§40.25.1dum haec in Macedonia geruntur, L. Aemilius Paulus, prorogato ex consulatu imperio, principio veris in Ligures Ingaunos exercitum introduxit.
While these things were being done in Macedonia, Lucius Aemilius Paulus, his command having been prorogued after his consulship, led his army into the territory of the Ingaunian Ligurians at the beginning of spring.
§40.25.2ubi primum in hostium finibus castra posuit, legati ad eum per speciem pacis petendae speculatum venerunt.
As soon as he pitched camp in the enemy's territory, envoys came to him under the pretence of seeking peace, in order to spy.
neganti Paulo nisi cum deditis pacisci se pacem, §40.25.3non tam id recusabant, quam tempore aiebant opus esse, ut generi agresti hominum persuaderetur.
When Paulus denied that he would make peace except with those who surrendered, they did not so much refuse this, as they said that there was need of time so that the rustic class of people might be persuaded.
§40.25.4ad hoc decem dierum indutiae cum darentur, petierunt deinde, ne trans montes proximos castris pabulatum lignatumque milites irent: culta ea loca suorum finium esse.
When a truce of ten days was granted for this purpose, they then requested that the soldiers should not go beyond the mountains nearest to the camp to forage and gather wood, on the grounds that those places were cultivated areas of their own territory.
id ubi impetravere, §40.25.5post eos ipsos montes, unde averterant hostem, exercitu omni coacto, repente multitudine ingenti castra Romanorum oppugnare simul omnibus portis adgressi sunt.
When they obtained this request, behind those very mountains, from which they had diverted the enemy, having assembled their entire army, they suddenly with a huge multitude began to attack the Roman camp from all the gates at once.
§40.25.6summa vi totum diem oppugnarunt, ita ut ne efferendi quidem signa Romanis spatium nec ad explicandam aciem locus esset.
They attacked with the greatest force the whole day, so that the Romans had no time even to carry out their standards, nor space to deploy their battle line.
§40.25.7conferti in portis obstando magis quam pugnando castra tutabantur.
Crowded together in the gates, they defended the camp more by standing in the way than by fighting.
sub occasum solis cum recessissent hostes, duos equites ad Cn.
When the enemy withdrew near sunset, Aemilius sent two horsemen with a letter to Pisa to the proconsul Cn.
Baebium proconsulem cum litteris Pisas mittit, ut obsesso per indutias sibi quam primum subsidio veniret.
Baebius, so that he might come as a reinforcement as soon as possible to him who was besieged during a truce.
§40.25.8Baebius exercitum M. Pinario praetori eunti in Sardiniam tradiderat: ceterum et senatum litteris certiorem fecit obsideri a Liguribus L. Aemilium,
Baebius had already handed over his army to the praetor M. Pinarius, who was on his way to Sardinia; however, he both informed the senate by letter that L. Aemilius was besieged by the Ligurians, and wrote to M.
§40.25.9et M. Claudio Marcello, cuius proxima inde provincia erat, scripsit, ut, si videretur ei, exercitum e Gallia traduceret in Ligures et L. Aemilium liberaret obsidione.
Claudius Marcellus, whose province was the nearest from there, that, if it seemed good to him, he should transfer his army from Gaul to the Ligurians and free L. Aemilius from the siege.
§40.25.10haec sera futura auxilia erant.
These reinforcements were destined to be too late.
Ligures ad castra postero die redeunt.
The Ligurians returned to the camp the next day.
Aemilius cum et venturos scisset et educere in aciem potuisset, intra vallum suos tenuit, ut extraheret rem in id tempus, quo Baebius cum exercitu venire a Pisis posset.
Although Aemilius both knew that they would come and could have led his men out into a battle line, he kept his men within the rampart, in order to drag out the matter until the time when Baebius could arrive with his army from Pisa.