hemselves, and there were levied forthwith two great armies. Nevertheless
when the Consul Minucius had marched to Mount AEgidus, and had pitched his
camp not far from the AEquians, he did nought for fear of the enemy, but
kept himself within his entrenchments. And when the enemy perceived that
he was afraid, growing the bolder for his lack of courage, they drew lines
about him, keeping him in on every side. Yet before that he was altogether
shut up there escaped from his camp five horsemen, that bare tidings to
Rome how that the Consul, together with his army, was besieged. The people
were sorely dismayed to hear such tidings; nor, when they cast about for
help, saw they any man that might be sufficient for such peril, save only
Cincinnatus. By common consent, therefore, he was made Dictator for six
months, a thing that may well be noted by those who hold that nothing is
to be accounted of in comparison of riches, and that no man may win great
honor or show forth singular virtue unless he be well furnished with
wealth. For here in this great peril of the Roman people there was no hope
of safety but in one who was cultivating with his own hand a little plot
of scarcely three acres of ground. For when the messengers of the people
came to him they found him ploughing, or, as some say, digging a ditch.
When they had greeted each the other, the messengers said, "May the Gods
prosper this thing to the Roman people and to thee. Put on thy robe and
hear the words of the people." Then said Cincinnatus, being not a little
astonished, "Is all well?" and at the same time he called to his wife
Racilia that she should bring forth his robe from the cottage. So she
brought it forth, and the man wiped from him the dust and the sweat, and
clad himself in his robe, and stood before the messengers. These said to
him, "The people of Rome make thee Dictator, and bid thee come forthwith
to the city." And at the same time they told how the Consul and his army
were besieged by the AEquians. So Cincinnatus departed to Rome; and when he
came to the other side of the Tiber there met him first his three sons,
and next many of his kinsfolk and friends, and after them a numerous
company of the nobles. These all conducted him to his house, the lictors,
four and twenty in number, marching before him. There was also assembled a
very great concourse of the people, fearing much how the Dictator might
deal with them, for they knew what manner of man he was, an