The
sally being made, and the fight growing hot about the walls, one
of the Fabii, Quintus Ambustus, who had come as an ambassador,
being well mounted, and setting spurs to his horse, made full
against a Gaul, a man of huge bulk and stature, whom he saw riding
out at a distance from the rest. At the first he was not
recognized, through the quickness of the conflict and the
glittering of the armor, that precluded any view of him; but when
he had overthrown the Gaul, and was going to gather the spoils,
Brennus knew him; and invoking the gods to be witnesses that,
contrary to the known and common law of nations, which is holily
observed by all mankind, he who had come as an ambassador had now
engaged in hostility against him, he drew off his men, and,
bidding Clusium farewell, led his army directly against Rome.
Whilst the barbarians were hastening with all speed, the military
tribunes brought the Romans into the field to be ready to engage
them, being not inferior to the Gauls in number (for they were no
less than forty thousand foot), but most of them raw soldiers, and
such as had never handled a weapon before. Besides, they had
wholly neglected all religious usages, had not obtained favorable
sacrifices, nor made inquiries of the prophets, natural in danger
and before battle.
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