The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08
Caius Servilius Ahala. The last had the honour continued to him by
re-election, as well in consequence of his other deserts, as on account
of his recent popularity, acquired by his singular moderation.
[Footnote 158: The passing of a _senatus-consultum_, or decree of the
senate, might be prevented in several ways; as, for instance, by the
want of a sufficiently full meeting, &c.; in such cases the judgment of
the majority was recorded, and that was called _auctoritas senatûs_.]
58. In that year, because the term of the truce with the Veientian
nation was expired, restitution began to be demanded through ambassadors
and heralds, who on coming to the frontiers were met by an embassy from
the Veientians. They requested that they would not proceed to Veii,
until they should first have access to the Roman senate. They obtained
from the senate, that, because the Veientians were distressed by
intestine dissension, restitution would not be demanded from them; so
far were they from seeking, in the troubles of others, an opportunity
for advancing their own interest. In the Volscian territory also a
disaster was sustained in the loss of the garrison at Verrugo; where so
much depended on time, that when the soldiers who were besieged there,
and were calling for succour, might have been relieved, if expedition
had been used, the army sent to their aid only came in time to surprise
the enemy, who were straggling in quest of plunder, just after their
putting [the garrison] to the sword. The cause of the dilatoriness was
less referrible to the tribunes than to the senate, who, because word
was brought that they were holding out with the most vigorous
resistance, did not duly reflect that there is a limit to human
strength, which no bravery can exceed. These very gallant soldiers,
however, were not without revenge, both before and after their death. In
the following year, Publius and Cneius Cornelius Cossus, Numerius Fabius
Ambustus, and Lucius Valerius Potitus, being military tribunes with
consular power, the Veientian war was commenced on account of an
insolent answer of the Veientian senate, who, when the ambassadors
demanded restitution, ordered them to be told, that if they did not
speedily quit the city and the territories, they should give them what
Lars Tolumnius had given them. The senate, indignant at this, decreed
that the military tribunes should, on as early a day as possible,
propose to the people the proclaiming war against the Veientians. When
this was first made public, the young men expressed their
dissatisfaction. "That the war with the Volscians was not yet over; that
a little time ago two garrisons were utterly destroyed, and that [one of
the forts] was with great risk retained. That there was not a year in
which they had not to fight in the field: and, as if they were
dissatisfied at the insufficiency of these toils, a new war was now set
on foot with a neighbouring and most powerful nation, who were likely to
rouse all Etruria." These discontents, first discussed among themselves,
were further aggravated by the plebeian tribunes. These constantly
affirm that the war of the greatest moment was that between the
patricians and commons. That the latter was designedly harassed by
military service, and exposed to be butchered by the enemy; that they
were kept at a distance from the enemy, and as it were banished, lest
during the enjoyment of rest at home, mindful of liberty and of
establishing colonies, they may form plans for obtaining some of the
public land, or for giving their suffrages freely; and taking hold of
the veterans, they recounted the campaigns of each, and their wounds and
scars, frequently asking what sound spot was there on their body for the
reception of new wounds? what blood had they remaining which could be
shed for the commonwealth? When by discussing these subjects in private
conversations, and also in public harangues, they produced in the people
an aversion to undertaking a war, the time for proposing the law was
adjourned; which would obviously have been rejected, if it had been
subjected to the feeling of discontent then prevailing.
59. In the mean time it was determined that the military tribunes should
lead an army into the Volscian territory. Cneius Cornelius alone was
left at Rome. The three tribunes, when it became evident that the
Volscians had not established a camp any where, and that they would not
venture an engagement, separated into three different parties to lay
waste the country. Valerius makes for Antium, Cornelius for Ecetræ.
Wherever they came, they committed extensive devastations on the houses
and lands, so as to separate the Volscians: Fabius, without committing
any devastation, proceeded to attack Auxur, which was a principal object
in view. Auxur is the town now called Tarracinæ; a city built on a
declivity leading to a morass: Fabius made a feint of attacking it on
that side. When four cohorts sent round under Caius Servilius Ahala took
possession of a hill which commanded the city, they attacked the walls
with a loud shout and tumult, from the higher ground where there was no
guard of defence. Those who were defending the lower parts of the city
against Fabius, astounded at this tumult, afforded him an opportunity of
applying the scaling ladders, and every place soon became filled with
the enemy, and a dreadful slaughter continued for a long time,
indiscriminately of those who fled and those who resisted, of the armed
or unarmed. The vanquished were therefore obliged to fight, there being
no hope for those who gave way, when a proclamation suddenly issued,
that no persons except those with arms in their hands should be injured,
induced all the remaining multitude voluntarily to lay down their arms;
of whom two thousand five hundred are taken alive. Fabius kept his
soldiers from the spoil, until his colleagues should come; affirming
that Auxur had been taken by these armies also, who had diverted the
other Volscian troops from the defence of that place. When they came,
the three armies plundered the town, which was enriched with wealth of
many years' accumulation; and this generosity of the commanders first
reconciled the commons to the patricians. It was afterwards added, by a
liberality towards the people on the part of the leading men the most
seasonable ever shown, that before any mention should be made of it by
the commons or tribunes, the senate should decree that the soldiers
should receive pay out of the public treasury, whereas up to that period
every one had discharged that duty at his own expense.
