Curiosities & wonders > Titus Livius' Roman history

4^4.
TITCS LIVIUS*
Book V.
in a city taken by the enemy : either the Gauls had no
intention to destroy the city entirely *, or by lettitvg the
Romans see part of the city in flames, the Gaulic chiefs
meant to terrify them, and so engage them to surrender
out of regard to their houses, and not to set the whole in
flames, that the hopes of saving the remainder, might
bend the proud hearts of the enemy. The Romans ob¬
serving from the citadel, how thecity swarmed with ene¬
mies, and following all their motions with their eyes, as
they ran dispersed a'l over the streets, were every mo¬
ment struck with new matter of regret, and unable to
stand the shock of what they saw and heard, were quite
distracted.
Wherever the shouts of the enemy, shrieks of women
and children, the glare of the flames, or the crash of fal¬
ling-houses, denounced some new disaster, thither they
turned their eyes, their faces, and attention, as if fortune
had placed them on the top of an eminence, expressly
to be the sad spectators of the ruin of their country;
having nothing left them now of all that belonged to
them, but their bodies ;to defend. Their case was more
deplorable than that of any other besieged, for they were
shut up from the relief of their country, whilst, at the
same time, they saw every thing they could have called
their own, in the hands of the enemy.
The first day, so full of trouble, was followed by. a
night no less terrible. And when this restless night
gave place to a new day, some new tragical scene was
every moment exhibited before them. However, over¬
whelmed ahd oppressed as they were, with such a com¬
plication of miseries, they still continued inflexible, and
although they saw the whole city in flames and levelled
with Ihe ground, they were determined to defend to their
latest breath, the poor little hill, which they yet could
call their own, being the only spot that was reserved for
liberty. The continual view of so dreadful a scene,
which was every day repeated before their eyes, had
inured them, in a manner, to their calamities, so that
they became insensible of their poignancy ; regarding
only their arms, and the swords in their right hands, as
the only hope and resource, on which, from thenceforth ,
they were to depend.
* Read, Omnis dtlendte urbis, &e.