CAMILLUS
445？…365 B。C。
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
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 intrusted to 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 honour 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 honour；
serving under Postumius Tubertis； 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
honourable contests with the Romans for glory and empire。 But now they
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 many of the
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 ploughed 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 honour 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 underground；
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 honoured 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 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