§25.7.1sub haec dicta ad genua Marcelli procubuerunt.
Following these words, they prostrated themselves at the knees of Marcellus.
Marcellus id nec iuris nec potestatis suae esse dixit: senatui scripturum se omniaque de sententia patrum facturum esse.
Marcellus said that this was a matter neither of his right nor of his power; he stated that he would write to the senate and perform everything in accordance with the opinion of the fathers.
§25.7.2eae litterae ad novos consules allatae ac per eos in senatu recitatae sunt, consultusque de iis litteris ita decrevit senatus, §25.7.3militibus, qui ad Cannas commilitones suos pugnantis deseruissent, senatum nihil videre cur res publica committenda esset.
This letter was delivered to the new consuls and read by them in the senate, and the senate, on being consulted regarding this letter, decreed as follows: that in the case of the soldiers who had deserted their fellow soldiers fighting at Cannae, the senate saw no reason why the commonwealth should be entrusted to them.
§25.7.4si M. Claudio proconsuli aliter videretur, faceret quod e re publica fideque sua duceret, dum ne quis eorum munere vacaret neu dono militari virtutis ergo donaretur neu in Italiam reportaretur, donec hostis in terra Italia esset.
If it seemed otherwise to the proconsul Marcus Claudio, he might do what he considered to be in the interest of the commonwealth and consistent with his own good faith, provided that none of them should be exempt from military service, nor be presented with any military gift on account of valor, nor be brought back to Italy as long as the enemy was in the land of Italy.
comitia §25.7.5deinde a praetore urbano de senatus sententia plebique scitu sunt habita, quibus creati sunt quinqueviri muris et turribus reficiendis, et triumviri bini, uni sacris conquirendis donisque persignandis alteri reficiendis aedibus Fortunae §25.7.6et matris Matutae intra portam Carmentalem et Spei extra portam, quae priore anno incendio consumptae fuerant.
Then, in accordance with the decree of the senate and a plebiscite, comitia were held by the urban praetor, at which a commission of five was elected for repairing the walls and towers, as well as two commissions of three; the one for searching out sacred vessels and recording gifts, the other for rebuilding the temples of Fortuna and of Mater Matuta within the Carmental gate, and of Spes outside the gate, which had been destroyed by fire in the previous year.
— §25.7.7tempestates foedae fuere: in Albano monte biduum continenter lapidibus pluvit.
There were dreadful storms: on the Alban Mount it rained stones continuously for two days.
tacta de caelo multa, duae in Capitolio aedes, vallum in castris multis locis supra Suessulam, et duo vigiles exanimati; §25.7.8murus turresque quaedam Cumis non ictae modo fulminibus sed etiam decussae.
Many things were struck by lightning, including two temples on the Capitol, the rampart of the camp in many places above Suessula, and two sentries were killed; at Cumae, the wall and certain towers were not only struck by lightning but even thrown down.
Reate saxum ingens visum volitare, sol rubere solito magis sanguineoque similis.
At Reate, a huge stone was seen to fly about, and the sun was redder than usual and like blood.
§25.7.9horum prodigiorum causa diem unum supplicatio fuit; et per aliquot dies consules rebus divinis operam dederunt; et per eosdem dies sacrum novemdiale fuit.
On account of these portents, there was a supplication for one day; and for several days the consuls occupied themselves with religious duties; and during those same days, a nine-day festival was held.
§25.7.10cum Tarentinorum defectio iam diu et in spe Hannibali et in suspicione Romanis esset, causa forte extrinsecus maturandae eius intervenit.
While the defection of the Tarentines had already for a long time been an object of hope to Hannibal and of suspicion to the Romans, an event by chance intervened from without to hasten it.
§25.7.11Phileas Tarentinus diu iam per speciem legationis Romae cum esset, vir inquieti animi et minime otium, quo tum diutino senescere videbatur, patientis, aditum sibi ad obsides Tarentinos et Thurinos invenit.
Phileas the Tarentine, who had already been in Rome for a long time under the pretext of an embassy, being a man of a restless mind and least tolerant of the ease in which he then seemed to be growing old during its long duration, found access for himself to the Tarentine and Thurian hostages.
§25.7.12custodiebantur in atrio Libertatis minore cura, quia nec ipsis nec civitatibus eorum fallere Romanos expediebat.
They were guarded in the Atrium of Liberty with rather little care, because it was in the interest neither of themselves nor of their states to deceive the Romans.
§25.7.13hos crebris conloquiis sollicitatos corruptis aedituis duobus cum primis tenebris custodia eduxisset, ipse comes occulti itineris factus profugit.
Having solicited these men by frequent conversations and corrupted two keepers of the temple, he led them out of custody at the first darkness, and having himself become a companion of their secret journey, he fled.
§25.7.14luce prima volgata per urbem fugai est, missique qui sequerentur ab Tarracina comprensos omnis retraxerunt.
At daybreak, the news of the escape was made public through the city, and those sent to pursue them overtook them all near Tarracina and brought them back.
deducti in comitium virgisque adprobante populo caesi de saxo deiciuntur.
They were led into the comitium, scourged with rods with the approval of the people, and cast down from the Rock.