ac trepidatio totam urbem pervasisset, alius insuper tumultus U. C. 536. ex arce auditur. Turris diu quassata prociderat: perque A. C. 218. ruinam ejus cohors Ponorum impetu facto quum signum imperatori dedisset, nudatam stationibus custodiisque solitis hostium esse urbem; non cunctandum in tali occasione ratus Hannibal, totis viribus aggressus urbem, momento cepit, signo dato, ut omnes puberes interficerentur. Quod imperium crudele, ceterum prope necessarium cognitum ipso eventu est. Cui enim parci potuit ex iis, qui aut inclusi cum conjugibus ac liberis domos super se ipsos concremaverunt, aut armati nullum ante finem pugnæ, quam morientes, fecerunt? Captum oppidum est cum ingenti præda. Quanquam pleraque1 ab dominis de industria corrupta erant, et in cædibus vix ullum discrimen ætatis ira fecerat, et captivi militum præda fuerant; tamen et ex pretio rerum venditarum aliquantum pecuniæ redactum esse constat, et multam pretiosam supellectilem vestemque missam Carthaginem.

Quæ

Octavo mense, quam coeptum oppugnari, captum Saguntum, quidam scripsere: inde Carthaginem novam in hiberna Hannibalem concessisse: quinto deinde mense, quam ab Carthagine profectus sit, in Italiam pervenisse. si ita sunt, fieri non potuit, ut P. Cornelius, Ti. Sempronius consules fuerint, ad quos et principio oppugnationis legati Saguntini missi sint, et qui in suo magistratu cum Hannibale, alter ad Ticinum amnem, ambo aliquanto post ad Trebiam, pugnaverint. Aut omnia breviora3 aliquanto

9 Quod imperium crudele, ceterum, &c.] "And this command, though cruel, was still proved by the actual result to have been almost unavoidable." Some commentators suggest, as an emendation, vix, or parum, instead of propè. The meaning thus conveyed would be, that the order, such as it was, was superfluous, as they had, themselves, rendered it impossible to spare them. 1 Quanquam pleraque&c.] "Though the greater part had been purposely destroyed by the owners, and (although) the fury of the massacre scarcely recognised any distinction of age; and the prisoners &c.; still, it is certain that" &c.

2 Vestemque.] Under this term, in its wider signification, are comprehended all textile fabrics for garments and furniture.

3 Automnia breviora &c.] "Either all the events were considerably more

F

rapid, or, Saguntum was not first
invested, but was taken, in the be-
ginning of the year," &c. The argu-
ment of the chronological discussion
is this: the interval between the
commencement of the siege of Sa-
guntum and Hannibal's arrival in
Italy was thirteen months; and, if
that calculation be correct, the con-
suls who opposed Hannibal at the
Ticinus and Trebia, could not have
been the same (Cornelius and Sem-
prouius) who received the Saguntine
ambassadors at the beginning of the
siege: therefore, either those events
must have been compressed into a
shorter time; or, the capture of the
town must have occurred at the be-
ginning of their year; because the
battle on the Trebia cannot be
brought down into the consulship of
the man who was elected after the
battle, by the consul who conducted

it.

15.

U. C. 536. fuere, aut Saguntum principio anni, quo .P. Cornelius, Ti. A. C. 218. Sempronius consules fuerunt, non coeptum oppugnari est,

16.

17.

sed captum. Nam excessisse pugna ad Trebiam in annum Cn. Servilii et C. Flaminii non potest: quia Flaminius Arimini consulatum iniit, creatus ab Ti. Sempronio consule; qui, post pugnam ad Trebiam ad creandos consules Romam quum venisset, comitiis perfectis ad exercitum in hiberna rediit.

Sub idem fere tempus et legati, qui redierant a Carthagine, Romam retulerunt, omnia hostilia esse, et Sagunti excidium nuntiatum est: tantusque simul moeror Patres, misericordiaque sociorum peremptorum indigne, et pudor non lati auxilii, et ira in Carthaginienses, metusque de summa rerum cepit, velut si jam ad portas hostis esset; ut, tot uno tempore1 motibus animi turbati, trepidarent magis, quam consulerent. Nam neque hostem acriorem bellicosioremque secum congressum; nec rem Romanam tam desidem unquam fuisse atque imbellem. Sardos, Corsosque, et Istros, atque Illyrios", lacessisse magis, quam exercuisse, Romana arma: et cum Gallis tumultuatum verius, quam belligeratum. Poenum, hostem veteranum, trium et viginti annorum militia durissima inter Hispanas gentes semper victorem, primum Hamilcare, deinde Hasdrubale, nunc Hannibale duce acerrimo assuetum, recentem ab excidio opulentissimæ urbis, Iberum transire: trahere secum tot excitos Hispanorum populos: conciturum avidas semper armorum Gallicas gentes. Cum orbe terrarum bellum

gerendum in Italia ac pro moenibus Romanis esse.

