The History of Rome; Books Nine to Twenty Six - Titus Livius
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12. The deliberation of the senate was short. They all, to a man,
concurred in opinion, that a compact should be entered into with the
Lucanians, and satisfaction demanded from the Samnites: accordingly, a
favourable answer was returned to the Lucanians, and the alliance
concluded. Heralds were then sent, to require of the Samnites, that
they should depart from the country of the allies, and withdraw their
troops from the Lucanian territory. These were met by persons
despatched for the purpose by the Samnites, who gave them warning,
that "if they appeared at any assembly in Samnium, they must not
expect to depart in safety." As soon as this was heard at Rome, the
senate voted, and the people ordered, that war should be declared
against the Samnites. The consuls, then, dividing the provinces
between them, Etruria fell to Scipio, the Samnites to Fulvius; and
they set out by different routes, each against the enemy allotted to
him. Scipio, while he expected a tedious campaign, like that of the
preceding year, was met near Volaterra by the Etrurians, in order of
battle. The fight lasted through the greater part of the day, while
very many fell on both sides, and night came on while it was uncertain
to which side victory inclined. But the following dawn showed the
conqueror and the vanquished; for the Etrurians had decamped in the
dead of the night. The Romans, marching out with intent to renew the
engagement, and seeing their superiority acknowledged by the departure
of the enemy, advanced to their camp; and, finding even this fortified
post deserted, took possession of it, evacuated as it was, together
with a vast quantity of spoil. The consul then, leading back his
forces into the Faliscian territory, and leaving his baggage with a
small guard at Falerii, set out with his troops, lightly accoutred, to
ravage the enemy's country. All places are destroyed with fire and
sword; plunder driven from every side; and not only was the ground
left a mere waste to the enemy, but their forts and small towns were
set on fire; he refrained from attacking the cities into which fear
had driven the Etrurians. The consul Cneius Fulvius fought a glorious
battle in Samnium, near Bovianum, attended with success by no means
equivocal. Then, having attacked Bovianum, and not long after
Aufidena, he took them by storm.
This year a colony was carried out to Carseoli, into the territory of
the Aequicolae. The consul Fulvius triumphed on his defeat of the
Samnites.
13. When the consular elections were now at hand, a report prevailed,
that the Etrurians and Samnites were raising vast armies; that the
leaders of the Etrurians were, in all their assemblies, openly
censured for not having procured the aid of the Gauls on any terms;
and the magistrates of the Samnites arraigned, for having opposed to
the Romans an army destined to act against the Lucanians. That, in
consequence, the people were rising up in arms, with all their own
strength and that of their allies combined; and that this affair
seemed not likely to be terminated without a contest of much greater
difficulty than the former. Although the candidates for the consulship
were men of illustrious characters, yet this alarming intelligence
turned the thoughts of all on Quintus Fabius Maximus, who sought not
the employment at first, and afterwards, when he discovered their
wishes, even declined it. "Why," said he, "should they impose such a
difficult task on him, who was now in the decline of life, and had
passed through a full course of labours, and of the rewards of labour?
Neither the vigour of his body, nor of his mind, remained the same;
and he dreaded fortune herself, lest to some god she should seem too
bountiful to him, and more constant than the course of human affairs
allowed. He had himself succeeded, in gradual succession, to the
dignities of his seniors; and he beheld, with great satisfaction,
others rising up to succeed to his glory. There was no scarcity at
Rome, either of honours suited to men of the highest merit, or of men
of eminent merit suited to the highest honours." This disinterested
conduct, instead of repressing, increased, while in fact it justified
their zeal. But thinking that this ought to be checked by respect for
the laws, he ordered that clause to be read aloud by which it was not
lawful that the same person shall be re-elected consul within ten
years. The law was scarcely heard in consequence of the clamour; and
the tribunes of the commons declared, that this "decree should be no
impediment; for they would propose an order to the people, that he
should be exempted from the obligation of the laws." Still he
persisted in his opposition, asking, "To what purpose were laws
enacted, if they eluded by the very persons who procured them? The
laws now," he said, "instead of being rulers, were overruled." The
people, nevertheless, proceeded to vote; and, according as each
century was called in, it immediately named Fabius consul. Then at
length, overcome by the universal wish of the state, he said, "Romans,
may the gods approve your present, and all your future proceedings.
