Livy Lines 10-21 - Translation

vadentem inde qua per trepidam turbam cruento mucrone sibi ipse fecerat viam, cum concursu ad clamorem facto comprehensum regii satellites retraxissent, ante tribunal regis destitutus, tum quoque inter tantas fortunae minas metuendus magis quam metuens,

Making his way from there where he himself had made a path through the fearful crowd with his bloodstained sword, when the royal bodyguards having made a rush towards the shouting, arresting him and dragged him back, left alone in front of the king’s platform, even then more to be feared amid such great threats of fortune than fearful,

“Romanus sum” inquit, “civis;

he said, “I am a Roman citizen;

Gaium Mucium vocant.

They call me Gaius Mucius.

hostis hostem occidere volui, nec ad mortem minus animi est quam fuit ad caedem;

As an enemy, I wanted to kill my enemy, and I do not have less resolve for death than I had for murder;

et faceret pati fortia Romanum est.

it is Roman both to do and to suffer brave deeds.

nec unus in te ego hos animos gessi;

Nor am I alone to have borne these feelings of hatred towards you;

longus post me ordo est idem petentium decus.

there is a long line of men after me seeking the same glory.

proinde in hoc discrimen, si iuvat, accingere, ut in singulas horas capite dimices tuo, ferrum hostemque in vestibulo habeas regiae.

Therefore, prepare yourself for this danger, if it pleases you, to fight for your life every hour, and have an enemy carrying a sword in the porch of your royal residence.

hoc tibi iuventus Romana indicimus bellum.

We, the Roman youth, have declared this war against you.

nullam aciem, nullum proelium timueris;

You are to fear no battleline, no battle;

uni tibi et cum singulis res erit.”

the matter will be between you alone and individuals.”