with these Magical chains they kept indeed the Field but still were more afraid of their own Companions than of the Enemy The Romans press'd on from either Wing and the Main-Body with all imaginable fury and butchered them at pleasure whil'st they stood thus as it were astonish'd with a double dread of Gods and Men The resistance they made was small and faint and nothing but pure fear kept them from running away So that by this time execution was done upon them up to their very Standards when on a sudden there appeared at a distance on one side of them a great cloud of Dust as if some mighty Army had rais'd it with their march for Sp. Nautius Octavius Metius some call him who had the Conduct of the Alarian Bands before-mentioned purposely made a far greater dust than could be expected from so small a number by causing his Regiment of the Black-Guard as they sat on their Mules to trail after them thick boughs of Trees their Arms and Ensigns in the Front first appeared as it were through a duskish Light but the dust behind them rising higher and thicker seem'd to represent a great Body of Horse flanking an Army of Foot and deceived not only the Samnites but the Romans too And to keep up that useful Error the Consul so loud that even the Enemy might hear him cryed out That Cominium was taken and his Victorious Colleague was come That now they should use their utmost endeavors to compleat the Victory before the other Army snatch'd the Honor of it out of their hands Thus he spake as he gallop'd to and fro amongst the Ranks and at the same time commanded the Colonels and Captains of the Foot to widen their Files and make room for the Horse He had before given Orders to Trebonius and Caedicius that when they should see him flourish his Spear over his head they should advance with the Cavalry and as hard as they could drive Charge the Enemy All things were punctually put in execution according to Order the Files opened to the Right and Left and the Horse thundered out upon the Enemy and broke into the middle of their Main-Body disordering their Ranks which way soever they turn'd their Force Volumnius and Scipio bravely seconded them with the Infantry and whil'st they were thus disarray'd beat down all before them Then the Linnen Brigade went to pot and fell under the fury both of the Gods and Men the sworn and unsworn fled both alike and no longer feared any but the Enemy Their Foot as many as escaped in the Battel were beat into their Camp at Aquilonia their Noble-men and Horse got to Bovianum the Foot were by the Foot pursued and the Horse by Horse the two Wings separated themselves the Right marching up to the Samnites Camp and the Left to the Town Volumnius was somewhat the nimblest and soon made himself Master of the Camp Scipio had an harder task to win the City not that they had greater Courage being all alike dis-heartened with their Over-throw but because Walls will better keep out Assailants than a plain Trench and Rampire and besides from the Courtine they had an advantage to shour down Stones upon them so fast as none could endure it Scipio considering that it would prove a tedious piece of Work unless he could carry the Town at this first Heat whil'st they within were in a fright and before they could recollect their Spirits ask'd his Soldiers If they would suffer this disgrace to see the Camp bravely won by the other Wing and themselves Conquerors too as well as the others to be shamefully repulsed from the City They all testifying their Resolutions to the contrary by a loud shout himself clapping his Target over his Head march'd foremost up to the Gate and all the rest following him in that posture by main force they broke into the City and knocking down those Samnites that were about the Gate made themselves Masters of the Walls but durst not venture up into the middle of the City being so few in number The Consul at first knew nothing of all this but was busie in bringing the Main-Body of his Army to an orderly Retreat for the Sun was now almost down and Night coming on apace made every thing seem dangerous and suspicious even to the Victors themselves but when he was advanced further he saw on his right hand the Enemies Camp taken and on the left heard a confused Cry and Tumult in the City as composed of the mix'd clamors of Men fighting and People in a fright for it happened at that instant the Conflict was at the Gate Upon this he rides up nearer and at last discovered his own Men upon the Walls and that his Work was not yet at an end since by a few Mens rash adventurousness there was an opportunity of performing an excellent piece of Service whereupon he recalled the Forces that were retreating and caused them with Banners displayed to enter the City where near the Gate they took up their Quarters because the Night came on so fast and before Morning the Enemy had deserted it There were slain that day of the Samnites Thirty thousand three hundred and forty taken Three thousand eight hundred and seventy and ninety seven Colours 'T is Recorded That never any General was more chearful and pleasant than Papirius during this Battel whether it were of his own natural Disposition or upon assured confidence of Victory 't was upon this strength of mind that he would not be diverted from fighting by the controverted Auspice and in the heat of the Conflict when others are wont to make Vows of building Temples to the Immortal Gods he only Vow'd That if he defeated the Enemies Legions he would present Jupiter Victor with a Cup of Metheglin before himself tasted a drop of strong Wine Which Vow the Gods accepted and turn'd the ill Presages to good The other Consul had no less success at Cominium for drawing up all his Forces by break of day to the Walls he invested it quite round and set strong Guards at all the Gates to prevent any Sallies But just as he was about to give the Signal for a general Assault the Messenger from his Brother Consul in a great fright brought word That twenty Cohorts of the Enemy were upon their march to relieve the City which made him for a while defer the Storm and draw off part of his Forces For immediatly he dispatch'd the first Legion and twenty Cohorts of the Wings and Horse under the Command of D. Brutus Scaeva to meet this Party of the Enemy with orders to stop or divert their march wherever they should find them and if need were to fight them rather than suffer them to come up to Cominium This care being taken he commands the Scaling-Ladders to be set to the Walls round the Town and several parties in close Order with their Targets over their heads to make up to the Gates so that at once
unanimous consent of the Senate the Tribune was sain to yield and by an order of Senate L. Lentulus came into the City Ovant He brought as booty along with him forty four thousand pounds of Silver Bullion and of Gold two thousand four hundred pounds giving each of his Souldiers a hundred and twenty Asses apiece By this time the Consuls Army was brought from Aretium to Ariminum and five thousand of the Allies of the Latine Race were coming over out of Gaul into Etruria Wherefore L. Furius making great marches from Ariminum against the Gauls who then were a besieging Cremona he pitched his Camp fifteen hundred paces from the Enemy He had a good opportunity to have done his business had he gone straight on and attacked the Enemies Camp For they santered and stragled about the Country without leaving any strong Garison there behind them But he feared his Souldiers were too weary because they had marched so very fast Thereupon the Gaules being recalled by the shouts of their own Party left the Booty that they had gotten and made back to their Camp coming the next day into the Field Nor did the Romans delay the fight though they had hardly time to set their men in Battalia the Enemy ran in upon them with such speed The right Wing for he had an Army of Allies divided into Wings was planted in the Van and the two Roman Legions in the Reer M. Furius Commanded the Right Wing M. Caecilius the Legions and L. Valerius Flaccus the Horse being all of them Lieutenants The Praetor had with him two Lieutenants Cn. Letorius and P. Titinius by whose help he might be able to look about him and be ready for all the Enemies sudden efforts First then the Gauls with all their whole Body gathered into one place hoped to overthrow and rout the right VVing which was in the front but seeing they had no success in that attempt they endeavoured to wheel about from their Wings and enclose the Enemies Army which to such a multitude against so few seemed very easie VVhen the Praetor saw that he also went about to dilate his Army and therefore drew the two Legions out of the Reer to the right and left in order to cover the VVing that fought the Front and vow'd to build a Temple in honour of Jupiter if that day he routed the Enemy After which he ordered L. Valerius that on the one side he should send forth the Horse that were in the two Legions and on the other side those of the Allies against the Enemies VVing or suffer them to surround or circumvent their Main Body And at the same time he himself as soon as he saw the Gauls Main Body grown thin after the