1.23
The Albans reported this
at home. Both sides made extraordinary preparations
for a war, which closely resembled a civil war
between parents and children, for both were of
Trojan descent, since Lavinium was an offshoot of
Troy, and Alba of Lavinium, and the Romans were
sprung from the stock of the kings of Alba. The
outcome of the war, however, made the conflict less
deplorable, as there was no regular engagement, and
though one of the two cities was destroyed, the two
nations were blended into one. The Albans were the
first to move, and invaded the Roman territory with
an immense army. They fixed their camp only five
miles from the City and surrounded it with a moat;
this was called for several centuries the "Cluilian
Dyke" from the name of the Alban general, till
through lapse of time the name and the thing itself
disappeared. While they were encamped Cluilius, the
Alban king, died, and the Albans made Mettius
Fufetius dictator. The king's death made Tullus more
sanguine than ever of success. He gave out that the
wrath of heaven which had fallen first of all on the
head of the nation would visit the whole race of
Alba with condign punishment for this unholy war.
Passing the enemy's camp by a night march, he
advanced upon Alban territory. This drew Mettius
from his entrenchments. He marched as close to his
enemy as he could, and then sent on an officer to
inform Tullus that before engaging it was necessary
that they should have a conference. If he granted
one, then he was satisfied that the matters he would
lay before him were such as concerned Rome no less
than Alba. Tullus did not reject the proposal, but
in case the conference should prove illusory, he led
out his men in order of battle. The Albans did the
same. After they had halted, confronting each other,
the two commanders, with a small escort of superior
officers, advanced between the lines. The Alban
general, addressing Tullus, said: "I think I have
heard our king Cluilius say that acts of robbery and
the non-restitution of plundered property, in
violation of the existing treaty, were the cause of
this war, and I have no doubt that you, Tullus,
allege the same pretext. But if we are to say what
is true, rather than what is plausible, we must
admit that it is the lust of empire which has made
two kindred and neighbouring peoples take up arms.
Whether rightly or wrongly I do not judge; let him
who began the war settle that point; I am simply
placed in command by the Albans to conduct the war.
But I want to give you a warning, Tullus. You know,
you especially who are nearer to them, the greatness
of the Etruscan State, which hems us both in; their
immense strength by land, still more by sea. Now
remember, when once you have given the signal to
engage, our two armies will fight under their eyes,
so that when we are wearied and exhausted they may
attack us both, victor and vanquished alike. If
then, not content with the secure freedom we now
enjoy, we are determined to enter into a game of
chance, where the stakes are either supremacy or
slavery, let us, in heaven's name, choose some
method by which, without great suffering or
bloodshed on either side, it can be decided which
nation is to be master of the other." Although, from
natural temperament, and the certainty he felt of
victory, Tullus was eager to fight, he did not
disapprove of the proposal. After much consideration
on both sides a method was adopted, for which
Fortune herself provided the necessary means.