§9.12.1Samnitibus pro superba pace infestissimum cernentibus renatum bellum omnia, §9.12.2quae deinde evenerunt, non in animis solum sed prope in oculis esse, et sero ac nequiquam laudare senis Ponti utraque consilia, inter quae se media lapsos via victoriae possessionem pace incerta mutasse et beneficii et maleficii occasione amissa pugnaturos cum eis, quos potuerint in perpetuum vel inimicos tollere vel amicos facere.
While the Samnites, instead of a proud peace, saw a most deadly war reborn, all things which happened thereafter were not only in their minds but almost before their eyes, and too late and in vain did they praise both counsels of the aged Pontius, slipping between which in a middle course they had exchanged the possession of victory for an uncertain peace, and, having lost the opportunity for both kindness and harm, they would now have to fight with those whom they might have either removed forever as enemies or made into friends.
§9.12.3adeoque nullodum certamine libatis viribus post Caudinam pacem animi mutaverant, ut clariorem inter Romanos deditio Postumium quam Pontium incruenta victoria inter Samnites faceret et geri posse bellum Romani pro victoria certa haberent, §9.12.4Samnites simul rebellasse et vicisse crederent Romanum.
And so much had minds changed after the Caudine peace, with their strength not yet diminished by any contest, that his surrender made Postumius more famous among the Romans than his bloodless victory made Pontius among the Samnites, and the Romans regarded the fact that war could be waged as a certain victory, while the Samnites believed that the Roman had at once renewed the war and conquered.
inter haec Satricani ad Samnites defecerunt, §9.12.5et Fregellae colonia necopinato adventu Samnitium — fuisse et Satricanos cum iis satis constat — nocte occupata est.
In the midst of this, the Satricans defected to the Samnites, and the colony of Fregellae was occupied at night by the unexpected arrival of the Samnites—it is well established that the Satricans also were with them.
timor inde mutuus utrosque usque ad lucem quietos tenuit; §9.12.6lux pugnae initium fuit, quam aliquamdiu aequam, et quia pro aris ac focis dimicabatur et quia ex tectis adiuvabat inbellis multitudo certamen, Fregellani sustinuerunt.
A mutual fear from that point kept both sides quiet until dawn; dawn was the beginning of the battle, which the Fregellans sustained for some time on equal terms, both because they fought for their altars and hearths, and because the non-combatant crowd assisted the struggle from the rooftops.
§9.12.7fraus deinde rem inclinavit, quod vocem audiri praeconis passi sunt, incolumem abiturum, qui arma posuisset.
Then treachery tipped the scale, because they allowed the voice of a herald to be heard, stating that whoever laid down his arms should depart unharmed.
ea spes remisit a certamine animos, et passim arma iactari coepta.
That hope relaxed their minds from the struggle, and weapons began to be thrown down everywhere.
§9.12.8pertinacior pars armata per aversam portam erupit, tutiorque eis audacia fuit quam incautus ad credendum ceteris pavor, quos circumdatos igni, nequiquam deos fidemque invocantes, Samnites concremaverunt.
The more resolute armed party broke out through the rear gate, and boldness proved safer for them than an incautious readiness to believe did for the rest, whom, surrounded with fire while they in vain invoked the gods and good faith, the Samnites burned to death.
Consules, §9.12.9inter se partiti provincias, Papirius in Apuliam ad Luceriam pergit, ubi equites Romani obsides ad Caudium dati custodiebantur, Publilius in Samnio substitit adversus Caudinas legiones.
The consuls, having divided the provinces between themselves, Papirius proceeded into Apulia toward Luceria, where the Roman knights given as hostages at Caudium were being guarded, while Publilius stayed in Samnium against the Caudine legions.
§9.12.10distendit ea res Samnitium animos, quod nec ad Luceriam ire, ne ab tergo instaret hostis, nec manere, ne Luceria interim amitteretur, §9.12.11satis audebant, optimum visum est committere rem fortunae et transigere cum Publilio certamen; itaque in aciem copias educunt.
This situation distracted the minds of the Samnites, because they did not dare enough either to go to Luceria, lest the enemy press upon their rear, or to remain, lest Luceria should be lost in the meantime; it seemed best to commit the matter to fortune and to decide the contest with Publilius; and so they led their forces out into battle line.