In Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita (Books 42.37 and 42.45), the narrative tracks the failed embassy of the Roman envoy Lucius Decimius, who was widely suspected of accepting bribes (corrupt money) from the Illyrian King Gentius. [1, 2]

The exact Latin passages and details for both sections are structured below.

1. Livy 42.37: The Assignment of the Envoy

In this section, Rome sends a multi-part embassy to Greece to secure allies before the Third Macedonian War. Lucius Decimius is specifically assigned to handle King Gentius of Illyria. [1]

• The Latin Passage (42.37.1-2):

"A. Atilius et P. et Ser. Cornelii Lentuli et L. Decimius, legati in Graeciam missi, Corcyram peditum mille secum aduexerunt; ibi inter se et regiones, quas obirent, et milites diuiserunt. Decimius missus est ad Gentium, regem Illyriorum, [quem] si aliquem respectum amicitiae eum habere cerneret, retentare aut etiam ad belli societatem perlicere iussus." [1, 2]

• English Translation:

"Aulus Atilius, Publius and Servius Cornelius Lentulus, and Lucius Decimius, the ambassadors sent to Greece, brought one thousand infantry with them to Corcyra; there they divided among themselves the troops and the regions they were to visit. Decimius was sent to Gentius, the king of the Illyrians, with instructions to hold him to his allegiance, or even entice him into a war alliance, if he perceived the king had any regard for friendship with Rome." [1, 2, 3]

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2. Livy 42.45: The Accusation of Bribery

After the individual embassies return to report their outcomes, Decimius is the only ambassador who fails entirely. Livy notes that he faced an "infamy" (disgraceful rumor) because he was heavily suspected of pocketing bribes from the Illyrian kings. [1, 2, 3]

• The Latin Passage (42.45.8):

"Decimius unus sine ullo effectu, captarum etiam pecuniarum ab regibus Illyriorum suspicione infamis, Romam rediit." [1]

• English Translation:

"Decimius alone returned to Rome without any success, rendered infamous by the suspicion that he had even accepted bribe money from the Illyrian kings." [1, 2]

Key Vocabulary Used by Livy

• Captarum pecuniarum: Literally "taken monies" or "accepted cash"—the definitive historical Roman phrasing for taking financial kickbacks or bribes.
• Suspicione infamis: "Infamous/notorious by suspicion"—meaning public opinion and the Senate deeply distrusted his clean record. [1, 2]

Would you like to explore the political fallout Decimius faced in Rome after this mission, or examine how King Gentius eventually flipped to fight against Rome?