§9.7.1ταῦτα παρὰ τῶν μάντεων οἱ Τυρρηνοὶ ἀκούσαντες μέρει τινὶ τῆς ἑαυτῶν στρατιᾶς τὴν ἐρημωθεῖσαν ὑπὸ τῶν Ῥωμαίων καταλαμβάνονται στρατοπεδείαν ὡς ἐπιτείχισμα ποιησόμενοι τῆς ἑτέρας· ἦν δὲ πάνυ ἐχυρὸν τὸ χωρίον καὶ τοῖς ἀπὸ Ῥώμης ἐπὶ τὸ στρατόπεδον ἰοῦσι κωλύσεως ἐν καλῷ κείμενον.
When the Etruscans heard these things from the seers, they occupied with a certain part of their own army the camp that had been abandoned by the Romans, intending to make it a fortification against the other camp; for the place was extremely strong and situated in an excellent position for obstructing those who were going from Rome to the camp.
πραγματευσάμενοι δὲ καὶ τἆλλα, ἐξ ὧν πλεονεκτήσειν τοὺς πολεμίους ἔμελλον, ἐξῆγον εἰς τὸ πεδίον τὰς δυνάμεις.
Having also prepared all other things from which they were likely to gain an advantage over the enemy, they led their forces out into the plain.
§9.7.2μενόντων δὲ τῶν Ῥωμαίων ἐφʼ ἡσυχίας προσιππεύοντες ἐξ αὐτῶν οἱ τολμηρότατοι καὶ πλησίον τοῦ χάρακος ἱστάμενοι, γυναῖκάς τʼ ἀπεκάλουν ἅπαντας καὶ τοὺς ἡγεμόνας αὐτῶν τοῖς δειλοτάτοις τῶν ζώων ἐοικέναι λέγοντες ἐκάκιζον, καὶ δυεῖν θάτερον ἠξίουν· εἰ μὲν ἀντιποιοῦνται τῆς περὶ τὰ πολέμια ἀρετῆς, καταβάντας εἰς τὸ πεδίον μιᾷ τὸν ἀγῶνα κρῖναι μάχῃ, εἰ δʼ ὁμολογοῦσιν εἶναι κακοί, παραδόντας τὰ ὅπλα τοῖς κρείττοσι καὶ δίκας ὑποσχόντας, ὧν ἔδρασαν, μηδενὸς ἔτι τῶν μεγάλων ἑαυτοὺς ἀξιοῦν.
While the Romans remained quiet, the boldest of the Etruscans rode up and, standing near the rampart, called them all women and reviled their leaders, saying they resembled the most cowardly of animals, and demanded one of two things: if they laid claim to valor in matters of war, they should come down into the plain and decide the contest by a single battle; but if they confessed themselves to be cowards, they should deliver up their arms to their superiors, submit to punishment for what they had done, and no longer deem themselves worthy of anything great.
§9.7.3τοῦτʼ ἐποίουν ὁσημέραι καὶ ἐπεὶ οὐδὲν ἐπέραινον, ἀποτειχίζειν αὐτοὺς ἔγνωσαν ὡς λιμῷ προσαναγκάσοντες παραστῆναι.
They did this every day, and when they accomplished nothing, they resolved to blockade them, intending to force them to surrender by famine.
οἱ δʼ ὕπατοι περιεώρων τὰ γινόμενα μέχρι πολλοῦ, διʼ ἀνανδρίαν μὲν ἢ μαλακίαν οὐδεμίαν — ἀμφότεροι γὰρ εὔψυχοί τε καὶ φιλοπόλεμοι ἦσαν — τὸ δὲ τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἐθελόκακόν τε καὶ ἀπρόθυμον, διαμένον ἐν τοῖς δημοτικοῖς, ἐξ οὗ περὶ τῆς κληρουχίας διεστασίασαν, ὑφορώμενοι·
The consuls tolerated what was happening for a long time, not from any cowardice or weakness—for both were brave and fond of war—but because they viewed with suspicion the malicious non-cooperation and reluctance of the soldiers, which had persisted among the plebeians ever since they had rioted concerning the distribution of land.
ἔτι γὰρ αὐτοῖς ἔναυλα καὶ πρὸ ὀμμάτων ἦν, ἃ τῷ παρελθόντι ἐνιαυτῷ κατὰ τὸ ἔγκοτον τῆς πρὸς τὸν ὕπατον τιμῆς αἰσχρὰ καὶ ἀνάξια τῆς πόλεως εἰργάσαντο, παραχωρήσαντες τῆς νίκης τοῖς ἡττηθεῖσι καὶ φυγῆς ὄνειδος οὐκ ἀληθὲς ὑπομείναντες, ἵνα μὴ καταγάγῃ τὸν ἐπινίκιον θρίαμβον ὁ ἀνήρ.
For there was still ringing in their ears and before their eyes the shameful deeds, unworthy of the city, which they had committed in the preceding year out of resentment for the honor of the consul, when they yielded the victory to those who had been defeated and submitted to the untrue disgrace of flight, so that the man might not celebrate his triumphal procession.