9.25
After
leaving Sora the consuls extended the war to the cities and fields of Ausonia,
for the whole country had become restless owing to the presence of the
Samnites after the battle of Lautulae. Plots were being hatched everywhere
throughout Campania, even Capua was not free from disaffection, and it was
found upon investigation that the movement had actually reached some of
the principal men in Rome. It was, however, as in the case of Sora, through
the betrayal of her cities that Ausonia fell under the power of Rome. There
were three cities -Ausona, Menturnae, and Vescia -which some twelve
young men belonging to the principal families there had mutually agreed to
betray to the Romans. They came to the consuls and informed them that
their people had long been looking forward to the arrival of the Samnites,
and after they had heard of the battle of Lautulae, they looked upon the
Romans as vanquished and many of the younger men had volunteered to
serve with the Samnites. After the Samnites, however, had been driven out
of their country they were wavering between peace and war, afraid to close
their gates to the Romans lest they should provoke a war and yet determined
to close them if a Roman army approached their city. In this state of
indecision they would fall an easy prey. Acting on their advice, the Romans
moved their camp into the neighbourhood of these cities, and at the same
time soldiers were despatched, some fully armed, to occupy concealed
positions near the walls, others in ordinary dress, with swords hidden under
their togas, were to enter the cities through the open gates at the approach
of daylight. As soon as the latter began to attack the guards the signal was
given for the others to rush from their ambush. Thus the gates were secured,
and the three towns were captured at the same time and by the same
stratagem. As the generals were not there to direct the attack, there was no
check upon the carnage which ensued, and the nation of the Ausonians was
exterminated, just as if they had been engaged in an internecine war, though
there was no certain proof of their having revolted.