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Livy · History of Rome §37.47.1-37.47.8

Return of Laelius, Thanksgiving, and Consular Elections

Passage 1372 of 1770 · Latin

Summary

The passage describes the return of consul Laelius for colony planning, the decree of thanksgiving for the victories in Asia, and the election of Fulvius and Manlius as new consuls after a fiercely contested election.

§37.47.1haud ita multo post, cum iam consularium comitiorum appeteret tempus,
Not so long after, when the time for the consular elections was already approaching, the consul C.
§37.47.2C. Laelius consul ex Gallia Romam rediit.
Laelius returned from Gaul to Rome.
is non solum ex facto absente se senatus consulto in supplementum Cremonae et Placentiae colonos scripsit, sed, ut novae coloniae duae in agrum, qui Boiorum fuisset, deducerentur, et rettulit et auctore eo patres censuerunt.
He not only enrolled colonists to reinforce Cremona and Placentia, in accordance with the decree of the senate passed during his absence, but also proposed that two new colonies should be established in the territory which had belonged to the Boii, and upon his recommendation the senators so decreed.
§37.47.3eodem tempore litterae L. Aemilii praetoris adlatae de navali pugna ad Myonnesum facta, et L. Scipionem consulem in Asiam exercitum traiecisse.
At the same time, letters from the praetor L. Aemilius were brought, concerning the naval battle fought at Myonnesus, and announcing that the consul L. Scipio had crossed with his army into Asia.
§37.47.4victoriae navalis ergo in diem unum supplicatio decreta est, in alterum diem, quod exercitus Romanus tum primum in Asia posuisset castra, ut ea res prospera et laeta eveniret.
Therefore, on account of the naval victory, a thanksgiving of one day was decreed; and for another day, because the Roman army had then for the first time pitched camp in Asia, that this event might turn out prosperous and happy.
§37.47.5vicenis maioribus hostiis in singulas supplicationes sacrificare consul est iussus.
The consul was ordered to sacrifice with twenty larger victims for each thanksgiving.
§37.47.6inde consularia comitia magna contentione habita.
After that, the consular elections were held with great contention.
M. Aemilius Lepidus petebat adversa omnium fama, quod provinciam Siciliam petendi causa non consulto senatu, ut sibi id facere liceret, reliquisset.
M. Aemilius Lepidus was a candidate under general disapproval, because, for the purpose of standing for office, he had left his province of Sicily without consulting the senate to ask whether he might be permitted to do so.
§37.47.7petebant cum eo M. Fulvius Nobilior Cn.
Standing with him were M. Fulvius Nobilior, Cn.
Manlius Vulso M. Valerius Messalla.
Manlius Vulso, and M. Valerius Messalla.
Fulvius consul unus creatur, cum ceteri centurias non explessent, isque postero die Cn.
Fulvius alone was elected consul, as the others had not filled the required number of centuries; and on the following day, having defeated Lepidus—for Messalla was far behind—he declared Cn.
Manlium Lepido deiecto — nam Messalla iacuit — collegam dixit.
Manlius as his colleague.
§37.47.8praetores exinde facti duo Q. Fabii, Labeo et Pictor — Pictor flamen Quirinalis eo anno inauguratus fuerat —, M. Sempronius Tuditanus Sp.
Next, the praetors elected were the two Q. Fabii, Labeo and Pictor—Pictor had been inaugurated as flamen Quirinalis in that year—, M. Sempronius Tuditanus, Sp.
Postumius Albinus L. Plautius Hypsaeus L. Baebius Dives.
Postumius Albinus, L. Plautius Hypsaeus, and L. Baebius Dives.

Notes

  1. 37.47.2ex facto absente se senatus consulto — The ablative absolute phrase `absente se` is nested between the preposition `ex` and its object `senatus consulto` (modified by `facto`). The reflexive pronoun `se` refers to the main subject, `C. Laelius`. It translates to 'in accordance with the decree of the senate passed during his absence.'
  2. 37.47.3et L. Scipionem consulem in Asiam exercitum traiecisse — In the main clause `litterae ... adlatae [sunt]`, the contents of the letters are expressed by two different constructions in parallel: the prepositional phrase `de navali pugna...` and the accusative with infinitive clause `L. Scipionem... traiecisse`. The infinitive clause represents the reported news brought by the letters.
  3. 37.47.6non consulto senatu, ut sibi id facere liceret — `non consulto senatu` is an ablative absolute meaning 'without consulting the senate.' The following `ut` clause functions as a noun clause explaining the content of the consultation (i.e., asking 'that he might be permitted to do so') which would normally be required by the verb `consulo`.
  4. 37.47.7cum ceteri centurias non explessent — `explessent` is a syncopated form of the pluperfect subjunctive `explevissent`. It refers to the electoral process in the Roman centuriate assembly, indicating that the other candidates failed to obtain the majority of centuries (97 centuries) required for election.

Cite this passage

Livy, History of Rome §37.47.1-37.47.8. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:37.47.1-37.47.8

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