§9.17.1nihil minus quaesitum a principio huius operis videri potest, quam ut plus iusto ab rerum ordine declinarem varietatibusque distinguendo opere et legentibus velut deverticula amoena et requiem animo meo quaererem; §9.17.2tamen tanti regis ac ducis mentio, quibus saepe tacitis cogitationibus volutavi animum, eas evocat in medium, ut quaerere libeat, quinam eventus Romanis rebus, si cum Alexandro foret bellatum, futurus fuerit.
Nothing can seem to have been less sought by me from the beginning of this work than that I should deviate more than is proper from the order of events, and by diversifying the work with varieties, seek pleasant detours for my readers and a rest for my own mind; yet the mention of so great a king and leader, about whom I have often rolled my mind in silent thoughts, calls them forth into public, so that it is pleasing to inquire what outcome would have been for Roman affairs if war had been waged with Alexander.
§9.17.3plurimum in bello pollere videntur militum copia et virtus, ingenia imperatorum, fortuna per omnia humana, maxime in re bellica potens: ea et singula intuenti et universa, §9.17.4sicut ab aliis regibus gentibusque, ita ab hoc quoque facile praestant invictum Romanum imperium.
The things that seem to have the greatest power in war are the number and courage of the soldiers, the talents of the generals, and fortune, which is powerful through all human affairs, especially in military matters; to one who looks at these factors both individually and collectively, they easily guarantee the Roman empire to be invincible against this king also, just as against other kings and nations.
§9.17.5iam primum, ut ordiar ab ducibus conparandis, haud equidem abnuo egregium ducem fuisse Alexandrum; sed clariorem tamen eum facit, quod unus fuit, quod adulescens in incremento rerum, nondum alteram fortunam expertus, decessit.
First of all, to begin with the comparison of the generals, I certainly do not deny that Alexander was an outstanding general; but he is nevertheless made more illustrious by the fact that he was unique, and that he died young in the growth of his fortunes, before he had experienced the other, adverse fortune.
§9.17.6ut alios reges claros ducesque omittam, magna exempla casuum humanorum, Cyrum, quem maxime Graeci laudibus celebrant, quid nisi longa vita, sicut Magnum modo Pompeium, vertenti praebuit fortunae?
To omit other famous kings and generals, great examples of human vicissitudes, what but a long life, just like recently with Pompey the Great, exposed Cyrus, whom the Greeks celebrate above all with praises, to turning fortune?
§9.17.7recenseam duces Romanos, nec omnes omnium aetatium, sed ipsos eos, cum quibus consulibus aut dictatoribus Alexandro fuit bellandum, §9.17.8M. Valerium Corvum, C. Marcium Rutilum, C. Sulpicium, T. Manlium Torquatum, Q..
Let me recount the Roman generals, and not all of them from all ages, but those very ones as consuls or dictators with whom Alexander would have had to fight: M. Valerius Corvus, C. Marcius Rutilus, C. Sulpicius, T. Manlius Torquatus, Q.
Publilium Philonem, L. Papirium Cursorem, Q. Fabium Maximum, duos Decios, L. Volumnium, M’. Curium?
Publilius Philo, L. Papirius Cursor, Q. Fabium Maximum, the two Decii, L. Volumnius, M' Curius?
§9.17.9deinceps ingentes sequuntur viri, si Punicum Romano praevertisset bellum seniorque in Italiam traiecisset.
There follow in succession other mighty men, if he had turned his attention to the Carthaginian war before the Roman one and had crossed over to Italy when older.
§9.17.10horum in quolibet cum indoles eadem, quae in Alexandro, erat animi ingeniique, tum disciplina militaris, iam inde ab initiis urbis tradita per manus, in artis perpetuis praeceptis ordinatae modum venerat.
In any of these men, there was not only the same character of mind and talent as in Alexander, but also military discipline, handed down from hand to hand from the very beginnings of the city, which had come to the level of an art ordered by perpetual precepts.
§9.17.11ita reges gesserant bella, ita deinde exactores regum Iunii Valeriique, ita deinceps Fabii, Quinctii, Cornelii, ita Furius Camillus, quem iuvenes ii, quibus cum Alexandro dimicandum erat, senem viderant.
Thus the kings had waged wars; thus afterwards the expellers of the kings, the Junii and the Valerii; thus in succession the Fabii, the Quinctii, the Cornelii; thus Furius Camillus, whom those young men who would have had to contend with Alexander had seen as an old man.
§9.17.12militaria opera pugnando obeunti Alexandro — nam ea quoque haud minus clarum eum faciunt — cessisset videlicet in acie oblatus par Manlius Torquatus aut Valerius Corvus, insignes ante milites quam duces,
Against Alexander performing his military duties by fighting—for these also make him no less famous—would a match like Manlius Torquatus or Valerius Corvus, men distinguished as soldiers before they were leaders, have yielded when confronted in the battle line?
§9.17.13cessissent Decii, devotis corporibus in hostem ruentes, cessisset Papirius Cursor illo corporis robore, illo animi!
Would the Decii have yielded, rushing into the enemy with their bodies devoted to death? Would Papirius Cursor have yielded, with that strength of body, with that vigor of mind?
§9.17.14victus esset consiliis iuvenis unius, ne singulos nominem, senatus ille, quem qui ex regibus constare dixit unus veram speciem Romani senatus cepit!
Would that senate have been defeated by the counsels of a single youth—not to mention individual men—which he who said that it consisted of kings alone grasped the true appearance of the Roman senate?
§9.17.15id vero erat periculum, ne sollertius quam quilibet unus ex iis, quos nominavi, castris locum caperet, commeatus expediret, ab insidiis praecaveret, tempus pugnae deligeret, aciem instrueret, subsidiis firmaret.
That indeed was the danger, lest he should more skillfully than any single one of those whom I have named choose a place for his camp, secure provisions, guard against ambushes, choose the time for battle, draw up the line, or strengthen it with reserves.
§9.17.16non cum Dareo rem esse dixisset, quem mulierum ac spadonum agmen trahentem, inter purpuram atque aurum, oneratum fortunae apparatibus suae, praedam verius quam hostem, nihil aliud quam bene ausus vana contemnere, incruentus devicit.
He would have found that he was not dealing with Darius, who, dragging along a train of women and eunuchs, amidst purple and gold, burdened with the trappings of his own fortune, was more truly a prey than an enemy, whom Alexander, having done nothing other than successfully daring to despise empty things, defeated without shedding blood.
§9.17.17longe alius Italiae quam Indiae, per quam temulento agmine comisabundus incessit, visus illi habitus esset, saltus Apuliae ac montes Lucanos cernenti et vestigia recentia domesticae cladis, ubi avunculus eius nuper, Epiri rex Alexander, absumptus erat.
A far different appearance of Italy than of India, through which he marched reveling with a drunken train, would have been seen by him as he looked upon the forests of Apulia and the mountains of the Lucanians, and the fresh traces of a domestic disaster, where his uncle, Alexander, King of Epirus, had recently been destroyed.