Marcus Furius Camillus : born about 446 B.C., died in 365 B.C.

Camillus
delivers the schoolmaster of Faleries
Nicolas Poussin 1637

A Roman general who was five times dictator; and was chiefly celebrated for having taken the cities of Veii and Falerii; and for having defeated the Gauls, when that people had obtained possession of Rome, and were besieging the senate in the capitol.
Died about the year 388 of Rome, and 365 years before the birth of Christ.

This eminent Roman, whose virtues and whose talents are almost equally deserving of admiration, passed the early part of his youth in the capacity of a minister or assistant of the priests, in one of the Roman temples. It was from this circumstance that he obtained the surname of CAMILLUS, which signifies "a servitor."

He entered the Roman army at a time when his country was involved in war with many of the neighbouring nations; and he first signalized himself by an act of valour, in a battle against the AEqui and Volsci. Whilst spurring his horse before the ranks, he received a severe wound in the thigh; but, instead of retiring from the field, he plucked the javelin out, and continued the combat until the enemy were defeated.

In 401 or 398 ? B.C., when it was considered requisite to augment to eight, the number of military tribune with consular power, Camillus was appointed one of these; and, in the tenth year of the siege of Veii, at that time the principal city of Etruria, the other magistrates were removed, and he was made dictator (396 B.C.).

One of his first acts, in this office, afforded a proof that he believed in the superintendance of a Divine Providence; though this belief, like that of all other heathens, was intermingled with much superstition. He made a vow to the gods, that if they would favour his military career, by enabling him to terminate gloriously the war in which he was engaged, he would celebrate, to their honour, the great Circensian games¹, would dedicate a tenth part of the spoils to Apollo, and would consecrate a temple to one of the Roman goddesses.

After he had perfected his levies, Camillus led a body of troops into the country of the Falisci, on the banks of the Tiber; and, after obtaining a complete victory over that people, he turned his attention to the siege of Veii. Few generals appear to have exhibited greater military talents than those displayed by the new dictator. Perceiving that it would be attended with great danger to attempt the city by assault, he ordered mines to be dug beneath the walls. The soil around the place was so light, that his men easily penetrated through it; and it was of depth sufficient for the works to be carried on, unseen by the enemy. That his design might not be suspected, he ordered a partial attack to be made upon the walls; and, whilst the attention of the citizens was occupied in defending these, a strong body of Roman soldiers passed along the mine, and secretly penetrated into the temple of Juno, which was within the citadel (396 B.C.).

It is related by Plutarch, that, when the soldiers were beneath the floor of the temple, one of the Veientian generals was offering sacrifice: that, on inspecting the entrails of the victim, the soothsayer is said to have exclaimed : The gods promise victory to him who shall finish this sacrifice;" and that the Romans, on hearing these words, removed the pavement, issued forth with loud shouts, and, immediately afterwards, obtained possession of the city².

As soon as the city was surrendered, the soldiers, with permission of Camillus, dispersed in search of booty; and the spoils that were collected, far exceeded, both in quantity and in value, all that he had either calculated upon or hoped for. On the ensuing day, according to the inhuman and most unjustifiable custom of these times, Camillus ordered all the inhabitants of free condition to be sold as slaves. Thus fell Veii, a city which, even in its final overthrow, demonstrated its greatness. For, after having withstood an attack of ten years; and, after having inflicted on its enemy losses considerably greater than itself had sustained, when it was at last over come, it was vanquished, not by force, but by the superior skill of the Roman engineers.

The taking of this place fully established the character of Camillus, in the opinion of the Romans; and so unbounded was the joy of the Roman people, at the acquisition of it, that, before the senate could be assembled to pass any decree for the purpose, every temple was filled with matrons, returning thanks to the gods for his success.

