n the birds would not allow of them. Nor did Tarquin then make
any other alteration in the centuries of horse, except doubling the
number of men in each of these corps, so that the three centuries
consisted of one thousand eight hundred knights. Those that were added
were called "the younger," but by the same names with the former; which,
now that they have been doubled, they call six centuries.

37. This part of his forces being augmented, a second battle is fought
with the Sabines. But, besides that the Roman army was thus reinforced,
a stratagem also is secretly resorted to, persons having been sent to
throw into the river a great quantity of timber that lay on the banks of
the Anio, it being first set on fire; and the wood being further kindled
by favour of the wind, and the greater[49] part of it (being placed) on
rafts, when it stuck firmly impacted against the piers, sets the bridge
on fire. This accident struck terror into the Sabines during the battle,
and, after they were routed, impeded their flight; so that many, who had
escaped the enemy, perished in the river. Their arms floating down the
Tiber, and being recognised at the city, made known the victory, almost
before any account of it could be carried there. In that action the
glory of the cavalry was prominent: they say that, being posted in the
two wings, when the centre of their own infantry was being beaten, they
charged so briskly in flank, that they not only checked the Sabine
legions who pressed hard on those who retired, but quickly put them to
flight. The Sabines made for the mountains with great precipitation, yet
few reached them; for, as we said before, the greatest part were driven
by the cavalry into the river. Tarquin, thinking it advisable to pursue
the enemy closely while in this consternation, after sending the booty
and the prisoners to Rome, piling up and burning the spoils which he had
vowed to Vulcan, proceeds to lead his army onward into the Sabine
territory. And though matters had turned out adversely, nor could they
hope for better success; yet, because the occasion did not allow time
for deliberation, the Sabines came out to meet him with a hastily raised
army; and being again defeated there, and matters having now become
desperate, they sued for peace.

[Footnote 49: In my version of this passage I have followed the reading,
_et pleraque in ratibus, impacta sublicis quum haererent_, p. i. The
burning logs were not sent down the ri