ch. 183.18The same night messengers reached Tusculum with
tidings of the capture of the Citadel, the seizure of the
Capitol, and
the generally disturbed state of the City. L. Mamilius
was at that time Dictator of Tusculum. After hurriedly
convening the senate and introducing the messengers, he
strongly urged the senators not to wait until envoys arrived
from Rome begging for help; the fact of the danger and the
seriousness of the crisis, the gods who watched over
alliances, and loyalty to treaties, all demanded instant
action. Never again would the gods vouchsafe so favourable
an opportunity for conferring an obligation on so powerful a
State or one so close to their own doors. They decided that
help should be sent, the men of military age were enrolled,
arms were distributed. As they approached Rome in the early
dawn, they presented in the distance the appearance of
enemies; it seemed as though Aequi or Volscians were coming.
When this groundless alarm was removed they were admitted
into the City and marched in order into the Forum, where P.
Valerius, who had left his colleague to direct the troops on
guard at the gates, was forming his army for battle. It was
his authority that had achieved this result; he declared
that if, when the Capitol was recovered and the City pacified
they would allow the covert dishonesty of the Law which the
tribunes supported to be explained to them, he would not
oppose the holding of a plebeian Assembly, for he was not
unmindful of his ancestors or of the name he bore, which made
the protection of the plebs, so to speak, a hereditary care.
Following his leadership, amid the futile protests of the
tribunes, they marched in order of battle up the Capitoline
hill, the legion from Tusculum marching with them. The Ro-
mans and their allies were striving which should have the
glory of recapturing the Citadel. Each of the commanders were
encouraging his men. Then the enemy lost heart, their only
confidence was in the strength of their position; whilst thus
demoralised the Romans and allies advanced to the charge.
They had already forced their way into the vestibule of the
temple, when P. Valerius, who was in the front, cheering on
his men, was killed. P. Volumnius, a man of consular rank,
saw him fall. Directing his men to protect the body, he ran
to the front and took the consul's place. In the heat of
their charge the soldiers were not aware of the loss they had
sustained; they gained the victory before they knew that they
were fighting without a general. Many of the exiles defiled
the temple with their blood, many were taken prisoners,
Herdonius was killed. So the Capitol was recovered.
Punishment was inflicted on the prisoners according to their
condition, whether slave or freeman; a vote of thanks was
accorded to the Tusculans; the Capitol was cleansed and
solemnly purified. It is stated that the plebeians threw
quadrantes into the consul's house that he might have a more
splendid funeral.
