Ab urbe condita

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[*](Defeat of the Allies.) both sales the dispositions were far from complete. The Samnite captain-general, Gellius Egnatius, had gone off with a few cohorts on a foraging expedition, and his troops commenced the battle in obedience to their own impulses rather than to any word of command.

The Roman armies again were not both led to the attack at the same time, nor was sufficient time allowed for their formation.

Volumnius was engaged before Appius reached the enemy, so the battle began on an irregular front, and the usual opponents happened to be interchanged, the Etruscans facing Volumnius and the Samnites, after a short delay owing to their leader's absence, closing with Appius. The story runs that he lifted up his hands to heaven so as to be visible to those about the foremost standards and uttered this prayer: “Bellona!

if thou wilt grant us victory to-day, I, in return, vow a temple to thee.” After this prayer it seemed as though the goddess had inspired him, he displayed a courage equal to his colleague's, or indeed to that of the whole army.

Nothing was lacking on the part of the generals to ensure success, and the rank and file in each of the consular armies did their utmost to prevent the other from being the first to achieve victory.