Complete Works of Eutropius

by Eutropius

  VIII

  Shortly after he took seventy cities of Epirus, which had resumed hostilities; the booty he distributed among his soldiers. He then returned to Rome with great display, in a vessel belonging to Perseus, which is recorded to have been of such extraordinary magnitude, that it contained sixteen banks of oars. He celebrated his triumph most magnificently in a golden car, with his two sons standing on each side of him; the two sons of Perseus, and Perseus himself, then forty-five years of age, were led in procession before the car. After Aemilius, Caius Anicius also celebrated a triumph on account of the Illyrians; in which Gentius, with his brother and sons, were led before his car. To witness this spectacle the kings of several nations came to Rome; among others, even Attains and Eumenes, kings of Asia, and Prusias, king of Bithynia; who were entertained with great consideration, and, by permission of the senate, deposited the presents which they had brought in the Capitol. Prusias also entrusted his son Nicomedes to the senate.

  9

  Insequenti anno L. Memmius in Lusitania bene pugnavit. Marcellus postea consul res ibidem prosperas gessit.

  IX

  In the year following Lucius Memmius was successful in the war in Spain. Marcellus the consul afterwards met with success in the same country.

  10

  Tertium deinde bellum contra Carthaginem suscipitur, sexcentesimo et altero ab urbe condita anno, L. Manlio Censorino et M. Manilio consulibus, anno quinquagesimo primo postquam secundum Punicum transactum erat. Hi profecti Carthaginem oppugnaverunt. Contra eos Hasdrubal, dux Carthaginiensium, dimicabat. Famea, dux alius, equitatui Carthaginiensium praeerat. Scipio tunc, Scipionis Africani nepos, tribunus ibi militabat. Huius apud omnes ingens metus et reverentia erat. Nam et paratissimus ad dimicandum et consultissimus habebatur. Itaque per eum multa a consulibus prospere gesta sunt, neque quicquam magis vel Hasdrubal vel Famea vitabant, quam contra eam Romanorum partem committere, ubi Scipio dimicaret.

  X

  A third war was then undertaken against Carthage, in the six hundred and second 17 year from the building of the city, in the consulship of Lucius Manlius Censorinus and Marcus Manilius, and in the fifty-first year after the termination of the second Punic war. The consuls in consequence proceeded to attack Carthage. Hasdrubal, the Carthaginian general, engaged them; Phamea, another general, had the command of the Carthaginian cavalry. At that time, Scipio, the grandson of Scipio Africanus, served in the army in the capacity of tribune, for whom great fear and respect was felt by all; for he was regarded as eminently brave and skilful in the field. Many enterprises were accordingly conducted with success by his agency; nor did Hasdrubal or Phamea shrink from anything more than engaging with that part of the army in which Scipio commanded.

  11

  Per idem tempus Masinissa, rex Numidarum, per annos sexaginta fere amicus populi Romani, anno vitae nonagesimo septimo mortuus quadraginta quattuor filiis relictis Scipionem divisorem regni inter filios suos esse iussit.

  XI

  About the same time, Masinissa, king of Numidia, who had been an ally of the Roman people for nearly sixty years, died in the ninety-seventh year of his age, leaving behind him forty-four sons. He appointed Scipio to divide his kingdom amongst his sons

  12

  Cum igitur clarum Scipionis nomen esset, iuvenis adhuc consul est factus et contra Carthaginem missus. Is eam cepit ac diruit. Spolia ibi inventa, quae variarum civitatum excidiis Carthago collegerat, et ornamenta urbium civitatibus Siciliae, Italiae, Africae reddidit, quae sua recognoscebant. Ita Carthago septingentesimo anno, quam condita erat, deleta est. Scipio nomen, quod avus eius acceperat, meruit, scilicet ut propter virtutem etiam ipse Africanus iunior vocaretur.

  XII

  As the name of Scipio had already become famous, he was created consul, although but a young man, and sent against Carthage. He took it and demolished it: the spoils found there, which had been amassed by Carthage from the ruins of various cities, and the ornaments of towns, he restored to such cities of Sicily, Italy, and Africa, as recognized their own. Thus Carthage, in the seven hundredth year after its foundation, was destroyed. Scipio earned the same title which his grandfather had gained, being, on account of his valour, called Africanus Junior.

