Samnite History

” That the Roman generals Cornelius and Corvinus, and Decius, a man of the people, having defeated the Samnites, left guards for the Campanians against the incursions of the Samnites. But these guards, associating with the luxurious and extravagant Campanians, began to corrupt their minds, and envied the good things they possessed, being themselves poor and fearing their debts in Rome. Finally, they plotted to kill their hosts and, each for himself, to seize their property and take their wives in marriage. And they would have quickly committed such a shameful crime, had not Mamercus, another Roman general, while marching against the Samnites, learned of the plot of the guards, and, keeping it secret, disarmed and discharged some of them as if they were exhausted, while ordering the more troublesome ones to hasten to Rome for some service, and sending a tribune with them, who had been instructed to watch them secretly. But both groups suspected that they had been betrayed, and near Terracina they revolted against the tribune, and, having released those who were bound in labor in the fields and having armed them as best they could, they marched on Rome, having become twenty thousand in all. When they were still one day’s journey away, Corvinus met them, and, having encamped in the Alban hills, he remained quiet, still watching the course of events and considering it a grave matter to fight against desperate men. But they mingled with one another secretly, and there were lamentations and tears from the guards as among relatives and friends, while they confessed their fault on the one hand, but attributed the cause to their debts in Rome on the other. Corvinus, perceiving this, and hesitating to engage in civil slaughter of such magnitude, advised the Senate to remit the debts of the men, both magnifying the war, if he should have to overcome so many men fighting from desperation, and viewing their meetings and intercourse with suspicion, fearing that not even his own army would be faithful to him in all things, since they were relatives of those men and blamed their debts no less than they did. He said that if he failed, he would run a risk concerning greater matters, and that the victory, if he should win, would be most unfortunate for the city against so many of its own citizens. Persuaded by these arguments, the Senate voted a cancellation of debts for all Romans, and amnesty for those who were then enemies. So, laying down their weapons, they went down to the city.”

”That the consul Manlius Torquatus was of such character in respect of virtue. He had a father who was parsimonious and negligent towards him, and kept him in the fields, working and living with the slaves. When the tribune Pomponius prosecuted him for many misdeeds, and was about to speak also concerning the maltreatment of his son, this son Manlius came, concealing a small dagger, to the house of the tribune, and requested to meet him alone as if to say something useful for the trial. Having been received and beginning to speak, he locked the doors, and, drawing his dagger, threatened to kill the tribune unless he swore to drop the lawsuit against his father. And the tribune swore and dropped it, setting forth what had happened to the people. Manlius was illustrious from that time on, being praised because he had proven to be such a son toward such a father.”

”But he challenged him to single combat, mocking him. He restrained himself for a time, but later, no longer bearing the provocation, he rode his horse against him.”