Friday, February 15, 2013

Livy I. 4 (p.3)


Sed debebatur, ut opinor, fatis tantae origo urbis maximique secundum deorum opes imperii principium.

But, in my opinion, the origin of so great a city and the beginning of the greatest empire only second to the power of gods was given by fate.

Cum Vestalis vi compressa geminum partum edidisset, Martem incertae stirpis patrem nuncupat, seu ita rata seu quia deus auctor culpae hosestior erat.

When the Vestal virgin having been restrained with force had produced twins, she named Mars as the father of her uncertain offspring, either because she believed so or because a god was more honorable as the originator of the blame.

 Sed nec di nec homines aut ipsam aut stirpem a crudelitate regia vindicant: sacerdos vincta in custodiam datur, pueros in profluentem aquam mitti iubet.

But neither gods nor men protected her or her children from the cruelty of the king: the priestess was bound and put to jail, (the king) ordered the children to be sent (thrown) to the flowing water. 

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