Complaints of Spanish Envoys and Senate Decrees — Livy, History of Rome Book 43 (43.2.1–43.2.12), Latin & English

§43.2.1

Hispaniae deinde utriusque legati aliquot populorum in senatum introducti.

Next, envoys from several peoples of both Spains were introduced into the senate.

§43.2.2

ii de magistratuum Romanorum avaritia superbiaque conquesti, nixi genibus ab senatu petierunt, ne se socios foedius spoliari vexarique quam hostis patiantur.¹

Complaining of the avarice and pride of the Roman magistrates, they fell on their knees and begged the senate not to suffer them, their allies, to be more shamefully plundered and harassed than enemies.

§43.2.3

cum et alia indigna quererentur, manifestum autem esset pecunias captas, L. Canuleio praetori, qui Hispaniam sortitus erat, negotium datum est, ut in singulos, a quibus Hispani pecunias repeterent, quinos² recuperatores ex ordine senatorio daret patronosque, quos vellent, sumendi potestatem faceret.

When they complained of other unworthy treatment as well, and it was evident that money had been extorted, the task was given to the praetor Lucius Canuleius, who had drawn the lot for Spain, to assign five recovery commissioners from the senatorial order for each individual from whom the Spaniards demanded money back, and to grant them the power to choose whatever patrons they wished.

§43.2.4

vocatis in curiam legatis recitatum est senatus consultum, iussique nominare patronos.

When the envoys were called into the senate house, the decree of the senate was read to them, and they were ordered to name their patrons.

§43.2.5

quattuor nominaverunt, M. Porcium Catonem, P. Cornelium Cn. F. Scipionem, L. Aemilium L. F. Paulum, C. Sulpicium Gallum.

They named four: Marcus Porcius Cato, Publius Cornelius Scipio, son of Gnaeus, Lucius Aemilius Paulus, son of Lucius, and Gaius Sulpicius Gallus.

§43.2.6

cum M. Titinio primum, qui praetor A. Manlio M. Iunio consulibus in citeriore Hispania fuerat, recuperatores sumpserunt. bis ampliatus, tertio absolutus est reus.

They first chose recovery commissioners to act against Marcus Titinius, who had been praetor in Nearer Spain during the consulship of Aulus Manlius and Marcus Junius. The accused was twice granted a postponement of trial, and on the third occasion was acquitted.

§43.2.7

dissensio inter duarum provinciarum legatos est orta; citerioris Hispaniae populi M. Catonem et P. Scipionem, ulterioris L. Paulum et Gallum Sulpicium patronos sumpserunt.

A disagreement arose between the envoys of the two provinces; the peoples of Nearer Spain chose Marcus Cato and Publius Scipio as their patrons, while those of Farther Spain chose Lucius Paulus and Gallus Sulpicius.

§43.2.8

ad recuperatores adducti a citerioribus populis P. Furius Philus, ab ulterioribus M. Matienus;

Publius Furius Philus was brought before the recovery commissioners by the peoples of Nearer Spain, and Marcus Matienus by those of Farther Spain;

§43.2.9

ille Sp. Postumio Q. Mucio consulibus triennio ante, hic biennio prius L. Postumio M. Popilio consulibus praetor fuerat.

the former had been praetor three years before, in the consulship of Spurius Postumius and Quintus Mucius; the latter, two years previously, in the consulship of Lucius Postumius and Marcus Popilius.

§43.2.10

gravissimis criminibus accusati ambo ampliatique; cum dicenda de integro causa esset, excusati exilii causa solum vertisse.³ Furius Praeneste, Matienus Tibur exulatum abierunt.

Both were accused of extremely serious charges and their trials postponed; and when the case had to be argued anew, they were excused on the ground that they had changed their soil for the sake of exile. Furius went into exile at Praeneste, Matienus at Tibur.

§43.2.11

fama erat prohiberi a patronis nobiles ac potentes conpellare; auxitque eam suspicionem Canuleius praetor, quod omissa ea re dilectum habere instituit, dein repente in provinciam abiit, ne plures ab Hispanis vexarentur.

There was a rumor that the patrons were preventing the nobility and powerful men from being brought to trial; and the praetor Canuleius increased this suspicion because, leaving that business aside, he began to hold a levy, and then suddenly departed for his province, so that no more individuals might be harassed by the Spaniards.

§43.2.12

ita praeteritis silentio obliteratis in futurum tamen consultum ab senatu Hispanis, quod⁴ impetrarunt, ne frumenti aestimationem magistratus Romanus haberet neve cogeret vicensumas vendere Hispanos, quanti ipse vellet, et ne praefecti in oppida sua ad pecunias cogendas imponerentur.

Thus, while past offences were obliterated in silence, provision was nevertheless made by the senate for the Spaniards for the future, in that they obtained: that no Roman magistrate should set the valuation of grain, nor force the Spaniards to sell the twentieth-part tax at whatever price he himself wished, and that no prefects should be stationed in their towns to extort money.

Syntax notes4 items

43.2.2patiantur
Although the main verb petierunt is in the historical perfect tense, the subordinate purpose clause uses the present subjunctive patiantur instead of the imperfect. This deviation from the regular sequence of tenses (consecutio temporum) emphasizes the vividness and ongoing urgency of the envoys' plea.
43.2.3quinos
The distributive numeral quinos ('five each') indicates that five recovery commissioners (recuperatores) were to be assigned for each individual Roman magistrate accused (in singulos).
43.2.10solum vertisse
The idiom solum vertere (literally 'to change soil') is a legal euphemism for going into voluntary exile to avoid trial or punishment. The perfect infinitive vertisse indicates that they had already left Rome, which served as their excuse (excusati [sunt]) for not appearing in court.
43.2.12quod
The conjunction quod introduces an appositional clause explaining the specific content of the 'provision' (consultum) made for the Spaniards, meaning 'namely, that which they obtained.'

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:43.2.1-43.2.12