The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08
29. Henceforward shall be recorded wars of greater importance, both by
the strength of the belligerent powers, by the distance of the
countries, or the length of time during which they were carried on. For
in that year arms were taken up against the Samnites, a nation powerful
both in wealth and in arms. Pyrrhus followed as an enemy the war of the
Samnites carried on with various success, the Carthaginians followed
Pyrrhus. How great a mass of events! How often have extreme dangers been
encountered, that the empire might be raised to its present magnitude,
which is now scarcely sustained! But the cause of the war between the
Samnites and Romans, as they had been joined in alliance and friendship,
came from without; it originated not among themselves. After the
Samnites had unjustly taken up arms, because they had the advantage in
strength, against the Sidicinians, the weaker party being obliged to
have recourse to the aid of the more powerful, unite themselves to the
Campanians. As the Campanians brought to the relief of their allies
rather a name than strength, enervated as they were by luxury, they were
beaten in the Sidicinian territory by men who were inured to the use of
arms, and then brought on themselves the entire burthen of the war. For
the Samnites, taking no further notice of the Sidicinians, having
attacked the Campanians as being the chief of the neighbouring states,
from whom the victory might be equally easy, and a greater share of
spoil and glory, after they had secured Tifata, a ridge of hills hanging
over Capua, with a strong garrison, they march down from thence with
their army formed in a square into the plain which lies between Capua
and Tifata. There a second battle was fought; and the Campanians, after
an unsuccessful fight, being driven within their walls, when the flower
of their youth being cut down, no hope was nigh at hand, they were
obliged to sue for aid from the Romans.
30. Their ambassadors, being introduced into the senate, spoke as near
as possible to this purport: "Conscript fathers, the Campanian state has
sent us to you, to solicit from you friendship for ever, and present
aid, which if we had solicited whilst our affairs were prosperous, as it
would have commenced more readily, so would it have been bound by a
weaker tie. For then, as we should have recollected that we entered into
friendship on equal terms, we might be equally friendly as now, but
less submissive and compliant with your wishes. Now, won over by your
compassion for us, and defended by your aid in our critical
circumstances, it is incumbent on us that we show our sense also of the
kindness received; lest we should seem ungrateful, and undeserving of
aid from either god or man. Nor, indeed, do I think that because the
Samnites first became your allies and friends, such a circumstance is
sufficient to prevent our being admitted into friendship; but merely
shows that they excel us in priority and in the degree of honour; for no
provision has been made in your treaty with the Samnites that you should
not form any new treaties. It has ever been with you a sufficient title
to your friendship, that he who sought it desired to be a friend of
yours. We, Campanians, though our present state forbids us to speak in
high terms, not yielding to any state save you in the extent of our
city, or in the fertility of our land, come into friendship with you, no
inconsiderable accession in my opinion to your flourishing condition. We
shall be in the rear of the Æquans and Volscians, the eternal enemies of
this city, whenever they may stir; and whatever ye shall be the first to
perform in defence of our safety, the same shall we ever do in defence
of your empire and glory. Those nations which lie between us and you
being reduced, which both your bravery and good fortune makes it certain
will soon be the case, you will then have an uninterrupted empire
extending even to us. It is distressing and painful, what our condition
obliges us to confess. Conscript fathers, matters are come to this, that
we Campanians must be the property either of friends or enemies. If you
defend us, yours; if you desert us, we shall be the property of the
Samnites. Consider, then, whether you would rather that Capua and all
Campania should be added to your power or to that of the Samnites.
Romans, it is surely but just, that your compassion and your aid should
lie open to all men; to those, however, chiefly, who, whilst they afford
it beyond their means to others imploring aid, have themselves been
involved in this distress. Although we fought nominally for the
Sidicinians, in reality for ourselves, when we saw a neighbouring state
assailed by the nefarious plunder of the Samnites; and after the
Sidicinians had been consumed, we saw that the conflagration would pass
over to ourselves. For the Samnites do not come to attack us, because
they resent an injury received, but because they are glad that a pretext
has been presented to them. If this were the gratification of their
resentment, and not an occasion for satiating their ambition, was it not
sufficient that they cut down our legions once in the Sidicinian
territory, a second time in Campania itself? What sort of resentment
must that be, which the blood shed in two pitched battles cannot
satiate? To this add the laying waste of our lands; the spoil of men and
cattle driven away, the burning and ruin of our country-houses, every
thing destroyed by fire and sword. Could not resentment be satisfied
with this? But ambition must be satiated. That hurries them on to
besiege Capua. They either wish to destroy that most beautiful city, or
to possess it themselves. But, Romans, do you take possession of it in
your kindness, rather than suffer them to hold it by injustice. I am not
addressing a people who decline just wars; but still, if you make but a
show of your aid, I do not think that you will have occasion for war.
