11-12 Lucaniae . . . campis. The Battle was fought near Beneventum (orig. Male-ventum, perhaps from male + ventus on account of its unwholesome air) in Samnium on the Via Appia, E. of Capua.
15-16 unum ex his . . . avertit = the heavy stroke of a weapon driven home (adacti) into the head of a young elephant (pullum) made it turn aside.
19 gravi mole = with her unwieldy bulk.
The Battle of Beneventum. Pyrrhus, in his attempt to storm the entrenched camp of Curius Dentatus, was obliged to fight on unfavourable ground. The result was a total defeat, and no choice was left him but to give up the unequal contest.
THE WAR WITH THE TARENTINES AND PYRRHUS. (5)
Death of Pyrrhus, 272 B.C.
In praise of a great General.
Repulsus ab Spartanis Pyrrhus Argos petit: ibi, dum Antigonum in urbe clausum expugnare conatur, inter confertissimos violentissime dimicans, saxo de muris ictus occiditur. Caput eius Antigono refertur, qui victoria mitius usus filium eius Helenum 5 cum Epirotis sibi deditum in regnum remisit, eique insepulti patris ossa in patriam referenda tradidit.
Satis constans inter omnes auctores fama est, nullum nec eius nec superioris aetatis regem comparandum Pyrrho fuisse, raroque non inter reges 10 tantum, verum etiam inter illustres viros, aut vitae sanctioris aut iustitiae probatioris visum fuisse: scientiam certe rei militaris in illo viro tantam fuisse, ut cum adversus Lysimachum, Demetrium, Antigonum, tantos reges, bella gesserit, invictus 15 semper fuerit: Illyriorum quoque, Siculorum Romanorumque et Carthaginiensium bellis numquam inferior, plerumque etiam victor exstiterit; qui patriam certe suam angustam ignobilemque fama rerum gestarum et claritate nominis sui toto orbe 20 illustrem reddiderit.
1-4 Repulsus ab Spartanis . . . occiditur. At the invitation of Cleonymus, who had been excluded from the throne of Sparta, Pyrrhus undertook and failed in a desperate attack on the city. He then turned against Argos, to wrest it from Antigonus Gonatas of Macedonia, and was hit by a tile thrown from a roof by a woman.* As he lay helpless on the ground he was recognised and murdered.
8 Satis constans fama = a tolerably unanimous opinion.
12 iustitiae probatioris = of more eminent (lit. tested) justice.
14 Lysimachum, one of Alexander’s generals. About 286 B.C. King of Macedonia and Asia Minor.
Demetrium, surnamed Poliorcetes (stormer of cities), son of Antigonus, King of Asia (one of Alexander’s generals).
16-17 Siculorum bellis. During the years 280-276 B.C. Pyrrhus made himself master of all Sicily with the exception of the Carthaginian stronghold of Lilybaeum.
* Cf. the death of Abimelech before Thebez, Judges ix. 53.
Character of Pyrrhus. ‘He was not only one of the ablest generals and princes, but amiable also as a man, and worthy of our sympathy and respect.’—Ihne.
Why he failed. ‘From lack of accurate information he wholly underestimated the power of Rome. Here was the great error in his calculation, an error for which he can hardly be held responsible.’—Ihne.
Reference. Plutarch, Pyrrhus.
THE WAR WITH THE TARENTINES AND PYRRHUS. (6)
Manius Curius Dentatus, an old-time Roman.
A. Possum persequi permulta oblectamenta rerum rusticarum, sed ea ipsa quae dixi sentio fuisse longiora. Ignoscetis autem, nam et studio rerum rusticarum provectus sum, et senectus est natura loquacior, ne ab omnibus eam vitiis videar vindicare. 5 Ergo in hac vita M’. Curius, cum de Samnitibus, de Sabinis, de Pyrrho triumphavisset, consumpsit extremum tempus aetatis; cuius quidem ego villam contemplans, abest enim non longe a me, admirari satis non possum vel hominis ipsius continentiam 10 vel temporum disciplinam. Curio ad focum sedenti magnum auri pondus Samnites cum attulissent, repudiati sunt: non enim aurum habere praeclarum sibi videri dixit, sed eis qui haberent aurum imperare.
Context. The speaker is Cato the Censor, 184 B.C., the founder of Latin Prose, whose manual of Agriculture, de Re Rustica, is still extant.
1 Possum persequi = I might follow out.
oblectamenta = amusements (cf. de-lecto, delight).
4 provectus sum = I have been carried away.—J. S. Reid.
