P. Decius,[1] Valeriō[2] Māximō et Cornēliō Cossō cōnsulibus,
tribūnus mīlitum fuit. Exercitū Rōmānō in angustiīs Gaurī
montis clausō[3] Decius ēditum collem cōnspexit imminentem
hostium castrīs. Acceptō praesidiō verticem[4] occupāvit, hostēs
[5] terruit, cōnsulī spatium dedit ad subdūcendum āgmen in aequiōrem
CORŌNA CĪVICA locum. Ipse, colle, quem īnsēderat,[5] undique
armātīs circumdatō, intempestā nocte
per[6] mediās hostium cūstōdiās somnō oppressās[7]
incolumis ēvāsit. Quā rē ab exercitū
[10] dōnātus est corōnā cīvicā, quae dabātur eī,
quī cīvēs in bellō servāsset. Cōnsul fuit bellō
B.C.
340. Latīnō cum Mānliō[8] Torquātō. Hōc
bellō cum[9] utrīque cōnsulī somniō obvēnisset
eōs victōrēs futūrōs, quōrum dux in proeliō cecidisset,
[15] convēnit inter eōs utī, utrīus cornū in aciē labōrāret, is diīs[10]
sē Mānibus dēvovēret. Inclīnante suā parte Decius sē et hostēs
diīs Mānibus dēvōvit.[11] Armātus in equum īnsiluit ac sē in mediōs
hostēs immīsit: corruit obrutus tēlīs et victōriam suīs relīquit.
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[35.1] His full name was P. Decius Mus.
[35.2] Valeriō . . . cōnsulibus: ‘in the consulship of,’ etc. For the abl. abs. consisting of two nouns, see H 489 (431, 4): M 639: A 255, a: G 409: B 227, 1. For another method of dating events, cf. XII, 1.
[35.3] claudō.
[35.4] Sc. collis.
[35.5] īnsideō.
[35.6] per . . . cūstōdiās: ‘through the midst of the enemy’s pickets.’ Cf. [l. 17], in mediōs hostēs, ‘against the enemy’s center.’ Note the difference between the Latin and the English idioms. H 497, 4 (440, N. 1-2): M 565: A 193: G 291, R. 2: B 241, 1.