This year a new enemy, the Tarquinians, started up.

Because they saw the Romans engaged in many wars together, that of the Volscians at Anxur, where the garrison was besieged, that of the AEquans at Lavici, who were attacking the Roman colony there, moreover in the Veientian, Faliscan, and Capenatian war, and that matters were not more tranquil within the walls, by reason of the dissensions between the patricians and commons; considering that amid these [troubles] there was an opportunity for an attack, they send their light-armed cohorts to commit depredations on the Roman territory.

For [they concluded] either that the Romans would suffer that injury to pass off unavenged, that they might not encumber themselves with an additional war, or that they would resent it with a scanty army, and one by no means strong.

The Romans [felt] greater indignation, than alarm, at the inroads of the Tarquinians.

On this account the matter was neither taken up with great preparation, nor was it delayed for any length of time.