§1.27.1nec diu pax Albana mansit.
Nor did the Alban peace last long.
invidia vulgi, quod tribus militibus fortuna publica conmissa fuerat, vanum ingenium dictatoris corrupit et, quoniam recta consilia haud bene evenerant, pravis reconciliare popularium animos coepit.
The envy of the common people, because the public fortune had been entrusted to three soldiers, corrupted the vain mind of the dictator; and since his upright plans had not turned out well, he began to reconcile the minds of his fellow citizens by wicked means.
§1.27.2igitur, ut prius in bello pacem, sic in pace bellum quaerens, quia suae civitati animorum plus quam virium cernebat esse, ad bellum palam atque ex edicto gerundum alios concitat populos, suis per speciem societatis proditionem reservat.
Therefore, seeking war in peace just as he had previously sought peace in war, because he perceived that his own state possessed more of resentment than of strength, he incites other peoples to wage war openly and by decree, while reserving treachery for his own people under the guise of alliance.
§1.27.3Fidenates, colonia Romana, Veientibus sociis consilii adsumptis pacto transitionis Albanorum ad bellum atque arma incitantur.
The Fidenates, a Roman colony, having taken the Veientes as allies in their plan, were incited to war and arms by a pact of the Albans' defection.
§1.27.4cum Fidenae aperte descissent, Tullus Mettio exercituque eius ab Alba accito contra hostes ducit.
When Fidenae had openly revolted, Tullus, having summoned Mettius and his army from Alba, leads his forces against the enemy.
ubi Anienem transiit, ad Confluentis collocat castra.
When he crossed the Anio, he pitched camp at Confluentes.
inter eum locum et Fidenas Veientium exercitus Tiberim transierat.
Between that place and Fidenae, the army of the Veientes had crossed the Tiber.
§1.27.5hi in acie prope flumen tenuere dextrum cornu; in sinistro Fidenates propius montes consistunt.
These held the right wing near the river in the battle line; on the left wing, the Fidenates stood closer to the mountains.
Tullus adversus Veientem hostem derigit suos, Albanos contra legionem Fidenatium conlocat.
Tullus directs his men against the Veientine enemy, and stations the Albans against the legion of the Fidenates.
Albano non plus animi erat quam fidei.
The Alban had no more courage than loyalty.
nec manere ergo nec transire aperte ausus sensim ad montes succedit; §1.27.6inde, ubi satis subisse sese ratus est, erigit totam aciem fluctuansque animo, ut tereret tempus, ordines explicat.
Therefore, daring neither to stay nor to cross over openly, he gradually withdrew toward the mountains; thence, when he thought he had ascended far enough, he drew up his entire battle line, and wavering in mind, in order to waste time, he deployed his ranks.
consilium erat, qua fortuna rem daret, ea inclinare vires.
His plan was to incline his forces to whichever side fortune should give success.
§1.27.7miraculo primo esse Romanis, qui proximi steterant, ut nudari latera sua sociorum digressu senserunt; inde eques citato equo nuntiat regi abire Albanos.
At first, it was a source of wonder to the Romans who had stood nearest, when they perceived that their flanks were exposed by the departure of their allies; then a horseman at full gallop reports to the king that the Albans were departing.
Tullus in re trepida duodecim vovit Salios fana,:ue Pallori ac Pauori.
Tullus, in this critical situation, vowed twelve Salii and shrines to Pallor and Pavor.
§1.27.8equitem clara increpans voce, ut hostes exaudirent, redire in proelium iubet: nihil trepidatione opus esse; suo iussu circumduci Albanum exercitum, ut Fidenatium nuda terga invadant; §1.27.9item imperat, ut hastas equites erigerent.
Rebuking the horseman in a loud voice so that the enemy might hear, he orders him to return to the battle: saying that there was no need for panic; that by his own command the Alban army was being led around in order to attack the exposed rear of the Fidenates; he likewise commands that the horsemen should raise their spears.
id factum magnae parti peditum Romanorum conspectum abeuntis Albani exercitus intersaepsit; qui viderant, id, quod ab rege auditum erat, rati, eo acrius pugnant.
This action blocked the view of the departing Alban army from a large part of the Roman infantry; those who had seen it, thinking it was as they had heard from the king, fought all the more fiercely.
terror ad hostes transit; et audiverant clara voce dictum, et magna pars Fidenatium, ut qui coloni additi Romanis essent, Latine sciebant.
Terror passed over to the enemy; they had both heard what was said in a loud voice, and a large part of the Fidenates, as they were colonists added to the Romans, knew Latin.
§1.27.10itaque, ne subito ex collibus decursu Albanorum intercluderentur ab oppido, terga vertunt.
And so, lest they should be cut off from their town by a sudden descent of the Albans from the hills, they turned their backs.
instat Tullus fusoque Fidenatium cornu in Veientem alieno pavore perculsum ferocior redit.
Tullus presses on, and having routed the wing of the Fidenates, returns more fiercely against the Veientes, who were struck by the panic of the others.
nec illi tulere impetum, sed ab effusa fuga flumen obiectum ab tergo arcebat.
Nor did they bear his onset, but the river thrown in their rear prevented their scattered flight.
§1.27.11quo postquam fuga inclinavit, alii arma foede iactantes in aquam caeci ruebant, alii, dum cunctantur in ripis, inter fugae pugnaeque consilium oppressi.
When the flight turned thither, some, shamefully throwing away their arms, rushed blindly into the water; others, while hesitating on the banks, were overwhelmed between the counsel of flight and of fight.
non alia ante Romana pugna atrocior fuit.
No Roman battle before was more atrocious than this.