§10.32.1Q. Fabium P. Decium L. Postumius Megellus et M. Atilius Regulus consules secuti sunt.
Quintus Fabius and Publius Decius were succeeded as consuls by Lucius Postumius Megellus and Marcus Atilius Regulus.
Samnium ambobus decreta provincia est, §10.32.2quia tres scriptos hostium exercitus, uno Etruriam, altero populationes Campaniae repeti, tertium tuendis parari finibus fama erat.
Samnium was decreed as the province for both, because there was a rumor that three enrolled armies of the enemy had been prepared: that one was heading for Etruria, another was aiming at the plundering of Campania, and the third was being readied for defending their borders.
§10.32.3Postumium valetudo adversa Romae tenuit; Atilius extemplo profectus, ut in Samnio hostes — ita enim placuerat patribus — nondum egressos opprimeret.
Adverse health detained Postumius at Rome; Atilius set out immediately to crush the enemy in Samnium before they had yet marched out—for so it had pleased the senators.
§10.32.4velut ex conposito ibi obvium habuere hostem, ubi et vastare ipsi Samnitium agrum prohiberentur et egredi inde in pacata sociorumque populi Romani fines Samnitem prohiberent.
As if by agreement, they met the enemy in a place where they themselves would be prevented from devastating the Samnite territory, and where they would prevent the Samnites from exiting from there into the peaceful territories of the allies of the Roman people.
§10.32.5cum castra castris conlata essent, quod vix Romanus totiens victor auderet, ausi Samnites sunt — tantum desperatio ultima temeritatis facit — castra Romana oppugnare, et quamquam non venit ad finem tam audax inceptum, tamen haud omnino vanum fuit.
When camp had been pitched close to camp, the Samnites dared to do what the Romans, though victorious so many times, would scarcely have dared—so much does extreme desperation produce rashness—namely, to attack the Roman camp; and although so bold an undertaking did not succeed, yet it was not altogether in vain.
§10.32.6nebula erat ad multum diei densa adeo, ut lucis usum eriperet, non prospectu modo extra vallum adempto, sed propinquo etiam congredientium inter se conspectu.
There was a fog so dense for a great part of the day that it took away the use of light, with not only the view beyond the rampart being cut off, but even the sight of those approaching each other at close quarters.
§10.32.7hac velut latebra insidiarum freti Samnites vixdum satis certa luce et eam ipsam premente caligine ad stationem Romanam in porta segniter agentem vigilias perveniunt.
Relying on this, as if it were a hiding place for an ambush, the Samnites reached the Roman guard station at the gate, which was keeping watch sluggishly, while the light was still scarcely clear and the thick mist was pressing down even upon that.
§10.32.8inproviso oppressis nec animi satis ad resistendum nec virium fuit.
To those surprised by the unexpected attack, there was neither sufficient courage nor strength to resist.
§10.32.9ab tergo castrorum decumana porta impetus factus; itaque captum quaestorium quaestorque ibi L. Opimius Pansa occisus.
An assault was made from the rear of the camp through the decuman gate; and so the quaestor's quarters were captured, and the quaestor Lucius Opimius Pansa was killed there.
conclamatum inde ad arma.
Then a general call to arms was raised.