It
is said that the prince of the Tuscans was at that very time at
sacrifice, and that the priest, after he had looked into the
entrails of the beast, cried out with a loud voice that the gods
would give the victory to those that should complete those
offerings; and that the Romans who were in the mines, hearing the
words, immediately pulled down the floor, and, ascending with
noise, and clashing of weapons, frightened away the enemy, and,
snatching up the entrails, carried them to Camillus. But this may
look like a fable. The city, however, being taken by storm, and
the soldiers busied in pillaging and gathering an infinite
quantity of riches and spoil, Camillus, from the high tower
viewing what was done, at first wept for pity; and when the
bystanders congratulated him upon his success, he lifted up his
hands to heaven, and broke out into this prayer: "O most mighty
Jupiter, and ye gods that are judges of good and evil actions, ye
know that not without just cause, but constrained by necessity, we
have been forced to revenge ourselves on the city of our
unrighteous and wicked enemies. But if, the the vicissitude of
things, there by any calamity due, to counter-balance this great
felicity, I beg that it may be diverted from the city and army of
the Romans, and fall, with as little hurt as may be, upon my own
head.
Pages:
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163