§2.49.1Manat tota urbe rumor; Fabios ad caelum laudibus ferunt: familiam unam subisse civitatis onus, Veiens bellum in privatam curam, in privata arma versum.
The rumor spread through the whole city; they raised the Fabii to the skies with praises: that a single family had taken upon itself the burden of the state, and the Veientine war had been turned into a private care and private arms.
si sint duae roboris eiusdem in urbe gentes, §2.49.2deposcant haec Volscos sibi, illa Aequos, populo Romano tranquillam pacem agente omnes finitimos subigi populos posse.
If there were in the city two clans of the same strength, this one might demand the Volsci for itself, that one the Aequi, and while the Roman people lived in tranquil peace, all neighboring nations could be subdued.
Fabii postera die arma capiunt; quo iussi erant, conveniunt.
On the following day, the Fabii took up arms; they assembled where they had been ordered.
§2.49.3consul paludatus egrediens in vestibulo gentem omnem suam instructo agmine videt; acceptus in medium signa ferri iubet.
The consul, coming out in his general's cloak, saw all his clan in the vestibule with their ranks drawn up; received into their midst, he ordered the standards to be advanced.
numquam exercitus neque minor numero neque clarior fama et admiratione hominum per urbem incessit: §2.49.4sex et trecenti milites, omnes patricii, omnes unius gentis, quorum neminem ducem sperneres, egregius quibuslibet temporibus senatus, ibant, unius familiae viribus Veienti populo pestem minitantes.
Never did an army, neither smaller in number nor more distinguished in fame and the admiration of men, march through the city: three hundred and six soldiers, all patricians, all of one clan, of whom you would not despise any one as a leader, a senate eminent in any times whatever, they went, threatening destruction to the Veientine people by the strength of a single family.
§2.49.5sequebatur turba, propria alia cognatorum sodaliumque, nihil medium, nec spem nec curam, sed inmensa omnia volventium animo, alia publica sollicitudine excitata, favore et admiratione stupens.
A crowd followed, partly composed of their own relatives and companions, revolving in their minds nothing moderate, neither hope nor care, but everything on an immense scale; partly excited by public anxiety, stupified by favor and admiration.
§2.49.6ire fortes, ire felices iubent, inceptis eventus pares reddere; consulatus inde ac triumphos, omnia praemia ab se, omnes honores sperare.
They bade them go brave, go fortunate, and bring back results equal to their undertakings; thence to expect consulships and triumphs, all rewards from themselves, all honors.
§2.49.7praetereuntibus Capitolium arcemque et alia templa, quidquid deorum oculis, quidquid animo occurrit, precantur, ut illud agmen faustum atque felix mittant, sospites brevi in patriam ad parentes restituant.
As they passed the Capitol, the citadel, and other temples, whatever of the gods occurred to their eyes or to their minds, they prayed that they would send that band forth with good omen and fortune, and restore them safe in a short time to their country and their parents.
§2.49.8in cassum missae preces.
The prayers were sent in vain.
infelici via, dextro Iano portae Carmentalis, profecti ad Cremeram flumen perveniunt.
Having set out by an ill-omened way, through the right-hand arch of Janus of the Carmental Gate, they arrived at the river Cremera.
is opportunus visus locus communiendo praesidio.
This place seemed suitable for securing with a fortification.
L. Aemilius inde et C. Servilius consules facti.
After that, L. Aemilius and C. Servilius were made consuls.
§2.49.9et donec nihil aliud quam in populationibus res fuit, non ad praesidium modo tutandum Fabii satis erant, sed tota regione, qua Tuscus ager Romano adiacet, sua tuta omnia, infesta hostium vagantes per utrumque finem fecere.
And as long as the matter consisted in nothing else than plundering, the Fabii were not only sufficient for defending the fort, but throughout the whole region where the Etruscan territory adjoins the Roman, by wandering through both borders, they made all their own side safe and that of the enemy hostile.
§2.49.10intervallum deinde haud magnum populationibus fuit, dum et Veientes accito ex Etruria exercitu praesidium Cremerae oppugnant, et Romanae legiones ab L. Aemilio consule adductae comminus cum Etruscis dimicant acie.
Then there was no great interval in the plundering, while both the Veientines, having summoned an army from Etruria, assaulted the fort at Cremera, and the Roman legions, led by the consul L. Aemilius, fought hand-to-hand in battle array with the Etruscans.
quamquam vix derigendi aciem spatium Veientibus fuit; §2.49.11adeo inter primam trepidationem, dum post signa ordines introeunt subsidiaque locant, invecta subito ab latere Romana equitum ala non pugnae modo incipiendae, sed consistendi ademit locum.
Although there was scarcely space for the Veientines to draw up their line; so much did a Roman cavalry squadron, suddenly charging from the flank during the first confusion while they were entering their ranks behind the standards and positioning their reserves, take away the opportunity not only of beginning the battle, but even of standing firm.
§2.49.12ita fusi retro ad saxa rubra — ibi castra habebant — pacem supplices petunt; cuius impetratae ab insita animis levitate ante deductum Cremera Romanum praesidium paenituit.
Thus routed back to Saxa Rubra—there they had their camp—they begged for peace as suppliants; of which, once obtained, from the instability natural to their minds, they repented before the Roman garrison was withdrawn from Cremera.