[The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08 by Titus Livius]@TWC D-Link book
The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08

BOOK IV
70/126

The master of the horse too, on his part, introduces among the cavalry a new mode of fighting; he commands his men to take the bridles off their horses: and he himself at their head, putting spurs to his own, dashing forward, is carried by the unbridled steed into the midst of the fires: the other horses also being urged on carry their riders with unrestrained speed against the enemy.
The dust being raised and mixed with smoke excluded the light from the eyes of both men and horses.

That appearance which had terrified the soldiers, no longer terrified the horses.

The cavalry therefore, wherever they penetrated, produced a heap of bodies like a ruin.

A new shout then assailed their ears; and when this attracted the attention of the two armies looking with amazement at each other, the dictator cries out "that his lieutenant-general and his men had attacked the enemy on the rear:" he himself, on the shout being renewed, advances against them with redoubled vigour.

When two armies, two different battles pressed on the Etrurians, now surrounded, in front and rear, and there was now no means of flight back to their camp, nor to the mountains, where new enemies were ready to oppose them, and the horses, now freed from their bridles, had scattered their riders in every direction, the principal part of the Veientians make precipitately for the Tiber.


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