e was spent, no hope
[of success] inclining to either side, whilst corn and other provisions
were possessed in much greater abundance by the besieged than the
besiegers from [the store] which had been previously laid in. And their
toil appeared likely to prove just as tedious as it had at Veii, had not
fortune presented to the Roman general at once both an opportunity for
displaying his virtuous firmness of mind already tested in warlike
affairs, and a speedy victory.

27. It was the custom among the Faliscians to employ the same person as
preceptor and private tutor for their children; and, as continues the
usage to this day in Greece, several youths were intrusted to the care
of one man. The person who appeared to excel in knowledge, instructed,
as it is natural to suppose, the children of the leading men. As he had
established it as a custom during peace to carry the boys out beyond the
city for the sake of play and of exercise; that custom not having been
discontinued during the existence of the war; then drawing them away
from the gate, sometimes in shorter, sometimes in longer excursions,
advancing farther than usual, when an opportunity offered, by varying
their play and conversation, he led them on between the enemy's guards,
and thence to the Roman camp into his tent to Camillus. There to the
atrocious act he added a still more atrocious speech: that "he had
delivered Falerii into the hands of the Romans, when he put into their
power those children, whose parents are there at the head of affairs."
When Camillus heard this, he says, "Wicked as thou art, thou hast come
with thy villanous offering neither to a people nor a commander like
thyself. Between us and the Faliscians there exists not that form of
society which is established by human compact; but between both there
does exist, and ever will exist, that which nature has implanted. There
are laws of war as well of peace; and we have learned to wage them
justly not less than bravely. We carry arms not against that age which
is spared even when towns are taken, but against men who are themselves
armed, and who, not having been injured or provoked by us, attacked the
Roman camp at Veii. Those thou hast surpassed, as far as lay in you, by
an unprecedented act of villany: I shall conquer them, as I did Veii, by
Roman arts, by bravery, labour, and by arms." Then having stripped him
naked, and tied his hands behind his back, he delivered him up to the
boys to be b