ecusae, they afterwards
ventured to transfer their settlement to the continent. This state,
relying both on their own strength, as well as on the treacherous nature
of the alliance of the Samnites with the Romans; or, encouraged by the
report of a pestilence having attacked the city of Rome, committed
various acts of hostility against the Romans settled in the Campanian
and Falernian territories. Wherefore, in the succeeding consulate of
Lucius Cornelius, and Quintus Publilius Philo a second time, heralds
being sent to Palaepolis to demand satisfaction, when a haughty answer
was returned by these Greeks, a race more magnanimous in words than in
action, the people, in pursuance of the direction of the senate, ordered
war to be declared against the Palaepolitans. On settling the provinces
between the consuls, the war against the Greeks fell to Publilius.
Cornelius, with another army, was appointed to watch the Samnites if
they should attempt any movement; but a report prevailed that they,
anxiously expecting a revolt in Campania, intended to march their troops
thither; that was judged by Cornelius the properest station for him.

23. The senate received information, from both the consuls, that there
was very little hope of peace with the Samnites. Publilius informed
them, that two thousand soldiers from Nolae, and four thousand of the
Samnites, had been received into Palaepolis, a measure rather forced on
the Greeks by the Nolans than agreeable to their inclination. Cornelius
wrote, that a levy of troops had been ordered, that all Samnium was in
motion, and that the neighbouring states of Privernum, Fundi, and
Formiae, were openly solicited to join them. When in consequence it was
thought proper, that, before hostilities were commenced, ambassadors
should be sent to the Samnites, an insolent answer is returned by them;
they even went so far as to accuse the Romans of behaving injuriously
towards them; but, nevertheless, they took pains to clear themselves of
the charges made against them, asserting, that "the Greeks were not
assisted with either counsel or aid by their state, nor were the
Fundanians or Formians tampered with by them; for, if they were disposed
to war, they had not the least reason to be diffident of their own
strength. However, they could not dissemble, that it gave great offence
to the state of the Samnites, that Fregellae, by them taken from the
Volscians and demolished, should have been rebuilt by the Ro