38.7. the conclusion of the sacrifice, the general by his apparitor commanded to be summoned all those of the highest degree in birth and deeds of arms; and one by one they were introduced.
38.7. perfecto per viatorem imperator acciri iubebat nobilissimum quemque genere factisque; singuli introducebantur.
38.8. other ceremonial preparations, such as might avail to strike the mind with religious awe, there was a place all enclosed, with altars in the midst and slaughtered victims lying about, and round them a guard of centurions with drawn swords.
38.8. cum alius apparatus sacri qui perfundere religione animum posset, tum in loco circa omni contecto arae in medio victimaeque circa caesae et circumstantes centuriones strictis gladiis.
38.9. The man was brought up to the altar, more like a victim than a partaker in the rite, and was sworn not to divulge what he should there see or hear.
38.9. altaribus magis ut victima quam ut sacri particeps adigebaturque iure iurando quae visa auditaque in eo loco essent, non enuntiaturum.
38.10. then compelled him to take an oath in accordance with a certain dreadful form of words, whereby he invoked a curse upon his head, his household, and his family, if he went not into battle where his generals led the way, or if he either fled from the line himself or saw any other fleeing and did not instantly cut him down.
38.10. iurare cogebant diro quodam carmine, in exsecrationem capitis familiaeque et stirpis composite, nisi isset in—proelium quo imperatores duxissent et si aut ipse ex acie fugisset aut si quem fugientem vidisset non extemplo occidisset.
38.11. there were at first who refused to take this oath; these were beheaded before the altars, where they lay amongst the slaughtered victims —a warning to the rest not to refuse.
38.11. primo quidam abnuentes iuraturos se obtruncati circa altaria sunt; iacentes deinde inter stragem victimarum documento ceteris fuere ne abnuerent.
38.12. the leading Samnites had been bound by this imprecation, the general named ten of them and bade them choose every man another, and so to proceed until they had brought their number up to sixteen thousand. These were named the “Linen Legion,” from the roof of the enclosure wherein the nobles had been sworn, and were given splendid arms and crested helmets, to distinguish them from the rest.
38.12. Samnitium ea detestatione obstrictis, decem nominatis ab imperatore, eis dictum ut vir virum legerent donec sedecim milium numerum confecissent. legio linteata ab integumento consaepti, in quo sacrata nobilitas erat, appellata est; his arma insignia data et cristatae galeae, ut inter ceteros eminerent.
38.13. little over twenty thousand men composed another corps, which neither in physical appearance nor in martial renown nor in equipment was inferior to the Linen Legion. was the size of the army, comprising their effective forces, which encamped at Aquilonia.
38.13. plus viginti milium alius exercitus fuit nec corporum specie nec gloria belli nec apparatu linteatae legioni dispar. hominum numerus, quod roboris erat, ad Aquiloniam consedit. profecti ab urbe, prior Sp. Carvilius, cui veteres legiones quas M. Atilius superioris anni consul in agro Interamnati reliquerat decretae erant.
39.2. The consuls set out from the City, Spurius Carvilius, to whom had been assigned the veteran legions which Marcus Atilius the consul of the previous year had left in the territory of Interamna, being the first to take the field. with these forces into Samnium, while the enemy, busy with their superstitious rites, were holding secret councils, he carried the Samnite town of Amiternum by assault.
39.2. eis in Samnium profectus, dum hostes operati superstitionibus concilia secreta agunt, Amiternum oppidum de Samnitibus vi cepit.
39.3. about two thousand eight hundred men were slain and four thousand two hundred and seventy made prisoners.
39.3. ibi milia hominum duo ferme atque octingenti, capta quattuor milia ducenti septuaginta.
39.4. Papirius, having levied a new army —for so it had been decreed —took by storm the city of Duronia, making fewer prisoners than his colleague but killing many more. each place a rich booty was obtained.
39.4. Papirius novo exercitu—ita enim decretum erat—scripto Duroniam urbem expugnavit; minus quam collega cepit hominum, plus aliquanto occidit; praeda opulenta utrobique est parta.
39.5. , the consuls having ranged over Samnium and laid waste especially the district of Atina, Carvilius appeared before Cominium and Papirius before Aquilonia, where the main power of the Samnites lay encamped.
39.5. pervagati Samnium consules, maxime depopulato Atinate agro, Carvilius ad Cominium, Papirius ad Aquiloniam, ubi summa rei Samnitium erat, pervenit.
39.6. for some days there was neither cessation from hostilities nor downright fighting, but the time was spent in provoking the enemy when they were quiet and retreating when they offered resistance —in a word, in feinting rather than attacking.
39.6. aliquamdiu nec cessatum ab armis est neque naviter pugnatum; lacessendo quietos, resistentibus cedendo comminandoque magis quam inferendo pugnam dies absumebatur.
39.7. was undertaken or given over, the result of every skirmish, no matter how trivial it might be, was reported at the other camp, which was twenty miles away. The other colleague, Carvilius, though absent, shared in every plan of operations, and was more intent upon Aquilonia, as the crisis became more imminent, than upon Cominium, to which he was laying siege.
39.7. inciperetur remittereturque, omnium rerum etiam parvarum eventus perferebatur inde in altera Romana castra, quae viginti milium spatio aberant, et absentis collegae consilia omnibus gerendis intererant rebus, intentiorque Carvilius, quo in maiore discrimine res vertebatur, in Aquiloniam quam ad Cominium, quod obsidebat, erat.
39.8. Lucius Papirius, being now prepared at all points for the battle, sent word to his colleague that he purposed, if the auspices permitted, to engage the enemy on the following day;
39.8. L. Papirius, iam per omnia ad dimicandum satis paratus, nuntium ad collegam mittit sibi in animo esse postero die, si per auspicia liceret, confligere cum hoste;
39.9. it was needful, he said, that Carvilius should also direct an assault, as violent as possible, on Cominium, that no relaxation of the pressure there might allow of the Samnites' sending relief to Aquilonia. The messenger had a day for the journey. in the night, he reported that Carvilius approved the measures taken by his colleague.
