The History of Rome (Books 21–30)

Livy · Rev. Canon Roberts (1912)

Translated by B. O. Foster 1. IN THIS preface to a part of my history I may properly assert what many an historian has declared at the outset of his entire work, to wit, that the war which I am going to describe was the most memorable of all wars ever waged — the war, that is, which, under the leadership of Hannibal, the Carthaginians waged with the Roman People. [2] For neither have states or nations met in arms possessed of ampler resources, nor was their own might and power ever so great. Nor yet were they strangers to one another’s modes of fighting, which the First Punic War had made them understand. And so variable were the fortunes of the war and so uncertain was its outcome that those who ultimately conquered had been nearer ruin. [3] The animosity, too, with which they fought was almost greater than their strength: the Romans were enraged that the conquered should be actually …

Editions (plain text / reader):

• Rev. Canon Roberts (1912) (this edition) — read
• Latin text — read

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