Delphi Complete Works of Dionysius of Halicarnassus (Illustrated) (Delphi Ancient Classics Book 79)

by Dionysius of Halicarnassus

  [3] τοιαῦτα ἐπιταχθέντες τε καὶ ἐπιτάξαντες ἀλλήλοις, ἐπειδὴ πᾶσιν ἐξηρτύσαντο τοῖς εἰς τὸν ἀγῶνα ἐπιτηδείοις, ἐξῆγον τὰς δυνάμεις, Σαβῖνοί τε τὴν κρατίστην ἐξ ἁπάσης πόλεως νεότητα ὅπλοις ἐκπρεπέσι κεκοσμημένην ἐπαγόμενοι, Ῥωμαῖοί τε πᾶσαν τὴν δύναμιν τήν τε κατὰ πόλιν καὶ τὴν ἐν τοῖς φρουρίοις ἀναλαβόντες, ἱκανοὺς οἰόμενοι τοὺς ὑπὲρ τὴν στρατεύσιμον ἡλικίαν γεγονότας καὶ τὸν οἰκετικὸν ὄχλον τήν τε πόλιν καὶ τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς χώρας ἐρύματα φυλάττειν.

  [3] Such demands having been given and received, both sides equipped themselves with everything necessary for the war and led out their forces. The Sabines brought the flower of their youth out of every city armed with splendid weapons; and the Romans drew out all their forces not only from the city but also from the fortresses, looking upon those above the military age and the multitude of domestic servants as a sufficient guard for both the city and the fortresses in the country.

  [4] καὶ συνελθόντες ὁμόσε τίθενται τοὺς χάρακας [p. 205] ἀμφότεροι μικρὸν ἀπέχοντας ἀλλήλων Ἠρήτου πόλεως, ἣ τοῦ Σαβίνων ἐστὶν ἔθνους, οὐ πρόσω.

  [4] And the two armies, approaching each other, pitched their camps a little distance apart near the city of eretum, which belongs to the Sabine nation.

  [1] ὡς δὲ συνεῖδον ἀμφότεροι τὰ τῶν πολεμίων πράγματα, τῷ τε μεγέθει τῶν στρατοπέδων εἰκάσαντες καὶ παρ᾽ αἰχμαλώτων ἀκούσαντες, τοῖς μὲν Σαβίνοις θάρσος παρέστη καὶ καταφρόνησις τῆς τῶν πολεμίων ὀλιγότητος, τοῖς δὲ Ῥωμαίοις δέος πρὸς τὸ τῶν ἀντιπολεμούντων πλῆθος: ἐθάρρησαν δὲ καὶ οὐ μικρὰς ἐλπίδας ὑπὲρ τῆς νίκης ἔλαβον ἄλλων τε σημείων γενομένων σφίσι θεοπέμπτων καὶ δὴ καὶ τελευταίου φάσματος, ὅτε παρατάττεσθαι ἔμελλον, τοιοῦδε.

  [46.1] When each side observed the enemy’s condition, of which they judged by the size of the camps and the information given by prisoners, the Sabines were inspired with confidence and felt contempt for the small numbers of the enemy, while the Romans were seized with fear by reason of the multitude of their opponents. But they took courage and entertained no small hopes of victory because of various omens sent to them by the gods, and particularly from a final portent which they saw when they were about to array themselves for battle.

  [2] ἐκ τῶν καταπεπηγμένων παρὰ ταῖς σκηναῖς ὑσσῶν: ἔστι δὲ ταῦτα βέλη Ῥωμαίων, ἃ συνιόντες εἰς χεῖρας ἐξακοντίζουσι, ξύλα προμήκη τε καὶ χειροπλήθη τριῶν οὐχ ἧττον ποδῶν σιδηροῦς ὀβελίσκους ἔχοντα προὔχοντας κατ᾽ εὐθεῖαν ἐκ θατέρου τῶν ἄκρων, μετρίοις ἀκοντίοις ἴσα σὺν τῷ σιδήρῳ: ἐκ τούτων δὴ τῶν ὑσσῶν περὶ τοῖς ἄκροις τῶν ὀβελίσκων φλόγες ἀνήπτοντο, καὶ δι᾽ ὅλου τοῦ στρατοπέδου τὸ σέλας ἦν, ὥσπερ ἀπὸ

