Helps to Latin Translation at Sight
Chapter 40 : SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C._Character of Scipio Africa.n.u.s Maior._ Fuit enim Scipi

SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C.

_Character of Scipio Africa.n.u.s Maior._

Fuit enim Scipio non veris tantum virtutibus mirabilis, sed arte quoque quadam ab iuventa in ostentationem earum compositus, pleraque apud mult.i.tudinem aut _ut_ per nocturnas visa species aut velut divinitus mente monita agens, sive et ipse capti {5} quadam superst.i.tione animi, sive ut imperia consiliaque velut sorte oraculi missa sine cunctatione exsequerentur. Ad hoc iam inde ab initio praeparans animos, ex quo togam virilem sumpsit, nullo die prius ullam publicam privatamque rem egit, quam {10} in Capitolium iret, ingressusque aedem consideret et plerumque solus in secreto ibi tempus tereret. Hic mos, quem per omnem vitam servabat, seu consulto seu temere vulgatae opinioni fidem apud quosdam fecit, stirpis eum divinae virum esse. Multa alia {15} eiusdem generis, alia vera, alia a.s.simulata, admirationis humanae in eo iuvene excesserant modum; quibus freta tunc civitas aetati haudquaquam maturae tantam rerum molem tantumque imperium permisit.

LIVY, xxvi. 19.

[Linenotes: 2-3. +in ostentationem earum compositus+ = _he made a study_ (+compositus+) _of displaying them_, implying artificiality. --R.

3-5. +pleraque ... agens+ = _in most of his dealings_ (+pleraque agens+) _with the mob (representing his plans) as inspired_ (+visa+) _by visions in the night or as matters of inspiration_ (+divinitus mente monita+).

7. +sorte+ = _by an oracular response_ (which was often written on a little tablet or _lot_, +sors+).

11. +aedem+, i.e. the _cella_ (_chapel_, the part enclosed within the four side-walls) of the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus.

13-14. +seu consulto seu temere vulgatae+ = _whether designedly or undesignedly spread abroad_.

17. +humanae+ = _which one has for a mere man_. --Rawlins.

19. +tantam rerum molem+ = _so stupendous a task_. --R. In 212 or 211 B.C. the two brothers, Publius and Gnaeus Scipio, were totally defeated by Hasdrubal and fell at the head of their troops. Scipio, son of this P. Scipio, was in 210 B.C. sent to Spain, at the age of 27, as proconsul in command of a reinforcement of 11,000 men.]

+Character of Scipio.+ 'He was a man far above the average of his contemporaries, and possessed a greatness of mind which could not fail to rivet attention. He differed from the majority of generals by not only daring to conceive bold plans, but by contriving to carry them out.' --Ihne.

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SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C.

_Scipio takes New Carthage, 210 B.C._

Scipio ipse, ut ei nuntiatum est aestum decedere, quod per piscatores Tarraconenses nunc levibus cymbis, nunc, ubi eae siderent, vadis pervagatos stagnum compertum habebat, facilem pedibus ad murum transitum dari, eo sec.u.m armatos quingentos {5} duxit. Ubi urbem sine certamine intravere, pergunt inde, quanto maximo cursu poterant, ad eam portam, circa quam omne contractum certamen erat. In quod adeo intenti omnium non animi solum fuere, sed etiam oculi auresque pugnantium spectantiumque {10} et adhortantium pugnantes, ut nemo ante ab tergo senserit captam urbem, quam tela in aversos inciderunt et utrimque ancipitem hostem habebant. Tunc turbatis defensoribus metu et moenia capta, et porta intus forisque pariter refringi coepta; et mox {15} caedendo confectis ac distractis, ne iter impediretur, foribus armati impetum fecerunt. . . . Quoad dedita arx est, caedes tota urbe pa.s.sim factae, nec ulli p.u.b.erum qui obvius fuit parcebatur; tum signo dato caedibus finis factus; ad praedam victores versi, {20} quae ingens omnis generis fuit.

