A day in the life of a Roman soldier - Robert Garland

Prevodilac: Milana Ružić Lektor: Milenka Okuka

The year is 15 CE and the Roman Empire is prospering.

Godina je 15. nove ere i Rimsko carstvo napreduje.

Most of the credit will go to the emperor,

Većim delom za to je zaslužan car,

but this success wouldn’t have been possible

ali njegov uspeh ne bi bio moguć

without loyal soldiers like Servius Felix.

bez odanih vojnika kao što je Servije Feliks.

Servius enlisted as a legionary eight years ago at age 18,

Servije se upisao u vojsku kao legionar pre 8 godina kada je imao 18,

the son of a poor farmer with few prospects.

sin siromašnog seljaka bez mnogo perspektive.

Unlike the majority of legionaries, he doesn’t gamble,

Za razliku od većine legionara, on se ne kocka,

so he’s been able to save most of his wages.

pa je uspeo da uštedi većinu svojih plata.

He’s even kept his viaticum,

Čak je sačuvao i novac za snabdevanje,

the three gold coins he received when he enlisted.

3 zlatna novčića koja je dobio kada se upisao u vojsku.

If he survives until retirement, he’ll receive several acres of land.

Ako preživi do penzije, dobiće nekoliko jutara zemlje.

And he’s grown rather fond of a girl back home

A prirasla mu je srcu devojka kod kuće

whom he intends to marry.

koju namerava da oženi.

But he’ll have to wait until he completes his 25 years of service

Ali moraće da sačeka dok navrši 25 godina službe

before that can happen.

pre nego se to može desiti.

And the life of a legionary is dangerous and grueling.

A život legionara je opasan i naporan.

Today, Servius’s legion, along with three others,

Danas je Servijeva legija, zajedno sa još tri,

has undertaken a “great march” of 30,000 Roman paces,

krenula u "veliki marš" od 30.000 rimskih koraka,

the equivalent of nearly 36 kilometers.

što je ekvivalentno skoro 36 kilometara.

Servius’s armor and weapons,

Servijevi štit i oružje,

including his gladius,

uključujući njegov mač,

scutum,

štit

and two pila,

i dva koplja

weigh over 20 kilograms.

teže preko 20 kilograma.

And that’s not counting his backpack, or sarcina,

A to ne uključuje njegov ranac ili teret

which contains food and all the tools he needs to help build the camp –

u kome se nalazi hrana i svi alati potrebni da izgradi kamp -

spade,

saw,

lopata,

testera,

pickaxe,

pijuk

and basket.

i korpa.

Although Servius is exhausted, he won’t sleep much tonight.

Iako je Servije iscrpljen, on večeras neće puno spavati.

He’s been assigned the first watch,

Dodeljena mu je prva smena na straži,

which means looking after the baggage animals

što znači briga o prtljagu životinja

and keeping alert against a possible ambush.

i pripravnost na moguću uzbunu.

After he’s done, he lies awake, dreading the day ahead,

Nakon što je gotov, on leži budan strahujući zbog predstojećeg dana,

which will force him to recall his worst nightmare.

što će ga naterati da se seti svoje najgore noćne more.

At dawn, Servius eats breakfast with his seven tent companions.

U zoru, Servije doručkuje sa sedam svojih saputnika.

They’re like a family, all bearing scars from the battles they’ve fought together.

Oni su kao porodica, svi nose ožiljke iz bitaka koje su zajedno borili.

Servius is from Italia,

Servije je iz Italije,

but his fellow soldiers hail from all over the empire,

ali njegovi saborci potiču iz celog carstva

which stretches from Syria to Spain.

koje se proteže od Sirije do Španije.

So they’re all far from home in the northern land of Germania.

Stoga su svi daleko od domova u severnim delovima Germanije.

Servius’s legion and three others with him today

Servijeva legija i tri druge zajedno sa njim danas

are under the command of Emperor Tiberius’s nephew Germanicus,

su pod komandom nećaka cara Tiberija, Germanika,

named for his father’s military successes against the Germanic tribes.

koji je dobio ime po vojnim uspesima svoga oca protiv germanskih plemena.

