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Livy · Ab Urbe Condita II

Ab Urbe Condita 2.11

Valerius ambushes Etruscan raiders

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Liv. 2.11.1Porsinna prīmō cōnātū repulsus cōnsiliīs ab oppugnandā urbe ad obsidendam versīs, praesidiō in Iāniculō locātō ipse in plānō rīpīsque Tiberis castra posuit nāvibus undique accītīs et ad custōdiam, nē quid Rōmam frūmentī subvehī sineret, et ut praedātum mīlitēs trāns flūmen per occāsiōnēs aliīs atque aliīs locīs trāiceret;Porsenna, repulsed in his first attempt, turned his plans from storming the city to besieging it, and having placed a garrison on the Janiculum he himself pitched camp on the plain and the banks of the Tiber, summoning boats from all sides both to keep guard, so as to let no grain be brought up to Rome, and to ferry his soldiers across the river to plunder, as opportunities arose, at one place after another; Liv. 2.11.3brevīque adeō īnfestum omnem Rōmānum agrum reddidit, ut nōn cētera sōlum ex agrīs sed pecus quoque omne in urbem compellerētur, neque quisquam extrā portās prōpellere audēret.and in a short time he made the whole Roman countryside so unsafe that not only everything else from the fields but even all the livestock was driven into the city, and no one dared to drive them out beyond the gates.

Liv. 2.11.4Hoc tantum licentiae Etrūscīs nōn metū magis quam cōnsiliō concessum.This great licence was allowed to the Etruscans not so much from fear as from design. Liv. 2.11.4Namque Valerius cōnsul, intentus in occāsiōnem multōs simul et effūsōs inprōvīsō adoriundī, in parvīs rēbus neglegēns ultor gravem sē ad maiōra vindicem servābat.For the consul Valerius, intent on a chance to attack them unexpectedly when they were many together and scattered, was careless in avenging small matters, saving himself as a stern avenger for greater ones. Liv. 2.11.5Itaque ut ēliceret praedātōrēs, ēdīcit suīs, posterō diē frequentēs portā Esquilīnā, quae āversissima ab hoste erat, expellerent pecus, scītūrōs id hostēs ratus, quod in obsidiōne et fame servitia īnfīda trānsfugerent.So, to lure out the raiders, he orders his men to drive out their cattle in large numbers on the next day by the Esquiline Gate, which was the furthest from the enemy, believing that the enemy would learn of it, because in the siege and famine untrustworthy slaves were deserting. Liv. 2.11.6Et sciēre perfugae indiciō, multōque plūrēs, ut in spem ūniversae praedae, flūmen trāiciunt.And they did learn of it, through the report of a deserter, and many more of them than usual cross the river, in hope of seizing the whole of the plunder.

Liv. 2.11.7P. Valerius inde T. Herminium cum modicīs cōpiīs ad secundum lapidem Gabīnā viā occultum cōnsīdere iubet, Sp. Larcium cum expedītā iuventūte ad portam Collīnam stāre, dōnec hostis praetereat, inde sē obicere, nē sit ad flūmen reditus.Then Publius Valerius orders Titus Herminius to take up a hidden position with a moderate force at the second milestone on the Gabine road, and Spurius Larcius to stand with the light-armed youth at the Colline Gate until the enemy should pass, and then to throw himself in their way so that they had no return to the river. Liv. 2.11.8Cōnsulum alter T. Lucrētius portā Naeviā cum aliquot manipulīs mīlitum ēgressus, ipse Valerius Caeliō monte cohortēs dēlēctās ēdūcit.The other consul, Titus Lucretius, went out by the Naevian Gate with several maniples of soldiers; Valerius himself leads picked cohorts down from the Caelian hill. Liv. 2.11.9Hīque prīmī appāruēre hostī;These were the first to be seen by the enemy; Liv. 2.11.9Herminius ubi tumultum sēnsit, cōnsurgit ex īnsidiīs versīsque in Lucrētium Etrūscīs terga caedit;Herminius, when he perceived the uproar, rises from his ambush and, the Etruscans having turned towards Lucretius, cuts down their rear; Liv. 2.11.9dextrā laevāque, hinc ā portā Collīnā, illinc ab Naeviā, redditus clamor: ita caesī in mediō praedātōrēs neque ad pugnam vīribus parēs et ad fugam saeptīs omnibus viīs.right and left, from the Colline Gate on one side and from the Naevian on the other, the shout was answered: so the raiders were cut down in the middle, neither equal in strength for fighting nor able to flee, since every road was blocked.

Liv. 2.11.10Fīnisque ille tam effūsē vagandī Etrūscīs fuit.And that was the end of the Etruscans' roaming so freely.

