XXXII. When the result of this embassy was reported at Rome, the senate, laying aside all other business, despatched heralds to demand satisfaction, which not being complied with, and war being, in consequence, declared in the customary manner, they decreed that the affair should, without loss of time, be submitted to the consideration of the people. This was done accordingly, and, in pursuance of their order, the consuls instantly began their march; Valerius to Campania, Cornelius, to Sunium. The former pitched his camp near mount Gaurus, the latter at Saticula. The legions of the Samnites met Valerius first; for they sup

cording to instructions which they had brought | cohorts, and, with a loud voice, gave them orfrom home. "Though ye do not think proper ders to march instantly into the Campanian to defend us and our rights against violence territory, and plunder it. and injustice, ye will surely defend your own. We therefore surrender into your jurisdiction, Conscript Fathers, and that of the Roman people, the inhabitants of Campania, the city of Capua, our lands, the temples of the gods, and all things else appertaining to us, divine and human. Whatever sufferings we shall henceforward undergo, will be the sufferings of men who have put themselves under your dominion." Having spoken thus, they all stretched forth their hands towards the consuls, and, with floods of tears, prostrated themselves in the porch of the senate-house. The senate were deeply affected at this instance of the vicissitude of human grandeur; seeing that na-posed that the whole weight of the war would tion which possessed an exuberance of wealth, be directed to that side. They were, at the and was universally noted for luxury and pride, same time, stimulated by rage against the Camand to whom, a short time since, the neigh- panians, for having shown themselves so ready, bouring states looked up for support, so utterly at one time to give, at another to call in aid depressed in spirit, as voluntarily to resign against them. But no sooner did they see the themselves, and all that belonged to them into Roman camp, than, with one voice, they furithe power of others. They therefore thought ously demanded the signal from their leaders; themselves bound in honour not to abandon maintaining, confidently, that the Romans those who were now become their subjects; should meet the same fate, in supporting the and that it would be unjustifiable behaviour in Campanians, which had attended the latter, in the Samnites, if they persisted in carrying on supporting the Sidicinians. Valerius, after hostilities against a city and country which, in spending a few days in slight skirmishes, for consequence of the surrender, had become the the purpose of making trial of the enemy, dis property of the Roman people. It was in con- played the signal for battle, exhorting his men, sequence resolved, that ambassadors should be in few words, not to let the new war and the sent immediately to that nation. These were new enemy dispirit them. In proportion as instructed to make known "the request of the they carried their arms to a greater distance from Campanians; the answer of the senate, in the city, they would, in every stage of their which due regard was paid to the friendship of progress, meet nations more and more unwarthe Samnites; and the surrender made in con-like. They ought not to estimate the value of clusion. To request, that in consideration of the Samnites by the losses of the Sidicinians the alliance and intercourse subsisting between and Campanians. Let the combatants be of the states, they would spare their subjects, and what kind soever, one side must necessarily be not carry arms into a country which now made worsted. As to the Campanians, they were a part of the Roman state. And, if gentle re- undoubtedly vanquished by debility, flowing monstrances did not produce the desired effect, from excessive luxury, and by their own pusilthat they should then denounce to the Samnites, lanimity, rather than by the strength of their as the will of the senate and people of Rome, enemy. And, after all, of what weight were that they should retire from the city of Capua, two successful wars on the side of the Samand the Campanian territory." When these nites during so many ages, in the balance things were represented to the ambassadors in against the glorious achievements of the the assembly of the Samnites, they not only Roman people, who reckoned nearly a greater answered fiercely, that they would continue number of triumphs than of years from the the war, but their magistrates, going out of the foundation of their city, and who had extended senate-house, while the ambassadors were stand- the sway of their victorious arms over all around ing on the spot, called the commanders of their them; the Sabines, Etruria, the Latines, the

any competitor whatever. In his actions, beneficent according to the occasion; in his conversation, as attentive to the ease and freedom of others, as to his own dignity; and what is in the highest degree attractive of public esteem, the same mode of conduct, by which he had gained the magistracy, was pursued by him throughout the whole of his administration. The troops, therefore, universally applauding the exhortations of their commander marched out of the camp with incredible alacrity. The battle commenced with as equal hopes, and as equal strength, on both sides, as any that ever was fought; each party full of confidence in themselves, without despising their adversary. The Samnites were emboldened by their late exploits, and the having gained two victories within the space of a few days; the Romans, on the other side, by the glorious

