Paulus Diaconus: HISTORIA ROMANA

1 Anno trecentesimo sexagesimo quinto ab Vrbe 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 Vulscorum ciuitatem, quae per septuaginta annos bellum gesserat, uicit et Aequorum urbem et Sutrinorum atque omnes, deletis earundem exercitus, occupauit et tres simul triumphos egit.

1 In the year 365 from the founding of the City, and after it had first been captured, offices were changed and, instead of two consuls, military tribunes with consular power were made. From this time the Roman state began to grow. For Camillus in that year conquered the city of the Volsci, which had waged war for seventy years, and the city of the Aequi and of the Sutrini, and, the armies of those peoples having been destroyed, occupied them all and celebrated three triumphs at once.

2 Titus etiam Quintius Cincinnatus Praenestinos, qui usque ad urbis Romae portas cum bello uenerunt, persecutus ad flumen Alliam uicit, octo ciuitates, quae sub ipsis agebant, Romanis adiunxit, ipsam Praenestem aggressus in deditionem accepit; quae omnia ab eo gesta sunt uiginti diebus, triumphusque ipsi decretus.

2 Titus Quintius Cincinnatus also, having pursued the Praenestines, who had come with war as far as the gates of the city of Rome, defeated them at the river Allia, added eight cities that lay under them to the Romans, attacked and received Praeneste itself into surrender; all these things were accomplished by him in 20 days, and a triumph was decreed to him.

3 Verum dignitas tribunorum militarium non diu perseuerauit. Nam post aliquantum nullos placuit fieri et quadriennium in Vrbe ita fluxit ut potestates ibi maiores non essent. Praesumpserunt tamen tribuni militares consulari potestate iterum dignitatem et triennium perseuerauerunt.

3 But the dignity of the military tribunes did not endure long. For after a while it was agreed that none should be chosen, and a period of four years passed in the City so that there were no greater powers there. Nevertheless the military tribunes again assumed the dignity with consular power and continued for a three‑year term.

Rursus consules facti.

Again consuls were made.

4 Lucio Genucio et Quinto Seruilio consulibus mortuus est Camillus. Honor ei post Romulum secundus delatus est. His temporibus inmensa per continuum biennium Romanos pestis afflixit sequentique anno secutum est satis triste prodigium, si quidem in medio Vrbis terra dissiluit uastoque praerupto hiantia subito inferna patuerunt.

4 In the consulship of Lucius Genucius and Quintus Servilius Camillus died. Honor was conferred upon him second only to Romulus. In these times an immense plague afflicted the Romans for two continuous years, and in the following year there followed a rather sad prodigy, namely that in the middle of the City the earth burst open and, with a vast precipitous gulf yawning, the infernal regions suddenly lay exposed.

Quod dum diutius ita maneret cunctisque terrorem inferret, tandem interpretantibus aruspicibus, quod uiui hominis sepulturam expeteret, M. Curcius eques Romanus se in id baratrum armatus iniecit sicque conclusum est.

But while this continued so long and brought terror to everyone, at last, the haruspices interpreting that it required the burial of a living man, M. Curcius, a Roman eques, armed himself and threw himself into that chasm, and thus it was closed.

5 Interea Titus Quintius dictator aduersus Gallos, qui ad Italiam uenerant, missus est. Hi ab Vrbe quarto miliario trans Anienem fluuium consederunt. Ibi nobilissimus de senatoribus inuenis Lucius Mallius prouocantem Gallum ad singulare certamen progressus occidit et sublato torque aureo colloque suo imposito in perpetuum Torquati et sibi et posteris cognomen accepit.

5 Meanwhile Titus Quintius was sent as dictator against the Gauls who had come into Italy. They encamped from the City at the fourth mile beyond the Anio river. There Lucius Mallius, most noble among the senators, advancing to single combat to challenge a Gaul, killed him; and having taken up the gold torque and put it about his own neck, he received for himself and his posterity the cognomen Torquatus forever.

Galli fugati sunt, mox per Gaium Sulpicium dictatorem etiam uicti. Non multo post a Gaio Marcio Tusci uicti sunt et octo milia captiuorum ex his in triumphum ducta.

The Gauls were put to flight, and soon were also defeated by Gaius Sulpicius the dictator. Not long after they were conquered by Gaius Marcius Tuscus, and eight thousand captives from these 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 uel amplius armatorum milia efficiebat. Paruis adhuc Romanis rebus tanta tamen in re militari uirtus erat.

6 A census was taken again. And since the Latins, who had been subdued by the Romans, were unwilling to furnish soldiers, only Romans were chosen as recruits and ten legions were formed, a number making sixty thousand or more armed men. Though Roman affairs were still small, yet in military matters there was such virtus.

Quae cum profecta essent aduersum Gallos duce Lucio Furio, quidam ex Gallis unum ex Romanis, qui esset optimus, prouocauit. Tum se Marcus Valerius tribunus militum optulit, et cum processisset armatus, coruus ei supra dextrum brachium sedit. Mox commissa aduersum Gallum pugna idem coruus alis et unguibus Galli oculos uerberauit, ne rectum possit aspicere.

