nd
a javelin pointed with steel, or burnt at the end and dipped in blood,
to the confines of the enemy's country, and in presence of at least
three grown-up persons, to say, "Forasmuch as the states of the ancient
Latins, and the ancient Latin people, have offended against the Roman
people, the Quirites, forasmuch as the Roman people, the Quirites, have
ordered that there should be war with the ancient Latins, and the senate
of the Roman people, the Quirites, have given their opinion, consented,
and voted that war should be made with the ancient Latins, on this
account I and the Roman people declare and make war on the states of the
ancient Latins, and on the ancient Latin people." After he had said
that, he threw the spear within their confines. After this manner
restitution was demanded from the Latins at that time, and war
proclaimed: and that usage posterity have adopted.

33. Ancus, having committed the care of sacred things to the flamines
and other priests, set out with a new army, which he had levied, and
took Politorium, a city of the Latins, by storm; and following the
example of former kings, who had increased the Roman state by taking
enemies into the number of the citizens, he transplanted all the people
to Rome. And since the Sabines occupied the Capitol and citadel, and the
Albans the Coelian mount around the Palatium, the residence of the old
Romans, the Aventine was assigned to the new people; not long after, on
Telleni and Ficana being taken, new citizens were added in the same
quarter. After this Politorium was taken a second time by force of arms,
because the ancient Latins had taken possession of it when vacated. This
was the cause of the Romans demolishing that city, that it might not
ever after serve as a receptacle to the enemy. At last, the whole war
with the Latins being concentrated in Medullia, they fought there with
various fortune, sometimes the one and sometimes the other gaining the
victory; for the town was both well fortified by works, and strengthened
by a strong garrison, and the Latins, having pitched their camp in the
open fields, had several times fought the Romans in close engagement. At
last Ancus, making an effort with all his forces, obtained a complete
victory over them in a pitched battle, and having got a considerable
booty, returned thence to Rome; many thousands of the Latins being then
also admitted into the city, to whom, in order that the Aventine might
be joined to the