position in the field,
that their valour might be the more conspicuous. A plain two miles in
breadth separated the Roman camp from the Hernicians; in the middle of
this, the spaces being about equal on both sides, they came to an
engagement. At first the fight was kept up with doubtful hope; the Roman
cavalry having repeatedly essayed to no purpose to break the enemy's
line by their charge. When their fighting as cavalry was less marked by
success than by great efforts, the cavalry, having first consulted the
dictator, and then obtained his permission, leaving their horses behind,
rush forward in front of the line, with a loud shout, and recommence the
battle after a new style; nor could they be resisted, had not the
extraordinary cohorts, possessing equal vigour both of body and spirit,
thrown themselves in their way.

8. Then the contest is carried on between the leading men of the two
states. Whatever the common fortune of war carried off from either side,
the loss was many times greater than can be estimated by the numbers:
the rest, an armed populace, as if they had delegated the fight to the
leading men, rest the issue of their own success on the bravery of
others. Many fall on both sides; more are wounded. At length the
horsemen, chiding each other, asking, "what now remained," if neither
when mounted they had made an impression on the enemy, nor as infantry
did they achieve any thing of moment; what third mode of fighting did
they wait for? Why had they so fiercely rushed forward before the line,
and fought in a post not belonging to them? Aroused by these mutual
chidings, they raise the shout anew, and press forward; and first they
made the enemy shrink, then made them give way, and at length fairly
made them turn their backs. Nor is it easy to say what circumstance
obtained the advantage against strength so well matched; except that the
constant fortune of both people might have raised or depressed their
spirits. The Romans pursued the Hernicians in their flight to their
camp; they refrained from attacking the camp, because it was late. The
fact of not having finished the sacrifices with success detained the
dictator, so that he could not give the signal before noon, and hence
the contest was protracted till night. Next day the camp of the
Hernicians was deserted, and some wounded men were found left behind,
and the main body of the fugitives was routed by the Signians, as their
standards were seen passing by