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Livy · History of Rome §4.23.1-4.23.6

Conflicting Records and Mamercus Aemilius Named Dictator

Passage 221 of 1770 · Latin

Summary

After noting the discrepancy among historians regarding the consuls and military tribunes, the text describes how Rome appointed Mamercus Aemilius as dictator again to prepare for the rising threat from all Etruria following the fall of Fidenae.

§4.23.1eosdem consules insequenti anno refectos Iulium tertium, Verginium iterum apud Macrum Licinium invenio; §4.23.2Valerius Antias atque Tubero M. Manlium et Q. Sulpicium consules in eum annum edunt.
I find in Licinius Macer that the same consuls were re-elected for the following year, Julius for the third time and Virginius for the second; Valerius Antias and Tubero record M. Manlius and Q. Sulpicius as consuls for that year.
ceterum in tam discrepanti editione et Tubero et Macer libros linteos auctores profitentur; neuter tribunos militum eo anno fuisse traditum ab scriptoribus antiquis dissimulat.
However, in such a discrepant record, both Tubero and Macer declare the linen books to be their authority; neither conceals the fact that it was handed down by ancient writers that there were military tribunes in that year.
§4.23.3Licinio libros haud dubie sequi linteos placet; Tubero incertus veri est.
Licinius undoubtedly prefers to follow the linen books; Tubero is uncertain of the truth.
sit inter cetera vetustate cooperta hoc quoque in incerto positum.
Let this also be placed among the uncertainties, like other things buried in antiquity.
§4.23.4trepidatum in Etruria est post Fidenas captas non Veientibus solum exterritis metu similis excidii, sed etiam Faliscis memoria initi primo cum iis belli, quamquam rebellantibus non adfuerant.
There was alarm in Etruria after the capture of Fidenae, not only because the Veientes were terrified by the fear of a similar destruction, but also because the Falisci were moved by the memory of the war they had originally started with them, although they had not assisted them in their rebellion.
§4.23.5igitur cum duae civitates legatis circa duodecim populos missis inpetrassent, ut ad Voltumnae fanum indiceretur omni Etruriae concilium, velut magno inde tumultu inminente senatus Mam. Aemilium dictatorem iterum dici iussit.
Therefore, when the two states, having sent envoys to the twelve peoples, had obtained that a council of all Etruria should be proclaimed at the temple of Voltumna, the senate, as if a great war were imminent from there, ordered Mamercus Aemilius to be named dictator again.
§4.23.6ab eo A. Postumius Tubertus magister equitum est dictus; bellumque tanto maiore quam proxime conatu apparatum est, quanto plus erat ab omni Etruria periculi, quam ab duobus populis fuerat.
By him A. Postumius Tubertus was named master of the horse; and the war was prepared for with an effort as much greater than the last time as the danger from all Etruria was greater than it had been from the two peoples.

Notes

  1. 4.23.2neuter tribunos militum eo anno fuisse traditum ab scriptoribus antiquis dissimulat — The main verb `dissimulat` (to conceal/deny) takes the negative pronoun `neuter` (neither) as its subject, creating a double negation ("neither denies"). Its object is the infinitive clause `traditum [esse]` (that it is handed down), which in turn governs another accusative with infinitive clause `tribunos militum eo anno fuisse` (that there were military tribunes in that year).
  2. 4.23.4non Veientibus solum exterritis metu similis excidii, sed etiam Faliscis memoria... — `Veientibus exterritis` and `Faliscis...` (with `exterritis` or `motis` understood) are ablatives absolute, explaining the cause or background of the impersonal passive main clause `trepidatum ... est` (there was alarm).
  3. 4.23.6tanto maiore quam proxime conatu apparatum est, quanto plus erat ab omni Etruria periculi — A correlative construction using `tanto ... quanto ...` to express the degree of difference (ablative of measure of difference). It translates literally as "by how much greater the danger was from all Etruria, by so much greater was the preparation made."

Cite this passage

Livy, History of Rome §4.23.1-4.23.6. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:4.23.1-4.23.6

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