Livy: Periochae 11-15

Cum Fabius Gurges cos. male adversus Samnites pugnasset, et senatus de removendo eo ab exercitu ageret, Fabius Maximus pater deprecatus hanc fili ignominiam eo maxime senatum movit quod iturum se filio legatum pollicitus est, idque praestitit. Eius consiliis et opera filius consul adiutus caesis Samnitibus triumphavit; C. Pontium, imperatorem Samnitium, ductum in triumpho, securi percussit.

Cum pestilentia civitas laboraret, missi legati, ut Aesculapi signum Romam ab Epidauro transferrent, anguem, qui se in navem eorum contulerat, in quo ipsum numen esse constabat, deportaverunt; eoque in insulam Tiberis egresso eodem loco aedis Aesculapio constituta est.

L. Postumius consularis, quoniam, cum exercitui praeesset, opera militum in agro suo usus erat, damnatus est.

Pacem petentibus Samnitibus foedus quarto renovatum est. Curius Dentatus cos. Samnitibus caesis et Sabinis, qui rebellaverant, victis et in deditionem acceptis bis in eodem magistratu triumphavit.

Coloniae deductae sunt Castrum, Sena, Hadria.

Triumviri capitales tunc primum creati sunt.

Censu acto lustrum conditum est. Censa sunt civium capita CCLXXII milia.

Plebs propter aes alienum post graves et longas seditiones ad ultimum secessit in Ianiculum, unde a Q. Hortensio dictatore deducta est. (Isque in ipso magistratu decessit.)

Res praeterea contra Vulsinienses gestas continet, item adversus Lucanos, contra quos auxilium Thurinis ferre placuerat.

[292 BCE] When consul Fabius Gurges had unsuccessfully fought against the Samnites and the Senate discussed his recall from the army, his father Fabius Maximus asked to save his son from humiliation, and the Senate granted this when he promised to help his son as deputy, something he really did. With his advise and assistance, his son, the consul, defeated the Samnites and celebrated a triumph. Gaius Pontius, the Samnite commander, walked in the procession and was beheaded.

[293] When the people suffered from a plague, envoys were sent to bring a statue of Aesculapius from Epidaurus to Rome. They brought with them a snake that had joined them in the ship, and which no doubt was a manifestation of the god; from the ship, it went to the island in the Tiber, to the place where the temple of Aesculapius has been erected.

Former consul Lucius Postumius was condemned because he had ordered the soldiers of the army he commanded to work on his land.

[290] When the Samnites sued for peace, the treaty was renewed for the fourth time. Consul Curius Dentatus celebrated two triumphs in one year, because he had defeated the Samnites and had also subdued the rebellious Sabines and accepted their surrender.

Colonies were founded at Castrum, Sena, and Hadria.

For the first time, a board of three to judge capital crimes was installed.

After the census,  the lustrum ceremony was performed.  272,000 citizens were registered.

[287] Because of their debts, and after heavy and long riots, the plebeians left and settled on the Janiculum hill, from where they were led back by dictator Quintus Hortensius. (He died during his tenure of office.)

It [book 11] also contains an account of wars against the Volsinians, and Lucanians, when the Romans decided to support the inhabitants of Thurii against them.

Cum legati Romanorum a Gallis Senonibus interfecti essent, bello ob id Gallis indicto. L. Caecilius praetor ab his cum legionibus caesus est.

Cum a Tarentinis classis Romana direpta esset, IIviro qui praeerat classi occiso, legati ad eos a senatu, ut de his iniuriis quererentur, missi pulsati sunt. Ob id bellum his indictum est.

Samnites defecerunt. Adversus eos et Lucanos et Brittios et Etruscos aliquot proeliis a compluribus ducibus bene pugnatum est.

Pyrrhus, Epirotarum rex, ut auxilium Tarentinis ferret, in Italiam venit.

Cum in praesidium Reginorum legio Campana cum praefecto Decio Vibullio missa esset, occisis Reginis Regium occupavit.

[284] When Roman envoys were killed by Gallic Senones, war was declared against the Gauls. Praetor Lucius Caecilius [Metellus] and his legions were killed by them.

[282] When the Tarentines looted a Roman fleet and killed its commander, the Senate sent them envoys to complain about this injustice, but they were maltreated. Therefore, war was declared.

The Samnites revolted. In several battles, many commanders successfully fought against them and against the Lucanians, Bruttians, and Etruscans.

[280] King Pyrrhus of the Epirotes came to Italy to support the Tarentines.

When a legion from Campania, commanded by prefect Decius Vibullius, was sent to Rhegium, it killed the inhabitants and occupied the city.

Valerius Laevinus cos. parum prospere adversus Pyrrhum pugnavit, elephantorum maxime inusitata facie territis militibus. Post id proelium cum corpora Romanorum qui in acie ceciderant, Pyrrhus inspiceret, omnia versa in hostem invenit populabundusque ad urbem Romanam processit. C. Fabricius missus ad eum a senatu, ut de redimendis captivis ageret, frustra ut patriam desereret a rege temptatus est. Captivi sine pretio remissi sunt. Cineas legatus a Pyrrho ad senatum missus petiit ut conponendae pacis causa rex in urbem reciperetur. De qua re cum ad frequentiorem senatum referri placuisset, Appius Claudius (qui propter valetudinem oculorum iam diu consiliis publicis se abstinuerat) venit in curiam et sententia sua tenuit ut id Pyrrho negaretur.

