- 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
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:2.15.1-2.15.7
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-04
In response to Porsinna's final embassy, Rome sends distinguished senators to convey their refusal of monarchy and commitment to liberty. Respecting Rome's resolve, Porsinna ceases his support for Tarquin, restores hostages and land to establish a firm peace, while Tarquin goes into exile in Tusculum.
P. Lucretius et P. Valerius Publicola, Sp. Larcius inde et T. Herminius consules facti. eo anno postremum legati a Porsinna de reducendo in regnum Tarquinio venerunt. quibus cum responsum esset missurum ad regem senatum legatos, missi confestim honoratissimus quisque1 e patribus:
Publius Lucretius and Publius Valerius Publicola, then Spurius Larcius and Titus Herminius were made consuls. In that year, for the last time, ambassadors came from Porsinna concerning the restoration of Tarquin to the throne. When it had been answered to them that the senate would send ambassadors to the king, immediately the most honorable of the senators were sent:
non quin2 breviter reddi responsum potuerit, non recipi reges, ideo potius delectos patrum ad eum missos, quam legatis eius Romae daretur responsum, sed ut in perpetuum mentio eius rei finiretur, neu in tantis mutuis beneficiis in vicem animi sollicitarentur, cum ille peteret, quod contra libertatem populi Romani esset, Romani, nisi in perniciem suam faciles esse vellent, negarent, cui nihil negatum vellent.3
not because a brief answer could not have been returned, that kings would not be received, and that the select of the senators were sent to him rather than an answer being given to his ambassadors at Rome for this reason, but so that mention of this matter might be ended forever, and lest, amidst such great mutual benefits, their minds should be mutually vexed, while he requested what was contrary to the liberty of the Roman people, and the Romans, unless they wished to be compliant to their own ruin, denied him to whom they wished to deny nothing.
non in regno populum Romanum, sed in libertate esse. ita induxisse in animum, hostibus potius quam regibus portas patefacere; ea esse vota omnium, ut, qui libertati erit in illa urbe finis, idem urbi sit.4
The Roman people were not under a kingship, but in freedom. They had so resolved in their minds to open their gates to enemies rather than to kings; that this was the prayer of all, that whatever end there should be to liberty in that city, the same should be the end to the city.
proinde, si salvam esse vellet Romam, ut patiatur liberam esse, orare.5 rex verecundia victus “quando id certum atque obstinatum est” inquit, “neque ego obtundam saepius eadem nequiquam agendo, nec Tarquinios spe auxilii, quod nullum in me est, frustrabor. alium hinc, seu bello opus est seu quiete, exilio quaerant locum, ne quid meam vobiscum pacem distineat.”
Therefore, if he wished Rome to be safe, they implored that he would suffer it to be free. The king, overcome by respect, said: ‘Since that is fixed and resolved, I will neither annoy you by repeatedly doing the same things in vain, nor will I deceive the Tarquins with the hope of assistance, which is not in my power. Let them seek another place from here for their exile, whether there is need of war or of quiet, so that nothing may interrupt my peace with you.’
dictis facta amiciora adiecit: obsidum quod reliquum erat reddidit, agrum Veientem foedere ad Ianiculum icto ademptum restituit.
To his words he added friendlier deeds: he returned what remained of the hostages, and restored the Veientine territory which had been taken away by the treaty struck at the Janiculum.
Tarquinius spe omni reditus incisa exulatum ad generum Mamilium Octavium Tusculum abiit. Romanis pax fida ita cum Porsinna fuit.
Tarquin, all hope of return having been cut off, went into exile to his son-in-law, Octavius Mamilius, at Tusculum. Thus there was a faithful peace for the Romans with Porsinna.
- 2.15.1missi confestim ... honoratissimus quisque
Although the subject honoratissimus quisque is singular, it implies a plural meaning ('each of the most honored, i.e., all the most honored'), and thus the verb missi [sunt] is plural by synesis (agreement according to sense).
- 2.15.2non quin
non quin (equivalent to non quod non) introduces a rejected reason ('not because... not') and takes the subjunctive potuerit. The true affirmative reason is subsequently introduced by the sed ut... clause.
- 2.15.2cui nihil negatum vellent
The relative pronoun cui refers to Porsinna. The verb vellent is in the subjunctive primarily because it is a subordinate clause within indirect speech (oratio obliqua), but it also carries a characterizing nuance ('one to whom they would wish to deny nothing').
- 2.15.3qui libertati erit in illa urbe finis, idem urbi sit
The antecedent finis is incorporated into the relative clause qui... finis. In the main clause, idem stands for idem finis. Literally, 'what end there shall be to liberty..., let the same be to the city', emphasizing that the loss of liberty is identical to the destruction of the state.
- 2.15.4orare
An infinitive of statement (indirect speech) representing the main action of the ambassadors ('they prayed/implored'), with the subject accusative se omitted.