- 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-lat2:21.42.1-21.42.4
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-23
After the consul's speech, Hannibal, believing that deeds are more encouraging than words, stages a duel among mountain captives with Gallic weapons. The soldiers eagerly watch and praise the brave fighters, whether they win or die, boosting their morale.
haec apud Romanos consul.1 Hannibal rebus prius quam verbis adhortandos milites ratus circumdato ad spectaculum exercitu captivos montanos vinctos in medio statuit armisque Gallicis ante pedes eorum proiectis interrogare interpretem iussit, ecquis, si vinculis levaretur armaque et equum victor acciperet, decertare ferro vellet.
Thus the consul spoke among the Romans. Hannibal, thinking that the soldiers should be encouraged by deeds rather than words, drew his army up in a circle for the spectacle, placed the bound captive mountaineers in the center, and, having cast Gallic weapons before their feet, ordered an interpreter to ask if any of them, if released from his chains and receiving weapons and a horse as victor, would be willing to fight to the death with the sword.
cum ad unum omnes ferrum pugnamque poscerent et deiecta in id sors esset, se quisque eum optabat,2 quem fortuna in id certamen legeret;
When all to a man demanded the sword and the combat, and the lot was cast for that purpose, everyone wished himself to be the one whom fortune should select for that contest;
cuiusque sors exciderat, alacer inter gratulantes gaudio exsultans cum sui moris tripudiis arma raptim capiebat.
and whosever lot fell out, eager and exulting with joy among those congratulating him, and with dances after their own custom, would quickly snatch up the arms.
ubi vero dimicarent, is habitus animorum non inter eiusdem modo condicionis homines erat sed etiam inter spectantes vulgo, ut non vincentium magis quam bene morientium3 fortuna laudaretur.
But when they actually fought, such was the state of mind, not only among those of the same condition, but also among the spectators in general, that the fortune of the victors was praised no more than that of those who died bravely.
- 21.42.1haec apud Romanos consul.
The predicate verb (such as locutus est "spoke") is omitted. This elliptical expression serves to transition sharply and contrast Scipio's speech with Hannibal's actions.
- 21.42.2se quisque eum optabat
It is standard to understand an omitted infinitive esse with optabat, forming an accusative and infinitive construction: se [esse] eum... optabat ("each one wished himself to be the one..."). Here, se is the accusative of the reflexive pronoun referring to the subject quisque.
- 21.42.4non vincentium magis quam bene morientium
The comparative expression non magis A quam B ("not more A than B") implies here that "the fortune of the victors (A) was not praised any more than that of those who died bravely (B)," meaning that the brave dead were praised just as much as the victors.