ooden
palisades, the Latins, finding their camp girt with flames, were driven
into a small compass, and finally obliged to sally out of their
entrenchments, outside of which the Romans stood ready to receive them.
Few of those who broke out escaped, while all who remained in the camp
perished in the flames, until the Romans extinguished them and began to
plunder.

XXXV. After this exploit, Camillus left his son Lucius in charge of the
camp, to guard the prisoners and the booty, and himself invaded the
enemy's country. He took the capital of the Aequi, reduced the Volsci to
subjection, and marched at once upon Sutrium to relieve that city, whose
inhabitants had not heard of his successes, but were still besieged by
the Etruscans. The Sutrians had just surrendered, and had been turned
out of their city by the enemy with nothing but the clothes they had on.
Camillus met them on the road with their wives and children, weeping
over their misfortune. He was greatly moved at so piteous a sight, and,
perceiving that the Romans were touched by the despairing entreaties of
the people of Sutrium, who clung to them with tears in their eyes,
determined that he would at once avenge their wrongs, and march upon
Sutrium that very day, arguing that men who were merry with success,
having just captured a wealthy city, with no enemy either left within
its walls or expected from without, would be found in careless disorder.
In this conjecture he was right; for he not only marched through the
country, but even obtained possession of the walls and gates unperceived
by the enemy, who had posted no guards, but were carousing in the
various private houses. Indeed when they learned that the Romans were in
possession of the town, they were in such a condition of intoxication
that most of them could not even attempt to escape, but shamefully
waited in the houses where they were until they were either killed or
taken prisoners. Thus was the city of Sutrium twice taken in one day,
and thus did the victors lose their prize, and the dispossessed
inhabitants regain their homes by Camillus's means.

XXXVI. The triumph which he enjoyed after these campaigns added to his
popularity and glory as much as either of the former; for even those who
disliked him most, and who had insisted that all his successes were due
to good fortune more than to skill, were now forced to admit the
brilliancy of his generalship, and to give his genius its due. The chief
of h