Paulus Diaconus: HISTORIA ROMANA

2 Titus Quintius Flamminius aduersum Philippum rem prospere gessit, et pax ei data est his legibus: ne Greciae ciuitatibus, quas Romani contra eum defenderant, bellum inferret, ut captiuos et transfugas redderet, quinquaginta solas naues haberet, reliquas Romanis dederet, per annos decem quaterna milia pondo argenti praestaret et obsidem daret filium suum Demetrium. Titus Quintius etiam Lacedaemoniis intulit bellum. Ducem eorum Nabidem uicit et quibus uoluit conditionibus in fidem accepit.

2 Titus Quintius Flamminius prosecuted the affair successfully against Philip, and peace was granted him on these terms: that he should not make war on those Greek cities which the Romans had defended against him, that he should restore captives and deserters, that he should have only fifty ships, that he should give the remaining ships to the Romans, that for ten years he should furnish four thousand pounds of silver, and that he should give his son Demetrium as a hostage. Titus Quintius also brought war upon the Lacedaemonians. He defeated their leader Nabidem and received him into fidelity on whatever conditions he chose.

Ingenti gloria triumphauit, duxit ante currum nobilissimos obsides, Demetrium Philippi filium et Armenem Nabidis. Romani captiui, qui sub Annibale per Greciam uenditi fuerant, uniuersi recepti capitibus rasis ob detersam seruitutem currum triumphantis secuti sunt. Eodem tempore Insubres Boii, a quibus Ticinum ciuitas condita est, atque Cenomanni contractis in unum uiribus Amilcare Poenorum duce, qui in Italia remanserat, Cremonam Placentiamque uastantes difficillimo bello a Lucio Fuluio praetore superati sunt.

He triumphed with immense glory, and led before his chariot the most noble hostages, Demetrian, son of Philip, and Armenus, [son] of Nabides. The Roman captives, who under Hannibal had been sold throughout Greece, all together were received and, with their heads shaved as a mark that their servitude was wiped away, followed the triumpher’s chariot. At the same time the Insubres, the Boii (from whom the city of Ticinum was founded), and the Cenomanni, their forces united as one under the command of Amilcar of the Punics, who had remained in Italy, ravaging Cremona and Placentia, were overcome by Lucius Fulvius, the praetor, in a very difficult war.

Consul Marcellus in Etruria a Boiis oppressus magnam partem exercitus perdidit; cui postea Furius alter consul auxilio accessit atque ita uniuersam Boiorum gentem igni ferroque uastantes propemodum usque ad nihilum deleuerunt.

Consul Marcellus, overwhelmed by the Boii in Etruria, lost a large part of the army; to him afterwards Furius, the other consul, came to the aid, and thus, devastating the whole people of the Boii with fire and sword, they destroyed them almost to nothing.

3 Transacto bello Macedonico secutum est Syriacum contra Antiochum regem Publio Cornelio Scipione Acilio Glabrione consulibus. Huic Antiocho Annibal se iunxerat Carthaginem patriam suam, metu ne Romanis traderetur, relinquens. Acilius Glabrio in Achaia bene pugnauit.

3 With the Macedonian war having been concluded, the Syrian war followed against King Antiochus under the consuls Publius Cornelius Scipio and Aelius Glabrio. To that Antiochus Hannibal had attached himself, abandoning his native Carthage for fear it might be handed over to the Romans. Acilius Glabrio fought well in Achaia.

Castra regis Antiochi nocturna pugna capta sunt, ipse fugatus. Philippo, quia contra Antiochum Romanis fuisset auxilio, filius Demetrius redditus est.

The camp of King Antiochus was taken in a nocturnal fight, he himself put to flight. To Philip, because he had aided the Romans against Antiochus, his son Demetrius was restored to him.

Publio Scipione Africano iterum Tito Sempronio Longo consulibus, apud Mediolanium decem milia Gallorum caesa, sequenti autem proelio undecim milia Gallorum, Romanorum uero quinque milia occisa sunt. Minucius a Liguribus in extremum periculi adductus et insidiis hostium circumuentus uix Numidarum equitum industria liberatus est.

In the consulship again of Publius Scipio Africanus and Titus Sempronius Longus, at Mediolanum ten thousand Gauls were slain, and in the following battle eleven thousand Gauls, while of the Romans five thousand were killed. Minucius, having been brought to the utmost peril by the Ligurians and surrounded by the ambushes of the enemy, was with difficulty delivered by the industry of the Numidian horsemen.

4 Lucio Cornelio Scipione et Gaio Laelio consulibus, Scipio Africanus fratri suo Lucio Cornelio Scipioni consuli legatus contra Antiochum profectus est. Annibal, qui cum Antiocho erat, nauali proelio uictus est. Ipse postea Antiochus circa Sipulum Magnesiam Asiae ciuitatem a consule Cornelio Scipione ingenti proelio fusus est.

4 In the consulship of Lucius Cornelius Scipio and Gaius Laelius, Scipio Africanus set out as legate to his brother Lucius Cornelius Scipio, the consul, against Antiochus. Hannibal, who was with Antiochus, was defeated in a naval battle. He himself afterwards, near Sipylus at Magnesia, a city of Asia, was routed by the consul Cornelius Scipio in a great battle.

Auxilio fuit in ea pugna Romanis Eumenes Attali regis frater, qui Eumeniam in Frigia condidit. Quinquaginta milia peditum, tria equitum eo certamine ex parte regis occisa sunt. Tum rex pacem petit.

Eumenes, brother of King Attalus, who founded Eumenia in Phrygia, was of aid to the Romans in that battle. 50,000 infantry and 3,000 horsemen were killed on the king’s side in that engagement. Then the king sought peace.

