Complete Works of Eutropius

by Eutropius

  6

  Census iterum habitus est. Et cum Latini, qui a Romanis subacti erant, milites praestare nollent, ex Romanis tantum tirones lecti sunt, factaeque legiones decem, qui modus sexaginta vel amplius armatorum milia efficiebat. Parvis adhuc Romanis rebus tanta tamen in re militari virtus erat. Quae cum profectae essent adversum Gallos duce L. Furio, quidam ex Gallis unum ex Romanis, qui esset optimus, provocavit. Tum se M. Valerius tribunus militum obtulit, et cum processisset armatus, corvus ei supra dextrum bracchium sedit. Mox commissa adversum Gallum pugna idem corvus alis et unguibus Galli oculos verberavit, ne rectum posset aspicere. Ita a tribuno Valerio interfectus. Corvus non solum victoriam ei, sed etiam nomen dedit. Nam postea idem Corvinus est dictus. Ac propter hoc meritum annorum trium et viginti consul est factus.

  VI

  A census was again taken; and as the Latins, who had been subdued by the Romans, refused to furnish troops, recruits were levied from among the Romans only, and ten legions were raised, making sixty thousand fighting men, or upwards; so great was the power of the Romans in war, while their territory was as yet but small. These troops having marched out against the Gauls, under the conduct of Lucius Furius Camillus, one of the Gauls challenged the most valiant among the Romans to single combat; when Marcus Valerius, a tribune of the soldiers, came forward to accept the challenge; and, as he advanced in full armour, a crow settled upon his right shoulder. Afterwards, too, when he commenced the encounter with the Gaul, the same crow, with his wings and talons, furiously assailed the Gaul’s eyes, so that he was not able to see before him, and thus, being slain by the tribune Valerius, he gave him not only a victory, but a name; for he was afterwards called Corvus. For the same service also, at the age of three and twenty, he was made consul.

  7

  Latini, qui noluerant milites dare, hoc quoque a Romanis exigere coeperunt, ut unus consul ex eorum, alter ex Romanorum populo crearetur. Quod cum esset negatum, bellum contra eos susceptum est et ingenti pugna superati sunt; ac de his perdomitis triumphatum est. Statuae consulibus ob meritum victoriae in Rostris positae sunt. Eo anno etiam Alexandria ab Alexandro Macedone condita est.

  VII

  The Latins, who had refused to furnish troops, proceeded also to demand of the Romans, that one of the consuls should be elected from their own people, the other from the Romans; this demand having been rejected, war was commenced against them, and they were overcome in a great battle; and a triumph was celebrated on account of their defeat. Statues were erected to the consuls in the Rostra, for their service in gaining this victory.

  8

  Iam Romani potentes esse coeperunt. Bellum enim in centesimo et tricesimo fere miliario ab urbe apud Samnitas gerebatur, qui medii sunt inter Picenum, Campaniam et Apuliam. L. Papirius Cursor cum honore dictatoris ad id bellum profectus est. Qui cum Romam rediret, Q. Fabio Maximo, magistro equitum, quem apud exercitum reliquit, praecepit, ne se absente pugnaret. Ille occasione reperta felicissime dimicavit et Samnitas delevit. Ob quam rem a dictatore capitis damnatus, quod se vetante pugnasset, ingenti favore militum et populi liberatus est tanta Papirio seditione commota, ut paene ipse interficeretur.

  VIII

  The Romans had now begun to be powerful; for a war was carried on by them against the Samnites, who hold a middle situation between Picenum, Campania, and Apulia, at the distance of nearly a hundred and thirty miles from the city. Lucius Papirius Cursor went to conduct that war with the rank of dictator, and, on returning to Rome, gave orders to Quintus Fabius Maximus, his master of the horse, whom he left in charge of the army, not to fight during his absence. He, however, seeing a favourable opportunity, commenced an engagement with great success, and utterly defeated the Samnites; he was accordingly condemned to death by the dictator, for fighting contrary to his orders, but was saved by the powerful interposition of the soldiers and people, so great a tumult having been excited against Papirius, that he was almost slain.

