§27.45.1Nero postquam iam tantum intervalli ab hoste fecerat, ut detegi consilium satis tutum esset, paucis milites alloquitur.
Nero, after he had now made so much distance from the enemy that it was safe enough for his plan to be disclosed, addressed his soldiers in a few words.
§27.45.2negat ullius consilium imperatoris in speciem audacius, re ipsa tutius fuisse quam suum.
He asserted that no general's plan had been bolder in appearance, and safer in reality, than his own.
§27.45.3ad certam eos se victoriam ducere: quippe ad quod bellum collega non ante, quam ad satietatem ipsius peditum atque equitum datae ab senatu copiae fuissent maiores instructioresque, quam si adversus ipsum Hannibalem iret, profectus sit, eo ipsi si quantumcumque virium momentum addiderint, rem omnem inclinaturos.
He was leading them, he said, to a certain victory; for into that war which his colleague had not set out for before forces larger and better equipped than if he were going against Hannibal himself had been given him by the senate to his own satisfaction of infantry and cavalry, if they themselves added any momentum of strength, however small, they would turn the scale of the whole affair.
§27.45.4auditum modo in acie — nam ne ante audiatur, daturum operam — alterum consulem et alterum exercitum advenisse haud dubiam victoriam facturum.
The mere report in the battle line—for he would take care that it should not be heard before—that another consul and another army had arrived would make the victory beyond doubt.
§27.45.5famam bellum conficere, et parva momenta in spem metumque impellere animos; gloriae quidem ex re bene gesta partae fructum prope omnem ipsos laturos;
Rumour finishes a war, and small moments impel minds toward hope and fear; they themselves would carry off almost the entire fruit of the glory won from a successful action.
§27.45.6semper quod postremum adiectum sit, id rem totam videri traxisse.
For it always seems that what was added last drew the whole matter.
cernere ipsos, quo concursu, qua admiratione, quo favore hominum iter suum celebretur.
They themselves saw with what a concourse, what admiration, what favour of men their march was celebrated.
§27.45.7et hercule per instructa omnia ordinibus virorum mulierumque undique ex agris effusorum, inter vota ac preces et laudes ibant: illos praesidia rei publicae, vindices urbis Romanae imperiique appellabant; in illorum armis dextrisque suam liberorumque suorum salutem ac libertatem repositam esse.
And indeed, they went through lines of men and women drawn up everywhere, poured out from the fields on all sides, amid vows, prayers, and praises; people called them the bulwarks of the state, the avengers of the Roman city and empire; in their arms and right hands, they said, the safety and liberty of themselves and their children were placed.
§27.45.8deos omnes deasque precabantur, ut illis faustum iter, felix pugna, §27.45.9matura ex hostibus victoria esset, damnarenturque ipsi votorum, quae pro iis suscepissent, ut, quem ad modum nunc solliciti prosequerentur eos, ita paucos post dies laeti ovantibus victoria obviam irent.
They prayed to all the gods and goddesses that their march might be auspicious, their battle successful, and their victory over the enemy swift, and that they themselves might be bound by the vows which they had undertaken for them, so that, just as they now followed them anxiously, so after a few days they might joyfully meet them as they celebrated their victory.
invitare inde pro se quisque §27.45.10et offerre et fatigare precibus, ut, quae ipsis iumentisque usui essent, ab se potissimum sumerent; benigne omnia cumulata dare.
Then, each for his own part invited them, offered, and wearied them with prayers to take what was of use to themselves and their beasts from them in preference to anyone else; they gave all things kindly and in heaps.
§27.45.11modestia certare milites ne quid ultra usum necessarium sumerent; nihil morari, nec ab signis abire nec subsistere cibum capientes; diem ac noctem ire; vix quod satis ad naturale desiderium corporum esset, quieti dare.
The soldiers competed in moderation not to take anything beyond necessary use; they made no delay, did not leave the standards, nor stop while taking food; they marched day and night; they gave to rest scarcely what was sufficient for the natural need of their bodies.
§27.45.12et ad collegam praemissi erant, qui nuntiarent adventum percunctarenturque, clam an palam, interdiu an noctu venire sese vellet, isdem an aliis considere castris.
And men had been sent ahead to his colleague to announce their arrival and to ask whether he wished them to come secretly or openly, by day or by night, and to settle in the same camp or in another.
nocte clam ingredi melius visum est.
It seemed better to enter secretly by night.