CAMILLUS

Among the many remarkable things that are related of Furius Camillus, it

seems singular and strange above all, that he, who continually was in

the highest commands, and obtained the greatest successes, was five

times chosen dictator, triumphed four times, and was styled a second

founder of Rome, yet never was so much as once consul. The reason of

which was the state and temper of the commonwealth at that time; for the

people, being at dissension with the senate, refused to return consuls,

but in their stead elected other magistrates, called military tribunes,

who acted, indeed, with full consular power, but were thought to

exercise a less obnoxious amount of authority, because it was divided

among a larger number; for to have the management of affairs entrusted

in the hands of six persons rather than two was some satisfaction to the

opponents of oligarchy. This was the condition of the times when

Camillus was in the height of his actions and glory, and, although the

government in the meantime had often proceeded to consular elections,

yet he could never persuade himself to be consul against the inclination

of the people. In all his other administrations, which were many and

various, he so behaved himself, that, when alone in authority, he

exercised his power as in common, but the honor of all actions redounded

entirely to himself, even when in joint commission with others; the

reason of the former was his moderation in command; of the latter, his

great judgment and wisdom, which gave him without controversy the first

place.

The house of the Furii was not, at that time of any considerable

distinction; he, by his own acts, first raised himself to honor, serving

under Postumius Tubertus, dictator, in the great battle against the

Aequians and Volscians. For riding out from the rest of the army, and

in the charge receiving a wound in his thigh, he for all that did not

quit the fight, but, letting the dart drag in the wound, and engaging

with the bravest of the enemy, put them to flight; for which action,

among other rewards bestowed on him, he was created censor, an office in

those days of great repute and authority. During his censorship one

very good act of his is recorded, that, whereas the wars had made many

widows, he obliged such as had no wives, some by fair persuasion, others

by threatening to set fines on their heads, to take them in marriage;

another necessary one, in causing orphans to be rated, who before were

exempted from taxes, the frequent wars requiring more than ordinary

expenses to maintain them. What, however, pressed them most was the

siege of Veii. Some call this people Veientani. This was the head city

of Tuscany, not inferior to Rome, either in number of arms or multitude

of soldiers, insomuch that, presuming on her wealth and luxury, and

priding herself upon her refinement and sumptuousness, she engaged in

many honorable contests with the Romans for glory and empire. But now

they had abandoned their former ambitious hopes, having been weakened by

great defeats, so that, having fortified themselves with high and strong

walls, and furnished the city with all sorts of weapons offensive and

defensive, as likewise with corn and all manner of provisions, they

cheerfully endured a siege, which, though tedious to them, was no less

troublesome and distressing to the besiegers. For the Romans, having

never been accustomed to stay away from home, except in summer, and for

no great length of time, and constantly to winter at home, were then

first compelled by the tribunes to build forts in the enemy's country,

and, raising strong works about their camp, to join winter and summer

together. And now, the seventh year of the war drawing to an end, the

commanders began to be suspected as too slow and remiss in driving on

the siege, insomuch that they were discharged and others chosen for the

war, among whom was Camillus, then second time tribune. But at present

he had no hand in the siege, the duties that fell by lot to him being to

make war upon the Faliscans and Capenates, who, taking advantage of the

Romans being occupied on all hands, had carried ravages into their

country, and, through all the Tuscan war, given them much annoyance, but

were now reduced by Camillus, and with great loss shut up within their

walls.

And now, in the very heat of the war, a strange phenomenon in the Alban

lake, which, in the absence of any known cause and explanation by

natural reasons, seemed as great a prodigy as the most incredible that

are reported, occasioned great alarm. It was the beginning of autumn,

and the summer now ending had, to all observation, been neither rainy

nor much troubled with southern winds; and of the many lakes, brooks,

and springs of all sorts with which Italy abounds, some were wholly

dried up, others drew very little water with them; all the rivers, as is

usual in summer, ran in a very low and hollow channel. But the Alban

lake, that is fed by no other waters but its own, and is on all sides

encircled with fruitful mountains, without any cause, unless it were

divine, began visibly to rise and swell, increasing to the feet of the

mountains, and by degrees reaching the level of the very tops of them,

and all this without any waves or agitation. At first it was the wonder

of shepherds and herdsmen; but when the earth, which, like a great dam,

held up the lake from falling into the lower grounds, through the

quantity and weight of water was broken down, and in a violent stream it

ran through the plowed fields and plantations to discharge itself in the

sea, it not only struck terror into the Romans, but was thought by all

the inhabitants of Italy to portend some extraordinary event. But the

greatest talk of it was in the camp that besieged Veii, so that in the

town itself, also, the occurrence became known.

As in long sieges it commonly happens that parties on both sides meet

often and converse with one another, so it chanced that a Roman had

gained much confidence and familiarity with one of the besieged, a man

versed in ancient prophecies, and of repute for more than ordinary skill

in divination. The Roman, observing him to be overjoyed at the story of

the lake, and to mock at the siege, told him that this was not the only

prodigy that of late had happened to the Romans; others more wonderful

yet than this had befallen them, which he was willing to communicate to

him, that he might the better provide for his private interests in these

public distempers. The man greedily embraced the proposal, expecting to

hear some wonderful secrets; but when, by little and little, he had led

him on in conversation, and insensibly drawn him a good way from the

gates of the city, he snatched him up by the middle, being stronger than

he, and, by the assistance of others that came running from the camp,

seized and delivered him to the commanders. The man, reduced to this

necessity, and sensible now that destiny was not to be avoided,

discovered to them the secret oracles of Veii; that it was not possible

the city should be taken, until the Alban lake, which now broke forth

and had found out new passages, was drawn back from that course, and so

diverted that it could not mingle with the sea. The senate, having

heard and satisfied themselves about the matter, decreed to send to

Delphi, to ask counsel of the god. The messengers were persons of the

highest repute, Licinius Cossus, Valerius Potitus, and Fabius Ambustus;

who, having made their voyage by sea and consulted the god, returned

with other answers, particularly that there had been a neglect of some

of their national rites relating to the Latin feasts; but the Alban

water the oracle commanded, if it were possible, they should keep from

the sea, and shut it up in its ancient bounds; but if that was not to be

done, then they should carry it off by ditches and trenches into the

lower grounds, and so dry it up; which message being delivered, the

priests performed what related to the sacrifices, and the people went to

work and turned the water.

And now the senate, in the tenth year of the war, taking away all other

commands, created Camillus dictator, who chose Cornelius Scipio for his

general of horse. And in the first place he made vows unto the gods,

that, if they would grant a happy conclusion of the war, he would

celebrate to their honor the great games, and dedicate a temple to the

goddess whom the Romans call Matuta the Mother, though, from the

ceremonies which are used, one would think she was Leucothea. For they

take a servant-maid into the secret part of the temple, and there cuff

her, and drive her out again, and they embrace their brothers' children

in place of their own; and, in general, the ceremonies of the sacrifice

remind one of the nursing of Bacchus by Ino, and the calamities

occasioned by her husband's concubine. Camillus, having made these

vows, marched into the country of the Faliscans, and in a great battle

overthrew them and the Capenates, their confederates; afterwards he

turned to the siege of Veii, and, finding that to take it by assault

would prove a difficult and hazardous attempt, proceeded to cut mines

under ground, the earth about the city being easy to break up, and

allowing such depth for the works as would prevent their being

discovered by the enemy. This design going on in a hopeful way, he

openly gave assaults to the enemy, to keep them to the walls, whilst

they that worked underground in the mines were, without being perceived,

arrived within the citadel, close to the temple of Juno, which was the

greatest and most honored in all the city. It is said that the prince

of the Tuscans was at that very time at sacrifice, and that the priest,

after he had looked into the entrails of the beast, cried out with a

loud voice that the gods would give the victory to those that should

complete those offerings; and that the Romans who were in the mines,

hearing the words, immediately pulled down the floor, and, ascending

with noise and clashing of weapons, frightened away the enemy, and,

snatching up the entrails, carried them to Camillus. But this may look

like a fable. The city, however, being taken by storm, and the soldiers

busied in pillaging and gathering an infinite quantity of riches and

spoil, Camillus, from the high tower, viewing what was done, at first

wept for pity; and when they that were by congratulated his good

success, he lifted up his hands to heaven, and broke out into this

prayer: "O most mighty Jupiter, and ye gods that are judges of good and

evil actions, ye know that not without just cause, but constrained by

necessity, we have been forced to revenge ourselves on the city of our

unrighteous and wicked enemies. But if, in the vicissitude of things,

there be any calamity due, to counterbalance this great felicity, I beg

that it may be diverted from the city and army of the Romans, and fall,

with as little hurt as may be, upon my own head." Having said these

words, and just turning about (as the custom of the Romans is to turn to

the right after adoration or prayer), he stumbled and fell, to the

astonishment of all that were present. But, recovering himself

presently from the fall, he told them that he had received what he had

prayed for, a small mischance, in compensation for the greatest good

fortune.

