§5.43.1Galli quoque per aliquot dies in tecta modo urbis nequiquam bello gesto cum inter incendia ac ruinas captae urbis nihil superesse praeter armatos hostes viderent nequaquam tot cladibus territos nec flexuros ad deditionem animos ni vis adhiberetur, experiri ultima et impetum facere in arcem statuunt.
The Gauls also, having for several days waged war in vain only against the houses of the city, when they saw that among the fires and ruins of the captured city nothing remained except armed enemies, who were by no means terrified by so many disasters nor would bend their minds to surrender unless force were applied, decided to try their last resource and make an assault on the citadel.
§5.43.2prima luce signo dato multitudo omnis in foro instruitur; inde clamore sublato ac testudine facta subeunt.
At dawn, the signal being given, the entire multitude was drawn up in the forum; thence, raising a shout and forming a testudo, they advanced.
adversus quos Romani nihil temere nec trepide; ad omnis aditus stationibus firmatis, qua signa ferri videbant, ea robore virorum opposito scandere hostem sinunt, quo successerit magis in arduum, eo pelli posse per proclive facilius rati.
Against them the Romans did nothing rashly or in panic; having strengthened the guard stations at all approaches, where they saw the standards being carried, there, opposing them with the strength of their men, they allowed the enemy to climb, thinking that the further the enemy advanced up the steep slope, the more easily they could be driven back down the incline.
§5.43.3medio fere clivo restitere atque inde ex loco superiore, qui prope sua sponte in hostem inferebat, impetu facto strage ac ruina fudere Gallos, ut numquam postea nec pars nec universi temptaverint tale pugnae genus.
They halted about midway up the slope, and thence from the higher ground, which almost of its own accord carried them against the enemy, making a charge, they routed the Gauls with slaughter and destruction, so that never afterwards did either a part or the whole of them attempt such a manner of fighting.
§5.43.4omissa itaque spe per vim atque arma subeundi obsidionem parant, cuius ad id tempus inmemores et quod in urbe fuerat frumentum incendiis urbis absumpserant, et ex agris per eos ipsos dies raptum omne Veios erat.
Therefore, abandoning the hope of ascending by force and arms, they prepared for a siege, of which up to that time they had been unmindful, both because they had consumed in the fires of the city whatever grain had been in the city, and all that had been plundered from the fields during those very days had been carried off to Veii.
§5.43.5igitur exercitu diviso partim per finitimos populos praedari placuit, partim obsidere arcem, ut obsidentibus frumentum populatores agrorum praeberent.
Therefore, having divided the army, it was decided that part should plunder among the neighboring peoples, and part should besiege the citadel, so that the plunderers of the fields might supply grain to those who were besieging.
§5.43.6proficiscentes Gallos ab urbe ad Romanam experiendam virtutem fortuna ipsa Ardeam, ubi Camillus exulabat, duxit; §5.43.7qui maestior ibi fortuna publica quam sua cum dis hominibusque accusandis senesceret, indignando mirandoque, ubi illi viri essent, qui secum Veios Faleriosque cepissent, qui alia bella fortius semper quam felicius gessissent, §5.43.8repente audit Gallorum exercitum adventare atque ideo pavidos Ardeates consultare.
Fortune itself led the Gauls, as they departed from the city to test Roman courage, to Ardea, where Camillus was living in exile; who, growing old there, more sorrowful for the public fortune than his own, in accusing gods and men, and in feeling indignation and wondering where those men were who had taken Veii and Falerii with him, who had always waged other wars more bravely than successfully, suddenly heard that the army of the Gauls was approaching, and that the Ardeates, terrified thereby, were consulting.
nec secus quam divino spiritu tactus cum se in mediam contionem intulisset abstinere suetus ante talibus conciliis,
Having thrown himself into the midst of the assembly, not otherwise than if touched by a divine spirit, though he had been accustomed before to abstain from such councils,