nt to the camp that he might encourage the soldiers; and afterwards
he raised a new army in the city, neither did any man draw back from
the service. The warriors also of the Latins and of the Hernici came
offering help, to whom the Senate gave public thanks. Then the Dictator
vowed that he would celebrate the Great Games when Veii should have been
taken; also he vowed to build anew and dedicate the temple of Mother
Matuta, which temple King Servius Tullius dedicated at the first. And so
setting forth, and putting to flight on his way the men of Falerii and
of Capena, he came to Veii. There he strengthened the works, shutting up
the enemy more closely than before. Also he commanded that a mine should
be driven under the very citadel of the town. And that this might not be
interrupted on the one hand, nor they that did it spent with labour on
the other, he divided them that made the mine into six companies, and
commanded that each company should labour for six hours. So the work was
carried on without ceasing both by night and by day, till the mine was
driven into the citadel.

After this, seeing that victory was now in his hands, and considering
also that he was about to capture a very wealthy city, wherein was
such spoil as had never before been taken in all the wars of the Roman
people, he feared lest the soldiers should be provoked to anger if he
should seem to grudge them the booty, or the Senate blame him if he
should be too bountiful. Whereupon he wrote a letter in these words:
"The favour of the Gods and my own counsels and the valour of the
soldiers have brought it to pass that Veii will soon be in the
possession of the Roman people. What then, think ye, should be done with
the spoil?" On this matter there was great debate in the Senate; but at
the last it seemed good that proclamation should be made to the people:
"Whosoever will have a share in the spoil of Veii, let him go to the
camp to the Dictator."

This proclamation having been made, a vast multitude set forth, so that
the camp was filled from the one end to the other. Then the Dictator,
after duly performing sacrifice, commanded the soldiers that they should
arm themselves. Afterwards he prayed, speaking these words, "Apollo,
God of Delphi, by whose guidance and bidding I have come to destroy this
city of Veii, to thee I vow a tenth part of the spoil. And do thou also,
Queen Juno, that now dwellest in Veii, follow us, I pray thee, to Rome,
that is now