widening and spreading of their VVings commanded his men at their close Order to attack them and break their Ranks by which means the Wings were beaten by the Horse and the main Body by the Foot Whereupon of a sudden the Gauls being slain in great numbers on every side turned their backs and ran toward their Camp as hard as they could drive Whither the Horse first pursuing them and by and by the Foot also they made an attack upon their Camp Little less than six thousand men made their escape thence there being killed and taken above thirty five thousand with eighty military Ensigns and Gallick Waggons laden with much Booty to the number of above two hundred Amilcar the Carthaginian General fell in that Battle and three noble Generals of the Gauls Of the Placentine Captives there were full two thousand Freemen delivered back to the Inhabitants This was a great Victory and the cause of much joy at Rome concerning which when the Letters came a supplication was decreed to be made for three Days together There fell of Romans and their Allies in that Battel two Thousand many of them belonging to the right VVing upon which the Enemy at first made their fiercest Attack Now though the Praetor had almost made an end of the VVar yet C. Aurelius the Consul also having perfected what was to be done at Rome going into Gallia took the Victorious Army from the Praetor whilst the other Consul being coming into his Province about the latter end of Autumn wintered near Apollonia C. Claudius and the Roman three-bank'd Gallies as I told you before who were sent from the Navy that was in Harbour at Corcyra to Athens being arrived at the Pyraeeus revived the hopes of their Allies who were now in a very desponding condition For neither were those incursions by Land that used to be made from Corinth through Megara into their Country any longer continued nor durst the Thieves and Pirates of Chalcis that had infested not only the Sea but all the Maritime Country also belonging to the Athenians pass Sunium or appear in the open Sea without the streights of Euripus Besides these there came three Rhodian four-bank'd Gallies and there were three Attick open Ships on purpose to defend the Sea Coast VVith this Navy though Claudius was of opinion that the City and Country of Athens might be for the present sufficiently defended he had a greater thing offered to him by mere chance Certain banished Persons that were driven from Chalcis by injuries which they received at Court brought him word That Chalcis might be taken without the trouble of fighting for it For the Macedonians because there was no fear of any Enemies being near them straggled up and down and the townsmen relying upon the Macedonian Garrison neglected the keeping and securing of their City By their advice therefore he set out but though he came so soon to Sunium that he might by day-light have got as far as the entrance into the streights of Euboea yet lest if he pass'd the Promontory or Cape he might be discovered he kept his Navy in the same station till night As soon as it was night he moved and sailing gently to Chalcis a little before day in that part of the City that is least inhabited he with a few Men scaled and took the adjoyning Tower and the Wall about it Then finding in some places the Sentinels asleep and in others no Sentinel at all they went forward to those places where there were more Houses and there having kill'd the Watch and broke open the Gate they let in the otner multitude of their own Souldiers Whereupon they ran all about the City increasing the tumult by setting fire on the Houses that were about the Market Place The Kings store-houses also and his Armory were burnt with great quantities of VVarlike Instruments and Engines Then there began to be made a slaughter both of such as fled and such as made resistance too in all parts nor was there any one fit to bear Arms that was not either slain or put to flight besides that Sopater also an Acarnanian who was Governour of the Garrison was kill'd by which means all the spoil was first carried into the Market Place and then put on
Plebeian Consuls when our Forefathers did not refuse even Foreign Kings nor was the City shut even when the Kings were expelled against the virtue of strangers We received the Claudian Family after the Kings were banished out of the Sabine Country not only into the City but also into the number of the Patricians Now shall a stranger be made a Patrician and then a Consul yet a Roman Citizen if he be a Plebeian be cut off from all hopes of ever coming to that honour Do we not think it possible that a stout brave Man who has behaved himself well both in Peace and War though he be a Plebeian may be like Numa L. Tarquinius or Serv. Tullius Or if he be shall not we suffer him to rise to the honour of managing the Commonwealth and rather choose to have Consuls like those Villains the Decemviri who were all made out of the Senate than like the best of Kings who were strangers But no Consul say they was ever chosen out of the Commons since the Kings were expelled What then May no new thing be ever done or ought what has never yet been done as many things there are that among us who are but a new People were never yet done not to be now done if it be for publick good There were no Pontifices or High-Priests and Augurs in Romulus's time but they were created by Numa Pompilius There was no Pole or Rate in the City nor any division made of it into Centuries and Classes but it was made by Servius Tullius There had never been any Consuls but when the Kings were banished they were created There never had been any such thing known as either the Authority or the Name of a Dictator but the Senate were the Authors of both There were once no Tribunes of the People no Aediles or Questors but they were thought fit to be made We created a sort of Officers called Decemviri to make Laws and abolished their Authority again within these ten Years Who questions but in this City which was built for an everlasting Duration and shall grow up to an infinite extent of Empire new Honours Priesthoods with rites of Families and Men may be invented and ordeined Did not the Decemviri make that Law that the Senators should not intermarry with the Plebeians some few years ago to the disadvantage of the Commonwealth in general and the great damage of the Populace in particular Can there be any greater or more signal disgrace than for one part of the City as though it were polluted to be held unworthy of intermarrying with the other What is this but being banished within the same Walls lest we should be mingled among them by way of affinity or relation They are afraid to be allied in blood What If this pollutes your Nobility which most of you who are descended from the Albines and the Sabines have not by birth or blood but by being chosen into the Senate either by the Kings or after their expulsion by the Order of the People could not you keep it clear by your own private resolutions neither to marry any Plebeian nor to let your Daughters or Sisters marry out of the rank of Senators No Plebeian would offer violence to any Patrician Virgin the Patricians are the lustful Persons No Plebeian would have compelled any Man to make a Marriage compact against his will Oh! but there 's a Law against the Marriage of Senators with Plebeians And that is a great disparagement to the People For why don't you make another Law that rich Men shall not marry into poor Families For that which was always at the choice of private Persons that a Woman might be married wherever she got a good Husband and a Man take any Woman that he liked out of any Family for his Wife you have restrained by the obligations of a tyranical Law whereby you divide all civil Society and make this City two instead of one Why don't you make a Law that no Plebeian shall live near a Patrician that he shall not Travel the same Road that he shall not go to the same Feast that he shall not stand in the same Forum For what is there else in the case if a Plebeian marries a Patrician or a Patrician a Plebeian What Priviledg I pray is changed The Children follow their Father nor is it any thing that we desire by marrying with you save that we may be reckoned among the number of Men and their fellow Citizens nor do you unless you take delight to promote our disgrace and ignominy contend for any thing at all In fine is the sovereign Power in the Roman People or in you When the Kings were expelled did you only gain Dominion or the whole Commonwealth an equal Liberty 'T is fit the Roman if they please should make a Law Shall you assoon as any Bill is proposed streight order a Levy as a penalty for so doing And when I as Tribune begin to call the Tribes to Vote will you as Consul give the young Men a Military Oath and lead them forth into a Camp Will you threaten the People and the Tribunes What have you found by experiment if not this twice over how much your menaces prevailed against the consent of the Commons Good Men you kept from mutinying because you consulted our good Or rather did you not therefore abstein from quarreling because that Party which was the stronger was also the more moderate But you are