§9.40.1pari subinde periculo gloriaeque eventu bellum in Samnitibus erat, qui praeter ceteros belli apparatus, ut acies sua fulgeret novis armorum insignibus, fecerunt.
Immediately after, there was a war among the Samnites with equal danger and outcome of glory, who, besides other preparations for war, managed so that their battle line should shine with new ornaments of weapons.
§9.40.2duo exercitus erant; scuta alterius auro, alterius argento caelaverant; forma erat scuti: summum latius, qua pectus atque umeri teguntur, fastigio aequali; ad imum cuneatior mobilitatis causa.
There were two armies; they had engraved the shields of the one with gold, and of the other with silver; the shape of the shield was: wider at the top, where the chest and shoulders are protected, with a flat upper edge; more wedge-shaped towards the bottom for the sake of mobility.
spongia pectori tegumentum, §9.40.3et sinistrum crus ocrea tectum; galeae cristatae, quae speciem magnitudini corporum adderent.
A sponge was the covering for the chest, and the left leg was covered with a greave; the helmets were crested, so as to add an appearance of majesty to the size of their bodies.
tunicae auratis militibus versicolores, argentatis linteae candidae.
The tunics for the gilded soldiers were multicolored, for the silvered ones of white linen.
his dextrum cornu datum; illi in sinistro consistunt.
To the latter the right wing was given; the former stood on the left.
§9.40.4notus iam Romanis apparatus insignium armorum fuerat, doctique a ducibus erant horridum militem esse debere, non caelatum auro et argento, sed ferro et animis fretum; §9.40.5quippe illa praedam verius quam arma esse, nitentia ante rem, deformia inter sanguinem et vulnera; §9.40.6virtutem esse militis decus, et omnia illa victoriam sequi et ditem hostem quamvis pauperis victoris praemium esse.
This preparation of splendid weapons had already been known to the Romans, and they had been taught by their leaders that a soldier ought to be dreadful, not engraved with gold and silver, but relying on iron and courage; for indeed those things were rather spoil than weapons, shining before action, but deformed amidst blood and wounds; valor was the ornament of a soldier, and all those things followed victory, and a rich enemy was the reward of the victor, however poor.
§9.40.7his Cursor vocibus instinctos milites in proelium ducit.
Cursor, with his soldiers incited by these words, led them into battle.
dextro ipse cornu consistit, sinistro praefecit magistrum equitum.
He himself stood on the right wing, and placed the master of the horse in command of the left.
simul est concursum, §9.40.8ingens fuit cum hoste certamen, non segnius inter dictatorem et magistrum equitum, ab utra parte victoria incipereret.
As soon as they clashed, there was a huge struggle with the enemy, and no less active a rivalry between the dictator and the master of the horse, from which side the victory should begin.
§9.40.9prior forte Iunius commovit hostem, laevo dextrum cornu, sacratos more Samnitium milites eoque candida veste et paribus candore armis insignes.
By chance Junius first moved the enemy, the left wing shaking the right wing of the enemy, who were soldiers consecrated after the manner of the Samnites, and for that reason distinguished by their white dress and weapons of equal whiteness.
eos se Orco mactare Iunius dictitans cum intulisset signa, turbavit ordines et haud dubie inpulit aciem.
Junius, repeatedly saying that he was sacrificing them to Orcus, when he had advanced his standards, threw their ranks into confusion and without doubt pushed back their line.
§9.40.10quod ubi sensit dictator, “ab laevone cornu victoria incipiet” inquit, “et dextrum cornu, dictatoris acies, alienam pugnam sequetur, non partem maximam victoriae trahet?” §9.40.11concitat milites; nec peditum virtuti equites aut legatorum studia ducibus cedunt.
When the dictator perceived this, he said, "Shall the victory begin from the left wing, and shall the right wing, the dictator's own line, follow another's fight, and not drag the greatest share of the victory?" He excited the soldiers; nor did the cavalry yield to the valor of the infantry, or the zeal of the lieutenants to that of the leaders.
§9.40.12M. Valerius a dextro, P. Decius ab laevo cornu, ambo consulares, ad equites in cornibus positos evehuntur adhortatique eos, ut partem secum capesserent decoris, in transversa latera hostium incurrunt.
M. Valerius from the right, P. Decius from the left wing, both of consular rank, rode up to the cavalry stationed on the wings, and having exhorted them to take a share of the glory with them, rushed into the flanks of the enemy.
§9.40.13is novus additus terror cum ex parte utraque circumvasisset aciem et ad terrorem hostium legiones Romanae redintegrato clamore intulissent gradum, tum fuga ab Samnitibus coepta.
When this new terror had surrounded the battle line on both sides, and the Roman legions, with redoubled shouting, had advanced their steps to terrify the enemy, then the flight of the Samnites began.
§9.40.14iam strage hominum armorumque insignium campi repleri.
Now the plains were filled with the slaughter of men and splendid weapons.
ac primo pavidos Samnites castra sua accepere, deinde ne ea quidem retenta; captis direptisque ante noctem iniectus ignis.
And at first their own camp received the terrified Samnites, but then not even that was retained; it was captured and plundered, and fire was set to it before night.
§9.40.15dictator ex senatus consulto triumphavit, cuius triumpho longe maximam speciem captiva arma praebuere.
The dictator triumphed by decree of the senate, in whose triumph the captured weapons presented by far the greatest spectacle.
§9.40.16tantum magnificentiae visum in iis, ut aurata scuta dominis argentariarum ad forum ornandum dividerentur.
So much magnificence was seen in them, that the gilded shields were distributed to the owners of the silver-shops to decorate the forum.
inde natum initium dicitur fori ornandi ab aedilibus, cum tensae ducerentur.
Thence is said to have arisen the custom of decorating the forum by the aediles, when the tensae were led.
§9.40.17et Romani quidem ad honorem deum insignibus armis hostium usi sunt; Campani ab superbia et odio Samnitium gladiatores, quod spectaculum inter epulas erat, eo ornatu armarunt Samnitiumque nomine compellarunt.
And indeed the Romans used the splendid weapons of their enemies for the honor of the gods; but the Campanians, out of arrogance and hatred of the Samnites, armed their gladiators—which exhibition was served during feasts—with that equipment, and called them by the name of Samnites.
§9.40.18eodem anno cum reliquiis Etruscorum ad Perusiam, quae et ipsa indutiarum fidem ruperat, Fabius consul nec dubia nec difficili victoria dimicat.
In the same year, the consul Fabius fought with the remnants of the Etruscans near Perusia, which itself had also broken the faith of the truce, with a victory neither doubtful nor difficult.
§9.40.19ipsum oppidum — nam ad moenia victor accessit — cepisset, ni legati dedentes urbem exissent.
He would have taken the town itself—for as victor he had approached the walls—had not envoys come out surrendering the city.
§9.40.20praesidio Perusiae inposito, legationibus Etruriae amicitiam petentibus prae se Romam ad senatum missis consul praestantiore etiam quam dictator victoria triumphans urbem est invectus; §9.40.21quin etiam devictorum Samnitium decus magna ex parte ad legatos, P. Decium et M. Valerium, est versum;
Having placed a garrison in Perusia, and having sent the embassies of Etruria seeking friendship ahead of him to Rome to the senate, the consul entered the city triumphing with a victory even more outstanding than that of the dictator; nay indeed, the glory of the vanquished Samnites was in great part turned to the lieutenants, P. Decius and M.
quos populus proximis comitiis ingenti consensu consulem alterum, alterum praetorem declaravit.
Valerius; whom the people at the next elections declared, with immense consensus, the one consul, the other praetor.