The popularity of Camillus was not, however, of long continuance. Though, on his arrival in Rome, he was more numerously attended than any general had previously been; and, although the honours that were conferred upon him, in his triumph, far surpassed the compliments usually paid on such occasions, yet the Romans were offended, because he entered the city in a splendid chariot, drawn by four white horses. They asserted that no general had ever done this before; and that it was an insult to their religion for the dictator to emulate the equipage of Jupiter, the king and father of the gods. He had also tinged his face with Vermilion, a color with which the statues of the gods were painted. And these were not the only causes of offence- The ancients, considering that they sanctioned even the most in human proceedings, by rendering their deities partakers in the plunder they obtained, Camillus, as it has been observed, had vowed to dedicate to Apollo a tenth part of the spoils that should be acquired; but he had neglected his vow. After the surrender of Veii, he had permitted his soldiers to pillage the city; and now, when he was required to fulfil his engagment, he expressed himself sorry that he had forgotten it. This, however, was to no purpose: he was told that the vow must be fulfilled; and, although the soldiers had not only to refund a large portion of what they considered the fruit of their labours, but, in many instances, had to make good what they had actually expended, it was required that each of them should produce, to the public treasury, the value of the tenth part of the plunder that he had obtained, for the purpose of its being expended on a golden vase, to be carried to Delphi, as an offering to Apollo.

On the subsequent breaking out of a war with the Falisci, Camillus recovered his popularity, and was again nominated one of the military tribunes. His long experience of the character of the Roman population, and of the injurious consequences of their power in the state, occasioned him to be not a little rejoiced at the prospect of a new war. He was desirous to keep the citizens employed abroad, that they might not have leisure, at home, to excite tumult and sedition; for this (says Plutarch) was a remedy to which the Romans, like skilful physicians, always had recourse, in order to expel dangerous humours from the body politic.

One of the first proceedings of Camillus was to besiege Falerii, the capital of the Falisci; a city so strongly fortified, that the inhabitants entertained no fears whatever as to the result of their defence. All, except those who guarded the walls, walked about in the streets, as usual, and with great apparent unconcern. The boys of the public school, pursued their usual studies; and the master often took them out to walk upon the ramparts.

But this confidence of the Falerians in their own strength, was the cause of the city being taken. The Roman army lying encamped at some distance from the place, the schoolmaster was permitted to walk, with his boys, even beyond the walls. By degrees he took them to greater distances, and accustomed them to divert themselves as freely as if they had had nothing to apprehend; and, at last, he conducted them within the Roman lines, and treacherously presented them to Camillus. He stated that he was the schoolmaster of Falerii, and that, preferring the favour of Camillus to the obligations of his duty, he had come to surrender to him the children which had been placed under his care; and, in them, the whole city.

An act so atrocious received the reward what it justly merited. Camillus ordered the lictors to tear off the man's clothes, to tie his hands behind him, and to furnish the boys with rods and scourges. He then directed them to whip the traitor all the way from the Roman camp into the city. The Falerians had been informed of the treachery of their schoolmaster; and the whole city had resounded with lamentations for the loss of the children. Distracted and enraged, the principal inhabitants, both men and women, crowded about the walls and gates, anxiously looking towards the Roman camp and bewailing their loss. After a little while, they espied the boys approaching the city, in the act of whipping their master, naked and bound; and the boys, when they entered, exclaimed that Camillus had been "their preserver, their deliverer, and their father."

Not only the parents of the children, but the citizens in general, were so much delighted with the justice and magnanimity of Camillus, that they, shortly afterwards, surrendered to him their city; and they were liberally treated for their confidence. They were required only to pay a certain sum of money as a fine: the city was given into their possession again; and the nation of the Falisci was admitted into alliance with the Romans.

This, however, was an arrangement not at all satisfactory to the Roman soldiers. These had expected to share in the plunder of the city; and, on their returning, empty-handed, to Rome, they accused Camillus, to their fellow-citizens, as an enemy of the people. And, notwithstanding the numerous and important services he had performed for the state, so great a clamour was excited against him, that, to avoid a sentence which he foresaw would be pronounced, this illustrious Roman determined to quit the city as a voluntary exile.

He did not, however, like Coriolanus, seek protection from the enemies of his country, or offer to them his services, against his own ungrateful nation. On leaving Rome, he prostrated himself before the temples on the Capitoline hill, and prayed to heaven, that, in recompence for these, his undeserved sufferings, the Romans might soon have occasion more earnestly to desire his recal, than they had had to wish for his banishment. And, to this prayer, he was not incited by any motives of resentment; he did not ask that calamity might befal his country: he was only desirous that, in such case, he might prove his anxiety for her welfare, by offering himself as her deliverer, at the price even of his own blood. Thus did he put in practice the doctrine of Plato, that an honest and good man, however ill be may be treated by his country, preserves always, in his heart, a mediator in her behalf, and seeks every opportunity of doing her service, whether it be by life, or whether it be by death.

