Ab urbe condita

The battle was an index to their feelings; for some time they fought so resolutely that neither line showed any signs of giving way.

At length the consul, seeing that the Samnites could not be repulsed by steady fighting, determined to try the effect of a sudden shock and launched his cavalry at them. This made no impression, and as he watched them wheeling round in the narrow space between the opposing armies after their ineffective charge, having utterly failed to penetrate the enemy's line, he rode back to the front ranks of the legions, and after dismounting said: “Soldiers, this task belongs to us infantry.

Come on! Wherever you see me making my way through the enemy's lines with my sword follow, and each of you do his best to cut down those in front.