22. The consuls elected were Quintus Fabius Vibulanus, a third time, and
Lucius Cornelius Maluginensis. The census was performed that year; it
was a matter of religious scruple that the lustrum should be closed, on
account of the Capitol having been taken and the consul slain. In the
consulate of Quintus Fabius and Lucius Cornelius, disturbances broke out
immediately at the commencement of the year. The tribunes were urging on
the commons. The Latins and Hernici brought word that a formidable war
was in preparation on the part of the Volscians and Æqui; that the
troops of the Volscians were now at Antium. Great apprehension was also
entertained, that the colony itself would revolt: and with difficulty
were the tribunes prevailed on to allow the war to take precedence. The
consuls then divided the provinces between them. It was assigned to
Fabius to march the legions to Antium; to Cornelius, to protect the
city; lest any part of the enemy, as was the practice of the Æqui,
should come to commit depredations. The Hernici and Latins were ordered
to supply soldiers in conformity to the treaty; and in the army two
parts consisted of allies, one part of natives. When the allies came to
the day already appointed, the consul pitches his camp outside the
Capuan gate. Then, after the army was purified, he set out for Antium,
and encamped not far from the town, and standing camp of the enemy.
Where, when the Volscians, not venturing to risk an engagement, were
preparing to protect themselves quietly within their ramparts, on the
following day Fabius drew up not one mixed army of allies and citizens,
but three separate bodies of the three states around the enemy's works.
He himself was in the centre with the Roman legions. He ordered them to
watch for the signal from thence, so that the allies might both commence
the action together, and retire together, if he should sound a retreat.
He placed their cavalry in the rear of each division. Having thus
assailed the camp in three different points, he surrounds it; and when
he pressed on from every side, he dislodges from the rampart the
Volscians, not able to sustain his attack. Having then crossed the
fortifications, he expels from the camp the crowd who were dismayed and
inclining towards one direction. Upon this the cavalry, who could not
easily pass over the rampart, having stood by up to that period mere
spectators of the fight, having come up with them whilst flying in
disorder on the open plain, enjoys a share of the victory, by cutting
down the affrighted troops. The slaughter of them as they fled was
great, both in the camp and outside the lines; but the booty was still
greater, because the enemy were scarcely able to carry off their arms
with them; and their entire army would have been destroyed, had not the
woods covered them in their flight.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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