pened, that through the course of that year, recommending them to their particular care. as often as the dictator left the army, the Sam- This behaviour, popular in itself, he maintained nites were in motion: but Marcus Valerius, with such dexterity, that by his attention to the lieutenant-general, who commanded in the their recovery, he gradually gained their affeccamp, had Quintus Fabius before his eyes for tion; nor did any thing so much contribute an example, not to fear any violence of the towards their recovery as the gratitude excited enemy, so much as the unrelenting anger of the by this humane condescension. As soon as dictator. So that when a body of his foragers the men were restored to health, he came to an fell into an ambuscade, and were cut to pieces engagement with the enemy; and both himself in disadvantageous ground, it was generally and the troops, being possessed with full conbelieved that the lieutenant-general could have fidence of success, he so entirely defeated and given them assistance, if he had not been held dispersed the Samnites, that they never, after in dread by his rigorous orders. The resent- that day, met the dictator in the field. The ment which this excited helped to alienate the victorious army, afterwards directed its march affections of the soldiery from the dictator; wherever a prospect of booty invited, and traagainst whom they had been before incensed versed their territories without a weapon being by his implacable behaviour towards Quintus raised against them, or any opposition given, Fabius, and from having granted him pardon at either openly or by stratagem. It added to the intercession of the Roman people, after he their alacrity, that the dictator had, by proclahad refused it to their entreaties. mation, given the whole spoil to the soldiers; so that they were animated not only by the public quarrel, but by their private emolument. Thus reduced, the Samnites sued to the dictator for peace, and, after they had engaged to supply each of his soldiers with a suit of clothes, and a year's pay, being ordered to apply to the senate, they answered, that they would follow the dictator, committing their cause wholly to his integrity and honour. On this the troops were withdrawn out of Samnium.

XXXVI. The dictator prohibited Quintus Fabius from acting in any case as a magistrate, conferred the command in the city on Lucius Papirius Crassus, as master of the horse, and then returned to the camp; where his arrival brought neither any great joy to his countrymen, nor any degree of terror to the enemy: for, on the day following, either not knowing the dictator's arrival, or little regarding whether he were present or absent, they marched out in order of battle. Of such importance, however, was that single man, Lucius Papirius, that, had the zeal of the soldiers seconded the dispositions of the commander, no doubt was entertained that an end might have been put, that day, to the war with the Samnites. He chose the best possible position for his troops, posted his body of reserve most judiciously, and strengthened them with every advantage which military skill could devise: but the soldiers exerted no vigour; and designedly kept from conquering, in order to injure the reputation of their leader. Of the Samnites, however, very many were slain; and great numbers of the Romans wounded. The experienced commander quickly perceived the circumstance which prevented his success, and that it would be necessary to moderate his temper, and to mingle mildness with austerity. Accordingly, attended by the lieutenants-general, he went round to the tents of the wounded soldiers, inquiring of each the state of his health; then, mentioning them by name, he gave them in charge to the officers, tribunes and præfects,

XXXVII. [Y. R. 431. B. C. 321.] The dictator entered the city in triumph; and, though desirous of resigning his office immediately, yet, by order of the senate, he held it until the consuls were elected: these were Caius Sulpicius Longus, a second time, and Quintus Æmilius Cerretanus. The Samnites, without finishing the treaty of peace, the terms being still in negotiation, departed, after concluding a truce for a year. Nor was even that faithfully observed; so strongly was their inclination for war excited, on hearing that Papirius was gone out of office. In this consulate of Caius Sulpicius and Quintus Æmilius, (some histories have Aulius,) to the revolt of the Samnites, was added a new war with the Apulians. Armies were sent against both. The Samnites fell by lot to Sulpicius, the Apulians to Æmilius. Some writers say, that this war was not waged with the Apulians, but in defence of the allied states of that nation, against the violence and injustice of the Samnites. But the circumstances of the Samnites at that period, when they were themselves engaged in a war,

