ies being
sent to Camillus to Ardea, conducted him to Veii: or else the law was
passed by the curiae, and he was nominated dictator in his absence; for I
am more inclined to believe that he did not set out from Ardea until he
found that the law was passed; because he could neither change his
residence without an order of the people, nor hold the privilege of the
auspices in the army until he was nominated dictator.

47. Whilst these things were going on at Veii, in the mean while the
citadel and Capitol of Rome were in great danger. For the Gauls either
having perceived the track of a human foot where the messenger from Veii
had passed, or having of themselves remarked the easy ascent by the rock
at the temple of Carmentis, on a moonlight night, after they had at
first sent forward an unarmed person, to make trial of the way,
delivering their arms, whenever any difficulty occurred, alternately
supported and supporting each other, and drawing each other up,
according as the ground required, they reached the summit in such
silence, that they not only escaped the notice of the sentinels, but of
the dogs also, an animal extremely wakeful with respect to noises by
night. The notice of the geese they did not escape, which, as being
sacred to Juno, were spared though they were in the greatest scarcity of
food. Which circumstance was the cause of their preservation. For Marcus
Manlius, who three years before had been consul, a man distinguished in
war, being aroused from sleep by their cackling and the clapping of
their wings, snatched up his arms, and at the same time calling the
others to do the same, proceeds to the spot; and whilst the others are
thrown into confusion, he struck with the boss of his shield and tumbles
down a Gaul, who had already got footing on the summit; and when the
fall of this man as he tumbled threw down those who were next him, he
slew others, who in their consternation had thrown away their arms, and
caught hold of the rocks to which they clung. And now the others also
having assembled beat down the enemy by javelins and stones, and the
entire band, having lost their footing, were hurled down the precipice
in promiscuous ruin. The alarm then subsiding, the remainder of the
night was given up to repose, (as far as could be done considering the
disturbed state of their minds,) when the danger, even though past,
still kept them in a state of anxiety. Day having appeared, the soldiers
were summoned by s