Each legion has close to 5,000 men,

Svaka legija ima blizu 5.000 muškaraca,

divided into cohorts of about 500,

podeljenih u jedinice od po oko njih 500,

further subdivided into centuries of around 80-100 men.

dalje podeljene u centurije od po oko 80-100 muškaraca.

Each century is commanded by a centurion.

Svakom je zapovedao centurion.

An aquilifer, or eagle-bearer, marches at the head of each legion

Akvilifer ili orlonoša, maršira na čelu legije

carrying its eagle standard.

noseći akvilu.

The centurions march beside the legionaries belting out orders,

Centurioni marširaju pored legionara izdajući naređenja,

“Dex, sin, dex, sin,"

"Dex, sin, dex, sin",

“Right, left, right, left,"

"Desna, leva, desna, leva",

starting with the right foot as the left is considered unlucky or sinister.

počinjući desnom nogom jer se leva smatra nesrećnom ili zlokobnom.

Despite the strict discipline, there’s tension in the air.

Uprkos strogoj disciplini postoji tenzija u vazduhu.

Last year, some legions in the area revolted,

Prošle godine su se neke legije u oblasti pobunile,

demanding better pay and a cut in the length of service.

zahtevajući veću platu i udeo srazmeran dužini njihove službe.

Only their general’s charisma and negotiating skills

Samo su harizma njihovog zapovednika i veštine pregovaranja

prevented wholesale mutiny.

sprečile totalnu pobunu.

Today is a “just march,” only 30 kilometers.

Današnji marš iznosi samo 30 kilometara.

As the marshes and forests of Germania lie beyond the empire’s road system

Kako močvare i šume Germanije leže izvan carskog putnog sistema

the men must build causeways and bridges to make headway—

muškarci moraju sagraditi nasipe i mostove da bi napredovali -

something they’ve recently spent more time doing than fighting.

nešto što su u poslednje vreme mnogo više radili nego što su se borili.

Finally, they arrive at their destination, a place Servius knows too well.

Konačno su stigli na odredište, mesto koje Servije zna vrlo dobro.

It’s a clearing on the outskirts of the Teutoburg Forest,

To je čistina na periferiji Teutoburške šume

where six years ago, during the reign of the Emperor Augustus,

gde su pre šest godina, tokom vladavine cara Avgusta

Germanic tribes under their chieftain Arminius

germanijska plemena pod vođstvom poglavara Arminija

ambushed and destroyed three legions.

napala iz zasede i uništila tri legije.

Proceeding along a narrow path,

Nastavljajući duž uske staze,

the legions were attacked from forest cover under torrential rain

legije su napadnute iz šume pod obilnom kišom,

with their escape blocked.

a izlaz im je blokiran.

It was one of the worst defeats the Romans ever suffered

To je bio jedan od najgorih poraza koji su Rimljani pretrpeli

and Augustus never lived it down.

i Avgust ga nikad nije prežalio.

Servius was one of the few survivors.

Servije je bio jedan od retkih preživelih.

Servius still has nightmares of his comrades lying where they fell.

Servije još uvek ima noćne more s njegovim drugovima kako leže tamo gde su pali.

But now the army is back to bury the dead with full military honors.

Ali sada se vojska vratila da sahrani umrle sa svim vojnim počastima.

As he helps in the task,

Kako im pomaže u zadatku,

he can’t help wondering whether the bones he handles belonged to someone he knew.

ne može a da se ne zapita da li kosti pripadaju nekome koga je poznavao.

Several times he wants to weep aloud, but he pushes on with the task.

Nekoliko puta poželi da plače glasno, ali nastavlja dalje sa zadatkom.

The glory of the Empire can go to the crows.

Slava carstva neka ide vranama.

All he craves is to retire on a small farm with his wife-to-be,

Sve što želi je da se penzioniše na maloj farmi sa budućom ženom,

if the gods should spare his life for 17 more years.

ako mu bogovi poštede život još 17 godina.