oth summer
and winter; and now it fell not so much by force as by the art of the
engineer.

The tidings of this thing being brought to Rome there was great
rejoicing; because, for all the prophecies of the soothsayers and the
answers of the oracle, and the greatness of Camillus, men had scarce
believed that so strong a city, from which so much loss had been
suffered in time past, would indeed be conquered, Straightway the
temples were crowded with women that gave thanks to the gods. And the
Senate decreed a thanksgiving of four days, such as never had been
decreed before.

As for the Dictator, when he came back to the city, there went out to
meet him men of all ranks and conditions. Such honour was rendered
to him as had never before been rendered to any man. But when he rode
through the city in a chariot drawn by white horses, men said, "This
becometh not a citizen, nor indeed a man, how great soever he be.
He maketh himself equal to Jupiter or Apollo." Afterwards, having
contracted for the building of a temple to Queen Juno on Mount Aventine,
and dedicated the temple to Mother Matuta, he resigned the dictatorship.
And now came the paying of the tenth of the spoil to Apollo, according
to the vow which Camillus had vowed. For the priests affirmed that the
people were bound by the vow. It was commanded, therefore, that every
man should set a price on the spoil which he had carried away from Veii,
and should pay a tenth part to the god. This also turned away the hearts
of the Commons from Camillus.

CHAPTER XII. ~~ THE STORY OF CAMILLUS.

In the next year the Senate would have sent a colony into the country
of the Volscians, giving to each man two acres of land and more. But the
thing pleased not the Commons, who said, "Why do ye send us into exile
in the land of the Volscians while this fair city of Veii lieth within
view, having lands both wider and more fertile than are the lands of
Rome?" The city also they preferred to their own, both for its situation
and for the magnificence of its buildings both public and private. Their
counsel, therefore, was that the State should be divided, and that the
nobles should dwell at Rome and the Commons at Veii. But the nobles
steadfastly withstood it, saying, "We will die rather than that such
a thing be done. If there be such trouble in one city, how much more,
think ye, will there be in two? Will ye prefer a city that is vanquished
to that which is victorious? Will ye l