§8.33.1his uocibus cum in se magis incitarent dictatorem quam magistro equitum placarent, iussi de tribunali descendere legati; §8.33.2et silentio nequiquam per praeconem temptato, cum prae strepitu ac tumultu nec ipsius dictatoris nec apparitorum eius vox audiretur, nox velut in proelio certamini finem fecit.
Since these words incited the dictator against him rather than placated him toward the master of the horse, the legates were ordered to descend from the tribunal; and silence having been attempted in vain by the herald, since on account of the noise and tumult neither the voice of the dictator himself nor that of his apparitors was heard, night, as if in battle, put an end to the contest.
§8.33.3magister equitum, iussus postero die adesse, cum omnes adfirmarent infestius Papirium exarsurum, agitatum contentione ipsa exacerbatumque, clam ex castris Romam profugit;
The master of the horse, ordered to be present on the following day, since everyone asserted that Papirius would burn with greater hostility, being excited and exasperated by the contention itself, fled secretly from the camp to Rome; and on the authority of his father M.
§8.33.4et patre auctore M. Fabio, qui ter iam consul dictatorque fuerat, vocato extemplo senatu cum maxime conquereretur apud patres vim atque iniuriam dictatoris, repente strepitus ante curiam lictorum summoventium auditur; §8.33.5et ipse infensus aderat, postquam conperit profectum ex castris, cum expedito equitatu secutus.
Fabius, who had already been consul three times and dictator, the senate having been called immediately, while he was especially complaining before the fathers of the violence and injustice of the dictator, suddenly the noise of the lictors clearing people away was heard before the curia; and he himself was present, hostile, after he found out that he had departed from the camp, having followed with light-armed cavalry.
iterata deinde contentio, et prendi Fabium Papirius iussit.
Then the contention was repeated, and Papirius ordered Fabius to be seized.
§8.33.6ubi cum deprecantibus primoribus patrum atque universo senatu perstaret in incepto inmitis animus,
When, though the leaders of the fathers and the entire senate were deprecating, his merciless mind persisted in its undertaking, then the father M.
§8.33.7tum pater M. Fabius “quando quidem” inquit “apud te nec auctoritas senatus nec aetas mea, cui orbitatem paras, nec virtus nobilitasque magistri equitum a te ipso nominati valet nec preces, quae saepe hostem mitigavere, quae deorum iras placant, tribunos plebis appello et provoco ad populum eumque tibi, §8.33.8fugienti exercitus tui, fugienti senatus iudicium, iudicem fero, qui certe unus plus quam tua dictatura potest polletque.
Fabius said: "Since indeed neither the authority of the senate, nor my age, for which you are preparing childlessness, nor the virtue and nobility of the master of the horse appointed by yourself, nor prayers, which have often mitigated an enemy and which placate the anger of the gods, have any weight with you, I appeal to the tribunes of the plebs and provoke to the people, and to you, who are fleeing your own army, fleeing the judgment of the senate, I offer a judge who certainly, alone, has more power and influence than your dictatorship.
videro, cessurusne provocationi sis, cui rex Romanus Tullus Hostilius cessit. ” ex curia in contionem itur.
I shall see whether you are going to yield to an appeal, to which the Roman king Tullus Hostilius yielded." They went from the curia to the assembly.
§8.33.9quo cum paucis dictator, cum omni agmine principum magister equitum cum escendisset, deduci eum de rostris Papirius in partem inferiorem iussit.
When the dictator had ascended thither with a few, and the master of the horse with the whole train of the leading men, Papirius ordered him to be led down from the rostra to the lower part.
§8.33.10secutus pater “bene agis” inquit, “cum eo nos deduci iussisti, unde et private vocem mittere possemus. ” §8.33.11ibi primo non tam perpetuae orationes quam altercatio exaudiebantur; vicit deinde strepitum vox et indignatio Fabi senis increpantis superbiam crudelitatemque Papiri: §8.33.12se quoque dictatorem Romae fuisse, nec a se quemquam, ne plebis quidem hominem, non centurionem, non militem violatum; §8.33.13Papirium tamquam ex hostium ducibus, sic ex Romano imperatore victoriam et triumphum petere.