  9

  Postea Samnites Romanos T. Veturio et Sp. Postumio consulibus ingenti dedecore vicerunt et sub iugum miserunt. Pax tamen a senatu et populo soluta est, quae cum ipsis propter necessitatem facta fuerat. Postea Samnites victi sunt a L. Papirio consule, septem milia eorum sub iugum missa. Papirius primus de Samnitibus triumphavit. Eo tempore Ap. Claudius censor aquam Claudiam induxit et viam Appiam stravit. Samnites reparato bello Q. Fabium Maximum vicerunt tribus milibus hominum occisis. Postea, cum pater ei Fabius Maximus legatus datus fuisset, et Samnitas vicit et plurima ipsorum oppida cepit. Deinde P. Cornelius Rufinus M. Curius Dentatus, ambo consules, contra Samnitas missi ingentibus proeliis eos confecere. Tum bellum cum Samnitibus per annos quadraginta novem actum sustulerunt. Neque ullus hostis fuit intra Italiam, qui Romanam virtutem magis fatigaverit.

  IX

  The Samnites subsequently, in the consulate of Titus Veturius and Spurius Posthumius, defeated the Romans with signal ignominy, and compelled them to pass under the yoke. The peace, however, which had been concluded with them through mere necessity, was broken by the senate and people. After this the Samnites were defeated by Lucius Papirius the consul, and seven thousand of them made to pass under the yoke. Papirius was granted a triumph over the Samnites. About the same time Appius Claudius the censor brought the Claudian water into the city, and made the Appian way.

  The Samnites, renewing the war, defeated Quintus Fabius Maximus, with the slaughter of three thousand of his troops; but afterwards, his father, Fabius Maximus, being appointed his lieutenant, he both defeated the Samnites, and took several of their towns. Subsequently, Publius Cornelius Rufinus and Manius Curius Dentatus, the two consuls, being sent against the Samnites, reduced their strength in some considerable battles. Thus they brought the war with the Samnites to an end; a war which had lasted for forty-nine years. Nor was there any enemy in Italy that put the valour of the Romans more to the test.

  10

  Interiectis aliquot annis iterum se Gallorum copiae contra Romanos Tuscis Samnitibusque iunxerunt, sed cum Romam tenderent, a Cn. Cornelio Dolabella consule deletae sunt.

  X

  After an interval of a few years, the forces of the Gauls united with the Tuscans and Samnites against the Romans; but, as they were marching to Rome, were cut off by the consul Cnaeus Cornelius Dolabella.

  11

  Eodem tempore Tarentinis, qui iam in ultima Italia sunt, bellum indictum est, quia legatis Romanorum iniuriam fecissent. Hi Pyrrum, Epiri regem, contra Romanos in auxilium poposcerunt, qui ex genere Achillis originem trahebat. Is mox ad Italiam venit, tumque primum Romani cum transmarino hoste dimicaverunt. Missus est contra eum consul P. Valerius Laevinus, qui cum exploratores Pyrri cepisset, iussit eos per castra duci, ostendi omnem exercitum tumque dimitti, ut renuntiarent Pyrro quaecumque a Romanis agerentur. Commissa mox pugna, cum iam Pyrrus fugeret, elephantorum auxilio vicit, quos incognitos Romani expaverunt. Sed nox proelio finem dedit; Laevinus tamen per noctem fugit, Pyrrus Romanos mille octingentos cepit et eos summo honore tractavit, occisos sepelivit. Quos cum adverso vulnere et truci vultu etiam mortuos iacere vidisset, tulisse ad caelum manus dicitur cum hac voce: se totius orbis dominum esse potuisse, si tales sibi milites contigissent.

  XI

  War was at the same time proclaimed against the Tarentines (who are still a people at the extremity of Italy), because they had offered violence to some Roman ambassadors. These people asked aid against the Romans of Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, who derived his origin from the family of Achilles. He soon after passed over into Italy, and it was then that the Romans fought for the first time with an enemy from beyond sea. The consul Publius Valerius Laevinus was sent against him; who, having seized some spies of Pyrrhus, ordered them to be led through the camp, and the whole army to be exhibited to them, and then to be dismissed, that they might tell Pyrrhus whatever was going on among the Romans. An engagement taking place soon after, Pyrrhus, when on the point of fleeing, got the victory by means of his elephants, at the sight of which the Romans, to whom they were strange, were greatly terrified; but night
put an end to the battle. Laevinus however fled during the night. Pyrrhus took a thousand eight hundred Romans prisoners, and treated them with the greatest honour; the slain he buried. On observing those lying dead, with their wounds in front, and with stern countenances, he is said to have lifted up his hands to heaven, exclaiming that “he might himself have been master of the whole world, if such soldiers had fallen to his lot.”

