The senate, having heard and
satisfied themselves about the matter, decreed to send to Delphi,
to ask counsel of the god. The messengers returned with the answer
that the Alban water, if possible, they should keep from the sea,
and shut it up in its ancient bounds; but if that was not to be
done, then they should carry it off by ditches and trenches into
the lower grounds, and so dry it up; which message being
delivered, the priests performed what related to the sacrifices,
and the people went to work and turned the water.
And now the senate, in the tenth year of the war, taking away all
other commands, created Camillus dictator, who chose Cornelius
Scipio for his general of horse, and, having made vows, marched
into the country of the Faliscans, and in a great battle overthrew
them and the Capenates, their confederates; afterwards he turned
to the siege of Veii, and finding that to take it by assault would
prove a difficult and hazardous attempt, proceeded to cut mines
under ground, the earth about the city being easy to break up, and
allowing such depth for the works as would prevent their being
discovered by the enemy. This design going on in a hopeful way, he
openly gave assaults to the enemy, to keep them to the walls,
until they that worked underground in the mines might, without
being perceived, arrive within the citadel, close to the temple of
Juno, which was the greatest and most honored in all the city.
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