Eutropius: BREVIARIVM HISTORIAE ROMANAE

[1] Anno trecentesimo sexagesimo quinto ab urbe condita, post captam autem primo, dignitates mutatae sunt, et pro duobus consulibus facti tribuni militares consulari potestate.Hinc iam coepit Romana res crescere. Nam Camillus eo anno Volscorum civitatem, quae per septuaginta annos bellum gesserat, vicit et Aequorum urbem et Sutrinorum atque omnibus deletis earundem exercitibus occupavit et tres simul triumphos egit.

[1] In the 365th year from the founding of the city, however, after it had for the first time been captured, the offices were changed, and in place of the two consuls military tribunes with consular power were made.From this point the Roman state began to grow. For Camillus in that year conquered the state of the Volsci, which had waged war for seventy years, and the city of the Aequians and of the Sutrians; and, with all the armies of the same destroyed, he seized them, and celebrated three triumphs at once.

[2] T. etiam Quintius Cincinnatus Praenestinos, qui usque ad urbis Romae portas cum bello venerant, persecutus ad flumen Alliam vicit, octo civitates, quae sub ipsis agebant, Romanis adiunxit, ipsum Praeneste adgressus in deditionem accepit.Quae omnia ab eo gesta sunt viginti diebus, triumphusque ipsi decretus.

[2] T. also Quintius Cincinnatus, pursuing the Praenestines, who had come with war up to the gates of the city of Rome, defeated them at the river Allia, adjoined to the Romans eight cities which were under them, and, having attacked Praeneste itself, received it into surrender.All these things were done by him in twenty days, and a triumph was decreed for him.

[3] Verum dignitas tribunorum militarium non diu perseveravit.Nam post aliquantum nullos placuit fieri et quadriennium in urbe ita fluxit, ut potestates ibi maiores non essent. Praesumpserunt tamen tribuni militares consulari potestate iterum dignitatem et triennio perseveraverunt.

[3] However, the dignity of the military tribunes did not endure for long.For after some time it was decided that none be appointed, and a four-year period in the city elapsed in such a way that there were no greater powers there. Nevertheless the military tribunes assumed again their dignity with consular power, and they persisted for three years.

Rursus consules facti.

Again, consuls were appointed.

[4] L. Genucio et Q. Servilio consulibus mortuus est Camillus.Honor ei post Romulum secundus delatus est.

[4] When L. Genucius and Q. Servilius were consuls, Camillus died.An honor, second after Romulus, was conferred upon him.

[5] T. Quintius dictator adversus Gallos, qui ad Italiam venerant, missus est.Hi ab urbe quarto miliario trans Anienem fluvium consederant. Ibi nobilissimus de senatoribus iuvenis L. Manlius provocantem Gallum ad singulare certamen progressus occidit, et sublato torque aureo colloque suo inposito in perpetuum Torquati et sibi et posteris cognomen accepit.

[5] T. Quintius, as dictator, was sent against the Gauls, who had come to Italy.They had encamped at the fourth milestone from the city, across the river Anio. There, a most noble young man from among the senators, L. Manlius, advanced and killed a Gaul who was challenging to single combat, and, having taken up the golden torque and placed it upon his own neck, he received the cognomen Torquatus for himself and his descendants in perpetuity.

Galli fugati sunt, mox per C. Sulpicium dictatorem etiam victi. Non multo post a C. Marcio Tusci victi sunt et octo milia captivorum ex his in triumphum ducta.

The Gauls were put to flight, soon after also defeated by the dictator C. Sulpicius. Not long after, the Etruscans were defeated by C. Marcius, and eight thousand (8,000) captives from them were led in triumph.

[6] Census iterum habitus est.Et cum Latini, qui a Romanis subacti erant, milites praestare nollent, ex Romanis tantum tirones lecti sunt, factaeque legiones decem, qui modus sexaginta vel amplius armatorum milia efficiebat. Parvis adhuc Romanis rebus tanta tamen in re militari virtus erat.

[6] The census was held again.And when the Latins, who had been subdued by the Romans, were unwilling to furnish soldiers, recruits were selected from the Romans alone, and ten legions were formed, which measure amounted to sixty thousand or more armed men. Though Roman affairs were still small, yet there was such great virtue in the military art.

