3.60
After matters had been
settled in the City and the position of the plebs
firmly assured, the consuls left for their
respective provinces. Valerius wisely suspended
operations against the combined forces of the Aequi
and Volscians. If he had at once hazarded an
engagement, I question whether, considering the
temper of both the Romans and the enemy after the
inauspicious leadership of the decemvirs, he would
not have incurred a serious defeat. Taking up a
position about a mile from the enemy, he kept his
men in camp. The enemy formed up for battle, and
filled the space between the camps, but their
challenge met with no response from the Romans.
Tired at last of standing and vainly waiting for
battle, and regarding victory as practically
conceded to them, the two nations marched away to
ravage the territories of the Hernici and Latins.
The force left behind was sufficient to guard the
camp, but not to sustain an action. On seeing this
the consul made them in their turn feel the terror
which they had inspired, drew up his men in order of
battle and challenged them to fight. As, conscious
of their reduced strength, they declined an
engagement, the courage of the Romans at once rose,
and they looked upon the men who kept timidly within
their lines as already defeated. After standing the
whole day eager to engage, they retired at
nightfall; the enemy in a very different state of
mind sent men hurriedly in all directions to recall
the plundering parties; those in the neighbourhood
hastened back to camp, the more distant ones were
not traced. As soon as it grew light, the Romans
marched out, prepared to storm their camp if they
did not give them the chance of a battle. When the
day was far advanced without any movement on the
part of the enemy, the consul gave the order to
advance. As the line moved forward, the Aequi and
Volscians, indignant at the prospect of their
victorious armies being protected by earthworks
rather than by courage and arms, clamoured for the
signal for battle. It was given, and part of their
force had already emerged from the gate of the camp,
whilst others were coming down in order and taking
up their allotted positions, but before the enemy
could mass his whole strength in the field the Roman
consul delivered his attack. They had not all
marched out of the camp, those who had done so were
not able to deploy into line, and crowded together
as they were, they began to waver and sway. Whilst
they looked round helplessly at each other,
undecided what to do, the Romans raised their
war-cry, and at first the enemy gave ground, then,
when they had recovered their presence of mind and
their generals were appealing to them not to give
way before those whom they had defeated, the battle
was restored.