  13

  Interim in Macedonia quidam Pseudophilippus arma movit et Romanum praetorem P. Iuventium contra se missum ad internicionem vicit. Post eum Q. Caecilius Metellus dux a Romanis contra Pseudophilippum missus est et XXV milibus eius occisis Macedoniam recepit, ipsum etiam Pseudophilippum in potestatem suam redegit.

  XIII

  In the meantime a certain Pseudo-Philip took up arms in Macedonia, and defeated Publius Juvencius, a Roman praetor, who had been sent out against him, with a terrible slaughter. After him Quintus Caecilius Metellus was sent by the Romans as general against this pretended Philip, and, having slain twenty-five thousand of his soldiers, recovered Macedonia, and took the impostor himself prisoner,

  14

  Corinthiis quoque bellum indictum est, nobilissimae Graeciae civitati, propter iniuriam legatorum Romanorum. Hanc Mummius consul cepit et diruit. Tres igitur Romae simul celeberrimi triumphi fuerunt: Africani ex Africa, ante cuius currum ductus est Hasdrubal, Metelli ex Macedonia, cuius currum praecessit Andriscus, idem qui et Pseudophilippus, Mummii ex Corintho, ante quem signa aenea et pictae tabulae et alia urbis clarissimae ornamenta praelata sunt.

  XIV

  War was also declared against Corinth, the noblest city of Greece, on account of an affront offered to a Roman embassy. That city Mummius the consul took and demolished. Three most remarkable triumphs therefore were celebrated at Rome at the same time, that of Scipio for Africa, before whose chariot Hasdrubal was led; that of Metellus for Macedonia, before whose chariot walked Andriscus, also called Pseudo-Philip; and that of Mummius for Corinth, before whom brazen statues, pictures, and other ornaments of that celebrated city, were carried.

  15

  Iterum in Macedonia Pseudoperses, qui se Persei filium esse dicebat, collectis servitiis rebellavit et, cum sedecim milia armatorum haberet, a Tremellio quaestore superatus est.

  XV

  In Macedonia, meanwhile, a Pseudo-Perseus, who called himself the son of Perseus, collecting the slaves, took up arms, and, when he was at the head of a force of seventeen thousand fighting men, was defeated by Tremellius the quaestor. [At this time a hermaphrodite was discovered at Rome, and drowned in the sea by order of the soothsayers.]

  16

  Eodem tempore Metellus in Celtiberia apud Hispanos res egregias gessit. Successit ei Q. Pompeius. Nec multo post Q. quoque Caepio ad idem bellum missus est, quod quidam Viriathus contra Romanos in Lusitania gerebat. Quo metu Viriathus a suis interfectus est, cum quattuordecim annis Hispanias adversus Romanos movisset. Pastor primo fuit, mox latronum dux, postremo tantos ad bellum populos concitavit, ut adsertor contra Romanos Hispaniae putaretur. Et cum interfectores eius praemium a Caepione consule peterent, responsum est numquam Romanis placuisse imperatores a suis militibus interfici.

  XVI

  About the same time Metellus had singular success against the Spaniards in Celtiberia. Quintus Pompeius succeeded him. Not long after Quintus Caepio was also sent to the same war, which a leader named Viriathus was still keeping up against the Romans in Lusitania; through fear of whom Viriathus was killed by his own men. after he had kept Spain in a state of excitement against the Romans for fourteen years. He was at first a shepherd, then captain of a band of robbers, and at last he stirred up so many powerful nations to war, that he was considered as the protector of Spain against the Romans. When his assassins asked a reward of the consul Caepio, they received for answer, that “it was never pleasing to the Romans, that a general should be killed by his own soldiers.”

  17

  Q. Pompeius deinde consul, a Numantinis, quae Hispaniae civitas fuit opulentissima, superatus, pacem ignobilem fecit. Post eum C. Hostilius Mancinus consul iterum cum Numantinis pacem fecit infamem, quam populus et senatus iussit infringi atque ipsum Mancinum hostibus tra
di, ut in illo, quem auctorem foederis habebant, iniuriam soluti foederis vindicarent. Post tantam igitur ignominiam, qua a Numantinis bis Romani exercitus fuerant subiugati, P. Scipio Africanus secundo consul factus et ad Numantiam missus est. Is primum militem vitiosum et ignavum exercendo magis quam puniendo sine aliqua acerbitate correxit, tum multas Hispaniae civitates partim cepit, partim in deditionem accepit, postremo ipsam Numantiam diu obsessam fame confecit et a solo evertit, reliquam provinciam in fidem accepit.

