4

A. C. 217.

bus potissimum tradendis animum adjecit: eam unum rem U. C. 537. maxime ratus conciliaturam Romanis principum Hispaniæ amicitiam. Sed quum, injussu Bostaris præfecti, satis sciret, nihil obsidum custodes facturos esse, Bostarem ipsum arte aggreditur. Castra extra urbem in ipso litore habebat Bostar, ut aditum ea parte intercluderet Romanis. Ibi eum in secretum abductum, velut ignorantem, monet, quo statu sit res. Metum continuisse ad eam diem Hispanorum 'animos, quia procul Romani abessent: nunc cis Iberum castra Romana esse, arcem tutam profugiumque novas ' volentibus res. Itaque, quos metus non teneat, beneficio et gratia devinciendos esse.' Miranti Bostari percunctantique, quodnam id subitum tantæ rei donum possit esse? 'Obsides,' inquit, in civitates remitte. Id et privatim 'parentibus, quorum maximum nomen in civitatibus est suis, et publice populis gratum erit. Vult sibi quisque 'credi, et habita fides ipsam plerumque obligat fidem. Ministerium restituendorum domos obsidum mihimet de

6

posco ipse, ut opera quoque impensa' consilium adjuvem meum, et rei suapte natura gratæ, quantam insuper gratiam possim, adjiciam.' Homini, non ad cetera Punica ingenia callido, ut persuasit, nocte clam progressus ad hostium stationes, conventis quibusdam auxiliaribus Hispanis, et ab iis ad Scipionem perductus, quid afferret, expromit. Fide accepta dataque, ac loco et tempore constituto ad obsides trahendos, Saguntum redit; diem insequentem absumpsit cum Bostare, mandatis ad rem agendam accipiendis. Dimissus, quum se nocte iturum, ut custodias hostium falleret, constituisset, ad compositam cum iis horam excitatis custodibus puerorum profectus, veluti ignarus in præparatas sua fraude insidias ducit. In castra Romana perducti: cetera omnia de reddendis obsidibus, sicut cum Bostare constitutum erat, acta per eundem ordinem, quo sio Carthamight be able to effect:" but the Latin, unfortunately, cannot bear this meaning.

3 Ea parte.] i. e. e regione portus. "On the side of the harbour."

4 Metum continuisse.] "It was fear that had restrained," &c.

5 Id subitum tantæ rei donum.] "That so unexpected and important favour." Bostar asks for an explanation of the words beneficio et gratiá.

6 Habita fides-obligat fidem.] This maxim belongs to a far higher tone of sentiment than prevailed among either the Spaniards or Carthaginians of that day. Where the moral sense is imperfectly developed, confidence reposed generally pro

duces contempt.

7 Operá-impensá.] "By my personal services," lit." by trouble or time bestowed."

8 Ad cætera Punica ingenia.] "In comparison with other Carthaginian minds."

9 Acta per eundem ordinem, quo (acta forent) si &c.] "In the same routine as if the act was done in the name of," &c. A different reading per eundem (sc. Abelucem) ordine gives the sense, "every thing was done by the same agent, in the same manner as if," &c. in either case, the meaning is, that the Roman general took no advantage of his power over the hostages, and restored them to their friends, as it

A. C. 217.

U. C. 537. giniensium nomine sic ageretur. Major aliquanto Romanorum gratia fuit in re pari, quam quanta futura Carthaginiensium fuerat. Illos enim', graves superbosque in rebus secundis expertos, fortuna et timor mitigasse videri poterat. Romanus primo adventu, incognitus ante, ab re clementi liberalique initium fecerat: et Abelux, vir prudens, haud frustra videbatur socios mutasse. Itaque ingenti consensu defectionem omnes spectare: armaque extemplo mota forent, ni hiems, quæ Romanos quoque et Carthaginienses concedere in tecta coegit, intervenisset.

23.

5

Hæc in Hispania quoque secunda æstate Punici belli gesta, quum in Italia paullum intervalli cladibus Romanis sollers cunctatio Fabii fecisset: quæ ut Hannibalem non mediocri sollicitum cura habebat, tandem eum militiæ magistrum delegisse Romanos cernentem, qui bellum ratione, non fortuna', gereret; ita contempta erat inter cives, armatos pariter togatosque; utique postquam, absente eo, temeritate magistri equitum, læto verius dixerim, quam prospero eventu, pugnatum fuerat. Accesserant duæ res ad augendam invidiam dictatoris: una fraude ac dolo Hannibalis, quod, quum a perfugis ei monstratus ager dictatoris esset, omnibus circa solo æquatis, ab uno eo ferrum ignemque et vim omnem hostium abstineri jussit, ut occulti alicujus pacti ea merces videri posset: altera ipsius facto, primo forsitan dubio, quia non exspectata in eo senatus auctoritas est; ad extremum haud ambigue in maximam laudem verso, in permutandis captivis: quod, sicut primo Punico bello factum erat, convenerat inter duces Romanum Poenumque, ut, quæ pars plus reciperet, quam daret, argenti pondo bina et selibras' in militem præstaret. Ducentos quadraginta septem quum plures Romanus, quam Poenus, recepisset, argentumque pro iis debitum, sæpe jactata in senatu re, quoniam non consuluisset Patres, tardius erogaretur: inviolatum ab hoste agrum, misso Romam Quinto filio, vendidit, fidemque publicam impendio privato exsolvit.

