feeble to the strong； which begins with God and ends in the beasts；
since all these； by nature； seek the stronger to have advantage over
the weaker。 Cease； therefore； to pity the Clusinians whom we
besiege； lest ye teach the Gauls to be kind and compassionate to those
that are oppressed by you。〃 By this answer the Romans； perceiving that
Brennus was not to be treated with； went into Clusium； and
encouraged and stirred up the inhabitants to make a sally with them
upon the barbarians； which they did either to try their strength or to
show their own。 The sally being made； and the fight growing hot
about the walls； one of the Fabii； Quintus Ambustus； being well
mounted； and setting spurs to his horse； made full against a Gaul； a
man of huge bulk and stature； whom he saw riding out at a distance
from the rest。 At the first he was not recognized； through the
quickness of the conflict and the glittering of his armour； that
precluded any view of him； but when he had overthrown the Gaul； and
was going to gather the spoils； Brennus knew him； and； invoking the
gods to be witness； that； contrary to the known and common law of
nations； which is holily observed by all mankind； he who had come as
an ambassador had now engaged in hostility against him； he drew off
his men； and bidding Clusium farewell； led his army directly to
Rome。 But not wishing that it should look as if they took advantage of
that injury； and were ready to embrace any occasion of quarrel； he
sent a herald to demand the man in punishment； and in the meantime
marched leisurely on。
The senate being met at Rome； among many others that spoke against
the Fabii； the priests called fecials were the most decided； who； on
the religious ground； urged the senate that they should lay the
whole guilt and penalty of the fact upon him that committed it； and so
exonerate the rest。 These fecials Numa Pompilius； the mildest and
justest of kings； constituted guardians of peace； and the judges and
determiners of all causes by which war may justifiably be made。 The
senate referring the whole matter to the people； and the priests
there； as well as in the senate； pleading against Fabius； the
multitude； however； so little regarded their authority； that in
scorn and contempt of it they chose Fabius and the rest of his
brothers military tribunes。 The Gauls； on hearing this； in great
rage threw aside every delay； and hastened on with all the speed
they could make。 The places through which they marched； terrified with
their numbers and the splendour of their preparations for war； and
in alarm at their violence and fierceness； began to give up their
territories as already lost； with little doubt but their cities
would quickly follow； contrary； however； to expectation； they did no
injury as they passed； nor took anything from the fields； and； as they
went by any city； cried out that they were going to Rome； that the
Romans only were their enemies； and that they took all others for
their friends。
Whilst the barbarians were thus hastening with all speed； the
military tribunes brought the Romans into the field to be ready to
engage them； being not inferior to the Gauls in number （for they
were no less than forty thousand foot）； but most of them raw soldiers；
and such as had never handled a weapon before。 Besides； they had
wholly neglected all religious usages； had not obtained favourable
sacrifices； nor made inquiries of the prophets； natural in danger
and before battle。 No less did the multitude commanders distract and
confound their proceedings； frequently before； upon less occasions；
they had chosen a single leader； with the title of dictator； being
sensible of what great importance it is in critical times to have
the soldiers united under one general with the entire and absolute
control placed in his hands。 Add to all； the remembrance of Camillus's
treatment； which made it now seem a dangerous thing for officers to
command without humouring their soldiers。 In this condition they
left the city； and encamped by the river Allia； about ten miles from
Rome； and not far from the place where it falls into the Tiber； and
here the Gauls came upon them； and； after a disgraceful resistance；
devoid of order and discipline； they were miserably defeated。 The left
wing was immediately driven into the river； and there destroyed； the
right had less damage by declining the shock； and from the low grounds
getting to the tops of the hills； from whence most of them
afterwards dropped into the city； the rest； as many as escaped； the
enemy being weary of the slaughter； stole by night to Veii； giving
up Rome and all that was in it for lost。
This battle was fought about the summer solstice； the moon being
at full； the very same day in which the sad disaster of the Fabii
had happened； when three hundred of that name were at one time cut off
by the Tuscans。 But from this second loss and defeat the day got the
name of Alliensis from the river Allia； and still retains it。 The
question of unlucky days； whether we should consider any to be so； and
whether Heraclitus did well in upbraiding Hesiod for distinguishing