  [2] It was as follows: From the javelins that were fixed in the ground beside their tents (these javelins are Roman weapons which they hurl and having pointed iron heads, not less than three feet in length, projecting straight forward from one end, and with the iron they are as long as spears of moderate length) — from these javelins flames issued forth round the tips of the heads and the glare extended through the whole camp like that of torches and lasted a great part of the night.

  [3] λαμπάδων, καὶ κατέσχε τῆς νυκτὸς ἐπὶ πολύ. ἐκ τούτου κατέλαβον τοῦ φάσματος, ὥσπερ οἱ τερατοσκόποι ἀπέφαινον καὶ πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις συμβαλεῖν οὐ χαλεπὸν ἦν, ὅτι νίκην αὐτοῖς ταχεῖαν καὶ λαμπρὰν σημαίνει τὸ δαιμόνιον, ἐπειδήπερ ἅπαν εἴκει τῷ πυρὶ καὶ οὐδὲν ὅ τι οὐχ ὑπὸ τοῦ πυρὸς διαφθείρεται. τοῦτο δ᾽ ὅτι ἐκ τῶν ἀμυντηρίων αὐτοῖς ὅπλων ἀνήφθη, μετὰ [p. 206] πολλοῦ θάρσους προῄεσαν ἐκ τοῦ χάρακος καὶ συρράξαντες τοῖς Σαβίνοις ἐμάχοντο πολλαπλασίοις ἐλάττους ἐν τῷ θαρρεῖν τὸ πιστὸν ἔχοντες: καὶ ἡ ἐμπειρία δὲ σὺν τῷ φιλοπόνῳ πολλὴ αὐτοῖς παροῦσα παντὸς ἐπήγετο 18 δεινοῦ καταφρονεῖν.

  [3] From this portent they concluded, as the interpreters of prodigies informed them and as was not difficult for anyone to conjecture, that Heaven was portending to them a speedy and brilliant victory, because, as we know, everything yields to fire and there is nothing that is not consumed by it. And inasmuch as this fire issued from defensive weapons, they came out with great boldness from their camp, and engaging the Sabines, fought, few in number, with enemies many times superior, placing their reliance in their own good courage. Besides, their long experience joined to their willingness to undergo toil encouraged them to despise every danger.

  [4] πρῶτος μὲν οὖν ὁ Ποστόμιος τὸ εὐώνυμον ἔχων κέρας ἀναλύσασθαι τὴν προτέραν ἧτταν προθυμούμενος τὸ δεξιὸν τῶν πολεμίων ἐξωθεῖ κέρας πρόνοιαν οὐδεμίαν τῆς, ἑαυτοῦ ψυχῆς παρὰ τὸ νικᾶν ποιούμενος, ἀλλ᾽ ὥσπερ οἱ μεμηνότες καὶ θανατῶντες εἰς μέσους τοὺς πολεμίους ῥιπτῶν ἑαυτόν: ἔπειτα καὶ οἱ σὺν τῷ Μενηνίῳ θάτερον ἔχοντες κέρας κάμνοντες ἤδη καὶ ἐξωθούμενοι τῆς στάσεως, ὡς ἔμαθον, ὅτι νικῶσι τοὺς κατὰ σφᾶς οἱ τοῦ Ποστομίου, θαρρήσαντες εἰς ἀντίπαλα χωροῦσι: καὶ γίνεται τῶν κεράτων ἀμφοτέρων τοῖς Σαβίνοις ἐκκλινάντων τροπὴ παντελής.

  [4] First, then, Postumius, who commanded the left wing, desiring to repair his former defeat, forced back the enemy’s right, taking no thought for his own life in comparison with gaining the victory, but, like those who are mad and court death, hurling himself into the midst of his enemies. Then those also with Menenius on the other wing, though they were already in distress and being forced to give ground, when they found that the forces under Postumius were victorious over those who confronted them, took courage and advanced against the enemy. And now, as both their wings gave way, the Sabines were utterly routed.