Isdem conditionibus data est a senatu, quamquam uicto, quibus ante offerebatur: ut ex Europa et Asia recederet atque intra Taurum se contineret, decem milia talentorum et uiginti obsides praeberet, Annibalem concitatorem belli dederet. Eumeni regi donatae sunt a senatu omnes Asiae ciuitates quas Antiochus bello perdiderat, et Rhodiis, qui auxilium Romanis contra regem Antiochum tulerant, multae urbes concesserunt. Scipio Romam rediit, ingenti gloria triumphauit.

The same terms were imposed by the senate, although upon the conquered, as had been offered before: that he withdraw from Europe and Asia and confine himself within the Taurus, that he should furnish ten thousand talents and twenty hostages, and deliver up Annibal, the instigator of the war. To King Eumenes the senate gave all the cities of Asia which Antiochus had lost in war, and to the Rhodians, who had lent aid to the Romans against King Antiochus, many cities were granted. Scipio returned to Rome and triumphed with great glory.

Nomen et ipse, ad imitationem fratris, Asiagenis accepit, quia Asiam uicerat, sicuti frater ipsius propter Africam domitam Africanus appellabatur. Lucius Bebius in Hispaniam proficiscens a Liguribus circumuentus cum uniuerso exercitu occisus est, unde adeo ne nuntium quidem superfuisse constat, ut internitionem ipsam Romae Massilienses nuntiare curauerint. Marcius consul aduersus Ligures profectus superatusque quattuor milia militum amisit.

He himself likewise took the name Asiagenes, in imitation of his brother, because he had conquered Asia, just as his brother was called Africanus on account of Africa having been subdued. Lucius Bebius, setting out for Hispania, was surrounded by the Ligurians and killed with his whole army, from which it is so certain that not even a messenger survived that they took care to announce the very annihilation at Rome and at Massilia. Marcius, consul, setting out against the Ligurians and defeated, lost four thousand soldiers.

5 Spurio Postumio Albino Marco Philippo consulibus M. Fuluius de Aetolis triumphauit. Annibal, qui, uicto Antiocho, ne Romanis traderetur, ad Prusiam Bithyniae regem fugerat, repetitus etiam ab eo est per Titum Quintium Flamminium. Et cum tradendus Romanis esset, uenenum bibit et apud Libyssam in finibus Nicomedensium sepultus est.

5 In the consulship of Spurius Postumius Albinus and Marcus Philippus, M. Fulvius triumphed over the Aetolians. Hannibal, who, Antiochus having been defeated, had fled to Prusias, king of Bithynia, lest he be delivered to the Romans, was furthermore demanded back from him by Titus Quinctius Flamininus. And when he was to be handed over to the Romans, he drank poison and was buried at Libyssa in the territory of the Nicomedians.

Eodem anno Scipio Africanus ab ingrata sibi Vrbe diu exulans apud Amiternum morbo periit. Tunc Vulcani insula, quae ante non fuerat, repente mari est edita. His quoque diebus actum est quod de Heliodoro Machabaeorum narrat historia.

In the same year Scipio Africanus, long exiled from the city ungrateful to him, died at Amiternum of disease. Then the island of Vulcan, which had not existed before, was suddenly raised from the sea. In these same days there was also accomplished that which the history of the Maccabees narrates concerning Heliodorus.

6 Philippo rege Macedoniae mortuo, qui et aduersus Romanos bellum gesserat et postea Romanis contra Antiochum auxilium tulerat, filius eius Perseus in Macedonia rebellauit ingentibus copiis ad bellum paratis. Nam adiutores habebat Cotum Thraciae regem et regem Illirici Gentium nomine. Romanis autem in auxilium erant Eumenes Asiae rex, Ariaratus Cappadociae, Antiochus Syriae, Ptolomeus Aegypti, Masinissa Numidiae.

6 On the death of Philip, king of Macedonia, who had both made war against the Romans and afterwards brought aid to the Romans against Antiochus, his son Perseus in Macedonia rebelled, with vast forces prepared for war. For auxiliaries he had Cotys, king of Thrace, and a king by the name of the Illyrian peoples. But to the Romans in aid were Eumenes, king of Asia; Ariaratus of Cappadocia; Antiochus of Syria; Ptolemy of Egypt; Masinissa of Numidia.

Prusias autem Bithyniae, quamquam sororem Persei uxorem haberet, utrisque se equum praebuit. Dux Romanorum Publius Licinius consul contra eum missus est et a rege graui proelio uictus. Neque tamen Romani, quamquam superati, regi petenti pacem praestare uoluerunt nisi his conditionibus: ut se et suos senatui et populo Romano dederet.

Prusias of Bithynia, although he had Perseus’s sister for a wife, gave his support to both sides. Publius Licinius, consul, was sent as commander of the Romans against him and was defeated by the king in a severe battle. Yet the Romans, although vanquished, would not grant peace to the king who sought it except on these conditions: that he and his own be surrendered to the Senate and the Roman People.

Mox missus contra eum Lucius Aemilius Paulus consul et in Illiricum Gaionicius praetor contra Gentium. Sed Gentius facile uno proelio uictus mox se dedidit. Mater eius et uxor et duo filii, frater quoque simul in potestatem Romanorum uenerunt.

Soon Lucius Aemilius Paulus, consul, was sent against him, and Gaionicius the praetor into Illyricum against Gentius. But Gentius, easily vanquished in a single battle, soon surrendered himself. His mother and his wife and two sons, and likewise his brother at the same time, came into the power of the Romans.

Bello intra xxx dies perfecto, ante cognitum est Gentium uictum, quam coeptum bellum nuntiaretur.

With the war finished within 30 days, Gentius’s defeat was known before the war that had been begun was announced.

7 Cum Perseo autem Aemilius Paulus consul iii nonas Sept. dimicauit uicitque eum uiginti milibus peditum eius occisis. Equitatus cum rege interfugit.

