§8.7.1forte inter ceteros turmarum praefectos, qui exploratum in omnes partes dimissi erant, T. Manlius consulis filius super castra hostium cum suis turmalibus evasit, ita ut vix teli iactu ab statione proxima abesset.
By chance, among the other squadron commanders who had been sent out in all directions to reconnoitre, Titus Manlius, the consul's son, advanced with his troopers above the camp of the enemy, so that he was scarcely a spear's throw away from the nearest outpost.
§8.7.2ibi Tusculani erant equites; praeerat Geminus Maecius, vir cum genere inter suos tum factis clarus.
The Tusculan cavalry were there; they were commanded by Geminus Maecius, a man famous among his people both for his birth and for his deeds.
§8.7.3is ubi Romanos equites insignemque inter eos praecedentem consulis filium — nam omnes inter se, utique inlustres viri, noti erant — §8.7.4cognovit, “unane” ait “turma, Romani, cum Latinis sociisque bellum gesturi estis?
When he recognized the Roman cavalry and, preeminent among them, the consul's son riding in front—for they all knew one another, especially the illustrious men— he said, "Are you, Romans, going to wage war against the Latins and their allies with a single squadron?
§8.7.5quid interea consules, quid duo exercitus consulares agent?” “aderunt in tempore” Manlius inquit, “et cum illis aderit Iuppiter ipse, foederum a vobis violatorum testis, qui plus potest polletque.
What meanwhile will the consuls, what will the two consular armies do?" "They will be here in time," Manlius said, "and with them will be Jupiter himself, the witness of the treaties violated by you, who is more able and more powerful.
§8.7.6si ad Regillum lacum ad satietatem vestram pugnavimus, hic quoque efficiemus profecto, ne nimis acies vobis et conlata signa nobiscum cordi sint. ” §8.7.7ad ea Geminus paulum ab suis equo provectus: “visne igitur, dum dies ista venit, qua magno conatu exercitus moveatis, interea tu ipse congredi mecum, ut nostro duorum iam hinc eventu cernatur, quantum eques Latinus Romano praestet?” §8.7.8mouet ferocem animum iuvenis seu ira seu detractandi certaminis pudor seu inexsuperabilis vis fati.
If we fought at Lake Regillus to your heart's content, here too we shall surely bring it about that battle lines and clashing standards with us are not too much to your liking." To this Geminus, having ridden forward a little from his men, said: "Do you wish then, until that day comes on which you will move your armies with great effort, meanwhile to engage with me yourself, so that from the outcome of us two here and now it may be seen how much the Latin horseman excels the Roman?" Whether by anger, or by shame at declining the combat, or by the insuperable power of fate, the fierce mind of the young man was moved.
oblitus itaque imperii patrii consulumque edicti praeceps ad id certamen agitur, quo vinceret an vinceretur haud multum interesset.
Therefore, forgetful of his father's command and the consuls' edict, he was driven headlong to that combat in which whether he conquered or was conquered mattered little.
§8.7.9equitibus ceteris velut ad spectaculum summotis spatio, quod vacui interiacebat campi, adversos concitant equos; et cum infestis cuspidibus concurrissent, Manli cuspis super galeam hostis, Maeci trans cervicem equi elapsa est.
The other horsemen having withdrawn as if for a spectacle, they spurred their horses against each other in the space of the open plain that lay between; and when they had clashed with pointed spears, Manlius' spear slid over the helmet of his enemy, while Maecius' spear slid across the neck of the horse.
§8.7.10circumactis deinde equis cum prior ad iterandum ictum Manlius consurrexisset, spiculum inter aures equi fixit.
Then, having turned their horses around, when Manlius had risen first to repeat the blow, he fixed his javelin between the horse's ears.
ad cuius vulneris sensum cum equus prioribus pedibus erectis magna vi caput quateret, §8.7.11excussit equitem, quem cuspide parmaque innixum attollentem se ab gravi casu Manlius ab iugulo, ita ut per costas ferrum emineret, terrae adfixit; §8.7.12spoliisque lectis ad suos revectus cum ovante gaudio turma in castra atque inde ad praetorium ad patrem tendit, ignarus fati futurique, laus an poena merita esset.