LIVY, xxvi. 45, 46 (sel.)

[Linenotes: 3. +vadis pervagatos stagnum+ = _made their way through the pool by wading_ (+vadis+).

8. +contractum+ = _concentrated (confined)_.

13. +ancipitem+ = _double_, _twofold_, _on two opposite sides_.

15. +intus forisque+ = _both within and without_.

+foris+, adv. (an abl. form from an obsolete nom. +fora+) = _out of doors_, _without_. Cf. +foras+ = _out through the doors_, _forth_.

16-17. +caedendo ... distractis foribus+ = _when the doors were destroyed and broken up by blows_.]

+Carthago Nova+ (Carthagena) was founded by Hasdrubal (the uncle of Hannibal) 243 B.C. The city is situated on a promontory running out into the sea, and possesses one of the finest harbours in the world, protected by an island as by a natural breakwater. But it had a weak side, and this had been betrayed by fishermen to Scipio. During ebb-tide the water of the shallow pool W. of the town fell so much that it was fordable and the bottom was firm. Of this Scipio took advantage. He first made a feint attack on the N. wall and then led 500 men across the ford, who scaled the W. wall and opened the nearest gate from the inside.

+Result of its Capture.+ 'New Carthage, the key of Spain, the basis of operations against Italy, and the Carthaginian a.r.s.enal, was taken, thus determining the issue of the Spanish War.' --Ihne.

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SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C.

_Nero's famous March to the Metaurus, 207 B.C._

Praemissi (nuntii) per agrum Larinatem Marrucinum Frentanum Praetutianum, qua exercitum ducturus erat, ut omnes ex agris urbibusque commeatus paratos militi ad vescendum in viam deferrent, equos iumentaque alia producerent, ut {5} vehiculorum fessis copia esset. Ipse de toto exercitu civium sociorumque quod roboris erat delegit, s.e.x milia peditum, mille equites. . . . Et hercule per instructa omnia ordinibus virorum mulierumque undique ex agris effusorum, inter vota ac preces et {10} laudes ibant: illos praesidia rei publicae, vindices urbis Romanae imperiique appellabant; in illorum armis dextrisque suam liberorumque suorum salutem ac libertatem repositam esse. Deos omnes deasque precabantur, ut illis faustum iter, felix pugna, matura {15} ex hostibus victoria esset, d.a.m.narenturque ipsi votorum, quae pro iis suscep.i.s.sent, ut, quem ad modum nunc solliciti prosequerentur eos, ita paucos post dies laeti ovantibus victoria obviam irent. Invitare inde pro se quisque et offerre et fatigare {20} precibus, ut quae ipsis iumentisque usui essent, ab se potissimum sumerent; benigne omnia c.u.mulata dare. Modestia certare milites, ne quid ultra usum necessarium sumerent; nihil morari, nec abscedere ab signis nec subsistere nisi cib.u.m capientes: diem {25} ac noctem ire; vix quod satis ad naturale desiderium corporum esset, quieti dare.

LIVY, xxvii. 43, 45 (sel.)

+Context.+ Nero, on hearing from the captured Numidian hors.e.m.e.n of Hasdrubal's march and plans--to meet Hannibal in Umbria and then to march on Narnia and Rome--with 6000 picked foot and 1000 horse withdrew secretly from his camp before Hannibal at Ca.n.u.sium, and by a forced march joined his colleague Livius at the Metaurus.

[Linenotes: 1-2. +Larinatem+, etc., districts lying between Apulia and Umbria, but not given in their geographical order.

15. +faustum+ (for _favostus_, _fav-eo_) = that which is done under the blessing of the G.o.ds: +felix+ = that which succeeds in consequence of having this blessing upon it. --Stephenson.

16-17. +d.a.m.narentur ... votorum+ = _condemned (to pay) their vows_.

Cf. Verg. _Voti reus_ = _bound to my vow_, i.e. bound to fulfilment.

23. +Modestia certare+ (sc. _c.u.m iis_) +... sumerent+ = _the soldiers were as moderate as they were pressing, refusing to take anything_ ...--S.]

