Ab urbe condita

The camp had been moved back into a safer position; the cohorts who had lost their standards were punished by being stationed outside the rampart without any tents;

the whole army was eager for battle that they might all the sooner wipe out the stain of their defeat.

Under these circumstances the Dictator at once advanced his camp into the neighbourhood of Rusella. The enemy followed him, and although they felt the utmost confidence in a trial of strength in the open field, they decided to practise stratagem on their enemy, as they had found it so successful before.

At no great distance from the Roman camp were some half-demolished houses belonging to a village which had been burnt when the land was harried.