not like even now neither Romans to see any violence offered by the People they will try what your inclinations are they will not try your strength Wherefore the People Consuls is ready to follow you to those Wars whether false or real if by admitting them to make intermarriages you do unite this City if they be joyned allied and mixed among you by private Relations if stout and brave Men may hope to have the way to Honours open to be Sharers and Partners in the Commonwealth if which is but the effect of equal Liberty they may mutually Obey and Command in regard to annual Offices If any one shall obstruct these things make Speeches and prate of as many Wars as you will no Man will give in his Name or take up Arms to fight for Tyrants with whom they have no share either in the Commonwealth of Honours or in their private capacities of Matrimonial Alliance Then the Consuls also coming into the Assembly the business was altered from long harangues to wrangling so that when the Tribune asked Why a Plebeian might not be made a Consul the Consul replied though truly perhaps yet not so seasonably for the present purpose Because no Plebeian had any thing to do with the auspicies and that therefore the Decemviri took away the priviledg of marrying where the People pleased lest the auspicies should be confounded by an uncertain breed of Men. At that the People were much enraged that they should be denied the use of auspicies as if they
because they were willing to come to the War This increased the Soldiers animosities against the Consul and therefore when he came into the City Ovant there were rude Verses alternately thrown out and licentiously by the Soldiers in which the Consul was blamed but Maenius's name celebrated whilst the crowding People strove every time his name was mentioned with their applause and assent to out-do the Soldiers in kindness to him Which thing gave the Senate more trouble than even almost the insolence of the Soldiers to the Consul and therefore as though it had been certain that Maenius if he stood for it would be Tribune of the Soldiers he was excluded from the Consular Assembly Then Cn. Cornelius Cossus and L. Furius Medullinus were again made Consuls In whose Year the People shewed resentment more than ever that the Tribunitial Assembly was put into U. C. 346 their management and that resentment they as plainly shewed and revenged in the Assembly for chusing Questors by putting Plebeians into that Office that being the first time it ever had been so So that in making of four they left but one place for a Patrician and that was Caeso Fabius Ambustus there being three Plebeians Q. Silius P. Aelius and P. Pupius who were preferred before young Men of the noblest Families I find that the Icilii were the cause of that freedom in the Peoples Votes being Men of a Family that was mortal Enemies to the Senate out of which there were three Tribunes of the People chosen in one Year And they making great pretences to the greedy People of what mighty things they would do for them declared They would not meddle with any thing unless the People had Courage enough to do in the questorian Assembly the only one now left in common between them and the Senate which they so long had desired and which so long had been lawful That therefore was a great point gained by the Populace for they did not so much value the honour of being Questors but by that there was a way laid open for new Men to come to the Consulate and Triumphs The Senate on the other hand were discontented not because the Senate shared them but because they by this means lost or were like to lose their honours and said If things went so it was in vain to get Children who being turned out of their Ancestors places and seeing others in possession of their Dignities would be left as the Saln and Flammes two sorts of Priests to do nothing but sacrifice for the People without any Command or Authority They therefore being on both sides provoked after the People had resumed their spirit and got three Leaders of great note to head the popular Cause the Senate foreseeing that all things would go the same way in the Questorian Assembly where the People had all liberty were inclined to call a Consular Assembly which as yet was not promiscuous The Icilii on the contrary said they ought to make Tribunes of the Soldiers that the honours of the Commonwealth might be once in their lives communicated among the Commons But they could do no Consular act to hinder that which they desired for news was brought on a sudden the Aequi and the Volsci were come out a foraging beyond their own borders into the Latin and the Hernican Territories For which War the Consuls beginning to make a Levy the Tribunes strongly opposed them saying That that was the business of them and the Commons There were three of them all very acute Men and generous for Plebeians whereof two took each of them a Consul into their daily custody whilst the thirds business was at Assemblies sometimes to retain and sometimes to provoke the People By this means neither did the Consuls accomplish the Levy nor the Tribunes that Assembly which they desired But afterward when fortune inclined to the Peoples side there came a Message That the Aequi having killed some few that were left to keep possession of it had invaded the Castle at Carventus whilst the Soldiers that were in Garrison there were gone a foraging and had slain of the rest some as they were coming back to the Castle and others stragling in the Fields That misfortune then happening to the City increased the strength of the Tribunes Power for it was now in vain to strive to make them desist from hindering the War seeing they were invincible both in respect to the publick calamity and their own envy insomuch that they prevailed to have an Order of Senate for the chusing of Tribunes Military with a proviso that there should be no notice taken of any one who that Year was Tribune of the People nor any one be made Tribune of the People again for the next Year the Senate taking particular notice of the Icilii whom they accused of an ambition to be Consuls as a reward for their seditious Tribuneship Then the Levy was made and provisions made for the War by consent of all the Orders or Ranks of Men. Both the Consuls went to the Castle of Carventus though several Authors make it uncertain whether one of them did not stay at Rome to hold an Assembly But this is certain and they none of them deny it that they retired from that Castle after they had a long time in vain attacked it that Verrugo a Town in the Volscian Territories was retaken by the same Army great plundering and spoils being made both in that and the Aequian Dominions Mean time at Rome as the Peoples Victory lay in their having that Assembly which they U. C. 347 most desired so in the event of it the Senate got the better for contrary to all Mens expectations Tribunes of the Soldiery were created with Consular Power of whom three were Patricians to wit C. Julius Tullus P. Cornelius Cossus and C. Servilius Ahala In which affair they say the Patricians used art of which the Icilii also then accused them and by mingling a company of unworthy Candidates with Men that were worthy averted the Peoples inclinations from the Plebeians out of the hatred which they bore to some of them who were most signally sordid Thereupon news was brought that the Aequi and the Volsci either because they were encouraged by having still kept the Castle at Carventus or inraged that they had lost the Garrison at Verrugo were risen with all their forces that the Antians were the cause of it whilst and that both their Embassadors went about to all the neighbouring People Nations reproving their sloth That they would lye hid within their Walls and let the Romans not only the Year before come and pillage all their Countries but suffer the Garrison of Verrugo to be taken that now not only Armies but Colonies also were sent into their Dominions nor had the Romans themselves alone their Lands divided among them but had given the Hernici also Ferentinum which they took from them At this their minds being inflamed they raised an Army of young Men
