- 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-lat2:39.1.1-39.1.8
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-10
While events unfolded in Rome, the consuls waged war in Liguria. Characterized by its rugged terrain and relentless enemy, the Ligurian campaign served to maintain and sharpen Roman military discipline, in contrast to the wealth and laxity experienced in Asia.
dum haec, si modo hoc anno acta sunt,1 Romae aguntur, consules ambo in Liguribus gerebant bellum.
While these things were being done in Rome, if indeed they were done in this year, both consuls were waging war in Liguria.
is hostis velut natus ad continendam inter magnorum intervalla bellorum Romanis militarem disciplinam erat; nec alia provincia militem magis ad virtutem acuebat. nam Asia et amoenitate urbium et copia terrestrium maritimarumque rerum et mollitia hostium regiisque opibus ditiores quam fortiores2 exercitus faciebat.
This enemy was, as it were, born for the purpose of maintaining military discipline for the Romans during the intervals between great wars; nor did any other province sharpen the soldier more toward valor. For Asia, by the pleasantness of its cities, the abundance of resources both by land and sea, the softness of the enemy, and the royal wealth, made armies wealthier rather than braver.
praecipue sub imperio Cn. Manlii solute ac neglegenter habiti sunt. itaque asperius paulo iter in Thracia et exercitatior hostis magna clade eos castigavit.
Especially under the command of Cn. Manlius, they were held in a loose and negligent manner. Therefore, a slightly rougher march in Thrace and a more practiced enemy chastised them with a great disaster.
in Liguribus omnia erant, quae militem excitarent, loca montana et aspera, quae et ipsis capere labor erat et ex praeoccupatis deicere hostem;
Among the Ligurians, there was everything that could excite a soldier: mountainous and rugged places, which were a labor for them to capture, and from which it was difficult to dislodge an enemy who had already occupied them;
itinera ardua, angusta, infesta insidiis; hostis levis et velox et repentinus, qui nullum usquam tempus, nullum locum quietum aut securum esse sineret; oppugnatio necessaria munitorum castellorum, laboriosa simul periculosaque; inops regio, quae parsimonia astringeret milites, praedae haud multum praeberet.
steep, narrow roads, infested with ambushes; a light, swift, and sudden enemy, who would allow no time and no place anywhere to be quiet or safe; the necessary storming of fortified castles, which was both laborious and dangerous; a poor region, which constrained the soldiers to parsimony and offered little plunder.
itaque non lixa sequebatur, non iumentorum longus ordo agmen extendebat. nihil praeter arma et viros omnem spem in armis habentes erat.
Therefore, no camp-followers followed, and no long train of baggage animals lengthened the column. There was nothing except weapons and men who had all their hope in weapons.
nec deerat umquam cum iis vel materia belli vel causa, quia propter domesticam inopiam vicinos agros incursabant. nec tamen in discrimen summae rerum pugnabatur.3
Nor was there ever lacking with them either the material or the cause of war, because on account of their domestic poverty they raided the neighboring fields. Nevertheless, they did not fight in a decisive struggle for the ultimate issue.
- 39.1.1si modo hoc anno acta sunt
An inserted clause, 'if indeed they were done in this year.' Livy expresses doubt regarding the annalistic chronology, questioning whether the events of the previous chapter (such as the trial of Scipio) actually occurred in this particular year (187 BC).
- 39.1.3ditiores quam fortiores
A characteristic Latin construction employing two comparatives. Literally 'made armies richer than braver,' meaning that the environment rendered them wealthier rather than making them more courageous.
- 39.1.8in discrimen summae rerum pugnabatur
The verb pugnabatur is an impersonal passive meaning 'fighting was conducted.' summa rerum refers to the 'state's existence' or 'the ultimate issue,' and combined with in discrimen ('into crisis/critical point'), it denotes a decisive battle for the very survival of the state, which is here negated by nec.