When he found the young
men embraced the thing, he went to the magistrates and council of
the city, and, having persuaded them also, he mustered all that
could bear arms, and drew them up within the the walls, that they
might not be perceived by the enemy, who was near; who, having
scoured the country, and now returned heavy laden with booty, lay
encamped in the plains in a careless and negligent posture, so
that, with the night ensuing upon debauch and drunkenness, silence
prevailed through all the camp. When Camillus learned this from
his scouts, he drew out the Ardeatians, and in the dead of the
night, passing in silence over the ground that lay between, came
up to their works, and, commanding his trumpets to sound and his
men to shout and halloo, he struck terror into them from all
quarters; while drunkenness impeded and sleep retarded their
movements. A few whom fear had sobered, getting into some order,
for awhile resisted; and so died with their weapons in their
hands. But the greatest part of them, buried in wine and sleep,
were surprised without their arms, and dispatched; and as many of
them as by the advantage of the night got out of the camp were the
next day found scattered abroad and wandering in the fields, and
were picked up by the horse that pursued them.
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