But since, with respect to me, ye intend to act according to your own
wills, let my interest find room with you, with respect to my
colleague. I earnestly request, that ye will place in the consulship
with me Publius Decius; a man with whom I have already experienced the
utmost harmony in our joint administration of that office; a man
worthy of you, worthy of his father." The recommendation was deemed
well founded, and all the remaining centuries voted Quintus Fabius and
Publius Decius consuls. This year, great numbers were prosecuted by
the aediles, for having in possession larger quantities of land than
the state allowed; and hardly any were acquitted: by which means, a
very great restraint was laid on exorbitant covetousness.
14. Whilst the new consuls, Quintus Fabius Maximus a fourth, and
Publius Decius Mus a third time, were settling between themselves that
one should command against the Samnites, and the other against the
Etrurians; and what number of forces would be sufficient for this and
for that province; and which would be the fitter commander in each
war; ambassadors from Sutrium, Nepete, and Falerii, stating that the
states of Etruria were holding assemblies on the subject of suing for
peace, they directed the whole force of their arms against Samnium.
The consuls, in order that the supply of provisions might be the more
ready, and to leave the enemy in the greater uncertainty on what
quarter the war would fall, Fabius led his legions towards Samnium
through the territory of Sora, and Decius his through that of
Sidicinum. As soon as they arrived at the frontiers of the enemy, both
advanced briskly, spreading devastation wherever they came; but still
they explore the country, to a distance beyond where the troops were
employed in plundering. Accordingly the fact did not escape the notice
of the Romans, that the enemy were drawn up in a retired valley, near
Tifernum, which, when the Romans entered, they were preparing to
attack them from the higher ground. Fabius, sending away his baggage
to a place of safety, and setting a small guard over it, and having
given notice to his soldiers that a battle was at hand, advanced in a
square body to the hiding-place of the enemy already mentioned. The
Samnites, disappointed in making an unexpected attack, determined on a
regular engagement, as the matter was now likely to come to an open
contest. They therefore marched out into the plain; and, with a
greater share of spirit than of hopes, committed themselves to the
disposal of fortune. However, whether in consequence of their having
drawn together, from every state, the whole of the force which it
possessed, or that the consideration of their all being at stake,
heightened their courage, they occasioned, even in open fight, a
considerable alarm. Fabius, when he saw that the enemy in no place
gave way, ordered Marcus Fulvius and Marcus Valerius, military
tribunes, with whom he hastened to the front, to go to the cavalry,
and to exhort them, that, "if they remembered any instance wherein the
public had received advantage from the service of the horsemen, they
would, on that day, exert themselves to insure the invincible renown
of that body; telling them that the enemy stood immovable against the
efforts of the infantry, and the only hope remaining was in the charge
of horse." He addressed particularly both these youths, and with the
same cordiality, loading them with praises and promises. But
considering that, in case that effort should also fail, it would be
necessary to accomplish by stratagem what his strength could not
effect; he ordered Scipio, one of his lieutenants-general, to draw
off the spearmen of the first legion out of the line; to lead them
round as secretly as possible to the nearest mountains; and, by an
ascent concealed from view, to gain the heights, and show himself
suddenly on the rear of the enemy. The cavalry, led on by the
tribunes, rushing forward unexpectedly before the van, caused scarcely
more confusion among the enemy than among their friends. The line of
the Samnites stood firm against the furious onset of the squadrons; it
neither could be driven from its ground, nor broken in any part. The
cavalry, finding their attempts fruitless, withdrew from the fight,
and retired behind the line of infantry. On this the enemies' courage
increased, so that the Roman troops in the van would not have been
able to support the contest, nor the force thus increasing by
confidence in itself, had not the second line, by the consul's order,
come up into the place of the first. These fresh troops checked the
progress of the Samnites, who had now began to gain ground; and, at
this seasonable juncture, their comrades appearing suddenly on the
mountains, and raising a shout, occasioned in the Samnites a fear of
greater danger than really threatened them; Fabius called out aloud
that his colleague Decius was approaching; on which all the soldiers,
elated with joy, repeated eagerly, that the other consul was come, the
legions were arrived! This artifice, useful to the Romans, filled the
Samnites with dismay and terror; terrified chiefly lest fatigued as
they were, they should be overpowered by another army fresh and
unhurt. As they dispersed themselves in their flight on every side,
there was less effusion of blood than might have been expected,
considering the completeness of the victory. There were three thousand
four hundred slain, about eight hundred and thirty made prisoners, and
twenty-three military standards taken.
