Ab urbe condita

The Samnites were unexpectedly attacked by a force concealed in the woods through which they were marching whilst the shouts of the Roman were resounding in all parts of the city; by this double act of treachery the Samnites were slain and Satricum captured within the space of one short hour and the consul became complete master of the situation.

He ordered a strict inquiry to be made as to who were responsible for the revolt, and those who were found to be guilty were scourged and beheaded.

The Satricans were deprived of their arms and a strong garrison was placed in the city. The writers who tell us that it was under Papirius that Luceria was recovered and the Samnites sent under the yoke,

go on to inform us that after the capture of Satricum he returned to Rome to celebrate his triumph.

And indeed he was, undoubtedly, a man deserving of all praise for his soldierly qualities, distinguished as he was not only by intellectual force but also by his physical prowess.

He was especially noted for his swiftness of foot, which gave him his cognomen[*]( “Cursor"="the runner.” ); he is stated to have beaten all those of his own age in racing. Owing either to his great strength or the amount of exercise he took he had an enormous appetite.

Under no commander did either horse or foot find service harder, for he himself never knew what it was to be tired. On one occasion the cavalry ventured to ask him to excuse them some of their fatigue duty in consideration of their having fought a successful action.

He replied: “That you may not say I never excuse you anything, I excuse you from rubbing your horses' backs when you dismount.”

He was as much of a martinet to the allies of Rome as he was to his own countrymen.

The commander of the Praenestine detachment had shown a lack of courage in bringing his men up from the rear into the fighting line . Papirius, walking in front of his tent, ordered him to be called up, and on his appearance told the lictor to get the axe ready. The Praenestine, on hearing this, stood paralysed with fear.

“Come, lictor,” said Papirius, “cut out this root; it is in the way of people as they walk.” After almost frightening him to death with this threat, he dismissed him with a fine.