The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08
they thought would be discussed with them.
4. When different persons advanced different opinions, then Annius says:
"Though I myself put the question, as to what answer it might be your
pleasure should be given, yet I think it more concerns our general
interest how we should act than how we should speak. Your plans being
once unfolded, it will be easy to suit words to the subject; for if even
now we are capable of submitting to slavery under the shadow of a
confederacy on equal terms, what is wanting but to betray the
Sidicinians, be obedient to the orders not only of the Romans, but of
the Samnites, and tell the Romans, that we will lay down our arms
whenever they intimate it to be their wish? But if at length a desire of
liberty stimulates your minds, if a confederacy does subsist, if
alliance be equalization of rights, if there be reason now to boast that
we are of the same blood as the Romans, of which they were formerly
ashamed, if they have such an army of allies, by the junction of which
they may double their strength, such a one as their consuls would be
unwilling to separate from themselves either in concluding or commencing
their own wars; why are not all things equalized? why is not one of the
consuls chosen from the Latins? Where there is an equal share of
strength, is there also an equal share in the government? This indeed in
itself reflects no extraordinary degree of honour on us, as still
acknowledging Rome to be the metropolis of Latium; but that it may
possibly appear to do so, has been effected by our long-continued
forbearance. But if ye ever wished for an opportunity of sharing in the
government, and enjoying freedom, lo! this opportunity is now at hand,
presented both by your own valour and the bounty of the gods. Ye have
tried their patience by refusing them soldiers. Who doubts that they
were fired with rage, when we broke through a custom of more than two
hundred years? Still they submitted to this feeling of resentment. We
waged war with the Pelignians in our own name. They who formerly did not
even concede to us the right of defending our own territories through
ourselves, interfered not. They heard that the Sidicinians were
received under our protection, that the Campanians had revolted from
themselves to us, that we were preparing armies against their
confederates, the Samnites; yet they stirred not from the city. Whence
this so great forbearance on their part, except from a knowledge of our
strength and their own? I have it from competent authority, that when
the Samnites complained of us, such an answer was given them by the
Roman senate, as plainly showed that not even themselves insisted that
Latium was under the Roman jurisdiction. Only assume your rights in
demanding that which they tacitly concede to you. If fear prevents any
one from saying this, lo! I pledge myself that I will say it, in the
hearing not only of the Roman people and senate, but of Jupiter himself,
who inhabits the Capitol; that if they wish us to be in confederacy and
alliance with them, they are to receive one consul from us, and one half
of the senate." When he not only recommended these measures boldly, but
promised also his aid, they all, with acclamations of assent, permitted
him to do and say whatever might appear to him conducive to the republic
of the Latin nation and his own honour.
5. When they arrived in Rome, an audience of the senate was granted them
in the Capitol. There, when Titus Manlius the consul, by direction of
the senate, required of them not to make war on their confederates the
Samnites, Annius, as if he had taken the Capitol by arms as a victor,
and were not addressing them as an ambassador protected by the law of
nations, says: "It were time, Titus Manlius, and you, conscript fathers,
to cease at length treating with us on a footing of superiority, when
you see Latium in a most flourishing state by the bounty of the gods in
arms and men, the Samnites being vanquished in war, the Sidicinians and
Campanians our allies, the Volscians now united to us in alliance, and
that your own colonies even prefer the government of Latium to that of
Rome. But since ye do not bring your minds to put an end to your
arbitrary despotism, we, though able by force of arms to vindicate the
independence of Latium, yet will make this concession to the ties of
blood between us, as to offer terms of peace on terms of equality for
both, since it has pleased the immortal gods that the strength of both
is equalized. One of the consuls must be selected out of Rome, the
other out of Latium; an equal portion of the senate must be from both
nations; we must be one people, one republic; and that the seat of
government may be the same, and we all may have the same name, since the
concession must be made by the one party or other, let this, and may it
be auspicious to both, have the advantage of being the mother country,
and let us all be called Romans." It so happened that the Romans also
had a consul, a match for this man's high spirit; who, so far from
restraining his angry feelings, openly declared, that if such
infatuation took possession of the conscript fathers, that they would
receive laws from a man of Setia, he would himself come into the senate
armed with a sword, and would slay with his hand any Latin whom he
should see in the senate-house. And turning to the statue of Jupiter,
"Hear thou, Jupiter," says he, "hear these impious proposals; hear ye
them, Justice and Equity. Jupiter, art thou to behold foreign consuls
and a foreign senate in thy consecrated temple, as if thou wert a
captive and overpowered? Were these the treaties which Tullus, a Roman
king, concluded with the Albans, your forefathers, Latins, and which
Lucius Tarquinius subsequently concluded with you? Does not the battle
at the Lake Regillus occur to your thoughts? Have you so forgotten your
own calamities and our kindnesses towards you?"
