§24.14.1isdem diebus et Q. Fabius consul ad Casilinum temptandum, quod praesidio Punico tenebatur, venit, et ad Beneventum velut ex composito parte altera Hanno ex Bruttiis cum magna peditum equitumque manu, altera Ti. Gracchus ab Luceria accessit.
Around the same time, the consul Quintus Fabius came to attempt Casilinum, which was held by a Carthaginian garrison, and at Beneventum, as if by agreement, Hanno from the Bruttian territory with a large force of infantry and cavalry approached on one side, and Tiberius Gracchus from Luceria on the other.
§24.14.2qui primo oppidum intravit, deinde, ut Hannonem tria milia ferme ab urbe ad Calorem fluvium castra posuisse et inde agrum populari audivit, et ipse egressus moenibus mille ferme passus ab hoste castra locat.
The latter, who entered the town first, when he heard that Hanno had pitched his camp about three miles from the city near the river Calor and was devastating the territory from there, himself also went out of the walls and established his camp about a mile from the enemy.
§24.14.3ibi contionem militum habuit.
There he held an assembly of the soldiers.
legiones magna ex parte volonum habebat, qui iam alterum annum libertatem tacite mereri quam postulare palam maluerant.
He had under his command legions composed largely of volunteer slaves, who for two years now had preferred silently to deserve freedom rather than openly to demand it.
senserat tamen hibernis egrediens murmur in agmine esse quaerentium, en umquam liberi militaturi essent, §24.14.4scripseratque senatui, non tam quid desiderarent, quam quid meruissent: bona fortique opera eorum se ad eam diem usum, neque ad exemplum iusti militis quicquam eis praeter libertatem deesse.
Gracchus, however, as he was leaving winter quarters, had sensed a murmur in the column of those asking whether they would ever serve as free men, and he had written to the senate, not so much what they desired, as what they had deserved: that he had used their good and brave service up to that day, and that nothing was lacking to them to match the model of a regular soldier except freedom.
§24.14.5de eo permissum ipsi erat, faceret, quod e re publica duceret esse.
Regarding this matter, permission had been given to him to do what he should judge to be in the interest of the state.
itaque priusquam cum hoste manum consereret, pronuntiat tempus venisse eis libertatis, quam diu sperassent, potiundae.
Therefore, before he should engage with the enemy, he declared that the time had come for them to gain possession of the freedom they had long hoped for.
§24.14.6postero die signis conlatis dimicaturum puro ac patenti campo, ubi sine ullo insidiarum metu vera virtute geri res posset.
On the following day, they would fight, joining battle on a clear and open plain, where the matter could be conducted with true courage without any fear of ambushes.
§24.14.7qui caput hostis rettulisset eum se extemplo liberum iussurum esse; qui loco cessisset, in eum servili supplicio animadversurum;
Whoever brought back the head of an enemy, he would immediately order that man to be free; whoever abandoned his post, he would punish him with a slave's punishment.
§24.14.8suam cuique fortunam in manu esse.
Each man's fortune was in his own hands.
libertatis auctorem eis non se fore solum, sed consulem M. Marcellum, sed universos patres, quos consultos ab se de libertate eorum sibi permisisse.
Not only he would be the sponsor of their freedom, but also the consul Marcus Marcellus, and the entire senate, who, when consulted by him, had left the decision regarding their freedom to him.
litteras inde consulis ac senatus consultum recitavit.
Then he read aloud the letter of the consul and the decree of the senate.
§24.14.9ad quae clamor cum ingenti adsensu est sublatus.
At this, a shout arose with immense approval.
pugnam poscebant, signumque ut daret, extemplo ferociter instabant.
They demanded battle, and fiercely pressed him to give the signal immediately.
§24.14.10Gracchus proelio in posterum diem pronuntiato contionem dimisit.
Gracchus, having announced the battle for the following day, dismissed the assembly.
milites laeti, praecipue quibus merces navatae in unum diem operae libertas futura erat, armis expediendis diei quod erat relicum consumunt.
The soldiers, full of joy, especially those whose reward for their service, devoted for a single day, was to be freedom, spent what was left of the day in preparing their arms.