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Livy · History of Rome §7.42.1-7.42.8

The Genucian Laws and Alternative Accounts of the Mutiny

Passage 398 of 1770 · Latin

Summary

Livy mentions plebiscites proposed by the tribune Genucius, such as the prohibition of interest and restrictions on holding offices, and presents an alternative annalistic account claiming that no dictator was appointed and the mutiny occurred within Rome.

§7.42.1praeter haec invenio apud quosdam L. Genucium tribunum plebis tulisse ad plebem, ne faenerare liceret; §7.42.2item aliis plebi scitis cautum, ne quis eundem magistratum intra decem annos caperet neu duos magistratus uno anno gereret utique liceret consules ambos plebeios creari.
In addition to these things, I find in certain authors that Lucius Genucius, a tribune of the plebs, proposed to the plebs that it should not be lawful to lend money at interest; likewise, that by other plebiscites it was provided that no one should hold the same magistracy within ten years, nor should anyone hold two magistracies in one year, and that indeed it should be permitted that both consuls be chosen from the plebs.
quae si omnia concessa sunt plebi, apparet haud parvas vires defectionem habuisse.
If all these things were granted to the plebs, it is clear that the rebellion possessed no small power.
§7.42.3aliis annalibus proditum est neque dictatorem Valerium dictum, sed per consules omnem rem actam, neque antequam Romam veniretur, sed Romae eam multitudinem coniuratorum ad arma consternatam esse §7.42.4nec in T. Quincti villam, sed in aedis C. Manli nocte impetum factum eumque a coniuratis conprehensum, ut dux fieret; §7.42.5inde ad quartum lapidem profectos loco munito consedisse, nec ab ducibus mentionem concordiae ortam, sed repente, cum in aciem armati exercitus processissent, §7.42.6salutationem factam, et permixtos dextras iungere ac conplecti inter se lacrimantes milites coepisse coactosque consules, cum viderent aversos a dimicatione militum animos, rettulisse ad patres de concordia reconcilianda.
In other annals it is recorded that neither was Valerius named dictator, but the whole business was conducted by the consuls, nor was that multitude of conspirators incited to arms before coming to Rome, but at Rome itself; and that an attack was made by night not upon the villa of Titus Quinctius, but upon the house of Gaius Manlius, and that he was seized by the conspirators to be made their leader; that, having set out from there to the fourth milestone, they encamped in a fortified place, and that no mention of harmony arose from the leaders, but suddenly, when they had advanced in line of battle as armed armies, a greeting was made, and the soldiers, mingling, began to clasp right hands and embrace one another, weeping; and that the consuls, forced when they saw that the minds of the soldiers were turned away from fighting, reported to the senators concerning the reconciliation of harmony.
§7.42.7adeo nihil praeterquam seditionem fuisse eamque conpositam inter antiquos rerum auctores constat.
Indeed, it is agreed among the ancient authors of history that there was nothing other than a mutiny and that it was settled.
et huius fama seditionis §7.42.8et susceptum cum Samnitibus grave bellum aliquot populos ab Romana societate avertit, et praeter Latinorum infidum iam diu foedus Privernates etiam Norbam atque Setiam, finitimas colonias Romanas, incursione subita depopulati sunt.
And the rumor of this mutiny and the serious war undertaken with the Samnites turned away several peoples from the Roman alliance; and besides the treaty of the Latins, which had already been untrustworthy for a long time, the Privernates also devastated Norba and Setia, neighboring Roman colonies, in a sudden incursion.

Notes

  1. §7.42.2item aliis plebi scitis cautum — This is a continuation of the indirect discourse introduced by `invenio` (7.42.1), with `esse` omitted after `cautum`. The subject of the impersonal passive `cautum esse` is formed by the clauses `ne quis... neu... utique...`.
  2. §7.42.3aliis annalibus proditum est neque dictatorem Valerium dictum — The impersonal construction `proditum est` (it is recorded) governs a long series of accusative and infinitive clauses acting as its subject, starting with `dictatorem Valerium dictum [esse]`, `omnem rem actam [esse]`, `multitudinem... consternatam esse`, and continuing through 7.42.4-6.
  3. §7.42.5profectos — The participle `profectos` is accusative plural masculine, referring to the conspirators (`coniuratos`) as its implied subject. It forms part of the accusative and infinitive construction dependent on `proditum est`, equivalent to `profectos [esse] consedisse`.
  4. §7.42.7nihil praeterquam seditionem fuisse eamque conpositam inter antiquos rerum auctores constat — The subject of the impersonal verb `constat` (it is well known/agreed) is the accusative and infinitive clause `nihil praeterquam seditionem fuisse eamque conpositam [esse]`. The phrase `inter antiquos rerum auctores` means 'among the ancient authors of history,' indicating their consensus.
  5. §7.42.8et huius fama seditionis et susceptum cum Samnitibus grave bellum aliquot populos ab Romana societate avertit — The subject consists of two noun phrases, `et huius fama seditionis` and `et susceptum... grave bellum`. The verb `avertit` is in the singular, agreeing with the closer subject (`bellum`) or treating the combined cause as a single situation.

Cite this passage

Livy, History of Rome §7.42.1-7.42.8. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:7.42.1-7.42.8

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