§24.38.1postquam ab eo conloquio in arcem sese recepit, convocatis militibus “credo ego vos audisse, milites,” inquit, “quem ad modum praesidia Romana ab Siculis circumventa et oppressa sint per hos dies.
After he returned to the citadel from that conference, having summoned the soldiers, he said, "I believe, soldiers, that you have heard how the Roman garrisons have been surrounded and overwhelmed by the Sicilians during these days.
§24.38.2eam vos fraudem deum primo benignitate dein vestra ipsi virtute dies noctesque perstando ac pervigilando in armis vitastis.
That treachery you have avoided, first by the kindness of the gods, then by your own courage, by standing fast and keeping watch in arms day and night.
utinam relicum tempus nec patiendo infanda nec faciendo traduci posset!
Would that the remaining time could be passed without either suffering or doing unspeakable things!
§24.38.3haec occulta in fraude cautio est, qua usi adhuc sumus; cui quoniam parum succedit, aperte ac propalam claves portarum reposcunt; quas simul tradiderimus, Carthaginiensium extemplo Henna erit, foediusque hic trucidabimur, quam Murgantiae praesidium interfectum est.
This caution, which we have used so far, is against hidden treachery; since it has little success for them, they openly and publicly demand back the keys of the gates; as soon as we surrender them, Henna will immediately belong to the Carthaginians, and we shall be slaughtered here more foully than the garrison of Murgantia was slain.
§24.38.4noctem unam aegre ad consultandum sumpsi, qua vos certiores periculi instantis facerem.
With difficulty I took one night for consultation, in which I might make you aware of the impending danger.
orta luce contionem habituri sunt ad criminandum me concitandumque in vos populum.
At dawn they are going to hold an assembly to accuse me and to stir up the people against you.
§24.38.5itaque crastino die aut vestro aut Hennensium sanguine Henna inundabitur.
Therefore, tomorrow Henna will be flooded either with your blood or with that of the Hennese.
nec praeoccupati spem ullam nec occupantes periculi quicquam habebitis.
If you are anticipated you will have no hope, but if you anticipate them you will have no danger.
qui prior strinxerit ferrum, eius victoria erit.
The victory will belong to him who first draws the sword.
§24.38.6intenti ergo omnes armatique signum expectabitis.
Therefore, all of you, alert and armed, shall await the signal.
ego in contione ero et tempus, quoad omnia instructa sint, loquendo altercandoque traham.
I will be in the assembly, and I will spin out the time with speaking and disputing until everything is prepared.
§24.38.7cum toga signum dedero, tum mihi undique clamore sublato turbam invadite ac sternite omnia ferro et cavete quicquam supersit, cuius aut vis aut fraus timeri possit.
When I give the signal with my toga, then, raising a shout from all sides for me, assault the crowd and lay everything low with the sword, and take care that nothing survives whose power or treachery can be feared.
§24.38.8vos, Ceres mater ac Proserpina, precor, ceteri superi infernique di, qui hanc urbem, hos sacratos lacus lucosque colitis, ut ita nobis volentes propitii adsitis, si vitandae, non inferendae fraudis causa hoc consilii capimus.
I pray to you, mother Ceres and Proserpina, and to the other gods above and below, who inhabit this city, these sacred lakes and groves, that you may thus favor and protect us willingly, if we take this counsel for the sake of avoiding, not of introducing, treachery.
§24.38.9pluribus vos, milites, hortarer, si cum armatis dimicatio futura esset; inermes, incautos ad satietatem trucidabitis; et consulis castra in propinquo sunt, ne quid ab Himilcone et Carthaginiensibus timeri possit. ”
I would encourage you with more words, soldiers, if there were going to be a battle with armed men; you will slaughter them unarmed and off their guard to satiety; and the consul's camp is nearby, so that nothing can be feared from Himilco and the Carthaginians."