Wheelocks latin reader, p.21
Wheelock's Latin Reader, page 21
Aftermath of the Romans’ defeat at Lake Trasimene.
Allegory of Africa, Mosaic from Roman villa Piazza Armerina, Sicily, Italy, 4th century A.D.
Scala/Art Resource, NY.
Haec est nobilis ad Trasumennum pugna atque inter paucas memorata populi Romani clades. Quindecim milia Romanorum 110 in acie caesa; decem milia, sparsa fuga per omnem Etruriam, diversis itineribus urbem petiere; duo milia quingenti hostium in acie, multa postea ex vulneribus periere. Romae ad primum nuntium cladis eius cum ingenti terrore ac tumultu concursus in forum populi est factus. Et cum, frequentis contionis modo, turba in comitium et curiam versa magistratus vocaret, tandem haud multo ante solis occasum M. Pomponius praetor “Pugna,” 115 inquit, “magna victi sumus” et quamquam nihil certius ex eo auditum est, tamen alius ab alio impleti rumoribus domos referunt consulem cum magna parte copiarum caesum, superesse paucos aut fuga passim per Etruriam sparsos aut captos ab hoste. Quot casus exercitus victi fuerant, tot in curas distracti 120 animi eorum erant, quorum propinqui sub C. Flaminio consule meruerant, ignorantium quae cuiusque suorum fortuna esset; nec quisquam satis certum habet quid aut speret aut timeat. Senatum praetores per dies aliquot ab orto usque ad occidentem solem in curia retinent, consultantes quonam duce aut 125 quibus copiis resisti victoribus Poenis posset. (XXII.7.1–14, excerpts)
117. caesum: sc. esse; inf. in IND. STATE. after referunt, they carry back to their homes the report that….
superesse: from supersum, to be left over, survive.
119. quot casus…fuerant: however many had been the misfortunes, i.e., loss of life, flight, or capture.
120. propinqui: relatives.
C. Flaminio: Gaius Flaminius, consul for the second time in 217, was a major political figure and reformer; his defeat at Trasimene was blamed by some on his failure to take the auspices and observe other religious practices.
121. ignorantium: modifies eorum.
122. satis certum habet: know with any degree of certainty.
123. praetores: the praetors had judicial functions and presided over the senate in the absence of the consuls.
aliquot: indecl. adj., several, some.
ab orto: sc. sole, from the risen sun = from sunrise.
124. quonam duce: by what leader, pray; the intensive suffix -nam adds a sense of urgency and desperation to the question.
125. resisti…Poenis: the impers. pass. inf. takes the same dat. noun it would have in the act. voice; idiomatic Eng., of course, would use an act. construction, they might be able to resist the victorious Carthaginians.
126. adhibitum: adhibere, to hold to, apply, employ.
127. dictatorem dicendum: in appos. with remedium, a dictator to be appointed = the appointment of a dictator. A sole dictator could be appointed to meet a specific emergency; his term was six months unless he completed his mission in less time, and his power was absolute.
128. uno: = solo.
videbatur: sc. dictator.
130. quod: the (id) quod cl. looks forward to and is in appos. with the cl. populus creavit.
eam diem (131): dies, usually m., was f. when referring to a specific day.
131. Q. Fabium Maximum: Quintus Fabius Maximus was a former consul and censor; his campaigns against Hannibal, including his famous delaying tactics, contributed much to the Romans’ ultimate victory.
132. magistrum equitum: the master of the horse, usually appointed by the dictator himself, was his second in command.
M. Minucium Rufum: Marcus Minucius Rufus, also a former consul, was subsequently elevated to the extraordinary position of joint dictator with Fabius; he died fighting in the battle of Cannae.
133. muros: murus, wall.
turres: turris, tower.
134. locis: locus is often used without a prep. of place.
videretur: it seemed best; SUBJUNCT. BY ATTRACTION.
rescinderent: rescindere, to tear away, tear down.
Quintus Fabius Maximus appointed dictator.
Battle scene, base of the column of Antoninus Pius 2nd century A.D. Vatican Palace, Vatican State
Scala/Art Resource, NY.
