The History of Rome, Books I to VIII

History of Rome, Books 01 to 08,
by Titus Livius

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Title: The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08
Author: Titus Livius
Release Date: November 6, 2006 [EBook #19725]
Language: English
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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 Pomoerium, 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