  [5] οὐδὲ γὰρ οἱ ἐν μέσῃ τῇ φάλαγγι ταχθέντες ἐψιλωμένων τῶν ἄκρων ἔτι παρέμειναν, ἀλλ᾽ ὑπὸ τῆς ἵππου τῆς Ῥωμαϊκῆς ἐξελαυνούσης κατὰ τέλη βιασθέντες ἀνεστάλησαν. φυγῆς δὲ πάντων γενομένης ἐπὶ τοὺς χάρακας ἀκολουθήσαντες οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι καὶ συνεισπεσόντες ἀμφότερα λαμβάνουσιν αὐτῶν τὰ ἐρύματα. τοῦ δὲ μὴ πανσυδὶ τὸν τῶν πολεμίων διαφθαρῆναι στρατὸν ἥ τε νὺξ αἰτία ἐγένετο καὶ τὸ ἐν οἰκείᾳ γῇ τὸ πάθος αὐτοῖς συμβῆναι: ῥᾷον γὰρ οἱ [p
. 207] φεύγοντες ἐπὶ τὰ σφέτερα ἐσώζοντο δι᾽ ἐμπειρίαν τῶν τόπων.

  [5] For not even those who were posted in the centre of the line, when once their flanks were left bare, stood their ground any longer, but being hard pressed by the Roman horse that charged them in separate troops, they were driven back. And when they all fled toward their entrenchments, the Romans pursued them, and entering with them, captured both camps. All that saved the army of the enemy from being totally destroyed was that night came on and their defeat happened in their own land. For those who fled got safely home more easily because of their familiarity with the country.

  [1] τῇ δ᾽ ἑξῆς ἡμέρᾳ καύσαντες τοὺς ἑαυτῶν νεκροὺς οἱ ὕπατοι καὶ τὰ σκῦλα συλλέξαντες: ἑάλω δέ τινα καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ζώντων ῥιπτούντων ἐν τῇ φυγῇ τὰ ὅπλα: ἄνδρας τ᾽ αἰχμαλώτους ἄγοντες, οὓς ἔλαβον οὐκ ὀλίγους καὶ χρήματα, χωρὶς ὧν οἱ στρατιῶται διήρπασαν: τούτων δὲ διαπραθέντων δημοσίᾳ τὰς κατ᾽ ἄνδρα γενομένας εἰσφοράς, αἷς ἔστειλαν τοὺς στρατιώτας, ἅπαντες ἐκομίσαντο: καὶ ἀπῄεσαν ἐπ᾽

  [47.1] The next day the consuls, after burning their own dead, gathered up the spoils (there were even found some arms belonging to the living, which they had thrown away in their flight) and carried off the captives, whom they had taken in considerable numbers, and the booty, in addition to the plunder taken by the soldiers. This booty having been sold at public auction, all the citizens received back the amount of the contributions which they had severally paid for the equipment of the expedition. Thus the consuls, having gained a most glorious victory, returned home.

  [2] οἴκου λαμπροτάτην ἀνῃρημένοι νίκην. καὶ θριάμβοις ὑπὸ τῆς βουλῆς ἐκοσμοῦντο ἀμφότεροι, Μενήνιος μὲν τῷ μείζονι καὶ τιμιωτέρῳ, παρεμβεβηκὼς ἐφ᾽ ἁρματίου δίφρου βασιλικοῦ, Ποστόμιος δὲ τῷ ἐλάσσονι καὶ ὑποδεεστέρῳ, ὃν καλοῦσιν οὐαστήν, παρεγκλίναντες τοὔνομα Ἑλληνικὸν ὑπάρχον εἰς τἀσαφές. τὸ γὰρ πρῶτον εὐαστὴς οὔτως ἀπὸ τοῦ συμβεβηκότος ἐλέγετο, ὡς αὐτός τ᾽ εἰκάζω καὶ ἐν πολλαῖς εὑρίσκω γραφαῖς ἐπιχωρίοις φερόμενον.

