ch. 73.7The helpless commonwealth, deprived of its head and
all its strength, was saved by its guardian deities and the
fortune of the City, who made the Volscians and Aequi think
more of plunder than of their enemy. For they had no hope of
even approaching the walls of Rome, still less of effecting
its capture. The distant view of its houses and its hills, so
far from alluring them repelled them. Everywhere throughout
their camp angry remonstrances arose: Why were they idly
wasting their time in a waste and deserted land amid
plague stricken beasts and men while they could find places free
from infection in the territory of Tusculum with its abundant
wealth? They hastily plucked up their standards, [Note] and by
cross-marches through the fields of Labici they reached the
hills of Tusculum. All the violence and storm of war was now
turned in this direction.
Meantime the Hernici and Latins joined their forces and
proceeded to Rome. They were actuated by a feeling not only
of pity but also of the disgrace they would incur if they had
offered no opposition to their common foe while he was
advancing to attack Rome, or had brought no succour to those
who were their allies. Not finding the enemy there, they
followed up their traces from the information supplied them,
and met them as they were descending from the hills of
Tusculum into the valley of Alba. Here a very one-sided
action was fought, and their fidelity to their allies met
with little success for the time.
The mortality in Rome through the epidemic was not less than
that of the allies through the sword. The surviving consul
died; amongst other illustrious victims were M. Valerius and
T. Verginius Rutilus, the augurs, and Ser. Sulpicius, the
Curio Maximus. [Note] Amongst the common people the violence of
the epidemic made great ravage. The senate, deprived of all
human aid, bade the people betake themselves to prayers; they
with their wives and children were ordered to go as
suppliants and entreat the gods to be gracious. Summoned by
public authority to do what each man's misery was
constraining him to do, they crowded all the temples.
Prostrate matrons, sweeping with their dishevelled hair the
temple floors, were everywhere imploring pardon from offended
heaven, and entreating that an end might be put to the
pestilence.
