History of Rome

​This response, while it dismissed the Samnites in doubt as to what they should think the Romans would do, alienated the Campanians with fear, and made the Latins more insolent, as if the Romans were now denying them nothing.

​Therefore, under the pretext of preparing for war against the Samnites, calling frequent councils, the leaders secretly concocted a Roman war in all their consultations among themselves. To this war also, against their own preservers, the Campanian was present.

​But although all things were being hidden on purpose—for they wished the Samnite enemy on their rear to be removed before the Romans should move—nevertheless, through certain men connected by private guest-friendship and intimacy, indications of that conspiracy leaked out to Rome;

​and when the consuls had been ordered to abdicate their office before the time, so that the new consuls might be elected the sooner against so great a mass of war, a religious scruple arose against the comitia being held by those whose power had been diminished.

​Therefore an interregnum was entered upon. There were two interreges, Marcus Valerius and Marcus Fabius; the latter elected as consuls Titus Manlius Torquatus for the third time, and Publius Decius Mus.

​In that year it is certain that Alexander, king of Epirus, brought his fleet to Italy; which war, if his first efforts had been prosperous enough, would without doubt have reached the Romans. The same was the age of the deeds of Alexander the Great, ​whom, born of the sister of this man, in another tract of the world, undefeated in wars, fortune extinguished by disease as a young man.

​But the Romans, although the defection of the allies and of the Latin name was beyond doubt, nevertheless, as if they were acting out of concern for the Samnites and not for themselves, summoned ten chiefs of the Latins to Rome, to command them what they wished.

​Latium had then two praetors, Lucius Annius of Setia and Lucius Numisius of Circeii, both from Roman colonies, through whom, besides Signia and Velitrae, themselves also Roman colonies, the Volsci had also been excited to arms;

​it was resolved that these should be summoned by name. It was not doubtful to anyone on what matter they were being summoned; therefore, having first held a council, the praetors, before they set out for Rome, informed them that they had been summoned by the Roman senate, and reported what they believed would be transacted with them, and what they should please to reply to these things.