§38.46.1nolite nomen tantum existimare mixtum esse Gallograecorum; multo ante et corpora et animi mixti ac vitiati sunt.
Do not think that only the name of the Gallograecians is mixed; long before, both their bodies and their minds were mixed and corrupted.
§38.46.2an, si illi Galli essent, cum quibus milliens vario eventu in Italia pugnatum est, quantum in imperatore vestro fuit, nuntius illinc redisset?
If they had been those Gauls, with whom we fought a thousand times in Italy with varying fortune, as far as it lay in your commander's power, would a single messenger have returned from there?
§38.46.3bis cum iis pugnatum est, bis loco iniquo subiit, in valle inferiore pedibus paene hostium aciem subiecit.
Twice they were fought, twice he entered an unfavorable position, and in a lower valley he placed the battle line almost at the feet of the enemies.
ut non tela ex superiore loco mitterent, sed corpora sua nuda inicerent, obruere nos potuerunt.
Even if they had not thrown weapons from the higher ground, but had merely cast down their own naked bodies, they could have overwhelmed us.
§38.46.4quid igitur incidit? magna fortuna populi Romani est, magnum et terribile nomen.
What then happened? There is the great fortune of the Roman people, and their great and terrible name.
recenti ruina Hannibalis Philippi Antiochi prope attoniti erant.
They were almost stunned by the recent ruin of Hannibal, Philip, and Antiochus.
tantae corporum moles fundis sagittisque in fugam consternatae sunt; gladius in acie cruentatus non est Gallico bello; §38.46.5velut avium examina ad crepitum primum missilium avolavere.
Such vast bulks of bodies were thrown into flight by slings and arrows; the sword was not blooded in battle in the Gallic war; like flocks of birds, they flew away at the first noise of the missiles.
§38.46.6at hercule iidem nos — monente fortuna, quid, si hostem habuissemus, casurum fuisset — cum redeuntes in latrunculos Thracas incidissemus, caesi, fugati, exuti impedimentis sumus.
But by Hercules, we, the very same men—while fortune warned us what would have happened if we had had a real enemy—when on our return we fell in with Thracian bandits, were slaughtered, routed, and stripped of our baggage.
§38.46.7Q. Minucius Thermus, in quo haud paulo plus damni factum est, quam si Cn. Manlius, cuius temeritate ea clades inciderat, perisset, cum multis viris fortibus cecidit; §38.46.8exercitus spolia regis Antiochi referens trifariam dissipatus, alibi primum, alibi postremum agmen, alibi impedimenta, inter vepres in latebris ferarum noctem unam delituit.
Quintus Minucius Thermus, in whose death a not slightly greater loss was sustained than if Gnaeus Manlius, by whose rashness that disaster had occurred, had perished, fell along with many brave men; the army, bringing back the spoils of King Antiochus, was dispersed in three directions—the vanguard in one place, the rearguard in another, the baggage in another—and lay hidden for one night among the briars in the lairs of wild beasts.
§38.46.9pro his triumphus petitur? si nihil in Thracia cladis ignominiaeque foret acceptum, de quibus hostibus triumphum peteres? de iis, ut opinor, quos tibi hostes senatus aut populus Romanus dedisset.
Is a triumph sought for these things? Even if no disaster and ignominy had been received in Thrace, for what enemies would you seek a triumph? For those, I suppose, whom the senate or the Roman people had given to you as enemies.
§38.46.10sic huic L. Scipioni, sic illi M’. Acilio de rege Antiocho, sic paulo ante T. Quinctio de rege Philippo, sic P. Africano de Hannibale et Poenis et Syphace triumphus datus.
It was in this way that a triumph was granted to this Lucius Scipio and to that Manius Acilius over King Antiochus; so, a little before, to Titus Quinctius over King Philip; so to Publius Africanus over Hannibal, the Carthaginians, and Syphax.
§38.46.11et minima illa, cum iam senatus censuisset bellum, quaesita tamen sunt, quibus nuntiandum esset: ipsis utique regibus nuntiaretur, an satis esset ad praesidium aliquod nuntiari.
And even those smallest details, when the senate had already decreed war, were nevertheless inquired into: to whom the declaration should be made; whether it should certainly be declared to the kings themselves, or whether it was sufficient for it to be declared to some garrison.
§38.46.12vultis ergo haec omnia pollui et confundi, tolli fetialia iura, nullos esse fetiales? fiat, pace deum dixerim, iactura religionis; oblivio deorum capiat pectora vestra; num senatum quoque de bello consuli non placet?
Do you wish, then, that all these things be polluted and confounded, that the fetial laws be abolished, and that there be no fetials? Let there be, if I may say so with the peace of the gods, a loss of religion; let forgetfulness of the gods take possession of your breasts; but does it please you that not even the senate be consulted about war?
§38.46.13non ad populum ferri, velint iubeantne cum Gallis bellum geri?
That it should not be brought before the people, whether they wish and command war to be waged with the Gauls?
§38.46.14modo certe consules Graeciam atque Asiam volebant; tamen perseverantibus vobis Ligures provinciam decernere dicto audientes fuerunt.
Just recently, indeed, the consuls wanted Greece and Asia; yet, because you persevered, they were obedient to your word in decreeing Liguria as their province.
§38.46.15merito ergo a vobis prospere bello gesto triumphum petent, quibus auctoribus gesserunt. ”
Rightfully, therefore, will they seek a triumph from you for a war successfully waged, since they waged it under your authority."