Book III

Ch. 1.

12. Ptolemaeum: this was the famous Ptolemy Philadelphus. He was engaged in war with Antiochus II, king of Syria, for a long time, but finally concluded peace with him and gave him his daughter in marriage. He was noted for his patronage of literature and science.

14. Antiochus: this was the name of several kings of Syria. The one referred to here was Antiochus II, called Theos.

grātiās … ēgit: ‘gave thanks.’

16. Hierō: more properly the king of Syracuse (see Bk. II, 18, 19). During his reign the celebrated mathematician Archimedes lived. He became the firm ally of the Romans, and when the Second Punic War broke out he remained true to his alliance. After the battle of Lake Trasimenus he sent a fleet with provisions and other gifts to the Romans and also furnished them with a body of light troops.

18. exhibuit: lit. ‘held out’ ＝ ‘presented.’

Ch. 2.

19. quibus: sc. annīs; cf. tempore, Ch. 1.

20. Ligurēs: they inhabited the upper part of the Po valley. They were of small stature, but strong, active, and brave. In early times they served as mercenaries in the armies of Carthage. They were not subdued finally by the Romans until after a long and fierce struggle. Genua was their chief city.

21. dē hīs: cf. dē hīs, Bk. I, 11.

Page 28.

1. Sardiniēnsēs: when a revolt occurred in Sardinia, Rome took advantage of the exhausted condition of Carthage, and demanded the surrender of the island and an additional indemnity of 1200 talents ($1,500,000). Corsica was obtained in a similar manner. This was the beginning of the Roman provincial system. Each province was governed by a praetor and paid taxes to the Roman people. Rome and Carthage, p. 102; Creighton, p. 39.

3. impellentēs: nominative agreeing with Karthāginiēnsēs and governing Sardiniēnsēs.

Ch. 3.

7. nūllum bellum habuērunt: at Rome there was the so-called Temple of Janus, the gates of which were open in time of war and closed in time of peace. The gates were closed only three times from the building of the temple by Numa to Augustus, viz. by T. Manlius, 235 B.C., and by Augustus in 29 and 25 B.C.

8. semel tantum: ‘only once.’

Numā Pompiliō rēgnante: cf. conditā cīvitāte, Bk. I, 2.

Ch. 4.

10. Īllyriōs: the Illyrians lived on the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea. They were a nation of pirates, and made the whole Adriatic and Ionian seas unsafe for commerce. Even the towns on the coast were not safe from their ravages. The Romans sent a force against them and compelled them to give up their conquests and to make peace.

11. ex Īllyriīs: dē Īllyriīs would be more common.

Ch. 5.

13. Gallōrum: the Romans, recalling the terrible battle of Allia, Bk. I, 20, were panic-stricken at first. A large army was raised and stationed at Ariminum, where the first attack was expected. But the Gauls passed around the Roman army, and, falling in with a small reserve force, utterly defeated it. Instead of hastening to Rome, they resolved to put their plunder in a place of safety. The Roman army following them met them finally near Telamon, where the decisive battle was fought, and the Gauls were annihilated.

14. cōnsēnsit: ‘united.’

15. Fabiō: Q. Fabius Pictor, the earliest of the annalists. He wrote in Greek an account of the early history of Rome. He is frequently quoted by Livy.

17. tantum: ‘alone.’

Ch. 6.

20. M. Claudiō Mārcellō: he was five times consul. This was his first consulship. He was one of the chief generals of the Romans in the Second Punic War. He captured Syracuse after a siege of two years (Chs. 12, 14). He fell in battle 208 B.C., and was buried by the enemy with military honors (Ch. 16).

24. Mediōlānum: the modern Milan.

expūgnāvit: note the difference between expūgnō and oppūgnō.

26. spolia: called opīma, were the arms taken from a hostile general by a Roman general commanding under his own auspices. They were hung in the Temple of Jupiter Feretrius on the Capitol. This temple is said to have been built by Romulus, who inaugurated the custom. They were won on only two subsequent occasions, when A. Cornelius Cossus killed Lars Tolumnius, king of the Veii (Bk. I, 19), and the time mentioned in this chapter.

Page 29.

Ch. 7.

4. bellum Pūnicum secundum: immediately after the end of the First Punic War the Carthaginians began to prepare for a renewal of the struggle against Rome. Hamilcar, the father of Hannibal, crossed over into Spain and conquered a large part of it. Probably it was his intention to make this province the basis of operations against Italy. But death prevented the realization of his plans. Hasdrubal, his son-in-law, took command of the empire Hamilcar had founded in Spain, and organized and enlarged it. He founded the city of New Carthage, which from its situation seemed destined to become a second Carthage in commercial importance. In 221 B.C. he was assassinated. At his death the command was turned over to Hannibal, the idol of the army and the sworn enemy of the Romans. Active preparations were made. Forces were assembled, supplies were prepared, and when all was ready Hannibal gave the signal for war by besieging Saguntum.

per Hannibalem: cf. per fīliōs, Bk. I, 6.