When they set out against the Gauls under the leadership of Lucius Furius, one of the Gauls challenged a single one of the Romans, him who was the best. Then Marcus Valerius, tribune of the soldiers, offered himself, and when he had advanced armed, a raven sat upon his right arm. Soon, the same raven, in the fight engaged against the Gaul, with wings and claws beat the Gaul's eyes, so that he could not look straight.

Ita a tribuno Valerio interfectus non solum uictoriam ei sed etiam nomen dedit. Nam postea idem Coruinus est dictus. Ac propter hoc meritum annorum trium et uiginti consul est factus.

Thus the man slain by the tribune Valerius gave him not only victory but also a name. For afterwards he was called Corvinus. And on account of this merit he was made consul at the age of 23.

Tunc siquidem dilatata nox usque ad plurimam diei partem tendi uisa est. Tunc etiam saxa de nubibus cecidere eodemque tempore Magnus Alexander natus est.

Then indeed the night, lengthened, seemed to be stretched out until most of the day. Then also rocks fell from the clouds, and at the same time Magnus Alexander was born.

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 uictoriae in rostris positae sunt.

7 The Latins, who had refused to give soldiers, began also to exact this from the Romans, that one consul be chosen from their number, the other from the Roman people. When this was denied, war was undertaken against them and they were overcome in a mighty battle; and with these thoroughly subdued a triumph was celebrated. Statues of the consuls, for the merit of the victory, were placed 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 coeperant. Bellum enim in centesimo et tricesimo fere miliario ab Vrbe apud Samnitas gerebatur, qui medii sunt inter Picenum, Campaniam et Apuliam; gentem, si opulentiam quaeras, aureis et argenteis armis et discolori ueste usque ad ambitum ornatam; si insidiarum fallaciam, saltibus fere et montium fraude grassantem; si rabiem ac furorem, sacrilegis legibus humanisque hostiis in exitium orbis agitatam; si pertinaciam, sexies rupto foedere ipsis hostibus animosiorem. Denique priusquam cum Romanis confligerent, Alexandrum regem Epirotarum, germanum Olympiae matris Alexandri Magni, qui traiectis in Italiam copiis bellum aduersus Romanos parabat, Lucanis suffragium ferentes, maximo bello in Lucania uicere, in quo et ipse Alexander Epirota extinctus est.

8 By now the Romans had begun to be powerful. For a war was being waged about the one hundred and thirtieth mile from the City among the Samnites, who lie between Picenum, Campania and Apulia; a people, if you seek opulence, adorned with gold and silver arms and variegated clothing even to the hem; if treachery of ambushes, prowling almost in glades and by the deceit of mountains; if madness and fury, driven to the ruin of the world by sacrilegious laws and human victims; if stubbornness, braver than their very enemies after the treaty had been broken six times. Finally, before they clashed with the Romans, they carried aid to Alexander, king of the Epirotes, brother of Olympias the mother of Alexander the Great, who, having transported his forces into Italy, was preparing war against the Romans, and they conquered in a great battle in Lucania with Lucanian support, in which Alexander of Epirus himself was killed.

Romani igitur aduersus Samnitas pro Campanis et Sedicinis bellum suscepere. Omnium siquidem non modo Italiae tantum sed paene toto orbe terrarum pulcherrima Campaniae plaga est: nihil hospitalius mari; hic illi nobiles portus Caieta, Misenus, tepentes fontibus Baiae, Lucrinus et Auernus, quaedam maris hostia; hic amici uitibus montes Caurus, Falernus, Massicus et pulcherrimus cunctorum Vesuuius, urbes ad mare Formiae, Cumae, Puteoli, Herculanium, Pompeia et ipsa caput urbium Capua quondam inter tres maximas Romam Carthaginemque nominata. Pro hac urbe, his regionibus populus Romanus Samnitas inuadit.

The Romans therefore undertook war against the Samnites on behalf of the Campanians and the Sedicini. For of all regions, not only of Italy but of almost the whole world, the district of Campania is most beautiful: nothing more hospitable than its sea; here its noble ports Caieta, Misenus, the warm springs of Baiae, Lucrinus and Avernus, some a mouth of the sea; here the friendly vineyards on the mountains Caurus, Falernus, Massicus and most beautiful of all Vesuvius; the cities by the sea Formiae, Cumae, Puteoli, Herculaneum, Pompeii and Capua itself, once reckoned among the three greatest cities, named alongside Rome and Carthage. For this city and these regions the Roman people invaded the Samnites.

Lucius Papirius Cursor cum honore dictatoris ad id bellum profectus est. Qui cum Romam redisset, Quinto Fabio Maximo magistro equitum, quem apud exercitum reliquid, praecepit ne se absente pugnaret. Ille occasione reperta felicissime dimicauit et Samnitas deleuit.

Lucius Papirius Cursor set out for that war with the dignity of dictator. When he returned to Rome he left Quintus Fabius Maximus with the army as master of the horse and ordered that he not engage in battle during his absence. He, seizing an opportunity, fought with the greatest success and destroyed the Samnites.

Ob quam rem a dictatore capite damnatus, quod se uetante pugnasset, ingenti fauore militum et populi liberatus est, tanta Papirio seditione commota, ut paene ipse interficeretur.

For this reason he was condemned to death by the dictator, because he had fought despite the dictator’s forbidding; yet by the immense favour of the soldiers and the people he was freed, so great a sedition against Papirius was roused that he himself was almost slain.

