the discord of the tribunes might
not prove more detrimental to the commonwealth than it had done at Veii:
and, as if some certain disaster was impending over them, he pressed his
son to enlist soldiers and prepare arms. Nor was he a false prophet. For
under the conduct of Lucius Sergius, whose day of command it was, being
suddenly attacked by the AEquans on disadvantageous ground near the
enemy's camp, after having been decoyed thither by the vain hope of
taking it, because the enemy had counterfeited fear and betaken
themselves to their rampart, they were beaten down a declivity, and
great numbers were overpowered and slaughtered by their tumbling one
over the other rather than by flight: and the camp, retained with
difficulty on that day, was, on the following day, deserted by a
shameful flight through the opposite gate, the enemy having invested it
in several directions. The generals, lieutenant-generals, and such of
the main body of the army as kept near the colours, made their way to
Tusculum; others, dispersed in every direction through the fields,
hastened to Rome by different roads, announcing a heavier loss than had
been sustained. There was less of consternation, because the result
corresponded to the apprehensions of persons; and because the
reinforcements, which they could look to in this distressing state of
things, had been prepared by the military tribune: and by his orders,
after the disturbance in the city was quieted by the inferior
magistrates, scouts were instantly despatched, and brought intelligence
that the generals and the army were at Tusculum; that the enemy had not
removed their camp. And, what raised their spirits most, Quintus
Servilius Priscus was created dictator in pursuance of a decree of the
senate; a man whose judgment in public affairs the state had experienced
as well on many previous occasions, as in the issue of that war, because
he alone had expressed his apprehensions of the result of the disputes
among the tribunes, before the occurrence of the misfortune; he having
appointed for his master of the horse, by whom, as military tribune, he
had been nominated dictator, his own son, as some have stated, (for
others mention that Ahala Servilius was master of the horse that year;)
and setting out to the war with his newly-raised army, after sending for
those who were at Tusculum, chose ground for his camp at the distance
of two miles from the enemy.

47. The arrogance and negligence a