§10.4.1nuntiata ea clades Romam maiorem, quam res erat, terrorem excivit.
The news of this defeat excited a greater terror in Rome than the reality warranted.
§10.4.2nam ut exercitu deleto ita iustitium indictum, custodiae in portis, vigiliae vicatim actae, arma tela in muros congesta.
For just as if the army had been destroyed, a suspension of public business was proclaimed, guards were posted at the gates, watches were kept from street to street, and arms and missiles were accumulated on the walls.
§10.4.3omnibus iunioribus sacramento adactis dictator ad exercitum missus omnia spe tranquilliora et conposita magistri equitum cura, castra in tutiorem locum redacta, cohortes, §10.4.4quae signa amiserant, extra vallum sine tentoriis destitutas invenit, exercitum avidum pugnae, quo maturius ignominia aboleretur.
After all the younger men had been bound by the military oath, the dictator, being sent to the army, found everything more tranquil than he had hoped and arranged by the care of the master of the horse, the camp removed to a safer place, and the cohorts, which had lost their standards, left outside the rampart without tents, and the army eager for battle, that their disgrace might be the more speedily wiped out.
§10.4.5itaque confestim castra inde in agrum Rusellanum promovit.
Therefore, he immediately moved the camp from there into the territory of Rusellae.
§10.4.6eo et hostes secuti, quamquam ex bene gesta re summam et in aperto certamine virium spem habebant, tamen insidiis quoque, quas feliciter experti erant, hostem temptant.
The enemy also followed them there; and although, from their successful action, they had the highest hopes even in an open contest of strength, they nevertheless also tried the enemy with ambushes, which they had happily experienced.
§10.4.7tecta semiruta vici per vastationem agrorum deusti haud procul castris Romanorum aberant.
The half-ruined roofs of a village, burned during the devastation of the lands, were not far from the Roman camp.
ibi abditis armatis pecus in conspectum praesidii Romani, cui praeerat Cn. Fulvius legatus, propulsum.
There, armed men having been concealed, cattle were driven into the view of the Roman outpost, which the lieutenant Gnaeus Fulvius commanded.
§10.4.8ad quam inlecebram cum moveretur nemo ab Romana statione, pastorum unus progressus sub ipsas munitiones inclamat alios cunctanter ab ruinis vici pecus propellentes, quid cessarent, cum per media castra Romana tuto agere possent.
Since no one was moved from the Roman post by this decoy, one of the shepherds, having advanced right up to the fortifications, cried out to the others who were hesitantly driving the cattle from the ruins of the village, asking why they delayed, when they might drive them safely through the middle of the Roman camp.
§10.4.9haec cum legato Caerites quidam interpretarentur et per omnes manipulos militum indignatio ingens esset nec tamen iniussu moveri auderent, iubet peritos linguae adtendere animum, pastorum sermo agresti an urbano propior esset.
When certain Caerites interpreted these words to the lieutenant, and there was great indignation through all the maniples of the soldiers, who nevertheless did not dare to move without orders, he ordered those skilled in the language to pay attention to whether the speech of the shepherds was closer to a rustic or an urban tone.
§10.4.10cum referrent sonum linguae et corporum habitum et nitorem cultiora quam pastoralia esse, “ite igitur, dicite,” inquit, “detegant nequiquam conditas insidias: omnia scire Romanum nec magis iam dolo capi quam armis vinci posse. ” §10.4.11haec ubi audita sunt et ad eos, qui consederant in insidiis, perlata, consurrectum repente ex latebris est et in patentem ad conspectum undique campum prolata signa.
When they reported back that the sound of the language, the appearance of their bodies, and their cleanliness were more refined than became shepherds, he said: "Go then, and tell them to uncover the ambush they have laid in vain; the Roman knows everything, and can now no more be caught by guile than he can be conquered by arms." When these words were heard and carried to those who had settled in ambush, they suddenly rose from their hiding places and brought their standards forward into a plain open to view from all sides.
§10.4.12visa legato maior acies, quam quae ab suo praesidio sustineri posset.
A larger battle line appeared to the lieutenant than could be sustained by his own outpost.
itaque propere ad dictatorem auxilia accitum mittit; interea ipse impetus hostium sustinet.
Therefore, he hastily sent to the dictator to summon reinforcements; meanwhile, he himself sustained the attacks of the enemy.