would have compelled the Romans to undertake a serious struggle on the northern Tuscan frontier, lay beyond the horizon of the Roman policy at that time.  No course was therefore left but to refrain from all interference.  Foolishly, however, while declining to send auxiliary troops, they despatched envoys.  With still greater folly these sought to impose upon the Celts by haughty language, and, when this failed, they conceived that they might with impunity violate the law of nations in dealing with barbarians; in the ranks of the Clusines they took part in a skirmish, and in the course of it one of them stabbed and dismounted a Gallic officer.  The barbarians acted in this case with moderation and prudence.  They sent in the first instance to the Roman community to demand the surrender of those who had outraged the law of nations, and the senate was ready to comply with the reasonable request.  But with the multitude compassion for their countrymen outweighed justice towards the foreigners; satisfaction was refused by the burgesses; and according to some accounts they even nominated the brave champions of their fatherland as consular tribunes for the year 364,(9) which was to be so fatal in the Roman annals.  Then the Brennus or, in other words, the “king of the army” of the Gauls broke up the siege of Clusium, and the whole Celtic host—­the numbers of which are stated at 70,000 men—­turned against Rome.  Such expeditions into unknown land distant regions were not unusual for the Gauls, who marched as bands of armed emigrants, troubling themselves little as to the means of cover or of retreat; but it was evident that none in Rome anticipated the dangers involved in so sudden and so mighty an invasion.  It was not till the Gauls were marching upon Rome that a Roman military force crossed the Tiber and sought to bar their way.  Not twelve miles from the gates, opposite to the confluence of the rivulet Allia with the Tiber, the armies met, and a battle took place on the 18th July, 364.  Even now they went into battle—­not as against an army, but as against freebooters—­with arrogance and foolhardiness and under inexperienced leaders, Camillus having in consequence of the dissensions of the orders withdrawn from taking part in affairs.  Those against whom they were to fight were but barbarians; what need was there of a camp, or of securing a retreat?  These barbarians, however, were men whose courage despised death, and their mode of fighting was to the Italians as novel as it was terrible; sword in hand the Celts precipitated themselves with furious onset on the Roman phalanx, and shattered it at the first shock.  The overthrow was complete; of the Romans, who had fought with the river in their rear, a large portion met their death in the attempt to cross it; such as escaped threw themselves by a flank movement into the neighbouring Veii.  The victorious Celts stood between the remnant of the beaten army and the capital.  The latter was irretrievably