Van consisted of fifteen Companies placed a small distance from each other of Spear-men or rather Javelyneers called Hastati each Company having twenty Light-arm'd Soldiers and the rest a sort of Targeteers They call'd those Light-arm'd who carried only Spears or Javelins to fight with at hand and a small sort of Darts to throw at a distance In this Fore-front were placed the Flower of the Youths that grew up as Apprentices to the Art of War Then came as many more Companies of those of riper and more manly Age which were called Principes In the next place thirty Companies of Targeteers all with very brave and extraordinary Armor and these were called Antepilani because they were followed by fifteen Squadrons more each of which contained three Divisions and each first Division being that next to the Standard was called Pilum and consisted of three Colours or Companies every one of which contained 186 Men the first Company was of old Soldiers of approved Courage call'd Triarii the second of men of less Force and Experience call'd Rorarii and the third of raw Fellows new listed to fill up the Muster-Rolls call'd Accensi who being of small account always march'd in the Rear When the Army was thus drawn up in Battalia the Hastati or Javelyneers began the Battel and if they were not able to Rout the Enemy they softly and in order Retâ—eated and fell back into the Intervals between the Squadrons of the Principes who receiv'd them and then advanced themselves to Charge the Enemy and were therein seconded by the said Hastati the Triarii all this while abiding firm about their Ensigns setting out their left Legs before them at length their Targets on their shoulders and their short Pikes or Javelins stuck into the Ground at the wrong end sloping and with their Heads bending forwards so that they seem'd Fortified with Palisado's Now if the Principes also prov'd unsuccessful and could not break the Enemy then they orderly by little and little retired from the Fore-front back to the Triarii whence grew the Proverb when a thing was at a dead lift to say ad Triarios redisse that it was come to the Triarii or last pinch then the Triarii at once rising up as soon as they had received the Principes and Hastati into the void spaces between their Files suddenly drew to a close Order and shut up as it were all Passages and Entrance and so with one joint close Body of the whole Army there being now no further reserve or hope left resolutely advanc'd to Charge the Enemy who were herewith most surpriz'd and dis-heartened when thinking to Chase those that they seem'd to have vanquish'd they saw a new Battel of fresh Men starting up and the same more numerous The Romans commonly levyed for their Army four Legions each consisting of 5000. Foot and 300. Horse to whom were wont to be added just as many more Auxiliaries furnish'd by the Latines but they now were Enemies and had Marshal'd their Army exactly in the same manner so that they knew well enough before-hand not only that they were to encounter Ensign with Ensign all the Pikes and Javelins with Pikes and Javelins and Principes with Principes but also one Centurion with another if the Armies were not disordered In each Army there was a Primipilus Chief Centurion or Leader of the Triarii The Roman but of a weak and slender Body but otherwise a Man of Courage and Conduct The Latine a mighty stout Fellow and a Devilish Fighter They knew one another well enough as having always equal Charges heretofore when the Roman and Latine Forces used to be united The Roman not greatly trusting to his own strength had got leave of the Consuls before they march'd out of Rome to choose whom he would to be his Deputy Centurion who might be his Second and defend him from this one designed Enemy And it fell out that the young Man by him made choice of in the heat of the Battel engaged the Latine Centurion and slew him The Battel was fought not far from the Foot of the Mountain Vesuvius in the Road to Veseris The Roman Consuls before they put their Army into Battalia having severally killed their Beasts for Sacrifice the Aruspex or Bowel-prying Sooth-sayer is said to have observed in Decius's the head of the Liver to be wounded but in all other respects an acceptable Sacrifice But as for Manlius in his there appeared as good tokens as could be wish'd whereupon quoth Decius 't is well enough since my Brother Consul has the favor of the Gods The Army being drawn up as before related they march'd into the Field Manlius commanding the Right Wing and Decius the Left At first they fought on both sides with equal Courage as well as Forces But after a while the Roman Hastati of the Left Wing no longer able to bear the violent Shock of the Latines retreated to their Principes in which disorder Decius calls aloud to M. Valerius I see O Valerius we have need of the Assistance of the Gods Let the publick High Priest of the People of Rome come and pronounce the Solemn Words with which I am to devote my self for our Army that I may say them after him The Priest ordered him to put on a long Purple Robe embroidered before call'd Praetexta to cover his Head and put forth his hand under the said Robe at his Chin and standing upon a Javelin with both his Feet to say after him as follows O Janus Jupiter Father Mars Bellona you Houshold Deities Novensiles and Indigetes you Gods likewise who have special Power over us and our Enemies and all you Infernal Gods you I invocate you I adore your pardon and leave I implore and your favor I require That you would prosper Power and Victory unto the People of Rome and strike their Enemies with Dread and Terror and Slaughter And as I have solemnly call'd upon you by Name so for the Weal-Publick of the People of Rome and Quirites their Legions and Auxiliaries I here do Devote the Army of the Enemies and all their Aids together with my self to Tellus and the Infernal Gods As soon as he had recited this Prayer he dispatch'd a Lictor or one of the Provost Marshals to T. Manlius to advertise him That his Collegue had seasonably Devoted himself for the Army And then tucking up his Gown after the Gabine Fashion that is one part thrown under his right Arm and the same Lappet back again over the left Shoulder a posture the Gabii were wont to Sacrifice in and being once surprized at their Devotions by an Enemy Charg'd them in that posture and obtain'd the Victory whence for Lucks sake the Roman Consuls used it when they denounced War he mounted his Horse Arm'd at all Points and so spurr'd into the thickest of the Enemy To both Armies he seem'd to carry a Presence full of Majesty and something more than Humane As he sent from Heaven to Atone
Adversaries the Commons and implore the protection of the Tribunes rather than to justifie themselves and abide a legal Trial And at last having there too met with a repulse thinking all means safer than to stand upon their Innocency they have faln upon us with unjust Calumnies and not blush'd being private Men to arraign your Dictator Therefore that God and the World may see That as they in vain endeavor to avoid the giving an account of their own undue Practices so I am frankly ready to meet their Charge and expose my self to the strictest scrutiny of my Enemies I do here resign my Dictatorship and do request you My Lords the Consuls if the Senate shall commit this Affair to your management That you would begin with me first and this Gentleman M. Foslius that it may appear how we through our own Innocency alone and not by the priviledge of our Offices are protected and safe from these Slanders and pretended Crimes Then forthwith he gave over his Dictatorship and immediatly after Foslius did the same with his Generalship of the Horse And these two were the first that were proceeded against before the Consuls for to them the executing of the aforesaid Commission was awarded by the Senate but notwithstanding all the Prosecution and Depositions of the Nobility they came off with Honor. Likewise Publilius Philo though he had so often pass'd through the highest Offices and perform'd so many gallant Services both at home and abroad being much envyed by the Nobility was forced to take his Tryal and acquitted But this Inquisition into the actions of Persons of Quality was quickly over descending first to meaner People and at last by the same Cabals and Factions which it intended to remedy and punish it was wholly overthrown The report of these Jars at home and especially the hopes of the revolt of Campania as was design'd recall'd the Samnites who before seem'd altogether intent upon Apulia back to Caudium that so being near at hand if any disturbances should administer opportunity they might take Capua from the Romans The Consuls march'd thither with a formidable Army and lingred a while about the Passes and Streights being not able either way with safety to come at the Enemy who at last fetching a compass through the open ways came down into the Plains of Campania and there first both sides came to have a sight of each others Camp after which they exercised each other with petty Skirmishes especially between the Horse Nor had the Romans any cause to complain of the success of those Encounters nor of the delay and spinning out of the War but the Samnites Generals found that their Forces were diminish'd every day and much weakned by this tedious work and therefore resolve upon a Battel placing their Horse in the two Wings but with express charge to have a strict eye towards the Camp to prevent any mischief there and not so much to engage themselves in the Battel which would be safe enough with the Infantry Sulpitius the Consul led on the Right Wing and Paetelius the Left The Right Wing was ranged more wide and open and with thinner Ranks and Files because the Samnites had done the like on that side with a design either to surround the Enemy or prevent being enclosed themselves The Left besides that it was in closer Order happened to be reinforced by the sudden policy of Paetelius causing the subsidiary Legions which were planted in the Rear for Reserves to march up to the Front and so with all his Forces at once charging the Enemy made them retreat The Samnites Cavalry seeing their Foot worsted