The republic soon suffered, both justly and severely, for having given way to the clamours against Camillus. Never were they more in need of supereminent talents, than at this period; for they were on the point of encountering enemies more formidable than any with which they had hitherto been engaged. Scarcely had Camillus left the gates of Rome, than ambassadors from the Gauls, arrived in the city, to demand satisfaction for certain insults which they asserted their country had received from the Romans. The senate would afford them no redress; and the Gauls marched a powerful army against Rome. Their prodigious numbers, their glittering weapons, their fury and impetuosity, struck terror wherever they came.

The Romans, under the command of the tribunes, were led out to battle; but, in consequence of the dissensions which had prevailed, the army was in so disorganized a state, that the generals found it dangerous to exercise any authority. The result may easily be imagined: they engaged the enemy, but in so disorderly a manner, that they were soon shame fully beaten and put to flight. Part of the troops escaped to the hills, part to Rome, and part fled to Veii. It was imagined that Rome itself must be lost, and that all the inhabitants would be put to the sword.

On the third day after the battle, the Gaulish general arrived, with his army, at the gates of Rome. The inhabitants, incapable of resistance, afforded scarcely any opposition. He conseqently entered the city, pillaged all the houses, and at last set fire to it. The capitol alone continued in possession of the Romans. The Gauls attacked it, but were repulsed with considerable loss. After this they blockaded it with one half of their army, whilst, with the other half, they made incursions into the country, to plunder the inhabitants, and to levy contributions.

Now it was that the Romans more particularly reproached themselves for their conduct towards Camillus. Had he not been banished, they might have escaped the calamity which they now so grievously deplored.

Notwitlstanding their ingratitude towards him, he was resolved to exert himself in the defence of his country. He had retired to Ardea, a sea-coast town, about twenty-five miles south-east of Rome. A considerable party of Gauls had penetrated to the neighbourhood of Ardea. At the request of Camillus the people of this city agreed to aid him in an attempt to defeat the enemy. He assembled a powerful body of men, and drew them up within the walls, that the enemy might not discover his intentions. The Gauls, having loaded themselves with plunder, encamped upon the adjacent plains, in a careless and disorderly manner. Before night, nearly all of them were intoxicated with the wine they had Obtained; and, not long afterwards, silence reigned in their camp. As soon as Camillus, by his spies, was informed of this, he led his men cautiously out, and reached the camp about midnight. He then ordered a tremendous shout to be uttered, and the trumpets to be sounded on all sides, for the purpose of exciting terror and confusion. With considerable difficulty the enemy roused themselves from their stupor. A few of them snatched up their arms, to oppose the unknown foe, and fell with their weapons in their hands; but most of them were slain before they could make any defence.

The fame of this action soon reached the neighbouring cities, and caused many able warriors to join the Roman standard at Ardea; and Camillus was entreated to assume the chief command of the army. He replied that it was impossible for him to do this, unless he were legally appointed by the Roman government in the capitol: so great was the regard which Camillus paid to the constitution of his country, though Rome itself lay in ashes. Indeed, had he acted otherwise, even with the purest intentions, and been unsuccessful, be well knew, that, notwithstanding all his services, the voice of the factions Romans would have overwhelmed him.

It was agreed to send a messenger to the capitol; but, whilst the city was possessed by the enemy, it seemed impossible to deliver the message. At length an adventurous young man, named Pontius Cominius, requested that it might be entrusted to him. Difficult as the task was, he said he would accomplish it, and bring back the orders of the Roman government. He would not, however, carry any letters, lest, if he should be taken, the enemy might discover the plans that were proposed. The commission intrusted to him was, therefore, a verbal one. Having dressed himself in mean attire, under which he concealed some pieces of cork, he approached the city about the close of day. He could not pass the river by the bridge, because that was guarded. He therefore took off his clothes, and bound them upon his head; and, having laid himself upon the corks, easily floated over, and reached the city. Then dressing himself, and avoiding those parts where, by the lights and noise, he concluded the enemy kept watch, he went to a gate called the Carmental gate, where the hill of the Capitol (the Tarpeian rock) was most steep and craggy. Here, during the silence of the night, he clambered up unperceived. Having reached the summit in safety, he advanced to the guards upon the walls, and, by them, was immediately conducted to the magistrates. The senate was, shortly afterwards assembled. Cominius informed them of the victory which had been obtained, and, in the name of the Roman army, entreated them to appoint Camillus to the chief command. They did so: they caused his act of condemnation to be repealed, and created him dictator a second time. The Romans well knew that no one except Camillus could save them from destruction. In their adversity, therefore, they anxiously clung for safety to him whom, in the plenitude of their power, they had disgracefully expelled from their city.

