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inflamed the inferior officers of the army with the same eagerness； so
that Camillus； fearing he might seem out of envy to be wishing to
rob the young men of the glory of a noble exploit； consented； though
unwillingly； that he should draw out the forces； whilst himself； by
reason of weakness； stayed behind with a few in the camp。 Lucius；
engaging rashly； was discomfited； when Camillus； perceiving the Romans
to give ground and fly； could not contain himself； but； leaping from
his bed； with those he had about him ran to meet them at the gates
of the camp； making his way through the flyers to oppose the pursuers；
so that those who had got within the camp turned back at once and
followed him； and those that came flying from without made head
again and gathered about him； exhorting one another not to forsake
their general。 Thus the enemy； for that time； was stopped in his
pursuit。 The next day Camillus； drawing out his forces and joining
battle with them； overthrew them by main force； and； following close
upon them； entered pell…mell with them into their camp； and took it；
slaying the greatest part of them。 Afterwards； having heard that the
city Satricum was taken by the Tuscans； and the inhabitants； all
Romans； put to the sword he sent home to Rome the main body of his
forces and heaviest…armed； and taking with him the lightest and most
vigorous soldiers； set suddenly upon the Tuscans； who were in the
possession of the city； and mastered them； slaying some and
expelling the rest； and so； returning to Rome with great spoils；
gave signal evidence of their superior wisdom； who； not mistrusting
the weakness and age of a commander endued with courage and conduct；
had rather chosen him who was sickly and desirous to be excused；
than younger men who were forward and ambitious to command。
When； therefore； the revolt of the Tusculans was reported； they gave
Camillus the charge of reducing them； choosing one of his five
colleagues to go with him。 And when every one was eager for the place；
contrary to the expectation of all； he passed by the rest and chose
Lucius Furius； the very same man who lately； against the judgment of
Camillus； had rashly hazarded and nearly lost a battle； willing； as it
should seem； to dissemble that miscarriage； and free him from the
shame of it。 The Tusculans； hearing of Camillus's coming against them；
made a cunning attempt at revoking their act of revolt； their
fields； as in times of highest peace； were full of ploughmen and
shepherds； their gates stood wide open； and their children were
being taught in the schools； of the people； such as were trades…men；
he found in their workshops； busied about their several employments；
and the better sort of citizens walking in the public places in
their ordinary dress； the magistrates hurried about to provide
quarters for the Romans； as if they stood in fear of no danger and
were conscious of no fault。 Which arts； though they could not
dispossess Camillus of the conviction he had of their treason； yet
induced some compassion for their repentance； he commanded them to
go to the senate and deprecate their anger； and joined himself as an
intercessor in their behalf； so that their city was acquitted of all
guilt and admitted to Roman citizenship。 These were the most memorable
actions of his sixth tribuneship。
After these things； Licinius Stolo raised a great sedition in the
city； and brought the people to dissension with the senate；
contending； that of two consuls one should be chosen out of the
commons； and not both out of the patricians。 Tribunes of the people
were chosen； but the election of consuls was interrupted and prevented
by the people。 And as this absence of any supreme magistrate was
leading to yet further confusion； Camillus was the fourth time created
dictator by the senate； sorely against the people's will； and not
altogether in accordance with his own； he had little desire for a
conflict with men whose past services entitled them to tell him that
he had achieved far greater actions in war along with them than in
politics with the patricians； who； indeed； had only put him forward
now out of envy； that； if successful； he might crush the people； or
failing； be crushed himself。 However； to provide as good a remedy as
he could for the present； knowing the day on which the tribunes of the
people intended to prefer the law； he appointed it by proclamation for
a general muster； and called the people from the forum into the
Campus； threatening to set heavy fines upon such as should not obey。
On the other side； the tribunes of the people met his threats by
solemnly protesting they would fine him in fifty thousand drachmas
of silver； if he persisted in obstructing the people from giving their
suffrages for the law。 Whether it were； then； that he feared another
banishment or condemnation； which would ill become his age and past
great actions； or found himself unable to stem the current of the
multitude； which ran strong and violent； he betook himself； for the
present； to his house； and afterwards； for some days together
professing sickness； finally laid down his dictatorship。 The senate
created another dictator； who； choosing Stolo； leader of the sedition；
to be his general of horse； suffered that law to be enacted and
ratified； which was most grievous to the patricians； namely； that no
person whatsoever should possess above five hundred acres of land。
Stolo was much distinguished by the victory he had gained； but； not
long after； was found himself to possess more than he had allowed to
others； and suffered the penalties of his own law。
And now the contention about election of consuls coming on （which
was the main point and original cause of the dissension； and had
throughout furnished most matter of division between the senate and
the people）； certain intelligence arrived； that the Gauls again；
proceeding from the Adriatic Sea； were marching in vast numbers upon
Rome。 On the very heels of the report followed manifest acts also of
hostility； the country through which they marched was all wasted；
and such as by flight could not make their escape to Rome were
dispersing and scattering among the mountains。 The terror of this
war quieted the sedition； nobles and commons； senate and people
together unanimously chose Camillus the fifth time dictator； who；
though very aged； not wanting much of fourscore years； yet；
considering the danger and necessity of his country； did not； as
before； pretend sickness； or depreciate his own capacity； but at
once undertook the charge and enrolled soldiers。 And； knowing that the
great force of the barbarians lay chiefly in their swords； with
which they laid about them in a rude and inartificial manner；
hacking and hewing the head and shoulders； he caused head…pieces
entire iron to be made for most of his men； smoothing and polishing
the outside； that the enemy's swords； lighting upon them； might either
slide off or be broken； and fitted also their shields with a little
rim of brass； the wood itself not being sufficient to bear off the
blows。 Besides； he taught his soldiers to use their long javelins in
close encounter； and； by bringing them