- 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-lat2:2.65.1-2.65.7
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-02
The refreshed Roman army launches an attack, overcomes the disadvantageous terrain to capture the Volscian camp, and pursues the fleeing enemy to eventually force the surrender of Antium.
ubi inluxit, Romanus integer satiatusque somno productus in aciem fessum stando et vigiliis Volscum primo impetu perculit;
When it was light, the Roman, fresh and satisfied with sleep, led out into the battle-line, overthrew the Volscian, weary with standing and night-watches, at the first onset;
quamquam cessere magis quam pulsi hostes sunt, quia ab tergo erant clivi, in quos post principia integris ordinibus tutus receptus fuit. consul, ubi ad iniquum locum ventum est, sistit aciem. miles aegre teneri, clamare et poscere,1 ut perculsis instare liceat.
although the enemy retreated rather than were driven, because there were hills at their back, into which they had a safe retreat with unbroken ranks behind their vanguard. The consul, when they came to the unfavorable ground, halted the battle-line. The soldiers could scarcely be held back, shouting and demanding that they be allowed to press upon the beaten enemy.
ferocius agunt equites; circumfusi duci vociferantur se ante signa ituros. dum cunctatur consul virtute militum fretus, loco parum fidens, conclamant se ituros, clamoremque res est secuta. fixis in terram pilis, quo leviores ardua evaderent, cursu subeunt.
The cavalry acted even more fiercely; crowding around the commander, they vociferated that they would go before the standards. While the consul hesitated, trusting in the courage of his soldiers but having little confidence in the ground, they shouted that they would go, and action followed the shout. Fixing their spears in the ground, so that they might mount the steep places lighter, they rushed up at a run.
Volscus effusis ad primum impetum missilibus telis saxa obiacentia pedibus ingerit in subeuntes turbatosque ictibus crebris urget ex superiore loco. sic prope oneratum est sinistrum Romanis cornu, ni referentibus iam gradum consul increpando simul temeritatem simul ignaviam pudore metum excussisset.2
The Volscians, having discharged all their missile weapons at the first onset, rolled down the stones lying at their feet upon those who were coming up, and urged from the higher ground those who were thrown into confusion by the frequent blows. Thus the left wing was almost overwhelmed for the Romans, had not the consul, as they were already retreating, by reproaching at once their temerity and their cowardice, shaken off their fear by shame.
restitere primo obstinatis animis; deinde, ut obtinentes locum vires refecerant,3 audent ultro gradum inferre et clamore renovato commovent aciem; tum rursus impetu capto enituntur atque exsuperant iniquitatem loci. iam prope erat, ut in summum clivi iugum evaderent, cum4 terga hostes dedere effusoque cursu paene agmine uno fugientes sequentesque castris incidere.
At first they stood their ground with obstinate minds; then, when, having secured a footing, they had recovered their strength, they dared to advance of their own accord, and, with the shout renewed, they shook the enemy’s line; then, having made another charge, they forced their way up and overcame the disadvantage of the place. Now it was near, that they should emerge onto the highest ridge of the hill, when the enemy turned their backs, and in headlong flight, almost in one body, the fleeing and the pursuing rushed into the camp.
in eo pavore castra capiuntur. qui Volscorum effugere potuerunt, Antium petunt. Antium et Romanus exercitus ductus. paucos circumsessum dies deditur,5 nulla oppugnantium nova vi, sed quod iam inde ab infelici pugna castrisque amissis ceciderant animi.
In that panic the camp was captured. Those of the Volscians who were able to escape fled to Antium. The Roman army was also led to Antium. Having been besieged for a few days, it surrendered, not by any new force of the besiegers, but because already since that unsuccessful battle and the loss of the camp their spirits had fallen.
- 2.65.2miles aegre teneri, clamare et poscere
The singular noun miles is used collectively to mean 'the soldiers,' followed by three historical infinitives (the passive teneri and the active clamare and poscere). This is a typical Livian usage of historical infinitives to add vividness to the narrative.
- 2.65.4sic prope oneratum est ... ni ... excussisset
A type of mixed contrary-to-fact conditional sentence. While the protasis (ni... excussisset) is in the pluperfect subjunctive, the apodosis (prope oneratum est) uses the perfect indicative. This emphasizes the vivid reality that the disaster for the Roman left wing was on the very brink of happening.
- 2.65.5ut obtinentes locum vires refecerant
A subordinate clause introduced by the conjunction ut (when). The present participle obtinentes refers to the Roman soldiers (the subject of the main clause), meaning 'by holding or securing their ground,' indicating how they managed to catch their breath and recover their strength (vires refecerant).
- 2.65.5iam prope erat, ut ... cum ...
The noun clause of result with ut (subjunctive evaderent), depending on iam prope erat (it was almost near that...), is immediately followed by an inverted cum (cum inversum with the perfect indicative dedere). This expresses the dramatic shift where, just before reaching the summit, the enemy suddenly turned to flight.
- 2.65.7paucos circumsessum dies deditur
The subject is Antium (neuter noun) from the preceding sentence. circumsessum is the perfect passive participle in the nominative neuter singular, agreeing with Antium. paucos dies is the accusative of duration of time. The whole phrase means 'Antium, having been besieged for a few days, surrendered (deditur is a historical present).'
Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-22)
- 2026-09-22 AI review — source 1