which they could with difficulty support, render | fore, of extraordinary force, was sent against it more probable that they did not make war on them. Although in a hostile country, their the Apulians, but that both nations were in camp was pitched in as careless a manner, as if arms against the Romans at the same time. the foe were at a great distance; when, suddenHowever, no memorable event occurred. The ly, the legions of the Samnites approached with lands of the Apulians and Samnium were ut- so much boldness as to advance their rampart terly laid waste; but in neither quarter did the close to an out-post of the Romans. Night enemy show themselves. At Rome, an alarm, coming on, prevented their assaulting the works; which happened in the night, suddenly roused but they did not conceal their intention of doing the people from their sleep, in such a fright, so next day, as soon as the light should appear. that the capitol and citadel, the walls and gates, The dictator found that there would be a newere all filled with men in arms. But after cessity for fighting sooner than he had expected, they had called all to their posts, and run toge- and lest the situation should be an obstruction ther, in bodies, in every quarter, when day ap- to the bravery of the troops, he led away the peared, neither the author nor cause of the legions in silence, leaving a great number of alarm could be discovered. This year, in pur- fires the better to deceive the enemy. The suance to the advice of Flavius, a tribune of camps, however, lay so close together, that he the commons, the Tusculans were brought to a could not escape their observation: their cavaltrial before the people. He proposed, that ry instantly pursued, and pressed closely on his punishment should be inflicted on those of the troops, yet refrained from attacking them until Tusculans, "by whose advice and assistance the day appeared. Their infantry did not even the Veliternians and Privernians had made war quit their camp before day-light. As soon as on the Roman people." The Tusculans, with it was dawn, the cavalry ventured to begin skirtheir wives and children, came to Rome, and in mishing; and by harassing the Roman rear, mourning habits, like persons under accusation, and pressing them in places of difficult passage, went round the tribes, throwing themselves at considerably delayed their march. Meanwhile the feet of the citizens with humble supplica- their infantry overtook their cavalry; and now tions. This excited a degree of compassion the Samnites pursued close with their entire which operated more effectually towards pro- force. The dictator then, finding that he could curing them pardon, than all the arguments they no longer go forward without great inconvenicould urge, did towards clearing themselves of ence, ordered the spot where he stood to be guilt. Every one of the tribes except the Pol-measured out for a camp. But it was imposlian, negatived the proposition. The sentence sible, while the enemy's horse were spread about of the Pollian tribe was, that the grown-up on every side, that palisades could be brought, males should be beaten, and put to death, and and the work be begun: seeing it, therefore, their wives and children sold by auction, accord-impracticable, either to march forward, or to ing to the rules of war. It appears that the resentment which arose against the advisers of so rigorous a measure, was retained in memory by the Tusculans down to the age of our fathers; and that hardly any candidate of the Pollian tribe could, ever since, gain the votes of the Papirian.

XXXVIII. In the following year, [Y. R. 432. B. C. 320.] which was the consulate of Quintus Fabius and Lucius Fulvius, Aulus Cornelius Arvina being made dictator, and Marcus Fabius Ambustus master of the horse, troops were levied with greater exertion than ordinary, under the apprehension of having a more powerful opposition than usual to encounter, in the war with the Samnites, who, it was reported, had procured from their neighbours, a number of young men for hire: an army there

settle himself there, he drew up his troops for battle, removing the baggage out of the line. The enemy likewise formed their line opposite to his; no wise inferior, either in spirit or in strength. Their courage was chiefly improved from not knowing that the motive of the Romans' retreat was the incommodiousness of the ground, so that they imagined themselves objects of terror, and supposed that they were pursuing men who fled through fear. This kept the balance of the fight equal for a considerable time; though of late, it had been unusual with the Samnites to stand even the shout of a Roman army. Certain it is, that the contest, on this day, continued so very doubtful from the third hour to the eighth, that neither was the shout repeated, after being raised at the first onset, nor the standards moved either forward

