- Source
- Titi Livi ab urbe condita libri editionem priman, Pars I-IV, Libri I-XL. Editio Stereotypica. Weissenborn, Wilhelm; Mueller, Moritz, editors. Leipzig: Teubner, 1884-1911.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
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- CTS URN
- urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:1.14.1-1.14.11
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-06
King Tatius is murdered in Lavinium following a dispute involving his relatives, but Romulus maintains peace by renewing the treaty. Later, when the Fidenates launch a preemptive strike out of fear of Roman expansion, Romulus defeats them through a tactical feigned retreat and ambush, successfully capturing their city.
post aliquot annos propinqui regis Tatii legatos Laurentium pulsant, cumque Laurentes iure gentium agerent, apud Tatium gratia suorum et preces plus poterant.
A few years later, the relatives of King Tatius assaulted the ambassadors of the Laurentines, and although the Laurentines acted in accordance with the law of nations, personal influence and entreaties of his own people had more power with Tatius.
igitur illorum poenam in se vertit;1 nam Lavini,2 cum ad sollemne sacrificium eo venisset, concursu facto interficitur.
Therefore, he turned their punishment upon himself; for when he had gone to Lavinium for a solemn sacrifice, he was slain in an onset made upon him.
eam rem minus aegre, quam dignum erat, tulisse Romulum ferunt, seu ob infidam societatem regni, seu quia haud iniuria caesum credebat. itaque bello quidem abstinuit; ut tamen expiarentur legatorum iniuriae regisque caedes, foedus inter Romam Laviniumque urbes renovatum est. et cum his quidem insperata pax erat;
It is said that Romulus bore this matter with less grief than was fitting, whether on account of the faithless partnership in the kingdom, or because he believed that Tatius had been slain not unjustly. Therefore, he indeed abstained from war; but that the outrages upon the ambassadors and the murder of the king might be expiated, the treaty between the cities of Rome and Lavinium was renewed. And with these, indeed, there was an unexpected peace;
aliud multo propius atque in ipsis prope portis bellum ortum. Fidenates nimis vicinas prope se convalescere opes rati, priusquam tantum roboris esset, quantum futurum apparebat, occupant bellum facere.3 iuventute armata immissa vastatur agri quod inter urbem ac Fidenas est.
but another war arose, much closer and almost at their very gates. The Fidenates, thinking that a power too near themselves was growing strong, before it should acquire as much strength as it was clear it would have, anticipated them by making war. Arming their youth and sending them out, they laid waste the land that lies between the city and Fidenae.
inde ad laevam versi, quia dextra Tiberis arcebat, cum magna trepidatione agrestium populantur; tumultusque repens ex agris in urbem inlatus pro nuntio fuit.
Then, turning to the left, because the Tiber barred them on the right, they plundered with great terror to the country folk; and the sudden panic brought from the fields into the city served as a messenger.
excitus Romulus — neque enim dilationem pati tam vicinum bellum poterat — exercitum educit, castra a Fidenis mille passuum locat.
Romulus, aroused—for so near a war could brook no delay—led out his army and pitched his camp a mile from Fidenae.
ibi modico praesidio relicto egressus omnibus copiis, partem militum locis circa densa virgulta obscuris subsidere in insidiis iussit; cum parte maiore atque omni equitatu profectus, id quod quaerebat, tumultuoso et minaci genere pugnae, adequitando ipsis prope portis hostem excivit. fugae quoque, quae simulanda erat, eadem equestris pugna causam minus mirabilem dedit.
Leaving a moderate guard there, he marched out with all his forces, and ordered a part of his soldiers to lie in ambush in places hidden by dense undergrowth around; set out with the larger part and all the cavalry, and by a turbulent and threatening kind of combat, riding up to the very gates, he drew out the enemy, which was what he wanted. This same cavalry engagement also provided a less surprising reason for the flight which had to be feigned.
et cum velut inter pugnae fugaeque consilium trepidante equitatu pedes quoque referret gradum, plenis repente portis effusi hostes inpulsa Romana acie studio instandi sequendique trahuntur ad locum insidiarum.
And when, as if wavering between the counsel of fighting and fleeing, the cavalry hesitated and the infantry also retreated, the enemy, suddenly pouring out from the crowded gates, having pushed back the Roman line, were drawn by their eagerness to press on and pursue to the place of the ambush.
inde subito exorti Romani transversam invadunt hostium aciem; addunt pavorem mota e castris signa eorum, qui in praesidio relicti fuerant; ita multiplici terrore perculsi Fidenates prius paene, quam Romulus quique cum eo erant circumagerent frenis equos, terga vertunt;
Rising suddenly from there, the Romans attacked the enemy’s flank; the standards of those who had been left in the guard, moving from the camp, added to the panic; thus struck with manifold terror, the Fidenates turned their backs almost before Romulus and those with him could wheel their horses.
multoque effusius, quippe vera fuga, qui simulantes paulo ante secuti erant, oppidum repetebant. non tamen eripuere se hosti;
And in much greater disorder, since it was a real flight, those who shortly before had pursued the pretenders sought the town again. They did not, however, escape from the enemy;
haerens in tergo Romanus, priusquam fores portarum obicerentur, velut agmine uno4 inrumpit.
the Romans, pressing close upon their rear, burst in as if in a single column before the gates could be shut.
- 1.14.2illorum poenam in se vertit
The pronoun 'illorum' refers to the relatives of Tatius. Since Tatius failed to punish them, the retribution ('poenam') was turned upon Tatius himself ('in se'). The verb 'vertit' can be interpreted with Tatius's inaction as the cause, meaning that he effectively brought their punishment upon himself.
- 1.14.2Lavini
Locative case of the town name Lavinium, meaning 'at Lavinium'. It is a contracted form of Lavinii.
- 1.14.4occupant bellum facere
The verb 'occupo' followed by an infinitive ('facere') is an idiomatic construction meaning 'to anticipate in doing something' or 'to be the first to do something'. It indicates that the Fidenates took the initiative in starting the war.
- 1.14.11velut agmine uno
Meaning 'as if in a single column'. It vividly describes how the pursuing Romans and the fleeing Fidenates were so closely mingled that they seemed to form one single mass as they burst through the gates.