: In my translation of this passage I have differed from
Baker, who thus renders: "thinking, that as his enemies were few in
number, their skill was what he had chiefly to guard against." Dureau De
Lamalle thus translates: "supposant de la ruse aux ennemis, a raison de
leur petit nombre." This is obviously the correct version.]

39. The miraculous attainment of so sudden a victory held even the Gauls
in a state of stupefaction. And at first they stood motionless with
panic, as if not knowing what had happened; then they apprehended a
stratagem; at length they began to collect the spoils of the slain, and
to pile up the arms in heaps, as is their custom. Then, at length, when
no appearance of any thing hostile was any where observed, having
proceeded on their journey, they reach the city of Rome not long before
sun-set: where when some horsemen, who had advanced before, brought back
word that the gates were not shut, that no guard was posted before the
gates, no armed troops on the walls, another cause of amazement similar
to the former made them halt; and dreading the night and ignorance of
the situation of the city, they posted themselves between Rome and the
Anio, after sending scouts about the walls and the several gates to
ascertain what plans the enemy would adopt in their desperate
circumstances. With respect to the Romans, as the greater part had gone
to Veii from the field of battle, and no one supposed that any survived
except those who had fled back to Rome, being all lamented as lost, both
those living and those dead, they caused the entire city to be filled
with wailings. The alarm for the public interest stifled private sorrow,
as soon as it was announced that the enemy were at hand. Presently the
barbarians patrolling around the walls in troops, they heard their yells
and the dissonant clangour of their arms. All the interval up to the
next day kept their minds in such a state of suspense, that an assault
seemed every moment about to be made on the city: on their first
approach, when they arrived at the city, [it was expected;] for if this
were not their design, that they would have remained at the Allia; then
towards sunset, because there was not much of the day remaining, they
imagined that they would attack them before night; then that the design
was deferred until night, in order to strike the greater terror. At
length the approach of light struck them with dismay; and the calamity
itself followed close