§10.45.1ἔτι δʼ αὐτοῦ βουλομένου λέγειν τἀκόλουθα ὑπολαβὼν ὁ ὕπατος εἶπεν· οὐ πολλῶν δεῖ λόγων, ἀλλʼ εἰ μὲν ὑπομένεις πράττειν τὰ προσταττόμενα, χώρει διὰ ταχέων καὶ μὴ παραστρατήγει, εἰ δὲ ἀφίστασαι καὶ ἀποδιδράσκεις τὸν κίνδυνον, ἑτέροις εἰς τὸ ἔργον χρήσομαι.
While he was still wishing to say what followed, the consul interrupted him and said: "There is no need for many words; if you submit to do what is ordered, go quickly and do not try to act the general; but if you withdraw and run away from the danger, I shall employ others for the task.
§10.45.2σὺ δὲ τὰς ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι μάχας ἀγωνισάμενος καὶ τὰ τετταράκοντα ἔτη στρατευσάμενος καὶ κατατετρωμένος ὅλον τὸ σῶμα, ἐπειδὴ ἑκὼν ἦλθες, ἄπιθι μήτε ὁμιλήσας πολεμίοις μήτʼ ἰδὼν καὶ ἀντὶ τῶν ὅπλων ἀκόνα πάλιν τοὺς λόγους, οἷς χρήσῃ κατὰ §10.45.3τοῦ φθόνου τῶν πατρικίων.
But you, who have fought a hundred and twenty battles, served for forty years, and have your whole body covered with wounds, since you withdraw voluntarily, go away without having either engaged with the enemy or even seen them, and instead of weapons, sharpen again your words, which you will use against the envy felt toward the patricians.
ποῦ νῦν ἐκεῖνά σου τὰ πολλὰ ἀριστεῖα, οἱ στρεπτοὶ καὶ τὰ ψέλλια καὶ τὰ δόρατα καὶ τὰ φάλαρα καὶ οἱ τῶν ὑπάτων στέφανοι καὶ τὰ ἐκ τῶν μονομαχιῶν λάφυρα καὶ πᾶσα ἡ ἄλλη βαρύτης, ἣν τότʼ ἠνεσχόμεθά σου λέγοντος;
Where now are those many trophies of yours, the collars, the bracelets, the spears, the phalerae, the crowns given by the consuls, the spoils taken in single combats, and all your other haughtiness which we then tolerated when you spoke?
ἐν ἑνὶ γὰρ δὴ τῷδε τῷ ἔργῳ βασανιζόμενος, ἔνθα κίνδυνος ἦν ἀληθινός, ἐξητάσθης οἷος ἦσθα, ὡς ἀλαζὼν καὶ δόξῃ §10.45.4τὸ ἀνδρεῖον ἐπιτηδεύων, οὐκ ἀληθείᾳ. καὶ ὁ Σίκκιος δυσανασχετῶν ἐπὶ τοῖς ὀνείδεσιν· οἶδα, φησίν, ὦ Ῥωμίλιε, ὅτι δυεῖν πρόκειταί σοι θάτερον ἢ ζῶντα διεργάσασθαι καὶ τὸ μηδὲν ἀποδοῦναι δόξαν αἰσχίστην ἐνεγκάμενον δειλίας, ἢ κακῶς καὶ ἀδήλως κατακοπέντα ὑπὸ τῶν πολεμίων ἀποθανεῖν, ἐπειδὴ κἀγώ τις ἔδοξα εἶναι τῶν ἀξιούντων ἐλεύθερα φρονεῖν·
For being tested in this single task, where there was real danger, you have been shown for what you were, as a boaster who affects bravery in appearance, not in reality." And Siccius, deeply resentful of these insults, said: "I know, Romilius, that one of two things is proposed by you: either to destroy me while still alive and reduce me to nothing, bringing upon me the most shameful reputation for cowardice, or to have me die, cut to pieces miserably and obscurely by the enemy, since I too seemed to be one of those who claim to think as free men; for you are sending me not to an uncertain, but to a certain death.
οὐ γὰρ εἰς ἄδηλον, ἀλλʼ εἰς ἐγνωσμένον ἀποστέλλεις με θάνατον· §10.45.5πλὴν ὑπομενῶ καὶ τοῦτο τὸ ἔργον καὶ πειράσομαι φανεὶς ψυχὴν οὐ κακὸς ἢ κρατῆσαι τοῦ χάρακος, ἢ μὴ τυχὼν τῆς ἐλπίδος εὐγενῶς ἀποθανεῖν.
Nevertheless, I will submit to this task also, and showing myself to be not base in soul, I will try either to capture the camp or, failing in this hope, to die nobly.
ὑμᾶς δʼ, ὦ συστρατιῶται, μάρτυρας ἀξιῶ γενέσθαι μοι πρὸς τοὺς ἄλλους πολίτας, ἐὰν πύθησθε τὸν ἐμὸν μόρον, ὅτι με ἀπώλεσεν ἡ ἀρετὴ καὶ ἡ πολλὴ τῶν λόγων ἐλευθερία. §10.45.6ταῦτα πρὸς τὸν ὕπατον ἀποκρινάμενος καὶ δακρύσας τούς τε συνήθεις ἅπαντας ἀσπασάμενος ᾤχετο τοὺς ὀκτακοσίους ἄνδρας ἄγων κατηφεῖς καὶ δεδακρυμένους ὡς τὴν ἐπὶ θανάτῳ πορευομένους· καὶ ἡ ἄλλη δὲ πᾶσα στρατιὰ διʼ οἴκτου τὸ πρᾶγμα ἔλαβεν ὡς οὐκέτι ὀψομένη τοὺς ἄνδρας.
And you, fellow soldiers, I ask to become witnesses for me to the other citizens, if you hear of my fate, that my virtue and great freedom of speech have destroyed me." Having answered the consul in this way and shed tears, and having embraced all his close companions, he departed, leading the eight hundred men who were downcast and weeping as if marching to their death; and all the rest of the army took the matter with pity, as if they would never see the men again.