§32.9.1consulem T. Quinctium ita habito dilectu, ut eos fere legeret, qui in Hispania aut Africa meruissent, spectatae virtutis milites, properantem in provinciam prodigia nuntiata atque eorum procuratio Romae tenuerunt.
The consul Titus Quinctius, having held the levy in such a manner that he chose for the most part those who had served in Spain or Africa, soldiers of tried valor, was, as he was hastening to his province, detained at Rome by the reported prodigies and their expiation.
§32.9.2de caelo tacta erant via publica Veis, forum et aedes Iovis Lanuvi, Herculis aedes Ardeae, Capuae murus et turres et aedes, quae alba dicitur;
The public road at Veii, the forum and the temple of Jupiter at Lanuvium, the temple of Hercules at Ardea, and the wall, towers, and the temple which is called White at Capua had been struck by lightning.
§32.9.3caelum ardere visum erat Arreti; terra Velitris trium iugerum spatio caverna ingenti desederat; Suessae Auruncae nuntiabant agnum cum duobus capitibus natum et Sinuessae porcum cum humano capite.
At Arretium the sky had seemed to be on fire; at Velitrae the earth had subsided into a huge cavern over a space of three iugera; at Suessa Aurunca they reported that a lamb had been born with two heads, and at Sinuessa a pig with a human head.
§32.9.4eorum prodigiorum causa supplicatio unum diem habita, et consules rebus divinis operam dederunt placatisque diis in provincias profecti sunt, Aelius cum Helvio praetore in Galliam;
Because of these prodigies, a supplication was held for one day, and the consuls devoted themselves to sacred rites; and when the gods were appeased, they set out for their provinces, Aelius with the praetor Helvius to Gaul.
§32.9.5exercitumque ab L. Lentulo acceptum, quem dimittere debebat, praetori tradidit, ipse novis legionibus, quas secum adduxerat, bellum gesturus.
And he handed over to the praetor the army received from Lucius Lentulus, which he was supposed to disband, intending himself to wage war with the new legions which he had brought with him.
neque memorabilis rei quicquam gessit.
He performed nothing worthy of mention.
§32.9.6T. Quinctius alter consul maturius, quam priores soliti erant consules, a Brundisio cum tramisisset, Corcyram tenuit cum octo milibus peditum, equitibus octingentis.
The other consul, Titus Quinctius, having crossed from Brundisium earlier than previous consuls had been accustomed to do, reached Corcyra with eight thousand infantry and eight hundred cavalry.
§32.9.7ab Corcyra in proxima Epiri quinqueremi traiecit et in castra Romana magnis itineribus contendit.
From Corcyra he crossed in a quinquereme to the nearest part of Epirus and hastened to the Roman camp by forced marches.
§32.9.8inde Villio dimisso paucos moratus dies, dum se copiae ab Corcyra adsequerentur, consilium habuit, utrum recto itinere per castra hostium vim facere conaretur, §32.9.9an ne temptata quidem re tanti laboris ac periculi per Dassaretios potius Lyncumque tuto circuitu Macedoniam intraret.
Then, having dismissed Villius, he delayed for a few days until the forces from Corcyra should catch up with him, and held a council of war as to whether he should attempt to force his way by a direct route through the enemy's camp, or, without even attempting a task of such great labor and danger, enter Macedonia rather by a safe detour through the territory of the Dassaretii and Lyncus.
§32.9.10vicissetque ea sententia, ni timuisset, ne, cum a mari longius recessisset, emisso e manibus hoste, si, quod antea fecerat, solitudinibus silvisque se tutari rex voluisset, sine ullo effectu aestas extraheretur.
And this latter opinion would have prevailed, had he not feared lest, when he had receded further from the sea, the enemy having been let slip from his hands, if the king should wish to protect himself in wildernesses and forests, as he had done before, the summer would be dragged out without any result.
§32.9.11utcumque esset igitur, illo ipso tam iniquo loco adgredi hostem placuit. sed magis fieri id placebat, quam, quomodo fieret, satis expediebant;
However it might be, therefore, it was decided to attack the enemy in that very place, unfavorable though it was; but they were more resolved that it should be done than they were clear as to how it could be done.