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Livy · History of Rome §34.50.1-34.50.11

Pledge to Return Roman Captives and Preparation to Depart

Passage 1217 of 1770 · Latin

Summary

The Greeks weep at Quinctius' paternal farewell speech and, as a token of gratitude, promise to seek out and return Roman citizens held in slavery. Following this, the Roman garrison withdraws from Acrocorinthus, and Quinctius prepares for the army's return to Italy.

§34.50.1has velut parentis voces cum audirent, manare omnibus gaudio lacrimae, adeo ut ipsum quoque confunderent dicentem.
When they heard these words, as if of a parent, tears of joy flowed from all, so much so that they confused even him as he spoke.
§34.50.2paulisper fremitus approbantium dicta fuit monentiumque aliorum alios, ut eas voces velut oraculo missas in pectora animosque demitterent.
For a short time there was a murmur of those approving his words and of those warning one another to let these words, sent as if by an oracle, sink into their hearts and minds.
§34.50.3silentio deinde facto petiit ab iis, ut civis Romanos, si qui apud eos in servitute essent, conquisitos intra duos menses mitterent ad se in Thessaliam; §34.50.4ne ipsis quidem honestum esse in liberata terra liberatores eius servire.
Then, silence having been made, he requested of them that they should search out and send to him in Thessaly within two months any Roman citizens who might be in servitude among them; for it was not honorable even for themselves that in a liberated land its liberators should be slaves.
omnes acclamarunt gratias se inter cetera etiam ob hoc agere, quod admoniti essent, ut tam pio, tam necessario officio fungerentur.
All cried out that they thanked him, among other things, also for this, that they had been reminded to perform so dutiful and so necessary an office.
§34.50.5ingens numerus erat bello Punico captorum, quos Hannibal cum ab suis non redimerentur, venum dederat.
There was a huge number of those captured in the Punic War, whom Hannibal, since they were not ransomed by their own people, had sold into slavery.
§34.50.6multitudinis eorum argumentum sit, quod Polybius scribit centum talentis eam rem Achaeis stetisse, cum quingenos denarios pretium in capita, quod redderetur dominis, statuissent. mille enim ducentos ea ratione Achaia habuit.
Let it be a proof of their multitude that Polybius writes that this matter cost the Achaeans one hundred talents, when they had fixed the price per head to be returned to the masters at five hundred denarii; for by that calculation Achaia had one thousand two hundred of them.
§34.50.7adice nunc pro portione, quot verisimile sit Graeciam totam habuisse.
Add now in proportion how many it is likely that the whole of Greece had.
§34.50.8nondum conventus dimissus erat, cum respiciunt praesidium ab Acrocorintho descendens protinus duci ad portam atque abire.
The assembly had not yet been dismissed when they looked back and saw the garrison descending from Acrocorinthus being led straight to the gate and departing.
§34.50.9quorum agmen imperator secutus prosequentibus cunctis, servatorem liberatoremque acclamantibus, salutatis dimissisque iis eadem, §34.50.10qua venerat, via Elatiam rediit.
The general followed their line, with everyone escorting him and acclaiming him as savior and liberator, and having greeted and dismissed them, he returned to Elatia by the same way he had come.
inde cum omnibus copiis Ap. Claudium legatum dimittit.
From there he sent away the lieutenant Appius Claudius with all the forces.
per Thessaliam atque Epirum ducere Oricum iubet atque se ibi opperiri; §34.50.11inde namque in animo esse exercitum in Italiam traicere.
He ordered him to lead them through Thessaly and Epirus to Oricum and to wait for him there; for it was his intention to cross the army into Italy from there.
et L. Quinctio fratri, legato et praefecto classis, scribit, ut onerarias ex omni Graeciae ora eodem contraheret.
He also wrote to his brother Lucius Quinctius, lieutenant and commander of the fleet, to collect transport ships from the entire coast of Greece to the same place.

Notes

  1. 34.50.1manare — Historical infinitive, equivalent to the imperfect indicative (manabant), used to vividly describe the sudden flow of tears.
  2. 34.50.1confunderent — Subjunctive imperfect in a clause of result introduced by ut. The subject is lacrimae (tears), and dicentem is a present participle modifying the accusative ipsum (the speaking Quinctius).
  3. 34.50.2monentiumque aliorum alios — The genitive participle monentium modifies fremitus along with approbantium. The phrase aliorum alios represents a reciprocal relationship ('some warning others') and governs the ut clause.
  4. 34.50.4ne ipsis quidem honestum esse — Accusative and infinitive construction in indirect speech representing the reason for the request (petiit). The infinitive phrase liberatores eius servire (for its liberators to serve) acts as the subject, with honestum as the predicate adjective.
  5. 34.50.6centum talentis eam rem Achaeis stetisse — The verb stare is used with an ablative of price (centum talentis) and a dative of interest (Achaeis) to mean 'to cost.'
  6. 34.50.8nondum conventus dimissus erat, cum respiciunt — An instance of cum inversum (inverted cum) construction, where the main clause is in the pluperfect (dimissus erat) and the cum clause uses the indicative present (historical present respiciunt) to express a sudden and unexpected occurrence.

Cite this passage

Livy, History of Rome §34.50.1-34.50.11. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:34.50.1-34.50.11

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