History of Rome

​While these things were being done at Veii, meanwhile the citadel of Rome and the Capitol were in great danger.

​For the Gauls, whether because they had noticed human footprints where the messenger from Veii had arrived, or because they had observed of their own accord that the cliff near the temple of Carmentis offered an easy ascent, on a night with a little light, when they had first sent ahead an unarmed man to try the path, and then handed up their arms, ​wherever there was any difficult ground, leaning upon one another, alternately supporting and dragging each other up, as the place required, they made their way to the summit in such silence that they not only eluded the guards, but did not even wake the dogs, an animal sensitive to noises in the night. They did not, however, escape the notice of the geese, ​which, being sacred to Juno, had been spared despite the extreme scarcity of food. This circumstance proved to be their salvation; for, aroused by their gaggle and the clapping of their wings, Marcus Manlius, who had been consul three years before, a man distinguished in war, snatched up his arms and, at the same time calling the rest to arms, rushed forward, and while the others were hesitating, he struck with his shield’s boss and knocked down a Gaul who had already established himself on the summit.

​When the fall of this man in his slip knocked down those closest to him, Manlius slaughtered the others who, in their panic, had thrown away their weapons and were clinging with their hands to the rocks to which they held. And now others too had assembled and began to drive back the enemy with javelins and stones, and the entire line of the enemy, slipping down in a heap, was hurled headlong.

​The tumult having then been quieted, the remainder of the night was given to rest, so far as was possible in their agitated state of mind, since even the past danger continued to trouble them.

​At daybreak, the soldiers having been summoned by trumpet to an assembly before the tribunes—since a reward was due both to well-doing and to misconduct—Manlius was first praised for his valour and presented with gifts, not only by the military tribunes but also by the consensus of the soldiers;

​to whom everyone brought half a pound of spelt and a quarter of a pint of wine to his house, which was in the citadel—a small matter to speak of, but scarcity had made it a great proof of affection, since each person, depriving himself of his own food, contributed what was taken from his body and necessary uses to the honour of a single man.

​Then the sentinels of that place where the climbing enemy had escaped notice were summoned; and although Quintus Sulpicius, the military tribune, had declared that he would punish them all according to military custom, ​deterred by the unanimous outcry of the soldiers, who cast the blame on a single sentinel, he abstained from the rest, and with the approval of all, threw from the rock the one who was the undoubted culprit of that negligence.

​From that time, guards on both sides became more vigilant: on the part of the Gauls, because it had become commonly known that messengers were passing between Veii and Rome; on the part of the Romans, from the memory of their nightly danger.