Soldier Babble

[Tempestvvv]

From The African War (not a sling bullet but a pilum-probably hit the horse on purpose to make a point)

Battle of Ruspina

16 (Titus) Labienus, with his head uncovered,
advanced on horseback to the front of the battle,
sometimes encouraging his own men,
sometimes addressing Caesar's legions thus:
"So ho! you raw soldiers there!" says he, "why
so fierce? Has he (Caesar) infatuated you too with his
words? Truly he has brought you into a fine
condition! I pity you sincerely." Upon this, one
of the (Caesars) soldiers said: "I am none of your raw
warriors, Labienus, but a veteran of the tenth
legion."

" Where's your standard?" replied
Labienus.

" I'll soon make you sensible who I
am," answered the soldier. Then pulling off his
helmet, to discover himself, he threw a javelin,
with all his strength at Labienus, which
wounding his horse severely in the breast-
"Know, Labienus," says he, "that this dart was
thrown by a soldier of the tenth legion."

:whistle:

I believed he could have killed Labienus-but the Legionnaire wanted to make sure his contempt was delivered and the recipient was alive to understand who delivered it. You cannot get more personal then that. Spared Labienus life and humiliated him all at once {Payback for killing captured Ceasarian Legionnaires (The X ?) by Labienus at Dyrrhachium???}