Cominius was sent back, by the same way that he had come, and was equally fortunate in his return. He passed the enemy's lines undiscovered, and delivered to Camillus the decree, by which he was appointed dictator and commander in chief of the Roman armies. No time was lost, Camillus placed himself at the head of the troops, and marched against the Gauls.

An occurrence, however, took place, which had nearly destroyed all the hopes the Romans could have formed from this appointment. Some of the Gauls, employed in the siege of the capitol, happening to pass the place where Cominius had made his way up the rock, observed the traces of his hands and feet. They informed their commander of these. He inspected the place, and, in the evening, assembled some of the lightest and most active of his men; pointed out to them that the rock on which the capitol stood was neither inaccessible nor untrodden by human feet; and urged them not to quit a place, as impregnable, which the Romans themselves had taught them how to take. He offered adequate rewards and honours for such of his soldiers as should distinguish themselves in an attack on the capitol; and, about midnight, several of them began to climb the rock. Though steep and craggy, it proved more practicable than they had expected. The foremost of the assailants gained the summit, arranged themselves in order of battle, and were preparing to take possession of the wall of the capitol, all the guards were all asleep, when some geese, that were kept in the temple of Juno, alarmed by sounds which they were unaccustomed to hear, set up a screaming noise. This roused and awoke the sleeping guards. Marcus Manlius, a distinguished military officer, alarmed by the noise, snatched up his weapons, and, calling on all other Romans to follow him, hastened to the spot. By a stroke with the boss, or prominent central part of his shield, he tumbled down a Gaul, who had just secured a footing on the summit. This man, as he fell, threw down several others. In a short time, a considerable body of Romans assembled at the place; and these, by their javelins and with stones, beat down the remainder of the enemy, so that, in a little while, the whole band of Gauls were hurled down the precipice and destroyed. Thus was the capitol saved. Manlius was rewarded for the victory, and the officer on guard was punished with death for his negligence. The geese had likewise a recompence. A golden image of a goose was made in memory of the service they had performed: a kind of procession was instituted to their honour; and a flock of geese was ever afterwards maintained at the public expence.

After their defeat at the capitol, the Gauls began to lose their courage. Provisions became scarce, and Camillus, being master of nearly the whole adjacent country, posted strong guards on all sides, and prevented the Gauls from obtaining forage. Sickness also prevailed among them; in consequence of their being encamped among dead bodies, and among the rubbish and filth of demolished houses.

The Romans, in the citadel were, if possible, in a still worse condition. Pressed hard by famine, and ignorant of the operations of Camillus, they sent one of the tribunes to offer to the Gauls a thousand pounds weight of gold, if they would engage immediately to quit the Roman city and territories. They agreed to do this, and were properly punished for a very shameful infraction of the agreement. When the gold was carried to them, they endeavoured to avail themselves of false weights, in ascertaining its quantity. At first they did this privately, but afterwards openly. On the Romans expressing their just resentment at such conduct, Brennus, in a contemptuous and insulting manner, took off his sword, and threw it, with the belt, into the scale. A warm contest took place respecting this indignity; and, in the height of the dispute, Camillus arrived at the gates of Rome. Being informed of what was passing within the city, he ordered the main body of his army to advance slowly, whilst he, with a select band, marched hastily up to the scene of action. To the astonishment of Brennus, he took the gold out of the scales, and gave it to the lictore. He then ordered the Gauls to take away the balance and the weights, and to depart; telling them that it was the custom of the Romans to deliver their country, not with gold, but with steel. Brennus complained of the injustice that was done to him by this termination of the treaty; but Camillus replied, that it had not been lawfully made; and that it could not be valid without the consent of himself, who was the dictator and sole magistrate, The Gauls, incensed at such conduct, drew their swords, and rushed on the Romans; but they were soon compelled to leave the city. They that day retreated to the distance of about eight miles; and, on the ensuing morning, were attacked by Camillus and totally routed.

