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Livy · Ab Urbe Condita XXI

Ab Urbe Condita 21.63

Flaminius slips away to his province

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Liv. 21.63.1Cōnsulum dēsignātōrum alter Flāminius, cui eae legiōnēs, quae Placentiae hībernābant, sorte ēvēnerant, ēdictum et litterās ad cōnsulem mīsit, ut is exercitus Īdibus Mārtiīs Arīminī adesset in castrīs.One of the consuls-elect, Flaminius, to whom the legions wintering at Placentia had fallen by lot, sent an edict and a letter to the consul, that this army should be present in camp at Ariminum on the Ides of March. Liv. 21.63.2Hīc in prōvinciā cōnsulātum inīre cōnsilium erat memorī veterum certāminum cum patribus, quae tribūnus plēbis et quae posteā cōnsul prius dē cōnsulātū, quī abrogābātur, Dein dē triumphō habuerat;His plan was to enter on his consulship in his province, since he remembered his old quarrels with the senators, which he had had as tribune of the plebs and afterwards as consul, first about his consulship, which was being annulled, and then about his triumph; Liv. 21.63.3invīsus etiam patribus erat ob novam lēgem, quam Q. Claudius tribūnus plēbis adversus senātum atque ūnō patrum adiuvante C. Flāminiō tulerat, nē quis senātor cuive senātor pater fuisset maritimam nāvem, quae plūs quam trecentārum amphorārum esset, habēret.he was hated by the senators also because of a new law which Quintus Claudius, tribune of the plebs, had carried against the senate, with Gaius Flaminius alone of the senators supporting it, that no senator, nor anyone whose father had been a senator, should own a seagoing ship of more than three hundred amphorae burden.

Liv. 21.63.4Id satis habitum ad frūctūs ex agrīs vectandōs;That was considered enough for carrying produce from their estates; Liv. 21.63.4quaestus omnis patribus indecōrus vīsus.all money-making was thought unbecoming for senators. Liv. 21.63.4Rēs per summam contentiōnem ācta invidiam apud nōbilitātem suāsōrī lēgis Flāminiō, favōrem apud plēbem alterumque inde cōnsulātum peperit.The measure, carried through amid the fiercest struggle, won Flaminius, its advocate, hatred among the nobility, favour among the plebs, and from that a second consulship. Liv. 21.63.5Ob haec ratus auspiciīs ēmentiendīs Latīnārumque fēriārum morā et cōnsulāribus aliīs impedīmentīs retentūrōs sē in urbe, simulātō itinere prīvātus clam in prōvinciam abiit.For these reasons, thinking they would detain him in the city by falsifying the auspices, by delaying the Latin Festival and by other hindrances to a consul, he pretended a journey and, still a private citizen, went off secretly to his province. Liv. 21.63.6Ea rēs ubi palam facta est, novam īnsuper īram īnfestīs iam ante patribus mōvit: nōn cum senātū modo sed iam cum diīs immortālibus C. Flāminium bellum gerere.When this became known, it stirred fresh anger besides among the senators, who were already hostile: Gaius Flaminius was now waging war not only with the senate but with the immortal gods.

Liv. 21.63.7Cōnsulem ante inauspicātō factum revocantibus ex ipsā aciē diīs atque hominibus nōn pāruisse;Formerly, made consul without due auspices, he had not obeyed gods and men when they recalled him from the very battle line; Liv. 21.63.7nunc cōnscientiā sprētōrum et Capitōlium et sollemnem vōtōrum nuncupātiōnem fūgisse, nē diē initī magistrātūs Iovis optimī maximī templum adīret, nē senātum invīsus ipse et sibi ūnī invīsum vidēret cōnsuleretque, nē Latīnās indīceret Iovīque Latiārī sollemne sacrum in monte faceret, nē auspicātō profectus in Capitōlium ad vōta nūncupanda, palūdātus inde cum līctōribus in prōvinciam īret.now, conscious of having scorned them, he had shunned both the Capitol and the solemn pronouncing of vows, so as not to visit the temple of Jupiter Best and Greatest on the day he entered office, not to see and consult the senate, hateful as he was to it and it to him alone, not to proclaim the Latin Festival and perform the solemn sacrifice to Jupiter Latiaris on the mount, not to go, after taking the auspices, to the Capitol to pronounce vows and from there, in his general's cloak, with his lictors, to his province.

