§3.2.1Q. Servilius insequenti anno — is enim cum Sp. Postumio consul fuit — in Aequos missus in Latino agro stativa habuit.
In the following year, Quintus Servilius—for he was consul with Spurius Postumius—having been sent against the Aequi, held a permanent camp in the Latin territory.
quies necessaria morbo inplicitum exercitum tenuit.
A necessary rest kept the army, which was afflicted with disease, there.
§3.2.2extractum in tertium annum bellum est Q. Fabio et T. Quinctio consulibus.
The war was prolonged into the third year under the consulship of Quintus Fabius and Titus Quinctius.
Fabio extra ordinem, quia is victor pacem Aequis dederat, ea provincia data.
To Fabius, out of the regular order, because he as victor had granted peace to the Aequi, that province was assigned.
§3.2.3qui haud dubia spe profectus famam nominis sui pacaturam Aequos, legatos in concilium gentis missos nuntiare iussit Q. Fabium consulem dicere, se ex Aequis pacem Romam tulisse, ab Roma Aequis bellum adferre eadem dextera armata, quam pacatam illis antea dederat.
He, having set out with no doubtful hope that the reputation of his name would pacify the Aequi, ordered envoys sent to the council of the nation to announce that the consul Quintus Fabius said that he had brought peace to Rome from the Aequi, and was now bringing war to the Aequi from Rome with the same armed right hand which he had previously given to them in peace.
§3.2.4quorum id perfidia et periurio fiat, deos nunc testes esse, mox fore ultores.
That of whose bad faith and perjury this was happening, the gods were now witnesses, and would soon be the avengers.
se tamen, utcumque sit, etiam nunc paenitere sua sponte Aequos quam pati hostilia malle.
That he, however, whatever the case might be, even now preferred that the Aequi should repent of their own accord rather than suffer hostilities.
§3.2.5si paeniteat, tutum receptum ad expertam clementiam fore; sin periurio gaudeant, dis magis iratis quam hostibus gesturos bellum.
If they should repent, there would be a safe retreat to his tried clemency; but if they should delight in perjury, they would wage war with the gods more angry than their enemies.
§3.2.6haec dicta adeo nihil moverunt quemquam, ut legati prope violati sint, exercitusque in Algidum adversus Romanos missus.
These words so little moved anyone that the envoys were nearly violated, and an army was sent to Algidus against the Romans.
§3.2.7quae ubi Romam sunt nuntiata, indignitas rei magis quam periculum consulem alterum ab urbe excivit.
When these things were reported to Rome, the indignity of the matter more than the danger aroused the other consul from the city.
ita duo consulares exercitus ad hostem accessere acie instructa, ut confestim dimicarent.
Thus, two consular armies approached the enemy in battle array, so as to fight immediately.
§3.2.8sed cum forte haud multum diei superesset, unus ab statione hostium exclamat: §3.2.9“ostentare hoc est, Romani, non gerere bellum.
But when by chance not much of the day remained, one man from the outpost of the enemy shouted: "This is to make a show of war, Romans, not to wage it.
in noctem inminentem aciem instruitis; longiore luce ad id certamen, quod instat, nobis opus est.
You form your line of battle for the impending night; we need longer light for this conflict that lies before us.
crastino die oriente sole redite in aciem; erit copia pugnandi; ne timete. ” §3.2.10his vocibus inritatus miles in diem posterum in castra reducitur longam venire noctem ratus, quae moram certamini faceret.
Return to the line of battle tomorrow at sunrise; there will be plenty of opportunity to fight; do not fear." Provoked by these words, the soldiers were led back to the camp until the following day, thinking that a long night was coming which would delay the battle.
tum quidem corpora cibo somnoque curant; ubi inluxit postero die, prior aliquanto constitit Romana acies; tandem et Aequi processere.
Then indeed they refreshed their bodies with food and sleep; when it dawned on the next day, the Roman line stood in position considerably earlier; at length the Aequi also advanced.
§3.2.11proelium fit utrimque vehemens, quod et Romanus ira odioque pugnabat, et Aequos conscientia contracti culpa periculi et desperatio futurae sibi postea fidei ultima audere et experiri cogebat.
A fierce battle ensued on both sides, because the Roman fought with anger and hatred, and the consciousness of the danger contracted by their own fault and the despair of future credit thereafter compelled the Aequi to dare and try the utmost.
§3.2.12non tamen sustinuere aciem Romanam Aequi; pulsique cum in fines suos se recepissent, nihilo inclinatioribus ad pacem animis ferox multitudo increpare duces, quod in aciem, qua pugnandi arte Romanus excellat, commissa res sit; Aequos populationibus incursionibusque meliores esse, §3.2.13et multas passim manus quam magnam molem unius exercitus rectius bella gerere.
The Aequi, however, did not withstand the Roman line; and when, having been repulsed, they had retreated into their own territory, with minds in no way more inclined toward peace, the fierce multitude reproached their leaders because the matter had been committed to a pitched battle, a mode of warfare in which the Roman excelled; they argued that the Aequi were better at devastating raids and incursions, and that many small bands scattered about carried on wars more successfully than the great mass of a single army.