the hollow of the cliff； and presented himself to the guards； saluting
them； and telling them his name； he was taken in； and carried to the
commanders。 And a senate being immediately called； he related to
them in order the victory of Camillus； which they had not heard of
before； and the proceedings of the soldiers； urging them to confirm
Camillus in the command； as on him alone all their fellow…countrymen
outside the city would rely。 Having heard and consulted of the matter；
the senate declared Camillus dictator； and sent back Pontius the
same way that he came； who； with the same success as before； got
through the enemy without being discovered； and delivered to the
Romans outside the decision of the senate； who joyfully received it。
Camillus； on his arrival； found twenty thousand of them ready in arms；
with which forces； and those confederates he brought along with him；
he prepared to set upon the enemy。
But at Rome some of the barbarians； passing by chance near the place
at which Pontius by night had got into the Capitol； spied in several
places marks of feet and hands； where he had laid hold and
clambered； and places where the plants that grew to the rock had
been rubbed off； and the earth had slipped； and went accordingly and
reported it to the king； who； coming in person； and viewing it； for
the present said nothing； but in the evening； picking out such of
the Gauls as were nimblest of body； and by living in the mountains
were accustomed to climb； he said to them； 〃The enemy themselves
have shown us a way how to come at them； which we knew not of
before； and have taught us that it is not so difficult and
impossible but that men may overcome it。 It would be a great shame；
having begun well； to fail in the end； and to give up a place as
impregnable； when the enemy himself lets us see the way by which it
may be taken； for where it was easy for one man to get up； it will not
be hard for many； one after another； nay； when many shall undertake
it； they will be aid and strength to each other。 Rewards and honours
shall be bestowed on every man as he shall acquit himself。〃
When the king had thus spoken； the Gauls cheerfully undertook to
perform it； and in the dead of night a good party of them together；
with great silence； began to climb the rock； clinging to the
precipitous and difficult ascent； which yet upon trial offered a way
to them； and proved less difficult than they had expected。 So that the
foremost of them having gained the top of all； and put themselves into
order； they all but surprised the outworks； and mastered the watch；
who were fast asleep； for neither man nor dog perceived their
coming。 But there were sacred geese kept near the temple of Juno；
which at other times were plentifully fed； but now； by reason that
corn and other provisions were grown scarce for all； were but in a
poor condition。 The creature is by nature of quick sense； and
apprehensive of the least noise； so that these； being moreover
watchful through hunger； and restless； immediately discovered the
coming of the Gauls； and； running up and down with their noise and
cackling； they raised the whole camp； while the barbarians on the
other side； perceiving themselves discovered； no longer endeavoured to
conceal their attempt； but with shouting and violence advanced to
the assault。 The Romans； every one in haste snatching up the next
weapon that came to hand； did what they could on the sudden
occasion。 Manlius； a man of consular dignity； of strong body and great
spirit； was the first that made head against them； and； engaging
with two of the enemy at once； with his sword cut off the right arm of
one just as he was lifting up his blade to strike； and； running his
target full in the face of the other； tumbled him headlong down the
steep rock； then mounting the rampart； and there standing with
others that came running to his assistance； drove down the rest of
them； who； indeed； to begin； had not been many； and did nothing worthy
of so bold an attempt。 The Romans； having thus escaped this danger；
early in the morning took the captain of the watch and flung him
down the rock upon the heads of their enemies； and to Manlius for
his victory voted a reward； intended more for honour than advantage；
bringing him； each man of them as much as he received for his daily
allowance； which was half a pound of bread and one eighth of a pint of
wine。
Henceforward； the affairs of the Gauls were daily in a worse and
worse condition； they wanted provisions； being withheld from
foraging through fear of Camillus； and sickness also was amongst them；
occasioned by the number of carcasses that lay in heaps unburied。
Being lodged among the ruins； the ashes； which were very deep； blown
about by the winds and combining with the sultry heats； breathed up；
so to say； a dry and searching air； the inhalation of which was
destructive to their health。 But the chief cause was the change from
their natural climate； coming as they did out of shady and hilly
countries； abounding in means of shelter from the heat； to lodge in
low； and； in the autumn season； very unhealthy ground； added to
