VII, 26.—­Now the Latins, although under treaty with the Romans, revolted and provoked a conflict.  They were filled with pride for the reason that they had an abundance of youthful warriors and were practiced in the details of warfare as a result of the constant campaigning with the Romans.  The other side, understanding the situation, chose Torquatus consul for the third time and likewise Decius, and came out to meet them.  They fought a fierce battle, each party thinking that that day was a precise test of their fortune and of their valor.  A certain event seemed to give the battle added distinction.  The consuls, seeing that the Latins were equipped and spoke like the Romans, feared that some of the soldiers might make mistakes through not distinguishing their own and the hostile force with entire ease.  Therefore they made proclamation to their men to observe instructions carefully and in no case to fight an isolated combat with any of the antagonists.  Most observed this injunction, but the son of Torquatus, who was on the field among the cavalry and had been sent to reconnoitre the enemy’s position, transgressed it not through wilfulness but rather through ambition.  The leader of the Latin horse saw him approaching and challenged him to a championship contest; and when the youth would not accept the challenge on account of the notice that had been served, the other provoked him, saying:  “Are you not the son of Torquatus?  Do you not give yourself airs with your father’s collar?  Are you strong and courageous against those low-lived Gauls but fear us Latins?  Where, then, do you find your right to rule?  Why do you give orders to us as your inferiors?”—­The Roman became frenzied with rage and readily forgot the injunction:  he won the combat, and in high spirits conveyed the spoils to his father.  The latter, after assembling the army, said:  “Nobly you have fought, my child, and for this I will crown you.  But because you did not observe the orders issued, though under obligation both as a son and as a soldier to yield obedience, [Sidenote:  FRAG. 32^2] FOR THIS REASON I SHALL EXECUTE YOU, THAT YOU MAY OBTAIN BOTH THE PRIZE FOR YOUR PROWESS AND THE PENALTY FOR YOUR DISOBEDIENCE.”  Having spoken these words he at the same moment placed the garland on his head and cut off the very head that bore it.

Soon after, a dream that appeared to both consuls the same night, of identical import in each case, seemed to tell them that they should overcome the enemy, if one of the consuls should devote himself.  Discussing the dream together in the daytime, they decided that it was of divine origin, and agreed that it must be obeyed.  And they disputed with each other, not as to which should be saved, but as to which of them preferably should devote himself:  they even presented their arguments before the foremost men in camp.  Finally they settled it that one should station himself on the right wing and the other on the left, and that whichever of those two divisions