6.33
A quarrel
now arose between the Antiates and the Latins. The Antiates, crushed by
their misfortunes and exhausted by a state of war which had lasted all their
lives, were contemplating peace; the newly revolted Latins, who had enjoyed
a long peace and whose spirits were yet unbroken, were all the more
determined to keep up hostilities. When each side had convinced the other
that it was perfectly free to act as it thought best, there was an end of the
quarrel. The Latins took their departure and so cleared themselves from all
association with a peace which they considered dishonourable; the Antiates,
when once the inconvenient critics of their salutary counsels were out of the
way, surrendered their city and territory to the Romans. The exasperation
and rage of the Latins at finding themselves unable to injure the Romans in
war or to induce the Volscians to keep up hostilities rose to such a pitch that
they set fire to Satricum, which had been their first shelter after their defeat.
They flung firebrands on sacred and profane buildings alike, and not a single
roof of that city escaped except the temple of Mother Matuta. It is stated
that it was not any religious scruple or fear of the gods that restrained them,
but an awful Voice which sounded from the temple threatening them with
terrible punishment if they did not keep their accursed firebrands far from the
shrine. Whilst in this state of frenzy, they next attacked Tusculum, in revenge
for its having deserted the national council of the Latins and not only
becoming an ally of Rome but even accepting her citizenship. The attack was
unexpected and they burst in through the open gates. The town was taken at
the first alarm with the exception of the citadel. Thither the townsmen fled
for refuge with their wives and children, after sending messengers to Rome
to inform the senate of their plight. With the promptitude which the honour
of the Roman people demanded an army was marched to Tusculum under
the command of the consular tribunes, L. Quinctius and Ser. Sulpicius. They
found the gates of Tusculum closed and the Latins, with the feelings of men
who are at once besieging and being besieged, were in one direction
defending the walls and in the other attacking the citadel, inspiring terror and
feeling it at the same time. The arrival of the Romans produced a change in
the temper of both sides; it turned the gloomy forebodings of the Tusculans
into the utmost cheerfulness, whilst the confidence which the Latins had felt
in a speedy capture of the citadel, as they were already in possession of the
town, sank into a faint and feeble hope of even their own safety. The
Tusculans in the citadel gave a cheer, it was answered by a much louder one
from the Roman army. The Latins were hard pressed on both sides; they
could not withstand the attack of the Tusculans charging from the higher
ground, nor could they repel the Romans who were mounting the walls and
forcing the gates. The walls were first taken by escalade, then the bars of the
gates were burst. The double attack in front and rear left the Latins no
strength to fight and no room for escape; between the two they were killed
to a man.