part of the
soldiers employed themselves in spoiling and pillaging it, while Marcius
indignantly reproached them, and exclaimed that it was a dishonorable
and unworthy thing, when the consul and their fellow-citizens had now
perhaps encountered the other Volscians, and were hazarding their lives
in battle, basely to mis-spend the time in running up and down for
booty, and, under a pretence of enriching themselves, keep out of
danger. Few paid him any attention, but, putting himself at the head of
these, he took the road by which the consul's army had marched before
him, encouraging his companions, and beseeching them, as they went
along, not to give up, and praying often to the gods, too, that he might
be so happy as to arrive before the fight was over, and come seasonably
up to assist Cominius, and partake in the peril of the action.

It was customary with the Romans of that age, when they were moving into
battle array, and were on the point of taking up their bucklers, and
girding their coats about them, to make at the same time an unwritten
will, or verbal testament, and to name who should be their heirs, in
the hearing of three or four witnesses. In this precise posture Marcius
found them at his arrival, the enemy having advanced within view.

They were not a little disturbed by his first appearance, seeing him
covered with blood and sweat, and attended with a small train; but when
he hastily made up to the consul with gladness in his looks, giving him
his hand, and recounting to him how the city had been taken, and when
they saw Cominius also embrace and salute him, every one took fresh
heart; those that were near enough hearing, and those that were at a
distance guessing, what had happened; and all cried out to be led to
battle. First, however, Marcius desired to know of him how the Volscians
had arrayed their army, and where they had placed their best men, and on
his answering that he took the troops of the Activates in the centre to
be their prime warriors, than would yield to none in bravery, "Let me
then demand and obtain of you," said Marcius, "that we may be posted
against them." The consul granted the request, with much admiration of
his gallantry. And when the conflict began by the soldiers darting
at each other, and Marcius sallied out before the rest the Volscians
opposed to him were not able to make head against him; wherever he fell
in, he broke their ranks, and made a lane through them; but the partie