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7/25/2025, 12:50:22 AM
>The Gauls made an incursion into Roman territory and the Romans appointed a dictator—an office only instituted in times of national crisis. The dictator suspended all public business and quickly hurried north to meet the Gallic threat. The two armies met near the Anio River (which is not too far from Rome) and several skirmishes took place near an important bridge over the River.
>Then a Gaul,[5] exceptionally large in stature, stepped forward onto the empty bridge and shouted as loudly as he could, “Let the strongest man Rome has come forward to fight so that the outcome between the two of us will show which race is better in war.” For a long time there was silence among the young Roman nobles, because they were both afraid to refuse to fight and they did not want to volunteer for such a dangerous task. Finally Titus Manlius, the son of Lucius, who had freed his father from the tribune’s ill-treatment,[6]left his station and went to the dictator. “Without your order sir,” he said, “I would never fight out of rank, not even if I was sure of the victory. If you will allow it, I wish to show to that savage who struts about exulting in front of the standards that I come from that family that threw the Gallic army down from the Tarpeian Rock.” Then the dictator replied, “Bless you, Titus Manlius, for your bravery and devotion to your father and your country. Go and with the gods’ help show that the name of Rome is invincible.”
>Then his friends armed the young man; he took up a shield and girded himself with a Spanish sword, appropriate for hand-to-hand combat. Thus armed and adorned he stood against the foolishly joyful Gaul—and some of the ancients felt it was worth noting that he even stuck out his tongue in mockery. Both men took themselves to their places and were left alone between the two armies, as if they were in a show rather than observing the laws of warfare.
>Then a Gaul,[5] exceptionally large in stature, stepped forward onto the empty bridge and shouted as loudly as he could, “Let the strongest man Rome has come forward to fight so that the outcome between the two of us will show which race is better in war.” For a long time there was silence among the young Roman nobles, because they were both afraid to refuse to fight and they did not want to volunteer for such a dangerous task. Finally Titus Manlius, the son of Lucius, who had freed his father from the tribune’s ill-treatment,[6]left his station and went to the dictator. “Without your order sir,” he said, “I would never fight out of rank, not even if I was sure of the victory. If you will allow it, I wish to show to that savage who struts about exulting in front of the standards that I come from that family that threw the Gallic army down from the Tarpeian Rock.” Then the dictator replied, “Bless you, Titus Manlius, for your bravery and devotion to your father and your country. Go and with the gods’ help show that the name of Rome is invincible.”
>Then his friends armed the young man; he took up a shield and girded himself with a Spanish sword, appropriate for hand-to-hand combat. Thus armed and adorned he stood against the foolishly joyful Gaul—and some of the ancients felt it was worth noting that he even stuck out his tongue in mockery. Both men took themselves to their places and were left alone between the two armies, as if they were in a show rather than observing the laws of warfare.
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