[1] οἱ δὲ μετὰ τούτους ἀποδειχθέντες ὕπατοι κατὰ τὴν ἑβδομηκοστὴν καὶ τρίτην ὀλυμπιάδα, καθ᾽ ἣν ἐνίκα στάδιον Ἀστύλος Κροτωνιάτης ἄρχοντος Ἀθήνησιν Ἀγχίσου, Γάιος Ἰούλιος Ἰοῦλος καὶ Πόπλιος Πινάριος Ῥοῦφος, ἄνδρες ἥκιστα πολεμικοὶ καὶ διὰ τοῦτο μάλιστα τῆς ἀρχῆς ταύτης παρὰ τοῦ δήμου τυχόντες, εἰς πολλοὺς καὶ μεγάλους ἠναγκάσθησαν κινδύνους καταστῆναι πολέμου καταρραγέντος ἐκ τῆς ἐκείνων ἀρχῆς, δι᾽ ὧν ἡ πόλις ὀλίγου ἐδέησεν ἐκ βάθρων ἀναιρεθῆναι.
[1.1] The consuls who were chosen after these were Gaius Julius Iulus and Publius Pinarius Rufus, who entered upon their magistracy in the seventy-third Olympiad (the one in which Astylus of Croton won the foot-race), when Anchises was archon at Athens. These magistrates, who were not in the least warlike men and for that reason chiefly had obtained the consulship from the people, were involved against their will in many great dangers, a war having broken out as a result of their rule which came near destroying the commonwealth from its foundations.
[2] ὁ γὰρ Μάρκιος ἐκεῖνος ὁ Κοριολάνος, ὁ τὴν ἐπὶ τῇ τυραννίδι αἰτίαν σχὼν καὶ φυγῇ ἀιδίῳ ἐλασθείς, ἀγανακτῶν τ᾽ ἐπὶ τῇ συμφορᾷ καὶ τιμωρίαν [p. 124] παρὰ τῶν ἐχθρῶν βουλόμενος λαβεῖν, δι᾽ οὗ δ᾽ ἂν αὕτη γένοιτο τρόπου καὶ δι᾽ οἵας δυνάμεως ἀνασκοπῶν μίαν εὕρισκε Ῥωμαίοις τότ᾽ ἀντίπαλον ἰσχὺν τὴν Οὐολούσκων, εἰ κοινῇ χρησάμενοι γνώμῃ καὶ τυχόντες ἡγεμόνος ἔμφρονος ἐνστήσονται πρὸς αὐτοὺς τὸν πόλεμον.
[2] For Marcius Coriolanus, the man who had been accused of aiming at tyranny and condemned to perpetual banishment, resented his misfortune and at the same time desired to avenge himself upon this enemies; and considering in what manner and with the aid of what forces he might accomplish this, he found that the only army which was then a match for the Romans was that of the Volscians, if these would agree together and make war upon them under an able general.
[3] ἐλογίζετο μὲν οὖν, ὡς εἰ πείσειε τοὺς Οὐολούσκους δέξασθαί τ᾽ αὐτὸν καὶ τὴν ἡγεμονίαν ἐπιτρέψαι τοῦ πολέμου, ῥᾳδίως αὐτῷ διαπεπράξεται τὸ ἔργον: ἐτάραττε δ᾽ αὐτὸν ἡ συνείδησις, ὅτι πλειστάκις κατὰ τὰς μάχας δεινὰ δεδρακὼς ἦν αὐτοὺς καὶ πόλεις συμμαχίδας ἀφῃρημένος. οὐ μὴν ἀπέστη γε τῆς πείρας διὰ τὸ τοῦ κινδύνου μέγεθος, ἀλλ᾽ εἰς αὐτὰ τὰ δεινὰ χωρεῖν ἐβουλεύσατο καὶ πάσχειν ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν ὁτιοῦν.
[3] He reasoned, therefore, that if he could prevail on the Volscians to receive him and to entrust to him the command of the war, his purpose could easily be accomplished. On the other hand, he was disturbed by the consciousness that he had often brought calamities upon them in battle and had forced many cities to forsake their alliance with them. However, he did not desist from the attempt because of the greatness of the danger, but resolved to encounter these very perils and suffer whatever might be the consequence.
[4] φυλάξας δὲ νύκτα καὶ ταύτην σκοταίαν ἧκεν εἰς Ἄντιον, τὴν ἐπιφανεστάτην τῶν ἐν Οὐολούσκοις πόλεων, ἡνίκα περὶ δεῖπνον ἦσαν οἱ κατὰ τὴν πόλιν, καὶ παρελθὼν εἰς οἰκίαν ἀνδρὸς δυνατοῦ, δι᾽ εὐγένειάν τε καὶ πλοῦτον καὶ τὰς ἐν τοῖς πολέμοις πράξεις μέγα ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτῷ φρονοῦντος καὶ τὸ ἔθνος ὅλον ἄγοντος ὡς τὰ πολλά, ᾧ Τύλλος Ἄττιος ὄνομα ἦν, ἱκέτης τοῦ ἀνδρὸς γίνεται καθεζόμενος ἐπὶ τῆς ἑστίας.
[4] Having waited, therefore, for a night — and a dark one — he went to Antium, the most important city of the Volscians, at the hour when the inhabitants were at supper; and going to the house of an influential man named Tullus Attius, who by reason of his birth, his wealth and his military exploits had a high opinion of himself and generally led the whole nation, he became his suppliant by sitting down at his hearth.
[5] διηγησάμενος δ᾽ αὐτῷ τὰς κατασχούσας αὐτὸν ἀνάγκας, δι᾽ ἃς ὑπέμεινεν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς καταφυγεῖν, μέτρια ἠξίου φρονῆσαι καὶ ἀνθρώπινα περὶ ἀνδρὸς ἱκέτου καὶ μηκέτι πολέμιον ἡγεῖσθαι τὸν ὑποχείριον μηδ᾽ εἰς τοὺς ἀτυχοῦντας καὶ τεταπεινωμένους ἀποδείκνυσθαι τὴν ἰσχὺν ἐνθυμούμενον, [p. 125] ὡς οὐ μένουσιν ἐπὶ τοῖς αὐτοῖς πράγμασιν αἱ τῶν ἀνθρώπων τύχαι.
[5] Then, having related to him the dire straits which had forced him to take refuge with his enemies, he begged of him to entertain sentiments of moderation and humanity toward a suppliant and no longer to regard as an enemy one who was in his power, nor to exhibit his strength against the unfortunate and the humbled, bearing in mind that the fortunes of men are subject to change.
[6] δύναιο δ᾽ ἄν, ἔφη, τοῦτ᾽ ἐξ αὐτοῦ μάλιστα μαθεῖν ἐμοῦ, ὃς ἐν τῇ μεγίστῃ πόλει κράτιστός ποτ᾽ εἶναι τῶν ἄλλων δοκῶν νῦν ἔρημος καὶ ἄπολις καὶ ταπεινὸς ἐρριμμένος τοῦτο πείσομαι, ὅ τι ἂν ἐχθρῷ ὄντι σοι δοκῇ. ὑπισχνοῦμαι δέ σοι τοσαῦτ᾽ ἀγαθὰ ποιήσειν Οὐολούσκους φίλος τῷ ἔθνει γενόμενος, ὅσα κακὰ εἰργασάμην ἐχθρὸς ὤν. εἰ δέ τι ἄλλο γινώσκεις περὶ ἐμοῦ, χρῆσαι τῇ ὀργῇ παραχρῆμα καὶ θάνατον χάρισαί μοι τὸν τάχιστον αὐτοχειρίᾳ τε καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς ἑστίας τῆς σεαυτοῦ καθιερεύσας τὸν ἱκέτην.
[6] “And this,” he said, “you may learn most clearly from my own case. For though I was once looked upon as the most powerful of all men in the greatest city, I am now cast aside, forsaken, exiled and abased, and destined to suffer any treatment you, who are my enemy, shall think fit to inflict upon me. But I promise you that I will perform as great services for the Volscians, if I become their friend, as I occasioned calamities to them when I was their enemy. However, if you have any other purpose concerning me, let loose your resentment at once and grant me the speediest death by sacrificing the suppliant with your own hand and at your own hearth.”
[1] ἔτι δ᾽ αὐτοῦ ταῦτα λέγοντος ἐμβαλὼν τὴν δεξιὰν ὁ Τύλλος καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς ἑστίας ἀναστήσας θαρρεῖν τ᾽ αὐτὸν ἐκέλευσεν, ὡς μηδὲν ἀνάξιον τῆς ἰδίας ἀρετῆς πεισόμενον καὶ πολλὰς αὐτῷ χάριτας εἰδέναι τῆς πρὸς ἑαυτὸν ἀφίξεως ἔφη, τιμήν τινα οὐ μικρὰν εἶναι καὶ ταύτην ἀποφαινόμενος: Οὐολούσκους τ᾽ αὐτῷ πάντας ὑπισχνεῖτο ποιήσειν φίλους ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ τῆς ἑαυτοῦ πατρίδος: καὶ οὐδεμίαν ἐψεύσατο τῶν ὑποσχέσεων.
[2.1] While he was yet speaking these words Tullus gave him his hand and, raising him for the hearth, bade him be assured that he should not be treated in any manner unworthy of his valour, and said he felt himself under great obligations to him for coming to him, declaring that he looked upon even this as no small honour. He promised him also that he would make all the Volscians his friends, beginning with those of his own city; and not one of his promises did he fail to make good.
[2] χρόνου δέ τινος οὐ πολλοῦ διελθόντος βουλευομένοις τοῖς ἀνδράσι κατὰ σφᾶς, Μαρκίῳ τε καὶ Τύλλῳ, κινεῖν ἐδόκει τὸν πόλεμον. ὁ μὲν οὖν Τύλλος αὐτίκα μάλα ἐβούλετο πᾶσαν τὴν Οὐολούσκων δύναμιν παραλαβὼν ἐπὶ τὴν Ῥώμην χωρεῖν, ἕως ἐστασίαζέ τε [p. 126] καὶ ἡγεμόνας ἀπολέμους εἶχεν, ὁ δὲ Μάρκιος αἰτίαν πρῶτον ᾤετο δεῖν εὐσεβῆ καὶ δικαίαν ἐνστήσασθαι τοῦ πολέμου διδάσκων, ὡς ἁπάσαις μὲν πράξεσι θεοὶ συλλαμβάνουσι, μάλιστα δὲ ταῖς κατὰ πολέμους, ὅσῳ μείζους τέ εἰσι τῶν ἄλλων καὶ εἰς ἀδήλους φιλοῦσι κατασκήπτειν τύχας. ἐτύγχανον δὲ τότε Ῥωμαίοις καὶ Οὐολούσκοις ἐκεχειρίαι τοῦ πολέμου καὶ ἀνοχαὶ πρὸς ἀλλήλους οὖσαι σπονδαί τε διετεῖς ὀλίγῳ πρότερον χρόνῳ γενόμεναι.
[2] Soon afterwards Marcius and Tullus conferred together in private and came to a decision to begin war against the Romans. Tullus proposed to put himself immediately at the head of all the Volscians and march on Rome while the Romans were still at odds and had generals averse to war. But Marcius insisted that they ought first to establish a righteous and just ground for war; for he pointed out that the gods take a hand in all actions, and especially in those relating to war, in so far as these are of greater consequence than any others and their outcome is generally uncertain. It happened that there was at that time an armistice and a truce existing between the Romans and the Volscians and also a treaty for two years which they had made a short time before:
[3] ἐὰν μὲν οὖν ἀπερισκέπτως, ἔφη, καὶ διὰ τάχους τὸν πόλεμον ἐπιφέρῃς, τοῦ λελύσθαι τὰς σπονδὰς αἴτιος ἔσῃ καὶ τὸ δαιμόνιον οὐχ ἕξεις εὐμενές: ἐὰν δὲ περιμείνῃς, ἕως ἐκεῖνοι τοῦτο ποιήσωσιν, ἀμύνεσθαι δόξεις καὶ λελυμέναις σπονδαῖς βοηθεῖν. ὅπως δ᾽ ἂν τοῦτο γένοιτο, καὶ ὅπως ἂν ἐκεῖνοι μὲν ἄρξειαν παρασπονδεῖν, ἡμεῖς δὲ δόξαιμεν ὅσιον καὶ δίκαιον ἐπιφέρειν τὸν πόλεμον, ἐγὼ σὺν πολλῇ φροντίδι ἀνεύρηκα. δεῖ δ᾽ ὑφ᾽ ἡμῶν αὐτοὺς ἐξαπατηθέντας ἄρξαι τῆς παρανομίας.
[3] “If, therefore, you make war upon them inconsiderately and hastily,” he said, “you will be to blame for the breaking of the treaty, and Heaven will not be propitious to you; whereas, if you wait till they do this, you will seem to be defending yourselves and coming to the aid of a broken treaty. How this may be brought about and how they may be induced to violate the treaty first, while we shall seem to be waging a righteous and just war against them, I have discovered after long consideration. It is necessary that the Romans should be deceived by us, in order that they may be the first to commit unlawful acts.
[4] ὁ δὲ τρόπος τῆς ἐξαπάτης, ὃν ἐγὼ τέως μὲν ἀπόρρητον ἐφύλαττον ἀναμένων τὸν οἰκεῖον αὐτοῦ καιρόν, νῦν δὲ σοῦ σπουδάζοντος ἔργου ἔχεσθαι θᾶττον ἐκφέρειν εἰς μέσον ἀναγκάζομαι, τοιόσδε ἐστίν: θυσίας ἐπιτελεῖν Ῥωμαῖοι μέλλουσι καὶ ἀγῶνας ἄγειν ἀπὸ πολλῶν χρημάτων σφόδρα λαμπρούς, ἀφίξονταί τε κατὰ θέαν ἐπὶ τούτους πολλοὶ τῶν ξένων.
[4] The nature of this deceit, which I have hitherto kept secret while awaiting the proper occasion for its employment, but am now forced, because of your eagerness for action, to disclose sooner than I wished, is as follows. The Romans are intending to perform sacrifices and exhibit very magnificent games at vast expense, at which great numbers of strangers will be present as spectators.
[5] τοῦτον ἀναμείνας τὸν χρόνον ἴθι καὶ σὺ καὶ Οὐολούσκων ὅσους δύνασαι πλείστους παρασκεύασον [p. 127] ἐλθεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν θέαν: ὅταν δ᾽ ἐν τῇ πόλει γένῃ, τῶν ἀναγκαιοτάτων τινά σοι φίλων κέλευσον ἐλθεῖν ὡς τοὺς ὑπάτους καὶ δι᾽ ἀπορρήτων εἰπεῖν, ὅτι μέλλουσιν ἐπιτίθεσθαι τῇ πόλει Οὐολοῦσκοι νύκτωρ, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦθ᾽ ἥκουσι τὸ ἔργον ἀθρόοι. εὖ γὰρ ἴσθι, ὡς εἰ τοῦτ᾽ ἀκούσειαν οὐδὲν ἔτι ἐνδοιάσαντες ἐκβαλοῦσιν ὑμᾶς ἐκ τῆς πόλεως καὶ παρέξουσιν ἀφορμὴν δικαίας ὀργῆς.
[5] Wait for this occasion, and then not only go thither yourself, but engage as many of the Volscians as you can to go also and see the games. And when you are in Rome, bid one of your closest friends go to the consuls and inform them privately that the Volscians are intending to attack the city by night and that it is for this purpose that they have come to Rome in so great numbers. For you may be assured that if they hear this they will expel you Volscians from the city without further hesitation and furnish you with a ground for just resentment.”
[1] ὡς δ᾽ ἤκουσε ταῦθ᾽ ὁ Τύλλος, ὑπερηγάσθη τε καὶ τὸν παρόντα καιρὸν τῆς στρατείας ἀναβαλόμενος περὶ τὴν παρασκευὴν ἐγίνετο τοῦ πολέμου. ἐπεὶ δὲ καθῆκεν ὁ τῆς ἀρχῆς καιρός, Ἰουλίου τε καὶ Πιναρίου τὴν ὑπατείαν ἤδη παρειληφότων, ἡ κρατίστη τῶν Οὐολούσκων νεότης ἐξ ἁπάσης πόλεως, ὡς ὁ Τύλλος ἠξίου, παρῆν ἐπὶ τὴν τῶν ἀγώνων θέαν: καὶ κατεσκήνουν οἱ πλείους ἐν ἱεροῖς τε καὶ δημοσίοις τόποις οὐκ ἔχοντες καταγωγὰς ἐν οἰκίαις τε καὶ παρὰ ξένοις, καὶ ὁπότε διὰ τῶν στενωπῶν πορεύοιντο κατὰ συστροφὰς καὶ ἑταιρίας ἀθρόοι διεξῄεσαν, ὥστε καὶ λόγον ἤδη γίνεσθαι περὶ αὐτῶν ἀνὰ τὴν πόλιν καὶ ὑποψίας ἀτόπους.
[3.1] When Tullus heard this, he was highly pleased, and letting that opportunity for his expedition pass, employed himself in preparing for the war. When the time for the beginning of the festival had come, Julius and Pinarius having already succeeded to the consulship, the flower of the Volscian youth came from every city, as Tullus requested, to see the games; and the greater part of them were obliged to quarter themselves in sacred and public places, as they could not find lodgings in private houses and with friends. And when they walked in the streets, they went about in small groups and companies, so that there was already talk about them in the city and strange suspicions.
