§22.53.1ceterum cum ibi tribuni militum quattuor essent, Q. Fabius Maximus de legione prima, cuius pater priore anno dictator fuerat, §22.53.2et de legione secunda L. Publicius Bibulus et P. Cornelius Scipio et de legione tertia Ap. Claudius Pulcher, qui proxime aedilis fuerat, §22.53.3omnium consensu ad P. Scipionem admodum adulescentem et ad Ap. Claudium summa imperii delata est.
However, since there were four military tribunes there: Quintus Fabius Maximus of the first legion, whose father had been dictator the previous year, and of the second legion, Lucius Publicius Bibulus and Publius Cornelius Scipio, and of the third legion, Appius Claudius Pulcher, who had recently been aedile; by the consensus of all, the supreme command was conferred upon Publius Scipio, who was extremely young, and Appius Claudius.
§22.53.4quibus consultantibus inter paucos de summa rerum nuntiat P. Furius Philus, consularis viri filius, nequiquam eos perditam spem fovere, desperatam conploratamque rem esse publicam: §22.53.5nobiles iuvenes quosdam, quorum principem L. Caecilium Metellum, mare ac naves spectare, ut deserta Italia ad regum aliquem transfugiant.
While they, along with a few others, were consulting about the state of affairs, Publius Furius Philus, the son of a man of consular rank, brought news that they were fostering lost hopes in vain, and that the commonwealth was despaired of and given up for lost: that certain noble youths, of whom Lucius Caecilius Metellus was the chief, were looking to the sea and ships, so that, abandoning Italy, they might flee to some of the kings.
§22.53.6quod malum, praeterquam atrox, super tot clades etiam novum, cum stupore ac miraculo torpidos defixisset, qui aderant, et consilium advocandum de eo censerent, negat consilii rem esse Scipio iuvenis, fatalis dux huiusce belli.
When this evil, not only dreadful but also unprecedented on top of so many disasters, had struck those present numb with stupor and astonishment, and they were of the opinion that a council should be called concerning it, the young Scipio, the fateful leader of this war, declared that it was not a matter for a council.
§22.53.7audendum atque agendum, non consultandum ait in tanto malo esse. irent secum extemplo armati, qui rem publicam salva vellent;
He said that in such an evil, one must dare and act, not deliberate; let those who wished the commonwealth to be safe go with him at once, armed.
§22.53.8nulla verius, quam ubi ea cogitentur, hostium castra esse.
He said that there was no place more truly an enemy's camp than where such things were being thought of.
§22.53.9pergit ire sequentibus paucis in hospitium Metelli, et cum concilium ibi iuvenum, de quibus allatum erat, invenisset, stricto super capita consultantium gladio “ex mei animi sententia” inquit, §22.53.10“ut ego rem publicam populi Romani non deseram neque alium civem Romanum deserere patiar; §22.53.11si sciens fallo, tum me Iuppiter optimus maximus, domum, familiam remque meam pessimo leto adficiat.
He proceeded to go with a few followers to the lodging of Metellus, and when he had found there the assembly of youths of whom report had been made, drawing his sword over the heads of those in consultation, he said, "From the sincere conviction of my heart," "that I will not desert the commonwealth of the Roman people, nor will I suffer any other Roman citizen to desert it; if I knowingly break my oath, then may Jupiter Optimus Maximus afflict myself, my home, my family, and my estate with the worst of deaths.
§22.53.12in haec verba, L. Cacili, iures postulo ceterique, qui adestis; qui non iuraverit, in se hunc gladium strictum esse sciat. ” §22.53.13haud secie pavidi, quam si victorem Hannibalem cernerent, iurant omnes custodiendosque semet ipsos Scipioni tradunt
I demand that you, Lucius Caecilius, and the rest of you who are present, swear to these words; let whoever does not swear know that this drawn sword is directed against him." No less terrified than if they were beholding the victorious Hannibal, they all took the oath and delivered themselves into the custody of Scipio.