The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08

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THE

HISTORY OF ROME.

BY

TITUS LIVIUS.

THE FIRST EIGHT BOOKS.

LITERALLY TRANSLATED, WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS,

BY

D. SPILLAN, A.M. M.D.


LONDON:

HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.
MDCCCLIII.


JOHN CHILDS AND SON, BUNGAY




PREFACE.


In this new English version of the most elegant of the Roman historians,
the object of the translator has been, to adhere as closely to the
original text as is consistent with the idioms of the respective
languages. But while thus providing more especially for the wants of the
classical student, he has not been unmindful of the neatness and
perspicuity required to satisfy the English reader.

There have been several previous translations of our author, but the
only one now before the public, or deserving of particular mention, is
that by Baker, which is undoubtedly a very able performance, and had it
been more faithful, would have rendered any other unnecessary.

The edition used for the present translation is that published at Oxford
under the superintendence of Travers Twiss, whose carefully revised text
is by far the best extant. The few notes and illustrations which the
limits of an edition in this popular form permit, are chiefly confined
to the explanation of grammatical difficulties. Historical and
antiquarian illustration is now so abundantly supplied by excellent
Manuals and Dictionaries, that it has been deemed unnecessary to swell
the present volumes by additions in that department.

Among the manuals of Roman History which may most advantageously be used
by the student, is Twiss's Epitome of Niebuhr, 2 vols. 8vo, a work
frequently referred to in these pages.




THE

HISTORY OF ROME.




BOOK I.


     _The coming of Æneas into Italy, and his achievements there; the
     reign of Ascanius in Alba, and of the other Sylvian kings. Romulus
     and Remus born. Amulius killed. Romulus builds Rome; forms a
     senate; makes war upon the Sabines; presents the_ opima spolia _to
     Jupiter Feretrius; divides the people into_ curiæ; _his victories;
     is deified. Numa institutes the rites of religious worship; builds
     a temple to Janus; and having made peace with all his neighbours,
     closes it for the first time; enjoys a peaceful reign, and is
     succeeded by Tullus Hostilius. War with the Albans; combat of the
     Horatii and Curiatii. Alba demolished, and the Albans made citizens
     of Rome. War declared against the Sabines; Tullus killed by
     lightning. Ancus Marcius renews the religious institutions of Numa;
     conquers the Latins, confers on them the right of citizenship, and
     assigns them the Aventine hill to dwell on; adds the hill Janiculum
     to the city; enlarges the bounds of the empire. In his reign Lucumo
     comes to Rome; assumes the name of Tarquinius; and, after the death
     of Ancus, is raised to the throne. He increases the senate, by
     adding to it a hundred new senators; defeats the Latins and
     Sabines; augments the centuries of knights; builds a wall round the
     city; makes the common sewers; is slain by the sons of Ancus after
     a reign of thirty-eight years; and is succeeded by Servius Tullius.
     He institutes the census; closes the lustrum, in which eighty
     thousand citizens are said to have been enrolled; divides the
     people into classes and centuries; enlarges the Pomœrium, and
     adds the Quirinal, Viminal, and Esquiline hills to the city; after
     a reign of forty years, is murdered by L. Tarquin, afterwards
     surnamed Superbus. He usurps the crown. Tarquin makes war on the
     Volsci, and, with the plunder taken from them, builds a temple to
     Jupiter Capitolinus. By a stratagem of his son, Sextus Tarquin, he
     reduces the city of Gabii; after a reign of twenty-five years is
     dethroned and banished, in consequence of the forcible violation of
     the person of Lucretia by his son Sextus. L. Junius Brutus and L.
     Tarquinius Collatinus first created consuls._




PREFACE.


Whether in tracing the history of the Roman people, from the foundation
of the city, I shall employ myself to a useful purpose,[1] I am neither
very certain, nor, if I were, dare I say: inasmuch as I observe, that it
is both an old and hackneyed practice,[2] later authors always supposing
that they will either adduce something more authentic in the facts, or,
that they will excel the less polished ancients in their style of
writing. Be that as it may, it will, at all events, be a satisfaction to
me, that I too have contributed my share[3] to perpetuate the
achievements of a people, the lords of the world; and if, amidst so
great a number of historians,[4] my reputation should remain in
obscurity, I may console myself with the celebrity and lustre of those
who shall stand in the way of my fame.