§25.38.1ne tamen subita res et nocturnus terror et iam non suae fortunae consilium perturbaret, adloquendos adhortandosque sibi milites ratus contione advocata ita disseruit: §25.38.2“vel mea erga imperatores nostros vivos mortuosque pietas, vel praesens omnium nostrum, milites, fortuna fidem cuivis facere potest mihi hoc imperium, ut amplum iudicio vestro, ita re ipsa grave ac sollicitum esse.
Lest, however, the suddenness of the event, the nocturnal terror, and a plan no longer suited to their fortune should throw them into confusion, Marcius, thinking that the soldiers ought to be addressed and encouraged by him, called an assembly and spoke as follows: "Either my piety toward our commanders, both living and dead, soldiers, or our present common fortune is able to make anyone believe that this command, though honorable in your judgment, is in reality heavy and full of anxiety.
quo enim tempore, §25.38.3nisi metus maerorem obstupefaceret, vix ita compos mei essem, ut aliqua solacia invenire aegro animo possem, cogor vestram omnium vicem, quod difficillimum in luctu est, unus consulere.
For at a time when, unless fear had numbed my grief, I should scarcely be so much master of myself as to be able to find any consolation for my suffering mind, I am compelled, what is most difficult in grief, alone to consult for the sake of you all.
§25.38.4et ne tum quidem, ubi, quonam modo has reliquias duorum exercituum patriae conservare possim, cogitandum est, avertere animum ab assiduo maerore licet.
And not even then, when we must think in what way I can preserve these remnants of the two armies for our country, is it permitted to turn my mind away from continuous grief.
§25.38.5praesto est enim acerba memoria, et Scipiones me ambo dies noctesque curis insomniisque agitant et excitant saepe somno, neu se, neu invictos per octo annos in his §25.38.6terris milites suos, commilitones vestros, neu rem publicam patiar inultam, et suam disciplinam suaque instituta sequi iubent et, §25.38.7ut imperiis vivorum nemo oboedientior me uno fuerit, ita post mortem suam, quod in quaque re facturos illos fuisse maxime censeam, id optimum ducere.
For the bitter memory is ever present, and both Scipios disturb me day and night with cares and sleeplessness, and often rouse me from sleep, demanding that I do not suffer themselves, nor their soldiers, your comrades, who have been invincible for eight years in these lands, nor the commonwealth, to lie unavenged; and they command me to follow their discipline and their institutions, and, just as no one was more obedient than I alone to the commands of the living, so after their death, to consider that as best which I believe they would have done most in each circumstance.
§25.38.8vos quoque velim, milites, non lamentis lacrimisque tamquam extinctos prosequi — vivunt vigentque fama rerum gestarum —, sed, quotienscumque occurret memoria illorum, velut si adhortantis signumque dantis videatis eos, ita proelia inire.
I would wish you also, soldiers, not to follow them with lamentations and tears as if they were dead—they live and flourish in the fame of their deeds—but, whenever the memory of them occurs, to enter battle just as if you saw them encouraging you and giving the signal.
§25.38.9nec alia profecto species hesterno die oblata oculis animisque vestris memorabile illud edidit proelium, quo documentum dedistis hostibus non cum Scipionibus extinctum esse nomen Romanum et, §25.38.10cuius populi vis atque virtus non obruta sit Cannensi clade, ex omni profecto saevitia fortunae emersuram esse.
Indeed, no other vision presented yesterday to your eyes and minds produced that memorable battle, by which you gave proof to the enemy that the Roman name has not perished along with the Scipios, and, that a people whose strength and valor were not overwhelmed by the disaster at Cannae will surely emerge from every cruelty of fortune.
§25.38.11nunc quia tantum ausi estis sponte vestra, experiri libet, quantum audeatis duce vestro auctore.
Now, because you have dared so much of your own accord, I wish to try how much you would dare with your commander as your leader.
non enim hesterno die, cum signum receptui dedi sequentibus effuse vobis turbatum hostem, frangere audaciam vestram, sed differre in maiorem gloriam atque opportunitatem volui, §25.38.12ut postmodo praeparati incautos, armati inermes atque etiam sopitos per occasionem adgredi possetis.
For yesterday, when I gave the signal for retreat while you were in scattered pursuit of the disordered enemy, I did not wish to break your courage, but to defer it for a greater glory and opportunity, so that afterwards, prepared, you might be able to attack them off their guard, armed against the unarmed, and even, as opportunity offers, while they are asleep.
nec huius occasionis spem, milites, forte temere, sed ex re ipsa conceptam habeo.
