Agr. 35.1Et adloquente adhūc Agricolā mīlitum ardor ēminēbat, et fīnem ōrātiōnis ingēns alacritās cōnsecūta est, statimque ad arma discursum.Even while Agricola was still speaking the soldiers' ardour was plain to see, and the end of his speech was followed by tremendous enthusiasm, and at once they ran to arms. Agr. 35.2Īnstīnctōs ruentīsque ita disposuit, ut peditum auxilia, quae octō mīlium erant, mediam aciem firmārent, equitum tria mīlia cornibus adfunderentur.As they were roused and rushing forward, he deployed them so that the auxiliary infantry, eight thousand strong, strengthened the centre, and three thousand cavalry were spread out on the wings. Agr. 35.2Legiōnēs prō vallō stetēre, ingēns victōriae decus citrā Rōmānum sanguinem bellandī, et auxilium, sī pellerentur.The legions stood in front of the rampart, a great glory to the victory if the war were fought without shedding Roman blood, and a support if the others were driven back. Agr. 35.3Britannōrum aciēs in speciem simul ac terrōrem ēditiōribus locīs Cōnstiterat ita, ut prīmum agmen in aequō, cēterī per adclīve iugum cōnexī velut īnsurgerent;The Britons' line had taken its stand on higher ground, both for show and to inspire terror, in such a way that the first rank was on the level, while the rest rose up as if in tiers along the sloping ridge; Agr. 35.3media campī covinnārius eques strepitū ac discursū complēbat.the chariot-fighters filled the middle of the plain with their din and their charging about.
Agr. 35.4Tum Agricola superante hostium multitūdine veritus, nē in frontem simul et latera suōrum pugnārētur, dīductīs ōrdinibus, quamquam porrēctior aciēs futūra erat et arcessendās plērīque legiōnēs admonēbant, promptior in spem et firmus adversīs, dīmissō equō pedes ante vēxilla cōnstitit.Then Agricola, fearing, because of the enemy's superior numbers, that his men would be attacked on the front and the flanks at once, opened out his ranks, although the line was going to be overstretched and many were urging him to bring up the legions; more ready to hope and steadfast in adversity, he sent away his horse and took his stand on foot in front of the standards.