having made his complaint by a herald, to the senate, and, finding no redress', broke up the siege and marched away with his conquering army directly for Rome. 35. The countries through which the Gauls made their rapid progress, gave up all hopes of safety upon their approach; being terrified at their numbers, the fierceness of their natures, and their dreadful preparations for war. 36. But the rage and impetuosity of this wild people were directed solely against Rome. They went on without doing the least injury in their march, breathing vengeance only against the Romans. A terrible engagement soon after ensued, in which the Romans were defeated near the river Allia, with the loss of about forty thousand men 2. 37. Rome, thus deprived of succour, prepared for every extremity. The inhabitants endeavoured to hide themselves in the neighbouring towns, or resolved to await the conqueror's fury, and end their lives with the ruin of their native city3. 38. But, more particularly, the ancient senators and priests, struck with a religious enthusiasm, on this occasion, resolved to devote their lives to atone for the crimes of the people, and, habited in their robes of ceremony, placed themselves in the forum, on their ivory chairs. 39. The Gauls, in the mean time, were giving a loose to their triumph, in sharing and enjoying the plunder of the enemy's camp. Had they immediately marched to Rome, upon gaining the victory, the Capitol would, in all probability, have been taken; but they continued two days feasting upon the field of battle, and, with barbarous pleasure, exulting amidst their slaughtered enemies. 40. On 1 On the contrary, the Romans, to show their approbation of what their ambassadors had done, instead of delivering them up to Brennus, as was demanded, elected them military tribunes. 2 This day was from henceforth marked as unlucky in their calendar, and called Alliensis. 3 Among others, the Vestals fled from the city, carrying with them the two Palladiums and the sacred fire. They took shelter at Cære, a town of Etruria, where they continued to celebrate their religious rites; from this circumstance religious rites acquired the name of ceremonies. 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 1. 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 names. The Romans believed that, by thus devoting themselves to the infernal gods, disorder and confusion were brought among the enemy. 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 kimself? 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 rever cessfully 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. Expostulate, v. to dispute, to argue, Note.-Invincible, 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 Camil'lus 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 celerity'. 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 com manders 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. In 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 |