They urged that if any disaster occurred the responsibility for it would fall on the one who abandoned the other, not on the other who was abandoned; it came to this —all the glory of success and all the disgrace of failure in Etruria was transferred to Volumnius.
People would not inquire what words Appius had used, but what fortune the army was meeting with; he may have been dismissed by Appius, but his presence was demanded by the republic and by the army.
He had only to test the feelings of the soldiers to find this out for himself. Amidst appeals and warnings of this character they almost dragged the reluctant consuls into a council of war.
There the dispute which had previously been witnessed by only a few went on at much greater length. Volumnius had not only the stronger case, but he showed himself by no means a bad speaker, even when compared with the exceptional eloquence of his colleague.
Appius remarked sarcastically that they ought to look upon it as due to him that they had a consul who was actually able to speak, instead of the dumb inarticulate man he once was.
In their former consulship, especially during the first months of office, he could not open his lips, now he was becoming quite a popular speaker. Volumnius observed, “I would much rather that you had learnt from me to act with vigour and decision than that I should have learnt from you to be a clever speaker.”
He finally made a proposal which would settle the question who was —not the better orator, for that was not what the republic needed, but —the better commander. Their two provinces were Etruria and Samnium; Appius might choose which he preferred, he, Volumnius, was willing to conduct operations either in Etruria or in Samnium.
On this the soldiers began to clamour; they insisted that both consuls should carry on the war in Etruria.
When Volumnius saw that this was the general wish he said, “Since I have made a mistake in interpreting my colleague's wishes I will take care that there shall be no doubt as to what it is that you want.
Signify your wishes by acclamation; do you wish me to stay or to go?” Such a shout arose in reply that it brought the enemy out of their camp; seizing their arms they came down to the battlefield.
Then Volumnius ordered the battle signal to be sounded and the standards to be carried out of the camp. Appius, it is said, was for some time undecided, as he saw that whether he fought or remained inactive the victory would be his colleague's, but at last, fearing lest his legions also should follow Volumnius, he yielded to their loud demands and gave the signal for battle.
On