Having sacked the city, he resolved, according as he had vowed, to carry

Juno's image to Rome; and, the workmen being ready for that purpose, he

sacrificed to the goddess, and made his supplications that she would be

pleased to accept of their devotion toward her, and graciously vouchsafe

to accept of a place among the gods that presided at Rome; and the

statue, they say, answered in a low voice that she was ready and willing

to go. Livy writes, that, in praying, Camillus touched the goddess, and

invited her, and that some of the standers-by cried out that she was

willing and would come. They who stand up for the miracle and endeavor

to maintain it have one great advocate on their side in the wonderful

fortune of the city, which, from a small and contemptible beginning,

could never have attained to that greatness and power without many

signal manifestations of the divine presence and cooperation. Other

wonders of the like nature, drops of sweat seen to stand on statues,

groans heard from them, the figures seen to turn round and to close

their eyes, are recorded by many ancient historians; and we ourselves

could relate divers wonderful things, which we have been told by men of

our own time, that are not lightly to be rejected; but to give too easy

credit to such things, or wholly to disbelieve them, is equally

dangerous, so incapable is human infirmity of keeping any bounds, or

exercising command over itself, running off sometimes to superstition

and dotage, at other times to the contempt and neglect of all that is

supernatural. But moderation is best, and to avoid all extremes.

Camillus, however, whether puffed up with the greatness of his

achievement in conquering a city that was the rival of Rome, and had

held out a ten years' siege, or exalted with the felicitations of those

that were about him, assumed to himself more than became a civil and

legal magistrate; among other things, in the pride and haughtiness of

his triumph, driving through Rome in a chariot drawn with four white

horses, which no general either before or since ever did; for the Romans

consider such a mode of conveyance to be sacred, and specially set apart

to the king and father of the gods. This alienated the hearts of his

fellow-citizens, who were not accustomed to such pomp and display.

The second pique they had against him was his opposing the law by which

the city was to be divided; for the tribunes of the people brought

forward a motion that the people and senate should be divided into two

parts, one of which should remain at home, the other, as the lot should

decide, remove to the new-taken city. By which means they should not

only have much more room, but by the advantage of two great and

magnificent cities, be better able to maintain their territories and

their fortunes in general. The people, therefore, who were numerous and

indigent, greedily embraced it, and crowded continually to the forum,

with tumultuous demands to have it put to the vote. But the senate and

the noblest citizens, judging the proceedings of the tribunes to tend

rather to a destruction than a division of Rome, greatly averse to it,

went to Camillus for assistance, who, fearing the result if it came to a

direct contest, contrived to occupy the people with other business, and

so staved it off. He thus became unpopular. But the greatest and most

apparent cause of their dislike against him arose from the tenths of the

spoil; the multitude having here, if not a just, yet a plausible case

against him. For it seems, as he went to the siege of Veii, he had

vowed to Apollo that if he took the city he would dedicate to him the

tenth of the spoil. The city being taken and sacked, whether he was

loath to trouble the soldiers at that time, or that through the

multitude of business he had forgotten his vow, he suffered them to

enjoy that part of the spoils also. Some time afterwards, when his

authority was laid down, he brought the matter before the senate, and

the priests, at the same time, reported, out of the sacrifices, that

there were intimations of divine anger, requiring propitiations and

offerings. The senate decreed the obligation to be in force.

But seeing it was difficult for every one to produce the very same

things they had taken, to be divided anew, they ordained that every one

upon oath should bring into the public the tenth part of his gains.

This occasioned many annoyances and hardships to the soldiers, who were

poor men, and had endured much in the war, and now were forced, out of

what they had gained and spent, to bring in so great a proportion.

Camillus, being assaulted by their clamor and tumults, for want of a

better excuse, betook himself to the poorest of defenses, confessing he

had forgotten his vow; they in turn complained that he had vowed the

tenth of the enemy's goods, and now levied it out of the tenths of the

citizens. Nevertheless, every one having brought in his due proportion,

it was decreed that out of it a bowl of massy gold should be made, and

sent to Delphi. And when there was great scarcity of gold in the city,

and the magistrates were considering where to get it, the Roman ladies,

meeting together and consulting among themselves, out of the golden

ornaments they wore contributed as much as went to the making the

offering, which in weight came to eight talents of gold. The senate, to

give them the honor they had deserved, ordained that funeral orations

should be used at the obsequies of women as well as men, it having never

before been a custom that any woman after death should receive any

public eulogy. Choosing out, therefore, three of the noblest citizens

as a deputation, they sent them in a vessel of war, well manned and

sumptuously adorned. Storm and calm at sea may both, they say, alike be

dangerous; as they at this time experienced, being brought almost to the

very brink of destruction, and, beyond all expectation, escaping. For

near the isles of Solus the wind slacking, galleys of the Lipareans came

upon them, taking them for pirates; and, when they held up their hands

as suppliants, forbore indeed from violence, but took their ship in tow,

and carried her into the harbor, where they exposed to sale their goods

and persons as lawful prize, they being pirates; and scarcely, at last,

by the virtue and interest of one man, Timesitheus by name, who was in

office as general, and used his utmost persuasion, they were, with much

ado, dismissed. He, however, himself sent out some of his own vessels

with them, to accompany them in their voyage and assist them at the

dedication; for which he received honors at Rome, as he had deserved.

And now the tribunes of the people again resuming their motion for the

division of the city, the war against the Faliscans luckily broke out,

giving liberty to the chief citizens to choose what magistrates they

pleased, and to appoint Camillus military tribune, with five colleagues;

affairs then requiring a commander of authority and reputation, as well

as experience. And when the people had ratified the election, he

marched with his forces into the territories of the Faliscans, and laid

seige to Falerii, a well-fortified city, and plentifully stored with all

necessaries of war. And although he perceived it would be no small work

to take it, and no little time would be required for it, yet he was

willing to exercise the citizens and keep them abroad, that they might

have no leisure, idling at home, to follow the tribunes in factions and

seditions; a very common remedy, indeed, with the Romans, who thus

carried off, like good physicians, the ill humors of their commonwealth.

The Falerians, trusting in the strength of their city, which was well

fortified on all sides, made so little account of the siege, that all,

with the exception of those that guarded the walls, as in times of

peace, walked about the streets in their common dress; the boys went to

school, and were led by their master to play and exercise about the town

walls; for the Falerians, like the Greeks, used to have a single teacher

for many pupils, wishing their children to live and be brought up from

the beginning in each other's company.

This schoolmaster, designing to betray the Falerians by their children,

led them out every day under the town wall, at first but a little way,

and, when they had exercised, brought them home again. Afterwards by

degrees he drew them farther and farther, till by practice he had made

them bold and fearless, as if no danger was about them; and at last,

having got them all together, he brought them to the outposts of the

Romans, and delivered them up, demanding to be led to Camillus. Where

being come, and standing in the middle, he said that he was the master

and teacher of these children, but, preferring his favor before all

other obligations, he was come to deliver up his charge to him, and, in

that, the whole city. When Camillus had heard him out, he was astounded

at the treachery of the act, and, turning to the standers-by, observed,

that "war, indeed, is of necessity attended with much injustice and

violence! Certain laws, however, all good men observe even in war

itself; nor is victory so great an object as to induce us to incur for

its sake obligations for base and impious acts. A great general should

rely on his own virtue, and not on other men's vices." Which said, he

commanded the officers to tear off the man's clothes, and bind his hands

behind him, and give the boys rods and scourges, to punish the traitor

and drive him back to the city. By this time the Falerians had

discovered the treachery of the schoolmaster, and the city, as was

likely, was full of lamentations and cries for their calamity, men and

women of worth running in distraction about the walls and gates; when,

behold, the boys came whipping their master on, naked and bound, calling

Camillus their preserver and god and father. Insomuch that it struck

not only into the parents, but the rest of the citizens that saw what

was done, such admiration and love of Camillus's justice, that,

immediately meeting in assembly, they sent ambassadors to him, to resign

whatever they had to his disposal. Camillus sent them to Rome, where,

being brought into the senate, they spoke to this purpose: that the

Romans, preferring justice before victory, had taught them rather to

embrace submission than liberty; they did not so much confess themselves

to be inferior in strength, as they must acknowledge them to be superior

in virtue. The senate remitted the whole matter to Camillus, to judge

and order as he thought fit; who, taking a sum of money of the

Falerians, and, making a peace with the whole nation of the Faliscans,

returned home.

But the soldiers, who had expected to have the pillage of the city, when

they came to Rome empty-handed, railed against Camillus among their

fellow-citizens, as a hater of the people, and one that grudged all

advantage to the poor. Afterwards, when the tribunes of the people

again brought their motion for dividing the city to the vote, Camillus

appeared openly against it, shrinking from no unpopularity, and

inveighing boldly against the promoters of it, and so urging and

constraining the multitude, that, contrary to their inclinations, they

rejected the proposal; but yet hated Camillus. Insomuch that, though a

great misfortune befell him in his family (one of his two sons dying of

a disease), commiseration for this could not in the least make them

abate of their malice. And, indeed, he took this loss with immoderate

sorrow, being a man naturally of a mild and tender disposition, and,

when the accusation was preferred against him, kept his house, and

mourned amongst the women of his family.

