The fame of this action soon flew through the neighboring cities,
and stirred up the young men from various quarters to come and
join themselves with him. But none were so much concerned as those
Romans who escaped in the battle of Allia, and were now at Veii,
thus lamenting with themselves, "O heavens, what a commander has
Providence bereaved Rome of, to honor Ardea with his actions! And
that city, which brought forth and nursed so great a man, is lost
and gone, and we, destitute of a leader and shut up within strange
walls, sit idle, and see Italy ruined before our eyes. Come, let
us send to the Ardeatians to have back our general, or else, with
weapons in our hands, let us go thither to him." To this they all
agreed, and sent to Camillus to desire him to take the command;
but he answered that he would not until they that were in the
Capitol should legally appoint him. When this answer was returned,
they admired the modesty and tempter of Camillus; but they could
not tell how to find a messenger to carry the intelligence to the
Capitol, or rather, indeed, it seemed altogether impossible for
any one to get to the citadel whilst the enemy was in full
possession of the city. But among the young men there was one
Pontius Cominius, of ordinary birth, but ambitious of honor, who
proffered himself to run the hazard, and took no letters with him
to those in the Capitol, lest, if he were intercepted, the enemy
might learn the intentions of Camillus; but, putting on a poor
dress and carrying corks under, he boldly traveled the greatest
part of the way by day, and came to the city when it was dark; the
bridge he could not pass, as it was guarded by the barbarians; so
that taking his clothes, which were neither many nor heavy, and
binding them about his head, he laid his body upon the corks, and,
swimming with them, got over to the city.
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