§22.5.1consul perculsis omnibus ipse satis, ut in re trepida, inpavidus turbatos ordines, vertente se quoque ad dissonos clamores, instruit, ut tempus locusque patitur, et, quacumque adire audirique potest, adhortatur ac stare ac pugnare iubet:
The consul, while all were panic-stricken, himself, as far as was possible in so turbulent a situation, undaunted, marshaled the disordered ranks—as each man was turning himself toward the discordant clamor—so far as time and place permitted, and, wherever he could approach and be heard, he encouraged them and ordered them to stand and fight.
§22.5.2nec enim inde votis aut inploratione deum sed vi ac virtute evadendum esse; per medias acies ferro viam fieri et, quo timoris minus sit, eo minus ferme periculi esse.
For, he said, they must escape from there not by vows or entreaties to the gods, but by force and valor; a way was made through the midst of the enemy's lines by the sword, and, the less fear there was, the less danger there generally was.
§22.5.3ceterum prae strepitu ac tumultu nec consilium nec imperium accipi poterat, tantumque aberat, ut sua signa atque ordines et locum noscerent, ut vix ad arma capienda aptandaque pugnae conpeteret animus, opprimerenturque quidam onerati magis iis quam tecti.
But on account of the noise and confusion, neither advice nor command could be heard, and so far were they from knowing their own standards, ranks, and positions, that they scarcely had the presence of mind to take up and fit their arms for battle, and some were overwhelmed, being rather burdened than protected by them.
et erat in tanta caligine maior usus aurium quam oculorum.
And in so great a darkness, there was greater use of the ears than of the eyes.
§22.5.4ad gemitus vulnerum ictusque corporum aut armorum et mixtos terrentium paventiumque clamores circumferebant ora oculosque.
Toward the groans of the wounded, the blows on bodies or armor, and the mingled clamor of those who terrified and those who feared, they turned their faces and eyes.
§22.5.5alii fugientes pugnantium globo inlati haerebant, alios redeuntes in pugnam avertebat fugientium agmen.
Some, while fleeing, were forced into the crowd of fighters and got stuck; others, while returning to the fight, were driven back by the column of those fleeing.
§22.5.6deinde, ubi in omnis partis nequiquam impetus capti, et ab lateribus montes ac lacus, a fronte et ab tergo hostium acies claudebant, apparuitque nullam nisi in dextera ferroque salutis spem esse, §22.5.7tum sibi quisque dux adhortatorque factus ad rem gerendam et nova de integro exorta pugna est, non illa ordinata per principes hastatosque ac triarios, nec ut pro signis antesignani, post signa alia pugnaret acies, nec ut in sua legione miles aut cohorte aut manipulo esset: §22.5.8fors conglobabat et animus suus cuique ante aut post pugnandi ordinem dabat; tantusque fuit ardor animorum, adeo intentus pugnae animus, ut eum motum terrae, qui multarum urbium Italiae magnas partes prostravit avertitque cursu rapidos amnis, mare fluminibus invexit, montes lapsu ingenti proruit, nemo pugnantium senserit.
Then, when charges had been attempted in every direction in vain, and on the sides the mountains and the lake, and in front and in the rear the battle lines of the enemy enclosed them, and it became clear that there was no hope of safety except in their own right hands and the sword, then each man became a leader and an encourager to himself for the execution of the work, and a new fight broke out afresh—not that organized battle of hastati, principes, and triarii, nor one in which the vanguard fought before the standards and the rest of the army behind the standards, nor where a soldier was in his own legion, cohort, or maniple: chance brought them together, and each man's courage assigned him his place to fight, whether in front or in the rear; and so great was the ardor of their minds, so intent their thoughts upon the battle, that not one of the combatants felt that earthquake which prostrated large parts of many cities of Italy, turned rapid rivers from their courses, carried the sea up into rivers, and brought down mountains with a mighty crash.