Hernicians, the quans, the Volscians, the Auruncians? Who, after slaying myriads of Gauls, in so many battles, forced them at last, to fly to their ships? As every soldier ought to go courageously into the field, animated by the national renown in arms, so ought he, at the same time, to consider the commander, under whose conduct and auspices he is to fight, whether he be one, capable of attracting attention, merely by his pompous exhortations, spirited in words alone, and unqualified for military labours: or one who well knows how to wield arms, to advance before the standards, and to encounter the thickest of the fight. "Soldiers," said he, "I wish you to be led by my actions, not by my words; and to take, not only orders, but example also, from me. It was not by intrigues, nor by cabals, usual among the nobles, but by this right hand, that I procured to myself three consulships, and the high-achievements of four hundred years, and sucest praises of my country men. There was a time when it might have been said of me,You enjoyed these dignities because you were a patrician, and descended from the deliverers of your country; and because your family had the consulship in the same year wherein the city first had a consul.-This might have been said. But at present the consulship lies open to us patricians, and to you plebeians, without distinction: nor is it, as formerly, the prize of birth, but of merit. Look forward, therefore, soldiers, to the very summit of honours. though ye have given me, among yourselves, and in consequence of the approbation of the gods, the new surname of Corvus, the ancient one of our family, the Publicolæ, is not erased from my memory. I do, and ever did, cultivate the favour of the Roman commons, in war and in peace; in a private station, and in public offices, both high and low; in that of tribune, equally as in that of consul; and with the same tenor of conduct through all my several consulships. As to the present business join your endeavours with mine, to obtain, by the favour of the gods, a new and signal triumph over these Samnites."

cess coeval with the foundation of their city; both parties, however, felt some unusual concern on engaging with a new enemy. The conflict gave proof of the spirit which they possessed; for they maintained it for a considerable time, without either giving way in the least. The consul, since the enemy could not be overpowered by force, endeavoured, by a charge of his cavalry, to disorder their foremost battalions; but when he saw their irregular efforts attended with no success, being Al- obliged to wheel their squadrons in a narrow compass, and that they could not open to themselves a passage, he rode back to the van of the legions, and, leaping from his horse, said to them, "Soldiers, the task belongs to infantry; come on, then; as ye shall see me making way with my sword to the main body of the enemy; so let each, with all his might, beat down those who oppose him. Soon then shall that ground, where their erected spears are now glittering, be effectually cleared by a wide-extended slaughter." By the time he had uttered these words, the cavalry, by his order, turned to the wings, and left the way open for the legions. The consul advanced first, and slew the person whom he happened to engage. Fired at this sight, every one on the right and left of him, assaulted his opposite foe with extraordinary fury. The Samnites, though they received a greater number of wounds than they gave, obstinately stood their ground. The battle had now continued a considerable time and great slaughter was made round the stan 24*

XXXIII. Never was there a commander who put himself on a more familiar footing with his soldiers, performing every subaltern duty, without reluctance. In the military sports, wherein it is the custom for equals to vie with equals in speed and strength, he was condescending and affable; success or defeat made no alteration in him, nor did he disdain Vol I-2 N

dards of the Samnites, yet in no part were any of them seen to fly; so determined were they to be vanquished by death alone. The Romans, therefore, finding their strength beginning to relax, and that only a small part of the day remained, rushed upon the enemy. Now was the first appearance of the Samnites giving ground, and of the matter being likely to end in their flight; great numbers were made prisoners or slain; nor would many of them have survived had not night stopped the pursuit, for it was no longer a battle. On the other side, the Romans acknowledged that they never had fought with a more determined enemy; and on the other, the Samnites, on being asked what was the cause which first impelled men so firm at the outset to fly, made answer that it was occasioned by the eyes of the Romans, which appeared to flash with fire, together with their desperate looks and furious aspect; for that in fact they felt more terror from these, than from any other circumstance. And this terror was confirmed, not only in the issue of the battle, but by their marching away during the night. Next day, the Romans took possession of the deserted camp, into which the Campanians poured in a body to congratulate them.

:

have in their power to move without bringing destruction on themselves, as they, from occupying the lower ground will be exposed to every weapon we throw. As for ourselves, either the fortune of the Roman people, or our own courage, will extricate us." He was highly commended by the consul, and having received the body of troops which he desired, made his way through the mountains by concealed paths; nor was he noticed by the enemy, until he came near the spot which he wished to gain: they were then universally seized with astonishment and affright; so that, attracting the eyes of all to himself, he gave time to the consul to lead off his troops to more favourable ground, while he took post himself on the highest summit. The Samnites, marching their forces sometimes towards one side, sometimes towards the other, lost the opportunity of effecting either business; for they could neither pursue the consul, except through the same defile in which they lately had him under the power of their weapons, nor march up their men against the acclivity, to the eminence occupied by Decius, over their heads. They were enraged principally against those who had snatched from them the opportunity of acting with success, and the nearness of their situation, and the smallness of the party, would have led them to seek for vengeance there: but they could resolve on nothing: at one time it was intended to surround the hill on all sides with troops, and thus cut off Decius from the consul; at another, to leave open a passage, and then to fall on him, when he should have descended into the defile; night however came upon them, before they had determined which measure to pursue. Decius at first entertained hopes that he might engage them advantageously, as they should advance against the steep; and was afterwards surprised that they did not proceed to attack him, or, if they were deterred by the difficulty of the ground, that they did not surround him with works. At length, calling the centurions to him, he said, "What a want of military skitl, and what indolence do they not discover? How did such men as these gain a victory over the Sidicinians and Campanians? See how their battalions move to and fro, sometimes collected into one spot, sometimes drawn out for a march: not a man doing any thing, although, by this time, they might have surround

