§38.20.1consul quia non comminus pugnam sed procul locis oppugnandis futuram praeceperat animo, ingentem vim pilorum, velitarium hastarum, sagittarum glandisque et modicorum, qui funda mitti possent, §38.20.2lapidum paraverat, instructusque missilium apparatu ad Olympum montem ducit et a quinque ferme milibus castra locat.
The consul, because he had anticipated in his mind that the battle would not be hand-to-hand but from a distance, in besieging the positions, had prepared a huge quantity of javelins, light-armed spears, arrows, sling-bullets, and moderate-sized stones that could be thrown with a sling; and, equipped with an apparatus of missiles, he led his army to Mount Olympus and pitched camp about five miles away.
§38.20.3postero die cum quadringentis equitibus et Attalo progressum eum ad naturam montis situmque Gallicorum castrorum visendum equites hostium, duplex numerus, effusi e castris, in fugam averterunt; §38.20.4occisi quoque pauci fugientium, vulnerati plures.
On the following day, when he had advanced with four hundred cavalry and Attalus to inspect the nature of the mountain and the situation of the Gallic camp, the enemy's cavalry, double in number, pouring out of the camp, put him to flight; a few of those fleeing were also killed, and more were wounded.
tertio die cum omnibus ad loca exploranda profectus, quia nemo hostium extra munimenta processit, tuto circumvectus montem, animadvertit meridiana regione terrenos et placide acclives ad quendam finem colles esse, §38.20.5a septentrione arduas et rectas prope rupes, atque omnibus ferme aliis inviis itinera tria esse, unum medio monte, qua terrena erant, duo difficilia ab hiberno solis ortu et ab aestivo occasu.
On the third day, having set out with all his forces to reconnoiter the places, since none of the enemy came out beyond their fortifications, he rode safely around the mountain and noticed that in the southern region there were hills made of earth and gently sloping up to a certain point, while on the north there were steep and almost perpendicular cliffs, and that, though almost all other parts were impassable, there were three routes: one in the middle of the mountain where the ground was earthy, and two difficult ones from the winter sunrise and from the summer sunset.
haec contemplatus eo die sub ipsis radicibus posuit castra; §38.20.6postero sacrificio facto, cum primis hostiis litasset, trifariam exercitum divisum ducere ad hostem pergit.
Having observed these things, he pitched camp on that day right at the very foot of the mountain; on the next day, after a sacrifice had been made and the first victims had proved favorable, he proceeded to lead his army, divided into three parts, against the enemy.
§38.20.7ipse cum maxima parte copiarum, qua aequissimum aditum praebebat mons, ascendit; L. Manlium fratrem ab hiberno ortu, quoad loca patiantur et tuto possit, subire iubet; §38.20.8si qua periculosa et praerupta occurrant, non pugnare cum iniquitate locorum neque inexsuperabilibus vim adferre, sed obliquo monte ad se declinare et suo agmini coniungi; §38.20.9C. Helvium cum tertia parte circuire sensim per infima montis, deinde ab occasu aestivo erigere agmen.
He himself ascended with the greatest part of the forces where the mountain offered the easiest access; he ordered his brother Lucius Manlius to advance from the winter sunrise as far as the terrain would allow and as he safely could; if any dangerous and steep places should occur, he was not to fight against the disadvantage of the terrain nor to force his way against insurmountable obstacles, but to turn aside along the slope of the mountain toward him and join his column; he ordered Caius Helvius with the third part to go gradually around the lowest parts of the mountain and then lead his column up from the summer sunset.
et Attali auxilia trifariam aequo numero divisit, secum esse ipsum iuvenem iussit.
He also divided the auxiliary forces of Attalus into three equal parts, and ordered the young man himself to remain with him.
§38.20.10equitatum cum elephantis in proxima tumulis planitie reliquit; edictum praefectis, ut intenti, quid ubique geratur, animadvertant opemque ferre, quo postulet res, possint.
He left the cavalry with the elephants on the plain nearest to the hills; a command was given to the officers to watch carefully what was happening everywhere, so that they might be able to bring help wherever the situation demanded.