60. It is recorded that nothing was ever received by the commons with so
much joy; that they ran in crowds to the senate-house, and caught the
hands of those coming out, and called them fathers indeed; acknowledging
that the result of such conduct was that no one would spare his person
or his blood, whilst he had any strength remaining, in defence of a
country so liberal. Whilst the prospect of advantage pleased them, that
their private property should remain unimpaired at the time during which
their bodies should be devoted and employed for the interest of the
commonwealth, it further increased their joy very much, and rendered
their gratitude for the favour more complete, because it had been
offered to them voluntarily, without ever having been agitated by the
tribunes of the commons, or made the subject of a demand in their own
conversations. The tribunes of the commons, the only parties who did not
participate in the general joy and harmony prevailing through the
different ranks, denied "that this measure would prove so much a matter
of joy, or so honourable to the patricians,[159] as they themselves
might imagine. That the measure at first sight was better than it would
prove by experience. For from what source was that money to be raised,
except by levying a tax on the people. That they were generous to some
therefore at the expense of others; and even though others may endure
it, those who had already served out their time in the service, would
never endure that others should serve on better terms than they
themselves had served; and that these same individuals should have to
bear the expense of their own service, and then that of others." By
these arguments they influenced a part of the commons. At last, when the
tax was now announced, the tribunes publicly declared, that they would
afford protection to any one who should refuse to contribute his
proportion for the pay of the soldiers. The patricians persisted in
supporting a matter so happily commenced. They themselves were the first
to contribute; and because there was as yet no coined silver, some of
them conveying their weighed brass to the treasury in waggons, rendered
their contribution very showy. After the senate had contributed with the
utmost punctuality according to their rated properties, the principal
plebeians, friends of the nobility, according to a concerted plan, began
to contribute. And when the populace saw these men highly applauded by
the patricians, and also looked up to as good citizens by men of the
military age, scorning the support of the tribunes, an emulation
commenced at once about paying the tax. And the law being passed about
declaring war against the Veientians, the new military tribunes with
consular power marched to Veii an army consisting in a great measure of
volunteers.
[Footnote 159: The reading of the original here is decidedly incorrect.
Various emendations have been attempted, but none can be deemed
satisfactory.]
61. The tribunes were Titus Quintius Capitolinus, Publius Quintius
Cincinnatus, Caius Julius Julus a second time, Aulus Manlius, Lucius
Furius Medullinus a second time, and Manius Æmilius Mamercinus. By these
Veii was first invested. A little before the commencement of this siege,
when a full meeting of the Etrurians was held at the temple of Voltumna,
it was not finally determined whether the Veientians were to be
supported by the public concurrence of the whole confederacy. The siege
was less vigorous in the following year, some of the tribunes and their
army being called off to the Volscian war. The military tribunes with
consular power in this year were Caius Valerius Potitus a third time,
Manius Largius Fidenas, Publius Cornelius Maluginensis, Cneius Cornelius
Cossus, Kæso Fabius Ambustus, Spurius Nautius Rutilus a second time. A
pitched battle was fought with the Volscians between Ferentinum and
Ecetra; the result of the battle was favourable to the Romans. Artena
then, a town of the Volscians, began to be besieged by the tribunes.
Thence during an attempt at a sally, the enemy being driven back into
the town, an opportunity was afforded to the Romans of forcing in; and
every place was taken except the citadel. Into the fortress, well
protected by nature, a body of armed men retired. Beneath the fortress
many were slain and made prisoners. The citadel was then besieged; nor
could it either be taken by storm, because it had a garrison sufficient
for the size of the place, nor did it hold out any hope of surrender,
all the public corn having been conveyed to the citadel before the city
was taken; and they would have retired from it, being wearied out, had
not a slave betrayed the fortress to the Romans: the soldiers being
admitted by him through a place difficult of access, took it; by whom
when the guards were being killed, the rest of the multitude,
overpowered with sudden panic, surrendered. After demolishing both the
citadel and city of Artena, the legions were led back from the Volscian
territory; and the whole Roman power was turned against Veii. To the
traitor, besides his freedom, the property of two families was given as
a reward. His name was Servius Romanus. There are some who think that