XXXIV. But the joy caused by this event had nearly been allayed by a terrible disaster in Samnium for the consul Cornelius, departing from Saticula, incautiously led his army into a mountainous tract, passable only through a deep defile, and occupied on all sides by the enemy: nor did he perceive their troops posted over his head, until it was too late for his men to retreat with safety; while the Samnites waited only until he should bring down the whole of his army into the valley. Publius Decius, a tribune of the Soldiers, observed one hill higher than the rest hanging over the enemy's camp, too steep to be climbed by an army encumbered with baggage, but not difficult to troops lightly accoutred. Addressing, therefore, the consul, who was in great perturbation, he said, " Aulus Cornelius, do you see that high point above the enemy? That is the bulwark of our hopes and safety, if we are expeditious in making ourselves masters of a post, which nothing but blindness could have hindered the enemy from seizing. I ask only the first rank and spearmen of one legion; when I shall have arrived at the summit with these, then do you proceed forward, free from all apprehension, and preserve your-ed us with a rampart. As this is the case, we self and the army. For the enemy will not should too much resemble them, if we remained

here longer than is expedient. Come on, then :| whom ye baffled in such a manner, while they follow me, that while there is yet some little were awake, it is your business to elude, when day-light remaining, we may discover in what they are buried in sleep. Nay, there is a necesplaces they post their guards, and if there is a sity for it; for in such a situation are our passage for us left open." Of all these matters affairs, that my part is rather to point out what he took an accurate view, clad in a soldier's necessity enforces, than to offer you counsel. vest; the centurions, whom he took with him, For whether ye are to stay, or to remove from being also in the dress of common soldiers, lest this place, admits not of deliberation. Fortune the enemy should take notice of the commander has left us nothing here, besides our arms and going the round. courage to make use of them: and consequently, we must perish through hunger and thirst, if we fear the sword of the enemy, beyond what becomes men and Romans. There is, therefore, but one way to safety; and that is, to sally forth. This we must do either by day, or by night. But there is another consideration, that cuts off all hesitation; which is, that if we wait for the light, we can have no hope that the enemy, who at present, encompass the hill on all sides, as ye see, with their bodies exposed at disadvantage, will not hem us in with a continued rampart and trench. If night then be favourable to a sally, as it appears to be, this certainly is the fittest hour of it. Ye assembled here on the signal of the second watch; a time in which your foes are sunk in the profoundest sleep. Ye will pass among them, either in silence, entirely escaping their notice, or ready, if they should perceive you, to terrify them with a sudden shout. Only follow me, whom ye have hitherto followed. The same fortune, which conducted us hither, will conduct us home. And now, such of you as are of opinion, that this is a salutary plan, come over with me, to the right."

XXXV. Having placed watch-guards in proper places, he commanded notice to be issued, by ticket,* to all the rest, that, on the signal being given, by the cornet sounding the second watch, they should come to him silently in arms. When they had assembled there, according to their orders, he addressed them thus: "Soldiers, silence is necessary, ye must therefore listen to me, without testifying your approbation in the usual manner. When I shall have fully explained my sentiments to you, then such of you, as agree in opinion with me, will pass over, without noise to the right; on which ever side the majority shall be,that judgment shall be followed. Now hear what I have to propose. The enemy have surrounded you; but not in consequence of your taking refuge here in cowardice. By valour ye seized this spot: by valour ye must make your way from it. By coming hither, ye have saved a most valuable army to the Roman people; by forcing your passage hence, save yourselves. It becomes your character that, though few in number, ye afford succour to multitudes, while ye yourselves need no aid. The enemy whom ye have to deal with, is the same who, yesterday, stupidly neglected to make use of the opportunity, which fortune had put in their hands, of cutting off our whole army; who never saw this hill hanging with such advantage over their heads, until they found us in possession of it; and who, with all the thousands of which their forces consist, neither prevented the ascent of such a small party as ours, nor, when we became masters of the place, surrounded us with entrenchments, though there was so much of the day remaining. Those

* The common method of communicating the watchword, and such orders as required expedition, was, to write them on a small tablet or ticket, tessera, which the tribunes sent to the first centurion, by whom it was

sent on to the next; and thus it passed to all the centurions in order, until it came to the last, who returned it to the tribune.

