The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08
22. In the following year the Papirii, Spurius and Lucius, new military
tribunes, led the legions to Velitræ; their four colleagues in the
tribuneship, Servius Cornelius Maluginensis a fourth time, Quintus
Servilius, Servius Sulpicius, Lucius Æmilius a fourth time, being left
behind to protect the city, and in case any new commotion should be
announced from Etruria; for every thing was apprehended from that
quarter. At Velitræ they fought a successful battle against the
auxiliaries of the Prænestines, who were almost greater than the number
of colonists themselves; so that the proximity of the city was both the
cause of an earlier flight to the enemy, and was their only refuge after
the flight. The tribunes refrained from besieging the town, both because
[the result] was uncertain, and they considered that the war should not
be pushed to the total destruction of the colony. Letters were sent to
Rome to the senate with news of the victory, expressive of more
animosity against the Prænestine enemy than against those of Velitræ. In
consequence, by a decree of the senate and an order of the people, war
was declared against the Prænestines: who, in conjunction with the
Volscians, took, on the following year, Satricum, a colony of the Roman
people, by storm, after an obstinate defence by the colonists, and made,
with respect to the prisoners, a disgraceful use of their victory.
Incensed at this, the Romans elected Marcus Furius Camillus a seventh
time military tribune. The colleagues conjoined with him were the two
Postumii Regillenses, Aulus and Lucius, and Lucius Furius, with Lucius
Lucretius and Marcus Fabius Ambustus. The Volscian war was decreed to
Marcus Furius out of the ordinary course, Lucius Furius is assigned by
lot from among the tribunes his assistant; [which proved] not so
advantageous to the public as a source of all manner of praise to his
colleague: both on public grounds, because he restored the [Roman]
interest which had been prostrated by his rash conduct; and on private
grounds, because from his error he sought to obtain his gratitude rather
than his own glory. Camillus was now in the decline of life, and when
prepared at the election to take the usual oath for the purpose of
excusing himself on the plea of his health, he was opposed by the
consent of the people: but his active mind was still vigorous within his
ardent breast, and he enjoyed all his faculties entire, and now that he
concerned himself but little in civil affairs, war still aroused him.
Having enlisted four legions of four thousand men each, and having
ordered the troops to assemble the next day at the Esquiline gate, he
set out to Satricum. There the conquerors of the colony, nowise
dismayed, confiding in their number of men, in which they had
considerably the advantage, awaited him. When they perceived that the
Romans were approaching, they marched out immediately to the field,
determined to make no delay to put all to the risk of an engagement,
that by proceeding thus they should derive no advantage from the
judgment of their distinguished commander, on which alone they confided.
23. The same ardour existed also in the Roman army; nor did any thing,
but the wisdom and authority of one man, delay the fortune of the
present engagement, who sought, by protracting the war, an opportunity
of aiding their strength by skill. The enemy urged them the more on that
account, and now not only did they draw out their troops in order of
battle before their camp, but advanced into the middle of the plain, and
by throwing up trenches near the battalions of the enemy, made a show of
their insolent confidence in their strength. The Roman soldier was
indignant at this; the other military tribune, Lucius Furius, still more
so, who, encouraged both by his youth and his natural disposition, was
still further elated by the hopes entertained by the multitude, who
assumed great spirits on grounds the most uncertain. The soldiers,
already excited of themselves, he still further instigated by
disparaging the authority of his colleague by reference to his age, the
only point on which he could do so: saying constantly, "that wars were
the province of young men, and that with the body the mind also
flourishes and withers; that from having been a most vigorous warrior he
was become a drone; and that he who, on coming up, had been wont to
carry off camps and cities at the first onset, now consumed the time
inactive within the trenches. What accession to his own strength, or
diminution of that of the enemy, did he hope for? What opportunity, what
season, what place for practising stratagem? that the old man's plans
were frigid and languid. Camillus had both sufficient share of life as
well as of glory. What use was it to suffer the strength of a state
which ought to be immortal, to sink into old age along with one mortal
body." By such observations, he had attracted to himself the attention
of the entire camp; and when in every quarter battle was called for, "We
cannot," he says, "Marcus Furius, withstand the violence of the
soldiers; and the enemy, whose spirits we have increased by delaying,
insults us by insolence by no means to be borne. Do you, who are but one
man, yield to all, and suffer yourself to be overcome in counsel, that
you may the sooner overcome in battle." To this Camillus replies, that
"whatever wars had been waged up to that day under his single auspices,
in these that neither himself nor the Roman people had been
dissatisfied either with his judgment or with his fortune; now he knew
that he had a colleague, his equal in command and in authority, in
vigour of age superior; with respect to the army, that he had been
accustomed to rule, not to be ruled; with his colleague's authority he
could not interfere. That he might do, with the favour of the gods,
whatever he might deem to be to the interest of the state. That he would
even solicit for his years the indulgence, that he might not be placed
in the front line; that whatever duties in war an old man could
discharge, in these he would not be deficient; that he prayed to the
immortal gods, that no mischance might prove his plan to be the more
advisable." Neither his salutary advice was listened to by men, nor such
pious prayers by the gods. The adviser of the battle draws up the front
line; Camillus forms the reserve, and posts a strong guard before the
camp; he himself took his station on an elevated place as a spectator,
anxiously watching the result of the other's plan.
