§2.46.1instruitur acies, nec Veiens hostis Etruscaeque legiones detractant.
The battle-line was drawn up, and neither the Veientine enemy nor the Etruscan legions declined the contest.
prope certa spes erat non magis secum pugnaturos, quam pugnaverint cum Aequis; maius quoque aliquod in tam inritatis animis et occasione ancipiti haud desperandum esse facinus.
There was an almost certain hope on their part that the Romans would fight no more with them than they had fought with the Aequi; they also believed that some greater outrage was by no means to be despaired of in minds so irritated and on so critical an occasion.
§2.46.2res liter longe evenit; nam non alio ante bello infestior Romanus — adeo hinc contumeliis hostes, hinc consules mora exacerbaverant — proelium iniit.
But the matter turned out far otherwise; for in no other war before had the Roman entered battle with more hostile feelings—so much had the enemy on one side by insults, and the consuls on the other by delay, exasperated them.
§2.46.3vix explicandi ordines spatium Etruscis fuit, cum pilis inter primam trepidationem abiectis temere magis quam emissis pugna iam in manus, iam ad gladios, ubi Mars est atrocissimus, venerat.
Hardly had the Etruscans space to deploy their ranks when, the javelins having been thrown aside in the first confusion, rather cast away at random than hurled, the fight had already come to close quarters, already to the swords, where Mars is most fierce.
§2.46.4inter primores genus Fabium insigne spectaculo exemploque civibus erat.
Among the foremost, the Fabian house was distinguished as a spectacle and an example to their fellow-citizens.
ex his Q. Fabium — tertio hic anno ante consul fuerat — principem in confertos Veientes euntem ferox viribus et armorum arte Tuscus, incautum inter multas versantem hostium manus, gladio per pectus transfigit; telo extracto praeceps Fabius in vulnus cadit.
Of these, Quintus Fabius—he had been consul three years before—as he went as a leader into the thick of the Veientes, was pierced through the breast with a sword by a Tuscan fierce in strength and skill of arms, while Fabius was moving incautiously among many bands of the enemy; when the weapon was drawn out, Fabius fell headlong upon his wound.
§2.46.5sensit utraque acies unius viri casum, cedebatque inde Romanus, cum M. Fabius consul transiluit iacentis corpus obiectaque parma “hoc iurastis” inquit, “milites, fugientes vos in castra redituros?
Both battle-lines felt the fall of this one man, and the Roman was beginning to give way from that spot, when Marcus Fabius the consul leaped over the body of him who lay there, and presenting his shield, said: "Is this what you swore, soldiers, that you would return to the camp fleeing?
§2.46.6adeo ignavissimos hostis magis timetis quam Iovem Martemque, per quos iurastis? at ego iniuratus aut victor revertar aut prope te hic, Q. Fabi, dimicans cadam. ” consuli tum K. Fabius, prioris anni consul: “verbisne istis, frater, ut pugnent, te impetraturum credis? dii impetrabunt, per quos iuravere; §2.46.7et nos, ut decet proceres, ut Fabio nomine est dignum, pugnando potius quam adhortando accendamus militum animos!” sic in primum infestis hastis provolant duo Fabii totamque moverunt secum aciem.
Do you dread the most cowardly enemies so much more than Jupiter and Mars, by whom you swore? But I, unsworn, will either return as a conqueror or will fall here fighting near you, Quintus Fabius." Then Caeso Fabius, the consul of the preceding year, said to the consul: "Do you believe, brother, that by those words of yours you will obtain from them that they fight? The gods, by whom they swore, will obtain it; and let us too, as becomes leaders, as is worthy of the Fabian name, kindle the minds of the soldiers by fighting rather than by exhorting!" Thus the two Fabii rushed forward to the front with leveled spears, and moved the whole battle-line with them.