Allocation of Men to the Legions
This division and assignment of the tribunes having
been settled in such a way that all four legions have an
equal number of officers, the tribunes of the several legions
take up a separate position and draw lots for the tribes
one by one; and summon the tribe on whom it from time
to time falls. From this tribe they select four young men
as nearly like each other in age and physical strength as
possible. These four are brought forward, and the tribunes
of the first legion picks out one of them, those of the second
another, those of the third another, and the fourth has to
take the last. When the next four are selected the tribunes
of the second legion have the first choice, and those of the first
the last. With the next four the tribunes of the third legion
have the first choice, those of the second the last; and so on
in regular rotation: of which the result is that each legion
gets men of much the same standard. But when they have
selected the number prescribed,—which is four thousand two
hundred infantry for each legion, or at times of special danger
five thousand,—they next used to pass men for the cavalry, in
old times after the four thousand two hundred infantry; but
now they do it before them, the selection having been made by
the censor on the basis of wealth; and they enrol three hundred
for each legion. note
