22.30
The
signal was given and the word passed to collect the baggage; they then
proceeded in marching order to the Dictator's camp much to his surprise and
to the surprise of all who were round him. When the standards had been
stationed in front of his tribunal, the Master of the Horse stepped forward
and addressed him as "Father," and the whole of his troops saluted those
who were crowding round them as "Patrons." He then proceeded, "I have
put you on a level, Dictator, with my parents as far as I can do so in words,
but to them I only owe my life, to you I owe my preservation and the safety
of all these men. The decree of the plebs, which I feel to be onerous rather
than an honour, I am the first to repeal and annul, and with a prayer that it
may turn out well for you, for me, and for these armies of yours, for
preserved and preserver alike, I place myself again under your auspicious
authority and restore to you these legions with their standards. I ask you, as
an act of grace, to order me to retain my office and these, each man of them,
his place in the ranks." Then each man grasped his neighbour's hand, and the
soldiers were dismissed to quarters where they were generously and
hospitably entertained by acquaintances and strangers alike, and the day
which had a short time ago been dark and gloomy and almost marked by
disaster and ruin became a day of joy and gladness. When the report of this
action reached Rome and was confirmed by despatches from both
commanders, and by letters from the rank and file of both armies, every man
did his best to extol Maximus to the skies. His reputation was quite as great
with Hannibal and the Carthaginians; now at last they felt that the were
warring with Romans and on Italian soil. For the last two years they had felt
such contempt for Roman generals and Roman troops that they could hardly
believe that they were at war with that nation of whom they had heard such a
terrible report from their fathers. Hannibal on his return from the field is
reported to have said, "The cloud which has so long settled on the mountain
heights has at last burst upon us in rain and storm."
