e would act as master of the
horse to him. Wherefore, that they should entertain hopes regarding the
war, proportioned to the opinion they formed of their sole commander."
The senate, elated with joy, cry out, that "they entertained good hopes,
both regarding war, and peace, and the republic in general; and that the
republic would never have need of a dictator, if it were to have such
men in office, united together in such harmony of sentiments, prepared
alike to obey and to command, and who were laying up praise as common
stock, rather than taking it from the common fund to themselves
individually."

7. A suspension of civil business being proclaimed, and a levy being
held, Furius and Valerius set out to Satricum; to which place the
Antians had drawn together not only the youth of the Volscians, selected
out of the new generation, but immense numbers of the Latins and
Hernicians, out of states which by a long [enjoyment of] peace were in
the most unimpaired condition. The new enemy then added to the old shook
the spirits of the Roman soldiers. When the centurions reported this to
Camillus, whilst forming his line of battle, that "the minds of the
soldiers were disturbed, that arms were taken up by them with
backwardness, and that they left the camp with hesitation and
reluctance; nay, that some expressions were heard, that they should each
have to fight with one hundred enemies, and that such numbers, even if
unarmed, much less when furnished with arms, could with difficulty be
withstood," he leaped on his horse, and in front of the troops, turning
to the line, and riding between the ranks, "What dejection of mind is
this, soldiers, what backwardness? Is it with the enemy, or me, or
yourselves you are unacquainted? What else are the enemy, but the
constant subject of your bravery and your glory? on the other hand, with
me as your general, to say nothing of the taking of Falerii and Veii,
you have lately celebrated a triple triumph for a three-fold victory
over these self-same Volscians and AEquans, and Etruria. Do you not
recognise me as your general, because I gave you the signal, not as
dictator, but as tribune? I neither feel the want of the highest
authority over you, and you should look to nothing in me but myself; for
the dictatorship neither added to my courage, any more than exile took
it from me. We are all therefore the same individuals; and as we bring
to this war the same requisites as we brought to former