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Grammar in this passage: gerunds and gerundives ×4, purpose clauses ×1, ablative absolute ×4

Latin vocabulary for this passage (169 words)
prīmus, -a, -umfirst, foremost
cōnātus, -ūs, m.attempt, effort
repellō, repellere, reppulī, repulsusdrive back or away, repulse, repel
cōnsilium, -ī, n.advice; plan, design, purpose; prudence
ā, ab (prep. + abl.)away from, from; by (ā only before consonants)
oppugnō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumattack, besiege
urbs, urbis, f.city
ad, prep. with acc.to, toward; at, near; for
obsideō, -sidēre, -sēdī, -sessusbeset, besiege
vertō, vertere, vertī, versusturn
praesidium, -ī, n.protection; guard, escort
in, prep. with acc. and abl.with acc.: into, onto, against; with abl.: in, on
locō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusplace; let out a contract for (a public work)
ipse, ipsa, ipsum, intensive pron.self, himself, herself, itself, themselves; often to be rendered by very
plānus, -a, -umflat, level
rīpa, -ae, f.bank
que, enclitic conj.and
castra, -ōrum, n. plur.camp
pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positusplace, put; pōnī with in and abl., to be placed in, rest or depend on
nāvis, -is, f.ship
undique, adv.from or on all sides
acciō, -īre, -īvī, -ītussummon, send for
et, conj.and; et ... et, both ... and
custōdia, -ae f.guard, protection
nē, adv.not; nē ... quidem, not ... even; conj., that not, lest
quis, qua, quid, indef. pron.any one, anybody, anything, some one, somebody, something
frūmentum, -ī, n.grain
subvehō, -ere, -vēxī, -vectumbring up (by water)
sinō, -ere, sīvī, situsallow, permit, let
ut, conj.as; when; that; ita ut, as
praedor, -ārī, -ātusplunder
mīles, mīlitis, m.soldier
trāns, prep. with acc.across, over
flūmen, -minis, n.river
per, prep, with ace.through, by means of
occāsiō, -ōnis, f.chance, opportunity
alius, -a, -udanother, other; aliī ... aliī, some ... others
atque, ac (conj.)and; after comparisons: as, than (ac only before consonants)
locus, -ī, m., plur. loca, -orum, n.place, situation
trāiciō, -icere, -iēcī, -iectusthrow across, strike through, pierce
brevis, -eshort
adeō (adv.)so far, to such a degree; so
īnfestus, -a, -umunsafe, dangerous
omnis, -eall, every
Rōmānus, -a, -umRoman
ager, agri, m.field, land
reddō, -dere, -didī, -ditusgive back, return, restore; render
nōn, adv.not
cēterī, -ae, -a, plur. adj.the other, the remaining, the rest of
sōlum (adv.); solum, -ī n.only (nōn sōlum … sed etiam: not only … but also); ground, soil
ex, ē (prep. + abl.)out of, from; of (ē only before consonants)
sed, conj.but
pecus, pecoris, n.herd, flock, cattle
quoque, adv.also
compellō, -pellere, -pulī, -pulsusdrive together, drive
neque or nec, conj.and not, nor; neque ... neque, neither ... nor; neque enim, for ... not
quisquam, quicquam, indef. pron.any one, anything
extrā (prep. + acc.)outside, beyond
porta, -ae, f.gate; door
prōpellō, -ere, -pulī, -pulsumdrive off, rout
audeō, audēre, ausus sumdare
hic, haec, hoc, dem. pron.this; ille ... hīc, that ... this, the former ... the latter
tantus, -a, -umso great or much
licentia, -ae f.freedom; lack of restraint, lawlessness
metus, -ūs m.fear, dread
magis, comp. adv.more, rather
quam, adv.how? as; than; with superl., as ... as possible
concēdō, -cēdere, -cessī, -cessusgrant, yield
namque, conj.for
cōnsul, -ulis m.consul (one of Rome's two chief magistrates)
intendō, -tendere, -tendī, -tentusstretch out; stretch, draw, aim
multus, -a, -ummuch, great; plur., many
simul, adv.at the same time; simul atque or ac, as soon as
effundō, -fundere, -fūdī, -fūsuspour out
imprōvīsus, -a, -umunexpected (dē imprōvīsō: unexpectedly)
adorior, -īrī, adortus sumattack
parvus, -a, -umlittle, small
rēs, reī, f.thing, matter, affair, circumstance, situation; rē vērā, in truth, in fact, really
neglegō, -legere, -lēxī, -lēctusdisregard, neglect
ultor, -ōris m.avenger
gravis, -eheavy; severe, grievous, serious
suī, sibi, sē or sēsē, reflexive pron.himself, herself, itself, themselves
magnus, -a, -umlarge, big, great, mighty; loud
vindex, -icis m.avenger, punisher; protector
servō, -āre, -āvī, -ātussave, preserve