His accuser was Lucius Apuleius; the charge, appropriation of the Tuscan

spoils; certain brass gates, part of those spoils, were said to be in

his possession. The people were exasperated against him, and it was

plain they would take hold of any occasion to condemn him. Gathering,

therefore, together his friends and fellow-soldiers, and such as had

borne command with him, a considerable number in all, he besought them

that they would not suffer him to be unjustly overborne by shameful

accusations, and left the mock and scorn of his enemies. His friends,

having advised and consulted among themselves, made answer, that, as to

the sentence, they did not see how they could help him, but that they

would contribute to whatsoever fine should be set upon him. Not able to

endure so great an indignity, he resolved in his anger to leave the city

and go into exile; and so, having taken leave of his wife and his son,

he went silently to the gate of the city, and, there stopping and

turning round, stretched out his hands to the Capitol, and prayed to the

gods, that if, without any fault of his own, but merely through the

malice and violence of the people, he was driven out into banishment,

the Romans might quickly repent of it; and that all mankind might

witness their need for the assistance, and desire for the return of

Camillus.

Thus, like Achilles, having left his imprecations on the citizens, he

went into banishment; so that, neither appearing nor making defense, he

was condemned in the sum of fifteen thousand asses, which, reduced to

silver, makes one thousand five hundred drachmas; for the as was the

money of the time, ten of such copper pieces making the denarius, or

piece of ten. And there is not a Roman but believes that immediately

upon the prayers of Camillus a sudden judgment followed, and that he

received a revenge for the injustice done unto him; which though we

cannot think was pleasant, but rather grievous and bitter to him, yet

was very remarkable, and noised over the whole world; such a punishment

visited the city of Rome, an era of such loss and danger and disgrace so

quickly succeeded; whether it thus fell out by fortune, or it be the

office of some god not to see injured virtue go unavenged.

The first token that seemed to threaten some mischief to ensue was the

death of the censor Julius; for the Romans have a religious reverence

for the office of a censor, and esteem it sacred. The second was that,

just before Camillus went into exile, Marcus Caedicius, a person of no

great distinction, nor of the rank of senator, but esteemed a good and

respectable man, reported to the military tribunes a thing worthy their

consideration: that, going along the night before in the street called

the New Way, and being called by somebody in a loud voice, he turned

about, but could see no one, but heard a voice greater than human, which

said these words, "Go, Marcus Caedicius, and early in the morning tell

the military tribunes that they are shortly to expect the Gauls." But

the tribunes made a mock and sport with the story, and a little after

came Camillus's banishment.

The Gauls are of the Celtic race, and are reported to have been

compelled by their numbers to leave their country, which was

insufficient to sustain them all, and to have gone in search of other

homes. And being, many thousands of them, young men and able to bear

arms, and carrying with them a still greater number of women and young

children, some of them, passing the Riphaean mountains, fell upon the

Northern Ocean, and possessed themselves of the farthest parts of

Europe; others, seating themselves between the Pyrenean mountains and

the Alps, lived there a considerable time, near to the Senones and

Celtorii; but, afterwards tasting wine which was then first brought them

out of Italy, they were all so much taken with the liquor, and

transported with the hitherto unknown delight, that, snatching up their

arms and taking their families along with them, they marched directly to

the Alps, to find out the country which yielded such fruit, pronouncing

all others barren and useless. He that first brought wine among them

and was the chief instigator of their coming into Italy is said to have

been one Aruns, a Tuscan, a man of noble extraction, and not of bad

natural character, but involved in the following misfortune. He was

guardian to an orphan, one of the richest of the country, and much

admired for his beauty, whose name was Lucumo. From his childhood he

had been bred up with Aruns in his family and when now grown up did not

leave his house, professing to wish for the enjoyment of his society.

And thus for a great while he secretly enjoyed Aruns's wife, corrupting

her, and himself corrupted by her. But when they were both so far gone

in their passion that they could neither refrain their lust nor conceal

it, the young man seized the woman and openly sought to carry her away.

The husband, going to law, and finding himself overpowered by the

interest and money of his opponent, left his country, and, hearing of

the state of the Gauls, went to them and was the conductor of their

expedition into Italy.

At their first coming they at once possessed themselves of all that

country which anciently the Tuscans inhabited, reaching from the Alps to

both the seas, as the names themselves testify; for the North or

Adriatic Sea is named from the Tuscan city Adria, and that to the south

the Tuscan Sea simply. The whole country is rich in fruit trees, has

excellent pasture, and is well watered with rivers. It had eighteen

large and beautiful cities, well provided with all the means for

industry and wealth, and all the enjoyments and pleasures of life. The

Gauls cast out the Tuscans, and seated themselves in them. But this was

long before.

The Gauls at this time were besieging Clusium, a Tuscan city. The

Clusinians sent to the Romans for succor desiring them to interpose with

the barbarians by letters and ambassadors. There were sent three of the

family of the Fabii, persons of high rank and distinction in the city.

The Gauls received them courteously, from respect to the name of Rome,

and, giving over the assault which was then making upon the walls, came

to conference with them; when the ambassadors asking what injury they

had received of the Clusinians that they thus invaded their city,

Brennus, king of the Gauls, laughed and made answer, "The Clusinians do

us injury, in that, being able only to till a small parcel of ground,

they must needs possess a great territory, and will not yield any part

to us who are strangers, many in number, and poor. In the same nature,

O Romans, formerly the Albans, Fidenates, and Ardeates, and now lately

the Veientines and Capenates, and many of the Faliscans and Volscians,

did you injury; upon whom ye make war if they do not yield you part of

what they possess, make slaves of them, waste and spoil their country,

and ruin their cities; neither in so doing are cruel or unjust, but

follow that most ancient of all laws, which gives the possessions of the

feeble to the strong; which begins with God and ends in the beasts;

since all these, by nature, seek, the stronger to have advantage over

the weaker. Cease, therefore, to pity the Clusinians whom we besiege,

lest ye teach the Gauls to be kind and compassionate to those that are

oppressed by you." By this answer the Romans, perceiving that Brennus

was not to be treated with, went into Clusium, and encouraged and

stirred up the inhabitants to make a sally with them upon the

barbarians, which they did either to try their strength or to show their

own. The sally being made, and the fight growing hot about the walls,

one of the Fabii, Quintus Ambustus, being well mounted, and setting

spurs to his horse, made full against a Gaul, a man of huge bulk and

stature, whom he saw riding out at a distance from the rest. At the

first he was not recognized, through the quickness of the conflict and

the glittering of his armor, that precluded any view of him; but when he

had overthrown the Gaul, and was going to gather the spoils, Brennus

knew him; and, invoking the gods to be witnesses, that, contrary to the

known and common law of nations, which is holily observed by all

mankind, he who had come as an ambassador had now engaged in hostility

against him, he drew off his men, and, bidding Clusium farewell, led his

army directly to Rome. But not wishing that it should look as if they

took advantage of that injury, and were ready to embrace any occasion of

quarrel, he sent a herald to demand the man in punishment, and in the

meantime marched leisurely on.

The senate being met at Rome, among many others that spoke against the

Fabii, the priests called fecials were the most decided, who, on the

religious ground, urged the senate that they should lay the whole guilt

and penalty of the fact upon him that committed it, and so exonerate the

rest. These fecials Numa Pompilius, the mildest and justest of kings,

constituted guardians of peace, and the judges and determiners of all

causes by which war may justifiably be made. The senate referring the

whole matter to the people, and the priests there, as well as in the

senate, pleading against Fabius, the multitude, however, so little

regarded their authority, that in scorn and contempt of it they chose

Fabius and the rest of his brothers military tribunes. The Gauls, on

hearing this, in great rage threw aside every delay, and hastened on

with all the speed they could make. The places through which they

marched, terrified with their numbers and the splendor of their

preparations for war, and in alarm at their violence and fierceness,

began to give up their territories as already lost, with little doubt

but their cities would quickly follow; contrary, however, to

expectation, they did no injury as they passed, nor took anything from

the fields; and, as they went by any city, cried out that they were

going to Rome; that the Romans only were their enemies, and that they

took all others for their friends.

Whilst the barbarians were thus hastening with all speed, the military

tribunes brought the Romans into the field to be ready to engage them,

being not inferior to the Gauls in number (for they were no less than

forty thousand foot), but most of them raw soldiers, and such as had

never handled a weapon before. Besides, they had wholly neglected all

religious usages, had not obtained favorable sacrifices, nor made

inquiries of the prophets, natural in danger and before battle. No less

did the multitude of commanders distract and confound their proceedings;

frequently before, upon less occasions, they had chosen a single leader,

with the title of dictator, being sensible of what great importance it

is in critical times to have the soldiers united under one general with

the entire and absolute control placed in his hands. Add to all, the

remembrance of Camillus's treatment, which made it now seem a dangerous

thing for officers to command without humoring their soldiers. In this

condition they left the city, and encamped by the river Allia, about ten

miles from Rome, and not far from the place where it falls into the

Tiber; and here the Gauls came upon them, and, after a disgraceful

resistance, devoid of order and discipline, they were miserably

defeated. The left wing was immediately driven into the river, and

there destroyed; the right had less damage by declining the shock, and

from the low grounds getting to the tops of the hills, from whence most

of them afterwards dropped into the city; the rest, as many as escaped,

the enemy being weary of the slaughter, stole by night to Veii, giving

up Rome and all that was in it for lost.