Liv. 21.63.9Lixae modō sine īnsignibus, sine līctōribus profectum clam, fūrtim, haud aliter quam sī exiliī causā sōlum vertisset, magis prō maiestāte vidēlicet imperiī Arīminī quam Rōmae magistrātum initūrum et in dēversōriō hospitālī quam apud penātēs suōs praetextam sūmptūrum.Like a camp-follower, without insignia, without lictors, he had set out secretly, by stealth, just as if he had left his native soil to go into exile; no doubt it suited the majesty of his command better that he should enter office at Ariminum rather than at Rome, and put on the bordered toga in a wayside inn rather than before his own household gods. Liv. 21.63.11Revocandum ūniversī retrahendumque cēnsuērunt et cōgendum omnibus prius praesentem in deōs hominēsque fungī officiīs, quam ad exercitum et in prōvinciam īret.They all voted that he should be recalled and brought back, and compelled to perform in person all his duties towards gods and men before he went to the army and the province. Liv. 21.63.12In eam lēgātiōnem — lēgātōs enim mittī placuit — Q. Terentius et M. Antistius profectī nihilō magis eum mōvērunt, quam priōre cōnsulātū litterae mōverant ab senātū missae.On that embassy, for it was decided to send envoys, Quintus Terentius and Marcus Antistius set out, but they moved him no more than the letter sent by the senate had moved him in his former consulship.

Liv. 21.63.13Paucōs post diēs magistrātum iniit, immolantīque eī vitulus iam ictus ē manibus sacrificantium sēsē cum prōripuisset, multōs circumstantēs cruōre respersit;A few days later he entered office, and as he was sacrificing, a calf, already struck, tore itself from the hands of the attendants and spattered many bystanders with blood; Liv. 21.63.13fuga procul etiam maior apud ignārōs, quid trepidārētur, et concursātiō fuit.farther off, among those who did not know what the alarm was, there was even greater flight and running about. Liv. 21.63.14Id ā plērīsque in ōmen magnī terrōris acceptum.This was taken by most as an omen of great terror. Liv. 21.63.15Legiōnibus inde duābus ā Semprōniō priōris annī cōnsule, duābus ā C. Atīliō praetōre acceptīs in Etrūriam per Appennīnī trāmitēs exercitus dūcī est coeptus.Then, having taken over two legions from Sempronius, consul of the previous year, and two from Gaius Atilius the praetor, he began to lead the army into Etruria by the paths over the Apennines.

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Grammar in this passage: purpose clauses ×1, ablative absolute ×1, gerunds and gerundives ×6, indirect statement ×1

