Texte grec :
| [8,20] 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. 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
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
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.
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Traduction française :
| [8,20] 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.
(p57) 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. 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.
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