s, in order that they may die in the insignia of their
former station, honours, and merit, arraying themselves in the most
magnificent garments worn by those drawing the chariots of the gods in
procession, or by persons riding in triumph, seated themselves in their
ivory chairs, in the middle of their halls. Some say that they devoted
themselves for their country and the citizens of Rome, Marcus Fabius,
the chief pontiff, dictating the form of words. The Gauls, both because
by the intervention of the night they had abated all angry feelings
arising from the irritation of battle, and because they had on no
occasion fought a well-disputed fight, and were then not taking the city
by storm or violence, entering the city the next day, free from
resentment or heat of passion, through the Colline gate which lay open,
advance into the forum, casting their eyes around on the temples of the
gods, and on the citadel, which alone exhibited any appearance of war.
From thence, after leaving a small guard, lest any attack should be made
on them whilst scattered, from the citadel or Capitol, they dispersed in
quest of plunder; the streets being entirely desolate, rush some of them
in a body into the houses that were nearest; some repair to those which
were most distant, considering these to be untouched and abounding with
spoil. Afterwards being terrified by the very solitude, lest any
stratagem of the enemy should surprise them whilst being dispersed, they
returned in bodies into the forum and the parts adjoining to the forum,
where the houses of the commons being shut, and the halls of the leading
men lying open, almost greater backwardness was felt to attack the open
than the shut houses; so completely did they behold with a sort of
veneration men sitting in the porches of the palaces, who besides their
ornaments and apparel more august than human, bore a striking
resemblance to gods, in the majesty which their looks and the gravity of
their countenance displayed. Whilst they stood gazing on these as on
statues, it is said that Marcus Papirius, one of them, roused the anger
of a Gaul by striking him on the head with his ivory, while he was
stroking his beard, which was then universally worn long; and that the
commencement of the bloodshed began with him, that the rest were slain
in their seats. After the slaughter of the nobles, no person whatever
was spared; the houses were plundered, and when emptied were set on
fire.

42. But whe