Itaque ad remedium iam diu neque desideratum nec adhibitum, dictatorem dicendum, civitas confugit. Et quia et consul aberat, a quo uno dici posse videbatur, nec per occupatam armis Punicis Italiam facile erat aut nuntium aut litteras mitti, nec 130 dictatorem praetor creare poterat, quod numquam ante eam diem factum erat, dictatorem populus creavit Q. Fabium Maximum et magistrum equitum M. Minucium Rufum; hisque negotium ab senatu datum ut muros turresque urbis firmarent et praesidia disponerent quibus locis videretur, pontesque rescinderent 135 fluminum: pro urbe ac penatibus dimicandum esse, quando Italiam tueri nequissent. (XXII.8.5–7)
135. fluminum: the Tiber and the Anio.
penatibus: penates, penates, the household gods; the people’s efforts now were to be devoted to the defense of the city and their homes rather than to the rest of Italy.
dimicandum esse: dimicare, to fight, struggle; impers. pass. of the PASS. PERIPHRASTIC in an IND. STATE. governed by an understood speech vb.
136. tueri: to protect, defend.
nequissent: nequire, to be unable.
137. viam Latinam: the Via Latina, a major road leading south from Rome, somewhat parallel to the Appian Way, only more inland.
139. ducit: sc. exercitum.
nullo loco…commissurus (140): intending to entrust himself to fortune in no place; i.e., determined not to entrust himself to (mere) luck in any place. This policy of caution and watchful waiting earned Fabius the epithet Cunctator (the Delayer) and has given us the terms “Fabian tactics” and “Fabian socialism” disregard of the policy in 216 B.C. led to the tremendous Roman defeat at Cannae.
nisi…cogeret: the vb. is subjunct. in a SUBORDINATE CL. IN IND. STATE., depending on Fabius’ intention implied in commissurus.
141. nulla mora facta quin: sc. est, no delay was made but that = without delay.
Poenus: i.e., Hannibal.
educeret: sc. milites.
copiam…pugnandi faceret (142): idiomatic, and prepared for battle.
143. increpans: increpare, to make a loud noise, shout angrily.
144. Martios: of Mars, martial, warlike.
Romanis: DAT. OF REF.
145. demum: adv., at length, at last, finally.
146. quaesissent: SUBJUNCT. OF QUOTED REASON, indicating that the reason given for Hannibal’s anxiety was his own, not Livy’s.
147. extemplo: adv., immediately.
constantiam: i.e., Fabius’.
hauddum: = nondum, not yet.
148. crebro: adv., frequently.
populando: populari, to devastate, plunder.
151. omitteret: here, lose contact with.
152. magistrum equitum: Minucius, Fabius’ second in command.
153. ferox: impetuous.
consiliis ac lingua: ABL. OF SPECIFICATION.
154. pro…compellabat (155): sc. as dir. obj. eum (Fabius), with segnem and timidum functioning as OBJ. COMPL., he kept calling him sluggish instead of one who delays…; note the effect of the impf.
adfingens: adfingere, to fashion, invent.
156. aquas Sinuessanas: the waters (= mineral springs) of Sinuessa, a coastal town in Latium, near its border with Campania.
populatio: devastation; Hannibal’s plundering of Rome’s allies continues.
Fabius’ tactics save the day but irritate some of his own people no less than Hannibal.
Dictator, exercitu consulis accepto, in viam Latinam est egressus, unde itineribus summa cum cura exploratis ad hostem ducit, nullo loco, nisi quantum necessitas cogeret, fortunae se 140 commissurus. Quo primum die in conspectu hostium posuit castra, nulla mora facta quin Poenus educeret in aciem copiamque pugnandi faceret. Sed ubi quieta omnia apud hostes nec castra ullo tumultu mota videt, increpans quidem victos tandem Martios animos Romanis, in castra rediit. Ceterum tacita 145 cura animum incessit, quod tum demum, edocti malis, Romani parem Hannibali ducem quaesissent. Et prudentiam quidem novi dictatoris extemplo timuit. Constantiam hauddum expertus, agitare ac temptare animum movendo crebro castra populandoque in oculis eius agros sociorum coepit. Fabius per 150 loca alta agmen ducebat modico ab hoste intervallo, ut neque omitteret eum neque congrederetur. Sed non Hannibalem magis infestum tam sanis consiliis habebat quam magistrum equitum. Ferox rapidusque consiliis ac lingua immodicus—primo inter paucos, dein propalam in vulgus—pro cunctatore segnem, pro 155 cauto timidum, adfingens vicina virtutibus vitia, compellabat.
Usque ad aquas Sinuessanas populatio pervenit. Ingentem cladem, fugam tamen terroremque latius Numidae fecerunt; nec tamen is terror, cum omnia bello flagrarent, fide socios dimovit, videlicet quia iusto et moderato regebantur imperio, nec 160 abnuebant, quod unum vinculum fidei est, melioribus parere. (XXII.12.1–13.11, excerpts)
157. tamen…latius: the actual destruction was enormous, but the area from which people fled was greater. Undoubtedly Hannibal was counting on this sort of thing coupled with spectacular victories to break the loyalty of the members of the Roman federation and cause wholesale desertions, thus bringing Rome to her knees and obviating the need for a siege. In this Hannibal made his greatest miscalculation.
