2.17
The consuls who
succeeded, Opiter Verginius and Sp. Cassius, tried
at first to take Pometia by storm, then they had
recourse to regular siege-works. Actuated more by a
spirit of mortal hatred than by any hope or chance
of success, the Auruncans made a sortie. The greater
number were armed with blazing torches, and they
carried flames and death everywhere. The "vineae"
were burnt, great numbers of the besiegers were
killed and wounded, they nearly killed one of the
consuls -the authorities do not give his name -after he had fallen from his horse severely wounded.
After this disaster the Romans returned home, with a
large number of wounded, amongst them the consul,
whose condition was critical. After an interval,
long enough for the recovery of the wounded and the
filling up of the ranks, operations were resumed at
Pometia in stronger force and in a more angry
temper. The vineae were repaired and the other vast
works were made good, and when everything was ready
for the soldiers to mount the walls, the place
surrendered. The Auruncans, however, were treated
with no less rigour after they had surrendered the
city than if it had been taken by assault; the
principal men were beheaded, the rest of the
townsfolk sold as slaves. The town was razed, the
land put up for sale. The consuls celebrated a
triumph more because of the terrible vengeance they
had inflicted than on account of the importance of
the war now terminated.