§7.37.1ita rebus gestis consul advocata contione P. Deci non coeptas solum ante, sed cumulatas nova virtute laudes peragit et praeter militaria alia dona aurea corona eum et centum bubus eximioque uno albo opimo auratis cornibus donat.
When these things were done, the consul, having summoned an assembly, completed the praises of Publius Decius, which had not only been begun before but were now heaped up with new valor, and in addition to other military gifts, presented him with a golden crown, a hundred oxen, and one exceptional white ox, fattened and with gilded horns.
§7.37.2milites, qui in praesidio simul fuerant, duplici frumento in perpetuum, in praesentia singulis bubus binisque tunicis donati.
The soldiers who had been together in the garrison were rewarded with double rations of grain forever, and for the present with an ox and two tunics each.
secundum consulis donationem legiones gramineam coronam obsidialem, clamore donum adprobantes, Decio inponunt.
Following the consul's presentation, the legions placed the grass crown of siege-relief upon Decius's head, approving the gift with a shout.
altera corona, eiusdem honoris index, a praesidio suo inposita est.
Another crown, an indicator of the same honor, was placed on him by his own garrison.
§7.37.3his decoratus insignibus bovem eximium Marti immolavit, centum boves militibus dono dedit, qui secum in expeditione fuerant.
Adorned with these distinctions, he sacrificed the exceptional ox to Mars and gave the hundred oxen as a gift to the soldiers who had been with him on the expedition.
iisdem militibus legiones libras farris et sextarios vini contulerunt; omniaque ea ingenti alacritate per clamorem militarem, indicem omnium adsensus, gerebantur.
To the same soldiers, the legions contributed a pound of spelt and a sextarius of wine each; and all these things were carried out with immense enthusiasm amidst the military shouting, which was the indicator of everyone's assent.
Tertia pugna ad Suessulam commissa est, §7.37.4qua fugatus a M. Valerio Samnitium exercitus, omni robore iuventutis domo accito, certamine ultimo fortunam experiri statuit.
The third battle was joined at Suessula, where the army of the Samnites, routed by Marcus Valerius, having summoned all the strength of their youth from home, decided to try their fortune in a final struggle.
§7.37.5ab Suessula nuntii trepidi Capuam, inde equites citati ad Valerium consulem opem oratum veniunt.
From Suessula, terrified messengers came to Capua, and from there mounted couriers came in haste to the consul Valerius to entreat his aid.
§7.37.6confestim signa mota relictisque inpedimentis et castrorum valido praesidio raptim agitur agmen; nec procul ab hoste locum perexiguum, ut quibus praeter equos ceterorum iumentorum calonumque turba abesset, castris cepit.
Immediately the standards were moved, and leaving behind the baggage and a strong guard for the camp, the column was led rapidly; and not far from the enemy, he took a very small place for his camp, as they were without the crowd of other draft animals and camp followers besides their horses.
Samnitium exercitus, §7.37.7velut haud ulla mora pugnae futura esset, aciem instruit; deinde, postquam nemo obvius ibat, infestis signis ad castra hostium succedit.
The army of the Samnites, as if there would be no delay of battle, drew up their line; then, after no one came to meet them, they advanced with hostile standards toward the enemy's camp.
§7.37.8ubi ut militem in vallo vidit missique ab omni parte exploratum, quam in exiguum orbem contracta castra essent, §7.37.9paucitatem inde hostium colligentes, rettulerunt, fremere omnis acies conplendas esse fossas scindendumque vallum et in castra inrumpendum; §7.37.10transactumque ea temeritate bellum foret, ni duces continuissent impetum militum.
When they saw the soldiers on the rampart, and those sent from every direction to reconnoitre reported how small an area the camp was contracted into, gathering from this the small number of the enemy, the whole battle line began to clamor that the ditches must be filled, the rampart torn down, and the camp burst into; and the war would have been finished by that rashness, had not the generals restrained the onslaught of the soldiers.
ceterum, quia multitudo sua commeatibus gravis et prius sedendo ad Suessulam et tum certaminis mora haud procul ab rerum omnium inopia esset, placuit, dum inclusus paveret hostis, frumentatum per agros militem duci: §7.37.11interim quieto Romano, qui expeditus, quantum umeris inter arma geri posset frumenti, secum attulisset, defutura omnia.
However, because their great number was a burden on provisions, and both from their earlier delay at Suessula and now from the delay of battle, they were not far from a scarcity of all things, it was decided that, while the shut-in enemy was paralyzed with fear, the soldiers should be led through the fields to forage: meanwhile, they believed that to the quiet Roman, who, light-equipped, had brought with him only as much grain as could be carried on shoulders amidst arms, everything would be lacking.
consul palatos per agros cum vidisset hostes, §7.37.12stationes infrequentes relictas, paucis milites adhortatus ad castra oppugnanda ducit.
When the consul saw the enemy scattered through the fields, and the outposts left thinly manned, having encouraged his soldiers with a few words, he led them to attack the camp.
§7.37.13quae cum primo clamore atque impetu cepisset, pluribus hostium in tentoriis suis quam in portis valloque caesis, signa captiva in unum locum conferri iussit relictisque duabus legionibus custodiae et praesidii causa gravi edicto monitis, ut, donec ipse revertisset, praeda abstinerent, profectus agmine instructo, §7.37.14cum praemissus eques velut indagine dissipatos Samnites ageret, caedem ingentem fecit.
When he had captured it at the first shout and onslaught, with more of the enemy slain in their tents than at the gates and the rampart, he ordered the captured standards to be brought together into one place, and having left two legions for the sake of custody and protection, warning them with a severe edict that they should abstain from plunder until he himself returned, he set out with his column in formation, and while the cavalry sent ahead drove the scattered Samnites as if in a hunt-net, he made an immense slaughter.
nam neque, §7.37.15quo signo coirent inter se, neque, utrum castra peterent an longiorem intenderent fugam, territis constare poterat; §7.37.16tantumque fugae ac formidinis fuit, ut ad quadraginta milia scutorum, nequaquam tot caesis, et signa militaria cum iis, quae in castris capta erant, ad centum septuaginta ad consulem deferrentur.
For indeed, it could not be clear to the terrified enemy by what signal they should assemble among themselves, or whether they should seek the camp or intend a longer flight; and there was so much flight and terror that up to forty thousand shields, though by no means so many had been slain, and military standards, along with those captured in the camp, amounting to one hundred and seventy, were brought to the consul.
§7.37.17tum in castra hostium reditum ibique omnis praeda militi data.
Then a return was made to the enemy's camp, and there all the plunder was given to the soldiers.