§7.30.1legati introducti in senatum maxime in hanc sententiam locuti sunt: “populus nos Campanus legatos ad vos, patres conscripti, misit amicitiam in perpetuum, auxilium praesens a vobis petitum.
The ambassadors, having been introduced into the senate, spoke mostly to this effect: "Conscript Fathers, the Campanian people have sent us as ambassadors to you, seeking friendship forever and immediate aid from you.
§7.30.2quam si secundis rebus nostris petissemus, sicut coepta celerius, ita infirmiore vinculo contracta esset; tunc enim, ut qui ex aequo nos venisse in amicitiam meminissemus, amici forsitan pariter ac nunc, subiecti atque obnoxii vobis minus essemus;
If we had sought this in our prosperity, just as it would have been begun more quickly, so it would have been contracted with a weaker bond; for then, as men who would have remembered that we entered into friendship on equal terms, we might perhaps have been friends equally as now, but less subject and submissive to you.
§7.30.3nunc, misericordia vestra conciliati auxilioque in dubiis rebus defensi, beneficium quoque acceptum colamus oportet, ne ingrati atque omni ope divina humanaque indigni videamur.
But now, won over by your mercy and defended by your aid in our doubtful fortunes, it is proper that we also cherish the benefit we have received, lest we seem ungrateful and unworthy of all divine and human assistance.
§7.30.4neque hercule, quod Samnites priores amici sociique vobis facti sunt, ad id valere arbitror, ne nos in amicitiam accipiamur, sed ut vetustate et gradu honoris nos praestent; neque enim foedere Samnitium, ne qua nova iungeretis foedera, cautum est.
Nor, by Hercules, do I think that because the Samnites were first made your friends and allies, it has such force as to prevent us from being received into friendship, but only that they excel us in antiquity and degree of honor; for it was not provided in the treaty with the Samnites that you should not join any new alliances.
§7.30.5fuit quidem apud vos semper satis iusta causa amicitiae, velle eum vobis amicum esse, qui vos appeteret;
Indeed, there has always been among you a sufficiently just cause of friendship: to wish him to be a friend to you who sought you.
§7.30.6Campani, etsi fortuna praesens magnifice loqui prohibet, non urbis amplitudine, non agri ubertate ulli populo praeterquam vobis cedentes, haud parva, ut arbitror, accessio bonis rebus vestris in amicitiam venimus vestram.
We Campanians—although our present fortune forbids us to speak magnificently—yielding to no people except yourselves in the size of our city or the fertility of our territory, enter into your friendship as a not small addition, as I think, to your prosperity.
Aequis Volscisque, §7.30.7aeternis hostibus huius urbis, quandocumque se moverint, ab tergo erimus, et quod vos pro salute nostra priores feceritis, id nos pro imperio vestro et gloria semper faciemus.
To the Aequi and the Volsci, the eternal enemies of this city, whenever they move themselves, we shall be at their back; and what you do first for our safety, that we shall always do for your empire and glory in return.
§7.30.8subactis his gentibus, quae inter nos vosque sunt, quod prope diem futurum spondet et virtus et fortuna vestra, continens imperium usque ad nos habebitis.
When these nations, which are between us and you, are subdued—which your valor and fortune promise will be soon—you will have a continuous empire all the way to us.
§7.30.9acerbum ac miserum est, quod fateri nos fortuna nostra cogit: eo ventum est, patres conscripti, ut aut amicorum aut inimicorum Campani simus.
It is bitter and wretched, what our fortune forces us to confess: it has come to this, Conscript Fathers, that we Campanians must be either the friends of our friends or the property of our enemies.
§7.30.10si defenditis, vestri, si deseritis, Samnitium erimus; Capuam ergo et Campaniam omnem vestris an Samnitium viribus accedere malitis, deliberate.
If you defend us, we shall be yours; if you abandon us, we shall be the Samnites'; deliberate, therefore, whether you prefer Capua and all Campania to be added to your strength or to that of the Samnites.
§7.30.11omnibus quidem, Romani, vestram misericordiam vestrumque auxilium aequum est patere, iis tamen maxime, qui, fidem suam inplorantibus aliis dum supra vires suas praestant, omnes ipsi in hanc necessitatem venerunt.
To all indeed, Romans, it is just that your mercy and aid should be open, yet most of all to those who, while rendering their protection to others imploring their faith beyond their own strength, have themselves all fallen into this necessity.
§7.30.12quamquam pugnavimus verbo pro Sidicinis, re pro nobis, cum videremus finitimum populum nefario latrocinio Samnitium peti et, ubi conflagrassent Sidicini, ad nos traiecturum illud incendium esse.