[2] ἐν δὲ τούτῳ προσέρχεται τοῖς ὑπάτοις ὁ κατασκευασθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ Τύλλου μηνυτής, ὡς ὁ Μάρκιος ὑπέθετο, καὶ ὡς δὴ ἀπόρρητον πρᾶξιν κατὰ τῶν ἑαυτοῦ φίλων ἐχθροῖς μέλλων ἐκφέρειν ὅρκοις καταλαμβάνεται τοὺς ὑπάτους ὑπὲρ ἀσφαλείας τε τῆς αὐτὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῦ μηδένα Οὐολούσκων μαθεῖν, ὅστις ἦν ὁ τὴν μήνυσιν κατ᾽ αὐτῶν πεποιημένος. καὶ μετὰ τοῦτ᾽ ἐκφέρει [p. 128] τὴν περὶ τῆς ἐπιθέσεως τῆς κατεψευσμένης μήνυσιν.
[2] In the mean time the informer suborned by Tullus, pursuant to the advice of Marcius, went to the consuls, and pretending that he was going to reveal a secret matter to his enemies against his own friends, bound the consuls by oaths, not only to insure his own safety, but also to insure that none of the Volscians should learn who had given the information concerning the alleged plot.
[3] ἐδόκει τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ἀληθὴς εἶναι ὁ λόγος, καὶ αὐτίκα ἡ βουλὴ κατ᾽ ἄνδρα ὑπὸ τῶν ὑπάτων κληθεῖσα συνῆκτο, καὶ παραχθεὶς ὁ μηνυτὴς τοὺς αὐτοὺς εἶπε καὶ πρὸς ἐκείνην τὰ πιστὰ λαβὼν λόγους. τοῖς δὲ καὶ πάλαι μὲν εἶναι τὸ πρᾶγμα ἐδόκει μεστὸν ὑποψίας τοσαύτην νεότητα ἐξ ἑνὸς ἔθνους διαφόρου σφίσιν ἐπὶ τὴν θέαν παρελθεῖν, προσελθούσης δὲ μηνύσεως, ἧς τὴν ἀπάτην ἠγνόουν, ἰσχὺν βεβαίαν ἡ δόξα ἔλαβεν, ἐδόκει θ᾽ ἅπασιν ἀπαλλάττειν τοὺς ἄνδρας ἐκ τῆς πόλεως πρὶν ἥλιον δῦναι, τοῖς δὲ μὴ πεισθεῖσιν ἐπικηρύξαι θάνατον, ἐπιμεληθῆναι δὲ τῆς ἀπαλλαγῆς αὐτῶν, ἵνα χωρὶς ὕβρεως καὶ μετ᾽ ἀσφαλείας γένοιτο, τοὺς ὑπάτους.
[3] The consuls believed his story and immediately convened the senate, summoning the members individually; and the informer, being brought before them and receiving their assurances, gave to them also the same account. The senators even long before this had looked upon it as a circumstance full of suspicion that such numbers of young men should come to see the games from a single nation which was hostile to them, and now that information too was given, the duplicity of which they did not perceive, their opinion was turned into certainty. It was their unanimous decision, therefore, to send the men out of the city before sunset and to order proclamation to be made that all who did not obey should be put to death; and they decreed that the consuls should see to it that their departure took place without insult and in safety.
[1] ταῦτα τῆς βουλῆς ψηφισαμένης οἱ μὲν ἐκήρυττον διὰ τῶν στενωπῶν διεξιόντες ἀπιέναι Οὐολούσκους ἐκ τῆς πόλεως αὐτίκα μάλα κατὰ μίαν ἅπαντας ἐξιόντας πύλην τὴν καλουμένην Καπυΐνην, ἕτεροι δὲ παρέπεμπον τοὺς ἀπαλλαττομένους ἅμα τοῖς ὑπάτοις: ἔνθα μάλιστα ὤφθη, ὅσον αὐτῶν τὸ πλῆθος ἦν καὶ ὡς ἀκμαῖον ἅπαν ὑφ᾽ ἕνα καιρὸν καὶ κατὰ μίαν ἐξιόντων πύλην. πρῶτος δ᾽ αὐτῶν ὁ Τύλλος ἐξῄει διὰ ταχέων καὶ καταλαβὼν οὐ πρόσω τῆς πόλεως τόπον ἐπιτήδειον ἐν τούτῳ τοὺς ὑστεροῦντας ἀνελάμβανεν.
[4.1] After the senate had passed this vote some went through the streets making proclamation that the Volscians should depart from the city immediately and that they should all go out by a single gate, the one called the Capuan gate, while others together with the consuls escorted them on their departure. And then particularly, when they went out of the city at the same time and by the same gate, it was seen how numerous they were and how fit all were for service. First of them to depart was Tullus, who went out in haste, and taking his stand in a suitable place not far from the city, picked up those who lagged behind.
[2] ἐπειδὴ δὲ πάντες συνήχθησαν, ἐκκλησίαν ποιησάμενος πολλῇ καταβοῇ τῆς Ῥωμαίων πόλεως ἐχρήσατο, δεινὴν καὶ ἀφόρητον [p. 129] ἀποφαίνων τὴν ὕβριν, ἣν ὑβρισμένοι πρὸς αὐτῶν ἦσαν Οὐολοῦσκοι μόνοι τῶν ἄλλων ξένων ἐξελασθέντες ἐκ τῆς πόλεως: καὶ λέγειν ἠξίου ταῦτα πρὸς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ πόλιν ἕκαστον καὶ πράττειν, ὅπως παύσωνται τῆς ὕβρεως Ῥωμαῖοι δίκας παρασχόντες τῆς παρανομίας. ταῦτ᾽ εἰπὼν καὶ παραθήξας ἀνθρώπους ἀγανακτοῦντας ἐπὶ τῷ πάθει διέλυσε τὴν ἐκκλησίαν.
[2] And when they were all gathered together, he called an assembly and inveighed at length against the Roman people, declaring that it was an outrageous and intolerable insult that the Volscians had received at their hands in being the only strangers to be expelled from the city. He asked that each man should report this treatment in his own city and take measures to put a stop to the insolence of the Romans by punishing them for their lawless behaviour. After he had spoken thus and sharpened the resentment of the Volscians, who were already exasperated at the usage they had met with, he dismissed the assembly.
[3] ὡς δ᾽ ἀπαλλαγέντες εἰς τὰς ἑαυτῶν ἕκαστοι πατρίδας ἐδήλωσαν τοῖς ἄλλοις τὸν προπηλακισμὸν ἐπὶ μεῖζον ἐξαίροντες τὰ γενόμενα, ἠγανάκτει τε πᾶσα πόλις καὶ κατέχειν τὴν ὀργὴν οὐκ ἠδύνατο: διαπρεσβευομένη δ᾽ ἄλλη πρὸς ἄλλην εἰς μίαν ἀγορὰν ἅπαντας ἠξίου Οὐολούσκους συνιέναι, ἵνα κοινῇ χρήσαιντο γνώμῃ περὶ τοῦ πολέμου.
[3] When they returned to their several cities and each related to his fellow citizens the insult they had received, exaggerating what had occurred, every city was angered and unable to restrain its resentment; and sending ambassadors to one another, they demanded that all the Volscians should meet together in a single assembly in order to adopt a common plan concerning war.
[4] ἐγίνετο δὲ ταῦτα τοῦ Τύλλου μάλιστ᾽ ἐνάγοντος, καὶ συνῄεσαν ἐξ ἁπάσης πόλεως οἵ τ᾽ ἐν τοῖς τέλεσι καὶ πολὺς ἄλλος ὄχλος εἰς τὴν Ἐχετρανῶν πόλιν: αὕτη γὰρ ἐδόκει ἐν καλλίστῃ κεῖσθαι συνόδῳ ταῖς ἄλλαις ἡ πόλις. ῥηθέντων δὲ πολλῶν λόγων, οὓς εἶπον οἱ δυναστεύοντες ἐν ἑκάστῃ πόλει, ψῆφος ἀνεδόθη τοῖς παροῦσι, καὶ ἦν ἡ νικῶσα γνώμη κινεῖν τὸν πόλεμον, ὡς Ῥωμαίων ἀρξάντων τῆς περὶ τὰς σπονδὰς παρανομίας.
[4] All this was done chiefly at the instigation of Tullus. And the authorities from every city together with a great multitude of other people assembled at Ecetra; for this city seemed the most conveniently situated with respect to the others for a general assembly. After many speeches had been made by the men in power in each city, the votes of all present were taken; and the view which carried was to begin war, since the Romans had first transgressed in the matter of the treaty.
[1] ὑπὲρ δὲ τοῦ τίνα χρὴ πολεμεῖν αὐτοῖς τρόπον [p. 130] προθέντων σκοπεῖν τῶν ἐν τοῖς τέλεσι παρελθὼν ὁ Τύλλος συνεβούλευσεν αὐτοῖς καλεῖν τὸν Μάρκιον καὶ παρ᾽ ἐκείνου πυνθάνεσθαι, πῶς ἂν ἡ Ῥωμαίων καταλυθείη δύναμις: κράτιστα γὰρ ἁπάντων ἀνθρώπων εἰδέναι, πῇ τε κάμνει τὰ τῆς πόλεως πράγματα καὶ πῇ μάλιστα ἔρρωται. ἐδόκει ταῦτα, καὶ αὐτίκα πάντες ἐβόων καλεῖν τὸν ἄνδρα. καὶ ὁ Μάρκιος ἧς ἐβούλετο ἀφορμῆς λαβόμενος ἀνέστη κατηφὴς καὶ δεδακρυμένος καὶ μικρὸν ἐπισχὼν χρόνον τοιούτους διέθετο λόγους:
[5.1] When the authorities had proposed to the assembly to consider in what manner they ought to carry on the war against them, Tullus came forward and advised them to summon Marcius and inquire of him how the power of the Romans might be overthrown, since he knew better than any man both the weakness and the strength of the commonwealth. This met with their approval, and at once they all cried out to summon the man. Then Marcius, having found the opportunity he desired, rose up with downcast looks and with tears in his eyes and after a brief pause spoke as follows:
[2] εἰ μὲν ἡγούμην ὑμᾶς ἅπαντας ὅμοια γινώσκειν περὶ τῆς ἐμῆς συμφορᾶς, οὐκ ἂν ὑπελάμβανον ἀναγκαῖον εἶναι περὶ αὐτῆς ἀπολογεῖσθαι: ἐνθυμούμενος δ᾽, ὡς ἐν πολλοῖς καὶ διαφόροις ἤθεσιν εἰκός, εἶναί τινας, οἷς παραστήσεται δόξα οὔτ᾽ ἀληθὴς οὔτε προσήκουσα περὶ ἐμοῦ, ὡς οὐκ ἂν ἄτερ αἰτίας ἀληθοῦς καὶ δικαίας ἐξήλασέ με ὁ δῆμος ἐκ τῆς πατρίδος, παντὸς μάλιστα οἴομαι δεῖν πρῶτον ὑπὲρ τῆς ἐμῆς φυγῆς ἐν κοινῷ
[2] “If I thought you all entertained the same opinion of my misfortune, I should not think it necessary to make any defence of it; but when I consider that, as is to be expected among many men of different characters, there are some to whom will occur the notion, neither true nor deserved by me, that the people would not have banished me from my country without a real and just cause, I think it necessary above all things first to clear myself publicly before you all in the matter of my banishment.
[3] πρὸς ἅπαντας ὑμᾶς ἀπολογήσασθαι. ἀλλ᾽ ἀνάσχεσθέ μου, πρὸς θεῶν, καὶ οἱ κράτιστα ἐγνωκότες, ἃ πέπονθα ὑπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν καὶ ὡς οὐ προσῆκόν μοι ταύτης πεπείραμαι τῆς τύχης διεξιόντος, καὶ μὴ πρότερον ποθεῖτε, ὅ τι χρὴ πράττειν ἀκοῦσαι, πρίν, ὁποῖός τις εἰμὶ ὁ τὴν γνώμην ἀποδειξόμενος, ἐξετάσαι. ἔσται δὲ βραχὺς ὁ περὶ αὐτῶν, κἂν πρόσωθεν ἄρξωμαι, λόγος.
[3] But have patience with me, I adjure you by the gods, even those of you who are beside acquainted with the facts, while I relate what I have suffered from my enemies and show that I have not deserved this misfortune which has befallen me; and do not be anxious to hear what you must do before you have inquired what sort of man I am who am now going to express my opinion. The account I shall give of these matters will be brief, even though I begin from far back.
[4] Ῥωμαίοις τὸ μὲν ἐξ ἀρχῆς πολίτευμα ἦν μικτὸν ἔκ τε βασιλείας καὶ ἀριστοκρατίας: ἔπειτα ὁ τελευταῖος βασιλεὺς Ταρκύνιος τυραννίδα τὴν ἀρχὴν ἠξίου ποιεῖν. συστάντες [p. 131] οὖν ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν οἱ τῆς ἀριστοκρατίας ἡγεμόνες ἐκεῖνον μὲν ἐξέβαλον ἐκ τῆς πόλεως, αὐτοὶ δὲ τὰ κοινὰ κατέσχον ἀρίστην καὶ σωφρονεστάτην, ὡς ἅπαντες ὁμολογοῦσι, καταστησάμενοι πολιτείαν. χρόνοις δ᾽ οὐ πολλοῖς τῶν νῦν πρότερον, ἀλλὰ τρίτον ἢ τέταρτον τοῦτ᾽ ἔτος οἱ πενέστατοί τε καὶ ἀργότατοι τῶν πολιτῶν πονηροῖς χρησάμενοι προστάταις ἄλλα τε πολλὰ ἐξύβρισαν, καὶ τελευτῶντες καταλύειν τὴν ἀριστοκρατίαν ἐπεχείρουν. ἐφ᾽ οἷς ἅπαντες μὲν οἱ τῆς βουλῆς προεστηκότες ἤχθοντο καί, ὅπως παύσωνται τῆς ὕβρεως οἱ
[4] “The original constitution of the Romans was a mixture of monarchy and aristocracy. Afterwards Tarquinius, their last king, thought fit to make his government a tyranny; for which reason the leading men of the aristocracy, combining against him, expelled him from the state, and taking upon themselves the administration of public affairs, formed such a system of government as all men acknowledge to be the best and wisest. Not long ago, however, but only two or three years since, the poorest and idlest of the citizens, having bad men as their leaders, not only committed many other outrages, but at last endeavoured to overthrow the aristocracy.
[5] κινοῦντες τὴν πολιτείαν, σκοπεῖν ἠξίουν. ὑπὲρ ἅπαντας δὲ τοὺς ἀριστοκρατικοὺς ἐκ μὲν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων Ἄππιος ἀνὴρ πολλῶν ἄξιος ἕνεκεν ἐπαινεῖσθαι, ἐκ δὲ τῶν νεωτέρων ἐγώ: καὶ λόγους ἐποιούμεθα διὰ παντὸς ἐπὶ τῆς βουλῆς ἐλευθέρους οὐ δήμῳ πολεμοῦντες, ἀλλὰ πονηροκρατίαν ὑφορώμενοι, οὐδὲ καταδουλώσασθαί τινα βουλόμενοι Ῥωμαίων, ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν ἐλεύθερον ἅπασιν ἀξιοῦντες ὑπάρχειν, τὴν δὲ προστασίαν τῶν κοινῶν ἀποδεδόσθαι τοῖς κρείττοσι.
[5] At this all the leaders of the senate were grieved and thought they ought to consider how the insolence of these disturbers of the government could be stopped; but more active in this regard than the other aristocrats, were, of the older senators, Appius, a man deserving of praise on many accounts, and, of the younger men, I myself. And the speeches which on every occasion we made before the senate were frank, not by way of making war upon the populace, but from a suspicion we had of government by the worst elements; nor again from a wish to enslave any of the Romans, but from a desire that the liberty of all might be preserved and the management of public affairs be entrusted to the best men.
[1] ταῦθ᾽ ὁρῶντες οἱ πονηρότατοι τοῦ πλήθους ἐκεῖνοι προστάται πρώτους ἔγνωσαν ἡμᾶς τοὺς φανερώτατα ἐναντιουμένους σφίσιν ἐκποδὼν ποιήσασθαι, οὐχ ἅμ᾽ ἀμ᾽ ἀμφοτέροις ἐπιχειρήσαντες, ἵνα μὴ ἐπίφθονόν τε καὶ βαρὺ τὸ πρᾶγμα γένηται, ἀλλ᾽ ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ τοῦ νεωτέρου τε καὶ εὐμεταχειριστοτέρου ἀρξάμενοι. τὸ μὲν οὖν πρῶτον ἄκριτόν με ἐπεχείρησαν ἀπολέσαι, [p. 132] ἔπειτ᾽ ἔκδοτον παρὰ τῆς βουλῆς ἠξίουν ἐπὶ θανάτῳ λαβεῖν: ἀποτυχόντες δ᾽ ἀμφοτέρων προὐκαλέσαντο ἐπὶ δίκην, ἣν αὐτοὶ δικάσειν ἔμελλον, τυραννίδος ἐπιβαλόντες αἰτίαν.
[6.1] “This being observed by those most unprincipled leaders of the populace, they resolved to remove first out of their way the two of us who most openly opposed them — not, however, by attacking us both at once, lest the attempt should appear invidious and odious, but beginning with me who was the younger and the easier to be dealt with. In the first place, then, they endeavoured to destroy me without a trial; and after that they demanded that I be delivered up by the senate in order to be put to death. But having failed of both purposes, they summoned me to a trial in which they themselves were to be my judges, and charged me with aiming at tyranny.
