōrum priōre castrīs exūtus 8 vix fugā ēvāsit.
Victor acerbissimē sē gessit: in nōbilissimum quemque captīvum
nōn sine verbōrum contumēliā saeviit. Ūnī suppliciter sepultūram
precantī respondisse dīcitur iam istam in volucrum fore
60 potestāte. Aliōs, patrem et fīlium, prō vītā rogantēs sortīrī
fertur iussisse ut alterutrī 9 concēderētur, ac cum, patre quia
sē obtulerat occīsō, fīlius quoque voluntāriā occubuisset nece,
spectāsse utrumque morientem. Ōrāre veniam vel excūsāre sē
cōnantibus, ūnā vōce occurrēbat 1 moriendum esse. Scrībunt
65 quīdam trecentōs ex dēditīciīs 2 ēlēctōs ad āram dīvō 3 Iūliō
exstrūctam Īdibus Mārtiīs hostiārum 4 mōre mactātōs. 5
Abaliēnātus posteā est ab Antōniō, quod is, repudiātā Octāviā
sorōre, Cleopatram, Aegyptī rēgīnam, dūxisset uxōrem: quae quidem
mulier cum Antōniō lūxū et dēliciīs 6 certābat. Ūnā sē cēnā
70 centiēs 7 sēstertium absūmptūram aliquandō dīxerat. Cupiēbat
dīscere Antōnius, sed fierī posse nōn arbitrābātur. Posterō igitur
diē māgnificam 8 aliās cēnam, sed cottīdiānam Antōniō apposuit
inrīdentī, quod prōmissō stāre nōn potuisset. At illa īnferrī
mēnsam 9 secundam iussit. Ex praeceptō ministrī ūnum tantum
75 vās ante eam posuēre acētī, 10 cūius asperitās vīsque margarītās 11
resolvit. 12 Exspectante igitur Antōniō quidnam esset āctūra,
margarītam, quam auribus gerēbat, dētrāxit et acētō liquefactam
absorbuit. Victum Antōnium omnēs, quī aderant,
prōnūntiāvērunt.
80 Octāviānus cum Antōniō apud Actium, quī locus est in Ēpīrō,
nāvālī proeliō dīmicāvit. Victum et fugientem persecūtus Aegyptum
petiit, et Alexandrēam, quō Antōnius cum Cleopatrā cōnfūgerat,
obsēdit. Antōnius in ultimā rērum dēspērātiōne, cum
habitū rēgis in soliō 13 rēgālī sēdisset, mortem sibi ipse cōnscīvit.
85 Cleopatra, quam Octāviānus, Alexandrēā in potestātem redāctā,

māgnō opere cupiēbat vīvam comprehendī triumphōque servārī,
aspidem 14 sibi adferendam cūrāvit ēiusque morsū periit. Cleopatrae
mortuae commūnem cum Antōniō sepultūram tribuit.
Tandem Octāviānus, hostibus victīs sōlus imperiō potītus,
90 clēmentem sē exhibuit. 1 Omnia deinceps in eō plēna mānsuētūdinis 2
et hūmānitātis. Multīs īgnōvit vel iīs quī saepe graviter
eum offenderant. Reversus in Ītaliam triumphāns Rōmam
ingressus est. Tum bellīs tōtō orbe compositīs Iānī geminī portās
suā manū clausit, quae bis tantum anteā clausae fuerant, prīmum
95 sub Numā rēge, iterum post prīmum Pūnicum bellum. Tunc
omnēs praeteritōrum malōrum oblīviō cēpit populusque Rōmānus
praesentis ōtiī laetitiā perfruēbātur. Octāviānō māximī honōrēs
ā senātū dēlātī sunt. Ipse Augustus cōgnōminātus et in honōrem
ēius mēnsis Sextīlis 3 eōdem nōmine appellātus est, quod illō
100 mēnse bellīs cīvīlibus fīnis esset impositus. Patris patriae
cōgnōmen ūniversī māximō cōnsēnsū dētulērunt eī. Dēferentibus
lacrimāns respondit Augustus hīs verbīs: “Compos 4 factus
vōtōrum meōrum, patrēs conscrīptī, quid habeō aliud, quod deōs
immortālēs precer, quam ut hunc cōnsēnsum vestrum ad ultimum
105 vītae fīnem mihi perferre liceat!”

