he was desirous to recover his country and
his kingdom, and to punish his ungrateful subjects. That they should
bring succour and aid him; that they might also revenge the injuries
done to them of old, their legions so often slaughtered, their land
taken from them." These arguments prevailed on the people of Veii, and
with menaces they declare that now at least, under the conduct of a
Roman general, their former disgrace should be wiped off, and what they
had lost in war should be recovered. His name and relation to them
induced the people of Tarquinii to take part with him; it seemed an
honour that their countrymen should reign at Rome. Therefore the two
armies of these two states followed Tarquin in order to recover his
kingdom, and to take vengeance upon the Romans. When they entered the
Roman territories, the consuls marched to meet them. Valerius led up the
foot in a square battalion, and Brutus marched before with his horse to
reconnoitre (the enemy). Their cavalry likewise came up first; Aruns,
Tarquin's son, commanded it; the king himself followed with the legions.
Aruns, when he knew at a distance by the lictors that it was a consul,
and on coming nigher discovered for certain that it was Brutus by his
face, all inflamed with rage, he cried out, "There is the villain who
has banished us from our native country! see how he rides in state
adorned with the ensigns of our dignity! now assist me, gods, the
avengers of kings." He put spurs to his horse and drove furiously
against the consul. Brutus perceived the attack made on him; as it was
honourable in these days for the generals to engage in combat, he
eagerly offered himself to the combat. They encountered one another with
such furious animosity, neither mindful of protecting his own person,
provided he could wound his adversary; so that both, transfixed through
the buckler by the blow from the opposite direction, fell lifeless from
their horses, entangled together by the two spears. The engagement
between the rest of the horse commenced at the same time, and soon after
the foot came up. There they fought with doubtful success, and as it
were with equal advantage, and the victory doubtful. The right wings of
both armies were victorious and the left worsted. The Veientians,
accustomed to be discomfited by the Roman soldiers, were routed and put
to flight. The Tarquinienses, who were a new enemy, not only stood their
ground, but even on their side obliged the Romans