Quae cum profectae essent adversum Gallos duce L. Furio, quidam ex Gallis unum ex Romanis, qui esset optimus, provocavit. Tum se M. Valerius tribunus militum obtulit, et cum processisset armatus, corvus ei supra dextrum bracchium sedit. Mox commissa adversum Gallum pugna idem corvus alis et unguibus Galli oculos verberavit, ne rectum posset aspicere.

When these had set out against the Gauls under the leader L. Furius, a certain man of the Gauls challenged the best man of the Romans to single combat. Then M. Valerius, a military tribune, offered himself, and when he had advanced armed, a crow sat upon his right forearm. Soon, when the fight against the Gaul was joined, that same crow with its wings and talons battered the Gaul’s eyes, so that he could not look straight.

Ita a tribuno Valerio interfectus. Corvus non solum victoriam ei, sed etiam nomen dedit. Nam postea idem Corvinus est dictus.

Thus he was slain by the tribune Valerius. The raven gave him not only victory, but also a name. For afterwards he was called Corvinus.

Ac propter hoc meritum annorum trium et viginti consul est factus.

And on account of this merit he was made consul at the age of twenty-three.

[7] Latini, qui noluerant milites dare, hoc quoque a Romanis exigere coeperunt, ut unus consul ex eorum, alter ex Romanorum populo crearetur.Quod cum esset negatum, bellum contra eos susceptum est et ingenti pugna superati sunt; ac de his perdomitis triumphatum est. Statuae consulibus ob meritum victoriae in Rostris positae sunt.

[7] The Latins, who had been unwilling to give soldiers, also began to demand this from the Romans: that one consul be elected from their own number, the other from the Roman people.When this was denied, war was undertaken against them, and in a huge battle they were overcome; and, with them thoroughly subdued, a triumph was celebrated over them. Statues for the consuls, on account of the merit of the victory, were set up on the Rostra.

Eo anno etiam Alexandria ab Alexandro Macedone condita est.

In that year also Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Macedonian.

[8] Iam Romani potentes esse coeperunt.Bellum enim in centesimo et tricesimo fere miliario ab urbe apud Samnitas gerebatur, qui medii sunt inter Picenum, Campaniam et Apuliam. L. Papirius Cursor cum honore dictatoris ad id bellum profectus est.

[8] Already the Romans began to be powerful.For a war was being waged at about the 130th milestone from the city among the Samnites, who are situated in the middle between Picenum, Campania, and Apulia. L. Papirius Cursor set out to that war with the honor of Dictator.

Qui cum Romam rediret, Q. Fabio Maximo, magistro equitum, quem apud exercitum reliquit, praecepit, ne se absente pugnaret. Ille occasione reperta felicissime dimicavit et Samnitas delevit. Ob quam rem a dictatore capitis damnatus, quod se vetante pugnasset, ingenti favore militum et populi liberatus est tanta Papirio seditione commota, ut paene ipse interficeretur.

When he was returning to Rome, he instructed Q. Fabius Maximus, the master of the horse, whom he had left with the army, not to fight in his absence. He, finding an opportunity, fought most successfully and destroyed the Samnites. For this matter he was condemned on a capital charge by the dictator, because he had fought contrary to his prohibition; he was freed by the immense favor of the soldiers and the people, so great a sedition having been stirred up against Papirius that he was almost killed himself.

[9] Postea Samnites Romanos T. Veturio et Sp. Postumio consulibus ingenti dedecore vicerunt et sub iugum miserunt.Pax tamen a senatu et populo soluta est, quae cum ipsis propter necessitatem facta fuerat. Postea Samnites victi sunt a L. Papirio consule, septem milia eorum sub iugum missa.

[9] Afterwards the Samnites, when T. Veturius and Sp. Postumius were consuls, defeated the Romans with immense disgrace and sent them under the yoke.Nevertheless the peace was annulled by the senate and the people, which had been made with them because of necessity. Afterwards the Samnites were defeated by L. Papirius, consul, seven thousand of them sent under the yoke.

Papirius primus de Samnitibus triumphavit. Eo tempore Ap. Claudius censor aquam Claudiam induxit et viam Appiam stravit. Samnites reparato bello Q. Fabium Maximum vicerunt tribus milibus hominum occisis.

