osoms, the desire of which
they considered was much more keenly felt by the commons than that of
the consular power, almost had rather that the decemvirs themselves
should voluntarily resign their office at some future period, than that
the people should rise once more into consequence through their
unpopularity. If the matter, conducted with gentleness, should again
return to the consuls without popular turbulence, that the commons might
be induced to forget their tribunes, either by the intervention of wars
or by the moderation of the consuls in exercising their authority. A
levy is proclaimed amid the silence of the patricians; the young men
answer to their names, as the government was without appeal. The legions
being enrolled, the decemvirs set about arranging among themselves who
should set out to the war, who command the armies. The leading men among
the decemvirs were, Quintus Fabius and Appius Claudius. There appeared a
more serious war at home than abroad. They considered the violence of
Appius as better suited to suppress commotions in the city; that Fabius
possessed a disposition rather inconstant in good pursuits than
strenuous in bad ones. For this man, formerly distinguished at home and
abroad, his office of decemvir and his colleagues had so changed, that
he chose rather to be like to Appius than like himself. To him the war
against the Sabines was committed, his colleagues, Manius Rabuleius and
Quintus Paetelius, being sent with him. Marcus Cornelius was sent to
Algidum with Lucius Menucius and Titus Antonius, and Caeso Duilius and
Marcus Sergius: they determine on Spurius Oppius as an assistant to
Appius Claudius to protect the city, their authority being equal to that
of all the decemvirs.

42. The republic was managed with no better success in war than at home.
In this the only fault in the generals was, that they had rendered
themselves objects of hatred to their fellow citizens: in other respects
the whole fault lay with the soldiers; who, lest any enterprise should
succeed under the conduct and auspices of the decemvirs, suffered
themselves to be beaten, to their own disgrace, and that of them (the
generals). Their armies were routed by the Sabines at Eretum, and in
Algidum by the AEquans. Having fled from Eretum during the silence of the
night, they fortified their camp nearer to the city, on an elevated
situation between Fidenae and Crustumeria; no where encountering the
enemy, who pursued them,