the third day after this easy victory, Brennus appeared with all his forces before the city. He was at first much surprised to find the gates open to receive him, and the walls defenceless; so that he began to impute the unguarded situation of the place to a Roman stratagem. After proper precaution, he entered the city, and, marching into the forum, beheld there the ancient senators sitting in their order, observing a profound silence, unmoved and undaunted. 41. The splendid habits, the majestic gravity, and the venerable looks of these old men, who, in their time, had all borne the highest offices of state, awed the barbarous enemy into reverence; they mistook them for the tutelar deities of the place, and began to offer blind adoration; till one, more forward than the rest, putting forth his hand to stroke the beard of Papyr'ius, an insult the noble Roman could not endure, he lifted up his ivory sceptre, and struck the savage to the ground. 42. This proved to be a signal for general slaughter. Papyr'ius fell first, and all the rest shared his fate without mercy or distinction '. The fierce invaders pursued their slaughter for three days successively, sparing neither sex nor age; then, setting fire to the city, burnt every house to the ground. Questions for Examination. 1. What was the conduct of the Veians? 2. What resolution was adopted in consequence? 3. Was Veii a strong place? 4. Did the besieged make a vigorous resistance? 5. What consequences were likely to ensue, and how were they ob viated? 6. To whom was the conduct of the war now committed? 7. Who was Camillus ? 8. By what means did he attain his present dignity? 1 This self-devotion was in consequence of a vow made by these brave old men, which Fa'bius, the Pontifex Maximus, pronounced in their The Romans believed that, by thus devoting themselves to the infernal gods, disorder and confusion were brought among the enemy. names. 9 What was the consequence of his appointment? 10. What plan did he adopt to take the city? 11. How did he next proceed? 12. What followed? 13. What was the consequence of this capture, and how did Camillus comport himself? 14. What was Camillus's next exploit ? 15. Was this a conquest of importance? 16. Relate the particulars. 17. How was his proposal received? 18. How was the traitor punished? 19. What was the consequence of his conduct? 20. Was Camillus universally respected? 21. What charges were brought against him? 22. Did Camillus abide the event of a trial? 23. Was he resigned to his fate, and whither did he retire? 24. What followed his departure ? 25. Who was the enemy? 26. What were the conduct and character of the Gauls? 27. How were they employed at this conjuncture? 28. What measure did the Clusians adopt for their defence? 29. Was their application successful? 30. Who were appointed for this purpose? 31. How were they received? 32. What was the reply of Brennus? 33. What was the conduct of the ambassadors ? 34. What was the consequence of this improper conduct? 35. What sensations were excited in the countries through which they passed? 36. Did the Gauls commit any ravages on their march? 37. What measures were adopted at Rome? 38. Who more particularly displayed their devotedness on this oc casion ? 39. What use did the Gauls make of their victory? 49. What happened on their arrival before the city? 41. What was the effect of this spectacle? 42. What was the consequence of this boldness? SECTION V. This is true courage, not the brutal force WHITEHEAD. 2. Repelled, part. driven back, suc-[16. Ven'erable, a. deserving of revercessfully resisted. ence from age. 3. Capitula'tion, s. terms or conditions 20. Curb, v. to restrain. of peace and surrender. Futility, s. vanity, folly. 6. Sen'tinel, s. a soldier set to watch. 22 Lar'gesses, s. gifts, presents. Pa'triotism, s. a love of one's coun- 11. Expos'tulate, v. to dispute, to argue, Note.-Invin'cible, a. unconquerable. to remonstrate. 1. ALL the hopes of Rome were now placed in the CapiU.C. tol; every thing without that fortress formed an 361. extensive scene of misery, desolation, and despair. 2. Brennus first summoned it, with threats, to surrender, but in vain; then resolving to besiege it in form, hemmed it round with his army. The Romans, however, repelled the attempt with great bravery: despair had supplied them with that perseverance and vigour, which they seemed to want when in prosperity. 3. In the meanwhile Brennus carried on the siege with extreme ardour. He hoped to starve the garrison into a capitulation; but they, sensible of his intent, although in actual want, caused loaves to be thrown into his camp, to convince him of the futility of such expectations. 