Papirius was the first to triumph over the Samnites. At that time Appius Claudius, censor, led in the Claudia water and paved the Appian Way. The Samnites, the war having been renewed, defeated Quintus Fabius Maximus, with three thousand men slain.

Postea, cum pater ei Fabius Maximus legatus datus fuisset, et Samnitas vicit et plurima ipsorum oppida cepit. Deinde P. Cornelius Rufinus M. Curius Dentatus, ambo consules, contra Samnitas missi ingentibus proeliis eos confecere. Tum bellum cum Samnitibus per annos quadraginta novem actum sustulerunt.

Afterwards, when his father Fabius Maximus had been appointed to him as legate, he both defeated the Samnites and captured very many of their towns. Then Publius Cornelius Rufinus and Manius Curius Dentatus, both consuls, sent against the Samnites, finished them off in huge battles. Then they brought to an end the war with the Samnites, which had been waged for 49 years.

Neque ullus hostis fuit intra Italiam, qui Romanam virtutem magis fatigaverit.

Nor was there any enemy within Italy who more wearied Roman valor.

[10] Interiectis aliquot annis iterum se Gallorum copiae contra Romanos Tuscis Samnitibusque iunxerunt, sed cum Romam tenderent, a Cn. Cornelio Dolabella consule deletae sunt.

[10] After several years had intervened, again the forces of the Gauls joined themselves with the Tuscans and Samnites against the Romans; but as they were making for Rome, they were destroyed by the consul Cn. Cornelius Dolabella.

[11] Eodem tempore Tarentinis, qui iam in ultima Italia sunt, bellum indictum est, quia legatis Romanorum iniuriam fecissent.Hi Pyrrum, Epiri regem, contra Romanos in auxilium poposcerunt, qui ex genere Achillis originem trahebat. Is mox ad Italiam venit, tumque primum Romani cum transmarino hoste dimicaverunt.

[11] At the same time war was declared upon the Tarentines, who are already in the farthest part of Italy, because they had done injury to the legates of the Romans.They called upon Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, for aid against the Romans, who derived his origin from the race of Achilles. He soon came to Italy, and then for the first time the Romans fought with a transmarine enemy.

Missus est contra eum consul P. Valerius Laevinus, qui cum exploratores Pyrri cepisset, iussit eos per castra duci, ostendi omnem exercitum tumque dimitti, ut renuntiarent Pyrro quaecumque a Romanis agerentur. Commissa mox pugna, cum iam Pyrrus fugeret, elephantorum auxilio vicit, quos incognitos Romani expaverunt. Sed nox proelio finem dedit; Laevinus tamen per noctem fugit, Pyrrus Romanos mille octingentos cepit et eos summo honore tractavit, occisos sepelivit.

The consul P. Valerius Laevinus was sent against him, who, when he had seized Pyrrhus’s scouts, ordered them to be led through the camp, the whole army to be shown to them, and then to be dismissed, so that they might report back to Pyrrhus whatever was being done by the Romans. Battle soon being joined, when now Pyrrhus was fleeing, he won by the aid of the elephants, at whom, being unknown, the Romans took fright. But night gave an end to the battle; Laevinus, however, fled through the night; Pyrrhus captured one thousand eight hundred Romans and treated them with the highest honor; he buried the slain.

Quos cum adverso vulnere et truci vultu etiam mortuos iacere vidisset, tulisse ad caelum manus dicitur cum hac voce: se totius orbis dominum esse potuisse, si tales sibi milites contigissent.

When he saw that even dead they lay with a wound in front and with a truculent countenance, he is said to have raised his hands to heaven with this utterance: that he could have been lord of the whole world, if such soldiers had fallen to his lot.

[12] Postea Pyrrus, coniunctis sibi Samnitibus, Lucanis, Brittiis, Romam perrexit, omnia ferro ignique vastavit, Campaniam populatus est atque ad Praeneste venit, miliario ab urbe octavo decimo.Mox terrore exercitus, qui eum cum consule sequebatur, in Campaniam se recepit. Legati ad Pyrrum de redimendis captivis missi ab eo honorifice suscepti sunt.

