§38.6.1tribus locis, sicut ante dictum est, ad Pyrrheum opera Romana erant, quae omnia simul, sed nec apparatu nec vi simili, Aetoli adgressi sunt:
In three places, as was said before, the Roman works were at the Pyrrheum, all of which the Aetolians attacked at the same time, but with neither similar preparation nor equal force.
§38.6.2alii cum ardentibus facibus, alii stuppam picemque et malleolos ferentes, tota collucente flammis acie, advenere.
Some came with burning torches, others carrying tow, pitch, and fire-darts, the whole line of battle shining with flames.
§38.6.3multos primo impetu custodes oppresserunt; dein, postquam clamor tumultusque in castra est perlatus datumque a consule signum, arma capiunt et omnibus portis ad opem ferendam effunduntur.
At the first onset they overwhelmed many guards; then, after the shouting and confusion were carried into the camp and the signal was given by the consul, they seized their arms and poured out from all the gates to bring assistance.
§38.6.4ferro ignique gesta res; ab duobus irrito incepto, cum temptassent magis quam inissent certamen, Aetoli abscesserunt; atrox pugna in unum inclinaverat locum.
The action was carried on with sword and fire; from two of the places, the attempt having failed, since they had rather tried than entered into a real battle, the Aetolians withdrew; but a fierce battle had concentrated on one spot.
§38.6.5ibi diversis partibus duo duces Eupolemus et Nicodamus pugnantis hortabantur et prope certa fovebant spe iam Nicandrum ex composito adfore et terga hostium invasurum.
There, from different positions, the two leaders Eupolemus and Nicodamus encouraged the fighters and cherished an almost certain hope that Nicander would soon be present according to the agreement and would attack the enemy's rear.
§38.6.6haec res aliquamdiu animos pugnantium sustinuit; ceterum, §38.6.7postquam nullum ex composito signum a suis accipiebant et crescere numerum hostium cernebant, destituti segnius instare; postremo re omissa iam vix tuto receptu fugientes in urbem compelluntur, parte operum incensa et pluribus aliquanto, quam ab ipsis ceciderant, interfectis.
This circumstance sustained the spirits of the combatants for some time; but, after they received no agreed signal from their own people and saw the number of the enemy increasing, being abandoned, they began to press on more sluggishly; at last, abandoning the attempt, since retreat was now scarcely safe, they were driven fleeing into the city, after a part of the works had been burned and considerably more of them had been killed than had fallen on their own side.
quodsi ex composito acta res fuisset, haud dubium erat expugnari una utique parte opera cum magna caede hostium potuisse.
But if the affair had been carried out according to the agreement, there was no doubt that the works could have been captured in at least one place with great slaughter of the enemy.
§38.6.8Ambracienses quique intus erant Aetoli non ab eius solum noctis incepto recessere, sed in reliquum quoque tempus velut proditi ab suis segniores ad pericula erant.
The Ambraciots and the Aetolians who were inside not only desisted from that night's enterprise, but also for the remaining time, as if betrayed by their own people, they were more sluggish in facing dangers.
§38.6.9iam nemo eruptionibus, ut ante, in stationes hostium, sed dispositi per muros et turres ex tuto pugnabant.
No longer did anyone, as before, make sorties against the enemy's outposts, but stationed along the walls and towers they fought from safety.