Curiosities & wonders > Titus Livius' Roman history

Chap. 1<S.
ROMAN HISTORY.
4-25
* gods had been highly offended with the Vejeptian na-
‘ tion on that day, when they had put it into his mind
‘ to discover the fataf secret that was-tp ruin his native
* country. But what he had then uttered by a divine
' impulse he could not now recal, so as it might still re-
‘ main a secret; and by concealing what the gods in-
' tended to be revealed, he should perhaps contract no
‘ less guilt than by discovering what ought to have been
* concealed. For thus it was recorded in the books of
* the fates, thus it was confirmed by divination among
‘ the Etrurians, that if at any time, the. lake of Alba
* swelled to an immoderate height, and the Romans at
‘ that time drain it in a proper manner, they should be
* victorious over the Vejentes. But till that time, the
* gods would never abandon the walls of Veil.’7
He then informed them in what manner the drains
ought to be made. But the fathers thinking his autho¬
rity too slight, and not entirely to be depended upon, in
a matter of such importance, determined that they should
wait for the return of the deputies from Delphi, wtlh the
answer of the Pythian oracle.
' CHAP. XVI.
The Tarquinienses take the opportunity of the troubles at
Rome to ravage the country, and are punished.
Before the return of the deputies from Delphi, or
an expiation of the Alban prodigy found out, the new
military tribunes, with consular power, L. Julius Julus,
L, Furius Medullinus, a fourth time, E- Sergius Fidenas,
A.. Posthumius Regillensis, P. Cornelius Maluginensis,
and A. Manlius, entered upon their office. In that year,
the Tarquinienses, a new enemy, started up. They saw
the Romans had many wars upon their hands at the
same time, with the Vofsci, who besieged the fort at
Anxpr, with the iEqut who invested the Roman colony
at Lavicum, and besides with the Vejentes, the FaliscJ
and Capenates; and moreover, the contests between the
Patricians and Plebeians to embarrass them at home :
all which together gave them the fairest opportunity
of humbling the Romans, for which reason they detach-