§9.14.1per id tempus parantibus utrisque se ad proelium legati Tarentini interveniunt denuntiantes Samnitibus Romanisque, ut bellum omitterent: per utros stetisset, quo minus discederetur ab armis, adversus eos se pro alteris pugnaturos.
During this time, while both sides were preparing themselves for battle, the Tarentine ambassadors intervened, warning the Samnites and the Romans to cease from war: declaring that, on whichever side it should stand through whom they were prevented from departing from arms, they would fight against them on behalf of the other.
§9.14.2ea legatione Papirius audita perinde ac motus dictis eorum cum collega se communicaturum respondit; accitoque eo, cum tempus omne in apparatu pugnae consumpsisset, conlocutus de re haud dubia signum pugnae proposuit.
Having heard this embassy, Papirius, just as if moved by their words, replied that he would communicate with his colleague; and having summoned him, when he had spent all the time in preparation for the battle, after conferring on a matter about which there was no doubt, he displayed the signal for battle.
§9.14.3agentibus divina humanaque, quae adsolent, cum acie dimicandum est, consulibus Tarentini legati occursare responsum expectantes; §9.14.4quibus Papirius ait: “auspicia secunda esse, Tarentini, pullarius nuntiat; litatum praeterea est egregie; auctoribus dis, ut videtis, ad rem gerendam proficiscimur. ” §9.14.5signa inde ferri iussit et copias eduxit, vanissimam increpans gentem, quae, suarum inpotens rerum prae domesticis seditionibus discordiisque, aliis modum pacis ac belli facere aequum censeret.
While the consuls were performing the divine and human duties that are customary when there is to be a conflict in line of battle, the Tarentine ambassadors ran to meet them, expecting an answer; to whom Papirius said: "The pullarius announces, Tarentines, that the auspices are favorable; moreover, the sacrifice has been excellently accepted; with the gods as our guides, as you see, we are setting forth to action." He then ordered the standards to be advanced and led out the forces, rebuking the most vain nation which, powerless over its own affairs because of domestic seditions and discords, thought it right to impose the limit of peace and war on others.
§9.14.6Samnites ex parte altera cum omnem curam belli remisissent, quia aut pacem vere cupiebant aut expediebat simulare, ut Tarentinos sibi conciliarent, cum instructos repente ad pugnam Romanos conspexissent, vociferari se in auctoritate Tarentinorum manere §9.14.7nec descendere in aciem nec extra vallum arma ferre; deceptos potius quodcumque casus ferat passuros, quam ut sprevisse pacis auctores Tarentinos videantur.
The Samnites on the other side, since they had relaxed all care for war, either because they truly desired peace or because it was expedient to pretend so in order to win over the Tarentines, when they suddenly beheld the Romans drawn up for battle, cried out that they remained under the authority of the Tarentines and would neither descend into the field nor carry arms outside the rampart; they would rather, as deceived men, suffer whatever chance might bring, than appear to have despised the Tarentines, the authors of peace.
accipere se omen consules aiunt §9.14.8et eam precari mentem hostibus, ut ne vallum quidem defendant.
The consuls said they accepted the omen and prayed for such a mind for the enemy that they would not even defend the rampart.
§9.14.9ipsi inter se partitis copiis succedunt hostium munimentis et simul undique adorti, cum pars fossas explerent, pars vellerent vallum atque in fossas proruerent nec virtus modo insita sed ira etiam exulceratos ignominia stimularet animos, castra invasere et pro se quisque, §9.14.10non haec furculas nec Caudium nec saltus invios esse, ubi errorem fraus superbe vicisset, sed Romanam virtutem, quam nec vallum nec fossae arcerent, memorantes caedunt pariter resistentes fusosque, §9.14.11inermes atque armatos, servos liberos, puberes inpubes, homines iumentaque; §9.14.12nec ullum superfuisset animal, ni consules receptui signum dedissent avidosque caedis milites e castris hostium imperio ac minis expulissent.
They themselves, having divided the forces among themselves, approached the enemy's fortifications, and attacking simultaneously from all sides, while some filled the ditches, others tore down the rampart and rushed into the ditches, and not only their innate courage but also their wrath, stimulating minds ulcerated by disgrace, spurred them on, they invaded the camp, and each for himself, recalling that these were not the Forks, nor Caudium, nor the trackless passes, where treachery had arrogantly triumphed over error, but Roman courage, which neither rampart nor ditches could keep back, they slew alike those resisting and those routed, unarmed and armed, slaves and free men, adults and youths, humans and beasts of burden; nor would any living thing have survived, if the consuls had not given the signal for retreat and, by command and threats, driven the soldiers, eager for slaughter, out of the enemy's camp.
§9.14.13itaque apud infensos ob interpellatam dulcedinem irae confestim oratio habita est, ut doceretur miles minime cuiquam militum consules odio in hostes cessisse aut cessuros; §9.14.14quin duces sicut belli, ita insatiabilis supplicii futuros fuisse, ni respectus equitum sescentorum, qui Luceriae obsides tenerentur, praepedisset animos, §9.14.15ne desperata venia hostes caecos in supplicia eorum ageret, perdere prius quam perire optantes.
Therefore, an address was immediately delivered before the men who were incensed because the sweetness of their wrath had been interrupted, in order to show the soldiers that the consuls had by no means yielded, nor would yield, to any of the soldiers in hatred toward the enemy; indeed, that the leaders would have been authors of insatiable punishment just as of war, had not regard for the six hundred knights, who were held as hostages at Luceria, restrained their minds, lest, with hope of pardon lost, it might drive the enemy blindly to punish them, desiring to destroy before they perished.
§9.14.16laudare ea milites laetarique obviam itum irae suae esse ac fateri omnia patienda potius, quam proderetur salus tot principum Romanae iuventutis.
The soldiers praised these words and rejoiced that a limit had been put to their wrath, and confessed that all things ought to be endured rather than that the safety of so many leaders of the Roman youth should be betrayed.