7 When Aemilius Paulus, the consul, fought with Perseus on 3 September he defeated him, twenty thousand of his infantry being killed. The cavalry fled with the king.

Romanorum centum milites amiserat. Romanis se dederunt. Ipse rex cum desereretur ab amicis, uenit in Pauli potestatem.

He had lost one hundred Roman soldiers. They surrendered themselves to the Romans. The king himself, when he was deserted by his friends, came into the power of Paulus.

Sed honorem ei Aemilius Paulus consul non quasi uicto habuit; nam et uolentem ad pedes sibi cadere non permisit et iuxta se in sella collocauit. Macedoniis et Illiriis hae leges a Romanis datae: ut liberi essent et dimidium eorum tributorum praestarent quae regibus praestitissent, ut appareret populum Romanum pro aequitate magis quam auaritia dimicare. Itaque in conuentu infinitorum populorum Paulus hoc pronuntiauit et legationes multarum gentium, qui ad eum uenerant, magnificentissimo conuiuio pauit, dicens eiusdem homines esse debere et bello uincere et in conuiuii apparatu elegantes esse.

But Aemilius Paulus, the consul, did not show him honor as to a vanquished man; for he would not allow him, though willing, to fall at his feet, and set him beside himself on a seat. To the Macedonians and Illyrians these laws were given by the Romans: that they should be free and pay half of the tributes which they had paid to kings, so that it might appear the Roman people fought for equity rather than for avarice. Thus in an assembly of innumerable peoples Paulus proclaimed this, and entertained the legations of many nations who had come to him with a most magnificent banquet, saying that the same men ought both to triumph in war and to be elegant in the array of a feast.

8 Mox septuaginta ciuitates Epyri, quae rebellabant, cepit, praedam militibus distribuit. Romam ingenti pompa rediit in naue Persei, quae inusitatae magnitudinis fuisse traditur, adeo ut sedecim ordines dicatur habuisse remorum. Triumphauit autem magnificentissime in curru aureo cum duobus filiis utroque latere adstantibus.

8 Soon he took seventy cities of Epirus, which were rebelling, and distributed the plunder to the soldiers. He returned to Rome with immense pomp in the ship of Perseus, which is said to have been of unusual size, so much so that it is reported to have had sixteen ranks of oars. He triumphed most magnificently in a golden chariot with his two sons standing on either side.

Ducti sunt ante currum duo regis filii et ipse Perseus xlv annos natus. Post eum etiam Anicus de Illiriis triumphauit. Gentius cum fratre et filiis ante currum ductus est.

Two sons of the king were led before the chariot and Perseus himself, forty-five years old. After him also Anicus of the Illyrians triumphed. Gentius, with his brother and sons, was led before the chariot.

Ad hoc spectaculum reges multarum gentium Romam uenerunt, inter alios etiam Attalus atque Eumenes Asiae reges et Prusias Bithyniae. Magno honore excepti sunt et permittente senatu dona quae adtulerunt in Capitolio posuerunt. Prusias etiam filium suum Nicomedem senatui commendauit.

To this spectacle kings of many peoples came to Rome, among them also Attalus and Eumenes, kings of Asia, and Prusias of Bithynia. They were received with great honor, and, the senate permitting, they placed the gifts they had brought on the Capitol. Prusias also commended his son Nicomedes to the senate.

Anno ab Vrbe condita sexcentesimo Lucio Licinio Lucullo Postumio Altino consulibus, cum omnes Romanos ingens Celtiberorum metus inuasisset et ex omnibus non esset qui ire in Hispaniam uel miles uel legatus auderet, Publius Scipio, qui post Africanus erit, ultro se militaturum in Hispaniam optulit, cum tamen in Macedoniam sorte iam deputatus esset. Itaque profectus in Hispaniam magnas strages gentium dedit, saepius etiam militis quam ducis usus officio; nam et barbarum prouocantem singulariter congressus occidit. Sergius autem Galba praetor a Lusitanis magno proelio uictus est uniuersoque exercitu amisso ipse cum paucis uix elapsus euasit.

In the 600th year from the founding of the City, in the consulship of Lucius Licinius Lucullus and Postumius Altinus, when a vast dread of the Celtiberians had invaded all the Romans and there was no one at all who would dare to go into Hispania either as soldier or envoy, Publius Scipio, who later will be called Africanus, voluntarily offered himself to serve in Hispania, although by lot he had already been assigned to Macedonia. And so, having set out into Hispania, he inflicted great slaughter upon the peoples, oftener exercising the office of a soldier than of a leader; for meeting and killing single-handed a barbarian who was challenging him. Sergius Galba, however, the praetor, was defeated by the Lusitani in a great battle, and with the whole army lost he himself with a few men scarce escaped.

9 Insequenti anno Lucius Mummius in Lusitania bene pugnauit. Marcellus postea consul res ibidem prospere gessit.

9 In the following year Lucius Mummius fought well in Lusitania. Marcellus, afterwards consul, conducted affairs there prosperously.

10 Tertium deinde bellum contra Carthaginem suscipitur sexcentesimo et altero anno ab Vrbe condita, Lucio Mallio Censurino et Marco Mallio consulibus, anno quinquagesimo primo postquam secundum Punicum transactum est. Hii profecti Carthaginem. Carthaginiensibus euocatis iussisque ut arma et naues traderent, tanta uis armorum repente tradita est, ut facile ex ea tota Africa potuisset armari.

10 The third war against Carthage was then undertaken in the 602nd year from the founding of the City, with Lucius Mallius Censorinus and Marcus Mallius as consuls, in the 51st year after the Second Punic War had been concluded. They set out for Carthage. The Carthaginians being summoned and commanded to surrender their arms and ships, so great a quantity of arms was suddenly handed over that from it all Africa could easily have been armed.

