5.35
Subsequently another
body, consisting of the Cenomani, under the
leadership of Elitovius, followed the track of the
former and crossed the Alps by the same pass, with
the goodwill of Bellovesus. They had their
settlements where the cities of Brixia and Verona
now stand. The Libui came next and the Saluvii; they
settled near the ancient tribe of the Ligurian
Laevi, who lived about the Ticinus. Then the Boii
and Lingones crossed the Pennine Alps, and as all
the country between the Po and the Alps was
occupied, they crossed the Po on rafts and expelled
not only the Etruscans but the Umbrians as well.
They remained, however, north of the Apennines. Then
the Senones, the last to come, occupied the country
from the Utis to the Aesis. It was this last tribe,
I find, that came to Clusium, and from there to
Rome; but it is uncertain whether they came alone or
helped by contingents from all the Cisalpine
peoples. The people of Clusium were appalled by this
strange war, when they saw the numbers, the
extraordinary appearance of the men, and the kind of
weapons they used, and heard that the legions of
Etruria had been often routed by them on both sides
of the Po. Although they had no claim on Rome,
either on the ground of alliance or friendly
relations, unless it was that they had not defended
their kinsmen at Veii against the Romans, they
nevertheless sent ambassadors to ask the senate for
assistance. Active assistance they did not obtain.
The three sons of M. Fabius Ambustus were sent as
ambassadors to negotiate with the Gauls and warn
them not to attack those from whom they had suffered
no injury, who were allies and friends of Rome, and
who, if circumstances compelled them, must be
defended by the armed force of Rome. They preferred
that actual war should be avoided, and that they
should make acquaintance with the Gauls, who were
strangers to them, in peace rather than in arms.