- 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-lat2:7.9.1-7.9.8
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-26
After the capture of the city of the Hernici, the closing of the gates by the Tiburtes sparks a new war, while the threat of a Gallic invasion leads to the appointment of a dictator, resulting in a confrontation across the Anio where a gigantic Gaul challenges Rome to single combat.
insequenti anno cum C. Sulpicius et C. Licinius Calvus consules in Hernicos exercitum duxissent neque inventis in agro hostibus Ferentinum urbem eorum vi cepissent, revertentibus inde eis1 Tiburtes portas clausere.
In the following year, when the consuls Gaius Sulpicius and Gaius Licinius Calvus had led an army against the Hernici, and, having found no enemy in the territory, had taken their city Ferentinum by force, the Tiburtes shut their gates against them as they were returning thence.
ea ultima fuit causa, cum multae ante querimoniae ultro citroque iactatae essent, cur per fetiales rebus repetitis bellum Tiburti populo indiceretur.
Although many complaints had previously been bandied to and fro, this was the ultimate reason why war was declared against the Tiburtine people through the fetials after demanding redress.
dictatorem T. Quinctium Poenum eo anno fuisse satis constat et magistrum equitum Ser. Cornelium Maluginensem.
It is well established that Titus Quinctius Poenus was dictator in that year, and Servius Cornelius Maluginensis was master of the horse.
Macer Licinius comitiorum habendorum causa et ab Licinio consule dictum2 scribit, quia collega comitia bello praeferre festinante, ut continuaret consulatum, obviam eundum pravae cupiditati fuerit.3
Licinius Macer writes that he was appointed for the purpose of holding the elections, and by the consul Licinius, because, since his colleague was hastening to prefer the elections to the war in order to continue his consulship, it was necessary to oppose this improper ambition.
quaesita ea propriae familiae laus leviorem auctorem Licinium facit. cum mentionem eius rei in vetustioribus annalibus nullam inveniam, magis ut belli Gallici causa dictatorem creatum arbitrer inclinat animus.4
This praise sought for his own family makes Licinius a less reliable authority. Since I find no mention of this matter in the older annals, my mind is more inclined to believe that the dictator was appointed on account of the Gallic war.
eo certe anno Galli ad tertium lapidem Salaria via trans pontem Anienis castra habuere. dictator cum tumultus Gallici causa iustitium edixisset, omnes iuniores sacramento adegit ingentique exercitu ab urbe profectus in citeriore ripa Anienis castra posuit.
In that year, at any rate, the Gauls had their camp beyond the bridge of the Anio on the Salarian Way, at the third milestone. When the dictator had proclaimed a suspension of public business on account of the Gallic tumult, he bound all the younger men by oath, and, having set out from the city with a huge army, pitched his camp on the nearer bank of the Anio.
pons in medio erat neutris eum rumpentibus, ne timoris indicium esset. proelia de occupando ponte crebra erant, nec, qui poterentur,5 incertis viribus satis discerni poterat.
The bridge was in the middle, with neither side breaking it down lest it should be a sign of fear. Skirmishes to occupy the bridge were frequent, nor, as the strength was uncertain, could it be clearly determined who would master it.
tum eximia corporis magnitudine in vacuum pontem Gallus processit et, quantum maxima voce potuit, “quem nunc” inquit “Roma virum fortissimum habet, procedat, agedum, ad pugnam, ut noster duorum eventus ostendat, utra gens bello sit melior.”
Then a Gaul of extraordinary bodily size advanced onto the empty bridge, and, calling out as loudly as he could, said, “Let the bravest man that Rome now possesses step forward, come on, to the fight, so that the outcome of us two may show which nation is better in war.”
- 7.9.1revertentibus inde eis
Dative plural of the present participle revertens. It functions either as the indirect object of claudo (to shut) or as a dative of disadvantage, meaning 'shut the gates against them as they were returning thence'.
- 7.9.4dictum
An infinitive in an accusative-with-infinitive construction, with esse omitted from dictum esse (that the dictator was appointed). The accusative subject dictatorem is understood from the preceding context.
- 7.9.4obviam eundum pravae cupiditati fuerit
An impersonal gerundive (or gerund) construction. The phrase obviam ire (to oppose) governs the dative case (pravae cupiditati). The verb fuerit is in the subjunctive perfect in the quia clause, representing a reported or subjective reason.
- 7.9.5inclinat animus
The verb inclinat is used intransitively here, with animus as its subject, meaning 'my mind is inclined'. The following ut... arbitrer clause functions as a noun clause expressing the result or direction of this inclination.
- 7.9.7qui poterentur
Introduces an indirect question. The verb poterentur is the third-person plural imperfect subjunctive of the deponent potior (to master, take possession of), which normally governs the dative or ablative. The object (the bridge) is omitted as understood from the context.