n of the
Roman people, a thing which he had refused to their entreaties.

36. The dictator, having appointed Lucius Papirius Crassus, as master of
the horse, to the command of the city, and prohibited Quintus Fabius
from acting in any case as magistrate, returned to the camp; where his
arrival brought neither any great joy to his countrymen, nor any degree
of terror to the enemy: for on the day following, either not knowing
that the dictator had arrived, or little regarding whether he were
present or absent, they approached his camp in order of battle. Of such
importance, however, was that single man, Lucius Papirius, that had the
zeal of the soldiers seconded the dispositions of the commander, no
doubt was entertained that an end might have been put that day to the
war with the Samnites; so judiciously did he draw up his army with
respect to situation and reserves, in such a manner did he strengthen
them with every advantage of military skill: but the soldiers exerted no
vigour; and designedly kept from conquering, in order to injure the
reputation of their leader. Of the Samnites, however, very many were
slain; and great numbers of the Romans wounded. The experienced
commander quickly perceived the circumstance which prevented his
success, and that it would be necessary to moderate his temper, and to
mingle mildness with austerity. Accordingly, attended by the
lieutenants-general, going round to the wounded soldiers, thrusting his
head into their tents, and asking them, one by one, how they were in
health; then, mentioning them by name, he gave them in charge to the
officers, tribunes, and praefects. This behaviour, popular in itself, he
maintained with such dexterity, that by his attention to their recovery
he gradually gained their affection; nor did any thing so much
contribute towards their recovery as the circumstance of this attention
being received with gratitude. The army being restored to health, he
came to an engagement with the enemy; and both himself and the troops,
being possessed with full confidence of success, he so entirely defeated
and dispersed the Samnites, that that was the last day they met the
dictator in the field. The victorious army, afterwards, directed its
march wherever a prospect of booty invited, and traversed the enemies'
territories, encountering not a weapon, nor any opposition, either
openly or by stratagem. It added to their alacrity, that the dictator
had, by proclamation, given th