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Livy · History of Rome §42.53.1-42.53.9

March of Perseus and Surrender of Perrhaebian Towns

Passage 1643 of 1770 · Latin

Summary

King Perseus finishes his speech amid enthusiastic cheers, declines material aid from Macedonian states except for transport wagons, and begins his march, securing the surrender of several towns along his route, including the Perrhaebian Tripolis and Cyretiae.

§42.53.1cum per omnem orationem satis frequenti adsensu succlamatum esset, tum vero ea vociferatio simul indignantium minitantiumque, partim iubentium bonum animum habere regem, exorta est, ut finem dicendi faceret, tantum iussis ad iter se parare; §42.53.2iam enim dici movere castra ab Nymphaeo Romanos.
While there had been shouting of approval with quite frequent assent throughout the entire speech, then indeed such an outcry arose, at once of those showing indignation and threatening, and partly of those bidding the king to be of good courage, that he made an end of speaking, having only ordered them to prepare for the march; for it was already said that the Romans were moving camp from Nymphaeum.
contione dimissa ad audiendas legationes civitatium Macedoniae se contulit.
Having dismissed the assembly, he betook himself to hearing the embassies of the states of Macedonia.
§42.53.3venerant autem ad pecunias pro facultatibus quaeque suis et frumentum pollicendum ad bellum.
Moreover, they had come to promise money, each according to their means, and grain for the war.
§42.53.4omnibus gratiae actae, remissum omnibus; satis regios apparatus ad ea dictum sufficere.
Thanks were returned to all, and the contribution was remitted to all; it was declared that the royal preparations were sufficient for those things.
vehicula tantum imperata, ut tormenta telorumque missilium ingentem vim praeparatam bellicumque aliud instrumentum veherent.
Only wagons were requisitioned, to carry the artillery and the huge quantity of prepared missile weapons and other military equipment.
§42.53.5profectus inde toto exercitu, Eordaeam petens, ad Begorritim, quem vocant, lacum positis castris, postero die in Elimeam ad Haliacmona fluvium processit.
Setting out from there with his whole army, seeking Eordaea, he pitched camp near the lake which they call Begorritis, and on the next day advanced into Elimea to the river Haliacmon.
§42.53.6deinde saltu angusto superatis montibus, quos Cambunios vocant, descendit ad Azorum, Pythoum, Dolichen: §42.53.7Tripolim vocant incolentes.
Then, having crossed the mountains which they call Cambunii by a narrow pass, he descended to Azorus, Pythoum, and Doliche: the inhabitants call [these] Tripolis.
haec tria oppida paulisper cunctati, quia obsides Larisaeis dederant, victi tamen praesenti metu in deditionem concesserunt.
These three towns, having hesitated for a short time because they had given hostages to the Larisaeans, yet overcome by immediate fear, surrendered.
§42.53.8benigne his appellatis, haud dubius Perrhaebos quoque idem facturos, urbem nihil cunctatis, qui incolebant, primo adventu recipit.
Having addressed these kindly, not doubting that the Perrhaebians also would do the same, he received the city at his first arrival, those who inhabited it not hesitating at all.
§42.53.9Cyretias oppugnare coactus primo die acri concursu ad portas armatorum est repulsus; postero die omnibus copiis adortus in deditionem omnes ante noctem accepit.
Forced to attack Cyretiae, on the first day he was repulsed by a fierce clash of armed men at the gates; on the following day, having attacked with all his forces, he received them all in surrender before nightfall.

Notes

  1. 42.53.1cum per omnem orationem satis frequenti adsensu succlamatum esset, tum vero — The correlation between the temporal-concessive `cum`-clause (containing the impersonal passive `succlamatum esset`) and `tum vero` ('then indeed'), which introduces the main event (`exorta est`) with heightened emphasis.
  2. 42.53.1tantum iussis — The word `iussis` can be interpreted either as the ablative plural of the noun `iussum` ('only with orders having been given') or as the perfect passive participle of `iubeo` in the ablative absolute ('only having ordered [them]').
  3. 42.53.3ad pecunias pro facultatibus quaeque suis et frumentum pollicendum — In this purpose construction with `ad`, the gerundive `pollicendum` agrees in gender and number with the nearest noun `frumentum` (neuter singular), but semantically governs both `pecunias` and `frumentum` ('to promise money... and grain') by zeugma.
  4. 42.53.7haec tria oppida paulisper cunctati ... victi — The masculine plural participles `cunctati` and `victi` are used with the neuter plural noun `oppida` ('towns') by *constructio ad sensum* (construction according to sense), referring to the inhabitants of those towns.
  5. 42.53.8nihil cunctatis, qui incolebant — An ablative absolute construction where the perfect participle `cunctatis` agrees with the implied subject of the relative clause `qui incolebant` ('with those who inhabited [it] not hesitating at all'), without an explicit antecedent.

Cite this passage

Livy, History of Rome §42.53.1-42.53.9. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:42.53.1-42.53.9

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