darts hurled on him, swam across safe to his party, having dared an act
which is likely to obtain more fame than credit with posterity. The
state was grateful towards such valour; a statue was erected to him in
the comitium, and as much land was given to him as he ploughed around in
one day. The zeal of private individuals also was conspicuous among the
public honours. For, amid the great scarcity, each person contributed
something to him according to his supply at home, depriving himself of
his own support.

11. Porsena being repulsed in his first attempt, having changed his
plans from a siege to a blockade, after he had placed a garrison in
Janiculum, pitched his camp in the plain and on the banks of the Tiber.
Then sending for boats from all parts, both to guard the river, so as
not to suffer any provision to be conveyed to Rome, and also to
transport his soldiers across the river, to plunder different places as
occasion required; in a short time he so harassed the entire country
round Rome, that not only every thing else from the country, but even
their cattle, was driven into the city, and nobody durst venture thence
without the gates. This liberty of action was granted to the Etrurians,
not more through fear than from policy; for Valerius, intent on an
opportunity of falling unawares upon a number of them, and when
straggling, a remiss avenger in trifling matters, reserved the weight of
his vengeance for more important occasions. Wherefore, to decoy the
pillagers, he ordered his men to drive their cattle the next day out at
the Esquiline gate, which was farthest from the enemy, presuming that
they would get intelligence of it, because during the blockade and
famine some slaves would turn traitors and desert. Accordingly they were
informed of it by a deserter, and parties more numerous than usual, in
hopes of seizing the entire body, crossed the river. Then P. Valerius
commanded T. Herminius, with a small body of men, to lie concealed two
miles from the city, on the Gabian road, and Sp. Lartius, with a party
of light-armed troops, to post himself at the Colline gate till the
enemy should pass by, and then to throw himself in their way so that
there may be no return to the river. The other consul, T. Lucretius,
marched out of the Naevian gate with some companies of soldiers; Valerius
himself led some chosen cohorts down from the Coelian mount, and they
were first descried by the enemy. Herminius, when he perceived