[2] καὶ οὐδὲ τοῦτ᾽ ἔμαθον, ὅτι δήμῳ τύραννος οὐδεὶς πολεμεῖ μετὰ τῶν ἀρίστων συστάς, ἀλλὰ τἀναντία μετὰ τοῦ δήμου τὸ κράτιστον ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ἀναιρεῖ μέρος: δικαστήριόν τ᾽ οὐχ ὅπερ ἦν πάτριον ἀπέδωκάν μοι τὴν λοχῖτιν καλέσαντες ἐκκλησίαν, ἀλλ᾽ ὃ πάντες ὁμολογοῦσι πονηρότατον εἶναι δικαστήριον καὶ ἐπ᾽ ἐμοῦ πρώτου καὶ μόνου γενόμενον, ἐν ᾧ πλέον ἔχειν ἔμελλον οἱ θῆτες καὶ ἀνέστιοι καὶ τοῖς ἀλλοτρίοις ἐπιβουλεύοντες βίοις τῶν ἀγαθῶν καὶ δικαίων καὶ τὰ
[2] They had not learned even this much — that no tyrant makes war upon the populace by allying himself with the best men, but, on the contrary, destroys the best element in the state with the aid of the populace. And they did not give me the tribunal that was traditional, by summoning the centuriate assembly, but rather a tribunal which all admit to be most unprincipled — one set up in my case and mine alone — in which the working class and vagabonds and those who plot against the possessions of others were sure to prevail over good and just men and such as desire the safety of the commonwealth.
[3] κοινὰ σώζεσθαι βουλομένων. τοσοῦτο δ᾽ ἄρα μοι περιῆν τοῦ μηδὲν ἀδικεῖν, ὥστ᾽ ἐν ὄχλῳ κρινόμενος, οὗ τὸ πλέον μισόχρηστον ἦν καὶ διὰ τοῦτ᾽ ἐχθρὸν ἐμοί, δυσὶ μόνον ἑάλων ψήφοις ἀποτιθεμένων τὴν ἐξουσίαν τῶν δημάρχων, εἰ μὴ καταδικασθείην ἐγώ, καὶ τὰ ἔσχατα πείσεσθαι πρὸς ἐμοῦ λεγόντων καὶ πάσῃ σπουδῇ καὶ προθυμίᾳ παρὰ τὸν ἀγῶνα κατ᾽ ἐμοῦ χρησαμένων.
[3] This profit, then, and no more did I gain from my innocence, that, though tried by the mob, of which the greater part were haters of the virtuous and for that reason hostile to me, I was condemned by two votes only, even though the tribunes threatened to resign their power if I were acquitted, alleging that they expected to suffer the worst at my hands, and though they displayed all eagerness and zeal against me during the trial.
[4] τοιαῦτα δὴ πεπονθὼς ἐγὼ πρὸς τῶν ἐμαυτοῦ πολιτῶν ἀβίωτον ἡγησάμην τὸν λοιπὸν ἔσεσθαί μοι βίον, εἰ μὴ λάβοιμι παρ᾽ αὐτῶν δίκας: καὶ διὰ τοῦτ᾽ ἐξόν μοι ζῆν ἀπραγμόνως, εἴτ᾽ ἐν ταῖς Λατίνων πόλεσιν ἠβουλόμην κατὰ τὸ συγγενές, εἴτ᾽ ἐν ταῖς νεοκτίστοις, ἅς οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν ἀπῴκισαν, οὐκ ἠβουλήθην, ἐφ᾽ ὑμᾶς δὲ κατέφυγον, οὓς ἠπιστάμην πλεῖστά θ᾽ ὑπὸ [p. 133] Ῥωμαίων ἠδικημένους καὶ μάλιστ᾽ αὐτοῖς ἀπεχθομένους, ἵνα κοινῇ μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν τιμωρησαίμην αὐτούς, ὅση μοι δύναμις, λόγοις τ᾽, ἔνθα δεῖ λόγων, καὶ ἔργοις, ὅταν ἔργων δέῃ. χάριν τε τὴν μεγάλην ὑμῖν οἶδα τῆς θ᾽ ὑποδοχῆς μου καὶ ἔτι μᾶλλον τῆς τιμῆς, ᾗ με τιμᾶτε οὐθὲν οὔτε μνησικακήσαντες οὔθ᾽ ὑπολογισάμενοι ὧν ὑπ᾽ ἐμοῦ πολεμίου ποτὲ ὄντος ἐπάθετε κατὰ τοὺς πολέμους.
[4] After meeting with such treatment at the hands of my fellow citizens I felt that the rest of my life would not be worth living unless I took revenge upon them; and for this reason, when I was at liberty to live free from vexations either in any of the Latin cities I pleased, because of our ties of kinship, or in the colonies lately planted by our fathers, I was unwilling to do so, but took refuge with you, though I knew you had suffered ever so many wrongs at the hands of the Romans and had conceived the greatest resentment against them, in order that in conjunction with you I might take revenge upon them to the utmost of my power, both by words what words were wanted, and by deeds, where deeds were wanted. And I feel very grateful to you for receiving me, and still more for the honour you show me, without either resenting or taking into account the injuries which you received from me, your erstwhile enemy, during the wars.
[1] φέρε δή, τίς ἂν εἴην ἀνήρ, εἰ δόξης καὶ τιμῶν, ὧν προσῆκέ μοι παρὰ τοῖς ἐμαυτοῦ πολίταις τυγχάνειν, παρὰ τῶν εὖ παθόντων ἀποστερηθείς, πρὸς δὲ τούτοις πατρίδος τε καὶ οἴκου καὶ φίλων καὶ θεῶν πατρῴων καὶ τάφων προγονικῶν καὶ παντὸς ἄλλου ἀπελασθεὶς ἀγαθοῦ, παρ᾽ ὑμῖν δ᾽ ἅπαντα ταῦθ᾽ εὑρών, οἷς ἐκείνων χάριν ἐπολέμουν, εἰ μὴ γενοίμην χαλεπὸς μὲν οἷς ἀντὶ πολιτῶν ἐχθροῖς κέχρημαι, χρηστὸς δ᾽ οἷς ἀντὶ πολεμίων φίλοις; ἀλλ᾽ ἔγωγ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ἐν ἀνδρὸς μοίρᾳ θείην ἄν, ὅστις μήτε τὸ πολεμοῦν δι᾽ ὀργῆς ἔχει μήτε τὸ σῶζον ἑαυτὸν δι᾽ εὐνοίας. πατρίδα θ᾽ ἡγοῦμαι οὐ τὴν ἀπαρνησαμένην με πόλιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἧς ἀλλότριος
[7.1] “Come now, what kind of man should I be if, deprived as I am of the glory and honours I ought to be receiving from my fellow citizens to whom I have rendered great services, and, in addition to this, driven away from my country, my family, my friends, from the gods and sepulchres of my ancestors and from every enjoyment, and if, finding all these things among you against whom I made war for their sake, I should not become harsh toward those whom have found enemies instead of fellow citizens, and helpful to those whom I have found friends instead of enemies? For my part, I could not count as a real man anyone who feels neither anger against those who make war upon him nor affection for those who seek his preservation. And I regard as my fatherland, not that state which has renounced me, but the one of which I, an alien, have become a citizen; and as a friendly land, not the one in which I have been wronged, but that in which I find safety.
[2] ὢν πολίτης γέγονα, γῆν τ᾽ οὐκ ἐν ᾗ ἠδίκημαι φίλην, ἀλλ᾽ ἐν ᾗ τὸ ἀσφαλὲς ἔχω. καὶ ἂν θεός τε συλλαμβάνῃ καὶ τὰ ὑμέτερα ὡς εἰκὸς πρόθυμα ᾖ, μεγάλην καὶ ταχεῖαν [p. 134] ἐλπίζω γενήσεσθαι τὴν μεταβολήν. εὖ γὰρ ἴστε, ὅτι πολλῶν ἤδη πολεμίων πειραθέντες Ῥωμαῖοι οὐθένας μᾶλλον ἔδεισαν ὑμῶν, οὐδ᾽ ἐστίν, ἐφ᾽ ᾧ μᾶλλον σπουδάζοντες διατελοῦσιν ἢ ὅπως τὸ ὑμέτερον ἔθνος ἀσθενὲς ἀποδείξουσι.
[2] And if Heaven lends a hand and your assistance is as eager as I have reason to expect, I have hopes that there will be a great and sudden change. For you must know that the Romans, having already had experience of many enemies, have feared none more than you, and that there is nothing they continue to seek more earnestly than the means of weakening your nation.
[3] καὶ διὰ τοῦτο τὰς μὲν πολέμῳ λαβόντες ὑμῶν ἔχουσι πόλεις, τὰς δὲ φιλίας ἐλπίδι παρακρουσάμενοι, ἵνα μὴ καθ᾽ ἓν ἅπαντες γενόμενοι κοινὸν ἐξενέγκητε κατ᾽ αὐτῶν πόλεμον. ἐὰν οὖν τἀναντία ὑμεῖς ἀντιφιλοτιμούμενοι διατελῆτε καὶ μίαν ἅπαντες ἔχητε περὶ τοῦ πολέμου γνώμην, ὃ ποιεῖτε νυνί, ῥᾳδίως αὐτῶν τὸ κράτος παύσετε.
[3] And for this reason they hold a number of your cities which they have either taken by war or deluded with the hope of their friendship, in order that you may not all unite and engage in a common war against them. If, therefore, you will strive unceasingly to counteract their designs and will all be of one mind about war, as you are now, you will easily put an end to their power.
[1] ὃν δὲ τρόπον ἀγωνιεῖσθε καὶ πῶς χρήσεσθε τοῖς πράγμασιν, ἐπειδὴ γνώμην ἀξιοῦτέ με ἀποφήνασθαι, εἴτ᾽ ἐμπειρίαν μοι μαρτυροῦντες εἴτ᾽ εὔνοιαν εἴτε καὶ ἀμφότερα, φράσω καὶ οὐκ ἀποκρύψομαι. πρῶτον μὲν οὖν ὑμῖν παραινῶ σκοπεῖν, ὅπως εὐσεβῆ καὶ δικαίαν πορίσησθε τοῦ πολέμου πρόφασιν. εὐσεβὴς δὲ καὶ δικαία τοῦ πολέμου πρόφασις, ἥτις ἂν γένοιτο καὶ
[8.1] “As to the manner in which you will wage the contest and how you will handle the situation, since you ask me to express my opinion — whether this be a tribute to my experience or to my goodwill or to both — I shall give it without concealing anything. In the first place, therefore, I advise you to consider how you may provide yourselves with a righteous and just pretext for the war. And what pretext for war will be not only righteous and just but also profitable to you at the same time, you shall now learn from me.
[2] ἅμα συμφέρουσα ὑμῖν, ἀκούσατέ μου. Ῥωμαίοις ἡ μὲν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ὑπάρξασα γῆ βραχεῖά ἐστι καὶ λυπρά, ἡ δ᾽ ἐπίκτητος, ἣν τοὺς περιοίκους ἀφελόμενοι ἔχουσι, πολλὴ καὶ ἀγαθή: καὶ εἰ τῶν ἠδικημένων ἕκαστοι τὴν ἑαυτῶν ἀξιοῖεν ἀπολαβεῖν, οὐδὲν οὕτως μικρὸν οὐδ᾽ ἀσθενὲς οὐδ᾽ ἄπορον, ὡς τὸ Ῥωμαίων ἄστυ γενήσεται. [p. 135]
[2] The land which originally belonged to the Romans is of small extent and barren, but the acquired land which they possess as a result of robbing their neighbours is large and fertile; and if each of the injured nations should demand the return of the land that is theirs, nothing would be so insignificant, so weak, and so helpless as the city of Rome. In doing this I think you ought to take the lead.
[3] τούτου δ᾽ οἴομαι δεῖν ὑμᾶς ἄρξαι. πέμπετε οὖν πρέσβεις ὡς αὐτοὺς ἀπαιτοῦντες ἃς κατέχουσιν ὑμῶν πόλεις καὶ ὅσα τείχη ἐν τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ γῇ ἐνετειχίσαντο ἀξιοῦντες ἐκλιπεῖν, καὶ εἴ τι ἄλλο βίᾳ σφετερισάμενοι τῶν ὑμετέρων ἔχουσι πείθοντες ἀποδιδόναι. πολέμου δὲ μήπω ἄρχετε, πρὶν ἢ λαβεῖν τὰς παρ᾽ αὐτῶν ἀποκρίσεις. ἐὰν γὰρ ταῦτα ποιήσητε, δυεῖν ὧν βούλεσθε ὑπάρξει θάτερον ὑμῖν: ἢ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ἀπολήψεσθε ἄνευ κινδύνων καὶ δαπάνης, ἢ καλὴν καὶ δικαίαν πρόφασιν εἰληφότες ἔσεσθε τοῦ πολέμου. τὸ γὰρ μὴ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων ἐπιθυμεῖν, ἀλλὰ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ἀπαιτεῖν καὶ μὴ τυγχάνοντας τούτου πολεμεῖν, ἅπαντες ἂν ὁμολογήσουσιν εἶναι καλόν.
[3] Send ambassadors to them, therefore, to demand back your cities which they are holding, to ask that they evacuate all the forts they have erected in your country, and to persuade them to restore everything else belonging to you which they have appropriated by force. But do not begin war till you have received their answer. For if you follow this advice, you will obtain one of two things you desire: you will either recover all that belongs to you without danger and expense or will have found an honourable and a just pretext for war. For not to covet the possessions others, but to demand back what is one’s own and, failing to obtain this, to declare war, will be acknowledged by all men to be an honourable proceeding.
[4] φέρε δή, τί ποιήσειν οἴεσθε Ῥωμαίους ταῦθ᾽ ὑμῶν προελομένων; πότερον ἀποδώσειν τὰ χωρία ὑμῖν; καὶ τί κωλύσει πάντων αὐτοὺς ἀποστῆναι τῶν ἀλλοτρίων; ἥξουσι γὰρ Αἰκανοί τε καὶ Ἀλβανοὶ καὶ Τυρρηνοὶ καὶ πολλοὶ ἄλλοι τὴν ἑαυτῶν ἕκαστοι γῆν ἀποληψόμενοι. ἢ καθέξειν τὰ χωρία καὶ μηθὲν τῶν δικαίων ποιήσειν; ὅπερ ἐγὼ νομίζω. οὐκοῦν ἀδικεῖσθαι πρότεροι λέγοντες ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν κατὰ τὸ ἀναγκαῖον ἐπὶ τὰ ὅπλα χωρήσετε καὶ συμμάχους ἕξετε, ὅσοι τὰ ἑαυτῶν ἀφαιρεθέντες ἀπεγνώκασιν ἄλλως ἂν ἔτι αὐτὰ
[4] Well then, what do you think the Romans will do if you choose this course? Do you think they will restore the places to you? And if they do, what is to hinder them from relinquishing everything that belongs to others? For the Aequians, the Albans, the Tyrrhenians, and many others will come each to get back their own land. Or do you think they will retain these places and refuse all your just demands? That is my opinion. Protesting, therefore, that they wronged you first, you will of necessity have recourse to arms, and you will have for your allies all who, having been deprived of their possessions, despair of recovering them by any other means than by war.
[5] ἢ πολεμοῦντες οὐκ ἀπολήψεσθαι. κράτιστος δ᾽ ὁ καιρὸς καὶ οἷος οὐκ ἕτερος ἐπιθέσθαι Ῥωμαίοις, ὃν ἡ [p. 136] τύχη τοῖς ἀδικουμένοις οὐδ᾽ ἂν ἐλπισθέντα παρεσκεύασεν, ἐν ᾧ στασιάζουσι καὶ ὑποπτεύουσιν ἀλλήλους καὶ ἡγεμόνας ἔχουσιν ἀπείρους πολέμου. ἃ μὲν οὖν ὑποτίθεσθαι ἔδει λόγοις καὶ παραινεῖν φίλοις, μετὰ πάσης εὐνοίας καὶ πίστεως εἰρημένα ὑπ᾽ ἐμοῦ, ταῦτ᾽ ἐστίν, ἃ δὲ παρ᾽ αὐτὰ τὰ ἔργα ἑκάστοτε προορᾶσθαί τε καὶ μηχανᾶσθαι δεήσει, τοῖς ἡγεμόσι τῆς δυνάμεως ἐπιτρέψατε διανοεῖσθαι.
[5] This is a most favourable and a unique opportunity which Fortune has provided for the wronged nations, an opportunity for which they could not even have hoped, of attacking the Romans while they are divided and suspicious of one another and while they have generals who are inexperienced in war. These, then, Rome the considerations which it was fitting to suggest in words and urge upon friends, and I have offered them in all goodwill and sincerity. But when it comes to the actual deeds, what it will be necessary to foresee and contrive upon each occasion, leave the consideration of those matters to the commanders of the forces.
[6] πρόθυμον γὰρ καὶ τοὐμὸν ἔσται, ἐν ᾧ ἄν με τάττητε τόπῳ, καὶ πειράσομαι μηδενὸς εἶναι χείρων μήτε στρατιώτου μήτε λοχαγοῦ μήτε ἡγεμόνος: ἀλλὰ καταχρῆσθέ μοι λαβόντες, ὅπου ἂν μέλλω τι ὑμᾶς ὠφελήσειν, καὶ εὖ ἴστε ὅτι, εἰ πολεμῶν ὑμῖν μεγάλα βλάπτειν δυνατὸς ἦν, καὶ σὺν ὑμῖν ἀγωνιζόμενος μεγάλα δυνήσομαι ὠφελεῖν.
