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Livy · History of Rome §37.22.1-37.22.5

Preparations for the Crossing and Fleet Deployment

Passage 1347 of 1770 · Latin

Summary

Eumenes is sent home to prepare for the Roman crossing of the Hellespont, while the Roman and Rhodian fleets prepare to counter the approaching Syrian fleet, uniting their forces at Phaselis.

§37.22.1inde placuit Eumenen domum dimitti et praeparare consuli atque exercitui, quae ad transitum Hellesponti opus essent, Romanam Rhodiamque classem redire Samum atque ibi in statione esse, ne Polyxenidas ab Epheso moveret.
Then it was decided that Eumenes should be sent home and prepare for the consul and the army what was necessary for the crossing of the Hellespont, and that the Roman and Rhodian fleet should return to Samos and there be on guard, lest Polyxenidas should move from Ephesus.
rex Elaeam, Romani ac Rhodii Samum redierunt.
The king returned to Elaea, the Romans and Rhodians to Samos.
§37.22.2ibi M. Aemilius frater praetoris decessit.
There Marcus Aemilius, the brother of the praetor, died.
Rhodii celebratis exsequiis adversus classem, quam fama erat ex Syria venire, tredecim suis navibus et una Coa quinqueremi, altera Cnidia Rhodum, ut ibi in statione essent, profecti sunt.
The Rhodians, having performed the funeral rites, set out for Rhodes with thirteen of their own ships, one quinquereme of Cos, and another of Cnidus, in order to be on guard there against the fleet which rumor said was coming from Syria.
§37.22.3biduo ante, quam Eudamus cum classe ab Samo veniret, tredecim ab Rhodo naves cum Pamphilida praefecto adversus eandem Syriacam classem missae adsumptis quattuor navibus, quae Cariae praesidio erant, oppugnantibus regiis Daedala et quaedam alia Peraeae castella obsidione exemerunt.
Two days before Eudamus arrived with the fleet from Samos, thirteen ships sent from Rhodes under the commander Pamphilidas against the same Syrian fleet, having taken on four ships which were guarding Caria, relieved Daedala and certain other fortresses of Peraea from siege while the king's forces were attacking.
Eudamum confestim exire placuit.
It was decided that Eudamus should set out immediately.
§37.22.4additae huic quoque sunt ad eam classem, quam habebat, sex apertae naves.
To him also, in addition to the fleet which he had, six open ships were added.
§37.22.5profectus cum, quantum accelerare poterat, maturasset, ad portum, quem Megisten vocant, praegressos consequitur.
Having set out, when he had hastened as much as he could accelerate, he overtook those who had gone ahead at the harbor which they call Megiste.
inde uno agmine Phaselidem cum venissent, optimum visum est ibi hostem opperiri.
When they had come from there in a single column to Phaselis, it seemed best to wait for the enemy there.

Notes

  1. 37.22.1Eumenen — Part of the accusative with infinitive (A.c.I.) construction acting as the subject of the impersonal verb 'placuit'. 'Eumenen' (accusative) serves as the common logical subject for both 'dimitti' (passive infinitive) and 'praeparare' (active infinitive).
  2. 37.22.3oppugnantibus regiis — An ablative absolute construction with the present participle of 'regii' (the king's men/forces), used substantively. It describes the ongoing action of the enemy's attack at the moment the Rhodians relieved the siege.
  3. 37.22.5praegressos — The perfect participle used substantively in the accusative, referring to the Rhodian fleet under Pamphilidas that had departed earlier. It acts as the direct object of the historical present verb 'consequitur'.

Cite this passage

Livy, History of Rome §37.22.1-37.22.5. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:37.22.1-37.22.5

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