39.9. opus esse et illum quanta maxima vi posset Cominium oppugnare, ne quid laxamenti sit Samnitibus ad subsidia Aquiloniam mittenda.
39.10. Papirius had no sooner sent off the courier than he addressed his troops, and said many things of war in general and much regarding the present equipment of the enemy, more vain and showy than effective.
39.10. ad proficiscendum nuntius habuit; nocte rediit, approbare collegam consulta referens. Papirius nuntio misso extemplo contionem habuit; multa de universo genere belli, multa de praesenti hostium apparatu, vana magis specie quam efficaci ad eventum eventurn, disseruit:
39.12. crests, said he, dealt no wounds, and painted and gilded shields would let the Roman javelin through, and their battle —array, resplendent in white tunics, would be stained with blood when sword met sword. ago a gilt and silvern Samnite army had been utterly destroyed by his father, and the spoils had done their conquerors more credit than the arms had brought to their bearers.
39.12. non enim cristas volnera facere, et per picta atque aurata scuta transire Romanum pilum, et candore tunicarum fulgentem aciem, ubi res ferro geratur, cruentari.
39.13. had perhaps been granted to his name and family to be sent forth as generals against the mightiest efforts of the Samnites, and to win such trophies as should strikingly adorn even public places.
39.13. olim atque argenteam Samnitium aciem a parente suo occidione occisam spoliaque ea honestiora victori hosti quam ipsis arma fuisse.
39.14. The immortal gods, he said, were ready to intervene in behalf of treaties so often sought and so often broken.
39.14. hoc forsan nomini familiaeque suae, ut adversus maximos conatus Samnitium opponerentur duces spoliaque ea referrent quae insignia publicis etiam locis decorandis essent.
39.15. it were possible in any way to surmise the feelings of the gods, they had never been more enraged with any army than with this one, which with horrid rites and stained with the commingled blood of men and beasts, doubly devoted to the wrath of Heaven, as it trembled now at the gods that attested the treaties it had made with the Romans, and now at the curses called down
39.15. immortales adesse propter totiens petita foedera, totiens rupta; si qua coniectura mentis divinae sit, nulli unquam exercitui fuisse infestiores quam qui nefando sacro mixta hominum pecudumque caede respersus, ancipiti deum irae devotus, hinc foederum cum Romanis ictorum testes deos, hinc iuris iurandi adversus foedera suscepti exsecrationes horrens, invitus iuraverit, oderit sacramentum, uno tempore deos cives hostes metuat.
39.17. when it undertook to break those treaties, had sworn unwillingly, hated its oath, and dreaded at one and the same moment its gods, its fellow —citizens, and its enemies.
39.17. comperta perfugarum indiciis cum apud infensos iam sua sponte milites disseruisset, simul divinae humanaeque spei pleni clamore consentienti pugnam poscunt; paenitet in posterum diem dilatum certamen; moram diei noctisque oderunt.
40.2. These fears had been made known to Papirius by deserters; and when he had described them to his soldiers, incensed as they already were of themselves, their hopes both of gods and men ran high, and they called out in unison demanding battle; they were vexed at the postponement of the struggle until the morrow, and to wait for a day and night disgusted them. the third watch of the night, having now received his colleague's answer, Papirius rose silently and sent the keeper of the chickens to take the auspices. was no class of men in camp who were not affected by the lust of battle; both high and low felt the same eagerness; the general could see the ardour of the men, the men that of their general.
40.2. vigilia noctis, iam relatis litteris a collega, Papirius silentio surgit et pullarium in auspicium mittit. erat genus hominum in castris intactum cupiditate pugnae, summi infimique aeque intenti erant; dux militum, miles ducis ardorem spectabat.
40.4. universal zeal spread even to those who took the auspices, for when the chickens refused to feed, their keeper dared to falsify the presage and reported that the corn danced on the ground as it fell from their greedy beaks.
40.4. ardor omnium etiam ad eos qui auspicio intererant pervenit; nam cum pulli non pascerentur, pullarius auspicium mentiri ausus tripudium solistimum consuli nuntiavit.
40.5. The consul joyfully announced that the omens were most favourable, and that the gods would be with them as they fought.
40.5. Consul laetus auspicium egregium esse et deis auctoribus rem gesturos pronuntiat signumque pugnae proponit.
40.6. saying, he displayed the signal for a battle. chanced, as he was already moving out to the field, that a deserter came up with the information that twenty cohorts of the Samnites —of about four hundred each —had set out for Cominium.
40.6. iam forte in aciem nuntiat perfuga viginti cohortes Samnitium—quadringenariae ferme erant—Cominium profectas. ne ignoraret collega, extemplo nuntium mittit; ipse signa ocius proferri iubet;
40.7. his colleague might not be ignorant of this, he instantly dispatched a messenger to him, and ordered his own troops to advance in double time.
40.7. subsidia suis quaeque locis et praefectos subsidiis attribuerat; dextro cornu L. Volumnium, sinistro L. Scipionem, equitibus legatos alios, C. Caedicium et T. Trebonium, praefecit;
40.8. had assigned supports to take their posts at favourable points and officers to command them; the right wing he had given to Lucius Volumnius, the left to Lucius Scipio; to lead the cavalry he appointed the other lieutenants, Gaius Caedicius and Titus Trebonius. Spurius Nautius he directed to remove the pack —saddles from the mules, and with three cohorts of auxiliaries to make a hasty detour to a hill which lay in full view, and thence to show himself, in the heat of the engagement, raising as much dust as possible. the general was thus employed, a dispute which broke out amongst the keepers of the chickens about the auspices for that day was overheard by some Roman cavalrymen, who, deeming it no negligible matter, reported to Spurius Papirius, the consul's nephew, that the auspices were being called in question. The young man had been born before the learning that makes light of the gods, and having inquired into the affair, that he might not be the bearer of an uncertain rumour, acquainted the consul with it.