Dictātūram māgnā vī offerente populō dēprecātus est. Dominī
appellātiōnem semper exhorruit eamque sibi tribuī ēdictō vetuit.
Immō 5 dē restituendā rē pūblicā nōn semel cōgitāvit, sed
reputāns et sē prīvātum nōn sine perīculō fore, et rem pūblicam
110 plūrium arbitriō commissum 6 īrī, summam retinuit potestātem,
id vērō studuit nē quem novī statūs paenitēret. Bene dē iīs
etiam, quōs adversāriōs expertus erat, et sentiēbat et loquēbātur.
Legentem aliquandō ūnum ē nepōtibus invēnit; cumque puer
territus volūmen Cicerōnis, quod manū tenēbat, veste tegeret,
115 Augustus librum cēpit eōque statim redditō, “Hīc vir,” inquit
“fīlī mī, doctus fuit et patriae amāns.”

Pedibus saepe per urbem incēdēbat summāque cōmitāte adeuntēs
excipiēbat. Convēnit 1 aliquandō eum veterānus mīles, quī
vocātus in iūs perīclitābātur rogāvitque ut sibi adesset. Statim
120 Augustus ūnum ē comitātū 2 suō ēlēgit advocātum, quī lītigātōrem
commendāret. Tum veterānus exclāmāvit: “At nōn ego,
tē perīclitante bellō Actiacō, vicārium 3 quaesīvī, sed ipse prō tē
pūgnāvī,” simulque dētēxit cicātrīcēs. 4 Ērubuit 5 Augustus
atque ipse vēnit in advocātiōnem.
125 Cum post Actiacam victōriam Octāviānus Rōmam reverterētur,
occurrit eī inter grātulantēs opifex 6 quīdam corvum 7 tenēns,
quem īnstituerat haec dīcere: “Avē, 8 Caesar, victor, imperātor!”
Mīrātus Caesar officiōsam avem vīgintī mīlibus nummōrum 9 ēmit.
Socius opificis, ad quem nihil ex illā līberālitāte pervēnerat,
130 adfīrmāvit Caesarī habēre illum et alium corvum, quem ut adferre
cōgerētur rogāvit. Adlātus verba, quae didicerat, expressit:
“Avē, Antōnī, victor, imperātor!” Nihil exasperātus Caesar
satis dūxit iubēre illum dīvidere dōnātīvum 10 cum contubernālī.
Salūtātus similiter ā psittacō 11 emī eum iussit.
135 Exemplum sūtōrem 12 pauperem sollicitāvit ut corvum īnstitueret
ad parem salūtātiōnem. Quī impendiō 13 exhaustus saepe ad
avem nōn respondentem dīcere solēbat “Opera et impēnsa 13
periit 14!” Aliquandō tamen corvus coepit dīcere dictam
salūtātiōnem. Hāc audītā, dum trānsit, Augustus respondit: “Satis
140 domī tālium salūtātōrum habeō.” Superfuit corvō memoria, ut
et illa, quibus dominum querentem solēbat audīre, subtexeret 15:
“Opera et impēnsa periit.” Ad quod Caesar rīsit emīque avem
iussit, quantī 16 nūllam ante ēmerat.
Solēbat Graeculus quīdam dēscendentī ē palātiō Caesarī honōrificum
145 aliquod epigramma porrigere. 17 Id cum frūstrā saepe fēcisset
et tamen rūrsus eum idem factūrum dūxisset Augustus, breve
suā manū in chartā 1 exarāvit 2 Graecum epigramma et Graeculō
advenientī obviam mīsit. Ille inter legendum laudāre 3 mīrārīque 3

