1 ad Luceriam = in the direction of Luceria, a town in Apulia on the borders of Samnium, and now threatened by the Samnites.
1-2 praeter . . . maris = along the coast of the upper sea, i.e. the Adriatic. Taking this route, they would go N. of Samnium, through the Peligni, and S. through the Frentani into Apulia.
3 fere = just.
3-4 Furculas Caudinas, two fork-shaped defiles near Caudium, the capital of the Caudine Samnites, between Beneventum and Capua on what was afterwards the Via Appia.
5-6 montibus . . . iuncti = united by a continuous ring (perpetuis circa) of mountains.
10 insinuaveris = lit. have wound your way.
11-12 artiorem impeditioremque = more narrow and more difficult (i.e. steeper).
13 per cavam rupem = through an overhanging rocky defile.
demisso agmine = with their troops led down (the descent).
14 protinus = straightforward.