The contempt of the Samnites has just reached to us; it soars not
higher. Accordingly, Romans, we may be protected even by the shadow of
your aid: whatever after this we shall possess, whatever we ourselves
shall be, determined to consider all that as yours. For you the
Campanian field shall be ploughed; for you the city of Capua shall be
made populous; you shall be to us in the light of founders, parents, ay,
even immortal gods. There shall be no colony of your own which shall
surpass us in attachment and loyalty to you. Grant to the Campanians,
conscript fathers, your nod, and your irresistible favour, and bid us
hope that Capua will be safe. With what crowds of persons of all classes
attending us do you suppose that we set out from thence--how, think you,
did we leave every place full of vows and tears? In what a state of
expectation do you suppose that the senate are, the Campanian nation,
our wives and our children? I am certain that the entire multitude are
standing at the gates, looking forward to the road that leads from
hence, anxious as to what answer you may order us, conscript fathers, to
bring back to them, in their solicitude and suspense of mind. One kind
of answer may bring them safety, victory, light, and liberty--what the
other may, I feel horror to think. Determine therefore about us, as
about persons who will be your future friends and allies, or as persons
who are to have no existence any where."
31. The ambassadors then withdrawing, after the senate had been
consulted, though to a great many, their city the greatest and
wealthiest in Italy, their land the most fertile, and situated near the
sea, seemed likely to prove a granary to the Roman people for all
varieties of provision; still the faith of their engagements was more
regarded than such great advantages, and the consul, by the direction of
the senate, answered as follows: "Campanians, the senate considers you
deserving of aid. But it is meet that friendship be so established with
you, that no prior friendship and alliance be violated. The Samnites are
united in a treaty with us. Therefore we refuse you arms against the
Samnites, which would be a violation of duty to the gods first, and then
to men. We will, as divine and human law requires, send ambassadors to
our allies and friends to entreat that no violence be committed against
you?" To this the chief of the embassy replied, (for such were the
instructions they had brought from home,) "Since you are not willing to
defend by just force our possessions against violence and injustice, at
least you will defend your own. Wherefore, conscript fathers, we
surrender the Campanian people, and the city of Capua, their lands, the
temples of the gods, all things divine and human, into your jurisdiction
and that of the Roman people; whatever we shall suffer henceforth, being
determined to suffer as men who have surrendered to you." On these
words, all extending their hands towards the consuls, bathed in tears
they fell prostrate in the porch of the senate-house. The fathers,
affected at the vicissitude of human greatness, seeing that a nation
abounding in wealth, noted for luxury and pride, from which a little
time since their neighbours had solicited assistance, was now so broken
in spirit, as to give up themselves and all they possessed into the
power of others; moreover, their honour also seemed to be involved in
not betraying those who had surrendered, nor did they consider that the
people of the Samnites would act fairly, if they should attack a
territory and a city which had become the property of the Roman people
by a surrender. It was resolved therefore, that ambassadors should be
sent forthwith to the Samnites; instructions were given "that they
should lay before the Samnites the entreaties of the Campanians, the
answer of the senate duly mindful of the friendship of the Samnites, and
finally the surrender that had been concluded. That they requested, in
consideration of the friendship and alliance subsisting between them,
that they would spare their subjects; and that they would not carry
hostilities into that territory which had become the property of the
Roman people. If by gentle measures they did not succeed, that they
should denounce to the Samnites in the name of the senate and Roman
people, to withhold their arms from the city of Capua and the Campanian
territory." When the ambassadors urged these matters in the assembly of
the Samnites, so fierce an answer was returned, that they not only said
that they would prosecute that war, but their magistrates, having gone
out of the senate-house, in the very presence of the ambassadors,
summoned the prefects of the cohorts; and with a distinct voice
commanded them, to proceed forthwith into the Campanian territory, in
order to plunder it.
32. The result of this embassy being reported at Rome, the care of all
other concerns being laid aside, the senate, having despatched heralds
to demand satisfaction, and, because this was not complied with, war
being proclaimed in the usual way, they decreed that the matter should
be submitted to the people at the very earliest opportunity; and both
the consuls having set out from the city by order of the people with two
armies, Valerius into Campania, Cornelius into Samnium, the former
pitches his camp at Mount Gaurus, the latter at Saticula. The legions of
the Samnites met with Valerius first; for they thought that the whole
weight of the war would incline to that side. At the same time
resentment stimulated them against the Campanians, that they should be
so ready at one time to lend aid, at another to call in aid against
them. But as soon as they beheld the Roman camp, they fiercely demanded
the signal each from his leader; they maintained that the Roman would
bring aid to the Campanian with the same fate with which the Campanian