Latin vocabulary for this passage (213 words)
cōnsul, -ulis m.consul (one of Rome's two chief magistrates)
dēsignō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumpoint out, refer to
alter, -era, -erumone or the other (of two); another, second
quī, quae, quod, rel. pron.who, which
is, ea, id, dem. pron.this, that; he, she, it, they
legiō, -ōnis f.legion
hībernō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumspend the winter, winter (in winter quarters)
sors, sortis, f.lot
ēveniō, -venīre, -vēnī, -ventuscome out; turn out, happen, befall
ēdictum, -ī n.proclamation, edict (of a magistrate)
et, conj.and; et ... et, both ... and
litterae, -ārum f. pl.letters (of the alphabet); a letter, dispatch
ad, prep. with acc.to, toward; at, near; for
mittō, mittere, mīsī, missussend
ut, conj.as; when; that; ita ut, as
exercitus, -ūs, m.army
Īdūs, -uum f. pl.the Ides (13th or 15th of the month)
Mārtius, -a, -umof Mars; campus Mārtius, the Field of Mars outside the old city
adsum, adesse, adfuībe present, be at hand
in, prep. with acc. and abl.with acc.: into, onto, against; with abl.: in, on
castra, -ōrum, n. plur.camp
hīc, adv.here; hereupon
prōvincia, -ae f.province; here, the Roman Province in southern Gaul
cōnsulātus, -ūs m.consulship
ineō, -īre, -iī, -itusgo into, enter; adopt
cōnsilium, -ī, n.advice; plan, design, purpose; prudence
sum, esse, fuī, futūrusbe
memor, -orismindful, remembering (+ gen.)
vetus, veterisold, former
certāmen, -minis, n.struggle, contest
cum, prep, with abl.with
pater, patris, m.father
tribūnus, -ī m.tribune (tribūnus mīlitum: senior officer of a legion)
plēbs, plēbis f.the common people
posteā, adv.after this, afterwards
prius, adv.before, first
dē, prep, with abl.down from, from, out of; about, concerning, of
abrogō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusrepeal; take away (a command) from (dat.)
deinde, adv.then, next
triumphus, -ī m.triumph, a victorious general's procession
habeō, -ēre, -uī, -itushave, hold; consider
invīsus, -a, -umhated, hateful (to: dat.)
etiam, adv.and now, also, too, even
ob, prep. with acc.on account of, for; in compounds, to, against
novus, -a, -umnew; novissimus, last
lēx, lēgis f.law
quīntus, -a, -umfifth
adversum (prep. + acc.; also adversus)against, opposite
senātus, -ūs m.senate
atque, ac (conj.)and; after comparisons: as, than (ac only before consonants)
ūnus, -a, -umone; only, alone
adiuvō, -āre, adiūvī, adiūtumhelp, assist
ferō, ferre, tulī, lātusbear, bring
nē, adv.not; nē ... quidem, not ... even; conj., that not, lest
quis, qua, quid, indef. pron.any one, anybody, anything, some one, somebody, something
senātor, -ōris m.senator, elder
maritimus, -a, -umof the sea, coastal
nāvis, -is, f.ship
plūs (adv.)more
quam, adv.how? as; than; with superl., as ... as possible
trecentī, -ae, -athree hundred
amphora, -ae, f.jar, bottle
satis, adv.enough, sufficiently
frūctus, -ūs, m.enjoyment; fruit
ex, ē (prep. + abl.)out of, from; of (ē only before consonants)
ager, agri, m.field, land
vectō, -āre, -āvī, -ātuscarry, convey
quaestus, -ūs m.gain, profit
omnis, -eall, every
indecōrus, -a, -umunbecoming, shameful, disgraceful
videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsussee; pass., seem
rēs, reī, f.thing, matter, affair, circumstance, situation; rē vērā, in truth, in fact, really
per, prep, with ace.through, by means of
summus, -a, -umuppermost, highest, greatest
contentiō, -ōnis f.struggle, dispute
agō, agere, ēgī, āctusdrive; do; pass, lead; grātiās agere, see grātia
invidia, -ae f.envy, jealousy, ill will
apud, prep, with acc.among, with
nōbilitās, -tātis f.the nobility
suāsor, -ōris m.adviser, one who urges; proposer of a law
favor, -ōris m.goodwill, support, applause
que, enclitic conj.and
inde (adv.)from there; then
pariō, -ere, peperī, partusbring forth; win, gain
hic, haec, hoc, dem. pron.this; ille ... hīc, that ... this, the former ... the latter
reor, rērī, ratus sumthink, suppose, reckon
auspicium, -ī n.taking of the auspices (reading the will of the gods from birds); omen
ēmentior, -īrī, -ītus sumlie, invent falsely
Latīnus, -a, -umLatin
fēriae, -ārum f. pl.holidays, festival days
mora, -ae, f.delay
cōnsulāris, -eof a consul, consular; as noun: ex-consul; comitia cōnsulāria: the consular elections
alius, -a, -udanother, other; aliī ... aliī, some ... others
impedīmentum, -ī n.hindrance; (pl.) baggage
retineō, -tinēre, -tinuī, -tentushold or keep back, keep, restrain; hold fast
suī, sibi, sē or sēsē, reflexive pron.himself, herself, itself, themselves
urbs, urbis, f.city
simulō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumpretend
iter, itineris, n.a going, journey, march; iter facere, to journey, march
prīvātus, -a, -umprivate
clam (adv.)secretly
abeō, -īre, -iī, -itūrusgo away, depart
ubi, adv.where; conj., when
palam (adv.)openly, publicly
faciō, facere, fēcī, factusmake, do; iter facere, see iter
īnsuper (adv.)above, on top; besides
īra, -ae, f.anger, wrath
īnfestus, -a, -umunsafe, dangerous
iam, adv.now, already
ante, prep, with acc. and adv.before
