The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08
friends, a shout and violent onset adding to the already confused state
of their minds. The enemy at first gave way; then, when they had rallied
their spirits, and their generals on every side reprovingly asked them,
whether they were about to yield to their vanquished foes, the battle
was restored.
61. On the other side, the consul desired the Romans to remember that
"on that day, for the first time, they fought as free men in defence of
Rome, now a free city. That it was for themselves they were to conquer,
and not that they should be the prize of the decemvirs, after
conquering. That it was not under the command of Appius that the action
was being conducted, but under their consul Valerius, descended from the
liberators of the Roman people, himself too a liberator. That they
should show that in former battles it had been the fault of the
generals, and not of the soldiers, that they did not conquer. That it
was shameful to have had more courage against their own countrymen than
against their enemies, and to have dreaded slavery more at home than
abroad. That Virginia was the only person whose chastity was in danger
in time of peace: that Appius was the only citizen of dangerous lust.
But if the fortune of war should turn against them, all their children
would be in danger from so many thousands of enemies. That he would
not, on account of the omen, mention things which may neither Jupiter
nor their father Mars suffer to befall a city built under such
auspices." He reminded them of the Aventine and the Sacred mount; and
"that they should bring back dominion unimpaired to that spot, where
their liberty had been established but a few months before: and that
they should show that the Roman soldiers retained the same abilities
after the expulsion of the decemvirs, which they had possessed before
they were appointed; and that the valour of the Roman people was not
deteriorated after the laws were equalized." After he uttered these
words among the battalions of the infantry, he flies from them to the
cavalry. "Come, young men, surpass in valour the infantry, as you
already surpass them in honour and in rank. The infantry at the first
onset have made the enemy give way: now that they have given way, do you
give reins to your horses and drive them from the field. They will not
stand your charge: even now they rather hesitate than resist." They spur
on their horses, and drive in amongst the enemy who were already thrown
into confusion by the attack of the infantry; and having broken through
the ranks, and pushed on to the rear of their line, a part wheeling
round in the open space, turn most of them away from the camp to which
they were now flying from all sides, and by riding on before they deter
them from that direction. The line of infantry, and the consul himself,
and the main body of the army make for the camp, and having taken it
with considerable slaughter, they get possession of a great quantity of
booty. The fame of this battle was carried not only to the city, but to
the other army also among the Sabines. In the city it was celebrated
only with public rejoicing; in the camp it fired the courage of the
soldiers to emulate such glory. Horatius, by training them in
excursions, and making trial of them in slight skirmishes, had
accustomed them to trust in themselves rather than to remember the
ignominy incurred under the command of the decemvirs, and these little
encounters had now gone so far as to insure to them the consummation of
all their hopes. The Sabines, elated at their success on the preceding
year, ceased not to provoke and urge them (to fight,) constantly asking
them why they wasted time, sallying forth in small numbers and returning
like marauders, and why they parcelled out the grand effort of a single
war on a number of insignificant skirmishes? why did they not engage
them in the field, and consign the result to fortune to be determined at
once?
62. Besides that they had already of themselves recovered a sufficient
degree of courage, the Romans were fired with exasperation "that the
other army would soon return victorious to the city; that the enemy were
now wantonly insulting them by contumelies; when would they be a match
for the enemy, if they were not so then?" When the consul ascertained
that the soldiers gave expression to these sentiments in the camp,
having summoned an assembly: "How matters have gone on in Algidum," says
he, "I suppose that you, soldiers, have already heard. As became the
army of a free people to behave, so have they behaved: through the
judicious conduct of my colleague and the valour of the soldiers, the
victory has been gained. For my part, the plan and determination which I
am to maintain, you yourselves shall suggest. The war may be both
prolonged with advantage, and be brought to a speedy conclusion. If it
is to be prolonged, I shall take care by the same discipline with which
I have commenced, that your hopes and your valour may increase every
day. If you have now sufficient courage, and it is your wish that the
matter be decided, come on, raise here that shout such as you will raise
in the field of battle, the index at once of your inclination and your
valour." When the shout was raised with great alacrity, he assures them
"that with the good favour of heaven, he would comply with their wishes
and lead them next day to the field." The remainder of the day is spent
in preparing their arms. On the following day, as soon as the Sabines
saw the Roman army being drawn up in order of battle, they too, as being
long since eager for the encounter, come forward. The battle was such a
one as may be expected between two armies confident in themselves, the
one animated by the glory of former and uninterrupted glory, the other
lately so by an unusual instance of success. The Sabines aided their
strength by stratagem also; for having formed a line equal (to that of
the enemy,) they kept two thousand men in reserve, to make an attack on
the left wing of the Romans in the heat of the battle. When these, by an
attack in flank, were overpowering that wing, now almost surrounded,
about six hundred of the cavalry of two legions leap down from their
horses, and rush forward in front of their men, now giving way; and they
at the same time both oppose the progress of the enemy, and incite the
courage of the infantry, first sharing the danger equally with them, and
then by arousing in them a sense of shame. It was a matter of shame that
the cavalry should fight in their own proper character and in that of
others; and that the infantry should not be equal to the cavalry even
when dismounted.