tam 4 vōce quam 4 vultū gestūque. Deinde cum accessisset
150 ad sellam, quā Caesar vehēbātur, dēmissā in pauperem crumēnam 5
manū paucōs dēnāriōs 6 prōtulit, quōs prīncipī daret, dīxitque
sē plūs datūrum fuisse, sī plūs habuisset. Secūtō omnium
rīsū, dispēnsātōrem 7 Caesar vocāvit et satis grandem pecūniae
summam numerārī Graeculō iussit.
155 Augustus ferē nūllī sē invītantī negābat. Exceptus igitur ā
quōdam cēnā satis parcā et paene cottīdiānā, hōc tantum
īnsusurrāvit 8: “Nōn putābam mē tibi esse tam familiārem.” Cum
aliquandō apud Pōlliōnem quendam cēnāret frēgissetque ūnus ē
servīs vās crystallinum, rapī eum ad mortem Pōlliō iussit et
160 obicī mūraenīs 9 quās ingēns piscīna 10 continēbat. Ēvāsit ē manibus
puer et ad pedēs Caesaris cōnfūgit, nihil aliud petītūrus quam
ut aliter perīret nec ēsca 11 piscium fieret. Mōtus est novō crūdēlitātis
genere Caesar et illum quidem mittī, 12 crystallina autem
omnia cōram sē frangī iussit complērīque piscīnam.
165 Augustus in quādam vīllā aegrōtāns noctēs inquiētās agēbat,
rumpente somnum ēius crēbrō noctuae 13 cantū. Quā molestiā cum
līberārī sē vehementer cupere sīgnificāsset, mīles quīdam, aucupiī
perītus, noctuam prehendendam cūrāvit, vīvamque Augustō attulit,
spē ingentis praemiī. Cuī cum Augustus mīlle nummōs 14 darī
170 iussisset, ille minus dīgnum praemium exīstimāns dīcere ausus est:
“Mālō ut vīvat,” et avem dīmīsit. Imperātōrī nec ad īrāscendum
causa deerat nec ad ulcīscendum potestās: hanc tamen iniūriam
aequō animō tulit Augustus hominemque impūnītum abīre passus est.
Augustus amīcitiās neque facile admīsit et cōnstantissimē retinuit.
175 Imprīmīs familiārem habuit Maecēnātem, equitem Rōmānum;
quī eā, quā apud prīncipem valēbat, grātiā ita semper ūsus
est, ut prōdesset omnibus, quibus posset, nocēret nēminī. Iūs
aliquandō dīcēbat Augustus et multōs capite damnātūrus vidēbātur.
Aderat tum Maecēnās, quī per
180 circumstantium turbam perrumpere et

ad tribūnal propius accēdere cōnābātur.
Quod cum frūstrā tentāsset, haec verba
in tabellā scrīpsit: “Surge tandem,
carnifex 1!” eamque tabellam ad Augustum
185 prōiēcit. Quā lēctā is statim surrēxit
neque quisquam est morte multātus.
Habitāvit Augustus in aedibus modicīs,
neque laxitāte 2 neque cultū 3 cōnspicuīs,
ac per annōs amplius quadrāgintā
190 in eōdem cubiculō hieme et aestāte
mānsit. Suppellex 4 quoque ēius vix
prīvātae ēlegantiae erat. Rārō veste
aliā ūsus est quam cōnfectā ab uxōre,
sorōre, fīliā neptibusque. 5 Item tamen
AUGUSTUS
195 Rōmam, quam prō māiestāte imperiī nōn
satis ōrnātam invēnerat, adeō excoluit, ut iūre glōriārētur
marmoream sē relinquere, quam laterīciam 6 accēpisset.
Fōrmā fuit Augustus eximiā et per omnēs aetātis gradūs
venustissimā. Erat tamen omnis lēnōciniī 7 neglegēns et in capite
200 cōmendō tam incūriōsus, ut eō ipsō tempore, quō illud tōnsōribus
committeret, aut legeret aliquid aut etiam scrīberet.
Paucīs annīs antequam morerētur, gravissimam in Germāniā
accēpit clādem, tribus legiōnibus cum duce Vārō lēgātīsque et
auxiliīs omnibus caesīs. Hāc nūntiātā excubiās 1 per urbem
205 indīxit, nē quis tumultus exsisteret, et māgnōs lūdōs Iovī optimō
māximō vōvit, sī rēs pūblica in meliōrem statum vertisset. Adeō
dēnique 2 cōnsternātum ferunt, ut, per continuōs mēnsēs barbā
capillōque submissō, 3 caput interdum foribus inlīderet, vōciferāns:
“Quīntilī Vāre, legiōnēs redde!” diemque clādis quotannīs
210 maestum habuerit ac lūgubrem.

