Humanitext Reader

Livy · History of Rome §6.13.1-6.13.8

Defeat of the Volscians and Betrayal of the Allies

Passage 327 of 1770 · Latin

Summary

The Roman army overwhelmed the rashly attacking Volscian forces, achieving a great victory and capturing their camp through a coordinated pursuit by cavalry and infantry. The presence of leading Latin and Hernican youths among the captives revealed the official defection of these allied nations.

§6.13.1multitudo hostium, nulli rei praeterquam numero freta et oculis utramque metiens aciem, temere proelium iniit, temere omisit;
The multitude of the enemy, relying on nothing but their numbers and measuring both battle lines with their eyes, rashly entered the battle and rashly abandoned it.
§6.13.2clamore tantum missilibusque telis et primo pugnae impetu ferox gladios et conlatum pedem et vultum hostis ardore animi micantem ferre non potuit.
Fierce only in their shouting, their missile weapons, and the first charge of the battle, they could not bear the swords, the locked feet, and the face of the enemy flashing with the fire of their spirit.
§6.13.3inpulsa frons prima et trepidatio subsidiis inlata; et suum terrorem intulit eques; rupti inde multis locis ordines motaque omnia et fluctuanti similis acies erat.
The front line was pushed back and confusion was brought upon the reserves; and the cavalry brought their own terror; then the ranks were broken in many places, and everything was thrown into motion, and the battle line was like a fluctuating wave.
dein, postquam cadentibus primis iam ad se quisque perventuram caedem cernebat, terga vertunt.
Then, after each man saw that, as the foremost fell, the slaughter would soon reach himself, they turned their backs.
§6.13.4instare Romanus; et donec armati confertique abibant, peditum labor in persequendo fuit; postquam iactari arma passim fugaque per agros spargi aciem hostium animadversum est, tum equitum turmae emissae dato signo, ne in singulorum morando caede spatium ad evadendum interim multitudini darent: §6.13.5satis esse missilibus ac terrore inpediri cursum obequitandoque agmen teneri, dum adsequi pedes et iusta caede conficere hostem posset.
The Romans pressed on; and as long as they retreated armed and in close order, the labor of pursuing was that of the infantry; after it was noticed that weapons were being thrown away everywhere and the enemy's line was scattered in flight across the fields, then the squadrons of cavalry were sent out, a signal being given that they should not, by lingering over the slaughter of individuals, meanwhile give the multitude time to escape: [signaling] that it was enough for their flight to be impeded by missiles and terror, and for their column to be held in check by riding across their path, until the infantry could catch up and dispatch the enemy with a proper slaughter.
§6.13.6fugae sequendique non ante noctem finis fuit.
There was no end to the flight and pursuit before night.
capta quoque ac direpta eodem die castra Volscorum, praedaque omnis praeter libera corpora militi concessa est.
On the same day also, the camp of the Volscians was captured and plundered, and all the booty, except for the free persons, was given up to the soldiers.
§6.13.7pars maxima captivorum ex Latinis atque Hernicis fuit, nec hominum de plebe, ut credi posset mercede militasse, sed principes quidam iuventutis inventi, manifesta fides publica ope Volscos hostes adiutos.
The greatest part of the prisoners was from the Latins and Hernici, nor were they men of the common people, such as could be believed to have served for pay, but certain leading men of the youth were found—a manifest proof that the Volscian enemies had been aided by public assistance.
§6.13.8Cerceiensinm quoque quidam cogniti et coloni a Velitris; Romamque omnes missi percunctantibus primoribus patrum eadem, quae dictatori, defectionem sui quisque populi, haud perplexe indicavere.
Some of the Circeians were also recognized, and colonists from Velitrae; and all of them having been sent to Rome, when the leading men of the senators questioned them, they revealed, with no ambiguity, the same things as they had to the dictator—the defection of each of their peoples.

Notes

  1. 6.13.4instare Romanus — A combination of the historical infinitive `instare` (used in place of an imperfect indicative to express narrative urgency) with the collective singular noun `Romanus` ("the Romans") acting as its subject.
  2. 6.13.4ne in singulorum morando caede spatium ad evadendum interim multitudini darent — `morando` is the ablative of the gerund of the intransitive verb `moror` ("to delay, linger"), expressing means or cause ("by lingering"). It is embedded within the prepositional phrase `in caede` ("in the slaughter"). `singulorum` is a genitive modifying `caede` ("the slaughter of individuals").
  3. 6.13.5satis esse — An infinitive clause forming the main statement of indirect speech introduced by the implication of `dato signo` (a signal having been given). The subject of `esse` is the infinitive phrases `inpediri` ("to be impeded") and `teneri` ("to be held in check").
  4. 6.13.7fides publica ope Volscos hostes adiutos — An accusative with infinitive construction in apposition. `adiutos [esse]` is an infinitive clause standing in apposition to the noun `fides` ("proof, assurance"), meaning "a manifest proof that the Volscian enemies had been aided by public assistance."

Cite this passage

Livy, History of Rome §6.13.1-6.13.8. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:6.13.1-6.13.8

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