§8.3.1quod responsum sicut dubios Samnites, quidnam facturum Romanum censerent, dimisit, ita Campanos metu abalienavit, Latinos, velut nihil iam non concedentibus Romanis, ferociores fecit.
This response, while it dismissed the Samnites in doubt as to what they should think the Romans would do, alienated the Campanians with fear, and made the Latins more insolent, as if the Romans were now denying them nothing.
§8.3.2itaque per speciem adversus Samnites belli parandi crebra concilia indicentes omnibus consultationibus inter se principes occulte Romanum coquebant bellum.
Therefore, under the pretext of preparing for war against the Samnites, calling frequent councils, the leaders secretly concocted a Roman war in all their consultations among themselves.
huic quoque adversus servatores suos bello Campanus aderat.
To this war also, against their own preservers, the Campanian was present.
§8.3.3sed quamquam omnia de industria celabantur — priusquam moverentur Romani, tolli ab tergo Samnitem hostem volebant —, tamen per quosdam privatis hospitiis necessitudinibusque coniunctos indicia coniurationis eius Romam emanarunt; §8.3.4iussisque ante tempus consulibus abdicare se magistratu, quo maturius novi consules adversus tantam molem belli crearentur, religio incessit ab eis, quorum inminutum imperium esset, comitia haberi.
But although all things were being hidden on purpose—for they wished the Samnite enemy on their rear to be removed before the Romans should move—nevertheless, through certain men connected by private guest-friendship and intimacy, indications of that conspiracy leaked out to Rome; and when the consuls had been ordered to abdicate their office before the time, so that the new consuls might be elected the sooner against so great a mass of war, a religious scruple arose against the comitia being held by those whose power had been diminished.
§8.3.5itaque interregnum initum.
Therefore an interregnum was entered upon.
duo interreges fuere, M. Valerius ac M. Fabius; is creavit consules T. Manlium Torquatum tertium, P. Decium Murem.
There were two interreges, Marcus Valerius and Marcus Fabius; the latter elected as consuls Titus Manlius Torquatus for the third time, and Publius Decius Mus.
§8.3.6eo anno Alexandrum, Epiri regem, in Italiam classem appulisse constat; quod bellum, si prima satis prospera fuissent, haud dubie ad Romanos pervenisset.
In that year it is certain that Alexander, king of Epirus, brought his fleet to Italy; which war, if his first efforts had been prosperous enough, would without doubt have reached the Romans.
eadem aetas rerum magni Alexandri est, §8.3.7quem sorore huius ortum in alio tractu orbis, invictum bellis, iuvenem fortuna morbo extinxit.
The same was the age of the deeds of Alexander the Great, whom, born of the sister of this man, in another tract of the world, undefeated in wars, fortune extinguished by disease as a young man.
§8.3.8ceterum Romani, etsi defectio sociorum nominisque Latini haud dubia erat, tamen, tamquam de Samnitibus, non de se curam agerent, decem principes Latinorum Romam evocaverunt, quibus imperarent, quae vellent.
But the Romans, although the defection of the allies and of the Latin name was beyond doubt, nevertheless, as if they were acting out of concern for the Samnites and not for themselves, summoned ten chiefs of the Latins to Rome, to command them what they wished.
§8.3.9praetores tum duos Latium habebat, L. Annium Setinum et L. Numisium Cerceiensem, ambo ex coloniis Romanis, per quos praeter Signiam Velitrasque, et ipsas colonias Romanas, Volsci etiam exciti ad arma erant; §8.3.10eos nominatim evocari placuit.
Latium had then two praetors, Lucius Annius of Setia and Lucius Numisius of Circeii, both from Roman colonies, through whom, besides Signia and Velitrae, themselves also Roman colonies, the Volsci had also been excited to arms; it was resolved that these should be summoned by name.
haud cuiquam dubium erat, super qua re accirentur; itaque concilio prius habito praetores, quam Romam proficiscerentur, evocatos se ab senatu docent Romano, et quae actum iri secum credant, quidnam ad ea responderi placeat, referunt.
It was not doubtful to anyone on what matter they were being summoned; therefore, having first held a council, the praetors, before they set out for Rome, informed the called men that they were summoned by the Roman senate, and reported what they believed would be transacted with them, and what they should please to reply to these things.