§2.30.1multis, ut erat, horrida et atrox videbatur Appi sententia; rursus Vergini Larcique exemplo haud salubres, uti Larci putabant esse ear, quae totam fidem tolleret.
To many, as indeed it was, Appius' opinion seemed harsh and dreadful; on the other hand, those of Verginius and Larcius were considered unwholesome as a precedent, while that of Larcius, as they thought, was such as to destroy all credit.
medium maxime et moderatum utroque consilium Vergini habebatur; §2.30.2sed factione respectuque rerum privatarum, quae semper offecere officientque publicis consiliis, Appius vicit, ac prope fuit, ut dictator ille idem crearetur; §2.30.3quae res utique alienasset plebem periculosissimo tempore, cum Volsci Aequique et Sabini forte una omnes in armis essent.
The plan of Verginius was regarded as the most middle and moderate between both; but through faction and regard for private affairs, which always have obstructed and will obstruct public counsels, Appius prevailed, and it was near that he himself should be created dictator; which measure would certainly have alienated the plebs at a most dangerous time, when the Volsci, Aequi, and Sabines by chance were all in arms at once.
§2.30.4sed curae fuit consulibus et senioribus patrum, ut imperio suo vehemens magistratus mansueto permitteretur ingenio.
But care was taken by the consuls and the elder of the senators that a magistracy vehement in its power should be committed to a gentle disposition.
M.’ Valerium dictatorem Volesi filium creant.
They created Manius Valerius, son of Volesus, dictator.
§2.30.5plebes etsi adversus se creatum dictatorem videbat, tamen, cum provocationem fratris lege haberet, nihil ex ea familia triste nec superbum timebat.
The plebs, although they saw that the dictator had been created against themselves, yet, since they possessed the right of appeal by his brother's law, feared nothing harsh or proud from that family.
§2.30.6edictum deinde a dictatore propositum confirmavit animos Servili fere consulis edicto conveniens; sed et homini et potestati melius rati credi omisso certamine nomina dedere.
Then an edict published by the dictator confirmed their minds, agreeing for the most part with the edict of the consul Servilius; but thinking it better to trust both the man and the power, they gave their names, laying aside the contest.
quantus nunquam ante exercitus, §2.30.7legiones decem effectae; ternae inde datae consulibus, quattuor dictator usus.
A larger army than ever before, ten legions, was formed; three of these were then given to each of the consuls, and the dictator used four.
nec iam poterat bellum differri.
Nor could the war be deferred any longer.
§2.30.8aequi Latinum agrum invaserant.
The Aequi had invaded the Latin territory.
oratores Latinorum ab senatu petebant, ut aut mitterent subsidium aut se ipsos tuendorum finium causa capere arma sinerent.
Envoys of the Latins petitioned the senate that they should either send assistance or permit them to take up arms themselves for the sake of defending their borders.
§2.30.9tutius visum est defendi inermes Latinos quam pati retractare arma.
It seemed safer for the unarmed Latins to be defended than to permit them to handle arms again.
Vetusius consul missus est.
The consul Vetusius was sent.
is finis populationibus fuit.
This was the end of the pillaging.
cessere Aequi campis locoque magis quam armis freti summis se iugis montium tutabantur.
The Aequi withdrew from the plains, and trusting more to the place than to their arms, they secured themselves on the highest ridges of the mountains.
§2.30.10alter consul in Volscos profectus, ne et ipse tereret tempus, vastandis maxime agris hostem ad conferenda propius castra dimicandumque acie excivit.
The other consul set out against the Volsci, lest he himself also should waste time, and chiefly by devastating the fields, he provoked the enemy to move their camp closer and to fight in a pitched battle.
§2.30.11medio inter castra campo ante suum quisque vallum infestis signis constitere.
In the middle of the plain between the camps, each stood before his own rampart with hostile standards.
multitudine aliquantum Volsci superabant; itaque effusi et contemptim pugnam iniere.
The Volsci surpassed somewhat in number; and so they entered the battle scattered and contemptuously.
consul Romanus nec promovit aciem, §2.30.12nec clamorem reddi passus defixis pilis stare suos iussit: ubi ad manum venisset hostis, tum coortos tota vi gladiis rem gerere.
The Roman consul neither advanced his line, nor permitted a shout to be returned, and ordered his men to stand with their javelins fixed in the ground: when the enemy had come to close quarters, then they should arise and do the business with their swords with all their might.
§2.30.13Volsci cursu et clamore fessi cum se velut stupentibus metu intulissent Romanis, postquam inpressionem sensere ex adverso factam et ante oculos micare gladios, haud secus, quam si in insidias incidissent, turbati vertunt terga; et ne ad fugam quidem satis virium fuit, quia cursu in proelium ierant.
The Volsci, fatigued by running and shouting, when they had thrown themselves upon the Romans as if they were stupified with fear, after they felt the charge made from the opposite side and saw the swords flashing before their eyes, were confused and turned their backs, just as if they had fallen into an ambush; and there was not even enough strength for flight, because they had gone into battle at a run.
§2.30.14Romani contra, quia principio pugnae quieti steterant, vigentes corporibus, facile adepti fessos et castra impetu ceperunt et castris exutum hostem Velitras persecuti uno agmine victores cum victis in urbem inrupere; §2.30.15plusque ibi sanguinis promiscua omnium generum caede quam in ipsa dimicatione factum.
The Romans, on the other hand, because they had stood quiet at the beginning of the fight, being vigorous in body, easily overtook the weary ones, captured their camp by storm, and having pursued the enemy, stripped of their camp, to Velitrae, the victors in one body rushed into the city along with the vanquished; and more blood was shed there in a promiscuous slaughter of all kinds of people than in the battle itself.
paucis data venia, qui inermes in deditionem venerunt.
Quarter was given to a few who surrendered unarmed.