A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

The Army; Coinage 375
they were unable to repulse the enemy, they retreated
leisurely, and were received by the principes into the intervals
of the ranks. The fight then devolved on the
principes; the spearmen followed. The triarii continued
kneeling behind the ensigns, their left leg extended forward,
holding their shields resting on their shoulders, and
their spears fixed in the ground, with the points erect, so
that their line bristled as if enclosed by a rampart. If the
principes also did not make sufficient impression in the
fight,
they retreated slowly from the front to the triarii.
Hence when a difficulty is felt, "Matters have come to
the triarii," became a usual proverb. The triarii, rising
up, after receiving the principes and spearmen into the
intervals between their ranks, immediately closing their
files, shut up as it were the openings; and in one compact
body fell
upon the enemy, no other hope being now left;
that was the most formidable circumstance to the enemy,
when, having pursued them as vanquished, they beheld a
new line suddenly starting up, increased also in strength.
In general about four legions were raised, each consisting
of five thousand infantry and three hundred horse. As
many more were added from the Latin le\y.
III.
Some Aspects of Culture
The next crime committed against the welfare of man-
kind was on the part of him who was the first to coin the
The earliest
denarius of gold, a crime the author of which is equally rd^m^tory!'
^xxiu. 13.
unknown. The Roman people made no use of impressed
silver even before the period of the defeat of King Pyrrhus.
The as of copper weighed exactly one pound. . . .
Silver was not impressed with a mark until the year of
the city 485, the year of the consulship of Q. Ogulnius and
C. Fabius, five years before the First Punic War; at that
269 B.C.