XXXVI. Every man of them went over, and followed Decius, who bent his way through the spaces which lay open between the guards. They had now passed the middle of the camp, when a soldier, striding over the bodies of the watchmen, who lay asleep on the ground, by striking one of their shields, occasioned a noise; on which the watchman being roused, stirred the next to him, and each, as he awoke, called up the rest, ignorant whether these were friends or foes, whether the party had sallied from the hill, or the consul had taken their camp. Decius, finding that he was discovered, ordered his men to raise a shout, and thus disheartened them with affright before they had shaken off the heaviness of sleep, perplexing them to such a degree, that they were incapable of taking arms briskly, so as to make head against, or to harass him in pursuit. During this consternation and

confusion of the Samnites, the party of Romans, | and put all the parties to flight from their sekilling such of the guards as fell in their way, veral posts. Thus a great part of them yielded made good their passage to the camp of the the victory to an enemy whom they did not see. consul. There was a considerable part of the Those, whose fears had driven them within the night yet to come, and they now seemed to be ramparts, amounting to thirty thousand, were in safety, when Decius said to them, " Roman all put to the sword. The camp was plunsoldiers, I honour your bravery; ages to come dered. shall extol both your enterprise and your return. But, in order that others may be gratified with a view of such eminent merit, light is requisite: nor is it fitting that you be concealed under darkness and silence, while returning into the camp with such distinguished glory. Here let us wait in quiet for the day." His words were obeyed; and, as soon as morning appeared, a messenger being sent forward into the camp, to the consul, the troops there were roused from sleep to excessive joy; and the news being conveyed round by ticket, that those men were returning, in safety,who had exposed themselves to such imminent danger for the preservation of them all, they poured out in a body eagerly to meet them; praised them, congratulated them, called them each, and all together, their preservers; gave thanks and praises to the gods, and almost worshipped Decius. Thus did the tribune enjoy a kind of triumph in the camp, as he marched through the middle of it, with his party in arms, all men fixing their eyes on, and honouring him, in the same manner as the consul. When they arrived at the general's tent, the consul summoned an assembly by sound of trumpet; but which (after having begun to expatiate on the merits of Decius) he adjourned, on the interposition of Decius himself; who recommended, that every other business should be postponed, while it was in their power to improve the occasion which presented itself. He then advised the consul to attack the enemy while they were under consternation, and scattered round the hill in detached parties : adding, that he even believed that numbers who had been sent out in pursuit of him, were straggling through the forest. The legions were accordingly ordered to take arms. and marching out of camp, the forest being now better known by means of scouts, were led towards the enemy through a more open tract. By sudden and unexpected attacks, the soldiers of the Samnites being dispersed up and down, and most of them unarmed, as was supposed, they first drove them in a panic into the camp, and then, after beating off the guards, took the camp itself. The shout spread quite round the hill,

XXXVII. The business being thus concluded, the consul again called an assembly, and pronounced a panegyric on Decius; representing his actions, not merely as he had begun to recite them, but as consummated since, by a new display of merit; and besides other military gifts, presented him with a golden crown, and an hundred oxen, one of them white, of extraordinary beauty, richly ornamented, and having gilded horns. To the soldiers, who had been on the party with him, he assigned a double portion of corn for ever, with an ox and two vests to each. Beside the consul's donations, the legions set on Decius's head a crown of grass, denoting deliverance from a blockade, accompanying the present with a military shout of approbation. Another crown, expressive of the same compliment, was put on his head by his own party. Decorated with these honourable emblems, he sacrificed the beautiful white ox to Mars, and bestowed the hundred others on the soldiers, who had accompanied him in the expedition. To the same soldiers the legions made a contribution, each man of a pound of corn, and a pint of wine: all this was performed with an extraordinary degree of cordiality, accompanied with the mi litary shout, a token of universal approbation The third battle was fought near Suessula, where the army of the Samnites, which had been routed by Marcus Valerius being joined by all the able young men of their nation, whom they called from home, determined to try their fortune in a final contest. From Suessula hasty messengers came to Capua, and horsemen from thence at full speed to the consul Valerius, to beg for succour. The troops were quickly put in motion, and, leaving a strong guard with the baggage in the camp, proceeded on their march with rapidity. They chose for their camp a very narrow spot, at a small distance from the enemy, as they were not attended by a crowd of servants, and having no other baggage than horses. The Samnites, without delay, drew up in order of battle; and when they found that no army was sent to meet them, advanced, in readiness for action, to