midday
Lest the pang of so great a parting with men who were about to encounter such grave dangers might sap the courage of those remaining , and thence that of the new levies , the dictator had wisely decreed that the army should assemble at Tibur . So it happened that there was none to go now save himself and a small escort of cavalry , five turmae , at the head of which was Sergius . With these went Rome 's last hope : the cast behind which lay only ruin , but for the averting favour of the gods . At midday the fasces would be carried forth , and it lacked but an hour of the time . Sergius had prepared everything ; his men were ready to mount at the blast of the trumpet , and his household was set in order against the absence of its master . He was standing within the Viminal Gate , while an attendant held his horse close by and a little apart from the crowds of weeping women who surrounded the soldiers of the dictator 's escort . Suddenly he felt some one pluck him by the cloak , and turned quickly to see a young woman in the single tunic of a slave .