Defeat of the Allies and Supplications at Rome — Livy, History of Rome Book 3 (3.7.1–3.7.8), Latin & English

§3.7.1

deserta omnia, sine capite, sine viribus, dii praesides ac fortuna urbis tutata est,¹ quae Volscis Aequisque praedonum potius mentem quam hostium dedit; adeo enim nullam spem non potiundi modo, sed ne adeundi quidem Romana moenia animus eorum cepit,² tectaque procul visa atque inminentes tumuli avertere mentes eorum, ut totis passim castris fremitu orto, quid in vasto ac deserto agro inter tabem pecorum hominumque desides sine praeda tempus tererent,³ cum integra loca, Tusculanum agrum opimum copiis, petere possent, signa repente convellerent transversisque itineribus per Labicanos agros in Tusculanos colles transirent. eo vis omnis tempestasque belli conversa est. interim Hernici Latinique, pudore etiam, non misericordia solum moti, si nec obstitissent communibus hostibus infesto agmine Romanam urbem petentibus nec opem ullam obsessis sociis ferrent,⁴ coniuncto exercitu Romam pergunt.

All things, deserted, without a leader, without strength, the guardian gods and the fortune of the city protected, which gave to the Volsci and Aequi the mind of plunderers rather than of enemies; for to such a degree their mind conceived no hope, not only of gaining possession, but not even of approaching the Roman walls, and the houses seen from afar and the overhanging hills turned away their minds, so that, a murmur having arisen throughout the whole camp, [asking] why they were wasting time inactive without plunder in a wasted and deserted field amid the rot of cattle and men, when they could seek untouched places, the Tusculan territory rich in resources, they suddenly plucked up their standards and by cross-roads passed through the Labican fields into the Tusculan hills. Thither all the force and tempest of war was turned. Meanwhile the Hernici and Latins, moved also by shame, not only by pity, [thinking] if they should neither oppose the common enemies seeking the Roman city with a hostile army, nor bring any aid to their besieged allies, with a united army they proceed to Rome.

§3.7.5

ubi cum hostes non invenissent, secuti famam ac vestigia obvii fiunt descendentibus ab Tusculana in Albanam vallem. ibi haudquaquam aequo proelio pugnatum est, fidesque sua sociis parum felix in praesentia fuit.

Where, when they had not found the enemies, following rumor and tracks, they met those descending from the Tusculan into the Alban valley. There by no means an equal battle was fought, and their loyalty was little successful for the allies for the present.

§3.7.6

haud minor Romae fit morbo strages, quam quanta ferro sociorum facta erat. consul, qui unus supererat, moritur; mortui et alii clari viri, M’. Valerius, T. Verginius Rutilus augures, Ser. Sulpicius curio maximus; et per ignota capita late vagata est vis morbi.

Not less slaughter was made at Rome by disease than how great had been made of the allies by the sword. The consul, who alone survived, dies; there died also other famous men, M’. Valerius, T. Verginius Rutilus, augurs, Ser. Sulpicius, curio maximus; and through unknown heads the force of the disease spread widely.

§3.7.7

inopsque senatus auxilii humani ad deos populum ac vota vertit: iussi cum coniugibus ac liberis supplicatum ire pacemque exposcere deum.

And the senate, destitute of human help, turned the people and vows to the gods: they were ordered to go to supplicate with their wives and children, and to implore the peace of the gods.

§3.7.8

ad id, quod sua quemque mala cogebant, auctoritate publica evocati omnia delubra inplent. stratae passim matres crinibus templa verrentes⁵ veniam irarum caelestium finemque pesti exposcunt.

In addition to that to which his own misfortunes were compelling each, summoned by public authority they fill all the shrines. Prostrate everywhere, mothers, sweeping the temples with their hair, implore pardon for the heavenly wraths and an end to the pestilence.

Syntax notes5 items

3.7.1deserta omnia, sine capite, sine viribus, dii praesides ac fortuna urbis tutata est
The neuter plural accusative deserta omnia and its accompanying noun phrases serve as the direct object of the verb tutata est. Although the subject consists of both dii praesides (plural) and fortuna (singular), the verb tutata est is feminine singular, agreeing with the nearest subject fortuna.
3.7.1nullam spem non potiundi modo, sed ne adeundi quidem Romana moenia animus eorum cepit
The genitive gerunds potiundi and adeundi depend on nullam spem within the main clause nullam spem... animus eorum cepit. This sentence employs the construction non... modo, sed ne... quidem ('not only... but not even...'), with Romana moenia (neuter plural accusative) serving as the common direct object for both gerunds.
3.7.3quid in vasto ac deserto agro... desides sine praeda tempus tererent
This is an indirect question clause introduced by the idea of asking or complaining implied within the ablative absolute fremitu orto ('a murmur having arisen'). In accordance with the sequence of tenses, the subjunctive imperfect tererent is used.
3.7.4si nec obstitissent... nec... ferrent
This conditional clause explains the thought or motive behind pudore ('shame'), representing a condition in virtual indirect discourse after a past main narrative. Consequently, the subjunctive pluperfect obstitissent and imperfect ferrent are used.
3.7.8crinibus templa verrentes
This describes a Roman religious ritual of supplication in times of extreme crisis, in which women unbind their hair to sweep the temple floors and entreat the gods for mercy. crinibus is an ablative of instrument.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)

2026-09-21 AI review — source 1

urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:3.7.1-3.7.8