23. The second rank, the Hastati, are ordered to have the complete panoply. This to a Roman means, first, a large shield (scutum), the surface of which is curved outwards, its breadth two and a half feet, its length four feet,—though there is also an extra sized shield in which these measures are increased by a palm’s breadth. It consists of two layers of wood fastened together with bull’s-hide glue; the outer surface of which is first covered with canvas, then with calf’s skin, on the upper and lower edges it is bound with iron to resist the downward strokes of the sword, and the wear of resting upon the ground. Upon it also is fixed an iron boss (umbo), to resist the more formidable blows of stones and pikes, and of heavy missiles generally. With the shield they also carry a sword (gladius) hanging down by their right thigh, which is called a Spanish sword. It has an excellent point, and can deal a formidable blow with either edge, because its blade is stout and unbending. In addition to these they have two pila, a brass helmet, and greaves (ocreae). Some of the pila are thick, some fine. Of the thicker, some are round with the diameter of a palm’s length, others are a palm square. The fine pila are like moderate sized hunting spears, and they are carried along with the former sort. The wooden haft of them all is about three cubits long; and the iron head fixed to each half is barbed, and of the same length as the haft. They take extraordinary pains to attach the head to the haft firmly; they make the fastening of the one to the other so secure for use by binding it half way up the wood, and riveting it with a series of clasps, that the iron breaks sooner than this fastening comes loose, although its thickness at the socket and where it is fastened to the wood is a finger and a half’s breadth. Besides these each man is decorated with a plume of feathers, with three purple or black feathers standing upright, about a cubit long. The effect of these being placed on the helmet, combined with the rest of the armour, is to give the man the appearance of being twice his real height, and to give him a noble aspect calculated to strike terror into the enemy. The common soldiers also receive a brass plate, a span square, which they put upon their breast and call a breastpiece (pectorale), and so complete their panoply. Those who are rated above a hundred thousand asses, instead of these breastpieces wear, with the rest of their armour, coats of mail (loricae). The Principes and Triarii are armed in the same way as the Hastati, except that instead of pila they carry long spears (hastae).
23. τοῖς γε μὴν δευτέροις μὲν κατὰ τὴν ἡλικίαν, ἁστάτοις δὲ προσαγορευομένοις, παρήγγειλαν φέρειν πανοπλίαν. ἔστι δʼ ἡ Ῥωμαϊκὴ πανοπλία πρῶτον μὲν θυρεός — οὗ τὸ μὲν πλάτος ἐστὶ τῆς κυρτῆς ἐπιφανείας πένθʼ ἡμιποδίων, τὸ δὲ μῆκος ποδῶν τεττάρων, τὸ δʼ ἐπʼ ἴτυος πάχος ἔτι καὶ παλαιστιαῖον — ἐκ διπλοῦ σανιδώματος ταυροκόλλῃ πεπηγώς, ὀθονίῳ, μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα μοσχείῳ δέρματι περιείληται τὴν ἐκτὸς ἐπιφάνειαν. ἔχει δὲ περὶ τὴν ἴτυν ἐκ τῶν ἄνωθεν καὶ κάτωθεν μερῶν σιδηροῦν σιάλωμα, διʼ οὗ τάς τε καταφορὰς τῶν μαχαιρῶν ἀσφαλίζεται καὶ τὰς πρὸς τὴν γῆν ἐξερείσεις. προσήρμοσται δʼ αὐτῷ καὶ σιδηρᾶ κόγχος, ἣ τὰς ὁλοσχερεῖς ἀποστέγει πληγὰς λίθων καὶ σαρισῶν καὶ καθόλου βιαίων βελῶν. ἅμα δὲ τῷ θυρεῷ μάχαιρα· ταύτην δὲ περὶ τὸν δεξιὸν φέρει μηρόν, καλοῦσι δʼ αὐτὴν Ἰβηρικήν. ἔχει δʼ αὕτη κέντημα διάφορον καὶ καταφορὰν ἐξ ἀμφοῖν τοῖν μεροῖν βίαιον διὰ τὸ τὸν ὀβελίσκον αὐτῆς ἰσχυρὸν καὶ μόνιμον εἶναι. πρὸς δὲ τούτοις ὑσσοὶ δύο καὶ περικεφαλαία χαλκῆ καὶ προκνημίς. τῶν δʼ ὑσσῶν εἰσιν οἱ μὲν παχεῖς, οἱ δὲ λεπτοί. τῶν δὲ στερεωτέρων οἱ μὲν στρογγύλοι παλαιστιαίαν ἔχουσι τὴν διάμετρον, οἱ δὲ τετράγωνοι τὴν πλευράν. οἵ γε μὴν λεπτοὶ σιβυνίοις ἐοίκασι συμμέτροις, οὓς φοροῦσι μετὰ τῶν προειρημένων. ἁπάντων δὲ τούτων τοῦ ξύλου τὸ μῆκός ἐστιν ὡς τρεῖς πήχεις. προσήρμοσται δʼ ἑκάστοις βέλος σιδηροῦν ἀγκιστρωτόν, ἴσον ἔχον τὸ μῆκος τοῖς ξύλοις· οὗ τὴν ἔνδεσιν καὶ τὴν χρείαν οὕτως ἀσφαλίζονται βεβαίως, ἕως μέσων τῶν ξύλων ἐνδιδέντες καὶ πυκναῖς ταῖς λαβίσι καταπερονῶντες, ὥστε πρότερον ἢ τὸν δεσμὸν ἐν ταῖς χρείαις ἀναχαλασθῆναι τὸν σίδηρον θραύεσθαι, καίπερ ὄντα τὸ πάχος ἐν τῷ πυθμένι καὶ τῇ πρὸς τὸ ξύλον συναφῇ τριῶν ἡμιδακτυλίων· ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον καὶ τοιαύτην πρόνοιαν ποιοῦνται τῆς ἐνδέσεως. ἐπὶ δὲ πᾶσι τούτοις προσεπικοσμοῦνται πτερίνῳ στεφάνῳ καὶ πτεροῖς φοινικοῖς ἢ μέλασιν ὀρθοῖς τρισίν, ὡς πηχυαίοις τὸ μέγεθος, ὧν προστεθέντων κατὰ κορυφὴν ἅμα τοῖς ἄλλοις ὅπλοις ὁ μὲν ἀνὴρ φαίνεται διπλάσιος ἑαυτοῦ κατὰ τὸ μέγεθος, ἡ δʼ ὄψις καλὴ καὶ καταπληκτικὴ τοῖς ἐναντίοις. οἱ μὲν οὖν πολλοὶ προσλαβόντες χάλκωμα σπιθαμιαῖον πάντῃ πάντως, ὃ προστίθενται μὲν πρὸ τῶν στέρνων, καλοῦσι δὲ καρδιοφύλακα, τελείαν ἔχουσι τὴν καθόπλισιν· οἱ δʼ ὑπὲρ τὰς μυρίας τιμώμενοι δραχμὰς ἀντὶ τοῦ καρδιοφύλακος σὺν τοῖς ἄλλοις ἁλυσιδωτοὺς περιτίθενται θώρακας. ὁ δʼ αὐτὸς τρόπος τῆς καθοπλίσεώς ἐστι καὶ περὶ τοὺς πρίγκιπας καὶ τριαρίους, πλὴν ἀντὶ τῶν ὑσσῶν οἱ τριάριοι δόρατα φοροῦσιν.
24. The Principes, Hastati, and Triarii, each elect ten centurions according to merit, and then a second ten each. All these sixty have the title of centurion alike, of whom the first man chosen is a member of the council of war. And they in their turn select a rear-rank officer each who is called optio. Next, in conjunction with the centurions, they divide the several orders (omitting the Velites) into ten companies each, and appoint to each company two centurions and two optiones; the Velites are divided equally among all the companies; these companies are called orders (ordines) or maniples (manipuli), or vexilla, and their officers are called centurions or ordinum ductores. Each maniple selects two of their strongest and best born men as standard-bearers (vexillarii). And that each maniple should have two commanding officers is only reasonable; for it being impossible to know what a commander may be doing or what may happen to him, and necessities of war admitting of no parleying, they are anxious that the maniple may never be without a leader and commander. When the two centurions are both on the field, the first elected commands the right of the maniple, the second the left: if both are not there, the one who is commands the whole. And they wish the centurions not to be so much bold and adventurous, as men with a faculty for command, steady, and of a profound rather than a showy spirit; not prone to engage wantonly or be unnecessarily forward in giving battle; but such as in the face of superior numbers and overwhelming pressure will die in defence of their post.
