mines； hearing the words； immediately pulled down the floor； and；
ascending with noise and clashing weapons； frightened away the
enemy； and； snatching up the entrails； carried them to Camillus。 But
this may look like a fable。 The city； however； being taken by storm；
and the soldiers busied in pillaging and gathering an infinite
quantity of riches and spoils； Camillus； from the high tower；
viewing what was done； at first wept for pity； and when they that were
by congratulated his success； he lifted up his hands to heaven； and
broke out into this prayer： 〃O most mighty Jupiter； and ye gods that
are judges of good and evil actions ye know that not without just
cause； but constrained by necessity； we have been forced to revenge
ourselves on the city of our unrighteous and wicked enemies。 But if；
in the vicissitude of things； there may be any calamity due； to
counterbalance this great felicity； I beg that it may be diverted from
the city and army of the Romans； and fall； with as little hurt as
may be； upon my own head。〃 Having said these words； and just turning
about （as the custom of the Romans is to turn to the right after
adoration or prayer）； he stumbled and fell； to the astonishment of all
that were present。 But； recovering himself presently from the fall； he
told them that he had received what he had prayed for； a small
mischance； in compensation for the greatest good fortune。
Having sacked the city； he resolved； according as he had vowed； to
carry Juno's image to Rome； and； the workmen being ready for that
purpose； he sacrificed to the goddess； and made his supplications that
she would be pleased to accept of their devotion toward her； and
graciously vouchsafe to accept of a place among the gods that presided
at Rome； and the statue； they say； answered in a low voice that she
was ready and willing to go。 Livy writes； that； in praying； Camillus
touched the goddess； and invited her； and that some of the standers…by
cried out that she was willing and would come。 They who stand up for
the miracle and endeavour to maintain it have one great advocate on
their side in the wonderful fortune of the city； which； from a small
and contemptible beginning； could never have attained to that
greatness and power without many signal manifestations of the divine
presence and co…operation。 Other wonders of the like nature； drops
of sweat seen to stand on statues； groans heard from them； the figures
seen to turn round and to close their eyes； are recorded by many
ancient historians； and we ourselves could relate divers wonderful
things； which we have been told by men of our own time； that are not
lightly to be rejected； but to give too easy credit to such things； or
wholly to disbelieve them； is equally dangerous； so incapable is human
infirmity of keeping any bounds； or exercising command over itself；
running off sometimes to superstition and dotage； at other times to
the contempt and neglect of all that is supernatural。 But moderation
is best； and to avoid all extremes。
Camillus； however； whether puffed up with the greatness of his
achievement in conquering a city that was the rival of Rome； and had
held out a ten years' siege； or exalted with the felicitations of
those that were about him； assumed to himself more than became a civil
and legal magistrate； among other things； in the pride and haughtiness
of his triumph； driving through Rome in a chariot drawn with four
white horses； which no general either before or since ever did； for
the Romans consider such a mode of conveyance to be sacred and
specially set apart to the king； and father of the gods。 This
alienated the hearts of his fellow…citizens； who were not accustomed
to such pomp and display。
The second pique they had against him was his opposing the law by
which the city was to be divided； for the tribunes of the people
brought forward a motion that the people and senate should be
divided into two parts； one of which should remain at home； the
other as the lot should decide； remove to the new…taken city。 By which
means they should not only have much more room； but； by the
advantage of two great and magnificent cities； be better able to
maintain their territories and their fortunes in general。 The
people； therefore； who were numerous and indigent； greedily embraced
it； and crowded continually to the forum； with tumultuous demands to
have it put to the vote。 But the senate and the noblest citizens；
judging the proceedings of the tribunes to tend rather to a
destruction than a division of Rome； greatly averse to it； went to
Camillus for assistance； who； fearing the result if it came to a
direct contest； contrived to occupy the people with other business；
and so staved it off。 He thus became unpopular。 But the greatest and
most apparent cause of their dislike against him arose from the tenths
of the spoil； the multitude having here； if not a just； yet a
plausible case against him。 For it seems； as he went to the siege of
Veii； he had vowed to Apollo that if he took the city he would
dedicate to him the tenth of the spoil。 The city being taken and
