§6.12.1dictator etsi maiorem dimicationem propositam domi quam foris cernebat, tamen, sen quia celeritate ad bellum opus erat, seu victoria triumphoque dictaturae ipsi vires se additurum ratus, dilectu habito in agrum Pomptinum, quo a Volscis exercitum inductum audierat, pergit.
Although the dictator saw a greater struggle prepared for him at home than abroad, nevertheless, either because there was need of speed for the war, or because he thought that he would add strength to the dictatorship itself by victory and triumph, he held a levy and marched into the Pomptine territory, where he had heard that an army had been led by the Volscians.
§6.12.2non dubito, praeter satietatem tot iam libris adsidua bella cum Volscis gesta legentibus illud quoque succursurum, quod mihi percensenti propiores temporibus harum rerum auctores miraculo fuit, unde totiens victis Volscis et Aequis suffecerint milites.
I do not doubt that, besides the satiety of reading of continuous wars waged with the Volscians in so many books already, this also will occur to my readers, which was a matter of wonder to me as I examined the writers closer in time to these events, namely, from where, after being so many times defeated, soldiers sufficed for the Volscians and Aequians.
§6.12.3quod cum ab antiquis tacitum praetermissum sit, cuius tandem ego rei praeter opinionem, quae sua cuique coniectant esse potest, auctor sim?
Since this has been passed over in silence by the ancient writers, what authority, pray, could I produce, other than opinion, which can be what each person conjectures for themselves?
§6.12.4simile veri est aut intervallis bellorum, sicut nunc in dilectibus fit Romanis, alia atque alia subole iuniorum ad bella instauranda totiens usos esse, aut non ex iisdem semper populis exercitus scriptos, quamquam eadem semper gens bellum intulerit, §6.12.5aut innumerabilem multitudinem liberorum capitum in eis fuisse locis, quae nunc vix seminario exiguo militum relicto servitia Romana ab solitudine vindicant.
It is probable either that in the intervals between wars, just as is now done in Roman levies, they used different generations of young men so many times to renew the wars, or that the armies were not always enrolled from the same peoples, although the same nation always brought war, or that an innumerable multitude of free persons was in those places, which now, with scarcely a tiny nursery of soldiers left, Roman slaves save from desolation.
§6.12.6ingens certe, quod inter omnes auctores conveniat, quamquam nuper Camilli ductu atque auspicio accisae res erant, Volscorum exercitus fuit.
It was certainly a huge army of the Volscians, as is agreed among all authors, although their resources had recently been shattered under the leadership and auspices of Camillus.
ad hoc Latini Hernicique accesserant et Circeiensium quidam et coloni etiam a Velitris Romani.
To this had been added the Latins and Hernici, and some of the Circeians, and even Roman colonists from Velitrae.
§6.12.7dictator castris eo die positis, postero cum auspicato prodisset hostiaque caesa pacem deum adorasset, laetus ad milites iam arma ad propositum pugnae signum, sicut edictum erat, luce prima capientes processit.
The dictator, having pitched his camp on that day, went out on the next day after taking the auspices, and having slain a victim and implored the peace of the gods, he proceeded gladly to the soldiers who were already taking up their arms at dawn at the proposed signal for battle, as had been ordered.
§6.12.8“nostra victoria est, milites,” inquit, “si quid di vatesque eorum in futurum vident.
"Victory is ours, soldiers," he said, "if the gods and their prophets see anything of the future.
itaque, ut decet certae spei plenos et cum inparibus manus conserturos, pilis ante pedes positis gladiis tantum dextras armemus.
Therefore, as becomes men full of certain hope and about to join hands with unequal foes, let us lay our spears down before our feet and arm our right hands with swords only.
ne procurri quidem ab acie velim, sed obnixos uos stabili gradu impetum hostium excipere.
I would not even wish any running forward from the line, but that you, holding firm, receive the enemy's charge with steady step.
§6.12.9ubi illi vana iniecerint missilia et effusi stantibus vobis se intulerint, tum micent gladii, et veniat in mentem unicuique deos esse, qui Romanum adiuvent, deos, qui secundis avibus in proelium miserint.
When they have thrown their useless missiles and rushed in disorder against you while you stand, then let your swords flash, and let it come to the mind of each one that there are gods who help the Roman, gods who have sent us into battle with favorable auspices.
§6.12.10tu, T. Quincti, equitem intentus ad primum initium moti certaminis teneas;
You, T.
ubi haerere iam aciem conlato pede videris, tum terrorem equestrem occupatis alio pavore infer invectusque ordines pugnantium dissipa. ” §6.12.11sic eques, sic pedes, ut praeceperat, pugnant; nec dux legiones nec fortuna fefellit ducem.
Quinctius, keep the cavalry in check, intent upon the first beginning of the contest; when you see the line already locked in close combat, then bring the terror of the cavalry upon those occupied with another fear, and charging in, break the ranks of the combatants." Thus the cavalry, thus the infantry fight, as he had commanded; neither did the general fail his legions, nor did fortune fail the general.