s of Italy; but the Carthaginians also sent
ambassadors to Rome to congratulate them, with an offering of a golden
crown, to be placed in Jupiter's shrine in the Capitol. Its weight was
twenty-five pounds. Both consuls triumphed over the Samnites, whilst
Decius followed distinguished with praises and presents, when amid the
rough jesting of the soldiers the name of the tribune was no less
celebrated than that of the consuls. The embassies of the Campanians and
Suessulans were then heard; and to their entreaties it was granted that
a garrison should be sent thither, in order that the incursions of the
Samnites might be repelled. Capua, even then by no means favourable to
military discipline, alienated from the memory of their country the
affections of the soldiers, which were debauched by the supply of
pleasures of all kinds; and schemes were being formed in winter-quarters
for taking away Capua from the Campanians by the same kind of wickedness
as that by which they had taken it from its original possessors: "and
not undeservedly would they turn their own example against themselves.
For why should the Campanians, who were neither able to defend
themselves nor their possessions, occupy the most fertile land of Italy,
and a city worthy of that land, rather than the victorious army, who had
driven the Samnites from thence by their sweat and blood? Was it
reasonable that men who had surrendered to them should have the full
enjoyment of that fertile and delightful country; that they, wearied by
military toil, had to struggle in an insalubrious and arid soil around
their city, or within the city to suffer the oppressive and exhausting
weight of interest-money daily increasing?" These schemes agitated in
secret cabals, and as yet communicated only to a few, were encountered
by the new consul Caius Marcius Rutilus, to whom the province of
Campania had fallen by lot, Quintus Servilius, his colleague, being left
behind in the city. Accordingly when he was in possession of all these
circumstances just as they had occurred, having ascertained them through
the tribunes, matured by years and experience, (for he was consul now
for the fourth time, and had been dictator and censor,) thinking it the
wisest proceeding to frustrate the violence of the soldiers, by
prolonging their hope of executing their project whenever they might
wish, he spreads the rumour, that the troops were to winter in the same
towns on the year after also. For they