  [2] They were both honoured with triumphs by the senate, Menenius with the greater and more honourable kind, entering the city in a royal chariot, and Postumius with the lesser and inferior triumph which they call ouastês or “ovation,” perverting the name, which is Greek, to an unintelligible form. For it was originally called euastês, from what actually took place, according to both my own conjecture and what I find stated in many native histories, the senate, as Licinius relates,

  [3] τότε δὲ πρῶτον, ὡς Λικίννιος ἱστορεῖ, τοῦτον ἐξευρούσης τὸν θρίαμβον τῆς βουλῆς. διαφέρει δὲ θατέρου πρῶτον μέν, ὅτι πεζὸς εἰσέρχεται μετὰ τῆς στρατιᾶς προηγούμενος ὁ τὸν οὐαστὴν κατάγων [p. 208] θρίαμβον, ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐφ᾽ ἅρματος ὥσπερ ἐκεῖνος: ἔπειθ᾽ ὅτι οὐ τὴν ποικίλην καὶ χρυσόσημον ἀμφιέννυται στολήν, ᾗ κοσμεῖται ὁ ἕτερος, οὐδὲ τὸν χρυσοῦν ἔχει στέφανον, ἀλλὰ περιπόρφυρον λευκὴν περιβέβληται τήβενναν, τὸ ἐπιχώριον τῶν ὑπάτων τε καὶ στρατηγῶν φόρημα, στέφανον δ᾽ ἐπίκειται δάφνης, μεμείωται δὲ καὶ τοῦ σκήπτρου τῇ φορήσει παρὰ τὸν ἕτερον,

  [3] having then first introduced this sort of triumph. It differs from the other, first, in this, that the general who triumphs in the manner called the ovation enters the city on foot, followed by the army, and not in a chariot like the other; and, in the next place, because he does not don the embroidered robe decorated with gold, with which the other is adorned, nor does he have the golden crown, but is clad in a white toga bordered with purple, the native dress of the consuls and praetors, and wears a crown of laurel; he is also inferior to the other in not holding a sceptre, but everything else is the same.

  [4] τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλα πάντα ταὐτὰ ἔχει. αἴτιον δὲ τῷ ἀνδρὶ Ποστομίῳ τῆς ἐλάττονος τιμῆς ἐγένετο, καίτοι λαμπροτάτῳ πάντων γενομένῳ κατὰ τὴν μάχην, τὸ πρότερον πταῖσμα ἐν τῇ ἐπιδρομῇ μέγα καὶ σὺν αἰσχύνῃ γενόμενον, ἐξ οὗ τῆς τε δυνάμεως πολλοὺς ἀπώλεσε καὶ αὐτὸς ὀλίγου ἐδέησε σὺν τοῖς περιλειφθεῖσιν ἐκ τῆς τροπῆς αἰχμάλωτος γενέσθαι.

  [4] The reason why this inferior honour was decreed to Postumius, though he had distinguished himself more than any man in the last engagement, was the severe and shameful defeat he had suffered earlier, in the sortie he made against the enemy, in which he not only lost many of his men, but narrowly escaped being taken prisoner himself together with the troops that had survived that rout.

