Humanitext Reader

Livy · History of Rome §8.15.1-8.15.9

Relief of the Aurunci and Execution of Minucia

Passage 413 of 1770 · Latin

Summary

During a peaceful period, war breaks out between the Sidicini and the Aurunci, leading the senate to demand a dictator who soon resigns due to an augural flaw. Additionally, the Vestal Virgin Minucia is executed for unchastity, and the first plebeian praetor is elected.

§8.15.1C. Sulpicio Longo P. Aelio Paeto consulibus, cum omnia non opes magis Romanae quam beneficiis parta gratia bona pace obtineret, inter Sidicinos Auruncosque bellum ortum.
In the consulship of Gaius Sulpicius Longus and Publius Aelius Paetus, while a state of peaceful tranquility held everything, thanks not so much to Roman power as to the gratitude won by their kindnesses, war broke out between the Sidicini and the Aurunci.
§8.15.2Aurunci a T. Manlio consule in deditionem accepti nihil deinde moverant; eo petendi auxilii ab Romanis causa iustior fuit.
The Aurunci, having been received into submission by the consul Titus Manlius, had thereafter made no hostile movement; therefore, their reason for seeking help from the Romans was the more just.
§8.15.3sed priusquam consules ab urbe — iusserat enim senatus defendi Auruncos — §8.15.4exercitum educerent, fama adfertur Auruncos metu oppidum deseruisse profugosque cum coniugibus ac liberis Suessam communisse, quae nunc Aurunca appellatur, moenia antiqua eorum urbemque ab Sidicinis deletam.
But before the consuls could lead the army out from the City—for the senate had ordered the Aurunci to be defended— word was brought that the Aurunci, out of fear, had abandoned their town and, fleeing as refugees with their wives and children, had fortified Suessa, which is now called Aurunca, and that their ancient walls and city had been destroyed by the Sidicini.
§8.15.5ob ea infensus consulibus senatus, quorum cunctatione proditi socii essent, dictatorem dici iussit.
On this account, the senate, being incensed against the consuls, because by their delay the allies had been betrayed, ordered a dictator to be named.
dictus C. Claudius Inregillensis magistrum equitum C. Claudium Hortatorem dixit.
Gaius Claudius Inregillensis, who was named, appointed Gaius Claudius Hortator as master of the horse.
religio inde iniecta de dictatore, §8.15.6et cum augures vitio creatum videri dixissent, dictator magisterque equitum se magistratu abdicarunt.
Subsequently, a religious scruple was raised concerning the dictator, and when the augurs declared that he appeared to have been created with a flaw, the dictator and the master of the horse abdicated their office.
§8.15.7eo anno Minucia Vestalis suspecta primo propter mundiorem iusto cultum,
In that year, Minucia, a Vestal Virgin, was at first suspected on account of a style of dress more elegant than was fitting, and was afterwards accused before the pontiffs by a slave informer.
§8.15.8insimulata deinde apud pontifices ab indice servo, cum decreto eorum iussa esset sacris abstinere familiamque in potestate habere, facto iudicio viva sub terram ad portam Collinam extra viam stratam defossa Scelerato campo; credo ab incesto id ei loco nomen factum.
Having been ordered by their decree to abstain from sacred rites and to keep her household of slaves under her control, after a trial had been held, she was buried alive under the earth near the Colline Gate, outside the paved road, in the Field of Wickedness; I believe that this name was given to the place because of her unchastity.
§8.15.9eodem anno Q. Publilius Philo praetor primus de plebe adversante Sulpicio consule, qui negabat rationem eius se habiturum, est factus senatu, cum in summis imperiis id non obtinuisset, minus in praetura tendente.
In the same year, Quintus Publilius Philo became the first praetor from the plebs, despite the opposition of the consul Sulpicius, who declared that he would take no account of his candidacy; for the senate showed less resistance in the matter of the praetorship, since they had not maintained their point with regard to the highest offices.

Notes

  1. 8.15.1cum omnia non opes magis Romanae quam beneficiis parta gratia bona pace obtineret — The subject of `obtineret` (active transitive) is `non opes ... quam gratia` ("not so much Roman power as gratitude won by kindnesses"), with `bona pace` serving as an ablative of manner ("in peaceful tranquility") and `omnia` as the direct object. Although it is possible to take `obtineo` intransitively with `bona pax` (which would have to be in the nominative) as the subject, the transitive reading is preferred to emphasize the causal role of Roman "gratitude" in maintaining the peace.
  2. 8.15.8familiamque in potestate habere — Here, `familia` refers to the "household of slaves" rather than "family" in the modern sense. To "keep them in her power" (`in potestate habere`) was a legal restriction preventing the accused owner from manumitting or selling the slaves, thereby ensuring they remained available for interrogation under torture during the trial.
  3. 8.15.9senatu, cum in summis imperiis id non obtinuisset, minus in praetura tendente — `senatu ... tendente` is an ablative absolute construction. The pronoun `id` refers to the patrician monopoly (excluding the plebeians from the magistracies). `minus ... tendente` means "straining or resisting less," indicating that since the senate had failed to maintain this restriction for the highest offices (the consulship, `summis imperiis`), they showed less determination to block a plebeian from the lower office of the praetorship (`praetura`).

Cite this passage

Livy, History of Rome §8.15.1-8.15.9. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:8.15.1-8.15.9

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