Ratification of Antiochus' Peace and the Ten Commissioners — Livy, History of Rome Book 37 (37.55.1–37.55.7), Latin & English

§37.55.1

post Rhodios Antiochi legati vocati sunt. ii vulgato petentium veniam¹ more errorem fassi regis obtestati sunt patres conscriptos, ut suae potius clementiae quam regis culpae, qui satis superque poenarum dedisset,² memores consulerent; postremo pacem datam a L. Scipione imperatore, quibus legibus dedisset, confirmarent auctoritate sua.

After the Rhodians, the envoys of Antiochus were called. They, following the common custom of those seeking pardon, confessed the king’s error and implored the conscript fathers, that, mindful of their own clemency rather than the king’s fault, who had paid enough and more than enough punishment, they should make their decision; finally, that they should confirm by their own authority the peace granted by the commander L. Scipio, under whatever conditions he had granted it.

§37.55.3

et senatus eam pacem servandam censuit, et paucos post dies populus iussit. foedus in Capitolio cum Antipatro principe legationis et eodem fratris filio regis Antiochi est ictum.

And the senate voted that the peace should be observed, and a few days later the people ordered it. A treaty was struck on the Capitol with Antipater, the leader of the embassy and also the nephew of King Antiochus.

§37.55.4

auditae deinde et aliae legationes ex Asia sunt. quibus omnibus datum responsum decem legatos more maiorum senatum missurum ad res Asiae disceptandas componendasque;

Then other embassies from Asia were also heard. To all of them, the answer was given that the senate, according to the custom of the ancestors, would send ten commissioners to examine and settle the affairs of Asia;

§37.55.5

summam tamen hanc fore, ut³ cis Taurum montem, quae intra regni Antiochi fines fuissent, Eumeni attribuerentur praeter Lyciam Cariamque usque ad Maeandrum amnem; ea ut civitatis Rhodiorum essent;

yet the main point would be this, that on this side of Mount Taurus, what had been within the limits of the kingdom of Antiochus should be assigned to Eumenes, except for Lycia and Caria as far as the river Maeander; these should belong to the state of the Rhodians;

§37.55.6

ceterae civitates Asiae, quae Attali stipendiariae fuissent, eaedem vectigal Eumeni penderent; quae vectigales Antiochi fuissent, eae liberae atque immunes essent.

the other cities of Asia, which had been tributary to Attalus, should likewise pay tribute to Eumenes; those which had been tributary to Antiochus should be free and exempt from tribute.

§37.55.7

decem legatos hos decreverunt: Q. Minucium Rufum L. Furium Purpurionem Q. Minucium Thermum Ap. Claudium Neronem Cn. Cornelium Merulam M. Iunium Brutum L. Aurunculeium L. Aemilium Paulum P. Cornelium Lentulum P. Aelium Tuberonem.

They decreed these ten commissioners: Q. Minucius Rufus, L. Furius Purpurio, Q. Minucius Thermus, Ap. Claudius Nero, Cn. Cornelius Merula, M. Iunius Brutus, L. Aurunculeius, L. Aemilius Paulus, P. Cornelius Lentulus, P. Aelius Tubero.

Syntax notes3 items

37.55.1petentium veniam
A genitive plural of the present participle, modifying the noun "more" (custom). Together they form an ablative phrase "vulgato... more" (following the common custom).
37.55.2poenarum dedisset
The combination of the noun "poena" and the verb "dare" is a well-known Latin idiom meaning "to suffer/pay punishment" (not to give). The pluperfect subjunctive "dedisset" is used because it is a subordinate clause within indirect speech.
37.55.5summam tamen hanc fore, ut
"summam... fore" is an accusative with infinitive construction (indirect speech) continuing from the preceding "responsum [esse]" (the answer was given). The content of "hanc" (this) is specified by the appositional "ut" clauses that immediately follow.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (2, latest 2026-09-21)

2026-09-21 AI review — translation 2

urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:37.55.1-37.55.7