Post by Christopher Martin on Oct 6, 2016 16:27:50 GMT
I want to give ya'll a chance to examine the mode in which Livy does his history . . . I mean, the title of the text is "Stories from Livy," not "Livy's History of Rome."
One of the more fascinating traits of his "storytelling" is that manner and means of incorporating quotations. For example, in the story of the traitor of Falerii, Livy could simply say that Camillus rejected the traitor's offer, but instead we get an epic quotation from Camillus:
"Neither the general nor the people to whom thou comest bringing this wicked gift is like unto thyself. With the men of Falerii we have not indeed friendship, yet we have with them as with all men a natural fellowship. War also has laws even as peace, and to these laws we have learnt obedience, even as we have learned courage. Our arms we carry not against lads of tender age, who are not harmed even in the storming of cities, but against men that carry arms in their hands. These I shall conquer, even as I conquered Veii, in Roman fashion, even by valour, by labour, and by arms." (187-188)
Wowee! Certainly more powerful than a simple narration, but is emphasis the only point here?
Similarly, when the Roman reject the Gauls' demand for land questioning "by what right" (195) the make their demand, the Gauls' response is also recorded: "Our right we carry on the point of our swords, for to the brave all things belong." (196)
Obviously, Livy wants to do more than simply tell of what happened . . . but what else does he want to do? (and I challenge you here that there is no single answer that is corrects . . . Livy has MANY motivations)
One of the more fascinating traits of his "storytelling" is that manner and means of incorporating quotations. For example, in the story of the traitor of Falerii, Livy could simply say that Camillus rejected the traitor's offer, but instead we get an epic quotation from Camillus:
"Neither the general nor the people to whom thou comest bringing this wicked gift is like unto thyself. With the men of Falerii we have not indeed friendship, yet we have with them as with all men a natural fellowship. War also has laws even as peace, and to these laws we have learnt obedience, even as we have learned courage. Our arms we carry not against lads of tender age, who are not harmed even in the storming of cities, but against men that carry arms in their hands. These I shall conquer, even as I conquered Veii, in Roman fashion, even by valour, by labour, and by arms." (187-188)
Wowee! Certainly more powerful than a simple narration, but is emphasis the only point here?
Similarly, when the Roman reject the Gauls' demand for land questioning "by what right" (195) the make their demand, the Gauls' response is also recorded: "Our right we carry on the point of our swords, for to the brave all things belong." (196)
Obviously, Livy wants to do more than simply tell of what happened . . . but what else does he want to do? (and I challenge you here that there is no single answer that is corrects . . . Livy has MANY motivations)