DENISON

University of Massachusetts, Amherst Leaf 39

This leaf comes from a rare manuscript of Livy's History of Rome (completed in about 9 A.D.) copied in Italy in the middle of the fifteenth century. It measures 22.5 x 16 cm and its vellum is very well prepared, though some rubbing of the ink has cast a shadow over the text block of some pages. The Humanistic script is crisp, clear, and without adornment; an exception is the Denison leaf, with its striking initial "H." See Denison University Leaf 39 for more information about this manuscript.

Text: This leaf contains the text of Livy's History, Book 27, Chapter 22. A scan of the verso is not currently available. The English translation is that of Cyrus Edmonds (1850), via Project Gutenberg.

Amherst 39.jpg
Amherst Leaf 39 Recto
Amherst Leaf 39 Recto

University of Massachusetts, Amherst Leaf 39 Recto

+ Amherst Leaf 39 Recto Transcription

senatus censuisset, Sex. Iulio Caesari Sicilia, Q. Claudio Flaminio Tarentum. prorogatum imperium in annum est Q. Fuluio Flacco ut prouinciam Capuam quae T. Quincti praetoris fuerat cum una legione obtineret. prorogatum et C. Hostilio Tubulo est ut pro praetore in Etruriam ad duas legiones succederet C. Calpurnio. prorogatum et L. Ueturio Philoni est ut pro praetore Galliam eandem prouinciam cum iisdem duabus legionibus obtineret quibus praetor obtinuisset. quod in L. Ueturio, idem in C. Aurunculeio decretum ab senatu, latumque de prorogando imperio ad populum est qui praetor Sardiniam prouinciam cum duabus legionibus obtinuerat. additae ei ad praesidium prouinciae quinquaginta longae naues quas P. Scipio ex Hispania misisset. et P. Scipioni et M. Silano suae Hispaniae suique exercitus in annum decreti. Scipio ex octoginta nauibus quas aut secum ex Italia adductas aut captas Carthagine habebat quinquaginta in Sardiniam tramittere iussus, quia fama erat magnum naualem apparatum eo anno Carthagine esse: ducentis nauibus omnem oram Italiae Siciliae Sardiniaeque impleturos. et in Sicilia ita diuisa res est: Sex. Caesari exercitus Cannensis datus est: M. Ualerius Laeuinus—ei quoque enim prorogatum imperium est—classem quae ad Siciliam erat nauium septuaginta obtineret; adderet eo triginta naues quae ad Tarentum priore anno

+ Amherst Leaf 39 Recto Translation

[...] the senate thought proper. Sextus Julius Caesar had Sicily, and Quintus Claudius Flamen, Tarentum. Quintus Fulvius Flaccus was to continue in command for a year, and hold the province of Capua, which had been held by Titus Quinctius, with one legion. Caius Hostilius Tubulus was also continued in command, with orders to go into Etruria, in the capacity of propraetor, and succeed Caius Calpurnius in the command of the two legions there. Lucius Veturius Philo was also continued in command, to hold in the capacity of propraetor the same province of Gaul with the same two legions with which he had held it as praetor. The senate decreed the same with respect to Caius Aurunculeius, who, as praetor, had held the province of Sardinia with two legions, which it did in the case of Lucius Veturius, and the question of the continuation of his command was proposed to the people. He had in addition, for the protection of the province, fifty ships which Publius Scipio had sent from Spain. To Publius Scipio and Marcus Silanus, their present province of Spain and their present armies were assigned. Of the eighty ships which he had with him, some taken from Italy and others captured at Carthage, Scipio was ordered to send fifty to Sardinia, in consequence of a report that great naval preparations were making at Carthage that year; and that the intention of the Carthaginians was to blockade the whole coasts of Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia with two hundred ships. In Sicily also the following distribution was made: to Sextus Caesar the troops of Cannae were assigned; Marcus Valerius Laevinus, who was also continued in command, was to have the fleet of seventy ships which was at Sicily, adding to it the thirty ships which the preceding year were stationed at Tarentum.


For more information, contact Dr. Fred Porcheddu.