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Notes Do not display Latin text | Translated by Rev. Canon Roberts Book V Chapter 44: Invasion of the Gauls. Camillus speaks to the people of Ardea[390 BC] | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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"Men of Ardea! friends of old, and now my fellow-citizens -- for this your kindness has granted, this my fortunes have compelled -- let none of you imagine that I [Note 1] have come here in forgetfulness of my position ([Note 2]. The force of circumstances and the common danger constrain every man to contribute what help he can to meet the crisis. When shall I ever be able to show my gratitude for all the obligations you have conferred if I fail in my duty now? When shall I ever be of any use to you if not in war? It was by that that I held my position in my native City as having never known defeat; in times of peace my ungrateful countrymen banished me. Now the chance is offered to you, men of Ardea, of proving your gratitude for all the kindness that Rome has shown you -- you have not forgotten how great it is, nor need I bring it up against those who so well remember it -- the chance of winning for your city a vast reputation for war at the expense of our common foe. Those who are coming here in loose and disorderly fashion are a race to whom nature has given bodies and minds distinguished by bulk rather than by resolution and endurance. It is for this reason that they bring into every battle a terrifying appearance rather than real force. Take the disaster of Rome as a proof. They captured the City because it lay open to them; a small force repelled them from the Citadel and Capitol. Already the irksomeness of an investment has proved too much for them, they are giving it up and wandering through the fields in straggling parties. When they are gorged with food and the wine they drink so greedily, they throw themselves down like wild beasts, on the approach of night, in all directions by the streams, without entrenching themselves, or setting any outposts or pickets on guard. And now after their success they are more careless than ever. If it is your intention to defend your walls and not to allow all this country to become a second Gaul, seize your arms and muster in force by the first watch and follow me to what will be a massacre, not a battle. If I do not deliver them, whilst enchained by sleep, into your hands to be slaughtered like cattle, I am ready to accept the same fate in Ardea which I met with in Rome." Note 1: I = Camillus
Event: Camillus at Ardea | "Ardeates" inquit, "ueteres amici, noui etiam ciues mei, quando et uestrum beneficium ita tulit et fortuna hoc eguit mea, nemo uestrum condicionis meae oblitum me huc processisse putet; sed res ac periculum commune cogit quod quisque possit in re trepida praesidii in medium conferre. Et quando ego uobis pro tantis uestris in me meritis gratiam referam, si nunc cessauero? Aut ubi usus erit mei uobis, si in bello non fuerit? Hac arte in patria steti et inuictus bello, in pace ab ingratis ciuibus pulsus sum. Vobis autem, Ardeates, fortuna oblata est et pro tantis populi Romani pristinis beneficiis quanta ipsi meministis—nec enim exprobranda ea apud memores sunt —gratiae referendae et huic urbi decus ingens belli ex hoste communi pariendi. Qui effuso agmine aduentant gens est cui natura corpora animosque magna magis quam firma dederit; eo in certamen omne plus terroris quam uirium ferunt. Argumento sit clades Romana. Patentem cepere urbem: ex arce Capitolioque iis exigua resistitur manu: iam obsidionis taedio uicti abscedunt uagique per agros palantur. Cibo uinoque raptim hausto repleti, ubi nox adpetit, prope riuos aquarum sine munimento, sine stationibus ac custodiis passim ferarum ritu sternuntur, nunc ab secundis rebus magis etiam solito incauti. Si uobis in animo est tueri moenia uestra nec pati haec omnia Galliam fieri, prima uigilia capite arma frequentes, me sequimini ad caedem, non ad pugnam. Nisi uinctos somno uelut pecudes trucidandos tradidero, non recuso eundem Ardeae rerum mearum exitum quem Romae habui". |