  XVII

  The consul Quintus Pompeius being afterwards defeated by the Numantines, the most powerful nation of Spain, made an ignominious peace with them. After him. the consul Caius Hostilius Mancinus again concluded a dishonourable peace with the Numantines, which the people and senate ordered to be annulled, and Mancinus himself to be given up to the enemy, that they might avenge themselves for the dissolution of the treaty on him with whom they had made it. After such signal disgrace, therefore, with which the Roman armies had been twice defeated by the Numantines, Publius Scipio Africanus was made consul a second time, and sent to Numantia. He reformed, in the first place, the dissolute and idle soldiery, rather by inuring them to labour than by punishment, and without any great severity. He then took several cities of Spain, some by force, and allowing others to surrender. At last he reduced Numantia itself by famine, after it had been long besieged, and razed it to the ground, and received the rest of the province into alliance.

  18

  Eodem tempore Attalus, rex Asiae, frater Eumenis, mortuus est heredemque populum Romanum reliquit. Ita imperio Romano per testamentum Asia accessit.

  XVIII

  About this time Attalus, king of Asia, the brother of Eumenes, died, and left the Roman people his heir. Thus Asia was added to the Roman empire by will.

  19

  Mox etiam D. Iunius Brutus de Callaecis et Lusitanis magna gloria triumphavit et P. Scipio Africanus de Numantinis secundum triumphum egit quarto decimo anno postquam priorem de Africa egerat.

  XIX

  Shortly after, also, Decimus Junius Brutus triumphed with great glory over the Gallaeciansand Lusitanians; and Publius Scipio Africanus had a second triumph over the Numantines. in the fourteenth year after his first triumph for his exploits in Africa.

  20

  Motum interim in Asia bellum est ab Aristonico, Eumenis filio, qui ex concubina susceptus fuerat. Hic Eumenes frater Attali fuerat. Adversus eum missus P. Licinius Crassus infinita regum habuit auxilia. Nam et Bithyniae rex Nicomedes Romanos iuvit et Mithridates Ponticus, cum quo bellum postea gravissimum fuit, et Ariarathes Cappadox et Pylaemenes Paphlagon. Victus est tamen Crassus et in proelio interfectus est. Caput ipsius Aristonico oblatum est, corpus Smyrnae sepultum. Postea Perperna, consul Romanus, qui successor Crasso veniebat, audita belli fortuna ad Asiam celeravit et acie victum Aristonicum apud Stratonicen civitatem, quo confugerat, fame ad deditionem conpulit. Aristonicus iussu senatus Romae in carcere strangulatus est. Triumphari enim de eo non poterat, quia Perperna apud Pergamum Romam rediens diem obierat.

  XX

  A war in the meantime was kindled in Asia by Aristonicus, the son of Eumenes by a concubine: this Eumenes was the brother of Attalus. Against him was sent out Publius Licinius Crassus, who had ample assistance from several kings, for not only Nicomedes, the king of Bithynia, supported the Romans, but also Mithridates king of Pontus, with whom they had afterwards a very great war, as well as Ariarathes, king of Cappadocia, and Pylaemenes of Paphlagonia. Crassus notwithstanding was defeated, and killed in battle; his head was carried to Aristonicus, and his body buried at Smyrna. Soon after Perperna, the Roman consul, who was appointed successor to Grassus, hearing of the event of the war, hastened to Asia; and defeating Aristonicus in battle, near the city Stratonice to which he had fled, reduced him by famine to surrender. Aristonicus, by command of the senate, was strangled in prison at Rome; for a triumph could not be celebrated on his account, because Perperna had died at Pergamus on his return.

  21

  L. Caecilio Metello et T. Quintio Flaminino consulibus Carthago in Africa iussu senatus reparata est, quae nunc manet, annis duobus et viginti postquam a Scipione fuerat eversa. Deducti eo sunt cives Romani.

  XXI

  In the consulate of Lucius Caecilius Metellus and Titus Quintius Flamininus, Carthage in Africa, which still exists, was rebuilt by order of the senate, two and twenty years after it had been destroyed by Scipio. A colony of Roman citizens was sent out thither.

  22

  Anno sexcentesimo vicesimo septimo ab urbe condita C. Cassius Longinus et Sex. Domitius Calvinus consules Gallis transalpinis bellum intulerunt et Arvernorum tunc nobilissimae civitati atque eorum duci Bituito infinitamque multitudinem iuxta Rhodanum fluvium interfecerunt. Praeda ex torquibus Gallorum ingens Romam perlata est. Bituitus se Domitio dedit atque ab eo Romam deductus est, magnaque gloria consules ambo triumphaverunt.