Numidae: the Numidians, i.e., the Carthaginians.
158. flagrarent: flagrare, to blaze, be inflamed.
159. videlicet: adv., clearly, of course, to be sure.
160. abnuebant: abnuere, to deny, refuse.
quod: the antecedent is melioribus parere.
melioribus: i.e., the Romans.
161. Volturnum flumen: the Volturnus river, in Campania.
castra: sc. Hannibalis.
162. exurebatur: exurere, to burn up.
amoenissimus: the most lovely.
ager: here, district, countryside.
163. Massici montis: Mount Massicus, along the border of Latium and Campania, north of the Volturnus.
164. de integro: anew.
accensa: accendere, to kindle, set on fire, stir up, incite; sc. est.
in suos…intentus (165): alert to his own men.
167. infamem: unpopular.
169. actum est: impers. pass.; agere here = discuss.
170. enimvero: adv., indeed, certainly.
171. dictatorem: subj. of the IND. STATE., which continues through the next several cls. to the end of the sent., following an understood speech vb.
rei bene gerendae: freely, the proper management of matters; dat. with obstitisse.
172. gestae: sc. rei bene, paralleling rei bene gerendae; the ever-cautious Fabius had expressed reluctance to celebrate even a recent battle in which the Romans had enjoyed a minor victory.
sedulo: adv., deliberately.
173. quo: by which action, but essentially = ut; quo was often used to introduce a PURPOSE CL. containing a comparative adj. or adv.
174. promulgaturum: sc. se as subj. of the IND. STATE.; with rogationem, to introduce a bill.
175. de aequando…iure: the whole purpose of the dictatorship was to secure in an emergency greater efficiency by granting all the imperium to one man instead of two consuls; thus the measure here proposed was by no means modicam, as it nullified the original intent of the dictatorship. After being appointed co-dictator, Minucius and his army were trapped by Hannibal until they were rescued by Fabius; thereafter Minucius had the good sense to recognize Fabius as his superior until the end of Fabius’ six-month term.
Disagreement with Fabius increases both in the army and at Rome.
“The Banquet of Syphax” (with Scipio Africanus) Geraert van der Strecken 17th century Palazzo Labia Venice, Italy
Scala/Art Resource, NY.
Ut vero, postquam ad Volturnum flumen castra sunt posita, exurebatur amoenissimus Italiae ager villaeque passim incendiis fumabant, per iuga Massici montis Fabio ducente, tum prope de integro seditio accensa. Fabius pariter in suos haud 165 minus quam in hostes intentus, prius ab illis invictum animum praestat. Quamquam probe scit non in castris modo suis sed iam etiam Romae infamem suam cunctationem esse, obstinatus tamen tenore eodem consiliorum, aestatis reliquum extraxit. De iis rebus persaepe et in senatu et in contione actum est. Tum 170 M. Metilius, tribunus plebis, id enimvero ferendum esse negat: non praesentem solum dictatorem obstitisse rei bene gerendae, sed absentem etiam gestae obstare, et in ducendo bello sedulo tempus terere, quo diutius in magistratu sit solusque et Romae et in exercitu imperium habeat; nunc modicam rogationem promulgaturum 175 de aequando magistri equitum et dictatoris iure; nec tamen ne ita quidem prius mittendum ad exercitum Q. Fabium quam consulem in locum C. Flamini suffecisset. Unus inventus est suasor legis, C. Terentius Varro, qui priore anno praetor fuerat, loco non humili solum sed etiam sordido ortus. (XXII. 14.1–25.18, excerpts)
176. nec…ne ita quidem: the double negatives do not cancel each other, and not even so.
prius…quam (177): sooner…than, until.
mittendum: sc. esse, still IND. STATE.
177. Flamini: who had died at Trasimene.
suffecisset: sufficere, to suffice, supply, substitute, appoint (in place of another).
178. suasor: recommender, advocate.
C. Terentius Varro: praetor in 218, Gaius Terentius Varro became consul in 216, when, along with Lucius Aemilius Paulus, he led the Roman army that Hannibal crushed at the battle of Cannae.
179. loco…sordido: ABL. OF ORIGIN, a common construction, usually, as here, without a prep.; his father was a butcher and he was himself a plebeian and, in Livy’s somewhat biased account, a demagogue.
180. cum: conj.
orationibus: delivered by a tribune who had inveighed against the patricians.
