Camillus himself was struck with compassion, and
perceiving the soldiers weeping, and commiserating their case,
while the Sutrians hung about and clung to them, resolved not to
defer revenge, but that very day to lead his army to Sutrium;
conjecturing that the enemy, having just taken a rich and
plentiful city, without an enemy left within it, nor any from
without to be expected, would be found abandoned to enjoyment, and
unguarded. Neither did his opinion fail him: he not only passed
through their country without discovery, but came up to their very
gates and possessed himself of the walls, not a man being left to
guard them, but their whole army scattered about in the houses,
drinking and making merry. Nay, when at last they did perceive
that the enemy had seized the city, they were so overloaded with
meat and wine that few were able so much as to endeavor to
escape,but either waited shamefully for their death within
doors,or surrendered themselves to the conqueror. Thus the city of
the Sutrians was twice taken in one day; and they who were in
possession lost it, and they who had lost regained it, alike by
the means of Camillus. For all which actions he received a triumph
which brought him no less honor and reputation than the two former
ones; for those citizens who before most regarded him with an evil
eye, and ascribed his successes to a certain luck rather than real
merit, were compelled by these last acts of his to allow the whole
honor to his great abilities and energy.
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