At the feeling of this wound, when the horse, rearing up on its forefeet, shook its head with great violence, it threw off its rider, whom, as he was raising himself from his heavy fall by leaning on his spear and shield, Manlius pinned to the ground through the throat, so that the iron projected through his ribs; and having gathered the spoils, he rode back to his men and, with his squadron exulting in joy, hastened to the camp and thence to the headquarters to his father, ignorant of his fate and of what was to come, whether praise or punishment was deserved.
“ut me omnes” inquit, §8.7.13“pater, tuo sanguine ortum vere ferrent, provocatus equestria haec spolia capta ex hoste caeso porto. ” §8.7.14quod ubi audivit consul, extemplo filium aversatus contionem classico advocari iussit.
"Father," he said, "so that all might truly report me to be sprung from your blood, having been challenged, I bring these equestrian spoils taken from the slain enemy." When the consul heard this, immediately turning away from his son, he ordered the assembly to be summoned by the trumpet.
quae ubi frequens convenit, §8.7.15“quandoque” inquit “tu, T. Manli, neque imperium consulare neque maiestatem patriam veritus adversus edictum nostrum extra ordinem in hostem pugnasti et, §8.7.16quantum in te fuit, disciplinam militarem, qua stetit ad hanc diem Romana res, solvisti meque in eam necessitatem adduxisti, ut aut rei publicae mihi aut mei meorumque obliviscendum sit, §8.7.17nos potius nostro delicto plectemur, quam res publica tanto suo damno nostra peccata luat.
When it had gathered in crowds, he said, "Since you, Titus Manlius, fearing neither consular command nor paternal majesty, have fought against our edict outside the ranks against the enemy, and, as far as lay in your power, have dissolved the military discipline by which the Roman state has stood to this day, and have brought me into such a necessity that I must either forget the republic or myself and my family, let us rather be punished for our own transgression than that the republic should pay for our sins at such a cost to itself.
triste exemplum, sed in posterum salubre iuventuti erimus.
We shall be a sad example, but a wholesome one for the youth in the future.
§8.7.18me quidem cum ingenita caritas liberum tum specimen istud virtutis deceptum vana imagine decoris in te movet; §8.7.19sed cum aut morte tua sancienda sint consulum imperia aut inpunitate in perpetuum abroganda, ne te quidem, si quid in te nostri sanguinis est, recusare censeam, quin disciplinam militarem culpa tua prolapsam poena restituas.
Indeed, both the inborn affection for children and that specimen of your valor, deceived by a vain image of glory, move me towards you; but since the commands of the consuls must either be sanctioned by your death or abrogated forever by impunity, I should think that not even you, if there is any of our blood in you, would refuse to restore by punishment the military discipline collapsed by your fault.
§8.7.20i, lictor, deliga ad palum. ” exanimati omnes tam atroci imperio nec aliter quam in se quisque destrictam cernentes securem, metu magis quam modestia quievere.
Go, lictor, bind him to the stake." All were paralyzed by so cruel a command, and seeing the axe drawn as if against themselves, they remained quiet more from fear than from obedience.
§8.7.21itaque velut demerso ab admiratione animo cum silentio defixi stetissent, repente, postquam cervice caesa fusus est cruor, tam libero conquestu coortae voces sunt, ut neque lamentis neque execrationibus parceretur, §8.7.22spoliisque contectum iuvenis corpus, quantum militaribus studiis funus ullum concelebrari potest, structo extra vallum rogo cremaretur Manlianaque imperia non in praesentia modo horrenda, sed exempli etiam tristis in posterum essent.
And so, when they had stood transfixed in silence as if their minds were overwhelmed by astonishment, suddenly, after the neck was cut and the blood poured out, voices arose with such free lamentation that neither laments nor execration were spared, and the body of the young man, covered with the spoils, was burned on a pyre built outside the rampart, as solemnly as any funeral could be celebrated by military devotion; and the 'Manlian orders' were not only horrific in the present, but also remained a sad example for the future.