8 extremum tempus aetatis = the closing season of his life.
9 a me (= a mea villa) = from my country-house.
11 disciplinam = morals (lit. teaching).
11-13 After the close of the war Curius had become patronus of the Samnites, and they were bringing the customary offering of clientes.—J. S. R.
78-79 Plutarch, Cato 2, tells the story. Curius was one of Milton’s
‘Men so poor | who could do mighty things.’—Duff.
79 holuscula (dimin. of hŏlus) = small herbs or vegetables.
Hunc et incomptis Curium capillis
Utilem bello tulit et Camillum
Saeva paupertas et avitus apto
44Cum lare fundus.
41 Hunc = Fabricius.
42 paupertas = frugality, not poverty (= egestas).
43-44 apto cum lare = with its cottage home to match (apto).—W.
‘Hurrah! for Manius Curius
The bravest son of Rome,
Thrice in utmost need sent forth,
Thrice drawn in triumph home.’—Macaulay.
THE WAR WITH THE TARENTINES AND PYRRHUS. (7)
In Praise of Tarentum.
Unde si Parcae prohibent iniquae,
Dulce pellītis ovibus Galaesi
Flumen et regnata petam Laconi
12Rura Phalantho.
Ille terrarum mihi praeter omnes
Angulus ridēt, ubi non Hymetto
Mella decedunt viridique certat
16Baca Venafro,
Ver ubi longum tepidasque praebet
Iuppiter brumas et amicus Aulon
Fertili Baccho minimum Falernis
20Invidet uvis.
Ille te mecum locus et beatae
Postulant arces, ibi tu calentem
Debita sparges lacrima favillam
24Vatis amici.
Subject. ‘Septimius, my dear friend who would accompany me to the ends of the earth, let me spend the close of my life at Tibur (Tivoli), or if not there, then at Tarentum. Let us go there together, and live there till I die.’—Wickham.
9 unde = from this place, i.e. from Tibur.
10 dulce pellitis ovibus = dear to the skin-clad (pellitis) sheep, so clad to keep their fleeces clean.—Gow.
10-11 Galaesi flumen, flows into the Gulf of Tarentum, near the city.
12 Phalantho, an exile from Sparta, founded Tarentum, 708 B.C.
13, 21, 22 Ille (13) . . . ille (21) . . . ibi (22) = Tarentum, emphatic guiding words. Cf. te mecum (21) . . . tu amici (22, 24) = Septimius and Horace.
14-15 ubi non . . . decedunt = where the honey does not give way to (is not inferior to) that of Hymettus.
15-16 viridi Venafro = with the green (olive-groves of) Venafrum (N. of Campania).
16 Baca = the olive, the noblest of berries.—Gow.
18 Aulon = (the grapes of) Aulon, a hill and valley near Tarentum.
19 Fertili = who makes the vines fertile.
22-24 ibi tu . . . vatis amici.
‘There when life shall end,
Your tear shall dew my yet warm pyre,
Your bard and friend.’—Conington.
Reference. Polybius, x. 1. In 272 B.C. Milo with his garrison of Epirots marched out of Tarentum with all the honours of war.
Rome now ruled supreme over the whole of Italy from Ariminum in the North to the Sicilian Straits.
THE PRAISE OF ITALY.
‘Salve, magna parens frugum, Saturnia tellus,
Magna virum.’
Adde tot egregias urbes operumque laborem,
Tot congesta manu praeruptis oppida saxis,
Fluminaque antiquos subterlabentia muros.
An mare, quod supra, memorem, quodque alluit infra?
Anne lacus tantos? Te, Lari maxime, teque,
160Fluctibus et fremitu adsurgens Benace marino?
.......
165Haec eadem argenti rivos aerisque metalla
Ostendit venis atque auro plurima fluxit.
Haec genus acre virum, Marsos pubemque Sabellam,
Adsuetumque malo Ligurem, Volscosque verutos
Extulit: haec Decios, Marios, magnosque Camillos,
170Scipiadas duros bello, et te, maxime Caesar,
Qui nunc extremis Asiae iam victor in oris
Imbellem avertis Romanis arcibus Indum.
Salve, magna parens frugum, Saturnia tellus,
Magna virum: tibi res antiquae laudis et artis
175Ingredior, sanctos ausus recludere fontes,
Ascraeumque cano Romana per oppida carmen.
158 mare quod supra alluit = the mare superum = the Adriatic.
mare quod infra alluit = the mare inferum = the Tuscan or Tyrrhenian (Τυρῥηνός = Tuscan) sea.
