Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 10
Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D., Ed.

18. whilst these operations were being carried out in Samnium —whoever had the command and auspices —a mighty war was preparing against the Romans in Etruria, on the part of many nations, at the instigation of a Samnite named Gellius Egnatius. [2] The Tuscans had almost all voted for war; the nearest Umbrian tribes had caught the contagion; and Gallic auxiliaries were being solicited for pay. [3] all this multitude was assembling at the camp of the Samnites. when news of this sudden rising [p. 423]was brought to Rome, Lucius Volumnius the consul,¹ with the second and third legions and fifteen thousand of the allies, had already set out for Samnium, and it was resolved to send Appius Claudius into Etruria at the earliest possible moment. [4] two Roman legions followed him, the first and fourth, and twelve thousand of the allies. [5] they encamped not far from the enemy.²

but the consul's prompt arrival accomplished more, by checking, through dread of the Roman name, certain peoples of Etruria that were already meditating war, than he gained by his generalship, which was characterized neither by much ability nor by good fortune. [6] he repeatedly joined battle at untoward times and places, and the enemy grew every day more hopeful and more formidable, until now the soldiers were near losing confidence in their commander and he in them. [7] i find it recorded by three annalists that he dispatched a letter sending for his colleague out of Samnium; yet am I loath to set it down for certain, since the consuls of the Roman People, now holding that office for the second time, disputed about that very point-Appius denying that he had sent a letter, Volumnius affirming that a letter from Appius had summoned him.

[8] Volumnius had already captured three fortresses in Samnium, in which some three thousand of the enemy had been slain and about half as many taken prisoners; and dispatching Quintus Fabius as proconsul with a seasoned army into Lucania, he had suppressed —with the hearty approval of the optimates —certain insurrections which had broken out there at the instigation of necessitous plebeian agitators. [9] leaving to Decius the devastation of [p. 425]the fields, Volumnius himself with his own troops³ marched to join his colleague in Etruria, where he was welcomed on his arrival with general rejoicings. [10] but what Appius was feeling his conscience alone could tell! —indeed he was justly angered if he had sent no word, but illiberal and ungracious if he had needed help and now sought to dissemble —for [11] coming forth to meet his colleague, before they had fairly greeted one another, he demanded, “is all well, Lucius Volumnius? how stand affairs in Samnium? what has moved you to come out of your own province?” [12] Volumnius replied that affairs were prospering in Samnium, and that he was come being sent for by Appius' own letter; but if this were a forgery and he were not needed in Etruria, he would immediately face about and march back. [13] “by all means go!” cried Appius. “no one hinders you! for truly it is no way fitting that when, perhaps, you are hardly equal to your own war, you should boast of coming hither to help others.” [14] Volumnius prayed that Hercules might direct all for the best; he had rather, he said, his trouble should go for naught than that anything should have befallen to make one consular army insufficient for Etruria.