Philip's Levy and Preparations for the Decisive Battle — Livy, History of Rome Book 33 (33.3.1–33.3.12), Latin & English

§33.3.1

Philippus quoque primo vere, postquam legati ab Roma nihil pacati¹ rettulerant, dilectum per omnia oppida regni habere instituit in magna inopia iuniorum.² absumpserant enim per multas iam aetates continua bella Macedonas;

Philip also, at the beginning of spring, after the ambassadors had brought back nothing of a peaceful nature from Rome, resolved to hold a levy throughout all the towns of his kingdom, in a great scarcity of young men. For continuous wars over many generations by now had consumed the Macedonians;

§33.3.3

ipso quoque regnante et navalibus bellis adversus Rhodios Attalumque et terrestribus adversus Romanos ceciderat magnus numerus.

under his own reign as well, both in naval wars against the Rhodians and Attalus, and in land wars against the Romans, a great number had fallen.

§33.3.4

ita et tirones ab sedecim annis milites scribebat, et emeritis quidam stipendiis,³ quibus modo quicquam reliqui roboris erat, ad signa revocabantur.

Thus he was enrolling as soldiers even recruits from sixteen years of age, and certain men of completed service, in whom only any of remaining strength was left, were recalled to the standards.

§33.3.5

ita suppleto exercitu secundum vernum aequinoctium omnis copias Dium contraxit ibique stativis positis exercendo cotidie milite hostem opperiebatur.

Having thus reinforced his army, around the spring equinox he concentrated all his forces at Dium, and having established a permanent camp there, he awaited the enemy, training his soldiers daily.

§33.3.6

et Quinctius per eosdem ferme dies ab Elatia profectus praeter Thronium et Scarpheam ad Thermopylas pervenit.

And Quinctius, setting out from Elatia about the same days, arrived at Thermopylae past Thronium and Scarphea.

§33.3.7

ibi concilium Aetolorum Heracleam indictum tenuit consultantium, quantis auxiliis Romanum ad bellum sequerentur. cognitis sociorum decretis tertio die ab Heraclea Xynias praegressus in confinio Aenianum Thessalorumque positis castris Aetolica auxilia opperiebatur.

There he held the council of the Aetolians, which had been summoned to Heraclea, who were deliberating with how large auxiliary forces they should follow the Roman to the war. Having learned the decrees of his allies, on the third day he advanced from Heraclea to Xyniae, and having pitched camp on the border of the Aenianes and Thessalians, he awaited the Aetolian auxiliary forces.

§33.3.9

nihil morati Aetoli sunt; Phaenea duce † sescenti pedites cum equitibus quadringentis venerunt. ne dubium esset, quid expectasset, confestim Quinctius movit castra.

The Aetolians did not delay at all; under the leadership of Phaeneas, six hundred infantry and four hundred cavalry arrived. Lest there be any doubt as to what he had been waiting for, Quinctius immediately moved his camp.

§33.3.10

transgresso in Phthioticum agrum quingenti Gortynii Cretensium duce Cydante et trecenti Apolloniatae haud dispari armatu se coniunxere nec ita multo post Amynander cum Athamanum peditum ducentis et mille.

When he had crossed into the Phthiotic territory, five hundred Gortynians of the Cretans under the leadership of Cydas, and three hundred Apolloniates with not dissimilar armor, joined him, and not so long after, Amynander with twelve hundred of the Athamanian infantry.

§33.3.11

Philippus cognita profectione ab Elatia Romanorum, ut cui de summa rerum adesset certamen,⁴ adhortandos milites ratus, multa iam saepe memorata de maiorum virtutibus simul de militari laude Macedonum cum disseruisset, ad ea, quae tum maxime animos terrebant quibusque erigi ad aliquam spem poterant, venit.⁵

Philip, having learned of the departure of the Romans from Elatia, as one for whom a contest for the supreme power was at hand, thinking that his soldiers must be encouraged, after he had discussed many things already often mentioned concerning the virtues of their ancestors and at the same time the military glory of the Macedonians, came to those matters which then most terrified their minds and by which they could be raised to some hope.

Syntax notes5 items

33.3.1nihil pacati
A partitive genitive qualifying the neuter pronoun nihil. Literally 'nothing of a peaceful character', it is a characteristic Livian idiom emphasizing that no peaceful settlement or concession was brought back from Rome.
33.3.2in magna inopia iuniorum
The preposition in with the ablative expressing the surrounding circumstances or the difficult background under which the action takes place ('amidst a great scarcity of men of military age').
33.3.4emeritis... stipendiis
An ablative phrase meaning 'with completed services (or campaigns)'. It refers to veterans who had completed their required years of service (stipendia) but were recalled to the standards because they still possessed some remaining strength.
33.3.11ut cui de summa rerum adesset certamen
A causal relative clause introduced by ut cui with the subjunctive adesset, explaining the subject's (Philip's) subjective motivation ('as one for whom...'). The phrase de summa rerum is an idiom meaning 'for the supreme issue' or 'for the very existence of the state'.
33.3.12adhortandos milites ratus, multa iam saepe memorata de maiorum virtutibus simul de militari laude Macedonum cum disseruisset, ad ea, quae tum maxime animos terrebant quibusque erigi ad aliquam spem poterant, venit
The core of this sentence is Philippus... venit ('Philip came to/turned to...'). Ratus is a participle governing the accusative and infinitive adhortandos [esse] milites ('thinking that his soldiers must be encouraged'), expressing the motive. Cum disseruisset is a cum-clause with the pluperfect subjunctive expressing a preceding action ('after he had discussed...'). The destination of venit is ad ea, which is qualified by two parallel relative clauses, quae... and quibus...

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:33.3.1-33.3.12