Humanitext Reader

Livy · History of Rome §3.7.1-3.7.8

Defeat of the Allies and Supplications at Rome

Passage 133 of 1770 · Latin

Summary

The enemy bypasses Rome to attack Tusculum, and the pursuing allied forces of the Hernici and Latins suffer defeat. Meanwhile, the epidemic continues to ravage Rome, prompting the senate to direct the populace to offer public supplications to the gods.

§3.7.1deserta omnia, sine capite, sine viribus, dii praesides ac fortuna urbis tutata est, quae Volscis Aequisque praedonum potius mentem quam hostium dedit; adeo enim nullam spem non potiundi modo, §3.7.2sed ne adeundi quidem Romana moenia animus eorum cepit, tectaque procul visa atque inminentes tumuli avertere mentes eorum, §3.7.3ut totis passim castris fremitu orto, quid in vasto ac deserto agro inter tabem pecorum hominumque desides sine praeda tempus tererent, cum integra loca, Tusculanum agrum opimum copiis, petere possent, signa repente convellerent transversisque itineribus per Labicanos agros in Tusculanos colles transirent.
All things, deserted, without a leader, without strength, the guardian gods and the fortune of the city protected, which gave to the Volsci and Aequi the mind of plunderers rather than of enemies; for to such a degree their mind conceived no hope, not only of gaining possession, but not even of approaching the Roman walls, and the houses seen from afar and the overhanging hills turned away their minds, so that, a murmur having arisen throughout the whole camp, [asking] why they were wasting time inactive without plunder in a wasted and deserted field amid the rot of cattle and men, when they could seek untouched places, the Tusculan territory rich in resources, they suddenly plucked up their standards and by cross-roads passed through the Labican fields into the Tusculan hills.
eo vis omnis tempestasque belli conversa est.
Thither all the force and tempest of war was turned.
interim Hernici Latinique, §3.7.4pudore etiam, non misericordia solum moti, si nec obstitissent communibus hostibus infesto agmine Romanam urbem petentibus nec opem ullam obsessis sociis ferrent, coniuncto exercitu Romam pergunt.
Meanwhile the Hernici and Latins, moved also by shame, not only by pity, [thinking] if they should neither oppose the common enemies seeking the Roman city with a hostile army, nor bring any aid to their besieged allies, with a united army they proceed to Rome.
§3.7.5ubi cum hostes non invenissent, secuti famam ac vestigia obvii fiunt descendentibus ab Tusculana in Albanam vallem.
Where, when they had not found the enemies, following rumor and tracks, they met those descending from the Tusculan into the Alban valley.
ibi haudquaquam aequo proelio pugnatum est, fidesque sua sociis parumn felix in praesentia fuit.
There by no means an equal battle was fought, and their loyalty was little successful for the allies for the present.
§3.7.6haud minor Romae fit morbo strages, quam quanta ferro sociorum facta erat.
Not less slaughter was made at Rome by disease than how great had been made of the allies by the sword.
consul, qui unus supererat, moritur; mortui et alii clari viri, M’.
The consul, who alone survived, dies; there died also other famous men, M'.
Valerius, T. Verginius Rutilus augures, Ser.
Valerius, T. Verginius Rutilus, augurs, Ser.
Sulpicius curio maximus; et per ignota capita late vagata est vis morbi.
Sulpicius, curio maximus; and through unknown heads the force of the disease spread widely.
§3.7.7inopsque senatus auxilii humani ad deos populum ac vota vertit: iussi cum coniugibus ac liberis supplicatum ire pacemque exposcere deum.
And the senate, destitute of human help, turned the people and vows to the gods: they were ordered to go to supplicate with their wives and children, and to implore the peace of the gods.
§3.7.8ad id, quod sua quemque mala cogebant, auctoritate publica evocati omnia delubra inplent.
In addition to that to which his own misfortunes were compelling each, summoned by public authority they fill all the shrines.
stratae passim matres crinibus templa verrentes veniam irarum caelestium finemque pesti exposcunt.
Prostrate everywhere, mothers, sweeping the temples with their hair, implore pardon for the heavenly wraths and an end to the pestilence.

Notes

  1. 3.7.1deserta omnia, sine capite, sine viribus, dii praesides ac fortuna urbis tutata est — The neuter plural accusative `deserta omnia` and its accompanying noun phrases serve as the direct object of the verb `tutata est`. Although the subject consists of both `dii praesides` (plural) and `fortuna` (singular), the verb `tutata est` is feminine singular, agreeing with the nearest subject `fortuna`.
  2. 3.7.2nullam spem non potiundi modo, sed ne adeundi quidem Romana moenia animus eorum cepit — The genitive gerunds `potiundi` and `adeundi` depend on `nullam spem` within the main clause `nullam spem... animus eorum cepit`. This sentence employs the construction `non... modo, sed ne... quidem` ('not only... but not even...'), with `Romana moenia` (neuter plural accusative) serving as the common direct object for both gerunds.
  3. 3.7.3quid in vasto ac deserto agro... desides sine praeda tempus tererent — This is an indirect question clause introduced by the idea of asking or complaining implied within the ablative absolute `fremitu orto` ('a murmur having arisen'). In accordance with the sequence of tenses, the subjunctive imperfect `tererent` is used.
  4. 3.7.4si nec obstitissent... nec... ferrent — This conditional clause explains the thought or motive behind `pudore` ('shame'), representing a condition in virtual indirect discourse after a past main narrative. Consequently, the subjunctive pluperfect `obstitissent` and imperfect `ferrent` are used.
  5. 3.7.8crinibus templa verrentes — This describes a Roman religious ritual of supplication in times of extreme crisis, in which women unbind their hair to sweep the temple floors and entreat the gods for mercy. `crinibus` is an ablative of instrument.

Cite this passage

Livy, History of Rome §3.7.1-3.7.8. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:3.7.1-3.7.8

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