Cn. Domitius censor primus ex plebe lustrum condidit. Censa sunt civium capita CCLXXXVII milia CCXXII.

Iterum adversus Pyrrhum dubio eventu pugnatum est.

Cum Carthaginiensibus quarto foedus renovatum est.

Cum C. Fabricio consuli is qui ad eum a Pyrrho transfugerat, polliceretur venenum se regi daturum, cum indicio ad regem remissus est.

Res praeterea contra Lucanos et Bruttios, Samnites et Etruscos prospere gestas continet.

Consul [Publius] Valerius Lavinius unsuccessfully fought against Pyrrhus, especially because the soldiers were not used to the elephants and were terrified. After the battle, Pyrrhus inspected the bodies of the Romans that had fallen during the fight and noticed that they were all directed against their enemy. Pillaging the country, he proceeded to the city of Rome. The Senate sent Gaius Fabricius to Pyrrhus to negotiate the return of the prisoners-of-war. In vain, the king tried to persuade him to abandon his country. The prisoners were released without payment. Pyrrhus' deputy Cineas was sent to the Senate to organize the king's entrance into the city to negotiate a peace treaty. It was decided to discuss this matter with all senators, but Appius Claudius (who had not visited the deliberations for a long time because he suffered from an eye disease) came to the Senate and persuaded the senators with his speech not to give up.

Gnaeus Domitius, the first plebeian censor, celebrated the lustrum ceremony.  287,222 citizens were registered.

[279] For the second time, the Romans fought unsuccessfully against Pyrrhus.

[278] The treaty with Carthage was renewed for the fourth time.

When consul Gaius Fabricius heard from someone who had fled from Pyrrhus, that he could poison the king, he sent him back to the king with a report of what he had done.

It [book 13] also contains an account of the successful wars against the Lucanians, Bruttians, Samnites, and Etruscans.

Pyrrhus in Siciliam traiecit.

Cum inter alia prodigia fulmine deiectum esset in Capitolio Iovis signum, caput eius per haruspices inventum est.

Curius Dentatus cos. cum dilectum haberet, eius, qui citatus non responderat, bona primus vendidit. Iterum Pyrrhum ex Sicilia in Italiam reversum vicit et Italia expulit.

Fabricius censor P. Cornelium Rufinum consularem senatu movit, quod is X pondo argenti facti haberet. Lustro a censoribus condito censa sunt civium capita CCLXXI milia CCXXIIII.

Cum Ptolemaeo, Aegypti rege, societas iuncta est.

Sextilia, virgo Vestalis, damnata incesti viva defossa est.

Coloniae deductae sunt Posidonia et Cosa.

Carthaginiensium classis auxilio Tarentinis venit, quo facto ab his foedus violatum est.

Res praeterea contra Lucanos et Bruttios et Samnites feliciter gestas et Pyrrhi regis mortem continet.

[278] Pyrrhus went to Sicily.

There were many portents, and the statue of the Capitoline Jupiter was struck down by lightning. Its head was found by the seers.

[275] When consul Curius Dentatus was recruiting an army, he sold the possessions of a man who had not appeared. He defeated Pyrrhus, who had returned, and expelled him from Italy.

Censor Fabricius removed former consul Publius Cornelius Rufinus from the Senate because he owned more than ten pounds of silverware. The censors celebrated the ritual cleansing of the state after 271,224 citizens had been registered.

[273] A treaty of friendship was concluded with king Ptolemy [II Philadelphus] of Egypt.

The Vestal virgin Sextilia was condemned for adultery and buried alive.

Colonies were founded at Posidonia and Cosa.

[272] A Carthaginian navy brought help to the Tarentines, and broke the treaty.

It [book 14] also contains accounts of successful wars against the Lucanians, Bruttians, and Samnites, and of the death of king Pyrrhus.

Victis Tarentinis pax et libertas data est.

Legio Campana, quae Regium occupaverat, obsessa deditione facta securi percussa est.

Cum legatos Apolloniatium ad senatum missos quidam iuvenes pulsassent, dediti sunt Apolloniatibus.

Picentibus victis pax data est. Coloniae deductae Ariminum in Piceno, Beneventum in Samnio.

Tunc primum populus R. argento uti coepit.

Umbri et Sallentini victi in deditionem accepti sunt.

Quaestorum numerus ampliatus est, ut essent octo.

When the Tarentines had been subdued, they were given peace and freedom.

[270] The Campanian legion that had occupied Regium, was besieged. After its capitulation, its soldiers were beheaded.

Because several young men had assaulted envoys from the the Apolloniates, who were sent to the Senate, these young men were extradited. 

[268] When the Picentes had been subdued, they were given peace. Colonies were founded at Ariminum in Picenum and at Beneventum in Samnium.

[269] For the first time, the Roman people started to use coins of silver.

[267] After the Umbrians and Sallentines had been defeated, their surrender was accepted.

The number of quaestors was doubled. Now, there were eight.