History of Rome

​Camillus returned to the city in triumph, victorious in three wars at the same time.

​He led by far the greatest number of captives from the Etruscans before his chariot; when these had been sold under the spear, so much money was realized that, after the price of their gold had been repaid to the matrons, out of what remained three golden bowls were made, ​which, before the burning of the Capitol, it is well known were placed in the cella of Jupiter at the feet of Juno, with the name of Camillus inscribed upon them.

​In that year, those of the Veientes, Capenates, and Falisci who had deserted to the Romans during those wars were received into citizenship, and land was assigned to these new citizens. Also, by a decree of the senate, those were recalled to the city from Veii, ​who, through reluctance to build at Rome, had betaken themselves to Veii, occupying the vacant houses there. At first there was a murmur of those who despised the command; then, a day having been fixed and capital punishment threatened to anyone who did not return to Rome, it made them all, though fierce as a body, obedient, each through his own fear. And Rome began to grow in population, ​and at the same time to rise up everywhere in buildings, both because the state helped with the expenses, and because the aediles urged the work on as if it were a public task, and the private citizens themselves—for the desire for practical use urged them on—were hastening to complete the work; and within a year the new city stood finished.

​At the close of the year, the election of military tribunes with consular power was held. There were elected Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus, Quintus Servilius Fidenas for the fifth time, Lucius Iulius Iulus, Lucius Aquilius Corvus, Lucius Lucretius Tricipitinus, and Servius Sulpicius Rufus. They led one army against the Aequi, not for war—

​for they confessed that they were vanquished—but out of hatred, to thoroughly devastate their territory so that no strength might be left for new designs; the other army they led into the territory of Tarquinii.

​There the Etruscan towns of Cortuosa and Contenebra were taken by force. At Cortuosa there was no struggle; attacking them by surprise, they took it at the first shout and onset; the town was plundered and burnt.

​Contenebra sustained a siege for a few days, and continuous labor, relaxed neither by day nor by night, subdued them. When the Roman army, divided into six parts, succeeded one another in rotation in the battle every six hours, while their small number exposed the same tired townspeople to an enemy that was always fresh for the fight, they yielded at last, and an opportunity for entering the city was given to the Romans.

​It was the wish of the tribunes that the booty should be confiscated; but their command was slower than their decision; while they hesitated, it was already the booty of the soldiers, and could not be taken away except at the cost of great unpopularity.

​In the same year, so that the city might not grow by private buildings alone, the Capitol also was substructured with square stone, a work to be admired even in the present magnificence of the city.