Every Roman believes that the prayers of Camillus were quickly heard by Justice, and that a terrible retribution was exacted for his wrongs, which filled all men’s mouths at that time; so terrible a fate befell Rome, with such destruction, danger, and disgrace, whether it arose from mere chance, or whether it be the office of some god to punish those who requite virtue with ingratitude.

XIV.  The first omen of impending evil was the death of Julius the Censor; for the Romans reverence the office of censor, and account it sacred.  Another omen was that, a short time before Camillus went into exile, one Marcus Caedicius, a man of no particular note, and not even a senator, but a thoroughly respectable man, communicated a matter of some importance to the tribunes of the people.  He said that the night before he had been walking along what is called the New Road, when some one called him by name.  He turned round and could see no one, but heard a voice louder than man’s say, “Go, Marcus Caedicius, tell the government early in the morning that in a short time they may expect the Gauls.”  When the tribunes of the people heard this they laughed him to scorn, and shortly afterwards Camillus left the city.

XV.  The Gauls are a people of the Celtic race, and are said to have become too numerous for their own country, and consequently to have left it to search for some other land to dwell in.  As they consisted of a large multitude of young warriors, they started in two bodies, one of which, went towards the northern ocean, and, passing the Rhipaean mountains, settled in the most distant part of Europe.  The other body established themselves between the Pyrenees and the Alps, and for a long time dwelt near the Senones and Celtorii.  At last they tasted wine, which was then for the first time brought thither out of Italy.  In an ecstasy of delight at the drink they wildly snatched up their arms, took their families with them, and rushed to the Alps in search of the country which produced such fruits as this, considering all other countries to be savage and uncultivated.  The man who first introduced wine among them and encouraged them to proceed to Italy was said to be one Aruns, an Etruscan of some note, who, though a well-meaning man, had met with the following misfortune.  He had been left guardian to an orphan named Lucumo, one of the richest and handsomest of his countrymen.  This boy lived in the house of Aruns from his childhood, and when he grew up he would not leave it, but pretended to delight in his society.  It was long before Aruns discovered that Lucumo had debauched his wife, and that their passion was mutual; but at length they were unable any longer to conceal their intrigue, and the youth openly attempted to carry off the woman from her husband.  He went to law, but was unable to contend with the numerous friends and great wealth of Lucumo, and so left the country.  Hearing about the Gauls, he went to them and incited them to invade Italy.