9 Postea Samnites Romanos, Tito Veturio et Spurio Postumio consulibus, apud Caudinas furculas angustiis locorum conclusos ingenti dedecore uicerunt. Quorum dux Pontius in tantum usus est uictoriae securitate, ut Herennium patrem consulendum putaret utrum clausos occideret an parceret subiugatis. Vt uiuos tamen dedecori seruaret, elegit; nam uniuersum Romanum exercitum turpiter captum armis etiam uestimentisque nudatum, tantum singulis uilioribus operimentis ob uerecundiam corporum tegendam concessis, sub iugo missum seruitioque subiectum longum agere pompae ordinem praeceperunt.

9 Afterwards the Samnites defeated the Romans, with Titus Veturius and Spurius Postumius as consuls, at the Caudine Forks, entrapped by the narrowness of the place with great disgrace. Their leader Pontius, grown so accustomed to the security of victory, thought it worthy to consult Herennius the elder whether he should kill those shut up or spare the vanquished. That he might yet spare them from complete dishonor, he chose the latter; for the entire Roman army, shamefully captured, was stripped of arms and even of clothes, granted only the meanest coverings individually to preserve modesty of the bodies, and ordered to march under the yoke and subjected to servitude, to perform the slow procession of humiliation.

Sexcentis autem equitibus Romanis in obsidatum receptis, oneratos ignominia, caeteris rebus uacuos, consules remiserunt, sub tali tamen condicione pacis, qualis facienda Samnitibus placuit. Sed si fidem foederis, quam sibi Romani seruari a subiectis uolunt, ipsi subiecti Samnitibus seruauissent, hodie aut omnino non essent aut, Samnio dominante, seruirent. Posteriore siquidem anno, iubente senatu pax cum Samnitibus firmata soluta est Luciusque Papirius consul aduersus eos directus est; qui adeo tunc apud Romanos bellicosissimus habebatur, ut cum diceretur Alexander in Italiam transgredi, Romani inter ceteros duces hunc praecipue eligerent, qui Alexandri impetum sustineret.

Six hundred Roman horsemen, having been received as hostages, burdened with ignominy and empty of other resources, were sent back by the consuls, yet upon such a condition of peace as the Samnites wished to impose. But if the faith of the treaty, which the Romans desire to be kept to themselves by their subjects, the subjects themselves had kept to the Samnites, today they would either not exist at all or, with Samnium dominating, would be in servitude. In the following year, at the senate’s command the peace with the Samnites having been broken, Lucius Papirius the consul was directed against them; he was held so bellicose among the Romans that, when it was said Alexander was crossing into Italy, the Romans above other leaders chose him especially as the one who would withstand Alexander’s assault.

Congressi itaque Samnites cum Papirio superati sunt, quorum septem milibus sub iugum missis, Papirius de Samnitibus triumphauit. Eo tempore Appius Claudius censor aquam Claudiam induxit et uiam Appiam strauit.

Thus, when they joined battle, the Samnites, engaging with Papirius, were defeated; seven thousand of them, sent under the yoke, and Papirius triumphed over the Samnites. At that time Appius Claudius, as Censor, brought in the Aqua Claudia and laid out the Appian Way.

Circa haec tempora Iaddus apud Hierosolymam pontifex extitit, cuius frater Manasses templum in monte Garizi construxit.

Around these times Iaddus arose as pontiff at Jerusalem, whose brother Manasses built a temple on Mount Garizim.

Samnites, reparato bello, Quintum Fauium Maximum uicerunt tribus milibus hominum occisis. Postea, cum pater ei Fauius Maximus legatus datus fuisset, et Samnitas uicit et plurima ipsorum oppida cepit. Deinde Publius Cornelius Rufinus, Marcus Curius Dentatus, ambo consules, contra Samnitas missi ingentibus proeliis eos confecere, ita ruinas ipsas urbium diruentes, ut hodie Samnium in ipso Samnio requiratur nec inueniri facile possit.

The Samnites, the war having been renewed, defeated Quintus Fabius Maximus, with three thousand men slain. Afterwards, when his father, Fabius Maximus, had been given as legate, he both routed the Samnites and took very many of their towns. Then Publius Cornelius Rufinus and Marcus Curius Dentatus, both consuls, sent against the Samnites, wore them down in tremendous battles, demolishing the very ruins of the cities so that today Samnium is sought for within Samnium itself and cannot be easily found.

Tum bellum cum Samnitibus per annos quadraginta nouem actum sublatum est, neque ullus hostis fuit intra Italiam qui Romanam uirtutem magis fatigauerit.

Then the war with the Samnites was carried on and endured for 49 years, nor was there any enemy within Italy who more greatly wearied Roman virtue.

10 Interiectis aliquot annis iterum se Gallorum copiae contra Romanos Tuscis Samnitibusque iuncxerunt, sed cum Romam tenderent, Gneo Cornelio Dolabella consule deletae sunt.

10 After several years having intervened, again the forces of the Gauls joined themselves with the Tuscans and Samnites against the Romans, but as they were marching on Rome they were destroyed under the consul Gnaeus Cornelius Dolabella.

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

11 At the same time war was declared on the Tarentines, who are now in the farthest part of Italy, because they had done injury to the envoys of the Romans. They begged aid from Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, who traced his origin from the stock of Achilles. He soon came to Italy, and then for the first time the Romans fought with an over-sea enemy.