This battle was fought about the summer solstice, the moon being at

full, the very same day in which the sad disaster of the Fabii had

happened, when three hundred of that name were at one time cut off by

the Tuscans. But from this second loss and defeat the day got the name

of Alliensis, from the river Allia, and still retains it. The question

of unlucky days, whether we should consider any to be so, and whether

Heraclitus did well in upbraiding Hesiod for distinguishing them into

fortunate and unfortunate, as ignorant that the nature of every day is

the same, I have examined in another place; but upon occasion of the

present subject, I think it will not be amiss to annex a few examples

relating to this matter. On the fifth of their month Hippodromius,

which corresponds to the Athenian Hecatombaeon, the Boeotians gained two

signal victories, the one at Leuctra, the other at Ceressus, about three

hundred years before, when they overcame Lattamyas and the Thessalians,

both which asserted the liberty of Greece. Again, on the sixth of

Boedromion, the Persians were worsted by the Greeks at Marathon; on the

third, at Plataea, as also at Mycale; on the twenty-fifth, at Arbela.

The Athenians, about the full moon in Boedromion, gained their sea-

victory at Naxos under the conduct of Chabrias; on the twentieth, at

Salamis, as we have shown in our treatise on Days. Thargelion was a

very unfortunate month to the barbarians, for in it Alexander overcame

Darius's generals on the Granicus; and the Carthaginians, on the twenty-

fourth, were beaten by Timoleon in Sicily, on which same day and month

Troy seems to have been taken, as Ephorus, Callisthenes, Damastes, and

Phylarchus state. On the other hand, the month Metagitnion, which in

Boeotia is called Panemus, was not very lucky to the Greeks; for on its

seventh day they were defeated by Antipater, at the battle in Cranon,

and utterly ruined; and before, at Chaeronea, were defeated by Philip;

and on the very same day, same month, and same year, those that went

with Archidamus into Italy were there cut off by the barbarians. The

Carthaginians also observe the twenty-first of the same month, as

bringing with it the largest number and the severest of their losses. I

am not ignorant, that, about the Feast of Mysteries, Thebes was

destroyed the second time by Alexander; and after that, upon the very

twentieth of Boedromion, on which day they lead forth the mystic

Iacchus, the Athenians received a garrison of the Macedonians. On the

selfsame day the Romans lost their army under Caepio by the Cimbrians,

and in a subsequent year, under the conduct of Lucullus, overcame the

Armenians and Tigranes. King Attalus and Pompey died both on their

birthdays. One could reckon up several that have had variety of fortune

on the same day. This day, meantime, is one of the unfortunate ones to

the Romans, and for its sake two others in every month; fear and

superstition, as the custom of it is, more and more prevailing. But I

have discussed this more accurately in my Roman Questions.

And now, after the battle, had the Gauls immediately pursued those that

fled, there had been no remedy but Rome must have wholly been ruined,

and all those who remained in it utterly destroyed; such was the terror

that those who escaped the battle brought with them into the city, and

with such distraction and confusion were themselves in turn infected.

But the Gauls, not imagining their victory to be so considerable, and

overtaken with the present joy, fell to feasting and dividing the spoil,

by which means they gave leisure to those who were for leaving the city

to make their escape, and to those that remained, to anticipate and

prepare for their coming. For they who resolved to stay at Rome,

abandoning the rest of the city, betook themselves to the Capitol, which

they fortified with the help of missiles and new works. One of their

principal cares was of their holy things, most of which they conveyed

into the Capitol. But the consecrated fire the vestal virgins took, and

fled with it, as likewise their other sacred things. Some write that

they have nothing in their charge but the ever-living fire which Numa

had ordained to be worshipped as the principle of all things; for fire

is the most active thing in nature, and all production is either motion,

or attended with motion; all the other parts of matter, so long as they

are without warmth, lie sluggish and dead, and require the accession of

a sort of soul or vitality in the principle of heat; and upon that

accession, in whatever way, immediately receive a capacity either of

acting or being acted upon. And thus Numa, a man curious in such

things, and whose wisdom made it thought that he conversed with the

Muses, consecrated fire, and ordained it to be kept ever burning, as an

image of that eternal power which orders and actuates all things.

Others say that this fire was kept burning in front of the holy things,

as in Greece, for purification, and that there were other things hid in

the most secret part of the temple, which were kept from the view of

all, except those virgins whom they call vestals. The most common

opinion was, that the image of Pallas, brought into Italy by Aeneas, was

laid up there; others say that the Samothracian images lay there,

telling a story how that Dardanus carried them to Troy, and, when he had

built the city, celebrated those rites, and dedicated those images

there; that after Troy was taken, Aeneas stole them away, and kept them

till his coming into Italy. But they who profess to know more of the

matter affirm that there are two barrels, not of any great size, one of

which stands open and has nothing in it, the other full and sealed up;

but that neither of them may be seen but by the most holy virgins.

Others think that they who say this are misled by the fact that the

virgins put most of their holy things into two barrels at this time of

the Gaulish invasion, and hid them underground in the temple of

Quirinus; and that from hence that place to this day bears the name of

Barrels.

However it be, taking the most precious and important things they had,

they fled away with them, shaping their course along the river side,

where Lucius Albinius, a simple citizen of Rome, who among others was

making his escape, overtook them, having his wife, children, and goods

in a cart; and, seeing the virgins dragging along in their arms the holy

things of the gods, in a helpless and weary condition, he caused his

wife and children to get down, and, taking out his goods, put the

virgins in the cart, that they might make their escape to some of the

Greek cities. This devout act of Albinius, and the respect he showed

thus signally to the gods at a time of such extremity, deserved not to

be passed over in silence. But the priests that belonged to other gods,

and the most elderly of the senators, men who had been consuls and had

enjoyed triumphs, could not endure to leave the city; but, putting on

their sacred and splendid robes, Fabius the high-priest performing the

office, they made their prayers to the gods, and, devoting themselves,

as it were, for their country, sat themselves down in their ivory

chairs in the forum, and in that posture expected the event.

On the third day after the battle, Brennus appeared with his army at the

city, and, finding the gates wide open and no guards upon the walls,

first began to suspect it was some design or stratagem, never dreaming

that the Romans were in so desperate a condition. But when he found it

to be so indeed, he entered at the Colline gate, and took Rome, in the

three hundred and sixtieth year, or a little more, after it was built;

if, indeed, it can be supposed probable that an exact chronological

statement has been preserved of events which were themselves the cause

of chronological difficulties about things of later date; of the

calamity itself, however, and of the fact of the capture, some faint

rumors seem to have passed at the time into Greece. Heraclides

Ponticus, who lived not long after these times, in his book upon the

Soul, relates that a certain report came from the west, that an army,

proceeding from the Hyperboreans, had taken a Greek city called Rome,

seated somewhere upon the great sea. But I do not wonder that so

fabulous and high-flown an author as Heraclides should embellish the

truth of the story with expressions about Hyperboreans and the great

sea. Aristotle the philosopher appears to have heard a correct

statement of the taking of the city by the Gauls, but he calls its

deliverer Lucius; whereas Camillus's surname was not Lucius, but Marcus.

But this is a matter of conjecture.

Brennus, having taken possession of Rome, set a strong guard about the

Capitol, and, going himself down into the forum, was there struck with

amazement at the sight of so many men sitting in that order and silence,

observing that they neither rose at his coming, nor so much as changed

color or countenance, but remained without fear or concern, leaning upon

their staves, and sitting quietly, looking at each other. The Gauls,

for a great while, stood wondering at the strangeness of the sight not

daring to approach or touch them, taking them for an assembly of

superior beings. But when one, bolder than the rest, drew near to

Marcus Papirius, and, putting forth his hand, gently touched his chin

and stroked his long beard, Papirius with his staff struck him a severe

blow on the head; upon which the barbarian drew his sword and slew him.

This was the introduction to the slaughter; for the rest, following his

example, set upon them all and killed them, and dispatched all others

that came in their way; and so went on to the sacking and pillaging the

houses, which they continued for many days ensuing. Afterwards, they

burnt them down to the ground and demolished them, being incensed at

those who kept the Capitol, because they would not yield to summons;

but, on the contrary, when assailed, had repelled them, with some loss,

from their defenses. This provoked them to ruin the whole city, and to

put to the sword all that came to their hands, young and old, men,

women, and children.

