65. quidquid…quidquid…illorum…illorum (66): note how Livy’s use of short, rapid-fire phrases, together with ANAPHORA, ASYNDETON, and ALLITERATION (patrios, patriam, parentes), add intensity to the narrative.
civium: PARTITIVE GEN. with the indef. quidquid.
66. et…et: the regular order would be et feroces…et pleni.
suopte: -pte is an indecl. suffix with intensive force, very own.
pleni: the adj. can be used with either the gen. (as in the Eng. idiom) or the abl. (of means), as here.
69. expertes: expers, adj. + gen., having no part in, free from.
quippe: adv., for, indeed.
agebatur:was at stake.
72. infestis: unsafe, dangerous, hostile.
terni: distributive numeral, three each = the three young men on each side.
74. increpuere: = increpuerunt; from increpare, to rattle, make a loud noise, reproach, rebuke.
arma: strictly the defensive arms, and here probably the shields.
micantes: micare,to shake, shine, flash, sparkle.
75. spectantis: = spectantes.
perstringit: perstringere,to affect deeply, strike, move.
neutro: adv., to neither side.
torpebat…spiritusque (76): torpere,to be stiff, sluggish, numb, stupefied; i.e., they seemed unable to speak or even breathe.
consertis…manibus: conserere,to connect, join, engage (in battle); i.e., in hand to hand fighting.
77. anceps: here, on both sides.
telorum: telum,missile, javelin, spear, weapon.
78. vulnera…et sanguis: HENDIADYS = bloody wounds.
spectaculo essent:were for a sight (DAT. OF PURPOSE) = were to be seen.
80. corruerunt: corruere, to fall together, fall to the ground.
quorum: = eorum; where Eng. would use a pers. pron., Livy, like other class. authors, often employed the rel. pron. at the beginning of a sentence, with its antecedent in the preceding sentence.
81. legiones: legio, legion or, here, any military force.
82. deseruerat: deserere, to desert.
exanimes:lifeless, breathless (here, with horror).
vice: vicis,change, vicissitude, lot, plight, fate; ABL. OF CAUSE.
83. ut…sic (84): as…so, but here better rendered although…nevertheless. universis: all together.
nequaquam: adv., by no means.
As the armies of both cities watch the contest, the tension mounts.
Foedere icto, trigemini sicut convenerat arma capiunt. Cum sui utrosque adhortarentur, deos patrios, patriam ac parentes, 65 quidquid civium domi, quidquid in exercitu sit, illorum tunc arma, illorum intueri manus, feroces et suopte ingenio et pleni adhortantium vocibus, in medium inter duas acies procedunt. Consederant utrimque pro castris duo exercitus, periculi magis praesentis quam curae expertes; quippe imperium agebatur in 70 tam paucorum virtute atque fortuna positum. Itaque ergo erecti suspensique in minime gratum spectaculum animos intendunt.
The battle begins, and one surviving Roman kills the three Albans.
Battle scene between Romans and barbarians Relief on sarcophagus Portonaccio, Italy 1st-3rd centuries A.D. Museo Nazionale Romano Rome, Italy
Erich Lessing/Art Resource, NY.
“Battle of the Horatii and the Curiatii” Cavaliere d’Arpino (Giuseppe Cesari), 17th century Museo Capitolino, Rome, Italy
Giraudon/Art Resource, NY.