Nominatæ jam antea consulibus provinciæ erant; tum sortiri jussi. Cornelio Hispania, Sempronio Africa cum Sicilia evenit. Sex in eum annum decretæ legiones, et so

4 Ut, tot uno tempore &c.] "That their minds, distracted by so many simultaneous emotions, were rather in a state of consternation than deliberation."

5 Sardos, Corsosque, et Istros, atque Illyrios.] Corsica and Sardinia had been occupied, early in the first Punic war, by Lucius Scipio. At the capture of Aleria in Corsica, one of the most memorable events of the war occurred. Hannibal, who commanded a Carthaginian fleet, suffered it to be blocked up in the harbour and destroyed, and was in consequence put to death by his own troops. The allusion to the Istrians and Illyrians relates either to the war with Pyrrhus, to whom those

nations furnished large contingents; or, to the quarrel of the Romans, a short time previously, with Teuta, queen of Illyria. In any case, those wars took place between the years A.U.C. 516 and 533.

6 Cum Gallis tumultuatum &c.] "With the Gauls a system of skirmishes and inroads, rather than of regular war, had been maintained." Before this time, the Gauls had invaded Italy on five several oecasions: on the first of which they burned Rome; on the second, the Gallic giant was killed by C. Manlius (Torquatus).

7 Trium et viginti annorum.] This was the interval between the first and second Punic wars.

ciûm quantum ipsis videretur, et classis quanta parari posset. U. C. 536. Quattuor et viginti peditum Romanorum millia sunt scripta, A. C. 218. et mille octingenti equites: sociorum quadraginta millia peditum, quattuor millia et quadringenti equites: naves ducentæ viginti quinqueremes, celoces viginti deductæ. Latum inde ad populum, vellent, juberent, populo Car'thaginiensi bellum indici.' Ejusque belli causa supplicatio per urbem habita, atque adorati dii, ut bene ac feliciter eveniret, quod bellum populus Romanus jussisset. Inter consules ita copiæ divisæ. Sempronio datæ legiones duæ, (ea quaterna millia erant peditum, et treceni equites) et sociorum sexdecim millia peditum, equites mille octingenti: naves longæ centum sexaginta, celoces duodecim. Cum his terrestribus maritimisque copiis Ti. Sempronius missus in Siciliam; ita in Africam transmissurus, si1 ad arcendum Italia Poenum consul alter satis esset. Cornelio minus copiarum datum, quia L. Manlius prætor et ipse cum haud invalido præsidio in Galliam mittebatur. Navium maxime Cornelio numerus deminutus. Sexaginta quinqueremes data (neque enim mari venturum, aut ea parte belli dimicaturum hostem credebant) et duæ Romanæ legiones cum suo justo equitatu, et quattuordecim millibus sociorum peditum, equitibus mille sexcentis. Duas legiones Romanas, et decem millia sociorum peditum, mille equites socios, sexcentos Romanos Gallia provincia eodem anno versa3 in Punicum bellum habuit.

4

His ita comparatis, ut omnia justa ante bellum fierent, legatos majores natu, Q. Fabium, M. Livium, L. Æmilium, C. Licinium, Q. Bæbium, in Africam mittunt ad percunctandos Carthaginienses, publicone consilio Hannibal

8 Quattuor et viginti peditum i. e. the treceni equites specified millia,] i. e. six legions. This number, however, is inconsiderable, when viewed with reference to the statement of Pliny, (iii. 20, 24.) that Italy alone could have supplied, in A.U.C. 531, (five years before this time,) 700,000 infantry and 30,000 cavalry.

9 Celoces.] The name of this light craft (ab re inditum) indicates speed. It is akin to the Greek term κέλης.

1 Ita in Africam transmissurus, si.] "With the intention of crossing into Africa, only in case that (ita si) the other consul should be sufficient for the" &c.

2 Cum suo justo equitatu.] "With their regular complement of cavalry,"

above. The number of infantry as-
signed above to each legion was
by no means invariable. Polybius
mentions 4200 as the complement
of a legion. Supposing every cen-
tury to contain literally 100 men,
the legion should have contained
6000 infantry.

3 Eodem anno versa &c.] Grono-
vius proposes to substitute for this
reading, Nondum versa in Punicum
bellum, i. e. "not having as yet
become the scene of the Punic war:"
taking the text as it stands, we
must suppose versa to agree with
all the foregoing accusatives, in the
sense of "transferred," or "devoted
to.'

Omnia justa.] "All formalities."

18.