24. ἐξ ἑκάστου δὲ τῶν προειρημένων γενῶν πλὴν τῶν νεωτάτων ἐξέλεξαν ταξιάρχους ἀριστίνδην δέκα. μετὰ δὲ τούτους ἑτέραν ἐκλογὴν ἄλλων δέκα ποιοῦνται. καὶ τούτους μὲν ἅπαντας προσηγόρευσαν ταξιάρχους, ὧν ὁ πρῶτος αἱρεθεὶς καὶ συνεδρίου κοινωνεῖ· προσεκλέγονται δʼ οὗτοι πάλιν αὐτοὶ τοὺς ἴσους οὐραγούς. ἑξῆς δὲ τούτοις μετὰ τῶν ταξιάρχων διεῖλον τὰς ἡλικίας, ἑκάστην εἰς δέκα μέρη, πλὴν τῶν γροσφομάχων· καὶ προσένειμαν ἑκάστῳ μέρει τῶν ἐκλεχθέντων ἀνδρῶν δύʼ ἡγεμόνας καὶ δύʼ οὐραγούς. τῶν δὲ γροσφομάχων τοὺς ἐπιβάλλοντας κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος ἴσους ἐπὶ πάντα τὰ μέρη διένειμαν. καὶ τὸ μὲν μέρος ἕκαστον ἐκάλεσαν καὶ τάγμα καὶ σπεῖραν καὶ σημαίαν, τοὺς δʼ ἡγεμόνας κεντυρίωνας καὶ ταξιάρχους. οὗτοι δὲ καθʼ ἑκάστην σπεῖραν ἐκ τῶν καταλειπομένων ἐξέλεξαν αὐτοὶ δύο τοὺς ἀκμαιοτάτους καὶ γενναιοτάτους ἄνδρας σημαιαφόρους. δύο δὲ καθʼ ἕκαστον τάγμα ποιοῦσιν ἡγεμόνας εἰκότως· ἀδήλου γὰρ ὄντος καὶ τοῦ ποιῆσαι καὶ τοῦ παθεῖν τι τὸν ἡγεμόνα, τῆς πολεμικῆς χρείας οὐκ ἐπιδεχομένης πρόφασιν, οὐδέποτε βούλονται τὴν σπεῖραν χωρὶς ἡγεμόνος εἶναι καὶ προστάτου. παρόντων μὲν οὖν ἀμφοτέρων ὁ μὲν πρῶτος αἱρεθεὶς ἡγεῖται τοῦ δεξιοῦ μέρους τῆς σπείρας, ὁ δὲ δεύτερος τῶν εὐωνύμων ἀνδρῶν τῆς σημαίας ἔχει τὴν ἡγεμονίαν· μὴ παρόντων δʼ ὁ καταλειπόμενος ἡγεῖται πάντων. βούλονται δʼ εἶναι τοὺς ταξιάρχους οὐχ οὕτως θρασεῖς καὶ φιλοκινδύνους ὡς ἡγεμονικοὺς καὶ στασίμους καὶ βαθεῖς μᾶλλον ταῖς ψυχαῖς, οὐδʼ ἐξ ἀκεραίου προσπίπτειν ἢ κατάρχεσθαι τῆς μάχης, ἐπικρατουμένους δὲ καὶ πιεζομένους ὑπομένειν καὶ ἀποθνήσκειν ὑπὲρ τῆς χώρας.
25. Similarly they divide the cavalry into ten squadrons (turmae), and from each they select three officers (decuriones), who each select a subaltern (optio). The decurio first elected commands the squadron, the other two have the rank of decuriones: a name indeed which applies to all alike. If the first decurio is not on the field, the second takes command of the squadron. The armour of the cavalry is very like that in Greece. In old times they did not wear the lorica, but fought in their tunics (campestria); the result of which was that they were prompt and nimble at dismounting and mounting again with despatch, but were in great danger at close quarters from the unprotected state of their bodies. And their lances too were useless in two ways: first because they were thin, and prevented their taking a good aim; and before they could get the head fixed in the enemy, the lances were so shaken by the mere motion of the horse that they generally broke. Secondly, because, having no spike at the butt end of their lance, they only had one stroke, namely that with the spear-head; and if the lance broke, what was left in their hands was entirely useless. Again they used to have shields of bull’s hide, just like those round cakes, with a knob in the middle which are used at sacrifices, which were useless at close quarters because they were flexible rather than firm; and, when their leather shrunk and rotted from the rain, unserviceable as they were before, they then became entirely so. Wherefore, as experience showed them the uselessness of these, they lost no time in changing to the Greek fashion of arms: the advantages of which were, first, that men were able to deliver the first stroke of their lance-head with a good aim and effect, because the shaft from the nature of its construction was steady and not quivering; and, secondly, that they were able, by reversing the lance, to use the spike at the buttend for a steady and effective blow. And the same may be said about the Greek shields: for, whether used to ward off a blow or to thrust against the enemy, they neither give nor bend. When the Romans learnt these facts about the Greek arms they were not long in copying them; for no nation has ever surpassed them in readiness to adopt new fashions from other people, and to imitate what they see is better in others than themselves.
25. παραπλησίως δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἱππεῖς εἰς ἴλας δέκα διεῖλον, ἐξ ἑκάστης δὲ τρεῖς προκρίνουσιν ἰλάρχας, οὗτοι δʼ αὐτοὶ τρεῖς προσέλαβον οὐραγούς. ὁ μὲν οὖν πρῶτος αἱρεθεὶς ἰλάρχης ἡγεῖται τῆς ἴλης, οἱ δὲ δύο δεκαδάρχων ἔχουσι τάξιν, καλοῦνται δὲ πάντες δεκουρίωνες. μὴ παρόντος δὲ τοῦ πρώτου πάλιν ὁ δεύτερος ἰλάρχου λαμβάνει τάξιν. ὁ δὲ καθοπλισμὸς τῶν ἱππέων νῦν μέν ἐστι παραπλήσιος τῷ τῶν Ἑλλήνων· τὸ δὲ παλαιὸν πρῶτον θώρακας οὐκ εἶχον, ἀλλʼ ἐν περιζώμασιν ἐκινδύνευον, ἐξ οὗ πρὸς μὲν τὸ καταβαίνειν καὶ ταχέως ἀναπηδᾶν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἵππους ἑτοίμως διέκειντο καὶ πρακτικῶς, πρὸς δὲ τὰς συμπλοκὰς ἐπισφαλῶς εἶχον διὰ τὸ γυμνοὶ κινδυνεύειν. τὰ δὲ δόρατα κατὰ δύο τρόπους ἄπρακτʼ ἦν αὐτοῖς, καθʼ ἃ μὲν ᾗ λεπτὰ καὶ κλαδαρὰ ποιοῦντες οὔτε τοῦ προτεθέντος ἠδύναντο σκοποῦ στοχάζεσθαι, πρὸ τοῦ τε τὴν ἐπιδορατίδα πρός τι προσερεῖσαι, κραδαινόμενα διʼ αὐτῆς τῆς τῶν ἵππων κινήσεως τὰ πλεῖστα συνετρίβετο· πρὸς δὲ τούτοις ἄνευ σαυρωτήρων κατασκευάζοντες μιᾷ τῇ πρώτῃ διὰ τῆς ἐπιδορατίδος ἐχρῶντο πληγῇ, μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα κλασθέντων λοιπὸν ἦν ἄπρακτʼ αὐτοῖς καὶ μάταια. τόν γε μὴν θυρεὸν εἶχον ἐκ βοείου δέρματος, τοῖς ὀμφαλωτοῖς ποπάνοις παραπλήσιον τοῖς ἐπὶ τὰς θυσίας ἐπιτιθεμένοις· οἷς οὔτε πρὸς τὰς ἐπιβολὰς ἦν χρῆσθαι διὰ τὸ μὴ στάσιν ἔχειν, ὑπό τε τῶν ὄμβρων ἀποδερματούμενοι καὶ μυδῶντες δύσχρηστοι καὶ πρότερον ἦσαν καὶ νῦν ἔτι γίνονται παντελῶς. διόπερ ἀδοκίμου τῆς χρείας οὔσης, ταχέως μετέλαβον τὴν Ἑλληνικὴν κατασκευὴν τῶν ὅπλων, ἐν ᾗ τῶν μὲν δοράτων τὴν πρώτην εὐθέως τῆς ἐπιδορατίδος πληγὴν εὔστοχον ἅμα καὶ πρακτικὴν γίνεσθαι συμβαίνει, διὰ τὴν κατασκευὴν ἀτρεμοῦς καὶ στασίμου τοῦ δόρατος ὑπάρχοντος, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ τὴν ἐκ μεταλήψεως τοῦ σαυρωτῆρος χρείαν μόνιμον καὶ βίαιον. ὁ δʼ αὐτὸς λόγος καὶ περὶ τῶν θυρεῶν· καὶ γὰρ πρὸς τὰς ἐπιβολὰς καὶ πρὸς τὰς ἐπιθέσεις ἑστηκυῖαν καὶ τεταγμένην ἔχουσι τὴν χρείαν. ἃ συνιδόντες ἐμιμήσαντο ταχέως· ἀγαθοὶ γάρ, εἰ καί τινες ἕτεροι, μεταλαβεῖν ἔθη καὶ ζηλῶσαι τὸ βέλτιον καὶ Ῥωμαῖοι.