159 Lari = Lake Larius (= Como), N. of Milan.
160 Benace = Lake Benacus (= Garda), W. of Verona.
fremitu marino = with roar as of the sea.
168 adsuetum malo = trained in hardship.—Mackail.
Volscosque verutos = and the Volscian spearmen (light infantry). verutos = armed with the verutum (or veru = lit. a spit), a javelin.
170 Scipiadas, Greek patronymic form = Lat. Scīpĭōnēs.
maxime Caesar = Augustus.
171-172 After Actium, 31 B.C., Augustus spent more than a year in reducing and settling the East (imbellem Indum) whose forces had been wielded by Antony.—Sidgwick.
173 Saturnia tellus, in allusion to Saturn’s reign in Latium in the age of gold.
174-175 tibi res . . . fontes = for thee I enter on themes of ancient glory and skill (i.e. in agriculture) and dare to unseal (recludere) the sacred springs; res laudis, the theme of the Aeneid, res artis, of the Georgics.
176 Ascraeum carmen = the song of Ascra, i.e. the Georgics, because Hesiod (author of Works and Days to which Vergil is much indebted) was born at Ascra, near Helicon, in Boeotia.—S.
CONTEST WITH CARTHAGE, 264-202 B.C.
The Vision of Anchises.—Rome’s Heroes.
‘Ille triumphata Capitolia ad alta Corintho
Victor aget currum, caesis insignis Achivis.
Eruet ille Argos Agamemnoniasque Mycenas,
Ipsumque Aeaciden, genus armipotentis Achilli,
840Ultus avos Troiae, templa et temerata Minervae.
Quis te, magne Cato, tacitum, aut te, Cosse, relinquat?
Quis Gracchi genus, aut geminos, duo fulmina belli,
Scipiadas, cladem Libyae, parvoque potentem
Fabricium, vel te sulco, Serrane, serentem?
845Quo fessum rapitis, Fabii? Tu Maximus ille es,
Unus qui nobis cunctando restituis rem.’
.......
855‘Aspice, ut insignis spoliis Marcellus opimis
Ingreditur, victorque viros supereminet omnes!
Hic rem Romanam, magno turbante tumultu,
Sistet, eques sternet Poenos Gallumque rebellem,
Tertiaque arma patri suspendet capta Quirino.’
836 Ille = L. Mummius Achaicus, destroyed Corinth, 146 B.C.
838 Ille = L. Aemilius Paullus, crushed Perseus (= Aeaciden l. 839) at Pydna, 168 B.C.
841 Cosse = Cornelius Cossus, won Spolia Opima a second time, 428 B.C.
842 Gracchi genus, e.g. (i.) Tib. Sempronius Gracchus, twice Consul 215, 212 B.C., in 2nd Punic War; (ii.) T. S. G. distinguished in Spain; (iii.) the two great Tribunes, Tiberius and Gaius.
843 Scipiadas = (i.) Scipio Africanus Maior, victor at Zama, 202 B.C.; (ii.) Scipio Africanus Minor, destroyed Carthage, 146 B.C.
844 Fabricium, Consul 282 and 278 B.C. in war with Pyrrhus. Proof against bribes.
Serrane = Regulus, victor at Ecnomus, 256 B.C., a prisoner, 255 B.C. True to his word.
845 Maximus = Q. Fabius M. Cunctator, Dictator after Cannae. The Shield of Rome.
846 From the Annals of Ennius (239-169 B.C.), often quoted.
855 Marcellus, five times Consul. Took Syracuse 212 B.C. The Sword of Rome.
857 magno . . . tumultu = when a great upheaving shakes it.—Page.
Tumultus (as Cic. tells us) is specially used of a rising in Italy or in Gaul, as it was close to Italy. (Elsewhere = bellum.)
858 Sistet, . . . sternet. Notice the antithesis and alliteration (assonance).
The Vision of Anchises is the imperishable record of the national life, where the poet ‘sums up in lines like bars of gold the hero-roll of the Eternal City.’—Myers.
FIRST PUNIC WAR, 264-241 B.C.
The Foundation of Carthage, 878 B.C.
