§7.40.1ubi primum in conspectum ventum est etarma signaque agnovere, extemplo omnibus memoria patriae iras permulsit. §7.40.2nondum erant tam fortes ad sanguinem civilem nec praeter externa noverant bella, ultimaque rabies secessio ab suis habebatur; itaque iam duces, iam milites utrimque congressus quaerere ac conloquia: §7.40.3Quinctius, quem armorum etiam pro patria satietas teneret, nedum adversus patriam, Corvinus, omnes caritate cives, praecipue milites et ante alios suum exercitum, complexus.
As soon as they came into each other's sight and recognized the arms and standards, immediately the memory of their country soothed the anger in the minds of all. They were not yet so hardened for civil bloodshed, nor did they know any wars except foreign ones, and secession from their own people was considered the ultimate madness; therefore now the leaders, now the soldiers on both sides began to seek meetings and conversations. Quinctius, whom a satiety of arms even for his country possessed, much less against his country, and Corvinus, who embraced all citizens with affection, especially the soldiers and his own army before others, both desired peace.
is ad conloquium processit. §7.40.4cognito ei extemplo haud minore ab adversariis verecundia quam ab suis silentium datum.
He advanced to the conference. As soon as he was recognized, silence was granted to him with no less respect from the adversaries than from his own men.
“Deos” inquit “inmortales, milites, vestros meosque ab urbe proficiscens ita adoravi veniamque supplex poposci, ut mihi de vobis concordiae partae gloriam, non victoriam darent. §7.40.5satis fuit eritque, unde belli decus pariatur; hinc pax petenda est.
He said: "Soldiers, departing from the city, I so adored the immortal gods, both yours and mine, and suppliantly begged their favor, that they might grant me the glory of peace achieved concerning you, not victory. There has been and will be enough source from which military glory may be obtained; from here, peace must be sought.
quod deos inmortales inter nuncupanda vota expoqosci, eius me conpotem voti vos facere potestis, §7.40.6si meminisse vultis non vos in Samnio nec in Volscis, sed in Romano solo castra habere, si illos colles, quos cernitis, patriae vestrae esse, si hunc exercitum civium vestrorum, si me consulem vestrum, cuius ductu auspicioque priore anno bis legiones Samnitium fudistis, bis castra vi cepistis. §7.40.7ego sum M. Valerius Corvus, milites, cuius vos nobilitatem beneficiis erga vos, non iniuriis sensistis, nullius superbae in vos legis, nullius crudelis senatus consulti auctor, in omnibus meis imperiis in me severior quam in vos. §7.40.8ac si cui genus, si cui sua virtus, si cui etiam maiestas, si cui honores subdere spiritus potuerunt, iis eram natus, id specimen mei dederam, ea aetate consulatum adeptus eram, ut potuerim tris et viginti annos natus consul patribus quoque ferox esse, non solum plebi.
What I begged of the immortal gods amid the pronouncing of vows, you are able to make me possessor of that vow, if you are willing to remember that you do not have your camp in Samnium nor among the Volscians, but on Roman soil; that those hills, which you see, are of your country; that this army consists of your fellow-citizens; and that I am your consul, under whose leadership and auspices in the previous year you twice routed the legions of the Samnites and twice took their camp by force. I am Marcus Valerius Corvus, soldiers, whose nobility you have experienced by benefits toward you, not by injuries; the author of no proud law against you, of no cruel decree of the senate; in all my commands more severe toward myself than toward you. And if birth, if his own virtue, if even majesty, if honors were able to inspire pride in anyone, I was born to those things, I had given such proof of myself, and I had obtained the consulship at such an age, that as a consul twenty-three years old I could have been haughty even toward the patricians, not only the plebeians. What deed or word of mine as consul did you hear that was more harsh than that of a tribune?
§7.40.9quod meum factum dictumve consulis gravius quam tribuni audistis? eodem tenore duo insequentes consulatus gessi, eodem haec imperiosa dictatura geretur, neque in hos meos et patriae meae milites mitior quam in vos — horreo dicere — hostes ero. §7.40.10vos prius in me strinxeritis ferrum quam in vos ego; istinc signa canent, istinc clamor prius incipiet atque impetus, si dimicandum est. §7.40.11inducite in animum, quod non induxerunt patres avique vestri, non illi, qui in Sacrum montem secesserunt, non hi, qui postea Aventinum insederunt.
With the same tenor I conducted two subsequent consulships, with the same this imperious dictatorship will be conducted; nor shall I be gentler to these my and my country's soldiers than to you—I shudder to say it—enemies. You will draw the sword against me sooner than I against you; from your side the trumpets will sound, from your side the shout and onset will first begin, if we must fight. Resolve in your minds what your fathers and grandfathers did not resolve—neither those who seceded to the Sacred Mount, nor those who afterwards occupied the Aventine.
expectate, §7.40.12dum vobis singulis, ut olim Coriolano, matres coniugesque crinibus passis obviae ab urbe veniant! tum Volscorum legiones, quia Romanum habebant ducem, quieverunt;
Wait until mothers and wives with dishevelled hair come from the city to meet each of you, as once they did to Coriolanus!
vos, Romanus exercitus, ne destiteritis inpio bello! §7.40.13T. Quincti, quocumque istic loco seu volens seu invitus constitisti, si dimicandum erit, tum tu in novissimos te recipito; fugeris etiam honestius tergumque civi dederis quam pugnaveris contra patriam; §7.40.14nunc ad pacificandum bene atque honeste inter primos stabis et conloquii huius salutaris interpres fueris.
Then the legions of the Volscians, because they had a Roman leader, remained quiet; do you, a Roman army, not desert your country by an impious war! Titus Quinctius, in whatever place you have taken your stand there, whether willingly or unwillingly, if we must fight, then do you retreat to the rear; you will even flee more honorably and show your back to a fellow citizen than fight against your country. Now for the purpose of peacemaking, you will stand well and honorably among the first and be the mediator of this salutary conference.
postulate aequa et ferte; quamquam vel iniquis standum est potius quam inpias inter nos conseramus manus. ” T. Quinctius plenus lacrimarum ad suos versus §7.40.15“me quoque” inquit, “milites, si quis usus mei est, meliorem pacis quam belli habetis ducem. §7.40.16non enim illa modo Volscus aut Samnis, sed Romanus verba fecit, vester consul, vester imperator, milites, cuius auspicia pro vobis experti nolite adversus vos velle experiri.
Demand what is fair and receive it; although we must abide even by unfair terms rather than join impious hands among ourselves." Titus Quinctius, full of tears, having turned to his men, said: "In me also, soldiers, if there is any use of me, you have a better leader for peace than for war. For those words not a Volscian or a Samnite spoke, but a Roman, your consul, your commander, soldiers, whose auspices having experienced on your behalf, do not wish to experience against yourselves.
qui pugnarent vobiscum infestius, §7.40.17et alios duces senatus habuit; qui maxime vobis, suis militibus, parceret, cui plurimum vos, imperatori vestro, crederetis, eum elegit. §7.40.18pacem etiam qui vincere possunt volunt; quid nos velle oportet? §7.40.19quin omissis ira et spe, fallacibus auctoribus, nos ipsos nostraque omnia cognitae permittimus fidei?”
Those who would fight against you more hostilely the senate had as other leaders; but him who would spare you most, his own soldiers, and whom you, your commander, would trust most, it chose. Even those who are able to conquer desire peace; what ought we to desire? Why do we not, dismissing anger and hope, deceitful advisers, entrust ourselves and all our things to a tried loyalty?"