40.8. Sp. Nautium mulos detractis clitellis cum tribus cohortibus alariis in tumulum conspectum propere circumducere iubet atque inde inter ipsam dimicationem quanto maxime posset moto pulvere se ostendere. his intentus imperator erat, altercatio inter pullarios orta de auspicio eius diei exauditaque ab equitibus Romanis, qui rem haud spernendam rati Sp. Papirio, fratris fratis filio consulis, ambigi de auspicio renuntiaverunt.
40.10. The consul replied: “yourself, I commend your conduct and your diligence; but he who takes the auspices, if he reports aught that is false, draws down the wrath of Heaven upon ” “himself; as for me, I was told that the corn had danced; it is an excellent omen for the Roman People and the army.”
40.10. ante doctrinam deos spernentem natus rem inquisitam, ne quid incompertum deferret, ad consulem detulit.
40.11. then ordered the centurions to station the keepers of the chickens in the front rank. The Samnites, too, advanced their standards, which were followed by the battle —line in gorgeous armour —a splendid spectacle, though composed of enemies.
40.11. ille: quidem macte virtute diligentiaque esto! qui auspicio adest si quid falsi nuntiat, in semet ipsum religionem recipit: mihi quidem tripudium nuntiatum; populo Romano exercituique egregium auspicium est.
40.12. the first shout and the clash of arms, a random javelin struck the chicken —keeper and he fell before the standards.
40.12. deinde imperavit uti pullarios inter prima signa constituerent. et Samnites signa; insequitur acies ornata armataque, ut hostium quoque magnificum spectaculum esset.
40.13. The consul, on being told of this, exclaimed, “The gods are present in the battle; the guilty wretch has paid the penalty!” front of the consul a raven, just as he spoke, uttered a clear cry, and Papirius, rejoiced with the augury, and declaring that never had the gods been more instant to intervene in human affairs, bade sound the trumpets and give a cheer. The battle was fought fiercely, but with far from equal spirit. The Romans were filled with rage and hope and ardour for the combat, and, thirsting for their enemies' blood, rushed into the engagement. for the Samnites, in most cases it was necessity and the fear of Heaven that compelled them, however reluctant, rather to resist than to attack. would they have held out against the first battle —cry and onset of the Romans, accustomed, as they had now been for some years, to being beaten, had not another yet more powerful fear benumbed their hearts and prevented them from fleeing.
40.13. clamor tolleretur concurrereturque, emisso temere pilo ictus pullarius ante signa cecidit. ubi consuli nuntiatum est, Di in proelio sunt inquit; habet poenam noxium caput! consulem haec dicentem corvus voce clara occinuit; quo laetus augurio consul, adfirmans nunquam humanis rebus magis praesentes interfuisse deos, signa canere et clamorem tolli iussit. commissum atrox, ceterum longe disparibus animis: Romanos ira spes ardor certaminis avidos hostium sanguinis in proelium rapit; Samnitium magnam partem necessitas ac religio invitos magis resistere quam inferre pugnam cogit. sustinuissent primum clamorem atque impetum Romanorum, per aliquot iam annos vinci adsueti, ni potentior alius metus insidens pectoribus a fuga retineret.
41.3. their eyes beheld all that array of the secret rite, and the armed priests, and the mingled slaughter of men and beasts, and the altars spattered with the blood of victims —and with that other blood —and they could hear the baleful execrations and that dire oath, framed to invoke perdition on their families and on their stock.
41.3. in oculis erat omnis ille occulti paratus sacri et armati sacerdotes et promiscua hominum pecudumque strages et respersae fando nefandoque sanguine arae et dira exsecratio ac furiale carmen, detestandae familiae stirpique compositum; iis vinculis fugae obstricti stabant, civem magis quam hostem timentes.
41.4. These were the chains that stayed them from flight, and they feared their countrymen more than they feared their foes. came the Romans from either wing and from the centre, and cut them down as they stood there dazed by the dread of gods and men.
41.4. Romanus a cornu utroque, a media acie, et caedere deorum hominumque attonitos metu; repugnatur segniter, ut ab iis quos timor moraretur a fuga.
41.5. resisted, but sluggishly, like men whom cowardice restrained from running. The carnage had now reached almost to the standards, when a cloud of dust appeared on their flank, as though raised by the oncoming of a mighty host.
41.5. prope ad signa caedes pervenerat, cum ex transverse pulvis velut ingentis agminis incessu motus apparuit; Sp. Nautius—Octavium Maecium quidam eum tradunt—cum auxiliaribus cohortibus erat;
41.6. was Spurius Nautius —some say Octavius Maecius —with the auxiliary cohorts; they made more dust than their numbers warranted, for the grooms who rode the mules were dragging leafy branches along the ground. and standards were made out in the van through the murky air, and behind them another denser cloud of dust seemed to show that cavalry were closing the rear, and deceived not only the Samnites, but the Romans as well.
41.6. pulverem maiorem quam pro numero excitabant; incidentes mulis calones frondosos ramos per terram trahebant. signaque per turbidam lucem in primo apparebant; post altior densiorque pulvis equitum speciem cogentium agmen dabat fefellitque non Samnites modo sed etiam Romanos;
41.7. mistake the consul confirmed by calling out in the front ranks, so loud that his voice carried even to the enemy, that Cominium was taken, and that his victorious colleague was at hand; let them therefore strive to conquer before the other army won the glory.