And now, the siege of the Capitol having lasted a good while, the Gauls

began to be in want of provision; and dividing their forces, part of

them stayed with their king at the siege, the rest went to forage the

country, ravaging the towns and villages where they came, but not all

together in a body, but in different squadrons and parties; and to such

a confidence had success raised them, that they carelessly rambled about

without the least fear or apprehension of danger. But the greatest and

best ordered body of their forces went to the city of Ardea, where

Camillus then sojourned, having, ever since his leaving Rome,

sequestered himself from all business, and taken to a private life; but

now he began to rouse up himself, and consider not how to avoid or

escape the enemy, but to find out an opportunity to be revenged upon

them. And perceiving that the Ardeatians wanted not men, but rather

enterprise, through the inexperience and timidity of their officers, he

began to speak with the young men, first, to the effect that they ought

not to ascribe the misfortune of the Romans to the courage of their

enemy, nor attribute the losses they sustained by rash counsel to the

conduct of men who had no title to victory; the event had been only an

evidence of the power of fortune; that it was a brave thing even with

danger to repel a foreign and barbarous invader, whose end in conquering

was like fire, to lay waste and destroy, but if they would be courageous

and resolute, he was ready to put an opportunity into their hands to

gain a victory without hazard at all. When he found the young men

embraced the thing, he went to the magistrates and council of the city,

and, having persuaded them also, he mustered all that could bear arms,

and drew them up within the walls, that they might not be perceived by

the enemy, who was near; who, having scoured the country, and now

returned heavy-laden with booty, lay encamped in the plains in a

careless and negligent posture, so that, with the night ensuing upon

debauch and drunkenness, silence prevailed through all the camp. When

Camillus learned this from his scouts, he drew out the Ardeatians, and

in the dead of the night, passing in silence over the ground that lay

between, came up to their works, and, commanding his trumpets to sound

and his men to shout and halloo, he struck terror into them from all

quarters; while drunkenness impeded and sleep retarded their movements.

A few, whom fear had sobered, getting into some order, for awhile

resisted; and so died with their weapons in their hands. But the

greatest part of them, buried in wine and sleep, were surprised without

their arms, and dispatched; and as many of them as by the advantage of

the night got out of the camp were the next day found scattered abroad

and wandering in the fields, and were picked up by the horse that

pursued them.

The fame of this action soon flew through the neighboring cities, and

stirred up the young men from various quarters to come and join

themselves with him. But none were so much concerned as those Romans

who escaped in the battle of Allia, and were now at Veii, thus lamenting

with themselves, "O heavens, what a commander has Providence bereaved

Rome of, to honor Ardea with his actions! And that city, which brought

forth and nursed so great a man, is lost and gone, and we, destitute of

a leader and shut up within strange walls, sit idle, and see Italy

ruined before our eyes. Come, let us send to the Ardeatians to have

back our general, or else, with weapons in our hands, let us go thither

to him; for he is no longer a banished man, nor we citizens, having no

country but what is in the possession of the enemy." To this they all

agreed, and sent to Camillus to desire him to take the command; but he

answered, that he would not, until they that were in the Capitol should

legally appoint him; for he esteemed them, as long as they were in

being, to be his country; that if they should command him, he would

readily obey; but against their consent he would intermeddle with

nothing. When this answer was returned, they admired the modesty and

temper of Camillus; but they could not tell how to find a messenger to

carry the intelligence to the Capitol, or rather, indeed, it seemed

altogether impossible for any one to get to the citadel whilst the enemy

was in full possession of the city. But among the young men there was

one Pontius Cominius, of ordinary birth, but ambitious of honor, who

proffered himself to run the hazard, and took no letters with him to

those in the Capitol, lest, if he were intercepted, the enemy might

learn the intentions of Camillus; but, putting on a poor dress and

carrying corks under it, he boldly traveled the greatest part of the way

by day, and came to the city when it was dark; the bridge he could not

pass, as it was guarded by the barbarians; so that taking his clothes,

which were neither many nor heavy, and binding them about his head, he

laid his body upon the corks, and, swimming with them, got over to the

city. And avoiding those quarters where he perceived the enemy was

awake, which he guessed at by the lights and noise, he went to the

Carmental gate, where there was greatest silence, and where the hill of

the Capitol is steepest, and rises with craggy and broken rock. By this

way he got up, though with much difficulty, by the hollow of the cliff,

and presented himself to the guards, saluting them, and telling them his

name; he was taken in, and carried to the commanders. And a senate

being immediately called, he related to them in order the victory of

Camillus, which they had not heard of before, and the proceedings of the

soldiers; urging them to confirm Camillus in the command, as on him

alone all their fellow-countrymen outside the city would rely. Having

heard and consulted of the matter, the senate declared Camillus

dictator, and sent back Pontius the same way that he came, who, with the

same success as before, got through the enemy without being discovered,

and delivered to the Romans outside the decision of the senate, who

joyfully received it. Camillus, on his arrival, found twenty thousand

of them ready in arms; with which forces, and those confederates he

brought along with him, he prepared to set upon the enemy.

But at Rome some of the barbarians, passing by chance near the place at

which Pontius by night had got into the Capitol, spied in several places

marks of feet and hands, where he had laid hold and clambered, and

places where the plants that grew to the rock had been rubbed off, and

the earth had slipped, and went accordingly and reported it to the king,

who, coming in person, and viewing it, for the present said nothing, but

in the evening, picking out such of the Gauls as were nimblest of body,

and by living in the mountains were accustomed to climb, he said to

them, "The enemy themselves have shown us a way how to come at them,

which we knew not of before, and have taught us that it is not so

difficult and impossible but that men may overcome it. It would be a

great shame, having begun well, to fail in the end, and to give up a

place as impregnable, when the enemy himself lets us see the way by

which it may be taken; for where it was easy for one man to get up, it

will not be hard for many, one after another; nay, when many shall

undertake it, they will be aid and strength to each other. Rewards and

honors shall be bestowed on every man as he shall acquit himself."

When the king had thus spoken, the Gauls cheerfully undertook to perform

it, and in the dead of night a good party of them together, with great

silence, began to climb the rock, clinging to the precipitous and

difficult ascent, which yet upon trial offered a way to them, and proved

less difficult than they had expected. So that the foremost of them

having gained the top of all, and put themselves into order, they all

but surprised the outworks, and mastered the watch, who were fast

asleep; for neither man nor dog perceived their coming. But there were

sacred geese kept near the temple of Juno, which at other times were

plentifully fed, but now, by reason that corn and all other provisions

were grown scarce for all, were but in a poor condition. The creature

is by nature of quick sense, and apprehensive of the least noise, so

that these, being moreover watchful through hunger, and restless,

immediately discovered the coming of the Gauls, and, running up and down

with their noise and cackling, they raised the whole camp, while the

barbarians on the other side, perceiving themselves discovered, no

longer endeavored to conceal their attempt, but with shouting and

violence advanced to the assault. The Romans, every one in haste

snatching up the next weapon that came to hand, did what they could on

the sudden occasion. Manlius, a man of consular dignity, of strong body

and great spirit, was the first that made head against them, and,

engaging with two of the enemy at once, with his sword cut off the right

arm of one just as he was lifting up his blade to strike, and, running

his target full in the face of the other, tumbled him headlong down the

steep rock; then mounting the rampart, and there standing with others

that came running to his assistance, drove down the rest of them, who,

indeed, to begin, had not been many, and did nothing worthy of so bold

an attempt. The Romans, having thus escaped this danger, early in the

morning took the captain of the watch and flung him down the rock upon

the heads of their enemies, and to Manlius for his victory voted a

reward, intended more for honor than advantage, bringing him, each man

of them, as much as he received for his daily allowance, which was half

a pound of bread, and one eighth of a pint of wine.

Henceforward, the affairs of the Gauls were daily in a worse and worse

condition; they wanted provisions, being withheld from foraging through

fear of Camillus, and sickness also was amongst them, occasioned by the

number of carcasses that lay in heaps unburied. Being lodged among the

ruins, the ashes, which were very deep, blown about with the winds and

combining with the sultry heats, breathed up, so to say, a dry and

searching air, the inhalation of which was destructive to their health.

But the chief cause was the change from their natural climate, coming as

they did out of shady and hilly countries, abounding in means of shelter

from the heat, to lodge in low, and, in the autumn season, very

unhealthy ground; added to which was the length and tediousness of the

siege, as they had now sat seven months before the Capitol. There was,

therefore, a great destruction among them, and the number of the dead

grew so great, that the living gave up burying them. Neither, indeed,

were things on that account any better with the besieged, for famine

increased upon them, and despondency with not hearing any thing of

Camillus, it being impossible to send any one to him, the city was so

guarded by the barbarians. Things being in this sad condition on both

sides, a motion of treaty was made at first by some of the outposts, as

they happened to speak with one another; which being embraced by the

leading men, Sulpicius, tribune of the Romans, came to a parley with

Brennus, in which it was agreed, that the Romans laying down a thousand

weight of gold, the Gauls upon the receipt of it should immediately quit

the city and territories. The agreement being confirmed by oath on both

sides, and the gold brought forth, the Gauls used false dealing in the

weights, secretly at first, but afterwards openly pulled back and

disturbed the balance; at which the Romans indignantly complaining,

Brennus in a scoffing and insulting manner pulled off his sword and

belt, and threw them both into the scales; and when Sulpicius asked what

that meant, "What should it mean," says he, "but woe to the conquered?"

which afterwards became a proverbial saying. As for the Romans, some

were so incensed that they were for taking their gold back again, and

returning to endure the siege. Others were for passing by and

dissembling a petty injury, and not to account that the indignity of the

thing lay in paying more than was due, since the paying anything at all

was itself a dishonor only submitted to as a necessity of the times.