26. Having made this distribution of their men and given orders for their being armed, as I have described, the military tribunes dismiss them to their homes. But when the day has arrived on which they were all bound by their oath to appear at the place named by the Consuls (for each Consul generally appoints a separate place for his own legions, each having assigned to him two legions and a moiety of the allies), all whose names were placed on the roll appear without fail: no excuse being accepted in the case of those who have taken the oath, except a prohibitory omen or absolute impossibility. The allies muster along with the citizens, and are distributed and managed by the officers appointed by the Consuls, who have the title of Praefecti sociis and are twelve in number. These officers select for the Consuls from the whole infantry and cavalry of the allies such as are most fitted for actual service, and these are called extraordinarii (which in Greek is ἐπίλεκτοι). The whole number of the infantry of the socii generally equals that of the legions, but the cavalry is treble that of the citizens. Of these they select a third of the cavalry, and a fifth of the infantry to serve as extraordinarii. The rest they divide into two parts, one of which is called the right, the other the left wing (alae). These arrangements made, the military tribunes take over the citizens and allies and proceed to form a camp. Now the principle on which they construct their camps, no matter when or where, is the same; I think therefore that it will be in place here to try and make my readers understand, as far as words can do so, the Roman tactics in regard to the march (agmen), the camp (castrorum metatio), and the line of battle (acies). I cannot imagine any one so indifferent to things noble and, great, as to refuse to take some little extra trouble to understand things like these; for if he has once heard them, he will be acquainted with one of those things genuinely worth observation and knowledge.
26. τοιαύτην δὲ ποιησάμενοι τὴν διαίρεσιν οἱ χιλίαρχοι, καὶ ταῦτα παραγγείλαντες περὶ τῶν ὅπλων, τότε μὲν ἀπέλυσαν τοὺς ἄνδρας εἰς τὴν οἰκείαν· παραγενομένης δὲ τῆς ἡμέρας, εἰς ἣν ὤμοσαν ἁθροισθῆναι πάντες ὁμοίως εἰς τὸν ἀποδειχθέντα τόπον ὑπὸ τῶν ὑπάτων — τάττει δʼ ὡς ἐπίπαν ἑκάτερος χωρὶς τὸν τόπον τοῖς αὑτοῦ στρατοπέδοις· ἑκατέρῳ γὰρ δίδοται τὸ μέρος τῶν συμμάχων καὶ δύο τῶν Ῥωμαϊκῶν στρατοπέδων — παραγίνονται δὲ πάντες ἀδιαπτώτως οἱ καταγραφέντες, ὡς ἂν μηδεμιᾶς ἄλλης συγχωρουμένης προφάσεως τοῖς ἐξορκισθεῖσι πλὴν ὀρνιθείας καὶ τῶν ἀδυνάτων. ἁθροισθέντων δὲ καὶ τῶν συμμάχων ὁμοῦ τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις, τὴν μὲν οἰκονομίαν καὶ τὸν χειρισμὸν ποιοῦνται τούτων αὐτῶν οἱ καθεσταμένοι μὲν ὑπὸ τῶν ὑπάτων ἄρχοντες, προσαγορευόμενοι δὲ πραίφεκτοι, δώδεκα τὸν ἀριθμὸν ὄντες. οἳ πρῶτον μὲν τοῖς ὑπάτοις τοὺς ἐπιτηδειοτάτους πρὸς τὴν ἀληθινὴν χρείαν ἐκ πάντων τῶν παραγεγονότων συμμάχων ἱππεῖς καὶ πεζοὺς ἐκλέγουσι, τοὺς καλουμένους ἐκτραορδιναρίους, ὃ μεθερμηνευόμενον ἐπιλέκτους δηλοῖ. τὸ δὲ πλῆθος γίνεται τὸ πᾶν τῶν συμμάχων, τὸ μὲν τῶν πεζῶν πάρισον τοῖς Ῥωμαϊκοῖς στρατοπέδοις ὡς τὸ πολύ, τὸ δὲ τῶν ἱππέων τριπλάσιον· ἐκ δὲ τούτων λαμβάνουσι τῶν μὲν ἱππέων εἰς τοὺς ἐπιλέκτους ἐπιεικῶς τὸ τρίτον μέρος, τῶν δὲ πεζῶν τὸ πέμπτον. τοὺς δὲ λοιποὺς διεῖλον εἰς δύο μέρη, καὶ καλοῦσι τὸ μὲν δεξιόν, τὸ δʼ εὐώνυμον κέρας. τούτων δʼ εὐτρεπῶν γενομένων παραλαβόντες οἱ χιλίαρχοι τοὺς Ῥωμαίους ὁμοῦ καὶ τοὺς συμμάχους κατεστρατοπέδευσαν, ἑνὸς ὑπάρχοντος παρʼ αὐτοῖς θεωρήματος ἁπλοῦ περὶ τὰς παρεμβολάς, ᾧ χρῶνται πρὸς πάντα καιρὸν καὶ τόπον. διὸ καὶ δοκεῖ μοι πρέπειν τῷ καιρῷ τὸ πειραθῆναι, καθʼ ὅσον οἷόν τε τῷ λόγῳ, τοὺς ἀκούοντας εἰς ἔννοιαν ἀγαγεῖν τοῦ κατὰ τὰς πορείας καὶ στρατοπεδείας καὶ παρατάξεις χειρισμοῦ τῶν δυνάμεων. τίς γὰρ οὕτως ἐστὶν ἀπεοικὼς πρὸς τὰ καλὰ καὶ σπουδαῖα τῶν ἔργων, ὃς οὐκ ἂν βουληθείη μικρὸν ἐπιμελέστερον ἐπιστῆσαι περὶ τῶν τοιούτων, ὑπὲρ ὧν ἅπαξ ἀκούσας ἐπιστήμων ἔσται πράγματος ἑνὸς τῶν ἀξίων λόγου καὶ γνώσεως;
27. Their method of laying out a camp is as follows. The place for the camp having been selected, the spot in it best calculated to give a view of the whole, and most convenient for issuing orders, is appropriated for the general’s tent (Praetorium). Having placed a standard on the spot on which they intend to put the Praetorium, they measure off a square round this standard; in such a way that each of its sides is a hundred feet from the standard, and the area of the square is four plethra. Along one side of this square—whichever aspect appears most convenient for watering and foraging—the legions are stationed as follows. I have said that there were six Tribuni in each legion, and that each Consul had two legions,—it follows that there are twelve Tribuni in a Consular army. Well, they pitch the tents of these Tribuni all in one straight line, parallel to the side of the square selected, at a distance of fifty feet from it (there is a place too selected for the horses, beasts of burden, and other baggage of the Tribuni); these tents face the outer side of the camp and away from the square described above,—a direction which will henceforth be called “the front” by me. The tents of the Tribuni stand at equal distances from each other, so that they extend along the whole breadth of the space occupied by the legions.
