Ab Urbe Condita 1.12

Liv. 1.12.1Tenuēre tamen arcem Sabīnī atque inde posterō diē, cum Rōmānus exercitus īnstrūctus quod inter Palātīnum Capitōlīnumque collem campī est complēsset, nōn prius dēscendērunt in aequum, quam īrā et cupiditāte recuperandae arcis stimulante animōs in adversum Rōmānī subiēre.

Still, the Sabines held the citadel; and from there on the next day, when the Roman army, drawn up, had filled the plain between the Palatine and Capitoline hills, they did not come down to the level ground until the Romans, spurred on by anger and the desire to recover the citadel, came up the slope at them.

Note. nōn prius … quam … subiēre: 'not before … came up'. irā et cupiditāte … stimulante: ablative absolute with a singular participle agreeing with the nearer noun. recuperandae arcis: gerundive, 'of recovering the citadel'.

Liv. 1.12.2Prīncipēs utrimque pugnam ciēbant, ab Sabīnīs Mettius Curtius, ab Rōmānīs Hostius Hostīlius.

Champions on both sides began the fight: Mettius Curtius on the Sabine side, Hostius Hostilius on the Roman.

Note. Principēs: here 'leading fighters, champions'. Mettius Curtius and Hostius Hostilius: Hostius was remembered as the grandfather of King Tullus Hostilius.

Liv. 1.12.2Hic rem Rōmānam inīquō locō ad prīma signa animō atque audāciā sustinēbat.

He held up the Roman cause by his courage and daring at the front line, on unfavourable ground.

Note. Hic: 'this man', i.e. Hostius. inīquō locō: ablative of place, 'on unfavourable ground'.

Liv. 1.12.3Ut Hostius cecidit, cōnfestim Rōmāna inclīnātur aciēs fūsaque est ad veterem portam Palātiī.

As soon as Hostius fell, the Roman line at once gave way and was routed back to the old gate of the Palatine.

Note. Ut: with the perfect indicative, 'as soon as'. vetus porta Palātiī: the old Porta Mugonia on the Palatine.

Liv. 1.12.4Rōmulus et ipse turba fugientium āctus arma ad caelum tollēns "Iuppiter, tuīs" inquit "iussus avibus hīc in Palātiō prīma urbī fundāmenta iēcī.

Romulus too, swept along by the crowd of fugitives, raised his arms to the sky and said: "Jupiter, commanded by your birds I laid the first foundations of the city here on the Palatine.

Note. iussus avibus: 'commanded by your birds' — the augury that gave Romulus the kingship.

Liv. 1.12.4Arcem iam scelere ēmptam Sabīnī habent;

The Sabines hold the citadel, bought by a crime;

Liv. 1.12.4inde hūc armātī superātā mediā valle tendunt;

from there they are coming here in arms, having crossed the middle of the valley;

Liv. 1.12.4at tū, pater deum hominumque, hinc saltem arcē hostēs, dēme terrōrem Rōmānīs fugamque foedam siste.

but you, father of gods and men, from here at least keep off the enemy, take away the Romans' terror and halt their shameful flight.

Note. arcē … dēme … siste: three imperatives. pater deum hominumque: a solemn epic title; deum = deōrum.

Liv. 1.12.5Hīc ego tibi templum Statōrī Iovī, quod monumentum sit posterīs tuā praesentī ope servātam urbem esse, voveō."

Here I vow you a temple, to Jupiter the Stayer, to be a reminder to later generations that the city was saved by your present help."

Note. Statōrī: Jupiter Stator, 'the Stayer', who stops a flight. quod monumentum sit: relative clause of purpose, 'to be a reminder'. Cicero appeals to the same temple in his First Catilinarian.

Liv. 1.12.7Haec precātus, velut sī sēnsisset audītās precēs, "hinc" inquit, "Rōmānī, Iuppiter optimus maximus resistere atque iterāre pugnam iubet."

Having prayed thus, as if he had sensed that his prayers were heard, he said: "From here, Romans, Jupiter Best and Greatest orders you to stand and renew the fight."

Note. Iuppiter optimus maximus: Jupiter Best and Greatest, the title of the god of the Capitol.

Liv. 1.12.7Restitēre Rōmānī tamquam caelestī vōce iussī;

The Romans stood firm as if ordered by a voice from heaven;

Note. Restitēre = restitērunt, from restō, 'stood firm'.

Liv. 1.12.7ipse ad prīmōrēs Rōmulus prōvolat.

Romulus himself flew forward to the front ranks.

Liv. 1.12.8Mettius Curtius ab Sabīnīs prīnceps ab arce dēcucurrerat et effūsōs ēgerat Rōmānōs, tōtō quantum forō spatium est.

Mettius Curtius, the Sabine leader, had run down from the citadel and driven the Romans back in disorder over the whole space the Forum covers.

Note. effūsōs ēgerat: 'had driven them back in disorder' (the edition prints effisos, a misprint corrected here). tōtō quantum forō spatium est: 'over the whole space the Forum covers'.

Liv. 1.12.8Nec procul iam ā portā Palātiī erat clāmitāns: "vīcimus perfidōs hospitēs, inbellēs hostēs;

He was now not far from the gate of the Palatine, shouting: "We have beaten our faithless hosts, our unwarlike enemies;

Note. vīcimus: perfect, 'we have won'. hospitēs, hostēs: Livy enjoys the wordplay; hostis originally meant 'stranger'.

Liv. 1.12.8iam sciunt longē aliud esse virginēs rapere, aliud pugnāre cum virīs."

now they know that carrying off girls is one thing, fighting with men quite another."

Note. longē aliud esse … aliud: 'that it is one thing … quite another'.

Liv. 1.12.9In eum haec glōriantem cum globō ferōcissimōrum iuvenum Rōmulus impetum facit.

As he boasted in this way, Romulus charged him with a band of the fiercest young men.

Liv. 1.12.9Ex equō tum forte Mettius pugnābat;

Mettius happened then to be fighting on horseback;

Liv. 1.12.9eō pellī facilius fuit.

so it was easier to drive him back.

Note. eō: 'for that reason'; pellī: present passive infinitive, 'to be driven back'.

Liv. 1.12.9Pulsum Rōmānī persequuntur;

The Romans pursued him as he was driven back;

Liv. 1.12.9et alia Rōmāna aciēs audāciā rēgis accēnsa fundit Sabīnōs.

and the rest of the Roman line, fired by their king's daring, routed the Sabines.

Liv. 1.12.10Mettius in palūdem sēsē strepitū sequentium trepidante equō coniēcit;

Mettius, his horse panicking at the noise of his pursuers, plunged into a marsh;

Note. in palūdem: the marshy hollow of the later Forum; the Lacus Curtius there was said to be named after Mettius Curtius.

Liv. 1.12.10āverteratque ea rēs etiam Sabīnōs tantī perīculō virī.

and this incident drew the attention of the Sabines too, at the danger to so great a man.

Liv. 1.12.10Et ille quidem annuentibus ac vocantibus suīs favōre multōrum additō animō ēvādit;

He for his part, while his men nodded and called to him, took heart from the encouragement of many and escaped;

Note. annuentibus ac vocantibus suīs: ablative absolute. favōre multōrum additō animō: 'his courage increased by the support of many'.

Liv. 1.12.10Rōmānī Sabīnīque in mediā convalle duōrum montium redintegrant proelium.

the Romans and Sabines renewed the battle in the middle of the valley between the two hills.

Liv. 1.12.10Sed rēs Rōmāna erat superior.

But the Roman side had the upper hand.