them into fortunate and unfortunate； as ignorant that the nature of
every day is the same； I have examined in another place； but upon
occasion of the present subject； I think it will not be amiss to annex
a few examples relating to this matter。 On the fifth of their month
Hippodromius； which corresponds to the Athenian Hecatombaeon； the
Boeotians gained two signal victories； the one at Leuctra； the other
at Ceressus； about three hundred years before； when they overcame
Lattamyas and the Thessalians； both which asserted the liberty of
Greece。 Again； on the sixth of Boedromion； the Persians were worsted
by the Greeks at Marathon； on the third； at Plataea； as also at
Mycale； on the twenty…fifth； at Arbela。 The Athenians； about the
full moon in Boedromion； gained their sea…victory at Naxos under the
conduct of Chabrias； on the twentieth； at Salamis； as we have shown in
our treatise on Days。 Thargelion was a very unfortunate month to the
barbarians； for in it Alexander overcame Darius's generals on the
Granicus； and the Carthaginians； on the twenty…fourth； were beaten
by Timoleon in Sicily； on which same day and month Troy seems to
have been taken； as Ephorus； Callisthenes； Damastes； and Phylarchus
state。 On the other hand； the month Metagitnion； which in Boeotia is
called Panemus； was not very lucky to the Greeks； for on its seventh
day they were defeated by Antipater； at the battle in Cranon； and
utterly ruined； and before； at Chaeronea； were defeated by Philip； and
on the very same day； same month； and same year； those that went
with Archidamus into Italy were there cut off by the barbarians。 The
Carthaginians also observe the twenty…first of the same month； as
bringing with it the largest number and the severest of their
losses。 I am not ignorant that； about the Feast of Mysteries； Thebes
was destroyed the second time by Alexander； and after that； upon the
very twentieth of Boedromion； on which day they lead forth the
mystic Iacchus； the Athenians received a garrison of the
Macedonians。 On the selfsame day the Romans lost their army under
Caepio by the Cimbrians； and in a subsequent year； under the conduct
of Lucullus； overcame the Armenians and Tigranes。 King Attalus and
Pompey died both on their birthdays。 One could reckon up several
that have had variety of fortune on the same day。 This day；
meantime； is one of the unfortunate ones to the Romans； and for its
sake two others in every month； fear and superstition； as the custom
of it is； more and more prevailing。 But I have discussed this more
accurately in my Roman Questions。
And now； after the battle； had the Gauls immediately pursued those
that fled； there had been no remedy but Rome must have wholly been
ruined； and those who remained in it utterly destroyed； such was the
terror that those who escaped the battle brought with them into the
city； and with such distraction and confusion were themselves in
turn infected。 But the Gauls； not imagining their victory to be so
considerable； and overtaken with the present joy； fell to feasting and
dividing the spoil； by which means they gave leisure to those who were
for leaving the city to make their escape； and to those that
remained to anticipate and prepare for their coming。 For they who
resolved to stay at Rome； abandoning the rest of the city； betook
themselves to the Capitol； which they fortified with the help of
missiles and new works。 One of their principal cares was of their holy
things； most of which they conveyed into the Capitol。 But the
consecrated fire the vestal virgins took； and fled with it； as
likewise their other sacred things。 Some write that they have
nothing in their charge but the ever…living fire which Numa had
ordained to be worshipped as the principle of all things； for fire
is the most active thing in nature； and all production is either
motion； or attended with motion； all the other parts of matter； so
long as they are without warmth； lie sluggish and dead； and require
the accession of a sort of soul or vitality in the principle of
heat； and upon that accession； in whatever way； immediately receive
a capacity either of acting or being acted upon。 And thus Numa； a
man curious in such things； and whose wisdom made it thought that he
conversed with the Muses； consecrated fire； and ordained it to be kept
ever burning； as an image of that eternal power which orders and
actuates all things。 Others say that this fire was kept burning in
front of the holy things； as in Greece； for purification； and that
there were other things hid in the most secret part of the temple；
which were kept from the view of all； except those virgins whom they
call vestals。 The most common opinion was； that the image of Pallas；
brought into Italy by Aeneas； was laid up there； others say that the
Samothracian images lay there； telling a story how that Dardanus
carried them to Troy； and when he had built the city； celebrated those
rites； and dedicated those images there； that after Troy was taken；
Aeneas stole them away； and kept them till his coming into Italy。
But they who profess to kno