§2.12.1obsidio erat nihilo minus et frumenti cum summa caritate inopia,) sedendoque expugnaturum se urbem spem Porsinna habebat, §2.12.2cum C. Mucius, adulescens nobilis, cui indignum videbatur populum Romanum servientem, cum sub regibus esset, nullo bello nec ab hostibus ullis obsessum esse, liberum eundem populum ab iisdem Etruscis obsideri, §2.12.3quorum saepe exercitus fuderit —; itaque magno audacique aliquo facinore eam indignitatem vindicandam ratus primo sua sponte penetrare in hostium castra constituit; §2.12.4dein metuens, ne, si consulum iniussu et ignaris omnibus iret, forte deprehensus a custodibus Romanis retraheretur ut transfuga, fortuna tum urbis crimen adfirmante, senatum adit.
The siege was nonetheless maintained, and there was a scarcity of corn with the highest price, and Porsinna had hopes that he would take the city by sitting down, when Gaius Mucius, a noble youth, to whom it seemed unworthy that the Roman people, when they were in servitude under kings, had never been blockaded in any war nor by any enemies, should now as a free people be besieged by these same Etruscans, whose armies they had often routed; and therefore, thinking that this indignity ought to be avenged by some great and daring deed, he resolved at first of his own accord to penetrate into the enemy's camp; then, fearing lest, if he should go without the order of the consuls and with everyone ignorant, he might by chance be seized by the Roman guards and brought back as a deserter, the fortune of the city at that time confirming the charge, he went to the senate.
§2.12.5“transire Tiberim” inquit, “patres, et intrare, si possim, castra hostium volo, non praedo nec populationum in vicem ultor: maius, si di iuvant, in animo est facinus. ” adprobant patres.
"I wish to cross the Tiber," he said, "patres, and enter, if I can, the camp of the enemy, not as a plunderer nor as an avenger of their devastations in turn; a greater deed is in my mind, if the gods help." The patres approved.
abdito intra vestem ferro proficiscitur.
Having hidden a sword within his garment, he set out.
§2.12.6ubi eo venit, in confertissima turba prope regium tribunal constitit.
When he arrived there, he stood in the densest part of the crowd near the royal tribunal.
§2.12.7ibi cum stipendium militibus forte daretur, et scriba cum rege sedens pari fere ornatu multa ageret eumque milites vulgo adirent: timens sciscitari, ut Porsinna esset, ne ignorando regem semet ipse aperiret, quis esset, quo temere traxit fortuna facinus, scribam pro rege obtruncat.
There, as pay happened to be given to the soldiers, and a scribe sitting with the king, dressed in almost equal attire, was transacting much business, and the soldiers commonly went to him: fearing to inquire which was Porsinna, lest by not knowing the king he should reveal himself who he was, whither fortune blindly directed the deed, he slew the scribe instead of the king.
§2.12.8vadentem inde, qua per trepidam turbam cruento mucrone sibi ipse fecerat viam, cum concursu ad clamorem facto conprehensum regii satellites retraxissent, ante tribunal regis destitutus, tum quoque inter tantas fortunae minas metuendus magis quam metuens “Romanus sum” inquit “civis; §2.12.9C. Mucium vocant.
As he was going thence, where with his bloody blade he had made a way for himself through the trembling crowd, when a rush was made at the outcry and the king's bodyguards seized and dragged him back, standing before the king's tribunal, even then, among such great threats of fortune, more to be feared than fearing, "I am a Roman citizen," he said; "they call me Gaius Mucius.
hostis hostem occidere volui, nec ad mortem minus animi est, quam fuit ad caedem: §2.12.10et facere et pati fortia Romanum est.
As an enemy, I wished to kill my enemy, nor is my mind less prepared for death than it was for slaughter: both to do and to suffer brave things is Roman.
nec unus in te ego hos animos gessi; longus post me ordo est idem petentium decus.
Nor have I alone harbored these spirits against you; there is a long line behind me of those seeking the same honor.
proinde in hoc discrimen, si iuvat, accingere, ut in singulas horas capite dimices tuo, ferrum hostemque in vestibulo habeas regiae.
Therefore, gird yourself, if you please, for this danger, to fight for your life every hour, and to have the sword and the enemy in the vestibule of your palace.
§2.12.11hoc tibi iuventus Romana indicimus bellum.
We, the Roman youth, declare this war against you.
nullam aciem, nullum proelium timueris; uni tibi et cum singulis res erit. ” §2.12.12cum rex simul ira infensus periculoque conterritus circumdari ignes minitabundus iuberet, §2.12.13nisi expromeret propere, quas insidiarum sibi minas per ambages iaceret, “en tibi” inquit, “ut sentias, quam vile corpus sit iis, qui magnam gloriam vident,” dextramque accenso ad sacrificium foculo inicit.
Fear no battle array, no battle; your business will be with you alone and with us one by one." When the king, at once incensed with anger and terrified by the danger, threateningly ordered fires to be placed around him, unless he should quickly explain what threats of plots he was casting at him in riddles, "Behold," he said, "that you may feel how cheap the body is to those who have great glory in view," and thrust his right hand into a fire-pan lighted for sacrifice.
quam cum velut alienato ab sensu torreret animo, prope attonitus miraculo rex cum ab sede sua prosiluisset amoverique ab altaribus iuvenem iussisset, §2.12.14“tu vero abi” inquit, “in te magis quam in me hostilia ausus.
When he was burning it with a mind as if alienated from feeling, the king, almost astonished by the miracle, having leapt from his seat and ordered the youth to be removed from the altars, said: "Go thy way indeed, having dared hostile things more against yourself than against me.
iuberem macte virtute esse, si pro mea patria ista virtus staret; nunc iure belli liberum te intactum inviolatumque hinc dimitto. ” §2.12.15tunc Mucius quasi remunerans meritum “quando quidem” inquit “est apud te virtuti bonos, ut beneficio tuleris a me, quod minis nequisti: trecenti coniuravimus principes iuventutis Romanae, ut in te hac via grassaremur.
I would bid thee to be of good courage, if that virtue stood for my country; now by the law of war I dismiss thee hence, free, untouched, and inviolate." Then Mucius, as if rewarding his merit, said, "Since indeed virtue has honor with you, so that you have obtained from me by kindness what you could not by threats: we, three hundred chiefs of the Roman youth, have conspired to attack you in this way.
§2.12.16mea prima sors fuit; ceteri, ut cuiusque exciderit primi, quoad te opportunum fortuna dederit, suo quisque tempore aderunt. ”
My lot was first; the rest, as the lot of each shall fall first, until fortune shall offer you as an opportunity, will each be present in his own time."