Missus est contra eum consul Publius Valerius Leuinus. Qui cum exploratores Pyrri coepisset, iussit eos per castra duci, ostendi omnem exercitum tumque dimitti, ut renuntiarent Pyrro quae cum Romanis agerentur. Commissa mox pugna, cum iam Pyrrus fugeret, elefantorum auxilio uicit, quos incognitos Romani expauerunt.

The consul Publius Valerius Levinus was sent against him. When he had begun to reconnoiter Pyrrhus’ scouts, he ordered them to be led through the camp, to show the whole army and then to be dismissed, so that they might report to Pyrrhus what was being done with the Romans. Soon after the battle was joined, when Pyrrhus was already fleeing, he prevailed by the aid of elephants, which the Romans, unacquainted with them, were frightened of.

Sed nox proelio finem dedit; Leuinus tamen per noctem fugit. Pyrrus Romanos mille octingentos coepit et eos summo honore tractauit, occisos sepeliuit. Quos cum aduerso uulnere et truci uultu etiam mortuos iacere uidisset, tulisse ad caelum manus dicitur cum hac uoce: se totius orbis dominum esse potuisse, si tales sibi milites contigissent.

But night put an end to the battle; Levinus, however, fled through the night. Pyrrus took 1,800 Romans and treated them with the highest honor, and buried those killed. When he had seen them, even dead, lying with wounds to the front and with fierce countenance, he is said to have raised his hands to heaven with this utterance: that he could have been master of the whole orb, had such soldiers fallen to him.

12 Post id Pyrrus, coniunctis sibi Samnitibus, Lucanis Brittiniisque, Romam perrexit, omnia ferro ignique uastauit, Campaniam populatus est atque ad Praeneste uenit miliario ab Vrbe octauo decimo. Mox terrore exercitus, qui eum cum consule sequebatur, in Campaniam se recepit. Legati ad Pyrrum de redimendis captiuis missi ab eo honorifice suscepti sunt.

12 After that Pyrrhus, with the Samnites, Lucanians, and Bruttians joined to him, proceeded to Rome, ravaging everything with sword and fire; he laid waste Campania and came to Praeneste, eighteen miles from the City. Soon the army, struck with terror — the force that had been following him with the consul — withdrew into Campania. Envoys sent to Pyrrhus about ransoming the captives were honorably received by him.

Captiuos sine praetio Romam misit, unum ex legatis Romanorum Fabricium sic ammiratus, cum eum pauperem esse cognouisset, ut quarta parte regni promissa sollicitare uoluerit ut ad se transiret, contemptusque est a Fabricio. Ob quae cum Pyrrus Romanorum ingenti ammiratione teneretur, legatum misit, qui pacem aequis condicionibus peteret, praecipuum uirum Cineam nomine, ita ut Pyrrus partem Italiae, quam iam armis occupauerat, obtineret. Cineas legatus postero die quam ingressus Romam fuerat, et equestrem ordinem et senatum propriis nominibus salutauit.

He sent the captives to Rome without ransom, so admiring one of the Roman envoys, Fabricius, when he had learned that he was poor, that he wished to woo him with the promise of a fourth part of the kingdom in order that he might transfer allegiance to him, and was scorned by Fabricius. Because of these things, and since Pyrrhus was held with great admiration by the Romans, he sent an envoy to seek peace on equal terms, a foremost man named Cineas, so that Pyrrhus might retain the part of Italy which he had already occupied by arms. The envoy Cineas, on the day after he had entered Rome, saluted both the equestrian order and the senate by their proper names.

13 Pax tamen, quam offerebat, displicuit. Remandatum Pyrro est a senatu eum cum Romanis, nisi ex Italia recessisset, pacem habere non posse. Tum Romani iusserunt captiuos omnes, quos Pyrrus reddiderat, infames haberi, quod armati capi potuissent, nec ante eos ad ueterem statum reuerti, quam sibi notorum hostium occisorum spolia retulissent.

13 Peace, however, which he offered, was displeasing. It was sent back 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 should not revert to their former status until they had brought back the spoils of the enemies known to them slain.

Ita legatus Pyrri reuersus est. A quo cum quaereret Pyrrus, qualem Romam comperisset, Cineas dixit regum se patriam uidisse; scilicet tales illic fere omnes esse, qualis unus Pyrrus apud Epyrum et reliquam Greciam putaretur.

Thus Pyrrhus’ envoy returned. When Pyrrhus asked him what sort of Rome he had found, Cineas said that he had seen a homeland of kings; that is, that there almost all were such as one Pyrrhus would be reckoned in Epyrum and the rest of Greece.

Missi sunt contra Pyrrum ducem Publius Sulpicius et Decius consules. Certamine commisso Pyrrus uulneratus est, elefanti interfecti, uiginti milia caesa hostium et ex Romanis tantum quinque milia; Pyrrus Tarentum fugatus.

Publius Sulpicius and Decius, consuls, were sent against Pyrrhus the leader. With the battle joined Pyrrhus was wounded, elephants were killed, 20,000 of the enemy were slain and of the Romans only 5,000; Pyrrhus was driven from Tarentum.