  XXII

  In the six hundred and twenty-seventh year from the founding of the city, Caius Cassius Longinus and Sextus Domitius Calvinus, the consuls, made war upon the Trans alpine Gauls, and the city of the Arverni, at that time very distinguished, and their king, Bituitus; and slew a vast number of men near the river Rhone. A great booty, consisting of the golden collars of the Gauls, was brought to Rome. Bituitus surrendered himself to Domitius, and was conveyed by him to Rome; and both consuls triumphed with great glory.

  23

  M. Porcio Catone et Q. Marcio Rege consulibus, sexcentesimo tricesimo et tertio anno ab urbe condita Narbone in Gallia colonia deducta est annoque post a L. Caecilio Metello et Q. Mucio Scaevola consulibus de Dalmatia triumphatum est.

  XXIII

  In the consulship of Marcus Porcius Cato and Quintus Marcius Rex, in the six hundred and thirty-third year from the building of the city, a colony was led out to Narbonne in Gaul. Afterwards a triumph was obtained over Dalmatia by the consuls Lucius Metellus and Quintus Mucius Scaevola.

  24

  Ab urbe condita anno sexcentesimo tricesimo quinto C. Cato consul Scordiscis intulit bellum ignominioseque pugnavit.

  XXIV

  In the six hundred and thirty-fifth year from the building of the city, the consul Caius Cato made war upon the Scordisci, and fought with them to his dishonour.

  25

  C. Caecilio Metello et Cn. Carbone consulibus duo Metelli fratres eodem die, alterum ex Sardinia, alterum ex Thracia, triumphum egerunt, nuntiatumque Romae est Cimbros e Gallia in Italiam transisse.

  XXV

  When Caius Caecilius Metellus and Cnaeus Carbo were consuls, the Metelli, two brothers, had triumphs on the same day, one for Sardinia, the other for Thrace; and news was brought to Rome, that the Cimbri had crossed from Gaul into Italy.

  26

  P. Scipione Nasica et L. Calpurnio Bestia consulibus Iugurthae, Numidarum regi, bellum inlatum est, quod Adherbalem et Hiempsalem, Micipsae filios, fratres suos, reges et populi Romani amicos, interemisset. Missus adversus eum consul Calpurnius Bestia, corruptus regis pecunia, pacem cum eo flagitiosissimam fecit, quae a senatu improbata est. Postea contra eundem insequenti anno Sp. Postumius Albinus profectus est. Is quoque per fratrem ignominiose contra Numidas pugnavit.

  XXVI

  In the consulship of Publius Scipio Nasica and Lucius Calpurnius Bestia, war was made upon Jugurtha, king of Numidia, because he had murdered Adherbal and Hiempsal, the sons of Micipsa, his cousins, princes, and allies of the Roman people. The consul Calpumius Bestia being sent against him, was corrupted by the king’s money, and concluded a most ignominious treaty of peace with him, which was afterwards repudiated by the senate. Spurius Albinus Postumius proceeded against him in the following year: he also, through the agency of his brother, fought against the Numidians to his disgrace.

  27

  Tertio missus est Q. Caecilius Metellus consul. Is exercitum a prioribus ducibus corruptum ingenti severitate et moderatione correctum, cum nihil in quemquam cruentum faceret, ad disciplinam Romanam reduxit. Iugurtham variis proeliis vicit, elephantos eius
occidit vel cepit, multas civitates ipsius in deditionem cepit. Et cum iam finem bello positurus esset, successum est ei a C. Mario. Is Iugurtham et Bocchum, Mauritaniae regem, qui auxilium Iugurthae ferre coeperat, pariter superavit. Aliquanta et ipse oppida Numidiae cepit belloque terminum posuit capto Iugurtha per quaestorem suum Cornelium Sullam, ingentem virum, tradente Boccho Iugurtham qui pro eo ante pugnaverat. A M. Iunio Silano, collega Q. Metelli, Cimbri in Gallia victi sunt, et a Minucio Rufo in Macedonia Scordisci et Triballi, et a Servilio Caepione in Hispania Lusitani subacti. Acti sunt et duo triumphi de Iugurtha, primus per Metellum, secundus per Marium. Ante currum tamen Marii Iugurtha cum duobus filiis ductus est catenatus et mox iussu consulis in carcere strangulatus est.