§5.44.1“Ardeates” inquit, “veteres smici, novi etiam cives mei, quando et vestrum beneficium ita tulit et fortuna hoc eguit mea, nemo vestrum condicionis meae oblitum me huc processisse putet; sed res ac commune periculum cogit quod quisque possit in re trepida praesidii in medium conferre. §5.44.2et quando ego vobis pro tantis vestris in me meritis gratiam referam, si nunc cessavero? aut ubi usus erit mei vobis, si in bello non fuerit? hac arte in patria steti et invictus bello in pace ab ingratis civibus pulsus sum. §5.44.3vobis autem, Ardeates, fortuna oblata est et pro tantis populi Romani beneficiis, quanta ipsi meministis — nec enim exprobranda apud memores sunt — gratiae referendae et huic urbi decus ingens belli ex hoste communi pariendi, qui effuso agmine adventat. §5.44.4gens est, cui natura corpora animosque magna magis quam firma dederit; eo in certamen omne plus terroris quam virium ferunt. §5.44.5argumento sit clades Romana: patentem cepere urbem; ex arce Capitolioque iis exigua resistitur manu; iam obsidionis taedio victi abscedunt vagique per agros palantur. §5.44.6cibo vinoque raptim hausto repleti, ubi nox adpetit, prope rivos aquarum sine munimento, sine stationibus ac custodiis passim ferarum ritu sternuntur nunc ab secundis rebus magis etiam solito incauti. §5.44.7si vobis in animo est tueri moenia vestra nec pati haec omnia Gallorum fieri, prima vigilia capite arma frequentesque me sequimini ad caedem, non ad pugnam.
"Ardeates," he said, "old friends, and now also my new fellow citizens, since both your kindness has so brought it about and my fortune required this, let none of you think that I have come forward here forgetful of my condition; but the situation and the common danger compel each one to bring into the common stock whatever assistance he can in this alarming state of affairs. And when shall I return gratitude to you for such great merits of yours towards me, if I remain idle now? Or where will you have use of me, if it is not in war? By this art I maintained my standing in my homeland, and, undefeated in war, I was driven out in peace by ungrateful citizens. But to you, Ardeates, an opportunity is offered both of returning thanks for such great benefits of the Roman people, as you yourselves remember—for they need not be cast in the teeth of those who remember them—and of winning for this city great military glory from the common enemy, who approaches in scattered array. They are a nation to whom nature has given bodies and minds that are large rather than firm; therefore, they bring to every contest more of terror than of strength. Let the Roman disaster be proof: they captured an open city; from the citadel and the Capitol they are resisted by a tiny band; now, overcome by the weariness of the siege, they are departing and wander scattered through the fields. Sated with food and wine hastily consumed, when night approaches, they lie down everywhere like wild beasts near streams of water, without entrenchment, without outposts or guards, now even more careless than usual because of their success. If it is in your mind to defend your walls and not to suffer all these things to become the property of the Gauls, take up arms at the first watch and follow me in large numbers to a slaughter, not to a battle.
nisi vinctos somno velut pecudes trucidandos tradidero, non recuso eundem Ardeae rerum mearum exitum, quem Romae habui. ”
Unless I deliver them up to be butchered like sheep, bound in sleep, I do not refuse to meet the same end of my fortunes at Ardea which I had at Rome."