Mucius Scaevolla translation lines 22-35

cum rex simul ira incensus

perhaps blazing with anger at the same time

periculoque conterritus

and terrified by the danger

circumdari ignes minitabundus iuberet

ordered fires to be placed around, threateningly

en tibi’ inquit, “ut sentias quam vile corpus sit

“Here you are,” he said, “so that you may feel how cheap a body is”

iis qui magnam gloriam vident

to those who look for great glory

dextramque accenso foculo inicit

and he threw his right hand into the lit brazier

quam cum velut alienato ab sensu torretet

when it was scorching, as if he were separated from feeling

animo prope attonitus miraculo rex

the king, almost thunderstruck by the miracle

cum ab sede sua prosiluisset

when he had leapt up from his seat

amoverique ab altaribus iuvenem iussisset

and had ordered the young man to be moved away from the altars

‘tu vero abi’ inquit

“Go, indeed,” he said

“in te magis quam in me hostilia ausus.”

“you have dared hostile acts more against yourself than against me.”

“iuberem macte virtute esse, si pro mea patria ista virtus staret”

“I would bid you to be rewarded for your courage, if that courage had stood for my country.”

“nunc iure belli liberum te, intactum inviolatumque hinc dimitto.”

“Now by the law of war I release you free, unharmed and untouched from here.”

tunc Mucius, quasi remunerans meritum

then Mucius, as if repaying the favour, said

‘quando quidem est apud te virtuti honos’

“Since indeed there is honour for courage with you,”

‘ut beneficio tulieris a me quod minis nequisti’

“as you have gained from me by kindness what you could not gain by threats,”

‘trecenti coniuravimus principes iuventutis Romanae’

“three hundred of the Roman youth, leaders of our generation, have sworn together”

‘ut in te hac via grassaremur.’

“to attack you by this same path.”

‘mea prima sors fuit’

“Mine was the first lot.”

‘ceteri ut cuiusque ceciderit primi

“The others, as each one’s turn falls first,”

‘quoad te opportunum fortuna dederit, suo quisque tempore aderunt.’

“until fortune gives each the chance, will be here at their appointed time.”