§3.26.1vis Sabinorum ingens prope ad moenia urbis infesta populatione venit; foedati agri, terror iniectus urbi est.
A huge force of the Sabines advanced with hostile devastation almost to the very walls of the city; the fields were laid waste, and terror was struck into the city.
tum plebs benigne arma cepit; reclamantibus frustra tribunis magni duo exercitus scripti.
Then the plebeians willingly took up arms; while the tribunes protested in vain, two large armies were enrolled.
§3.26.2alterum Nautius contra Sabinos duxit castrisque ad Eretum positis per expeditiones parvas, plerumque nocturnis incursionibus, tantam vastitatem in Sabino agro reddidit, ut conparati ad eam prope intacti bello fines Romani viderentur.
Nautius led one of them against the Sabines and, having pitched his camp near Eretum, by means of small expeditions, for the most part nocturnal incursions, inflicted such vast devastation on the Sabine territory that, compared to it, the Roman borders seemed almost untouched by war.
§3.26.3Minucio neque fortuna nec vis animi eadem in gerendo negotio fuit; nam cum haud procul ab hoste castra posuisset, nulla magnopere clade accepta castris se pavidus tenebat.
Minucius had neither the same fortune nor the same strength of mind in conducting his business; for although he had pitched his camp not far from the enemy, without having suffered any great disaster, he kept himself fearfully within his camp.
§3.26.4quod ubi senserant hostes, crevit ex metu alieno, ut fit, audacia, et nocte adorti castra, postquam parum vis aperta profecerat, munitiones postero die circumdant.
When the enemy perceived this, their boldness grew, as usually happens, from the fear of another; and having attacked the camp by night, after open force had made little progress, they surrounded it with works on the following day.
quae priusquam undique vallo obiectae clauderent exitus, quinque equites inter stationes hostium emissi Romam pertulere consulem exercitumque obsideri.
Before these, being thrown up on all sides, could close the exits with a rampart, five horsemen, sent out through the enemy's outposts, carried the news to Rome that the consul and his army were besieged.
§3.26.5nihil tam inopinatum nec tam insperatum accidere potuit.
Nothing so unexpected or unlooked for could have happened.
itaque tantus pavor, tanta trepidatio fuit, quanta si urbem, non castra hostes obsiderent.
Therefore, there was as much panic and trepidation as if the enemy were besieging the city itself, and not the camp.
§3.26.6Nautium consulem arcessunt.
They summoned the consul Nautius.
in quo cum parum praesidii videretur dictatoremque dici placeret, qui rem perculsam restitueret, L. Quinctius Cincinnatus consensu omnium dicitur.
Since there seemed to be too little security in him, and it was resolved that a dictator should be appointed to restore the shattered state of affairs, Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus was named by consensus of all.
§3.26.7operae pretium est audire, qui omnia prae divitiis humana spernunt neque honori magno locum neque virtuti putant esse, nisi ubi effuse afluant opes.
It is worth while for those to hear who despise all human things in comparison with riches, and who think that there is no place for great honor or virtue except where wealth flows in abundance.
spes unica imperii populi Romani, §3.26.8L. Quinctius trans Tiberim, contra eum ipsum locum, ubi nunc navalia sunt, quattuor iugerum colebat agrum, quae prata Quinctia vocantur.
The sole hope of the empire of the Roman people, Lucius Quinctius, was cultivating a field of four iugera across the Tiber, opposite that very place where the dockyards are now, which is called the Quinctian Meadows.
§3.26.9ibi ab legatis, seu fossam fodiens palae innixus seu cum araret, operi certe, id quod constat, agresti intentus, salute data in vicem redditaque rogatus, ut, quod bene verteret ipsi reique publicae, togatus mandata senatus audiret, admiratus rogitansque “satin salve?” togam propere e tugurio proferre uxorem Raciliam iubet.
There, being found by the ambassadors—whether digging a ditch leaning on his spade, or while plowing, but certainly, as is well established, intent on rustic labor—after greetings were given and returned in turn, he was requested to put on his toga and hear the senate's commands, with the prayer that it might turn out well for himself and the republic. Filled with wonder, and asking repeatedly "Is all well?", he ordered his wife Racilia to bring his toga quickly from the cottage.
§3.26.10qua simul absterso pulvere ac sudore velatus processit, dictatorem eum legati gratulantes consalutant, in urbem vocant, qui terror sit in exercitu, exponunt.
As soon as he stepped forward, clad in it after wiping away the dust and sweat, the ambassadors congratulated him and hailed him as dictator, invited him to the city, and explained what terror there was in the army.
§3.26.11navis Quinctio publice parata fuit, transvectumque tres obviam egressi filii excipiunt, inde alii propinqui atque amici, tum patrum maior pars.
A boat was publicly provided for Quinctius, and when he had crossed over, three of his sons, who had come out to meet him, received him, and then other relatives and friends, and then the greater part of the senators.
§3.26.12ea frequentia stipatus antecedentibus lictoribus deductus est domum.
Surrounded by this crowd, with the lictors preceding him, he was conducted to his house.
et plebis concursus ingens fuit; sed ea nequaquam tam laeta Quinctium vidit, et imperii nimium et virum ipso imperio vehementiorem rata.
There was also a huge gathering of the plebeians; but they by no means looked upon Quinctius with such joy, thinking both the power of the office to be excessive and the man himself to be more vehement than the office itself.
et illa quidem nocte nihil praeterquam vigilatum est in urbe.
And indeed, on that night, nothing was done in the city except keeping watch.