4. His hopes were soon after revived, when some of his soldiers came to inform him, that they had discovered footsteps 1, which led up to the rock, by which they supposed the These were the footsteps of Pon'tius Comin'ius, who, with great prudence and bravery, found means to carry a message from Camillus to the Romans in the Capitol, and to return with the appointment of dictator for Camil'lus. Capitol might be surprised. 5. Accordingly, a chosen. body of his men were ordered by night upon this dangerous service, which, with great labour and difficulty, they almost effected. 6. They were got upon the very wall; the Roman sentinel was fast asleep; their dogs within gave no signal, and all promised an instant victory, when the garrison was awakened by the gabbling of some sacred geese, that had been kept in the temple of Juno. 7. The besieged soon perceived the imminence of their danger, and each snatching the weapon that first presented itself, ran to oppose the assailants. 8. M. Man'lius, a patrician of acknowledged bravery, was the first who opposed the foe, and inspired courage by his example. He boldly mounted the rampart, and, at one effort, threw two Gauls headlong down the precipice; his companions soon came to his assistance, and the walls were cleared of the enemy with almost incredible celerity1. 9. From this time the hopes of the barbarians began to decline, and Brennus wished for an opportunity of raising the siege with credit'. His soldiers had often conferences with the besieged while upon duty, and proposals for an accommodation were wished for by the common men, before the chiefs thought of a congress. At length, the commanders on both sides came to an agreement, that the Gauls should immediately quit the city and territories, upon being paid a thousand pounds weight of gold. 10. This agreement being confirmed by oath on either side, the 1 As a reward for this essential service, every soldier gave Man'lius a small quantity of corn and a little measure of wine, out of his scanty allowance; a present of no mean value in their then distressed situation. On the other hand, the captain of the guard, who ought to have kept the sentinels to their duty, was thrown headlong from the Capitol. În memory of this event, a goose was annually carried in triumph on a soft litter, finely adorned; whilst dogs were held in abhorrence, and one impaled every year on a branch of elder. 2 As the Gauls suffered the bodies of the Romans, who were slain in their frequent encounters, to lie unburied, the stench of their putrefaction occasioned a plague to break out, which carried off great numbers of the army of Brennus. gold was brought forth. But, upon weighing, the Gauls fraudulently attempted to kick the beam, of which the Romans complaining, Brennus insultingly cast his sword and belt into the scale, crying out that the only portion of the vanquished was to suffer. 11. By this reply, the Romans saw that they were at the victor's mercy; and knew it was in vain to expostulate against any conditions he should be pleased to impose. 12. But, while they were thus debating upon the payment, it was told them, that Camil'lus', their old general, was at the head of a large army, hastening to their relief, and entering the gates of Rome. 13. Camil'lus actually appeared soon after, and entering the place of controversy, with the air of one who was resolved not to suffer imposition, demanded the cause of the contest; of which being informed, he ordered the gold to be taken and carried back to the Capitol: "For it has ever been," cried he, "the manner with us Romans, to ransom our country, not with gold, but with iron; it is I only that am to make peace, as being the dictator of Rome, and my sword alone shall purchase it." 14. Upon this a battle ensued, the Gauls were entirely routed, and such a slaughter followed, that the Roman territories were soon cleared of their formidable invaders. Thus, by the bravery of Camillus, was Rome delivered from its enemy 2. 15. The city being one continued heap of ruins, except the Capitol, and the greatest number of its former inhabitants having gone to take refuge in Ve'ii, the tribunes of the people urged for the removal of the poor remains 1 Camillus had previously, with the assistance of the Ar'deans, defeated a body of the Gauls. This success had tended to inspirit the Romans, and to render them less afraid to encounter an enemy whom they had hitherto considered as invincible. 2 The authenticity of this narrative is more than suspicious. Polyb'ius, the most accurate of the Roman historians, says that the Gauls carried the gold home with them. Suetonius confirms this account, and adds that it was recovered at a much later period from the Galli Seno'nes, by Liv'ius Dru'sus; and that on this occasion Dru'sus first became a name in the Livian family, in consequence of the victorious general having killed Drau'sus, the Gallic leader. |