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Livy · History of Rome §6.32.1-6.32.11

Resurgence of Debt and Victory at Satricum

Passage 346 of 1770 · Latin

Summary

With the external threat gone, the debt issue intensifies again domestically, leading the patricians to monopolize the military tribuneship and enforce a levy. The Romans then defeat the combined Latin and Volscian forces near Satricum, driving them back to Antium.

§6.32.1Parvo intervallo ad respirandum debitoribus dato, postquam quietae res ab hostibus erant, celebrari de integro iuris dictio, et tantum abesse spes veteris levandi faenoris, ut tributo novum faenus contraheretur in murum a censoribus locatum saxo quadrato faciundum.
A short interval for breathing having been granted to the debtors, after matters were quiet on the side of the enemy, the administration of justice was resumed anew; and so far was there any hope of lightening the old debt, that a new debt was contracted by means of a tribute for a wall contracted by the censors to be built of squared stone.
§6.32.2cui succumbere oneri coacta plebes, quia quem dilectum inpedirent non habebant tribuni plebis.
Under which burden the plebs were compelled to sink, because the tribunes of the plebs had no levy which they could obstruct.
§6.32.3tribunos etiam militares patricios omnes coacta principum opibus fecit: L. Aemilium, P. Valerium quartum, C. Veturium, Ser. Sulpicium, L. et C. Quinctios Cincinnatos.
They also made all the military tribunes from the patricians, being compelled by the resources of the leading men: Lucius Aemilius, Publius Valerius for the fourth time, Gaius Veturius, Servius Sulpicius, and Lucius and Gaius Quinctius Cincinnatus.
§6.32.4iisdem opibus obtinuere, ut adversus Latinos Volscosque, qui coniunctis legionibus ad Satricum castra habebant, §6.32.5nullo inpediente omnibus iunioribus sacramento adactis tres exercitus scriberent, unum ad praesidium urbis, alterum, qui, si qui alibi motus extitisset, ad subita belli mitti posset; tertium longe validissimum P. Valerius et L. Aemilius ad Satricum duxere.
By the same resources they obtained that, against the Latins and Volscians, who had their camp near Satricum with united legions, with no one obstructing and all the younger men being bound by oath, they should enroll three armies: one for the protection of the city, another which, if any movement should arise elsewhere, could be sent to sudden emergencies of war; the third, by far the strongest, Publius Valerius and Lucius Aemilius led to Satricum.
§6.32.6ubi cum aciem instructam hostium loco aequo invenissent, extemplo pugnatum; et ut nondum satis certam victoriam, sic prosperae spei pugnam imber ingentibus procellis fusus diremit.
Where, when they had found the enemy's line drawn up on favorable ground, battle was immediately joined; and though the victory was not yet sufficiently certain, a heavy rain poured down with violent storms and broke off a battle of prosperous hope.
§6.32.7postero die iterata pugna; et aliquamdiu aequa virtute fortunaque Latinae maxime legiones, longa societate militiam Romanam edoctae, restabant.
On the following day the battle was renewed; and for some time, with equal courage and fortune, the Latin legions especially, who had been taught Roman warfare by long alliance, held their ground.
§6.32.8eques inmissus ordines turbavit, turbatis signa peditum inlata, quantumque Romana se invexit acies, tantum hostes gradu demoti;
The cavalry being sent in threw the ranks into confusion; upon those in confusion the standards of the infantry were brought, and by as much as the Roman line advanced, by so much were the enemy driven from their ground.
§6.32.9et, ut semel inclinavit pugna, iam intolerabilis Romana vis erat.
And, when once the battle gave way, the Roman power was now irresistible.
fusi hostes cum Satricum, quod duo milia inde aberat, non castra peterent, ab equite maxime caesi; castra capta direptaque.
The routed enemy, since they sought Satricum, which was two miles distant from there, and not their camp, were cut down chiefly by the cavalry; the camp was taken and plundered.
ab Satrico nocte, §6.32.10quae proelio proxima fuit, fugae simili agmine petunt Antium; et cum Romanus exercitus prope vestigiis sequeretur, plus tamen timor quam ira celeritatis habuit.
From Satricum by night, which was next after the battle, they directed their course to Antium in a body resembling a flight; and though the Roman army followed close on their heels, yet fear possessed more speed than anger.
prius itaque moenia intravere hostes, quam Romanus extrema agminis carpere aut morari posset.
And so, the enemy entered the walls before the Roman could harass or delay the rear of their column.
§6.32.11inde aliquot dies vastando agro absumpti, nec Romanis satis instructis apparatu bellico ad moenia adgredienda nec illis ad subeundum pugnae casum.
Thence some days were spent in devastating the country, as neither were the Romans sufficiently furnished with military preparation for attacking the walls, nor those for undergoing the hazard of a battle.

Notes

  1. §6.32.1tantum abesse spes veteris levandi faenoris, ut tributo novum faenus contraheretur — A variation of the 'tantum abest ut... ut...' construction in the historical infinitive ('abesse'). 'spes' (hope) is the subject of 'abesse', and 'levandi' is a gerundive agreeing with 'faenoris'. The 'ut' clause expresses result, indicating that so far was there any hope of lightening the old debt, that a new one was contracted due to the tribute for the construction of the wall.
  2. §6.32.2quia quem dilectum inpedirent non habebant tribuni plebis — The word 'quem' is an interrogative/relative adjective modifying 'dilectum'. The subjunctive 'inpedirent' (imperfect) is used in a relative clause of characteristic (or purpose), or an indirect question. It explains that the tribunes of the plebs had no ongoing levy at that moment which they could obstruct as a countermeasure against the patricians.
  3. §6.32.7militiam Romanam edoctae — The perfect passive participle 'edoctae' modifies 'legiones'. With verbs of teaching like 'doceo' which take a double accusative, when put into the passive, the thing taught ('militiam Romanam') remains in the accusative (retained accusative).
  4. §6.32.11nec Romanis satis instructis apparatu bellico ad moenia adgredienda nec illis ad subeundum pugnae casum — Interpreted as a dative of possession ('Romanis... illis...') with the omission of the verb 'erat' or 'esset'. Both 'ad moenia adgredienda' and 'ad subeundum pugnae casum' are gerundive constructions expressing purpose. This explains the symmetrical reasons: the Romans had no sufficient preparation to attack the walls, and the enemy had no willingness to face the hazard of battle.

Cite this passage

Livy, History of Rome §6.32.1-6.32.11. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:6.32.1-6.32.11

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