Pygmalion, cognita sororis fuga, cum impio bello fugientem persequi pararet, aegre precibus matris deorumque minis victus quievit. . . . Itaque Elissa delata in Africae sinum incolas eius loci adventu peregrinorum mutuarumque rerum commercio 5 gaudentes in amicitiam sollicitat. Dein empto loco, qui corio bovis tegi posset, in quo fessos longa navigatione socios, quoad proficisceretur, reficere posset, corium in tenuissimas partes secari iubet atque ita maius loci spatium, quam petierat, occupat: unde 10 postea ei loco Byrsae nomen fuit. Confluentibus deinde vicinis locorum, qui spe lucri multa hospitibus venalia inferebant, sedesque ibi statuentibus ex frequentia hominum velut instar civitatis effectum. est. . . . Itaque consentientibus omnibus Carthago 15 conditur, statuto annuo vectigali pro solo urbis. In primis fundamentis caput bubulum inventum est, quod auspicium fructuosae quidem, sed laboriosae perpetuoque servae urbis fuit; propter quod in alium locum urbs translata. Ibi quoque equi caput repertum, 20 bellicosum potentemque populum futurum significans, urbi auspicatam sedem dedit. Tunc ad opinionem novae urbis concurrentibus gentibus brevi et populus et civitas magna facta.
1 Pygmalion, King of Tyre, murdered Sychaeus, husband of Elissa (Dido).
4 sinum = Gulf of Tunis. (See Murray’s Classical Atlas.)
5 peregrinorum = of strangers. per + ager. Cf. pilgrim. Fr. pèlerin.
mutuarum rerum commercio = barter.
11 Byrsae, i.e., later, the Citadel quarter, as if from βύρσα = a hide, prob. corrupted from Phoen. Bozra (= a fort). So Carthage = Kirjath (city); cp. Kirjath-Arba (Hebron), and Hannibal (= Hanniel) = the grace of Baal.
14 velut instar c. = as if the semblance of a state; cf. ‘instar montis equus,’ Verg.—Post.
17 bubulum = of an ox, adj. from bos.
22 auspicatam = auspicious, in active sense.
Parallel Passages. Verg. Aen. i. 336-368, 418-438, and Aen. iv. 21-22.
References. Bosworth Smith, Carthage and the Carthaginians.—Ihne, Hist. of Rome, vol. ii. pp. 3-21.
FIRST PUNIC WAR, 264-241 B.C.
Aeneas views the Building of Carthage, circ. 878 B.C.
Iamque ascendebant collem, qui plurimus urbi
420Imminet adversasque aspectat desuper arces.
Miratur molem Aeneas, magalia quondam,
Miratur portas strepitumque et strata viarum.
Instant ardentes Tyrii pars ducere muros
Molirique arcem et manibus subvolvere saxa,
425Pars optare locum tecto et concludere sulco;
Iura magistratusque legunt sanctumque senatum;
Hic portus alii effodiunt; hinc lata theatris
Fundamenta locant alii, immanesque columnas
Rupibus excidunt, scaenis decora alta futuris.
430Qualis apes aestate nova per florea rura
Exercet sub sole labor, cum gentis adultos
Educunt fetus, aut cum līquentia mella
Stipant et dulci distendunt nectare cellas,
Aut onera accipiunt venientum, aut agmine facto
435Ignavum fucos pecus a praesepibus arcent:
Fervet opus, redolentque thymo fragrantia mella.
‘O fortunati, quorum iam moenia surgunt!’
Aeneas ait, et fastigia suspicit urbis.
419 plurimus = in huge mass, with the predicate imminet.
421 magalia = huts, a Carthaginian (Phoenician) word. Cf. μέγαρον.
422 strata viarum = stratas vias = the paved roads.—Sidgwick.
423, 424, 425 ducere . . . moliri . . . subvolvere . . . optare . . . concludere, dependent on the idea of eagerness or striving in instant.—S.
426 Vergil is thinking, as often, of Roman institutions, and not of what was appropriate to heroic times. Cf. Aen. i. 507-8.
430-436 This simile is a reproduction of Georg. iv. 162-169. Cf. Milton, Par. Lost, i. 768:
‘As bees
In springtime, when the sun with Taurus rides,
Pour forth their populous youth about the hive.’
432 līquentia = liquid, from līquor, dep. Elsewhere Vergil uses lĭquens from lĭqueo.
433 Stipant = pack, the notion of pushing and tightness being given in the very sound of the heavy overhanging spondees in this line.—S.
435 Ignavum . . . arcent = drive the drones, a slothful herd, from the enclosure. Notice the order.—Page.
437 ‘The want of a city is the key-note of the Aeneid.’—Conington.
FIRST PUNIC WAR, 264-241 B.C.
A Roman Martyr.
Country before Expediency.