[6] For my zeal also shall not be wanting in whatever post you may place me, and I shall endeavour to do my duty with no less bravery than any common soldier or captain or general. Pray take me and use me wherever I may be of service to you, and be assured that if, when I fought against you, I was able to do you great mischief, I shall also be able, when I fight on your side, to be of great service to you.”
[1] τοιαῦτα μὲν ὁ Μάρκιος εἶπεν. οἱ δὲ Οὐολοῦσκοι λέγοντός τε τοῦ ἀνδρὸς ἔτι δῆλοι ἦσαν ἀγάμενοι τοὺς λόγους, καὶ ἐπειδὴ ἐπαύσατο μεγάλῃ βοῇ πάντες ἐπεσήμηναν ὡς τὰ κράτιστα ὑποθεμένῳ λόγον τ᾽ οὐθενὶ προθέντες ἐπικυροῦσι τὴν γνώμην. γραφέντος δὲ τοῦ δόγματος εὐθὺς ἐξ ἑκάστης πόλεως τοὺς ἐπιφανεστάτους ἄνδρας ἑλόμενοι πρεσβευτὰς εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην ἀπέστειλαν: τῷ δὲ Μαρκίῳ ψηφίζονται βουλῆς τε μετουσίαν ἐν ἁπάσῃ πόλει καὶ ἀρχὰς ἐξεῖναι πανταχόσε μετιέναι καὶ τῶν ἄλλων, ὁπόσα τιμιώτατα ἦν παρ᾽
[9.1] Thus Marcius spoke. And the Volscians not only made it clear while he was yet speaking that they were pleased with his words, but, after he had done, they all with a great shout signified that they found his advice most excellent; and permitting no one else to speak, they adopted his proposal. After the decree had been drawn up they at once chose the most important men out of every city and sent them to Rome as ambassadors. As for Marcius, they voted that he should be a member of the senate in every city and have the privilege of standing for the magistracies everywhere, and should share in all the other honours that were most highly prized among them.
[2] αὐτοῖς, μετέχειν. καὶ πρὶν ἢ τὰς Ῥωμαίων ἀποκρίσεις [p. 137] ἀναμεῖναι, πάντες ἔργου εἴχοντο παρασκευαζόμενοι τὰ πολέμια: ὅσοι τ᾽ ἦσαν αὐτῶν ἄθυμοι τέως κακωθέντες ἐν ταῖς προτέραις μάχαις, τότε πάντες ἐπερρώσθησαν ὡς τὴν Ῥωμαίων καθαιρήσοντες ἰσχύν.
[2] Then, without waiting for the Romans’ answer, they all set to work and employed themselves in warlike preparations; and all of them who had hitherto been dejected because of their defeats in the previous battles now took courage, feeling confident that they would overthrow the power of the Romans.
[3] οἱ δ᾽ εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην ἀποσταλέντες ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν πρέσβεις καταστάντες ἐπὶ τὴν βουλὴν ἔλεγον: ὅτι Οὐολούσκοις περὶ πολλοῦ ἐστι καταλύσασθαι τὰ πρὸς Ῥωμαίους ἐγκλήματα καὶ τὸν λοιπὸν χρόνον εἶναι φίλοις καὶ συμμάχοις ἄνευ δόλου καὶ ἀπάτης. ἔσεσθαι δὲ τὸ πιστὸν αὐτοῖς τῆς φιλίας βέβαιον ἀπέφαινον, εἰ κομίσαιντο γῆν τε τὴν ἑαυτῶν καὶ πόλεις, ἃς ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίων ἀφῃρέθησαν: ἄλλως δ᾽ οὔτ᾽ εἰρήνην οὔτε φιλότητα βεβαίαν ὑπάρξειν αὐτοῖς: τὸ γὰρ ἀδικούμενον ἀεὶ πολέμιον εἶναι τῷ πλημμελοῦντι φύσει. ἠξίουν τε μὴ καταστῆσαι σφᾶς εἰς ἀνάγκην πολέμου τῶν δικαίων ἀποτυγχάνοντας.
[3] In the mean time the ambassadors they had sent to Rome, upon being introduced into the senate, said that the Volscians were very desirous that their complaints against the Romans should be settled and that for the future they should be friends and allies without fraud or deceit. And they declared that it would be a sure pledge of friendship if they received back the lands and the cities which had been taken from them by the Romans; otherwise there would be neither peace nor secure friendship between them, since the injured party is always by nature an enemy to the aggressor. And they asked the Romans not to reduce them to the necessity of making war because of their failure to obtain justice.
[1] ὡς δὲ ταῦτ᾽ εἶπον οἱ πρέσβεις, ἐβουλεύοντο κατὰ σφᾶς οἱ σύνεδροι μεταστησάμενοι τοὺς ἄνδρας, καὶ ἐπειδὴ ἔκριναν ἃς χρὴ ἀποκρίσεις ποιήσασθαι, καλέσαντες αὐτοὺς πάλιν ἐπὶ τὸν σύλλογον ταύτην ἔδοσαν τὴν ἀπόφασιν. οὐ λανθάνετε ἡμᾶς, ὦ Οὐολοῦσκοι, φιλίας μὲν οὐδὲν δεόμενοι, πρόφασιν δ᾽ εὐπρεπῆ λαβεῖν βουλόμενοι τοῦ πολέμου. ἃ γὰρ ἥκετε παρ᾽ ἡμῶν ἀπαιτοῦντες, καλῶς ἐπίστασθε οὐδέποτε ληψόμενοι: χρῄζετε γὰρ ἀδίκων τε καὶ ἀδυνάτων.
[10.1] When the ambassadors had thus spoken, the senators ordered them to withdraw, after which they consulted by themselves. Then, when they had determined upon the answer they ought to make, they called them back into the senate and gave this decision: “We are not unaware, Volscians, that it is not friendship you want, but that you wish to find a specious pretext for war. For you well know that you will never obtain what you have come to demand of us, since you desire things that are unjust and impossible.
[2] εἰ μὲν οὖν δόντες ἡμῖν τὰ χωρία ἔπειτα μεταδόξαν ὑμῖν νῦν ἀπαιτεῖτε, ἀδικεῖσθε [p. 138] μὴ κομιζόμενοι, εἰ δὲ πολέμῳ ἀφαιρεθέντες οὐκέτι αὐτῶν ὄντες κύριοι, ἀδικεῖτε τῶν ἀλλοτρίων ἐφιέμενοι. ἡμεῖς δὲ κρατίστας ἡγούμεθα κτήσεις, ἃς ἂν πολέμῳ κρατήσαντες λάβωμεν, οὔτε πρῶτοι καταστησάμενοι νόμον τόνδε οὔτε αὐτὸν ἀνθρώπων ἡγούμενοι εἶναι μᾶλλον ἢ οὐχὶ θεῶν: ἅπαντάς τε καὶ Ἕλληνας καὶ βαρβάρους εἰδότες αὐτῷ χρωμένους οὐκ ἂν ἐνδοίημεν ὑμῖν μαλακὸν οὐδὲν οὐδ᾽ ἂν ἀποσταίημεν ἔτι τῶν δορικτήτων.
[2] If, indeed, having made a present to us of these places, you now, having changed your minds, demand them back, you are suffering a wrong if you do not recover them; but if, having been deprived of them by war and no longer having any claim to them, you demand them back, you are doing wrong in coveting the possessions of others. As for us, we regard as in the highest degree our possessions those that we gain through victory in war. We are not the first who have established this law, nor do we regard it as more a human than a divine institution. Knowing, too, that all nations, both Greeks and barbarians, make use of this law, we will never show any sign of weakness to you or relinquish any of our conquests hereafter.
[3] πολλὴ γὰρ ἂν εἴη κακότης, εἴ τις ἃ μετ᾽ ἀρετῆς καὶ ἀνδρείας ἐκτήσατο, ταῦθ᾽ ὑπὸ μωρίας τε καὶ δειλίας ἀφαιρεθείη. πολεμεῖν τ᾽ οὔτε μὴ βουλομένους ὑμᾶς ἀναγκάζομεν, οὔτε προθυμουμένους παραιτούμεθα, ἂν δ᾽ ἄρξησθε ἀμυνούμεθα. ταῦτα Οὐολούσκοις ἀπαγγέλλετε καὶ λέγετε, ὅτι λήψονται μὲν πρότεροι τὰ ὅπλ᾽ ἐκεῖνοι, θήσομεν δ᾽ ἡμεῖς ὕστεροι.
[3] For it would be great baseness for one to lose through folly and cowardice what one has acquired by valour and courage. We neither force you to go to war against your will nor deprecate war if you are eager for it; but if you begin it, we shall defend ourselves. Return this answer to the Volscians, and tell them that, though they are the first to take up arms, we shall be the last to lay them down.”
[1] ταύτας οἱ πρέσβεις τὰς ἀποκρίσεις λαβόντες ἀπήγγειλαν τῷ πλήθει τῶν Οὐολούσκων. συναχθείσης οὖν αὖθις ἐκκλησίας μετὰ τοῦτο κυροῦται δόγμα κοινὸν τοῦ ἔθνους προειπεῖν Ῥωμαίοις τὸν πόλεμον. ἔπειθ᾽ αἱροῦνται στρατηγοὺς αὐτοκράτορας τοῦ πολέμου Τύλλον τε καὶ Μάρκιον δυνάμεις τε ψηφίζονται καταγράφειν καὶ χρήματ᾽ εἰσφέρειν καὶ τἆλλα παρασκευάσασθαι,
[11.1] The ambassadors, having received this answer, reported it to the Volscian people. Another assembly was accordingly called and a decree of the whole nation was passed to declare war against the Romans. After this they appointed Tullus and Marcius generals for the war with full power and voted to levy troops, to raise money, and to prepare everything else they thought would be necessary for the war,
[2] ὅσων ὑπελάμβανον δεήσειν τῷ πολέμῳ. μελλούσης δὲ διαλύεσθαι τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἀναστὰς ὁ Μάρκιος ἔφησεν: [p. 139] α μὲν ἐψήφισται τὸ κοινὸν ὑμῶν, ἔχει καλῶς καὶ γινέσθω κατὰ τὸν οἰκεῖον ἕκαστα καιρόν: ἐν ὅσῳ δὲ τὰ στρατεύματα μέλλετε καταγράφειν καὶ τἆλλα εὐτρεπίζειν ἕξοντά τινας ὥσπερ εἰκὸς ἀσχολίας καὶ διατριβάς, ἐγὼ καὶ Τύλλος ἔργου ἐχώμεθα. ὅσοις οὖν ὑμῶν βουλομένοις ἐστὶ προνομεῦσαι τὴν τῶν πολεμίων καὶ πολλὴν ἀποτεμέσθαι λείαν, ἴτε σὺν ἡμῖν. ὑποδέχομαι δ᾽ ὑμῖν, ἐὰν θεὸς συλλάβῃ, πολλὰς καὶ καλὰς δώσειν ὡφελείας.
[2] When the assembly was about to be dismissed, Marcius rose up and said: “What your league has voted is all well and good; and let each provision be carried out at the proper season. But while you are planning to enrol your armies and making other preparations which, in all probability, will involve some to and delay, let Tullus and me set to work. As many of you, therefore, as wish to plunder the enemy’s territory and to gain much booty, come with us. I undertake, with the assistance of Heaven, to give you many rich spoils.
[3] ἔτι γὰρ ἀπαράσκευοί εἰσι Ῥωμαῖοι δύναμιν οὔπω συνεστηκυῖαν ὁρῶντες ὑμετέραν, ὥστ᾽ ἀδεῶς ἡμῖν ὑπάρξει πᾶσαν ὅσην ἂν βουλώμεθα τῆς ἐκείνων χώρας καταδραμεῖν.
[3] For the Romans, observing that your forces have not yet been assembled, are as yet unprepared; so that we shall have an opportunity of overrunning as large a part of their country as we please without molestation.”
[1] ἀποδεξαμένων δὲ καὶ ταύτην τὴν γνώμην τῶν Οὐολούσκων ἐξῄεσαν οἱ στρατηγοὶ διὰ ταχέων, πρὶν ἔκπυστα γενέσθαι Ῥωμαίοις τὰ βουλεύματα, πολλὴν ἐπαγόμενοι στρατιὰν ἑκούσιον: ἧς μέρος μὲν ὁ Τύλλος ἔχων εἰς τὴν Λατίνων χώραν ἐνέβαλεν, ἵνα περισπάσειε τῶν πολεμίων τὴν ἐκεῖθεν ἐπικουρίαν, τὸ δὲ λοιπὸν ὁ Μάρκιος ἄγων ἐπὶ τὴν Ῥωμαίων ἤλασεν.
[12.1] The Volscians having approved of this proposal also, the generals marched out in haste at the head of a numerous army of volunteers before the Romans were informed of their plans. With a part of this force Tullus invaded the territory of the Latins, in order to cut off from the enemy any assistance from that quarter; and with the remainder Marcius marched against the Romans’ territory.
[2] οἷα δ᾽ ἀπροσδοκήτου τοῦ κακοῦ τοῖς κατὰ τὴν χώραν διατρίβουσιν ἐπιπεσόντος πολλὰ μὲν ἑάλω σώματα Ῥωμαίων ἐλεύθερα, πολλὰ δ᾽ ἀνδράποδα, βοῶν τε καὶ ὑποζυγίων καὶ τῶν ἄλλων βοσκημάτων χρῆμα οὐκ ὀλίγον: σῖτός θ᾽ ὅσος ἐγκατελήφθη καὶ σίδηρος καὶ ὅσοις ἄλλοις χώρα γεωργεῖται, τὰ μὲν ἡρπάσθη, τὰ δὲ διεφθάρη. τελευτῶντες γὰρ καὶ πῦρ εἰς τὰς αὐλὰς φέροντες ἐνέβαλλον Οὐολοῦσκοι, ὥστε πολλοῦ χρόνου μηδ᾽ [p. 140]
[2] As the calamity fell unexpectedly upon the inhabitants of the country, many Romans of free condition were taken and many slaves and no small number of oxen, beasts of burden, and other cattle; as for the corn that was found there, the iron tools and the other implements with which the land is tilled, some were carried away and others destroyed. For at the last the Volscians set fire to the country-houses, so that it would be a long time before those who had lost them could restore them.
[3] ἀναλαβεῖν αὐτὰς δύνασθαι τοὺς ἀποβαλόντας. μάλιστα δὲ τοῦτ᾽ ἔπασχον αἱ τῶν δημοτῶν κτήσεις, αἱ δὲ τῶν πατρικίων ἔμειναν ἀσινεῖς: εἰ δέ τινες ἐβλάβησαν, εἰς ἀνδράποδα καὶ βοσκήματα ἔδοξαν βλαβῆναι. τοῦτο γὰρ ὑπὸ τοῦ Μαρκίου παρηγγέλλετο τοῖς Οὐολούσκοις, ἵνα δἰ ὑποψίας ἔτι μᾶλλον οἱ πατρίκιοι γένοιντο τοῖς δημοτικοῖς καὶ μὴ ἐξαιρεθείη τὸ στασιάζον ἐκ τῆς πόλεως,
[3] The farms of the plebeians suffered most in this respect, while those of the patricians remained unharmed, or, if they received any damage, it seemed to fall only on their slaves and cattle. For Marcius thus instructed the Volscians, in order to increase the suspicion of the plebeians against the patricians and to keep the sedition alive in the state; and that is just what happened.
[4] ὅπερ καὶ συνέβη. ὡς γὰρ ἠγγέλθη τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις ἡ καταδρομὴ τῆς χώρας, καὶ ἔγνωσαν οὐκ ἐξ ἴσου γεγονυῖαν ἅπασι τὴν συμφοράν, κατεβόων μὲν τῶν πλουσίων οἱ πένητες ὡς ἐπαγόντων σφίσι τὸν Μάρκιον, ἀπελογοῦντο δ᾽ οἱ πατρίκιοι καὶ κακουργίαν τινὰ τοῦ στρατηγοῦ ταύτην ἀπέφαινον. βοηθεῖν δὲ τοῖς ἀπολλυμένοις ἢ σώζειν τὰ περιόντα δι᾽ ὑποψίαν τ᾽ ἀλλήλων καὶ δέος προδοσίας οὐθεὶς ἠξίου: ὥστε κατὰ πολλὴν ἄδειαν ὁ Μάρκιος ἀπῆγε τὴν στρατιὰν καὶ κατέστησεν ἅπαντας ἐπὶ τὰ οἰκεῖα παθόντας μὲν οὐδὲν δεινόν, δράσαντας δ᾽ ὅσα ἠξίουν, καὶ πολλῶν εὐπορήσαντας χρημάτων.
[4] For when this raid upon the country was reported to the Romans and they learned that the calamity had not fallen upon all alike, the poor clamoured against the rich, accusing them of bringing Marcius against them, while the patricians endeavoured to clear themselves by declaring that this was some malicious trick on the part of the general. But neither of them, because of mutual jealousy and fear of treachery, thought fit either to come to the rescue of what was being destroyed or to save what was left; so that Marcius had full liberty to withdraw his army and to bring all his men home after they had done as much harm as they pleased, while suffering none themselves, and had enriched themselves with much booty.
