Sed diique et homines prohibuere redemptos vivere Romanos. Nam forte
quadam, priusquam infanda merces perficeretur, per altercationem nondum
omni auro appenso dictator intervenit auferrique aurum de medio et
Gallos submoveri iubet. Cum {5} illi renitentes pactos dicerent sese,
negat eam pactionem ratam esse, quae, postquam ipse dictator creatus
esset, iniussu suo ab inferioris iuris magistratu facta esset,
denuntiatque Gallis, ut se ad proelium expediant ... Instruit deinde
aciem, ut {10} loci natura patiebatur, in semirutae solo urbis et natura
inaequali, et omnia, quae arte belli secunda suis eligi praepararive
poterant, providit. Galli nova re trepidi arma capiunt, iraque magis
quam consilio in Romanos incurrunt. Primo concursu haud {15} maiore
momento fusi Galli sunt, quam ad Alliam vicerant. Iustiore altero deinde
proelio ad octavum lapidem Gabina via, quo se ex fuga contulerant,
eiusdem ductu auspicioque Camilli vincuntur. Ibi caedes omnia obtinuit;
castra capiuntur, et ne {20} nuntius quidem cladis relictus. Dictator
recuperata ex hostibus patria triumphans in urbem redit, interque iocos
militares, quos inconditos iaciunt, Romulus ac parens patriae
conditorque alter urbis haud vanis laudibus appellabatur. {25}
LIVY, v. 49 (sel.)
+Context.+ The Romans on the Capitol, despairing of outside help, agreed
with Brennus that Rome should be redeemed by a ransom of 1000 pounds of
gold. _Nondum omnni auro appenso_, Camillus appeared at the head of his
troops.
[Linenotes:
3. +per altercationem+ = _owing to the dispute_. When the Consular
Tribune Sulpicius complained that the Gauls used unjust weights,
Brennus in derision threw his sword into the scale and said _Vae
victis!_
13-14. +nova re+ = _at the change in their fortunes_. --Whibley.
15-16. +haud maiore momento+ = _with no greater difficulty
(effort)_.
17. +Iustiore altero proelio+ = _in a second and more regular
engagement_. -- W.
23. +incondītos+ = _rough_, _unpolished_.
‘The Gaul shall come against thee
From the land of snow and night:
Thou shalt give his fair-haired armies
To the raven and the kite.’ --Macaulay.]
D27
THE INVASION OF THE GAULS, 390 B.C. (6)
A. _The Migration to Veii abandoned._
Movisse eos Camillus cum alia oratione tum ea, quae ad religiones
pertinebat, maxime dicitur; sed rem dubiam decrevit vox opportune missa,
quod, cum senatus post paulo de his rebus in curia Hostilia haberetur,
cohortesque ex praesidiis revertentes forte {5} agmine forum transirent,
centurio in comitio exclamavit: ‘Signifer, statue signum; hic manebimus
optime.’ Qua voce audita et senatus accipere se omen ex curia egressus
conclamavit, et plebs circumfusa approbavit. Antiquata deinde lege
promiscue {10} urbs aedificari coepta.
LIVY, v. 55.
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