§9.3.1querentes magis quam consultantes nox oppressit, cum pro ingenio quisque fremerent, alius: “per obices viarum, per adversa montium, per silvas, qua ferri arma poterunt, §9.3.2eamus, modo ad hostem pervenire liceat, quem per annos iam prope triginta vincimus; §9.3.3omnia aequa et plana erunt Romano in perfidum Samnitem pugnanti;
Night overtook them as they were lamenting rather than consulting, while each murmured according to his character, one saying: "Through the barriers of the roads, through the steepness of the mountains, through the forests, wherever weapons can be carried, let us go, if only it be allowed to reach the enemy, whom we have now been conquering for nearly thirty years; all things will be smooth and level for a Roman fighting against the treacherous Samnite." Another said: "Whither or by what way shall we go?
” alius: “quo aut qua eamus? num montes moliri sede sua paramus? dum haec inminebunt iuga, qua tu ad hostem venias? armati inermes, fortes ignavi, pariter omnes capti atque victi sumus; §9.3.4ne ferrum quidem ad bene moriendum oblaturus est hostis; sedens bellum conficiet. ” his in vicem sermonibus qua cibi, qua quietis inmemor nox traducta est.
Do we prepare to move the mountains from their seat? As long as these ridges overhang us, by what way can you reach the enemy? Armed and unarmed, brave and cowardly, we are all alike captured and conquered; the enemy will not even offer a sword for a noble death; he will finish the war while sitting still." In these mutual discourses, unmindful of food and rest, the night was passed.
ne Samnitibus quidem consilium in tam laetis suppetebat rebus; itaque universi Herennium Pontium, patrem imperatoris, per litteras consulendum censent.
Not even to the Samnites was a plan at hand in such joyful circumstances; and so they all agreed that Herennius Pontius, the general's father, should be consulted by letter.
§9.3.5iam is gravis annis non militaribus solum sed civilibus quoque abscesserat muneribus; in corpore tamen adfecto vigebat vis animi consiliique.
He, now heavy with years, had retired not only from military but also from civil duties; yet in his failing body, the vigor of his mind and counsel remained strong.
§9.3.6is ubi accepit ad furculas Caudinas inter duos saltus clausos esse exercitus Romanos, consultus ab nuntio filii censuit omnes inde quam primum inviolatos dimittendos.
When he heard that the Roman armies were enclosed between the two passes at the Caudine Forks, being consulted by his son's messenger, he gave his opinion that they should all be dismissed from there as soon as possible without harm.
§9.3.7quae ubi spreta sententia est iterumque eodem remeante nuntio consulebatur, censuit ad unum omnes interficiendos.
When this opinion was rejected and he was consulted again as the same messenger returned, he gave his opinion that they should all be killed to a man.
§9.3.8quae ubi tam discordia inter se velut ex ancipiti oraculo responsa data sunt, quamquam filius ipse in primis iam animum quoque patris consenuisse in adfecto corpore rebatur, tamen consensu omnium victus est, ut ipsum in consilium acciret.
When these answers, so discordant with one another, were given as if from an ambiguous oracle, although the son himself, among the first, believed that his father's mind had also grown old in his failing body, yet he was overcome by the consensus of all to summon him in person to the council.
§9.3.9nec gravatus senex plaustro in castra dicitur advectus vocatusque in consilium ita ferme locutus esse, ut nihil sententiae suae mutaret, causas tantum adiceret: §9.3.10priore se consilio, quod optimum duceret, cum potentissimo populo per ingens beneficium perpetuam firmare pacem amicitiamque; altero consilio in multas aetates, quibus amissis duobus exercitibus haud facile receptura vires Romana res esset, bellum differre; tertium nullum consilium esse.
And the old man, not reluctant, is said to have been brought to the camp in a wagon, and being called into the council, spoke in such a way as to change nothing of his opinion, but only to add his reasons: that by his former plan, which he deemed best, he would establish perpetual peace and friendship with a most powerful people through an immense benefit; by his second plan, he would postpone the war for many generations, during which the Roman state, having lost two armies, would not easily recover its strength; that there was no third plan.
§9.3.11cum filius aliique principes percunctando exsequerentur, “quid, si media via consilii caperetur, ut et dimitterentur incolumes et leges iis iure belli victis inponerentur,” §9.3.12“ista quidem sententia” inquit “ea est, quae neque amicos parat nec inimicos tollit.
When his son and other leaders persisted in asking, "What if a middle course of counsel should be taken, so that they might be dismissed unharmed and laws imposed on them as vanquished by the law of war?" "That opinion indeed," he said, "is one which neither gains friends nor removes enemies.
servate modo quos ignominia inritaveritis: ea est Romana gens, quae victa quiescere nesciat.
Save, if you will, those whom you have provoked by ignominy; the Roman nation is such that it knows not how to remain quiet when defeated.
§9.3.13vivet semper in pectoribus illorum quidquid istuc praesens necessitas inusserit, nec eos ante multiplices poenas expetitas a vobis quiescere sinet. ”
Whatever this present necessity shall have branded upon them will always live in their hearts, nor will it suffer them to rest until they have exacted manifold punishments from you."