27. ἔστι δὴ τὸ γένος αὐτῶν τῆς στρατοπεδείας τοιόνδε. τοῦ κριθέντος αἰεὶ τόπου πρὸς στρατοπεδείαν, τούτου τὸν ἐπιτηδειότατον εἰς σύνοψιν ἅμα καὶ παραγγελίαν ἡ τοῦ στρατηγοῦ σκηνὴ καταλαμβάνει. τεθείσης δὲ τῆς σημαίας, οὗ μέλλουσι πηγνύναι ταύτην, ἀπομετρεῖται πέριξ τῆς σημαίας τετράγωνος τόπος, ὥστε πάσας τὰς πλευρὰς ἑκατὸν ἀπέχειν πόδας τῆς σημαίας, τὸ δʼ ἐμβαδὸν γίνεσθαι τετράπλεθρον. τούτου δὲ τοῦ σχήματος αἰεὶ παρὰ μίαν ἐπιφάνειαν καὶ πλευράν, ἥτις ἂν ἐπιτηδειοτάτη φανῇ πρός τε τὰς ὑδρείας καὶ προνομάς, παραβάλλεται τὰ Ῥωμαϊκὰ στρατόπεδα τὸν τρόπον τοῦτον. ἓξ ὑπαρχόντων χιλιάρχων ἐν ἑκάστῳ στρατοπέδῳ κατὰ τὸν ἄρτι λόγον, δυεῖν δὲ στρατοπέδων ὄντων τῶν Ῥωμαϊκῶν ἀεὶ μεθʼ ἑκατέρου τῶν ὑπάτων, φανερὸν ὅτι δώδεκα χιλιάρχους ἀνάγκη συστρατεύειν ἑκατέρῳ τῶν ὑπάτων. τιθέασι δὴ τὰς τούτων σκηνὰς ἐπὶ μίαν εὐθεῖαν ἁπάσας, ἥτις ἐστὶ παράλληλος τῇ τοῦ τετραγώνου προκριθείσῃ πλευρᾷ, πεντήκοντα δʼ ἀπέχει πόδας ἀπʼ αὐτῆς, ἵνʼ ᾗ τοῖς ἵπποις, ἅμα δʼ ὑποζυγίοις καὶ τῇ λοιπῇ τῶν χιλιάρχων ἀποσκευῇ τόπος. αἱ δὲ σκηναὶ τοῦ προειρημένου σχήματος εἰς τοὔμπαλιν ἀπεστραμμέναι πήγνυνται πρὸς τὴν ἐκτὸς ἐπιφάνειαν, ἣ νοείσθω καὶ καλείσθω δὲ καθάπαξ ἡμῖν ἀεὶ τοῦ παντὸς σχήματος κατὰ πρόσωπον. ἀφεστᾶσι δʼ ἀλλήλων μὲν ἴσον αἱ τῶν χιλιάρχων σκηναί, τοσοῦτον δὲ τόπον ὥστε παρʼ ὅλον τὸ πλάτος ἀεὶ τῶν Ῥωμαϊκῶν στρατοπέδων παρήκειν.
28. From the line described by the front of these tents they measure another distance of a hundred feet towards the front. At that distance another parallel straight line is drawn, and it is from this last that they begin arranging the quarters of the legions, which they do as follows:—they bisect the last mentioned straight line, and from that point draw another straight line at right angles to it; along this line, on either side of it facing each other, the cavalry of the two legions are quartered with a space of fifty feet between them, which space is exactly bisected by the line last mentioned. The manner of encamping the infantry is similar to that of the cavalry. The whole area of each space occupied by the maniples and squadrons is a square, and faces the via; the length facing the via is one hundred feet, and they generally try to make the depth the same, except in the case of the socii; and when they are employing legions of an extra number, they increase the length and depth of these squares proportionally.
28. Ἀπομετρηθέντων δὲ πάλιν ἑκατὸν ποδῶν εἰς τὸ πρόσθεν κατὰ πάσας τὰς σκηνάς, λοιπὸν ἀπὸ τῆς τοῦτο τὸ πλάτος ὁριζούσης εὐθείας, ἥτις γίνεται παράλληλος ταῖς τῶν χιλιάρχων σκηναῖς, ἀπὸ ταύτης ἄρχονται ποιεῖσθαι τὰς τῶν στρατοπέδων παρεμβολάς, χειρίζοντες τὸν τρόπον τοῦτον. διχοτομήσαντες τὴν προειρημένην εὐθεῖαν, ἀπὸ τούτου τοῦ σημείου πρὸς ὀρθὰς τῇ γραμμῇ τοὺς ἱππεῖς ἀντίους αὑτοῖς ἑκατέρου τοῦ στρατοπέδου παρεμβάλλουσι, πεντήκοντα διέχοντας πόδας ἀλλήλων, μέσην ποιοῦντες τὴν τομὴν τοῦ διαστήματος. ἔστι δʼ ἥ τε τῶν ἱππέων καὶ τῶν πεζῶν σκηνοποιία παραπλήσιος· γίνεται γὰρ τὸ ὅλον σχῆμα καὶ τῆς σημαίας καὶ τῶν οὐλαμῶν τετράγωνον. τοῦτο δὲ βλέπει μὲν εἰς τὰς διόδους, ἔχει δὲ τὸ μὲν μῆκος ὡρισμένον τὸ παρὰ τὴν δίοδον — ἔστι γὰρ ἑκατὸν ποδῶν — ὡς δʼ ἐπὶ τὸ πολὺ καὶ τὸ βάθος ἴσον πειρῶνται ποιεῖν πλὴν τῶν συμμάχων. ὅταν δὲ τοῖς μείζοσι στρατοπέδοις χρῶνται, τὸ κατὰ λόγον καὶ τῷ μήκει καὶ τῷ βάθει προστιθέασι.
29. The spaces assigned to the cavalry are opposite the space between the two groups of tents belonging to the Tribuni of the two legions, at right angles to the line along which they stand, like a cross-road; and indeed the whole arrangement of the viae is like a system of cross-roads, running on either side of the blocks of tents, those of the cavalry on one side and those of the infantry on the other. The spaces assigned to the cavalry and the Triarii in each legion are back to back, with no via between them, but touching each other, looking opposite ways; and the depth of the spaces assigned to the Triarii is only half that assigned to other maniples, because their numbers are generally only half; but though the number of the men is different, the length of the space is always the same owing to the lesser depth. Next, parallel with these spaces, at a distance of fifty feet, they place the Principes facing the Triarii; and as they face the space between themselves and the Triarii, we have two more roads formed at right angles to the hundred-foot area in front of the tents of the Tribunes, and running down from it to the outer agger of the camp on the side opposite to that of the Principia, which we agreed to call the front of the camp. Behind the spaces for the Triarii and looking in the opposite direction, and touching each other, are the spaces for the Hastati. These several branches of the service (Triarii, Principes, Hastati), being each divided into ten maniples, the cross-roads between the blocks are all the same length and terminate in the front agger of the camp; towards which they cause the last maniples in the rows to face.
