21.
Caesar, having given the necessary orders, hastened to
and fro into whatever quarter fortune carried him, to animate the troops, and
came to the tenth legion. Having encouraged the soldiers with no further speech
than that "they should keep up the remembrance of their wonted valor, and not be
confused in mind, but valiantly sustain the assault of the enemy ;" as the
latter were not further from them than the distance to which a dart could be
cast, he gave the signal for commencing battle. And having gone to another
quarter for the purpose of encouraging [the soldiers], he finds them fighting.
Such was the shortness of the time, and so determined was the mind of the enemy
on fighting, that time was wanting not only for affixing the military insignia,
but even for putting on the helmets and drawing off the covers from the shields.
To whatever part any one by chance came from the works (in which he had been
employed), and whatever standards he saw first, at these he stood, lest in
seeking his own company he should lose the time for fighting.
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