T. LIVII

AB URBE CONDITA LIBRI.

PRAEFATIO.

FACTURUSNE operae pretium sim,1 si a primordio urbis res populi Romani perscripserim, nec satis scio, nec, si sciam, dicere ausim, quippe qui cum veterem tum vulgatam esse rem2 videam, dum novi semper scriptores aut in rebus certius aliquid allaturos se aut scribendi arte rudem vetustatem superaturos credunt. Utcunque erit,3 juvabit tamen rerum gestarum memoriae principis terrarum populi pro virili parte et ipsum consuluisse ; et si in tanta scriptorum turba mea fama in obscuro sit, nobilitate ac magnitudine eorum

1 Quintilian (Instit. Orat. ix. 4) mentions that the first words of Livy's work form the beginning of a hexameter, the syllable ne being elided by the following vowel. He adds that this arrangement is better than that found as an emendation in some copies, facturusne sim operae pretium. It is remarkable that this ancient correction appears in the existing manuscripts, and we should have been compelled to edit this reading, had not the evidence of the learned critic, who wrote only a century after Livy, been so definite. The sense is, whether I am about to do a thing which will reward me for my labour.' Pretium operae means 'recompense, reward for labour.' This can refer here only to praise or public gratitude: it is therefore equivalent to 'whether my labours shall be acknowledged or received with thanks.'

6

2 Rem, the favourite Latin expression for a pronoun, 'it,' this.' See Zumpt, § 678. By res here is meant the writing of history. This is old and common, whilst in it every new writer hopes to excel his predecessors.

3 That is, whether my labours shall be gratefully received or not.' 4'So far as a single man can do it.' This is the power of the expression, qualifying and diminishing, not strengthening.

me, qui nomini officient meo, consoler. Res1 est praeterea et immensi operis, ut quae supra septingentesimum annum repetatur, et quae ab exiguis profecta initiis eo creverit, ut jam magnitudine laboret sua; et legentium plerisque haud dubito quin primae origines proximaque originibus minus praebitura voluptatis sint, festinantibus ad haec nova, quibus jam pridem praevalentis populi vires se ipsae conficiunt. Ego contra hoc quoque laboris praemium petam, ut me a conspectu malorum, quae nostra tot per annos vidit aetas, tantisper certe dum prisca illa tota mente repeto, avertam, omnis expers curae, quae scribentis animum, etsi non flectere a vero, sollicitum tamen efficere possit. Quae ante conditam condendamve urbem 2 poeticis magis decora fabulis, quam incorruptis rerum gestarum monumentis traduntur, ea nec affirmare nec refellere in animo est. Datur haec venia antiquitati, ut miscendo humana divinis primordia urbium augustiora faciat. Et si cui populo licere oportet consecrare origines suas et ad deos referre auctores, ea belli gloria est3 populo Romano, ut cum suum conditorisque sui parentem Martem potissimum ferat, tam et hoc gentes humanae patiantur aequo animo, quam imperiam patiuntur. Sed haec et his similia utcunque animadversa aut existimata erunt,* haud in magno equidem ponam discrimine. Ad illa mihi5 pro se quisque acriter intendat animum, quae vita, qui mores fuerint; per quos viros quibusque artibus domi militiaeque et partum et auctum imperium sit. Labente deinde pau

1 Res, the matter;' that is, the history of Rome, and the narration of it. As the sentence proceeds, however, this word res assumes the meaning of the 'state' (res publica) whose history is related. This is to be accounted for by the generality, indeed we may say the universality, of this noun's signification.

2 That is, before the building of the city; nay, before any idea of building it was entertained.' The usual expression is ante conditam urbem; but the author, by adding condendamve, leads us to think of a period even farther back.

3 A lively rhetorical mode of connecting the apodosis with the protasis. The regular construction would have been, si cui populo licere oportet, certe populo Romano propter eximiam belli gloriam licet, &c.

4In whatever light these and similar stories may be looked upon,' whether as actual truths, or as truths adorned by poetry, or as absolute unmitigated fictions.

