d each was bound in
three thousand pounds of copper. So being suffered to depart from
the market-place, he departed that same night from Rome, going into
banishment among the Etrurians. As for his sureties, the money was
exacted from his father to the uttermost farthing, so that he was
compelled to sell all his goods, and to dwell in a mean cottage on the
other side of the Tiber.

It came to pass in the third year after these things that the AEquians
brake the treaty of peace which they had made with Rome, and, taking one
Gracchus Cloelius for their leader, marched into the land of Tusculum;
and when they had plundered the country thereabouts, and had gathered
together much booty, they pitched their camp on Mount AEgidus. To them
the Romans sent three ambassadors, who should complain of the wrong
done, and seek redress. But when they would have fulfilled their errand,
Gracchus the AEquian spake, saying, "If ye have any message from the
Senate of Rome, tell it to this oak, for I have other business to do;"
for it chanced that there was a great oak that stood hard by, and made
a shadow over the general's tent. Then one of the ambassadors, as he
turned to depart, made reply, "Yes, let this sacred oak and all the
gods that are in heaven hear how ye have wrongfully broken the treaty of
peace; and let them that hear help us also in the day of battle, when we
shall avenge on you the laws both of gods and of men that ye have set at
nought."

When the ambassadors had returned to Rome the Senate commanded that
there should be levied two armies; and that Minucius the consul should
march with the one against the AEquians on Mount AEgidus, and that the
other should hinder the enemy from their plundering. This levying the
tribunes of the Commons sought to hinder; and perchance had done so, but
there also came well-nigh to the walls of the city a great host of
the Sabines plundering all the country. Thereupon the people willingly
offered themselves, and there were levied forthwith two great armies.
Nevertheless when the consul Minucius had marched to Mount AEgidus, and
had pitched his camp not far from the AEquians, he did nought for fear of
the enemy, but kept himself within his entrenchments. And when the
enemy perceived that he was afraid, growing the bolder for his lack of
courage, they drew lines about him, keeping him in on every side. Yet
before that he was altogether shut up there escaped from his camp five
horsemen, that ba