29. γενομένης δὲ τῆς τῶν ἱππέων παρεμβολῆς κατὰ μέσας τὰς τῶν χιλιάρχων σκηνὰς οἷον εἰ ῥύμης τινὸς ἐπικαρσίου πρὸς τὴν ἄρτι ῥηθεῖσαν εὐθεῖαν καὶ τὸν πρὸ τῶν χιλιάρχων τόπον — τῷ γὰρ ὄντι ῥύμαις παραπλήσιον ἀποτελεῖται τὸ τῶν διόδων σχῆμα πασῶν, ὡς ἂν ἐξ ἑκατέρου τοῦ μέρους αἷς μὲν ταγμάτων, αἷς δʼ οὐλαμῶν ἐπὶ τὸ μῆκος παρεμβεβληκότων — πλὴν τοῖς προειρημένοις ἱππεῦσι κατόπιν τοὺς ἐξ ἀμφοτέρων τῶν στρατοπέδων τριαρίους, κατʼ οὐλαμὸν ἑκάστην σημαίαν, ἐν ὁμοίῳ σχήματι τιθέασι, συμψαυόντων μὲν τῶν σχημάτων ἀλλήλοις, βλεπόντων δʼ ἔμπαλιν πρὸς τὰς ἐναντίας τοῖς ἱππεῦσιν ἐπιφανείας, ἥμισυ ποιοῦντες τὸ βάθος τοῦ μήκους ἑκάστης σημαίας τῷ καὶ κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος ἡμίσεις ὡς ἐπίπαν εἶναι τούτους τῶν ἄλλων μερῶν. διότιπερ ἀνίσων ὄντων πολλάκις τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἰσάζειν ἀεὶ συμβαίνει πάντα τὰ μέρη κατὰ τὸ μῆκος διὰ τὴν τοῦ βάθους διαφοράν. αὖθις δὲ πεντήκοντα πόδας ἀφʼ ἑκατέρων τούτων ἀποστήσαντες, ἀντίους παρεμβάλλουσι τοῖς τριαρίοις τοὺς πρίγκιπας. νευόντων δὲ καὶ τούτων εἰς τὰ προειρημένα διαστήματα δύʼ αὗται πάλιν ἀποτελοῦνται ῥῦμαι, τὰς μὲν ἀρχὰς ἀπὸ τῆς αὐτῆς εὐθείας λαμβάνουσαι καὶ τὰς εἰσβολάς, ὁμοίως τοῖς ἱππεῦσιν, ἐκ τοῦ πρὸ τῶν χιλιάρχων ἑκατομπέδου διαστήματος, λήγουσαι δὲ πρὸς τὴν καταντικρὺ τῶν χιλιάρχων πλευρὰν τοῦ χάρακος, ἣν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ὑπεθέμεθα κατὰ πρόσωπον εἶναι τοῦ παντὸς σχήματος. μετὰ δὲ τοὺς πρίγκιπας, ὄπισθεν τούτων ὁμοίως ἔμπαλιν βλέποντα, συμψαύοντα δὲ τὰ σχήματα τιθέντες, τοὺς ἁστάτους παρεμβάλλουσι. δέκα δὲ σημαίας ἐχόντων ἁπάντων τῶν μερῶν κατὰ τὴν ἐξ ἀρχῆς διαίρεσιν, πάσας ἴσας συμβαίνει γίνεσθαι τὰς ῥύμας καὶ κατὰ τὸ μῆκος καὶ τὰς ἀποτομὰς ἰσάζειν αὐτῶν τὰς πρὸς τῇ κατὰ τὸ πρόσωπον πλευρᾷ τοῦ χάρακος· πρὸς ἣν καὶ τὰς τελευταίας σημαίας ἐπιστρέφοντες στρατοπεδεύουσιν.
30. Beyond the Hastati they again leave a space of fifty feet, and there, beginning from the same base (the Principia), and going in a parallel direction, and to the same distance as the other blocks, they place the cavalry of the allies facing the Hastati. Now the number of the allies, as I have stated above, is equal to that of the legions in regard to the infantry, though it falls below that if we omit the extraordinarii; but that of the cavalry is double, when the third part is deducted for service among the extraordinarii. Therefore in marking out the camp the spaces assigned to the latter are made proportionally deeper, so that their length remains the same as those occupied by the legions. Thus five viae are formed: and back to back with these cavalry are the spaces for the infantry of the allies, the depth being proportionally increased according to their numbers; and these maniples face the outer sides of the camp and the agger. In each maniple the first tent at either end is occupied by the centurions. Between the fifth and sixth squadrons of cavalry, and the fifth and sixth maniple of infantry, there is a space of fifty left, so that another road is made across the camp at right angles to the others and parallel to the tents of the Tribuni, and this they call the Via Quintana, as it runs along the fifth squadrons and maniples.
30. ἀπὸ τῶν ἁστάτων πεντήκοντα πάλιν διαλείποντες πόδας τοὺς τῶν συμμάχων ἱππεῖς ἀντίους παρεμβάλλουσι τούτοις, ποιούμενοι τὴν ἀρχὴν ἀπὸ τῆς αὐτῆς εὐθείας καὶ λήγοντες ἐπὶ τὴν αὐτήν. ἔστι δὲ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν συμμάχων, ὡς ἐπάνω προεῖπα, τὸ μὲν τῶν πεζῶν πάρισον τοῖς Ῥωμαϊκοῖς στρατοπέδοις, λεῖπον τοῖς ἐπιλέκτοις, τὸ δὲ τῶν ἱππέων διπλάσιον, ἀφῃρημένου καὶ τούτων τοῦ τρίτου μέρους εἰς τοὺς ἐπιλέκτους. διὸ καὶ τὸ βάθος αὔξοντες τούτοις πρὸς λόγον ἐν τοῖς στρατοπεδευτικοῖς σχήμασι, πειρῶνται κατὰ τὸ μῆκος ἐξισοῦν τοῖς τῶν Ῥωμαίων στρατοπέδοις. ἀποτελεσθεισῶν δὲ τῶν ἁπασῶν πέντε διόδων, αὖθις εἰς τοὔμπαλιν ἀπεστραμμένας ὁμοίως τοῖς ἱππεῦσι τιθέασι τὰς τῶν συμμαχικῶν πεζῶν σημαίας, αὔξοντες τὸ βάθος πρὸς λόγον, βλεπούσας δὲ πρὸς τὸν χάρακα καὶ πρὸς τὰς ἐκ τῶν πλαγίων ἐπιφανείας ἑκατέρας. καθʼ ἑκάστην δὲ σημαίαν τὰς πρώτας ἀφʼ ἑκατέρου τοῦ μέρους σκηνὰς οἱ ταξίαρχοι λαμβάνουσιν. ἅμα δὲ τὸν προειρημένον τρόπον παρεμβάλλοντες καθʼ ἕκαστον μέρος τὸν ἕκτον οὐλαμὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ πέμπτου πεντήκοντα πόδας ἀφιστᾶσι, παραπλησίως δὲ καὶ τὰς τῶν πεζῶν τάξεις, ὥστε γίνεσθαι καὶ ταύτην ἄλλην διὰ μέσων τῶν στρατοπέδων δίοδον, ἐπικάρσιον μὲν πρὸς τὰς ῥύμας, παράλληλον δὲ ταῖς τῶν χιλιάρχων σκηναῖς, ἣν καλοῦσι πέμπτην διὰ τὸ παρὰ τὰ πέμπτα τάγματα παρήκειν.
31. The space behind the tents of the Tribuni is thus used. On one side of the square of the Praetorium is the market, on the other the office of the Quaestor and the supplies which he has charge of. Then behind the last tent of the Tribuni on either side, arranged at right angles to those tents, are the quarters of the cavalry picked out of the extraordinarii, as well as of some of those who are serving as volunteers from personal friendship to the Consuls. All these are arranged parallel to the side aggers, facing on the one side the Quaestorium, on the other the market-place. And, generally speaking, it falls to the lot of these men not only to be near the Consul in the camp, but to be wholly employed about the persons of the Consul and the Quaestor on the march and all other occasions. Back to back with these again, facing the agger, are placed the infantry who serve in the same way as these cavalry. Beyond these there is another empty space or road left, one hundred feet broad, parallel to the tents of the Tribuni, skirting the market-place, Praetorium, and Quaestorium, from agger to agger. On the further side of this road the rest of the equites extraordinarii are placed facing the market-place and Quaestorium: and between the quarters of these cavalry of the two legions a passage is left of fifty feet, exactly opposite and at right angles to the square of the Praetorium, leading to the rearward agger. Back to back with the equites extraordinarii are the infantry of the same, facing the agger at the rear of the whole camp. And the space left empty on either side of these, facing the agger on each side of the camp, is given up to foreigners and such allies as chance to come to the camp. The result of these arrangements is that the whole camp is a square, with streets and other constructions regularly planned like a town. Between the line of the tents and the agger there is an empty space of two hundred feet on every side of the square, which is turned to a great variety of uses. To begin with, it is exceedingly convenient for the marching in and out of the legions. For each division descends into this space by the via which passes its own quarters, and so avoids crowding and hustling each other, as they would if they were all collected on one road. Again, all cattle brought into the camp, as well as booty of all sorts taken from the enemy, are deposited in this space and securely guarded during the night-watches. But the most important use of this space is that, in night assaults, it secures the tents from the danger of being set on fire, and keeps the soldiers out of the range of the enemy’s missiles; or, if a few of them do carry so far, they are spent and cannot penetrate the tents.
