14.[Sidenote:  B.C. 321 (a.u. 433)] ¶The Samnites, seeing that neither were the oaths observed by them nor gratitude for favors manifested in any other way, and that few instead of many were surrendered, thus making void the oaths, became terribly angry and loudly called upon the gods in respect to some of these matters:  moreover, they brought the pledges to their attention, demanded the captives, and ordered them to pass naked under the same yoke where through pity they had been released, in order that by experience they might learn to abide by terms which had been once agreed upon.  The men that had been surrendered they dismissed, either because they did not think it right to destroy guiltless persons or because they wished to fasten the perjury upon the populace and not through the punishment of a few men to absolve the rest.  This they did, hoping as a result to secure decent treatment.  (Mai, p.163.  Zonaras, 7, 26.) 15. ¶The Romans so far from being grateful to the Samnites for the preservation of the surrendered soldiers, actually behaved as if they had in this suffered some outrage.  They showed anger in their conduct of the war, and, being victorious, treated the Samnites in the same way.  For the justice of the battle-field does not fit the ordinary definition of the word, and it is not inevitable that the party which has been wronged should conquer:  instead, war, in its absolute sway, adjusts everything to the advantage of the victor, often causing something that is the reverse of justice to go under that name. (Mai, p.163.  Zonaras, 7, 26.)

16.[Sidenote:  B.C. 321 (a.u. 433)] ¶The Romans after vanquishing the Samnites sent the captives in their turn under the yoke, regarding as satisfactory to their honor a repayment of similar disgrace.  So did Fortune for both parties in the briefest time reverse her position and by treating the Samnites to the same humiliation at the hands of their outraged foes show clearly that here, too, she was all-supreme. (Mai, p. 164.  Zonaras, 7, 26.)

[Sidenote:  B.C. 319 (a.u. 435)] 17. ¶ Papirius made a campaign against the Samnites and having reduced them to a state of siege entrenched himself before them.  At this time some one reproached him with excessive use of wine, whereupon he replied:  “That I am not intoxicated is clear to every one from the fact that I am up at the peep of dawn and lie down to rest latest of all.  But on account of having public affairs on my mind day and night alike, and not being able to obtain sleep easily, I take a little wine to lull me to rest.” (Mai, ib.)

18. ¶ The same man one day while making the rounds of the garrison became angry on not finding the general from Praeneste at his post.  He summoned him and bade him hand the axe to the lictor.  Alarm and consternation at this was evident on the part of the general, and his fear sufficed.  Papirius harmed him no further but merely gave orders to the lictor to cut off some roots growing beside the tents, so that they should not injure passers-by. (Mai, ib.)