63. They press forward therefore to the fight, which had been suspended
on their part, and endeavour to regain the ground which they had lost,
and in a moment not only is the battle restored, but one of the wings of
the Sabines gives way. The cavalry, covered between the ranks of the
foot, return to their horses; they then gallop across to the other
division to announce their success to their party; at the same time also
they make a charge on the enemy, now disheartened by the discomfiture of
their stronger wing. The valour of none shone more conspicuous in that
battle. The consul provided for all emergencies; he applauded the brave,
rebuked wherever the battle seemed to slacken. When reproved, they
displayed immediately the energy of brave men; and a sense of shame
stimulated them as much as praises excited the others. The shout being
raised anew, and making a united effort, they drive the enemy back; nor
could the Roman power be any longer resisted. The Sabines, driven in
every direction through the country, leave behind them their camp as
plunder for the enemy. There the Roman recovers the effects not of the
allies, as at Algidum, but his own property, which had been lost by the
devastations of their lands. For this double victory, obtained in two
battles, in two different places, the senate through jealousy decreed
merely supplications in the name of the consuls for one day only. The
people went, however, on the second day also in great numbers of their
own accord to offer thanksgiving; and this unauthorized and popular
supplication was even more zealously attended. The consuls by concert
came to the city within the same two days, and called out the senate to
the Campus Martius. Where, when they were relating the services
performed by themselves, the chiefs of the patricians complained that
the senate was convened among the soldiers designedly for the purpose of
intimidation. The consuls therefore, lest there might be any foundation
for such a charge, called away the senate to the Flaminian meadows,
where the temple of Apollo now is (even then they called it
Apollinaris). Where, when a triumph was refused by a large majority of
the patricians, Lucius Icilius, tribune of the commons, proposed to the
people regarding the triumph of the consuls, many persons coming forward
to argue against the measure, but in particular Caius Claudius,
exclaiming, "That it was over the senate, not over the enemy, the
consuls wished to triumph; and that it was intended as a return for a
private service to a tribune, and not as an honour due to valour. That
never before was the matter of a triumph managed through the people; but
that the consideration concerning the honour and the disposal of it,
always lay with the senate; that not even the kings had infringed on the
majesty of this highest order. That the tribunes should not thus occupy
every department with their own authority, so as to allow the existence
of no public council; that the state would be free, and the laws
equalized by these means only, if each rank would retain its own rights,
its own dignity." Though much had been said by the other senior
patricians also to the same purpose, all the tribes approved that
proposition. Then for the first time a triumph was celebrated by order
of the people, without the authority of the senate.
64. This victory of the tribunes and people was well nigh terminating in
an extravagance of a by no means salutary tendency, a conspiracy being
formed among the tribunes to have the same tribunes re-elected, and in
order that their ambition might be the less conspicuous, to continue
their office to the consuls. They pleaded, as a cause, the combination
of the patricians by which the privileges of the commons were attempted
to be undermined by the affronts thrown upon the consuls. What would be
the consequence, before the laws are yet firmly established, if consuls
should through their factions attack the new tribunes. For that Horatii
and Valerii would not always be consuls, who would postpone their own
interest to the liberty of the people. By some concurrence of
circumstances, useful at the time, it fell by lot to Marcus Duilius
above any one else to preside at the elections, a man of prudence, and
who perceived the storm of public odium that was hanging over them from
the continuance of their office. And when he stated that he would take
no notice of the former tribunes, and his colleagues strenuously
insisted that he should allow the tribes to be at liberty to vote, or
should give up the office of presiding at the elections to his
colleagues, who would hold the election according to law rather than
according to the pleasure of the patricians; a contention being now
excited, when Duilius had sent for the consuls to his seat and asked
them what they contemplated doing with respect to the consular
elections, and they answered that they would appoint new consuls, having
found popular supporters of a measure by no means popular, he proceeded
with them into the assembly. Where, when the consuls, being brought
forward before the people, and asked, whether if the Roman people,