• Marcus Antonius, as if he were an emperor positioning his own troops, was placing all the words in the most opportune parts of his oration. 

• He was using gestures not for the cause of representing words but for the illumination of sentences.

• Even if his voice was hoarse by nature, even he turned this vice into good.

• For it had something doleful and suitable both for making faith and arousing pity.

• For the orator desirous of bending minds it is necessary to consider of very much value actions in speaking, just as Demosthenes says.

• Indeed, even if I give Antonius so much praise as I have already said, nevertheless in Lucius Crassus there was the highest dignity, there was with this dignity and eloquence of speaking joined with Latin.

• For just as Antonius had incredible strength for either soothing souls or exciting, so in interpreting, in defining, and in explaining with fairness no one was better than Crassus.

• This is known in the case of Manius Curius.

• Thus Crassus said so many thing against the law for fairness that he conquered the most wise man Quintus Scaevola by means of an abundance of proofs and examples. 

• Whereas Crassus was thought to be the most expert of the eloquent ones, Scaevola was thought to be the most eloquent of the expert ones.

• I was going on the Sacred Way, as I was accustomed, thinking about my affairs.

• A certain me known only by name runs up to me, and having seized my hands, ” How are you doing? ” he says. 

• “Sweetly,” I said.

• When that one follows, I, seeking terribly much to depart, at one time I was going quickly, at one time I was stopping.

• That one was speaking, praising the rodes and Rome.

• As I was responding nothing to that one, he says, ” You desire terribly much to go away.”

• I say, ” I am going to the house of this certain friend, far across the Tiber.

• ” I have nothing to do, and I am not slow; I will follow you.”

• We had come to the Temple of Vesta, already the fourth part of the day having passed, and he had to answer at that law court; unless he did do this, he would lose the law suit. 

• “If you love me,” he says, ” remain here in order to help me.”

• ” I will perish, if I know the civil courts,” I say.

• ” What will I do? ” he says.

• ” Am I to abandon you or the law court?”

• “Me.”

• ” I will not do it.”

• Then Aristius Fustus, my dear friend, runs up.

• I seize his hand, nodding, distorting my eyes, as he seizes me.

• “Certainly you have something because you wish to discuss with me,” I say.

• ” I remember it well, but I will speak at a better time; forgive me; it is necessary for me to go away.”

• He flees and leaves me under the knife.

• Then the opponent runs up to that one: ” Where are you going away so shamefully?” he calls out in a great voice, and  ”Is it permitted for me to call you as a witness?”

• I offer my earlobe.

• He takes it in justice.

• Thus Apollo saved me.

• A fierce storm was impeding the army of Hannibal from crossing the Appenines: a great rain mixed with wind was beating the heads of the soldiers, who were fearing that so great a force of coldness they would not be able to endure.

• For two days they remained in this place as if besieged.

• Many men died, many animals died: even 7 elephants perished from those who always overcame until now.

Paragraph 2

• Hannibal, having come down from the Appenines, moved the camp from Placentia and having progressed 10 miles he encamped.

• On the next day he led 12,000 foot soldiers and 15,000 cavalry against the enemy; Sempronius the consul does not flee the battle.

• And on this day 3 miles ( lit. 3000 pases) were between the 2 camps; on the next day they ought with great courage.

• The first force of Rome was so superior that they not only conquered, but they followed the beaten enemy into the camp and they attacked the camp.

• Now it was the 9th hour of the day, when the Roman leader, since there was no hope of capturing the camp, ordered the soldiers to retreat themselves wholly.

• When Hannibal received this, immediately, with the cavalry sent away, he himself broke out with foot soldiers into the enemy from the middle of camp.

• He fought harshly, but night interrupted the battle.

• From each part 600 foot soldiers and 300 cavalry died; but the greater loss was of Rome, because so many men of the equestrian order, and 5 military tribunes, and 3 prefects of the allies were killed.