31. ὁ δʼ ὑπὸ τὰς τῶν χιλιάρχων σκηνὰς ὄπισθεν τόπος ὑποπεπτωκώς, ἐξ ἑκατέρου δὲ τοῦ μέρους τῆς τοῦ στρατηγίου περιστάσεως παρακείμενος, ὁ μὲν εἰς ἀγορὰν γίνεται τόπος, ὁ δʼ ἕτερος τῷ τε ταμιείῳ καὶ ταῖς ἅμα τούτῳ χορηγίαις. ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς ἐφʼ ἑκάτερα τελευταίας τῶν χιλιάρχων σκηνῆς κατόπιν οἷον ἐπικάμπιον ἔχοντες τάξιν πρὸς τὰς σκηνάς, οἱ τῶν ἐπιλέκτων ἱππέων ἀπόλεκτοι καί τινες τῶν ἐθελοντὴν στρατευομένων τῇ τῶν ὑπάτων χάριτι, πάντες οὗτοι στρατοπεδεύουσι παρὰ τὰς ἐκ τῶν πλαγίων τοῦ χάρακος ἐπιφανείας, βλέποντες οἱ μὲν ἐπὶ τὰς τοῦ ταμιείου παρασκευάς, οἱ δʼ ἐκ θατέρου μέρους εἰς τὴν ἀγοράν. ὡς δʼ ἐπὶ τὸ πολὺ συμβαίνει τούτοις μὴ μόνον στρατοπεδεύειν σύνεγγυς τῶν ὑπάτων, ἀλλὰ καὶ κατὰ τὰς πορείας καὶ κατὰ τὰς ἄλλας χρείας περὶ τὸν ὕπατον καὶ τὸν ταμίαν ποιεῖσθαι τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν καὶ τὴν ὅλην διατριβήν. ἀντίκεινται δὲ τούτοις ἐπὶ τὸν χάρακα βλέποντες οἱ τὴν παραπλήσιον χρείαν παρεχόμενοι πεζοὶ τοῖς προειρημένοις ἱππεῦσιν. ἑξῆς δὲ τούτοις δίοδος ἀπολείπεται πλάτος ποδῶν ἑκατόν, παράλληλος μὲν ταῖς τῶν χιλιάρχων σκηναῖς, ἐπὶ θάτερα δὲ τῆς ἀγορᾶς καὶ στρατηγίου καὶ ταμιείου παρατείνουσα παρὰ πάντα τὰ προειρημένα μέρη τοῦ χάρακος. παρὰ δὲ τὴν ἀνωτέρω πλευρὰν ταύτης οἱ τῶν συμμάχων ἱππεῖς ἐπίλεκτοι στρατοπεδεύουσι, βλέποντες ἐπί τε τὴν ἀγορὰν ἅμα καὶ τὸ στρατήγιον καὶ τὸ ταμιεῖον. κατὰ μέσην δὲ τὴν τούτων τῶν ἱππέων παρεμβολὴν καὶ κατʼ αὐτὴν τὴν τοῦ στρατηγίου περίστασιν δίοδος ἀπολείπεται πεντήκοντα ποδῶν, φέρουσα μὲν ἐπὶ τὴν ὄπισθε πλευρὰν τῆς στρατοπεδείας, τῇ δὲ τάξει πρὸς ὀρθὰς κειμένη τῇ προειρημένῃ πλατείᾳ. τοῖς δʼ ἱππεῦσι τούτοις ἀντίτυποι τίθενται πάλιν οἱ τῶν συμμάχων ἐπίλεκτοι πεζοί, βλέποντες πρὸς τὸν χάρακα καὶ τὴν ὄπισθεν ἐπιφάνειαν τῆς ὅλης στρατοπεδείας. τὸ δʼ ἀπολειπόμενον ἐξ ἑκατέρου τοῦ μέρους τούτων κένωμα παρὰ τὰς ἐκ τῶν πλαγίων πλευρὰς δίδοται τοῖς ἀλλοφύλοις καὶ τοῖς ἐκ τοῦ καιροῦ προσγινομένοις συμμάχοις. τούτων δʼ οὕτως ἐχόντων τὸ μὲν σύμπαν σχῆμα γίνεται τῆς στρατοπεδείας τετράγωνον ἰσόπλευρον, τὰ δὲ κατὰ μέρος ἤδη τῆς τε ῥυμοτομίας ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ τῆς ἄλλης οἰκονομίας πόλει παραπλησίαν ἔχει τὴν διάθεσιν. τὸν δὲ χάρακα τῶν σκηνῶν ἀφιστᾶσι κατὰ πάσας τὰς ἐπιφανείας διακοσίους πόδας. τοῦτο δὲ τὸ κένωμα πολλὰς καὶ δοκίμους αὐτοῖς παρέχεται χρείας. πρός τε γὰρ τὰς εἰσαγωγὰς καὶ τὰς ἐξαγωγὰς τῶν στρατοπέδων εὐφυῶς ἔχει καὶ δεόντως ἕκαστοι γὰρ κατὰ τὰς ἑαυτῶν ῥύμας εἰς τοῦτο τὸ κένωμα ποιοῦνται τὴν ἔξοδον, ἀλλʼ οὐκ εἰς μίαν συμπίπτοντες ἀνατρέπουσι καὶ συμπατοῦσιν ἀλλήλους· τάς τε τῶν παρεισαγομένων θρεμμάτων καὶ τὰς ἐκ τῶν πολεμίων λείας εἰς τοῦτο παράγοντες ἀσφαλῶς τηροῦσι τὰς νύκτας. τὸ δὲ μέγιστον, ἐν ταῖς ἐπιθέσεσι ταῖς νυκτεριναῖς οὔτε πῦρ οὔτε βέλος ἐξικνεῖται πρὸς αὐτοὺς πλὴν τελείως ὀλίγων· γίνεται δὲ καὶ ταῦτα σχεδὸν ἀβλαβῆ διά τε τὸ μέγεθος τῆς ἀποστάσεως καὶ διὰ τὴν τῶν σκηνῶν περίστασιν.
32. The number then of foot-soldiers and cavalry being given (at the rate, that is to say, of four thousand or of five thousand for each legion), and the length, depth, and number of the maniples being likewise known, as well as the breadth of the passages and roads, it becomes possible to calculate the area occupied by the camp and the length of the aggers. If on any occasion the number of allies, either those originally enrolled or those who joined subsequently, exceeds their due proportion, the difficulty is provided for in this way. To the overplus of allies who joined subsequent to the enrolment of the army are assigned the spaces on either side of the Praetorium, the market-place and Quaestorium being proportionally contracted. For the extra numbers of allies who joined originally an extra line of tents (forming thus another via) is put up parallel with the other tents of the socii, facing the agger on either side of the camp. But if all four legions and both Consuls are in the same camp, all we have to do is to imagine a second army, arranged back to back to the one already placed, in exactly the same spaces as the former, but side by side with it at the part where the picked men from the extraordinarii are stationed facing the rearward agger. In this case the shape of the camp becomes an oblong, the area double, and the length of the entire agger half as much again. This is the arrangement when both Consuls are within the same agger; but if they occupy two separate camps, the above arrangements hold good, except that the market-place is placed half way between the two camps.