or backward; not any ground lost on either side. They fought without taking breath, every man in his post, and pushing against their opponents with their shields. The noise continuing equal, and the terror of the fight the same, seemed to denote, that the decision would be effected either by fatigue or by the night. The men had now exhausted their strength, the sword its power, and the leaders their skill; when, on a sudden, the Samnite cavalry, having learned from a single troop which had advanced beyond the rest, that the baggage of the Romans lay at a distance from their army, without any guard or defence, eager for booty, they hastened to attack it: of which, the dictator being informed by a hasty messenger, said, "Let them alone, let them encumber themselves with spoils." Afterwards came several, one after another, crying out, that they were plundering and carrying off all the effects of the soldiers: he then called to him the master of the horse, and said, "Do you see, Marcus Fabius, that the enemy's cavalry have forsaken the fight? They are entangled and encumbered with our baggage. Attack them: you will find them, as is the case of every multitude employed in plundering, scattered about; few mounted on horseback, few with swords in their hands; and, while they are loading their horses with spoils, and unarmed, put them to the sword, and make it bloody spoil for them. I will take care of the legions, and the fight of the infantry; yours be the honour which the horse shall acquire."

The cavalry now could be seen by those in front, and Cornelius, turning about to the several companies, made them understand, by raising his voice and hands, that he saw the standards and bucklers of his own horsemen. On hearing which, and at the same time seeing them, they, at once, so far forgot the fatigue which they had endured, through almost the whole day, and even their wounds, that they rushed to the fray with as much vigour and alacrity, as if they were coming fresh out of camp on receiving the signal for battle. The Samnites could no longer sustain the charge of horse and foot together; part of them, inclosed on both sides, were cut off; the rest separated and fled different ways. The infantry slew those who were surrounded and made resistance; and the cavalry made great havoc of the fugitives, among whom fell their general. This battle crushed, at length, the power of the Samnites so effectually, that, in all their meetings, they expressed so much discontent, and said, "it was not at all to be wondered at, if in an impious war, commenced in violation of a treaty, when the gods were, with justice, more incensed against them than men, none of their undertakings prospered. They were not to expect the crime, (for such an infraction of treaties must be held,) to be expiated and atoned for without a heavy penalty. The only alternative they had, was whether the penalty should be the guilty blood of a few, or the innocent blood of all." Some now ventured XXXIX. The body of cavalry, in the most to name the authors of the war, among whom exact order possible, charging the enemy, who was particularly mentioned Brutulus Papius: were straggling and embarrassed, filled every he was a man of power and noble birth, and place with slaughter: for the packages which undoubtedly the cause of the late rupture. they hastily threw down, and which lay in the The prætors being compelled to take the opinway of their feet, and of the affrighted horses, ion of the assembly concerning him, a decree as they endeavoured to escape, made them un- was made, "that Brutulus Papius should be able either to fight or fly. Then Fabius, after delivered into the hands of the Romans; and he had almost entirely cut off the enemy's horse, that, together with him, all the spoil taken from led round his squadrons in a small circuit, and the Romans, and the prisoners, should be sent attacked the infantry in the rear. The new to Rome, and that the restitution demanded by shout, raised in that quarter, terrified the Sam- the heralds, in conformity to treaty, should be nites on the one hand; and when, on the other, made, as was agreeable to justice and equity." the dictator saw their troops in the van looking In pursuance of this determination, heralds behind them, their battalions in confusion, and were sent to Rome, and also the dead body of their line wavering, he earnestly exhorted and | Brutulus; for, by a voluntary death, he avoided animated his men, calling on the tribunes and the punishment and ignominy intended for chief centurions, by name, to join him in renew-him. It was thought proper that his goods ing the fight. Raising the shout anew, they also should be delivered up along with the pressed forward, and as they advanced, per- body. But none of all those things were acceived the enemy more and more confused. cepted, except the prisoners, and such articles

of the spoil as were recognized by the owners. The dictator obtained a triumph by a decree of the senate.

