e the
scanty number of the enemy. The whole army began to exclaim, that the
trenches ought to be filled up, the rampart to be torn down, and that
they should force their way into the camp; and by that temerity the war
would have been soon over, had not the generals restrained the
impetuosity of the soldiers. However, as their own numbers bore heavily
on their supplies, and in consequence, first of their sitting down so
long at Suessula, and then by the delay of the contest, they were not
far from a want of provisions, it was determined, whilst the enemy
remained shut up as if through fear, that the soldiers should be led
through the country to forage; [supposing] in the mean time, that all
supplies would fail the Romans also, who having marched in haste, had
brought with him only as much corn as could be carried on his shoulders
amid his arms. The consul, after he had observed the enemy scattered
through the country, that the posts were left but insufficiently
attended, having in a few words encouraged his men, leads them on to
besiege the camp. After he had taken this on the first shout and
contest, more of the enemy being slain in their tents than at the gates
and rampart, he ordered the captive standards to be collected into one
place, and having left behind two legions as a guard and protection,
after giving them strict order that they should abstain from the booty,
until he himself should return; having set out with his troops in
regular order, the cavalry who had been sent on driving the dispersed
Samnites as it were by hunting toils, he committed great slaughter among
them. For in their terror they could neither determine by what signal
they should collect themselves into a body, whether they should make for
the camp, or continue their flight to a greater distance. And so great
was their terror, and so precipitate their flight, that to the number of
forty thousand shields, though by no means were so many slain, and one
hundred and seventy standards, with those which had been taken in the
camp, were brought to the consul. Then they returned to the enemy's
camp; and there all the plunder was given up to the soldiers.

38. The result of this contest obliged the Faliscians, who were on terms
of a truce, to petition for a treaty of alliance from the senate; and
diverted the Latins, who had their armies already prepared, from the
Roman to a Pelignian war. Nor did the fame of such success confine
itself within the limit