§8.63.1ἡμέραις δʼ ὀλίγαις ὕστερον ἐξελθόντες εἰς τὴν ὕπαιθρον Ῥωμαῖοι πολλῇ στρατιᾷ τῶν ὑπάτων ἀγόντων ἀμφοτέρων, καὶ προελθόντες ἄχρι τῶν ὅρων τῆς σφετέρας κατεστρατοπέδευσαν ἐπὶ λόφοις δυσίν, ἴδιον ἑκατέρου τῶν ὑπάτων στρατόπεδον ἐπὶ τοῖς ἐρυμνοτάτοις καταστησαμένου.
A few days later, the Romans, marching out into the open country with a large army led by both consuls, and advancing as far as their own borders, encamped on two hills, each of the consuls establishing his own camp on the most secure positions.
οὐ μὴν ἔδρασάν γε οὐδὲν οὔτε μεῖζον οὔτʼ ἔλαττον, ἀλλʼ ἀνέστρεψαν ἄπρακτοι, καίτοι καλὰς ἀφορμὰς δόντων αὐτοῖς τῶν πολεμίων δρᾶσαί τι γενναῖον.
They did not, however, perform any action, either great or small, but returned without having accomplished anything, even though the enemy had given them excellent opportunities to perform some noble deed.
§8.63.2πρότεροι γὰρ ἔτι τούτων Οὐολοῦσκοί τε καὶ Αἰκανοὶ στρατὸν ἐπὶ τὴν Ῥωμαίων γῆν ἤγαγον γνώμην ποιησάμενοι μὴ ἀνεῖναι τὸν καιρόν, ἀλλʼ, ἕως ἔτι καταπεπλῆχθαι τὸ ἀντίπαλον ἐδόκουν, χωρεῖν ἐπʼ αὐτό, ὡς καὶ ἑκούσιον διὰ δέος παραστησόμενον.
For even before this, the Volscians and Aequians had led an army against the territory of the Romans, having made up their minds not to let the opportunity slip, but, while they thought the enemy were still struck with terror, to march against them, in the belief that they would surrender even voluntarily through fear.
στασιάσαντες δὲ περὶ τῆς ἡγεμονίας κατʼ ἀλλήλων τὰ ὅπλα ἥρπασαν καὶ συμπεσόντες ἐμάχοντο, οὔτε κατὰ τάξιν οὔτʼ ἐκ παραγγέλματος, ἀλλὰ φύρδην καὶ ἀναμίξ, ὥστε πολὺν ἐξ ἀμφοῖν γενέσθαι φόνον·
But falling into dissension over the leadership, they seized their arms against one another and, clashing, fought, neither in order nor by command, but in confusion and mixed together, so that there was great slaughter on both sides.
καὶ εἰ μὴ δὺς ὁ ἥλιος ἔφθασεν, ἅπασαι ἂν αὐτῶν αἱ δυνάμεις διεφθάρησαν.
And if the setting of the sun had not anticipated them, all their forces would have been destroyed.
τῇ δὲ νυκτὶ λυούσῃ τὸ νεῖκος ἀκούσιοι εἴξαντες διεκρίθησάν τʼ ἀπʼ ἀλλήλων καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἰδίους χάρακας ἀπηλλάγησαν· ἕωθεν δʼ ἀναστήσαντες τὰς δυνάμεις ἀπῄεσαν ἑκάτεροι ἐπὶ §8.63.3τὰ σφέτερα.
Yielding unwillingly to the night which ended the strife, they separated from one another and departed to their respective camps; and at daybreak, breaking camp, they both departed to their own countries.
οἱ δʼ ὕπατοι παρά τʼ αὐτομόλων καὶ αἰχμαλώτων, οἳ παρʼ αὐτὸ τὸ ἔργον ἀπέδρασαν, ἀκούσαντες, οἷα κατέσχε λύσσα καὶ θεοβλάβεια τὰ πολέμια, οὔτε συνεπέθεντο τῷ κατʼ εὐχὴν δοθέντι καιρῷ τριάκοντα σταδίων οὐ πλεῖον ἀπέχοντες, οὔτʼ ἀπιόντας ἐδίωξαν, ἐν ᾧ κεκμηκότας καὶ τραυματίας καὶ ὀλίγους ἐκ πολλῶν καὶ ἀτάκτους χωροῦντας ἀκραιφνεῖς αὐτοὶ καὶ σὺν κόσμῳ ἑπόμενοι ῥᾳδίως ἂν διέφθειραν πασσυδί.
The consuls, having heard from deserters and prisoners who had escaped during the action itself what kind of madness and divine infatuation had seized the enemy, neither took advantage of the opportunity offered beyond their prayers, although they were not more than thirty stades away, nor did they pursue them as they departed, whereas, if they themselves, being fresh and in good order, had followed them, they might easily have utterly destroyed them while they were retreating, exhausted, wounded, few out of many, and in disorder.
§8.63.4λύσαντες δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ τοὺς χάρακας ἀπῄεσαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν· εἴτʼ ἀρκούμενοι τῷ παρὰ τῆς τύχης δοθέντι ἀγαθῷ, εἴτʼ οὐ πιστεύοντες ἀνασκήτῳ στρατιᾷ τῇ σφετέρᾳ, εἴτε περὶ πολλοῦ ποιούμενοι τὸ μηδʼ ὀλίγους τῶν σφετέρων ἀποβαλεῖν.
But breaking camp themselves also, they returned to the city, whether because they were satisfied with the good fortune granted by chance, or because they did not trust their own untrained army, or because they made it a matter of great importance not to lose even a few of their own men.
ἀφικόμενοι δʼ εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἐν αἰσχύνῃ πολλῇ ἦσαν δειλίας δόξαν ἐπὶ τῷ ἔργῳ φερόμενοι· καὶ οὐδεμίαν ἔξοδον ἔτι ποιησάμενοι παρέδοσαν τοῖς μεθʼ ἑαυτοὺς ὑπάτοις τὴν ἀρχήν.
Upon arriving in the city, they were in great disgrace, bearing the reputation of cowardice for their conduct; and having made no further expeditions, they handed over the office to the consuls who succeeded them.