- 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-lat2:21.9.1-21.9.4
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-23
The Saguntine counterattack forces the Carthaginian army to retreat to their camp. When Roman ambassadors arrive, Hannibal refuses to admit them and pre-emptively contacts the Barcine faction in Carthage.
cum diu anceps fuisset certamen, et Saguntinis, quia praeter spem resisterent, crevissent animi, Poenus, quia non vicisset, pro victo esset,1 clamorem repente oppidani tollunt hostemque in ruinas muri expellunt, inde inpeditum trepidantemque exturbant, postremo fusum fugatumque in castra redigunt. interim ab Roma legatos venisse nuntiatum est;
When the contest had been doubtful for a long time, and the spirits of the Saguntines had increased because they were resisting beyond expectation, while the Carthaginian, because he had not conquered, was as if defeated, the townsmen suddenly raised a shout and drove the enemy out into the ruins of the wall, and from there expelled them, hindered and panicking, and finally drove them back, routed and put to flight, into their camp. Meanwhile, it was announced that ambassadors had arrived from Rome;
quibus obviam ad mare missi ab Hannibale, qui dicerent2 nec tuto eos adituros inter tot tam effrenatarum gentium arma, nec Hannibali in tanto discrimine rerum operae esse3 legationes audire.
to meet them at the sea, messengers were sent by Hannibal to say that they would not approach safely among the weapons of so many and so wild nations, and that Hannibal, in such a critical state of affairs, had no leisure to listen to embassies.
apparebat non admissos4 protinus Carthaginem ituros. litteras igitur nuntiosque ad principes factionis Barcinae praemittit, ut praepararent suorum animos, ne quid pars altera gratificari populo Romano posset.
It was apparent that, if not admitted, they would proceed straight to Carthage. Therefore, he sent letters and messengers ahead to the leaders of the Barcine faction, so that they might prepare the minds of their supporters, lest the opposing party should be able to grant any favor to the Roman people.
- 21.9.2pro victo esset
The preposition pro followed by the ablative (victo) means "as, like, or as good as," and here with the imperfect subjunctive esset (governed by cum), it describes the Carthaginian state of mind as being "as if defeated."
- 21.9.3qui dicerent
The relative pronoun qui followed by the subjunctive dicerent expresses purpose ("in order to say"). The antecedent is the implied nominative plural missi (those who were sent).
- 21.9.3operae esse
The expression operae esse (often classified as a genitive of value/business, or dative of purpose) with esse and a dative of possessor (Hannibali) means "to have leisure for" or "to be worth one's time." Together with the negative nec, it translates to "Hannibal had no leisure."
- 21.9.4non admissos
Accusative plural of the perfect participle, modifying the omitted subject (legatos) of the future infinitive ituros [esse]. It contains a conditional force ("if they were not admitted").
Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)
- 2026-09-21 AI review — note 1