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Livy · History of Rome §42.35.1-42.35.7

Appointment of Ligustinus and War Preparations

Passage 1625 of 1770 · Latin

Summary

Following Ligustinus' speech, the consul Licinius praised him and awarded him the post of chief centurion, leading other protesters to submit to the draft. Preparation for war continued with additional troop mobilization, the Latin Festival, and the dispatch of envoys.

§42.35.1haec ubi dixit, conlaudatum multis verbis P. Licinius consul ex contione in senatum duxit.
When he had said this, the consul Publius Licinius, having praised him with many words, led him from the assembly into the senate.
§42.35.2ibi quoque ei ex auctoritate senatus gratiae actae, tribunique militares in legione prima primum pilum virtutis causa ei adsignarunt.
There also, thanks were returned to him by the authority of the senate, and the military tribunes assigned him the post of chief centurion in the first legion on account of his bravery.
ceteri centuriones remissa appellatione ad dilectum oboedienter responderunt.
The other centurions, having withdrawn their appeal, obediently answered to the enlistment.
§42.35.3quo maturius in provincias magistratus proficiscerentur, Latinae kalendis Iuniis fuere; eoque sollemni perfecto C. Lucretius praetor omnibus, quae ad classem opus erant, praemissis Brundisium est profectus.
In order that the magistrates might set out for their provinces more speedily, the Latin Festival was held on the calends of June; and when this solemnity was completed, the praetor Gaius Lucretius, having sent forward everything that was necessary for the fleet, set out for Brundisium.
§42.35.4praeter eos exercitus, quos consules comparabant, C. Sulpicio Galbae praetori negotium datum, ut quattuor legiones scriberet urbanas, iusto numero peditum equitumque, iisque quattuor tribunos militum ex senatu legeret, qui praeessent; §42.35.5sociis Latini nominis imperaret quindecim milia peditum, mille et ducentos equites; is exercitus uti paratus esset, quo senatus censuisset.
In addition to those armies which the consuls were preparing, the praetor Gaius Sulpicius Galba was given the task of enrolling four city legions with the regular number of infantry and cavalry, and of choosing from the senate four military tribunes to command them; and of demanding from the allies of the Latin name fifteen thousand infantry and twelve hundred cavalry, so that this army should be ready wherever the senate should determine.
§42.35.6P. Licinio consuli ad exercitum civilem socialemque petenti addita auxilia, Ligurum duo milia, Cretenses sagittarii — incertus numerus, quantum rogati Cretenses misissent —, Numidae item equites elephantique.
To the consul Publius Licinius, who requested them for his army of citizens and allies, auxiliary forces were added: two thousand Ligurians, Cretan archers—the number being uncertain, as many as the Cretans when requested had sent—and likewise Numidian cavalry and elephants.
§42.35.7in eam rem legati ad Masinissam Carthaginiensesque missi L. Postumius Albinus Q. Terentius Culleo C. Aburius.
For this purpose, envoys were sent to Masinissa and the Carthaginienses: Lucius Postumius Albinus, Quintus Terentius Culleo, and Gaius Aburius.
in Cretam item legatos tres ire placuit, A. Postumium Albinum C. Decimium A. Licinium Nervam.
It was likewise decided that three envoys should go to Crete: Aulus Postumius Albinus, Gaius Decimius, and Aulus Licinius Nerva.

Notes

  1. 42.35.1conlaudatum — The perfect passive participle `conlaudatum` (accusative singular masculine) functions as the direct object of `duxit`, agreeing with an implied pronoun (`eum`) referring to Sp. Ligustinus. It indicates that the consul first praised him and then led him.
  2. 42.35.3quo maturius ... proficiscerentur — In a clause of purpose, when a comparative (`maturius`) is present, `quo` (originally an ablative of means) is regularly used instead of `ut`.
  3. 42.35.4ut quattuor legiones scriberet — This `ut`-clause with the imperfect subjunctive `scriberet` explains the content of `negotium` (the task), which is the subject of the impersonal passive `datum [est]`. The verb `imperaret` in §42.35.5 is also coordinated with this clause, with `ut` omitted.
  4. 42.35.6incertus numerus — `incertus numerus` is a nominative in apposition to `Cretenses sagittarii`, functioning parenthetically. `quantum` is a relative pronoun with an implied antecedent `tantum`; the subjunctive `misissent` is used in a subordinate clause within indirect discourse or a restrictive relative clause.

Cite this passage

Livy, History of Rome §42.35.1-42.35.7. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:42.35.1-42.35.7

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