§34.14.1nocte media, cum auspicio operam dedisset, profectus, ut locum quem vellet, priusquam hostes sentirent, caperet, praeter castra hostium circumducit et prima luce acie instructa sub ipsum vallum tres cohortes mittit.
In the middle of the night, after he had attended to the auspices, he set out, in order to seize the place he wanted before the enemy should perceive it, led his men around past the enemy's camp, and at dawn, having drawn up his battle line, sent three cohorts right up to the rampart itself.
§34.14.2mirantes barbari ab tergo apparuisse Romanum discurrere et ipsi ad arma.
The barbarians, wondering that the Roman had appeared from behind, ran to and fro, and they themselves rushed to arms.
§34.14.3interim consul apud suos “nusquam nisi in virtute spes est, milites” §34.14.4inquit, “et ego sedulo, ne esset, feci.
Meanwhile, the consul said to his men: "There is no hope anywhere, soldiers, except in valor;" and he said, "and I have diligently acted to ensure that there should be none.
inter castra nostra et nos medii hostes et ab tergo hostium ager est.
Between our camp and us the enemy is in the middle, and behind the enemy is their territory.
quod pulcherrimum, idem tutissimum: in virtute spem positam habere. ” sub haec cohortes recipi iubet, §34.14.5ut barbaros simulatione fugae eliceret.
What is most glorious is at the same time most safe: to have hope placed in valor." Immediately after these words, he ordered the cohorts to be recalled, in order to draw out the barbarians by a pretense of flight.
id, quod crediderat, evenit.
That which he had believed would happen did occur.
pertimuisse et cedere rati Romanos porta erumpunt et, quantum inter castra sua et aciem hostium relictum erat loci, armatis complent.
Thinking that the Romans were terrified and retreating, they burst out of the gates and filled all the space left between their camp and the enemy's battle line with armed men.
§34.14.6dum trepidant acie instruenda, consul iam paratis ordinatisque omnibus incompositos adgreditur.
While they were in confusion trying to form their line, the consul, with everything already prepared and arranged, attacked them while they were disordered.
equites primos ab utroque cornu in pugnam induxit.
He led the cavalry first into the battle from both wings.
sed in dextro extemplo pulsi cedentesque trepidi etiam pediti terrorem intulere.
But on the right wing, immediately repulsed and retreating, they brought terror in their panic even to the infantry.
§34.14.7quod ubi consul vidit, duas cohortes delectas ab dextro latere hostium circumduci iubet et ab tergo se ostendere, priusquam concurrerent peditum acies.
When the consul saw this, he ordered two select cohorts to be led around from the enemy's right flank and to show themselves from behind, before the lines of infantry should clash.
§34.14.8is terror obiectus hosti rem metu Romanorum equitum inclinatam aequavit; tamen adeo turbati erant dextrae alae pedites equitesque, ut quosdam consul manu ipse reprenderit verteritque in hostem.
This terror presented to the enemy equalized the situation which had been tilted by the fear of the Roman cavalry; nevertheless, the infantry and cavalry of the right wing were so thrown into confusion that the consul himself seized some with his own hand and turned them back toward the enemy.
§34.14.9ita et quamdiu missilibus pugnatum est, anceps pugna erat, et iam ab dextra parte, unde terror et fuga coeperat, aegre Romanus restabat; §34.14.10ab sinistro cornu et a fronte urgebantur barbari et cohortes a tergo instantes pavidi respiciebant.
Thus, as long as the fight was waged with missiles, the battle was undecided, and already on the right side, where the terror and flight had begun, the Roman was holding his ground with difficulty; on the left wing and from the front the barbarians were hard pressed, and in their fear they kept looking back at the cohorts pressing upon them from behind.
§34.14.11ut emissis soliferreis phalaricisque gladios strinxerunt, tum velut redintegrata est pugna.
When they had discharged their iron javelins and incendiary darts and drawn their swords, then the battle was as if renewed.
non caecis ictibus procul ex improviso vulnerabantur, sed pede collato tota in virtute ac viribus spes erat.
No longer were they wounded from afar by unseen blows from unexpected quarters, but hand to hand, all hope rested on valor and strength.