as he perceived this,
he orders the cavalry first to charge the enemy, after raising a loud
shout; the line of infantry following, engaged with great fury. In no
quarter did the Etrurian legions withstand the shock of the Romans. The
cavalry made the greatest resistance; and the king himself, far the
bravest of the cavalry, charging the Romans whilst they were pursuing in
disorder in every direction, prolonged the contest.

19. There was then among the cavalry, Aulus Cornelius Cossus, a tribune
of the soldiers, distinguished for the beauty of his person, and equally
so for courage and great strength of body, and mindful of his rank,
which, having received in a state of the highest lustre, he left to his
posterity still greater and more distinguished. He perceiving that the
Roman troops gave way at the approach of Tolumnius, wherever he directed
his charge, and knowing him as being remarkable by his royal apparel, as
he flew through the entire line, exclaims, "Is this the infringer of
human treaties and the violator of the law of nations? This victim I
shall now slay, (provided the gods wish that there should be any thing
sacred on earth,) and shall offer him up to the manes of the
ambassadors." Having clapped spurs to his horse, he advances against
this single foe with spear presented; and after having struck and
unhorsed him, he immediately, by help of his lance, sprung on the
ground. And as the king attempted to rise, he throws him back again with
the boss of his shield, and with repeated thrusts pins him to the earth.
He then stripped off the spoils from the lifeless body; and having cut
off his head and carrying it on the point of his spear, he puts the
enemy to rout through terror on seeing their king slain. Thus the line
of cavalry, which alone had rendered the combat doubtful, was beaten.
The dictator pursues closely the routed legions, and drove them to their
camp with slaughter. The greater number of the Fidenatians, through
their knowledge of the country, made their escape to the mountains.
Cossus, having crossed the Tiber with the cavalry, carried off great
plunder from the Veientian territory to the city. During the battle
there was a fight also at the Roman camp against a party of the forces,
which, as has been already mentioned, had been sent by Tolumnius to the
camp. Fabius Vibulanus first defends his lines by a ring; then, whilst
the enemy were wholly taken up with the entrenchment, sallying out from
the