Although we fought in word for the Sidicini, in reality for ourselves, when we saw a neighboring people attacked by the wicked robbery of the Samnites, and foresaw that when the Sidicini had been burnt up, that fire would cross over to us.
§7.30.13nec enim nunc, quia dolent iniuriam acceptam Samnites, sed quia gaudent oblatam sibi esse causam, oppugnatum nos veniunt.
For neither now do the Samnites come to attack us because they grieve over an injury received, but because they rejoice that an occasion has been offered to them.
§7.30.14an, si ultio irae haec et non occasio cupiditatis explendae esset, parum fuit, quod semel in Sidicino agro, iterum in Campania ipsa legiones nostras cecidere?
Or, if this were the vengeance of anger and not an opportunity to satisfy greed, was it too little that they once defeated our legions in the Sidicinian territory, and a second time in Campania itself?
§7.30.15quae est ista tam infesta ira, quam per duas acies fusus sanguis explere non potuerit? adde huc populationem agrorum, praedas hominum atque pecudum actas, incendia villarum ac ruinas, omnia ferro ignique vastata;
What is that anger, so hostile, which the blood shed in two battles could not satisfy? Add to this the devastation of our fields, the plunder of men and cattle driven off, the burning and ruin of our villas, everything wasted with fire and sword; could anger not be satisfied by these?
§7.30.16hiscine ira expleri non potuit? sed cupiditas explenda est.
But greed must be satisfied.
ea ad oppugnandam Capuam rapit; §7.30.17aut delere urbem pulcherrimam aut ipsi possidere volunt.
It hurries them to attack Capua; they wish either to destroy a most beautiful city or to possess it themselves.
sed vos potius, Romani, beneficio vestro occupate ear, quam illos habere per maleficium sinatis.
But do you rather, Romans, occupy it by your benefit, than suffer them to hold it through wickedness.
non loquor apud recusantem iusta bella populum; sed tamen, si ostenderitis auxilia vestra, ne bello quidem arbitror vobis opus fore.
I do not speak before a people who refuse just wars; but yet, if you show your aid, I think there will be no need even of war for you.
§7.30.18usque ad nos contemptus Samnitium pervenit, supra non ascendit; itaque umbra vestri auxilii, Romani, tegi possumus, quidquid deinde habuerimus, quidquid ipsi fuerimus, vestrum id omne existimaturi.
The contempt of the Samnites has reached as far as us, but it does not ascend higher; therefore, Romans, we can be protected by the shadow of your aid, destined to consider whatever we have thereafter, whatever we ourselves shall be, as entirely yours.
vobis arabitur ager Campanus, §7.30.19vobis Capua urbs frequentabitur; conditorum, parentium, deorum inmortalium numero nobis eritis; nulla colonia vestra erit, quae nos obsequio erga vos fideque superet.
For you the Campanian territory will be plowed, for you the city of Capua will be thronged; you will be to us in the number of founders, parents, and immortal gods; there will be no colony of yours that surpasses us in obedience and loyalty toward you.
§7.30.20Adnuite, patres conscripti, nutum numenque vestrum invictum Campanis et iubete sperare incolumem Capuam futuram.
Grant, Conscript Fathers, your invincible nod and power to the Campanians, and bid us hope that Capua will be safe.
§7.30.21qua frequentia omnium generum multitudinis prosequente creditis nos illinc profectos? quam omnia votorum lacrimarumque plena reliquisse? in qua nunc expectatione senatum populumque Campanum, coniuges liberosque nostros esse?
With what a crowd of every class of people following us do you believe we set out from there? How filled with vows and tears do you think we left everything behind? In what expectation now are the senate and people of Campania, our wives and children?
§7.30.22stare omnem multitudinem ad portas viam hinc ferentem prospectantes certum habeo.
I hold it certain that the entire multitude stands at the gates, looking out at the road leading here.
quid illis nos, patres conscripti, sollicitis ac pendentibus animi renuntiare iubetis?
What do you bid us report to them, Conscript Fathers, anxious and suspended in mind?
§7.30.23alterum responsum salutem victoriam, lucem ac libertatem, alterum — ominari horreo, quae ferat.
One response will bring safety, victory, light, and liberty; the other—I shudder to portend what it may bring.
proinde ut aut de vestris futuris sociis atque amicis aut nusquam ullis futuris nobis consulite. ”
Therefore, consult for us either as your future allies and friends, or as those who will nowhere exist in the future."