Humanitext Reader

Livy · History of Rome §35.34.1-35.34.12

Aetolian Plots and Diocles's Seizure of Demetrias

Passage 1263 of 1770 · Latin

Summary

After the departure of the Roman envoys, the Aetolians plot to seize Demetrias, Chalcis, and Lacedaemon to overthrow the pro-Roman factions. Diocles leads his cavalry into Demetrias under the pretext of restoring the exile Eurylochus, assassinates the opposing leaders, and successfully captures the city.

§35.34.1Quinctius legatique Corinthum redierunt.
Quinctius and the envoys returned to Corinth.
inde, ut quaeque de Antiocho ** nihil per se ipsi moti et sedentes expectare adventum viderentur regis, §35.34.2concilium quidem universae gentis post dimissos Romanos non habuerunt, per apocletos autem — ita vocant sanctius consilium; ex delectis constat viris — id agitabant, quonam modo in Graecia res novarentur.
From there, so that they might seem to be doing nothing of themselves and merely sitting and waiting for the king's arrival, indeed, after the Romans were dismissed, they did not hold an assembly of the entire nation, but through the 'apocleti'—so they call the more sacred council; it consists of chosen men—they discussed this, how affairs might be revolutionized in Greece.
§35.34.3inter omnis constabat in civitatibus principes et optimum quemque Romanae societatis esse et praesenti statu gaudere, multitudinem et quorum res non ex sententia ipsorum essent omnia novare velle.
It was clear to all that in the states the leading men and all the best citizens were supporters of the Roman alliance and rejoiced in the present state of affairs, while the multitude and those whose affairs were not to their liking wished to revolutionize everything.
§35.34.4Aetoli consilium cum rei, tum spei quoque non audacis modo sed etiam impudentis ceperunt, Demetriadem Chalcidem Lacedaemonem occupandi.
The Aetolians formed a plan, not only bold but even shameless, both in its execution and in its expectation, of seizing Demetrias, Chalcis, and Lacedaemon.
§35.34.5singuli in singulas principes missi sunt, Thoas Chalcidem, Alexamenus Lacedaemonem, Diocles Demetriadem.
Individual leading men were sent to individual cities: Thoas to Chalcis, Alexamenus to Lacedaemon, Diocles to Demetrias.
§35.34.6hunc exul Eurylochus, de cuius fuga causaque fugae ante dictum est, quia reditus in patriam nulla alia erat spes, adiuvit.
The exile Eurylochus, of whose flight and the cause of his flight mention has been made before, assisted him, because there was no other hope of return to his country.
§35.34.7litteris Eurylochi admoniti propinqui amicique et qui eiusdem factionis erant liberos et coniugem eius cum sordida veste, tenentes velamenta supplicum, in contionem frequentem acciverunt singulos universosque obtestantes, ne insontem indemnatum consenescere in exilio sinerent.
Admonished by letters from Eurylochus, his relatives and friends and those who were of the same faction summoned his children and wife, clad in mean attire and holding the badges of suppliants, into a crowded assembly, imploring individuals and the whole body not to suffer an innocent and uncondemned man to grow old in exile.
§35.34.8et simplices homines misericordia et improbos seditiososque immiscendi res tumultu Aetolico spes movit.
And indeed, simple men were moved by pity, and the wicked and seditious by the hope of throwing affairs into confusion through an Aetolian tumult.
ita pro se quisque revocari iubebant.
Thus, each on his own part, they ordered him to be recalled.
§35.34.9his praeparatis Diocles cum omni equitatu — et erat tum praefectus equitum — specie reducentis exulem hospitem profectus, die ac nocte ingens iter emensus, cum milia sex ab urbe abesset, prima luce tribus electis turmis, cetera multitudine equitum subsequi iussa, praecessit.
These preparations having been made, Diocles with all the cavalry—and he was then prefect of the cavalry—set out under the pretext of bringing back an exiled guest, and having measured a vast journey day and night, when he was six miles distant from the city, at dawn he went ahead with three chosen squadrons, ordering the rest of the multitude of cavalry to follow close behind.
§35.34.10postquam portae appropinquabat, desilire omnes ex equis iussit et loris ducere equos itineris maxime modo solutis ordinibus, ut comitatus magis praefecti videretur quam praesidium.
After he approached the gate, he ordered all to dismount from their horses and to lead the horses by their reins, with their ranks loose, very much in the manner of travellers, so that it might look more like a prefect's retinue than a garrison.
§35.34.11ibi una ex turmis ad portam relicta, ne excludi subsequens equitatus posset, media urbe ac per forum manu Eurylochum tenens multis occurrentibus gratulantibusque domum deduxit.
There, one of the squadrons having been left at the gate so that the following cavalry might not be shut out, he led Eurylochus home through the middle of the city and through the forum, holding him by the hand, while many ran to meet them and congratulate them.
§35.34.12mox equitum plena urbs erat, et loca opportuna occupabantur; tum in domos missi, qui principes adversae factionis interficerent.
Soon the city was full of cavalry, and advantageous positions were seized; then men were sent into the houses to kill the leading men of the opposing faction.
ita Demetrias Aetolorum facta est.
Thus Demetrias became the property of the Aetolians.

Notes

  1. §35.34.1ut quaeque de Antiocho ** nihil per se ipsi moti — Although there is a lacuna (**) in the text, the subject of this clause is the Aetolians, and 'ut' is interpreted as a conjunction of purpose ('in order that they might seem...') or concession. It explains their political camouflage of appearing inactive while waiting for the king.
  2. §35.34.3inter omnis constabat — The impersonal verb 'constabat' (it was clear) takes two accusative and infinitive clauses in parallel as its subject: 'principes... esse et... gaudere' and 'multitudinem... velle'. 'optimum quemque' is an idiomatic expression combining the superlative with 'quisque', meaning 'all the best citizens'.
  3. §35.34.4consilium ... occupandi — The genitive gerund 'occupandi' modifies the noun 'consilium', separated by a long modifying phrase ('cum rei, tum spei...'). 'Demetriadem Chalcidem Lacedaemonem' are the accusative objects of 'occupandi'. 'cum... tum...' means 'not only... but also...', where the adjectives 'audacis' and 'impudentis' qualify 'rei' and 'spei' respectively.

Cite this passage

Livy, History of Rome §35.34.1-35.34.12. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:35.34.1-35.34.12

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.