§7.29.1maiora iam hinc bella et viribus hostium et vel longinquitate regionum vel temporum spatio, quibus bellatum est, dicentur.
Henceforth greater wars will be described, both in terms of the strength of the enemies and either the distance of the regions or the space of time during which they were waged.
namque eo anno adversus Samnites, gentem opibus armisque validam, mota arma; §7.29.2Samnitium bellum ancipiti Marte gestum Pyrrhus hostis, Pyrrhum Poeni secuti.
For in that year arms were moved against the Samnites, a nation powerful in wealth and resources; to the Samnite war, waged with doubtful fortune, succeeded the enemy Pyrrhus, and the Carthaginians followed Pyrrhus.
quanta rerum moles! quotiens in extrema periculorum ventum, ut in hanc magnitudinem, quae vix sustinetur, erigi imperium posset!
What a mighty mass of events! How many times was it come to the extremity of danger, so that the empire might be raised to this greatness which is now scarcely sustained!
§7.29.3belli autem causa cum Samnitibus Romanis, cum societate amicitiaque iuncti essent, extrinsecus venit, non orta inter ipsos est.
Moreover, the cause of the war between the Romans and the Samnites, although they had been joined in alliance and friendship, came from without, and did not arise among themselves.
§7.29.4Samnites Sidicinis iniusta arma, quia viribus plus poterant, cum intulissent, coacti inopes ad opulentiorum auxilium confugere Campanis sese coniungunt.
When the Samnites, because they were superior in strength, had brought an unjust war upon the Sidicini, these helpless people, being forced to flee to the aid of wealthier people, united themselves with the Campanians.
§7.29.5Campani magis nomen ad praesidium sociorum quam vires cum attulissent, fluentes luxu ab duratis usu armorum Sidicino pulsi agro, in se deinde molem omnem belli verterunt.
The Campanians, having brought to the protection of their allies a name rather than actual strength, enervated as they were by luxury and driven from the Sidicinian territory by men hardened by the practice of arms, then turned the whole weight of the war upon themselves.
§7.29.6namque Samnites omissis Sidicinis ipsam arcem finitimorum Campanos adorti, unde aeque facilis victoria, praedae atque gloriae plus esset, Tifata, inminentis Capuae colles, cum praesidio firmo occupassent, descendunt inde quadrato agmine in planitiem, quae Capuam Tifataque interiacet.
For the Samnites, leaving the Sidicini aside, attacked the Campanians, the very citadel of their neighbors, from whom there would be an equally easy victory, but more plunder and glory; and when they had occupied Tifata, the hills overlooking Capua, with a strong garrison, they descended thence in a square column into the plain which lies between Capua and Tifata.
§7.29.7ibi rursus acie dimicatum; adversoque proelio Campani intra moenia conpulsi, cum robore iuventutis suae acciso nulla propinqua spes esset, coacti sunt ab Romanis petere auxilium.
There they fought again in a regular battle; and the Campanians, being driven within their walls by an adverse battle, when the strength of their youth was cut off and no hope was near, were forced to seek aid from the Romans.