Defeat of the Volscians and the Fall of Suessa — Livy, History of Rome Book 2 (2.25.1–2.25.6), Latin & English

§2.25.1

proxima inde nocte Volsci discordia Romana freti, si qua nocturna transitio proditiove fieri posset,¹ temptant castra. sensere vigiles, excitatus exercitus, signo dato concursum est ad arma;

On the following night, the Volscians, relying on the Roman discord, to see if any night desertion or treason could take place, attempted the camp. The sentinels perceived them; the army was aroused, and on the signal being given, there was a rush to arms.

§2.25.2

ita frustra id inceptum Volscis fuit; relicum noctis utrimque quieti datum. postero die prima luce Volsci fossis repletis vallum invadunt.

Thus that attempt was in vain for the Volscians; the remainder of the night was given to rest on both sides. At daybreak on the following day, the Volscians, having filled up the ditches, attacked the rampart.

§2.25.3

iamque ab omni parte munimenta vellebantur, cum consul, quamquam cuncti undique, et nexi ante omnes, ut signum daret, clamabant, experiendi animos militum causa² parumper moratus, postquam satis apparebat ingens ardor, dato tandem ad erumpendum signo militem avidum certaminis emittit.

And already the fortifications were being torn down on every side, when the consul, although all from every side, and the bound before all, were shouting that he should give the signal, having delayed for a little while for the purpose of testing the spirits of the soldiers, after their immense eagerness was sufficiently apparent, having at last given the signal for sallying forth, dispatched the soldiers eager for the contest.

§2.25.4

primo statim incursu pulsi hostes; fugientibus, quoad insequi pedes potuit, terga caesa;³ eques usque ad castra pavidos egit. mox ipsa castra legionibus circumdatis, cum Volscos inde etiam pavor expulisset, capta direptaque.

At the very first onset the enemy were routed; as they fled, their backs were cut down as far as the infantry could pursue them, and the cavalry drove the terrified foe all the way to their camp. Soon the camp itself, the legions having surrounded it, since panic had driven the Volscians from there also, was taken and plundered.

§2.25.5

postero die ad Suessam Pometiam, quo confugerant hostes, legionibus ductis, intra paucos dies oppidum capitur, captum praedae datum.

On the following day, the legions having been led to Suessa Pometia, whither the enemy had fled, the town was taken within a few days, and, having been taken, was given up to plunder.

§2.25.6

inde paulum recreatus egens miles. consul cum maxima gloria sua victorem exercitum Romam reducit. decedentem Romam Ecetranorum Volscorum legati, rebus suis timentes post Pometiam captam, adeunt. his ex senatus consulto data pax, ager ademptus.

Thence the needy soldier was somewhat refreshed. The consul, with his own greatest glory, led back the victorious army to Rome. As he was returning to Rome, the ambassadors of the Ecetran Volscians, fearing for their own fortunes after the capture of Pometia, approached him. To them, by a decree of the senate, peace was granted, but their land was taken away.

Syntax notes3 items

2.25.1si qua nocturna transitio proditiove fieri posset
The clause with the imperfect subjunctive posset introduced by si functions here as a conditional clause expressing hope or expectation ('to see if...', 'in the hope that...').
2.25.3experiendi animos militum causa
A construction expressing purpose using causa followed by the genitive of the gerund experiendi governing the direct object animos.
2.25.4fugientibus ... terga caesa
The word fugientibus is the dative plural of the present participle fugiens, functioning as a dative of separation (or reference) with the verb of cutting (caesa [sunt]), meaning 'the backs of those who were fleeing were cut down.'

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)

2026-09-21 AI review — note 1

urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:2.25.1-2.25.6