sacked； whether he was loth to trouble the soldiers at that time； or
that through the multitude of business he had forgotten his vow； he
suffered them to enjoy that part of the spoils also。 Some time
afterwards； when his authority was laid down； he brought the matter
before the senate； and the priests； at the same time； reported； out of
the sacrifices； that there were intimations of divine anger； requiring
propitiations and offerings。 The senate decreed the obligations to
be in force。
But seeing it was difficult for every one to produce the very same
things they had taken； to be divided anew； they ordained that every
one upon oath should bring into the public the tenth part of his
gains。 This occasioned many annoyances and hardships to the
soldiers； who were poor men； and had endured much in the war； and
now were forced； out of what they had gained and spent； to bring in so
great a proportion。 Camillus； being assaulted by their clamour and
tumults； for want of a better excuse； betook himself to the poorest of
defences； confessing he had forgotten his vow； they in turn complained
that he had vowed the tenth of the enemy's goods； and now levied it
out of the tenth of the citizens'。 Nevertheless； every one having
brought in his due proportion； it was decreed that out of it a bowl of
massy gold should be made； and sent to Delphi。 And when there was
great scarcity of gold in the city； and the magistrates were
considering where to get it； the Roman ladies； meeting together and
consulting among themselves； out of the golden ornaments they wore
contributed as much as went to the making of the offering； which in
weight came to eight talents of gold。 The senate； to give them the
honour they had deserved； ordained that funeral orations should be
used at the obsequies of women as well as men； it having never
before been a custom that any women after death should receive any
public eulogy。 Choosing out； therefore； three of the noblest
citizens as a deputation； they sent them in a vessel of war； well
manned and sumptuously adorned。 Storm and calm at sea may both； they
say； alike be dangerous； as they at this time experienced； being
brought almost to the very brink of destruction； and； beyond all
expectation； escaping。 For near the isles of Aeolus the wind slacking；
galleys of the Lipareans came upon them； taking them for pirates； and；
when they held up their hands as suppliants； forbore indeed from
violence； but took their ship in tow； and carried her into the
harbour； where they exposed to sale their goods and persons as
lawful prize； they being pirates； and scarcely； at last； by the virtue
and interest of one man； Timasitheus by name； who was in office as
general； and used his utmost persuasion； they were； with much ado；
dismissed。 He； however； himself sent out some of his own vessels
with them； to accompany them in their voyage and assist them at the
dedication； for which he received honours at Rome； as he had deserved。
And now the tribunes of the people again resuming their motion for
the division of the city； the war against the Faliscans luckily
broke out； giving liberty to the chief citizens to choose what
magistrates they pleased； and to appoint Camillus military tribune；
with five colleagues； affairs then requiring a commander of
authority and reputation； as well as experience。 And when the people
had ratified the election； he marched with his forces into the
territories of the Faliscans； and laid siege to Falerii； a
well…fortified city； and plentifully stored with all necessaries of
war。 And although he perceived it would be no small work to take it；
and no little time would be required for it； yet he was willing to
exercise the citizens and keep them abroad； that they might have no
leisure； idling at home； to follow the tribunes in factions and
seditions； a very common remedy； indeed； with the Romans； who thus
carried off； like good physicians； the ill humours of their
commonwealth。 The Falerians； trusting in the strength of their city；
which was well fortified on all sides； made so little account of the
siege； that all； with the exception of those that guarded the walls；
as in times of peace； walked about the streets in their common
dress； the boys went to school； and were led by their master to play
and exercise about the town walls； for the Falerians； like the Greeks；
used to have a single teacher for many pupils； wishing their
children to live and be brought up from the beginning in each
other's company。
This schoolmaster； designing to betray the Falerians by their
children； led them out every day under the town wall； at first but a
little way； and； when they had exercised； brought them home again。
Afterwards by degrees he drew them farther and farther； till by
practice he had made them bold and fearless； as if no danger was about
them； and at last； having got them all together； he brought them to
the outposts of the Romans； and delivered them up； demanding to be led
to Camillus。 Where being come； and standing in the middle； he said
that he was the master and teacher of these children； but preferri