M. Atilius Regulus, cum consul iterum in Africa ex insidiis captus esset duce Xanthippo Lacedaemonio, iuratus missus est ad senatum, ut, nisi redditi essent Poenis captivi nobiles quidam, rediret ipse Carthaginem. Is cum Romam venisset, utilitatis 5 speciem videbat, sed eam, ut res declarat, falsam iudicavit: quae erat talis: manere in patria, esse domui suae cum uxore, cum liberis, quam calamitatem accepisset in bello, communem fortunae bellicae iudicantem tenere consularis dignitatis 10 gradum. . . . Itaque quid fecit? In senatum venit, mandata exposuit, sententiam ne diceret recusavit: quam diu iure iurando hostium teneretur, non esse se senatorem. . . . Cuius cum valuisset auctoritas, captivi retenti sunt, ipse Carthaginem 15 rediit neque eum caritas patriae retinuit nec suorum, . . . ‘At stulte, qui non modo non censuerit captivos remittendos, verum etiam dissuaserit.’ Quo modo stulte? etiamne, si reipublicae conducebat? potest autem, quod inutile reipublicae sit, id cuiquam 20 civi utile esse?
1 consul. Regulus was Consul 261 and 256 B.C., and Proconsul in Africa 255 B.C., when he was defeated and taken prisoner by Xanthippus.
6 speciem = the specious (plausible) appearance (semblance).
12, 13 sententiam . . . recusavit = declined to give his own opinion on the case.
13 iure iurando (sc. dato) = by the oath sworn to his enemies.
17 ‘At stulte’ (sc. fecit) = ‘But, it may he said, he acted like a fool.’
19 etiamne (sc. stulte fecit) = What, how did he act like a fool, if . . .—Holden.
20, 21 potest autem . . . utile esse. Cf. Ὅ τῇ πόλει οὐκ ἔστι βλαβερὸν οὐδὲ τὸν πολίτην βλάπτει = that which is not harmful (βλαβερόν = inutile) to the State is not harmful to the citizen.
Parallel Passages. Polybius, i. 31-36 (he makes no mention of the embassy of Regulus); Pliny, Ep. vii. 2 (interesting letter on the death of Regulus); and espec. Hor. Od. III. v. 13-end.
‘With counsel thus, ne’er else aread [advised],
He nerved the Fathers’ weak intent,
And, girt by friends that mourn’d him, sped
Into illustrious banishment.’—C.
FIRST PUNIC WAR, 264-241 B.C.
A. First Roman Naval Victory near Mylae, 260 B.C.
C. Duilius, primo Punico bello a Romanis dux contra Carthaginienses missus, cum videret eos multum mari valere, classem magis validam quam decoram aedificavit, et manus ferreas, quas corvos vocabant, instituit. His, quas ante pugnam hostes 5 valde deriserant, in pugna ipsa ad Liparas insulas commissa naves hostium comprehendit, easque partim cepit, partim demersit. Dux classis Punicae Carthaginem fugit, et ex senatu quaesivit quid faceret. Omnibus ut pugnaret succlamantibus: 10 ‘Feci,’ inquit, ‘et victus sum.’ Sic poenam crucis effugit, nam hac poena dux, re male gesta, apud Poenos afficiebatur. Duilius autem victor primum triumphum maritimum Romae egit, et ad memoriam victoriae columna rostrata in foro posita est. 15
4 corvos = crows (the κόρακες of Polybius), boarding-bridges. A broad movable ladder, fastened to the foremast, and held in position by a rope. When the rope was let go, the iron hook at the upper end of the ladder penetrated the deck of an enemy’s ship.
6 ad Liparas insulas = Aeoliae Insulae (Lipari Islands), N.E. of Sicily. Mylae was on a promontory S.E. of these Islands.
8 Dux, i.e. Hannibal, the defender of Agrigentum 262 B.C.
B. Unique honour conferred on Duilius.
C. Duilium, qui Poenos classe primus devicerat, redeuntem a cena senem saepe videbam puer; delectabatur cereo funali et tibicine, quae sibi nullo exemplo privatus sumpserat: tantum licentiae dabat gloria.
18 cereo funali,* i.e. torchlight.
nullo exemplo = without any precedent.
18-19 sibi . . . sumpserat. Cicero is wrong: more probably the honour was conferred on Duilius by a vote of the Comitia Tributa.
19 dabat = excused; lit. granted, allowed.— J. S. Reid.
* The funale was a torch composed of twigs twisted into a rope (funis) and dipped in pitch or oil.—J. S. R.
