THE HISTORY OF ROME.

CHAPTER XX.

FROM THE FALL OF VEII TO THE SIEGE OF CLUSIUM.

(A.U.C. 349-363; B.C. 405-391.)

1. Veii-Its Strength-The Attack and Defeat of the Romans-M. Furius CamillusSiege of Veii-Measures at Rome.-2. Progress of the Siege-Successes of the Romans-Defeat of the Tribunes Titinius and C. Genucius-Panic at RomeCamillus created Dictator.-3. Legend of the Alban Lake and the Fall of VeiiDivision of the Spoil-Unpopularity of the Conqueror Camillus.-4. The War with the Carpenates and Faliscans-Generosity and Success of Camillus-War with the Vulsinians-Impeachment and Exile of Camillus-His Prayer on quitting the City.-5. The Gauls-Their Invasion of Northern Italy-Their Social Condition-Story of Aruns-Siege of Clusium.-6. The Clusines ask Aid from the Romans-Roman Ambassadors sent to Clusium-Reception by the Gauls-The Republic threatened by Brennus.

1. VEII, about a dozen miles from Rome was a strong Etruscan city, very wealthy, well fortified and enclosed within walls four miles in circuit. The Romans knew the difficulties to be encountered in its capture. It was inhabited by subjects and slaves, and as the slaves could not be trusted with war-business, the Veientines had always in time of war to apply for assistance to the neighbouring peoples. The war began in the nineteenth military Tribuneship (B.c. 405) and lasted about ten years. In the winter months, for several years, the Romans withdrew till the following spring, but at length the Senate resolved that the troops should be paid for their services and remain in huts before the besieged city, throughout the winter. It was arranged that their pay should be raised from tithes off the domain-lands, and from this time, when the soldiers were relieved from the necessity of providing for themselves, Rome rapidly made conquests and extended her rule. From this period, dates the institution among the Romans of a standing army. Some of the Etruscan peoples in the hour of need had come to the help of Veii, but in the third year of the war pretending to be offended that the Veientines had elected a King, for they were sturdy Republicans,-but in reality being pressed by the Gauls they withdrew from the conflict. At first forts were erected and garrisoned by the Romans on the enemy's lands, to prevent their cultivation, and to stop supplies going into Veii, but at length (B.C. 403) siege was laid to the town, a mound was thrown up before its walls, and battering-rams were placed in position. Then the Veientines rushed out and drove away their foe, burned the gallery which protected the battering-rams, and levelled

the mound with the earth. Nothing daunted the Romans returned to the conflict, led by the Consular Tribunes L. Virginius and M. Sergius (B.C. 402). The equestrian order offered their own horses, and engaging themselves to serve without pay, the Commons followed their example in great numbers. The Senate were touched with these pledges of patriotism, and exclaimed as they left the Comitium,-"Oh! glorious day!" while, from mere delight Senators and people wept together. Through differences between the two commanders however, the Romans were again beaten by the Veientines, who were now aided by the Carpenates and Faliscans. This disaster forced all the Tribunes to resign their office and new ones were elected. Amongst the latter was the famous M. Furius Camillus, whose exploits are so well told by Plutarch, and who now for the first time figures at the siege of Veii. Camillus and one of his colleagues, with a large force, laid waste the lands of the Carpenates and Faliscans up to the very walls of their cities. At Rome the patricians made an attempt to get two of their own order chosen Tribunes of the Commons, but failed (B.C. 401), the two lately defeated commanders were heavily fined, and a law was passed to enforce the honest payment of tithes. Soon after (B.C. 400), the plebeians succeeded in electing one of their own order amongst the Military Tribunes, and for the next year (B.C. 399) all were elected from the plebeians, except the city prefect.

2. A summer of pestilence followed a hard winter, but the Romans again took the field, and sat down before Veii in the form of a double camp. The Carpenates and Faliscans were again defeated, and their lands were ravaged during the next year (B.C. 398), while the Tarquinians who had come out against Rome (B.C. 397), were routed with heavy loss. In the last year of this long war (B.C. 396) all the Military Tribunes were plebeians, but two of them, Titinius, and C. Genucius were defeated by the Carpenates and Faliscans, Genucius falling slain, and Titinius escaping with great difficulty. The panic all but caused the flight of the troops from before Veii; Rome was in great alarm, and Camillus was at once created Dictator. Camillus, joined by some Latins and Hernicans, after beating the Carpenates and Faliscans, appeared again with a strong force before Veii.*

* What follows of this narrative in relation to Veii modern critics have decided to designate not historical, but poetical. Had not their criticisms tried to destroy almost all early Roman history, and displayed an unusual amount of faith in mere theories and in their own sagacity and skill, the student of history might have relied confidently on the truthfulness of their conjectures.

