§10.17.1haec eos in Etruria iactantes molientesque bellum domi Romanum urebat.
While they were boasting of these things and plotting war in Etruria, the Roman was harassing them at home.
nan P. Decius, ubi conperit per exploratores profectum Samnitium exercitum, §10.17.2advocato consilio “quid per agros” inquit “vagamur vicatim circumferentes bellum? quin urbes et moenia adgredimur? nullus iam exercitus Samnio praesidet; cessere finibus ac sibimet ipsi exilium conscivere. ” adprobantibus cunctis ad Murgantiam, §10.17.3validam urbern, oppugnandam ducit, tantusque ardor militum fuit et caritate ducis et spe maioris quam ex agrestibus populationibus praedae, ut uno die vi atque armis urbem caperent.
For Publius Decius, when he found out through scouts that the army of the Samnites had departed, having called a council, said: "Why do we wander through the fields, carrying war from village to village? Why do we not attack cities and walls? No army now guards Samnium; they have departed from their borders and decreed exile for themselves." With everyone approving, he led them to Murgantia, a strong city, to attack it; and so great was the ardor of the soldiers, both from affection for their leader and from hope of greater booty than that from rural plunderings, that in one day they captured the city by force and arms.
§10.17.4ibi duo milia Samnitium et centum pugnantes circumventi captique, et alia praeda ingens capta est.
There, two thousand one hundred fighting Samnites were surrounded and captured, and other huge booty was taken.
quae ne impedimentis gravibus agmen oneraret, convocari milites Decius iubet.
Lest this should burden the column with heavy baggage, Decius ordered the soldiers to be called together.
§10.17.5“hacine” inquit “victoria sola aut hac praeda contenti estis futuri? vultis vos pro virtute spes gerere? omnes Samnitium urbes fortunaeque in urbibus relictae vestrae sunt, quando legiones eorum tot proeliis fusas postremo finibus expulistis.
"Will you," he said, "be content with this victory alone or this booty? Do you wish to direct your hopes in proportion to your valor? All the cities of the Samnites and the fortunes left in the cities are yours, since you have finally expelled their legions, routed in so many battles, from their borders.
§10.17.6vendite ista et inlicite lucro mercatorem, ut sequatur agmen; ego subinde suggeram quae vendatis. ad Romuleam urbem hinc eamus, ubi vos labor haud maior, praeda maior manet. ”
Sell those things and entice the merchant with gain, so that he may follow the column; I will constantly supply things for you to sell.
§10.17.7Divendita praeda ultro adhortantes imperatorem ad Romuleam pergunt.
Let us go hence to the city of Romulea, where no greater labor, but greater booty, awaits you." The booty having been sold off, of their own accord encouraging their commander, they proceeded to Romulea.
ibi quoque sine opere, sine tormentis, simul admota sunt signa, nulla vi deterriti a muris, qua cuique proximum fuit, scalis raptim admotis in moenia evasere.
There too, without siege works, without engines, as soon as the standards were brought up, deterred from the walls by no force, wherever was closest to each, with ladders quickly applied, they climbed onto the walls.
captum oppidum ac direptum est; §10.17.8ad duo milia et trecenti occisi et sex milia hominum capta, §10.17.9et miles ingenti praeda potitus, quam vendere, sicut priorem, coactus; Ferentinum inde, quamquam nihil quietis dabatur, tamen summa alacritate ductus.
The town was captured and plundered; about two thousand three hundred were killed and six thousand people captured, and the soldier gained huge booty, which he was compelled to sell, just like the former; thence they were led to Ferentinum with the greatest eagerness, although no rest was given.
§10.17.10ceterum ibi plus laboris ac periculi fuit: et defensa summa vi moenia sunt, et locus erat munimento naturaque tutus; sed evicit omnia adsuetus praedae miles.
But there was more labor and danger there: both the walls were defended with the greatest force, and the place was safe by fortification and nature; but the soldier, accustomed to booty, overcame all things.
ad tria milia hostium circa muros caesa; praeda militis fuit.
About three thousand of the enemy were slain around the walls; the booty belonged to the soldier.
§10.17.11huius oppugnatarum urbium decoris pars maior in quibusdam annalibus ad Maximum trahitur: Murgantiam ab Decio, a Fabio Ferentinum Romuleamque oppugnatas tradunt.
The greater part of the glory of these captured cities is ascribed in certain annals to Maximus; they report that Murgantia was attacked by Decius, and Ferentinum and Romulea by Fabius.
§10.17.12sunt, qui novorum consulum hanc gloriam faciant, quidam non amborum, sed alterius, L. Volumni: ei Samnium provinciam evenisse.
There are those who make this glory belong to the new consuls, some not to both, but to one of them, Lucius Volumnius: that the province of Samnium had fallen to him.