§21.25.1in Italiam interim nihil ultra quam Hiberum transisse Hannibalem a Massiliensium legatis Romam perlatum erat, §21.25.2cum, perinde ac si Alpis iam transisset, Boi sollicitatis Insubribus defecerunt, nec tam ob veteres in populum Romanum iras, quam quod nuper circa Padum Placentiam Cremonamque colonias in agrum Gallicum deductas aegre patiebantur.
In the meantime, nothing had been reported to Rome by the envoys of the Massiliots except that Hannibal had crossed the Ebro, when, just as if he had already crossed the Alps, the Boii, having incited the Insubres, revolted, not so much on account of ancient grievances against the Roman people as because they were resentful that colonies had recently been established in Gallic territory around the Po, namely Placentia and Cremona.
§21.25.3itaque armis repente arreptis in eum ipsum agrum impetu facto tantum terroris ac tumultus fecerunt, ut non agrestis modo multitudo sed ipsi triumviri Romani, qui ad agrum venerant adsignandum, diffisi Placentiae moenibus Mutinam confugerint, C. Lutatius C. Servilius M. Annius.
Therefore, suddenly taking up arms and making an inroad into that very territory, they caused so much terror and confusion that not only the rustic population but even the Roman triumvirs themselves, who had come to assign the land, distrusting the walls of Placentia, fled to Mutina: Gaius Lutatius, Gaius Servilius, and Marcus Annius.
§21.25.4Lutati nomen haud dubium est; pro Annio Servilioque M’. Acilium et C. Herennium habent quidam annales, alii P. Cornelium Asinam et C. Papirium Masonem.
There is no doubt about the name of Lutatius; instead of Annius and Servilius, some annals have Manius Acilius and Gaius Herennius, others Publius Cornelius Asina and Gaius Papirius Maso.
§21.25.5id quoque dubium est, legati ad expostulandum missi ad Boios violati sint, an in triumviros agrum metantis impetus sit factus.
This also is doubtful, whether the envoys sent to the Boii to expostulate were violated, or whether an attack was made upon the triumvirs while they were measuring the land.
§21.25.6Mutinae cum obsiderentur, et gens ad oppugnandarum urbium artes rudis, pigerrima eadem ad militaria opera, segnis intactis adsideret muris, §21.25.7simulari coeptum de pace agi, evocatique ab Gallorum principibus legati ad conloquium non contra ius modo gentium sed violata etiam, quae data in id tempus erat, fide conprehenduntur, negantibus Gallis, nisi obsides sibi redderentur, eos dimissuros.
While they were besieged at Mutina, and the tribe, unskilled in the arts of besieging cities and at the same time most sluggish in military labors, sat idly before the untouched walls, a pretense of negotiating for peace began to be made, and the envoys, summoned by the Gallic chiefs to a conference, were seized, not only in violation of the law of nations but also in breach of the pledge which had been given for that occasion; the Gauls declared that they would not release them unless their hostages were restored to them.
§21.25.8cum haec de legatis nuntiata essent, et Mutina praesidiumque in periculo esset, L. Manlius praetor ira accensus effusum agmen ad Mutinam ducit.
When these things concerning the envoys were reported and Mutina and its garrison were in danger, the praetor Lucius Manlius, inflamed with anger, led his loosely formed army toward Mutina.
§21.25.9silvae tunc circa viam erant plerisque incultis.
At that time there were woods around the road, most of the land being uncultivated.
ibi inexplorato profectus in insidias praecipitatur multaque cum caede suorum aegre in apertos campos emersit.
Advancing there without exploration, he was plunged into an ambush, and only with great slaughter of his men did he barely escape into the open plains.
§21.25.10ibi castra communita et, quia Gallis ad temptanda ea defuit spes, refecti sunt militum animi, quamquam ad quingentos cecidisse satis constabat.
There the camp was fortified, and because the Gauls lacked the hope of attacking it, the spirits of the soldiers were restored, although it was well established that about five hundred had fallen.
§21.25.11iter deinde de integro coeptum, nec, dum per patentia loca ducebatur agmen, apparuit hostis; §21.25.12ubi rursus silvae intratae, tum postremos adorti cum magna trepidatione ac pavore omnium septingentos milites occiderunt, sex signa ademere.
The march was then resumed anew, and as long as the army was led through open country, the enemy did not appear; but when they entered the woods again, they then attacked the rear and, amidst great confusion and panic of all, killed seven hundred soldiers and captured six standards.
§21.25.13finis et Gallis territandi et pavendi fuit Romanis ut e saltu invio atque impedito evasere.
There was an end both to the Gauls of terrifying and to the Romans of fearing when they escaped from the pathless and obstructed forest.
inde apertis locis facile tutantes agmen Romani Tannetum, vicum propinquum Pado, contendere.
From there, easily defending their column in the open country, the Romans hastened to Tannetum, a village near the Po.
§21.25.14ibi se munimento ad tempus commeatibusque fluminis et Brixianorum etiam Gallorum auxilio adversus crescentem in dies multitudinem hostium tutabantur.
There they defended themselves by a temporary fortification, by supplies from the river, and also by the aid of the Brixian Gauls, against the enemy's numbers which were increasing day by day.