prepared to relieve them but as they rod cross between the two Armies the Roman Horse gallop'd up to flank them and put both Horse and Foot into Confusion so far that all that part of the Enemies Army was routed On that Wing there was now not only Paetelius but Sulpitius too to encourage the Soldiers for he had strayed from his own Party before they joyn'd Battel upon the extraordinary shout given by the Left Wing at their first Charge and seeing on that part undoubted Victory hasten'd back to his own Charge accompanied with Twelve hundred Men but found things there in a quite contrary posture the Romans retreating and the Victorious Enemy marching full upon them with Ensigns displai'd However the lucky coming in of the Consul presently altered the Scene for as his Men were encouraged at the sight of him so the party he brought with him being very stout Men yielded them a more effectual assistance than might be expected from so small a number This and the news of the other Wings success renewed the Fight and thenceforwards the Romans bore all before them and the Samnites giving over all defence were every where either cut to pieces or taken Prisoners except those who escaped to Maleventum a Town that has since changed its name and is now call'd Beneventum 'T is Recorded That Thirty thousand Samnites were that Day killed or taken After this glorious Victory the Consuls led their Legions to besiege Bovianum and took up their Winter-Quarters before the Town till C. Paetelius made Dictator by the new Consuls L. Papirius Cursor the fifth time and C. Junius Bubulcus the second came down with M. Foslius General of the Horse and received the charge of the Army He being advertiz'd that the Samnites had taken the Fort at Fregellae left Bovianum march'd thither but the Samnites fled away by night so that he recovered the place without a blow struck and having placed there a strong Garison return'd into Campania with a particular design to take the City of Nola by force of Arms within whose Walls all the Peasants thereabouts and a vast multitude of Samnites sheltered themselves The Dictator having taken a view of the place that he might have the more open access to the Walls set all the Houses on Fire that were in the Suburbs along the Counterscarp and there they stood thick and were well inhabited and not long after that Town was taken whether by Paetelius the Dictator or C. Junius the Consul I know not for it is reported of the one as well as the other Those that ascribe the Honor on 't to the Consul add That he also took Atina and Calatia And that Paetelius was created Dictator only for the Ceremony of driving the Nail or Spike for appeasing the Wrath of the Gods by reason the Plague was broke out That Year Colonies were sent to Suessa and Pontiae the former a Town of the Auruncans the latter an Island of the Volscians situate within sight of their own shoar A Decree also passed the Senate for sending other Colonies to Interamna and Cassinum but the same was not done till the time of the next Consuls M. Valerius and P. Decius who created Triumvirs to manage that Affair and sent Four thousand to people those places The Samnite War was now pretty well dispatch'd but before the Senate was
Soldiers comparing this Discipline with the former became more confident of better success for the future and the whole State which had been chill'd with fear began now to be inspirited with fâ—esh vigour and warmth The Officers also of the Army seeing this general briskness of their People taking good heart themselves likewise resolv'd to march against the Enemy and having encouraged their men as the time requir'd went out against the Romans with about twelve thousand Foot four thousand Horse and no less than one hundred Elephants but what most concern'd the Romans was to see the Carthaginians contrary to their usual manner avoiding the hilly rugged Country and keeping to the Plains But by perpetual success the Romans were so elevated that they despis'd an Army so often beaten by them now under a pitiful Greek Commander Nay Regulus himself was not free from the same vanity being carried away with the flattering smiles of Fortune and therefore reflecting that he had defeated the Carthaginians both by Sea and Land taken almost two hundred of their Towns and two hundred thousand men and withal conceiting that he was able to force Carthage it self labouring under such distresses to surrender he refus'd to grant Peace upon any tolerable Conditions and wrote to Rome that he had block'd up Carthage Thus men of great Spirits oftner miscarry for want of moderation in Prosperity than constancy in Adversity Whilst the Carthaginians were incamp'd in a plain and level ground M. Regulus whose main strength consisted in Foot and therefore should have kept the Hills ventur'd down into the Plain thinking every place indifferent for valiant Men to fight in and for the greater show of his confidence passed a River which ran between him and the Enemy and advanced within a mile of them Xanthippus seeing Regulus his ill Conduct declar'd that now the time was come wherein he should make good his word to the Carthaginians for having got the Romans tir'd by their journey in such a place as he desir'd he assur'd himself of Victory The time of the day seemed likewise most opportune for Battel for now it drew towards Evening so that the Carthaginians acquainted with all the Passes of the Country might easily escape by Night if they should be beaten and nothing could hinder them to prosecute their Victory if they should prevail When the Carthaginians therefore consulted what they should do he conjur'd them by all that was good and great not to slip so brave an opportunity and persuaded them to joyn Battel which they easily agreed to the Souldiers calling him by Name and with extraordinary alacrity desiring Battel The Command of all therefore being left to this Spartan General he led out his Army and rang'd them in this manner The Carthaginian Phalanx consisting of the main strength of their Foot was placed upon the Reserve before which at a convenient distance the Elephants were rang'd in one Line equal to the breadth of the Phalanx On both the Wings the Light-armed men and the Horse were posted and behind them on the right Wing the Mercenary Men of Arms. His Army being drawn in this order he commanded the Light-Horse as soon as they had charg'd to fall back to their own Men who were to open their Ranks to receive them and the Enemy being engag'd with stronger forces to issue out again from both the Wings and suddenly flank the Romans fighting with the Phalanx Regulus on the contrary having ranged his men in order of Battel when he saw the Elephants standing in the Carthaginians Van immediately took this course the Light-arm'd he places in the front the Legions in close Ranks on the Reserve and the Wings consisted of the Horse whereby the Army was firm for depth but took up a much narrower compass than before so that when danger was fear'd both from the Elephants and the Horse this order serv'd well enough to hinder the Elephants from breaking in but in an open Field so much room was left to the Enemies Horse that they might surround an Army shrunk into such a small compass The Onset was made by the Elephants Xanthippus having caused them to advance upon the Romans and immediately the Romans clashing their Arms and shouting mingled with the Enemy The Horse also of both sides joyn'd Battel upon the Wing and the Romans here over-power'd by greater numbers of the Enemies when they were no longer able to sustein the shock fled out-right while the Foot towards the left Wing either to avoid the Elephants or in hopes of an easier Conquest over the Mercenaries charged routed and pursued these to their Camp but the rest had a harder task of it with the Elephants who with an intolerable force broke the Ranks trampled the Soldiers and destroyed whole Squadrons together However the depth of the Army sustein'd the shock for a while one Rank still supporting another till the Army in every part began to be distressed at once those in the Rear being encompass'd by the Enemies Horse and those in the Front of the Army as many as had broke through the Elephants were either kill'd by the Phalanx being fresh men and posted to â—eceive them or else by the Light-horse who assaulted them on every side Nor were there fewer kill'd in the flight for the Elephants and Numidian Horse being sent after them slew them here and there as they stragled through that open Champian Country M. Regulus with five hundred was taken alive by the Enemy Of all the Army not above two thousand men who had defeated the Mercenaries esaped alive making their retreat hastily to Clupea Of the Punic Army not many fell besides the eight hundred Mercenaries that had fought with the Enemies left Wing After so great an Atchievement when the Army return'd to Carthage carrying the spoils of the slain and triumphing for having taken Regulus Prisoner the Citizens in great numbers pour'd out to meet them others standing either in the Streets or Balconies with incredible pleasure enjoyed that sight which they durst not wish for some time before their minds being scarce able to bear the joy and transports or to believe the truth of this Victory for those who but just now being brought to the brink of despair fear'd to lose their Town Temples and Country could scarce believe so sudden a revolution of Affairs though they saw it but the eyes and minds of all were most intent upon the Generals themselves whilst looking upon Xanthippus one while and Regulus another by their estimate of this they valued and extolled the greatness of their own General For what a mighty Man must he be accounted who has outed such a great and fortunate Warriour so cruel an Enemy and the terrour of Carthage of such a flourishing Army a glorious Name and in fine of Liberty it self and that so easily and speedily too They also admir'd Xanthippus the more for his shape and features seeing so much Valour lay conceal'd under so mean a Stature and an
