Ab urbe condita

His arrival was not viewed with much pleasure by his own men, nor did it create any alarm amongst the enemy. For the very next day, either unaware al his presence or regarding it of small importance whether he were present or absent, they marched towards the camp in order of battle.

And yet so much depended upon that one man, L. Papirius, such care did he show in choosing his ground and posting his reserves, so far did he strengthen his force in every way that military skill could suggest, that if the general's tactics' had been backed up by the goodwill of the troops it was considered absolutely certain that the Samnite war would that day have been brought to a close.

As it was, the soldiers showed no energy; they deliberately threw the victory away that their commander's reputation might be damaged. The Samnites lost a larger proportion of killed, the Romans had more wounded.