The Roman Oath

[Favonius Cornelius]

What scene in a movie or passage in a history or historical fiction is as powerful as the oath of a general before a battle? When the pieces are set, when the enemy is soon upon you, there remains one last thing before meeting fate:

 

"Before leading their troops into battle, the Roman consuls offered sacrifice. It is said that the haruspex pointed out to Decius that the liver was damaged on the side that related to his fortunes, but that the victum was in all other respects acceptable to the gods. Manlius' Sacrifice, however, had been exceptionally successful. 'It is good enough,' said Decius, 'if my colleague has received favorable omens.' They advanced into the field...

 

At first the battle was fought with equal strength and ardor on each side. But after a while the first line of Roman soldiers on the left failed to withstand the Latin attack and fell back on the second line. In this confusion the consul Decius called out to Marcus Valerius in a loud voice: 'We have need of the gods' help, Marcus Valorous! So come, state Pontifex of the Roman people, dictate the words so that I may vow my life to save the legions.'

 

The pontifex ordered him to put on the purple-bordered toga and, with veiled head and one hand thrust out form his toga, touching his chin and standing upon a spear that was laid under his feet, to recite the following words: 'Janus, Jupiter, Father Mars, Quirinus, Bellona, Lares, divine Novensiles, divine Indigites - I invoke and worship you, I beseech and beg your indulgence, that you prosper the might and victory of the Roman people of the Quirites, and send fear, shuddering, and death upon the enemies of the Roman people of the Quirites. Just as I have pronounced the words, even so on behalf of the republic of the Roman people of the Quirites, and of the army, the legions, the auxiliaries of the Roman people of the Quirites, do I devote the legions and auxiliaries of the enemy, together with myself, to the divine Manes and to Earth.'

 

Having uttered this prayer he ordered the lictors to go to Titus Manlius and lose no time in announcing to his colleague that he had vowed his own life on behalf of the army. He himself, tying his toga in the Gabinian knot, leaped fully armed onto his horse and plunged into the midst of the enemy. He could be clearly seen by both sides, a sight to be revered as almost superhuman, as if he had been send from heaven to expiate all the anger of the gods and turn destruction away from his own men and bring it upon their adversaries."

 

-Livy

[P.Clodius]

Awesome, good post. Livy rules!