History of Rome

​In the following year, when L. Furius Camillus and C. Maenius were consuls, in order that the task left unfinished by Aemilius, the consul of the previous year, might be reproached to him more signally, the senate clamored that Pedum must be captured by arms and men and with all force, and destroyed; and the new consuls, having been compelled to give precedence to this matter over all others, set out.

​Already in Latium such was the state of affairs that they could endure neither war nor peace; resources for war were lacking;

​they rejected peace on account of their grief over the lost land. It seemed best to stand by middle courses: to keep themselves within their towns, so that the Romans, unless provoked, might not have a cause for war, and, if the siege of any town should be reported, aid might be brought to the besieged from all sides by all the peoples.

​However, the Pedani were assisted by only a very few peoples.

​The Tiburtes and Praenestini, whose territory was closer, reached Pedum; Maenius unexpectedly attacked and routed the Aricini, Lanuvini, and Veliterni, who were joining themselves with the Antiate Volscians at the river Astura.

​Camillus fought near Pedum against the Tiburtes, who were a very strong army, with greater difficulty, though with an equally favorable outcome.

​A very sudden sally of the townsmen during the battle caused the greatest confusion; Camillus, having turned a part of his army against them, not only drove them back inside their walls, but also on the very same day, after routing them and their auxiliaries, captured the town by escalade.

​From there, with now greater effort and spirit, it was decided to lead the victorious army around from the capture of a single city to the complete subjection of Latium. Nor did they rest until, by storming individual cities or receiving them into surrender, they had subdued all Latium.

​Then, having distributed garrisons through the recovered towns, they withdrew to Rome for the triumph which had been destined by the consent of all. An additional honor was added to the triumph, namely, that equestrian statues should be placed for them in the Forum—a rare thing in that age.

​Before they asked the assembly for consuls for the following year, Camillus referred the case of the Latin peoples to the senate and spoke as follows:

”Conscript Fathers, that which had to be done in Latium by war and arms has now, by the bounty of the gods and the valor of our soldiers, come to an end.

​The armies of the enemy were slain at Pedum and the Astura; all the Latin towns and Antium, taken from the Volscians either by force or received into surrender, are held by your garrisons.

​The remaining consultation is, since they so often trouble us by rebelling, in what way we may keep them quiet in perpetual peace.

​The immortal gods have made you so far masters of this decision that they have placed in your hands whether Latium is henceforth to exist or not; therefore you are able, as far as the Latins are concerned, to secure peace for yourselves forever either by severity or by pardoning.

​Do you wish to take cruel measures against those who have surrendered and been defeated? It is permitted to destroy all Latium, to make vast solitudes there, from where you have often used an excellent allied army through many and great wars;

​or do you wish, by the example of our ancestors, to increase the Roman state by receiving the conquered into citizenship? Material for growth through the highest glory is at hand. Certainly, that empire is by far the firmest in which the subjects rejoice in their obedience.

​But there is need of haste, whatever you please to resolve; you hold so many peoples suspended in mind between hope and fear; and therefore it is necessary both that your care concerning them be resolved as soon as possible, and that their minds, while they are dazed by expectation, be preoccupied either by punishment or by benefit.

​It was our part to bring it about that you should have the power of deciding on all matters; it is your part to decree what may be best for yourselves and the republic.”