proceeded, nevertheless, with the utmost alacrity to Ferentinum.  But here they met a greater share both of difficulty and danger:  the fortifications were defended with the utmost vigour, and the place was strongly fortified both by nature and art.  However, the soldiers, now inured to plunder, overcame every obstacle.  Three thousand of the enemy were killed round the walls, and the spoil was given to the troops.  In some annals, the principal share of the honour of taking these cities is attributed to Maximus.  They say that Murgantia was taken by Decius; Romulea and Ferentinum by Fabius.  Some ascribe this honour to the new consuls:  others not to both, but to one of these, Lucius Volumnius:  that to him the province of Samnium had fallen.

18.  While things went on thus in Samnium, whoever it was that had the command and auspices, powerful combination, composed of many states, was formed in Etruria against the Romans, the chief promoter of which was Gellius Egnatius, a Samnite.  Almost all the Etrurians had united in this war.  The neighbouring states of Umbria were drawn in, as it were, by the contagion; and auxiliaries were procured from the Gauls for hire:  all their several numbers assembled at the camp of the Samnites.  When intelligence of this sudden commotion was received at Rome, after the consul, Lucius Volumnius, had already set out for Samnium, with the second and third legions, and fifteen thousand of the allies; it was, therefore, resolved, that Appius Claudius should, at the very earliest opportunity, go into Etruria.  Two Roman legions followed him, the first and fourth, and twelve thousand allies; their camp was pitched at a small distance from the enemy.  However, advantage was gained by his early arrival in this particular, that the awe of the Roman name kept in check some states of Etruria which were disposed to war, rather than from any judicious or successful enterprise achieved under the guidance of the consul.  Several battles were fought, at times and places unfavourable, and increasing confidence rendered the enemy daily more formidable; so that matters came nearly to such a state, as that neither could the soldiers rely much on their leader, nor the leader on his soldiers.  It appears in three several histories, that a letter was sent by the consul to call his colleague from Samnium.  But I will not affirm what requires stronger proof, as that point was a matter of dispute between these two consuls of the Roman people, a second time associated in the same office; Appius denying that the letter was sent, and Volumnius affirming that he was called thither by a letter from Appius.  Volumnius had, by this time, taken three forts in Samnium, in which three thousand of the enemy had been slain, and about half that number made prisoners; and, a sedition having been raised among the Lucanians by the plebeians and the more indigent of the people, he had, to the great satisfaction of the nobles, quelled it by sending thither