§44.39.1at hercule aciem quidem inconditam inordinatamque habuissemus, sed castra munita, provisam aquationem, tutum ad eam iter praesidiis inpositis, explorata circa omnia; an nihil nostri habentes praeter nudum campum, §44.39.2in quo pugnaremus.
But by Hercules, we might indeed have had a line unformed and disordered, but we would have had a fortified camp, water supply provided for, a safe route to it secured by stationed guards, and everything around reconnoitered; or was it the case that our men, having nothing except a bare plain in which to fight, ought to have fought?
maiores vestri castra munita portum ad omnis casus exercitus ducebant esse, unde ad pugnam exirent, quo iactati tempestate pugnae receptum haberent.
Your ancestors considered a fortified camp to be a harbor for the army against all casualties, from which they might march out to fight, and where, tossed by the tempest of battle, they might have a place of retreat.
§44.39.3ideo, cum munimentis ea saepsissent, praesidio quoque valido firmabant, quod, qui castris exutus erat, etiamsi pugnando acie vicisset, pro victo haberetur.
Therefore, when they had enclosed it with fortifications, they also strengthened it with a strong guard, because he who was stripped of his camp, even if he had conquered in the battle line by fighting, was held as defeated.
castra sunt victori receptaculum, victo perfugium.
A camp is a receptacle for the victor, a refuge for the defeated.
§44.39.4quam multi exercitus, quibus minus prospera pugnae fortuna fuit, intra vallum conpulsi tempore suo, interdum momento post, eruptione facta victorem hostem pepulerunt?
How many armies, whose fortune of battle was less prosperous, having been driven within their rampart, at their own time, sometimes a moment later, made a sally and repulsed the victorious enemy?
§44.39.5patria altera militaris est haec sedes, vallumque pro moenibus et tentorium suum cuique militi domus ac penates sunt.
This site is another military homeland for the soldier, and the rampart is in place of city walls, and his own tent is to each soldier his home and household gods.
sine ulla sede vagi dimicassemus, ut quo victi, quo victores nos reciperemus?
Wandering without any home, should we have fought, so that we might retreat, if defeated, to what place, or if victors, to what place?
§44.39.6his difficultatibus et impedimentis pugnae illud opponitur: quid, si hostis hac interposita nocte abisset, quantum rursus sequendo eo penitus in ultimam Macedoniam exhauriendum laboris erat?
To these difficulties and hindrances of battle, this objection is made: what if the enemy had departed during this intervening night, how much labor would have had to be exhausted again in following him deep into the furthest parts of Macedonia?
§44.39.7ego autem neque mansurum eum neque in aciem copias educturum fuisse certum habeo, si cedere hinc statuisset.
But I hold it as certain that he would neither have remained nor have led his forces out into the battle line, if he had resolved to retreat from here.
quanto enim facilius abire fuit, cum procul abessemus, quam nunc, cum in cervicibus sumus, nec fallere nos interdiu aut nocte abeundo potest?
For how much easier was it to depart when we were far away, than now when we are on their necks, and he cannot deceive us by departing either by day or by night?
§44.39.8quid autem est nobis optatius quam ut, quorum castra praealta fluminis ripa tuta, vallo insuper saepta crebrisque turribus oppugnare adorti sumus, eos relictis munimentis, agmine effuso abeuntis in patentibus campis ab tergo adoriamur? hae dilatae pugnae ex hesterno die in hodiernum causae fuerunt.
And what is more desirable for us than that we, who had undertaken to attack their camp protected by the very high bank of a river, and moreover enclosed by a rampart and numerous towers, should attack them from behind in the open plains as they leave behind their fortifications and depart in a disordered column? These were the causes of the delayed battle from yesterday to today.
§44.39.9pugnare enim et ipsi mihi placet; et ideo, quia per Elpeum amnem saepta ad hostem via erat, alio saltu deiectis hostium praesidiis novom iter aperui, neque prius, quam debellavero, absistam. ”
For to fight is pleasing to myself also; and for that reason, because the way to the enemy was blocked by the Elpeus river, I opened a new route by dislodging the enemy's guards at another pass, nor shall I desist before I have finished the war."