the most zealous obedience is shown to the
dictator on both sides.

27. All these measures were executed with great despatch: and Caius
Julius the consul being left to guard the city, and Lucius Julius master
of the horse, for the sudden exigencies of the war, lest any thing which
they might want in the camp should cause delay, the dictator, repeating
the words after Aulus Cornelius the chief pontiff, vowed the great games
on account of the sudden war; and having set out from the city, after
dividing his army with the consul Quintius, he came up with the enemy.
As they had observed two separate camps of the enemy at a small distance
one from the other, they in like manner encamped separately about a mile
from them, the dictator towards Tusculum, the consul towards Lanuvium.
Thus they had their four armies, as many fortified posts, having between
them a plain sufficiently extended not only for excursions to skirmish,
but even for drawing up the armies on both sides in battle-array. From
the time camp was brought close to camp, they ceased not from light
skirmishing, the dictator readily allowing his soldiers, by comparing
strength, to entertain beforehand the hope of a general victory, after
they had gradually essayed the result of slight skirmishes. Wherefore
the enemy, no hope being now left in a regular engagement, attacked the
consuls' camp in the night, and bring the matter to the chance of a
doubtful result. The shout which arose suddenly awoke not only the
consuls' sentinels and then all the army, but the dictator also. When
circumstances required instant exertion, the consul evinced no
deficiency either in spirit or in judgment. One part of the troops
reinforce the guards at the gates, another man the rampart around. In
the other camp with the dictator, inasmuch as there is less of
confusion, so much the more readily is it observed, what is required to
be done. Despatching then forthwith a reinforcement to the consuls'
camp, to which Spurius Postumius Albus is appointed lieutenant-general,
he himself with a part of his forces, making a small circuit, proceeds
to a place entirely sequestered from the bustle, whence he might
suddenly attack the enemy's rear. Quintus Sulpicius, his
lieutenant-general, he appoints to take charge of the camp; to Marcus
Fabius as lieutenant he assigns the cavalry, and orders that those
troops, which it would be difficult to manage amid a nightly conflict,
should not stir before day-li