Ab Urbe Condita 1.57

Liv. 1.57.1Ardeam Rutulī habēbant, gēns ut in eā regiōne atque in eā aetāte dīvitiīs praepollēns.

The Rutulians held Ardea, a people, for that region and that age, of outstanding wealth.

Note. Ardea was the chief town of the Rutulians, about 20 miles south of Rome. ut in ea regione atque in ea aetate: 'for that region and that age', limiting the praise.

Liv. 1.57.1Eaque ipsa causa bellī fuit, quod rēx Rōmānus cum ipse dītārī, exhaustus magnificentiā pūblicōrum operum, tum praedā dēlēnīre populārium animōs studēbat, praeter aliam superbiam regnō īnfestōs etiam, quod sē in fabrōrum ministeriīs ac servīlī tam diū habitōs opere ab rēge indignābantur.

And this was the very cause of the war: the Roman king wanted both to enrich himself, since he had been drained by the cost of his public works, and to soothe the minds of his people with plunder; for besides his general arrogance they were hostile to his rule because they resented having been kept so long by the king as labourers and at the work of slaves.

Note. cum … tum: 'both … and'. ditari is passive, 'to become rich'. quod se … habitos … indignabantur: 'because they resented that they had been kept'. Livy links the war to the king's financial need and his people's anger at forced labour.

Liv. 1.57.3Temptāta rēs est, sī prīmō impetū capī Ardea posset.

An attempt was made to see whether Ardea could be taken at the first assault.

Liv. 1.57.3Ubi id parum prōcessit, obsidiōne mūnītiōnibusque coeptī premī hostēs.

When that did not succeed, the enemy began to be pressed by a blockade and siegeworks.

Liv. 1.57.4In hīs statīvīs, ut fit longō magis quam ācrī bellō, satis līberī commeātūs erant, prīmōribus tamen magis quam mīlitibus;

In this standing camp, as happens in a war more long than fierce, leave was fairly freely given, though more to the leading men than to the soldiers;

Note. stativa (castra): a standing camp. ut fit: 'as happens'. commeatus here means leave of absence from camp.

Liv. 1.57.5rēgiī quidem iuvenēs interdum ōtium convīviīs cōmisātiōnibusque inter sē terēbant.

the young princes in particular passed their idle time with one another in feasting and drinking parties.

Liv. 1.57.5Forte pōtantibus hīs apud Sex. Tarquinium, ubi et Collātīnus cēnābat Tarquinius, Ēgeriī fīlius, incidit dē uxōribus mentiō;

By chance, while they were drinking at the quarters of Sextus Tarquinius, where Tarquinius Collatinus, son of Egerius, was also dining, mention was made of wives;

Note. Collatinus: L. Tarquinius Collatinus, a cousin of the king's family, named from the town of Collatia. incidit de uxoribus mentio: 'mention of wives came up'.

Liv. 1.57.6suam quisque laudāre mīrīs modīs.

each praised his own wonderfully.

Note. laudare: a historical infinitive, used in vivid narrative instead of a finite verb, 'each praised'.

Liv. 1.57.7Inde certāmine accēnsō Collātīnus negat verbīs opus esse, paucīs id quidem hōrīs posse scīrī, quantum cēterīs praestet Lucrētia sua.

Then, as the rivalry grew hot, Collatinus said there was no need of words: in a few hours it could be known how far his Lucretia surpassed the rest.

Note. negat verbis opus esse: 'says there is no need of words'. opus est takes the ablative of the thing needed.

Liv. 1.57.7"Quīn, sī vigor iuventae inest, cōnscendimus equōs invīsimusque praesentēs nostrārum ingenia?

'Why not, if we have the vigour of youth in us, mount our horses and see for ourselves what our wives are like?

Note. Quin … conscendimus: 'why don't we mount', a lively question with the present indicative, really a suggestion.

Liv. 1.57.7Id cuique spectātissimum sit, quod necopīnātō virī adventū occurrerit oculīs."

Let each take as the best proof whatever meets his eyes when her husband arrives unexpected.'

Note. Id cuique spectatissimum sit: jussive subjunctive, 'let that be the strongest proof for each'. quod … occurrerit: 'what meets (his) eyes'.

Liv. 1.57.8Incaluerant vīnō;

They had grown hot with wine;

Liv. 1.57.8"age sānē!"

'Come on, then!'

Liv. 1.57.8Omnēs;

they all cried;

Liv. 1.57.8citātīs equīs āvolant Rōmam.

and they gallop off to Rome at full speed.

Liv. 1.57.8Quō cum prīmīs sē intendentibus tenebrīs pervēnissent, pergunt inde Collātiam, ubi Lucrētiam haudquāquam ut rēgiās nurūs, quās in convīviō luxūque cum aequālibus vīderant tempus terentēs, sed nocte sērā dēditam lānae inter lūcubrantēs ancillās in mediō aedium sedentem inveniunt.

Having arrived there as darkness was beginning to fall, they go on to Collatia, where they find Lucretia not at all like the king's daughters-in-law, whom they had seen passing the time at a banquet and in luxury with their friends, but, though it was late at night, busy at her wool, sitting in the middle of the house among her maids working by lamplight.

Note. ut regias nurus: 'unlike the royal daughters-in-law', literally 'not at all as'. deditam lanae: spinning wool was the traditional work of a model Roman wife; Lucretia is shown as the ideal matrona. lucubrantes: working by lamplight.

Liv. 1.57.9Muliebris certāminis laus penes Lucrētiam fuit.

The prize in the contest of wives went to Lucretia.

Liv. 1.57.10Adveniēns vir Tarquiniīque exceptī benignē;

Her husband, on arrival, and the Tarquinii were kindly received;

Liv. 1.57.10victor marītus cōmiter invītat rēgiōs iuvenēs.

the victorious husband courteously invited the young princes in.

Liv. 1.57.10Ibi Sex. Tarquinium mala libīdō Lucrētiae per vim stuprandae capit;

There an evil desire seized Sextus Tarquinius to take Lucretia by force;

Note. Lucretiae per vim stuprandae: gerundive in the genitive with libido, 'desire of violating Lucretia by force'. Livy names the crime plainly but does not dwell on it.

Liv. 1.57.11cum fōrma tum spectāta castitās incitat.

both her beauty and her proven chastity spurred him on.

Note. cum forma tum spectata castitas: 'both her beauty and, above all, her proven chastity' — cum … tum lays the weight on the second.

Liv. 1.57.11Et tum quidem ab nocturnō iuvenālī lūdō in castra redeunt.

And for the moment they went back to camp from their youthful night's amusement.