5.28
After thus subduing the
enemy by his justice and good faith, Camillus
returned to the City invested with a much nobler
glory than when white horses drew him through it in
his triumph. The senate could not withstand the
delicate reproof of his silence, but at once
proceeded to free him from his vow. L. Valerius, L.
Sergius, and A. Manlius were appointed as a
deputation to carry the golden bowl, made as a gift
to Apollo, to Delphi, but the solitary warship in
which they were sailing was captured by Liparean
pirates not far from the Straits of Sicily, and
taken to the islands of Liparae. Piracy was regarded
as a kind of State institution, and it was the
custom for the government to distribute the plunder
thus acquired. That year the supreme magistracy was
held by Timasitheus, a man more akin to the Romans
in character than to his own countrymen. As he
himself reverenced the name and office of the
ambassadors, the gift they had in charge and the god
to whom it was being sent, so he inspired the
multitude, who generally share the views of their
ruler, with a proper religious sense of their duty.
The deputation were conducted to the State
guest-house, and from there sent on their way to
Delphi with a protecting escort of ships, he then
brought them back safe to Rome. Friendly relations
were established with him on the part of the State,
and presents bestowed upon him.
During this year there was war with the Aequi
of so undecided a character that it was a matter of
uncertainty, both in the armies themselves and in
Rome, whether they were victorious or vanquished.
The two consular tribunes, C. Aemilius and Spurius
Postumius, were in command of the Roman army. At
first they carried on joint operations; after the
enemy had been routed in the field, they arranged
that Aemilius should hold Verrugo whilst Postumius
devastated their. territory. Whilst he was marching
somewhat carelessly after his success, with his men
out of order, he was attacked by the Aequi, and such
a panic ensued that his troops were driven to the
nearest hills, and the alarm spread even to the
other army at Verrugo. After they had retreated to a
safe position, Postumius summoned his men to
assembly and severely rebuked them for their panic
and flight, and for having been routed by such a
cowardly and easily defeated foe. With one voice the
army exclaimed that his reproaches were deserved;
they had, they confessed behaved disgracefully, but
they would themselves repair their fault, the enemy
would not long have cause for rejoicing. They asked
him to lead them at once against the enemy's camp -it was in full view down in the plain -and no
punishment would be too severe if they failed to
take it before nightfall. He commended their
eagerness, and ordered them to refresh themselves
and to be ready by the fourth watch. The enemy,
expecting the Romans to attempt a nocturnal flight
from their hill, were posted to cut them off from
the road leading to Verrugo. The action commenced
before dawn, but as there was a moon all night, the
battle was as clearly visible as if it had been
fought by day. The shouting reached Verrugo, and
they believed that the Roman camp was being
attacked. This created such a panic that in spite of
all the appeals of Aemilius in his efforts to
restrain them, the garrison broke away and fled in
scattered groups to Tusculum. Thence the rumour was
carried to Rome that Postumius and his army were
slain. As soon as the rising dawn had removed all
apprehensions of a surprise in case the pursuit was
carried too far, Postumius rode down the ranks
demanding the fulfilment of their promise. The
enthusiasm of the troops was so roused that the
Aequi no longer withstood the attack. Then followed
a slaughter of the fugitives, such as might be
expected where men are actuated by rage even more
than by courage; the army was destroyed. The doleful
report from Tusculum and the groundless fears of the
City were followed by a laurelled despatch from
Postumius announcing the victory of Rome and the
annihilation of the Aequian army.