The father, having followed, said: "You do well, since you ordered us to be led down to that place from which we might be able to utter our voice even as private citizens." There, at first, not so much continuous speeches as an altercation was heard; then the voice and indignation of the old man Fabius, reproaching the pride and cruelty of Papirius, overcame the noise: saying that he also had been dictator in Rome, and by him no one, not even a man of the plebs, not a centurion, not a soldier had been violated; but Papirius was seeking victory and triumph from a Roman commander just as if from the leaders of the enemies.
quantum interesse inter moderationem antiquorum et novam superbiam crudelitatemque.
How great a difference there was between the moderation of the ancients and this new pride and cruelty!
§8.33.14dictatorem Quinctium Cincinnatum in L. Minucium consulem ex obsidione a se ereptum non ultra saevisse, quam ut legatum eum ad exercitum pro consule relinqueret.
The dictator Quinctius Cincinnatus had not raged against the consul L. Minucius, rescued by him from siege, further than to leave him as a legate to the army instead of a consul.
M. Furium Camillum in L. Furio,
M. Furius Camillus, in the case of L.
§8.33.15qui contempta sua senectute et auctoritate foedissimo cum eventu pugnasset, non solum in praesentia moderatum irae esse, ne quid de collega secus populo aut senatui scriberet, sed, §8.33.16cum revertisset, potissimum ex tribunis consularibus habuisse, quem, ex collegis optione ab senatu data, socium sibi imperii deligeret.
Furius, who, having despised his old age and authority, had fought with a most shameful result, had not only moderated his anger for the present, lest he should write anything unfavorable about his colleague to the people or the senate, but, when he had returned, had had him of all the consular tribunes whom, choice being given by the senate from his colleagues, he chose as a partner of his command for himself.
§8.33.17nam populi quidem, penes quem potestas omnium rerum esset, ne iram quidem umquam atrociorem fuisse in eos, qui temeritate atque inscitia exercitus amisissent, quam ut pecunia eos multaret; capite anquisitum ob rem bello male gestam de imperatore nullo ad eam diem esse.
For indeed, even of the people, in whose power was the control of all things, the anger had never been more severe against those who by rashness and ignorance had lost armies than to fine them in money; no commander up to that day had been tried for his life on account of a war badly conducted.
nunc ducibus populi Romani, §8.33.18quae ne victis quidem bello fas fuerit, virgas et secures victoribus et iustissimos meritis triumphos intentari.
But now, against the commanders of the Roman people, things which would not be lawful even against those conquered in war, rods and axes were being threatened against victors and those deserving of most just triumphs.
§8.33.19quid enim tandem passurum fuisse filium suum, si exercitum amisisset, si fusus, fugatus, castris exutus fuisset? quo ultra iram violentiamque eius excessuram fuisse, quam ut verberaret necaretque?
For what, pray, would his son have suffered if he had lost the army, if he had been routed, put to flight, and stripped of his camp? Whither further would his anger and violence have gone beyond scourging and killing him?
§8.33.20quam conveniens esse, propter Q. Fabium civitatem in laetitia,
How fitting it was that, on account of Q.
§8.33.21victoria, supplicationibus ac gratulationibus esse, eum, propter quem deum delubra pateant, arae sacrificiis fument, honore donis cumulentur, nudatum virgis lacerari in conspectu populi Romani, intuentem Capitolium atque arcem deosque ab se duobus proeliis haud frustra aduocatos.
Fabius, the state was in joy, victory, supplications, and congratulations, while he, on whose account the shrines of the gods were open, the altars smoked with sacrifices, and they were heaped with honor and gifts, stripped, was to be torn by rods in the sight of the Roman people, looking at the Capitol and the citadel and the gods whom he had invoked not in vain in two battles.
quo id animo exercitum,
With what mind would the army, which had conquered under his leadership and auspices, bear this?
§8.33.22qui eius ductu auspiciisque vicisset, laturum? quem luctum in castris Romanis, quam laetitiam inter hostes fore!
What grief would there be in the Roman camp, what joy among the enemies!
§8.33.23haec simul iurgans, querens, deum hominumque fidem obtestans et complexus filium plurimis cum lacrumis agebat.
While saying these things, reproaching, complaining, imploring the protection of gods and men, and embracing his son, he pleaded with many tears.