The Legions of Rome
The legion march quickly north,
armed with glaudius , pila, and, scutum.
Prefect Claudius Flavius was in command of the First Cohort.
Vanguard in the lead, flankers to the sides, rear guard looking behind.
They marched steady and strong under a blazing hot sun.
Each man weighed down with 60 pounds of armor, weapons, shield and rations.
They did not falter,
and they did not stop for water.
Such is the discipline of the legions of Rome.
At the end of the day they made their camp.
That night the equites legionis scouts found the enemy.
and the battle was planned.
The legion was up before dawn and prepared for battle.
The First Cohort, four hundred eighty men in all, marched to the battle site ahead of the others, and formed four maniples.
When the rest of the legion was formed,
Flavius commanded the First to move forward toward the screaming enemy.
They did not falter,
and they marched in good order.
Such is the discipline of the legions of Rome.
At the command of, " Iacere pila". they hurled their spears at the enemy shields.
At the command of, " Contendire vesta sponte" they drew their glaudii and engaged,
attacking the left flank of the enemy formation.
Armor and spears, swords and shields met in a horrible clash.
The centurii and optio shouted orders above the blare of the bugles.
Pilae were hurled.
Scuta banged against scuta.
soliders pushed, shoved, yelled and cursed.
Glaudii thrust forward in unrelenting, grim determination.
They did not falter,
and they gave no quarter.
Such is the discipline of the legions of Rome.
In the end the enemy line unraveled, and those who were left ran for their lives.
The equites chased them down.
The battle was hard fought.
The list of the slain was long,
and the lesson the legion sent was clear.
Those of the enemy that got way brought this message home.
The Roman legions are strong and disciplined.
They do not falter,
and they give no quarter.
Do not test the power of Rome.
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