Ab Urbe Condita 1.17

Liv. 1.17.1Patrum interim animōs certāmen regnī ac cupīdō versābat.

Meanwhile rivalry and desire for the kingship were stirring the senators' minds.

Note. cupido is feminine here (cupido regni).

Liv. 1.17.1Necdum ad singulōs, quia nēmō magnopere ēminēbat in novō populō, pervēnerat;

It had not yet come down to individuals, because no one stood out greatly in a new people;

Liv. 1.17.1factiōnibus inter ōrdinēs certābātur.

the struggle was between factions among the orders.

Liv. 1.17.2Oriundī ab Sabīnīs, nē, quia post Tatiī mortem ab suā parte nōn erat regnātum, in societāte aequam possessiōnem imperiī āmitterent, suī corporis creārī rēgem volēbant;

Those of Sabine descent wanted a king chosen from their own body, so that they should not lose their equal share of power in the partnership, since there had been no king from their side after Tatius' death;

Note. Oriundi ab Sabinis: 'those of Sabine origin'. ab sua parte non erat regnatum: impersonal passive, 'there had been no reign from their side'. sui corporis: 'of their own body' (group).

Liv. 1.17.3Rōmānī veterēs peregrīnum rēgem aspernābantur.

the old Romans rejected a foreign king.

Liv. 1.17.3In variīs voluntātibus regnārī tamen omnēs volēbant lībertātis dulcēdine nōndum expertā.

Amid the different wishes, however, they all wanted to be ruled by a king, not having yet tasted the sweetness of freedom.

Note. regnari: impersonal passive infinitive, 'that there be a king's rule'. libertatis dulcedine nondum experta: ablative absolute with a deponent participle used passively, 'the sweetness of freedom not yet having been tasted'.

Liv. 1.17.4Timor deinde patrēs incessit, nē cīvitātem sine imperiō, exercitum sine duce multārum circā cīvitātium inrītātīs animīs vīs aliqua externa adorīrētur.

Then fear seized the senators that, with the minds of many states around them provoked, some force from outside might attack a city without government and an army without a leader.

Note. The source prints ciuitatem; the display gives civitatem. ne ... adoriretur: clause of fearing, 'that some force might attack'. circa is an adverb here: 'of the many states around'.

Liv. 1.17.4Et esse igitur aliquod caput placēbat, et nēmō alterī concēdere in animum indūcēbat.

So they agreed that there must be some head, and no one could bring himself to give way to another.

Note. in animum inducebat: 'brought himself (to)'.

Liv. 1.17.5Ita rem inter sē centum patrēs decem decuriīs factīs singulīsque in singulās decuriās creātīs, quī summae rērum praeessent, cōnsociant.

So the hundred senators arranged the matter among themselves: they formed ten groups of ten, and appointed one man in each group to hold supreme power.

Note. decem decuriis factis singulisque ... creatis: two ablatives absolute; singulis in singulas decurias: 'one man for each group'. qui summae rerum praeessent: relative clause of purpose, 'to be in charge of the government'.

Liv. 1.17.5Decem imperitābant;

Ten ruled;

Liv. 1.17.5ūnus cum īnsignibus imperiī et līctōribus erat;

one at a time had the insignia of power and the lictors;

Liv. 1.17.6quīnque diērum spatiō fīniēbātur imperium ac per omnēs in orbem ībat;

his power was limited to a period of five days, and it went round through all of them in turn;

Note. in orbem ibat: 'went round in a circle', i.e. by rotation.

Liv. 1.17.6annuumque intervallum regnī fuit.

and the interval between kings lasted a year.

Liv. 1.17.6Id ab rē, quod nunc quoque tenet nōmen, interregnum appellātum.

From this circumstance it was called the interregnum, the name it still has now.

Note. Livy explains the word interregnum ('the time between reigns'); the office of interrex survived into the Republic.

Liv. 1.17.6Fremere deinde plēbs multiplicātam servitūtem, centum prō ūnō dominōs factōs: nec ultrā nisi rēgem et ab ipsīs creātum vidēbantur passūrī.

Then the common people grumbled that their slavery had been multiplied, that a hundred masters had been made instead of one; and they seemed unwilling to bear anything more except a king, and one chosen by themselves.

Note. Fremere: historical infinitive, 'the common people grumbled'. The accusative and infinitive (multiplicatam (esse) servitutem, dominos factos (esse)) reports their complaint. passuri: future participle of patior, 'about to put up with'.

Liv. 1.17.8Cum sēnsissent ea movērī patrēs, offerendum ultrō ratī, quod āmissūrī erant, ita grātiam ineunt summā potestāte populō permissā, ut nōn plūs darent iūris, quam retinērent.

When the senators sensed that this was stirring, they thought they should offer of their own accord what they were going to lose, and they win favour by handing the supreme power to the people in such a way that they gave away no more right than they kept.

Note. offerendum (esse): passive periphrastic in indirect statement, 'that they must offer'. quod amissuri erant: 'what they were going to lose'. ut non plus darent iuris quam retinerent: 'so as to give no more power than they kept'.

Liv. 1.17.9Dēcrēvērunt enim, ut, cum populus rēgem iussisset, id sīc ratum esset, sī patrēs auctōrēs fierent.

For they decreed that when the people had chosen a king, the choice should be valid only if the senators gave their approval.

Note. patres auctores fierent: the patrum auctoritas, the senate's ratification of a decision of the people.

Liv. 1.17.9Hodiē quoque in lēgibus magistrātibusque rogandīs ūsurpātur idem iūs vī adēmpta;

Even today the same right is used in passing laws and electing magistrates, though its force has been taken away;

Note. vi adempta: 'with its force taken away'. In Livy's day the senators gave their approval before the vote, so it was a formality.

Liv. 1.17.9priusquam populus suffrāgium ineat, in incertum comitiōrum ēventum patrēs auctōrēs fīunt.

before the people cast their vote, the senators give their approval in advance, while the outcome of the election is still uncertain.

Note. in incertum comitiorum eventum: 'with the outcome of the election still uncertain'.

Liv. 1.17.10Tum interrēx cōntiōne advocātā "quod bonum, faustum fēlīxque sit" inquit "Quirītēs, rēgem creāte;

Then the interrex called an assembly and said: "May it be good, favourable and fortunate: citizens, choose a king;

Note. quod bonum, faustum felixque sit: the regular prayer formula opening an official proposal, 'may it be good, favourable and fortunate'.

Liv. 1.17.10ita patribus vīsum est.

so the senators have decided.

Note. ita patribus visum est: 'so it has seemed best to the senators', the formal language of a decision.

Liv. 1.17.10Patrēs deinde, sī dignum, quī secundus ab Rōmulō numerētur, creāritis, auctōrēs fīent."

Then, if you choose someone worthy to be counted second after Romulus, the senators will give their approval."

Note. crearitis: syncopated future perfect of creo (= creaveritis); the future perfect in the si clause and the future fient in the main clause make a vivid future condition. dignum, qui ... numeretur: relative clause of characteristic after dignus.

Liv. 1.17.11Adeō id grātum plēbī fuit, ut, nē victī beneficiō vidērentur, id modo scīscerent iubērentque, ut senātus dēcerneret, quī Rōmae regnāret.

This pleased the people so much that, so as not to seem outdone in generosity, they decreed and ordered only that the senate should decide who should reign at Rome.

Note. ne victi beneficio viderentur: 'so as not to seem outdone in generosity'. sciscerent iuberentque: technical verbs for a vote of the people. qui Romae regnaret: indirect question, 'who should reign at Rome'.