§44.3.1interim consuli sententia stetit eo saltu ducere, ubi propter Ottolobum dux regius castra habebat.
Meanwhile, the consul was resolved to lead his army through that pass where, near Ottolobus, the king's general had his camp.
praemitti tamen quattuor milia armatorum ad loca opportuna praeoccupanda placuit, §44.3.2quibus praepositi sunt M. Claudius, Q. Marcius consulis filius.
However, it was decided that four thousand armed men should be sent ahead to occupy advantageous positions beforehand, over whom Marcus Claudius and Quintus Marcius, the consul's son, were placed in command.
§44.3.3confestim et universae copiae sequebantur.
Immediately the entire force also followed.
ceterum adeo ardua et aspera et confragosa fuit via, ut praemissi expediti biduo quindecim milium passuum aegre itinere confecto castra posuerint.
But the road was so steep, rough, and rugged that the light-armed troops sent ahead, having with difficulty completed a march of fifteen miles in two days, pitched their camp.
Dierum, quem cepere, locum appellant.
The place which they occupied they call Dierum.
§44.3.4inde postero die septem milia progressi, tumulo haud procul hostium castris capto, nuntium ad consulem remittunt perventum ad hostem esse; loco se tuto et ad omnia opportuno consedisse; quantum extendere iter posset, consequeretur.
Advancing seven miles from there on the following day, having seized a hill not far from the enemy's camp, they sent a messenger back to the consul to report that they had reached the enemy; that they had established themselves in a safe place, advantageous for all purposes; and that he should follow, quickening his march as much as he could.
§44.3.5sollicito consuli et propter itineris difficultatem, quod ingressus erat, et eorum vicem, quos paucos inter media praesidia hostium praemiserat, nuntius ad Ascuridem paludem occurrit.
The messenger met the consul at the Ascuris marsh, who was anxious both on account of the difficulty of the road which he had entered upon, and for the sake of those few whom he had sent ahead into the midst of the enemy's garrisons.
§44.3.6addita igitur et ipsi fiducia est, coniunctisque copiis castra tumulo, qui tenebatur, qua aptissimum ad loci naturam erat, sunt adclinata.
Confidence was therefore added to him as well, and having joined their forces, the camp was built against the hill that was being held, in a manner most suited to the nature of the ground.
§44.3.7non hostium modo castra, quae paulo plus mille passuum aberant, sed omnis regio ad Dium et Philam oraque maris late patente ex tam alto iugo prospectu oculis subicitur.
Not only the enemy's camp, which was a little more than a mile away, but the entire region toward Dium and Phila, and the sea coast, was exposed to their view with a widely extending prospect from so high a ridge.
§44.3.8quae res accendit militi animos, postquam summam belli ac regias omnis copias terramque hostilem tam e propinquo conspexerunt.
This circumstance inflamed the minds of the soldiers, after they beheld the main theater of the war, all the royal forces, and the enemy's land from so close at hand.
§44.3.9itaque cum alacres, protinus duceret ad castra hostium, consulem hortarentur, dies unus fessis labore viae ad quietem datus est.
Therefore, although they eagerly urged the consul to lead them straightway to the enemy's camp, one day was given for rest to those who were exhausted by the labor of the march.
§44.3.10tertio die parte copiarum ad praesidium castrorum relicta consul ad hostem ducit.
On the third day, leaving a part of the forces to guard the camp, the consul marched against the enemy.