6. When the indignation of the senate followed these words of the
consul, it is recorded that, in reply to the frequent appeals to the
gods, whom the consuls frequently invoked as witnesses to the treaties,
an expression of Annius was heard in contempt of the divinity of the
Roman Jupiter. Certainly, when aroused with wrath he was proceeding with
rapid steps from the porch of the temple, having fallen down the stairs,
his head being severely struck, he was dashed against a stone at the
bottom with such force, as to be deprived of sense. As all writers do
not say that he was killed, I too shall leave it in doubt; as also the
circumstance, that a storm, with a dreadful noise in the heavens, took
place during the appeal made in reference to the violated treaties; for
they may both be true, and also invented aptly to express in a striking
manner the resentment of heaven. Torquatus, being despatched by the
senate to dismiss the ambassadors, on seeing Annius lying prostrate,
exclaimed, so as that his voice was heard both by the people and the
senate, "It is well. The gods have excited a just war. There is a deity
in heaven. Thou dost exist, great Jove; not without reason have we
consecrated thee the father of gods and men in this mansion. Why do ye
hesitate, Romans, and you, conscript fathers, to take up arms under the
direction of the gods? Thus will I lay low the legions of the Latins, as
you now see this man lying prostrate." The words of the consul, received
with the approbation of the people, filled their breasts with such
ardour, that the ambassadors on their departure were protected from the
anger and violence of the people more by the care of the magistrates,
who escorted them by order of the consul, than by the law of nations.
The senate also voted for the war; and the consuls, after raising two
armies, marched into the territories of the Marsians and Pelignians, the
army of the Samnites having joined them, and pitched their camp near
Capua, where the Latins and their allies had now assembled. There it is
said there appeared to both the consuls, during sleep, the same form of
a man larger and more majestic than human, who said, "Of the one side a
general, of the other an army was due to the dii Manes and to Mother
Earth; from whichever army a general should devote the legions of the
enemy and himself, in addition, that the victory would belong to that
nation and that party." When the consuls compared together these visions
of the night, it was resolved that victims should be slain for the
purpose of averting the anger of the gods; at the same time, that if the
same portents were exhibited in the entrails as those which had been
seen during sleep, either of the consuls should fulfil the fates. When
the answers of the haruspices coincided with the secret religious
impression already implanted in their minds; then, having brought
together the lieutenant-generals and tribunes, and having openly
expounded to them the commands of the gods, they settle among
themselves, lest the consul's voluntary death should intimidate the army
in the field, that on which side soever the Roman army should commence
to give way, the consul in that quarter should devote himself for the
Roman people and the Quirites. In this consultation it was also
suggested, that if ever on any occasion any war had been conducted with
strict discipline, then indeed military discipline should be reduced to
the ancient standard. What excited their attention particularly was,
that they had to contend against Latins, who coincided with themselves
in language, manners, in the same kind of arms, and more especially in
military institutions; soldiers had been mixed with soldiers, centurions
with centurions, tribunes with tribunes, as comrades and colleagues, in
the same armies, and often in the same companies. Lest in consequence of
this the soldiers should be involved in any mistake, the consuls issue
orders that no one should fight against an enemy out of his post.
7. It happened that among the other prefects of the troops, who had been
sent out in all directions to reconnoitre, Titus Manlius, the consul's
son, came with his troop to the back of the enemy's camp, so near that
he was scarcely distant a dart's throw from the next post. In that place
were some Tusculan cavalry; they were commanded by Geminus Metius, a man
distinguished among his countrymen both by birth and exploits. When he
recognised the Roman cavalry, and conspicuous among them the consul's
son marching at their head, (for they were all known to each other,
especially the men of note,) "Romans, are ye going to wage war with the
Latins and allies with a single troop. What in the interim will the
consuls, what will the two consular armies be doing?" "They will be here
in good time," says Manlius, "and with them will be Jupiter himself, as
a witness of the treaties violated by you, who is stronger and more
powerful. If we fought at the lake Regillus until you had quite enough,
here also we shall so act, that a line of battle and an encounter with
us may afford you no very great gratification." In reply to this,
Geminus, advancing some distance from his own party, says, "Do you
choose then, until that day arrives on which you are to put your armies
in motion with such mighty labour, to enter the lists with me, that from
the result of a contest between us both, it may be seen how much a Latin
excels a Roman horseman?" Either resentment, or shame at declining the
contest, or the invincible power of fate, arouses the determined spirit
of the youth. Forgetful therefore of his father's command, and the
consul's edict, he is driven headlong to that contest, in which it made
not much difference whether he conquered or was conquered. The other
horsemen being removed to a distance as if to witness the sight, in the