References. Polybius, i. 22, for a description of the corvi, κόρακες. Sir Andrew Barton (Percy’s Reliques). Lord Howard says:—
‘Were twenty shippes, and he but one,
I swear by kirke and bower and hall,
He would overcome them every one
If once his beames they do down fall.’
FIRST PUNIC WAR, 264-241 B.C.
Carthaginian Victory off Drepana, 249 B.C.
Rashness of Claudius.
Praedictiones vero et praesensiones rerum futurarum quid aliud declarant nisi hominibus ea ostendi, monstrari, portendi, praedici? Ex quo illa ostenta, monstra, portenta, prodigia dicuntur. Quod si ea ficta credimus licentia fabularum, Mopsum, Tiresiam, 5 Amphiaraum, Calchantem, Helenum, quos tamen augures ne ipsae quidem fabulae adscivissent, si res omnino repudiaret, ne domesticis quidem exemplis docti numen deorum conprobabimus? Nihil nos P. Claudi bello Punico primo temeritas movebit, qui 10 etiam per iocum deos irridens, cum cavea literati pulli non pascerentur, mergi eos in aquam iussit, ut biberent, quoniam esse nollent? Qui risus, classe devicta, multas ipsi lacrimas, magnam populo Romano cladem attulit. Quid? Collega eius Iunius 15 eodem bello nonne tempestate classem amisit, cum auspiciis non paruisset? Itaque Claudius a populo condemnatus est, Iunius necem sibi ipse conscivit.
3 ostenta . . . dicuntur = are called in Latin ‘ostenta,’ ‘monstra,’ etc.—Walford.
4 prodigium for prodicium = pro + √dic- δεικ- = point out.
5 Mopsum, etc. = all those stories about Mopsus, etc., in apposition to ea: poetical construction.
Mopsum, the prophet who accompanied the Argonauts.
Tiresiam, the blind prophet of Thebes.
6 Amphiaraum, the seer of Argos. One of the Seven against Thebes.
Helenus, son of Priam. A seer of the Iliad and the Aeneid.
10 P. Claudi temeritas. P. Cl. Pulcher (son of Appius Claudius, the blind Censor) defeated by Adherbal off Drepana (N.W. corner of Sicily, between Eryx and Lilybaeum).
15 Iunius. L. J. Pullus, consul 249 B.C. His fleet was destroyed by a storm off Pachynus (C. Passaro) the same year.
Parallel Passage. Florus ii. 2 says that ‘Claudius was overthrown, not by the enemy, but by the gods themselves, whose auspices he had despised.’
The Defeat off Drepana. ‘The reason of the defeat lay in the superiority of the Carthaginian admiral and seamen, and the inexperience of Claudius and of his crews, consisting mainly of landsmen who knew nothing of the sea. This disaster and the destruction of the fleet of Junius crowned the series of misfortunes which befell the Romans in the year 249 B.C., the most dismal time of the whole war.’—Ihne.
FIRST PUNIC WAR, 264-241 B.C.
Victory of Lutatius off the Aegates Insulae, 241 B.C.
Peace with Carthage.
A. Interim Carthaginienses classe apud insulas Aegates a C. Lutatio, consule Romanorum, superati statuerunt belli facere finem, eamque rem arbitrio permiserunt Hamilcaris. Ille, etsi flagrabat bellandi cupiditate, tamen paci serviendum putavit, quod 5 patriam, exhaustam sumptibus, diutius calamitates belli ferre non posse intellegebat, sed ita, ut statim mente agitaret, si paulum modo res essent refectae, bellum renovare Romanosque armis persequi, donicum aut virtute vicissent aut victi manus dedissent. 10
1 apud insulas Aegates, the Goat Islands, off the W. Coast of Sicily, between Drepana and Lilybaeum (Marsala).
3 statuerunt belli facere finem. This victory led to the close of the First Punic War.
5 paci serviendum = to devote himself to (obtaining) peace.
9 donicum (= donec), lit. ‘at the time of day when ——’
10 virtute vicissent = they (the Romans) should have conquered by (superior) prowess.
Hic dum stagnosi spectat templumque domosque
Literni ductor, varia splendentia cernit
655Pictura belli patribus monumenta prioris
Exhausti: nam porticibus signata manebant,
Quis inerat longus rerum et spectabilis ordo.
.......
Addiderant geminas medio consurgere fluctu
685Aegates: lacerae circum fragmenta videres
Classis et effusos fluitare in gurgite Poenos.
