The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08
25. The tribunes of the people, by preventing the election of consuls by
incessant harangues, succeeded at length, after the matter had been well
nigh brought to an interregnum, in having tribunes of the soldiers
elected with consular authority: as for the prize of their victory,
which was the thing sought, _scil._ that a plebeian should be elected,
there was none. All patricians were elected, Marcus Fabius Vibulanus,
Marcus Foslius, Lucius Sergius Fidenas. The pestilence during that year
afforded a quiet in other matters. A temple was vowed to Apollo for the
health of the people. The duumvirs did much, by direction of the books,
for the purpose of appeasing the wrath of heaven and averting the plague
from the people; a great mortality however was sustained in the city and
country, by the death of men and of cattle promiscuously. Apprehending a
famine for the agriculturists, they sent into Etruria, and the Pomptine
district, and to Cumæ, and at last to Sicily also to procure corn. No
mention was made of electing consuls. Military tribunes with consular
authority were appointed, all patricians, Lucius Pinarius Mamercinus,
Lucius Furius Medullinus, Spurius Postumius Albus. In this year the
violence of the distemper abated, nor was there any danger from a
scarcity of corn, because provision had been previously made against it.
Schemes for exciting wars were agitated in the meetings of the Æquans
and Volscians, and in Etruria at the temple of Voltumna. Here the matter
was postponed for a year, and by a decree it was enacted, that no
meeting should be held before that time, the Veientian state in vain
complaining that the same destiny hung over Veii, as that by which
Fidenæ was destroyed. Meanwhile at Rome the chiefs of the commons, who
had now for a long time been vainly pursuing the hope of higher dignity,
whilst there was tranquillity abroad, appointed meetings to be held in
the houses of the tribunes of the commons. There they concerted plans in
secret: they complained "that they were so despised by the commons, that
though tribunes of the soldiers, with consular authority, were now
appointed for so many years, no plebeian ever obtained access to that
honour. That their ancestors had shown much foresight in providing that
plebeian offices should not be open to any patrician; otherwise they
should be forced to have patricians as tribunes of the commons; so
despicable were they even with their own party, and were not less
despised by the commons than by the patricians." Others exculpated the
commons, and threw the blame on the patricians,--"that by their
intriguing and schemes it happened that the road to honour was barred
against the commons. If the commons were allowed to breathe from their
mixed entreaties and menaces, that they would enter on their suffrages
with a due regard to men of their own party; and, assistance being
already procured, that they would assume a share in the government
also." It is determined that, for the purpose of doing away with all
intriguing, the tribunes should propose a law, that no person be allowed
to add white to his garment for the purposes of canvassing. The matter
may now appear trivial and scarcely deserving serious consideration,
which then enkindled such strife between the patricians and commons. The
tribunes, however, prevailed in carrying the law; and it appeared
evident, that in their present state of irritation, the commons would
incline their support to men of their own party; and lest this should be
optional with them, a decree of the senate is passed, that the election
for consuls should be held.
26. The cause was the rising, which the Hernicians and Latins announced
as about to take place on the part of the Æquans and Volscians. Titus
Quintius Cincinnatus, son of Lucius, (to the same person the cognomen of
Pennus also is annexed,) and Caius Julius Mento were elected consuls:
nor was the terror of war longer deferred. A levy being held under the
devoting law, which with them is the most powerful instrument of forcing
men into service, powerful armies set out from thence, and met at
Algidum; and there the Æquans and Volscians fortified their camps
separately; and the general took greater care than ever before to
fortify their posts and train their soldiers; so much the more terror
did the messengers bring to Rome. The senate wished that a dictator
should be appointed, because though these nations had been often
conquered, yet they renewed hostilities with more vigorous efforts than
ever before, and a considerable number of the Roman youth had been
carried off by sickness. Above all, the perverseness of the consuls, and
the disagreement between them, and their contentions in all the
councils, terrified them. There are some who state that an unsuccessful
battle was fought by these consuls at Algidum, and that such was the
cause of appointing a dictator. This much is certain, that, though
differing in other points, they perfectly agreed in one against the
wishes of the patricians, not to nominate a dictator; until when
accounts were brought, one more alarming than another, and the consuls
would not be swayed by the authority of the senate, Quintus Servilius
Priscus, who had passed through the highest honours with singular
honour, says, "Tribunes of the people, since we are come to
extremities, the senate calls on you, that you would, by virtue of your
authority, compel the consuls to nominate a dictator in so critical a
conjuncture of the state." On hearing this, the tribunes, conceiving
that an opportunity was presented to them of extending their power,
retire together, and declare for their college, that "it was their wish
that the consuls should be obedient to the instruction of the senate; if
they persisted further against the consent of that most illustrious
order, that they would order them to be taken to prison." The consuls
were better pleased to be overcome by the tribunes than by the senate,
alleging that the prerogatives of the highest magistracy were betrayed
by the patricians and the consulship subjugated to tribunitian power,
inasmuch as the consuls were liable to be overruled by a tribune in any
particular by virtue of his power, and (what greater hardship could a
private man have to dread?) even to be carried off to prison. The lot to
nominate the dictator (for the colleagues had not even agreed on that)
fell on Titus Quintius. He appointed a dictator, Aulus Postumius
Tubertus, his own father-in-law, a man of the utmost strictness in
command: by him Lucius Julius was appointed master of the horse: a
suspension of civil business is also proclaimed; and, that nothing else
should be attended to throughout the city but preparations for war, the
examination of the cases of those who claimed exemption from the
military service is deferred till after the war. Thus even doubtful
persons are induced to give in their names. Soldiers were also enjoined
of the Hernicians and Latins: the most zealous obedience is shown to the
dictator on both sides.