itaque, adv.and so, accordingly, therefore
ēliciō, -ere, -uī, -ituslure out, draw out, entice
praedātor, -ōris m.plunderer, robber
ēdīcō, -dīcere, -dīxī, -dictusdeclare, proclaim, appoint
suus, -a, -umhis, her, its, or their own; his, her, its, their
posterus, -a, -umfollowing, next
diēs, -ēī, m. and f.day
frequēns, -entiscrowded, in great numbers; frequent
Esquilīnus, -a, -umof the Esquiline hill; porta Esquilīna: the Esquiline gate
quī, quae, quod, rel. pron.who, which
āversus, -a, -umturned away, distant
hostis, -is, m. and f.enemy, foe
sum, esse, fuī, futūrusbe
expellō, -pellere, -pulī, -pulsusdrive out, expel
sciō, -īre, -īvī, -ītusknow
is, ea, id, dem. pron.this, that; he, she, it, they
reor, rērī, ratus sumthink, suppose, reckon
quod, conj.that, in that, because
obsidiō, -ōnis f.siege, blockade; oppression
famēs, -is, abl. famē, f.hunger
servitium, -ī n.slavery; (pl.) slaves
īnfīdus, -a, -umunfaithful, treacherous
trānsfugiō, -ere, -fūgīdesert, go over to the enemy
perfuga, -ae m.deserter
indicium, -ī n.information, evidence; an informer's report
multō, adv.by much or far, much, far
plūrēs, -a, plur. adj.more, many, several
spēs, speī, f.hope
ūniversus, -a, -umall together, whole, entire, all
praeda, -ae, f.booty, spoil, plunder
inde (adv.)from there; then
cum, prep, with abl.with
modicus, -a, -ummoderate, small; modicum: a little
cōpia, -ae, f.supply, abundance; plur., forces, troops
secundus, -a, -umfollowing, favorable
lapis, -idis, m.stone
Gabīnus, -a, -umof Gabii
via, -ae, f.road, way
occultus, -a, -umhidden, secret
cōnsīdō, -sīdere, -sēdī, -sessussit down
iubeō, iubēre, iussī, iussusbid, order, command
expedītus, -a, -umunobstructed, easy; lightly equipped
iuventūs, -ūtis f.youth; the young men
Collīnus, -a, -umof the Quirinal hill; porta Collīna: the Colline Gate
stō, stāre, stetī, statusstand
dōnec (conj.)until; while, as long as
praetereō, -īre, -iī, -ituspass by
obiciō, -icere, -iēcī, -iectusthrow in the way or to
reditus, -ūs, m.return
alter, -era, -erumone or the other (of two); another, second
aliquot (indecl.)several, some
manipulus, -ī m.maniple (a company of soldiers)
ēgredior, -gredī, -gressusgo out or forth, go ashore, disembark
Caelius, -a, -umCaelian; mōns Caelius: the Caelian hill at Rome
mōns, montis, m.mountain
cohors, cohortis f.cohort (a tenth of a legion); company
dēligō, -ligere, -lēgī, -lēctuschoose out, choose, select
ēdūcō, -dūcere, -dūxī, -ductuslead out, draw
appāreō, -ēre, -uī, -itumappear, come into view, show oneself
Herminius, -a, -umHerminian; mōns Herminius: the Herminian range in Lusitania (Serra da Estrela)
ubi, adv.where; conj., when
tumultus, -ūs m.uproar, uprising
sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsusperceive, feel
cōnsurgō, -ere, -surrēxī, -surrēctusrise together, stand up
īnsidiae, -ārum, f. plur.ambush; plot, stratagem
tergum, -ī, n.back
caedō, -ere, cecīdī, caesumcut, cut down; kill
dextra, -ae, f.right hand (manus understood)
laevus, -a, -umleft; ad laevam (manum): on the left
hinc, adv.from this place, hence
illinc, adv.from there, on that side
clāmor, -ōris, m.shout, cry
ita, adv.in this manner, thus, so; ita ut, as
medius, -a, -ummid, middle
pugna, -ae, f.fighting, battle, combat
vīs, vīs, f.violence, force; virtue, potency, efficacy; plur. vīrēs, -ium, strength; omnibus vīribus, with all one's strength, with might and main
pār, parisequal
fuga, -ae, f.flight
saepiō, -īre, saepsī, saeptusfence in, enclose; protect
fīnis, -is, m.end, boundary; plur., borders, territory, country
ille, illa, illud, dem. pron.that; he, she, it, they; ille ... hīc, see hīc
tam, adv.so
effūsē (adv.)far and wide, without restraint
vagor, -ārī, -ātus sumwander, roam
Livy, Ab Urbe Condita II. Latin text: B. O. Foster, Livy (Loeb, 1919–29), with some passages from W. Weissenborn and H. J. Müller (Teubner, 1884–1911), public domain; digital text from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA. Word analysis: drafted by our own tagger (trained on the hand-checked texts on this site), with every doubtful word checked by hand. English translation and section titles: written for this app, each checked against the Latin by a second reader.