§38.26.1biduum natura montis per se ipsum exploranda, ne quid ignoti esset, absumpsit consul; tertio die, cum auspicio operam dedisset, deinde immolasset, in quattuor partes divisas copias educit, duas, ut medio monte duceret, §38.26.2duas ab lateribus, ut adversus cornua Gallorum erigeret.
The consul spent two days in exploring the nature of the mountain by himself, so that there should be nothing unknown; on the third day, after he had attended to the auspices and then offered sacrifice, he led out his forces divided into four parts, two so that he might lead them along the middle of the mountain, and two from the flanks, so that he might direct them against the wings of the Gauls.
§38.26.3hostium quod roboris erat, Tectosagi et Trocmi, mediam tenebant aciem, milia hominum quinquaginta; equitatum, quia equorum nullus erat inter inaequales rupes usus, ad pedes deductum, decem milia hominum, ab dextro locaverunt cornu; §38.26.4Ariarathis Cappadoces et Morzi auxiliares in laevo quattuor ferme milium numerum explebant.
The main strength of the enemy, the Tectosages and Trocmi, fifty thousand men, held the center of the line; the cavalry, since there was no use for horses among the uneven rocks, dismounted to fight on foot, ten thousand men, they placed on the right wing; the Cappadocians of Ariarathes and the auxiliary troops of Morzius filled up a number of about four thousand on the left wing.
consul, sicut in Olympo monte, prima in acie locata levi armatura, telorum omnis generis ut aeque magna vis ad manum esset, curavit.
The consul, just as on Mount Olympus, having placed the light-armed troops in the front line, took care that an equally large supply of weapons of every kind should be at hand.
§38.26.5ubi appropinquarunt, omnia eadem utrimque, quae fuerant in priore proelio, erant praeter animos et victoribus ab re secunda auctos et hostibus fractos, §38.26.6quia, etsi non ipsi victi erant, suae gentis hominum cladem pro sua ducebant.
When they drew near, everything on both sides was the same as it had been in the previous battle, except for the spirits, which were both increased for the victors by their success and broken for the enemy, because, although they themselves had not been defeated, they regarded the disaster of the men of their own nation as their own.
itaque a paribus initiis coepta res eundem exitum habuit.
Therefore, the action begun from equal starting points had the same outcome.
§38.26.7velut nubes levium telorum coniecta obruit aciem Gallorum.
A cloud, as it were, of light weapons thrown overwhelmed the line of the Gauls.
nec aut procurrere quisquam ab ordinibus suis, ne nudarent undique corpus ad ictus, audebant, et stantes, §38.26.8quo densiores erant, hoc plura, velut destinatum petentibus, vulnera accipiebant.
And neither did anyone dare to run forward from their ranks, lest they should expose their bodies on all sides to the blows, and standing, the denser they were, the more wounds they received, as if they were presenting themselves to those aiming at a fixed target.
consul iam per se turbatis si legionum signa ostendisset, versuros extemplo in fugam omnis ratus receptis inter ordines velitibus et alia turba auxiliorum aciem promovit.
The consul, thinking that if he showed the standards of the legions to those who were already in confusion by themselves, they would all immediately turn to flight, having received the light-armed troops and the other crowd of auxiliaries within the ranks, advanced the line.