27. All these measures were executed with great despatch: and Caius
Julius the consul being left to guard the city, and Lucius Julius master
of the horse, for the sudden exigencies of the war, lest any thing which
they might want in the camp should cause delay, the dictator, repeating
the words after Aulus Cornelius the chief pontiff, vowed the great games
on account of the sudden war; and having set out from the city, after
dividing his army with the consul Quintius, he came up with the enemy.
As they had observed two separate camps of the enemy at a small distance
one from the other, they in like manner encamped separately about a mile
from them, the dictator towards Tusculum, the consul towards Lanuvium.
Thus they had their four armies, as many fortified posts, having between
them a plain sufficiently extended not only for excursions to skirmish,
but even for drawing up the armies on both sides in battle-array. From
the time camp was brought close to camp, they ceased not from light
skirmishing, the dictator readily allowing his soldiers, by comparing
strength, to entertain beforehand the hope of a general victory, after
they had gradually essayed the result of slight skirmishes. Wherefore
the enemy, no hope being now left in a regular engagement, attacked the
consuls' camp in the night, and bring the matter to the chance of a
doubtful result. The shout which arose suddenly awoke not only the
consuls' sentinels and then all the army, but the dictator also. When
circumstances required instant exertion, the consul evinced no
deficiency either in spirit or in judgment. One part of the troops
reinforce the guards at the gates, another man the rampart around. In
the other camp with the dictator, inasmuch as there is less of
confusion, so much the more readily is it observed, what is required to
be done. Despatching then forthwith a reinforcement to the consuls'
camp, to which Spurius Postumius Albus is appointed lieutenant-general,
he himself with a part of his forces, making a small circuit, proceeds
to a place entirely sequestered from the bustle, whence he might
suddenly attack the enemy's rear. Quintus Sulpicius, his
lieutenant-general, he appoints to take charge of the camp; to Marcus
Fabius as lieutenant he assigns the cavalry, and orders that those
troops, which it would be difficult to manage amid a nightly conflict,
should not stir before day-light. All the measures which any other
prudent and active general could order and execute at such a juncture,
he orders and executes with regularity; that was an extraordinary
specimen of judgment and intrepidity, and one deserving of no ordinary
praise, that he despatched Marcus Geganius with some chosen troops to
attack the enemy's camp, whence it had been ascertained that they had
departed with the greater part of their troops. When he fell on these
men, wholly intent on the result of the danger of their friends, and
incautious with respect to themselves, the watches and advanced guards
being even neglected, he took their camp almost before the enemy were
perfectly sure that it was attacked. Then when the signal given with
smoke, as had been agreed on, was perceived by the dictator, he
exclaims that the enemy's camp was taken, and orders it to be announced
in every direction.
28. And now day was appearing, and every thing lay open to view; and
Fabius had made an attack with his cavalry, and the consul had sallied
from the camp on the enemy now disconcerted; when the dictator on the
other side, having attacked their reserve and second line, threw his
victorious troops, both horse and foot, in the way of the enemy as they
turned themselves about to the dissonant shouts and the various sudden
assaults. Thus surrounded on every side, they would to a man have
suffered the punishment due to their reassumption of hostilities, had
not Vectius Messius, a Volscian, a man more ennobled by his deeds than
his extraction, upbraiding his men as they were forming a circle, called
out with a loud voice, "Are ye about offering yourselves here to the
weapons of the enemy, undefended, unavenged? why is it then ye have
arms? or why have you undertaken an offensive war, ever turbulent in
peace, and dastardly in war? What hopes have you in standing here? do
you expect that some god will protect you and bear you hence? With the
sword way must be opened. Come on ye, who wish to behold your homes,
your parents, your wives, and your children, follow me in the way in
which you shall see me lead you on. It is not a wall, not a rampart, but
armed men that stand in your way with arms in your hands. In valour you
are equal to them; in necessity, which is the ultimate and most
effective weapon, superior." As he uttered these words and was putting