§5.18.1haud invitis patribus P. Licinium Calvum praerogativae tribunum militum non petentem creant, moderationis expertae in priore magistratu virum, ceterum iam tum exactae aetatis; §5.18.2omnesque deinceps ex collegio eiusdem anni refici apparebat, L. Titinium, Q. Manlium, P. Maenium, Cn. Genucium, L. Atilium.
With the patricians by no means unwilling, they elected Publius Licinius Calvus, who was not seeking it, as military tribune by the vote of the prerogative tribe, a man of tried moderation in his former magistracy, but otherwise already of advanced age; and it was evident that all the others from the college of the same year were to be re-elected in succession: Lucius Titinius, Quintus Manlius, Publius Maenius, Gnaeus Genucius, and Lucius Atilius.
qui priusquam renuntiarentur iure vocatis tribubus, permissu interregis P. Licinius Calvus ita verba fecit: “omen concordiae, §5.18.3Quirites, rei maxime in hoc tempus utili, memoria nostri magistratus vos his comitiis petere in insequentem annum video; §5.18.4sed collegas eosdem reficitis, etiam usu meliores factos, me iam non eundem, sed umbram nomenque P. Licini relictum videtis.
Before they were declared elected by the tribes summoned in due form, Publius Licinius Calvus, with the permission of the interrex, spoke as follows: "A token of harmony, citizens, a thing most useful for this time, I see that you are seeking at this assembly for the ensuing year through the memory of our magistracy; but while you are re-electing the same colleagues, made even better by experience, you see me no longer the same, but only the shadow and name of Publius Licinius left behind.
vires corporis adfectae, sensus oculorum atque aurium hebetes, memoria labat, vigor animi obtunsus.
The strength of my body is impaired, the senses of my eyes and ears are dull, my memory fails, and the vigor of my mind is blunted.
§5.18.5en vobis” inquit “iuvenem,” filium tenens, “effigiem atque imaginem eius, quem vos antea tribunum militum ex plebe primum fecistis.
Behold for yourselves," he said, holding his son, "a young man, the likeness and image of him whom you formerly made the first military tribune from the plebeians.
hunc ego institutum disciplina mea vicarium pro me rei publicae do dicoque vosque quaeso, Quirites, delatum mihi ultro honorem huic petenti meisque pro eo adiectis precibus mandetis. ” datum id petenti patri, §5.18.6filiusque eius P. Licinius tribunus militum consulari potestate cum iis, quos supra scripsimus, declaratus.
This youth, trained under my guidance, I offer and dedicate as my substitute to the commonwealth; and I beg you, citizens, to entrust the honor which you offered to me unsolicited to him who now seeks it, and to my prayers added on his behalf." This request was granted to the petitioning father, and his son Publius Licinius was declared military tribune with consular power, together with those whom we have mentioned above.
§5.18.7Titinius Genuciusque tribuni militum profecti adversus Faliscos Capenatesque, dum bellum maiore animo gerunt quam consilio, praecipitavere in insidias.
The military tribunes Titinius and Genucius, having set out against the Faliscans and Capenates, while they conducted the war with greater courage than counsel, rushed headlong into an ambush.
§5.18.8Genucius morte honesta temeritatem luens ante signa inter primores cecidit; Titinius in editum tumulum ex multa trepidatione militibus collectis aciem restituit nec se tamen aequo loco hosti commisit.
Genucius, atoning for his rashness by an honorable death, fell before the standards among the foremost; Titinius, having collected his soldiers after great panic onto a high hill, restored the battle line, yet did not trust himself to the enemy on equal ground.
§5.18.9plus ignominiae erat quam cladis acceptum, quae prope in cladem ingentem vertit; tantum inde terroris non Romae modo, quo multiplex, fama pervenerat, sed in castris quoque fuit ad Veios.
More disgrace than loss had been sustained, which almost turned into a huge disaster; so great was the terror that arose from it, not only at Rome, where a multiplied rumor had arrived, but also in the camp at Veii.
§5.18.10aegre ibi miles retentus a fuga est, cum pervasisset castra rumor ducibus exercituque caeso victorem Capenatem ac Faliscum Etruriaeque omnem iuventutem haud procul inde abesse.
There the soldiers were with difficulty restrained from flight, when a rumor pervaded the camp that the generals and the army had been cut to pieces, and that the victorious Capenates and Faliscans, and all the youth of Etruria, were not far off.
§5.18.11his tumultuosiora Romae, iam castra ad Veios oppugnari, iam partem hostium tendere ad urbem agmine infesto, crediderant; concursumque in muros est et matronarum, quas ex domo conciverat publicus pavor, obsecrationes in templis factae precibusque ab dis petitum, §5.18.12ut exitium ab urbis tectis templisque ac moenibus Romanis arcerent Veiosque eum averterent terrorem, si sacra renovata rite, si procurata prodigia essent.
At Rome things were even more turbulent; they believed that the camp at Veii was already being stormed, and that a part of the enemy was already marching toward the city in a hostile column; there was a rush to the walls, and the supplications of the matrons, whom public dread had aroused from their homes, were made in the temples, and it was petitioned of the gods with prayers, that they would ward off destruction from the roofs, temples, and walls of Rome, and turn that terror upon Veii, if the sacred rites had been properly renewed and the portents expiated.