5. Saguntum: a town on the southern coast of Spain, said to have been founded by the Greeks as a trading post. It was in alliance with the Romans, although by the terms of the last treaty with the Carthaginians independence was secured to the Saguntines by both parties. The capture of this town was the first hostile act of the war. Rome and Carthage, p. 112; Creighton, p. 40.

7. annum … aetātis: lit. ‘passing the twentieth year of his life’ ＝ ‘being twenty years of age’; cf. decem et octō annōs nātus, Bk. I, 1.

10. mīsērunt: sc. lēgātōs.

ut mandārētur: lit. ‘that it might be commanded’ ＝ ‘that instructions might be given.’

11. dūra respōnsa: the story is told that when Q. Fabius, the chief of the embassy, held up his toga, saying, ‘I carry here peace and war: choose ye which ye will have.’ ‘Give us which ever you please,’ replied the Carthaginians. ‘War, then,’ said Fabius; and the decision was greeted by the short-sighted acclamations of the masses.

13. adficiuntur: historical Present.

Ch. 8.

15. in Hispāniam: cf. Rōmam, Ch. 2.

16. Ti. Semprōnius: sc. Longus.

17. Alpēs: there is a disagreement as to the pass by which Hannibal entered Italy. Probably he crossed by the Little St. Bernard pass, and came into Italy near the present town of Aosta. Creighton, p. 41; Rome and Carthage, p. 118.

19. LXXX mīlia peditum: the number of the forces of Hannibal given here is taken from L. Cincius Alimentus, a Roman annalist. He was captured by Hannibal, and so had excellent opportunities for gaining information.

21. Semprōnius Gracchus: a mistake of Eutropius. It was Ti. Sempronius Longus. In the next chapter it should be Semprōnius Longus instead of Semprōnius Gracchus.

Ch. 9.

23. P. Cornēlius Scīpiō: at the beginning of the war he set out for Spain, Ch. 8, but finding that Hannibal had already left and was on his way to Italy, he went to Gaul to encounter the Carthaginian before he should cross the Alps. Hannibal was too quick for him. Scipio returned to Italy and awaited the arrival of the Carthaginians in Cisalpine Gaul. Near the river Ticinus, one of the northern tributaries of the Po, the first engagement of the war took place. The Romans were defeated; Scipio received a severe wound, and was only saved from death by the courage of his son Publius, the future conqueror of Hannibal. P. Scipio and his brother Gnaeus were killed in Spain, Ch. 14. Rome and Carthage, p. 127; Creighton, p. 43.

Page 30.

1. apud Trebiam amnem: the Trebia is a small stream flowing into the Po from the south. For an account of the battle see Rome and Carthage, p. 130; Creighton, p. 43.

2. multī … dēdidērunt: it was Hannibal’s policy to encourage the communities subject to Rome to revolt and to attach themselves to his standard. Everywhere he proclaimed himself to be the ‘Liberator of Italy.’

3. Flāminiō … occurrit: this battle took place in the following year, 217 B.C. Hannibal wintered in the plains of Lombardy, and at the approach of spring attempted to cross the Apennines. He was driven back by a violent storm, and was forced to return to his winter quarters. Later in the year he passed the mountains and marched into Etruria, where he was met by the Romans under Flaminius, who had been elected consul for that year, in the battle of Lake Trasimenus, in which the Romans were utterly defeated, and almost the whole force was annihilated. Rome and Carthage, p. 138; Creighton, p. 43.

6. Q. Fabius Māximus: was the great-grandson of the Q. Fabius Maximus mentioned in Bk. II, 8, and grandson of the Q. Fabius mentioned in Bk. II, 9. He was one of the greatest generals of Rome. He was chosen dictator in 217 B.C., after the battle of Lake Trasimenus. The policy he adopted is well known. By following Hannibal from place to place, by watching for any error or neglect on his part and immediately taking advantage of it, and by avoiding a general engagement, he earned for himself the name of Cunctator, ‘delayer,’ but he saved the state. In 215 B.C. he was elected consul again, and again employed the same tactics. In 210 B.C., when he was consul for the fifth time, he recaptured Tarentum by stratagem (Ch. 16). He opposed the sending of Scipio to Africa, saying that Italy ought to be rid of Hannibal first.

eum … frēgit ＝ ab impetū eum prohibuit; ‘prevented him from attacking in force.’

differendō pūgnam: ‘by postponing battle’: i.e. by avoiding a decisive engagement.

Ch. 10.

8. quadrāgēsimō: Eutropius is mistaken in the date; it was 216 B.C.

