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manner the resentment of heaven. Torquatus, being despatched by the
senate to dismiss the ambassadors, on seeing Annius lying prostrate,
exclaimed, so as that his voice was heard both by the people and the
senate, "It is well. The gods have excited a just war. There is a deity
in heaven. Thou dost exist, great Jove; not without reason have we
consecrated thee the father of gods and men in this mansion. Why do ye
hesitate, Romans, and you, conscript fathers, to take up arms under the
direction of the gods? Thus will I lay low the legions of the Latins, as
you now see this man lying prostrate." The words of the consul, received
with the approbation of the people, filled their breasts with such
ardour, that the ambassadors on their departure were protected from the
anger and violence of the people more by the care of the magistrates,
who escorted them by order of the consul, than by the law of nations.
The senate also voted for the war; and the consuls, after raising two
armies, marched into the territories of the Marsians and Pelignians, the
army of the Samnites having joined them, and pitched their camp near
Capua, where the Latins and their allies had now assembled. There it is
said there appeared to both the consuls, during sleep, the same form of
a man larger and more majestic than human, who said, "Of the one side a
general, of the other an army was due to the dii Manes and to Mother
Earth; from whichever army a general should devote the legions of the
enemy and himself, in addition, that the victory would belong to that
nation and that party." When the consuls compared together these visions
of the night, it was resolved that victims should be slain for the
purpose of averting the anger of the gods; at the same time, that if the
same portents were exhibited in the entrails as those which had been
seen during sleep, either of the consuls should fulfil the fates. When
the answers of the haruspices coincided with the secret religious
impression already implanted in their minds; then, having brought
together the lieutenant-generals and tribunes, and having openly
expounded to them the commands of the gods, they settle among
themselves, lest the consul's voluntary death should intimidate the army
in the field, that on which side soever the Roman army should commence
to give way, the consul in that quarter should devote himself for the
Roman people and the Quirites. In this consultation it was also
suggested, that if ev