§10.40.1haec conperta perfugarum indiciis cum apud infensos iam sua sponte milites disseruisset, simul divinae humanaeque spei pleni clamore consentienti pugnam poscunt; paenitet in posterum diem dilatum certamen; §10.40.2moram diei noctisque oderunt.
Having learned these things from the disclosures of deserters, when he had discussed them before the soldiers who were already of their own accord eager for battle, they, filled at the same time with divine and human hope, demanded battle with a unanimous shout; they regretted that the contest had been deferred to the following day; they hated the delay of a day and a night.
tertia vigilia noctis, iam relatis litteris a collega, Papirius silentio surgit et pullarium in auspicium mittit.
At the third watch of the night, letters having now been brought back from his colleague, Papirius rose in silence and sent the chicken-keeper to take the auspices.
§10.40.3nullum erat genus hominum in castris intactum cupiditate pugnae, summi infimique aeque intenti erant; dux militum, miles ducis ardorem spectabat.
There was no class of men in the camp untouched by the desire for battle; the highest and the lowest were equally eager; the general watched the eagerness of the soldiers, and the soldier that of the general.
§10.40.4is ardor omnium etiam ad eos, qui auspicio intererant, pervenit; nam cum pulli non pascerentur, pullarius auspicium mentiri ausus tripudium solistimum consuli nuntiavit.
This eagerness of all reached even those who were present at the auspices; for when the chickens would not feed, the chicken-keeper, having dared to lie about the omen, reported a perfect auspice (tripudium solistimum) to the consul.
§10.40.5consul laetus auspicium egregium esse et deis auctoribus rem gesturos pronuntiat signumque pugnae proponit.
The consul, joyful, announced that the auspice was excellent and that under the guidance of the gods they would fight, and displayed the signal for battle.
§10.40.6exeunti iam forte in aciem nuntiat perfuga viginti cohortes Samnitium — quadringenariae ferme erant — Cominium profectas.
As he was just by chance marching out to the battle line, a deserter reported that twenty cohorts of Samnites—they were about four hundred men each—had set out for Cominium.
quod ne ignoraret collega, extemplo nuntium mittit; ipse signa ocius proferri iubet; subsidia suis quaeque locis et praefectos subsidiis adtribuerat; §10.40.7dextro cornu L. Volumnium, sinistro L. Scipionem, equitibus legatos alios, C. Caedicium et T. Trebonium, praefecit; §10.40.8Sp. Nautium mulos detractis clitellis cum tribus cohortibus alariis in tumulum conspectum propere circumducere iubet atque inde inter ipsam dimicationem quanto maxime posset moto pulvere se ostendere.
Lest his colleague should be ignorant of this, he immediately sent a messenger; he himself ordered the standards to be advanced more quickly; he had assigned reserves each to their own places and commanders to the reserves; he placed Lucius Volumnius in command of the right wing, Lucius Scipio of the left, and other legates, Gaius Caedicius and Titus Trebonius, over the cavalry; he ordered Spurius Nautius quickly to lead the mules, with their pack-saddles removed, together with three allied cohorts, around to a visible hill, and from there, in the midst of the fight itself, to show themselves, raising as much dust as possible.
dum his intentus imperator erat, §10.40.9altercatio inter pullarios orta de auspicio eius diei exauditaque ab equitibus Romanis, qui rem haud spernendam rati Sp. Papirio, fratris filio consulis, ambigi de auspicio renuntiaverunt.
While the commander was intent on these things, a dispute arose among the chicken-keepers about the auspice of that day, and was overheard by the Roman horsemen, who, thinking the matter not to be despised, reported to Spurius Papirius, the consul's nephew, that there was a doubt about the auspice.
§10.40.10iuvenis ante doctrinam deos spernentem natus rem inquisitam, ne quid inconpertum deferret, ad consulem detulit.
The young man, born before the doctrine that despises the gods, having investigated the matter lest he should report anything unverified, brought it to the consul.
§10.40.11cui ille: “tu quidem macte virtute diligentiaque esto! ceterum qui auspicio adest, si quid falsi nuntiat, in semet ipsum religionem recipit;
To whom he replied: "May you indeed be blessed in your courage and diligence!
mihi quidem tripudium nuntiatum, populo Romano exercituique egregium auspicium, est. ” §10.40.12centurionibus deinde imperavit, uti pullarios inter prima signa constituerent.
But he who assists at the auspice, if he reports anything false, brings the religious guilt upon himself; to me indeed a tripudium has been reported, an excellent auspice for the Roman people and the army." He then commanded the centurions to place the chicken-keepers in the front ranks.
promovent et Samnites signa; insequitur acies ornata armataque, ut hostibus quoque magnificum spectaculum esset.
The Samnites also advanced their standards; their line followed, adorned and armed, so that it was a magnificent spectacle even to their enemies.
§10.40.13priusquam clamor tolleretur concurrereturque, emisso temere pilo ictus pullarius ante signa cecidit.
Before the shout was raised and the charge made, the chicken-keeper, struck by a javelin thrown at random, fell before the standards.
quod ubi consuli nuntiatum est, “di in proelio sunt” inquit; §10.40.14“habet poenam noxium caput. ” ante consulem haec dicentem corvus voce clara occinuit; quo laetus augurio consul, adfirmans numquam humanis rebus magis praesentes interfuisse deos, signa canere et clamorem tolli iussit.
When this was reported to the consul, he said, "The gods are in the battle; the guilty head has received its punishment." Before the consul as he was saying these things, a crow croaked with a clear voice; joyful at this augury, the consul, affirming that the gods had never been present at human affairs in a more immediate way, ordered the trumpets to sound and the shout to be raised.