and a Battel Nay quoth he let us sit still eternally under the Walls of Arretium this belike is our Habitation and all the Native Country we regard Let Annibal escape our hands and lay all Italy desolate as he lists Let him over-run and utterly destroy all before him with Fire and Sword up to the very Walls of Rome and let us not budge till the affrighted Senate send for C. Flaminius as of old they did for Camillus from Veii to their rescue As thus he reproach'd them he at the same time commanded the Standards forthwith to advance and in a Fury mounts himself but his Horse presently happened to stumble and threw him with his Head formost on the ground Whil'st all that were about him were terrified with this Accident looking upon it as an ill Omen at the beginning of his Enterprize word was brought that one of the Ensigns could not be pluck'd out of the Ground by all the strength and endeavors the Standard-bearer could use whereupon turning to the Messenger What says he hast thou brought me Letters too from the Senate to forbid me serving the Publick Go tell them they must dig it out if their hands are so benum'd with fear that they are not able to pluck it up which being accordingly done he began his March The chief Officers which gave contrary advice being now more disheartened with this double Prodigy but the common Soldiers over-joyed at the forwardness and animosity of their General were full of hopes without considering what Grounds they had for such their confidence Annibal had wasted the whole Country between the City Cortona and the Lake Thrasymenus with all manner of Hostility that he might the more provoke the Enemy to revenge these Injuries done to their Allies He was now come to a place that seem'd framed by Nature merely for an Ambuscade just where the Lake Thrasymenus flows up nearest to the foot of the Hills of Cortona for there lies between only a very strait and narrow Passage as if there had been left that space of Ground for such a purpose and nothing else beyond it the Plains open wider and so you come to the brow of the Hills Annibal in the open ground pitch'd his Camp for himself his Africans and Spaniards but his Slingers and other Light-arm'd Soldiers he led round about behind the Mountains His Horse he Posts near the Mouth of the Pass behind certain rising Grounds that very conveniently sheltered and kept them out of sight that so as soon as the Romans were entred the Cavalry clapping behind them they should all be shut up between the Lake and the Mountain Flaminius being come to the Lake over-night about Sun-setting early the next Morning before it was full day-light without ever sending out according to the custom of War any Scouts before to discover the Coasts and posture of the Enemy pass'd the aforesaid Streight but no sooner did he begin to spread his Army on the open Plain but he might perceive the Enemy I mean that part of them only which were before him for those behind and over his head did not yet shew themselves Annibal having now got the Enemy into the Toil and every way surrounded quickly gives the Signal for them all to fall on who rushing down every Man the nearest way he could that which made the matter appear the more surprizing to the Romans was that a Fog rising from the Lake was much thicker on the Plain where they were than on the Hills so that the Carthaginians could see one another from their several Posts and the better Charge them all at once But the Romans perceived not themselves entrapped till they heard the shout quite round them and were forced to fight both in the Front and on the Flank before they could draw into Battalia and indeed before they could fit their Arms or almost draw their Swords In this general Consternation the Consul alone shewed himself nothing daunted he set in order as much as the time would give him leave the Ranks which were apt to be confused by their turning themselves every way as they heard the several clamors and where-ever he came or could be heard encouraged and commanded them to stand to it and fight stoutly telling them That 't was not making of Vows and lazily imploring the help of the Gods but their own manly Courage and Arms that must bring them off That they must cut their way with their Swords througb the midst of their Enemies thickest Battalions and that where there is least fear there is generally least danger But for the noise and tumult neither his Advice nor his Commands could be heard and so far were his Soldiers in this distraction from knowing their proper Colours Ranks and Places that they had scarce understanding and resolution enough left to take their Arms and put them on as they should do for a Battel so that some of them were surprized and beat down rather oppressed and clogg'd with their Armor than defended by it and so thick was the Mist that their Ears were of more use to them than their Eyes yet at the groans of their wounded Fellows and resounding strokes on their Bodies and Arms and the shouts of the Valiant intermix'd with the shrieks of the timerous they could not but be continually turning their Faces and casting their Eyes every way about them Some as they were flying light into an heap of those that were fighting and forc'd to joyn with them because they could get no further some having recollected their spirits returning to Charge the Enemy were stop'd and driven backwards by heaps of their own Men that were running away At last having attempted every way in vain to get forth and seeing plainly that as they were thus shut up on one side by the Lake on the other by the Mountain and both in the Front and Rear by the Enemy there was no possible hopes or means to escape but by fighting their way through then every one became a Captain and encouraged himself to fight manfully Thus was the Battel renewed not in that order as they were wont first by the Principes then by the Hastati and at last by the Triarii nor some before the Standards others after and every Soldier in his particular Regiment Company and File but hickle-de-pickledy as Fortune jumbled them together to it they went Pel-mel and as every mans heart serv'd him so he marshal'd himself to fight either before or behind nay so eager and intent they were and all the faculties both of Body and Soul so intirely taken up with fighting that although at that very instant there happened a most dreadful Earth-quake which threw down a great part of many Cities in Italy turn'd the Courses of great Rivers out of their antient Channels forced the Sea up a long way into fresh Rivers overturned Mountains with mighty falls and levell'd Vallies and Hills yet there was not one Man in this Battel that in the least
he pleased he wrested whither he would He likewise fortold them that the Gods had given encouragement to them to go out to fight as to their Forefathers when they formerly ingaged at the Islands called Aegateis and therefore that there would be an end of the War and they should be at rest that the Booty of Carthage was as good as in their hands and that they should very shortly return into their Country to their Parents Wives Children and Houshold-Gods All which he spoke wich such an haughty carriage and pleasant aspect that you would have thought he had already gained the Victory Then he placed the Spear-men first and behind them the Principes the first Soldiers in the Van of the Army who were furnished with a Javelin c. and put the Triarii in the Reer He did not set the Regiments each in close Order before their Ensigns but the Maniples or Companies at some distance one from the other that the Enemies Elephants might have room enough when they came in so as not to break their Ranks He planted Laelius who had formerly been his Lieutenant but that was Questor by an Order of Senate without drawing Lots for it with the Italian Horse in the left Wing and Masinissa with the Numidians in the right He also filled up the wide spaces between the Maniples with the Velites of the Antesignani or light-arm'd Soldiers that fought among those that were before the Ensigns to whom he gave a charge That at the coming up of the Elephants they should either retire directly behind the Ranks or applying themselves to the Antesignani by running to the right and left among them should give the beasts way to rush in upon the dangerous