§10.14.1consules novi, Q. Fabius Maximus quartum et P. Decius Mus tertium, cum inter se agitarent, uti alter Samnites hostes, §10.14.2alter Etruscos deligeret quantaeque in hanc aut in illam provinciam copiae satis et uter ad utrum bellum dux idoneus magis esset, ab Sutrio et Nepete et Faleriis legati, §10.14.3auctores concilia Etruriae populorum de petenda pace haberi, totam belli molem in Samnium averterunt.
While the new consuls, Quintus Fabius Maximus for the fourth time and Publius Decius Mus for the third time, were discussing between themselves whether the one should choose the Samnite enemy and the other the Etruscans, and what forces would be sufficient for this or that province, and which commander was more suitable for which war, envoys from Sutrium, Nepete, and Falerii arrived, bringers of news that councils of the peoples of Etruria were being held to seek peace, and they diverted the entire weight of the war to Samnium.
§10.14.4profecti consules, quo expeditiores commeatus essent et incertior hostis, qua venturum bellum foret, Fabius per Soranum, Decius per Sidicinum agrum in Samnium legiones ducunt.
The consuls, having set out, in order that provisions might be more ready and the enemy more uncertain as to where the war would come, lead their legions into Samnium, Fabius through the territory of Sora and Decius through that of Sidicinum.
§10.14.5ubi in hostium fines ventum est, uterque populabundus effuso agmine incedit.
When they entered the enemy's territory, each advanced in a dispersed column, devastating the land.
explorant tamen latius quam populantur; §10.14.6igitur non fefellere ad Tifernum hostes in occulta valle instructi, quam ingressos Romanos superiore ex loco adoriri parabant.
However, they reconnoitered more widely than they plundered; therefore, the enemy, drawn up in a hidden valley at Tifernum, did not escape their notice, where they were preparing to attack the Romans from higher ground once they had entered.
§10.14.7Fabius inpedimentis in locum tutum remotis praesidioque modico inposito, praemonitis militibus adesse certamen, quadrato agmine ad praedictas hostium latebras succedit.
Fabius, having removed the baggage to a safe place and posted a modest guard, and having forewarned the soldiers that a battle was at hand, advanced in a square formation toward the aforementioned hiding places of the enemy.
§10.14.8Samnites desperato inproviso tumultu, quando in apertum semel discrimen evasura esset res, et ipsi acie iusta maluerunt concurrere.
The Samnites, despairing of a sudden ambush, since the matter would have to resolve once and for all into an open conflict, themselves also preferred to clash in a regular battle.
itaque in aequum descendunt ac fortunae se maiore animo quam spe committunt.
Therefore, they descended into the plain and committed themselves to fortune with greater courage than hope.
§10.14.9ceterum, sive quia ex omnium Samnitium populis, quodcumque roboris fuerat, contraxerant, seu quia discrimen summae rerum augebat animos, aliquantum aperta quoque pugna praebuerunt terroris.
However, whether because they had drawn together whatever strength there had been from all the peoples of the Samnites, or because the critical moment of their supreme fortune increased their courage, they also caused a considerable amount of terror in the open fight.
§10.14.10Fabius, ubi nulla ex parte hostem loco moveri vidit, Maximum filium et M. Valerium tribunos militum, cum quibus ad primam aciem procurrerat, ire ad equites iubet et adhortari, §10.14.11ut, si quando umquam equestri ope adiutam rem publicam meminerint, illo die adnitantur, ut ordinis eius gloriam invictam praestent: §10.14.12peditum certamine inmobilem hostem restare;
Fabius, when he saw that the enemy was not being moved from their position on any side, ordered his son Maximus and Marcus Valerius, military tribunes with whom he had run forward to the front line, to go to the cavalry and exhort them that, if they ever remembered the state having been aided by cavalry support, they should strive on that day to maintain the undefeated glory of their order: that the enemy stood motionless in the infantry contest; all remaining hope lay in the charge of the cavalry.
omnem reliquam spem in impetu esse equitum. et ipsos nominatim iuvenes, pari comitate utrumque, nunc laudibus nunc promissis onerat.
He also loaded the young men themselves by name, both with equal friendliness, now with praise and now with promises.
§10.14.13ceterum quando, ne ea quoque temptata vis proficeret parum, timeri posset, consilio grassandum, §10.14.14si nihil vires iuvarent, ratus, Scipionem legatum hastatos primae legionis subtrahere ex acie et ad montes proximos quam posset occultissime circumducere iubet; inde ascensu abdito a conspectu erigere in montes agmen aversoque hosti ab tergo repente se ostendere.
But since, lest that force also, when attempted, should profit too little, there could be cause for fear, and thinking they must proceed by strategy if strength availed nothing, he ordered Scipio, the legate, to withdraw the hastati of the first legion from the battle line and lead them around to the nearest mountains as secretly as possible; thence, by an ascent hidden from view, to lead the column up into the mountains and suddenly show themselves from the rear to the turned enemy.
§10.14.15equites ducibus tribunis haud multo plus hostibus quam suis ex inproviso ante signa evecti praebuerunt tumultus.
The cavalry, led by the tribunes, charging forward before the standards unexpectedly, caused no much greater confusion to the enemy than to their own men.
§10.14.16adversus incitatas turmas stetit inmota Samnitium acies nec parte ulla pelli aut perrumpi potuit; et postquam inritum inceptum erat, recepti post signa proelio excesserunt.
Against the galloping squadrons, the Samnite line stood motionless, nor could it be driven back or broken through in any part; and after the attempt proved in vain, having retired behind the standards, they withdrew from the battle.
§10.14.17crevit ex eo hostium animus, nec sustinere frons prima tam longum certamen increscentemque fiducia sui vim potuisset, ni secunda acies iussu consulis in primum successisset.
From this, the courage of the enemy grew, and the front line would not have been able to sustain so long a contest and their force increasing with self-confidence, had not the second line, by order of the consul, succeeded the first.
ibi integrae vires sistunt invehentem se iam Samnitem; §10.14.18et in tempore visa ex montibus signa clamorque sublatus non vero tantum metu terruere Samnitium animos.
There, fresh forces halted the Samnites who were now charging; and the standards seen from the mountains at the right time and the shout that was raised terrified the minds of the Samnites with a fear that was not without real cause.
§10.14.19nam et Fabius Decium collegam adpropinquare exclamavit et pro se quisque miles adesse alterum consulem, adesse legiones gaudio alacres fremunt, §10.14.20errorque utilis Romanis oblatus fugae formidinisque Samnites inplevit, maxime territos, ne ab altero exercitu integro intactoque fessi opprimerentur.
For Fabius cried out that his colleague Decius was approaching, and each soldier for his own part, eager with joy, shouted that the other consul was present, that the legions were present; and this error, which presented itself usefully to the Romans, filled the Samnites with flight and dread, they being especially terrified lest, exhausted as they were, they should be overwhelmed by another fresh and untouched army.
§10.14.21et quia passim in fugam dissipati sunt, minor caedes quam pro tanta victoria fuit.
And because they were scattered everywhere in flight, the slaughter was less than in proportion to so great a victory.
tria milia et quadringenti caesi, capti octingenti ferme et triginta, signa militaria capta tria et viginti.
Three thousand four hundred were slain, about eight hundred and thirty captured, and twenty-three military standards taken.