HORĀTIUS COCLES (2)
Intereā Porsennae
facta Rōmānōs nōn fefellērunt. Virginēs vestālēs prope ignem sacrum deōs
ōrābant; mātrōnae cum līberīs suīs dōna ad templa ferēbant; senēs victimās in
ārīs mactābant; iuvenēs in Campō Mārtiō sē ad arma proeliumque parābant, et
moenia multō labōre firmābant; vigilēs in moenibus stābant et campōs clīvōsque
spectābant.
Subitō vigilēs
corusca Etrūscōrum arma procul vīdērunt. Mox inter hostēs Porsennam, et
Porsennae ā dextrā Sextum, vīdērunt. Deinde cīvēs odiī et terrōris plēnī magnā
vōce clāmāvērunt et animōs ad proelium firmāvērunt. Sed cōnsulēs timēbant, quod
paucī erant Rōmānī, multī et validī hostēs.
[i]
cōnsul, -is [3/m]:
consul, chief magistrate at Rome
dextra, -ae [1/f]:
right hand; ā dextrā: on the right
hostis, -is [3 m/f]:
enemy
ignis, -is [3/m]:
fire
mātrōna, -ae
[1/f]: matron
moenia, -ium [n
pl]: town walls
odium, -ī [2/n]:
hatred
proelium, -ī
[2/n]: battle
senex, senis [3
m/f]: old person
vigil, -is [3/m]:
sentinel
[ii]
firmō, -āre [1]:
strengthen
[iii]
paucī, -ae, -a:
few
sacer, -cra, -crum:
sacred
Vestālis, -e:
Vestal, belonging to Vesta
____________________
Meanwhile
Porsenna’s actions did not deceive / escape the Romans’ notice. The Vestal
Virgins were praying to the gods near the sacred fire; the matrons were
carrying gifts to the temples together with their children; the old men were
sacrificing victims on the altars; the young men were preparing themselves on
the Campus Martius for weapons and battle, and were strengthening the walls
with great effort; the watchmen stood on the walls and observed the fields and
slopes.
Suddenly the
watchmen saw the flashing weapons of the Etruscans in the distance. Soon they
saw Porsenna among the enemy, and on Porsenna’s right Sextus. Then the
citizens, full of hatred and fear, cried out loudly and steeled their spirits
for battle. But the consuls were afraid, because the Romans were few, and the
enemy many and strong.
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