Whilst this difference remained still unsettled, both amongst themselves

and with the Gauls, Camillus was at the gates with his army; and, having

learned what was going on, commanded the main body of his forces to

follow slowly after him in good order, and himself with the choicest of

his men hastening on, went at once to the Romans; where all giving way

to him, and receiving him as their sole magistrate, with profound

silence and order, he took the gold out of the scales, and delivered it

to his officers, and commanded the Gauls to take their weights and

scales and depart; saying that it was customary with the Romans to

deliver their country with iron, not with gold. And when Brennus began to

rage, and say that he was unjustly dealt with in such a breach of

contract, Camillus answered that it was never legally made, and the

agreement of no force or obligation; for that himself being declared

dictator, and there being no other magistrate by law, the engagement had

been made with men who had no power to enter into it; but now they might

say anything they had to urge, for he was come with full power by law

to grant pardon to such as should ask it, or inflict punishment on the

guilty, if they did not repent. At this, Brennus broke into violent

anger, and an immediate quarrel ensued; both sides drew their swords and

attacked, but in confusion, as could not otherwise be amongst houses,

and ill narrow lanes and places where it was impossible to form in any

order. But Brennus, presently recollecting himself, called off his men,

and, with the loss of a few only, brought them to their camp; and,

rising in the night with all his forces, left the city, and, advancing

about eight miles, encamped upon the way to Gabii. As soon as day

appeared, Camillus came up with him, splendidly armed himself, and his

soldiers full of courage and confidence; and there engaging with him in

a sharp conflict, which lasted a long while, overthrew his army with

great slaughter, and took their camp. Of those that fled, some were

presently cut off by the pursuers; others, and these were the greatest

number, dispersed hither and thither, and were dispatched by the people

that came sallying out from the neighboring towns and villages.

Thus Rome was strangely taken, and more strangely recovered, having been

seven whole months in the possession of the barbarians who entered her a

little after the Ides of July, and were driven out about the Ides of

February following. Camillus triumphed, as he deserved, having saved

his country that was lost, and brought the city, so to say, back again

to itself. For those that had fled abroad, together with their wives

and children, accompanied him as he rode in; and those who had been shut

up in the Capitol, and were reduced almost to the point of perishing

with hunger, went out to meet him, embracing each other as they met, and

weeping for joy and, through the excess of the present pleasure, scarce

believing in its truth. And when the priests and ministers of the gods

appeared, bearing the sacred things, which in their flight they had

either hid on the spot, or conveyed away with them, and now openly

showed in safety, the citizens who saw the blessed sight felt as if with

these the gods themselves were again returned unto Rome. After Camillus

had sacrificed to the gods, and purified the city according to the

direction of those properly instructed, he restored the existing

temples, and erected a new one to Rumour, or Voice, informing himself

of the spot in which that voice from heaven came by night to Marcus

Caedicius, foretelling the coming of the barbarian army.

It was a matter of difficulty, and a hard task, amidst so much rubbish,

to discover and redetermine the consecrated places; but by the zeal of

Camillus, and the incessant labor of the priests, it was at last

accomplished. But when it came also to rebuilding the city, which was

wholly demolished, despondency seized the multitude, and a backwardness

to engage in a work for which they had no materials; at a time, too,

when they rather needed relief and repose from their past labors, than

any new demands upon their exhausted strength and impaired fortunes.

Thus insensibly they turned their thoughts again towards Veii, a city

ready-built and well-provided, and gave an opening to the arts of

flatterers eager to gratify their desires, and lent their ears to

seditious language flung out against Camillus; as that, out of ambition

and self-glory, he withheld them from a city fit to receive them,

forcing them to live in the midst of ruins, and to re-erect a pile of

burnt rubbish, that he might be esteemed not the chief magistrate only

and general of Rome, but, to the exclusion of Romulus, its founder,

also. The senate, therefore, fearing a sedition, would not suffer

Camillus, though desirous, to lay down his authority within the year,

though no other dictator had ever held it above six months.

They themselves, meantime, used their best endeavors, by kind

persuasions and familiar addresses, to encourage and to appease the

people, showing them the shrines and tombs of their ancestors, calling

to their remembrance the sacred spots and holy places which Romulus and

Numa or any other of their kings had consecrated and left to their

keeping; and among the strongest religious arguments, urged the head,

newly separated from the body, which was found in laying the foundation

of the Capitol, marking it as a place destined by fate to be the head of

all Italy; and the holy fire which had just been rekindled again, since

the end of the war, by the vestal virgins; "What a disgrace would it be

to them to lose and extinguish this, leaving the city it belonged to, to

be either inhabited by strangers and new-comers, or left a wild pasture

for cattle to graze on?" Such reasons as these, urged with complaint

and expostulation, sometimes in private upon individuals, and sometimes

in their public assemblies, were met, on the other hand, by laments and

protestations of distress and helplessness; entreaties, that, reunited

as they just were, after a sort of shipwreck, naked and destitute, they

would not constrain them to patch up the pieces of a ruined and

shattered city, when they had another at hand ready-built and prepared.

Camillus thought good to refer it to general deliberation, and himself

spoke largely and earnestly in behalf of his country, as also many

others. At last, calling to Lucius Lucretius, whose place it was to

speak first, he commanded him to give his sentence, and the rest as they

followed, in order. Silence being made, and Lucretius just about to

begin, by chance a centurion, passing by outside with his company of the

day-guard, called out with a loud voice to the ensign-bearer to halt and

fix his standard, for this was the best place to stay in. This voice,

coming in that moment of time, and at that crisis of uncertainty and

anxiety for the future, was taken as a direction what was to be done;

so that Lucretius, assuming an attitude of devotion, gave sentence in

concurrence with the gods, as he said, as likewise did all that

followed. Even among the common people it created a wonderful change of

feeling; every one now cheered and encouraged his neighbor, and set

himself to the work, proceeding in it, however, not by any regular lines

or divisions, but every one pitching upon that plot of ground which came

next to hand, or best pleased his fancy; by which haste and hurry in

building, they constructed their city in narrow and ill-designed lanes,

and with houses huddled together one upon another; for it is said that

within the compass of the year the whole city was raised up anew, both

in its public walls and private buildings. The persons, however,

appointed by Camillus to resume and mark out, in this general confusion,

all consecrated places, coming, in their way round the Palatium, to the

chapel of Mars, found the chapel itself indeed destroyed and burnt to

the ground, like everything else, by the barbarians; but whilst they

were clearing the place, and carrying away the rubbish, lit upon

Romulus's augural staff, buried under a great heap of ashes. This sort

of staff is crooked at one end, and is called lituus; they make use of

it in quartering out the regions of the heavens when engaged in

divination from the flight of birds; Romulus, who was himself a great

diviner, made use of it. But when he disappeared from the earth, the

priests took his staff and kept it, as other holy things, from the touch

of man; and when they now found that, whereas all other things were

consumed, this staff had altogether escaped the flames, they began to

conceive happier hopes of Rome, and to augur from this token its future

everlasting safety.

And now they had scarcely got a breathing time from their trouble, when

a new war came upon them; and the Aequians, Volscians, and Latins all at

once invaded their territories, and the Tuscans besieged Sutrium, their

confederate city. The military tribunes who commanded the army, and

were encamped about the hill Maecius, being closely besieged by the

Latins, and the camp in danger to be lost, sent to Rome, where Camillus

was a third time chosen dictator. Of this war two different accounts

are given; I shall begin with the more fabulous. They say that the

Latins (whether out of pretense, or a real design to revive the ancient

relationship of the two nations) sent to desire of the Romans some free-

born maidens in marriage; that when the Romans were at a loss how to

determine (for on one hand they dreaded a war, having scarcely yet

settled and recovered themselves, and on the other side suspected that

this asking of wives was, in plain terms, nothing else but a demand for

hostages, though covered over with the specious name of intermarriage

and alliance), a certain handmaid, by name Tutula, or, as some call her,

Philotis, persuaded the magistrates to send with her some of the most

youthful and best looking maid-servants, in the bridal dress of noble

virgins, and leave the rest to her care and management; that the

magistrates consenting, chose out as many as she thought necessary for

her purpose, and, adorning them with gold and rich clothes, delivered

them to the Latins, who were encamped not far from the city; that at

night the rest stole away the enemy's swords, but Tutula or Philotis,

getting to the top of a wild fig-tree, and spreading out a thick woolen

cloth behind her, held out a torch towards Rome, which was the signal

concerted between her and the commanders, without the knowledge,

however, of any other of the citizens, which was the reason that their

issuing out from the city was tumultuous, the officers pushing their men

on, and they calling upon one another's names, and scarce able to bring

themselves into order; that setting upon the enemy's works, who either

were asleep or expected no such matter, they took the camp, and

destroyed most of them; and that this was done on the nones of July,

which was then called Quintilis, and that the feast that is observed on

that day is a commemoration of what was then done. For in it, first,

they run out of the city in great crowds, and call out aloud several

familiar and common names, Caius, Marcus, Lucius, and the like, in

representation of the way in which they called to one another when they

went out in such haste. In the next place, the maid-servants, gaily

dressed, run about, playing and jesting upon all they meet, and amongst

themselves, also, use a kind of skirmishing, to show they helped in the

conflict against the Latins; and while eating and drinking, they sit

shaded over with boughs of wild fig-tree, and the day they call Nonae

Caprotinae, as some think from that wild fig-tree on which the maid-

servant held up her torch, the Roman name for a wild fig-tree being

caprificus. Others refer most of what is said or done at this feast to

the fate of Romulus, for, on this day, he vanished outside the gates in

a sudden darkness and storm (some think it an eclipse of the sun), and

from this, the day was called Nonae Caprotinae, the Latin for a goat

being capra, and the place where he disappeared having the name of

Goat's Marsh, as is stated in his life.