Weapons Annibal for a terror set the Elephants which were eighty in number and more than he had ever had in any Battle before first in Array and after them the Ligurian and Gallick Auxiliaries with the Balearians and Mores mixt among them In the second Division of the Army he placed the Carthaginians Africans and the Legion of Macedonians and then leaving a small interval he put the Italian Soldiers in the Reer who were most of them Bruttians that of force and necessity more than any good will had follow'd him out of Italy He also rang'd the Horse all round the Wings the Carthaginians in the right and the Numidians in the left His address to the Army was very various being made to so many different sorts of men whose Language Manners Laws Arms Garb Complexion and ground of War was no ways the same The Auxiliaries he said should have a present and manifold reward out of the Booty The Gauls were inflamed with a natural and peculiar hatred toward the Romans The Ligurians had the fruitful Plains of Italy being brought down out of craggy Mountains into great hopes of Victory shewn unto them The Mores and Numidians he terrified with the tyrannical sway that Masinissa was like to bear over them infusing several hopes and fears into the rest of them and minding the Carthaginians of the Walls of their Country their Houshold-Gods the Sepulchres of their Ancestors their Parents Children fearful Wives and how they must expect either destruction and slavery or to be Emperors of the whole World but said no mean thing to them that tended to promote either their hope or fear And just as their General was saying this among his Country-men to the Carthaginian Officers that led their own People and to the Foreigners also by Interpreters that were mingled among them the Trumpets and Cornets sounded from the Roman Army and there was such a noise set up that the Elephants ran upon their own Men especially in the left Wing where the Mores and Numidians stood Masinissa seeing that with ease increased their dread and bereft the Army on that side of all assistance from their Horse But some few of the Beasts being unaffrighted were driven up into the Enemy and made a greater slaughter among the light-arm'd Soldiers though they receiv'd many wounds themselves For the light-arm'd Men retiring into the Maniples and having made way for the Elephants to save themselves from being trod to pieces threw their Spears on both sides into them nor were the Antesignani with their Javelins idle till such time as being by the Weapons which fell upon them from all parts forced out of the Roman Army they put to flight even the Carthaginian Horse in their own right Wing Laelius when he saw the Enemy in a confusion supplied fresh matter of terrour to them The Punick Army was now on both sides bereft of its Horse when the Foot fell on notwithstanding it was not equal to the Enemy either in hopes or strength Besides which though it he a small thing to speak of it was of great moment in the managing of the same affair the clamour or shout the Romans made was all of one tone and consequently so much the greater and more terrible whilst the Enemies voices were dissonant because their Languages were so different The Fight likewise on the Romans side was steddy because they lay heavy upon the Enemy not only through their own weight and strength but that of their Arms too whilst on the other side there was only more swiftness and agility than strength shown in their first Onset Wherefore upon the first effort the Romans made the Enemy immediately give way and then with their Elbows and Bucklers punching them on still as they got ground upon them they proceeded for some time without resistance the Reer pressing on the Van assoon as they perceived the Enemies Body to move which very thing also conduced very much to the routing of them On the other hand among the Enemies the second Division of their Army consisting of Africans and Carthaginians were so far from enduring the Retreat of their Auxiliaries in the Front that they gave back lest the Enemy when they had killed the Vanguard should have fallen upon them Wherefore the Punick Auxiliaries immediately turned their backs upon the Romans and facing their own Men fled partly into the second Division part of which they also slew for not receiving them as being e'rewhiles not assisted by them and then moreover excluded And now there were in a manner two Battles the Carthaginians being forced to ingage not only with the Enemy but their own Party also Yet notwithstanding they did not let them into their Body when they were so dismay'd and furious but closing their Ranks turned them out into the Wings and the open Plains beyond the Army because they were afraid to mingle men in such a consternation and so much wounded with a fresh and steady Army But the heaps of dead Men and Arms had so filled up the place in which the Auxiliaries a little before had stood that their passage that way was full as difficult as it had been through the main Body of the Enemy Wherefore the Spear-men that were first pursuing the Enemy over the
on both sides to this Conference and Attalus having brought along with him three hundred Horse for a Guard they laid down the terms of Peace But because no end could be put to the business whilst the Generals were absent they agreed that the Consul and the Kings should meet there the next day The disappointment on the Gauls part was design'd first to gain time till they could put their goods with which they were unwilling to perish with their Wives and Children over the River Halys and secondly because they were contriving a Plot against the Consul himself who was an heedless man and suspected not the treacherous intent of the Conference For which purpose they chose out a thousand Horse of all their numbers who were men of known Courage And their treachery had taken effect had not Fortune stood up for the Law of Nations which they had a design to violate For the Roman Foragers and those that went to fetch in Wood were led into that part of the Country where the Conference was to be the Tribunes supposing that to be the safest place because they were like to have the Consuls Guard and himself too before them to oppose the Enemy Nevertheless they planted their other Guard also of six hundred Horse nearer to the Camp The Consul upon Attalus's Affirmation that the Kings would come and the matter might be transacted went out of the Camp and when he was got forward about five thousand paces with the same guard as before of Horse so that he was not far from the place appointed he saw on a sudden the Gauls coming in a full Carier and a Hostile manner toward him Wherefore he set his Army in order and having commanded the Horse to make ready their Weapons and prepare their minds he at first very resolutely receiv'd the first charge of the Battle without giving way but soon after the multitude pressing on too fast upon him he by degrees retir'd though the ranks of his Troops were thereby not at all disorder'd At last seeing there was more danger in his staying there than safety in the preservation of his Ranks they all ran away as fast as they could Thereupon the Gauls pursu'd them as they ran scatter'd up and down and kill'd them nor had there been a few of them destroy'd had not the Guard of Foragers consisting of six hundred Horse met them For they hearing the fearful cryes of their own men afar off when they had made ready their Weapons and their Horses came in fresh to obviate the flight of their defeated Party By that means Fortune was quickly alter'd and the terrour remov'd from the Conquer'd to the Conquerours For the Gauls were routed upon the first attack the Foragers running together out of all the Fields thereabout so that the Enemy came upon the Gauls on every side nor could it be safe or easy for them so much as to run away because the Romans pursu'd them who were already tired with fresh Horses Some few therefore escaped but never an one was taken though a far greater number of them suffer'd Death for violating the sacred obligations of the Conference and the Romans next day their minds being inflamed with fury came with all their Forces up to the Enemy The Consul spent two dayes in searching into the nature of the Mountain lest there should be any part of it unknown to him but on the third day having consulted the Soothsayers and then sacrificed he divided his Forces into four parts and so led them forth intending to carry two of them up the middle of the Mountain and to take two upon the sides against the Wings of the Gauls The greatest strength that the Enemy had were the Tectosages and the Trocmans who were in the main Body of their Army to the number of fifty thousand men Their Horse whom they dismounted because there was use to be made of Horses among craggy Rocks they placed in the right Wing being ten thousand persons whilst Ariarathes's Cappadocians the Auxiliaries of Morzus in the left made up about the number of four thousand The Consul as he did upon the Mount Olympus having placed the Light armour in the Front took care that the same quantity of alâ— kind of Weapons should be ready at hand When the two Armies