The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08
Sutrium, allies of the Roman people, whose ambassadors having applied to
the senate, imploring aid in their distress, obtained a decree, that the
dictator should at the earliest opportunity bear aid to the Sutrians.
And when the circumstances of the besieged would not suffer them to
brook the delay of this hope, and the small number of the townsmen were
spent with labour, watching, and wounds, all which fell heavily on the
same individuals, and when, the city being delivered up to the enemy by
a capitulation, they were leaving their habitations in a miserable
train, being discharged without their arms with only a single garment;
at that juncture Camillus happened to come up at the head of the Roman
army. And when the mournful crowd prostrated themselves at his feet, and
the address of the leading men, wrung from them by extreme necessity,
was followed by the weeping of women and boys, who were dragged along by
the companions of their exile, he bade the Sutrians to give over their
lamentations: that he brought with him grief and tears to the Etrurians.
He then orders the baggage to be deposited, and the Sutrians to remain
there with a small guard left with them, and the soldiers to follow him
in arms. Having thus proceeded to Sutrium with his army disencumbered,
he found, as he expected, every thing in disorder, as usually happens in
success; no advanced guard before the walls, the gates lying open, and
the conquerors dispersed, carrying out the booty from the houses of the
enemy. Sutrium is therefore taken a second time on the same day; the
Etrurians, lately victorious, are cut down in every quarter by their new
enemy, nor is time afforded them to collect and form one body, or even
to take up arms. When each pushed eagerly towards the gates, to try if
by any chance they could throw themselves into the fields, they found
the gates shut; for the dictator had given those orders in the first
instance. Upon this some took up arms, others, who happened to be armed
before the tumult came on them, called their friends together in order
to make battle; which would have been kindled by the despair of the
enemy, had not criers, sent in every direction through the city, issued
orders that their arms should be laid down, that the unarmed should be
spared, and that no one should be injured except those who were armed.
Then even those whose minds had been, in their last hope, obstinately
bent on fighting, when hopes of life were offered, threw down their arms
in every direction, and surrendered themselves unarmed to the enemy,
which fortune had rendered the safer method. Their number being
considerable, they were distributed among several guards; the town was
before night restored to the Sutrians uninjured and free from all the
calamities of war, because it had not been taken by force but delivered
up on terms.
4. Camillus returned to the city in triumph, being victorious in three
wars at the same time. By far the greatest number of the prisoners whom
he led before his chariot were from among the Etrurians. And these being
sold by auction, such a sum of money was raised, that after paying the
matrons the price of their gold, out of that which was over and above,
three golden bowls were made; which, inscribed with the name of
Camillus, it is certain, lay, before the burning of the Capitol, in the
recess of Jupiter's temple at the feet of Juno. On that year such of the
Veientians, Capenatians, and Faliscians as had come over to the Romans
during the wars with those nations, were admitted into the state, and
land was assigned to these new citizens. Those also were recalled by a
decree of the senate from Veii, who, from a dislike to building at Rome,
had betaken themselves to Veii, and had seized on the vacant houses
there. And at first there was a murmuring on their part disregarding the
order; then a day having been appointed, and capital punishment
[denounced against any one] who did not return to Rome, from being
refractory as they were collectively, rendered them when taken singly
obedient, each through fear for himself. And Rome both now increased in
numbers, and rose throughout its entire extent by its buildings, the
state assisting in the expenses, and the ædiles urging on the work as if
public, and private persons (for the want felt of accommodation
stimulated them) hastening to complete the work; and within a year a new
city was erected. At the termination of the year an election was held of
military tribunes with consular power. Those elected were, Titus
Quinctius Cincinnatus, Quintus Servilius Fidenas a fifth time, Lucius
Julius Iulus, Lucius Aquillius Corvus, Lucius Lucretius Tricipitinus,
Servius Sulpicius Rufus. They led one army against the Æquans, not to
war, (for they owned themselves conquered,) but from motives of
animosity, to lay waste their territories, lest they should leave them
any strength for new designs; the other into the territory of Tarquinii.
Here Cortuosa and Contenebra, towns belonging to the Etrurians, were
taken by storm and demolished. At Cortuosa there was no contest; having
attacked it by surprise, they took it at the first shout and onset; the
town was plundered and burned. Contenebra sustained a siege for a few
days; and it was continual labour, abated neither by night nor by day,
that reduced them. When the Roman army, having been divided into six
parts, each [division] relieved the other in the battle one hour in six
in rotation, and the paucity of numbers exposed the same individual
townsmen, wearied as they were, to a contest ever new, they at length
yielded, and an opportunity was afforded to the Romans of entering the
city. It was the wish of the tribunes that the spoil should be made
public property; but the order [that such should be so] was too late for
their determination. Whilst they hesitate, the spoil already became the
property of the soldiers; nor could it be taken from them, except by
means calculated to excite dissatisfaction. On the same year, that the
city should not increase by private buildings only, the lower parts of
the Capitol also were built of hewn stone; a work deserving of
admiration even amid the present magnificence of the city.
