§9.27.1earum fama rerum, magis tamen spes Campanae defectionis, in quam coniuratum erat, Samnites in Apuliam versos rursus ad Caudium revocavit, ut inde ex propinquo, §9.27.2si qui motus occasionem aperiret, Capuam Romanis eriperent.
The rumor of those events, but still more the hope of a Campanian revolt, about which a conspiracy had been formed, recalled the Samnites, who had turned into Apulia, back to Caudium, so that from there, from close at hand, if any movement should open up an opportunity, they might wrest Capua from the Romans.
§9.27.3eo consules cum valido exercitu venerunt.
The consuls came thither with a strong army.
et primo circa saltus, cum utrimque ad hostem iniqua via esset, cunctati sunt; §9.27.4deinde Samnites per aperta loca brevi circuitu in loca plana, §9.27.5Campanos campos, agmen demittunt, ibique primum castra in conspectum hostibus data, deinde levibus proeliis, equitum saepius quam peditum, utrimque periculum factum;
And at first they hesitated around the mountain passes, since on both sides the way to the enemy was unfavourable; then the Samnites, through open places by a short detour, into flat places, the Campanian plains, led their army down, and there first their camp was shown in sight to the enemy, then by light skirmishes, of cavalry more often than of infantry, a trial of strength was made on both sides; nor did the outcome of those skirmishes, nor the delay by which they dragged out the war, cause the Roman to regret.
nec aut eventus eorum Romanum aut morae, qua trahebant bellum, paenitebat. §9.27.6Samnitium contra ducibus et carpi parvis cotidie damnis et senescere dilatione belli vires suae videbantur.
To the generals of the Samnites, on the other hand, it seemed both that they were being wasted by small daily losses, and that their strength was waning by the prolongation of the war.
§9.27.7itaque in aciem procedunt equitibus in cornua divisis, quibus praeceptum erat, intentiores ad respectum castrorum, ne qua eo vis fieret, quam ad proelium starent: §9.27.8aciem pedite tutam fore.
Therefore they advanced into battle line, with the cavalry divided onto the flanks, to whom it had been ordered that they should stand more intent on the protection of the camp, lest any violence should be done there, than on the battle: the battle line would be safe with the infantry.
consulum Sulpicius in dextro, Poetelius in laevo cornu consistunt.
Of the consuls, Sulpicius stood on the right flank, Poetelius on the left.
dextra pars, qua et Samnites raris ordinibus aut ad circumeundos hostes aut ne ipsi circumirentur constiterant, latius patefacta stetit; §9.27.9sinistris, praeterquam quod confertiores steterant, repentino consilio Poeteli consulis additae vires, qui subsidiarias cohortes, quae integrae ad longioris pugnae casus reservabantur, in primam aciem extemplo emisit universisque hostem primo impetu viribus inpulit.
The right part, where the Samnites also had stood in thin ranks, either to encircle the enemy or lest they themselves be encircled, stood more widely extended; to the left, besides the fact that they had stood more densely packed, strength was added by the sudden plan of the consul Poetelius, who immediately sent the reserve cohorts, which were being kept fresh for the contingencies of a longer battle, into the front line, and pushed back the enemy at the first onslaught with all his forces combined.
§9.27.10commota pedestri acie Samnitium eques in pugnam succedit.
The infantry line of the Samnites being shaken, their cavalry succeeded to the fight.
in hunc transverso agmine inter duas acies se inferentem Romanus equitatus concitat equos signaque et ordines peditum atque equitum confundit, donec universam ab ea parte avertit aciem.
Against this cavalry, which was throwing itself in an oblique line between the two battle lines, the Roman cavalry spurred on their horses and threw into confusion the standards and ranks of the infantry and cavalry, until they turned the entire battle line away from that side.
§9.27.11in eo cornu non Poetelius solus sed Sulpicius etiam hortator adfuerat, avectus ab suis nondum conserentibus manus ad clamorem a sinistra parte prius exortum.
On that flank, not only Poetelius but Sulpicius also had been present as an encourager, having ridden away from his own men, who were not yet joining battle, towards the shouting which had arisen earlier from the left side.
§9.27.12unde haud dubiam victoriam cernens cum ad suum cornu tenderet cum mille ducentis viris, dissimilem ibi fortunam invenit, Romanos loco pulsos, victorem hostem signa in perculsos inferentem.
Seeing from there an indubitable victory, when he was proceeding to his own flank with twelve hundred men, he found there a far different fortune: the Romans driven from their position, and the victorious enemy carrying their standards against the stricken men.
§9.27.13ceterum omnia mutavit repente consulis adventus; nam et conspectu ducis refectus militum est animus, et maius quam pro numero auxilium advenerant fortes viri, et partis alterius victoria audita, mox visa etiam, proelium restituit.
But the arrival of the consul suddenly changed everything; for both the courage of the soldiers was restored by the sight of their leader, and the brave men had arrived as an aid greater than their number, and the victory of the other side, having been heard of and soon also seen, restored the battle.
§9.27.14tota deinde iam vincere acie Romanus et omisso certamine caedi capique Samnites, nisi qui Maleventum, cui nunc urbi Beneventum nomen est, perfugerunt.
Then along the whole line the Roman was already conquering, and, the struggle having been abandoned, the Samnites were being slaughtered and captured, except those who fled to Maleventum, which city now has the name of Beneventum.
ad triginta milia caesa aut capta Samnitium proditum memoriae est.
It is recorded in memory that up to thirty thousand of the Samnites were killed or captured.