§25.19.1Hannibal ex agro Beneventano castra ad Capuam cum movisset, tertio post die quam venit copias in aciem eduxit haudquaquam dubius, §25.19.2quod Campanis absente se paucos ante dies secunda fuisset pugna,! quin multo minus se suumque totiens victorem exercitum sustinere Romani possent.
When Hannibal had moved his camp from the Beneventan territory to Capua, on the third day after he arrived, he led his forces out into battle array, by no means doubting, because a few days before in his absence the battle had been favorable to the Campanians, that the Romans would be far less able to withstand him and his so-often victorious army.
§25.19.3ceterum postquam pugnari coeptum est, equitum maxime incursu, cum iaculis obrueretur, laborabat Romana acies, donec signum equitibus datum est, ut in hostem admitterent equos.
But after the fighting began, the Roman line was hard pressed, especially by the onset of the cavalry, as they were overwhelmed with javelins, until the signal was given to the cavalry to charge their horses against the enemy.
§25.19.4ita equestre proelium erat, cum procul visus Sempronianus exercitus, cui Cn. Cornelius quaestor praeerat, utrique parti parem metum praebuit, ne hostes novi adventarent.
In this way there was a cavalry battle, when the army of Sempronius, which the quaestor Gnaeus Cornelius commanded, being seen in the distance, caused equal fear to both parties, lest new enemies were approaching.
§25.19.5velut ex composite utrimque signum receptui datum, reductique in castra prope aequo Marte discesserunt; plures tamen ab Romanis primo incursu equitum ceciderunt.
As if by agreement, the signal for retreat was given on both sides, and having been led back to their camps, they departed with a nearly drawn battle; however, more fell on the side of the Romans from the first onset of the cavalry.
§25.19.6inde consules, ut averterent a Capua Hannibalem, nocte, quae secuta est, diversi, Fulvius in agrum Cumanum, Claudius in Lucanos abit.
Then the consuls, in order to draw Hannibal away from Capua, departed in different directions during the following night, Fulvius to the Cuman territory, and Claudius to the Lucanians.
§25.19.7postero die cum vacua castra Romanorum esse nuntiatum Hannibali esset et duobus agminibus diversos abisse, incertus primo, utrum sequeretur, Appium institit sequi.
The next day, when it was announced to Hannibal that the camp of the Romans was empty and that they had departed in different directions in two columns, uncertain at first which to follow, he resolved to pursue Appius.
§25.19.8ille circumducto hoste, qua voluit, alio itinere ad Capuam redit.
The latter, having led the enemy around wherever he wished, returned to Capua by another route.
§25.19.9Hannibali alia in his locis bene gerendae rei fortuna oblata est.
Another opportunity for performing a successful exploit was presented to Hannibal in these parts.
M. Centenius fuit cognomine Paenula, insignis inter primi pili centuriones et magnitudine corporis et animo.
There was a certain Marcus Centenius, surnamed Paenula, distinguished among the centurions of the first rank both for the size of his body and his courage.
§25.19.10is perfunctus militia per P. Cornelium Sullam praetorem in senatum introductus petit a patribus, uti sibi quinque milia militum darentur: se peritum §25.19.11et hostis et regionum brevi operae pretium facturum et, quibus artibus ad id locorum nostri et duces et exercitus capti forent, iis adversus inventorem usurum.
He, having completed his military service, being introduced into the senate by the praetor Publius Cornelius Sulla, requested of the senators that five thousand soldiers might be given to him, saying that he, being well acquainted both with the enemy and the country, would soon perform something worth the trouble; and that those arts by which up to that time our generals and armies had been ensnared, he would employ against the deviser of them.
§25.19.12id non promissum magis stolide quam stolide creditum, tamquam eaedem militares et imperatoriae artes essent.
This was promised not more foolishly than it was foolishly believed, as if the skills of a common soldier and those of a general were the same.
§25.19.13data pro quinque octo milia militum, pars dimidia cives, pars socii.
Instead of five thousand, eight thousand soldiers were given, half of them citizens, half allies.
et ipse aliquantum voluntariorum in itinere ex agris concivit ac prope duplicato exercitu in Lucanos pervenit, ubi Hannibal nequiquam secutus Claudium substiterat.
He himself also gathered a considerable number of volunteers from the country on his march, and having nearly doubled his army, he arrived among the Lucanians, where Hannibal, having pursued Claudius in vain, had halted.
§25.19.14haud dubia res erat, quippe inter Hannibalem ducem et centurionem, exercitusque alterum vincendo veteranum, alterum novum totum, magna ex parte etiam tumultuarium ac semermem.
The issue of the affair was by no means doubtful, since it was between Hannibal as general and a centurion; and of the armies, the one was a veteran army from winning victories, the other entirely new, and for the most part even hastily raised and half-armed.
§25.19.15ut conspecta inter se agmina sunt et neutra pars detrectavit pugnam, extemplo instructae acies.
As soon as the columns came in sight of each other and neither side declined the battle, the lines were immediately formed.
pugnatum tamen, ut in nulla pari re, diu: duas amplius horas constitit pugna spe concitante, donec dux stetit, Romanam aciem.
Nevertheless, the battle was fought for a long time, considering the inequality of the forces; for more than two hours the Roman line stood its ground, with hope exciting the Roman line, as long as their leader stood.
§25.19.16postquam is non pro vetere fama solum, sed etiam metu futuri dedecoris, si sua temeritate contractae cladi superesset, obiectans se hostium telis cecidit, fusa extemplo est Romana acies.
After he fell, exposing himself to the weapons of the enemy, not only for the sake of his former reputation but also from fear of future disgrace if he should survive a disaster brought on by his own rashness, the Roman line was instantly routed.
§25.19.17sed adeo ne fugae quidem iter patuit omnibus viis ab equite insessis, ut ex tanta multitudine vix mille evaserint, ceteri passim alii alia peste absumpti sint.
But so completely was not even a way of flight open, with all roads being occupied by the cavalry, that out of so great a multitude scarcely a thousand escaped; the rest were destroyed here and there by one disaster or another.