§9.39.1dictator postero die auspiciis repetitis pertulit legem; et profectus cum legionibus ad terrorem traducti silvam Ciminiam exercitus nuper scriptis ad Longulam pervenit acceptisque a Marcio consule veteribus militibus in aciem copias eduxit.
The dictator, having repeated the auspices on the following day, passed the law; and having set out with the legions recently enlisted on account of the terror concerning the army that had been led across the Ciminian forest, he arrived at Longula, and having received the veteran soldiers from the consul Marcius, he led his forces out into line of battle.
§9.39.2nec hostes detractare visi pugnam.
Nor did the enemy seem to decline battle.
instructos deinde armatosque, cum ab neutris proelium inciperet, nox oppressit.
Then, when they were drawn up and armed, before the battle could be begun by either side, night overtook them.
quieti aliquamdiu, §9.39.3nec suis diffidentes viribus nec hostem spernentes, stativa in propinquo habuere.
Quiet for some time, neither distrusting their own strength nor despising the enemy, they kept their stationary camp nearby.
**nam §9.39.4et cum Umbrorum exercitu acie depugnatum est; fusi tamen magis quam caesi hostes, quia coeptam acriter non tolerarunt pugnam; §9.39.5et ad Vadimonis lacum Etrusci lege sacrata coacto exercitu, cum vir virum legisset, quantis numquam alias ante simul copiis simul animis dimicarunt; §9.39.6tantoque irarum certamine gesta res est, ut ab neutra parte emissa sint tela.
For both a battle was fought in regular line with the army of the Umbrians—though the enemy were routed rather than slain, because they did not withstand the conflict which had been sharply begun— and at the lake of Vadimo the Etruscans, having assembled an army under a sacred law, where each man had chosen his man, fought with such great forces and at the same time with such great courage as they never had before at any other time; and the conflict was carried on with such a great struggle of passions that no weapons were thrown from either side.
gladiis pugna coepit et acerrime commissa ipso certamine, quod aliquamdiu anceps fuit, accensa est, ut non cum Etruscis totiens victis, sed cum aliqua nova gente videretur dimicatio esse.
The fight began with swords, and having been most fiercely joined, it was inflamed by the very struggle, which was for some time doubtful, so that the battle seemed to be not with the Etruscans so often vanquished, but with some new nation.
§9.39.7nihil ab ulla parte movetur fugae; cadunt antesignani, et, ne nudentur propugnatoribus signa, fit ex secunda prima acies.
No movement of flight was made from any part; the front-rank men fell, and, lest the standards should be left bare of defenders, the second line became the first.
ab ultimis deinde subsidiis cietur miles; §9.39.8adeoque ad ultimum laboris ac periculi ventum est, ut equites Romani omissis equis ad primos ordines peditum per arma, per corpora evaserint.
Then the soldiers were summoned from the furthest reserves; and they came to such an extremity of labor and danger that the Roman knights, leaving their horses, made their way through arms and through bodies to the front ranks of the infantry.
ea velut nova inter fessos exorta acies turbavit signa Etruscorum; §9.39.9secuta deinde impetum eorum, §9.39.10utcumque adfecta erat, cetera multitudo tandem perrumpit ordines hostium.
This line, arising as if new among the weary, threw the standards of the Etruscans into confusion; then, following their onset, the rest of the multitude, in whatever state of exhaustion they were, at last broke through the ranks of the enemy.
tunc vinci pertinacia coepta et averti manipuli quidam, et, — ut semel dedere terga, etiam ceteri omnes capessere fugam.
Then their obstinacy began to be overcome and certain maniples to turn away, and, as soon as they once turned their backs, all the rest also began to flee.
§9.39.11ille primum dies fortuna vetere abundantes Etruscorum fregit opes.
That day for the first time broke the power of the Etruscans, which was overflowing with their ancient fortune.
caesum in acie, quod roboris fuit; castra eodem impetu capta direptaque.
What there was of their strength was slain in the battle; their camp was taken and plundered by the same onset.