[3.64] [3.96M] They hardened their spears with fire which,
apart from the appearance which is necessary for war, could do almost as much
harm as iron. But, while the fugitive slaves were engaged in these activities,
some of the [Roman] soldiers were ill from the oppressive autumn climate; none
had come back from the previous rout, even though they had been sternly ordered
to return; and those who remained were shamelessly avoiding their military
duties. Varinius sent his quaestor
C. Thoranius to Rome, so that they could easily learn the real state of affairs
from him there. Meanwhile he took those soldiers who were willing to follow
him, four thousand in number, and encamped near [the slaves], surrounding his
camp with a rampart, ditch and huge fortifications. The slaves had used up all
their provisions, and wanted to avoid attack from the nearby enemy while they
were foraging. They used to keep watches and stand guard and carry out the
other duties of regular soldiers. About the second watch [of the night] they
all went out of their camp in silence, leaving behind one trumpeter. To give
the appearance of guards to anyone in the distance, they propped up the bodies
of men who had recently been killed on stakes outside the gate, and lit many
fires, which would be enough to frighten off Varinius' soldiers . . . their
journey . . . [ 4 lines missing ] . . . they turned onto an impassable
route. But Varinius, when it was now fully light, noticed the absence of the
slaves' usual taunts, of the showers of stones thrown into the camp, and of the
shouts and din of men [rushing all around]. He sent his cavalry up [a hill
which rose] nearby, to seek out and quickly [pursue the enemy]. He himself,
although he believed that [the slaves had gone] far away, was still afraid [of
an ambush], and [withdrew in a secure] formation, in order to double his army
[with new recruits]. But . . . Cumae . . . [ 5 lines
missing ] . . . #
[After] a few days, our men became more confident than usual and there was some
swaggering talk. This prompted Varinius to move rashly against a known danger
with soldiers who were new, untried, and daunted by the disasters which the
others had suffered. He led them at full speed against the slaves' camp, but
now they were quiet and did not enter battle as boastfully as they had
previously demanded it. But [the slaves] were almost at blows with each other,
because they could not agree on a plan of action; Crixus and his fellow Gauls and Germans wanted to go
out to confront [the Romans] and offer battle, while Spartacus [argued against
attacking them].
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