&c.: i. e. these successes in Spain
were realized during the temporary
respite gained in Italy by Fabius.
3 Ut-ita.] Although-yet."
4 Ratione fortuna.] "On prin-
ciple-on chance."

5 Læto verius-quam prospero.] "Rather flattering than beneficial." 6 Altera ipsius facto, primò forsitan dubio.] "The second by an act of his own, at first view perhaps debatable: as, &c."

7 Pondo bina et selibras.] "Two pounds and a half.”

8 Fidemque publicam-exsolvit.] Redeemed the national credit."

24.

Hannibal pro Geronii moenibus, cujus urbis, captæ at- U. C. 537. que incensæ ab se, in usum horreorum pauca reliquerat A. C. 217. tecta, in stativis erat. Inde frumentatum duas exercitus partes mittebat: cum tertia ipse expedita in statione erat, simul castris præsidio, et circumspectans, necunde impetus in frumentatores fieret. Romanus tunc exercitus in agro Larinati erat. Præerat Minucius magister equitum, profecto, sicut ante dictum est, ad urbem dictatore. Ceterum castra, quæ in monte alto ac tuto loco1 posita fuerant, jam in planum deferuntur: agitabanturque pro ingenio ducis consilia calidiora, ut impetus aut in frumentatores palatos, aut in castra, relicta cum levi præsidio, fieret. Nec Hannibalem fefellit, cum duce mutatam esse belli rationem, et ferocius, quam consultius, rem hostes gesturos. Ipse autem, (quod minime quis crederet3) quum hostis propius esset, tertiam partem militum frumentatum, duabus in castris retentis, dimisit: dein castra ipsa propius hostem movit, duo ferme a Geronio millia, in tumulum hosti conspectum; ut intentum sciret esse ad frumentatores, si qua vis fieret, tutandos. Propior inde ei, atque ipsis imminens Romanorum castris tumulus apparuit: ad quem capiendum si

9 Castris præsidio, et circumspectans.] The transition in the syntax, so effective in the original, cannot be imitated in English: we must say, "both as a protection to the camp and as a precaution."

1 In monte alto ac tuto loco.] This position must have been on some slope of Mount Garganus (St. Angelo.) In the immediate neighbourhood were the several places in which Hannibal encamped at different periods of the war. Teanum

lay at the foot of the hill. Geronium (or Gerion) was still nearer; and Arpi (Foggia), to which he returned repeatedly, and which was subsequently occupied by Totila the Goth, after the capture of Rome, stood a little more to the south. All these were on the banks of the river

Cerbalus (Cervalo). It may be interesting to observe here, that the course taken by Hannibal through Italy very nearly coincided with that followed by Totila in defiance of the Lieutenants of Justinian, (Belisarius and Narses). In other respects, however, the differences were remarkable. The second Punic war was unmarked by any such circumstances of degradation as dis

tinguished the Gothic invasion;
when the Roman commander of the
garrison of Naples was brought to
the ramparts with a halter round his
neck, and advised the citizens to
throw themselves on the mercy of
the invaders. Another difference
may be observed in the fact, that
Totila was a man whose slightest
promise no friend or enemy ever
had cause to doubt.

2 Ferocius, quam consultius.]
"With more confidence than pru-
dence." When the excess of one
quality over another is indicated.
The Latin classics write both the
adjectives or adverbs in the com-
parative.

3 Quod minimè quis crederet.] These words may be taken either as a parenthesis, or, ex ordine. In the former case it would be stated that Hannibal had sent out one third of his army instead of the usual two thirds; as (quum) the enemy was near. In the latter, it would be represented as incredible that he should have sent away even so much; but to convey this meaning more emphatically, it would probably be better to extend the parenthesis from quod to esset.

A. C. 217.

7

5

U.C.537. luce palam iretur, quia haud dubie hostis breviore via præventurus erat, nocte clam missi Numidæ ceperunt*. Quos tenentes locum, contempta paucitate, Romani postero die quum dejecissent, ipso eo transferunt castra. Tum itaque, ut exiguum spatii vallum a vallo aberat, et id ipsum totum prope compleverat Romana acies, simul et per aversa castra a castris Hannibalis equitatus, cum levi armatura emissus in frumentatores, late cædem fugamque hostium palatorum fecit. Nec acie certare Hannibal ausus; quia tanta paucitate vix castra, si oppugnarentur, tutari poterat. Jamque artibus Fabii, (pars exercitus aberat) jam ferme sedendo et cunctando bellum gerebat, receperatque suos in priora castra, quæ pro Geronii moenibus erant. Justa quoque acie et collatis signis dimicatum, quidam auctores sunt. Primo concursu Poenum usque ad castra fusum, inde eruptione facta repente versum terrorem in Romanos: Num Decimii Samnitis deinde interventu proelium restitutum. Hunc, principem genere ac divitiis non Boviani modo, unde erat, sed toto Samnio, jussu dictatoris octo millia peditum, et equites quingentos ducentem in castra, ab tergo quum apparuisset Hannibali, speciem parti utrique præbuisse novi præsidii, cum Q. Fabio ab Roma venientis : Hannibalem insidiarum quoque aliquid timentem recepisse suos: Romanum insecutum, adjuvante Samnite, duo castella eo die expugnasse: sex millia hostium cæsa, quinque

