5. The newest legions were placed in the rear, because they were the least reliable.
6. quī ... posset ... esset, [§ 501. 45].
7. castra, subject of pōnēbantur.
8. in armīs erant, stood under arms.
9. quō ... essent. When is quō used to introduce a purpose clause? See [§ 350. I].
10. Tālibus in castrīs quālia, in such a camp as. It is important to remember the correlatives tālis ... quālis, such ... as.
[LXX.] THE RIVAL CENTURIONS
CENTURIO
Illīs in castrīs erant duo centuriōnēs,1 fortissimī virī, T. Pullō et L. Vorēnus, quōrum neuter alterī virtūte2 cēdere volēbat. Inter eōs iam multōs annōs īnfēnsum certāmen gerēbātur. Tum dēmum fīnis contrōversiae hōc modō3 factus est. Diē tertiō postquam Pūblius pervēnit, hostēs, maiōribus cōpiīs coāctīs, ācerrimum impetum in castra fēcērunt. Tum Pullō, 4cum Rōmānī tardiōrēs5 vidērentur, “Cūr dubitās,” inquit, “Vorēne? Quam commodiōrem occāsiōnem exspectās? Hic diēs dē virtūte nostrā iūdicābit.” Haec6 cum dīxisset, extrā mūnītiōnēs prōcessit et in eam hostium partem quae cōfertissima 7vidēbātur inrūpit. Neque Vorēnus quidem tum vāllō8 sēsē continet, sed Pullōnem subsequitur. Tum Pullō pīlum in hostīs immittit atque ūnum ex multitūdine prōcurrentem trāicit. Hunc percussum et exanimātum hostēs scūtīs prōtegunt et in Pullōnem omnēs tēla coniciunt. Eius scūtum trānsfīgitur et tēlum in balteō dēfīgitur. Hic cāsus vāgīnam āvertit et dextram manum eius gladium ēdūcere cōnantis9 morātur. Eum ita impedītum hostēs circumsistunt.