A like carnage was made of the Tuscans in the Veientian territory; who were so far from compassionating the city which had now been its neighbour for nearly four hundred years, overpowered as it now was by a strange and unheard-of enemy, that at that very time they made incursions on the Roman territory; and laden with plunder, had it in contemplation to lay siege to Veii, the bulwark and last hope of the Roman race.

The Roman soldiers had seen them straggling over the country, and collected in a body, driving the spoil before them, and they perceived their camp pitched at no great distance from Veii.

Upon this, first self-commiseration, then indignation, and after that resentment, took possession of their minds: "Were their calamities to be a subject of mockery to the Etrurians, from whom they had turned off the Gallic war on themselves ?" Scarce could they curb their passions, so as to refrain from attacking them at the moment; and being restrained by Quintus Caedicius, the centurion, whom they had appointed their commander, they deferred the matter until night.

A leader equal to Camillus was all that was wanted; in other respects matters were conducted in the same order and with the same fortunate result.

And further, under the guidance of some prisoners, who had survived the nightly slaughter, they set out to Salinae against another body of Tuscans, they suddenly made on the following night still greater havoc, and returned to Veii exulting in their double victory.
46.