7.26
Whilst
the Romans were passing their time quietly at the outposts, a gigantic Gaul
in splendid armour advanced towards them, and delivered a challenge
through an interpreter to meet any Roman in single combat. There was a
young military tribune, named Marcus Valerius, who considered himself no
less worthy of that honour than T. Manlius had been. After obtaining the
consul's permission, he marched, completely armed, into the open ground
between the two armies. The human element in the fight was thrown into the
shade by the direct interposition of the gods, for just as they were engaging a
crow settled all of a sudden on the Roman's helmet with its head towards his
antagonist. The tribune gladly accepted this as a divinely-sent augury, and
prayed that whether it were god or goddess who had sent the auspicious bird
that deity would be gracious to him and help him. Wonderful to relate, not
only did the bird keep its place on the helmet, but every time they
encountered it rose on its wings and attacked the Gaul's face and eyes with
beak and talon, until, terrified at the sight of so dire a portent and bewildered
in eyes and mind alike, he was slain by Valerius. Then, soaring away
eastwards, the crow passed out of sight. Hitherto the outposts on both sides
had remained quiet, but when the tribune began to despoil his foeman's
corpse, the Gauls no longer kept their posts, whilst the Romans ran still
more swiftly to help the victor. A furious fight took place round the body as
it lay, and not only the maniples at the nearest outposts but the legions
pouring out from the camp joined in the fray. The soldiers were exultant at
their tribune's victory and at the manifest presence and help of the gods, and
as Camillus ordered them into action he pointed to the tribune, conspicuous
with his spoils, and said: "Follow his example, soldiers, and lay the Gauls in
heaps round their fallen champion!" Gods and man alike took part in the
battle, and it was fought out to a finish, unmistakably disastrous to the
Gauls, so completely had each army anticipated a result corresponding to
that of the single combat. Those Gauls who began the fight fought
desperately, but the rest of the host who came to help them turned back
before they came within range of the missiles. They dispersed amongst the
Volscians and over the Falernian district; from thence they made their way to
Apulia and the western sea.
The consul mustered his troops on parade, and after praising the
conduct of the tribune presented him with ten oxen and a golden chaplet. In
consequence of instructions received from the senate he took over the
maritime war and joined his forces with those of the praetor. The Greeks
were too lacking in courage to run the risk of a general engagement, and
there was every prospect of the war proving a long one. Camillus was in
consequence authorised by the senate to nominate T. Manlius Torquatus as
Dictator for the purpose of conducting the elections. After appointing A.
Cornelius Cossus as Master of the Horse, the Dictator proceeded to hold the
consular elections. Marcus Valerius Corvus (for that was henceforth his
cognomen), a young man of twenty-three, was declared to be duly elected
amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the people. His colleague was the plebeian,
M. Popilius Laenas, now elected for the fourth time. Nothing worth
recording took place between Camillus and the Greeks; they were no
fighters on land and the Romans could not fight on the sea. Ultimately, as
they were prevented from landing anywhere and water and the other
necessaries of life failed them, they abandoned Italy. To what Greek state or
nationality that fleet belonged is a matter of uncertainty; I think it most likely
that it belonged to the Tyrant of Sicily, for Greece itself was at that time
exhausted by intestine wars and was watching with dread the growing power
of Macedonia.