The Gauls had been about seven months in possession of Rome. They entered the city in the month of July, and were driven thence in February following.

As the deliverer of Rome, and restorer of the Roman government, Camillus entered the city in triumph. Those persons, who, with their wives and children, had quitted the place before the siege, now followed his chariot; and the men who had been be seiged in the capitol, met and embraced their former friends, weeping for joy at this unexpected gratification. The priests, and ministers of the gods, most of whom had fled into the country, now also returned, bringing back with them such holy things as they had conveyed away. Camillus, who is described by Livy to have been peculiarly attentive to all matters in which religion is concerned, then offered sacrifice to the gods, and ordered the temples to be rebuilt.

The city had been so entirely demolished, that many of the Romans were desirous of transferring the seat of government to Veii. This project, however, was opposed by Camillus : and the people again began to raise clamours against him. He, therefore, wisely referred the subject to the judgment of the senate; and, whilst preparations were making to take the votes of the senators, a centurion of the guard, in the act of conducting along his troop, was accidentally heard to exclaim: Standard-bearer, fix your standard: it is best for us to stay here. This occurrence was considered, by the superstitious Romans, a favourable omen. The senate voted that Rome should be restored: and the people no longer opposed the work; imagining that the gods had thus directed it to be performed. The rebuilding of the city was consequently begun. Tiles were supplied at the public expence, and liberty was granted to new stones and fell timber wherever any person chose, security being taken that the buildings should be completed within the year. From this excessive haste, the streets were made narrow and intricate, the houses were ill planned and arranged. All distinction of property seems to have been lost; and each person appears to have constructed his house on any spot which he found vacant. Many nuisances were the consequence of so bad an arrangement; but the public sewers, in particular, became excessively inconvenient. Formerly they had passed only along the course of the streets, but now they passed under almost every private house. Camillus, fo his late important services, was styled: The father of his country; and the second founder of Rome.

After this the Romans had many difficulties to encounter. Among others, a confederacy was formed against them by several of the neighbouring states: the AEqui, the Volsci, the Etrurians, the Tuscans, and the Latins; and the Romans, as their only resource, appointed Camillus, a third time, dictator. One division of the enemy's troops laid siege to Sutrium, (now called Satri, in Tuscany) a city in alliance with Rome. Another division, which was encamped within an entrenchment strongly fortified with palisadoes and large masses of timber, enteirtained hopes of being enabled to attack and destroy the principal Roman forces. Camillus, suspecting the intentions of the latter, was beforehand in the attack. At that season of the year, it was usual for the wind, about the time of sun-rising, to blow with Violence from the mountains. He consequently directed a great quantity of combustible matter to be collected, and his troops to be in readiness to march by day-break. Part of them he ordered, by way of feint, to begin an attack, with loud shouts and missile weapons; whilst he, with the main body, marched to the opposite side-that from which the wind blew. When the sun had risen, and the breeze had become sufficiently strong, the feint was begun. As soon as he imagined the enemy were all engaged in repelling that attack, he gave the signal to his men; and, instantly, an immense number of flaming darts and other combustible weapons and substances were thrown within the enemy's fortifications. The latter, being wholly formed of timber, soon caught fire. The flames spread around, and the enemy, not having any means of extinguishing them, the whole camp was soon in a blaze. In their confusion and alarm, they attempted to rush out and escape, but were nearly all destroyed.

By this skilful manoeuvre Camillus succeeded in his object; but he had still some powerful foes to encounter. Leaving his son in the camp to guard and secure the prisoners, and the plunder that had been taken, he himself penetrated into the enemy's country. He took the city of the AEqui, and reduced the Volsci to obedience. After this he led his army to Sutrimn, in the hope of being able to relieve that city, but it had surrendered before his arrival. The inhabitants had given it up, with the loss of everything except the clothes they wore; and, in this condition, Camillus met a great number of them, marching out of the city, accompanied by their wives and children, and grievously bewailing their misfortunes. He was extremely affected at the sight; and, as his approach was not suspected by the enemy, who were all now within the walls, engaged in riot and plunder, he determined to attempt the recovery of the city. Unsuspicious of danger, no guards had been placed; and Camillus not only advanced without being discovered, but had reached the gates, and had even taken possession of the walls, before the enemy were aware of his approach. Indeed, they were so enfeebled by feasting and intoxication, that they could make no effectual resistance; but were either slain in the houses, or surrendered themselves to the conquerors. Thus was the city of Sutrium taken twice one day. The new possessors were now expelled, and the old ones restored by Camillus.

