§23.16.1hac comitate Marcelli ferocis iuvenis animus adeo est mollitus, ut nemo inde sociorum rem Romanam fortius ac fidelius iuverit.
By this kindness of Marcellus, the fierce young man's mind was so softened that thereafter no ally helped the Roman cause more bravely or faithfully.
cum Hannibal ad portas esset — §23.16.2Nolam enim rursus a Nuceria movit castra — plebesque Nolana de integro ad defectionem spectaret, §23.16.3Marcellus sub adventum hostium intra muros se recepit, non castris metuens, sed ne prodendae urbis occasionem nimis multis in eam inminentibus daret.
When Hannibal was at the gates— for he had moved his camp again from Nuceria to Nola—and the populace of Nola was looking anew towards defection, Marcellus, upon the approach of the enemy, withdrew within the walls, not fearing for his camp, but lest he should give an opportunity for betraying the city, since so many were threatening it.
§23.16.4instrui deinde utrimque acies coeptae, Romanorum pro moenibus Nolae, Poenorum ante castra sua.
Then they began to draw up the battle lines on both sides, the Romans in front of the walls of Nola, the Carthaginians before their own camp.
proelia hinc parva inter urbem castraque et vario eventu fiebant, quia duces nec prohibere paucos temere procursantis nec dare signum universae pugnae volebant.
From this, small battles with varying outcomes occurred between the city and the camp, because the generals were unwilling either to restrain the few who rushed forward rashly or to give the signal for a general engagement.
§23.16.5in hac cotidiana iam duorum exercituum statione principes Nolanorum nuntiant Marcello §23.16.6nocturna conloquia inter plebem ac Poenos fieri statutumque esse, ut, cum Romana acies egressa portis staret, inpedimenta eorum ac sarcinas diriperent, clauderent deinde portas murosque occuparent, ut potentes rerum suarum atque urbis Poenum inde pro Romano acciperent.
In this now daily confrontation of the two armies, the leading men of Nola reported to Marcellus that nocturnal conferences were taking place between the common people and the Carthaginians, and that it had been decided that, when the Roman line stood drawn up outside the gates, they would plunder their baggage and packs, then close the gates and occupy the walls, so that, having become masters of their own affairs and of the city, they might receive the Carthaginian instead of the Roman.
§23.16.7haec ubi nuntiata Marcello sunt, conlaudatis senatoribus Nolanis, priusquam aliqui motus in urbe oreretur, fortunam pugnae experiri statuit.
When these things were reported to Marcellus, having praised the senators of Nola, before any disturbance should arise in the city, he resolved to try the fortune of battle.
§23.16.8ad tris portas in hostes versas tripertito exercitum instruxit; inpedimenta subsequi iussit, calones lixasque et invalidos milites vallum ferre.
He drew up his army in three divisions at the three gates facing the enemy; he ordered the baggage to follow, and the servants, camp-followers, and unfit soldiers to carry the rampart-stakes.
media porta robora legionum et Romanos equites, duabus circa portis novos milites levemque armaturam ac sociorum equites statuit.
At the central gate, he stationed the core of the legions and the Roman cavalry; at the two gates on either side, he placed the new recruits, the light-armed troops, and the cavalry of the allies.
§23.16.9Nolani muros portasque adire vetiti, subsidiaque destinata inpedimentis praesidio data, ne occupatis proelio legionibus in ea impetus fieret.
The Nolans were forbidden to approach the walls and gates, and the reserves assigned to guard the baggage were posted, lest, while the legions were occupied with the battle, an attack should be made upon it.
ita instructi intra portas stabant Hannibali sub signis,
Having been thus drawn up, they stood inside the gates.
§23.16.10id quod per aliquot dies fecerat, ad multum diei in acie stanti primo miraculo esse, quod nec exercitus Romanus porta egrederetur nec armatus quisquam in muris esset; §23.16.11ratus deinde prodita conloquia esse metuque resides factos, partem militum in castra remittit iussos propere adparatum omnem oppugnandae urbis in primam aciem adferre, satis fidens, si cunctantibus instaret, tumultum aliquem in urbe plebem moturam.
Meanwhile, for Hannibal, who was standing under his standards, as he had done for several days, in line of battle until late in the day, it was at first a matter of wonder that neither did the Roman army come out of the gate nor was there anyone armed on the walls; thinking then that the conferences had been betrayed and that they had become inactive through fear, he sent back a part of his soldiers to the camp, ordered to bring quickly all the equipment for besieging the city to the front line, being sufficiently confident that if he pressed upon them while they hesitated, the common people would stir up some tumult in the city.
§23.16.12dum in sua quisque ministeria discursu trepidant ad prima signa succeditque ad muros acies, patefacta repente porta Marcellus signa canere clamoremque tolli ac pedites primum, deinde equites, quanto maximo possent impetu, in hostem erumpere iubet.
While they were running about in excitement, each to his own duty, and the line was advancing to the walls under the first standards, Marcellus, having suddenly opened the gate, ordered the trumpets to sound, a shout to be raised, and first the infantry, then the cavalry, to burst out upon the enemy with the greatest possible force.
§23.16.13satis terroris tumultusque in aciem mediam intulerant, cum duabus circa portis P. Valerius Flaccus et C. Aurelius legati in cornua hostium erupere.
They had brought enough terror and confusion to the center of the line when the lieutenants Publius Valerius Flaccus and Gaius Aurelius burst out upon the wings of the enemy from the two gates on either side.
§23.16.14addidere clamorem lixae calonesque et alia turba custodiae inpedimentorum adposita, ut paucitatem maxime spernentibus Poenis ingentis repente exercitus speciem fecerint.
The camp-followers, servants, and the rest of the crowd assigned to guard the baggage added their shout, so that they suddenly presented the appearance of a huge army to the Carthaginians, who had especially despised their small numbers.
§23.16.15vix equidem ausim adfirmare, quod quidam auctores sunt, duo milia et octingentos hostium caesos non plus quingentis Romanorum amissis; §23.16.16sed sive tanta sive minor victoria fuit, ingens eo die res ac nescio an maxima illo bello gesta est: non vinci enim ab Hannibale tunc difficilius fuit quam postea vincere.
For my part, I would hardly venture to affirm what some authors state, that two thousand eight hundred of the enemy were slain, with the loss of not more than five hundred Romans; but whether the victory was so great or smaller, a great deed was performed on that day, and I know not if the greatest in that war: for not to be conquered by Hannibal then was more difficult than to conquer him later.