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

14 A year having intervened, Fabricius was sent against Pyrrhus, who before, among the legates, could not be won over though a fourth part of the kingdom was promised. Then, when he himself and the king had neighboring camps, Pyrrhus’s physician came to him by night, promising that with poison he would kill Pyrrhus if something were promised to him. Whom Fabricius ordered to be brought back bound to his master and that to Pyrrhus should be said what the physician had pledged against his head.

Tum rex ammiratus eum dixisse fertur: «Ille est Fabricius, qui difficilius ab honestate quam sol a cursu suo auerti potest». Tum rex ad Siciliam profectus est. Fabricius uictis Lucanis et Samnitibus triumphauit. Consules deinde Curius Dentatus et Cornelius Lentulus aduersum Pyrrum missi sunt.

Then the king, admiring, is said to have spoken of him: "That is Fabricius, who can be turned from honesty more hardly than the sun from its course." Then the king set out for Sicily. Fabricius triumphed over the conquered Lucanians and Samnites. Then the consuls Curius Dentatus and Cornelius Lentulus were sent against Pyrrhus.

Curius contra eum pugnauit, exercitum eius caecidit, ipsum Tarentum fugauit, castra coepit. Ea die caesa hostium uiginti tria milia. Curius in consulatu triumphauit.

Curius fought against him, cut down his army, put him to flight from Tarentum, and seized the camp. On that day twenty-three thousand of the enemy were slain. Curius triumphed in his consulship.

Primus Romam elephantos quattuor duxit. Pyrrus etiam a Tarento mox recessit et apud Argis Greciae ciuitatem occisus est. Apud Iudaeos hoc tempore pontifex maximus Simon Oniae filius claruit, cui cognomentum Iusto fuit.

He first led four elephants to Rome. Pyrrhus likewise soon withdrew from Tarentum and was killed at Argos, a city of Greece. Among the Jews at this time the high priest Simon, son of Onias, flourished, whose cognomen was Iustus.

Dehinc Tarentini, Pyrri morte comperta, iterum noua arma aduersum Romanos sollicitant. Carthaginiensium auxilia per legatos poscunt atque accipiunt. Carthaginienses a Romanis uincuntur; quamuis nondum hostes iudicati, senserunt tamen se posse a Romanis superari.

Then the Tarentines, Pyrrhus’ death having been learned, again take up new arms against the Romans. They demand and receive Carthaginian auxiliaries through legates. The Carthaginians are defeated by the Romans; although not yet declared enemies, they nonetheless perceived that they could be overcome by the Romans.

15 Gaio Fauio Licinio Gaio Claudio Cannia consulibus, anno Vrbis conditae quadringentesimo sexagesimo primo, legati Alexandrini a Ptolomaeo missi Romam uenere et a Romanis amicitiam, quam petierant, optinuerunt.

15 In the consulship of Gaius Fabius Licinius and Gaius Claudius Canna, in the year 461 since the founding of the City, Alexandrian legates sent by Ptolemy came to Rome and obtained from the Romans the friendship which they had asked for.

16 Quinto Gulone Fauio Pictore consulibus Picentes bellum commouere et ab insequentibus consulibus Publio Sempronio, Appio Claudio uicti sunt; et de his triumphatum est. Conditae a Romanis ciuitates Ariminus in Gallia et Beneuentum in Samnio. Tunc etiam a Romanis Cotrona inuaditur.

16 In the consulship of Quintus Gulon and Fabius Pictor the Picentes made war, and were defeated by the succeeding consuls Publius Sempronius and Appius Claudius; and a triumph was celebrated for these. The cities Ariminum in Gaul and Beneventum in Samnium were founded by the Romans. Then also Cotrona was invaded by the Romans.

Eo tempore pluribus locis e fontibus cruor fluxit et de nubibus in specie pluuiae lac descendit.

At that time in many places blood flowed from springs, and from the clouds, in the appearance of rain, milk descended.

17 Marco Atillio Regulo Lucio Iulio Libone consulibus Sallentinis in Apulia bellum indictum est, captique sunt cum ciuitate simul Brundisini, et de his triumphatum est.

17 In the consulship of Marcus Atillius Regulus and Lucius Julius Libo a war was proclaimed against the Sallentini in Apulia; the Brundisini were taken together with their city, and a triumph was celebrated for these.

18 Anno quadringentesimo septuagesimo septimo, cum iam clarum urbis Romae nomen esset, arma tamen extra Italiam mota non fuerant. Vt igitur cognosceretur quae copiae Romanorum essent, census est habitus; tum inuenta sunt ciuium capita ducenta nonaginta duo milia trecenta triginta quattuor, quamquam a condita Vrbe numquam bella cessassent. Et contra Afros bellum susceptum est primum Appio Claudio Quinto Fuluio consulibus.

18 In the year 477, when already the name of the city of Rome was illustrious, yet arms had not been moved beyond Italy. Therefore, that the forces of the Romans might be known, a census was taken; then the heads of citizens were found to be 292,334, although from the founding of the Urbe wars had never ceased. And against the Africans a war was first undertaken in the consulship of Appius Claudius and Quintus Fulius.

In Sicilia contra eos pugnatum est et Appius Claudius de Afris et rege Siciliae Hierone triumphauit.

In Sicily fighting was made against them, and Appius Claudius triumphed over the Afri and over Hieron, king of Sicily.