181. rogando collegae: for electing a colleague, DAT. OF PURPOSE.
182. experta: experiri; lit., having tried = realizing from experience.
competitoribus: one of the two consuls had to be a plebeian and the other a patrician, but the patrician vote had been split among several candidates, so that none had received the required majority and only Varro had been initially elected; thus the patricians were especially eager to find a candidate who would be a strong match for his plebeian colleague.
183. plebei: an alternate fifth decl. form for plebi; Paulus had earlier been consul, in 219 B.C., and was involved in an indictment brought by the people against his colleague, hence his hostility.
recusantem: recusare, to decline, refuse, protest.
184. ad petitionem: to the campaign for election, to run for election.
185. eum proficiscentem: i.e., Paulus; Fabius, no longer dictator, addresses the consul as he leaves for the war.
186. tui: gen. of ego, like you; some adjs. like similis which usually take the dat. may be modified by a gen. as here.
187. supervacanea: superfluous.
189. nescio an: I do not know whether = I am inclined to suppose.
190. adversarius: political opponent.
maneat te: may await you = may prove to be.
191. rem…hunc (192): a highly effective ASYNDETON.
192. nobilior: here, more notorious.
193. ita res se habet: a common idiom, = the situation (the fact of the matter) is this.
194. ratio: here, method, system.
195. stultorum: it is the mark of a fool to learn simply by trial and error, simply by experience undirected by reason.
196. ratio: here, reasoning, judgment.
donec: conj., as long as.
197. sede: sedes, seat, abode, home.
solo: solum, soil, earth.
199. commeatibus: commeatus, supplies, provisions.
Gaius Terentius Varro, a plebeian, and Lucius Aemilius Paulus, a patrician, are elected consuls.
180 Cum his orationibus accensa plebs esset, C. Terentius consul unus creatur ut in manu eius essent comitia rogando collegae. Tum experta nobilitas parum fuisse virium in competitoribus, L. Aemilium Paulum infestum plebei, diu ac multum recusantem, ad petitionem compellit. (XXII. 35.1–3, excerpts)
Fabius exhorts Paulus as the latter sets out with Varro against Hannibal.
185 Q. Fabius Maximus sic eum proficiscentem adlocutus fertur: “Si aut collegam, id quod mallem, tui similem, L. Aemili, haberes aut tu collegae tui esses similis, supervacanea esset oratio mea. Erras enim, L. Paule, si tibi minus certaminis cum C. Terentio quam cum Hannibale futurum censes: nescio an infestior 190 hic adversarius quam ille hostis maneat te. Atqui si hic, quod facturum se denuntiat, extemplo pugnaverit, aut ego rem militarem, belli hoc genus, hostem hunc ignoro, aut nobilior alius Trasumenno locus nostris cladibus erit. Ita res se habet: una ratio belli gerendi adversus Hannibalem est, qua ego gessi. Nec 195 eventus modo hoc docet—stultorum iste magister est—sed eadem ratio, quae fuit futuraque, donec res eaedem manebunt, immutabilis est. In Italia bellum gerimus, in sede ac solo nostro; omnia circa plena civium ac sociorum sunt; armis, viris, equis, commeatibus iuvant iuvabuntque—id iam fidei documentum in 200 adversis rebus nostris dederunt; meliores, prudentiores, constantiores nos tempus diesque facit. Hannibal contra in aliena, in hostili est terra, inter omnia inimica infestaque, procul ab domo, ab patria; neque illi terra neque mari est pax; nullae eum urbes accipiunt, nulla moenia; nihil usquam sui videt; in diem 205 rapto vivit; partem vix tertiam exercitus eius habet quem Hiberum amnem traiecit; plures fame quam ferro absumpti, nec his paucis iam victus suppeditat. Dubitas ergo quin sedendo superaturi simus eum?
201. tempus diesque: = each day that passes.
203. illi: DAT. OF POSSESSION.
204. usquam: adv., anywhere.
in diem rapto (205): by what he has plundered for the day.
205. eius: here a weak demonstrative with exercitus, delayed by attraction to the rel. cl., of that army.
Hiberum: the Ebro river, in eastern Spain.
206. fame quam ferro: ALLITERATION emphasizes the contrast; the style throughout this speech is highly rhetorical.
207. victus: food.
suppeditat: suppeditare, to supply, furnish, suffice (for).
208. superaturi simus: we are going to overcome; the ACT. PERIPHRASTIC, sometimes termed the “fut. subjunct.,” formed with the fut. act. partic. + subjunct. of sum, here with a CL. OF IDEAL CERTAINTY after dubitas quin, do you doubt that.
