7.10
A long
silence followed. The best and bravest of the Romans made no sign; they felt
ashamed of appearing to decline the challenge, and yet they were reluctant to
expose themselves to such terrible danger. Thereupon T. Manlius, the youth
who had protected his father from the persecution of the tribune, left his post
and went to the Dictator. "Without your orders, General," he said, "I will
never leave my post to fight, no, not even if I saw that victory was certain;
but if you give me permission I want to show that monster as he stalks so
proudly in front of their lines that I am a scion of that family which hurled
the troop of Gauls from the Tarpeian rock." Then the Dictator: "Success to
your courage, T. Manlius, and to your affection for your father and your
fatherland! Go, and with the help of the gods show that the name of Rome is
invincible." Then his comrades fastened on his armour; he took an infantry
shield and a Spanish sword as better adapted for close fighting; thus armed
and equipped they led him forward against the Gaul, who was exulting in his
brute strength, and even -the ancients thought this worth recording -putting
his tongue out in derision. They retired to their posts and the two armed
champions were left alone in the midst, more after the manner of a scene on
the stage than under the conditions of serious war, and to those who judged
by appearances, by no means equally matched. The one was a creature of
enormous bulk, resplendent in a many-coloured coat and wearing painted
and gilded armour; the other a man of average height, and his arms, useful
rather than ornamental, gave him quite an ordinary appearance. There was
no singing of war-songs, no prancing about, no silly brandishing of weapons.
With a breast full of courage and silent wrath Manlius reserved all his
ferocity for the actual moment of conflict. When they had taken their stand
between the two armies, while so many hearts around them were in suspense
between hope and fear, the Gaul, like a great overhanging mass, held out his
shield on his left arm to meet his adversary's blows and aimed a tremendous
cut downwards with his sword. The Roman evaded the blow, and pushing
aside the bottom of the Gaul's shield with his own, he slipped under it close
up to the Gaul, too near for him to get at him with his sword. Then turning
the point of his blade upwards, he gave two rapid thrusts in succession and
stabbed the Gaul in the belly and the groin, laying his enemy prostrate over a
large extent of ground. He left the body of his fallen foe undespoiled with the
exception of his chain, which though smeared with blood he placed round his
own neck. Astonishment and fear kept the Gauls motionless; the Romans ran
eagerly forward from their lines to meet their warrior, and amidst cheers and
congratulations they conducted him to the Dictator. In the doggerel verses
which they extemporised in his honour they called him Torquatus ("adorned
with a chain"), and this soubriquet became for his posterity a proud family
name. The Dictator gave him a golden crown, and before the whole army
alluded to his victory in terms of the highest praise.