Qui postquam arma Romanis tradiderunt, relicta urbe recedere procul a mari decem milia passuum iussi sunt. Carthaginienses dolorem ad desperationem contulerunt aut defensuri ciuitatem aut cum ipsa per ipsam sepeliendi, moxque sibi duos Hasdrubales duces creauerunt, armaque facere aggressi, postquam aes ferrumque defecit, aurea argenteaque fecere. Consules cum aliquantam muri partem machinis diruissent, a Carthaginiensibus uicti sunt atque repulsi, quos fugientes Scipio tunc tribunus militum repulso intra muros hoste defendit.

After they had surrendered arms to the Romans, they were ordered, the city having been left, to retire far from the sea ten thousand paces. The Carthaginians brought their grief to desperation, resolved either to defend the city or to be buried in it; and soon they appointed two Hasdrubals as leaders and, setting about making weapons, when bronze and iron failed them they made them of gold and silver. When the consuls had broken down a portion of the wall with engines, they were defeated and driven back by the Carthaginians; those fleeing were defended by Scipio, then a military tribune, within the walls, the enemy having been repulsed.

Famea dux alius equitatui Carthaginiensium praeerat. Igitur Scipio tunc, Scipionis Africani nepos, tribunus, ut dictum est, militum ibi militabat. Huius apud omnes ingens metus et reuerentia erat; nam et paratissimus ad dimicandum et consultissimus habebatur.

Another leader named Famea presided over the cavalry of the Carthaginians. Therefore Scipio then, grandson of Scipio Africanus, a tribune, as has been said, served there among the soldiers. In him among all there was a vast fear and reverence; for he was held both most ready for combat and most prudent in counsel.

Itaque per eum multa a consulibus gesta sunt, neque quicquam magis uel Hasdrubal uel Famea uitabant, quam contra eam Romanorum partem committere ubi Scipio dimicarat.

Thus many deeds were accomplished through him by the consuls, and neither Hasdrubal nor Famea avoided anything more than bringing action against that Roman detachment where Scipio had fought.

11 Per idem tempus Masinissa, rex Numidarum, per annos sexaginta fere amicus populi Romani, anno uitae nonagesimo septimo mortuus, quadraginta quattuor filiis relictis, Scipionem diuisorem inter filios suos esse iussit.

11 At the same time Masinissa, king of the Numidians, for about sixty years a friend of the Roman people, died in the 97th year of his life, leaving forty-four sons, and ordered Scipio to be the divider among his sons.

12 Cum igitur clarum Scipionis nomen esset, iuuenis adhuc consul est factus et contra Carthaginem est missus. Contra quam dum sex continuis diebus noctibusque pugnasset, ultima Carthaginienses desperatio ad deditionem traxit, petentes ut, quos belli clades reliquos fecisset, saltem seruire liceret; ac primum agmen mulierum satis miserabile, post uirorum descendit; nam fuisse mulierum uiginti quinque milia, uirorum triginta milia traditum est. Rex Hasdrubal se ultro dedidit, transfugae qui Escolapii templum occupauerant, uoluntario praecipitio dati, igne consumpti sunt.

12 Since therefore Scipio’s name was famous, he was made consul while still a young man and sent against Carthage. Against which, after he had fought for six continuous days and nights, at last the Carthaginians, in despair, were brought to surrender, asking that those whom the disaster of war had left remaining might at least be allowed to serve as slaves; and first a most miserable train of women descended, then of men; for it is reported that there were 25,000 women and 30,000 men. King Hasdrubal surrendered himself voluntarily; the deserters who had occupied the temple of Escolapius were delivered to a voluntary precipice and consumed by fire.

Vxor Hasdrubalis se suosque filios secum femineo furore in medium iecit incendium. Ipsa autem ciuitas sedecim diebus continuis arsit miserumque spectaculum suis uictoribus praebuit; multitudo omnis captiuorum exceptis paucis principibus uenundata est. Diruta est autem Carthago omni murali lapide in puluerem comminuto.

Hasdrubal's wife cast herself and her sons into the midst of the fire in a womanly frenzy. The city itself burned for sixteen continuous days and presented a sad spectacle to its victors; the entire multitude of captives, save for a few chiefs, was sold. Moreover Carthage was razed, every mural stone crushed to powder.

Cuius fuisse situs huiusmodi dicitur: xxii milia passuum muro amplexa tota paene mari cingebatur absque faucibus, quae tribus milibus passuum aperiebantur; is locus murum triginta pedes latum habuit saxo quadrato in altitudine cubitorum quadraginta, a saxo cui Byrsae nomen erat, paulo amplius quam duo milia passuum tenebat; ex una parte murus communis urbis et Byrsae imminens mari, quod mare stagnum dicitur, quoniam obiectu protentae linguae tranquillatur. Spolia ibi inuenta, quae uariarum ciuitatum excidiis Carthago collegerat, et ornamenta urbium ciuitatibus Siciliae, Italiae, Africae reddidit quae sua recognoscebant. Ita Carthago septingentesimo anno postquam condita erat deleta est.

The site of which is said to have been as follows: 22 miles, embraced by a wall, was almost entirely girded by the sea without straits, which opened for three miles; that place had a wall 30 feet wide, of squared stone, in height 40 cubits, and from the rock to which the name Byrsa was given it extended a little more than 2 miles; on one side the common wall of the city and of Byrsa overhung the sea, which is called the stagnum (the lagoon), because it is calmed by the projecting tongue stretched forth. The spoils found there, which Carthage had gathered in the sackings of various cities, and the ornaments of cities, she restored to the cities of Sicily, Italy, and Africa that recognized them as their own. Thus Carthage was destroyed in the 700th year after it had been founded.