41.7. et consul adfirmavit errorem clamitans inter prima signa, ita ut vox etiam ad hostis accideret, captum Cominium, victorem collegam adesse: adniterentur vincere, priusquam gloria alterius exercitus fieret. insidens equo;
41.8. was on horseback as he shouted these words. then commanded the tribunes and centurions to open a path for the cavalry, having previously admonished Trebonius and Caedicius that when they saw him holding his lance aloft and shaking it, they should make their horsemen run full tilt against the enemy.
41.8. inde tribunis centurionibusque imperat, ut viam equitibus patefaciant; ipse Trebonio Caedicioque praedixerat, ubi se cuspidem erectam quatientem vidissent, quanta maxima vi possent concitarent equites in hostem.
41.9. fell out according to his wishes, as happens when plans are laid beforehand. were opened up between the files; the cavalry dashed out, and with levelled spears assailed the midst of the enemy's array, and broke his ranks wherever they charged.
41.9. nutum omnia, ut ex ante praeparato, fiunt; panduntur inter ordines viae; provolat eques atque infestis cuspidibus in medium agmen hostium ruit perrumpitque ordines quacumque impetum dedit. Volumnius et Scipio et perculsos sternunt.
41.10. after them came Volumnius and Scipio, and made havoc of the disordered Samnites. at last, overwhelmed by gods and men, the Linen Cohorts were put to rout; the sworn and the unsworn fled alike, and knew no fear but fear of the enemy.
41.10. iam deorum hominumque victa vi, funduntur linteatae cohortes; pariter iurati iniuratique fugiunt nec quemquam praeter hostes metuunt.
41.11. portion of the foot as survived the battle was driven to the camp or to Aquilonium; the nobles and cavalry escaped to Bovianum. were pursued by horse, infantry by infantry. The Roman wings advanced on different objectives, the right on the Samnite camp, the left on their city.
41.11. quod superfuit pugnae in castra aut Aquiloniam compulsum est; nobilitas equitesque Bovianum perfugerunt. eques sequitur, peditem pedes; diversa cornua dextrum ad castra Samnitium, laevum ad urbem tendit.
41.12. Volumnius succeeded somewhat sooner in capturing the camp. the city Scipio met with a more violent resistance —not that vanquished men are more courageous, but walls avail better to keep out armed enemies than does a rampart; and from thence they drove their assailants off with stones.
41.12. aliquanto Volumnius castra cepit; ad urbem Scipioni maiore resistitur vi, non quia plus animi victis est sed melius muri quam vallum armatos arcent; inde lapidibus propulsant hostem.
41.13. Scipio, fearing that it would be a tedious task to reduce a fortified city, unless the affair were concluded during the first panic of his enemies and before they should collect their spirits, asked his soldiers whether they could be content that the other wing should have taken the camp, while they, though victors, were repulsed from the city gates.
41.13. Scipio, nisi in primo pavore priusquam colligerentur animi transacta res esset, lentiorem fore munitae urbis oppugnationem ratus, interrogat milites satin aequo animo paterentur ab altero cornu castra capta esse, se victores pelli a portis urbis.
41.14. they all together cried out “!” he himself led the way to the gate, shield over head, and the others, following him, formed a testudo, burst into the city, and hurling down the defenders seized the walls adjoining the gate; they durst not venture into the middle of the city, because their numbers were so small.
41.14. universis primus ipse scuto super caput elato pergit ad portam; secuti alii testudine facta in urbem perrumpunt deturbatisque Samnitibus quae circa portam erant muri occupavere; penetrare in interiora urbis, quia pauci admodum erant, non audent. primo ignorare consul et intentus recipiendo exercitui esse; iam enim praeceps in occasum sol erat et appetens nox periculosa et suspecta omnia etiam victoribus faciebat.
42.2. these events the consul was at first unaware, and was intent upon the withdrawal of his army; for the sun was now rapidly sinking in the west, and night coming on apace made all things dangerous and suspect, even to the victors. he rode farther forward, he saw on his right hand that the camp was taken, while from the city, on his left, a confused uproar was rising in which the shouts of the combatants were mingled with screams of terror; and it so happened that at that very moment the struggle at the gate was in progress. , riding nearer and perceiving that his men were on the walls and that his course was already marked out for him, since the adventurousness of a few men had provided him with a great opportunity, he gave orders that the troops withdrawn should be called back and advance against the city.
42.2. longius ab dextra capta castra videt, ab laeva clamorem in urbe mixtum pugnantium ac paventium fremitu esse; et tum forte certamen ad portam erat. deinde equo propius, ut suos in muris videt nec iam integri quicquam esse, quoniam temeritate paucorum magnae rei parta occasio esset, acciri quas receperat copias signaque in urbem inferri iussit.
42.4. entered it on the nearest side, and, as night was approaching, bivouacked; in the night the town was abandoned by the enemy.
42.4. proxima ex parte quia nox appropinquabat, quievere. oppidum ab hostibus desertum est.
42.5. were slain that day of the Samnites at Aquilonia twenty thousand three hundred and forty, and three thousand eight hundred and seventy were captured, with ninety —seven military standards.
42.5. illo die ad Aquiloniam Samnitium milia viginti trecenti quadraginta, capta tria milia octingenti et septuaginta, signa militaria nonaginta septem.
42.6. also avers that hardly had there ever been a general more joyous in combat, whether owing to his native temper or to his confidence that he should gain the victory.
42.6. illud memoriae traditur, non ferme alium ducem laetiorem in acie visum seu suopte ingenio seu fiducia bene gerundae rei.
42.7. resulted from the same stoutness of heart that he was not to be recalled from giving battle by the dispute about the omen, and that in the hour of crisis, when it was customary to vow temples to the immortal gods, he made a vow to Jupiter the Victor that if he routed the legions of the enemy he would present him with a thimbleful of mead before he drank strong wine himself. vow was pleasing to the gods and they gave a good tum to the auspices.
