§2.29.1λεγομένων τὸ γεγονός.
(to picture the scene from the) details related to them.
πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ ἐκ τριῶν στρατοπέδων τῆς μάχης συνισταμένης, δῆλον ὡς ξένην καὶ παρηλλαγμένην εἰκὸς καὶ τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν καὶ τὴν χρείαν φαίνεσθαι τοῦ συντεταγμένου.
For in the first place, as the battle was composed of three armies, it is obvious that both the appearance and the tactical application of the forces drawn up would naturally seem strange and unusual.
§2.29.2δεύτερον δὲ πῶς οὐκ ἂν ἀπορήσαι τις καὶ νῦν καὶ τότε παρʼ αὐτὸν ὢν τὸν καιρὸν πότερον οἱ Κελτοὶ τὴν ἐπισφαλεστάτην εἶχον χώραν, ἐξ ἀμφοῖν τοῖν μεροῖν ἅμα τῶν πολεμίων ἐπαγόντων αὐτοῖς, §2.29.3ἢ τοὐναντίον τὴν ἐπιτευκτικωτάτην, ἅμα μὲν ἀγωνιζόμενοι πρὸς ἀμφοτέρους, ἅμα δὲ τὴν ἀφʼ ἑκατέρων ἀσφάλειαν ἐκ τῶν ὄπισθεν αὑτοῖς παρασκευάζοντες, τὸ δὲ μέγιστον, ἀποκεκλειμένης πάσης τῆς εἰς τοὔπισθεν ἀναχωρήσεως καὶ τῆς ἐν τῷ λείπεσθαι σωτηρίας;
In the second place, who would not even now, as well as at that actual time, be in doubt whether the Celts occupied the most dangerous position, with the enemy attacking them from both sides at once, or, on the contrary, the most advantageous one, fighting as they were against both at the same time, while securing safety from each of them from behind, and, what was most important, having all retreat to the rear cut off and all hope of safety in case of defeat removed?
§2.29.4ἡ γὰρ τῆς ἀμφιστόμου τάξεως ἰδιότης τοιαύτην ἔχει τὴν χρείαν.
For such is the practical effect of the unique nature of a double-fronted formation.
§2.29.5τούς γε μὴν Ῥωμαίους τὰ μὲν εὐθαρσεῖς ἐποίει τὸ μέσους καὶ πάντοθεν περιειληφέναι τοὺς πολεμίους, τὰ δὲ πάλιν ὁ κόσμος αὐτοὺς καὶ θόρυβος ἐξέπληττε τῆς τῶν Κελτῶν δυνάμεως.
As for the Romans, on the one hand, they were encouraged by having enclosed the enemy in the middle and surrounded them on all sides, but on the other hand, they were terrified by the orderly array and the clamor of the Celtic force.
§2.29.6ἀναρίθμητον μὲν γὰρ ἦν τὸ τῶν βυκανητῶν καὶ σαλπιγκτῶν πλῆθος. οἷς ἅμα τοῦ παντὸς στρατοπέδου συμπαιανίζοντος τηλικαύτην καὶ τοιαύτην συνέβαινε γίνεσθαι κραυγὴν ὥστε μὴ μόνον τὰς σάλπιγγας καὶ τὰς δυνάμεις, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς παρακειμένους τόπους συνηχοῦντας ἐξ αὑτῶν δοκεῖν προΐεσθαι φωνήν.
For the multitude of horn-blowers and trumpeters was countless; and as the whole army joined in the war-song at the same time, there arose such a loud and extraordinary clamor that not only the trumpets and the forces, but even the surrounding hills, echoing the sound, seemed to raise a cry of themselves.
§2.29.7ἐκπληκτικὴ δʼ ἦν καὶ τῶν γυμνῶν προεστώτων ἀνδρῶν ἥ τʼ ἐπιφάνεια καὶ κίνησις, ὡς ἂν διαφερόντων ταῖς ἀκμαῖς καὶ τοῖς εἴδεσι.
Terrifying too was the appearance and movement of the naked men stationed in the front, outstanding as they were in physical strength and beauty.
§2.29.8πάντες δʼ οἱ τὰς πρώτας κατέχοντες σπείρας χρυσοῖς μανιάκαις καὶ περιχείροις ἦσαν κατακεκοσμημένοι.
And all those who occupied the first cohorts were adorned with golden necklaces and armlets.
§2.29.9πρὸς ἃ βλέποντες οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι τὰ μὲν ἐξεπλήττοντο, τὰ δʼ ὑπὸ τῆς τοῦ λυσιτελοῦς ἐλπίδος ἀγόμενοι διπλασίως παρωξύνοντο πρὸς τὸν
Looking upon these, the Romans, while on the one hand terrified, on the other hand, led on by the hope of plunder, were doubly spurred on to the...