forming the business, which in truth reflected no great lustre on his office, he resigned the dictatorship. It is not easy to determine between either the facts or the writers, which of them deserves the preference: I am persuaded that history has been much corrupted by means of funeral panegyrics, and false inscriptions on monuments; each family striving by false representations to appropriate to itself the fame of warlike exploits, and public honours. From this cause, certainly, much confusion has taken place, both in the memoirs of individuals, and in the public records of events. Nor is there extant any writer, contemporary with those events, on whose authority we can with cer

XL. Some writers affirm, that the consuls had the conduct of this war, and that they triumphed over the Samnites; and also, that Fabius advanced into Apulia, and carried off from thence abundance of spoil. But that Aulus Cornelius was dictator that year is an undisputed fact. The question then is, whether he was appointed for the purpose of conducting the war, or on occasion of the illness of Lucius Plautius, the prætor; in order that there might be a magistrate to give the signal for the starting of the chariots at the Roman games. This latter is asserted of him; and that after per- tainty rely.

THE

HISTORY OF ROME.

BOOK IX.

Titus Veturius and Spurius Postumius, with their army, surrounded by the Samnites at the Caudine forks; enter into a treaty, give six hundred hostages, and are sent under the yoke. The treaty declared invalid; the two generals and the other sureties sent back to the Samnites but are not accepted. Not long after, Papirius Cursor obliterates this disgrace, by vanquishing the Samnites, sending them under the yoke, and recovering the hostages. Two tribes added. Appius Claudius. censor, constructs the Claudian aqueduct, and the Appian road; admits the sons of freedom into the senate. Successes against the Apulians, Etruscana, Umbrians, Marsians, Pelignians, Æquans, and Samnites. Mention made of Alexander the Great, who flourished at this time; a comparative estimate of his strength, and that of the Roman people, tending to show, that if he had carried his arms into Italy, he would not have been as successful there as he had been in the Eastern countries.

them up alive, we delivered to them dead : their goods we carried to Rome, lest by retaining them, any degree of guilt should remain among us. What more, Roman, do I owe to thee? what to the treaty? what to the gods, the guarantees of the treaty? What umpire shall I call in to judge of your resentment, and of my punishment? I decline none: neither nation nor private person. But if the weak is not to find protection against a stronger in human laws, I will appeal to the gods, the aven

I. The year following [Y. R. 433. B. C. 319.] | the authors of the war, as we could not deliver was distinguished by the convention of Caudium, so memorable on account of the misfortune of the Romans. The consuls of the year were Titus Veturius Calvinus, and Spurius Postumius. The Samnites were that year commanded by Caius Pontius, son to Herennius, born of a father most highly renowned for wisdom, and himself a consummate warrior and commander. When the ambassadors, who had been sent to offer restitution, returned, without concluding a peace, he said, in an assembly," that ye may not think that no pur-gers of intolerable arrogance, and will beseech pose has been effected by this embassy, be assured, that whatever degree of anger the deities of heaven had conceived against us, on account of the infraction of the treaty, has been hereby expiated. I am very confident, that whatever deities they were, whose will it was, that you should be reduced to the necessity of making restitution, it was not agreeable to them, that our atonement for the breach of treaty should be so haughtily spurned by the Romans. For what more could possibly be done towards appeasing the gods, and softening the anger of men, than we have done? The effects of the enemy, taken among the spoils, which appeared to be our own by the right of war, we restored:

them to turn their wrath against those who are not satisfied by the restoration of their own, nor by additional heaps of other men's property; whose inhuman rage is not satiated by the death of the guilty, by the surrender of their lifeless bodies, and by their goods accompanying the surrender of the owner; who cannot be appeased otherwise than by giving them our blood to drink, and our entrails to be torn. Samnites, war is just, when it becomes necessary, and arms are clear of impiety, when men have no hope left but in arms. Wherefore, as the issue of every human undertaking depends chiefly on men's acting either with or without the favour of the

319