42.7. eodem robore animi neque controverso auspicio revocari a proelio potuit et in ipso discrimine quo templa deis immortalibus voveri mos erat voverat Iovi Victori, si legiones hostium fudisset, pocillum mulsi priusquam temetum biberet, sese facturum. votum dis cordi fuit et auspicia in bonum verterunt. fortuna ab altero consule ad Cominium gesta res. luce ad moenia omnibus copiis admotis corona cinxit urbem subsidiaque firma, ne qua eruptio fieret, portis opposuit.
43.2. The same good fortune attended the other consul at Cominium. the dawn he led up all his forces under the walls and invested the city, posting strong supports to prevent any sally from the gates. was in the act of giving the signal when the courier from his colleague came up with the alarming news about the twenty cohorts, thus delaying the assault and obliging him to recall a part of his troops who were already drawn up and eager to attack.
43.2. signum dantem eum nuntius a collega trepidus de viginti cohortium adventu et ab impetu moratus est et partem copiarum revocare instructam intentamque ad oppugnandum coegit.
43.3. commanded Decimus Brutus Scaeva, his lieutenant, to proceed with the first legion, ten auxiliary cohorts, and the cavalry, to confront the new forces of the enemy:
43.3. D. Brutum Scaevam legatum cum legione prima et decem cohortibus alariis equitatuque ire adversus subsidium hostium iussit:
43.4. wherever he fell in with them, he was to block their path and delay them, giving battle if the situation happened to require it; but on no account must these troops be suffered to approach Cominium.
43.4. quocumque in loco fuisset obvius, obsisteret ac moraretur manumque, si forte ita res posceret, conferret, modo ne ad Cominium eae copiae admoveri possent.
43.5. himself gave orders to bring up scaling —ladders from every side against the walls of the city, and under a mantlet of shields approached the gates. at the same instant the gates were burst open and the walls assaulted. The Samnites, although, until they beheld armed men upon their walls, they had pluck enough to keep their enemies from coming near the city, yet when the combat was no longer carried on with missiles at long range, but was fought hand —to —hand, and when those who had mounted with difficulty from the. plain on to the walls —overcoming the inequality of position, which was what they had chiefly dreaded —were making easy work of it on the level ground with an enemy that was no match for them, they forsook their towers and battlements, and, huddled all together in the market —place, made there one last brief attempt to redeem the day.
43.5. scalas ferri ad muros ab omni parte urbis iussit ac testudine ad portas successit; simul et refringebantur portae et vis undique in muros fiebat. Samnites sicut antequam in muris viderent armatos satis animi habuerunt ad prohibendos urbis aditu hostes, ita, postquam iam non ex intervallo nec missilibus sed comminus gerebatur res et qui aegre successerant ex plano piano in muros, loco quem magis timuerant victo, facile in hostem imparem ex aequo pugnabant, relictis turribus murisque in forum omnes compulsi paulisper inde temptaverunt extremam pugnae fortunam;
43.8. , throwing down their arms, some eleven thousand four hundred men cast themselves on the mercy of the consul; about four thousand eight hundred had been slain.
43.8. deinde abiectis armis ad undecim milia hominum et quadringenti in fidem consulis venerunt; caesa ad quattuor milia octingenti octoginta.
43.9. were the operations at Cominium and at Aquilonia. the place between, where a third battle had been looked for, the enemy were not encountered. by their leaders when seven miles from Cominium, they had not been present at either engagement.
43.9. ad Cominium, sic ad Aquiloniam gesta res; in medio inter duas urbes spatio, ubi tertia exspectata erat pugna, hostes non inventi. milia passuum cum abessent a Cominio, revocati ab suis neutri proelio occurrerunt.
43.10. the evening shadows began to fall, when they had already come within sight of the camp and of Aquilonia, they had been halted by the shouts, which were equally loud from both directions.
43.10. ferme tenebris, cum in conspectu iam castra, iam Aquiloniam habuissent, clamor eos utrimque par accidens sustinuit;
43.11. afterwards, from the direction of the camp, which had been fired by the Romans, the flames broke out so extensively, with their warning of an unmistakable disaster, as to keep them from advancing further, and throwing themselves on the ground at random, just where they were, without stopping to remove their arms, they passed the whole weary night in waiting for the dawn, which at the same time they dreaded.
43.11. deinde regione castrorum, quae incensa ab Romanis erant, flamma late fusa certioris cladis indicio progredi longius prohibuit; eo ipso loco temere sub armis strati passim inquietum omne tempus noctis exspectando timendoque lucem egere.
43.13. the day broke, they were hesitating which way to march, when the Roman cavalry, who had pursued the Samnites when they left their town in the night, caught sight of the army, lying there without breastworks or outpost, and instantly routed them.
43.13. luce incerti quam in partem intenderent iter repente in fugam consternantur conspecti ab equitibus, qui egressos nocte ab oppido Samnites persecuti viderant multitudinem non vallo, non stationibus firmatam.
43.14. mass had been seen, too, from the walls of Aquilonia, and presently the legionary cohorts were likewise in pursuit of them. the infantry could not overtake the fugitives, though the cavalry killed some two hundred and eighty of the rear —guard, who in their fright abandoned a quantity of arms and eighteen military standards.
43.14. et ex muris Aquiloniae ea multitudo erat iamque etiam legionariae cohortes sequebantur; ceterum nec pedes fugientes persequi potuit et ab equite novissimi agminis ducenti ferme et octoginta interfecti; arma multa pavidi ac signa militaria duodeviginti reliquere;
43.15. The rest of the column made good its escape, as safely as could be in so great a confusion, to Bovianum. The rejoicing in each of the Roman armies was enhanced by the good fortune the other had enjoyed. consul, with the approval of his fellow, made over the town he had captured to be sacked by the soldiers, and when the houses had been emptied, gave it to the flames. on the same day Aquilonia and Cominium were destroyed by fire, and the consuls, amid the mutual exultations and good wishes of their legions and themselves, united their camps.