[5] ἧκε δὲ καὶ ὁ Τύλλος ὀλίγον ὕστερον ἐκ τῆς Λατίνων χώρας πολλὰς ἐπαγόμενος ὠφελείας: οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐκεῖ δύναμιν ἔσχον ὁμόσε χωρεῖν τοῖς πολεμίοις μαχησόμενοι ἀπαράσκευοί τ᾽ ὄντες καὶ παρ᾽ ἐλπίδα τοῦ δεινοῦ σφίσιν ἐπιπεσόντος. ἐκ δὲ τούτου πᾶσα πόλις ἐπῆρτο ταῖς ἐλπίσι, καὶ θᾶττον ἢ ὡς ἄν τις ὑπέλαβεν ἥ τε καταγραφὴ τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἐγίνετο, καὶ τἆλλα ὑπηρετεῖτο, ὅσων τοῖς στρατηγοῖς ἔδει. [p. 141]
[5] Tullus also arrived a little later from the territory of the Latins, bringing with him many spoils; for there too the inhabitants had no army with which to engage the enemy, since they were unprepared and the calamity fell upon them unexpectedly. As a result of this every city of the Volscians was buoyed up with hope, and more quickly than anyone would have expected not only were the troops enrolled, but everything else was supplied that the generals needed.
[1] ἐπειδὴ δὲ συνῆκτο ἤδη πᾶσα ἡ δύναμις, ἐβουλεύετο μετὰ τοῦ συνάρχοντος ὁ Μάρκιος, ὅπως χρηστέον τοῖς λοιποῖς πράγμασιν. ἔφη δ᾽ οὖν λέγων: ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ, ὦ Τύλλε, κράτιστον εἶναι νείμασθαι τὰς δυνάμεις ἡμᾶς διχῇ: ἔπειτα τὸν μὲν ἕτερον ἡμῶν ἄγοντα τοὺς ἀκμαιοτάτους καὶ προθυμοτάτους ὁμόσε χωρεῖν τοῖς πολεμίοις μαχησόμενον, καὶ εἰ μὲν ὑπομενοῦσιν εἰς χεῖρας ἡμῖν ἰέναι μιᾷ κρῖναι τὸν ἀγῶνα μάχῃ, εἰ δ᾽ ἀποκνήσουσιν, ὡς ἐγὼ πείθομαι, στρατιᾷ νεοσυλλέκτῳ καὶ ἡγεμόσιν ἀπείροις πολέμου τὸν ὑπὲρ τῶν ὅλων κίνδυνον ἐπιτρέπειν, τήν τε χώραν αὐτῶν ἐπιόντα πορθεῖν καὶ τοὺς συμμάχους περισπᾶν καὶ τὰς ἀποικίας ἀναιρεῖν καὶ πᾶν ἄλλο κακὸν ὅ τι δύναιτο ποιεῖν.
[13.1] When all their forces were now assembled, Marcius took counsel with his colleague how they should conduct their future operations; and he said to him: “In my opinion, Tullus, it will be best for us to divide our army into two bodies; then one of us, taking the most active and eager of the troops, should engage the enemy, and if they can bring themselves to come to close quarters with us, should decide the contest by a single battle, or, if they hesitate, as I think they will, to stake their all upon a newly raised army and inexperienced generals, then he should attack and lay waste their country, detach their allies, destroy their colonies, and do them any other injury he can.
[2] τὸν δ᾽ ἕτερον ἐνθάδε ὑπομένοντα φυλακὴν ποιεῖσθαι τῆς τε χώρας καὶ τῶν πόλεων, μὴ λάθωσιν ἀφυλάκτοις ἐπιπεσόντες αὐτοῖς οἱ πολέμιοι, καὶ πρᾶγμα αἴσχιστον πάθωμεν, ἐν ᾧ τῶν ἀπόντων ἐφιέμεθα τὰ παρόντα ἀφαιρεθέντες. ἀλλὰ χρὴ τὸν ἐνθάδε ὑπομένοντα ἤδη τείχη τ᾽ ἀνορθοῦν, ὅσα πέπτωκε, καὶ τάφρους ἀνακαθαίρειν καὶ φρούρια ὀχυροῦν, ἵνα τοῖς γεωργοῦσι τὴν χώραν ὑπάρχωσι καταφυγαί, στρατιάν τ᾽ ἄλλην προσκαταγράφειν καὶ τροφὰς τοῖς ἔξω οὖσιν ἐπιχορηγεῖν καὶ ὅπλα χαλκεύειν καὶ εἴ τι ἄλλο ἀναγκαῖον ἔσται πρᾶγμα ὀξέως ὑπηρετεῖν.
[2] And the other should remain here and defend both the country and the cities, lest the enemy fall upon these unawares, if they are unguarded, and we ourselves suffer the most shameful of all disgraces in losing what we have while endeavouring to gain what we have not. But it is necessary that the one who remains here should at once repair the walls of the cities that have fallen in ruin, clear out the ditches, and strengthen the fortresses to serve as places of refuge for the husbandmen. He should also enrol another army, supply the forces that are in the field with provisions, forge arms, and speedily supply anything else that shall be necessary.
[3] δίδωμι δέ σοι τὴν αἵρεσιν, εἴτε τῆς ὑπερορίου στρατιᾶς εἴτε τῆς ἐνθάδε ὑπομενούσης ἐθέλεις στρατηγεῖν. ταῦτα λέγοντος αὐτοῦ σφόδρα [p. 142] ἠγάσθη τὴν γνώμην ὁ Τύλλος, καὶ τὸ δραστήριον τοῦ ἀνδρὸς εἰδὼς καὶ ἐπιτυχὲς ἐπέτρεψεν ἐκείνῳ τῆς ἔξω στρατιᾶς ἄρχειν.
[3] Now I give you the choice whether you will command the army that is to take the field, or the one which is to remain here.” While he was speaking these words Tullus was greatly delighted with his proposal, and knowing the man’s energy and good fortune in battle, yielded to him the command of the army that was to take the field.
[1] καὶ ὁ Μάρκιος οὐθὲν ἔτι διαμελλήσας ἧκεν ἄγων τὴν δύναμιν ἐπὶ Κιρκαίαν πόλιν, ἐν ᾗ κληροῦχοι Ῥωμαίων ἦσαν ἅμα τοῖς ἐπιχωρίοις πολιτευόμενοι, καὶ παραλαμβάνει τὴν πόλιν ἐξ ἐφόδου. ὡς γὰρ ἔγνωσαν οἱ Κιρκαῖοι κρατουμένην σφῶν τὴν χώραν καὶ προσάγουσαν τῷ τείχει τὴν στρατιάν, ἀνοίξαντες τὰς πύλας ἐξῄεσαν ὁμόσε τοῖς πολεμίοις ἄνοπλοι παραλαβεῖν τὴν πόλιν ἀξιοῦντες: ὅπερ αὐτοῖς αἴτιον τοῦ μηδὲν παθεῖν ἀνήκεστον ἐγένετο.
[14] Marcius, without losing any more time, came with his army to the city of Circeii, in which there were Roman colonists living intermingled with the native residents; and he took possession of the town as soon as he appeared before it. For when the Circeians saw their country in the power of the Volscians and their army approaching the walls, they opened their gates, and coming out unarmed to meet the enemy, asked them to take possession of the town — a course which saved them from suffering any irreparable mischief.
[2] οὔτε γὰρ αὐτῶν ἀπέκτεινεν ὁ στρατηγὸς οὐδένα, οὔτ᾽ ἐξήλασεν ἐκ τῆς πόλεως: ἐσθῆτα δὲ τοῖς στρατιώταις καὶ τροφὰς εἰς μῆνα ἱκανὰς καὶ ἀργύριόν τι μέτριον λαβὼν ἀπῆγε τὴν δύναμιν ὀλίγην μοῖραν ἐν τῇ πόλει καταλιπὼν τῆς τ᾽ ἀσφαλείας τῶν ἐνοικούντων ἕνεκα, μή τι ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίων πάθωσι κακόν,
[2] For the general put none of them to death nor expelled any from the city; but having taken clothing for his soldiers and provisions sufficient for a month, together with a moderate sum of money, he withdrew his forces, leaving only a small garrison in the town, not only for the safety of the inhabitants, lest they should suffer some harm at the hands of the Romans, but also to restrain them from beginning any rebellion in the future.
[3] καὶ τοῦ μηδὲν ὕστερον νεωτερίσαι. εἰς δὲ τὴν Ῥώμην ὡς ἠγγέλθη τὰ γενόμενα πολὺ πλείων ταραχὴ καὶ θόρυβος ἦν τῶν μὲν πατρικίων τὸν δῆμον ἐχόντων δι᾽ αἰτίας, ὅτι πολεμιστὴν ἄνδρα καὶ δραστήριον καὶ φρονήματος εὐγενοῦς μεστὸν ψευδεῖ περιβαλόντες αἰτίᾳ τῆς πόλεως ἀπήλασαν καὶ παρεσκεύασαν ἡγεμόνα Οὐολούσκοις γενέσθαι:
[3] When news of what had happened was brought to Rome, there was much greater confusion and disorder than before. The patricians reproached the populace with having driven from the state a man who was a great warrior, energetic, and full of noble pride, by involving him in a false charge and having thus caused him to become general of the Volscians;
[4] τῶν δὲ προεστηκότων τοῦ δήμου κατηγορίας τοῦ συνεδρίου ποιουμένων καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα ὅλον ἐξ ἐπιβουλῆς ὑπ᾽ ἐκείνων κατεσκευάσθαι λεγόντων [p. 143] τόν τε πόλεμον οὐ κοινὸν ἅπασιν, ἀλλὰ σφίσι μόνοις ἐπάγεσθαι σκηπτομένων: καὶ ἦν τὸ κακοηθέστατον τοῦ δήμου μέρος ἅμα τούτοις. στρατιὰς δὲ καταγράφειν ἢ καλεῖν τοὺς συμμάχους ἢ παρασκευάσασθαι τὰ κατεπείγοντα διὰ τὰ πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἔχθη καὶ τὰς ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις κατηγορίας οὐδ᾽ εἰς νοῦν ἐλάμβανον.
[4] and the leaders of the populace in turn inveighed against the senate, declaring that the whole affair was a piece of treachery devised by them and that the war was being directed, not against all the Romans in common, but against the plebeians only; and the most evil-minded element among the populace sided with them. But neither party gave so much as a thought to raising armies, summoning the allies, or making the necessary preparations, by reason of their mutual hatreds and their actions of one another in the meetings of the assembly.
[1] τοῦτο καταμαθόντες οἱ πρεσβύτατοι τῶν Ῥωμαίων συστραφέντες ἔπειθον ἰδίᾳ τε καὶ ἐν κοινῷ τοὺς στασιωδεστάτους τῶν δημοτικῶν παύσασθαι τῶν εἰς τοὺς πατρικίους ὑποψιῶν τε καὶ κατηγοριῶν: διδάσκοντες ὡς εἰ δι᾽ ἑνὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐπιφανοῦς φυγὴν τοσοῦτος κίνδυνος κατέσχε τὴν πόλιν, τί χρὴ προσδοκᾶν, ἐὰν ἀναγκασθῶσιν οἱ πολλοὶ τῶν πατρικίων προπηλακισθέντες ὑπὸ τοῦ δήμου ταὐτὸ φρονῆσαι: καὶ κατέσχον οὗτοι τὴν ἀκοσμίαν τοῦ πλήθους.
[15.1] This being observed by the oldest of the Romans, they joined together and sought to persuade the most seditious of the plebeians both in public and in private to put a stop to their suspicions and accusations against the patricians. If, they argued, by the banishment of one man of distinction the commonwealth had been brought into so great danger, what were they to expect if by their abusive treatment they forced the greater part of the patricians to entertain the same sentiments? Thus these men appeased the disorderliness of the populace.
[2] παυσαμένου δὲ τοῦ πολλοῦ θορύβου συνελθοῦσα ἡ βουλὴ τοῖς μὲν ἀπὸ τοῦ κοινοῦ τῶν Λατίνων παροῦσι ἐπὶ συμμαχίας αἴτησιν ἀπεκρίνατο, μὴ ῥᾴδιον εἶναι σφίσι βοήθειαν ἀποστέλλειν κατὰ τὸ παρόν: αὐτοῖς δ᾽ ἐκείνοις ἐπιτρέπειν τὴν ἑαυτῶν στρατιὰν καταγράφειν καὶ ἡγεμόνας τῆς δυνάμεως ἰδίους ἐκπέμπειν τε, ὅταν αὐτοὶ ἐκπέμψωσι δύναμιν. ἐν γὰρ ταῖς συνθήκαις, αἷς ἐποιήσαντο πρὸς αὐτοὺς περὶ φιλίας, ἀπόρρητον ἦν τούτων ἑκάτερον.
[2] After the great tumult had been suppressed, the senate met and gave the following answer to the ambassadors who had come from the Latin League to ask for armed assistance: That it was not easy for them to send assistance for the time being; but that they gave the Latins leave to enrol their own army themselves and to send out their own generals in command of their forces until the Romans should send out a force; for by the treaty of friendship they had made with the Latins both these things were forbidden.
[3] τοῖς δ᾽ ὑπάτοις ἐφῆκαν στρατόν τε [p. 144] συναγαγεῖν ἐκ καταλόγου καὶ τὴν πόλιν διὰ φυλακῆς ἔχειν καὶ τοὺς συμμάχους παρακαλεῖν, εἰς ὕπαιθρον δὲ μήπω τὰς δυνάμεις ἐξάγειν, ἕως ἂν ἅπαντα εὐτρεπῆ γένηται. καὶ ὁ δῆμος ταῦτ᾽ ἐπεκύρωσεν. ἦν δὲ βραχὺς ὁ λειπόμενος τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῖς ὑπάτοις χρόνος, ὥστ᾽ οὐδὲν ἔφθασαν τῶν ἐψηφισμένων ἐπὶ τέλος ἀγαγεῖν, ἀλλὰ παρέδοσαν ἡμιτελῆ πάντα τοῖς μεθ᾽ ἑαυτοὺς ὑπάτοις.
[3] The senate also ordered the consuls to raise an army by levy, to guard the city, and to summon the allies, but not to take the field with their forces till everything was in readiness. These resolutions were ratified by the people. Only a short time now remained of the consuls’ term of office, so that they were unable to carry to completion any of the measures that had been voted, but handed over everything half finished to their successors.
[1] οἱ δὲ παρὰ τούτων τὴν ἀρχὴν παραλαβόντες, Σπόριος Ναύτιος καὶ Σέξτος Φούριος, στρατιάν θ᾽ ὅσην ἐδύναντο πλείστην ἐκ τοῦ πολιτικοῦ κατεστήσαντο καταλόγου, καὶ φρυκτωρίας καὶ σκοποὺς ἐν τοῖς ἐπικαιροτάτοις φρουρίοις ἔταξαν, ἵνα μηδὲν ἀγνοήσωσι τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς χώρας πραττομένων: χρήματά τε καὶ σῖτον καὶ ὅπλα ἐν ὀλίγῳ χρόνῳ πολλὰ ἡτοιμάσαντο.
[16.1] Those who assumed office after them, Spurius Nautius and Sextus Furius, raised as large an army as they could from the register of citizens, and placed beacons and lookouts in the most convenient fortresses, in order that they might not be unaware of anything that passed in the country. They also got ready a great quantity of money, corn and arms in a short time.
[2] τὰ μὲν οὖν οἰκεῖα παρεσκεύαστο αὐτοῖς ὡς ἐνῆν ἄριστα, καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτῶν ἔτι δεῖν ἐδόκει: τὰ δὲ συμμαχικὰ οὐχ ἅπαντα ὑπήκουε προθύμως ἑκούσιά τ᾽ οὐκ ἦν, οἷα συνάρασθαι τοῦ πολέμου, ὥστ᾽ οὐδὲ προσαναγκάζειν αὐτὰ ἠξίουν φοβούμενοι προδοσίαν. ἤδη δέ τινα καὶ ἀφίστατο αὐτῶν ἐκ τοῦ φανεροῦ καὶ τοῖς Οὐολούσκοις συνελάμβανε.
[2] These preparations at home, then, were made in the best manner possible, and nothing now seemed to be wanting; but the allies did not all obey their summons with alacrity nor were they disposed to assist them voluntarily in the war, so that the consuls did not think fit to use compulsion either with them, for fear of treachery. Indeed, some of the allies were already openly revolting from them and aiding the Volscians.
[3] πρῶτοι δ᾽ ἦρξαν Αἰκανοὶ τῆς ἀποστάσεως, ἅμα τῷ συστῆναι τὸν πόλεμον εὐθὺς ἐλθόντες ὡς τοὺς Οὐολούσκους καὶ συμμαχίαν μεθ᾽ ὅρκων συνθέμενοι, στρατιάν τ᾽ ἀπέστειλαν οὗτοι τῷ Μαρκίῳ πλείστην τε καὶ προθυμοτάτην. ἀρξαμένων δὲ τούτων [p. 145] πολλοὶ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων συμμάχων κρύφα συνελάμβανον τοῖς Οὐολούσκοις οὐκ ἀπὸ ψηφισμάτων οὐδ᾽ ἀπὸ κοινοῦ δόγματος ἀποστέλλοντες αὐτοῖς τὰς συμμαχίας, εἰ δέ τισιν ἦν βουλομένοις μετέχειν τῆς στρατείας τῶν σφετέρων, οὐχ ὅπως ἀποτρέποντες, ἀλλὰ καὶ παρορμῶντες.
