§9.36.1silva erat Ciminia magis tum invia atque horrenda, quam nuper fuere Germanici saltus, nulli ad eam diem ne mercatorum quidem adita.
The Ciminian forest was at that time more impassable and dreadful than the German forests have lately been, visited up to that day by no one, not even of the merchants.
eam intrare haud fere quisquam praeter ducem ipsum audebat; aliis omnibus cladis Caudinae nondum memoria aboleverat.
Hardly anyone except the leader himself dared to enter it; in all others, the memory of the Caudine disaster had not yet been erased.
§9.36.2tum ex iis, qui aderant, consulis frater — eum Fabium Caesonem alii, C. Claudium quidam, matre eadem qua consulem genitum, tradunt — speculatum se iturum professus brevique omnia certa adlaturum.
Then, from those who were present, the consul's brother—some hand down that he was Fabius Caeso, others C. Claudius, born of the same mother as the consul—declared that he would go to reconnoiter and would shortly bring back definite information of everything.
Caere educatus apud hospites, §9.36.3Etruscis inde litteris eruditus erat linguamque Etruscam probe noverat.
Having been educated at Caere among guest-friends, and from that having been educated in Etruscan letters, he knew the Etruscan language well.
habeo auctores vulgo tum Romanos pueros, sicut nunc Graecis, ita Etruscis litteris erudiri solitos; §9.36.4sed propius est vero praecipuum aliquid fuisse in eo, qui se tam audaci simulatione hostibus inmiscuerit.
I have authors stating that at that time Roman boys were commonly educated in Etruscan letters, just as now in Greek; but it is closer to the truth that there was something extraordinary in him who mixed with the enemy in so bold a disguise.
servus ei dicitur comes unus fuisse, nutritus una eoque haud ignarus linguae eiusdem; §9.36.5nec quicquam aliud proficiscentes quam summatim regionis, quae intranda erat, naturam ac nomina principum in populis accepere, ne qua inter conloquia insigni nota haesitantes deprendi possent.
A single slave is said to have been his companion, brought up together with him and therefore not ignorant of the same language; nor did they receive, as they departed, anything other than a general summary of the nature of the region to be entered and the names of the leading men among those peoples, lest they might be caught hesitating because of some conspicuous sign during conversations.
§9.36.6iere pastorali habitu, agrestibus telis, falcibus gaesisque binis, armati.
They went armed in pastoral habit, with rustic weapons, sickles, and two heavy javelins each.
sed neque commercium linguae nec vestis armorumve habitus sic eos texit, quam quod abhorrebat ab fide quemquam externum Ciminios saltus intraturum.
But neither their familiarity with the language nor the habit of their dress or weapons protected them so much as the fact that it seemed completely incredible that any stranger would enter the Ciminian passes.
§9.36.7usque ad Camertes Umbros penetrasse dicuntur.
They are said to have penetrated as far as the Camertian Umbrians.
ibi, qui essent, fateri Romanum ausum introductumque in senatum consulis verbis egisse de societate amicitiaque atque inde comi hospitio acceptum nuntiare Romanis iussum, §9.36.8commeatum exercitui dierum triginta praesto fore, si ea loca intrasset, iuventutemque Camertium Umbrorum in armis paratam imperio futuram.
There, the Roman dared to confess who they were, and having been introduced into the senate, spoke in the name of the consul about alliance and friendship, and being received there with courteous hospitality, was ordered to announce to the Romans that provisions for thirty days would be ready for the army if it should enter those places, and that the youth of the Camertian Umbrians would be ready in arms for his command.
§9.36.9haec cum relata consuli essent, inpedimentis prima vigilia praemissis, legionibus post inpedimenta ire iussis ipse substitit cum equitatu et luce orta postero die obequitavit stationibus hostium, §9.36.10quae extra saltum dispositae erant; et cum satis diu tenuisset hostem, in castra sese recepit portaque altera egressus ante noctem agmen adsequitur.
When these things had been reported to the consul, having sent ahead the baggage at the first watch, and having ordered the legions to march after the baggage, he himself remained behind with the cavalry, and when light arose on the next day, rode up to the outposts of the enemy, which had been stationed outside the pass; and when he had held the enemy occupied for a long enough time, he withdrew into the camp, and having gone out by another gate, overtook the column before night.
§9.36.11postero die luce prima iuga Ciminii montis tenebat.
On the next day, at first light, he held the ridges of the Ciminian mountain.
inde contemplatus opulenta Etruriae arva milites emittit.
From there, having gazed upon the rich fields of Etruria, he sent forth his soldiers.
§9.36.12ingenti iam abacta praeda tumultuariae agrestium Etruscorum cohortes repente a principibus regionis eius concitatae Romanis occurrunt adeo inconpositae, ut vindices praedarum prope ipsi praedae fuerint.
When huge booty had already been driven off, hastily raised cohorts of Etruscan peasants, suddenly stirred up by the leading men of that region, met the Romans, so disorganized that those who came to reclaim the booty were themselves almost a booty.
§9.36.13caesis fugatisque iis, late depopulato agro victor Romanus opulentusque rerum omnium copia in castra rediit.
These being slain and put to flight, and the land being widely devastated, the victorious Roman, wealthy with an abundance of all things, returned to the camp.
§9.36.14eo forte quinque legati cum duobus tribunis plebis venerant denuntiatum Fabio senatus verbis, ne saltum Ciminium transiret.
There, by chance, five legates with two tribunes of the plebs had come to announce to Fabius in the words of the senate that he should not cross the Ciminian forest.
laetati serius se, quam ut inpedire bellum possent, venisse, nuntii victoriae Romam revertuntur.
Rejoicing that they had come too late to prevent the war, they returned to Rome as messengers of victory.