3.22
The consuls elected were
Q. Fabius Vibulanus, for the third time, and L.
Cornelius Maluginensis. In that year the census was
taken, and owing to the seizure of the Capitol and
the death of the consul, the "lustrum " was closed
on religious grounds. During their consulship
matters became disturbed at the very beginning of
the year. The tribunes began to instigate the plebs.
The Latins and Hernici reported that war on an
immense scale was commenced by the Volscians and
Aequi, the Volscian legions were already at Antium,
and there were grave fears of the colony itself
revolting. With great difficulty the tribunes were
induced to allow the war to take precedence of their
Law. Then their respective spheres of operation were
allotted to the consuls: Fabius was commissioned to
take the legions to Antium; Cornelius was to protect
Rome and prevent detachments of the enemy from
coming on marauding expeditions, as was the custom
with the Aequi. The Hernici and Latins were ordered
to furnish troops, in accordance with the treaty;
two-thirds of the army consisted of allies, the rest
of Roman citizens. The allies came in on the
appointed day, and the consul encamped outside the
Capene gate. When the lustration of the army was
completed, he marched to Antium and halted at a
short distance from the city and from the enemies'
standing camp. As the army of the Aequi had not
arrived, the Volscians did not venture on an
engagement, and prepared to act on the defensive and
protect their camp. The next day Fabius formed his
troops round the enemies' lines, not in one mixed
army of allies and citizens, but each nation in a
separate division, he himself being in the centre
with the Roman legions. He gave orders to carefully
observe his signals, that all might commence the
action and retire -should the signal for retirement
be sounded -at the same moment. The cavalry were
stationed behind their respective divisions. In this
triple formation he assaulted three sides of the
camp, and the Volscians, unable to meet the
simultaneous attack, were dislodged from the
breastworks. Getting inside their lines he drove the
panic-struck crowd, who were all pressing in one
direction, out of their camp. The cavalry, unable to
surmount the breastworks, had so far been merely
spectators of the fight, now they overtook the enemy
and cut them down as they fled in disorder over the
plain, and so enjoyed a share of the victory. There
was a great slaughter both in the camp and in the
pursuit, but a still greater amount of spoil, as the
enemy had hardly been able to carry away even their
arms. Their army would have been annihilated had not
the fugitives found shelter in the forest.