§24.16.1ea demum vox ita animos accendit, ut renovato clamore, velut alii repente facti, tanta vi se in hostem intulerint, ut sustineri ultra non possent.
This speech at last so inflamed their minds that, raising the shout anew, as if they had suddenly become other men, they threw themselves upon the enemy with such force that they could no longer be sustained.
§24.16.2primo antesignani Poenorum, dein signa perturbata, postremo tota inpulsa acies; inde haud dubie terga data, ruuntque fugientes in castra adeo pavidi trepidique, ut ne in portis quidem aut vallo quisquam restiterit; ac prope continenti agmine Romani insecuti novum de integro proelium inclusi hostium vallo ediderunt.
First the vanguard of the Carthaginians, then the standards were thrown into confusion, and finally the whole line of battle was driven back; from there, they turned their backs beyond doubt, and fleeing they rushed into the camp in such panic and trembling that not a single man stood his ground even at the gates or on the rampart; and the Romans, pursuing in an almost unbroken line, waged a new battle from the beginning, enclosed within the enemy's rampart.
§24.16.3ibi sicut pugna inpeditior in angustiis, ita caedes atrocior fuit.
There, just as the fight was more impeded in the narrow spaces, so the slaughter was more horrible.
et adiuvere captivi, qui rapto inter tumultum ferro conglobati et ab tergo ceciderunt Poenos et fugam impedierunt.
And the captives also helped, who, having snatched weapons in the tumult, gathered in a body and cut down the Carthaginians from behind and blocked their flight.
§24.16.4itaque minus duo milia hominum ex tanto exercitu et ea maior pars equitum, cum ipso duce effugerunt; alii omnes caesi aut capti; capta et signa duodequadraginta.
Thus, out of so great an army, less than two thousand men, and those for the most part cavalry, escaped with the general himself; all the others were slain or captured; and thirty-eight standards were taken.
ex victoribus duo milia ferme cecidere.
Of the victors, about two thousand fell.
§24.16.5praeda omnis praeterquam hominum captorum militi concessa est; et pecus exceptum est, quod intra dies triginta domino cognovissent.
All the booty except the captured human beings was granted to the soldiers; and the cattle were also excepted, which owners should identify within thirty days.
§24.16.6cum praeda onusti in castra redissent quattuor milia ferme volonum militum, quae pugnaverant segnius nec in castra inruperant simul, metu poenae collem haud procul castris ceperunt.
When they had returned to the camp laden with booty, about four thousand of the volunteer soldiers, who had fought rather sluggishly and had not broken into the camp at the same time, seized a hill not far from the camp out of fear of punishment.
§24.16.7postero die per tribunos militum inde deducti contione militum advocata a Graccho superveniunt.
On the following day, having been brought down from there by the military tribunes, they arrived while the assembly of soldiers was being called together by Gracchus.
§24.16.8ubi cum proconsul veteres milites primum, prout cuiusque virtus atque opera in ea pugna fuerat, §24.16.9militaribus donis donasset, tune, quod ad volones attineret, omnes ait malle laudatos a se dignos indignosque, quam quemquam eo die castigatum esse.
There, when the proconsul, having first rewarded the veteran soldiers with military gifts according to how each one's courage and service had been in that battle, had presented them with military gifts, then, as far as it related to the volunteers, he said that he preferred that all, both the worthy and the unworthy, should be praised by him rather than that anyone should be punished on that day.
quod bonum faustum felixque rei publicae ipsisque esset, omnes eos liberos esse iubere.
And praying that this might be good, auspicious, and fortunate for the state and for themselves, he ordered them all to be free.
§24.16.10ad quam vocem cum clamor ingenti alacritate sublatus esset, ac nunc complexi inter se gratulantesque, nunc manus ad caelum tollentes bona omnia populo Romano Gracchoque ipsi precarentur, §24.16.11tum Gracchus “priusquam omnes iure libertatis aequassem; ” inquit, “neminem nota strenui aut ignavi militis notasse volui;
At which speech, when a shout was raised with immense enthusiasm, and now embracing one another and congratulating themselves, now raising their hands to heaven, they prayed for all good things for the Roman people and for Gracchus himself, then Gracchus said: “Before I made you all equal by the right of freedom, I did not wish to brand anyone with the mark of a brave or a cowardly soldier.
§24.16.12nunc exsoluta iam fide publica, ne discrimen omne virtutis ignaviaeque pereat, nomina eorum, qui detractatae pugnae memores secessionem paulo ante fecerunt, referri ad me iubebo citatosque singulos iure iurando adigam, §24.16.13nisi cui morbus causa erit, non aliter quam stantes cibum potionemque, quoad stipendia facient, capturos esse.
Now, the public pledge having already been discharged, lest all distinction between courage and cowardice perish, I will order the names of those who, mindful of their declined battle, made a secession a little while ago, to be reported to me, and I will bind each one, when summoned, by an oath, that, unless sickness be the cause for anyone, they will take food and drink in no other way than standing, as long as they shall serve.
hanc? multam ita aequo animo feretis, si reputabitis nulla ignaviae nota leviore vos designari potuisse. ” §24.16.14signum deinde colligendi vasa dedit; militesque praedam portantes agentesque per lasciviam ac iocum ita ludibundi Beneventum rediere, §24.16.15ut ab epulis per celebrem festumque diem actis, non ex acie reverti viderentur.
You will bear this penalty with such an even mind if you reflect that you could not have been designated by any lighter mark of cowardice.” He then gave the signal for packing up; and the soldiers, carrying and driving their booty, returned to Beneventum in such a playful manner, with joke and jest, that they seemed to be returning not from a battle, but from a feast celebrated on a crowded and festive day.
§24.16.16Beneventani omnes turba effusa cum obviam ad portas exissent, complecti milites, gratulari, vocare in hospitium.
When all the Beneventans had gone out to meet them at the gates in a poured-out crowd, they embraced the soldiers, congratulated them, and invited them into hospitality.
§24.16.17adparata convivia omnibus in propatulo aedium fuerant; ad ea invitabant Gracchumque orabant, ut epulari permitteret militibus.
Feasts had been prepared for all in the open courts of the houses; they invited them to these and begged Gracchus to permit the soldiers to feast.
et Gracchus ita permisit, si in publico epularentur omnes ante suas quisque fores.
And Gracchus permitted it on the condition that they should all feast in public, each before his own door.
prolata omnia.
Everything was brought out.
§24.16.18pilleati aut lana alba velatis capitibus volones epulati sunt, alii accubantes, alii stantes, qui simul ministrabant vescebanturque.
Wearing felt caps or with their heads covered with white wool, the volunteers feasted, some reclining, others standing, who at the same time served and ate.
§24.16.19digna res visa, ut simulacrum celebrati eius diei Gracchus, postquam Romam rediit, pingi iuberet in aede Libertatis, quam pater eius in Aventino ex multaticia pecunia faciendam curavit dedicavitque.
It seemed a worthy thing that Gracchus, after he returned to Rome, should order a representation of that celebrated day to be painted in the Temple of Liberty, which his father had caused to be built on the Aventine out of money from fines, and had dedicated.