§8.28.1Insequenti nocte Fabius equites praemittit sic paratos ut confligerent atque omne agmen morarentur, dum consequeretur ipse.
On the following night, Fabius sent the cavalry ahead, prepared in such a way that they might fight and delay the entire column until he himself should catch up.
§8.28.2Cuius praeceptis ut res gereretur, Quintus Atius Varus, praefectus equitum, singularis et animi et prudentiae vir, suos hortatur agmenque hostium consecutus turmas partim idoneis locis disponit, parte equitum proelium committit.
In order that the operation might be carried out according to his instructions, Quintus Atius Varus, commander of the cavalry, a man of singular courage and prudence, encouraged his men, and having overtaken the enemy's column, disposed his troops partly in suitable positions, and with a part of the cavalry joined battle.
§8.28.3Confligit audacius equitatus hostium succedentibus sibi peditibus, qui toto agmine subsistentes equitibus suis contra nostros ferunt auxilium.
The enemy's cavalry fought more boldly, as their infantry came up to support them; these infantrymen, standing firm in the entire column, brought aid to their own cavalry against our men.
Fit proelium acri certamine.
A battle took place with fierce fighting.
§8.28.4Namque nostri contemptis pridie superatis hostibus, cum subsequi legiones meminissent, et pudore cedendi et cupiditate per se conficiendi proeli fortissime contra pedites proeliantur, §8.28.5hostesque nihil amplius copiarum accessurum credentes, ut pridie cognoverant, delendi equitatus nostri nacti occasionem videbantur.
For our men, despising the enemy whom they had defeated the day before, and remembering that the legions were following close behind, fought most bravely against the infantry, driven both by the shame of retreating and by the desire to finish the battle by themselves; while the enemy, believing that no more forces would arrive, as they had learned the day before, seemed to have found an opportunity to destroy our cavalry.