43.15. alio agmine incolumi, ut ex tanta trepidatione, Bovianum perventum est. utriusque exercitus Romani auxit et ab altera parte feliciter gesta res. ex alterius sententia consul captum oppidum diripiendum militi dedit, exhaustis deinde tectis ignem iniecit; eodemque die Aquilonia et Cominium deflagravere et consules cum gratulatione mutua legionum suaque castra coniunxere.
44.3. the full sight of both armies Carvilius commended his men as each had merited, and presented them with decorations; and Papirius, who had fought an engagement of many sorts —in line of battle, round the camp, and about the city —awarded armlets and wreaths of gold to Spurius Nautius and to his nephew Spurius Papirius, and to four centurions and a maniple of hastati —to Nautius for the charge by which, as though with a huge force, he had dismayed the enemy; to the young Papirius for his valiant service with the cavalry, both in the battle and in the night when he harassed the flight of the Samnites after their secret departure from
44.3. conspectu duorum exercituum et Carvilius suos pro cuiusque merito laudavit donavitque; et Papirius, apud quem multiplex in acie, circa castra, circa urbem fuerat certamen, Sp. Nautium, Sp. Papirium, fratris filium, et quattuor centuriones manipulumque hastatorum armillis aureisque coronis donavit: propter expeditionem qua magni agminis modo terruerat hostes, iuvenem Papirium propter navatam cum equitatu et in proelio operam et nocte qua fugam infestam Samnitibus ab Aquilonia clam egressis fecit, centuriones militesque quia primi portam murumque Aquiloniae ceperant;
44.5. Aquilonia; to the centurions and soldiers because they had been the first to capture the gate and wall of Aquilonia. the horsemen, in recognition of their distinguished conduct in many places, he decorated with little silver horns and silver armlets.
44.5. equites omnes ob insignem multis locis opera corniculis armillisque argenteis donat.
44.6. council of war was then held, and the question was debated whether the time were now come for withdrawing both armies, or at any rate one of the two, from Samnium. they decided that the greater the damage they had inflicted on the Samnites, the more sharply and pertinaciously ought they to carry out such measures as remained, and to persist until they could hand over to the consuls who succeeded them a Samnium utterly subdued.
44.6. inde habitum iamne tempus esset deducendi de Samnio exercitus aut utriusque aut certe alterius, optimum visum, quo magis fractae res Samnitium essent, eo pertinacius et infestius agere cetera et persequi ut perdomitum Samnium insequentibus consulibus tradi posset.
44.8. there was no longer any hostile army that seemed likely to engage in a pitched battle with them, one form of war alone remained, the storming of cities; by destroying which they would be able to enrich their troops with booty and crush their enemies, who would fight for their altars and their hearths., after dispatching letters to the senate and the Roman People recounting their achievements, the consuls parted company, Papirius marching to attack Saepinum, and Carvilius Velia.
44.8. iam nullus esset hostium exercitus, qui signis conlatis dimicaturus videretur, unum superesse belli genus, urbium oppugnationes, quarum per excidia militem locupletare praeda et hostem pro aris ac focis dimicantem conficere possent. litteris missis ad senatum populumque Romanum de rebus ab se gestis diversi Papirius ad Saepinum, Carvilius ad Veliam oppugnandam legiones ducunt. consulum ingenti laetitia et in curia et in contione auditae, et quadridui supplicatione publicum gaudium privatis studiis celebratum est.
45.2. The consuls' letters were listened to with vast exultation both in Senate —house and in assembly, and the general rejoicing found expression in the eagerness with which a thanksgiving of four days' duration was observed by individual citizens. the Roman People, moreover, it was not only a great but also a very seasonable victory, since it happened that they got news at about the same time that the Etruscans had commenced hostilities again. wondered how they could have withstood Etruria if anything had gone wrong in Samnium; for the Samnite coalition and the diversion of both consuls and all Rome's military strength to Samnium had encouraged these other enemies to revolt while the Roman People had their hands full.
45.2. populo Romano magna solum sed peropportuna etiam ea victoria fuit, quia per idem forte tempus rebellasse Etruscos allatum est. cogitatio animum quonam modo tolerabilis futura Etruria fuisset si quid in Samnio adversi evenisset, quae coniuratione Samnitium erecta, quoniam ambo consules omnisque Romana vis aversa in Samnium esset, occupationem populi Romani pro occasione rebellandi habuisset.
45.4. from the allies, introduced into the senate by Marcus Atilius the praetor, complained that their lands were being burnt and devastated by the neighbouring Etruscans, because they were not willing to forsake the Roman People, and besought the Conscript Fathers to defend them against the violence and injuries of their common foes.
45.4. sociorum, a M. Atilio praetore in senatum introductae, querebantur uri ac vastari agros a finitimis Etruscis quod desciscere a populo Romano nollent, obtestabanturque patres conscriptos ut se a vi atque iniuria communium hostium tutarentur.
45.5. was made to the deputations that the senate would see to it that the allies should not regret their loyalty:
45.5. legatis curae senatui futurum ne socios fidei suae paeniteret: Etruscorum propediem eandem fortunam quam Samnitium fore.
45.6. the Etruscans would shortly meet with the same fortune as the Samnites, Nevertheless, the Etruscan business would have dragged but for intelligence that the Faliscans likewise, who had for many years been friendly, were now united in arms with the Etruscans.
45.6. tamen, quod ad Etruriam attinebat, acta res esset, ni Faliscos quoque, qui per multos annos in amicitia fuerant, allatum foret arma Etruscis iunxisse.
