[11,47] Ἐπεὶ δ´ αἱ κατὰ πόλιν ἐπαύσαντο ταραχαί, συναγαγόντες τὴν βουλὴν οἱ ὕπατοι δόγμα κυροῦσιν ἐξάγειν τὸν στρατὸν ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους διὰ ταχέων. ἐπικυρώσαντος δὲ τοῦ δήμου τὰ ψηφισθέντα ὑπὸ τῆς βουλῆς Οὐαλέριος μὲν ἅτερος τῶν ὑπάτων τὴν ἡμίσειαν ἔχων τοῦ στρατοῦ μοῖραν ἐξῆγεν ἐπί τ´ Αἰκανοὺς καὶ Οὐολούσκους· συνῆλθε γὰρ ἀμφότερα τὰ ἔθνη. ἐπιστάμενος δὲ τοὺς Αἰκανοὺς ἐκ τῶν προτέρων κατορθωμάτων αὔχημα προσειληφότας καὶ εἰς πολλὴν καταφρόνησιν τῆς Ῥωμαίων δυνάμεως προελθόντας, ἔτι μᾶλλον ἐβούλετο ἐπᾶραι καὶ θρασυτέρους ποιῆσαι δόξαν οὐκ ἀληθῆ παρασχών, ὡς ὀρρωδῶν εἰς χεῖρας ἰέναι πρὸς αὐτοὺς καὶ πάντα δεδιότως ἐποίει. χωρίον τε γὰρ εἰς στρατοπεδείαν ὑψηλὸν καὶ δυσπρόσιτον ἐξελέξατο τάφρον τε βαθεῖαν περιεβάλετο καὶ χάρακας ἤγειρεν ὑψηλούς. προκαλουμένων δὲ τῶν πολεμίων αὐτὸν εἰς μάχην πολλάκις καὶ κακιζόντων τὴν ἀνανδρίαν ἠνείχετο μένων ἐφ´ ἡσυχίας. ἐπεὶ δ´ ἔγνω τὴν κρατίστην τῶν πολεμίων δύναμιν ἐπὶ προνομὴν τῆς Ἑρνίκων τε καὶ Λατίνων γῆς ἐξεληλυθυῖαν, ἐν δὲ τῷ χάρακι φυλακὴν οὔτε πολλὴν καταλειπομένην οὔτ´ ἀγαθήν, τοῦτον εἶναι νομίσας τὸν καιρὸν ἐπιτήδειον ἐξῆγε κεκοσμημένην τὴν στρατιὰν καὶ παρέστησεν ὡς εἰς μάχην. οὐδενός τ´ ἀντεπιόντος ἐκείνην μὲν τὴν ἡμέραν ἐπεῖχε, τῇ δ´ ἑξῆς ἐπὶ τὴν ἀποσκευὴν αὐτῶν ἦγεν οὐ σφόδρα ὀχυρὰν οὖσαν. μαθόντες δὲ πολιορκούμενον τὸν χάρακα οἱ προεξεληλυθότες ἐπὶ τὰς προνομὰς ταχέως ἧκον, πλὴν οὐχ ἅμα καὶ ἐν κόσμῳ, σποράδες δὲ καὶ κατ´ ὀλίγους ὡς ἕκαστοι εἶχον ἐπιφαινόμενοι· οἵ τ´ ἐκ τοῦ χάρακος ἐπεὶ τοὺς σφετέρους προσιόντας ἐθεάσαντο, θρασύτεροι γεγονότες ἐξῆλθον ἀθρόοι. καὶ γίνεται μέγας ἀγὼν καὶ φόνος ἐξ ἀμφοτέρων πολύς, ἐν ᾧ νικήσαντες οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι τούς τε συστάδην μαχομένους ἐτρέψαντο καὶ τοὺς φεύγοντας ἐπιδιώκοντες, οὓς μὲν ἀπέκτειναν, οὓς δ´ αἰχμαλώτους ἔλαβον, τοῦ δὲ χάρακος αὐτῶν κρατήσαντες χρήματα πολλὰ καὶ λείαν ἄφθονον περιεβάλοντο. Οὐαλέριος μὲν δὴ ταῦτα διαπραξάμενος ἀδεῶς ἤδη τὴν γῆν τῶν πολεμίων ἐπιὼν ἐδῄου.

[11,47] After the domestic disturbances ceased, the consuls assembled the senate and procured the passing of a decree that they should lead out the army in all haste against the enemy. And the people having ratified the decree of the senate, Valerius, one of the consuls, marched with one half of the army against the Aequian and the Volscians; for these two nations had joined forces.Understanding that the Aequians had gained assurance from their former successes and had come to entertain a great contempt for the Roman forces, he wished to increase their (p157) confidence and boldness by creating the false impression that he dreaded coming to close quarters with them, and in every move he simulated timidity. For instance, he chose for his camp a lofty position difficult of access, surrounded it with a deep ditch, and erected high ramparts. And when the enemy repeatedly challenged him to battle and taunted him with cowardice, he bore it with patience and remained quiet. But upon learning that their best forces had set out to plunder the territory of the Hernicans and the Latins and that there was left in the camp a garrison that was neither large nor able, he thought this was the fitting moment, and leading out his army in regular formation, he drew it up as for battle.Then, when no one came out to meet him, he held it in check that day, but on the next day led it against their camp, which was not very strong. When the enemy's detachments which had earlier gone out after forage heard that their camp was besieged, they speedily returned, though they did not put in an appearance all together and in good order, but scattered and in small parties, everyone coming up as he could; and those in the camp, as soon as they saw their own men approaching, took courage and sallied out in a body. Upon this, a great battle ensued, with much slaughter on both sides, a battle in which the Romans, gaining the victory, put to flight those who fought in closed ranks, and pursuing those who fled, killed some and made others prisoners; and taking possession of their camp, they seized much (p159) money and vast booty. After accomplishing this, Valerius now freely overran the enemy's country and laid it waste.