40.  Equal danger, and an issue equally glorious, soon after attended the war with the Samnites; who, besides their many preparations for the field, made their army to glitter with new decorations of their armour.  Their troops were in two divisions, one of which had their shields embossed with gold, the other with silver.  The shape of the shield was this; broad at the middle to cover the breast and shoulders, the summit being flat, sloping off gradually so as to become pointed below, that it might be wielded with ease; a loose coat of mail also served as a protection for the breast, and the left leg was covered with a greave; their helmets were adorned with plumes, to add to the appearance of their stature.  The golden-armed soldiers wore tunics of various colours; the silver-armed, of white linen.  To the latter the right wing was assigned; the former took post on the left.  The Romans had been apprized of these splendid accoutrements, and had been taught by their commanders, that “a soldier ought to be rough; not decorated with gold and silver, but placing his confidence in his sword.  That matters of this kind were in reality spoil rather than armour; glittering before action, but soon becoming disfigured amid blood and wounds.  That the brightest ornament of a soldier was valour; that all those trinkets would follow victory, and that those rich enemies would be valuable prizes to the conquerors, however poor.”  Cursor, having animated his men with these observations, led them on to battle.  He took post himself on the right wing, he gave the command of the left to the master of the horse.  As soon as they engaged, the struggle between the two armies became desperate, while it was no less so between the dictator and the master of the horse, on which wing victory should first show itself.  It happened that Junius first, with the left wing, made the right of the enemy give way; this consisted of men devoted after the custom of Samnites, and on that account distinguished by white garments and armour of equal whiteness.  Junius, saying “he would sacrifice these to Pluto,” pressed forward, disordered their ranks, and made an evident impression on their line:  which being perceived by the dictator, he exclaimed, “Shall the victory begin on the left wing, and shall the right, the dictator’s own troops, only second the arms of others, and not claim the greatest share of the victory?” This spurred on the soldiers:  nor did the cavalry yield to the infantry in bravery, nor the ardour of lieutenants-general to that of the commanders.  Marcius Valerius from the right wing, and Publius Decius from the left, both men of consular rank, rode off to the cavalry, posted on the extremities of the line, and, exhorting them to join in putting in for a share of the honour, charged the enemy on the flanks.  When the addition of this new alarm assailed the enemies’ troops on both sides, and the Roman legions, having renewed the shout to confound the enemy, rushed on,