[3] The Aequians had begun the revolt by going at once to the Volscians as soon as the war arose and entering into an alliance with them under oath; and these sent to Marcius a very numerous and zealous army. After these had taken the lead, many of the other allies also secretly assisted the Volscians and sent them reinforcements, though not in pursuance of any votes or general decree, but if any of their people desired to take part in the campaign of Marcius, they not only did not attempt to dissuade them, but even encouraged them.
[4] ἐγεγόνει τ᾽ ἐν οὐ πολλῷ χρόνῳ τοσαύτη δύναμις περὶ τοὺς Οὐολούσκους, ὅσην οὐ πώποτ᾽ ἔσχον, ὅτε μάλιστ᾽ ἤκμαζον ταῖς πόλεσιν: ἣν ἐπαγόμενος ὁ Μάρκιος ἐνέβαλεν αὖθις εἰς τὴν Ῥωμαίων γῆν, καὶ ἐγκαθεζόμενος ἡμέρας συχνὰς ἐδῄου τῆς γῆς, ὅσην ἐν τῇ πρότερον εἰσβολῇ παρέλιπε.
[4] Thus in a short time the Volscians had got so large an army as they had never possessed when their cities had been in the most flourishing state. At the head of this army Marcius made another irruption into the territory of the Romans, and encamping there for many days, laid waste all the country which he had spared in his former incursion.
[5] σωμάτων μὲν οὖν ἐλευθέρων οὐκέτι πολλῶν ἐγκρατὴς ἐγένετο κατὰ ταύτην τὴν στρατείαν: οἱ γὰρ ἄνθρωποι τὰ πλείστου ἄξια συσκευασάμενοι παλαίτερον ἔτι κατεπεφεύγεσαν, οἱ μὲν εἰς τὴν πόλιν, οἱ δ᾽ εἰς τὰ πλησίον φρούρια, εἴ τινα ἦν ἐχυρώτατα: τὰ δὲ βοσκήματα αὐτῶν, ὅσα οὐχ οἷοί τ᾽ ἦσαν ἀπελάσαι, καὶ τοὺς νέμοντας θεράποντας λαμβάνει τόν τε σῖτον τὸν ἐπὶ ταῖς ἅλωσιν ἔτι κείμενον καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους καρπούς, τοὺς μὲν ἐν χερσὶν ὄντας,
[5] He did not, it is true, capture many persons of free condition on this expedition; for the inhabitants had long since fled, after getting together everything that was most valuable, some to Rome and others to such of the neighbouring fortresses as were most capable of defence; but he took all the cattle they had not been able to driven away, together with the slaves who tended them, and carried off the corn, that still lay upon the threshing-floors, and all the other fruits of the earth, whether then gathering or already gathered.
[6] τοὺς δὲ καὶ συγκεκομισμένους ἀναιρεῖται. προνομεύσας δὲ καὶ διαπορθήσας ἅπαντα οὐθενὸς ὁμόσε χωρῆσαι τολμήσαντος ἀπῆγεν ἐπ᾽ οἴκου τὴν στρατιὰν βαρεῖαν οὖσαν ἤδη τῷ πλήθει τῶν ὠφελειῶν καὶ σχολῇ πορευομένην.
[6] Having ravaged and laid everything waste, as none dared to come to grips with him, he led homeward his army, which was now heavily burdened with the great amount of its spoils and was proceeding in leisurely fashion.
[1] οἱ δὲ Οὐολοῦσκοι τὸ μέγεθος τῆς κομιζομένης [p. 146] λείας ὁρῶντες καὶ περὶ τῆς Ῥωμαίων ἀτολμίας ἀκούοντες, οἳ δὴ τέως τὴν ἀλλοτρίαν λεηλατοῦντες ἀδεῶς τότε τὴν αὑτῶν γῆν ἠνείχοντο δῃουμένην ὁρῶντες, αὐχήματός τε μεγάλου ἐνεπίμπλαντο καὶ ἐν ἐλπίδι ἦσαν ἡγεμονίας, ὡς δὴ ῥᾴδιον καὶ ἐν ἑτοίμῳ σφίσιν ὂν καταλῦσαι τὴν τῶν ἀντιπάλων ἰσχύν, θυσίας τε χαριστηρίους τοῖς θεοῖς ἐποιοῦντο καὶ σκύλων ἀναθέσει τοὺς νεὼς καὶ τὰς ἀγορὰς ἐκόσμουν καὶ ἦσαν ἅπαντες ἐν ἑορταῖς καὶ εὐπαθείαις τόν τε Μάρκιον ἀγάμενοι καὶ ὑμνοῦντες διετέλουν, ὡς εἴη τά τε πολέμια δεινότατος ἀνθρώπων καὶ στρατηγός, οἷος οὔτε Ῥωμαῖος οὔτε ἄλλος στρατηγὸς Ἑλλήνων ἢ βαρβάρων οὐδείς.
[17.1] The Volscians, seeing the vast quantity of booty that was being brought home and hearing reports of the craven spirit of the Romans who, though they had hitherto been wont to ravage their neighbours’ country, could now bear to see their own laid waste with impunity, were filled with great boastfulness and entertained hopes of the supremacy, looking upon it as an easy undertaking, lying ready to their hands, to overthrow the power of their adversaries. They offered sacrifices of thanksgiving to the gods for their success and adorned their temples and market-places with dedications of spoils, and all passed their time in festivals and rejoicings; while as for Marcius, they continued to admire and celebrate him as the ablest of all men in warfare and a general without an equal either at Rome or in the Greek or barbarian world.
[2] μάλιστα δὲ τῆς τύχης αὐτὸν ἐμακάριζον ἅπαντα, ὅσοις ἐπιχειρήσειε, κατὰ γνώμην αὐτῷ προχωροῦντα ὁρῶντες δίχα πόνου: ὥστ᾽ οὐδεὶς ἦν τῶν ἐχόντων τὴν στρατεύσιμον ἡλικίαν, ὃς ἀπολείπεσθαι τοῦ ἀνδρὸς ἠξίου, ἀλλὰ πάντες ὥρμηντο μετέχειν τῶν πράξεων καὶ συνῄεσαν ὡς αὐτὸν ἐξ ἁπάσης πόλεως.
[2] But above all they admired him for his good fortune, observing that everything he undertook easily succeeded according to his desire; so that there was no one of military age who was willing to be left behind by him, but all were eager to share in his exploits and flocked to him from every city.
[3] ὁ δὲ στρατηγός, ἐπειδὴ τὴν προθυμίαν τῶν Οὐολούσκων ἐπέρρωσε καὶ τὸ τῶν πολεμίων ἀνδρεῖον εἰς ταπεινὴν καὶ ἄνανδρον κατέκλεισεν ἀμηχανίαν, ἐπὶ τὰς συμμαχίδας αὐτῶν πόλεις, ὅσαι τὸ πιστὸν διεφύλαττον, ἦγε τὴν δύναμιν: καὶ αὐτίκα ἑτοιμασάμενος, ὅσα εἰς πολιορκίαν χρήσιμα ἦν, ἐπὶ Τολερίνους ἐλαύνει τοῦ Λατίνων ὄντας ἔθνους.
[3] The general, after he had strengthened the zeal of the Volscians and reduced the manly fortitude of the enemy to a helplessness that was abject and anything but manly, led his army against the cities of their allies that still remained faithful to them; and having promptly prepared everything that was necessary for a siege, he marched against the Tolerienses, who belonged to the Latin nation.
[4] οἱ δὲ Τολερῖνοι πρὸ πολλοῦ παρασκευασάμενοι τὰ εἰς τὸν πόλεμον καὶ τὰ ἐκ τῆς χώρας εἰς τὴν πόλιν συγκεκομικότες ἐδέχοντο αὐτὸν ἐπιόντα καὶ χρόνον μέν [p. 147] τιν᾽ ἀντεῖχον ἀπὸ τῶν τειχῶν μαχόμενοι καὶ πολλοὺς τῶν πολεμίων κατέτρωσαν: ἔπειθ᾽ ὑπὸ τῶν σφενδονητῶν ἀναστελλόμενοι καὶ μέχρι δείλης ὀψίας ταλαιπωροῦντες πολλὰ μέρη τοῦ τείχους ἐξέλιπον. τοῦτο
[4] These, having long before made the necessary preparations for war and transported all the effects they had in the country into the city, withstood his attack and held out for some time, fighting from their walls and wounding many of the enemy; then, after being driven back by the slingers and enduring hardships till the late afternoon, they abandoned many parts of the wall.
[5] καταμαθὼν ὁ Μάρκιος τοῖς μὲν ἄλλοις στρατιώταις παρήγγειλε κλίμακας προσφέρειν κατὰ τὰ γυμνούμενα μέρη τοῦ περιβόλου, αὐτὸς δὲ τοὺς κρατίστους τῆς στρατιᾶς ἀναλαβὼν ἐπὶ τὰς πύλας ἵεται βαλλόμενος ἀπὸ τῶν πύργων, καὶ διαρρήξας τοὺς μοχλοὺς παρέρχεται πρῶτος εἰς τὴν πόλιν. ἦν δ᾽ ὑφεστηκὸς ταῖς πύλαις πολὺ καὶ καρτερὸν στῖφος τῶν πολεμίων, οἳ δέχονταί τ᾽ αὐτὸν ἐρρωμένως καὶ μέχρι πολλοῦ διεκαρτέρουν ἀγωνιζόμενοι: πολλῶν δ᾽ ἀναιρεθέντων τρέπονται οἱ λοιποὶ καὶ σκεδασθέντες ἔφευγον ἀνὰ τοὺς στενωπούς.
[5] When Marcius was informed of this, he ordered some of the soldiers to plant ladders against those parts of the wall that were left unprotected, while he himself with the flower of his army hastened to the gates amid a shower of spears that were hurled at him from the towers; and breaking the bars asunder, he was the first to enter the city. Close to the gates stood a large and strong body of the enemy’s troops, who stoutly withstood his attack and continued to fight for a long time; but when many of them had been killed, the rest gave way and, dispersing themselves, fled through the streets.
[6] ὁ δ᾽ ἠκολούθει κτείνων τοὺς καταλαμβανομένους, ὅσοι μὴ τὰ ὅπλα ῥίψαντες εἰς ἱκεσίας ἐτράποντο: ἐν δὲ τούτῳ καὶ οἱ διὰ τῶν κλιμάκων ἀναβαίνοντες ἐκράτουν τοῦ τείχους. τοῦτον δὴ τὸν τρόπον ἁλούσης τῆς πόλεως ἐξελόμενος ὁ Μάρκιος ἐκ τῶν λαφύρων ὅσα θεοῖς τ᾽ ἀναθήματα καὶ κόσμος ταῖς Οὐολούσκων πόλεσιν ἔμελλε γενέσθαι, τὰ λοιπὰ τοῖς στρατιώταις ἐφῆκε διαρπάσαι.
[6] Marcius followed, putting to death all whom he overtook except those who threw away their arms and had recourse to supplications. In the meantime the men who had ascended by the ladders were making themselves masters of the wall. The town being taken in this manner, Marcius set aside such of the spoils as were to be consecrated to the gods and to adorn the cities of the Volscians, and the rest he permitted the soldiers to plunder.
[7] ἦν δὲ πολλὰ μὲν αὐτόθι σώματα, πολλὰ δὲ χρήματα, πολὺς δὲ σῖτος, ὥστε μὴ ῥᾴδιον εἶναι μιᾷ πάντα ἐκκομίσαι τοὺς κρατήσαντας ἡμέρᾳ, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ διαδοχῆς ἄγοντες καὶ φέροντες τὰ μὲν [p. 148] αὐτοί, τὰ δ᾽ ἐπὶ τῶν ὑποζυγίων πολὺν ἠναγκάσθησαν διατρῖψαι χρόνον.
[7] Many prisoners were taken there, also a great deal of money and much corn, so that it was not easy for the victors to remove everything in one day, but they were forced to consume much time while, working in relays, they drove or carried away the booty, either on their own backs or using beasts of burden.
[1] ὁ δὲ στρατηγός, ἐπειδὴ τὰ σώματα καὶ τὰ χρήματα πάντα ἐξεκεκόμιστο, τὴν πόλιν ἔρημον καταλιπὼν ἀπῆγε τὴν δύναμιν ἐπὶ Βῶλαν Λατίνων ἑτέραν πόλιν. ἔτυχον δὲ καὶ οἱ Βωλανοὶ προεγνωκότες αὐτοῦ τὴν ἔφοδον καὶ παρεσκευασμένοι πάντα τὰ πρὸς τὸν ἀγῶνα ἐπιτήδεια. ὁ μὲν οὖν Μάρκιος ὡς ἐξ ἐφόδου τὴν πόλιν αἱρήσων κατὰ πολλὰ μέρη τοῦ τείχους ἐποιεῖτο τὰς προσβολάς: οἱ δὲ Βωλανοὶ περιμείναντες καιρὸν ἐπιτήδειον ἀνοίγουσι τὰς πύλας, καὶ φερόμενοι κατὰ πλῆθος ἐν τάξει τε καὶ κόσμῳ συρράττουσι τοῖς κατὰ μέτωπον, καὶ πολλοὺς αὐτῶν ἀποκτείναντες, ἔτι δὲ πλείους κατατραυματίσαντες τούς τε λοιποὺς αἰσχρῶς ἀναγκάσαντες φυγεῖν ἀνέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν.
[18.1] The general, after all the prisoners and effects had been removed out of the city, left it desolate and drew off his forces to Bola, another town of the Latins. The Bolani also, as it chanced, had been apprised of his intended attack and had prepared everything necessary for the struggle. Marcius, who expected to take the town by storm, delivered his attacks upon many parts of the wall. But the Bolani, after watching for a favourable opportunity, opened their gates, and sallying out in force in regular array, engaged the front ranks of the enemy; then, after killing many of them and wounding still more and after forcing the rest to a shameful flight, they retired into the city.
[2] ὠς δ᾽ ἔγνω τὴν τροπὴν τῶν Οὐολούσκων ὁ Μάρκιος: οὐ γὰρ ἔτυχε παρὼν ἐν ᾧ χωρίῳ τὸ πάθος ἐγένετο: παρῆν σὺν ὀλίγοις κατὰ σπουδὴν καὶ τοὺς ἐκ τῆς τροπῆς σκεδασθέντας ἀναλαβὼν συνίστατο καὶ παρεθάρρυνε, καὶ ἐπειδὴ κατέστησεν εἰς τάξεις, ὑποδείξας, ἃ δεῖ πράττειν, ἐκέλευσε προσβάλλειν τῇ πόλει κατὰ τὰς αὐτὰς πύλας.
[2] When Marcius learned of rout of the Volscians — for it chanced that he was not present in the place where this defeat occurred — he came up in haste with a few of his men, and rallying those who were dispersed in the flight, he formed them into a body and encouraged them. Then, having got them back in their ranks and indicated what they were to do, he ordered them to attack the town at the same gates.
[3] χρησαμένων δὲ πάλιν τῶν Βωλανῶν τῇ αὐτῇ πείρᾳ καὶ κατὰ πλῆθος ἐκδραμόντων οὐ δέχονται αὐτοὺς οἱ Οὐολοῦσκοι, ἀλλ᾽ ἐγκλίναντες ἔφευγον κατὰ [p. 149] τοῦ πρανοῦς, ὡς ὁ στρατηγὸς αὐτοῖς ὑπέθετο: καὶ οἱ Βωλανοὶ τὴν ἀπάτην οὐκ εἰδότες ἐδίωκον ἄχρι πολλοῦ. ἐπεὶ δὲ πρόσω τῆς πόλεως ἐγένοντο, ἔχων τοὺς ἐπιλέκτους τῶν νέων ὁ Μάρκιος ὁμόσε τοῖς Βωλανοῖς ἐχώρει: καὶ γίνεται πολὺς αὐτῶν ἐνταῦθα φόνος τῶν μὲν ἀμυνομένων, τῶν δὲ φευγόντων.
[3] When the Bolani once more tried the same expedient, sallying out in force, the Volscians did not await them, but gave way and fled down hill, as their general had instructed them to do; and the Bolani, ignorant of the ruse, pursued them a considerable way. Then, when they were at a distance from the town, Marcius fell upon them with a body of chosen youth; and many of the Bolani fell, some while defending themselves and others while endeavouring to escape.
[4] ὁ δ᾽ ἀκολουθῶν τοῖς ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν ὠθουμένοις φθάνει, πρὶν ἐπιρραχθῆναι τὰς πύλας εἰσβιασάμενος εἰς τὸ τεῖχος. ὡς δ᾽ ὁ στρατηγὸς ἅπαξ ἐγκρατὴς τῶν πυλῶν ἐγένετο, ἠκολούθει καὶ τὸ ἄλλο τῶν Οὐολούσκων πλῆθος, οἱ δὲ Βωλανοὶ τὸ τεῖχος ἐκλιπόντες ἔφευγον ἐπὶ τὰς οἰκίας. γενόμενος δὲ καὶ ταύτης κύριος τῆς πόλεως ἐπέτρεψε τοῖς στρατιώταις τά τε σώματα ἐξανδραποδίσασθαι καὶ τὰ χρήματα διαρπάσαι καὶ τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον ὥσπερ καὶ πρότερον ἅπασαν ἐκκομίσας τὴν λείαν σὺν χρόνῳ τε καὶ κατὰ πολλὴν ἐξουσίαν μετὰ τοῦτο τὴν πόλιν ἐνέπρησεν.