[12] Afterwards Pyrrhus, with the Samnites, Lucanians, and Bruttians joined to himself, proceeded to Rome, laid everything waste with iron and fire, devastated Campania, and came to Praeneste, at the 18th milestone from the city.Soon, at the terror of the army which was following him with the consul, he withdrew into Campania. Envoys to Pyrrhus about the ransoming of the captives, having been sent, were by him honorably received.

Captivos sine pretio Romam misit. Unum ex legatis Romanorum, Fabricium, sic admiratus, cum eum pauperem esse cognovisset, ut quarta parte regni promissa sollicitare voluerit, ut ad se transiret, contemptusque est a Fabricio. Quare cum Pyrrus Romanorum ingenti admiratione teneretur, legatum misit, qui pacem aequis condicionibus peteret, praecipuum virum, Cineam nomine, ita ut Pyrrus partem Italiae, quam iam armis occupaverat, obtineret.

He sent the captives to Rome without price. One of the legates of the Romans, Fabricius, he so admired, when he had learned that he was poor, that, a fourth part of the kingdom having been promised, he wished to solicit him to pass over to himself; and he was contemned by Fabricius. Wherefore, since Pyrrhus was held in immense admiration of the Romans, he sent a legate to seek peace on equal conditions, a preeminent man, by name Cineas, in such a way that Pyrrhus should hold the part of Italy which he had already occupied by arms.

[13] Pax displicuit remandatumque Pyrro est a senatu eum cum Romanis, nisi ex Italia recessisset, pacem habere non posse.Tum Romani iusserunt captivos omnes, quos Pyrrus reddiderat, infames haberi, quod armati capi potuissent, nec ante eos ad veterem statum reverti, quam si binorum hostium occisorum spolia retulissent. Ita legatus Pyrri reversus est.

[13] The peace was displeasing, and it was remanded to Pyrrhus by the Senate that he could not have peace with the Romans unless he had withdrawn from Italy.Then the Romans ordered that all the captives whom Pyrrhus had returned be held infamous, because they could have been taken while armed, and that they were not to revert to their former status before they had brought back the spoils of two enemies slain apiece. Thus the legate of Pyrrhus returned.

A quo cum quaereret Pyrrus, qualem Romam comperisset, Cineas dixit regum se patriam vidisse; scilicet tales illic fere omnes esse, qualis unus Pyrrus apud Epirum et reliquam Graeciam putaretur. Missi sunt contra Pyrrum duces P. Sulpicius et Decius Mus consules. Certamine commisso Pyrrus vulneratus est, elephanti interfecti, viginti milia caesa hostium, et ex Romanis tantum quinque milia; Pyrrus Tarentum fugatus.

When Pyrrhus asked him what kind of Rome he had discovered, Cineas said that he had seen a fatherland of kings; namely, that almost all there were such as Pyrrhus alone was considered to be in Epirus and the rest of Greece. Against Pyrrhus there were sent as commanders the consuls P. Sulpicius and Decius Mus. With the contest joined, Pyrrhus was wounded, the elephants were slain, twenty thousand of the enemy were cut down, and of the Romans only five thousand; Pyrrhus was driven in flight to Tarentum.

[14] Interiecto anno contra Pyrrum Fabricius est missus, qui prius inter legatos sollicitari non potuerat, quarta regni parte promissa.Tum, cum vicina castra ipse et rex haberent, medicus Pyrri nocte ad eum venit, promittens veneno se Pyrrum occisurum, si sibi aliquid polliceretur. Quem Fabricius vinctum reduci iussit ad dominum Pyrroque dici quae contra caput eius medicus spopondisset.

[14] With a year interposed, Fabricius was sent against Pyrrhus, who earlier, among the legates, had not been able to be solicited, a fourth part of the kingdom having been promised.Then, when he himself and the king had nearby camps, Pyrrhus’s physician came to him by night, promising that he would kill Pyrrhus with poison, if something should be promised to him. Fabricius ordered him to be bound and taken back to his master, and that it be told to Pyrrhus what the physician had pledged against his life.

Tum rex admiratus eum dixisse fertur: "Ille est Fabricius, qui difficilius ab honestate quam sol a cursu suo averti potest. " Tum rex ad Siciliam profectus est. Fabricius victis Lucanis et Samnitibus triumphavit.

Then the king, amazed, is said to have said: "That is Fabricius, who can more hardly be turned aside from honesty than the sun from its course. " Then the king set out to Sicily. Fabricius, the Lucanians and Samnites having been conquered, triumphed.