Possessor pelagi pronaque Lutatius aura
Captivas puppes ad litora victor agebat.
653-654 stagnosi Literni. Town and River on the coast of Campania, N. of Cumae. The River flows through a marsh = Literna palus.
654 ductor = Hannibal.
654-657 Silius (who closely imitates Vergil) makes Hannibal view the sculptured memorials of the First Punic War, just as Aeneas sees carved the tale of Troy. Verg. Aen. i. 445-493.
Parallel Passage. Polybius, i. caps. 59-63.
Terms of Peace. Carthage engaged to evacuate Sicily; not to make war upon Hiero of Syracuse; to give up all Roman prisoners without ransom, and to pay 2200 talents in twenty years.
Sicily the first Roman Province.
SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C.
A. Great Importance of the Second Punic War.
In parte operis mei licet mihi praefari bellum maxime omnium memorabile, quae unquam gesta sint, me scripturum, quod Hannibale duce Carthaginienses cum populo Romano gessere. Nam neque validiores opibus ullae inter se civitates gentesque contulerunt 5 arma, neque his ipsis tantum unquam virium aut roboris fuit, et haud ignotas belli artes inter sese, sed expertas primo Punico conferebant bello, et adeo varia fortuna belli ancepsque Mars fuit, ut propius periculum fuerint, qui vicerunt. Odiis etiam prope 10 maioribus certarunt quam viribus, Romanis indignantibus quod victoribus victi ultro inferrent arma, Poenis, quod superbe avareque crederent imperitatum victis esse.
3 Hannibale duce. Polybius called the war of which Hannibal was the life and soul the ‘Hannibalian War.’
6 his ipsis, sc. Romanis Poenisque, with validiores.
6-7 virium aut roboris = offensive or defensive strength.—R.
8 expertas = tested, in a passive sense.
9 ut propius . . . vicerunt, e.g. after Cannae, 216 B.C.
12 ultro inferrent arma = should presume to attack.—Dimsdale.
13 Poenis, sc. indignantibus.
superbe avareque. ‘When the war of the mercenaries broke out in Africa (241-238 B.C.) Rome availed herself of the distress of Carthage to extort the cession of Sardinia, and raised the war indemnity by 1200 talents.’—Ihne.
B. The Oath of the Boy Hannibal.
Fama est etiam, Hannibalem annorum ferme 15 novem, pueriliter blandientem patri Hamilcari, ut duceretur in Hispaniam, cum, perfecto Africo bello, exercitum eo traiecturus sacrificaret, altaribus admotum, tactis sacris, iure iurando adactum, se, cum primum posset, hostem fore populo Romano. 20
16 blandientem = coaxingly entreating.—D.
17 perfecto Africo bello, i.e. between Carthage and her mutinous mercenaries, 241-237 B.C.
Parallel Passage. For Hannibal’s Oath, Livy xxxv. 19.
Importance of the War. ‘It was a struggle for existence, for supremacy or destruction. It was to decide whether the Graeco-Roman civilisation of the West or the Semitic (Carthaginian) civilisation of the East was to be established in Europe, and to determine its history for all future time.’—Ihne.
SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C.
‘The paths of glory lead but to the grave.’
Expende Hannibalem: quot libras in duce summo
Invenies?....
151Additur imperiis Hispania, Pyrenaeum
Transilit. Opposuit natura Alpemque nivemque:
Diducit scopulos et montem rumpit aceto.
Iam tenet Italiam, tamen ultra pergere tendit:
155‘Actum,’ inquit, ‘nihil est, nisi Poeno milite portas
Frangimus et media vexillum pono Subura.’
O qualis facies et quali digna tabella,
Cum Gaetula ducem portaret belua luscum!
Exitus ergo quis est? O gloria! vincitur idem
160Nempe et in exilium praeceps fugit, atque ibi magnus
Mirandusque cliens sedet ad praetoria regis,
Donec Bithyno libeat vigilare tyranno.
Finem animae, quae res humanas miscuit olim,
Non gladii, non saxa dabunt, nec tela, sed ille
165Cannarum vindex et tanti sanguinis ultor,
Anulus. I, demens, et saevas curre per Alpes,
Ut pueris placeas et declamatio fias.
147-148 Expende . . . invenies = if you lay (lit. ‘weigh’) Hannibal in the scale, how many pounds will you find in the greatest of commanders?—Duff. Cf. Ov. Met. xii. 615:
Iam cinis est: et de tam magno restat Achille
Nescio quid parvam quod non bene compleat urnam.