19 Insequenti anno, Valerio Marco et Otacilio consulibus, in Sicilia a Romanis res magnae gestae sunt. Tauromenitani, Catinenses et praeterea l ciuitates in fidem acceptae.

19 In the following year, with Valerius, Marcus, and Otacilius as consuls, great deeds were done in Sicily by the Romans. The Tauromenitani, the Catinenses, and moreover other cities were received into allegiance.

Tertio anno in Sicilia contra Hieronem regem Siculorum bellum paratum est. Cum omni nobilitate Syracusanorum pacem a Romanis impetrauit deditque argenti cc talenta. Afri in Sicilia uicti sunt, et de his secundo Romae triumphatum est.

In the third year a war was prepared in Sicily against Hieron, king of the Sicels. With all the nobility of the Syracusans he obtained peace from the Romans and gave 200 talents of silver. The Afri were defeated in Sicily, and for these a second triumph was celebrated at Rome.

20 Quinto anno Punici belli quod contra Afros gerebatur, primum Romani Gaio Duillo et Gneo Cornelio Asina consulibus in mari dimicauerunt, paratis nauibus rostratis, quas Liburnas uocant. Consul Cornelius fraude deceptus est. Duillius commisso proelio Carthaginiensium ducem uicit, triginta et unam nauem coepit, quattuordecim mersit, septem milia hostium coepit, tria milia occidit.

20 In the fifth year of the Punic War, which was waged against the Afri, the Romans first fought at sea with Gaius Duillius and Gnaeus Cornelius Asina as consuls, their beaked ships prepared, which they call Liburnae. Consul Cornelius was deceived by fraud. Duillius, with the battle joined, defeated the Carthaginian commander, captured 31 ships, sank 14, took 7,000 of the enemy, and killed 3,000.

Neque ulla uictoria Romanis gratior fuit, quod inuicti terra, iam etiam mari plurimum possent.

Nor was any victory more gratifying to the Romans, because, undefeated on land, they were now also very powerful at sea.

Gaio Aquilio Floro Lucio Scipione consulibus Scipio Corsicam et Sardiniam uastauit, multa milia inde captiuorum adduxit, triumphum egit.

In the consulship of Gaius Aquilius Florus and Lucius Scipio, Scipio laid waste Corsica and Sardinia, brought back from there many thousands of captives, and celebrated a triumph.

21 Lucio Mallio Vulsone Marco Atilio Regulo consulibus bellum in Africam translatum est. Contra Amilcarem Carthaginiensium ducem in mari pugnatum, uictusque est. Nam perditis lxiiii nauibus retro se recepit.

21 In the consulship of Lucius Mallius Volso and Marcus Atilius Regulus the war was transferred into Africa. They fought at sea against Amilcar, the leader of the Carthaginians, and he was defeated. For, with 64 ships lost, he withdrew back.

Romani xxii amiserunt. Sed cum in Africam transissent, primam Clipeam Africae ciuitatem in deditionem acceperunt. Consules usque ad Carthaginem processerunt, multisque uastatis Mallius uictor Romam rediit et uiginti septem milia captiuorum reduxit, Atilius Regulus in Africa remansit.

The Romans lost 22. But when they had crossed into Africa, they received Clipea, the foremost city of Africa, into surrender. The consuls advanced as far as Carthage; and with many places devastated, Mallius the victor returned to Rome and brought back 27,000 captives; Atilius Regulus remained in Africa.

Is contra Afros aciem instruxit. Contra tres Carthaginiensium duces dimicans uictor fuit, xviii milia hostium cecidit, v milia cum xviii elefantis coepit, lxxiiii ciuitates in fidem accepit. Inter haec apud fluuium Bagrada Regulus serpentem mirae magnitudinis occidit, cuius corium centum uiginti pedum longitudinem habuit, Romamque delatum aliquandiu cunctis miraculo fuit.

He drew up his battle line against the Afri. Fighting against three Carthaginian commanders he was victorious: 18,000 of the enemy fell; he took 5,000 and 18 elephants; he received 74 cities into allegiance. Among these deeds, at the river Bagradas Regulus killed a serpent of wondrous size, whose skin measured 120 feet in length, and, brought to Rome, it was for a time a wonder to all.

Tum uicti Carthaginienses pacem a Romanis petiuerunt. Quam cum Regulus nollet nisi durissimis conditionibus dare, Afri auxilium a Lacedaemoniis petiuerunt. Et duce Xantippo, qui a Lacedaemoniis missus fuerat, Romanorum dux Regulus uictus est ultima pernicie.

Then the vanquished Carthaginians sought peace from the Romans. When Regulus would grant it only on the most severe conditions, the Africans sought aid from the Lacedaemonians. And with Xantippo as leader, who had been sent by the Lacedaemonians, the Roman commander Regulus was defeated unto final ruin.

Nam duo tantum ex omni Romano exercitu refugerunt, d cum imperatore Regulo capti sunt, xxx milia occisa, Regulus ipse in catenas coniectus. Hac tempestate Ptolomeus Filadelfus Iudeos, qui in Aegypto erant, liberos esse permisit et uasa Eleazaro pontifici Hierosolimorum uotiua transmittens diuinas Scripturas in Grecam uocem ex Ebrea lingua per lxx interpretes transferre curauit, quas in Alexandrina bibliotheca habuit, quam sibi ex omni genere litteraturae comparauerat.