moveō, movēre, mōvī, mōtusmove
nōn, adv.not
modo, adv.only
sed, conj.but
deus, -ī, m.god
immortālis, -eimmortal
bellum, -ī, n.war
gerō, gerere, gessī, gestuscarry, wear; carry on, do
inauspicātō (adv.)without taking the auspices
revocō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumcall back, recall
ipse, ipsa, ipsum, intensive pron.self, himself, herself, itself, themselves; often to be rendered by very
aciēs, -ēī, f.line of battle
homō, hominis, m.man
pāreō, -ēre, -uīobey
nunc, adv.now
cōnscientia, -ae f.awareness; consciousness of guilt, guilty conscience
spernō, spernere, sprēvī, sprētusdespise, scorn
sollemnis, -esolemn, ritual, customary
vōtum, -ī n.vow; wish, prayer
nuncupātiō, -ōnis f.formal pronouncement (of vows)
fugiō, fugere, fūgī, fugitūrusflee, run away
diēs, -ēī, m. and f.day
magistrātus, -ūs m.magistrate, official
bonus, -a, -umgood
magnus, -a, -umlarge, big, great, mighty; loud
templum, -ī, n.sanctuary, temple
adeō, -īre, -iī, -itusgo to, approach
cōnsulō, -ere, -uī, -tusconsult
indīcō, -ere, -dīxī, -dictumproclaim, call (a meeting)
Latiāris, -eLatin; Iuppiter Latiāris: Jupiter of the Latins, worshipped on the Alban Mount
sacrum, -ī n.sacred object or rite; sacra: rites, worship
mōns, montis, m.mountain
auspicātō (adv.)after taking the auspices, with the approval of the birds
proficīscor, -ficīscī, -fectus sumset out, depart, march
nūncupō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusname, call; declare publicly
palūdātus, -a, -umwearing the general's cloak (palūdāmentum): in uniform, as a magistrate setting out for his province
līctor, -ōris m.lictor, an attendant carrying the rods (fascēs) before a magistrate
eō, īre, iī, itusgo
lixa, -ae m.camp follower, sutler
modus, -ī, m.way, manner
sine, prep. with abl.without
īnsigne, -is n.badge, mark, decoration
fūrtim (adv.)stealthily, secretly
haud, adv.not at all, by no means, not
aliter, adv.in another way, otherwise, differently
sī, conj.if
exsilium, -ī, n.exile
causa, -ae, f.cause, reason; abl. causā, for the sake of
sōlum (adv.); solum, -ī n.only (nōn sōlum … sed etiam: not only … but also); ground, soil
vertō, vertere, vertī, versusturn
magis, comp. adv.more, rather
prō, prep. with abl.before, in front of; for, in behalf of; for, as; in return for, for
maiestās, -ātis f.greatness, dignity, majesty
vidēlicet (adv.)clearly, evidently; (ironic) of course
imperium, -ī, n.command; sway, rule
dēversōrium, -ī n.an inn, lodging
hospitālis, -eof a guest, for guests; hospitable
suus, -a, -umhis, her, its, or their own; his, her, its, their
praetexō, -ere, -texuī, -textusborder, fringe; toga praetexta: the purple-bordered toga of magistrates
sūmō, sūmere, sūmpsī, sūmptustake under or up, take; poenam sūmere, to exact or inflict punishment
ūniversus, -a, -umall together, whole, entire, all
retrahō, -ere, -trāxī, -tractumdrag back
cēnseō, cēnsēre, cēnsuī, cēnsusthink, believe, consider
cōgō, cōgere, coēgī, coāctusdrive together, collect; compel
praesēns, -sentis, adj.present, immediate, imminent
fungor, fungī, fūnctus sum (+ abl.)perform, carry out, discharge
officium, -ī, n.service; duty
lēgātiō, -ōnis f.embassy, mission
lēgātus, -ī, m.ambassador
enim, conj.for
placeō, -ēre, placuī, placitum (+ dat.)please (placuit eī: he decided)
nihilō (adv.)by nothing; nihilō minus: none the less, nevertheless
prior, priusearlier, former; in front (priōrēs: those in front)
ā, ab (prep. + abl.)away from, from; by (ā only before consonants)
paucī, -ae, -a, plur. adj.few
post, adv.after, later; prep. with acc., after, behind
immolō, -molāre, -molāvī, -molātussacrifice (the victim was sprinkled with consecrated meal)
vitulus, -ī m.bull calf, young bullock; (Vulgate) the golden calf
īcō, -ere, īcī, ictusstrike, hit; foedus īcere: make a treaty
manus, -ūs, f.hand
sacrificō, -āre, -āvī, -ātussacrifice
cum, conj.when, while, after; since; although
prōripiō, -ere, -ripuī, -reptusdrag forth; sē prōripere: rush out, dash off
multus, -a, -ummuch, great; plur., many
circumstō, -stāre, -stetīstand around
cruor, -ōris m.blood (shed), gore
respergō, -ere, -spersī, -spersussprinkle, spatter
fuga, -ae, f.flight
procul, adv.at or from a distance, far
ignārus, -a, -umignorant
quis, quid, interrog. pron.who? which? what?
trepidō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusbe in a panic, hurry about in alarm
concursātiō, -ōnis f.running to and fro, rushing about; skirmishing
plērīque, plēraeque, plēraquemost, very many
ōmen, ōminis n.omen, sign; hīsce ōminibus: with these words of ill omen
terror, -ōris, m.terror, fright
accipiō, -cipere, -cēpī, -ceptustake to oneself, receive, accept; hear; suffer
duo, -ae, -o, plur. adj.two
annus, -ī, m.year
praetor, -ōris m.praetor (legātus prō praetōre: officer with a praetor's powers)
trāmes, -itis m.by-path, footpath
dūcō, dūcere, dūxī, ductuslead; make, dig; with or without in mātrimōnium, marry
coepī, coepisse, coeptus (used in tenses of completed action)have begun, began
Livy, Ab Urbe Condita XXI. 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.