from thence sent down into the plains, was unobserved by Lucretius, while he lay encamped among the Hernicans.  These laid waste all the countryaround Praeneste and Gabii:  from the Gabinian territory they turned their course toward the heights of Tusculum; great alarm was excited in the city of Rome also, more from the suddenness of the affair than because there was not sufficient strength to repel the attack.  Quintus Fabius was in command of the city; he, having armed the young men and posted guards, made things secure and tranquil.  The enemy, therefore, not venturing to approach the city, when they were returning by a circuitous route, carrying off plunder from the adjacent places, their caution being now more relaxed, in proportion as they removed to a greater distance from the enemy’s city, fell in with the consul Lucretius, who had already reconnoitred his lines of march, and whose army was drawn up in battle array and resolved upon an engagement.  Accordingly, having attacked them with predetermined resolution, though with considerably inferior forces, they routed and put to flight their numerous army, while smitten with sudden panic, and having driven them into the deep valleys, where means of egress were not easy, they surrounded them.  There the power of the Volscians was almost entirely annihilated.  In some annals, I find that thirteen thousand four hundred and seventy fell in battle and in flight that one thousand seven hundred and fifty were taken alive, that twenty-seven military standards were captured:  and although in accounts there may have been some exaggeration in regard to numbers, undoubtedly great slaughter took place.  The victorious consul, having obtained immense booty, returned to his former standing camp.  Then the consuls joined camps.  The Volscians and AEquans also united their shattered strength.  This was the third battle in that year; the same good fortune gave them victory; the enemy was routed, and their camp taken.

Thus the affairs of Rome returned to their former condition; and successes abroad immediately excited commotions in the city.  Gaius Terentilius Harsa was tribune of the people in that year:  he, considering that an opportunity was afforded for tribunician intrigues during the absence of the consuls began, after railing against the arrogance of the patricians for several days before the people, to inveigh chiefly against the consular authority, as being excessive and intolerable for a free state:  for that in name only was it less hateful, in reality it was almost more cruel than the authority of the kings:  that forsooth in place of one, two masters had been accepted, with unbounded and unlimited power, who, themselves unrestrained and unbridled, directed all the terrors of the law, and all kinds of punishments against the commons.  Now, in order that their unbounded license might not last forever, he would bring forward a law that five persons be appointed to draw up laws regarding the