Taking with him
the best troops of the Tarentines he now marched at once to attack the
Romans, who were encamped in the territory of the Samnites.

XXV. The Samnites at this period were entirely ruined and broken in
spirit from the numerous defeats which they had sustained at the hands
of the Romans. Some dissatisfaction also was felt with Pyrrhus for
having neglected them while he was campaigning in Sicily; so that not
many of that nation joined him. Pyrrhus now divided his forces,
sending one portion into Lucania to harass the other consul and
prevent his coming to the assistance of his colleague, while he
himself led the remainder to attack Manius Curius, who was quietly
encamped near the city of Beneventum, awaiting the arrival of the
Lucanian forces. It is also said that his soothsayers told him, that
the omens were not in favour of his moving from where he was. Pyrrhus,
eager to attack him before the other consul's army joined him, made a
hurried night march with his best troops and elephants, hoping to
surprise the Roman camp. But during the march, which was long, and
through a densely-wooded country, their torches went out, the soldiers
lost their way in the darkness, and got into confusion. Day at length
appeared, and showed to the Romans Pyrrhus with his army, advancing
from the heights near their camp. The sight caused some disorder and
excitement, but as the omens were now favourable, and the emergency
required prompt action, Manius Curius led out his men, attacked the
first troops of Pyrrhus's army whom he met, routed them, and dismayed
the whole force, so that many were slain and several elephants
captured. This success emboldened Manius to begin a general action on
the more level ground, where he defeated the enemy with one wing of
his army, but on the other his troops were overpowered by the charge
of the elephants and driven back to their camp. Curius now called to
his aid the soldiers left to guard the camp, who were standing under
arms along the ramparts, and were quite fresh and unwearied. They
assailed the elephants with a shower of darts, which caused them to
turn and fly, trampling down their own men in their flight. The Romans
thus gained the victory, and at the same time the reputation of being
the first military nation in the world. For their display of valour on
this occasion led to their being thought invincible, and to their at
once gaining possession of the whole of Italy, and shortly after