§31.37.1consul equitibus iussis, qua quisque posset, opem ferre laborantibus ipse legiones e castris educit et agmine quadrato ad hostem ducit.
The consul, having ordered the cavalry to bring help to those in distress by whatever way each could, himself led the legions out of the camp and led them in square formation against the enemy.
§31.37.2dispersi equites per agros quidam aberrarunt decepti clamoribus aliis ex alio existentibus loco, pars obvios habuerunt hostis.
Some of the cavalry dispersed through the fields went astray, deceived by clamors arising now from one place, now from another; a part encountered the enemy.
§31.37.3pluribus locis simul pugna coepit.
Battle began in several places at once.
regia statio atrocissimum proelium edebat; nam et ipsa multitudine equitum peditumque prope iusta acies erat, et Romanorum, quia medium obsederat iter, plurimi in eam inferebantur.
The royal guard was engaged in the fiercest combat; for it was itself, in its multitude of horse and foot, almost a regular battle line, and the greatest number of the Romans, since it had blocked the middle way, were carried against it.
§31.37.4eo quoque superiores Macedones erant, quod et rex ipse hortator aderat, et Cretensium auxiliares multos ex improviso vulnerabant, conferti praeparatique in dispersos et effusos pugnantes.
In this respect also the Macedonians were superior, because both the king himself was present as an encourager, and the Cretan auxiliaries, close-packed and prepared against those fighting dispersed and scattered, were wounding many by surprise.
§31.37.5quod si modum in insequendo habuissent, non in praesentis modo certaminis gloriam, sed in summam etiam belli profectum foret; §31.37.6nunc aviditate caedis intemperantius secuti in praegressas cum tribunis militum cohortes Romanas incidere, §31.37.7et fugiens eques, ut primo signa suorum vidit, convertit in effusum hostem equos, versaque momento temporis fortuna pugnae est terga dantibus, qui modo secuti erant.
And if they had kept a limit in pursuing, it would have been advantageous not only for the glory of the present contest, but also for the main outcome of the war; as it was, having pursued too immoderately from eagerness for slaughter, they fell upon the Roman cohorts which had advanced with the military tribunes; and the fleeing cavalry, as soon as they saw the standards of their own men, turned their horses against the scattered enemy, and in a moment of time the fortune of the battle was reversed, with those who had just now been pursuing turning their backs.
§31.37.8multi comminus congressi, multi fugientes interfecti; nec ferro tantum periere, sed in paludes quidam coniecti profundo limo cum ipsis equis hausti sunt.
Many were slain in hand-to-hand combat, many in flight; nor did they perish by the sword only, but some, driven into the marshes, were swallowed up in the deep mud together with their horses.
§31.37.9rex quoque in periculo fuit; nam ruente saucio equo praeceps ad terram datus, §31.37.10haud multum afuit, quin iacens opprimeretur.
The king also was in danger; for, his wounded horse falling, he was thrown headlong to the ground, and he was not far from being trampled as he lay.
saluti fuit eques, qui raptim ipse desiluit pavidumque regem in equum subiecit; ipse, cum pedes aequare cursu fugientes non posset equites, ab hostibus ad casum regis concitatis confossus perit.
His safety was a cavalryman, who quickly leaped down himself and placed the trembling king upon his horse; he himself, since as a foot soldier he could not equal the fleeing cavalrymen in speed, died transfixed by the enemy, who had been excited by the fall of the king.
§31.37.11rex circumvectus paludes per vias inviaque trepida fuga in castra tandem, iam desperantibus plerisque incolumem evasurum, pervenit.
The king, having ridden around the marshes, through paths and trackless places in a trembling flight, at length reached the camp, while most had already despaired of his escaping safely.
§31.37.12ducenti Macedonum equites eo proelio periere, centum ferme capti; octoginta admodum ornati equi spoliis simul armorum relatis abducti.
Two hundred Macedonian cavalrymen perished in that battle, and about one hundred were captured; about eighty equipped horses were led away, with the spoils of arms also brought back.