Humanitext Reader

Livy · History of Rome §21.24.1-21.24.5

Crossing the Pyrenees and Conciliation of the Gauls

Passage 555 of 1770 · Latin

Summary

Hannibal crosses the Pyrenees to Iliberris. Facing Gallic tribes who assembled in arms out of fear of subjugation, Hannibal sends friendly envoys and placates them with gifts, securing a peaceful passage through their territory.

§21.24.1inde, ne mora atque otium animos sollicitaret, cum reliquis copiis Pyrenaeum transgreditur et ad oppidum Iliberri castra locat.
From there, lest delay and inaction should disturb their minds, he crossed the Pyrenees with the rest of his forces and pitched camp near the town of Iliberris.
§21.24.2Galli quamquam Italiae bellum inferri audiebant tamen, quia vi subactos trans Pyrenaeum Hispanos fama erat praesidiaque valida inposita, metu servitutis ad arma consternati Ruscinonem aliquot populi conveniunt.
Although the Gauls heard that war was being brought against Italy, yet because there was a rumor that the Spaniards beyond the Pyrenees had been subdued by force and that strong garrisons had been imposed upon them, several tribes, alarmed by the fear of servitude, took up arms and assembled at Ruscino.
§21.24.3quod ubi Hannibali nuntiatum est, moram magis quam bellum metuens oratores ad regulos eorum misit, conloqui semet ipsum cum iis velle, et vel illi propius Iliberrim accederent, vel se Ruscinonem processurum, ut ex propinquo congressus facilior esset: §21.24.4nam et accepturum eos in castra sua se laetum nec cunctanter se ipsum ad eos venturum.
When this was reported to Hannibal, fearing delay more than war, he sent envoys to their petty kings to say that he wished to confer with them in person, and that either they should approach closer to Iliberris, or he himself would advance to Ruscino, so that a meeting might be easier from nearby; for he would gladly receive them into his camp and would himself go to them without hesitation.
hospitem enim se Galliae, non hostem advenisse, nec stricturum ante gladium, si per Gallos liceat, quam in Italiam venisset.
Indeed, he had come to Gaul as a guest, not an enemy, and would not draw his sword, if the Gauls permitted, before he had come into Italy.
§21.24.5et per nuntios quidem haec; ut vero reguli Gallorum castris ad Iliberrim extemplo motis haud gravate ad Poenum venerunt, capti donis cum bona pace exercitum per finis suos praeter Ruscinonem oppidum transmiserunt.
Such were the messages sent through the envoys; but when the kings of the Gauls, having immediately moved their camp to Iliberris, came without reluctance to the Carthaginian, they were won over by gifts and, in perfect peace, allowed the army to pass through their territory past the town of Ruscino.

Notes

  1. §21.24.2quia vi subactos trans Pyrenaeum Hispanos fama erat praesidiaque valida inposita — Two accusative with infinitive constructions (A.C.I.) depend on the impersonal expression `fama erat` (there was a rumor): first, `Hispanos subactos [esse]`, and second, `praesidiaque valida inposita [esse]`, with the auxiliary `esse` omitted in both clauses.
  2. §21.24.3vel illi propius Iliberrim accederent — A clause in indirect discourse (oratio obliqua) depending on the past-tense verb of saying implied in `misit` (sent). An imperative or hortatory subjunctive in direct speech becomes an imperfect subjunctive (`accederent`) in indirect speech after a historical main verb. In contrast, the statement parts use the accusative with infinitive (`se processurum [esse]`).
  3. §21.24.4nec stricturum ante gladium, si per Gallos liceat, quam in Italiam venisset — The conjunction `antequam` is split (tmesis) into `ante` and `quam`. The pluperfect subjunctive `venisset` represents a future perfect indicative (`venero` or `venerit`) of direct speech, shifted due to the rules of indirect discourse dependent on a past-tense verb.

Cite this passage

Livy, History of Rome §21.24.1-21.24.5. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:21.24.1-21.24.5

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