y were all as yet led forth, and when those who
were so had not their ranks sufficiently arranged, he falls on the
unsteady crowd of them, running in trepidation from one place to
another, and throwing around their eyes on themselves and on their
friends, a shout and violent onset adding to the already confused state
of their minds. The enemy at first gave way; then, when they had rallied
their spirits, and their generals on every side reprovingly asked them,
whether they were about to yield to their vanquished foes, the battle
was restored.

61. On the other side, the consul desired the Romans to remember that
"on that day, for the first time, they fought as free men in defence of
Rome, now a free city. That it was for themselves they were to conquer,
and not that they should be the prize of the decemvirs, after
conquering. That it was not under the command of Appius that the action
was being conducted, but under their consul Valerius, descended from the
liberators of the Roman people, himself too a liberator. That they
should show that in former battles it had been the fault of the
generals, and not of the soldiers, that they did not conquer. That it
was shameful to have had more courage against their own countrymen than
against their enemies, and to have dreaded slavery more at home than
abroad. That Virginia was the only person whose chastity was in danger
in time of peace: that Appius was the only citizen of dangerous lust.
But if the fortune of war should turn against them, all their children
would be in danger from so many thousands of enemies. That he would
not, on account of the omen, mention things which may neither Jupiter
nor their father Mars suffer to befall a city built under such
auspices." He reminded them of the Aventine and the Sacred mount; and
"that they should bring back dominion unimpaired to that spot, where
their liberty had been established but a few months before: and that
they should show that the Roman soldiers retained the same abilities
after the expulsion of the decemvirs, which they had possessed before
they were appointed; and that the valour of the Roman people was not
deteriorated after the laws were equalized." After he uttered these
words among the battalions of the infantry, he flies from them to the
cavalry. "Come, young men, surpass in valour the infantry, as you
already surpass them in honour and in rank. The infantry at the first
onset have made the enemy give way: now that the