the consul,
dismissing the senate, proceeds into the assembly. There he shows them
that the senate were solicitous that care should be taken for the
people's interest: but their alarm for the whole commonwealth had
interrupted their deliberation regarding that which was no doubt the
greatest part, but yet only a part; nor could they, when the enemy were
almost at the gates, allow any thing to take precedence of war: nor, if
there should be some respite, was it either to the credit of the people
not to have taken up arms in defence of their country unless they first
receive a recompence, nor consistent with the dignity of the senators
that they adopted measures of relief for the distresses of their
countrymen through fear rather than afterwards from inclination. He gave
additional confidence to the assembly by an edict, by which he ordained
that no one "should detain a Roman citizen either in chains or in
prison, so as to hinder his enrolling his name under the consuls. And
that nobody should either seize or sell the goods of any soldier, while
he was in the camp, or arrest his children or grandchildren." This
ordinance being published, the debtors under arrest who were present
immediately entered their names, and crowds of persons hastening from
all quarters of the city from their confinement, as their creditors had
no right to detain their persons, ran together into the forum to take
the military oath. These made up a considerable body of men, nor was the
bravery or activity of the others more conspicuous in the Volscian war.
The consul led out his army against the enemy, and pitched his camp at a
little distance from them.

25. The next night the Volscians, relying on the dissension among the
Romans, made an attempt on their camp, to see if any desertion or
treachery might be resorted to during the night. The sentinels on guard
perceived them; the army was called up, and the signal being given they
ran to arms. Thus that attempt of the Volscians was frustrated; the
remainder of the night was dedicated to repose on both sides. The next
morning at daybreak the Volscians, having filled the trenches, attacked
the rampart. And already the fortifications were being demolished on
every side, when the consul, although all on every side, and more
especially the debtors, cried out that he should give the signal, having
delayed a little while for the purpose of trying the feelings of the
soldiers, when their great ardour became