§7.13.1septimum primum pilum iam Tullius ducebat, neque erat in exercitu, qui quidem pedestria stipendia fecisset, vir factis nobilior.
Tullius was already leading his seventh first century, nor was there in the army a man more noble in his deeds, among those at least who had served in the infantry.
§7.13.2is praecedens militum agmen ad tribunal pergit mirantique Sulpicio non turbam magis quam turbae principem Tullium, §7.13.3imperiis oboedientissimum militem, “si licet dicere, dictator,” inquit “condemnatum se universus exercitus a te ignaviae ratus et prope ignominiae causa destitutum sine armis oravit me, ut suam causam apud te agerem.
He, preceding the line of soldiers, went to the tribunal, and Sulpicius was wondering not more at the crowd than at Tullius, the leader of the crowd, a soldier most obedient to commands, when he said: "If it is permitted to speak, dictator, the entire army, thinking that they have been condemned by you for cowardice, and almost abandoned without arms for the sake of igniny, has entreated me to plead their cause before you.
§7.13.4equidem, sicubi loco cessum, si terga data hosti, si signa foede amissa obici nobis possent, tamen hoc a te impetrari aequum censerem, ut nos virtute culpam nostram corrigere et abolere flagitii memoriam nova gloria patereris.
Indeed, even if we could be charged with having yielded ground anywhere, with having turned our backs to the enemy, or with having shamefully lost our standards, yet I should think it fair to obtain this from you, that you should allow us to correct our fault by courage and to wipe out the memory of our disgrace by new glory.
§7.13.5etiam ad Aliam fusae legiones eandem, quam per pavorem amiserant, patriam profectae postea a Veis virtute recuperavere.
Even the legions routed at the Allia, having afterwards set out from Veii, recovered by their courage the same homeland which they had lost through panic.
nobis deum benignitate, felicitate tua populique Romani et res et gloria est integra.
For us, by the favor of the gods, and by your good fortune and that of the Roman people, both our strength and our glory are unimpaired.
§7.13.6quamquam de gloria vix dicere ausim, si nos et hostes haud secus quam feminas abditos intra vallum omnibus contumeliis eludunt, et tu imperator noster, quod aegrius patimur, exercitum tuum sine animis, sine armis, sine manibus iudicas esse et, priusquam expertus nos esses, de nobis ita desperasti, ut te mancorum ac debilium ducem iudicares esse.
Although I should hardly dare to speak of glory, if the enemy mock us with every insult, hidden behind the rampart no differently than women, and you, our commander—which we bear with greater pain—judge your army to be without spirit, without weapons, without hands, and, before you had tested us, despaired of us so much that you judged yourself to be a commander of the maimed and the weak.
quid enim aliud esse causae credamus, §7.13.7cur veteranus dux, fortissimus bello, conpressis, quod aiunt, manibus sedeas?
For what other cause should we believe there is, why you, a veteran commander, most brave in war, should sit, as they say, with folded hands?
§7.13.8utcumque enim se habet res, te de nostra virtute dubitasse videri quam nos de tua verius est.
For however the matter stands, it is truer that you seem to have doubted our courage than we yours.
sin autem non tuum istuc, sed publicum est consilium, et consensus aliqui patrum, non Gallicum bellum nos ab urbe, a penatibus nostris ablegatos tenet, quaeso, ut ea, quae dicam, non a militibus imperatori dicta censeas, sed a plebe patribus, — quae si, ut vos vestra habeatis consilia, sic se sua habituram dicat, quis tandem suscenseat?
But if that plan of yours is not yours, but public, and some agreement of the patricians, and not the Gallic war, keeps us sent away from the city and from our household gods, I beg that you consider the things I shall say as spoken not by soldiers to their commander, but by the plebeians to the patricians—and if the plebeians should say that, just as you have your plans, so they will have theirs, who, pray, would be angry?
§7.13.9— milites nos esse, non servos vestros, ad bellum, non in exilium missos? si quis det signum, in aciem educat, ut viris ac Romanis dignum sit, pugnaturos;
—that we are soldiers, not your slaves, sent to war, not into exile? That if anyone should give the signal and lead us into battle, we will fight as is worthy of men and Romans?
si nihil armis opus sit, otium Romae potius quam in castris acturos?
That if there is no need of arms, we will spend our leisure at Rome rather than in the camp?
§7.13.10haec dicta sint patribus; te, imperator, milites tui oramus, ut nobis pugnandi copiam facias.
Let these things be said to the patricians; of you, commander, we, your soldiers, beg that you give us the opportunity of fighting.
cum vincere cupimus tum te duce vincere, tibi lauream insignem deferre, tecum triumphantes urbem inire, tuum sequentes currum Iovis optimi maximi templum gratantes ovantesque adire. ” §7.13.11orationem Tulli exceperunt preces multitudinis, et undique, ut signum daret, ut capere — arma iuberet, clamabant.
We desire not only to win, but to win under your leadership, to present you with the glorious laurel, to enter the city with you in triumph, and following your chariot, to approach the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, giving thanks and rejoicing." The prayers of the multitude followed the speech of Tullius, and from all sides they were shouting that he should give the signal, that he should order them to take up arms.