  12

  Postea Pyrrus, coniunctis sibi Samnitibus, Lucanis, Brittiis, Romam perrexit, omnia ferro ignique vastavit, Campaniam populatus est atque ad Praeneste venit, miliario ab urbe octavo decimo. Mox terrore exercitus, qui eum cum consule sequebatur, in Campaniam se recepit. Legati ad Pyrrum de redimendis captivis missi ab eo honorifice suscepti sunt. Captivos sine pretio Romam misit. Unum ex legatis Romanorum, Fabricium, sic admiratus, cum eum pauperem esse cognovisset, ut quarta parte regni promissa sollicitare voluerit, ut ad se transiret, contemptusque est a Fabricio. Quare cum Pyrrus Romanorum ingenti admiratione teneretur, legatum misit, qui pacem aequis condicionibus peteret, praecipuum virum, Cineam nomine, ita ut Pyrrus partem Italiae, quam iam armis occupaverat, obtineret.

  XII

  Pyrrhus afterwards, having united to him the Samnites, the Lucanians, and the Bruttii, proceeded towards Rome. He laid all waste with fire and sword, depopulated Campania, and advanced to Praeneste, eighteen miles from Rome. Soon after, through fear of an army which was pursuing him with a consul at its head, he fell back upon Campania. Ambassadors, who were sent to treat with Pyrrhus respecting the ransom of the captives, were honourably entertained by him; and he sent the captives back to Rome without payment. Fabricius, one of the Roman ambassadors, he admired so much, that, finding he was poor, he endeavoured to draw him over to his side with the promise of a fourth part of his kingdom, but he was repulsed with disdain by Fabricius. Pyrrhus, therefore, being struck with admiration at the character of the Romans, sent an eminent man. Cineas by name, as ambassador, to ask for peace on reasonable terms, provided that he might retain possession of that part of Italy, of which he had already become master in the war.

  13

  Pax displicuit remandatumque Pyrro est a senatu eum cum Romanis, nisi ex Italia recessisset, pacem habere non posse. Tum Romani iusserunt captivos omnes, quos Pyrrus reddiderat, infames haberi, quod armati capi potuissent, nec ante eos ad veterem statum reverti, quam si binorum hostium occisorum spolia retulissent. Ita legatus Pyrri reversus est. A quo cum quaereret Pyrrus, qualem Romam comperisset, Cineas dixit regum se patriam vidisse; scilicet tales illic fere omnes esse, qualis unus Pyrrus apud Epirum et reliquam Graeciam putaretur. Missi sunt contra Pyrrum duces P. Sulpicius et Decius Mus consules. Certamine commisso Pyrrus vulneratus est, elephanti interfecti, viginti milia caesa hostium, et ex Romanis tantum quinque milia; Pyrrus Tarentum fugatus.

  XIII

  Such terms of peace were not satisfactory, and an answer was returned by the senate to Pyrrhus, that “he could have no peace with the Romans, unless he retired from Italy.” The Romans then ordered that all the prisoners whom Pyrrhus had sent back should be considered infamous because they had suffered themselves to be taken with arms in their hands; and not to be restored to their former rank, until they had each produced the spoils of two slain enemies. Thus the ambassador of Pyrrhus returned; and, when Pyrrhus asked him “what kind of a place he had found Rome to be,” Cineas replied, that “he had seen a country of kings, for that all there were such, as Pyrrhus alone was thought to be in Epirus and the rest of Greece.”

  The consuls Publius Sulpicius and Decius Mus were sent out as generals against Pyrrhus. A battle being commenced, Pyrrhus was wounded, his elephants killed, twenty thousand of the enemy slain, and of the Romans only five thousand. Pyrrhus was forced to retire to Tarentum.

  14

  Interiecto anno contra Pyrrum Fabricius est missus, qui prius inter legatos sollicitari non potuerat, quarta regni parte promissa. Tum, cum vicina castra ipse et rex haberent, medicus Pyrri nocte ad eum venit, promittens veneno se Pyrrum occisurum, si sibi aliquid polliceretur. Quem Fabricius vinctum reduci iussit ad dominum Pyrroque dici quae contra caput eius medicus spopondisset. Tum rex admiratus eum dixisse fertur: “Ille est Fabricius, qui difficilius ab honestate quam sol a cursu suo averti potest. “ Tum rex ad Siciliam profectus est. Fabricius victis Lucanis et Samnitibus triumphavit. Consules deinde M. Curius Dentatus et Cornelius Lentulus adversum Pyrrum missi sunt. Curius contra eum pugnavit, exercitum eius cecidit, ipsum Tarentum fugavit, castra cepit. Ea die caesa hostium viginti tria milia. Curius in consulatu triumphavit. Primus Romam elephantos quattuor duxit. Pyrrus etiam a Tarento mox recessit et apud Argos, Graeciae civitatem, occisus est.