Ita quarto, quam coeptum fuit, bellum tertium terminatum est. Scipio nomen, quod auus eius acceperat, meruit, scilicet ut propter uirtutem etiam ipse Africanus iunior uocaretur.

Thus, in the fourth year since it had been begun, the Third War was brought to an end. Scipio earned the name which his grandfather had received, namely that because of his virtue he too was called Africanus the Younger.

13 Interim in Macedonia quidam Pseudophilippus arma mouit et Romanum praetorem Publium Iuuentium contra se missum ad internicionem uicit. Post eum Quintus Caecilius Metellus dux a Romanis contra Pseudophilippum missus est et xxv milibus occisis Macedoniam recepit, ipsum etiam Pseudophilippum in potestatem suam redegit.

13 Meanwhile in Macedonia a certain Pseudophilippus took up arms and defeated the Roman praetor Publius Juventius, sent against him for destruction. After him Quintus Caecilius Metellus, a commander sent by the Romans against Pseudophilippus, recovered Macedonia with 25,000 killed, and even brought Pseudophilippus himself into his power.

14 Corinthiis quoque bellum indictum est, nobilissimae Greciae ciuitati, propter iniuriam legatorum Romanorum. Hanc Mummius consul coepit et diruit. Tres igitur Romae simul celeberrimi triumphi fuerunt: Africani ex Africa, ante cuius currum ductus est Hasdrubal; Metelli ex Macedonia, cuius currum praecessit Andariscus idem qui et Pseudophilippus; Mummii ex Corintho, ante quem signa aenea et pictae tabulae et alia urbis clarissimae ornamenta praelata sunt.

14 War was also declared against the Corinthians, the most noble city of Greece, on account of the injury to the Roman legates. This Mummius, the consul, undertook and razed it. Thus there were three very celebrated triumphs at Rome at once: of the Africans from Africa, before whose chariot Hasdrubal was led; of the Metelli from Macedonia, before whose chariot went Andariscus, the same man who was also Pseudophilippus; of the Mummii from Corinth, before whom bronze standards and painted panels and other most famous ornaments of the city were borne in procession.

15 Iterum in Macedonia Pseudoperses, qui se Persei filium esse dicebat, collectis seruitiis rebellauit, et cum iam xvi milia armatorum haberet, a Tremellio quaestore superatus est. His diebus androginus Romae uisus iussu aruspicum in mare mersus est.

15 Again in Macedonia Pseudoperses, who claimed to be the son of Perseus, with gathered servile followers rebelled, and when he already had 16 thousand armed men, was defeated by Tremellius the quaestor. In those days an androgynous person, seen in Rome, was by order of the haruspices plunged into the sea.

16 Eodem tempore Metellus in Celtiberiam apud Hispanos res egregias gessit. Successit ei Quintus Pompeius. Nec multo post Quintus quoque Coepio ad idem bellum missus est, quod quidam Viriatus contra Romanos in Lusitania gerebat.

16 At the same time Metellus carried out distinguished exploits in Celtiberia among the Hispani. Quintus Pompeius succeeded him. And not long afterward Quintus Coepio was also sent to the same war, which a certain Viriatus was waging against the Romans in Lusitania.

Quo metu Viriatus a suis interfectus est, cum xiiii annos Hispanias aduersus Romanos mouisset. Pastor primo fuit, mox latro non dux, postremo tantos ad bellum populos concitauit, ut adsertor contra Romanos Hispaniae putaretur. Huic namque primus Sextus Vecilius praetor occurrit, qui toto exercitu caeso uix fuga lapsus euasit; deinde Gaium Plautium praetorem idem Viriatus multis proeliis fractum fugauit; post haec Claudium Vnimammium cum omni exercitu superauit.

By this fear Viriatus was slain by his own, after he had moved the Spaniards for 14 years against the Romans. He was at first a shepherd, soon a brigand rather than a leader, and at last he stirred up such great peoples to war that he was thought the champion against the Romans of Spain. For to him first Sextus Vecilius, praetor, came upon him, who, with his whole army cut down, scarcely escaped by flight; then the praetor Gaius Plautius the same Viriatus, broken in many battles, put to flight; after these he overcame Claudius Unimammus with his entire army.

Denique cum interfectores eius praemium a Coepione consule peterent, responsum est: numquam Romanis placuisse imperatores a suis militibus interfici. Eo tempore Romae puer ex ancilla natus est quadrupes, quadrimanus, oculis quattuor, auribus totidem, naturam uirilem duplicem habens. In Bononiensi agro fruges in arboribus natae sunt.

Finally, when his interfectores sought a praemium from Consul Coepio, the response was: that it had never pleased the Romans that imperatores be slain by their own milites. At that time in Rome a puer born of an ancilla appeared quadruped, quadrimanous, with four eyes and as many ears, having a double virile naturae. In the Bononiensis field fruges were born on the trees.

17 Quintus Pompeius deinde consul a Numantinis, quae Hispaniae ciuitas fuit opulentissima, superatus pacem ignobilem fecit. Post eum Gaius Hostilius Mancinus consul iterum cum Numantinis pacem fecit infamem, quam populus et senatus iussit infringi atque ipsum Mancinum hostibus tradi, ut in illo quasi auctorem foederis uindicarent. Cumque per continuos annos quattuordecim cum solis quattuor milibus quadraginta milia Romanorum protriuissent, post tantam igitur ignominiam, qua a Numantinis bis Romani exercitus fuerant subiugati, Publius Scipio Africanus secundo consul factus est et ad Numantiam missus est.

