asleepe: & so by that meanes were the
Galles beaten backe and repelled.
* * * * *
_Camillus reuoked from exile, made dictator, and receiueth
peremptorie authoritie, he ouerthroweth the Galles in a pitcht field,
controuersie betweene writers touching Brennus and Belinus left
vndetermined; of diuers foundations, erections and reparations doone
and atchiued by Belinus, the burning of his bodie in stead of his
burieng_.
THE FOURTH CHAPTER.
The Romans being thus put to their extreame shift, deuised among
themselues how to reuoke Furius Camillus from exile, whom not long
before they had vniustlie banished out of the citie. In the end they
did not onelie send for him home, but also created him dictator,
committing into his handes (so long as his office lasted) an absolute
power ouer all men, both of life and death. Camillus forgetfull of the
iniurie done to him, and mindfull of his dutie towards his countrie,
and lamenting the state thereof, without delay gathered such an armie
as the present time permitted.
In the meane time those that kept the capitoll (being almost famished
[Sidenote: A composition.]
for lacke of vittels) compounded with Brenne and Beline, that for
a thousand pounds weight in gold, the Romans should redeeme their
liberties, and the said Brenne and Beline depart with their armie out
of the citie and all the territories of Rome. But at the deliuerie
of the monie, and by a certeine kind of hap, the Romans name was
preserued at that time from such dishonor and ignominie as was likelie
to haue insued. For some of the couetous sort of the Galles, not
contented with the iust weight of the gold, did cast their swords also
into the balance where the weights lay, thereby to haue ouer weight:
wherevpon the Romans refused to make paiment after that weight.
And thus whilest they were in altercation about this matter, the one
importunnate to haue, the other not willing to grant, the time
[Sidenote: Camillus disappointeth the Galles of their paiment.]
passed, till in the meane season Camillus came in amongst them with
his power, commanding that the gold should be had away, and affirming
that without consent of the dictator, no composition or agreement
might be concluded by the meaner magistrate. He gaue a signe to the
Galles to prepare themselues to battell, whervnto they lightlie
[Sidenote: The Galles overthrowne]
agreed, and togither they went. The battell being once
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