§7.33.1non alias militi familiarior dux fuit omnia inter infimos militum haud gravate munia obeundo, in ludo praeterea militari, §7.33.2cum velocitatis viriumque inter se aequales certamina ineunt, comiter facilis; vincere ac vinci vultu eodem, nec quemquam aspernari parem, qui se offeret; §7.33.3factis benignus pro re, dictis haud minus libertatis alienae quam suae dignitatis memor, et, quo nihil popularius est, quibus artibus petierat magistratus, iisdem gerebat.
At no other time was a leader more familiar to the soldier, by performing all duties among the lowest of the soldiers without reluctance, and moreover, in military games, when they entered into contests of speed and strength with each other as equals, he was affably easy-going; he bore winning and being defeated with the same countenance, nor did he spurn anyone as an equal who offered himself; generous in deeds according to his means, in words no less mindful of others' freedom than of his own dignity, and, than which nothing is more popular, he conducted his magistracies with the same arts with which he had sought them.
§7.33.4itaque universus exercitus incredibili alacritate adhortationem prosecutus ducis castris egreditur.
Therefore the entire army, having followed the exhortation of their leader with incredible alacrity, marched out of the camp.
Proelium, §7.33.5ut quod maxime umquam, pari spe utrimque, aequis viribus, cum fiducia sui sine contemptu hostium commissum est.
The battle, as much as any ever was, was joined with equal hope on both sides, with equal strength, and with self-confidence without contempt for the enemy.
§7.33.6Samnitibus ferociam augebant novae res gestae et paucos ante dies geminata victoria, Romanis contra quadringentorum annorum decora et conditae urbi aequalis victoria;
For the Samnites, their recent achievements and their victory doubled a few days before increased their fierceness; for the Romans, on the other hand, the glories of four hundred years and a victory as old as the founded city.
§7.33.7utrisque tamen novus hostis curam addebat.
Yet to both a new enemy added anxiety.
pugna indicio fuit, quos gesserint animos; namque ita conflixerunt, ut aliquamdiu in neutram partem inclinarent acies.
The battle was proof of what spirit they bore; for they clashed in such a way that for some time the lines did not incline in either direction.
tum consul trepidationem iniciendam ratus, §7.33.8quando vi pelli non poterant, equitibus inmissis turbare prima signa hostium conatur.
Then the consul, thinking that panic must be cast into them, since they could not be driven back by force, attempted to throw the enemy's front ranks into confusion by sending in the cavalry.
§7.33.9quos ubi nequiquam tumultuantes in spatio exiguo volvere turmas vidit nec posse aperire in hostes viam, §7.33.10revectus ad antesignanos legionum cum desiluisset ex equo, “nostrum” inquit “peditum illud, milites, est opus; agitedum, ut me videritis, quacumque incessero in aciem hostium, ferro viam facientem, sic pro se quisque obvios sternite; illa omnia, qua nunc erectae micant hastae, patefacta strage vasta cernetis. ” §7.33.11Vix haec dicta dederat, cum equites consulis iussu discurrunt in cornua legionibusque in mediam aciem aperiunt viam.
And when he saw them wheeling their squadrons in vain in a narrow space with much tumult, and unable to open a way into the enemy, having ridden back to the front-rank men of the legions, when he had leaped down from his horse, "That work, soldiers," he said, "is ours, the infantry's; come then, as you see me, wherever I advance into the enemy's battle line making a way with the sword, so let each man for his part lay low those in his path; you will see all those places, where spears now stand erect and gleam, laid open by a vast slaughter." Scarcely had he given these words, when the cavalry, by order of the consul, rode off to the wings and opened a way for the legions into the center of the enemy's line.
primus omnium consul invadit hostem et, cum quo forte contulit gradum, obtruncat.
First of all, the consul attacked the enemy, and whomever he happened to clash with, he cut down.
§7.33.12hoc spectaculo accensi dextra laevaque ante se quisque memorandum proelium cient; stant obnixi Samnites, quamquam plura accipiunt quam inferunt vulnera.
Kindled by this sight, on the right and on the left, each man before him waged a memorable fight; the Samnites stood firm, struggling, although they received more wounds than they inflicted.
aliquamdiu iam pugnatum erat, §7.33.13atrox caedes circa signa Samnitium, fuga ab nulladum parte erat; adeo morte sola vinci destinaverant animis.
The battle had already been going on for some time, there was terrible slaughter around the standards of the Samnites, yet there was as yet no flight on any side; so firmly had they resolved in their minds to be conquered only by death.
§7.33.14itaque Romani, cum et fluere iam lassitudine vires sentirent et diei haud multum superesse, accensi ira concitant se in hostem.
Therefore the Romans, when they felt their strength already ebbing with weariness, and that not much of the day remained, kindled with anger, threw themselves upon the enemy.
§7.33.15tum primum referri pedem atque inclinari rem in fugam apparuit; tum capi, occidi Samnis; nec superfuissent multi, ni nox victoriam magis quam proelium diremisset.
Then for the first time it was seen that their feet were retreating and the battle was turning into flight; then the Samnites were captured and slain; nor would many have survived, if night had not broken off the victory rather than the battle.
§7.33.16et Romani fatebantur numquam cum pertinaciore hoste conflictum, et Samnites, cum quaereretur, quaenam prima causa tam obstinatos movisset in fugam, oculos sibi Romanorum ardere visos aiebant vesanosque vultus et furentia ora; inde plus quam ex alia ulla re terroris ortum.
And the Romans confessed that they had never clashed with a more obstinate enemy, and the Samnites, when it was asked what primary cause had moved men so resolute to flight, said that the eyes of the Romans seemed to them to burn, and their wild looks and raging faces; that from this more than from any other thing their terror arose.
§7.33.17quem terrorem non pugnae solum eventu, sed nocturna profectione confessi sunt.
Which terror they confessed not only by the outcome of the battle, but by their departure in the night.
§7.33.18postero die vacuis hostium castris Romanus potitur, quo se omnis Campanorum multitudo gratulabunda effudit.
On the following day, the Romans took possession of the empty camp of the enemy, whither the whole multitude of the Campanians poured out to offer congratulations.