1 XCIX. When the watches were changed] “Per vigilias:” i.e. at the end of each watch, when the guards were relieved. “"The nights, by the aid of a clepsydra, were divided into four watches, the termination of each being marked by the blast of a trumpet or horn. See Viget. iii. 8: A tubicine omnes vigiliœ committuntur; et finitis horis à cornicine revocantur."” Kritzius. He also refers to Liv. vii. 35; Lucan. viii. 24; Tacit. Hist. v. 22.
2 Auxiliary cohorts] “Cohortium.” I have added the word auxiliary. That they were the cohorts of the auxiliaries or allies is apparent, as the word legionum follows. Kritzius indeed thinks otherwise, supposing that the cohorts had particular trumpeters, distinct from those of the whole legion. But for this notion there seems to be no sufficient ground. Sallust speaks of the cohortes sociorum, c. 58, and cohortes Ligurum, c. 100.
3 Sally forth from the camp] “Portis erumpere.” Sallust uses the common phrase for issuing from the camp. It can hardly be supposed that the Romans had formed a regular camp with gates during the short time that they had been upon the hill, especially as they had fled to it in great disorder.
4 Stupor] “Vecordia.” A feeling that deprived them of all sense.
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