Augustus Caesar #07 – The Praetorian Guard

Hirtius, Octavian and Pansa march to Mutina to support Decimus and fight Antony. At the battle of Forum Gallorum, Octavian and Antony’s respective praetorian guards go at it mano-a-mano: Being veterans they raised no battle-cry, since they could not expect to terrify each other, nor in the engagement did they utter a sound, either as victors or vanquished. As there could be neither flanking nor charging in marshes and ditches, they stood together in close order, and since neither could dislodge the other they locked together with their swords as in a wrestling match. No blow missed its mark. There were wounds and slaughter but no cries, only groans; and when one fell he was instantly borne away and another took his place.