  XIV

  After the lapse of a year, Fabricius was sent out against Pyrrhus, the same who, when he was before among the ambassadors, could not be won with a promise of the fourth part of his kingdom. As Fabricius and the king had their camps near to each other, the physician of Pyrrhus came to Fabricius by night, offering to despatch Pyrrhus by poison, if he would promise him some remuneration; upon which Fabricius ordered that he should be taken back in chains to his master, and that information should be given to Pyrrhus of the proposals which the physician had made against his life. The king, struck with admiration of his conduct, is reported to have exclaimed on the occasion, “That excellent Fabricius is a man who can less easily be diverted from the path of honour, than the sun from its course.” Pyrrhus then departed for Sicily. Fabricius, after defeating the Samnites and Lucanians, obtained a triumph.

  The consuls Manius Curius Dentatus and Cornelius Lentulus were next sent against Pyrrhus; and Curius came to an engagement with him, cut off his army, drove him back to Tarentum. and took his camp. On that day were slain twenty-three thousand of the enemy. Curius Dentatus triumphed in his consulate. He was the first that brought elephants to Rome, in number, four. Pyrrhus also soon after quitted Tarentum, and was killed at Argos, a city of Greece.

  15

  C. Fabio Licinio C. Claudio Canina consulibus anno urbis conditae quadringentesimo sexagesimo primo legati Alexandrini a Ptolomaeo missi Romam venere et a Romanis amicitiam, quam petierant, obtinuerunt.

  XV

  In the consulship of Caius Fabricius Licinus and Caius Claudius Canina, in the four hundred and sixty-first year from the foundation of the city, ambassadors, from Alexandria, despatched by Ptolemy, arrived at Rome, and obtained from the Romans the friendship which they solicited.

  16

  Q. Ogulnio C. Fabio Pictore consulibus Picentes bellum commovere et ab insequentibus consulibus P. Sempronio Ap. Claudio victi sunt; et de his triumphatum est. Conditae a Romanis civitates Ariminum in Gallia et Beneventum in Samnio.

  XVI

  In the consulate of Quintus Ogulnius and Caius Fabius Pictor, the Picenians commenced a war, and were conquered by the succeeding consuls Publius Sempronius and Appius Claudius, and a triumph was celebrated over them. Two cities were founded by the Romans, Ariminum in Gaul, and Beneventum in Samnium.

  17

  M. Atilio Regulo L. Iulio Libone consulibus Sallentinis in Apulia bellum indictum est, captique sunt cum civitate simul Brundisini, et de his triumphatum est.

  XVII

  When Marcus Attilius Regulus and Lucius Junius Libo were consuls, war was declared against the Sallentines in Apulia; and the Brundusians and their city were taken, and a triumph granted on their subjugation.

  18

  Anno quadringentesimo septuagesimo septimo, cum iam clarum urbis Romae nomen esset, arma tamen extra Italiam mota non fuerant. Ut igitur cognosceretur, quae copiae Romanorum essent, census est habitus. Tum inventa sunt civium capita ducenta nonaginta duo milia trecenta triginta quattuor, quamquam a condita urbe numquam bella cessassent. Et contra Afros bellum susceptum est primum Ap. Claudio Q. Fulvio consulibus. In Sicilia contra eos pugnatum est et Ap. Claudius de Afris et rege Siciliae Hierone triumphavit.

  XVIII

  In the four hundred and seventy-seventh year of the city, although the Roman name had now b
ecome famous, yet their arms had not been carried out of Italy. That it might be ascertained, therefore, what the forces of the Romans were, a census was taken. On this occasion the number of citizens was found to be two hundred and ninety-two thousand, three hundred and thirty-four, although from the founding of the city wars had never ceased. It was then that the first war was undertaken against the Africans, in the consulate of Appius Claudius and Quintus Fulvius. A battle was fought with them in Sicily; and Appius Claudius obtained a triumph for a victory over the Africans and Hiero king of Sicily.

  19

  Insequenti anno Valerio Marco et Otacilio Crasso consulibus in Sicilia a Romanis res magnae gestae sunt. Tauromenitani, Catinenses et praeterea quinquaginta civitates in fidem acceptae. Tertio anno in Sicilia contra Hieronem, regem Siculorum, bellum paratum est. Is cum omni nobilitate Syracusanorum pacem a Romanis impetravit deditque argenti ducenta talenta. Afri in Sicilia victi sunt et de his secundo Romae triumphatum est.