y were
compelled by their orders. That they had come to demand restitution; and
if this be not made, they were commanded to declare war." To this Tullus
made answer, "Go tell your king, that the king of the Romans takes the
gods to witness, which of the two nations hath with contempt first
dismissed the ambassadors demanding restitution, that on it they may
visit all the calamities of this war." The Albans carry home these
tidings.

23. War was prepared for on both sides with the utmost vigour, very like
to a civil war, in a manner between parents and children: both being
Trojan offspring; for from Troy came Lavinium, from Lavinium Alba, and
the Romans were descended from the race of Alban kings. But the result
of the war rendered the quarrel less distressing, for they never came to
any action; and, when the houses only of one of the cities had been
demolished, the two states were incorporated into one. The Albans first
made an irruption into the Roman territories with a large army. They
pitch their camp not above five miles from the city, and surround it
with a trench, which, for several ages, was called the Cluilian trench,
from the name of the general, till, in process of time, the name,
together with the thing itself, were both forgotten. In that camp
Cluilius, the Alban king, dies; the Albans create Mettus[30] Fuffetius
dictator. In the mean time, Tullus being in high spirits, especially on
the death of the king, and giving out that the supreme power of the
gods, having begun at the head, would take vengeance on the whole Alban
nation for this impious war, having passed the enemy's camp in the
night-time, marches with a hostile army into the Alban territory. This
circumstance drew out Mettus from his camp likewise; he leads his forces
as near as he can to the enemy; from thence he commands a herald,
despatched by him, to tell Tullus that a conference was expedient before
they came to an engagement; and that if he would give him a meeting, he
was certain he should adduce matters which concerned the interest of
Rome not less than that of Alba. Tullus not slighting the proposal,
though the advances made were of little avail, draws out his men in
order of battle; the Albans on their part come out also. As both armies
stood in battle-array, the chiefs, with a few of the principal officers,
advance into the middle between them. Then the Alban commences thus:
[31]"That injuries and the non-restitution of property accordin