§9.37.1hac expeditione consulis motum latius erat quam profligatum bellum; vastationem namque sub Ciminii montis radicibus iacens ora senserat, conciveratque indignatione non Etruriae modo populos sed Umbriae finitima.
By this expedition of the consul, the war was rather stirred up more widely than brought to an end; for the region lying at the foot of the Ciminian mountain had felt the devastation, and had aroused by its indignation not only the peoples of Etruria but also the neighboring parts of Umbria.
§9.37.2itaque quantus non umquam antea exercitus ad Sutrium venit; §9.37.3neque e silvis tantummodo promota castra, sed etiam aviditate dimicandi quam primum in campos delata acies.
Therefore, an army of such size as had never come before arrived at Sutrium; and not only was the camp moved forward from the forests, but also, because of their eagerness to fight as soon as possible, the battle line was brought down into the plains.
deinde instructa primo suo stare loco relicto hostibus ad instruendum contra spatio; dein, postquam detractare hostem sensere pugnam, ad vallum subeunt.
Then, having been drawn up, it stood at first in its own place, leaving space for the enemy to draw up against them; then, after they perceived that the enemy was declining battle, they advanced to the rampart.
§9.37.4ubi postquam stationes quoque receptas intra munimenta sensere, clamor repente circa duces ortus, ut eo sibi e castris cibaria eius diei deferri iuberent: mansuros se sub armis et aut nocte aut certe luce prima castra hostium invasuros.
There, after they perceived that the outposts also had been withdrawn within the fortifications, a shout suddenly arose around the generals, demanding that they order that day's provisions to be brought to them there from the camp: that they would remain under arms and would attack the camp of the enemy either in the night or certainly at first light.
§9.37.5nihilo quietior Romanus exercitus imperio ducis continetur.
The Roman army, not a bit less restless, was held in check by the command of their leader.
decima erat fere diei hora, cum cibum capere consul milites iubet; praecipit, ut in armis sint, quacumque diei noctisve hora signum dederit; §9.37.6paucis milites adloquitur, Samnitium bella extollit, elevat Etruscos; nec hostem hosti nec multitudinem multitudini conparandam ait; esse praeterea telum aliud occultum; scituros in tempore; interea taceri opus esse.
It was about the tenth hour of the day when the consul ordered the soldiers to take food; he instructed them to be under arms at whatever hour of day or night he should give the signal; he addressed the soldiers in a few words, extolling the Samnite wars and minimizing the Etruscans; he said that neither enemy should be compared to enemy, nor multitude to multitude; that there was, moreover, another secret weapon; they would know it in due time; meanwhile, there was need for silence.
his ambagibus prodi simulabat hostes, §9.37.7quo animus militum multitudine territus restitueretur; et, quod sine munimento consederant, veri similius erat quod simulabatur.
By these evasive words, he simulated that the enemy was being betrayed, so that the spirit of the soldiers, terrified by the multitude, might be restored; and because the enemy had encamped without fortification, what was simulated seemed more like the truth.
curati cibo corpora quieti dant et quarta fere vigilia sine tumultu excitati arma capiunt.
Restored by food, they gave their bodies to rest, and having been aroused without confusion at about the fourth watch, they took up their arms.
§9.37.8dolabrae calonibus dividuntur ad vallum proruendum fossasque inplendas.
Mattocks were distributed to the camp followers for tearing down the rampart and filling the ditches.
intra munimenta instruitur acies, delectae cohortes ad portarum exitus conlocantur.
The battle line was drawn up inside the fortifications, and selected cohorts were stationed at the exits of the gates.
§9.37.9dato deinde signo paulo ante lucem, quod aestivis noctibus sopitae maxime quietis tempus est, proruto vallo erupit acies, stratos passim invadit hostes; alios inmobiles, alios semisomnos in cubilibus suis, maximam partem ad arma trepidantes caedes oppressit; paucis armandi se datum spatium est; §9.37.10eos ipsos non signum certum, non ducem sequentes fundit Romanus fugatosque persequitur.
Then, the signal being given a little before light, which in summer nights is the time of most profound sleep, the battle line burst out after the rampart was torn down, and fell upon the enemy scattered everywhere; slaughter overwhelmed some motionless, some half-asleep in their beds, and the greatest part trembling as they reached for their arms; space to arm themselves was given to only a few; and even those, following no certain signal nor leader, the Roman routed and pursued as they fled.
ad castra, ad silvas diversi tendebant.
They made in different directions for the camp and for the forests.
silvae tutius dedere refugium; nam castra in campis sita eodem die capiuntur.
The forests gave a safer refuge; for the camp, situated in the plains, was captured on the same day.
aurum argentumque iussum referri ad consulem; cetera praeda militis fuit.
Gold and silver were ordered to be brought back to the consul; the rest of the booty belonged to the soldiers.
caesa aut capta eo die hostium milia ad sexaginta.
About sixty thousand of the enemy were slain or captured on that day.
§9.37.11eam tam claram pugnam trans Ciminiam silvam ad Perusiam pugnatam quidam auctores sunt metuque in magno civitatem fuisse, ne interclusus exercitus tam infesto saltu coortis undique Tuscis Umbrisque opprimeretur.
Some authors state that this so famous battle was fought across the Ciminian forest near Perusia, and that the city was in great fear lest the army, cut off by so hostile a pass, should be overwhelmed by the Etruscans and Umbrians rising up on all sides.
§9.37.12sed ubicumque pugnatum est, res Romana superior fuit.
But wherever it was fought, the Roman cause was superior.
itaque a Perusia et Cortona et Arretio, quae ferme capita Etruriae populorum ea tempestate erant, legati pacem foedusque ab Romanis petentes indutias in triginta annos impetraverunt.
Therefore, from Perusia, Cortona, and Arretium, which were almost the capitals of the Etruscan peoples at that time, legates seeking peace and a treaty from the Romans obtained a truce for thirty years.