24. As soon as the arms clashed at the first encounter, the enemy, from
stratagem, not from fear, retreated. There was a gentle acclivity in
their rear, between the army and their camp; and because they had
sufficient numbers, they had left in the camp several strong cohorts,
armed and ready for action, which were to rush forth, when the battle
was now commenced, and when the enemy had approached the rampart. The
Roman being drawn into disadvantageous ground by following the
retreating enemy in disorder, became exposed to this sally. Terror
therefore being turned on the victor, by reason of this new force, and
the declivity of the valley, caused the Roman line to give way. The
Volscians, who made the attack from the camp, being fresh, press on
them; those also who had given way by a pretended flight, renew the
fight. The Roman soldiers no longer recovered themselves; but unmindful
of their recent presumption and former glory, were turning their backs
in every direction, and with disorderly speed were making for their
camp, when Camillus, being mounted on his horse by those around him, and
hastily opposing the reserved troops to them, "Is this," says he,
"soldiers, the battle which ye called for? What man, what god is there,
whom ye can blame? That was your rashness, this your cowardice. Having
followed another leader, now follow Camillus; and as ye are accustomed
to do under my leadership, conquer. Why do ye look to the rampart and
camp? Not a man of you shall that camp receive, except as victor." Shame
at first stopped their disorderly flight; then when they saw the
standards wheel about, and a line formed to meet the enemy, and the
general, besides being distinguished by so many triumphs, venerable also
by his age, presented himself in front of the battalions, where the
greatest toil and danger was, every one began to upbraid both himself
and others, and mutual exhortation with a brisk shout pervaded the
entire line. Nor was the other tribune deficient on the occasion. Being
despatched to the cavalry by his colleague, who was restoring the line
of the infantry, not by rebuking them, (for which task his share in
their fault had rendered him an authority of little weight,) but from
command turning entirely to entreaties, he besought them individually
and collectively, "to redeem him from blame, who was answerable for the
events of that day. Notwithstanding the repugnance and dissuasion of my
colleague, I gave myself a partner in the rashness of all rather than in
the prudence of one. Camillus sees his own glory in your fortune,
whatever it be; for my part, unless the battle is restored, I shall feel
the result with you all, the infamy alone (which is most distressing)."
It was deemed best that the horse should be transferred into the line
whilst still unsteady, and that they should attack the enemy by fighting
on foot. Distinguished by their arms and courage, they proceed in
whatever direction they perceive the line of the infantry most pressed;
nor among either the officers or soldiers is there any abatement
observed from the utmost effort of courage. The result therefore felt
the aid of the bravery exerted; and the Volscians being put to real
flight in that direction in which they had lately retreated under
pretended fear, great numbers were slain both in the battle itself, and
afterwards in flight; the others in the camp, which was taken in the
same onset: more, however, were captured than slain.
25. Where when, on taking an account of the prisoners, several Tusculans
were recognised, being separated from the rest, they are brought to the
tribunes; and they confessed to those who interrogated them, that they
had taken up arms by the authority of the state. By the fear of which
war so near home Camillus being alarmed, says that he would immediately
carry the prisoners to Rome, that the senate might not be ignorant, that
the Tusculans had revolted from the alliance; meanwhile his colleague,
if he thought proper, should command the camp and army. One day had been
a lesson to him not to prefer his own counsels to better. However
neither himself, nor any person in the army, supposed that Camillus
would pass over his misconduct without some angry feelings, by which the
commonwealth had been brought into so perilous a situation; and both in
the army and at Rome, the uniform account of all was, that, as matters
had been conducted with varying success among the Volscians, the blame
of the unsuccessful battle and of the flight lay with Lucius Furius, all
the glory of the successful one was to be attributed to Camillus. The
prisoners being brought into the senate, when the senate decreed that
the Tusculans should be punished with war, and they intrusted the
management of that war to Camillus, he requests one assistant for
himself in that business, and being allowed to select which ever of his
colleagues he pleased, contrary to the expectation of every one, he
solicited Lucius Furius. By which moderation of feeling he both
alleviated the disgrace of his colleague, and acquired great glory to
himself. There was no war, however, with the Tusculans. By firm
adherence to peace they warded off the Roman violence, which they could
not have done by arms. When the Romans entered their territories, no