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Livy · Ab Urbe Condita II

Ab Urbe Condita 2.13

Peace with Porsenna; Cloelia's escape

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Liv. 2.13.1Mūcium dīmissum, cui posteā Scaevolae ā clāde dextrae manūs cognōmen inditum, lēgātī ā Porsinnā Rōmam secūtī sunt;Mucius, once released, who was afterwards given the surname Scaevola from the loss of his right hand, was followed to Rome by envoys from Porsenna; Liv. 2.13.2adeō mōverat eum et prīmī perīculī cāsus, ā quō nihil sē praeter errōrem īnsidiātōris tēxisset, et subeunda dīmicātiō totiēns, quot coniūrātī superessent, ut pācis condiciōnēs ultrō ferret Rōmānīs.so much had both the chance of the first danger moved him, from which nothing had shielded him but the assassin's mistake, and the prospect of facing the struggle as many times as there were conspirators left, that he offered terms of peace to the Romans of his own accord. Liv. 2.13.3Iactātum in condiciōnibus nēquīquam dē Tarquiniīs in regnum restituendīs, magis quia id negāre ipse nequīverat Tarquiniīs, quam quod negātum īrī sibi ab Rōmānīs ignōrāret.In the terms there was a proposal, made in vain, about restoring the Tarquins to the throne, more because he himself had not been able to refuse this to the Tarquins than because he did not know that the Romans would refuse it to him.

Liv. 2.13.4Dē agrō Veientibus restituendō inpetrātum, expressaque necessitās obsidēs dandī Rōmānīs, sī Iāniculō praesidium dēdūcī vellent.On the restoration of their land to the Veientes he got his way, and the Romans were forced to give hostages if they wanted the garrison withdrawn from the Janiculum. Liv. 2.13.4Hīs condiciōnibus conpositā pāce exercitum ab Iāniculō dēdūxit Porsinna et agrō Rōmānō excessit.Peace having been made on these terms, Porsenna withdrew his army from the Janiculum and left Roman territory. Liv. 2.13.5Patrēs C. Mūciō virtūtis causā trāns Tiberim agrum dōnō dedēre, quae posteā sunt Mūcia prāta appellāta.The senators gave Gaius Mucius, for his courage, a gift of land across the Tiber, which was afterwards called the Mucian Meadows. Liv. 2.13.6Ergō ita honōrātā virtūte fēminae quoque ad pūblica decora excitātae, et Cloelia virgō, ūna ex obsidibus, cum castra Etrūscōrum forte haud procul rīpā Tiberis locāta essent, frūstrāta custōdēs, dux agminis virginum inter tēla hostium Tiberim trānāvit sōspitēsque omnēs Rōmam ad propinquōs restituit.Courage having been honoured in this way, women too were roused to win public glory, and the maiden Cloelia, one of the hostages, since the Etruscan camp happened to be pitched not far from the bank of the Tiber, eluded the guards, led a band of girls across the Tiber amid the enemy's missiles and restored them all safe to their families at Rome.

Liv. 2.13.7Quod ubi rēgī nūntiātum est, prīmō incēnsus īrā ōrātōrēs Rōmam mīsit ad Cloeliam obsidem dēposcendam: aliās haud magnī facere;When this was reported to the king, at first, blazing with anger, he sent spokesmen to Rome to demand back the hostage Cloelia: the others he did not value much; Liv. 2.13.8deinde in admīrātiōnem versus suprā Coclitēs Mūciōsque dīcere id facinus esse et prae sē ferre, quem ad modum, sī nōn dēdātur obses, prō ruptō foedus sē habitūrum, sīc dēditam intāctam inviolātamque ad suōs remissūrum.then, his anger turning to admiration, he said that the deed surpassed those of the Cocleses and Muciuses, and declared that, just as he would regard the treaty as broken if the hostage were not surrendered, so if she were surrendered he would send her back to her people untouched and unharmed. Liv. 2.13.9Utrimque cōnstitit fidēs: et Rōmānī pignus pācis ex foedere restituērunt, et apud rēgem Etrūscum nōn tūta sōlum sed honōrāta etiam virtūs fuit, laudātamque virginem parte obsidum sē dōnāre dīxit;Good faith was kept on both sides: the Romans returned the pledge of peace according to the treaty, and with the Etruscan king courage was not only safe but even honoured, and praising the girl he said that he gave her part of the hostages; Liv. 2.13.10ipsa, quōs vellet, legeret.she herself should choose whom she wished.

