ng and the affrighted. Some, as they
were making their escape, were stopped, having encountered a body of
men engaged in fight; and bands of fugitives returning to the battle,
diverted others. After charges had been attempted unsuccessfully in
every direction, and on their flanks the mountains and the lake, on
the front and rear the lines of the enemy enclosed them, when it was
evident that there was no hope of safety but in the right hand and the
sword; then each man became to himself a leader, and encourager to
action; and an entirely new contest arose, not a regular line, with
principes, hastati, and triarii; nor of such a sort as that the
vanguard should fight before the standards, and the rest of the troops
behind them; nor such that each soldier should be in his own legion,
cohort, or company: chance collects them into bands; and each man's
own will assigned to him his post, whether to fight in front or rear;
and so great was the ardour of the conflict, so intent were their
minds upon the battle, that not one of the combatants felt an
earthquake which threw down large portions of many of the cities of
Italy, turned rivers from their rapid courses, carried the sea up into
rivers, and levelled mountains with a tremendous crash.

6. The battle was continued near three hours, and in every quarter
with fierceness; around the consul, however, it was still hotter and
more determined. Both the strongest of the troops, and himself too,
promptly brought assistance wherever he perceived his men hard pressed
and distressed. But, distinguished by his armour, the enemy attacked
him with the utmost vigour, while his countrymen defended him; until
an Insubrian horseman, named Ducarius, knowing him also by his face,
says to his countrymen, "Lo, this is the consul who slew our legions
and laid waste our fields and city. Now will I offer this victim to
the shades of my countrymen, miserably slain;" and putting spurs to
his horse, he rushes through a very dense body of the enemy; and first
slaying his armour-bearer, who had opposed himself to his attack as he
approached, ran the consul through with his lance; the triarii,
opposing their shields, kept him off when seeking to despoil him. Then
first the flight of a great number began; and now neither the lake nor
the mountains obstructed their hurried retreat; they run through all
places, confined and precipitous, as though they were blind; and arms
and men are tumbled one upon another