§23.9.1quae ubi vidit audivitque senex, velut si iam agendis, §23.9.2quae audiebat, interesset, amens metu “per ego te,” inquit “fili, quaecumque iura liberos iungunt parentibus, precor quaesoque, ne ante oculos patris facere et pati omnia infanda uelis.
When the old man saw and heard these things, as if he were already present at the execution of those very deeds which he was hearing about, out of his mind with fear, he said: "My son, by whatever rights bind children to parents, I pray and beseech you, do not wish to commit and to suffer all unspeakable things before the eyes of your father.
§23.9.3paucae horae sunt, intra quas iurantes per quidquid deorum est, dextrae dextras iungentes, fidem obstrinximus, — ut sacratas fide manus digressi a conloquio extemplo in eum armaremus?
It is but a few hours within which, swearing by whatever of the gods exists, joining right hands to right hands, we bound our faith — only that, having departed from the conference, we should immediately arm against him hands consecrated by our pledge?
§23.9.4ab hospitali mensa surgis, ad quam tertius Campanorum adhibitus es ab Hannibale, ut eam ipsam mensam cruentares hospitis sanguine? Hannibalem pater filio meo potui placare, filium Hannibali non possum?
Do you rise from the hospitable table, to which you were admitted by Hannibal as the third of the Campanians, in order to stain that very table with the blood of your host? As a father, I was able to appease Hannibal for my son; can I not appease my son for Hannibal?
§23.9.5sed sit nihil sancti, non fides, non religio, non pietas; audeantur infanda, si non perniciem nobis cum scelere ferunt.
But let there be nothing sacred — neither loyalty, nor religion, nor filial piety; let unspeakable things be dared, if they do not bring ruin upon us along with the crime.
§23.9.6unus adgressurus es Hannibalem? quid illa turba tot liberorum servorumque? quid in unum intenti omnium oculi? quid tot dextrae? torpescent in amentia illa?
Are you, alone, going to attack Hannibal? What of that crowd of so many free men and slaves? What of the eyes of all, fixed on that one man? What of so many right hands? Will they grow numb during that madness of yours?
§23.9.7voltum ipsius Hannibalis, quem armati exercitus sustinere nequeunt, quem horret populus Romanus, tu sustinebis? ut alia auxilia desint: me ipsum ferire corpus meum opponentem pro corpore Hannibalis sustinebis?
Will you endure the face of Hannibal himself, which armed armies cannot withstand, which the Roman people shudder at? Granted that other aids should fail: will you bear to strike me myself as I oppose my own body in front of the body of Hannibal?
§23.9.8atqui per meum pectus petendus ille tibi transfigendusque est.
And yet, through my breast must he be sought and pierced by you.
sed hic te deterreri sine potius quam illic vinci; valeant preces apud te meae, sicut pro te hodie valuerunt. ” §23.9.9lacrimantem inde iuvenem cernens medium conplectitur atque osculo haerens non ante precibus abstitit, quam pervicit, ut gladium poneret fidemque daret nihil facturum tale.
But allow yourself to be deterred here rather than conquered there; let my prayers prevail with you, just as they prevailed for you today." Seeing the youth weeping thereupon, he clasped him around the waist, and clinging to him with a kiss, did not desist from prayers until he prevailed upon him to lay down his sword and give his word that he would do no such thing.
tum iuvenis §23.9.10“ego quidem” inquit “quam patriae debeo pietatem, exsolvam patri.
Then the youth "I indeed will pay to my father the duty which I owe to my country.
tuam doleo vicem, cui ter proditae patriae sustinendum est crimen, §23.9.11semel, cum defectionis ab Romanis, iterum, cum pacis cum Hannibale fuisti auctor, tertio hodie, cum restituendae Romanis Capuae mora atque impedimentum es.
I grieve for your lot, who must bear the charge of a thrice-betrayed country: once, when you were the author of the defection from the Romans; a second time, when you were the author of the peace with Hannibal; for the third time today, when you are a delay and hindrance to restoring Capua to the Romans.
§23.9.12tu, patria, ferrum, quo pro te armatus hanc arcem hostium inii, quoniam parens extorquet, recipe. ” §23.9.13haec cum dixisset, gladium in publicum trans maceriam horti abiecit et, quo minus res suspecta esset, se ipse convivio reddidit.
Do you, my country, receive the sword with which, armed for you, I entered this stronghold of the enemies, since my parent wrests it away." When he had said these things, he threw the sword over the garden wall into the public street, and, so that the matter might be less suspected, returned himself to the banquet.