- 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-lat2:5.44.1-5.44.7
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-28
The exiled Camillus addresses the assembly of Ardea, pointing out the vulnerabilities of the approaching Gauls and urging the citizens to join him in a night attack to destroy them.
“Ardeates” inquit, “veteres amici,1 novi etiam cives mei, quando et vestrum beneficium ita tulit et fortuna hoc eguit mea, nemo vestrum condicionis meae oblitum me huc processisse putet; sed res ac commune periculum cogit quod quisque possit in re trepida praesidii2 in medium conferre.
”Ardeates,” he said, “old friends, and now also my new fellow citizens, since both your kindness has so brought it about and my fortune required this, let none of you think that I have come forward here forgetful of my condition; but the situation and the common danger compel each one to bring into the common stock whatever assistance he can in this alarming state of affairs.
et quando ego vobis pro tantis vestris in me meritis gratiam referam, si nunc cessavero? aut ubi usus erit mei3 vobis, si in bello non fuerit? hac arte in patria steti et invictus bello in pace ab ingratis civibus pulsus sum.
And when shall I return gratitude to you for such great merits of yours towards me, if I remain idle now? Or where will you have use of me, if it is not in war? By this art I maintained my standing in my homeland, and, undefeated in war, I was driven out in peace by ungrateful citizens.
vobis autem, Ardeates, fortuna oblata est et pro tantis populi Romani beneficiis, quanta ipsi meministis — nec enim exprobranda apud memores sunt — gratiae referendae4 et huic urbi decus ingens belli ex hoste communi pariendi, qui effuso agmine adventat.
But to you, Ardeates, an opportunity is offered both of returning thanks for such great benefits of the Roman people, as you yourselves remember—for they need not be cast in the teeth of those who remember them—and of winning for this city great military glory from the common enemy, who approaches in scattered array.
gens est, cui natura corpora animosque magna magis quam firma5 dederit; eo in certamen omne plus terroris quam virium ferunt.
They are a nation to whom nature has given bodies and minds that are large rather than firm; therefore, they bring to every contest more of terror than of strength.
argumento6 sit clades Romana: patentem cepere urbem; ex arce Capitolioque iis exigua resistitur manu; iam obsidionis taedio victi abscedunt vagique per agros palantur.
Let the Roman disaster be proof: they captured an open city; from the citadel and the Capitol they are resisted by a tiny band; now, overcome by the weariness of the siege, they are departing and wander scattered through the fields.
cibo vinoque raptim hausto repleti, ubi nox adpetit, prope rivos aquarum sine munimento, sine stationibus ac custodiis passim ferarum ritu sternuntur nunc ab secundis rebus magis etiam solito incauti.
Sated with food and wine hastily consumed, when night approaches, they lie down everywhere like wild beasts near streams of water, without entrenchment, without outposts or guards, now even more careless than usual because of their success.
si vobis in animo est tueri moenia vestra nec pati haec omnia Gallorum7 fieri, prima vigilia capite arma frequentesque me sequimini ad caedem, non ad pugnam. nisi vinctos somno velut pecudes trucidandos tradidero, non recuso eundem Ardeae rerum mearum exitum, quem Romae habui.”
If it is in your mind to defend your walls and not to suffer all these things to become the property of the Gauls, take up arms at the first watch and follow me in large numbers to a slaughter, not to a battle. Unless I deliver them up to be butchered like sheep, bound in sleep, I do not refuse to meet the same end of my fortunes at Ardea which I had at Rome.”
- 5.44.1veteres smici
The manuscript reading smici is an obvious scribal error for amici (friends), which is restored in standard critical editions. The translations follow this emendation.
- 5.44.1quod quisque possit in re trepida praesidii
The noun praesidii is a partitive genitive depending on the relative pronoun quod (which encapsulates its antecedent). The clause translates to 'whatever of protection each one can bring into the common stock in this alarming situation.'
- 5.44.2mei
The genitive form of the personal pronoun ego. It is used here with usus (use, utility) in the sense of 'you will have use of me.' While usus est usually takes the ablative, the genitive is also employed to denote the person whose services are needed.
- 5.44.3gratiae referendae
A genitive singular phrase with a gerundive (gratiae referendae agreeing with gratia), dependent on the preceding fortuna oblata est. It stands in parallel construction with the following genitive gerund pariendi (dependent on decus). Thus, both 'of returning thanks' and 'of winning glory' modify fortuna (opportunity).
- 5.44.4magna magis quam firma
A comparison of two qualities in the same subject. In Latin syntax, rather than putting both adjectives in the comparative, the structure magis + positive adjectives is used to express 'bodies and minds that are large rather than firm (strong).'
- 5.44.5argumento
A dative of purpose or result. It serves as a predicate to the nominative subject clades Romana (the Roman disaster), functioning as 'let the Roman disaster be (for/as) a proof.'
- 5.44.7Gallorum
A possessive genitive used with the verb fieri (to become), expressing ownership or possession: 'to become the property of the Gauls' or 'to fall into the hands of the Gauls.'
Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)
- 2026-09-21 AI review — source 1