§35.11.1diu nihil in Liguribus dignum memoria gestum erat; extremo eius anni bis in magnum periculum res adducta est; §35.11.2nam et castra consulis oppugnata aegre sunt defensa, et non ita multo post per saltum angustum cum duceretur agmen Romanum, §35.11.3ipsas fauces exercitus Ligurum insedit.
For a long time nothing worthy of memory had occurred among the Ligurians; at the end of that year the state of affairs was twice brought into great danger; for both the camp of the consul, having been attacked, was defended with difficulty, and not so long afterwards, when the Roman column was being led through a narrow pass, an army of Ligurians occupied the very mouth of the pass.
qua cum exitus non pateret, converso agmine redire institit consul.
Since an exit did not lie open there, the consul, turning the column, determined to retreat.
et ab tergo fauces saltus occupatae a parte hostium erant, Caudinaeque cladis memoria non animis modo, sed prope oculis obversabatur.
And from behind, the throat of the pass had been occupied by a part of the enemy, and the memory of the Caudine disaster was hovering not only in their minds but almost before their eyes.
§35.11.4Numidas octingentos ferme equites inter auxilia habebat.
He had nearly eight hundred Numidian horsemen among his auxiliaries.
eorum praefectus consuli pollicetur se parte utra vellet cum suis erupturum, tantum uti diceret, utra pars frequentior vicis esset; §35.11.5in eos se impetum facturum et nihil prius quam flammam tectis iniecturum, ut is pavor cogeret Ligures excedere saltu, quem obsiderent, §35.11.6et discurrere ad opem ferendam suis.
Their commander promised the consul that he would break out with his men on whichever side the consul wished, if only he would tell him which direction was more crowded with villages; he would make an attack upon them and, before anything else, would set fire to the houses, so that this panic would force the Ligurians to depart from the pass which they were blockading, and to run in all directions to bring help to their own people.
collaudatum eum consul spe praemiorum onerat.
Having highly praised him, the consul loaded him with the hope of rewards.
Numidae equos conscendunt et obequitare stationibus hostium, neminem lacessentes, coeperunt.
The Numidians mounted their horses and began to ride up to the posts of the enemy, provoking no one.
§35.11.7nihil primo adspectu contemptius: equi hominesque paululi et graciles, discinctus et inermis eques, praeterquam quod iacula secum portat, §35.11.8equi sine frenis, deformis ipse cursus rigida cervice et extento capite currentium.
Nothing at first sight was more contemptible: the horses and men were very small and slender, the horseman was ungirt and unarmed except that he carried javelins with him, the horses were without bridles, and the very gait of them running with stiff necks and outstretched heads was ugly.
hunc contemptum de industria augentes labi ex equis et per ludibrium spectaculo esse.
Purposely increasing this contempt, they slipped from their horses and made themselves a spectacle for mockery.
§35.11.9itaque qui primo intenti paratique, si lacesserentur, in stationibus fuerant, iam inermes sedentesque pars maxima spectabant.
And so those who at first had been attentive and prepared at their posts in case they should be provoked, now for the most part, unarmed and sitting down, were merely watching.
§35.11.10Numidae adequitare, dein refugere, sed propius saltum paulatim evehi, velut quos impotentis regendi equi invitos efferrent.
The Numidians kept riding up, then retreating, but gradually advanced closer to the pass, as if horses incapable of being managed were carrying them away against their will.
postremo subditis calcaribus per medias stationes hostium erupere, §35.11.11et in agrum latiorem evecti omnia propinqua viae tecta incendunt; proximo deinde vico inferunt ignem; ferro flammaque omnia pervastant.
At last, digging in their spurs, they broke out through the middle of the enemy's posts, and having ridden out into the wider countryside, they set on fire all the buildings near the road; then they brought fire to the nearest village; with sword and flame they utterly devastated everything.
§35.11.12fumus primo conspectus, deinde clamor trepidantium in vicis auditus, postremo seniores puerique refugientes tumultum in castris fecerunt.
First smoke was seen, then the shouting of those panicking in the villages was heard, and finally old men and boys fleeing caused a tumult in the camp.
§35.11.13itaque sine consilio, sine imperio pro se quisque currere ad sua tutanda; momentoque temporis castra relicta erant, et obsidione liberatus consul, quo intenderat, pervenit.
And so, without plan, without command, each one for himself ran to protect his own property; and in a moment of time the camp had been abandoned, and the consul, freed from the blockade, arrived where he had intended to go.