. While these matters were thus going on in broad daylight, news was
brought to the emperor, who was full of watchful care, that the
legionary soldiers to whom the digging of the mines had been intrusted,
having hollowed out their subterranean paths and supported them with
stout stakes, had now reached the bottom of the foundations of the
walls, and were ready to issue forth if he thought fit.

22. When therefore a great part of the night was passed, the brazen
trumpets sounded the signal for advancing to battle, and the troops ran
to arms; and as had been planned, the wall was attacked on both its
faces, in order that while the garrison were running to and fro to repel
the danger, and while the noise of the iron tools of the miners digging
at the foundations was overpowered by the din of battle, the miners
should come forth on a sudden without any one being at the mouth of the
mine to resist them.

23. When these plans had all been arranged, and the garrison was fully
occupied, the mine was opened, and Exsuperius, a soldier of the
Victorian legion, sprung out, followed by a tribune named Magnus, and
Jovianus, a secretary, and an intrepid body of common soldiers, who,
after slaughtering all the men found in the temple into which the mine
opened, went cautiously forward and slew the sentinels, who were
occupying themselves after the fashion of their country in singing the
praises, the justice, and good fortune of their king.

24. It was believed that Mars himself (if indeed the gods are permitted
to mingle with men) aided Luscinus when he forced the camp of the
Lucanians. And it was the more believed because in the height of the
conflict there was seen an armed figure of enormous size carrying
ladders, who the next day, when the roll was called over, though sought
for very carefully, could not be found anywhere; when if he had really
been a soldier he would have come forward of his own accord from a
consciousness of his gallant action. But though on that occasion it was
never known who performed that splendid achievement, yet those who now
behaved bravely were not unknown, but received obsidional crowns, and
were publicly praised according to the ancient fashion.

25. At last the fated city, its numerous entrances being laid open, was
entered by the Romans, and the furious troops destroyed all whom they
found, without regard to age or sex. Some of the citizens, from dread of
impending destruction, threatened on one si