24.  Who was appointed dictator?

25.  What steps did he take?

26.  How were these rigorous measures received?

SECTION IV.

  Hence every passion, e’en the proudest, stoop’d
  To common good; Camillus, thy revenge,
  Thy glory, Fabius.—­Thomson.

1.  The Ve’ians had long been the rivals of Rome:  they had even taken the opportunity of internal distresses to ravage its territories, and had even threatened its ambassadors sent to complain of these injuries, with outrage. 2.  It seemed, now, therefore, determined that the city of Ve’ii, whatever it might cost, should fall; and the Romans accordingly sat down regularly before it, and prepared for a long and painful resistance. 3.  The strength of the place may be inferred from the continuance of the siege, which lasted for ten years; during which time, the army continued encamped round it, lying, in winter, under tents made of the skins of beasts, and, in summer, driving on the operations of the attack. 4.  Various were the successes, and many were the commanders that directed the siege; sometimes all their works were destroyed, and many of their men cut off by sallies from the town; sometimes they were annoyed by an army of Veians, who attempted to bring assistance from without. 5.  A siege so bloody seemed to threaten depopulation to Rome itself, by a continual drain of its forces; so that a law was obliged to be made, for all bachelors to marry the widows of the soldiers who were slain. 6.  Fu’rius Camil’lus was now created dictator, and to him was entrusted the sole power of managing the long protracted war. 7.  Camil’lus, who, without intrigue or solicitation, had raised himself to the first eminence in the state, had been made one of the censors some time before, and was considered as the head of that office; he was afterwards made a military tribune, and had, in this post, gained several advantages over the enemy. 8.  It was his great courage and abilities in the above offices that made him be thought most worthy to serve his country on this pressing occasion. 9.  Upon his appointment, numbers of the people flocked to his standard, confident of success under so experienced a commander. 10.  Conscious, however, that he was unable to take the city by storm, he, with vast labour, opened a passage under ground, which led into the very midst of the citadel. 11.  Certain thus of success, and finding the city incapable of relief, he sent to the senate desiring, that all who chose to share in the plunder of Ve’ii, should immediately repair to the army. 12.  Then, giving his directions how to enter at the breach, the city was instantly filled with his legions, to the amazement and consternation of the besieged, who, but a moment before, had rested in perfect security. 13.  Thus, like a second Troy,[6] was the city of Ve’ii taken, after a ten years’ siege, and, with its spoils, enriched the conquerors; while Camil’lus himself, transported with the honour of having subdued the rival of his native city, triumphed after the manner of the kings of Rome, having his chariot drawn by four milk-white horses; a distinction which did not fail to disgust the majority of the spectators, as they considered those as sacred, and more proper for doing honour to their gods than their generals.