ere he beheld the gates lying open, and every thing exposed to
sale in the open shops, and the workmen engaged each on their respective
employments, and the schools of learning buzzing with the voices of the
scholars, and the streets filled amid the different kinds of people,
with boys and women going different ways, whithersoever the occasions of
their respective callings carried them; nothing in any quarter that bore
any appearance of panic or even of surprise; he looked around at every
object, attentively inquiring where the war had been. No trace was there
of any thing having been removed, or brought forward for the occasion;
so completely was every thing in a state of steady tranquil peace, so
that it scarcely seemed that even the rumour of war could have reached
them.

26. Overcome therefore by the submissive demeanour of the enemy, he
ordered their senate to be called. "Tusculans," he says, "ye are the
only persons who have yet found the true arms and the true strength, by
which to protect your possessions from the resentment of the Romans.
Proceed to Rome to the senate. The fathers will consider, whether you
have merited more punishment for your former conduct, or forgiveness for
your present. I shall not anticipate your gratitude for a favour to be
conferred by the state. From me ye shall have the power of seeking
pardon. The senate will grant to your entreaties such a result, as they
shall consider meet." When the Tusculans came to Rome, and the senate
[of a people], who were till a little before faithful allies, were seen
with sorrowful countenances in the porch of the senate-house, the
fathers, immediately moved [at the sight,] even then ordered them to be
called in rather in a friendly than a hostile manner. The Tusculan
dictator spoke as follows: "Conscript fathers, we against whom ye
proclaimed and made war, just as you see us now standing in the porch of
your house, so armed and so attired did we go forth to meet your
generals and your legions. This was our habit, this the habit of our
commons; and ever shall be, unless whenever we shall receive arms from
you and defence of you. We return thanks to your generals and your
troops for having trusted their eyes more than their ears; and for
having committed nothing hostile, where none subsisted. The peace, which
we observed, the same we solicit at your hands: we pray you, avert war
to that quarter where, if any where, it subsists. What your arms may be
able