2.21

Invasion of Africa by the Romans, 256 BCE

(1) L. Mānliō Vulsōne M. Atīliō Rēgulō cōnsulibus: Ablative absolute with form of esse assumed (AG 419.a). Lucius Manlius Vulso Longus and M. Atilius Regulus were consuls in 256 BCE.

Contrā Hamilcarem, Carthāginiēnsium ducem: This Hamilcar is not the famous Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal

pūgnātum: supply est, "they fought"; passive form is used impersonally (AG 207.d)

victusque est: "he [Hamilcar] was conquered" (Hazzard)

perditīs sexāgintā quattuor nāvibus: ablative absolute using perfect passive participle (AG 419)

sē recēpit: lit. "he took himself back" = "he withdrew" (Hazzard)

Rōmānī vīgintī duās āmīsērunt: supply naves. In 256 BCE near Cape Ecnomus off the south coast of Sicily a Roman fleet of 330 ships defeated a slightly smaller Punic fleet, capturing fifty and sinking twenty-four, with the loss of only twenty-four Roman ships (Bird).

(2) Sed cum in Āfricam trānsīssent: cum here is used circumstantially (AG 542).

Clypeam, Āfricae cīvitātem: The Romans, now in control of the sea, landed unopposed at Clupea (Aspis) on Cape Bon and captured the city (Bird).

in dēditiōnem accēpērunt: "they received in surrender" (Hazzard)

ūsque ad Carthāginem: lit., "even up to" = "as far as" (Hazzard)

multīsque vāstātīs: supply locīs. Ablative absolute using perfect passive participle (AG 419)

Rōmam: "to Rome" (AG 427)

Is: Rēgulus

contra Āfrōs: i.e., Carthaginians

(3) Contrā trēs Carthāginiēnsium ducēs dīmicāns victor fuit: Regulus achieved several easy victories, causing the Carthaginians to sue for peace (Bird).

quīnque mīlia: supply hostium

cum decem et octō elephantīs: "along with eighteen elephants"

in fidem accēpit: "received in alliance." This is a mild [euphemistic] way of saying that he made [them] subjects of Rome (Hazzard).

(4) Quam: connecting relative, referring to pacem

cum Rēgulus nōllet: In clauses where cum is used causally, use the English “since” (AG 549).

ā Lacedaemoniīs: The Spartans were called Lacedaemonii from Lacedaemon, another name for Sparta (Hazzard).

duce Xanthippō: "with Xanthippus as their commander," ablative absolute with form of the verb esse assumed (AG 419.a). By the spring of 255 BCE, the Spartan mercenary general Xanthippus had reorganized and trained the Carthaginian army and he then forced the Romans under Regulus to give battle in the valley of the Bagradas. Here he completely routed the Romans and captured Regulus (Bird).

missus fuerat: missus erat. Eutropius ordinarily uses fueram, etc., for eram in the Pluperfect Passive Indicative (Hazzard)

ultimā perniciē: "with disastrous losses" (Bird)

(5) quīngentī: supply mīlitum

trīgintā mīlia occīsa: supply sunt, refers to milites

Rēgulus ipse in catēnās coniectus: supply est. Florus tactfully explains,

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Regulus succeeded at everything he did. His name struck terror in the hearts of the enemy, for he either struck down or enslaved a large number of enemy forces, including its leaders, and he sent back to Rome a huge fleet of ships laden with booty. Now he was making his way to the heart of enemy territory, wanting to besiege the very gates of Carthage itself. But the winds of fortune changed, providing a sizable tragedy to make Roman virtue rise up all the more. For when the Carthaginian enemy sought foreign aid, Lacedaemon sent its leader Xanthippus to them. We were conquered by this cunningly skillful general, and we suffered an abominable tragedy unknown to Rome at that time: our brave general Regulus was captured alive. But Regulus was able to endure such a calamity, and his spirit remained unbroken despite being a prisoner-of-war. (1.18.86–100; Trans. K. Masters)