32. δεδομένου δὲ τοῦ πλήθους καὶ τῶν πεζῶν καὶ τῶν ἱππέων καθʼ ἑκατέραν τὴν πρόθεσιν, ἄν τε τετρακισχιλίους ἄν τε πεντακισχιλίους εἰς ἕκαστον στρατόπεδον ποιῶσι, παραπλησίως δὲ καὶ τῶν σημαιῶν τοῦ τε βάθους καὶ τοῦ μήκους καὶ τοῦ πλήθους δεδομένου, πρὸς δὲ τούτοις τῶν κατὰ τὰς διόδους καὶ πλατείας διαστημάτων, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἁπάντων δεδομένων, συμβαίνει τοῖς βουλομένοις συνεφιστάνειν νοεῖν καὶ τοῦ χωρίου τὸ μέγεθος καὶ τὴν ὅλην περίμετρον τῆς παρεμβολῆς. ἐὰν δέ ποτε πλεονάζῃ τὸ τῶν συμμάχων πλῆθος, ἢ τῶν ἐξ ἀρχῆς συστρατευομένων ἢ τῶν ἐκ τοῦ καιροῦ προσγινομένων, τοῖς μὲν ἐκ τοῦ καιροῦ πρὸς τοῖς προειρημένοις καὶ τοὺς παρὰ τὸ στρατήγιον ἀναπληροῦσι τόπους, τὴν ἀγορὰν καὶ τὸ ταμιεῖον συναγαγόντες εἰς αὐτὸν τὸν κατεπείγοντα πρὸς τὴν χρείαν τόπον· τοῖς δʼ ἐξ ἀρχῆς συνεκπορευομένοις, ἐὰν ᾖ πλῆθος ἱκανώτερον, ῥύμην μίαν ἐξ ἑκατέρου τοῦ μέρους τῶν Ῥωμαϊκῶν στρατοπέδων πρὸς ταῖς ὑπαρχούσαις παρὰ τὰς ἐκ τῶν πλαγίων ἐπιφανείας παρατιθέασι. πάντων δὲ τῶν τεττάρων στρατοπέδων καὶ τῶν ὑπάτων ἀμφοτέρων εἰς ἕνα χάρακα συναθροισθέντων, οὐδὲν ἕτερον δεῖ νοεῖν πλὴν δύο στρατιὰς κατὰ τὸν ἄρτι λόγον παρεμβεβληκυίας ἀντεστραμμένας αὑταῖς συνηρμόσθαι, συναπτούσας κατὰ τὰς τῶν ἐπιλέκτων ἑκατέρου τοῦ στρατοπέδου παρεμβολάς, οὓς ἐποιοῦμεν εἰς τὴν ὀπίσω βλέποντας ἐπιφάνειαν τῆς ὅλης παρεμβολῆς, ὅτε δὴ συμβαίνει γίνεσθαι τὸ μὲν σχῆμα παράμηκες, τὸ δὲ χωρίον διπλάσιον τοῦ πρόσθεν, τὴν δὲ περίμετρον ἡμιόλιον. ὅταν μὲν οὖν συμβαίνῃ τοὺς ὑπάτους ἀμφοτέρους ὁμοῦ στρατοπεδεύειν, οὕτως ἀεὶ χρῶνται ταῖς στρατοπεδείαις· ὅταν δὲ χωρίς, τἄλλα μὲν ὡσαύτως, τὴν δʼ ἀγορὰν καὶ τὸ ταμιεῖον καὶ τὸ στρατήγιον μέσον τιθέασι τῶν δυεῖν στρατοπέδων.
33. The camp having thus been laid out, the Tribuni next administer an oath to all in it separately, whether free or slave, that they will steal nothing within the agger, and in case they find anything will bring it to the Tribuni. They next select for their several duties the maniples of the Principes and Hastati in each legion. Two are told off to guard the space in front of the quarters of the Tribuni. For in this space, which is called the Principia, most of the Romans in the camp transact all the business of the day; and are therefore very particular about its being kept well watered and properly swept. Of the other eighteen maniples, three are assigned to each of the six Tribuni, that being the respective numbers in each legion; and of these three maniples each takes its turn of duty in waiting upon the Tribune. The services they render him are such as these: they pitch his tent for him when a place is selected for encampment, and level the ground all round it; and if any extra precaution is required for the protection of his baggage, it is their duty to see to it. They also supply him with two relays of guards. A guard consists of four men, two of whom act as sentries in front of his tent, and two on the rear of it near the horses. Seeing that each Tribune has three maniples, and each maniple has a hundred men, without counting Triarii and Velites who are not liable for this service, the duty is a light one, coming round to each maniple only once in three days; while by this arrangement ample provision is made for the convenience as well as the dignity of the Tribuni. The maniples of Triarii are exempted from this personal service to the Tribuni, but they each supply a watch of four men to the squadron of cavalry nearest them. These watches have to keep a general look out; but their chief duty is to keep an eye upon the horses, to prevent their hurting themselves by getting entangled in their tethers, and so becoming unfit for use; or from getting loose, and making a confusion and disturbance in the camp by running against other horses. Finally, all the maniples take turns to mount guard for a day each at the Consul’s tent, to protect him from plots, and maintain the dignity of his office.
33. μετὰ δὲ τὴν στρατοπεδείαν συναθροισθέντες οἱ χιλίαρχοι τοὺς ἐκ τοῦ στρατοπέδου πάντας ἐλευθέρους ὁμοῦ καὶ δούλους ὁρκίζουσι, καθʼ ἕνα ποιούμενοι τὸν ὁρκισμόν. ὁ δʼ ὅρκος ἐστὶ μηδὲν ἐκ τῆς παρεμβολῆς κλέψειν, ἀλλὰ κἂν εὕρῃ τι, τοῦτʼ ἀνοίσειν ἐπὶ τοὺς χιλιάρχους. ἑξῆς δὲ τούτοις διέταξαν τὰς σημαίας ἐξ ἑκάστου στρατοπέδου τῶν πριγκίπων καὶ τῶν ἁστάτων, δύο μὲν εἰς τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν τοῦ τόπου τοῦ πρὸ τῶν χιλιάρχων· τὴν γὰρ διατριβὴν ἐν ταῖς καθημερείαις οἱ πλεῖστοι τῶν Ῥωμαίων ἐν ταύτῃ ποιοῦνται τῇ πλατείᾳ· διόπερ ἀεὶ σπουδάζουσι περὶ ταύτης, ὡς ῥαίνηται καὶ καλλύνηται σφίσιν ἐπιμελῶς. τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν ὀκτωκαίδεκα τρεῖς ἕκαστος τῶν χιλιάρχων διαλαγχάνει· τοσαῦται γάρ εἰσι τῶν ἁστάτων καὶ πριγκίπων ἐν ἑκάστῳ στρατοπέδῳ σημαῖαι κατὰ τὴν ἄρτι ῥηθεῖσαν διαίρεσιν, χιλίαρχοι δʼ ἕξ. τῶν δὲ τριῶν σημαιῶν ἀνὰ μέρος ἑκάστη τῷ χιλιάρχῳ λειτουργεῖ λειτουργίαν τοιαύτην. ἐπειδὰν καταστρατοπεδεύσωσι, τὴν σκηνὴν ἱστᾶσιν οὗτοι καὶ τὸν περὶ τὴν σκηνὴν τόπον ἠδάφισαν. κἄν τι περιφράξαι δέῃ τῶν σκευῶν ἀσφαλείας χάριν, οὗτοι φροντίζουσι. διδόασι δὲ καὶ φυλακεῖα δύο — τὸ δὲ φυλακεῖόν ἐστιν ἐκ τεττάρων ἀνδρῶν — ὧν οἱ μὲν πρὸ τῆς σκηνῆς, οἱ δὲ κατόπιν παρὰ τοὺς ἵππους ποιοῦνται τὴν φυλακήν. οὐσῶν δὲ σημαιῶν ἑκάστῳ χιλιάρχῳ τριῶν, ἐν ἑκάστῃ δὲ τούτων ἀνδρῶν ὑπαρχόντων ὑπὲρ τοὺς ἑκατὸν χωρὶς τῶν τριαρίων καὶ γροσφομάχων — οὗτοι γὰρ οὐ λειτουργοῦσι — τὸ μὲν ἔργον γίνεται κοῦφον διὰ τὸ παρὰ τετάρτην ἡμέραν ἑκάστῃ σημαίᾳ καθήκειν τὴν λειτουργίαν, τοῖς δὲ χιλιάρχοις ἅμα μὲν τὸ τῆς εὐχρηστίας ἀναγκαῖον, ἅμα δὲ τὸ τῆς τιμῆς διὰ τῶν προειρημένων ἀποτελεῖται σεμνὸν καὶ προστατικόν. αἱ δὲ τῶν τριαρίων σημαῖαι τῆς μὲν τῶν χιλιάρχων παραλύονται λειτουργίας, εἰς δὲ τοὺς τῶν ἱππέων οὐλαμοὺς ἑκάστη σημαία καθʼ ἡμέραν δίδωσι φυλακεῖον ἀεὶ τῷ γειτνιῶντι κατόπιν τῶν οὐλαμῶν· οἵτινες τηροῦσι μὲν καὶ τἄλλα, μάλιστα δὲ τοὺς ἵππους, ἵνα μήτʼ ἐμπλεκόμενοι τοῖς δέμασι βλάπτωνται πρὸς χρείαν μήτε λυόμενοι καὶ προσπίπτοντες ἄλλοις ἵπποις ταραχὰς καὶ θορύβους ἐμποιῶσι τῷ στρατοπέδῳ. μία δʼ ἐξ ἁπασῶν καθʼ ἡμέραν σημαία ἀνὰ μέρος τῷ στρατηγῷ παρακοιτεῖ· ἥτις ἅμα μὲν ἀσφάλειαν παρασκευάζει τῷ στρατηγῷ πρὸς τὰς ἐπιβουλάς, ἅμα δὲ κοσμεῖ τὸ πρόσχημα τῆς ἀρχῆς.