9. L. Aemilius Paulus: father of the L. Aemilius Paulus mentioned in Bk. IV, 6, 7. He had distinguished himself in his former consulship in the war against the Illyrians. Against his advice the battle of Cannae was fought, and, refusing to fly from the field when the battle was lost, he was slain. He was an aristocrat, and was raised to the consulship by that party to counterbalance the influence of the plebeian P. Terentius Varro.

13. impatientiā Varrōnis: the aristocracy laid all the blame of the defeat on Varro.

14. Cannae: a town of Apulia to the south of the Aufidus, about halfway between Canusium and the sea. This was one of the most important battles of the war. Although the Romans greatly outnumbered the Carthaginians, by the skillful maneuvers of Hannibal, they were surrounded on all sides and were cut down without mercy. “For eight hours the work of destruction went on, and at the end 50,000 men lay dead upon the ground. Aemilius Paulus, the Illyrian hero, who, though wounded by a sling early in the day, had clung to his horse, heartening on his men, till he dropped exhausted from his saddle, the proconsul Servilius, the late high-spirited master of the horse, Minucius, both quaestors, twenty-one military tribunes, sixty senators, and an unknown number of knights were among the slain. Nearly 20,000 Roman prisoners were taken. Of the rest, Varro, with a few horsemen only, escaped to Venusia. Amid all this slaughter the conqueror had lost only 5500 of his infantry and but 200 of that matchless cavalry to whom the victory was mainly due.” Rome and Carthage, p. 160; Creighton, p. 44.

16. pars dē exercitū ＝ pars exercitūs; a very rare usage.

18. acceptī sunt: ‘were handled’; an ironical use of the word.

20. nōbilēs virī: men whose ancestors had held high office.

22. mentiōnem habēre: usually mentiōnem facere.

quod numquam ante: sc. factum erat.

23. manūmissī: sc. sunt; they were liberated because none but freemen could serve in the Roman legions.

Ch. 11.

24. multae Ītaliae cīvitātēs: “chiefly Samnites and other south Italian states. The Greek cities held to Rome, and ‘not one Roman citizen, nor one Latin community, had joined Hannibal.’”

Page 31.

2. variīs suppliciīs: probably the Romans exaggerated the cruelty and treachery of Hannibal.

3. ānulōrum: these rings were the distinctive badges of the knights and senators.

7. duōbus Scīpiōnibus: P. Cornelius and Gnaeus, the father and uncle of P. Scipio Africanus. For the campaign in Spain see Rome and Carthage, p. 183.

Ch. 12.

12. annō quartō postquam: H. 486 (429); M. 243, 1; A. & G. 256; G. 393; B. 223; cf. aliquot annīs post, Ch. 6.

13. Mārcellus: see note on M. Claudiō Mārcellō, Ch. 6.

cīvitātem ＝ urbem; cf. conditā cīvitāte, Bk. I, 2.

16. rēx Macedoniae Philippus: although Philip promised aid, he never gave it. Owing to his frequent struggles with the states of Greece, and the invasion of Macedonia by the Romans, he was compelled to devote his undivided attention to preserving his realm.

21. prōcōnsulem: ‘ex-consul’; at the expiration of his term of office the consul was given a province to govern, under the title of proconsul.

22. ea: the antecedent is Sardinia.

Ch. 13.

25. Hispāniīs: the two divisions of Spain, Hither and Further.

28. missus fuerat: cf. questa fuisset, Bk. I, 8.

Page 32.

3. et Hasdrubalem: ‘including Hasdrubal.’

Ch. 14.

8. ad … urbis: cf. ad quintum mīliārum urbis, Bk. I, 15. This was merely a feint on the part of Hannibal to draw the Romans away from Capua, which they were besieging, to the defense of Rome. Rome and Carthage, p. 187.

12. per multōs annōs: cf. per annum, Bk. I, 10.

16. nōbilissima urbs Syrācūsāna: “So fell Syracuse, the virgin city, which had seen two Athenian armaments perish beneath its walls which had for centuries saved Sicily from becoming altogether, what its greater part then was, a Carthaginian appanage. … It fell to rise no more, at least to its former opulence. Its temples were left standing, because they would not pay for moving; … but the choicest works of art were swept off to adorn the imperial city.” Rome and Carthage, p. 181.

22. in dēditiōnem accēpit: cf. in dēditiōnem accēpērunt, Bk. II, 21.

24. cōnsulem: he was praetor, not consul. He was surprised by Hannibal and slain before Herdonia.

Page 33.

Ch. 15.

2. P. Cornēlius Scīpiō: he is one of the most interesting characters in Roman history. Brilliant and versatile, he seemed to be the favorite of fortune. When the senate had resolved to make one more attempt to conquer Spain and were looking for a leader, he offered himself and was sent with 11,000 men. On his arrival he found the forces of the Carthaginians scattered in different parts of the province, and New Carthage defended by a weak garrison. By a brilliant stratagem he captured this with its riches and munitions of war, 207 B.C. Next he attacked Hasdrubal at Baecula in Andalusia. Although the Romans claimed the victory, Hasdrubal escaped from his hands and started for Italy to bear aid to his brother Hannibal. Spain was left to the undisputed possession of the Romans.

