he Dictator might be aware.
Now the AEquians had set themselves to hinder the making of a ditch and
rampart which should shut them in; but when the Romans from the camp
fell upon them, fearing lest these should make their way through the
midst of their camp, they left them that were with Cincinnatus to finish
their entrenching, and fought with the Consul. And when it was now
light, lo! they were already shut in, and the Romans, having finished
their entrenching, began to trouble them. And when the AEquians perceived
that the battle was now on either side of them, they could withstand
no longer, but sent ambassadors praying for peace, and saying, "Ye have
prevailed; slay us not, but rather permit us to depart, leaving our arms
behind us." Then said the Dictator, "I care not to have the blood of the
AEquians. Ye may depart, but ye shall depart passing under the yoke, that
ye may thus acknowledge to all men that ye are indeed vanquished." Now
the yoke is thus made. There are set up in the ground two spears, and
over them is bound by ropes a third spear. So the AEquians passed under
the yoke.
In the camp of the enemy there was found abundance of spoil. This the
Dictator gave wholly to his own soldiers. "Ye were well-nigh a spoil to
the enemy," said he to the army of the Consul, "therefore ye shall
have no share in the spoiling of them. As for thee, Minucius, be thou a
lieutenant only till thou hast learnt how to bear thyself as a consul."
Meanwhile at Rome there was held a meeting of the Senate, at which it
was commanded that Cincinnatus should enter the city in triumph, his
soldiers following him in order of march.
Before his chariot there were led the generals of the enemy; also the
standards were carried in the front; and after these came the army,
every man laden with spoil. That day there was great rejoicing in the
city, every man setting forth a banquet before his doors in the street.
After this, Volscius, that had borne false witness against Kaeso, was
found guilty of perjury, and went into exile. And when Cincinnatus
saw that justice had been done to this evil-doer, he resigned his
dictatorship, having held it for sixteen days only.
CHAPTER X. ~~ THE STORY OF THE DECEMVIRS AND OF VIRGINIA.
It was agreed between the nobles and the Commons that, to make an end
of disputing about the laws, ambassadors should be sent into Greece, and
especially to Athens (which city and its lawgiver, Solon, were held in
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