Consules deinde M. Curius Dentatus et Cornelius Lentulus adversum Pyrrum missi sunt. Curius contra eum pugnavit, exercitum eius cecidit, ipsum Tarentum fugavit, castra cepit. Ea die caesa hostium viginti tria milia.

Then the consuls M. Curius Dentatus and Cornelius Lentulus were sent against Pyrrhus. Curius fought against him, cut down his army, drove him in flight to Tarentum, and captured the camp. On that day 23,000 of the enemy were slain.

Curius in consulatu triumphavit. Primus Romam elephantos quattuor duxit. Pyrrus etiam a Tarento mox recessit et apud Argos, Graeciae civitatem, occisus est.

Curius in his consulship triumphed. He was the first to lead four elephants to Rome. Pyrrhus also soon withdrew from Tarentum and was killed at Argos, a city of Greece.

[15] C. Fabio Licinio C. Claudio Canina consulibus anno urbis conditae quadringentesimo sexagesimo primo legati Alexandrini a Ptolomaeo missi Romam venere et a Romanis amicitiam, quam petierant, obtinuerunt.

[15] In the consulship of C. Fabius Licinus and C. Claudius Canina, in the 461st year from the founding of the city, Alexandrian legates, sent by Ptolemy, came to Rome and obtained from the Romans the friendship which they had sought.

[16] Q. Ogulnio C. Fabio Pictore consulibus Picentes bellum commovere et ab insequentibus consulibus P. Sempronio Ap. Claudio victi sunt; et de his triumphatum est.Conditae a Romanis civitates Ariminum in Gallia et Beneventum in Samnio.

[16] When Q. Ogulnius and C. Fabius Pictor were consuls, the Picentes stirred up war and were defeated by the following consuls, P. Sempronius and Ap. Claudius; and over them a triumph was celebrated.Founded by the Romans were the cities Ariminum in Gaul and Beneventum in Samnium.

[17] M. Atilio Regulo L. Iulio Libone consulibus Sallentinis in Apulia bellum indictum est, captique sunt cum civitate simul Brundisini, et de his triumphatum est.

[17] in the consulship of M. Atilius Regulus and L. Julius Libo, war was declared against the Sallentini in Apulia, and the Brundisini were captured together with the city, and a triumph was celebrated over them.

[18] Anno quadringentesimo septuagesimo septimo, cum iam clarum urbis Romae nomen esset, arma tamen extra Italiam mota non fuerant.Ut igitur cognosceretur, quae copiae Romanorum essent, census est habitus. Tum inventa sunt civium capita ducenta nonaginta duo milia trecenta triginta quattuor, quamquam a condita urbe numquam bella cessassent.

[18] In the 477th year, when already the name of the city of Rome was renowned, nevertheless arms had not been moved outside Italy.Therefore, in order that it might be known what forces the Romans had, a census was held. Then the heads of citizens were found to number 292,334, although from the founding of the city wars had never ceased.

Et contra Afros bellum susceptum est primum Ap. Claudio Q. Fulvio consulibus. In Sicilia contra eos pugnatum est et Ap. Claudius de Afris et rege Siciliae Hierone triumphavit.

And against the Africans a war was undertaken for the first time, when Appius Claudius and Quintus Fulvius were consuls. In Sicily battle was fought against them, and Appius Claudius triumphed over the Africans and Hieron, the king of Sicily.

[19] Insequenti anno Valerio Marco et Otacilio Crasso consulibus in Sicilia a Romanis res magnae gestae sunt.Tauromenitani, Catinenses et praeterea quinquaginta civitates in fidem acceptae. Tertio anno in Sicilia contra Hieronem, regem Siculorum, bellum paratum est.

[19] In the following year, Marcus Valerius and Otacilius Crassus being consuls, in Sicily great exploits were accomplished by the Romans.The Tauromenitans, the Catinians, and moreover fifty cities were received into allegiance. In the third year, in Sicily, war was prepared against Hiero, king of the Sicilians.

Is cum omni nobilitate Syracusanorum pacem a Romanis impetravit deditque argenti ducenta talenta. Afri in Sicilia victi sunt et de his secundo Romae triumphatum est.

