Elections of Magistrates and Scipio's Aedileship — Livy, History of Rome Book 25 (25.2.1–25.2.10), Latin & English

§25.2.1

aliquot publici sacerdotes mortui eo anno sunt, L. Cornelius Lentulus pontufex maximus et C. Papirius C. F. Masso pontifex et P. Furius Philus augur et C. Papirius L. F. Masso decemvir sacrorum.

In that year several public priests died: Lucius Cornelius Lentulus, the pontifex maximus; Gaius Papirius Masso (son of Gaius), a pontifex; Publius Furius Philus, an augur; and Gaius Papirius Masso (son of Lucius), a decemvir for sacred rites.

§25.2.2

in Lentuli locum M. Cornelius Cethegus, in Papiri Cn. Servilius Caepio pontifices suffecti sunt, augur creatus L. Quintius Flamininus, decemvir sacrorum L. Cornelius Lentulus. comitiorum consularium iam adpetebat tempus, sed quia consules bello intentos avocare non placebat, Ti. Sempronius consul comitiorum causa dictatorem dixit C. Claudium Centonem. ab eo magister equitum est dictus Q. Fulvius Flaccus.

Marcus Cornelius Cethegus was substituted as pontifex in place of Lentulus, and Gnaeus Servilius Caepio in place of Papirius; Lucius Quinctius Flamininus was created augur, and Lucius Cornelius Lentulus a decemvir for sacred rites. The time for the consular elections was now drawing near, but because it was not pleasing to recall the consuls, who were intent on the war, the consul Tiberius Sempronius, for the purpose of holding the elections, named Gaius Claudius Cento as dictator. By him, Quintus Fulvius Flaccus was named master of the horse.

§25.2.4

dictator primo comitiali die creavit consules Q. Fulvium Flaccum, magistrum equitum, et Ap. Claudium Pulchrum, cui Sicilia provincia in praetura fuerat.

On the first day of the assembly, the dictator created as consuls Quintus Fulvius Flaccus, the master of the horse, and Appius Claudius Pulcher, who had had Sicily as his province during his praetorship.

§25.2.5

tum praetores creati Cn. Fulvius Flaccus, C. Claudius Nero, M. Iunius Silanus, P. Cornelius Sulla. comitiis perfectis dictator magistratu abiit.

Then Gnaeus Fulvius Flaccus, Gaius Claudius Nero, Marcus Junius Silanus, and Publius Cornelius Sulla were created praetors. The elections being completed, the dictator resigned his office.

§25.2.6

aedilis curulis fuit eo anno cum M. Cornelio Cethego P. Cornelius Scipio, cui post Africano fuit cognomen.¹ huic petenti aedilitatem cum obsisterent tribuni plebis negantes rationem eius habendam esse,² quod nondum ad petendum legitima aetas esset,³ “si me” inquit “omnes Quirites aedilem facere volunt, satis annorum habeo.” tanto inde favore ad suffragium ferendum in tribus discursum est,⁴ ut tribuni repente incepto destiterint.

The curule aedile in that year, together with Marcus Cornelius Cethegus, was Publius Cornelius Scipio, who was afterwards surnamed Africanus. When he was seeking the aedileship, and the tribunes of the plebs opposed him, denying that any account should be taken of him because he did not yet have the legal age for candidacy, he said, “If all the Quirites wish to make me aedile, I have years enough.” Thereupon, with such great enthusiasm did they rush to cast their votes in the tribes, that the tribunes suddenly desisted from their attempt.

§25.2.8

aedilicia largitio haec fuit: ludi Romani pro temporis illius copiis magnifice facti et diem unum instaurati, et centeni congii olei in vicos singulos dati.

The aedilitian largess was as follows: the Roman Games were magnificently celebrated considering the resources of that time, and were repeated for one day; and a hundred congii of oil were given to each district.

§25.2.9

L. Villius Tappulus et M. Fundanius Fundulus aediles plebei aliquot matronas apud populum probri accusarunt, quasdam ex eis damnatas in exilium egerunt.

Lucius Villius Tappulus and Marcus Fundanius Fundulus, the plebeian aediles, accused several matrons before the people of shameful conduct, and drove some of them, who were condemned, into exile.

§25.2.10

ludi plebei per biduum instaurati et Iovis epulum fuit ludorum causa.

The Plebeian Games were repeated for two days, and there was a feast of Jupiter on account of the games.

Syntax notes4 items

25.2.6cui post Africano fuit cognomen
A construction of fuit cognomen with the dative of possession (cui), where the cognomen Africano is attracted into the dative case to agree with cui, rather than being in the nominative (Africanus). This dative attraction is a common classical idiom in naming expressions.
25.2.6negantes rationem eius habendam esse
An accusative and infinitive construction dependent on the participle negantes ('saying that... not'). The phrase rationem habere is an idiomatic expression meaning 'to take account of' or 'to consider the candidacy of someone'. The passive gerundive habendam (esse) expresses necessity or obligation ('that account of him ought to be taken').
25.2.6quod nondum ad petendum legitima aetas esset
The subjunctive esset is used in the quod clause to denote a reported reason (the reason as alleged by the tribunes, rather than an objective fact stated by the author). ad petendum is the gerund of petere (to seek office) in the accusative of purpose, meaning 'for seeking candidacy'.
25.2.7tanto inde favore ad suffragium ferendum in tribus discursum est
The phrase features discursum est, the impersonal passive of the intransitive verb discurrere (literally 'it was run about', meaning 'people rushed about'). ad suffragium ferendum is a gerundive construction with the preposition ad expressing purpose ('to cast votes' or 'for voting').

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-22)

2026-09-22 AI review — source 1

urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:25.2.1-25.2.10