15. The Apulians would have joined their forces to the Samnites before
this battle, had not the consul, Publius Decius, encamped in their
neighbourhood at Maleventum; and, finding means to bring them to an
engagement, put them to the rout. Here, likewise, there was more of
flight than of bloodshed. Two thousand of the Apulians were slain; but
Decius, despising such an enemy, led his legions into Samnium. There
the two consular armies, overrunning every part of the country during
the space of five months, laid it entirely waste. There were in
Samnium forty-five places where Decius, and eighty-six where the other
consul, encamped. Nor did they leave traces only of having been there,
as ramparts and trenches, but other dreadful mementos of it--general
desolation and regions depopulated. Fabius also took the city of
Cimetra, where he made prisoners two thousand four hundred soldiers;
and there were slain in the assault about four hundred and thirty.
Going thence to Rome to preside at the elections, he used all
expedition in despatching that business. All the first-called
centuries voted Quintus Fabius consul. Appius Claudius was a
candidate, a man of consular rank, daring and ambitious; and as he
wished not more ardently for the attainment of that honour for
himself, than he did that the patricians might recover the possession
of both places in the consulship, he laboured, with all his own power,
supported by that of the whole body of the nobility, to prevail on
them to appoint him consul along with Quintus Fabius. To this Fabius
objected, giving, at first, the same reasons which he had advanced the
year before. The nobles then all gathered round his seat, and besought
him to raise up the consulship out of the plebeian mire, and to
restore both to the office itself, and to the patrician rank, their
original dignity. Fabius then, procuring silence, allayed their warmth
by a qualifying speech, declaring, that "he would have so managed, as
to have received the names of two patricians, if he had seen an
intention of appointing any other than himself to the consulship. As
things now stood, he would not set so bad a precedent as to admit his
own name among the candidates; such a proceeding being contrary to the
laws." Whereupon Appius Claudius, and Lucius Volumnius, a plebeian,
who had likewise been colleagues in that office before, were elected
consuls. The nobility reproached Fabius for declining to act in
conjunction with Appius Claudius, because he evidently excelled him in
eloquence and political abilities.
16. When the election was finished, the former consuls, their command
being continued for six months, were ordered to prosecute the war in
Samnium. Accordingly, during this next year also, in the consulate of
Lucius Volumnius and Appius Claudius, Publius Decius, who had been
left consul in Samnium by his colleague, in the character of
proconsul, ceased not to spread devastation through all parts of that
country; until, at last, he drove the army of the Samnites, which
never dared to face him in the field, entirely out of the country.
Thus expelled from home, they bent their route to Etruria; and,
supposing that the business, which they had often in vain endeavoured
to accomplish by embassies, might now be negotiated with more effect,
when they were backed by such a powerful armed force, and could
intermix terror with their entreaties, they demanded a meeting of the
chiefs of Etruria: which being assembled, they set forth the great
number of years during which they had waged war with the Romans, in
the cause of liberty; "they had," they said, "tried to sustain, with
their own strength, the weight of so great a war: they had also made
trial of the support of the adjoining nations, which proved of little
avail. When they were unable longer to maintain the conflict, they had
sued the Roman people for peace; and had again taken up arms, because
they felt peace was more grievous to those with servitude, than war to
free men. That their one only hope remaining rested in the Etrurians.
They knew that nation to be the most powerful in Italy, in respect of
arms, men, and money; to have the Gauls their closest neighbours, born
in the midst of war and arms, of furious courage, both from their
natural temper, and particularly against the people of Rome, whom they
boasted, without infringing the truth, of having made their prisoners,
and of having ransomed for gold. If the Etrurians possessed the same
spirit which formerly Porsena and their ancestors once had, there was
nothing to prevent their obliging the Romans, driven from all the
lands on this side of the Tiber, to fight for their own existence, and
not for the intolerable dominion which they assumed over Italy. The
Samnite army had come to them, in readiness for action, furnished with
arms and pay, and were willing to follow that instant, even should
they lead to the attack of the city of Rome itself."
17. While they were engaged in these representations, and intriguing
at Etruria, the operations of the Romans in their own territories
distressed them severely. For Publius Decius, when he ascertained
through his scouts the departure of the Samnite army, called a
council, and there said, "Why do we ramble through the country,
carrying the war from village to village? Why not attack the cities
and fortified places? No army now guards Samnium. They have fled their
country; they are gone into voluntary exile." The proposal being
universally approved, he marched to attack Murgantia, a city of
considerable strength; and so great was the ardour of the soldiers,
resulting from their affection to their commander, and from their
hopes of richer treasure than could be found in pillaging the country
places, that in one day they took it by assault. Here, two thousand
one hundred of the Samnites, making resistance, were surrounded and
taken prisoners; and abundance of other spoil was captured. Decius,
not choosing that the troops should be encumbered in their march with
heavy baggage, ordered them to be called together, and said to them,
"Do ye intend to rest satisfied with this single victory, and this
booty? or do ye choose to cherish hopes proportioned to your bravery?