which was the length and tediousness of the siege； as they had now
sate seven months before the Capitol。 There was； therefore； a great
destruction among them； and the number of the dead grew so great
that the living gave up burying them。 Neither； indeed； were things
on that account any better with the besieged； for famine increased
upon them； and despondency with not hearing anything of Camillus； it
being impossible to send any one to him； the city was so guarded by
the barbarians。 Things being in this sad condition on both sides； a
motion of treaty was made at first by some of the outposts； as they
happened to speak with one another； which being embraced by the
leading men； Sulpicius； tribune of the Romans； came to a parley with
Brennus； in which it was agreed； that the Romans laying down a
thousand weight of gold； the Gauls upon the receipt of it should
immediately quit the city and territories。 The agreement being
confirmed by oath on both sides； and the gold brought forth； the Gauls
used false dealing in the weight； secretly at first； but afterwards
openly pulled back and disturbed the balance； at which the Romans
indignantly complaining； Brennus； in a scoffing and insulting
manner； pulled off his sword and belt； and threw them both into the
scales； and when Sulpicius asked what that meant； 〃What should it
mean；〃 says he； 〃but woe to the conquered？〃 which afterwards became
a proverbial saying。 As for the Romans； some were so incensed that
they were for taking their gold back again and returning to endure the
siege。 Others were for passing by and dissembling a petty injury；
and not to account that the indignity of the thing lay in paying
more than was due； since the paying anything at all was itself a
dishonour only submitted to as a necessity of the times。
Whilst this difference remained still unsettled； both amongst
themselves and with the Gauls； Camillus was at the gates with his
army； and having learned what was going on； commanded the main body of
his forces to follow slowly after him in good order； and himself
with the choicest of his men hastening on； went at once to the Romans；
where； all giving way to him； and receiving him as their sole
magistrate； with profound silence and order； he took the gold out of
the scales； and delivered it to his officers； and commanded the
Gauls to take their weights and scales and depart； saying that it
was customary with the Romans to deliver their country with iron；
not with gold。 And when Brennus began to rage； and say that he was
unjustly dealt with in such a breach of contract； Camillus answered
that it was never legally made； and the agreement of no force or
obligation； for that himself being declared dictator； and there
being no other magistrate by law； the engagement had been made with
men who had no power to enter into it； but now they might say anything
they had to urge； for he was come with full power by law to grant
pardon to such as should ask it； or inflict punishment on the
guilty； if they did not repent。 At this； Brennus broke into violent
anger； and an immediate quarrel ensued； both sides drew their swords
and attacked； but in confusion； as could not be otherwise amongst
houses； and in narrow lanes and places where it was impossible to form
in any order。 But Brennus； presently recollecting himself； called
off his men； and； with the loss of a few only； brought them to their
camp； and rising in the night with all his forces； left the city； and；
advancing about eight miles； encamped upon the way to Gabii。 As soon
as day appeared； Camillus came up with him； splendidly armed
himself； and his soldiers full of courage and confidence； and there
engaging with him in a sharp conflict； which lasted a long while；
overthrew his army with great slaughter； and took their camp。 Of those
that fled； some were presently cut off by the pursuers； others； and
these were the greatest number； dispersed hither and thither； and were
despatched by the people that came sallying out from the
neighbouring towns and villages。
Thus Rome was strangely taken； and more strangely recovered；
having been seven whole months in the possession of the barbarians；
who entered her a little after the Ides of July； and were driven out
about the Ides of February following。 Camillus triumphed； as he
deserved； having saved his country that was lost； and brought the
city； so to say； back again to itself。 For those that had fled abroad；
together with their wives and children； accompanied him as he rode in；
and those who had been shut up in the Capitol； and were reduced almost
to the point of perishing with hunger； went out to meet him； embracing
each other as they met； and weeping for joy； and； through the excess
of the present pleasure； scarce believing in its truth。 And when the
priests and ministers of the gods appeared bearing the sacred
things； which in their flight they had either hid on the spot； or
conveyed away with them； and now openly showed in safety； the citizens
who saw the blessed sight felt as if with these the gods themselves
were again retu