For only two from the whole Roman army fled; the rest, with the commander Regulus, were taken, 30,000 killed, Regulus himself thrown into chains. At this time Ptolemy Philadelphus permitted the Jews who were in Egypt to be free, and, sending votive vessels to Eleazar, high priest of the Jerusalems, he took care that the divine Scriptures be transferred into the Greek tongue from the Hebrew language by 70 interpreters, which he kept in the Alexandrian library, which he had procured for himself from every kind of literature.

22 Marco Aemilio Paulo Seruio Fuluio Nobiliore consulibus, ambo Romani consules ad Africam profecti sunt cum trecentarum nauium classe. Primum Afros nauali certamine superant. Aemilius consul centum et quattuor naues hostium demersit, triginta cum pugnatoribus coepit, quindecim milia hostium aut occidit aut coepit, militem suum ingenti praeda ditauit.

22 In the consulship of Marcus Aemilius Paulus and Servius Fulvius Nobilior, both Roman consuls sailed to Africa with a fleet of 300 ships. First they overcame the Afri in a naval engagement. Consul Aemilius sank 104 enemy ships, took 30 with their crews, killed or captured 15,000 of the enemy, and enriched his soldiers with vast booty.

Et subacta Africa tunc fuisset, nisi quod tanta fames erat ut diutius exercitus exspectare non posset. Consules cum uictrici classe redeuntes circa Siciliam naufragium passi sunt. Et tanta tempestas fuit, ut ex quadringentis lx nauibus octoginta seruari potuerunt, neque ullo tempore tanta maritima tempestas audita est.

And Africa would then have been subdued, if not because the famine was so great that the army could not wait any longer. The consuls, returning with the victorious fleet, suffered shipwrecks around Sicily. And there was such a storm that of 460 ships only 80 could be saved, nor at any time has so great a maritime tempest been heard.

Romani statim cc naues reparauerunt, neque in aliquo animus his infractus fuit. Hoc tempore argenteus nummus primum in Vrbe figuratus est.

The Romans immediately repaired 200 ships, nor in any respect was their spirit broken by these things. At that time a silver nummus was for the first time struck in the City.

23 Gneus Seruilius Caepio, Gaius Simpronius Blesus consules cum cclx nauibus ad Africam profecti sunt. Aliquot ciuitates coeperunt. Predam ingentem reducentes naufragium passi sunt.

23 Gnaeus Servilius Caepio and Gaius Simpronius Blesus, consuls, set out for Africa with 260 ships. Some cities began to rise. While bringing back a huge booty they suffered shipwreck.

Itaque cum continuae calamitates Romanis displicerent, decreuit senatus ut a maritimis proeliis recederetur et tantum lx naues ad praesidium Italiae saluae essent.

Therefore, since continual calamities displeased the Romans, the senate decreed that they withdraw from maritime engagements and that only 60 ships be retained for the defence (garrison) of Italy.

24 Lucio Caecilio Metello Gaio Furio Placido consulibus, Metellus in Siciliam Afrorum ducem cum cxxx elefantis et magnis copiis uenientem superauit, xx milia hostium cecidit, sex et xx elefantos coepit, reliquos errantes per Numidas, quos in auxilium habebat, collegit et Romam deduxit ingenti pompa, cum cxxx elefantorum numerus omnia itinera compleret. Post haec mala Carthaginienses Regulum ducem, quem coeperant, petiuerunt, Romam proficisceretur et pacem a Romanis optineret ac permutationem captiuorum faceret.

24 In the consulship of Lucius Caecilius Metellus and Gaius Furius Placidus, Metellus overcame the leader of the Africans coming into Sicily with 130 elephants and great forces; 20,000 of the enemy fell; he captured 26 elephants, gathered the rest wandering among the Numidians, whom he had as auxiliaries, and led them to Rome in a vast pomp, the number of 130 elephants filling every road. After these misfortunes the Carthaginians sought Regulus, the leader they had chosen, that he might set out for Rome and obtain peace from the Romans and effect an exchange of captives.

25 Ille Romam cum uenisset, inductus in senatum nihil quasi Romanus egit dixitque se ex illa die qua in potestatem Afrorum uenisset, Romanum esse desisse. Itaque et uxorem a conplexu remouit et senatui suasit ne pax cum Poenis fieret: illos enim fractos tot casibus spem nullam habere; tanti non esse, ut tot milia captiuorum propter unum se et senem et paucos, qui ex Romanis capti fuerant, redderent. Itaque optinuit.

25 When he had come to Rome, brought into the senate he did nothing as a Roman, and he said that from that day on, since he had fallen into the power of the Africans, he had ceased to be Roman. Therefore he even removed his wife from his embrace and advised the senate that no peace be made with the Poeni; for, broken by so many mishaps, they had no hope; it was not worth so much that they should return so many thousands of captives for the sake of one man — himself an old man — and a few others who had been taken from the Romans. And so he prevailed.

Nam Afros pacem petentes nullus admisit. Ipse Carthaginem rediit offerentibusque Romanis ut eum Romae tenerent, negauit se in ea urbe mansurum in qua, postquam Afris seruierat, dignitatem honesti ciuis habere non posset. Regressus igitur ad Africam, circumcisis palpebris, ut usque ad mortem cruciatu intolerabili ac dolore uigilaret, demum omnibus suppliciis extinctus est.