U. C. 536. Saguntum oppugnasset? et si, id quod facturi videbantur, A. C. 218. faterentur, ac defenderent publico consilio factum, ut indi

6

6

cerent populo Carthaginiensi bellum. Romani postquam Carthaginem venerunt, quum senatus datus esset, et Q. Fabius nihil ultra, quam unum, quod mandatum erat, percunctatus esset; tum ex Carthaginiensibus unus: 'Præceps vestra, Romani, et prior legatio fuit, quum Hannibalem, tanquam suo consilio Saguntum oppugnantem deposce'batis: ceterum hæc legatio verbis adhuc lenior est, re asperior. Tunc enim Hannibal et insimulabatur, et deposcebatur: nunc ab nobis et confessio culpæ exprimitur; et, ut a confessis, res extemplo repetuntur. Ego autem non, privato publicone consilio Saguntum oppugnatum sit, quærendum censeam: sed utrum jure, an injuria. Nostra 'enim hæc quæstio atque animadversio in civem nostrum 'est; nostro, an suo fecerit arbitrio. Vobiscum una discep'tatio est, licueritne per foedus fieri. Itaque quoniam dis'cerni placet, quid publico consilio, quid sua sponte imperatores faciant; nobis vobiscum fœdus est a Lutatio con'sule ictum: in quo quum caveretur utrorumque sociis, 'nihil de Saguntinis (necdum enim erant socii vestri) cau6 tum est. At enim eo foderes, quod cum Hasdrubale 'ictum est, Saguntini excipiuntur. Adversus quod nihil ego dicturus sum, nisi quod a vobis didici. Vos enim, 'quod C. Lutatius consul primo nobiscum foedus icit, quia neque auctoritate Patrum, nec populi jussu ictum erat, 'negastis vos eo teneri. Itaque aliud de integro fœdus 'publico consilio ictum est. Si vos non tenent vestra fœdera, nisi ex auctoritate aut jussu vestro icta; ne nos quidem Hasdrubalis fœdus, quod nobis insciis icit, obligare potuit. Proinde omittite Sagunti atque Iberi men'tionem facere, et, quod diu parturit animus vester, 'aliquando pariat.' Tum Romanus, sinu ex toga facto9,

6

6

5

Et si, id quod facturi &c.] "And if, as they seemed likely to do, they admitted and defended the proceeding by public sanction."

6 Præceps vestra, et prior legatio.] "Even your former embassy was ill-advised &c. but this" &c. i. e. hasty as your former embassy was, the present is in reality more intemperate, though ostensibly milder. 7 Nostra enim hæc quæstio &c.] "For it is to us that the trial and punishment of our own citizen belongs, on this question (hæc); whe

ther" &c.

8 At enim eo fœdere.] "But

then (you may reply), that in that treaty the Saguntines are secured." Excipi was the technical phrase applied to prohibitory clauses in treaties. The Roman Senate were in the habit of ignoring unsatisfactory treaties concluded by their generals; as, for instance, after their defeat by the Samnites, &c. Оп the contrary, Camillus set aside the treaty concluded with the Gauls, as not having been ratified by his own sanction, as chief magistrate.

9 Sinu ex togá facto.] 66 'Taking up a fold of his toga." This was done by throwing the corner of the

6

Hic,' inquit, vobis bellum et pacem portamus; utrum U. C. 536. 'placet, sumite.’ Sub hanc vocem haud minus ferociter, A. C. 218. ' daret, utrum vellet,' succlamatum est. Et quum is iterum sinu effuso' bellum dare' dixisset, accipere se' omnes responderunt, et, quibus acciperent animis, iisdem se 'gesturos.'

6

Hæc directa' percunctatio ac denuntiatio belli magis ex dignitate populi Romani visa est, quam de fœderum jure verbis disceptare, quum ante, tum maxime Sagunto excisa. Nam, si verborum disceptationis res esset: quid foedus Hasdrubalis cum Lutatii priore fædere, quod mutatum est, comparandum erat? quum in Lutatii foedere diserte additum esset, ita id ratum fore, si populus censuisset:' in Hasdrubalis fœdere nec exceptum tale quicquam fuerit, et tot annorum silentio ita vivo eo comprobatum sit fœdus, ut ne mortuo quidem auctore quicquam mutaretur. Quanquam, etsi3 priore fœdere staretur, satis cautum erat Saguntinis, sociis utrorumque exceptis: nam neque additum erat, iis, qui tunc essent:' nec, ne qui postea assume'rentur.' Et quum assumere novos liceret socios, quis æquum censeret, aut ob nulla quemquam merita in amicitiam recipi, aut receptos in fidem non defendi? tantum, ne Carthaginiensium socii aut sollicitarentur ad defectionem, aut sua sponte desciscentes reciperentur.

Legati Romani ab Carthagine, sicut his Romæ imperatum erat, in Hispaniam, ut adirent civitates, ut in societatem pellicerent, aut averterent a Pœnis, trajecerunt. Ad Bargusios primum venerunt: a quibus benigne excepti, quia tædebat imperii Punici, multos trans Iberum populos ad cupidinem novæ fortunæ erexerunt. Ad Volcianos inde est ventum: quorum celebre per Hispaniam_responsum ceteros populos ab societate Romana avertit. Ita enim

toga over the left shoulder. A different account of this transaction is related by Aulus Gellius. He says, that Fabius, a member of this embassy, wrote to the Carthaginian Senate; that the Roman people sent them a spear and a caduceus, of which they might keep which they chose; and that the Carthaginians replied, that they would make nohoice, but that the messengers ght leave which they preferred.

1 Hæc directa &c.] "This straightforward (explicit) inquiry and declaration of war," &c.

2 Et tot annorum silentio &c.] “And (since) the treaty had been

19.