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[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).

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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]

[ 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. Place at or near which:

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. Place towards which:

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. Way by which:

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. Time at which:

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. Duration of time:

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. Extent of space:

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.] Meaning.—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.] Cause: 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. Attendant circumstance:

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 relative clause:

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. Indirect Discourse defined.—

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. Changes in Principal Clauses.—

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. Statements in Indirect Discourse.

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. Subordinate Clauses in Indirect Discourse.

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

[As printed] [I.] Romani imperii exordium

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.

[As printed] [II.] Romulus, Romanorum rex primus
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.

[As printed] [III.] Numa Pompilius, Romanorum rex secundus
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.

[As printed] [IV.] Tullus Hostilius, Romanorum rex tertius
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.

[As printed] [V.] Ancus Marcius, Romanorum rex quartus
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.

[As printed] [VI.] Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, Romanorum rex 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.

[As printed] [VII.] Servius Tullius, Romanorum rex sextus
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.

[As printed] [VIII.] Tarquinius Superbus, Romanorum rex septimus 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.

[As printed] [IX.] Iunius Brutus, Romanorum consul primus

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.

[As printed] [X.] Mucius Scaevola

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.

[As printed] [XI.] Fabii trecenti sex
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.

[As printed] [XII.] Lucius Virginius

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.

[As printed] [XIII.] Titus Manlius Torquatus

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.

[As printed] [XIV.] Publius Decius

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.

[As printed] [XV.] Manius Curius

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.

[As printed] [XVI.] Gaius Duilius

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.

[As printed] [XVII.] Marcus Atilius Regulus

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.

[As printed] [XVIII.] Appius Claudius Pulcher

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.

[As printed] [XIX.] Quintus Fabius Maximus

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.

[As printed] [XX.] Aemilius Paulus et Terentius Varro

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.

[As printed] [XXI.] Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus

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.