Tandem adflīctā valētūdine in Campāniam concessit, ubi, remissō
ad ōtium animō, nūllō hilaritātis genere abstinuit. Suprēmō vītae
diē petītō speculō 4 capillum sibi cōmī iussit et amīcōs circumstantēs
percontātus ecquid iīs vidērētur mīmum 5 vītae commodē
215 trānsēgisse, adiēcit solitam clausulam 6: “Ēdite strepitum vōsque
omnēs cum gaudiō applaudite.” Obiit Nōlae sextum et
septuāgēsimum annum agēns.

103.12 See Vocab., Hispānia.
103.13 studiīs vacābat: ‘had time for (i.e. devoted himself to) study.’
104.1 At Caesar’s death he was governor of Cisalpine Gaul. Antony carried a law allotting
this province to himself, and then undertook to expel Brutus.
104.2 plumbeīs lāminīs: ‘leaden plates.’
104.3 ‘arm.’
104.4 ‘divers.’
104.5 ‘by swimming across.’
104.6 ‘doves.’
104.7 ‘hunger.’
104.8 ‘especially.’
104.9 ‘(being) wounded.’
104.10 = amīcitiā.
104.11 ‘cloak.’
104.12 ‘hilt.’
104.13 ‘hesitate.’
105.1 ‘marks.’
105.2 ‘of Salernum,’ a town in Campania; the modern Salerno.
105.3 ‘though tortured.’
105.4 ‘by a back door.’
105.5 ‘couch.’
105.6 Quantī . . . est: ‘What marvelous manhood it shows.’
105.7 A philosopher of the first century a.d.
105.8 ‘stripped of.’
105.9 ‘to one or the other,’ i.e. to one, but not to both.
106.1 ‘he met,’ i.e. he answered.
106.2 ‘prisoners of war.’ Cf. dēdere, ‘to surrender.’
106.3 Julius Caesar, like the later emperors, was deified after his death.

106.4 ‘sacrificial victims.’
106.5 ‘slaughtered.’
106.6 ‘pleasure.’
106.7 centiēs (sc. centēna mīlia) sēstertium = ‘ten million sesterces,’ or about four
hundred thousand dollars. Cf. p. 88, n. 8.
106.8 māgnificam . . . Antōniō: ‘under other circumstances truly splendid, but to Antony
quite commonplace.’
106.9 ‘course.’
106.10 ‘vinegar.’
106.11 ‘pearls.’
106.12 ‘melts,’ ‘dissolves.’
106.13 ‘throne.’
106.14 ‘asp.’
107.1 = ostendit.
107.2 ‘gentleness.’
107.3 ‘the sixth,’ counting from March, with which, it is said, the Roman year originally
began.
107.4 Compos . . . meōrum: ‘Now that I have gained my heart’s desire,’ which had been to
avenge his uncle’s death.
107.5 ‘Nay.’
107.6 commissum īrī is fut. infin. pass. of committō, and = ‘was sure to be (lit. was going
to be) handed over,’ i.e. if he resigned.
108.1 ‘met.’
108.2 ‘retinue.’
108.3 ‘substitute.’
108.4 ‘wounds.’
108.5 ‘blushed.’
108.6 ‘artisan.’
108.7 ‘raven.’
108.8 ‘Hail!’
108.9 = sēstertiōrum.
108.10 = dōnum.
108.11 ‘parrot.’
108.12 ‘cobbler.’
108.13 ‘outlay.’
108.14 ‘have come to naught.’
108.15 ‘added’: lit., ‘wove in.’
108.16 quantī . . . ēmerat: ‘at a higher price than he had paid before.’
108.17 ‘offer.’