It is creditable to the humanity of this famous Roman, that he did not retort upon the enemy the cruelty with which they had treated the Sutrians. No sooner had he obtained possession of the city, than he caused a proclamation to be made, requiring of all persons to lay down their arms; declaring that the unarmed should be spared, and that none but those who made opposition should suffer injury.

In the course of a very short time, and after having effected a conquest over three different enemies, Camillus returned to Rome in triumph. A great multitude of prisoners, chiefly Etrurians, were led before his chariot; and a vast sum of money was brought into the treasury; out of which three large golden bowls were made, and, being inscribed with the name of Camillus, were in a recess in the temple of Jupiter.

In a subsequent war Camillus marched, with the Roman army, against the Volsi, the Latins, the Hernici, and the Anliates. The assembled troops of these nations formed so powerful a force, that the Roman soldiery were greatly alarmed, and appeared extremely reluctant to engage. This, to Camillus was a mortifying circumstance. He rode between the ranks, addressed them in animated and impressive language: then, giving the signal for attack, he leaped from his horse, and laying hold of the nearest standard-bearer, hurried him onward against the enemy, calling aloud: Soldiers, advance the standard. This had some effect, for seeing that Camillus, who now, through age, was unequal to acts of great bodily exertion, was advancing alone against the enemy, they raised a shout, rushed forward, and obtained a signal victory.

The fame of Camillus, and the numerous honours which he had obtained, excited great enmity among the Romans. This was increased by the conduct of Marcus Manlius, the officer who first repulsed the Gauls, when they attempted to take the capitol. He insinuated that Camillus was indebted, for his successes, to chance or good fortune, rather than to either his talents or his bravery. Manlius was desirous of being considered the first man in Rome; and, as he was unable to effect the downfall of Camillus in any other manner, he adopted the usual mode of discontented persons: he courted the population, and endeavoured to rouse them to acts of insubordination against the state. He was not, however, able to effect his purpose. The Roman people were satisfied that it was their own interest to retain Camillus in the government: they consequently refused to adopt any plans that would tend to deprive them of his talents. Yet, when Manlius was committed to prison for his seditious conduct, the majority of the Roman population put on mourning for him; a testimony of grief which was never adopted, except on what were considered occasions of great public calamity. The consequence was, that the magistrates, overawed by the people, and fearful of insurrection, were compelled to set him at liberty.

Presuming upon the weak and contemptible state of the Roman government, Manlius, after his liberation, became more insolent and troublesome than before his committal. He filled the whole city with faction and sedition; and his conduct, at last, became so daring, that the government was compelled to bring him to trial; and the evidence of his treason was such, that it was found impossible for the judges to acquit him. He was condemned to die, was carried to the capitol, and thrown headlong down the Tarpeian rock; which thus became the monument both of his disgrace and glory.

Camillus was now about sixty years of age, and in a very infirm state of health; and, being desirous of retiring from public life, he declined accepting the office of military tribune, to which he was again nominated. This office was, however, in some degree forced upon him; and he was, immediately afterwards, directed to march against a considerable army of the Volsci and their allies, which, at that time, was laying waste the Roman territories. He encamped his forces at a little distance from those of the enemy; and his colleague, Lucius Furius Medullinus, imprudently engaged them in so rash and precipitate a manner, that the Romans were soon put to flight. Though confined, by illness, to his tent, Camillus was no sooner informed of the occurrence, than, dressing himself, and seizing his sword, he rushed to the gate of the camp. Thence, having been lifted upon his horse, he forced his way through the midst of the fugitives, and rallied them. He advanced, at their head, against the enemy, and immediately checked the pursuit; and, on the ensuing day, put them entirely to flight.

