- 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-lat2:21.57.1-21.57.14
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-22
The news of the defeat at the Trebia caused severe panic in Rome, prompting the consul Sempronius to return to hold elections. Hannibal remained active during the winter, attacking a trading post near Placentia and Victumulae, leading to a brutal sack.
Romam tantus terror ex hac clade perlatus est, ut iam ad urbem Romanam crederent infestis signis hostem venturum, nec quicquam spei aut auxilii esse, quo portis moenibusque vim arcerent:1
Such great terror from this defeat was brought to Rome, that they believed the enemy would now come to the city of Rome with hostile standards, and that there was no hope or help with which they might ward off the violence from their gates and walls:
uno consule ad Ticinum victo alterum ex Sicilia revocatum; duobus consulibus, duobus consularibus exercitibus victis quos alios duces, quas alias legiones esse, quae arcessantur?
one consul had been defeated at the Ticinus, the other recalled from Sicily; now that two consuls and two consular armies had been defeated, what other generals, what other legions were there to be summoned?
ita territis Sempronius consul advenit, ingenti periculo per effusos passim ad praedandum hostium equites audacia magis quam consilio aut spe fallendi resistendive, si non falleret,2 transgressus.
Amidst this terror, the consul Sempronius arrived, having made his way through the enemy’s cavalry, who were scattered everywhere for plunder, at immense risk, more by boldness than by plan or any hope of escaping notice or of resisting if he should not escape notice.
inde, quod unum maxime in praesentia desiderabatur, comitiis consularibus habitis in hiberna rediit. creati consules Cn. Servilius et C. Flaminius iterum.
Then, having held the consular elections —which was the one thing most especially desired for the present—he returned to winter quarters. Cnaeus Servilius and Caius Flaminius (for the second time) were elected consuls.
ceterum ne hiberna quidem Romanis quieta erant vagantibus passim Numidis equitibus et, ut quaeque iis impeditiora erant,3 Celtiberis Lusitanisque. omnes igitur undique clausi commeatus erant, nisi quos Pado naves subveherent.
However, not even the winter quarters were peaceful for the Romans, since Numidian cavalry were wandering everywhere, and, where the places were more difficult of access for them, Celtiberians and Lusitanians. Therefore, all provisions from every side were cut off, except those which ships brought up the Po.
emporium prope Placentiam fuit et opere magno munitum et valido firmatum praesidio. eius castelli oppugnandi spe4 cum equitibus ac levi armatura profectus Hannibal, cum plurimum in celando incepto ad effectum spei habuisset, nocte adortus non fefellit vigiles.
There was a trading post near Placentia, fortified with extensive works and strengthened by a strong garrison. Setting out with his cavalry and light-armed troops in the hope of capturing this fort, Hannibal, although he had placed the greatest part of his hope for success on concealing his undertaking, did not deceive the sentries when he attacked by night.
tantus repente clamor est sublatus, ut Placentiae quoque audiretur. itaque sub lucem cum equitatu consul aderat iussis quadrato agmine legionibus sequi.
So great a shout was suddenly raised that it was heard even at Placentia. Therefore, towards dawn, the consul was at hand with his cavalry, having ordered the legions to follow in a hollow square.
equestre interim proelium commissum; in quo quia saucius Hannibal pugna excessit, pavore hostibus iniecto defensum egregie praesidium est.
Meanwhile, a cavalry battle was joined; in which, because Hannibal was wounded and withdrew from the fight, panic was struck into the enemy, and the garrison was excellently defended.
paucorum inde dierum quiete sumpta et vixdum satis percurato vulnere ad Uictumulas oppugnandas ire pergit.
After taking a few days’ rest, and before his wound was yet fully healed, he proceeded to attack Victumulae.
id emporium Romanis Gallico bello fuerat; munitum inde locum frequentaverant adcolae mixti undique ex finitimis populis, et tum terror populationum eo plerosque ex agris conpulerat.
This trading post had served the Romans during the Gallic war; after that, the fortified place had been frequented by inhabitants mixed from all the neighboring peoples, and at that time, the terror of devastations had driven most of the people from the fields to that place.
huius generis multitudo fama inpigre defensi ad Placentiam praesidii accensa armis arreptis obviam Hannibali procedit.
A multitude of this kind, excited by the report of the vigorous defense of the garrison at Placentia, snatched up arms and marched out to meet Hannibal.
magis agmina quam acies in via concurrerunt, et cum ex altera parte nihil praeter inconditam turbam esset, in altera et dux militi et miles duci fidens, ad triginta quinque milia hominum a paucis fusa.5
It was rather marching columns than battle lines that clashed on the road, and since on the one side there was nothing but a disorderly mob, while on the other the general trusted the soldier and the soldier the general, about thirty-five thousand men were routed by a few.
postero die deditione facta praesidium intra moenia accepere; iussique arma tradere cum dicto paruissent, signum repente victoribus datur, ut tamquam vi captam urbem diriperent.
On the following day, a surrender having been made, they received a garrison within their walls; and having been ordered to deliver up their arms, when they had complied with the order, a signal was suddenly given to the victors to plunder the city as if it had been taken by storm.
neque ulla, quae in tali re memorabilis scribentibus videri solet, praetermissa clades est: adeo omne libidinis crudelitatisque et inhumanae superbiae editum in miseros exemplum est. hae fuere hibernae expeditiones Hannibalis.
Nor was any calamity, which in such a case usually seems memorable to writers, passed over: so completely was every example of lust, cruelty, and inhuman pride exhibited against the wretched people. These were the winter expeditions of Hannibal.
- 21.57.1nec quicquam spei aut auxilii esse, quo portis moenibusque vim arcerent
quo is the ablative of means of the relative pronoun, modifying the antecedent quicquam spei aut auxilii. The subjunctive arcerent introduces a clause of characteristic (or purpose), representing the despairing mindset of the Roman citizens at that time.
- 21.57.3audacia magis quam consilio aut spe fallendi resistendive, si non falleret
fallendi and resistendive are genitives of the gerund depending on the noun spe. The imperfect subjunctive falleret represents a hypothetical condition from a past perspective ('if he should not escape notice').
- 21.57.5ut quaeque iis impeditiora erant
The conjunction ut with quaeque and the comparative impeditiora expresses a proportional relationship ('the more... the more...'). Here, it indicates that the more impassable the terrain was for the Roman cavalry, the more the Celtiberians and Lusitanians roamed there.
- 21.57.6eius castelli oppugnandi spe
This is a gerundive construction where eius castelli (genitive) agrees with the gerundive oppugnandi, both depending on the noun spe ('with the hope of attacking that fort').
- 21.57.12ad triginta quinque milia hominum a paucis fusa
The auxiliary verb sunt is omitted after fusa to form the perfect passive. Since the subject is the neuter plural noun milia, the participle takes the neuter plural nominative form fusa.