- 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
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- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:42.49.1-42.49.10
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-12
The departure of the consul Licinius from Rome amidst a grand escort is described, along with his crossing from Brundisium to Nymphaeum in Apollonia for the Macedonian War, and the high reputation of King Perseus.
per hos forte dies P. Licinius consul votis in Capitolio nuncupatis paludatus ab urbe profectus est.
During these days, as it happened, the consul Publius Licinius, having pronounced his vows on the Capitol, set out from the city clad in the general’s cloak.
semper quidem ea res cum magna dignitate ac maiestate agitur; praecipue convertit oculos animosque, cum ad magnum nobilemque aut virtute aut fortuna hostem euntem consulem prosecuntur.
Indeed, that ceremony is always conducted with great dignity and majesty; but it especially turns the eyes and minds of all when they escort a consul going against an enemy great and renowned either for valor or for fortune.
contrahit enim non officii modo cura, sed etiam studium spectaculi, ut videant ducem suum, cuius imperio consilioque summam rem publicam tuendam1 permiserunt.
For they are drawn together not only by the care of duty, but also by the eagerness for the spectacle, so that they may see their own leader, to whose command and counsel they have entrusted the protection of the supreme commonwealth.
subit deinde cogitatio animos, qui belli casus, quam incertus fortunae eventus communisque Mars belli sit;
Then a thought enters their minds, what the hazards of war may be, how uncertain the outcome of fortune, and how common the Mars of war is;
adversa secundaque, quae inscitia et temeritate ducum clades saepe acciderint, quae contra bona prudentia et virtus attulerit.
adversity and prosperity, what disasters have often happened through the ignorance and rashness of leaders, and, on the contrary, what good things prudence and valor have brought.
quem scire mortalium,2 utrius mentis, utrius fortunae3 consulem ad bellum mittant? triumphantemne mox cum exercitu victore scandentem in Capitolium ad eosdem deos, a quibus proficiscatur, visuri, an hostibus eam praebituri laetitiam sint? Persei autem regi, adversus quem ibatur, famam et bello clara Macedonum gens et Philippus pater, inter multa prospere gesta Romano etiam nobilitatus bello, praebebat;
Who of mortals could know what kind of mind, what kind of fortune the consul they are sending to war possesses? Are they soon to see him triumphing, ascending the Capitol with a victorious army to the same gods from whom he is setting out, or are they to afford that joy to the enemies? Moreover, for King Perseus, against whom they were going, his reputation was enhanced both by the Macedonian nation, famous in war, and by his father Philip, who among many successful achievements was also made renowned by the Roman war;
tum ipsius Persei numquam, ex quo regnum accepisset, desitum belli expectatione celebrari nomen.
then, of Perseus himself, the name had never ceased to be celebrated in expectation of war from the time he had received the kingdom.
cum his cogitationibus omnium ordinum homines proficiscentem consulem prosecuti sunt.
With these thoughts, men of all classes escorted the departing consul.
duo consulares tribuni militum4 cum eo missi, C. Claudius, Q. Mucius, et tres inlustres iuvenes, P. Lentulus et duo Manli Acidini: alter M. Manli, alter L. Manli filius erat.
Two military tribunes of consular rank were sent with him, Gaius Claudius and Quintus Mucius, and three illustrious youths, Publius Lentulus and two Manlii Acidini: one of whom was the son of Marcus Manlius, the other of Lucius Manlius.
cum iis consul Brundisium ad exercitum profectus atque inde cum omnibus copiis transvectus ad Nymphaeum in Apolloniatium agro posuit castra.
With them, the consul set out for the army at Brundisium, and having crossed from there with all his forces, he pitched his camp at Nymphaeum in the territory of the Apolloniates.
- 42.49.3summam rem publicam tuendam
tuendam is a gerundive agreeing in gender, number, and case with summam rem publicam, functioning as a predicate accusative after permiserunt ('they entrusted'), expressing the purpose or duty of protection ('entrusted the supreme commonwealth to be protected').
- 42.49.6quem scire mortalium
An accusative with infinitive construction in a rhetorical question. quem is the accusative of the interrogative pronoun quis, serving as the subject of the infinitive scire, expressing a strong rhetorical question with a negative force ('Who of mortals could know?').
- 42.49.6utrius mentis, utrius fortunae
Genitives of quality (character) modifying the subsequent accusative consulem, meaning 'a consul of what kind of mind, of what kind of fortune'. This describes the character of the consul whom they are sending (mittant, subjunctive in an indirect question).
- 42.49.9consulares tribuni militum
consulares (of consular rank) functions here substantively or adjectivally in apposition with tribuni militum (military tribunes). While military tribunes were typically younger men starting their political careers, this indicates that, in this major crisis, experienced former consuls were dispatched to serve in this capacity.