icious law availed also against the immortal gods? They
had vindicated their authority, their auspices; which as soon as ever
they were defiled by one by whom it was contrary to human and divine law
that they should have been, the destruction of the army with its leader
was a warning, that elections should hereafter be conducted in utter
violation of the rights of birth." The senate-house and the forum
resound with expressions such as these. Appius Claudius, because he had
dissuaded the law, and now with greater authority blamed the issue of a
measure which had been found fault with by himself, the consul Servilius
appoints dictator by the general wish of the patricians, and a levy and
cessation of business are procaimed.

7. Before the dictator and the new legions could arrive among the
Hernicians, matters were conducted with great success under the
direction of Caius Sulpicius the lieutenant-general, making use of a
favourable opportunity. On the Hernicians, who after the death of the
consul came up contemptuously to the Roman camp with the certainty of
taking it, a sally was made by the exhortations of the consul, the minds
of the soldiers also being full of rage and indignation. The Hernicians
were much disappointed in their hopes of approaching the rampart; in
such complete confusion did they retire from thence. Then on the arrival
of the dictator the new army is joined to the old, the forces are
doubled; and the dictator in a public assembly, by bestowing praises on
the lieutenant-general and the soldiers by whose valour the camp had
been defended, at the same time raises the spirits of those who heard
their own deserved praises, and at the same time stimulates the others
to rival such valour. With no less vigour are the military preparations
made on the part of the enemy, who, mindful of the honour previously
acquired, and not ignorant that the enemy had increased their strength,
augment their forces also. The entire Hernician race, all of military
age, are called out. Eight cohorts, each consisting of four hundred men,
the chosen strength of their people, are levied. This, the select flower
of their youth, they filled with hope and courage by their having
decreed that they should receive double pay. They were exempt also from
military work, that, being reserved for the single labour of fighting,
they might feel that they should make exertions more than are made by
ordinary men. They are placed in an extraordinary