§2.53.1certamina domi finita; Veiens bellum exortum, quibus Sabini arma coniunxerant.
The conflicts at home were ended; a war with Veii arose, in which the Sabines had joined their arms.
P. Valerius consul accitis Latinorum Hernicorumque auxiliis cum exercitu Veios missus castra Sabina, quae pro moenibus sociorum locata erant, confestim adgreditur tantamque trepidationem iniecit, ut, dum dispersi alii alia manipulatim excurrunt ad arcendam hostium vim, ea porta, cui signa primum intulerat, caperetur.
The consul Publius Valerius, having summoned the auxiliary forces of the Latins and Hernici, was sent with an army to Veii, and immediately attacked the Sabine camp, which had been situated before the walls of their allies, and struck such great panic into them that, while they, scattered, ran out some in one direction, some in another, in maniples, to ward off the force of the enemy, that gate at which he had first directed his standards was captured.
§2.53.2intra vallum deinde caedes magis quam proelium esse.
Then, inside the rampart, it was a slaughter rather than a battle.
tumultus e castris et in urbem penetrat; tamquam Veis captis, ita pavidi Veientes ad arma currunt.
The tumult from the camp penetrated even into the city; as if Veii had been captured, so did the terrified Veientes run to arms.
pars Sabinis eunt subsidio, pars Romanos toto impetu intentos in castra adoriuntur.
Some went to the aid of the Sabines, others attacked with all their force the Romans, who were intent upon the camp.
§2.53.3paulisper aversi turbatique sunt; deinde et ipsi utroque versis signis resistunt, et eques ab consule inmissus Tuscos fundit fugatque; eademque hora duo exercitus, duae potentissimae et maximae finitimae gentes superatae sunt.
For a short time they were turned back and thrown into confusion; then they themselves also resisted, turning their standards in both directions, and the cavalry sent in by the consul routed and put the Etruscans to flight; and in the same hour two armies, two of the most powerful and largest neighboring nations, were overcome.
§2.53.4dum haec ad Veios geruntur, Volsci Aequique in Latino agro posuerant castra populatique fines erant.
While these things were being done at Veii, the Volsci and Aequi had pitched their camp in the Latin territory and had ravaged their borders.
eos per se ipsi Latini adsumptis Hernicis sine Romano aut duce aut auxilio castris exuerunt; §2.53.5ingenti praeda praeter suas reciperatas res potiti sunt.
The Latins themselves, having taken the Hernici with them, without any Roman commander or aid, drove them from their camp by their own efforts; they obtained immense booty besides recovering their own property.
missus tamen ab Roma consul in Volscos C. Nautius; mos, credo, non placebat sine Romano duce exercituque socios propriis viribus consiliisque bella gerere.
Nevertheless, the consul Gaius Nautius was sent from Rome against the Volsci; the custom, I suppose, did not please them that allies should wage wars by their own forces and counsels without a Roman commander and army.
§2.53.6nullum genus calamitatis contumeliaeque non editum in Volscos est, nec tamen perpelli potuere, ut acie dimicarent.
No kind of calamity and insult was not inflicted upon the Volsci, yet they could not be induced to fight in a pitched battle.