45.7. The proximity of this people sharpened the anxiety of the Fathers, and they decreed that fetials should be dispatched to demand redress. the refusal of this demand, war was declared against the Faliscans, by command of the people, on the authorization of the senate, and the consuls were bidden to cast lots to determine which should cross over with his army from Samnium into Etruria.
45.7. propinquitas populi acuit curam patribus, ut fetiales mittendos ad res repetendas censerent; quibus non redditis ex auctoritate patrum iussu populi bellum Faliscis indictum est iussique consules sortiri uter ex Samnio in Etruriam cum exercitu transiret.
45.9. Carvilius had already taken Velia and Palumbinum and Herculaneum from the Samnites —Velia in a few days' time, and Palumbinum the same day that he approached its walls.
45.9. Carvilius Veliam et Palumbinum et Herculaneum ex Samnitibus ceperat, Veliam intra paucos dies, Palumbinum eodem quo ad muros accessit.
45.10. Herculaneum he even fought a regular engagement, of which the issue was for some time in doubt and his losses heavier than the enemy's; he then pitched his camp and shut the enemy up within his walls, and finally stormed the town and captured it.
45.10. Herculaneum etiam signis conlatis ancipiti proelio et cum maiore sua quam hostium iactura dimicavit; castris deinde positis moenibus hostem inclusit; oppugnatum oppidum captumque.
45.11. these three places ten thousand or so of the enemy were taken or put to death, with the prisoners very slightly outnumbering the slain. the consuls cast lots for their commands, Etruria fell to Carvilius, thus answering the prayers of his soldiers, who could endure no longer the rigorous cold in Samnium.
45.11. his tribus urbibus capta aut caesa ad decem milia hominum, ita ut parvo admodum plures caperentur. provincias consulibus Etruria Carvilio evenit secundum vota militum, qui vim frigoris iam in Samnio non patiebantur.
45.12. Papirius, before Saepinum, had a larger body of the enemy still to reckon with. troops were many times engaged in regular battle, many times when marching, and many times about the city itself, in resisting the sorties of the enemy. was not a siege, but war upon even terms; for the Samnites protected their walls with arms and men full as much as the walls protected them.
45.12. Papirio ad Saepinum maior vis hostium restitit. in acie, saepe in agmine, saepe circa ipsam urbem adversus eruptiones hostium pugnatum. obsidio sed bellum ex aequo erat; non enim muris magis se Samnites quam armis ac viris moenia tutabantur.
45.13. length, fighting hard, he forced the enemy to submit to a regular blockade, and by assault and siege —works captured the place.
45.13. pugnando in obsidionem iustam coegit hostes obsidendoque vi atque operibus urbem expugnavit.
45.14. The exasperation of the Romans made the massacre more bloody when the city fell. thousand four hundred were slain and fewer than three thousand were made prisoners. The booty, which was very great, since the Samnites had gathered their wealth together in a few cities, was handed over to the soldiers.
45.14. ab ira plus caedis editum capta urbe; septem milia quadringenti caesi, capta minus tria milia hominum., quae plurima fuit congestis Samnitium rebus in urbes paucas, militi concessa est. iam omnia oppleverant nec durari extra tecta poterat; itaque consul exercitum de Samnio deduxit.
46.2. The ground was now covered with snow and men could no longer live out of doors. The consul therefore withdrew his army from Samnium. his coming to Rome he was unanimously voted a triumph. he celebrated, while still holding office, in a style which, for the circumstances of those days, was magnificent.
46.2. Romam triumphus omnium consensu est delatus. in magistratu, insigni, ut illorum temporum habitus erat, triumpho.
46.3. -soldiers and horsemen marched or rode past the crowds adorned with their decorations; many civic crowns were seen, and many that had been won at the escalade of a rampart or a city wall. inspected the spoils that he had taken from the Samnites, and compared them for splendour and beauty with those his father had won, which were familiar to them from being often used in the decoration of public places. number of noble captives, famous for their own and their fathers' deeds, were led in the procession. heavy bronze there were carried past two million five hundred and thirty —three thousand pounds. bronze had been collected, it was said, from the sale of captives. silver which had been taken from the cities there were eighteen hundred and thirty pounds.
46.3. equitesque insignes donis transiere ac transvecti sunt; multae civicae coronae vallaresque ac murales conspectae; inspectata spolia Samnitium et decore ac pulchritudine paternis spoliis, quae nota frequenti publicorum ornatu locorum erant, comparabantur; nobiles aliquot captivi, clari suis patrumque factis, ducti.
46.5. the bronze and silver was placed in the Treasury, none of the booty being given to the soldiers. The ill —feeling which this gave rise to in the plebs was increased by the gathering of a war —tax to pay the troops, since, if the consul had forgone the glory of depositing the captured money in the Treasury, the booty would then have afforded the soldiers a donative, as well as providing for their pay.
46.5. gravis travecta viciens centum milia et quingenta triginta tria milia; id aes redactum ex captivis dicebatur; argenti quod captum ex urbibus erat pondo mille octingenta triginta. aes argentumque in aerarium conditum, militibus nihil datum ex praeda est;
46.6. Papirius dedicated the temple of Quirinus. find no ancient authority who states that it was vowed in the hour of conflict, nor indeed could it possibly have been completed in so short a time; his father had vowed it when dictator, and the son as consul dedicated it, adorning it with the spoils of the enemy.
46.6. auctaque ea invidia est ad plebem quod tributum etiam in stipendium militum conlatum est, cum, si spreta gloria fuisset captivae pecuniae in aerarium inlatae, et militi tum donum dari ex praeda et stipendium militare praestari potuisset.
46.7. these there was such a great quantity that not only were the temple and the Forum bedecked with them, but they were distributed also amongst the allies and the neighbouring colonies for the decoration of their temples and public squares.
