§8.9.1Romani consules, priusquam educerent in aciem, immolaverunt.
The Roman consuls, before they led [their armies] into the battle line, offered sacrifice.
Decio caput iocineris a familiari parte caesum haruspex dicitur ostendisse; alioqui acceptam dis hostiam esse; Manlium egregie litasse.
The haruspex is said to have shown to Decius that the head of the liver had been cut off from the friendly side; that otherwise the victim had been accepted by the gods; and that Manlius had obtained an excellently favorable omen.
“atqui bene habet” inquit Decius, “si ab collega litatum est. ” §8.9.2instructis, sicut ante dictum est, ordinibus processere in aciem.
"And yet it is well," said Decius, "if a favorable sacrifice has been offered by my colleague." When the ranks had been drawn up, as was said before, they advanced into the battle line.
Manlius dextro, Decius laevo cornu praeerat.
Manlius was in command of the right wing, Decius of the left.
primo utrimque aequis viribus, §8.9.3eodem ardore animorum gerebatur res; deinde ab laevo cornu hastati Romani, non ferentes inpressionem Latinorum, se ad principes recepere.
At first, on both sides with equal strength, and with the same ardor of minds, the contest was waged; then, from the left wing, the Roman hastati, not bearing the onset of the Latins, betook themselves back to the principes.
§8.9.4in hac trepidatione Decius consul M. Valerium magna voce inclamat: “deorum” inquit “ope, M. Valeri, opus est; agedum, pontifex publicus populi Romani praei verba, quibus me pro legionibus devoveam. ” pontifex eum togam praetextam sumere iussit §8.9.5et velato capite, manu subter togam ad mentum exserta, super telum subiectum pedibus stantem sic dicere: “Iane, §8.9.6Iuppiter, Mars pater, Quirine, Bellona, Lares, divi Novensiles, di Indigetes, divi, quorum est potestas nostrorum hostiumque, §8.9.7dique Manes, vos precor, veneror, veniam peto oroque, uti populo Romano Quiritium vim victoriamque prosperetis hostesque populi Romani Quiritium terrore, formidine morteque adficiatis.
In this trepidation, the consul Decius called out to Marcus Valerius with a loud voice: "There is need, Marcus Valerius," he said, "of the help of the gods; come then, public pontiff of the Roman people, dictate the words by which I may devote myself for the legions." The pontiff ordered him to take his toga praetexta and, with his head veiled, and his hand thrust out from under his toga to his chin, standing upon a spear laid under his feet, to speak thus: "Janus, Jupiter, Father Mars, Quirinus, Bellona, Lares, new-come gods, indigenous gods, gods who have power over us and our enemies, and you, divine Manes, I pray, worship, beg for favor, and entreat, that you may prosper strength and victory to the Roman people of the Quirites, and affect the enemies of the Roman people of the Quirites with terror, dread, and death.
§8.9.8sicut verbis nuncupavi, ita pro re publica, exercitu, legionibus, auxiliis populi Romani Quiritium legiones auxiliaque hostium mecum deis Manibus Tellurique devoveo. ” §8.9.9haec ita precatus lictores ire ad T. Manlium iubet matureque collegae se devotum pro exercitu nuntiare.
As I have pronounced in words, so, on behalf of the republic, the army, the legions, and the auxiliaries of the Roman people of the Quirites, I devote the legions and auxiliaries of the enemy, together with myself, to the divine Manes and to Earth." Having thus prayed, he ordered the lictors to go to Titus Manlius and to announce quickly to his colleague that he had devoted himself on behalf of the army.
ipse incinctus cinctu Gabino, armatus in equum insilivit ac se in medios hostes inmisit, conspectus ab utraque acie.
He himself, girt with the Gabine cincture, leaped armed onto his horse and plunged into the midst of the enemy, visible to both battle lines.
§8.9.10aliquanto augustior humano visus, sicut caelo missus piaculum omnis deorum irae, qui pestem ab suis aversam in hostes ferret; §8.9.11ita omnis terror pavorque cum illo latus signa prima Latinorum turbavit, deinde in totam penitus aciem pervasit.
He appeared somewhat more majestic than a human, as if sent from heaven as an expiation of all the wrath of the gods, to carry away ruin from his own people and bring it upon the enemy; thus all the terror and dread carried along with him threw the first standards of the Latins into confusion, and then penetrated deep into the entire battle line.
§8.9.12evidentissimum id fuit, quod, quacumque equo invectus est, ibi haud secus quam pestifero sidere icti pavebant; ubi vero corruit obrutus telis, inde iam haud dubie consternatae cohortes Latinorum fugam ac vastitatem late fecerunt.
This was most evident from the fact that, wherever he rode on his horse, there they trembled just as if struck by a pestilential star; but when he fell, overwhelmed by weapons, from that moment the Latin cohorts, undoubtedly dismayed, turned to flight and left devastation far and wide.
§8.9.13simul et Romani exsolutis religione animis velut tum primum signo dato coorti pugnam integram ediderunt; §8.9.14nam et rorarii procurrebant inter antepilanos addiderantque vires hastatis ac principibus, et triarii genu dextro innixi nutum consulis ad consurgendum expectabant.
At the same time, the Romans too, their minds freed from religious dread, as if then for the first time the signal had been given, rose up together and started the battle anew; for both the rorarii were running forward between the antepilani and had added strength to the hastati and principes, and the triarii, resting on their right knee, were waiting for the nod of the consul to rise.