17 Quintus Pompeius then, consul, having been defeated by the Numantines — a city of Spain most wealthy — made an ignoble peace. After him Gaius Hostilius Mancinus, consul again, made with the Numantines a shameful treaty, which the people and senate ordered to be broken and Mancinus himself to be handed over to the enemies, that in him they might vindicate, as it were, the author of the league. And when for fourteen continuous years they had carried on with only 4,040 Romans, after so great a disgrace, by which the Roman armies had twice been subdued by the Numantines, Publius Scipio Africanus was made consul a second time and sent to Numantia.

Is primum militem uitiosum et ignauum exercendo magis quam puniendo sine aliqua aceruitate correxit, mox pugna cum Numantinis commissa exercitus Romanus oppressus impetu Numantinorum terga conuertit; sed increpatione et minis obiectantis sese consulis tandem indignatus in hostem rediit et quem fugiebat, fugere compulit; unde quamuis Scipio laetatus sit, tamen ultra bello aduersus eos audendum non esse professus est. Itaque urbem obsidione conclusit, uallo circumdedit; cumque diu conclusi fame laborarent pugnaeque facultatem exposcerent, ut mori eis quasi uiris liceret, nouissime larga prius potione calefacti, quae madefactis frugibus confici solet, subito super Romanos inrupere. Atrox diu certamen et usque ad periculum Romanorum fuit, iterumque Romani pugnare se aduersum Numantinos fugiendo probassent, nisi sub Scipione pugnassent.

First he corrected the soldier’s vice and cowardice more by training than by punishing, without any severity; soon, when a fight was joined with the Numantines, the Roman army, overwhelmed by the Numantine onslaught, turned its backs; but the consul, reproached and menaced, at last indignant, returned upon the enemy and forced those whom he had been fleeing to flee; wherefore although Scipio rejoiced, yet he declared that further enterprise in war against them ought not to be attempted. Therefore he shut the city with a siege, enclosed it with a rampart; and since, long shut in, they suffered from famine and begged for the chance of battle, as if it were lawful for them to die like men, finally, having first been warmed by a plentiful draught made from soaked grain (which is wont to be prepared from moistened crops), they suddenly burst in upon the Romans. The struggle was fierce for a long time and to the Romans’ peril, and again the Romans would have shown themselves to fight the Numantines by fleeing, had they not fought under Scipio.

Numantini interfectis suis fortissimis bello cedunt, compositis tamen ordinibus nec sicut fugientes in urbem reuertuntur. Corpora interfectorum ad sepulturam oblata accipere noluerunt clausaque urbe cuncti pariter ferro, ueneno atque igne consumpti sunt. Romani ex his nihil aliud quam securitatem adepti sunt seque magis euasisse Numantinos quam uicisse dixerunt.

The Numantines, with their bravest killed, yielded in war; yet, their ranks having been formed, they did not return to the city as fugitives. They would not accept the bodies of the slain when offered for burial, and with the city shut, all alike were consumed by sword, poison, and fire. The Romans obtained from this nothing other than security, and said that they had more escaped from the Numantines than conquered them.

Vnum Numantinum uictoris catena non tenuit; quicquid supellectilis fuit, ignis consumpsit. Tunc Scipio Tyresum quendam Celticum principem consuluit, qua de causa Numantia aut prius inuicta aut post euersa fuisset; Tyresus respondit: «Concordia uictoriam, discordia exitium praebuit». Hac tempestate apud Iudaeos occiso Iuda Machabeo frater eius Ionathas pontifex habetur. Tunc etiam claruit apud Brundisium Pacuuius tragoediarum scriptor.

Not a single Numantine was held by the victor’s chain; whatever furnishings there were, fire consumed. Then Scipio consulted a certain Celtic prince Tyresus about whether for that reason Numantia had been previously unconquered or had been destroyed afterwards; Tyresus answered: "Concord gave victory, discord brought destruction." At that time, among the Jews, with Judas Maccabeus slain, his brother Jonathan is regarded as high priest. Then also Pacuvius, a writer of tragedies, flourished at Brundisium.

Igitur Scipio multas Hispaniae ciuitates partim coepit, partim in deditionem accepit, Numantiam a solo euertit, reliquam prouinciam in fidem accepit.

Thus Scipio took many cities of Hispania—some by siege, some he received into surrender; he razed Numantia to the ground and brought the remainder of the province into fidelity.

18 Eodem tempore Attalus rex Asiae frater Eumenis mortuus est heredemque populum Romanum reliquid. Ita imperio Romano per testamentum Asia accessit.

18 At the same time Attalus, king of Asia, brother of Eumenes, died and left the Roman people as his heir. Thus Asia came into the Roman empire by testament.

19 Mox etiam Decimus Iunius Brutus de Callecis et Lusitanis magna gloria triumphauit. Et post Scipio Africanus de Numantinis secundum triumphum egit xiiii anno postquam priorem de Africa egerat. Interea in Sicilia bellum est seruile exortum ac per Fuluium et Rutilium amplius quam uiginti milia tunc seruorum trucidata sunt; Minturnis ccccl serui in cruce suspensi sunt, apud Sinuessam uero iiii milia seruorum a Quinto Metello et Gneo Seruilio oppressa narrantur.

19 Soon also Decimus Junius Brutus triumphed with great glory over the Calleci and the Lusitanians. And afterward Scipio Africanus celebrated a second triumph over the Numantines in the 14th year after he had celebrated the former for Africa. Meanwhile in Sicily a servile war arose, and by Fulvius and Rutilius more than twenty thousand slaves were then slaughtered; at Minturnae 450 slaves were suspended on crosses, and at Sinuessa moreover 4,000 slaves are reported to have been crushed by Quintus Metellus and Gnaeus Servilius.

20 Motum interim in Asia bellum est ab Aristonico Eumenis filio, qui ex concubina exceptus fuerat. Is Eumenis frater Attali fuerat. Aduersus eum missus post Licinius Crassus habens infinita regum auxilia; nam et Bithyniae rex Nicomedes Romanos iuuit et Mitridates Ponticus, cum quo bellum postea grauissimum fuit, et Ariarates Cappadox et Polemenes Paflagon.

