Humanitext Reader

Livy · History of Rome §36.8.1-36.8.6

Antiochus Buries the Macedonian Dead and Provokes Philip

Passage 1288 of 1770 · Latin

Summary

King Antiochus fails to execute Hannibal's strategic advice and makes a tactical blunder by gathering Macedonian bones, which outrages King Philippus of Macedon and drives him to ally with the Romans.

§36.8.1haec ferme Hannibalis oratio fuit; quam laudarunt magis in praesentia, qui aderant, quam rebus ipsis exsecuti sunt; nihil enim eorum factum est, nisi quod ad classem copiasque accersendas ex Asia Polyxenidam misit.
This was roughly the speech of Hannibal; which those who were present praised more at the moment than they followed it up in actual deeds; for none of those things was done, except that he sent Polyxenidas from Asia to summon the fleet and forces.
§36.8.2legati Larisam ad concilium Thessalorum sunt missi, et Aetolis Amynandroque dies ad conveniendum exercitui Pheras est dictus; eodem et rex cum suis copiis confestim venit.
Envoys were sent to Larisa to the council of the Thessalians, and a day was appointed for the Aetolians and Amynander for their army to assemble at Pherae; the king also came there immediately with his forces.
§36.8.3ubi dum opperitur Amynandrum atque Aetolos, Philippum Megalopolitanum cum duobus milibus hominum ad legenda ossa Macedonum circa Cynoscephalas, ubi debellatum erat cum Philippo, §36.8.4misit, sive ab ipso, quaerente sibi commendationem ad Macedonum gentem et invidiam regi, quod insepultos milites reliquisset, monitus, sive ab insita regibus vanitate ad consilium specie amplum, §36.8.5re inane animo adiecto.
While he was waiting there for Amynander and the Aetolians, he sent Philippus of Megalopolis with two thousand men to gather the bones of the Macedonians around Cynoscephalae, where the war with Philippus had been decided, whether advised by Philippus himself, who was seeking recommendation for himself to the Macedonian nation and ill-will toward the king for having left the soldiers unburied, or led by the vanity inherent in kings toward a plan grand in appearance but empty in reality.
tumulus est in unum ossibus, quae passim strata erant, coacervatis factus, qui nullam gratiam ad Macedonas, odium ingens ad Philippum movit.
A mound was made with the bones, which had been scattered everywhere, piled into one; this moved no gratitude toward the Macedonians, but a huge hatred toward Philippus.
§36.8.6itaque qui ad id tempus fortunam esset habiturus in consilio, is extemplo ad M. Baebium propraetorem misit, Antiochum in Thessaliam impetum fecisse;
Therefore, he who up to that time was intending to keep fortune in his consideration, immediately sent to the propraetor M.
si videretur ei, moveret ex hibernis; se obviam processurum, ut, quid agendum esset, consultarent.
Baebius, stating that Antiochus had made an incursion into Thessaly; if it seemed good to him, he should move from winter quarters; he himself would go to meet him so that they might consult what had to be done.

Notes

  1. §36.8.4animo adiecto — An ablative absolute meaning 'with his mind having been directed [to it]'. It functions in parallel with the preceding past participle `monitus` ('having been advised'), explaining the two alternative motivations of the king: either because he was advised by Philippus himself (`sive ab ipso... monitus`) or due to the vanity inherent in kings, with his mind being drawn to the plan (`sive ab... vanitate... animo adiecto`).
  2. §36.8.6qui ad id tempus fortunam esset habiturus in consilio — A relative clause with a subjunctive (future active participle + `esset`). Referring to the demonstrative pronoun `is` (King Philippus of Macedon), it means 'who up to that time was intending to keep fortune in his consideration', indicating that he had been waiting to see which side fortune would favor before making his decision.
  3. §36.8.6moveret ex hibernis — The subjunctive imperfect `moveret` represents an exhortation or command in indirect speech (corresponding to an imperative or jussive subjunctive in direct speech). The subject is `M. Baebius`, meaning '[that Baebius] should move from winter quarters'.

Cite this passage

Livy, History of Rome §36.8.1-36.8.6. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:36.8.1-36.8.6

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