The conflict was obstinate. And here Marcus, the son of Cato, and son-in-law of Aemilius, whilst he showed all possible courage, let fall his sword. Being a young man carefully brought up and disciplined, and, son of so renowned a father, bound to give proof of more than ordinary virtue, he thought his life but a burden, should he live and permit his enemies to enjoy this spoil. He hurried hither and thither, and wherever he espied a friend or companion, declared his misfortune, and begged their assistance; a considerable number of brave men being thus collected, with one accord they made their way through their fellows after their leader, and fell upon the enemy; whom after a sharp conflict, many wounds, and much slaughter, they repulsed, possessed the place that was now deserted and free, and set themselves to search for the sword, which at last they found covered with a great heap of arms and dead bodies. Overjoyed with this success, they raised the song of triumph, and, with more eagerness than ever, charged the foes that yet remained firm and unbroken. In the end, three thousand of the chosen men, who kept their ground and fought valiantly to the last, were all cut in pieces, while the slaughter of such as fled was also very great.
tl;dr:
Marcus takes part in a battle, but drops his sword on the field. Knowing it’s dishonorable to lose your weapon, he gets a bunch of fellow soldiers together and they go off looking for it. They come across the area where it was lost, which is currently held by the enemy. So they form up and capture the position, later finding the sword under a pile of dead bodies. They think this is so great, that they might as well keep going, so they continue to clear the area of the enemy, killing thousands. It was the best day ever.
Source:
Plutarch, John Dryden, and Arthur Hugh Clough. "Aemilius Paulus." Plutarch's Lives. New York: Modern Library, 2001. 370. Print.
Further Reading:
Marcus Porcius Cato Licinianus / Cato Licinianus
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