After his return to Rome, intelligence being received of a revolt in Tuscany, the Romans again appointed him to a chief command in the army, and ordered him, with another of the tribunes, to march against the insurgents. The terror of his name was so great, that the Tuscans, on being informed that he was proceeding against them, attempted, by a stratagem, to correct their error, and induce the Romans to imagine that they had no intention of opposing them. When, therefore, the Roman army entered the Tuscan territory, they found, in the fields, husbandmen and shepherds, occupied in their respective employments, as during a time of profound tranquillity. The gates of the city were left open: great numbers of the inhabitants came forth to meet the generals; and provisions for the Roman troops were carried into the camp, both from the city and the country. Camillus pitched his camp before the gates; and, being desirous of ascertaining whether the same appearance of peace prevailed within the walls, as he had remarked during his approach, he entered the city. Here he saw the shops open, and tradesmen busied in their respective employments. He visited the schools, and observed the children at their lessons as usual. Women and children were walking about the streets, as their several occupations seemed to require; and the streets were filled with the population of every sort. There was no appearance, whatever, either of alarm or of surprise. In short, there was not the slightest symptom of preparation or war. Camillus was not, however, to be deceived by appearances; but the apparent contrition of the people excited his compassion. He ordered a deputation of them to go to Rome, and to entreat the pardon of the senate; and, afterwards, when the deputation appeared there, as suppliants, be exerted all his influence to procure for them forgiveness, and a grant of the privileges of Roman citizens.

The Romans, once more relieved from the pressure of war, began to quarrel among themselves. An alarming sedition, originating in a contest for the election of the two consuls, was excited between the common people and the nobles. The commons insisted that one of the two should always be a plebeian. The election, consequently, did not take place; and the senate, after a contest which lasted five years, resolved, as their only resource for the safety of the state, to create Camillus dictator for the fourth time; and entreated of him, for the sake of his suffering country, to accept the office. Contrary to his own inclination he did so; but, after having, in vain, endeavoured to obviate the danger with which the state was threatened, he was obliged to resign this important office.

Influenced, no doubt, by the commotions which harassed the commonwealth, the Gauls once more marched an immense army towards the Roman capital. The terror excited by their approach, and the recollection of what the country had already suffered from that people, immediately terminated the sedition; and, the patricians and plebeians becoming once more unanimous, Camillus was again chosen dictator.

He was now nearly fourscore years of age, yet, ardently desirous for the safety and the happiness of his country, he once more took the command of the army, and made the levies that were requisite for increasing it. Though weak from bodily infirmity, his conduct, on this occasion, proved that, at least, his mental faculties were not impaired.

He knew that the chief weapon used by the Gauls was the sword, which they managed without skill, and with which they chiefly struck at the head and shoulders of their opponents. He therefore furnished the Roman soldiers with helmets of polished iron; and, round the edges of their shields, he caused plates of brass to be fastened. He also caused his men to be exercised in the use of long Pikes, by which also they might be able to avert the effects of the enemy's swords. The Gauls, who had advanced from the shores of the Adriatic Sea, reached the river Anio; and Camillus, by a masterly stratagem, obtained considerable advantage over them. In consequence of this, of his alteration of the weapons of the Romans, and the high state of discipline to which, in a short time, he had brought the Roman army, the Gauls, though greatly superior in numbers, were totally defeated.

Again freed from the fear of external foes, the Romans began to quarrel. The contests between the senate and the people were renewed; and Camillus, contrary to his own inclination, was induced, by the senate, to continue in the dictatorship for some time after the termination of the war. At length, however, the people again became so turbulent as to overawe the nobles, and he resigned. Not long after this, Rome was visited by a dreadful pestilence, which carried off an immense number of the inhabitants; and, among the rest, Camillus and most of the magistrates.

Camillus stands unreproached with a single in stance of those irregularities which often so unfortunately characterize the season of youth; and, in his subsequent life, he amply reaped the benefits of his early-acquired good habits; for, in him, we have an instructive example of united honour, integrity, and virtue. As a military commander, he enjoyed sixty years of victory, unsullied by defeat; and, through the whole of a long life, he maintained a character equal to his rank of glory, and well deserved the honourable appellation which was given to him, of being the second founder of Rome.

1. These were games exhibited, in the Roman Circus, in imitation of the Olympic Games in Greece.

2. 0n the subject of this extraordonary story, Livy says: "In matter of such remote antiquity (about four hundred years before his time) I think it enough if relations which carry a resemblance of truth, be received as true : stories like this, better adapted for exhibition on the stage, than for obtaining belief, it is needless either to affirm or to refute.

Authorities-Livy, and Plutarch.