3. It is now told by the historians, that the waters of the Alban lake without rain or any natural cause, suddenly rose to the height of the rocks which encompassed them and overflowed the surrounding country. An aged Veientine informed a Roman centurion that the sacred books declared that Veii would never be captured till all the waters were drained from the Alban lake. The old man was made prisoner and sent to Rome, and the Senate despatched to the Oracle at Delphi three patricians, who on their return confirmed the prediction related by the old Veientine. The Romans at once resolved to drain the Alban lake, and commenced to how a passage for the purpose of carrying the waters through the fields by ditches. When the work was nearly completed, the Veientines were informed of it, and at once sent ambassadors to Rome to sue for peace. This was in vain; and the ambassadors on leaving the Senate-house declared that the same oracles which foretold the fall of Veii, foretold also that Rome would soon be taken by the Gauls. Another underground passage was made by the Romans leading to the citadel of Veii, and was intended to end in the Temple of Juno. So sure were the Romans of their prize that the Senate declared that all Romans who would visit the camp should share the plunder. Old and young marched to the doomed city. The waters of the lake were turned by the tunnel into the fields, preparations for the assault were made, the Dictator, Camillus, who had vowed rich offerings to the gods, attended by his men, entered the tunnel which led to the Temple of Juno, and an assault on the city commenced. At this time the King of Veii was offering a sacrifice in the Temple, and the Romans underground overheard the priest say that whoever should first bring the goddess her share of the victim to be offered would conquer. The Romans at once rushed into the Temple and instantly offered the victim on the altar; then they marched into the city and opened the gates to the victorious army. Thus fell Veii, and thus, we are told, conquered the Dictator, Camillus (B.C. 396). The spoil which was immense except the captives who were sold for the profit of the Republic-was divided among the soldiers, and the lands of the Veientines were divided into lots of seven jugera, and given to all the plebeians. The Statue of Juno says the legend, followed the victors to Rome, where, on the Aventine, a Temple was erected to that goddess. Camillus had a "triumph," in which he conducted himself with much pomp and pride, appearing in a chariot drawn by white horses, his head

crowned with laurel and his face painted vermilion, and he is said to have offended the gods. He sent the offering he had vowed to the Delphic oracle, in the shape of a golden bowl which weighed eight talents. But his pride at the "triumph" ruined his popularity; his offering to the Delphic god, displeased those who had shared the plunder and who in ignorance of his vow, after having spent their share of spoil, had to contribute their portion, while his uniting with the patricians in an attempt to deprive the plebeians of a share of the Veientine lands all but completed his fall.*

4. The Carpenates made peace with Rome, but the war was continued against the Faliscans, and Camillus before his exile drove them from a strong position into their capital, the city of Falerii. While laying siege to this place, a public schoolmaster who was exercising his pupils outside the walls is said to have traitorously led them all, including the sons of the most distinguished citizens, out of Falerii into the camp of Camillus, and as he delivered them into his hands, coolly remarked, "With these, I have brought you the keys which will open the city." This was true enough; for fathers will give up their homes rather than their children, and Camillus became master of Falerii. But this high-minded general did not seek advantages from meanness, nor victories from traitors. From the treacherous schoolmaster, he turned away in disgust, and addressing his friends, said, "Victory, however desirable, ought not to be purchased by the help of the wicked! A great general must rely upon his own valour, not upon the deceit and treachery of the base." Then he ordered his soldiers to strip and bind the schoolmaster, put scourges into the hands of the pupils and left them to inflict on the villain the well-deserved punishment. From the walls of Falerii, the distracted parents of the boys watched the conduct of the vile tutor and the magnanimous Camillus. At once they sent a deputation to the camp, with thanks to the great warrior, and the acknowledgment that "they considered themselves twice conquered-once in the field, and again by his generosity, and that now" they added "they would yield to his virtue what they had refused to his arms."t A peace followed on condition that the Faliscans

* It is a curious fact that some of the remains of the tunnel by which Camillus is said to have drained the Alban lake are still to be seen.

+ Both Plutarch (in Camillus) and Livy (v. 27) narrate this incident. It is true however that the dates in connection with the exploits of Camillus are much confused.

gave the Roman soldiers a whole year's pay, and though the soldiers murmured because they had not been allowed to plunder the city of Falerii, Camillus on his triumphant entry into Rome was greeted with the shouts and cheers of crowds of admiring citizens, who prized more this virtuous action even than a laurel won by spear and battle-axe. The Faliscans, some years later, were admitted into the four new Roman tribes.* A war, probably caused by the reduction of Falerii, was carried on against the Vulsinians, another Etruscan people, but a great battle put an end to the conflict, and a peace of twenty years was agreed to (B.c. 391). This year, the victorious Camillus was impeached by L. Apuleius, a tribune of the Commons, for secreting and appropriating to his own use, some of the spoil taken from Veii. In the year preceding, the Consuls, through negligence, had allowed Dionysius of Syracuse to take Pyrgi from the Carites-a people in alliance with Rome and it is supposed that Camillus had compelled them in consequence to resign their office, and thus brought further troubles on himself. But his whole conduct in regard to the disposal of the property of the Veientines, had made a lasting impression on the citizens of Rome. Two brazen gates taken from Veii were said to be then in his own house, and he was formally cited to take his trial before the people. At the moment the summons came, the general was engaged at his home in closing the eyes of a promising but deceased son. He refused to obey the summons, and for consultation called together his friends. They were willing to pay the fine that might be inflicted, but could not promise to acquit him." Camillus saw he should not be shielded from public injury and insult, and prepared to leave Rome, an exile. He took leave of his family, walked in silence to the gate of the City, and having passed the barrier an impoverished outcast, though he had once so much served and enriched his country, he fell on his knees, stretched out his hands towards the Capitol, and invoking the gods, prayed "that if he were driven out unjustly, and merely by the violence or envy of the Romans, they might quickly have cause bitterly to regret it and express to all the world their want of Camillus." He retired to Ardea, where he was

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*Arnold's "History of Rome," vol. i.

+ Livy, v. 32. The refusal of the friends of Camillus "to acquit him" may mean that the people were so opposed to him that "acquittal" was impossible, but Arnold and Niebuhr think that they deemed Camillus guilty.