20 Meanwhile in Asia there was an uprising — a war — by Aristonicos, son of Eumenes, who had been born of a concubine. That Eumenes had been the brother of Attalus. Against him was sent afterwards Licinius Crassus, bearing the boundless auxiliaries of kings; for both Nicomedes, king of Bithynia, aided the Romans, and Mithridates of Pontus, with whom there was afterwards a very grave war, and Ariarates of Cappadocia and Polemenes of Paphlagonia.

Victus est tamen Crassus et ab hostibus captus est; qui magis mori eligens quam a barbaro abduci, uirgam qua equum agebat, in oculum se tenentis iniecit moxque ab eo confossus est. Caput eius Aristonico oblatum, corpus Smyrnae sepultum est. Postea Perpenna consul Romanus, qui successor Crasso ueniebat, audita belli fortuna ad Asiam celerauit et acie uictum Aristonicum apud Stratonicensium ciuitatem, quo confugerat, fame ad deditionem conpulit.

Crassus was however defeated and taken by the enemies; who, choosing rather to die than to be led off by a barbarian, thrust into his own eye the staff with which he had been urging his horse, and was soon stabbed by him. His head was presented to Aristonicus, his body was buried at Smyrna. Afterwards Perpenna, a Roman consul, who was coming as successor to Crassus, having learned the fortune of the war hastened to Asia and, the army having won, drove the defeated Aristonicus at the city of the Stratonicenses, to which he had fled, by famine to surrender.

Aristonicus iussu senatus Romae in carcere strangulatus est. Triumphari enim de eo non poterat, quia Perpenna apud Pergamum, Romam rediens, diem obierat.

Aristonicus, by order of the senate, was strangled in prison at Rome. For he could not be celebrated in a triumph, because Perpenna, at Pergamum, while returning to Rome, had died.

His diebus tanta per totam Africam lucustarum multitudo conualuit, ut simul fruges, herbas, arborum folia corticesque conroderent; quae repentino uento subleuatae in Africano sunt pelago demersae. Sed cum earum aceruos fluctus per extenta litora pertulissent, pestiferum odorem putrefacta congeries exhalauit. Vnde omnium animantium, auium pecudumque ac bestiarum pestis existens uitium corruptionis ampliauit; qua pestilentia in Numidia dccc milia hominum, circa Carthaginem uero plus quam cc milia perierunt, Romanorum uero militum, quae ibi ad praesidium erant, ccc milia extincta sunt.

In these days so great a multitude of locusts swarmed throughout all Africa that at once they gnawed away crops, herbs, the leaves and barks of trees; which, lifted by a sudden wind, were submerged in the African Sea. But when waves had borne their heaps along the extended shores, the mass of putrefaction gave off a pestiferous stench. Whence, becoming a pestilence of corruption for all living beings, birds, flocks and wild beasts, it increased the disease of decay; by which pestilence in Numidia 800 people perished, and around Carthage more than 200, while of the Roman soldiers who were there for the garrison 300 were destroyed.

21 Lucio Caecilio Metello et Tito Quintio Flamminio consulibus Carthago in Africa iussu senatus reparata est, quae nunc manet, annis duobus et xx euolutis postquam a Scipione fuerat euersa. Deducti sunt ciues Romani.

21 With Lucius Caecilius Metellus and Titus Quinctius Flamininus as consuls, Carthage in Africa was rebuilt by order of the senate, which now stands, 22 years having elapsed since it had been overturned by Scipio. Roman citizens were settled there.

22 Anno sexcentesimo uicesimo septimo ab Vrbe condita, Gaius Cassius Longinus et Sextus Domitius Caluinus consules Gallis Transalpinis bellum intulerunt et Arbennorum tunc nobilissimae ciuitati atque eorum duci Vituito infinitamque multitudinem iuxta Rodanum fluuium interfecerunt. Denique cum Vituitus paucitatem Romanorum uix ad escam canibus, quos in agmine habebat, sufficere posse iactaret et ipse clxxx milia armatorum haberet, conserta pugna a Romanis superatus est; ex cuius exercitu partim in bello partim submersi cum ponte, quem sibi iunctis nauibus supra Rodanum extruxerant, cl milia perierunt. Praeda ex torquibus Gallorum ingens Romam perlata est.

22 In the year 667 from the founding of the City, Gaius Cassius Longinus and Sextus Domitius Caluinus, as consuls, waged war upon the Transalpine Gauls and slew the Arbennorum, then the most noble of cities, and their leader Vituitus, and a countless multitude beside the River Rodanus. Finally, when Vituitus vaunted that the small number of Romans would scarcely suffice as food for the dogs which he had in his train, and that he himself had 180,000 armed men, in the joined battle he was overcome by the Romans; of his army, partly in battle and partly drowned with the bridge which they had built for themselves by joining ships above the Rhone, 150,000 perished. A vast booty of the Gauls’ torques was carried to Rome.

Vituitus se Domitio dedit atque ab eo Romam deductus est, magnaque gloria consules ambo triumphauerunt.

Vituitus surrendered himself to Domitius and was led to Rome by him, and with great glory both consuls triumphed.

23 Marcio Portio Catone et Quinto Marca Rege consulibus, sexcentesimo tricesimo et tertio anno ab Vrbe condita, Narbone in Gallia colonia deducta est.

23 In the consulship of Marcius Portius Cato and Quintus Marcius Rex, in the 633rd year from the founding of the City, a colony was established at Narbo in Gaul.

Annoque post a Licinio Metello et Quinto Mucio Sceuola consulibus de Dalmatia triumphatum est.