4 Missi Numidæ ceperunt.] Gronovius proposes to remove ceperunt. In that case the verb would be missi, and should be taken with ad quem capiendum; and a transposition of the other words would become necessary; quia should be placed before si: but the emendation cannot be accepted; for ad quem cap. evidently belongs to iretur.

5 Et id ipsum &c.] To understand this long sentence perfectly, it is necessary to observe, that the apodosis to ut begins with this et, which corresponds with the simul below, in the sense of et simulsimul: thus," consequently, then, as the entrenchments were separated only by a short interval; the Roman troops filled almost the whole of that space, while, at the same time, the cavalry with the light infantry issuing from that side of the camp which was most remote from Hannibal's camp, upon the foraging parties, inflicted an extensive slaughter and discomfiture on the straggling

enemy."

6 The words a castris Hannibalis appear to have been originally a marginal note, explaining aversa, which would, however, of itself sufficiently express the idea.

7 Jamque-jam.] This repetition is not unusual with Livy; compare 1. ii. 46. and vii. 40. Observe the transition of tense from gerebat to receperat. "He was beginning to adopt the tactics of Fabius, and had withdrawn," &c.

8 Auctores sunt.] These words govern the infinitives to the end of the chapter, sc. "there are some authorities for the statements; that a regular and close engagement took place; that the Carthaginians were driven to their camp by the first assault: that by a sudden sortie from that position the panic was thrown back on the Romans; and that the battle was subsequently revived by the interposition of Numerius Decimius the Samnite," &c. &c.

admodum Romanorum : tamen in tam pari prope clade U. C. 537. famam egregiæ victoriæ cum vanioribus literis magistri A. C. 217. equitum Romam perlatam.

De his rebus persæpe et in senatu et in concione actum est'. Quum, læta civitate, dictator unus nihil nec famæ, nec literis crederet; ut vera omnia essent, secunda se magis, quam adversa, timere diceret2: tum M. Metilius tribunus plebis, id enim ferendum esse' negat. 'Non præ'sentem solum dictatorem obstitisse rei bene gerendæ, sed absentem etiam gestæ obstare3: et in ducendo bello* sedulo tempus terere, quo diutius in magistratu sit, solusque et Romæ et in exercitu imperium habeat. Quippe consulum alterum in acie cecidisse; alterum, specie classis Punica persequendæ, procul ab Italia ablegatum. Duos prætores 6 Sicilia atque Sardinia occupatos, quarum neutra hoc tempore provincia prætore egeat. M. Minucium magistrum equitum, ne hostem videret, ne quid rei bellicæ gereret, prope in custodiam habitum. Itaque, hercule, non Samnium modo, quo jam, tanquam trans Iberum agro, Pœnis concessum sit, et Campanum, Calenumque, et Falernum agros pervastatos esse, sedente Casilini dictatore, et legi'onibus populi Romani agrum suum tutante. Exercitum 'cupientem pugnare, et magistrum equitum, clausos prope intra vallum retentos; tanquam hostibus captivis arma adempta. Tandem, ut abscesserit inde dictator, ut obsi'dione liberatos, extra vallum egressos fudisse ac fugasse

Dictator had not only when present refused to sanction an attempt at success, but was even, when absent, refusing to recognise it when achieved."

4 Ducendo bello] The reading in some editions is trahendo, but the sense is the same.

Crevier suggests the removal of præ-
tore, which would change the sentence
thus; "whom (whose presence) nei-
ther province now required."

6 In custodiam habitum.] "Kept
under arrest." This idiom is not
exceptional: we find many such in-
stances, as in potestatem (1. ii. 14.)
in amicitiam, &c. imitated most ob-
viously from the Attic writers, who
frequently use eis for ev, in similar

cases.

7 Quo-Pœnis concessum sit.] i. e. unde Panis cesserint Romani. The apodosis to non modo begins at exercitum, before which we must understand sed et.

&c.

8 Ut abscesserit.] "As soon as,"

9 Ut obsidione liberatos.] "Like 5 Quarum neutra, &c.] Tr. men freed." The disobedience of "Neither of which was a province Minucius presents an exact parallel requiring a Prætor." Some com- to that of Fabius, the Master of mentators read "neiquorum, Horse to Papirius Cursor, in the ther of whose provinces required," &c. third Samnite war.

i. e.

25.