then the Roman consul, to put some life into the work, detached a few troops of cavalry and sent them in. of these the most part were unhorsed, and, the rest being thrown into confusion, there was a rush on the part of the Samnites to dispatch the fallen and on that of the Romans to save their comrades. [5] this infused a little spirit into the fighting; but the Samnites had charged somewhat more briskly and in greater numbers, and the disordered cavalry, their horses becoming terrified, rode down their own supports, who began a flight that spread to the whole Roman army. [6] and now the Samnites were on the backs of the fugitives, when the consul, galloping [7??] on before to the gate of the camp, posted [p. 497]there a guard of horse and commanded them,1 whosoever should make for the rampart, be he Roman or Samnite, to treat him as a foe. he likewise threatened the men himself, and stopped them as they made in disorder for the camp. [8] “where are you going, men?” he shouted: “here too you will find arms and soldiers, and while your consul lives you shall not enter the camp, except as victors. choose, therefore, whether you would sooner fight with fellow —citizens or enemies!”
[9] as the consul spoke these words, the cavalry gathered round the infantry and levelling their spears bade them return into the battle. not only the consul's bravery but Fortune also helped; for the Samnites did not press their advantage, and he had time to reverse his standards and change his front from the camp to the enemy. [10] they then began to encourage each other to resume the fight; the centurions snatched the standards from the standard —bearers and carried them forward, pointing out to their men that the enemy were few in number and were coming on in irregular and ill —formed ranks. [11] at this juncture the consul lifted up his hands to heaven, and in a clear voice, so as to be overheard, vowed a temple to Jupiter the Stayer, if the Roman army should stay its flight, and renewing the struggle cut to pieces and overcome the legions of the Samnites. [12] everybody, all along the line —officers, soldiers, infantry and horse —made an effort to restore the day. it even seemed that the divine power of the gods was concerned for the renown of Rome, so easily was the struggle turned and the enemy repulsed from the camp, and in a short time driven back to the place where the fighting had [p. 499]begun. [13] there they were held up by the heap of2 bundles which they had piled together, and, to keep their effects from being rifled, they formed around them a circle of armed men. [14] then the foot —soldiers fell hotly upon them in the front, and the cavalry rode round and assailed them in the rear; and so between the two they were slaughtered or made prisoners. The number of the captives was seven thousand eight hundred, who were all stripped and sent under the yoke: the slain were reported at four thousand eight hundred. [15] even the Romans had no joy of their victory, for the consul found, on reckoning up the two days' casualties, that he had lost seven thousand eight hundred men.
[16] whilst these affairs were taking place in Apulia, the Samnites with a second army attempted to seize Interamna, a Roman colony on the Latin Way, but could not take it; [17] having pillaged the farms, they were driving off a miscellaneous booty of men and beasts, together with the captured settlers, when they encountered the victorious consul returning from Luceria, and not only lost their spoils, but, marching without order in a long and encumbered column, were massacred themselves. [18] The consul made proclamation summoning the owners back to Interamna to identify and receive again their property, and, leaving there his army, went to Rome for the purpose of conducting the elections. [19] when he sought to obtain a triumph, the honour was denied him, on the ground that he had lost so many thousand men, and because he had sent the prisoners under the yoke, though they had made no terms.3