'Nero showed a resolution and a strategic ability which far surpa.s.sed the average qualifications of Roman generals.' --Ihne.

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SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C.

_The Metaurus, 207 B.C._

Fortes creantur fortibus et bonis; Est in iuvencis, est in equis patrum Virtus, neque imbellem feroces Progenerant aquilae columbam; 32 Doctrina sed vim promovet insitam, Rectique cultus pectora roborant; Utc.u.mque defecere mores, Indecorant bene nata culpae. 36 Quid debeas, o Roma, Neronibus, Testis Metaurum flumen et Hasdrubal Devictus et pulcher fugatis Ille dies Latio tenebris, 40 Qui primus alma risit adorea, Dirus per urbes Afer ut Italas Ceu flamma per taedas vel Eurus Per Siculas equitavit undas. 44 Post hoc secundis usque laboribus Romana p.u.b.es crevit, et impio Vastata Poenorum tumultu Fana deos habuere rectos. 48

HORACE, _Odes_, IV. iv. 29-48.

[Linenotes: 29-36. The thought is: 'It is true that scions of a good stock must be good in men as well as in animals, but yet _education_ (+doctrina+ = _training_ l. 33) _brings out the innate force_.'

29. +fortibus et bonis.+ For the combined epithets cf. ?a???

???a???.

36. +Indecorant ... culpae+ = _faults disfigure_ (+indecorant = dedecorant+) _scions of an honourable stock_ (+bene nata+).

37. +Neronibus+, e.g. M. Claudius Nero (the hero of Metaurus), and the brothers Drusus and Tiberius (afterwards Emperor), stepsons of Augustus.

41. +alma adorea+ = _with kindly (refres.h.i.+ng) success_.

43. +ceu flamma per taedas+ = _like fire through a pine-forest_.

--W.

44. +equitavit+ = _galloped_, _careered_, used of Hannibal, and, by zeugma, with +flamma+ and +Eurus+.

46-47. +impio tumultu+ = _by the sacrilegious invasion_ (or _riot_, _outrage_), possibly with reference to Livy's story (xxvi. 11) of the plundering of the Temple of Feronia.

48. +rectos+ = _upright_, i.e. of the images supposed to have been thrown down by Hannibal, and not set on their pedestals again.]

+Results of the Battle.+ 'The war in Italy was to all appearances finished, and it was on the Metaurus that the Romans conquered Spain.'

--Ihne. When Hannibal recognised the head of his brother Hasdrubal, he foresaw the doom of Carthage:--

'Lost, lost is all: A nation's hope, a nation's name, They died with dying Hasdrubal.'

--C. (Hor. _Od._ IV. iv. 70-73).

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SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C.

_Hannibal leaves Italy, 203 B.C._

Nihil certe ultra rei in Italia ab Hannibale gestum. Nam ad eum quoque legati ab Carthagine vocantes in Africam eis forte diebus, quibus ad Magonem, venerunt. Frendens gemensque ac vix lacrimis temperans dicitur legatorum verba audisse. {5} Postquam edita sunt mandata, 'Iam non perplexe,' inquit, 'sed palam revocant, qui vetando supplementum et pecuniam mitti iam pridem trahebant. Vicit ergo Hannibalem non populus Roma.n.u.s totiens caesus fugatusque, sed senatus Carthaginiensis {10} obtrectatione atque invidia; neque hac deformitate reditus mei tam P.

Scipio exsultabit atque efferet sese quam Hanno, qui domum nostram, quando alia re non potuit, ruina Carthaginis oppressit.' Iam hoc ipsum praesagiens animo praeparaverat {15} ante naves. Itaque inutili militum turba praesidii specie in oppida Bruttii agri, quae pauca magis metu quam fide continebantur, dimissa, quod roboris in exercitu erat in Africam transvexit. Raro quemquam alium, patriam exilii causa relinquentem, {20} tam maestum abisse ferunt quam Hannibalem, hostium terra excedentem.