Curiosities & wonders > Titus Livius' Roman history

Chap. 32
ROMAN HISTORY.
449
conjunction with the Salpenates,* they made an incursion
upon the Roman lands, without the least provocation.
War was then declared against both nations. In the
mean time, C. Julius, one of the censors, was carried off,
and L. Cornelius substituted in his place; a thing after¬
wards deemed inauspicious, because Rome was taken in
that lustrum. Nor after this time did the Romans ever
substitute, in the place of a censor who died in his office,
another person to be colleague to the survivor. The
consuls too falling sick, the senate decreed that they
should abdicate, and an inter-regnum ensue. The con¬
suls having therefore demitted in terms of the senate’s
decree, M. Furius Camillus was created inter-rex, and
succeeded by Cornelius Scipio, and he again by Valerius
Potitus, who held the comitia, for the election of six mi¬
litary tribunes with consular power, that in case any of
them should be seized with the distemper, the Republic
might never want magistrates.
, CHAP. XXXII.
The Fohinienses chastised. A prodigy. Camillas banished.
' A. R. 3SI.
On the first of July, L. Lucretius, Servjus Sulpicius, M.
TEmilius, L. Furius Medullinus, a seventh, Agj'ippa
Furius, and C. iEmilius, a second time, entered upon that
magistracy. The war with the Volsinienses fell by lot
to L. Lucretius and C. ^Emilius; and with the Salpenates
to Agrippa Furius, and Servius Sulpicius. The first en¬
gagement they had was with the Volsinienses, who were
more formidable for their numbers than their prowess.
For they were routed and put to flight at the first onset,
and 8000 men in arms being surrounded by the Roman
cavalry, laid down their arms and surrendered at discre¬
tion. The news of this battle cooied the ardour of the Sal¬
penates, so that they durst not appear in the field, but shut
themselves up, armed as they Were, within their walls.
The Romans pillaged-both the Volsinian and Saipina-
* The Volsinienses and Salpenates were both nations of Etruria.
The former inhabited a considerable citv, Volsinium, the capital
of one of the twelve Lucumonies, situated near the modern Bo-
iogna. Of Salpinum nothing certain can be affirmed.