All the cities of the Samnites, and the property left in them, are
your own; since, after so often defeating their legions, ye have
finally driven them out of the country. Sell those effects in your
hands; and allure traders, by a prospect of profit, to follow you on
your march. I will, from time to time, supply you with goods for sale.
Let us go hence to the city of Romulea, where no greater labour, but
greater gain awaits you." Having sold off the spoil, and warmly
adopting the general's plan, they proceeded to Romulea. There, also,
without works or engines, as soon as the battalions approached, the
soldiers, deterred from the walls by no resistance, hastily applying
ladders wherever was most convenient to each, they mounted the
fortifications. The town was taken and plundered. Two thousand three
hundred men were slain, six thousand taken prisoners, and the soldiers
obtained abundance of spoil. This they were obliged to sell in like
manner as the former; and, though no rest was allowed them, they
proceeded, nevertheless, with the utmost alacrity to Ferentinum. But
here they met a greater share both of difficulty and danger: the
fortifications were defended with the utmost vigour, and the place was
strongly fortified both by nature and art. However, the soldiers, now
inured to plunder, overcame every obstacle. Three thousand of the
enemy were killed round the walls, and the spoil was given to the
troops. In some annals, the principal share of the honour of taking
these cities is attributed to Maximus. They say that Murgantia was
taken by Decius; Romulea and Ferentinum by Fabius. Some ascribe this
honour to the new consuls: others not to both, but to one of these,
Lucius Volumnius: that to him the province of Samnium had fallen.
18. While things went on thus in Samnium, whoever it was that had the
command and auspices, powerful combination, composed of many states,
was formed in Etruria against the Romans, the chief promoter of which
was Gellius Egnatius, a Samnite. Almost all the Etrurians had united
in this war. The neighbouring states of Umbria were drawn in, as it
were, by the contagion; and auxiliaries were procured from the Gauls
for hire: all their several numbers assembled at the camp of the
Samnites. When intelligence of this sudden commotion was received at
Rome, after the consul, Lucius Volumnius, had already set out for
Samnium, with the second and third legions, and fifteen thousand of
the allies; it was, therefore, resolved, that Appius Claudius should,
at the very earliest opportunity, go into Etruria. Two Roman legions
followed him, the first and fourth, and twelve thousand allies; their
camp was pitched at a small distance from the enemy. However,
advantage was gained by his early arrival in this particular, that the
awe of the Roman name kept in check some states of Etruria which were
disposed to war, rather than from any judicious or successful
enterprise achieved under the guidance of the consul. Several battles
were fought, at times and places unfavourable, and increasing
confidence rendered the enemy daily more formidable; so that matters
came nearly to such a state, as that neither could the soldiers rely
much on their leader, nor the leader on his soldiers. It appears in
three several histories, that a letter was sent by the consul to call
his colleague from Samnium. But I will not affirm what requires
stronger proof, as that point was a matter of dispute between these
two consuls of the Roman people, a second time associated in the same
office; Appius denying that the letter was sent, and Volumnius
affirming that he was called thither by a letter from Appius.
Volumnius had, by this time, taken three forts in Samnium, in which
three thousand of the enemy had been slain, and about half that number
made prisoners; and, a sedition having been raised among the Lucanians
by the plebeians and the more indigent of the people, he had, to the
great satisfaction of the nobles, quelled it by sending thither
Quintus Fabius, proconsul, with his own veteran army. He left to
Decius the ravaging of the enemy's country; and proceeded with his
troops into Etruria to his colleague; where, on his arrival, the whole
army received him with joy. Appius, if he did not write the letter,
being conscious of this, had, in my opinion, just ground of
displeasure; but if he had actually stood in need of assistance, his
disowning it, as he did, arose from an illiberal and ungrateful mind.
For, on going out to receive him, when they had scarcely exchanged
salutations, he said, "Is all well, Lucius Volumnius? How stand
affairs in Samnium? What motive induced you to remove out of your
province?" Volumnius answered, that "affairs in Samnium were in a
prosperous state; and that he had come thither in compliance with the
request in his letter. But, if that were a forged letter, and that
there was no occasion for him in Etruria, he would instantly face
about, and depart." "You may depart." replied the other; "no one
detains you: for it is a perfect inconsistency, that when, perhaps,
you are scarcely equal to the management of your own war, you should
vaunt of coming hither to succour others." To this Volumnius rejoined,
"May Hercules direct all for the best; for his part, he was better
pleased that he had taken useless trouble, than that any conjuncture
should have arisen which had made one consular army insufficient for
Etruria."