5 An ethical dative, intimating that this was an advice in which he felt a particular interest.

latim disciplina, velut desidentes1 primo mores sequatur animo, deinde ut magis magisque lapsi sint, tum ire coeperint praecipites, donec ad haec tempora, quibus nec vitia nostra nec remedia2 pati possumus, perventum est. Hoc illud est praecipue in cognitione rerum salubre ac frugiferum, omnis te exempli documenta3 in illustri posita monumento intueri: inde tibi tuaeque rei publicae, quod imitere, capias; inde, foedum inceptu, foedum exitu, quod vites. Ceterum aut me amor negotii suscepti fallit, aut nulla unquam res publica nec major nec sanctior nec bonis exemplis ditior fuit, nec in quam civitatem tam serae avaritia luxuriaque immigraverint, nec ubi tantus ac tam diu paupertati ac parsimoniae honos fuerit. Adeo quanto rerum minus, tanto minus cupiditatis erat. Nuper divitiae avaritiam et abundantes voluptates desiderium per luxum atque libidinem pereundi1 perdendique omnia invexere. Sed querelae, ne tum quidem gratae futurae, cum forsitan necessariae erunt, ab initio certe tantae ordiendae rei absint. Cum bonis potius ominibus votisque et precationibus deorum dearumque, si ut poetis, nobis quoque mos esset, libentius inciperemus, ut orsis tanti operis successus prosperos darent.

1 Desidere, said of a building which totters, and threatens to fall. Velut introduces and points out the figure.

2 This refers to the measures which Augustus took to restore the respect for the ancient religion, and to improve the public morals, particularly by discouraging celibacy, which was at that time very common. Such regulations are in no circumstances effectual, and were hateful to the ancients.

3 Documenta are here events from which instruction is drawn. Omnis exempli, 'good or bad examples.'

4 The eager desire to ruin themselves by debauchery and licentiousness.' This is a strong expression, for the eager desire of course is for the enjoyment, not the ruin. The meaning, however, is, that though they know the inevitable and immediate consequences of their conduct, still they pursue their pleasures with as much zeal as if they were really anxious for their own destruction.

5 Orsis, from orsa, orsorum, a substantive derived from the participle orsus-a-um, and signifying a beginning.'

6

B

LIBER I.

(1-2) Arrival of Aeneas in Italy, and his exploits there. (3) Reign of Ascanius and of the Silvii at Alba. (4-5) The daughter of Numitor becomes, by Mars, the mother of Romulus and Remus; murder of Amulius. (6-8) Building of Rome and formation of the senate. (9) Rape of the Sabine women, and war with the Sabines. (10-13) Spolia Opima offered to Jupiter Feretrius. Division of the people into curiae. (14-15) Conquest of the Veientes and Fidenates. (16) Deification of Romulus, after a reign of 37 years. (17) The interreign. (18-21) Numa Pompilius institutes the religious ceremonies, and builds the temple of Janus, the gate of which he closes, there being peace with all the tribes about Rome. He pretends to have nightly interviews with Egeria, and directs the warlike spirit of his subjects to the observance of religious duties. His reign lasts 43 years. (22-23) Tullus Hostilius attacks Alba. (24-25) Fight of the Horatii and Curiatii. (26-27) Trial and acquittal of Horatius. (28) Punishment of Mettus Fuffetius. (29-30) Destruction of Alba. The Albans are incorporated with the Roman state, and war is declared against the Sabines. (31) Tullus Hostilius is killed by lightning, after a reign of 32 years. (32) Ancus Marcius revives the religious institutions of Numa, and declares war against the Latins. (33) After the conquest of the Latins, and their incorporation with the Roman state, he assigns to them the Aventine. Destruction of Politorium. Building of a wooden bridge across the Tiber. Addition of the Janiculum to the city and foundation of Ostia. (34) In his reign, which lasts 24 years, Lucumo, a son of the Corinthian Damaratus, migrates to Rome from Tarquinii; he wins the friendship of Ancus, assumes the name of Tarquinius Priscus, and after the death of Ancus, succeeds to the throne. (35) He increases the number of senators by one hundred, subdues the Latins, marks out the space of the Circus, and exhibits great public games. (36) Being attacked by the Sabines, he increases the centuries of equites. Opposition of Attus Navius. (3739) He defeats the Sabines, builds the great sewers, and begins surrounding the city with walls. He is slain by the sons of Ancus, after a reign of 38 years. (40-43) He is succeeded by Servius Tullius, who routs the Veientes and Etruscans. His census and division of the people into classes and centuries. (44) The Quirinal, Viminal, and Esquiline Hills are added to the city, which is fortified by a wall, a mound, and a ditch. The Pomoerium is extended. (45) Temple of Diana on the Aventine. (46-48) Servius is murdered by L. Tarquinius Superbus, after a reign of 44 years. (49) Tarquinius