And in the year after, under the consuls Licinius Metellus and Quintus Mucius Scevola, a triumph was celebrated for Dalmatia.

24 Ab Vrbe condita anno sexcentesimo tricesimo quinto Gaius Cato consul Scordiscis intulit bellum, ignominiose pugnauit.

24 In the year 635 from the founding of the City Gaius Cato, consul, brought war upon the Scordisci, and fought ignominiously.

25 Gaio Caecilio Metello Gneo Carbone consulibus, duo Metelli fratres eodem die, alterum ex Tracia, alterum ex Sardinia triumphum egerunt, nuntiatumque Romae est Cymbros e Gallia in Italiam transisse.

25 In the consulship of Gaius Caecilius Metellus and Gnaeus Carbo, two Metelli brothers on the same day celebrated triumphs, one for victories in Thrace, the other for Sardinia, and it was announced at Rome that the Cimbri had crossed from Gaul into Italy.

26 Post Scipione Nasica et Calpurnio Bestia consulibus Iugurtae Numidarum regi bellum inlatum est, quod Adherbalem et Hiemsalem, Micipsae filios, fratres suos reges et populi Romani amicos, interemisset. Missus aduersus eum consul Calpurnius Bestia. Corruptus regis pecunia pacem cum eo flagitiosissimam fecit, et a senatu inprobata est.

26 After Scipio Nasica and Calpurnius Bestia were consuls, war was brought against Jugurtha, king of the Numidians, because he had slain Adherbal and Hiempsal, sons of Micipsa, his own brothers, kings and friends of the Roman people. The consul Calpurnius Bestia was sent against him. Corrupted by the king’s money, he made with him a most shameful peace, which was rejected by the senate.

Postea contra eundem insequenti anno Spurius Postumius Albinus profectus est. Is quoque per fratrem ignominiose contra Numidas pugnauit.

Afterwards, in the following year, Spurius Postumius Albinus set out against the same man. He too fought ignominiously against the Numidians by means of his brother.

27 Tertio missus Quintus Caecilius Metellus consul. Is exercitum ingenti seueritate et moderations correctum, cum nihil in quemquam cruentum faceret, ad disciplinam Romanam reduxit. Iugurtam uariis proeliis uicit, elefantos eius occidit uel coepit, multas ciuitates ipsius coepit.

27 Thirdly was sent Quintus Caecilius Metellus, consul. He brought the army back to Roman discipline, corrected by great severity and moderation, since he made nothing bloody against any man. He defeated Iugurtha in various battles, killed or captured his elephants, and took many of his cities.

Et cum iam finem bello positurus esset, successum est ei a Gaio Mario. Is Iugurtam et Bocchum Mauritaniae regem, qui auxilium Iugurtae ferre coeperat, pariter superauit. xc milia armatorum ad internitionem cecidit.

And when he was now about to put an end to the war, success came to him from Gaius Marius. He likewise overcame Iugurta and Bocchus, king of Mauretania, who had begun to bring aid to Iugurta. 90,000 armed men fell to destruction.

Aliquanta et ipse oppida Numidiae coepit belloque terminum posuit capto Iugurta per quaestorem suum Cornelium Syllam ingentem uirum, tradente Boccho Iugurtam qui pro eo ante pugnauerat. A Marco Iunio Silano collega Quinti Metelli Cymbri in Gallia uicti sunt et a Minutio Rufo in Macedonia Scordisci et Tribelli et a Seruilio Coepione in Hispania Lusitani uicti sunt, et duo triumphi de Iugurta, primus per Metellum, secundus per Marium, acti sunt. Ante currum tamen Marii Iugurta cum duobus filiis ductus est catenatus et mox iussu consulis in carcere strangulatus est.

He himself likewise seized several towns of Numidia and brought the war to an end, Iugurta having been captured by his quaestor Cornelius Syllas, a man of great stature, Bocchus delivering Iugurta who had before fought on his behalf. By Marcus Junius Silanus, colleague of Quintus Metellus, the Cimbri were defeated in Gaul, and by Minucius Rufus in Macedonia the Scordisci and Tribelli were overcome, and by Servilius Caepio in Hispania the Lusitani were routed; and two triumphs for Iugurta were celebrated, the first by Metellus, the second by Marius. Yet before Marius’ chariot Iugurta was led, in chains, with his two sons, and soon, by the consul’s order, was strangled in prison.

His apud Hierosolymam diebus Iohannes dux Iudaeorum et pontifex extitit, qui ab eo, quod Hyrcanos bello uicerat, Hyrcani nomen accepit. Per id etiam tempus Cicero Arpini nascitur matre Eluia nomine, patre equestris ordinis ex regio Vulscorum genere. Eodemque tempore quaedam uirgo de Roma in Apuliam pergens, ictu fulminis exanimata est omnibus sine scissura aliqua uestimentis ademptis ac pectoris pedumque uinculis dissolutis, monilibus etiam anulisque discussis inlleso corpore nuda iacuit; equus quoque eius pari modo frenis et cingulis peremptus iacuit dissolutis.

In those days at Jerusalem John appeared as leader of the Jews and pontiff, who from the fact that he had conquered the Hyrcani in war received the name Hyrcanus. At that same time Cicero was born at Arpinum, his mother named Elvia, his father of the equestrian order from the regional stock of the Volsci. And at the same time a certain maid, journeying from Rome into Apulia, was struck lifeless by a flash of thunder; all her garments were removed without any rent, the bonds about her chest and feet were loosed, even her necklaces and rings were scattered, and she lay naked with her body uninjured; likewise her horse lay dead in like manner, its reins and girths loosened.

EXPLICIT HISTORIAE ROMANAE LIBER QVARTVS

HERE ENDS THE FOURTH BOOK OF ROMAN HISTORY