approach'd all things were the same on both sides as they had been in the former Battle except their Courage which as it was augmented in the Conquerours by success so was quite damp'd in the Enemy for that though they themselves were not Conquer'd they lookt upon the miscarriage of their Countrymen as though it had been their own Wherefore that action being begun in the same manner had the like issue For there was a Cloud as it were of light Weapons thrown all together upon them which bore down the Army of Gauls nor durst any one of them either run out of their Ranks lest he should expose his Body every way to their Artillery nor yet stand still seeing that the thicker they were together the more wounds they receiv'd being as it were a fairer mark for the Romans to aim at But now the Consul supposing that all the Enemies who of themselves were mightily disturbed if he should shew them the Ensigns of the Legions would all immediately run away took his Light-arm'd men into his Ranks with the other Party of Auxiliaries and put forward the main Body The Gauls being terrified with the memory of the Tolistoboian miscarriage and carrying Weapons stuck into their Bodies as also not only tired with standing but saint with their Wounds too could not endure even the first effort and shout of the Romans Wherefore they ran toward their Camp though few got within the Fortifications For the greatest part of them flying to the right and left beyond the Camp went that way which their violent hast at that time carried them whilst the Victors pursuing them even to their Camp were very severe upon their Reer But then they halted in the Camp for love of the Booty nor did any of them pursue the Foe The Gauls stood longer in the Wings because the Romans came later to them yet they did not bear even the first Volley of Weapons Mean time the Consul who could not draw them off that were gone into the Camp for plunder sent those that had been in the Wings immediately to pursue the Foe Who having follow'd them for some space yet slew not above eight thousand men in the flight for there was no set Battle The rest got over the River Halys whilst a great Party of the Romans staid that night in the Enemies Camp The others the Consul brought back into their own Camp The next day he took a view of the Captives and the booty which was as much as the most rapacious Nation in the whole World who had been by force possess'd for many years of all on this side the Mountain Taurus could heap together After this the Gauls who
their Ranks themselves also return'd into their Camp Thereupon the King being offended with the length of the Journey removed his Camp to Mopsius and the Romans having reaped down all the Corn at Crannona went over into the Territory of Phalanna Where when the King understood by a Fugitive that the Romans stragled all about the Country without any guard at all he went with a thousand Horse and two thousand Thracians and Cretans who marching with all the speed they possibly could surprised the Romans By which means their Waggons with the Beasts yoked into them and those most of them loaded were taken to the number of almost a thousand besides about six hundred men He committed the care of keeping and bringing the booty into the Camp to three hundred Cretans whilst he himself having recalled the Horse from their extravagant slaughter of the Foe and the remaining part of the Foot drew off to the next Guards of the Romans supposing it would be no difficulty to defeat them L. Pompeius the Tribune military commanded that Post who led away the Souldiers being amazed at the sudden arrival of the Enemy to an adjacent Hill with a resolution to defend himself by the secure situation of the place since he was too weak for them both in number and strength Where when he put his men into a round figure that by joining of their shields together they might defend themselves from the stroke of Arrows and Darts Perseus having encompassed the Hill with his Souldiers order'd some of them to attempt the ascent of it on all sides and to join Battle hand to hand whilst others threw Weapons at a distance The Romans were environ'd with doubtful terrour for they could not fight in close order for those that endeavour'd to ascend the Hill besides that having broken their ranks by the sallies that they made they lay open to Darts and Arrows But they were wounded most by the Cestrosphendonae i. e. Slings that Slung Darts which was a new soâ—t of instrument invented in the time of that War It had a Dart of two Spans length fix'd to an handle of half a Cubit long about which there were set three Feathers to poize it as there are upon Arrows The middle of the Sling had two Cords of unequal length so that when the Slinger whirl'd about the Weapon in the larger cavity of the Sling it flew out like a Bullet Now seeing that by this and all other sorts of Weapons part of the Souldiers were wounded so that they could not now being tired well bear their Aâ—ms the King prest them to a Surrender gave them his word for their security and sometimes promised them rewards though none of their minds for all that were inclined to a surrender till at last by meer chance when they were resolv'd to die they had some hopes given them For when some of the Foragers who fled back into the Camp had told the Consul that the guard was beset he moved by the danger that so many Citizens were in for there were nigh eight hundred of them and all Romans with the Horse and Light-armour to which there was an addition made of new Auxiliaries viz. the Numidian Foot and Horse besides Elephants went out of the Camp and commanded the Tribunes military to follow the Ensigns of the Legions whilst he himself went before to the Hill to strengthen the light-arm'd Auxiliaries and along with the Consul went Eumenes Attalus and Misagenes the petit King of the Numidians When the besieged saw the foremost Ensigns of their party the Roman spirits were recover'd from their extream despair and Perseus whose chief design was to be content with what success he had happen'd to have and having taken and kill'd some Foragers not to lose time in besieging a small Garison and his next when he had however made some attempt upon it since he knew he had not strength enough about him to march off whilst he with safety might not only staid himself being proud of his success till the Enemy came but sent with all speed to fetch the Phalanx Which being brought not only too late to do the business but in an hurry too were likely to come all in disorder by reason of their hast against a regular and prepar'd body of men But the Consul who came before join'd Battle forthwith In which the Macedonians at first opposed him though in a little while being no way equal they endeavour'd to march off having lost three hundred Foot twenty four of their best Horsemen out of that Wing which they call the Sacred Wing among whom Antimachus also the Captain of that Wing fell But their flight was full as tumultuous as the Battle it self The Phalanx being sent for by a timorous Messenger and led in hast met first in narrow passages with the body of Captives and the Waggons that were laden with Corn who being slain there was a great distraction on both sides since no body staid till the Army was ranged but the Souldiers threw the Carriages down the Precipice for otherwise they could not have made way and the Beasts when they were prick'd or goaded flounced in the crowd Nor had they well clear'd themselves from the ill-disciplin'd Body of Captives when they met the Kings Army and the discouraged Horsemen Whereupon the very shout of them who bad them turn back again put them into a consternation much like that which happens in a general ruine so that if the Enemy had dar'd to follow them any farther into the streights they might have received a great overthrow The Consul having drawn his Garison off the Hill and being content with moderate success led his Forces back into his Camp There are who say there was a great Battle fought that day and eight thousand of the Enemy slain among whom there were Sopater and Antipater the Kings Generals and that there were taken alive two thousand eight hundred with twenty seven military Ensigns But that it was not a bloodless Victory to the Romans of whom there fell above four thousand three hundred out of the Consuls Army besides that there were lost five Ensigns out of the left Wing This day as it recruited the Romans hearts so it damp'd Perseus insomuch that having staid but a few dayes at Mopsius more to bury his dead men than any thing else and left a good strong Garison at Gonnum he retreated with his Forces into Macedonia He left one Timotheus a Captain of his with a small party at Phila having order'd him to tempt the Magnesians and the adjacent Nations When he came to Pella having sent his Army away into their Winter-Quarters he himself went with Cotys to Thessalonica Where there was news brought that Atlesbis petit King of the Thracians and Corragus Eumenes 's Prefect had made an incursion into Cotys 's Dominions and had taken that part of the Country which they call Marene Wherefore supposing it to be the best way to send Cotys to