[4] Marcius pursued those who were being pushed back toward the town and forced his way inside the walls before the gates could be slammed shut. When the general had once made himself master of the gates, the rest of the Volscian host followed, and the Bolani, abandoning the walls, fled to their houses. Marcius, having possessed himself of this city also, gave leave to the soldiers to make slaves of the inhabitants and to seize their effects; and after carrying away all the booty at his leisure and with full liberty, as before, he set fire to the town.
[1] ἐντεῦθεν δὲ τὴν δύναμιν ἀναλαβὼν ἦγεν ἐπὶ τοὺς καλουμένους Λαβικανούς. ἦν δὲ καὶ αὕτη τότε Λατίνων ἡ πόλις Ἀλβανῶν ὥσπερ καὶ ἄλλαι ἄποικος. καταπλήξασθαι δὲ βουλόμενος τοὺς ἔνδον ἔκαιεν αὐτῶν τὴν χώραν εὐθὺς ἐπιών, ὅθεν μάλιστα ἔμελλον ὄψεσθαι τὴν φλόγα. οἱ δὲ Λαβικανοὶ τεῖχος εὖ κατεσκευασμένον ἔχοντες οὔτε κατεπλάγησαν αὐτοῦ τὴν ἔφοδον οὔτε μαλακὸν ἐνέδοσαν οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾽ ἀντεῖχον [p. 150] ἀπομαχόμενοι γενναίως καὶ πολλάκις ἐπιβαίνοντας τοῦ
[19.1] From there he took his army and marched against the place called Labici. This city too belonged then to the Latins and was, like the others, a colony of the Albans. In order to terrify the inhabitants, as soon as he entered their territory he set fire to the part of the country from which the flames would most clearly be seen by them. But the Labicani, since they had well-constructed walls, neither became terrified at his invasion nor showed any sign of weakness, but made a brave resistance and often repulsed the enemy as they were attempting to scale the walls.
[2] τείχους τοὺς πολεμίους ἀπήραξαν. οὐ μὴν εἰς τέλος γ᾽ ἀντέσχον ὀλίγοι πρὸς πολλοὺς ἀγωνιζόμενοι καὶ χρόνον οὐδὲ τὸν ἐλάχιστον ἀναπαυόμενοι. πολλαὶ γὰρ προσβολαὶ καὶ καθ᾽ ὅλην τὴν πόλιν ἐγίνοντο ὑπὸ τῶν Οὐολούσκων ἐκ διαδοχῆς ὑποχωρούντων μὲν αἰεὶ τῶν κεκμηκότων, ἑτέρων δὲ προσιόντων νεαρῶν: πρὸς οὓς ἀγωνιζόμενοι δι᾽ ὅλης ἡμέρας, καὶ οὐδὲ τὸν τῆς νυκτὸς ἀναπαυσάμενοι χρόνον ἐκλιπεῖν ἠναγκάσθησαν τὸ τεῖχος ὑπὸ κόπου. παραλαβὼν δὲ καὶ ταύτην ὁ Μάρκιος τὴν πόλιν ἐξηνδραποδίσατο καὶ τοῖς στρατιώταις ἐφῆκε μερίσασθαι τὰς ὠφελείας.
[2] Notwithstanding this, they were not able to resist to the end, fighting as they were few against many and without the least respite. For many attacks were made upon all parts of the city by the Volscians, who fought in shifts, those who were fatigued continually retiring and other forces that were fresh taking their place; and the inhabitants, contending against these all day, without any respite even at night, were forced through exhaustion to abandon at walls. Marcius, having taken this city also, made slaves of the inhabitants and allowed his soldiers to divide the spoils.
[3] ἀναστήσας δὲ τὴν δύναμιν ἐκεῖθεν ἐπὶ τὴν Πεδανῶν πόλιν: ἦν δὲ καὶ αὕτη τοῦ Λατίνων γένους: συντεταγμένην ἔχων τὴν στρατιὰν ἀφικνεῖται καὶ αὐτὴν ἅμα τῷ πλησιάσαι τοῖς τείχεσιν αἱρεῖ κατὰ κράτος. καὶ ταὐτὰ διαθεὶς ὅσα τὰς πρότερον ἁλούσας ἕωθεν εὐθὺς ἀναστήσας τὴν δύναμιν ἦγεν ἐπὶ Κορβιῶνα.
[3] Thence he marched to Pedum — this also was a city of the Latins — and advancing with his army in good order, he took the town by storm as soon as he came near the walls. And having treated it in the same manner as the cities he had captured earlier, he led his forces at break of day against Corbio.
[4] ὄντι δ᾽ αὐτῷ πλησίον τοῦ τείχους τὰς πύλας ἀνοίξαντες οἱ ἔνδον ἀπαντῶσιν ἀντὶ τῶν ὅπλων προτείνοντες ἱκετηρίας καὶ παραδιδόντες ἀμαχητὶ τὸ τεῖχος. οὓς ἐπαινέσας ὡς τὰ κράτιστα περὶ σφῶν βεβουλευμένους, ἐκέλευσεν ὧν ἔδει τῇ στρατιᾷ φέροντας ἥκειν ἀργύριόν τε καὶ σῖτον, καὶ λαβὼν ὅσα προσέταξεν ἀπῆγε τὴν δύναμιν ἐπὶ τὴν Κοπιολανῶν [p. 151] πόλιν. παραδόντων δὲ κἀκείνην τῶν ἔνδον ἀμαχητὶ καὶ μετὰ πολλῆς προθυμίας ἀγοράς τε παρασχόντων τῇ δυνάμει καὶ χρήματα καὶ ὅσα ἄλλα ἐπετέτακτο αὐτοῖς ἀπῆγε τὴν στρατιὰν ὡς διὰ φιλίας γῆς. πάνυ γὰρ δὴ
[4] When he was near its walls, the inhabitants opened their gates and came to meet him, holding out olive-branches instead of weapons and offering to surrender their walls without striking a blow. Marcius, after commending them for adopting the course that was to their best interest, ordered them to come out bringing whatever his army required, both money and corn; and having obtained what he demanded, he led his forces to Corioli. When the inhabitants of this place also surrendered it without resistance and very readily supplied his army with provisions and money and everything else that he ordered, he led the army away through their territory as through a friendly land.
[5] καὶ τοῦτ᾽ ἐσπούδαζεν, ὡς μηδὲν οἱ παραδιδόντες αὐτοῖς τὰς πόλεις πάθοιεν, ὧν φιλεῖ δρᾶν ὁ πόλεμος, ἀλλὰ καὶ γῆν ἀδῄωτον ἀπολαμβάνοιεν καὶ βοσκήματα καὶ ἀνδράποδα, ὅσα κατέλιπον ἐπὶ τῶν κτήσεων, κομίζοιντο, αὐλίζεσθαί τ᾽ οὐκ εἴα τὴν δύναμιν ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν, ἵνα μή τι γένηται δι᾽ ἁρπαγῆς πρὸς αὐτῶν ἢ κλοπῆς κακόν, ἀλλὰ παρὰ τοῖς τείχεσι κατεστρατοπέδευεν.
[5] For this too was a matter about which he always took great care — that those who surrendered their cities to him should suffer none of the ills incident to war, but should get back their lands unravaged and recover all the cattle and slaves they had left behind on their farms; and he would not permit his army to quarter itself in the cities, limestone some mischief should result from their plundering or stealing, but he always encamped near the walls.
[1] ἀπὸ δὲ ταύτης ἀναστήσας τῆς πόλεως ἤλαυνε τὸν στρατὸν ἐπὶ Βοίλλας, ἐπιφανῆ τότε οὖσαν καὶ ἐν ὀλίγαις πάνυ ταῖς ἡγουμέναις τοῦ Λατίνων γένους πόλεσιν ἐξεταζομένην. οὐ προσδεξαμένων δ᾽ αὐτὸν τῶν ἔνδον, ἀλλὰ τῷ τ᾽ ἐρύματι πιστευόντων ἐχυρῷ γε σφόδρα ὄντι καὶ τῷ πλήθει τῶν ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ μαχησομένων παρακαλέσας τὴν δύναμιν ἀγωνίζεσθαι προθύμως καὶ τοῖς πρώτοις ἐπιβᾶσι τοῦ τείχους μεγάλας δωρεὰς ὑποσχόμενος ἔργου εἴχετο: καὶ γίνεται μάχη περὶ τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ καρτερά.
[20.1] Departing from this city, he led his army to Bovillae, which was then a city of note and counted as one of the very few leading cities of the Latin nation. When the inhabitants would not receive him, but trusted in their ramparts, which were very strong, and in the multitude of defenders who would fight from them, Marcius exhorted his men to fight ardently, promising great rewards to those who should first mount the walls, and then set to work; and a sharp battle took place for this city.
[2] οὐ γὰρ μόνον ἀπὸ τοῦ τείχους ἠμύνοντο τοὺς προσιόντας οἱ Βοιλλανοί, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰς πύλας ἀνοίξαντες ἐξέθεον ἀθρόοι καὶ κατὰ τοῦ πρανοῦς ἐώθουν βίᾳ τοὺς ὑφισταμένους: φόνος τε [p. 152] πλεῖστος αὐτόθι τῶν Οὐολούσκων ἐγένετο καὶ χρόνος τῆς τειχομαχίας πολὺς τοῦ τε κρατήσειν τῆς πόλεως ἄπορος ἅπασιν ἡ ἐλπίς. ἀλλὰ τῶν ἀπολλυμένων ἄδηλον ἐποίει τὴν ἀπουσίαν ὁ στρατηγὸς ἀντικαθιστὰς ἑτέρους, τῶν δὲ καμνόντων παρεθάρρυνε τὴν ἀθυμίαν ἐπὶ τὸ πονοῦν μέρος τῆς στρατιᾶς αὐτὸς ὠθούμενος. ἦν δ᾽ οὐχ ὁ λόγος αὐτοῦ μόνον ἐπαγωγὸς εἰς τὸ εὔψυχον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ ἔργα. πάντα γὰρ ὑφίστατο κίνδυνον καὶ οὐδεμιᾶς πείρας ἀπελείφθη, τέως ἑάλω τὸ
[2] For the Bovillani not only repulsed the assailants from the walls, but even threw open their gates, and sallying out in a body, forcibly thrust back down hill those who opposed them. Here the Volscians suffered very heavy losses and the battle for the walls continued a long time, so that all despaired of taking the town. But the general caused the loss of those who were slain to pass unnoticed by replacing them with others, and inspired with fresh courage those who were spent with toil by pressing forward himself to that part of the army which was in distress. Thus not only his words, but his actions also were incentives to valour; for he faced every danger and was not found wanting in any attempt till the walls were taken.
[3] τεῖχος. κρατήσας δὲ καὶ ταύτης σὺν χρόνῳ τῆς πόλεως καὶ τῶν ἁλόντων τοὺς μὲν ἐν χειρῶν νόμῳ διαφθείρας, τοὺς δ᾽ αἰχμαλώτους λαβὼν ἀπῆγε τὴν δύναμιν ἐπιφανεστάτην νίκην ἐξενεγκάμενος καὶ λάφυρα κάλλιστα καὶ πλεῖστα ἄγων, χρήμασί τε παμπόλλοις, ὧν ἐγκρατὴς ἐγένετο: ἦν δ᾽ αὐτόθι ὅσα ἐν οὐδενὶ τῶν ἁλόντων χωρίων: πλουτίσας τὴν στρατιάν.
[3] When at length he had made himself master of this city also and had summarily put to death some of the inhabitants and made prisoners of the rest, he withdrew his forces, having won a most glorious victory and carrying off great quantities of the finest spoils, besides enriching his army with vast amounts of money he had got possession of in this city, where it was found in greater quantity than in any of the places he had captured.
[1] μετὰ τοῦτο χώρα θ᾽, ὅσην διαπορεύοιτο, ὑποχείριος ἦν καὶ πόλις οὐδεμία ἠναντιοῦτο ἔξω Λαουινίου, ἣν πρώτην τε πόλιν οἱ σὺν Αἰνείᾳ κατάραντες εἰς Ἰταλίαν Τρῶες ἔκτισαν, καὶ ἀφ᾽ ἧς τὸ Ῥωμαίων ἦν γένος, ὡς καὶ πρότερόν μοι δεδήλωται. οἱ δ᾽ ἐν ταύτῃ κατοικοῦντες πάντα πρότερον ᾤοντο δεῖν ὑπομένειν, ἢ τὸ πρὸς τοὺς ἀπογόνους σφῶν Ῥωμαίους
[21.1] After this all the country he marched through submitted to him and no city made any resistance but Lavinium, which was the first city built by the Trojans who land in Italy with Aeneas, and the one from which the Romans derive their origin, as I have shown earlier. The inhabitants of this city thought they ought to suffer any extremity rather than fail to keep faith with their descendants.
[2] πιστὸν ἐγκαταλιπεῖν. ἐγένοντο μὲν οὖν καὶ τειχομαχίαι [p. 153] τινὲς αὐτόθι καρτεραὶ καὶ πρὸ τῶν ἐρυμάτων ὀξεῖαι μάχαι: οὐ μὴν ἑάλω γε τὸ τεῖχος ἀπὸ κράτους τῇ πρώτῃ ἐφόδῳ, ἀλλ᾽ ἐδόκει χρόνου δεῖν ἡ πολιορκία καὶ τριβῆς. ἀποστὰς οὖν τῆς πολιορκίας ὁ Μάρκιος περιετάφρευε κύκλῳ τὴν πόλιν καὶ ἀπεσταύρου, τὰς ὁδοὺς φυλάττων, ἵνα μήτ᾽ ἀγορὰ μήτ᾽ ἐπικουρία τις αὐτοῖς ἔξωθεν προσγένοιτο.
[2] Here, therefore, some stubborn fighting took place upon the walls and some sharp engagements before the ramparts; nevertheless, the walls were not carried by storm at the first assault, but their capture seemed to require time and unhurried persistence. Marcius accordingly gave over the attack on the walls and undertook to construct a ditch and a palisade around the town, while guarding all the roads so that neither provisions nor reinforcements might come to the inhabitants from outside.
[3] Ῥωμαῖοι δὲ τῶν τε κεκρατημένων ἤδη πόλεων τὸν ὄλεθρον ἀκούοντες καὶ τῶν προσθεμένων τῷ Μαρκίῳ τὴν ἀνάγκην, ταῖς τε πρεσβείαις ἐνοχλούμενοι ταῖς ἀφικνουμέναις ὡς αὐτοὺς ὁσημέραι παρὰ τῶν μενουσῶν ἐν τῇ φιλίᾳ καὶ δεομένων βοηθείας, τοῦ τε Λαουινίου τὸν περιτειχισμὸν ὀρρωδοῦντες ἐν χερσὶν ὄντα, καὶ εἰ τόδε τὸ φρούριον ἁλώσεται τὸν πόλεμον ἐπὶ σφᾶς ἥξειν εὐθὺς οἰόμενοι, μίαν ὑπέλαβον ἔσεσθαι πάντων τῶν κακῶν λύσιν, εἰ
[3] The Romans, being informed both of the destruction of the cities that were already taken and of the exigency which had influenced those who had joined Marcius, and importuned by the embassies which came to them daily from those who continued firm in their friendship and besought their aid, and being alarmed, moreover, by the investment of Lavinium then in progress and believing that if this stronghold should be taken the war would promptly come to their own gates, thought the only remedy for all these evils would be to pass a vote for the return of Marcius.
[4] ψηφίσαιντο τῷ Μαρκίῳ τὴν κάθοδον. καὶ ὅ τε δῆμος ἅπας ἐβόα τοῦτο, καὶ οἱ δήμαρχοι νόμον εἰσφέρειν ὑπὲρ ἀκυρώσεως τῆς καταδίκης ἐβούλοντο: ἀλλ᾽ οἱ πατρίκιοι ἠναντιώθησαν αὐτοῖς οὐκ ἀξιοῦντες τῶν δεδικασμένων λύειν οὐθέν. μὴ γενομένου δὲ προβουλεύματος ὑπὸ τῆς βουλῆς οὐδὲ τοῖς δημάρχοις ἔτι προθεῖναι γνώμην εἰς τὸν δῆμον ἐδόκει.
[4] The entire populace shouted for this and the tribunes too wished to introduce a law for the annulment of his condemnation; but the patricians opposed them, being determined not to reverse any part of the sentence which had been pronounced. And as no preliminary decree was passed by the senate, the tribunes too no longer thought fit to propose the matter to the populace.
[5] ὃ καὶ θαυμάζειν ἄξιον, ἀφ᾽ ἧς δήποτε αἰτίας ἡ βουλὴ σπουδάζουσα τὸν ἔμπροσθεν χρόνον ὑπὲρ τοῦ Μαρκίου τότε βουλομένῳ [p. 154] τῷ δήμῳ κατάγειν αὐτὸν ἠναντιώθη: πότερα πεῖραν αὐτοῦ ποιουμένη τῆς γνώμης καὶ τῷ μὴ συγχωρεῖν ἑτοίμως ἐπὶ τὸ μᾶλλον σπουδάζειν αὐτὸν παρορμῶσα, ἢ τὰς καθ᾽ ἑαυτῆς ἀπολύσασθαι βουλομένη διαβολὰς ὑπὲρ τοῦ μηθενὸς ὧν ἔπραττεν ὁ ἀνὴρ μήτε αἰτία μήτε συνεργὸς εἶναι. χαλεπὸν γὰρ ἦν ἀπόρρητον γενόμενον αὐτῆς τὸ βούλευμα συμβαλεῖν.