He, with all the nobility of the Syracusans, obtained peace from the Romans and gave two hundred talents of silver. The Africans were defeated in Sicily, and over them a triumph was celebrated at Rome for the second time.

[20] Quinto anno Punici belli, quod contra Afros gerebatur, primum Romani C. Duillio et Cn. Cornelio Asina consulibus in mari dimicaverunt paratis navibus rostratis, quas Liburnas vocant.Consul Cornelius fraude deceptus est. Duillius commisso proelio Carthaginiensium ducem vicit, triginta et unam naves cepit, quattuordecim mersit, septem milia hostium cepit, tria milia occidit.

[20] In the fifth year of the Punic war, which was being waged against the Africans, for the first time the Romans, with Gaius Duilius and Gnaeus Cornelius Asina as consuls, fought at sea with ram-prowed ships prepared, which they call Liburnians.The consul Cornelius was deceived by fraud. Duilius, with battle joined, defeated the leader of the Carthaginians, captured thirty-one ships, sank fourteen, took seven thousand of the enemy, killed three thousand.

Neque ulla victoria Romanis gratior fuit, quod invicti terra iam etiam mari plurimum possent. C. Aquilio Floro L. Scipione consulibus Scipio Corsicam et Sardiniam vastavit, multa milia inde captivorum adduxit, triumphum egit.

No victory was more pleasing to the Romans, because, undefeated on land, now also at sea they could accomplish very much. With C. Aquilius Florus and L. Scipio as consuls, Scipio devastated Corsica and Sardinia, led from there many thousands of captives, and celebrated a triumph.

[21] L. Manlio Vulsone M. Atilio Regulo consulibus bellum in Africam translatum est.Contra Hamilcarem, Carthaginiensium ducem, in mari pugnatum victusque est. Nam perditis sexaginta quattuor navibus retro se recepit.

[21] Under the consuls L. Manlius Vulso and M. Atilius Regulus the war was transferred into Africa.Against Hamilcar, the leader of the Carthaginians, there was fighting at sea and he was defeated. For, with sixty-four ships lost, he withdrew back.

Romani viginti duas amiserunt. Sed cum in Africam transissent, primam Clypeam, Africae civitatem, in deditionem acceperunt. Consules usque ad Carthaginem processerunt multisque castellis vastatis Manlius victor Romam rediit et viginti septem milia captivorum reduxit, Atilius Regulus in Africa remansit.

The Romans lost twenty-two. But when they had crossed over into Africa, first they took Clypea, a city of Africa, in surrender. The consuls advanced up to Carthage, and, many forts laid waste, Manlius returned to Rome as victor and brought back twenty-seven thousand captives; Atilius Regulus remained in Africa.

Is contra Afros aciem instruxit. Contra tres Carthaginiensium duces dimicans victor fuit, decem et octo milia hostium cecidit, quinque milia cum decem et octo elephantis cepit, septuaginta quattuor civitates in fidem accepit. Tum victi Carthaginienses pacem a Romanis petiverunt.

He drew up the battle-line against the Africans. Fighting against three commanders of the Carthaginians, he was victor; he cut down eighteen thousand of the enemy, captured five thousand together with eighteen elephants, and received seventy-four cities into allegiance. Then the defeated Carthaginians sought peace from the Romans.

Quam cum Regulus nollet nisi durissimis condicionibus dare, Afri auxilium a Lacedaemoniis petiverunt. Et duce Xanthippo, qui a Lacedaemoniis missus fuerat, Romanorum dux Regulus victus est ultima pernicie. Nam duo milia tantum ex omni Romano exercitu refugerunt, quingenti cum imperatore Regulo capti sunt, triginta milia occisa, Regulus ipse in catenas coniectus.

When Regulus would not grant it except on the harshest conditions, the Africans sought aid from the Lacedaemonians. And under the leader Xanthippus, who had been sent by the Lacedaemonians, Regulus, the Roman general, was defeated with ultimate ruin. For only two thousand from the whole Roman army fled back, five hundred were captured with the commander Regulus, thirty thousand were slain, and Regulus himself was cast into chains.

[22] M. Aemilio Paulo Ser. Fulvio Nobiliore consulibus ambo Romani consules ad Africam profecti sunt cum trecentarum navium classe.Primum Afros navali certamine superant.