But the general stream of writers prefer the other account of this war,

which they thus relate. Camillus, being the third time chosen dictator,

and learning that the army under the tribunes was besieged by the Latins

and Volscians, was constrained to arm, not only those under, but also

those over, the age of service; and taking a large circuit round the

mountain Maecius, undiscovered by the enemy, lodged his army on their

rear, and then by many fires gave notice of his arrival. The besieged,

encouraged by this, prepared to sally forth and join battle; but the

Latins and Volscians, fearing this exposure to an enemy on both sides,

drew themselves within their works, and fortified their camp with a

strong palisade of trees on every side, resolving to wait for more

supplies from home, and expecting, also, the assistance of the Tuscans,

their confederates. Camillus, detecting their object, and fearing to be

reduced to the same position to which he had brought them, namely, to be

besieged himself, resolved to lose no time; and finding their rampart

was all of timber, and observing that a strong wind constantly at sun-

rising blew off from the mountains, after having prepared a quantity of

combustibles, about break of day he drew forth his forces, commanding a

part with their missiles to assault the enemy with noise and shouting on

the other quarter, whilst he, with those that were to fling in the fire,

went to that side of the enemy's camp to which the wind usually blew,

and there waited his opportunity. When the skirmish was begun, and the

sun risen, and a strong wind set in from the mountains, he gave the

signal of onset; and, heaping in an infinite quantity of fiery matter,

filled all their rampart with it, so that the flame being fed by the

close timber and wooden palisades, went on and spread into all quarters.

The Latins, having nothing ready to keep it off or extinguish it, when

the camp was now almost full of fire, were driven back within a very

small compass, and at last forced by necessity to come into their

enemy's hands, who stood before the works ready armed and prepared to

receive them; of these very few escaped, while those that stayed in the

camp were all a prey to the fire, until the Romans, to gain the pillage,

extinguished it.

These things performed, Camillus, leaving his son Lucius in the camp to

guard the prisoners and secure the booty, passed into the enemy's

country, where, having taken the city of the Aequians and reduced the

Volscians to obedience, he then immediately led his army to Sutrium, not

having heard what had befallen the Sutrians, but making haste to assist

them, as if they were still in danger and besieged by the Tuscans.

They, however, had already surrendered their city to their enemies, and

destitute of all things, with nothing left but their clothes, met

Camillus on the way, leading their wives and children, and bewailing

their misfortune. Camillus himself was struck with compassion, and

perceiving the soldiers weeping, and commiserating their case, while the

Sutrians hung about and clung to them, resolved not to defer revenge,

but that very day to lead his army to Sutrium; conjecturing that the

enemy, having just taken a rich and plentiful city, without an enemy

left within it, nor any from without to be expected, would be found

abandoned to enjoyment and unguarded. Neither did his opinion fail him;

he not only passed through their country without discovery, but came up

to their very gates and possessed himself of the walls, not a man being

left to guard them, but their whole army scattered about in the houses,

drinking and making merry. Nay, when at last they did perceive that the

enemy had seized the city, they were so overloaded with meat and wine,

that few were able so much as to endeavor to escape, but either waited

shamefully for their death within doors, or surrendered themselves to

the conqueror. Thus the city of the Sutrians was twice taken in one

day; and they who were in possession lost it, and they who had lost

regained it, alike by the means of Camillus. For all which actions he

received a triumph, which brought him no less honor and reputation than

the two former ones; for those citizens who before most regarded him

with an evil eye, and ascribed his successes to a certain luck rather

than real merit, were compelled by these last acts of his to allow the

whole honor to his great abilities and energy.

Of all the adversaries and enviers of his glory, Marcus Manlius was the

most distinguished, he who first drove back the Gauls when they made

their night attack upon the Capitol, and who for that reason had been

named Capitolinus. This man, affecting the first place in the

commonwealth, and not able by noble ways to outdo Camillus's reputation,

took that ordinary course towards usurpation of absolute power, namely,

to gain the multitude, those of them especially that were in debt;

defending some by pleading their causes against their creditors,

rescuing others by force, and not suffering the law to proceed against

them; insomuch that in a short time he got great numbers of indigent

people about him, whose tumults and uproars in the forum struck terror

into the principal citizens. After that Quintius Capitolinus, who was

made dictator to suppress these disorders, had committed Manlius to

prison, the people immediately changed their apparel, a thing never done

but in great and public calamities, and the senate, fearing some tumult,

ordered him to be released. He, however, when set at liberty, changed

not his course, but was rather the more insolent in his proceedings,

filling the whole city with faction and sedition. They chose,

therefore, Camillus again military tribune; and a day being appointed

for Manlius to answer to his charge, the prospect from the place where

his trial was held proved a great impediment to his accusers; for the

very spot where Manlius by night fought with the Gauls overlooked the

forum from the Capitol, so that, stretching forth his hands that way,

and weeping, he called to their remembrance his past actions, raising

compassion in all that beheld him. Insomuch that the judges were at a

loss what to do, and several times adjourned the trial, unwilling to

acquit him of the crime, which was sufficiently proved, and yet unable

to execute the law while his noble action remained, as it were, before

their eyes. Camillus, considering this, transferred the court outside

the gates to the Peteline Grove, from whence there is no prospect of the

Capitol. Here his accuser went on with his charge, and his judges were

capable of remembering and duly resenting his guilty deeds. He was

convicted, carried to the Capitol, and flung headlong from the rock; so

that one and the same spot was thus the witness of his greatest glory,

and monument of his most unfortunate end. The Romans, besides, razed

his house, and built there a temple to the goddess they call Moneta,

ordaining for the future that none of the patrician order should ever

dwell on the Capitoline.

And now Camillus, being called to his sixth tribuneship, desired to be

excused, as being aged, and perhaps not unfearful of the malice of

fortune, and those reverses which seem to ensue upon great prosperity.

But the most apparent pretense was the weakness of his body, for he

happened at that time to be sick; the people, however, would admit of no

excuses, but, crying that they wanted not his strength for horse or for

foot service, but only his counsel and conduct, constrained him to

undertake the command, and with one of his fellow-tribunes to lead the

army immediately against the enemy. These were the Praenestines and

Volscians, who, with large forces, were laying waste the territory of

the Roman confederates. Having marched out with his army, he sat down

and encamped near the enemy, meaning himself to protract the war, or if

there should come any necessity or occasion of fighting, in the mean

time to regain his strength. But Lucius Furius, his colleague, carried

away with the desire of glory, was not to be held in, but, impatient to

give battle, inflamed the inferior officers of the army with the same

eagerness; so that Camillus, fearing he might seem out of envy to be

wishing to rob the young men of the glory of a noble exploit, consented,

though unwillingly, that he should draw out the forces, whilst himself,

by reason of weakness, stayed behind with a few in the camp. Lucius,

engaging rashly, was discomfited, when Camillus, perceiving the Romans

to give ground and fly, could not contain himself, but, leaping from his

bed, with those he had about him ran to meet them at the gates of the

camp, making his way through the flyers to oppose the pursuers; so that

those who had got within the camp turned back at once and followed him,

and those that came flying from without made head again and gathered

about him, exhorting one another not to forsake their general. Thus the

enemy for that time, was stopped in his pursuit. The next day Camillus

drawing out his forces and joining battle with them, overthrew them by

main force, and, following close upon them, entered pell-mell with them

into their camp and took it, slaying the greatest part of them.

Afterwards, having heard that the city Satricum was taken by the

Tuscans, and the inhabitants, all Romans, put to the sword, he sent home

to Rome the main body of his forces and heaviest-armed, and, taking

with him the lightest and most vigorous soldiers, set suddenly upon the

Tuscans, who were in the possession of the city, and mastered them,

slaying some and expelling the rest; and so, returning to Rome with

great spoils, gave signal evidence of their superior wisdom, who, not

mistrusting the weakness and age of a commander endued with courage and

conduct, had rather chosen him who was sickly and desirous to be

excused, than younger men who were forward and ambitious to command.