109.1 ‘paper.’
109.2 ‘scratched off,’ ‘wrote.’
109.3 Examples of the historical infinitive, so called because it is especially common in
historical writing. It is to be translated by an imperfect or perfect indicative.
109.4 = et . . . et.
109.5 ‘purse.’
109.6 ‘francs.’
109.7 ‘steward.’
109.8 ‘whispered.’
109.9 ‘eels.’
109.10 ‘fish-pond.’
109.11 ‘food.’
109.12 ‘freed.’
109.13 ‘night-owl.’
109.14 = sēstertiōs.
110.1 ‘executioner,’ ‘butcher.’
110.2 ‘size.’
110.3 ‘style.’
110.4 ‘furniture.’
110.5 ‘granddaughters.’
110.6 ‘made of brick.’
110.7 ‘finery.’
111.1 excubiās . . . indīxit: ‘ordered watches to be set.’
111.2 Often used like our ‘to cut a long story short,’ ‘in short.’
111.3 barbā . . . submissō: ‘letting his beard grow.’
111.4 ‘mirror’ (of metal, generally bronze or silver).
111.5 ‘comedy.’
111.6 ‘conclusion.’ Latin plays regularly close with an appeal of the actors to the spectators
to grant them ‘loud and prolonged applause.’

EXERCISES FOR TRANSLATION INTO
LATIN

Words in round brackets are not to be translated; those in square brackets
indicate the Latin rendering. Note the ‘Caution’ on p. xxv. The section
numbers refer to the selections.

I.
Apposition.
1. Proca left his kingdom to his older son, Numitor. 2. Romulus and Remus
were the sons of Rhea Silvia, a priestess of Vesta. 3. The boys were thrown
into the river. 4. A shepherd of the king 1 carried them to his hut. 5. Who
was the grandfather of these boys? 6. Remus, when grown, 2 was caught by
(some) robbers. 3 7. They thus accused him: “You have trespassed on the
king’s lands.” 8. A dispute arose between the brothers. 9. Romulus said:
“I shall give my name to the new city.” 10. Which of them leaped over the
wall?
1 Use adj.
2 See p. 2, n. 19.
3 H. 468 (415, I); M. 614; A 246; G 401; B 216.

II.
Agreement of adjectives, pronouns, and participles.
1. Robbers and shepherds took refuge in 1 the city which Romulus had
founded. 2. These were the fathers of the Romans. 3. The envoys that the

king sent were nowhere kindly received. 4. The tribes to which he sent did
not seek an alliance. 5. Many of those who gathered had not seen Rome. 6.
The maidens whom they seized were the children of the Sabines, who now
undertook war. 7. (While) advancing to battle, the Romans carried (their)
shields on (their) left arms. 8. The Sabines killed Hostilius (while he was)
fighting very bravely. 9. The Romans fell fighting bravely. 10. They
founded a temple in honor 2 of Romulus and worshiped him as a god.
1 ad with acc.
2 See p. 8, n. 1.

III.
Expressions of place; extent of time.
1. Who succeeded Romulus? Numa Pompilius. 2. From what city did he
come? From Cures, [from] a city of the Sabines. 3. What did he do at
Rome? 4. He established many religious customs and had many useful laws
passed. 5. A shield once slipped down from the sky. 6. (There) was a smith
in Rome 1 who made twelve shields of the same shape. 7. The Romans had
peace (for) forty-three years. 8. No temple was erected in honor of Numa,
but he was of more use to the state than Romulus.
1 Locative case.

IV.
Ablative absolute; locatives of common nouns.
1. At the death of Numa [Numa having died] the Romans elected a more
warlike king. 2. War 1 having broken 1 out between the Romans and the
Sabines, the dispute was settled by a contest between [of] the Curiatii and
the Horatii. 3. The young men took up arms and [arms having been taken
up] 1 advanced to battle. 4. At a given 2 signal, 2 with drawn swords, they
rushed together. 5. As the two Romans fell [the two Romans falling], the
Alban army shouted for joy. 6. The sister of Horatius began to weep when
she saw her lover’s cloak. 7. He drew his sword and stabbed the girl who
forgot [having forgotten] her brothers and her country. 8. When Tullus