History of Rome

​During the consulship of L. Genucius and Ser. Cornelius, there was peace from foreign wars for the most part. Colonies were led out to Sora and Alba. At Alba, in the territory of the Aequi, six thousand colonists were enrolled. Sora had belonged to the Volscian territory, but the Samnites had occupied it;

​four thousand men were sent there.

​In the same year, citizenship was granted to the Arpinates and the Trebulani. The Frusinates were condemned to the loss of a third part of their land, because it was discovered that the Hernici had been stirred up by them, and after an investigation had been held by the consuls in accordance with a decree of the senate, the ringleaders of that conspiracy were beaten with rods and beheaded with the axe.

​Nevertheless, so that they might not pass an entirely warless year, a small expedition was made into Umbria, because it was reported that excursions of armed men were being made from a certain cave into the fields.

​An entry into that cave was made with the standards, and many wounds were received from the dark place, especially from the impact of stones, until the other mouth of the cave — for it was passable through — having been found, both entrances were set on fire with piled-up wood.

​Thus, inside, by smoke and heat, about two thousand armed men, rushing at the very last into the flames themselves while they strove to escape, were destroyed.

​M. Livius Denter and M. Aemilius being consuls, the war with the Aequi was renewed. Feeling aggrieved at the colony, which was placed in their territory like a citadel, they attempted with all their might to storm it, but were repulsed by the colonists themselves.

​However, they caused so great a terror in Rome, because it was scarcely credible that the Aequi by themselves alone, in such an afflicted state of their affairs, should have risen up for war, that because of this disturbance C. Iunius Bubulcus was named dictator.

​He, having set out with M. Titinius, the master of the horse, subdued the Aequi at the first encounter, and when he had returned to the city in triumph on the eighth day, he dedicated, as dictator, the temple of Salus, which he had vowed when consul and contracted for when censor.