[22] With M. Aemilius Paulus and Ser. Fulvius Nobilior as consuls, both Roman consuls set out to Africa with a fleet of three hundred ships.First they defeat the Afri in a naval contest.

Aemilius consul centum et quattuor naves hostium demersit, triginta cum pugnatoribus cepit, quindecim milia hostium aut occidit aut cepit, militem suum ingenti praeda ditavit. Et subacta Africa tunc fuisset, nisi quod tanta fames erat, ut diutius exercitus expectare non posset. Consules cum victrici classe redeuntes circa Siciliam naufragium passi sunt.

Aemilius, the consul, sank one hundred and four enemy ships, captured thirty with their combatants, either killed or captured fifteen thousand of the enemy, and enriched his soldiery with immense booty. And Africa would then have been subjugated, if not for so great a famine that the army could not wait any longer. The consuls, returning with their victorious fleet, suffered shipwreck around Sicily.

Et tanta tempestas fuit, ut ex quadringentis sexaginta quattuor navibus tantum octoginta servari potuerint; neque ullo tempore tanta maritima tempestas audita est. Romani tamen statim ducentas naves reparaverunt, neque in aliquo animus his infractus fuit.

And so great a tempest was, that out of 464 ships only 80 could be saved; nor at any time was so great a maritime tempest heard of. The Romans nevertheless immediately repaired 200 ships, nor in any way was their spirit broken.

[23] Cn. Servilius Caepio C. Sempronius Blaesus consules cum ducentis sexaginta navibus ad Africam profecti sunt.Aliquot civitates ceperunt. Praedam ingentem reducentes naufragium passi sunt.

[23] Cn. Servilius Caepio and C. Sempronius Blaesus, consuls, set out to Africa with 260 ships.They captured several cities. Bringing back immense booty, they suffered a shipwreck.

Itaque cum continuae calamitates Romanis displicerent, decrevit senatus, ut a maritimis proeliis recederetur et tantum sexaginta naves ad praesidium Italiae salvae essent.

Therefore, since continual calamities displeased the Romans, the senate decreed that there should be a recession from maritime battles and that only sixty ships be preserved for the defense of Italy.

[24] L. Caecilio Metello C. Furio Placido consulibus Metellus in Sicilia Afrorum ducem cum centum triginta elephantis et magnis copiis venientem superavit, viginti milia hostium cecidit, sex et viginti elephantos cepit, reliquos errantes per Numidas, quos in auxilium habebat, collegit et Romam deduxit ingenti pompa, cum CXXX elephantorum numerus omnia itinera compleret.Post haec mala Carthaginienses Regulum ducem, quem ceperant, petiverunt, ut Romam proficisceretur et pacem a Romanis obtineret ac permutationem captivorum faceret.

[24] Under the consuls L. Caecilius Metellus and C. Furius Placidus, Metellus in Sicily overcame the leader of the Africans coming with 130 elephants and great forces, cut down 20,000 of the enemy, captured 26 elephants, gathered the rest as they wandered through the Numidians, whom he had for auxiliary aid, and led them to Rome with immense pomp, as the number of 130 elephants filled every road.After these misfortunes the Carthaginians requested their commander Regulus, whom they had captured, to set out to Rome and obtain peace from the Romans and to make an exchange of captives.

[25] Ille Romam cum venisset, inductus in senatum nihil quasi Romanus egit, dixitque se ex illa die, qua in potestatem Afrorum venisset,Romanum esse desisse. Itaque et uxorem a complexu removit et senatui suasit, ne pax cum Poenis fieret; illos enim fractos tot casibus spem nullam habere; se tanti non esse, ut tot milia captivorum propter unum se et senem et paucos, qui ex Romanis capti fuerant, redderentur. Itaque obtinuit.

[25] He, when he had come to Rome, brought into the senate, did nothing as though he were a Roman, and said that from that day on which he had come into the power of the Africans he had ceased to be a Roman. And so he even removed his wife from his embrace and advised the senate that peace should not be made with the Carthaginians (Punics); for that they, broken by so many misfortunes, had no hope; that he was not of such worth that so many thousands of captives should be given back on account of one person—himself, an old man—and a few who had been taken from among the Romans. And so he prevailed.