[5] It may well excite wonder what the motive was that led the senate, which hitherto had so warmly espoused the cause of Marcius, to oppose the populace on this occasion when they wished to recall him — whether they were sounding out the sentiment of the populace and arousing them to greater zeal by their own reluctance to yield to them, or whether they wished to clear themselves of the accusations brought against them so that they might not be held to be either responsible for or accomplices in any of the acts of Marcius. For as their purpose was kept secret, it was difficult to conjecture what it was.
[1] ἀκούσας δὲ ταῦτα παρ᾽ αὐτομόλων τινῶν ὁ Μάρκιος, ὡς εἶχεν ὀργῆς, εὐθὺς ἀναστήσας τὴν δύναμιν ἦγεν ἐπὶ τὴν Ῥώμην, φυλακὴν τοῦ Λαουινίου τὴν ἀρκοῦσαν καταλιπών: καὶ αὐτίκα τῆς πόλεως σταδίους τετταράκοντα ἀποσχὼν κατεστρατοπέδευσε περὶ τὰς καλουμένας Κλοιλίας τάφρους.
[22.1] Marcius, being informed of these events by some deserters, was so angry that he broke camp at once and marched on Rome, leaving a sufficient force to keep guard over Lavinium; and he straightway encamped at the place called the Cluilian Ditches, at a distance of forty stades from the city.
[2] μαθοῦσι δὲ τὴν παρουσίαν αὐτοῦ τοῖς κατὰ τὴν πόλιν τοσοῦτος ἐνέπεσε θόρυβος ὡς αὐτίκα τοῖς τείχεσι τοῦ πολέμου προσάξοντος, ὥσθ᾽ οἱ μὲν ἐπὶ τὰ τείχη τὰ ὅπλα λαβόντες ἔθεον ἄνευ παραγγέλματος, οἱ δ᾽ ἐπὶ τὰς πύλας κατὰ πλῆθος ἐφέροντο χωρὶς ἡγεμόνος, οἱ δὲ τοὺς δούλους καθοπλίσαντες ἐπὶ τοῖς τέγεσι τῶν οἰκιῶν ἵστασαν, οἱ δὲ τήν τ᾽ ἄκραν καὶ τὸ Καπιτώλιον καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους ἐρυμνοὺς τόπους τῆς πόλεως κατελαμβάνοντο, γυναῖκές τε λελυμέναι τὰς κόμας ἐπὶ τὰ τεμένη καὶ τοὺς νεὼς ἔθεον ὀλοφυρόμεναί τε καὶ δεόμεναι τῶν θεῶν ἀποστρέψαι τῆς πόλεως τὸν ἐπιόντα φόβον.
[2] When the Romans heard of his presence there, such confusion fell upon them, in their belief that the war would at once come to their walls, that some seized their arms and ran to the walls without orders, others went in a body to the gates without anyone to command them, some armed their slaves and took their stand on the roofs of their houses, and still others seized the citadel and the Capitol and the other strong places of the city; and the women, with their hair dishevelled, ran to the sanctuaries and to the temples, lamenting and praying to the gods to avert the danger that threatened.
[3] ὡς δ᾽ ἥ τε [p. 155] νὺξ παρῆλθε καὶ τῆς ἐπιούσης ἡμέρας τὸ πλεῖστον, καὶ οὐδὲν ὧν ἐδεδοίκεσαν ἐγίνετο, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμενεν ὁ Μάρκιος ἐφ᾽ ἡσυχίας, συνέδραμον ἅπαντες εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν οἱ δημοτικοὶ καὶ τοὺς πατρικίους ἐκάλουν εἰς τὸ βουλευτήριον, καὶ εἰ μὴ προβουλεύσουσι τῷ ἀνδρὶ τὴν κάθοδον, αὐτοὶ βουλεύσεσθαι περὶ σφῶν αὐτῶν ἔφασαν ὡς προδιδόμενοι.
[3] But when the night had passed, as well as most of the following day, and none of the evils they had feared befell them, but Marcius remained quiet, all the plebeians flocked to the Forum and called upon the patricians to assemble in the senate-house, declaring that if they would not pass the preliminary decree for the return of Marcius, they themselves, as men who were being betrayed, would take measures for their own protection.
[4] τότε δὴ συνελθόντες εἰς τὴν βουλὴν οἱ πατρίκιοι ψηφίζονται πρεσβευτὰς πρὸς τὸν Μάρκιον ἀποστεῖλαι πέντε ἄνδρας ἐκ τῶν πρεσβυτάτων, οὓς μάλιστ᾽ ἐκεῖνος ἠσπάζετο, περὶ διαλύσεώς τε καὶ φιλίας διαλεξομένους. ἦσαν δ᾽ οἱ προχειρισθέντες ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν ἄνδρες οἵδε, Μάρκος Μηνύκιος καὶ Πόστουμος Κομίνιος καὶ Σπόριος Λάρκιος καὶ Πόπλιος Πινάριος καὶ
[4] Then at last the senators met in the senate-house and voted to send to Marcius five of their oldest members who were his closest friends, to treat for reconciliation and friendship. The men chosen were Marcus Minucius, Postumus Cominius, Spurius Larcius, Publius Pinarius and Quintus Sulpicius, all ex-consuls.
[5] Κόιντος Σολπίκιος, ἅπαντες ὑπατικοί. ὡς δ᾽ ἀφίκοντο ἐπὶ τὸ στρατόπεδον, καὶ ἔγνω τὴν παρουσίαν αὐτῶν ὁ Μάρκιος, καθεζόμενος ἅμα τοῖς ἐπιφανεστάτοις Οὐολούσκων τε καὶ τῶν ἄλλων συμμάχων, ἔνθα πλεῖστοι ἔμελλον ἀκούσεσθαι τῶν λεγομένων, ἐκέλευσε καλεῖν τοὺς ἄνδρας. εἰσελθόντων δ᾽ αὐτῶν ἤρξατο τοῦ λόγου Μηνύκιος, ὁ πλεῖστα κατὰ τὸν τῆς ὑπατείας χρόνον σπουδάσας ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ, καὶ μάλιστα τοῖς δημοτικοῖς ἐναντιωθείς, καὶ ἔλεξε τοιάδε.
[5] When they came to the camp and Marcius was informed of their arrival, he seated himself in the midst of the most important of the Volscians and their allies, where very many would hear all that was said, and then ordered the envoys to be summoned. When these came in, Minucius, who during his consulship had been most active in his favour and had distinguished himself by his opposition to the plebeians, spoke first, as follows:
[1] ὅτι μὲν οὐ δίκαια πέπονθας ὑπὸ τοῦ δήμου, ὦ Μάρκιε, μετ᾽ αἰτίας αἰσχρᾶς ἐξελασθεὶς ἐκ τῆς πατρίδος, ἅπαντες ἴσμεν: καὶ οὐδὲν οἰόμεθά σε ποιεῖν θαυμαστόν, εἰ χαλεπαίνεις καὶ ἀγανακτεῖς ἐπὶ ταῖς τύχαις. κοινὸς γὰρ δὴ τῆς ἁπάντων φύσεως οὗτος [p. 156] ὁ νόμος, ἐχθρὸν εἶναι τῷ δράσαντι τὸ πεπονθὸς κακῶς.
[23.1] “We are all sensible, Marcius, that you have suffered injustice at the hands of the populace in having been banished from your country under a foul accusation, and we do not regard it as anything strange on your part if you feel anger and resentment at your misfortunes. For common to the nature of all men is this law — that the injured party is an enemy to the aggressor.
[2] ὅτι δ᾽ οὐ μετὰ λογισμοῦ σώφρονος ἐξετάζεις, οὓς ἀμύνεσθαί τε καὶ τιμωρεῖσθαί σοι προσῆκεν, οὐδὲ μετριάζεις περὶ τὴν ἀνάπραξιν τῆς δίκης, ἀλλ᾽ ἐν ταὐτῷ τίθεσαι τά τ᾽ ἀναίτια τοῖς αἰτίοις καὶ τὰ φίλια τοῖς πολεμίοις, νόμους τε κινεῖς φύσεως ἀκινήτους καὶ τὰ πρὸς τοὺς θεοὺς συνταράττεις ὅσια, καὶ οὐδὲ σεαυτὸν ἐξ ὧν τε καὶ ὅστις ἔφυς ἔτι μέμνησαι, τοῦτο τεθαυμάκαμεν.
[2] But that you do not examine in the light of sober reason who those are whom you ought to requite and punish, nor show any moderation in exacting that punishment, but class together the innocent with the guilty and friends with enemies, and that you violate the inviolable laws of Nature, confound the duties of religion, and, even as to yourself, no longer remember from whom you are sprung and what sort of man you are — that has seemed strange to us.
[3] ἥκομέν τ᾽ ἀποσταλέντες ὑπὸ τοῦ κοινοῦ πρέσβεις οἱ προὔχοντες ἡλικίᾳ τῶν πατρικίων καὶ περὶ σὲ προθυμότατοι μεμιγμένην φέροντες δικαιολογίαν παραιτήσει, καὶ ἐφ᾽ οἷς ἀξιοῦμέν σε διαλύσεσθαι τὴν ἔχθραν, πρὸς τὸν δῆμον ἀπαγγελοῦντες: πρὸς δὲ τούτοις, ἃ νομίζομεν εἶναι κάλλιστα καὶ συμφορώτατά σοι, ταῦτα παραινέσοντες.
[3] We have come now, the oldest of the patricians and the most zealous of your friends, sent by the commonwealth to present our defence mingled with entreaty, and to bring word upon what conditions we ask you to lay aside your enmity toward the populace; and furthermore, to advise you of the course which we believe will be the most honourable and advantageous for you.
[1] ἀρχέτω δ᾽ ὁ περὶ τῶν δικαίων λόγος. συνέστη τὸ δημοτικὸν ἐπὶ σοὶ παροξυνθὲν ὑπὸ τῶν δημάρχων, καὶ ἧκον ὡς ἀποκτενοῦντές σε ἄκριτον, οἷς φοβερὸς ἦσθα. τοῦτο τὸ ἔργον ἐκωλύσαμεν ἡμεῖς οἱ ἐκ τοῦ συνεδρίου καὶ παρέσχομέν σοι μηθέν, ὃ μὴ δίκαιον ἦν τότε παθεῖν. μετὰ τοῦτο προὐκαλοῦντό σε οἱ κωλυθέντες ἀνελεῖν ἐπὶ δίκην, αἰτιασάμενοι πονηροὺς κατ᾽ αὐτῶν εἰπεῖν ἐν τῇ βουλῇ λόγους.
[24.1] “Let me speak first concerning the point of justice. The plebeians, inflamed by the tribunes, conspired against you and came with the intention of putting you to death without a trial, because they feared you. This attempt we of the senate prevented, and we permitted you to suffer no injustice on that occasion. Afterwards the same men who had been prevented from destroying you summoned you to trial, charging you with having uttered malicious words about them in the senate.
[2] ἐνέστημεν καὶ πρὸς τοῦτο, ὡς οἶσθα, καὶ οὐκ ἐπετρέψαμεν οὔτε γνώμης οὔτε λόγων ὑποσχεῖν σε δίκας. ἀποτυχόντες [p. 157] καὶ τούτου τελευτῶντες ἧκον ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς αἰτιώμενοί σε τυραννίδι ἐπιχειρεῖν. ταύτην αὐτὸς ὑπέμεινας ἀπολογήσασθαι τὴν αἰτίαν, ἐπειδὴ πάμπολυ ἀπεῖχες αὐτῆς, καὶ παρέσχες τοῖς δημοτικοῖς περὶ σεαυτοῦ τὴν ψῆφον ἀναλαβεῖν.
[2] We opposed this too, as you know, and would not permit you to be brought to trial either for your opinion or for your words. Disappointed in this also, they came to us at last, accusing you at aiming at tyranny. This charge you yourself consented to answer, since you were far from guilty of it, and you permitted the plebeians to give their votes concerning you.
[3] ἡ βουλὴ δὲ καὶ τότε παρῆν καὶ πολλὰς ἐποιεῖτο δεήσεις περὶ σοῦ. τίνος οὖν ἡμεῖς οἱ πατρίκιοι τῶν συμβεβηκότων σοι κακῶν γεγόναμεν αἴτιοι, καὶ διὰ τί πολεμεῖς ἡμῖν τοσαύτην εὔνοιαν ἀποδειξαμένοις περὶ σὲ κατὰ τὸν τότε ἀγῶνα; ἀλλὰ μὴν οὐδὲ τὸ δημοτικὸν ἅπαν ἐξελασθῆναί σε βουλόμενον εὑρέθη: δυσὶ γοῦν ψήφοις ἑάλως μόναις, ὥστ᾽ οὐδὲ τούτοις ἂν εἴης σὺν δίκῃ πολέμιος, οἵ σε ὡς οὐδὲν ἀδικοῦντα ἀπέλυσαν.
[3] The senate was present on this occasion also and made many pleas in your behalf. Of which of the misfortunes, then, that have befallen you have we patricians been the cause? And why do you make war upon us who showed so much goodwill toward you during that contest? But, for that matter, not even all the plebeians were found to desire your banishment; at any rate, you were condemned by two votes only, so that you could not with justice be an enemy to those plebeians, either, who acquitted you as guilty of no wrongdoing.
[4] τίθημι δ᾽, εἰ βούλει, πᾶσι μὲν τοῖς δημόταις δόξαν, ὅλῃ δὲ τῇ βουλῇ φανὲν ταύτῃ χρήσασθαί σε τῇ συμφορᾷ, καὶ δίκαιον εἶναί σου τὸ πρὸς ἅπαντας ἡμᾶς μῖσος: ἀλλ᾽ αἱ γυναῖκές σε, ὦ Μάρκιε, τί δεινὸν εἰργάσαντο, ἀνθ᾽ ὅτου πολεμεῖς αὐταῖς; ποίαν ἐπενέγκασαι περὶ φυγῆς ψῆφον ἢ τίνας εἰποῦσαι κατὰ σοῦ πονηροὺς λόγους;
[4] I will assume, however, if you wish, that it was pursuant to the vote of all the plebeians and the judgement of the entire senate that you suffered this misfortune, and that your hatred against us all is just; but the women, Marcius, what wrong have they done to you that you should make war upon them? By what vote did they condemn you to banishment, or what malicious words did they utter against you?
[5] τί δ᾽ οἱ παῖδες ἡμῶν δράσαντες ἢ διανοηθέντες ἀδικεῖν περὶ σοῦ κινδυνεύουσιν ὑπὲρ αἰχμαλωσίας καὶ τῶν ἄλλων, ἃ παθεῖν αὐτοὺς εἰκός, ἐὰν ἡ πόλις ἁλῷ; οὐ τὰ δίκαια διαιτᾷς, ὦ Μάρκιε, καὶ εἰ τοῦτον οἴει δεῖν τὸν τρόπον τὰ ὑπαίτια καὶ ἐχθρὰ μισεῖν, ὥστε μηδὲ τῶν ἀναιτίων φείδεσθαι καὶ φιλίων, οὐκ ἄρα τὰ προσήκοντα ἀνδρὶ ἀγαθῷ [p. 158]
[5] And our children, what wrong have they done or contemplated doing that they should be exposed to captivity and to all the other misfortunes which they would presumably suffer if the city should be taken? You are not just in your judgements, Marcius; and if you think you ought to hate those who are guilty and your enemies in such a manner as not to spare even those who are innocent and your friends, then your way of thinking is not such as becomes a good man.
[6] φρονεῖς. ἵνα δὲ πάντα ταῦτα ἀφῶ, τί ἂν ἔχοις εἰπεῖν, ὦ πρὸς Διός, εἴ τις ἔροιτό σε, τοὺς δὲ δὴ τάφους τῶν προγόνων τί παθὼν ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν ἀνασκάπτεις καὶ τιμάς, ἃς κομίζονται παρ᾽ ἀνθρώπων, ἀφαιρῇ; θεῶν δὲ βωμοὺς καὶ τεμένη καὶ νεὼς τίνος ἀδικήματος ὀργῇ συλᾷς καὶ κατακαίεις καὶ ἀνατρέπεις καὶ σεβασμῶν οὐκ ἐᾷς τυγχάνειν τῶν νομίμων; τί πρὸς ταῦτα φαίης ἄν; ἐγὼ μὲν γὰρ οὐδὲν ὁρῶ.
[6] But, to omit all these considerations, what, in Heaven’s name, could duty answer if anyone should ask you what injure you have received from your ancestors to induce you to destroy their sepulchres and to deprive them of the honours they receive from men? Or resentment at what injury has led you to despoil, burn and demolish the altars of the gods, their shrines and their temples, and to prevent them from receiving their customary worship? What could you say in answer to this? For my part, I see nothing that you could say.
[7] ταῦτά σοι περί τε ἡμῶν αὐτῶν, ὦ Μάρκιε, τῶν ἐκ τοῦ συνεδρίου καὶ περὶ τῶν ἄλλων πολιτῶν, οὓς ἀπολέσαι προθυμῇ κακὸν οὐδὲν ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν πεπονθώς, τάφων τε καὶ ἱερῶν καὶ πόλεως τῆς γειναμένης τε καὶ θρεψαμένης τὰ δίκαια εἰρήσθω.