For no one admitted the Afrians seeking peace. He himself returned to Carthage, and when the Romans offered to keep him in Rome he refused, saying that he would not remain in that city in which, after he had served the Afrians, he could not hold the dignity of an honest citizen. Therefore, having returned to Africa, his eyelids having been cut off so that he might watch in intolerable torture and pain until death, he was at last put to death by every torment.

26 Post, Claudio Pulchro Gaio Iunio consulibus, Claudius contra auspicia pugnauit et a Carthaginiensibus uictus est. Nam ex cc et xx nauibus cum xxx fugit, xc cum pugnatoribus captae sunt, demersae ceterae. Alius quoque consul naufragio classem amisit, exercitum tamen saluum habuit, quia uicina litora erant.

26 After the consulship of Claudius Pulcher and Gaius Junius, Claudius fought against the auspices and was defeated by the Carthaginians. For out of 220 ships, 30 fled, 90 with their fighting men were captured, the rest were sunk. Another consul likewise lost the fleet in a shipwreck, yet he kept the army safe, because there were nearby shores.

Anno etiam consequenti classis Punica in Italiam transiit eiusque plurimas partes longe lateque uastauit.

In the following year the Punic fleet crossed into Italy and laid waste very many of its parts far and wide.

Dum haec agerentur, apud Iudeam pontificatum post Eleazarum suscepit Manasses auunculus eius.

While these things were being done, in Judea Manasses, his maternal uncle, assumed the pontificate after Eleazar.

27 Gaio Lutatio Catulo Aulo Postumio Allino consulibus, anno belli Punici xx et tertio, a Catulo bellum contra Afros commissum est. Profectus est cum trecentis nauibus in Siciliam; Afri contra ipsum cccc parauerunt. Numquam in mari tantis copiis pugnatum est.

27 In the consulship of Gaius Lutatius Catulus and Aulus Postumius Albinus, in the 23rd year of the Punic war, war was undertaken by Catulus against the Afri. He set out with 300 ships for Sicily; the Afri prepared 400 against him. Never on the sea has there been fought with such great forces.

Lutatius Catulus nauem aeger ascendit; uulneratus enim in pugna superiore fuerat. Contra Lilibeum ciuitatem Siciliae pugnatum est ingenti uirtute Romanorum; nam lxxiii Carthaginiensium naues captae sunt, xxv demersae, xxxii hostium captae, xiii occisa, infinitum auri, argenti, praedae in potestatem Romanorum redactum. Ex classe Romana xii naues demersae.

Lutatius Catulus boarded a ship sick; for he had been wounded in the earlier battle. Against Lilibeum, a city of Sicily, there was fought with the great valor of the Romans; for 73 Carthaginian ships were captured, 25 sunk, 32 of the enemy taken, 13 killed, an infinite quantity of gold, silver, and booty brought into the power of the Romans. From the Roman fleet 12 ships were sunk.

Pugnatum est vi idus Martias. Statim pacem Carthaginienses petiuerunt, tributaque est his pax. Captiui Romanorum, qui tenebantur a Carthaginiensibus, redditi sunt.

The battle was fought on the sixth day before the Ides of March. Immediately the Carthaginians sought peace, and peace was granted them with tribute. The Roman captives who had been held by the Carthaginians were restored.

Etiam Carthaginienses petiuerunt, ut redimi eos captiuos liceret, quos ex Afris Romani tenebant. Senatus iussit sine pretio eos dari qui in publica custodia essent; qui autem a priuatis tenerentur, ut praetio dominis reddito Carthaginem redirent atque id praetium ex fisco magis quam a Carthaginiensibus solueretur. Carthaginienses sane sub hac conditione cum Romanis pacem fecerunt, ut eis per continuos xx annos persoluerent argenti puri tria milia talentorum.

Also the Carthaginians asked that it be permitted to ransom those captives whom the Romans held from the Africans. The Senate ordered that those be given without price who were in public custody; but those who were held by private persons were to return to Carthage with the ransom paid to their masters, and that that ransom be paid from the treasury rather than by the Carthaginians. The Carthaginians indeed made peace with the Romans under this condition, that they should pay them for twenty continuous years three thousand talents of pure silver.

His diebus Iudaeorum pontifex Onias Simonis Iusti filius clarus habebatur. Tunc etiam Quintus Ennius poeta Tarenti nascitur, qui post Romae deguit contentus unius ancillae ministerio.

In these days the Jewish high priest Onias, son of Simon the Just, was held renowned. At that time Quintus Ennius, a poet of Tarentum, was also born, who afterward lived at Rome content with the service of a single maidservant.

28 Quintus Lutatius, Aulus Manlius consules creati sunt. Bellum Faliscis intulerunt, quae ciuitas Italiae opulenta quondam fuit, quod ambo consules intra vi dies, quam uenerant, transigerunt, xv milibus hostium cesis, coeteris pace concessa, agro tamen ex medietate sublato.

28 Quintus Lutatius and Aulus Manlius were elected consuls. They waged war against the Falisci, a city that was once opulent in Italy, which both consuls concluded within 6 days after their arrival, with 15,000 of the enemy slain; to the rest peace was granted, yet half the territory was taken away.