46.7. Quirini dedicavit—quam in ipsa dimicatione votam apud neminem neminen veterem auctorem invenio neque hercule tam exiguo tempore perficere potuisset—ab dictatore patre votam filius consul dedicavit exornavitque hostium spoliis;
46.8. triumphing, Papirius led his army into the country of the Vescini —a district infested by the Samnites —to pass the winter.
46.8. quorum tanta multitudo fuit ut non templum tantum forumque iis ornaretur sed sociis etiam coloniisque finitimis ad templorum locorumque publicorum ornatum dividerentur.
46.9. Etruria meanwhile the consul Carvilius, having made his preparations to begin with an attack on Troilum, agreed with four hundred and seventy of the wealthiest inhabitants for a large sum of money to let them go; the rest of the population and the town itself he took by assault.
46.9. triumpho exercitum in agrum Vescinum, quia regio ea infesta ab Samnitibus erat, hibernatum duxit.
46.10. then stormed five fortresses situated in positions of great strength. he slew two thousand four hundred of the enemy, making fewer than two thousand prisoners. also granted a year's truce to the Faliscans —who came to him seeking peace —having stipulated for a hundred thousand of heavy bronze and the year's pay for his soldiers.
46.10. haec Carvilius consul in Etruria Troilum primum oppugnare adortus quadringentos septuaginta ditissimos, pecunia grandi pactos ut abire inde liceret, dimisit; ceteram multitudinem oppidumque ipsum vi cepit. quinque castella locis sita munitis expugnavit.
46.12. these exploits he departed to enjoy his triumph, which, though less distinguished than his colleague's had been for success against the Samnites, was a match for it when the Etruscan war was counted in.
46.12. ibi hostium duo milia quadringenti, minus duo milia capta. Faliscis pacem petentibus annuas indutias dedit, pactus centum milia gravis aeris et stipendium eius anni militibus.
46.13. - Of heavy bronze he lodged in the Treasury three hundred and eighty thousand pounds; with what remained he contracted for a temple to Fors Fortuna to be erected from the general's spoils, near the temple of that goddess dedicated by King Servius Tullius, while to the soldiers he apportioned from the rest of the booty one hundred and two asses each, and as much again to the centurions and horsemen.
46.13. rebus actis ad triumphum decessit, ut minus clarum de Samnitibus quam collegae triumphus fuerat ita cumulo Etrusci belli aequatum.
46.14. These allowances were all the more welcome because of the parsimony of his colleague. The consul's popularity served to shield his lieutenant Lucius Postumius from the people. had been indicted by Marcus Scantius, a plebeian tribune, but had escaped trial before the people —so the story ran —through his appointment to the lieutenancy; so that it was easier to threaten him than to carry home the accusation. The year having now run its course, new tribunes of the plebs came in, but owing to a flaw in their election they were themselves supplanted by others, five days later. The lustrum was closed that year by the censors Publius Cornelius Arvina and Gaius Marcius Rutulus; there were enrolled two hundred and sixty —two thousand three hundred and twenty —one. The censors were the twenty —sixth pair from the first censors; the lustrum was the nineteenth.
46.14. gravis tulit in aerarium trecenta octoginta milia; reliquo aere aedem Fortis Fortunae de manubiis faciendam locavit prope aedem eius deae ab rege Ser. dedicatam, et militibus ex praeda centenos binos asses et alterum tantum centurionibus atque equitibus, malignitate collegae gratius accipientibus munus, divisit. consulis tutatus ad populum est L. Postumium legatum eius, qui dicta die a M. Scantio tribuno plebis fugerat legatione, ut fama ferebat, populi iudicium; iactarique magis quam peragi accusatio eius poterat. iam anno novi tribuni plebis magistratum inierant; bisque ipsis, quia vitio creati erant, quinque post dies alii suffecti. conditum eo anno est a P. Cornelio Arvina C. Marcio Rutulo censoribus; censa capitum milia ducenta sexaginta duo trecenta viginti unum. vicesimi sexti a primis censoribus, lustrum undevicesimum fuit.
47.3. year for the first time those who had been presented with crowns because of gallant behaviour in the war wore them at the Roman games, and palms were then for the first time conferred upon the victors, in accordance with a custom borrowed from the Greeks.
47.3. anno coronati primum ob res bello bene gestas ludos Romanos spectarunt palmaeque tum tun primum translato e Graeco more victoribus datae.
47.4. The same year the curule aediles who gave those games procured the conviction of a number of graziers, and with their fines paved the road from the temple of Mars as far as Bovillae.
47.4. anno ab aedilibus curulibus qui eos cos ludos fecerunt damnatis aliquot pecuariis, via a Martis silice ad Bovillas perstrata est. consularia L. Papirius habuit;
47.5. The consular comitia were held by Lucius Papirius, who declared the election of Quintus Fabius Gurges, the son of Maximus, and Decimus Junius Brutus Scaeva.
47.5. creavit consules Q. Fabium Maximi filium Gurgitem et D. Iunium Brutum Scaevam. Papirius praetor factus.
47.6. Papirius himself was chosen praetor. The year had been one of many blessings, which yet were hardly a consolation for one misfortune —a pestilence which ravaged both city and countryside. devastation was now grown portentous, and the Books were consulted to discover what end or what remedy the gods proposed for this misfortune.
47.6. rebus laetus annus vix ad solacium unius mali, pestilentiae urentis simul urbem atque agros, suffecit; portentoque iam similis clades erat, et libri aditi quinam finis aut quod remedium eius mali ab dis daretur.
47.7. was discovered in the Books that Aesculapius must be summoned to Rome from Epidaurus; but nothing could be done about it that year, because the consuls were occupied with the war, except that for one day a supplication to that god was held.
47.7. in libris Aesculapium ab Epidauro Romam arcessendum; neque eo anno, quia bello occupati consules erant, quicquam de ea re actum, praeterquam quod unum diem Aesculapio supplicatio habita est.