Livy 2.9 Review (Content)

(1) inde P. Valerius iterum T. Lucretius consules facti. (2) iam Tarquinii ad Lartem Porsennam, Clusinum regem, perfugerant.

• The Tarquins fled to Porsenna for refuge

• Porsenna attacked Rome

• Publius Valerius and Titus Lucretius defended the consuls against Porsenna

(3) ibi miscendo consilium precesque nunc orabant, ne se, oriundos ex Etruscis, eiusdem sanguinis nominisque, egentes exsulare pateretur, nunc monebant etiam ne orientem morem pellendi reges inultum sineret.

• Porsenna begs the Etruscans to join him in the fight

• The Etruscans beg Porsenna not to allow them to be exiles

• The people beg and pray that there be no more kings of Etruscan blood

 (4) satis libertatem ipsam habere dulcedinis. (5) nisi quanta ui ciuitates eam expetant tanta regna reges defendant, aequari summa infimis; nihil excelsum, nihil quod supra cetera emineat, in ciuitatibus fore; adesse finem regnis, rei inter deos hominesque pulcherrimae.

• The kings think freedom is too sweet not to defend their kingdoms

• Freedom is so alluring that the kings will have to work hard to keep their kingdoms

• The states await the kings because kings defend their kingdoms

 (4) satis libertatem ipsam habere dulcedinis. (5) nisi quanta ui ciuitates eam expetant tanta regna reges defendant, aequari summa infimis; nihil excelsum, nihil quod supra cetera emineat, in ciuitatibus fore; adesse finem regnis, rei inter deos hominesque pulcherrimae.

• If states are allowed freedom, everyone will be made equal

• If the kings can protect their kingdoms, nothing will stand out

• If the kings are driven out, only the best will remain

(6) Porsenna cum regem esse Romae <tutum>, tum Etruscae gentis regem, amplum Tuscis ratus, Romam infesto exercitu uenit. (7) non unquam alias ante tantus terror senatum inuasit; adeo ualida res tum Clusina erat magnumque Porsennae nomen.

• Porseena thought he should listen to the kings because he wanted allies

• Porsenna thought it was important to the Etruscans that he fight for freedom

• Porsenna thought a king would be safe at Rome

(6) Porsenna cum regem esse Romae <tutum>, tum Etruscae gentis regem, amplum Tuscis ratus, Romam infesto exercitu uenit. (7) non unquam alias ante tantus terror senatum inuasit; adeo ualida res tum Clusina erat magnumque Porsennae nomen.

• Never before had such fear invaded Porsenna

• Never before had such fear invaded the Senate

• Never before had anyone heard the name of Porsenna

(8) nec hostes modo timebant sed suosmet ipsi cives, ne Romana plebs, metu perculsa, receptis in urbem regibus vel cum seruitute pacem acciperet.

• The Senate feared their own citizens making a mistake

• The Senate feared the kings were too mighty to defeat

• The Senate feared that the Roman plebs would rebel against the kingdom

(9) multa igitur blandimenta plebi per id tempus ab senatu data. (10) annonae in primis habita cura, et ad frumentum comparandum missi alii in Volscos, alii Cumas.(11) salis quoque vendendi arbitrium, quia impenso pretio venibat, in publicum omne sumptum, ademptum privatis; portoriisque et tributo plebes liberata, ut divites conferrent qui oneri ferendo essent: pauperes satis stipendii pendere, si liberos educent.

• The Senate tries to win over the people by giving out free gold

• The Senate tries to keep the kings away by offering them salt

• The Senate tries to win favor with the people through tax relief and price fixing

(12) itaque haec indulgentia patrum asperis postmodum rebus in obsidione ac fame adeo concordem ciuitatem tenuit, ut regium nomen non summi magis quam infimi horrerent, nec quisquam unus malis artibus postea tam popularis esset quam tum bene imperando uniuersus senatus fuit.

• There was famine and seige in Rome

• There was celebration and happiness in response

• The Sentae's plan backfired causing massive revolts

(12) itaque haec indulgentia patrum asperis postmodum rebus in obsidione ac fame adeo concordem ciuitatem tenuit, ut regium nomen non summi magis quam infimi horrerent, nec quisquam unus malis artibus postea tam popularis esset quam tum bene imperando uniuersus senatus fuit.

• No bad man was able to stop the Senate

• The Senate was ordered to stop

• The Senate became very popular