Nor do I hold the hope of this opportunity, soldiers, by chance or rashly, but conceived from the reality itself.
§25.38.13a vobis quoque profecto si quis quaerat, quonam modo pauci, multis, victi a victoribus castra tutati sitis, nihil aliud respondeatis, quam id ipsum timentis vos omnia et operibus firmata habuisse et ipsos paratos instructosque fuisse.
If anyone should ask you also, indeed, in what way you, being few, defended the camp against many, and being vanquished against the victors, you would answer nothing else than that, fearing that very thing, you had everything strengthened with fortifications and were yourselves prepared and drawn up.
§25.38.14et ita se res habet: ad id, quod ne timeatur fortuna facit, minime tuti sunt homines, quia, quod neglexeris, incautum atque apertum habeas.
And so it is: against that which fortune causes not to be feared, men are least safe, because what you neglect, you keep off guard and exposed.
§25.38.15nihil omnium nunc minus metuunt hostes quam ne obsessi modo ipsi atque oppugnati castra sua ultro oppugnemus.
The enemy now fear nothing less of all things than that we, who were just now besieged and attacked, should voluntarily attack their camp.
audeamus, quod credi non potest ausuros nos.
Let us dare what cannot be believed we would dare.
eo ipso, quod difficillimum videtur, facilius erit.
By that very fact, because it seems most difficult, it will be easier.
§25.38.16tertia vigilia noctis silenti agmine ducam vos.
At the third watch of the night, I will lead you in a silent column.
exploratum habeo non vigiliarum ordinem, non stationes iustas esse.
I have ascertained that there is no order of watches, no proper outposts.
§25.38.17clamor in portis auditus et primus impetus castra ceperit.
A shout heard at the gates and the first onset will have taken the camp.
tum inter torpidos somno paventisque ad necopinatum tumultum et inermis in cubilibus suis oppresses illa caedes edatur, a qua vos hesterno die revocatos aegre ferebatis.
Then, among those sluggish with sleep, terrified at the unexpected tumult, and oppressed unarmed in their beds, let that slaughter be carried out, from which you were reluctant to be recalled yesterday.
§25.38.18scio audax videri consilium; sed in rebus asperis et tenui spe fortissima quaeque consilia tutissima sunt, quia, si in occasionis momento, cuius praetervolat opportunitas, cunctatus paulum fueris, nequiquam mox omissam quaeras.
I know the plan seems bold; but in adversity and with slender hope, the boldest plans are always the safest, because if, in the decisive moment of opportunity, whose chance flies past, you hesitate even a little, you will soon seek in vain what was let slip.
§25.38.19unus exercitus in propinquo est, duo haud procul absunt; nunc adgredientibus spes aliqua est; et iam temptastis vestras atque illorum vires.
One army is nearby, two are not far off; there is some hope for those who attack now; and you have already tested your own strength and theirs.
§25.38.20si diem proferimus et hesternae eruptionis fama contemni desierimus, periculum est, ne omnes duces, omnes copiae conveniant.
If we delay the day and cease to be despised because of the fame of yesterday's sally, there is danger that all the commanders and all the forces will unite.
tres deinde duces, tres exercitus sustinebimus hostium, quos Cn. Scipio incolumi exercitu non sustinuit?
Shall we then withstand three commanders and three armies of the enemy, whom Gnaeus Scipio did not withstand when his army was unimpaired?
§25.38.21ut dividendo copias periere duces nostri, ita separatim ac divisi opprimi possunt hostes.
Just as our commanders perished by dividing their forces, so the enemy can be crushed separately and divided.
alia belli gerendi via nulla est.
There is no other way of waging war.
proinde nihil praeter noctis proximae opportunitatem expectemus.
Therefore, let us look forward to nothing except the opportunity of the coming night.
§25.38.22ite deis bene iuvantibus, corpora curate, ut integri vigentesque eodem animo in castra hostium inrumpatis, quo vestra tutati estis. ” laeti et audiere ab novo duce novum consilium, §25.38.23et, quo audacius erat, magis placebat.
Go, with the gods well helping you, refresh your bodies, so that, whole and vigorous, you may burst into the enemy's camp with the same spirit with which you defended your own." They heard with joy this new plan from their new leader, and the bolder it was, the more it pleased them.
reliquum diei expediendis armis et curatione corporum consumptum et maior pars noctis quieti data est.
The remainder of the day was spent in preparing arms and refreshing their bodies, and the greater part of the night was given to rest.
quarta vigil movere.
At the fourth watch, they moved.