19. As the consuls were parting, the lieutenants-general and tribunes
of Appius's army gathered round them. Some entreated their own general
that he would not reject the voluntary offer of his colleague's
assistance, which ought to have been solicited in the first instance:
the greater number used their endeavours to stop Volumnius, beseeching
him "not, through a peevish dispute with his colleague, to abandon the
interest of the commonwealth; and represented to him, that in case any
misfortune should happen, the blame would fall on the person who
forsook the other, not on the one forsaken; that the state of affairs
was such, that the credit and discredit of every success and failure
in Etruria would be attributed to Lucius Volumnius: for no one would
inquire, what were the words of Appius, but what the situation of the
army. Appius indeed had dismissed him, but the commonwealth, and the
army, required his stay. Let him only make trial of the inclinations
of the soldiers." By such admonitions and entreaties they, in a
manner, dragged the consuls, who almost resisted, to an assembly.
There, longer discourses were made to the same purport, as had passed
before in the presence of a few. And when Volumnius, who had the
advantage of the argument, showed himself not deficient in oratory, in
despite of the extraordinary eloquence of his colleague; Appius
observed with a sneer, that "they ought to acknowledge themselves
indebted to him, in having a consul who possessed eloquence also,
instead of being dumb and speechless, when in their former consulate,
particularly during the first months, he was not able so much as to
open his lips; but now, in his harangues, even aspired after
popularity." Volumnius replied, "How much more earnestly do I wish,
that you had learned from me to act with spirit, than I from you to
speak with elegance: that now he made a final proposal, which would
determine, not which is the better orator, for that is not what the
public wants, but which is the better commander. The provinces are
Etruria and Samnium: that he might select which he preferred; that he,
with his own army, will undertake to manage the business either in
Etruria or in Samnium." The soldiers then, with loud clamours,
requested that they would, in conjunction, carry on the war in
Etruria; when Volumnius perceiving that it was the general wish, said,
"Since I have been mistaken in apprehending my colleague's meaning, I
will take care that there shall be no room for mistake with respect to
the purport of your wishes. Signify by a shout whether you choose that
I should stay or depart." On this, a shout was raised, so loud, that
it brought the enemy out of their camp: they snatched up their arms,
and marched down in order of battle. Volumnius likewise ordered the
signal to be sounded, and the standard to be advanced from the camp.
It is said that Appius hesitated, perceiving that, whether he fought
or remained inactive, his colleague would have the victory; and that,
afterwards, dreading lest his own legions also should follow
Volumnius, he also gave the signal, at the earnest desire of his men.
On neither side were the forces drawn up to advantage; for, on the
one, Gellius Egnatius, the Samnite general, had gone out to forage
with a few cohorts, and his men entered on the fight as the violence
of their passions prompted, rather than under any directions or
orders. On the other, the Roman armies neither marched out together,
nor had time sufficient to form: Volumnius began to engage before
Appius came up to the enemy, consequently the engagement commenced,
their front in the battle being uneven; and by some accidental
interchange of their usual opponents, the Etrurians fought against
Volumnius; and the Samnites, after delaying some time on account of
the absence of their general, against Appius. We are told that Appius,
during the heat of the fight, raising his hands toward heaven, so as
to be seen in the foremost ranks, prayed thus, "Bellona, if thou
grantest us the victory this day, I vow to thee a temple." And that
after this vow, as if inspirited by the goddess, he displayed a degree
of courage equal to that of his colleague and of the troops. The
generals performed every duty, and each of their armies exerted, with
emulation, its utmost vigour, lest victory should commence on the
other side. They therefore routed and put to flight the enemy, who
were ill able to withstand a force so much superior to any with which
they had been accustomed to contend: then pressing them as they gave
ground, and pursuing them closely as they fled, they drove them into
their camp. There, by the interposition of Gellius and his Samnite
cohorts, the fight was renewed for a little time. But these being
likewise soon dispersed, the camp was now stormed by the conquerors;
and whilst Volumnius, in person, led his troops against one of the
gates, Appius, frequently invoking Bellona the victorious, inflamed
the courage of his men, they broke in through the rampart and
trenches. The camp was taken and plundered, and an abundance of spoil
was found, and given up to the soldiers. Of the enemy seven thousand
three hundred were slain; and two thousand one hundred and twenty
taken.