Liv. 2.13.10Prōductīs omnibus ēlēgisse inpūbēs dīcitur, quod et virginitātī decōrum et cōnsēnsū obsidum ipsōrum probābile erat, eam aetātem potissimum līberārī ab hoste, quae maximē opportūna iniūriae esset.When all had been brought out, she is said to have chosen those who were not yet grown up, which was both seemly for a maiden and approved by the agreement of the hostages themselves, that the age most exposed to injury should above all be freed from the enemy. Liv. 2.13.11Pāce redintegrātā Rōmānī novam in fēminā virtūtem novō genere honōris, statuā equestrī, dōnāvēre: in summā sacrā viā posita virgō īnsidēns equō.When peace had been renewed, the Romans honoured this new courage in a woman with a new kind of honour, an equestrian statue: at the top of the Sacred Way was placed a statue of the maiden sitting on a horse.

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Grammar in this passage: gerunds and gerundives ×5, ablative absolute ×4, indirect statement ×5

Latin vocabulary for this passage (173 words)
dīmittō, -mittere, -mīsī, -missussend different ways, send forth or away, despatch; let slip, lose
quī, quae, quod, rel. pron.who, which
posteā, adv.after this, afterwards
ā, ab (prep. + abl.)away from, from; by (ā only before consonants)
clādēs, -is f.disaster, defeat, destruction
dexter, -tra, -trumright
manus, -ūs, f.hand
cognōmen, -inis n.surname, added name, nickname
lēgātus, -ī, m.ambassador
sequor, sequī, secūtusfollow
sum, esse, fuī, futūrusbe
adeō (adv.)so far, to such a degree; so
moveō, movēre, mōvī, mōtusmove
is, ea, id, dem. pron.this, that; he, she, it, they
et, conj.and; et ... et, both ... and
prīmus, -a, -umfirst, foremost
perīculum, -ī, n.danger, peril, risk
cāsus, -ūs, m.fall; chance, accident
nihil, n., indecl.nothing
suī, sibi, sē or sēsē, reflexive pron.himself, herself, itself, themselves
praeter, prep. with acc.before, past, by; besides, except
error, -ōris m.wandering; mistake, error
īnsidiātor, -ōris m.a man lying in ambush; (pl.) the ambushers
tegō, tegere, tēxī, tēctuscover
subeō, -īre, -iī, -itusgo under; undergo, submit to, sustain, bear, endure
dīmicātiō, -ōnis f.fight, struggle, combat
totiēns (adv.)so often, so many times
quot (indecl.)how many
coniūrātus, -ī m.conspirator
supersum, -esse, -fuībe over or left, remain
ut, conj.as; when; that; ita ut, as
pāx, pācis f.peace
condiciō, -ōnis f.terms; condition, status
ultrō (adv.)of one's own accord; besides (ultrō citrōque: back and forth)
ferō, ferre, tulī, lātusbear, bring
Rōmānus, -a, -umRoman
iactō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumtoss about; discuss
in, prep. with acc. and abl.with acc.: into, onto, against; with abl.: in, on
nēquīquam (adv.)in vain, without reason
dē, prep, with abl.down from, from, out of; about, concerning, of
regnum, -ī, n.royal power, rule, throne; kingdom, realm
restituō, -stituere, -stituī, -stitūtusset up again, put back, restore
magis, comp. adv.more, rather
quia (conj.)because
negō, -āre, -āvī, -ātussay no or not, deny, refuse
ipse, ipsa, ipsum, intensive pron.self, himself, herself, itself, themselves; often to be rendered by very
nequeō, -īre, -īvībe unable, cannot
quam, adv.how? as; than; with superl., as ... as possible
quod, conj.that, in that, because
eō, īre, iī, itusgo
ignōrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusbe ignorant of
ager, agri, m.field, land
impetrō, -petrāre, -petrāvī, -petrātusgain one's end, obtain (a request)
exprimō, -primere, -pressī, -pressuspress out
que, enclitic conj.and
necessitās, -ātis f.necessity, compulsion
obses, obsidis m./f.hostage
dō, dare, dedī, datusgive
sī, conj.if
praesidium, -ī, n.protection; guard, escort
dēdūcō, -dūcere, -dūxī, -ductuslead down or away, bring; nāvem dēdūcere, to draw down or launch a ship
volō, velle, voluīwish
hic, haec, hoc, dem. pron.this; ille ... hīc, that ... this, the former ... the latter
compōnō, -ere, -posuī, -positumput together; mend, set in order
exercitus, -ūs, m.army
excēdō, -cēdere, -cessī, -cessusgo out or forth, depart
pater, patris, m.father
virtūs, -tūtis, f.manliness, courage, bravery
causa, -ae, f.cause, reason; abl. causā, for the sake of
trāns, prep. with acc.across, over
dōnum, -ī, n.gift
prātum, -ī n.meadow
appellō, -pellāre, -pellāvī, -pellātuscall, name
ergō (adv.)therefore, then; quid ergō? what then?
ita, adv.in this manner, thus, so; ita ut, as
honōrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātushonour, respect
fēmina, -ae, f.woman
quoque, adv.also
ad, prep. with acc.to, toward; at, near; for
pūblicus, -a, -umpublic, of the state (rēs pūblica: the state)
decus, -oris n.honour, glory; what is fitting, propriety
excitō, -citāre, -citāvī, -citātuscall out, arouse
virgō, virginis, f.maiden
ūnus, -a, -umone; only, alone
ex, ē (prep. + abl.)out of, from; of (ē only before consonants)
cum, conj.when, while, after; since; although
castra, -ōrum, n. plur.camp
forte, adv.by chance, accidentally
haud, adv.not at all, by no means, not
procul, adv.at or from a distance, far
rīpa, -ae, f.bank
locō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusplace; let out a contract for (a public work)
frūstror, -ārī, -ātus sumdeceive, disappoint; tē ipsum frūstrāberis: you will cheat yourself
custōs, -ōdis m.guard
dux, ducis, m. and f.leader, commander
agmen, -minis, n.band, column
inter, prep, with acc.among, between
tēlum, -ī, n.missile, spear, weapon
hostis, -is, m. and f.enemy, foe
trānō, -nāre, -nāvīswim across or over
sōspes, -itissafe and sound, unharmed
omnis, -eall, every
propinquus, -a, -um; as noun, -ī m./-a f.near; (noun) relative
ubi, adv.where; conj., when
rēx, rēgis, m.king
nūntiō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusreport, announce
prīmō, adv.at first
incendō, -ere, -cendī, -cēnsumset on fire, burn
īra, -ae, f.anger, wrath
ōrātor, -ōris m.speaker; envoy
mittō, mittere, mīsī, missussend
dēposcō, -ere, -poposcīdemand, call for
alius, -a, -udanother, other; aliī ... aliī, some ... others
magnus, -a, -umlarge, big, great, mighty; loud
faciō, facere, fēcī, factusmake, do; iter facere, see iter
deinde, adv.then, next
admīrātiō, -ōnis f.wonder, admiration
vertō, vertere, vertī, versusturn
suprā, adv. and prep. with acc.above, before
dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictussay, speak; diem dīcere, to appoint or set a day
facinus, facinoris, n.deed, crime
prae (prep. + abl.)in comparison with; because of
modus, -ī, m.way, manner
nōn, adv.not
dēdō, -dere, -didī, -ditusgive away or up
prō, prep. with abl.before, in front of; for, in behalf of; for, as; in return for, for
rumpō, rumpere, rūpī, ruptusbreak, burst
foedus, -eris n.treaty, alliance
habeō, -ēre, -uī, -itushave, hold; consider
sīc, adv.so, thus
intāctus, -a, -umuntouched, unharmed
inviolātus, -a, -umunharmed; sacred, inviolable
suus, -a, -umhis, her, its, or their own; his, her, its, their
remittō, -ere, -mīsī, -missumsend back; give up, remit
utrimque, adv.on either side or both sides
cōnsistō, -sistere, -stitī, -stitusstation oneself, take one's stand; consist
fidēs, -eī f.faith, trust; pledge
pignus, -oris n.pledge, token, keepsake
apud, prep, with acc.among, with
Etrūscus, -a, -umEtruscan
tūtus, -a, -umsafe
sōlum (adv.); solum, -ī n.only (nōn sōlum … sed etiam: not only … but also); ground, soil
sed, conj.but
etiam, adv.and now, also, too, even
laudō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumpraise
pars, partis, f.part, side, direction
dōnō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumgive; present (someone with something)
legō, legere, lēgī, lēctuschoose, pick out; read
prōdūcō, -ere, -dūxī, -ductumlead out, bring out
ēligō, -ere, ēlēgī, ēlēctumpick out, choose
impūbēs, -erisunder the age of puberty; chaste
virginitās, -ātis f.virginity, maidenhood
decōrus, -a, -umhandsome, fine, splendid
cōnsēnsus, -ūs, m.agreement, consent
probābilis, -ecommendable, acceptable; plausible, likely
aetās, -tātis, f.age
potissimum (adv.)above all, in preference to all others
līberō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusset free, free, liberate, release
maximē, adv.very greatly, exceedingly, especially
opportūnus, -a, -umsuitable, seasonable, convenient, opportune
iniūria, -ae, f.injury, wrong, hurt, harm
redintegrō, -integrāre, -integrāvī, -integrātusmake whole again, renew
novus, -a, -umnew; novissimus, last
genus, generis, n.kind, nature
honor, -ōris, m.honor
statua, -ae f.statue
equester, -tris, -treof cavalry
summus, -a, -umuppermost, highest, greatest
sacer, sacra, sacrumsacred, holy
via, -ae, f.road, way
pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positusplace, put; pōnī with in and abl., to be placed in, rest or depend on
īnsideō, -ēre, -sēdīsit on; be fixed in, dwell in
equus, -ī, m.horse
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.