  [1] ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς τούτων ἀρχῆς Πόπλιος Οὐαλέριος Ποπλικόλας ἐπικαλούμενος νοσήσας ἐτελεύτα, κράτιστος τῶν τότε Ῥωμαίων κατὰ πᾶσαν ἀρετὴν νομισθείς. τὰ μὲν οὖν ἄλλα τοῦ ἀνδρὸς ἔργα, δι᾽ ἃ θαυμάζεσθαί τε καὶ μνήμης τυγχάνειν ἄξιός ἐστιν, οὐδὲν δέομαι λέγειν: ἐν ἀρχῇ γὰρ τοῦ λόγου τοῦδε τὰ πολλὰ εἴρηται: ὃ δ᾽ ἁπάντων ἐστὶ τῶν τοῦ ἀνδρὸς ἐγκωμίων θαυμασιώτατον καὶ οὔπω τέτευχε λόγου, τοῦτ᾽ οἴομαι δεῖν μὴ παρελθεῖν, παντὸς μάλιστα νομίζων τοῦτο προσήκειν τοῖς γράφουσιν ἱστορίας, μὴ μόνον τὰς πολεμικὰς πράξεις τῶν ἐπισήμων ἡγεμόνων [p. 209] διεξιέναι, μηδ᾽ εἴ τι πολίτευμα καλὸν καὶ σωτήριον ταῖς πόλεσιν ἀπεδείξαντο ἐξευρόντες, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς βίους αὐτῶν, εἰ μέτριοι καὶ σώφρονες καὶ μένοντες ἐπὶ τοῖς πατρίοις ἐπιτηδεύμασι διετέλεσαν, ἐπιδείκνυσθαι.

  [48.1] In the consulship of these men Publius Valerius, surnamed Publicola, fell sick and died, a man esteemed superior to all the Romans of his time in every virtue. I need not relate all the achievements of this man which he deserves to be both admired and remembered, because most of them have been already narrated in the beginning of this Book; but I think I should not omit one thing which most deserves admiration of all that can be said in his praise and has not yet been mentioned. For I look upon it as the greatest duty of the historian not only to relate the military achievements of illustrious generals and any excellent and salutary measures that they have devised and put into practice for the benefit of their states, but also to note their private lives, whether they have lived with moderation and self-control and in strict adherence to the traditions of their country.

  [2] ἐκεῖνος τοίνυν ὁ ἀνὴρ συγκαταλύσας μὲν τοὺς βασιλεῖς ἐν τοῖς πρώτοις τέτταρσι πατρικίοις καὶ δημεύσας αὐτῶν τὰς ὑπάρξεις, τετράκις δὲ τῆς ὑπατικῆς ἐξουσίας γενόμενος κύριος, μεγίστους δὲ δ
ύο νικήσας πολέμους καὶ θριάμβους καταγαγὼν ἀπ᾽ ἀμφοτέρων, τὸν μὲν πρῶτον ἀπὸ τοῦ Τυρρηνῶν ἔθνους, τὸν δὲ δεύτερον ἀπὸ Σαβίνων, τοιαύτας ἀφορμὰς χρηματισμοῦ λαβών, ἃς οὐδεὶς ἂν ὡς αἰσχρὰς καὶ ἀδίκους διέβαλεν, οὐχ ἑάλω τῇ πάντας ἀνθρώπους καταδουλουμένῃ καὶ ἀσχημονεῖν ἀναγκαζούσῃ φιλοχρηματίᾳ: ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ τῇ μικρᾷ καὶ πατροπαραδότῳ διέμενεν οὐσίᾳ σώφρονα καὶ αὐτάρκη καὶ πάσης ἐπιθυμίας κρείττονα βίον ζῶν, καὶ παῖδας ἐπὶ τοῖς ὀλίγοις χρήμασιν ἐθρέψατο τοῦ γένους ἀξίους, καὶ δῆλον ἐποίησεν ἅπασιν, ὅτι πλούσιός ἐστιν οὐχ ὁ πολλὰ κεκτημένος, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ μικρῶν δεόμενος.

  [2] This man, then, though he had been one of the first four patricians who expelled the kings and confiscated their fortunes, though he had been invested four times with the consular power, had been victorious in two wars to greatest consequence and celebrated triumphs for both — the first time for his victory over the Tyrrhenian nation and the second time for that over the Sabines — and though he had such opportunities for amassing riches, which none could have traduced as shameful and wrong, nevertheless was not overcome by avarice, the vice which enslaves all men and forces them to act unworthily; but he continued to live on the small estate he had inherited from his ancestors, leading a life of self-control and frugality superior to every desire, and with his small means he brought up his children in a manner worthy of their birth, making it plain to all men that he is rich, not who possesses many things, but who requires few.