5. Now, whilst the state was busily occupied in building, the tribunes
of the commons endeavoured to draw crowds to their harangues by
[proposing] the agrarian laws. The Pomptine territory was then, for the
first time since the power of the Volscians had been reduced by
Camillus, held out to them as their indisputable right. They alleged it
as a charge, that "that district was much more harassed on the part of
the nobility than it had been on that of the Volscians, for that
incursions were made by the one party on it, only as long as they had
strength and arms; that persons belonging to the nobility encroached on
the possession of land that was public, nor would there be any room in
it for the commons, unless a division were now made, before they seized
on all." They made not much impression on the commons, who through their
anxiety for building attended the forum only in small numbers, and were
drained by their expenses on the same object, and were therefore
careless about land for the improvement of which means were wanting. The
state being full of religious impressions, and then even the leading men
having become superstitious by reason of their recent misfortunes, in
order that the auspices might be taken anew, the government had once
more recourse to an interregnum. The successive interreges were, Marcus
Manlius Capitolinus, Servius Sulpicius Camerinus, and Lucius Valerius
Potitus. The last at length held an election of military tribunes with
consular power. He nominates Lucius Papirius, Caius Cornelius, Caius
Sergius, Lucius Æmilius a second time, Lucius Menenius, and Lucius
Valerius Publicola a third time. These entered on their office after the
interregnum. This year the temple of Mars, vowed in the Gallic war, was
dedicated by Titus Quinctius, duumvir for performing religious rites.
Four tribes were added from the new citizens, the Stellatine, the
Tormentine, the Sabatine, and the Arnian, and they made up the number of
twenty-five tribes.
6. Regarding the Pomptine land the matter was pressed by Lucius
Sicinius, plebeian tribune, on the people, who now attended in greater
numbers, and more readily aroused to the desire of land than they had
been. And mention having been introduced in the senate regarding war
against the Latins and Hernicians, the matter was deferred in
consequence of their attending to a more important war, because Etruria
was up in arms. Matters reverted to their electing Camillus military
tribune with consular power. Five colleagues were added, Servius
Cornelius Maluginensis, Quintus Servilius Fidenas a sixth time, Lucius
Quinctius Cincinnatus, Lucius Horatius Pulvillus, and Publius Valerius.
At the commencement of the year the attention of the people was drawn
away from the Etrurian war, because a body of fugitives from the
Pomptine district, suddenly entering the city, brought word that the
Antians were up in arms; and that the states of the Latins privately
sent their youth to that war, denying that there was any public concert
in it, they alleging that volunteers were only not prevented from
serving in whatever quarter they pleased. They had now ceased to despise
any wars. Accordingly the senate returned thanks to the gods, because
Camillus was in office; for (they knew) that it would have been
necessary to nominate him dictator, if he were in a private station. And
his colleagues agreed that when any terror with respect to war
threatened, the supreme direction of every thing should be vested in one
man, and that they had determined to consign their authority into the
hands of Camillus; and that they did not consider, that any concession
they should make to the dignity of that man, derogated in any way from
their own. The tribunes having been highly commended by the senate,
Camillus himself also, covered with confusion, returned thanks. He then
said that "a heavy burden was laid on him by the Roman people, by their
having now nominated him dictator for the fourth time; a great one by
the senate, by reason of such flattering judgments of that house
concerning him; the greatest of all, however, by the condescension of
such distinguished colleagues. Where if any addition could be made to
his diligence and vigilance, that, vying with himself, he would strive
to render the opinion of the state, [expressed] with such unanimity
regarding him, as permanent as it was most honourable." In reference to
the war and to the people of Antium, that there was more of threats
there than of danger; that he, however, would advise that, as they
should fear nothing, so should they despise nothing. That the city of
Rome was beset by the ill-will and hatred of its neighbours: therefore
that the commonwealth should be maintained by a plurality, both of
generals and of armies. "It is my wish," said he, "that you, Publius
Valerius, as my associate in command and counsel, should lead the troops
with me against the enemy at Antium; that you, Quintus Servilius, after
raising and equipping another army, shall encamp in the city, ready to
act, whether Etruria, as lately, or these new causes of anxiety, the
Latins and Hernicians, should bestir themselves. I deem it as certain
that you will conduct matters, as is worthy of your father and
grandfather, and of yourself and six tribuneships. Let a third army be
raised by Lucius Quinctius, out of those excused from service and the
seniors, [those past the military age,] who may protect the city and the
walls. Let Lucius Horatius provide arms, weapons, corn, and whatever the
other exigencies of the war shall demand. You, Servius Cornelius, we