34. As to the construction of the foss and vallum, two words, agger the embankment, and vallum the palisading on the top of it. Either word, however, is often used to represent the whole structure. two sides fall to the lot of the socii, each division taking that side along which it is quartered; the other two are left to the Romans, one to each legion. Each side is divided into portions according to the number of maniples, and the centurions stand by and superintend the work of each maniple; while two of the Tribunes superintend the construction of the whole side and see that it is adequate. In the same way the Tribunes superintend all other operations in the camp. They divide themselves in twos, and each pair is on duty for two months out of six; they draw lots for their turns, and the pair on whom the lot falls takes the superintendence of all active operations. The prefects of the socii divide their duty in the same way. At daybreak the officers of the cavalry and the centurions muster at the tents of the Tribunes, while the Tribunes go to that of the Consul. He gives the necessary orders to the Tribunes, they to the cavalry officers and centurions, and these last pass them on to the rank and file as occasion may demand. To secure the passing round of the watchword for the night the following course is followed. One man is selected from the tenth maniple, which, in the case both of cavalry and infantry, is quartered at the ends of the road between the tents; this man is relieved from guard-duty and appears each day about sunset at the tent of the Tribune on duty, takes the tessera or wooden tablet on which the watchword is inscribed, and returns to his own maniple and delivers the wooden tablet and watchword in the presence of witnesses to the chief officer of the maniple next his own; he in the same way to the officer of the next, and so on, until it arrives at the first maniple stationed next the Tribunes. These men are obliged to deliver the tablet (tessera) to the Tribunes before dark. If they are all handed in, the Tribune knows that the watchword has been delivered to all, and has passed through all the ranks back to his hands: but if any one is missing, he at once investigates the matter; for he knows by the marks on the tablets from which division of the army the tablet has not appeared; and the man who is discovered to be responsible for its non-appearance is visited with condign punishment.
34. τῆς δὲ ταφρείας καὶ χαρακοποιίας δύο μὲν ἐπιβάλλουσι πλευραὶ τοῖς συμμάχοις, παρʼ ἃς καὶ στρατοπεδεύει τὸ κέρας αὐτῶν ἑκάτερον, δύο δὲ τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις, ἑκατέρῳ τῷ στρατοπέδῳ μία. διαιρεθείσης δὲ τῆς πλευρᾶς ἑκάστης κατὰ σημαίαν, τὴν μὲν κατὰ μέρος ἐπιμέλειαν οἱ ταξίαρχοι ποιοῦνται παρεστῶτες, τὴν δὲ καθόλου δοκιμασίαν τῆς πλευρᾶς δύο τῶν χιλιάρχων. ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ τὴν λοιπὴν τὴν κατὰ τὸ στρατόπεδον ἐπιμέλειαν οὗτοι ποιοῦνται· κατὰ δύο γὰρ σφᾶς αὐτοὺς διελόντες ἀνὰ μέρος τῆς ἑκμήνου τὴν δίμηνον ἄρχουσι, καὶ πάσης οἱ λαχόντες τῆς ἐν τοῖς ὑπαίθροις προΐστανται χρείας. ὁ δʼ αὐτὸς τρόπος τῆς ἀρχῆς ἐστι καὶ τῶν πραιφέκτων περὶ τοὺς συμμάχους. οἱ δʼ ἱππεῖς καὶ ταξίαρχοι πάντες ἅμα τῷ φωτὶ παραγίνονται πρὸς τὰς τῶν χιλιάρχων σκηνάς, οἱ δὲ χιλίαρχοι πρὸς τὸν ὕπατον. κἀκεῖνος μὲν τὸ κατεπεῖγον ἀεὶ παραγγέλλει τοῖς χιλιάρχοις, οἱ δὲ χιλίαρχοι τοῖς ἱππεῦσι καὶ ταξιάρχοις, οὗτοι δὲ τοῖς πολλοῖς, ὅταν ἑκάστων ὁ καιρὸς ᾖ. τὴν δὲ τοῦ νυκτερινοῦ συνθήματος παράδοσιν ἀσφαλίζονται τὸν τρόπον τοῦτον. καθʼ ἕκαστον γένος καὶ τῶν ἱππέων καὶ τῶν πεζῶν ἐκ τῆς δεκάτης σημαίας καὶ τελευταίας στρατοπεδευούσης κατὰ τὰς ῥύμας, ἐκ τούτων εἷς ἑκάστης ἀνὴρ λαμβάνεται κατʼ ἐκλογήν, ὃς τῶν μὲν κατὰ τὰς φυλακὰς λειτουργιῶν ἀπολύεται, παραγίνεται δὲ καθʼ ἡμέραν δύνοντος ἡλίου πρὸς τὴν τοῦ χιλιάρχου σκηνήν, καὶ λαβὼν τὸ σύνθημα — τοῦτο δʼ ἐστὶ πλατεῖον ἐπιγεγραμμένον — ἀπαλλάττεται πάλιν. ἀναχωρήσας δʼ ἐπὶ τὴν αὑτοῦ σημαίαν τό τε ξυλήφιον παρέδωκε καὶ τὸ σύνθημα μετὰ μαρτύρων τῷ τῆς ἐχομένης σημαίας ἡγεμόνι, παραπλησίως δὲ πάλιν οὗτος τῷ τῆς ἐχομένης. τὸ δʼ ὅμοιον ἑξῆς ποιοῦσι πάντες, ἕως ἂν ἐπὶ τὰς πρώτας καὶ σύνεγγυς τοῖς χιλιάρχοις στρατοπεδευούσας σημαίας ἐξικνῆται. τούτους δὲ δεῖ τὸ πλατεῖον ἔτι φωτὸς ὄντος ἀναφέρειν πρὸς τοὺς χιλιάρχους. κἂν μὲν ἀνενεχθῇ πάντα τὰ δοθέντα, γινώσκει διότι δέδοται τὸ σύνθημα πᾶσι καὶ διὰ πάντων εἰς αὐτὸν ἥκει· ἐὰν δʼ ἐλλείπῃ τι, παρὰ πόδας ζητεῖ τὸ γεγονός, εἰδὼς ἐκ τῆς ἐπιγραφῆς ἐκ ποίου μέρους οὐχ ἥκει τὸ πλατεῖον. οὗ δʼ ἂν εὑρεθῇ τὸ κώλυμα, τυγχάνει τῆς καθηκούσης ζημίας.