§4.37.1creati consules sunt C. Sempronius Atratinus, Q. Fabius Vibulanus.
Gaius Sempronius Atratinus and Quintus Fabius Vibulanus were elected consuls.
peregrina res, sed memoria digna traditur eo anno facta, Vulturnum, Etruscorum urbem, quae nunc Capua est, ab Samnitibus captam Capuamque ab duce eorum Capye vel, quod propius vero est, a campestri agro appellatam.
A foreign event, but one worthy of memory, is reported to have happened that year: Vulturnum, a city of the Etruscans which is now Capua, was captured by the Samnites, and was named Capua either from their leader Capys or, what is nearer the truth, from the surrounding plains.
§4.37.2cepere autem prius bello fatigatis Etruscis in societatem urbis agrorumque accepti, deinde festo die gravis somno epulisque incolas veteres novi coloni nocturna caede adorti.
They took it, however, after having first been admitted into the partnership of the city and its lands when the Etruscans were exhausted by war, and then, on a festival day, the new settlers attacked the old inhabitants with a nocturnal slaughter when they were heavy with sleep and feasting.
§4.37.3his rebus actis consules ii, quos diximus, idibus Decembribus magistratum occepere.
After these events, the consuls whom we have mentioned entered upon their office on the Ides of December.
§4.37.4iam non solum, qui ad id missi erant, rettulerant inminere Volscum bellum, sed legati quoque ab Latinis et Hernicis nuntiabant non ante umquam Volscos nec ducibus legendis nec exercitui scribendo intentiores fuisse; §4.37.5vulgo fremere aut in perpetuum arma bellumque oblivioni danda iugumque accipiendum, aut iis, cum quibus de imperio certetur, nec virtute nec patientia nec disciplina rei militaris cedendum esse.
Already, not only had those who had been sent for that purpose reported that a Volscian war was imminent, but envoys also from the Latins and Hernici announced that never before had the Volscians been more intent either on choosing commanders or on levying an army; they were murmuring everywhere that either weapons and war must be forgotten forever and the yoke accepted, or they must not yield, in valor, in endurance, or in military discipline, to those with whom they were contending for supremacy.
§4.37.6haud vana attulere; sed nec perinde patres moti sunt, et C. Sempronius, cui ea provincia sorti evenit, tamquam constantissimae rei fortunae fretus, quod victoris populi adversus victos dux esset, omnia temere ac neglegenter egit, §4.37.7adeo ut disciplinae Romanae plus in Volsco exercitu quam in Romano esset.
They brought no idle rumors; but the senators were not moved in proportion, and Gaius Sempronius, to whom that province had fallen by lot, relying on fortune as if it were the most constant thing, because he was the leader of a victorious people against the vanquished, did everything rashly and carelessly, so much so that there was more Roman discipline in the Volscian army than in the Roman.
ergo fortuna, ut saepe alias, virtutem est secuta.
Therefore, fortune, as often at other times, followed valor.
§4.37.8primo proelio, quod ab Sempronio incaute inconsulteque commissum est, non subsidiis firmata acie, non equite apte locato concursum est.
In the first battle, which was engaged by Sempronius incautiously and without consultation, they clashed without the line being strengthened by reserves, and without the cavalry being properly stationed.
§4.37.9clamor indicium primum fuit, qua res inclinatura esset, excitatior crebriorque ab hoste sublatus; ab Romanis dissonus, inpar, segnius semper iteratus prodidit pavorem animorum.
The shouting was the first indication of where the fortune of the day would incline; raised by the enemy, it was more vigorous and frequent; by the Romans, discordant, unequal, and repeated ever more feebly, it betrayed the terror of their minds.
§4.37.10eo ferocior inlatus hostis urgere scutis, micare gladiis.
The enemy, charging all the more fiercely because of this, pushed with their shields and brandished their swords.
altera ex parte nutant circumspectantibus galeae, et incerti trepidant adplicantque se turbae;
On the other side, helmets tottered as men looked about them, and, hesitant and trembling, they pressed close to the crowd.
§4.37.11signa nunc resistentia deseruntur ab antesignanis, nunc inter suos manipulos recipiuntur.
The standards, now making a stand, were abandoned by the front-rank men, now withdrawn among their own maniples.
nondum fuga certa, nondum victoria erat; tegi magis Romanus quam pugnare; Volscus inferre signa, urgere aciem, plus caedis hostium videre quam fugae.
Flight was not yet decided, nor was victory won; the Roman covered himself rather than fought; the Volscian advanced his standards, pressed the line, and saw more slaughter of the enemy than flight.