There the fugitives rallied and seized a position which they hastily fortified; they were afraid of retiring within the walls of their city lest their territory should be wasted with fire and, after everything had been devastated, the city should be in- vested.

The Romans, however, after spoiling the camp at the Alia, came up; this position, therefore, was also abandoned.

They shut themselves in Praeneste, feeling hardly safe even behind its walls. There were eight towns under the jurisdiction of Praeneste. These were successively attacked and reduced without much fighting. Then the army advanced against Velitrae, which was successfully stormed.

Finally, they arrived at Praeneste, the origin and centre of the war.

It was captured, not by assault, but after surrender. After being thus victorious in battle and capturing two camps and nine towns belonging to the enemy and receiving the surrender of Praeneste, Titus Quinctius returned to Rome. In his triumphal procession he carried up to the Capitol the image of Jupiter Imperator, which had been brought from Praeneste.

It was set up in a recess between the shrines of Jupiter and Minerva, and a tablet was affixed to the pedestal recording the Dictator's successes.

The inscription ran something like this: “Jupiter and all the gods have granted this boon to Titus Quinctius the Dictator, that he should capture nine towns.” On the twentieth day after his appointment he laid down the Dictatorship.

Renewed Fighting with the Volscians —When the election of Consular tribunes took place, an equal number were elected from each order.