- 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-lat2:22.50.1-22.50.12
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-23
The outcome of the Battle of Cannae is compared to the disaster of the Allia, and a dispute arises among the leaderless survivors about escaping. The military tribune Sempronius inspires the soldiers, and they break through the enemy to escape safely to Canusium via the larger camp.
haec est pugna Cannensis,Alliensi cladi nobilitate par, ceterum uti eis, quae post pugnam accidere, levior, quia ab hoste est cessatum,1 sic strage exercitus gravior foediorque.
This is the battle of Cannae, equal in notoriety to the disaster at the Allia, but as it was less severe in respect to what happened after the battle, because the enemy was inactive, so it was heavier and more shameful in the slaughter of the army.
fuga namque ad Aliam sicut urbem prodidit, ita exercitum servavit; ad Cannas fugientem consulem vix quinquaginta secuti sunt, alterius morientis prope totus exercitus fuit.2
For the flight at the Allia, although it betrayed the city, yet saved the army; at Cannae, scarcely fifty followed the fleeing consul, while almost the entire army shared the fate of the other who died.
binis in castris cum multitudo semiermis sine ducibus esset, nuntium, qui in maioribus erant, mittunt, dum proelio, deinde ex laetitia epulis fatigatos quies nocturna hostes premeret, ut ad se transirent: uno agmine Canusium abituros esse.
When there was a leaderless, half-armed multitude in both camps, those in the larger camp sent a messenger to ask them to cross over to them while the enemy was weighed down by night’s rest, exhausted by the battle and then by feasting in their joy, so that they might depart for Canusium in a single column.
eam sententiam alii totam aspernari:3 cur enim illos, qui se arcessant, ipsos non venire, cum aeque coniungi possent? quia videlicet plena hostium omnia in medio essent, et aliorum quam sua corpora tanto periculo mallent obicere.
Some rejected this proposal entirely: for why, they asked, did those who summoned them not come themselves, since they could join together equally? Obviously, because all the space between was full of enemies, and they preferred to expose other people’s bodies to such danger rather than their own.
aliis non tam sententia displicere quam animus deesse. tum p. Sempronius Tuditanus tribunus militum “capi ergo mavultis” inquit “ab avarissimo et crudelissimo hoste, aestimarique capita vestra et exquiri pretia ab interrogantibus, Romanus civis sis an Latinus socius, ut ex tua contumelia et miseria alteri honos quaeratur?
To others, the proposal did not so much displease them as courage was lacking. Then Publius Sempronius Tuditanus, a military tribune, said: “Do you then prefer to be captured by a most avaricious and cruel enemy, and to have your heads valued and prices demanded by those who ask whether you are a Roman citizen or a Latin ally, so that honor may be sought for another from your insult and misery?
non tu si quidem L. Aemili consulis, qui se bene mori quam turpiter vivere maluit, et tot fortissimorum virorum, qui circa eum cumulati iacent, cives estis.4
Not so, if indeed you are citizens of the consul Lucius Aemilius, who preferred to die well rather than live shamefully, and of so many most brave men who lie piled up around him.
sed antequam opprimit lux maioraque hostium agmina obsaepiunt iter, per hos, qui inordinati atque inconpositi obstrepunt portis, erumpamus.
But before the light overtakes us and larger columns of the enemy block the way, let us break out through these who, disordered and unorganized, are making an uproar at the gates.
ferro atque audacia via fit quamvis per confertos hostis. cuneo quidem hoc laxum atque solutum agmen, ut si nihil obstet, disicias. itaque ite mecum, qui et vosmet ipsos et rem publicam salvam vultis.”
By the sword and by boldness a way is made, however thick the enemies are. With a wedge-formation indeed, you may scatter this loose and uncompacted column as if nothing stood in your way. Therefore come with me, you who want both yourselves and the republic to be safe.”
haec ubi dicta dedit, stringit gladium cuneoque facto per medios vadit hostis: et cum in latus dextrum, quod patebat, Numidae iacularentur, translatis in dextrum scutis in maiora castra ad sescenti evaserunt, atque inde protinus aio magno agmine adiuncto Canusium incolumes perveniunt.
When he had said this, he drew his sword and, having formed a wedge, marched through the midst of the enemy; and when the Numidians cast their javelins at their right side, which was exposed, they transferred their shields to the right and about six hundred escaped into the larger camp, and from there, with another large column immediately joined, they arrived safely at Canusium.
haec apud victos magis impetu animorum, quem ingenium suum cuique aut fors dabat, quam ex consilio ipsorum aut imperio cuiusquam agebantur.
These things were done among the vanquished more by the impulse of their minds, which his own character or fortune gave to each, than by their own counsel or by the command of anyone.
- 22.50.2ab hoste est cessatum
Impersonal passive. Literally "it was ceased by the enemy," indicating that the enemy (the Carthaginians) held back from further immediate pursuit or offensive action.
- 22.50.3alterius morientis prope totus exercitus fuit
The genitive alterius morientis ("of the other dying [consul]") is used with fuit ("belonged to" or "was of"), metaphorically indicating that almost the entire army shared the fate of the dying consul, remaining with him in death.
- 22.50.5alii totam aspernari
Historical infinitive. The infinitive aspernari is used with the nominative subject alii in place of an imperfect indicative for vivid narration. The subsequent sentences starting with cur enim... transition into indirect speech (with subjunctives arcessant, possent, essent, mallent) representing the thoughts of the dissenting soldiers.
- 22.50.7non tu si quidem L. Aemili consulis... cives estis
A passage with textual variations (such as non tu or non, si quidem...). Although the main verb estis is second-person plural, tu (or non tu) is inserted as a direct singular address to individual soldiers, resulting in an irregular construction. It functions as a strongly conditional sentence meaning: "You [plural] would not [wish to be captured] indeed, if you are citizens of the consul Lucius Aemilius..."