156 media Subura, i.e. in the heart of Rome. The Subura was one of the busiest and most populous quarters of Rome.
157 O qualis facies . . . tabella = what a sight and how fit for caricature! lit. ‘worthy of what a picture’ i.e. how ridiculous a picture it would have made.—Hardy.
158 luscum = one-eyed. Hannibal lost an eye from disease, while marching through the country flooded by the Arno, 217 B.C.
160 in exilium, i.e. first to Antiochus of Syria, and then to Prusias of Bithynia.
166 anulus. Hannibal took poison which he carried about in a ring (anulus) 183 B.C., aged 76.
167 ut . . . fias = to suit the taste of schoolboys, and become the subject of their speeches.—Duff.
For the thought, cf. Shak. Ham. V. i. 232:
Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay,
Might stop a hole to keep the wind away:
O, that that earth, which kept the world in awe
Should patch a wall to expel the winter’s flaw!
SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C.
Character of Hannibal.
Nunquam ingenium idem ad res diversissimas, parendum atque imperandum, habilius fuit. Itaque haud facile discerneres, utrum imperatori an exercitui carior esset; neque Hasdrubal alium quemquam praeficere malle, ubi quid fortiter ac strenue agendum 5 esset, neque milites alio duce plus confidere aut audere. Plurimum audaciae ad pericula capessenda, plurimum consilii inter ipsa pericula erat. Nullo labore aut corpus fatigari aut animus vinci poterat. Caloris ac frigoris patientia par; cibi potionisque 10 desiderio naturali, non voluptate modus finitus; vigiliarum somnique nec die nec nocte discriminata tempora: id, quod gerendis rebus superesset, quieti datum; ea neque molli strato neque silentio accersita; multi saepe militari sagulo opertum humi iacentem 15 inter custodias stationesque militum conspexerunt. Vestitus nihil inter aequales excellens; arma atque equi conspiciebantur. Equitum peditumque idem longe primus erat; princeps in proelium ibat, ultimus conserto proelio excedebat. Has tantas viri virtutes 20 ingentia vitia aequabant, inhumana crudelitas, perfidia plus quam Punica, nihil veri, nihil sancti, nullus deum metus, nullum ius iurandum, nulla religio.
2 habilius = better adapted, lit. ‘more easily handled’; cf. our handy.
7 ad pericula capessenda = in incurring peril.
12 discriminata = regulated, lit. ‘divided off’; cf. dis-cerno, dis-crimen.
14 accersita (= arcessita) = wooed.
15 sagulo = in his military cloak: diminutive of sagum.
21 inhumana crudelitas. Polybius says that many of his alleged cruelties were to be set down to his namesake H. Monomachus.
21-23 perfidia plus quam Punica. ‘This does not seem to have been anything worse than a consummate adroitness in laying traps for his enemies.’—Church and Brodribb. Cf. ‘Perfidious Albion.’
23 nulla religio = no scruples, i.e. no force binding (re + ligare) or restraining from wrong-doing, no conscience.
Parallel Passages. Livy xxvi. 41 of Scipio Africanus Minor—Sallust Cat. 5 of Catiline—Polybius ix. 22-26 (important).
‘Bitterly as the Romans hated, reviled, and persecuted Carthage, the most deadly poison of their hatred they poured upon Hannibal; they did not hesitate to blacken his memory by the most revolting accusations.’—Ihne.
SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C.
The Siege of Saguntum, 219 B.C.
Angulus muri erat in planiorem patentioremque quam cetera circa vallem vergens; adversus eum vineas agere instituit, per quas aries moenibus admoveri posset. Sed ut locus procul muro satis aequus agendis vineis fuit, ita haudquaquam prospere, 5 postquam ad effectum operis ventum est, coeptis succedebat. Et turris ingens imminebat, et murus, ut in suspecto loco, supra ceterae modum altitudinis emunitus erat, et iuventus delecta, ubi plurimum periculi ac timoris ostendebatur, ibi vi maiore obsistebant. 10 Ac primo missilibus summovere hostem nec quicquam satis tutum munientibus pati; deinde iam non pro moenibus modo atque turri tela micare, sed ad erumpendum etiam in stationes operaque hostium animus erat; quibus tumultuariis certaminibus 15 haud ferme plures Saguntini cadebant quam Poeni. Ut vero Hannibal ipse, dum murum incautius subit, adversum femur tragula graviter ictus cecidit, tanta circa fuga ac trepidatio fuit, ut non multum abesset, quin opera ac vineae desererentur. 20