9.2
After
uttering this prediction, which proved to be as true as it was reassuring, he
took the field and, keeping his movements as secret as possible, fixed his
camp in the neighbourhood of Caudium. From there he sent ten soldiers
disguised as shepherds to Calatia, where he understood that the Roman
consuls were encamped, with instructions to pasture some cattle in different
directions near the Roman outposts. When they fell in with any foraging
parties they were all to tell the same story, and say that the Samnite legions
were in Apulia investing Luceria with their whole force and that its capture
was imminent. This rumour had purposely been spread before and had
already reached the ears of the Romans; the captured shepherds confirmed
their belief in it, especially as their statements all tallied. There was no doubt
but that the Romans would assist the Lucerians for the sake of protecting
their allies and preventing the whole of Apulia from being intimidated by the
Samnites into open revolt. The only matter for consideration was what route
they would take. There were two roads leading to Luceria; one along the
Adriatic coast through open country, the longer one of the two but so much
the safer; the other and shorter one through the Caudine Forks. This is the
character of the spot; there are two passes, deep, narrow, with wooded hills
on each side, and a continuous chain of mountains extends from one to the
other. Between them lies a watered grassy plain through the middle of which
the road goes. Before you reach the plain you have to pass through the first
defile and either return by the same path by which you entered or, if you go
on, you must make your way out by a still narrower and more difficult pass
at the other end.
The Roman column descended into this plain from the first defile
with its overhanging cliffs, and marched straight through to the other pass.
They found it blocked by a huge barricade of felled trees with great masses
of rock piled against them. No sooner did they become aware of the enemy's
stratagem than his outposts showed themselves on the heights above the
pass. A hasty retreat was made, and they proceeded to retrace their steps by
the way they had come when they discovered that this pass also had its own
barricade and armed men on the heights above. Then without any order
being given they called a halt. Their senses were dazed and stupefied and a
strange numbness seized their limbs. Each gazed at his neighbour, thinking
him more in possession of his senses and judgment than himself. For a long
time they stood silent and motionless, then they saw the consuls' tents being
set up and some of the men getting their entrenching tools ready. Though
they knew that in their desperate and hopeless plight it would be ridiculous
for them to fortify the ground on which they stood still, not to make matters
worse by any fault of their own they set to work without waiting for orders
and entrenched their camp with its rampart close to the water. While they
were thus engaged the enemy showered taunts and insults upon them, and
they themselves in bitter mockery jeered at their own fruitless labour. The
consuls were too much depressed and unnerved even to summon a council
of war, for there was no place for either counsel or help, but the
staff-officers and tribunes gathered round them, and the men with their faces
turned towards their tents sought from their leaders a succour which the
gods themselves could hardly render them.