Valerius Maximus, i. De Somniis.
13 Dis Manibus = the deified souls of the dead, usually looked upon as beneficent spirits.
15 victricem, sc. aciem.
17 deorum etiam monitu = by the warning of the gods also, i.e. by the auspices as well as by the dream.
19-20 cuius cornu . . . coepisset. The left wing led by Decius was repulsed by the Latins, and Decius accordingly devoted himself to death.
Parallel Passage. Livy, viii. 6. 9.
THE LATIN WAR, 340-338 B.C. (2)
The Battle of Mt. Vesuvius, 340 B.C.
Procedente deinde certamine cum aliis partibus multitudo superaret Latinorum, Manlius consul audito eventu collegae paulisper addubitavit, an consurgendi iam triariis tempus esset; deinde melius ratus integros eos ad ultimum discrimen servari, 5 Accensos ab novissima acie ante signa procedere iubet. Qui ubi subiere, extemplo Latini, tamquam idem adversarii fecissent, triarios suos excitaverunt; qui aliquamdiu pugna atroci cum et semet ipsi fatigassent et hastas aut praefregissent aut hebetassent, 10 pellerent vi tamen hostem, debellatum iam rati perventumque ad extremam aciem, tum consul triariis ‘Consurgite nunc’ inquit ‘integri adversus fessos, memores patriae parentumque et coniugum ac liberorum, memores consulis pro vestra victoria 15 morte occubantis.’ Ubi triarii consurrexerunt, integri, refulgentibus armis, nova ex improviso exorta acies, receptis in intervalla ordinum antepilanis, clamore sublato principia Latinorum perturbant hastisque ora fodientes primo robore virorum caeso per alios manipulos 20 velut inermes prope intacti evasere tantaque caede perrupere cuneos, ut vix quartam partem relinquerent hostium.