use of the superior justice of their cause.

10. Therefore the next day, as soon as it was light, the signal for
taking arms having been given by the trumpets on both sides, the
barbarians, after having, in accordance with their usual custom, taken
an oath to remain faithful to their standards, attempted to gain the
higher ground, in order that from it they might descend down the steep
like wheels, overwhelming their enemy by the vigour of their attack.
When this was seen, our soldiers all flocked to their proper regiments,
and then stood firm, neither turning aside nor in any instance even
leaving their ranks to rush forward.

11. Therefore when the armies on both sides, advancing more cautiously,
at last halted and stood immovable, the warriors, with mutual sternness,
surveying each other with fierce looks. The Romans in every part of
their line sang warlike songs, with a voice rising from a lower to a
higher key, which they call barritus,[194] and so encouraged themselves
to gallant exertions. But the barbarians, with dissonant clamour,
shouted out the praises of their ancestors, and amid their various
discordant cries, tried occasional light skirmishes.

12. And now each army began to assail the other with javelins and other
similar missiles; and then with threatening shouts rushed on to close
combat, and packing their shields together like a testudo, they came
foot to foot with their foes. The barbarians, active, and easily
rallied, hurled huge bludgeons, burnt at one end, against our men, and
vigorously thrust their swords against the opposing breasts of the
Romans, till they broke our left wing; but as it recoiled, it fell back
on a strong body of reserve which was vigorously brought up on their
flank, and supported them just as they were on the very point of
destruction.

13. Therefore, while the battle raged with vast slaughter, each
individual soldier rushing fiercely on the dense ranks of the enemy, the
arrows and javelins flew like hail; the blows of swords were equally
rapid; while the cavalry, too, pressed on, cutting down all who fled
with terrible and mighty wounds on their backs; as also on both sides
did the infantry, slaughtering and hamstringing those who had fallen
down, and through fear were unable to fly.

14. And when the whole place was filled with corpses, some also lay
among them still half alive, vainly cherishing a hope of life, some of
them having been pierced with bullets hurled from