34.14
After
attending to the auspices the consul started at midnight in order that he
might take up the position which he intended to secure before the enemy
were aware of his movements. He led his troops round to the rear of the
enemy's camp and formed them into line at daybreak, after which he sent
three cohorts right up to the hostile rampart. Startled by the appearance of
the Romans behind their lines, the barbarians flew to arms. Meanwhile the
consul briefly addressed his men. "There is no hope," he said, "anywhere but
in courage, and indeed I have taken care that there shall not be. Between us
and our camp is the enemy, and behind us enemy country. The noblest
course is also the safest, and that is to rest all your hopes in your valour."
Then he ordered the cohorts to be recalled that their feigned retreat might
draw the natives out of their camp. His anticipations were realised. They
thought that the Romans had retired through fear, and bursting out of their
camp they covered with their numbers the whole of the ground between their
camp and the Roman line of battle. Whilst they were hurriedly forming their
ranks the consul, whose dispositions were completed, commenced the
attack. The cavalry on the two wings were the first to get into action, but
those on the right were immediately repulsed and their hasty retirement
created alarm amongst the infantry. On seeing this, the consul ordered two
picked cohorts to be taken round the enemy's right and to show themselves
in his rear before the infantry became engaged. This menace to the enemy
made the battle a more even one; still, the right wing, both cavalry and
infantry, had become so demoralised that the consul seized some of them
with his own hand and turned them towards the foe. As long as the action
was confined to the discharge of missiles it was equally contested on both
sides, but now the Roman right where the panic and flight began was with
difficulty holding its ground; the left, on the other hand, was pressing back
the barbarians in front, and the cohorts in the rear were creating a panic
amongst them. When they had discharged their iron javelins and fire darts
they drew their swords and the fighting became more furious. They were no
longer wounded by chance hits from a distance, but foot to foot with the foe
they had only their strength and courage to trust to.
