[The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08 by Titus Livius]@TWC D-Link bookThe History of Rome, Books 01 to 08 BOOK VI 17/96
The new enemy then added to the old shook the spirits of the Roman soldiers.
When the centurions reported this to Camillus, whilst forming his line of battle, that "the minds of the soldiers were disturbed, that arms were taken up by them with backwardness, and that they left the camp with hesitation and reluctance; nay, that some expressions were heard, that they should each have to fight with one hundred enemies, and that such numbers, even if unarmed, much less when furnished with arms, could with difficulty be withstood," he leaped on his horse, and in front of the troops, turning to the line, and riding between the ranks, "What dejection of mind is this, soldiers, what backwardness? Is it with the enemy, or me, or yourselves you are unacquainted? What else are the enemy, but the constant subject of your bravery and your glory? on the other hand, with me as your general, to say nothing of the taking of Falerii and Veii, you have lately celebrated a triple triumph for a three-fold victory over these self-same Volscians and AEquans, and Etruria.
Do you not recognise me as your general, because I gave you the signal, not as dictator, but as tribune? I neither feel the want of the highest authority over you, and you should look to nothing in me but myself; for the dictatorship neither added to my courage, any more than exile took it from me.
We are all therefore the same individuals; and as we bring to this war the same requisites as we brought to former wars, let us look for the same result of the war.
As soon as you commence the fight, each will do that which he has learned and been accustomed to do.
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