At length the matter was left entirely to the management of Quinctius.

He went again to that part of the wall whence the Aetolians had called to him a little before; and on their entreating him now, with still greater earnestness, to take compassion on the nation of the Aetolians, he desired that some of them might come out to him.

Accordingly, Phaeneas himself, with some others of the principal men, instantly came and threw themselves at his feet.

He then said,--"Your condition causes me to restrain my resentment and my reproofs.

The events which I foretold have come to pass, and you have not even this reflection left you, that they have fallen upon you undeservedly.