- 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-lat2:40.46.1-40.46.16
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-11
Metellus made a speech urging the new censors Lepidus and Nobilior to reconcile for the benefit of the state, which they accepted. Afterwards, the censors were granted funds for public works.
“non obliti sumus, censores, vos paulo ante ab universo populo Romano moribus nostris praepositos esse, et nos a vobis et admoneri et regi, non vos a nobis debere.
”We have not forgotten, censors, that you were appointed just before by the entire Roman people as guardians of our morals, and that we ought to be both admonished and ruled by you, not you by us.
indicandum tamen est, quid omnes bonos in vobis aut offendat aut certe mutatum malint.
Yet we must point out what offends all good citizens in you, or at least what they would prefer to be changed.
singulos cum intuemur, M. Aemili, M. Fulvi, neminem hodie in civitate habemus, quem, si revocemur in suffragium, velimus vobis praelatum esse. ambo cum simul aspicimus, non possumus non vereri, ne male comparati sitis, nec tantum rei publicae prosit, quod omnibus nobis egregie placetis, quam, quod alter alteri displicetis, noceat.1
When we look at you individually, Marcus Aemilius and Marcus Fulvius, we have no one today in the state whom, if we were called back to vote, we would wish to be preferred to you. But when we look at both of you together, we cannot but fear that you are badly matched, and that the benefit to the republic from your pleasing us all so outstandingly may not be as great as the harm from your displeasing each other.
inimicitias per annos multos vobis ipsis graves et atroces geritis, quae periculum est ne ex hac die nobis et rei publicae quam vobis graviores fiant.
You maintain between yourselves enmities that have been heavy and bitter for many years, which there is danger may become from this day heavier to us and to the republic than to you.
de quibus causis hoc timeamus, multa succurrunt, quae dicerentur, nisi forte implacabiles fueritis implicaverint animos vestros.2 has ut hodie, ut in isto templo finiatis simultates, quaesumus vos universi, et quos coniunxit suffragiis suis populus Romanus, hos etiam reconciliatione gratiae coniungi a nobis sinatis;
As to the reasons why we fear this, many things occur to us that would be said, unless perhaps implacable enmities have entangled your minds. That you may end these today, that you may end these disputes in that temple, we all entreat you; and that you would allow those whom the Roman people joined by their votes to be joined also by us through a reconciliation of goodwill;
uno animo, uno consilio legatis senatum, equites recenseatis, agatis censum, lustrum condatis;
that with one mind and one counsel you may choose the senate, review the knights, conduct the census, and close the lustrum;
quod in omnibus fere precationibus nuncupabitis verbis “ut ea res mihi collegaeque meo bene et feliciter eveniat,” id ita ut vere, ut ex animo velitis evenire, efficiatisque, ut, quod deos precati eritis,3 id vos velle etiam homines credamus.
and that what you will pronounce in almost all prayers in the words, ‘that this matter may turn out well and happily for me and my colleague,’ you may bring it about that you truly and from your heart wish to happen, and make us men also believe that you wish what you have prayed the gods for.
T. Tatius et Romulus, in cuius urbis medio foro acie hostes concurrerant, ibi concordes regnarunt.
Titus Tatius and Romulus, in the middle of the forum of whose city the enemies had clashed in battle line, reigned there in harmony.
non modo simultates, sed bella quoque finiuntur: ex infestis hostibus plerumque socii fideles, interdum etiam cives fiunt. Albani diruta Alba Romam traducti sunt, Latini, Sabini in civitatem accepti. vulgatum illud, quia verum erat, in proverbium venit, amicitias immortales, mortales inimicitias debere esse.”
Not only disputes, but even wars are ended: from hostile enemies faithful allies, and sometimes even citizens, are often made. The Albans, after Alba was destroyed, were transferred to Rome; the Latins and Sabines were received into citizenship. That common saying, because it was true, has become a proverb, that ‘friendships ought to be immortal, enmities mortal.’”
fremitus ortus cum adsensu, deinde universorum voces idem petentium confusae in unum orationem interpellarunt.
A murmur arose with approval, and then the voices of all, demanding the same thing, mixed into one, interrupted the speech.
inde Aemilius questus cum alia, tum bis a M. Fulvio se certo consulatu deiectum:4 Fulvius contra queri se ab eo semper lacessitum et in probrum suum sponsionem factam. tamen ambo significare, si alter vellet, se in potestate tot principum civitatis futuros.
Then Aemilius complained, among other things, that he had been twice deprived of a certain consulship by Marcus Fulvius; Fulvius, on the other hand, complained that he had always been provoked by him and that a judicial pledge had been made to his disgrace. Yet both indicated that, if the other wished, they would submit to the power of so many leading men of the state.
omnibus instantibus, qui aderant, dexteras fidemque dedere remittere ac finire odium. deinde collaudantibus cunctis deducti sunt in Capitolium. et cura super tali re principum et facilitas censorum egregie comprobata ab senatu et laudata est.
With all those present urging them, they gave their right hands and their word to let go of and end their hatred. Then, amid the praise of everyone, they were escorted to the Capitol. Both the care of the leading men over such a matter and the readiness of the censors were outstandingly approved and praised by the senate.
censoribus deinde postulantibus, ut pecuniae summa sibi, qua in opera publica uterentur, attribueretur, vectigal annuum decretum est.
Then, upon the censors requesting that a sum of money be assigned to them to be used for public works, an annual tax revenue was decreed.
- 40.46.4nec tantum rei publicae prosit, quod omnibus nobis egregie placetis, quam, quod alter alteri displicetis, noceat
A correlative construction using 'nec tantum... quam...' to express comparison ('not so much... as...'). The subjects of both verbs are the respective 'quod' clauses ('quod... placetis' and 'quod... displicetis'). It means 'the benefit (prosit) to the republic from your pleasing us all so outstandingly may not be as great as the harm (noceat) from your displeasing each other.'
- 40.46.6quae dicerentur, nisi forte implacabiles fueritis implicaverint animos vestros
A contrary-to-fact conditional sentence with the imperfect subjunctive 'dicerentur' and the 'nisi' clause. Although the text 'implacabiles fueritis implicaverint' is likely corrupted, the clause expresses a qualification ('unless perhaps...'). It shows a rhetorical device of omission: many reasons would be said, but they are not spoken of, assuming their minds are not irreversibly entangled in implacable enmity.
- 40.46.9quod deos precati eritis
The verb 'precari' (to pray, entreat) takes a double accusative of person and thing. Here, 'deos' is the accusative of person, and the relative pronoun 'quod' (referring to 'id') acts as the accusative of thing.
- 40.46.14bis a M. Fulvio se certo consulatu deiectum
An accusative with infinitive construction ('se deiectum [esse]') in indirect discourse. 'certo consulatu' is an ablative of separation, meaning 'deprived of a certain consulship' (one that seemed secure).