Nam Afros pacem petentes nullus admisit. Ipse Carthaginem rediit, offerentibusque Romanis, ut eum Romae tenerent, negavit se in ea urbe mansurum, in qua, postquam Afris servierat, dignitatem honesti civis habere non posset. Regressus igitur ad Africam omnibus suppliciis extinctus est.

For no one admitted the Africans seeking peace. He himself returned to Carthage, and, though the Romans offered to keep him at Rome, he said he would not remain in that city in which, after he had served the Africans, he could not hold the dignity of an honorable citizen. Having returned, therefore, to Africa, he was put to death with every torture.

[26] P. Claudio Pulchro L. Iunio consulibus Claudius contra auspicia pugnavit et a Carthaginiensibus victus est.Nam ex ducentis et viginti navibus cum triginta fugit, nonaginta cum pugnatoribus captae sunt, demersae ceterae. Alius quoque consul naufragio classem amisit, exercitum tamen salvum habuit, quia vicina litora erant.

[26] Under the consuls P. Claudius Pulcher and L. Junius, Claudius fought contrary to the auspices and was defeated by the Carthaginians.For out of 220 ships he fled with 30; 90, with combatants aboard, were captured; the rest were sunk. Another consul also lost his fleet by shipwreck; nevertheless he kept his army safe, because the shores were near.

[27] C. Lutatio Catulo A. Postumio Albino consulibus, anno belli Punici vicesimo et tertio Catulo bellum contra Afros commissum est.Profectus est cum trecentis navibus in Siciliam; Afri contra ipsum quadringentas paraverunt. Numquam in mari tantis copiis pugnatum est.

[27] Under the consuls C. Lutatius Catulus and A. Postumius Albinus, in the 23rd year of the Punic war, the war against the Africans was entrusted to Catulus.He set out with 300 ships to Sicily; the Africans prepared 400 against him. Never on the sea was it fought with such great forces.

Lutatius Catulus navem aeger ascendit; vulneratus enim in pugna superiore fuerat. Contra Lilybaeum, civitatem Siciliae, pugnatum est ingenti virtute Romanorum. Nam LXIII Carthaginiensium naves captae sunt, CXXV demersae, XXXII milia hostium capta, XIII milia occisa, infinitum auri, argenti, praedae in potestatem Romanorum redactum.

Lutatius Catulus, sick, boarded the ship; for he had been wounded in the previous battle. Against Lilybaeum, a city of Sicily, the fighting was carried on with immense valor of the Romans. For 63 Carthaginian ships were captured, 125 sunk, 32 thousand enemies taken, 13 thousand slain, an infinite amount of gold, silver, and plunder brought under the power of the Romans.

Ex classe Romana XII naves demersae. Pugnatum est VI Idus Martias. Statim pacem Carthaginienses petiverunt tributaque est his pax.

From the Roman fleet, 12 ships were sunk. The battle was fought on March 10. Immediately the Carthaginians sought peace, and peace was granted to them.

Captivi Romanorum, qui tenebantur a Carthaginiensibus, redditi sunt. Etiam Carthaginienses petiverunt, ut redimi eos captivos liceret, quos ex Afris Romani tenebant. Senatus iussit sine pretio eos dari, qui in publica custodia essent; qui autem a privatis tenerentur, ut pretio dominis reddito Carthaginem redirent atque id pretium ex fisco magis quam a Carthaginiensibus solveretur.

The captives of the Romans, who were being held by the Carthaginians, were returned. The Carthaginians also sought that it be permitted to redeem those captives whom the Romans were holding from among the Africans. The Senate ordered that those who were in public custody be given without price; but that those who were held by private individuals should return to Carthage, the price being repaid to their masters, and that that price be paid from the treasury rather than by the Carthaginians.

[28] Q. Lutatius A. Manlius consules creati bellum Faliscis intulerunt, quae civitas Italiae opulenta quondam fuit.Quod ambo consules intra sex dies, quam venerant, transegerunt XV milibus hostium caesis, ceteris pace concessa, agro tamen ex medietate sublato.

[28] Q. Lutatius and A. Manlius, elected consuls, brought war upon the Faliscans, which state of Italy was once opulent.This both consuls completed within six days after they had arrived, with 15 thousand of the enemy cut down, peace granted to the rest, yet with half their land taken away.