optimum factū[1] exīstimābant in Castra Cornēlia legiōnēs redūcere, ut maiōre[2] spatiō temporis interpositō mīlitum mentēs sānārentur[3], simul ut exercitus, sī proeliō victus esset, in Siciliam facile trānsportārī posset. Cūriō tamen “Neutrum[4] cōnsilium[5],” inquit, “probō; neque enim tantī sum animī, ut castra tam mūnīta temerē oppugnanda cēnseam, neque tantī timōris, ut spem statim dīmittam, atque omnia prius[6] experienda arbitror.”
Quārē, dīmissō cōnsiliō, cōntiōnem[7] advocat mīlitum; quōrum animōs verbīs cōnfīrmat, docetque quid sit causae[8], cūr sibi Caesarīque fidēlēs sint[9]. Quā ōrātiōne permōtī mīlitēs eum[10] etiam dīcentem interpellābant, discēdentem vērō ex cōntiōne[11] ūniversī cohortantur ut magnō sit animō neve dubitet proelium committere et suam fidem[12] virtūtemque experīrī[13].
- ↑ factū: cf. p. 126, l. 17; omit here in translating.
- ↑ maiōre: absol. compar., mentēs: mēns, mentis, F., feeling, lit. mind.
- ↑ sānārentur: sānō, 1: pass., become normal, heal, simul: i.e. furthermore.
- ↑ neutrum: neuter, -tra, -trum: neither (of two).
- ↑ cōnsilium: n, contrast the meaning here and on p. 149, l. 15.
- ↑ prius: adv., i.e. before giving up hope, experienda: experior, 4, expertus sum, try.
- ↑ cōntiōnem: f, assembly, advocat: advocō, 1, call together.
- ↑ quid causae: for syntax of the gen., cf. suī timōris, p. 149, l. 13, what grounds, verbīs: sc. suīs.
- ↑ sint: lit. they should be; translate the clause freely.
- ↑ eum: i.e. Cūriōnem, etiam dīcentem: translate this and the following part by clauses; interpellābant: kept interrupting; discēdentem: sc. eum.
- ↑ cōntiōne: f, the meeting, ūniversī: freely, one and all; magnō . . . animō: for syntax, cf. the note on p. 135, l. 2; neve: and not to (nē + ve); cf. neque (in sense = nōn + que).
- ↑ fidem: f, cf. fidēlēs, l. 11, loyalty.
- ↑ experīrī: cf. l. 7, make trial of.