When, therefore, the revolt of the Tusculans was reported, they gave

Camillus the charge of reducing them, choosing one of his five

colleagues to go with him. And when every one was eager for the place,

contrary to the expectation of all, he passed by the rest and chose

Lucius Furius, the very same man who lately, against the judgment of

Camillus, had rashly hazarded and nearly lost a battle; willing, as it

should seem, to dissemble that miscarriage, and free him from the shame

of it. The Tusculans, hearing of Camillus's coming against them, made a

cunning attempt at revoking their act of revolt; their fields, as in

times of highest peace, were full of plowman and shepherds; their gates

stood wide open, and their children were being taught in the schools; of

the people, such as were tradesmen, he found in their workshops, busied

about their several employments, and the better sort of citizens walking

in the public places in their ordinary dress; the magistrates hurried

about to provide quarters for the Romans, as if they stood in fear of no

danger and were conscious of no fault. Which arts, though they could

not dispossess Camillus of the conviction he had of their treason, yet

induced some compassion for their repentance; he commanded them to go to

the senate and deprecate their anger, and joined himself as an

intercessor in their behalf, so that their city was acquitted of all

guilt and admitted to Roman citizenship, These were the most memorable

actions of his sixth tribuneship.

After these things, Licinius Stolo raised a great sedition in the city,

and brought the people to dissension with the senate, contending, that

of two consuls one should be chosen out of the commons, and not both out

of the patricians. Tribunes of the people were chosen, but the election

of consuls was interrupted and prevented by the people. And as this

absence of any supreme magistrate was leading to yet further confusion,

Camillus was the fourth time created dictator by the senate, sorely

against the people's will, and not altogether in accordance with his

own; he had little desire for a conflict with men whose past services

entitled them to tell him that he had achieved far greater actions in

war along with them than in politics with the patricians, who, indeed,

had only put him forward now out of envy; that, if successful, he might

crush the people, or, failing, be crushed himself. However, to provide

as good a remedy as he could for the present, knowing the day on which

the tribunes of the people intended to prefer the law, he appointed it

by proclamation for a general muster, and called the people from the

forum into the Campus, threatening to set heavy fines upon such as

should not obey. On the other side, the tribunes of the people met his

threats by solemnly protesting they would fine him in fifty thousand

drachmas of silver, if he persisted in obstructing the people from

giving their suffrages for the law. Whether it were, then, that he

feared another banishment or condemnation which would ill become his age

and past great actions, or found himself unable to stem the current of

the multitude, which ran strong and violent, he betook himself, for the

present, to his house, and afterwards, for some days together,

professing sickness, finally laid down his dictatorship. The senate

created another dictator; who, choosing Stolo, leader of the sedition,

to be his general of horse, suffered that law to be enacted and

ratified, which was most grievous to the patricians, namely, that no

person whatsoever should possess above five hundred acres of land.

Stolo was much distinguished by the victory he had gained; but, not long

after, was found himself to possess more than he had allowed to others,

and suffered the penalties of his own law.

And now the contention about election of consuls coming on (which was

the main point and original cause of the dissension, and had throughtout

furnished most matter of division between the senate and the people),

certain intelligence arrived, that the Gauls again, proceeding from the

Adriatic Sea, were marching in vast numbers upon Rome. On the very

heels of the report followed manifest acts also of hostility; the

country through which they marched was all wasted, and such as by flight

could not make their escape to Rome were dispersing and scattering among

the mountains. The terror of this war quieted the sedition; nobles and

commons, senate and people together, unanimously chose Camillus the

fifth time dictator; who, though very aged, not wanting much of

fourscore years, yet, considering the danger and necessity of his

country, did not, as before, pretend sickness, or depreciate his own

capacity, but at once undertook the charge, and enrolled soldiers. And,

knowing that the great force of the barbarians lay chiefly in their

swords, with which they laid about them in a rude and inartificial

manner, hacking and hewing the head and shoulders, he caused head-pieces

entire of iron to be made for most of his men, smoothing and polishing

the outside, that the enemy's swords, lighting upon them, might either

slide off or be broken; and fitted also their shields with a little rim

of brass, the wood itself not being sufficient to bear off the blows.

Besides, he taught his soldiers to use their long javelins in close

encounter, and, by bringing them under their enemy's swords, to receive

their strokes upon them.

When the Gauls drew near, about the river Anio, dragging a heavy camp

after them, and loaded with infinite spoil, Camillus drew forth his

forces, and planted himself upon a hill of easy ascent, and which had

many dips in it, with the object that the greatest part of his army

might lie concealed, and those who appeared might be thought to have

betaken themselves, through fear, to those upper grounds. And the more

to increase this opinion in them, he suffered them, without any

disturbance, to spoil and pillage even to his very trenches, keeping

himself quiet within his works, which were well fortified; till, at

last, perceiving that part of the enemy were scattered about the country

foraging, and that those that were in the camp did nothing day and night

but drink and revel, in the nighttime he drew up his lightest-armed

men, and sent them out before to impede the enemy while forming into

order, and to harass them when they should first issue out of their

camp; and early in the morning brought down his main body, and set them

in battle array in the lower grounds, a numerous and courageous army,

not, as the barbarians had supposed, an inconsiderable and fearful

division. The first thing that shook the courage of the Gauls was, that

their enemies had, contrary to their expectation, the honor of being

aggressors. In the next place, the light-armed men, falling upon them

before they could get into their usual order or range themselves in

their proper squadrons, so disturbed and pressed upon them, that they

were obliged to fight at random, without any order at all. But at last,

when Camillus brought on his heavy-armed legions, the barbarians, with

their swords drawn, went vigorously to engage them; the Romans, however,

opposing their javelins and receiving the force of their blows on those

parts of their defenses which were well guarded with steel, turned the

edge of their weapons, being made of a soft and ill-tempered metal, so

that their swords bent and doubled up in their hands; and their shields

were pierced through and through, and grew heavy with the javelins that

stuck upon them. And thus forced to quit their own weapons, they

endeavored to take advantage of those of their enemies, laid hold of the

javelins with their hands, and tried to pluck them away. But the

Romans, perceiving them now naked and defenseless, betook themselves to

their swords, which they so well used, that in a little time great

slaughter was made in the foremost ranks, while the rest fled over all

parts of the level country; the hills and upper grounds Camillus had

secured beforehand, and their camp they knew it would not be difficult

for the enemy to take, as, through confidence of victory, they had left

it unguarded. This fight, it is stated, was thirteen years after the

sacking of Rome; and from henceforward the Romans took courage, and

surmounted the apprehensions they had hitherto entertained of the

barbarians, whose previous defeat they had attributed rather to

pestilence and a concurrence of mischances than to their own superior

valor. And, indeed, this fear had been formerly so great, that they

made a law, that priests should be excused from service in war, unless

in an invasion from the Gauls.

This was the last military action that ever Camillus performed; for the

voluntary surrender of the city of the Velitrani was but a mere

accessory to it. But the greatest of all civil contests, and the

hardest to be managed, was still to be fought out against the people;

who, returning home full of victory and success, insisted, contrary to

established law, to have one of the consuls chosen out of their own

body. The senate strongly opposed it, and would not suffer Camillus to

lay down his dictatorship, thinking, that, under the shelter of his

great name and authority, they should be better able to contend for the

power of the aristocracy. But when Camillus was sitting upon the

tribunal, dispatching public affairs, an officer, sent by the tribunes

of the people, commanded him to rise and follow him, laying his hand

upon him, as ready to seize and carry him away; upon which, such a noise

and tumult as was never heard before, filled the whole forum; some that

were about Camillus thrusting the officer from the bench, and the

multitude below calling out to him to bring Camillus down. Being at a

loss what to do in these difficulties, he yet laid not down his

authority, but, taking the senators along with him, he went to the

senate-house; but before he entered, besought the gods that they would

bring these troubles to a happy conclusion, solemnly vowing, when the

tumult was ended, to build a temple to Concord. A great conflict of

opposite opinions arose in the senate; but, at last, the most moderate

and most acceptable to the people prevailed, and consent was given, that

of two consuls, one should be chosen from the commonalty. When the

dictator proclaimed this determination of the senate to the people, at

the moment, pleased and reconciled with the senate, as indeed could not

otherwise be, they accompanied Camillus home, with all expressions and

acclamations of joy; and the next day, assembling together, they voted a

temple of Concord to be built, according to Camillus's vow, facing the

assembly and the forum; and to the feasts, called the Latin holidays,

they added one day more, making four in all; and ordained that, on the

present occasion, the whole people of Rome should sacrifice with

garlands on their heads.

In the election of consuls held by Camillus, Marcus Aemilius was chosen

of the patricians, and Lucius Sextius the first of the commonalty; and

this was the last of all Camillus's actions. In the year following, a

pestilential sickness infected Rome, which, besides an infinite number

of the common people, swept away most of the magistrates, among whom was

Camillus; whose death cannot be called immature, if we consider his

great age, or greater actions, yet was he more lamented than all the

rest put together that then died of that distemper.