ssault the walls; not so
much from any hope that the city could be taken by scalade, as that, by
turning away the enemy's attention to that quarter, both the townsmen
who were wearied with fighting might have some relaxation of their toil,
and that he himself might have an opportunity of entering the city
without a contest. This having been done on both sides, and the double
terror now surrounding the Etrurians, when they saw that the walls were
assailed with the utmost fury, and that the enemy were within the walls,
they threw themselves out in consternation, in one body, by a gate which
alone happened not to be guarded. Great slaughter was made on them as
they fled, both in the city and through the fields. The greater number
were slain within the walls by Furius' soldiers: those of Valerius were
more alert for the pursuit; nor did they put an end to the slaughter
until night, which prevented them from seeing. Sutrium being recovered
and restored to the allies, the army was led to Nepete, which having
been received by capitulation, was now entirely in the possession of the
Etrurians.

10. It appeared probable, that there would be more of labour in
recovering the city, not only for this reason, because it was all in
possession of the enemy, but also because the surrender had been made in
consequence of a party of the Nepesinians having betrayed the state. It
was determined, however, that a message should be sent to their leading
men, to separate themselves from the Etrurians, and that they themselves
should evince that strict fidelity, which they had implored from the
Romans. Whence as soon as an answer was brought that there was nothing
in their power, that the Etrurians occupied the walls and the guards of
the gates, first, terror was struck into the townsmen by laying waste
their land; then, when the faith of the capitulation was more
religiously observed than that of the alliance, the army was led up to
the walls with fascines of bushes collected from the fields, and the
ditches being filled, the scaling ladders were raised, and the town was
taken at the first shout and attack. Proclamation was then made to the
Nepesinians, that they should lay down their arms, and orders were given
that the unarmed should be spared. The Etrurians, armed and unarmed,
were put to the sword without distinction: of the Nepesinians also the
authors of the surrender were beheaded. To the unoffending multitude
their property was restored,