§28.26.1per eosdem dies, quibus haec illi consultabant, §28.26.2consilium de iis Carthagini erat, certabaturque sententiis, utrum in auctores tantum seditionis — erant autem ii numero haud plus quam quinque et triginta — animadverteretur, an plurium supplicio vindicanda tam foedi exempli defectio magis quam seditio esset.
During those same days in which they were deliberating on these matters, a council concerning them was held at Carthage, and opinions were contested, whether punishment should be inflicted only on the instigators of the mutiny—who were not more than thirty-five in number—or whether a defection of so foul an example, rather than a mere mutiny, should be chastised by the punishment of a larger number.
§28.26.3vicit sententia lenior, ut, unde culpa orta esset, ibi poena consisteret; ad multitudinem castigationem satis esse.
The milder opinion prevailed, that the punishment should remain where the guilt had originated, and that for the multitude, a reprimand was sufficient.
§28.26.4consilio dimisso, ut id actum videretur, expeditio adversus Mandonium Indibilemque edicitur exercitui, qui Carthagine erat, et cibaria dierum aliquot parare iubentur.
When the council was dismissed, in order that this might seem to be the active plan, an expedition against Mandonius and Indibilis was proclaimed to the army which was at Carthage, and they were ordered to prepare provisions for several days.
§28.26.5tribunis septem, qui et antea Sucronem ad leniendam seditionem ierant, obviam exercitui missis quina nomina principum seditionis edita sunt, §28.26.6ut eos per idoneos homines benigno vultu ac sermone in hospitium invitatos sopitosque vino vincirent.
The seven tribunes, who had also previously gone to Sucro to soothe the mutiny, having been sent to meet the army, were given five names each of the leaders of the mutiny, so that they might, through suitable men, invite them to their lodgings with a friendly countenance and conversation, and bind them after they were overcome with wine.
§28.26.7haud procul iam Carthagine aberant, cum ex obviis auditum postero die omnem exercitum cum M. Silano in Lacetanos proficisci non metu modo omni, qui tacitus insidebat animis, liberavit eos, sed laetitiam ingentem fecit, quod magis habituri solum imperatorem quam ipsi futuri in potestate eius essent.
They were now not far from Carthage, when they heard from those they met that on the following day the whole army was to set out with Marcus Silanus for the Lacetanians; this not only freed them from all the fear that silently dwelt in their minds, but also caused immense joy, because they thought they would rather have the commander alone than be themselves in his power.
§28.26.8sub occasum solis urbem ingressi sunt exercitumque alterum parantem omnia ad iter viderunt.
Near sunset they entered the city, and saw the other army preparing everything for the march.
§28.26.9excepti sermonibus de industria compositis, laetum opportunumque adventum eorum imperatori esse, quod sub ipsam profectionem alterius exercitus venissent, corpora curant.
Received with speeches intentionally framed to suggest that their arrival was joyful and opportune for the commander, since they had come just at the departure of the other army, they refreshed themselves.
§28.26.10ab tribunis sine ullo tumultu auctores seditionis, per idoneos homines perducti in hospitia, comprensi ac vincti sunt.
By the tribunes, without any tumult, the instigators of the mutiny, led into lodgings by suitable men, were arrested and bound.
§28.26.11vigilia quarta impedimenta exercitus, cuius simulabatur iter, proficisci coepere; sub lucem signa mota et ad portam retentum agmen custodesque circa omnes portas missi, ne quis urbe egrederetur.
At the fourth watch, the baggage of the army whose march was being simulated began to set out; near dawn the standards were moved, but the column was halted at the gate, and guards were sent around all the gates so that no one might leave the city.
§28.26.12vocati deinde ad contionem qui pridie venerant, ferociter in forum ad tribunal imperatoris, ut ultro territuri succlamationibus, concurrunt.
Then, those who had arrived the day before were summoned to an assembly; they rushed fiercely into the forum to the general's tribunal, as if intending to terrify him moreover with their clamor.
§28.26.13simul et imperator in tribunal escendit et reducti a portis armati inermi se contioni ab tergo circumfuderunt.
At the same time, the commander ascended the tribunal, and the armed soldiers who had been brought back from the gates surrounded the unarmed assembly from behind.
§28.26.14tum omnis ferocia concidit et, ut postea fatebantur, nihil aeque eos terruit quam praeter spem robur et colos imperatoris, quem adfectum visuros crediderant, vultusque, qualem ne in acie quidem aiebant meminisse.
Then all their ferocity collapsed, and, as they afterwards confessed, nothing terrified them so much as, contrary to expectation, the vigor and color of the commander, whom they had believed they would see in a broken state, and his expression, such as they said they did not remember even in battle.
§28.26.15sedit tacitus paulisper, donec nuntiatum est deductos in forum auctores seditionis et parata omnia esse.
He sat silent for a little while, until it was announced that the instigators of the mutiny had been brought down into the forum and that all things were ready.