3. annōs nātus … vīgintī: cf. decem … nātus, Bk. I, 1. He was too young to be elected to the consulship.

5. ferē prīmus: ‘almost the first.’

Karthāginem Hispāniae: called ‘New Carthage.’ See note on bellum Pūnicum secundum, Ch. 7. A town still exists on the same spot bearing the name Cartagena.

11. ūnō animō: ‘with one accord.’

Ch. 16.

14. Q. Fabius Māximus: see note on Q. Fabiō Māximō, Ch. 9.

17. pecūniam hominum vēnditōrum: ‘the money derived from the sale of the prisoners.’

18. ad fiscum: cf. ex fiscō, Bk. II, 27.

21. ēgregiās rēs: ‘extraordinary exploits.’

per sē: cf. per fīliōs, Bk. I, 6.

22. L. Scīpiōnem: became famous for his victories in the East, Bk. IV, 4.

23. Claudius Mārcellus: see note on M. Claudiō Mārcellō, Ch. 6.

Ch. 17.

26. rēs inclitās: cf. ēgregiās rēs, Ch. 16.

Page 34.

1. in amīcitiam accēpit: cf. in dēditiōnem accēpērunt, Bk. II, 21. It meant practical subjection in either case.

ā victō: sc. hoste.

2. obsidēs nōn poposcit: by pursuing the opposite course to that of the Carthaginians he hoped to win over the Spaniards.

Ch. 18.

3. dēspērāns: ‘giving up the hope.’

6. ā cōnsulibus: construe with īnsidiās compositās.

7. apud Sēnam: one of the critical battles of the world’s history. It is generally known as the battle of the Metaurus, from the name of the river near which it was fought. The messenger sent by Hasdrubal to inform his brother Hannibal of his coming fell into the hands of the Romans. Nero, leaving a part of his forces to watch Hannibal, with a picked band hastened north, joined the force under Salinator, defeated Hasdrubal, who perished in the battle, and returned to his army in Apulia before Hannibal discovered his absence. It is said that he ordered the severed head of Hasdrubal to be flung into the camp of Hannibal. He “recognized the features of the brother whom he had so long and eagerly expected, and in them sadly saw the doom of Carthage.” Rome and Carthage, p. 196; Creighton, p. 45.

12. ingēns animus accessit: lit. ‘great courage came to in addition’ ＝ ‘great courage was inspired in.’

et ipsī ＝ etiam: cf. et ipse, Bk. I, 8.

Ch. 20.

19. in Āfricam missus: the senate, led by Fabius, opposed the sending of Scipio, but the people forced that body to accede to their demands. Owing to the opposition Scipio was not as well equipped for the expedition as he should have been.

dīvīnum quiddam: ‘something divine.’ The ancients believed that great men were inspired by the gods. Scipio pretended to hold communication with Jupiter Capitolinus. Probably he merely took advantage of a popular superstition.

24. Syphācem: Syphax had driven Masinissa, a Libyan king, from his throne. Masinissa joined Scipio on his arrival in Africa and gave him valuable aid. When the war was ended Masinissa was restored to his throne as his reward.

Page 35.

Ch. 21.

5. lēgātī … petīvērunt: their purpose was to enable Hannibal to reach Africa and prepare for war against Scipio.

7. quoūsque ＝ dōnec: a late usage.

8. mīlia: sc. lībrārum.

pondō: ‘by weight.’

11. nē … redderent: Indirect Discourse depending on an idea of commanding implied in hīs … dedit.

Ch. 22.

19. quibus prius: sc. data esset; cf. hīs condiciōnibus dedit, Ch. 21.

20. quīngentīs mīlibus: Dative, object of additīs.

24. Karthāginī bellum: the details of these operations are imperfectly known. Rome and Carthage, p. 222.

Page 36.

Ch. 23.

2. ūllā memoriā: ‘within the memory of any one.’

3. Scīpiō victor: this was at the famous battle of Zama, one of the decisive battles of the world. Although Hannibal managed his forces with his usual skill, and his veterans fought like the men who had so often conquered in Italy, the Carthaginians were utterly defeated. This ended the Second Punic War. Rome and Carthage, p. 224; Creighton, p. 46.

6. mīlia: sc. lībrārum.

7. supellectilis: Nominative, the usual form is supellex.

9. Āfricānus: later Māior was added to his name to distinguish him from the Scipio Africanus who destroyed Carthage, 146 B.C.

11. quam coeperat: cf. quam vēnerant, Bk. II, 28.