lone was their
general and the sole commander they would own; with all this, his name
and renown spread throughout all Italy, and universal wonder prevailed
at the sudden and mighty revolution in the fortunes for two nations
which the loss and the accession of a single man had effected.

All at Rome was in great disorder; they were utterly averse from
fighting, and spent their whole time in cabals and disputes and
reproaches against each other; until news was brought that the enemy had
laid close siege to Lavinium, where were the images and sacred things of
their tutelar gods, and whence they derived the origin of their nations,
that being the first city which Aeneas built in Italy. These tidings
produced a change as universal as it was extraordinary in the thoughts
and inclinations of the people, but occasioned a yet stranger revulsion
of feeling among the patricians. The people now were for repealing the
sentence against Marcius, and calling him back into the city; whereas
the senate, being assembled to consider the decree, opposed and finally
rejected the proposal, either out of the mere humor of opposing the
people in whatever they should desire, or because they were unwilling,
perhaps, that he should owe his restoration to their kindness. When
Marcius heard of this, he was more exasperated than ever, and, quitting
the siege of Lavinium, marched furiously towards Rome, and encamped at
a place called the Cluilian ditches, about five miles from the city.
The nearness of his approach did, indeed, create much terror and
disturbance, yet it also ended their dissensions for the present; as
nobody now, whether consul or senator, durst any longer contradict the
people in their design of recalling Marcius.

It was therefore, unanimously agreed by all parties, that ambassadors
should be despatched, offering him return to his country, and desiring
him to free them from the terrors and distresses of the war. The persons
sent by the senate with this message were chosen out of his kindred
and acquaintance, who naturally expected a very kind reception at their
first interview; in which, however, they were much mistaken. Being led
through the enemy's camp, they found him sitting in state amid the chief
men of the Volscians, looking insupportably proud and arrogant. He
bade them declare the cause of their coming, which they did in the most
gently terms, and with a behavior suitable to their language. When they
had made an end of sp