Men, otherwise of spotless conduct, have frequently shed the purest and noblest blood, influenced by fanaticism, and often without any resentment, in the service of party." [6] The account of the siege of Ve'ii is full of improbabilities, and the story of the mine is utterly impossible, for without a compass and a good plan of the city, such a work could not have been formed.

That Ve'ii, however, was besieged and taken at this time is very certain, but that is the only part of the legend on which we can rely.
[7] The _as_ was a brass coin, about three farthings of our money.
[8] This day was from henceforth marked as unlucky in their calendar, and called Allien'sis.
[9] Among others, the Vestals fled from the city, carrying with them the two Palladiums and the sacred fire.

They took shelter at Caere, a town of Etru'ria, where they continued to celebrate their religious rites; from this circumstance religious rites acquired the name of ceremonies.
[10] This self-devotion was in consequence of a vow made by these brave old men, which Fa'bius, the Pontifex Maximus, pronounced in their names.

The Romans believed that, by thus devoting themselves to the internal gods, disorder and confusion were brought among the enemy.
[11] These were the footsteps of Pon'tius Comin'ius, who, with great prudence and bravery, found means to carry a message from Camil'lus to the Romans in the Capi'tol, and to return with the appointment of dictator for Camil'lus.
[12] As a reward for this essential service, every soldier gave Man'lius a small quantity of corn and a little measure of wine, out of his scanty allowance; a present of no mean value in their then distressed situation.

On the other hand, the captain of the guard, who ought to have kept the sentinels to their duty, was thrown headlong from the Capitol.