Ab urbe condita

Valerius was instructed to attack the Volscians before the enemy became more numerous, and he proceeded with his army to Satricum. Defeat of the Volscians and Destruction of Satricum. —Here he was met by the Antiates and other Volscian troops who had been previously mobilised in case of any movement on the sale of Rome. The old standing hatred between the two nations made each side eager for battle; there was consequently no delay in trying conclusions.

The Volscians, bolder to begin war than to sustain it, were completely defeated and fled precipitately to Satricum. The city was surrounded, and as it was on the point of being stormed —the scaling ladders were against the walls —they lost all hope and surrendered to the number of 4000 fighting men in addition to a multitude of noncombatants.

The town was sacked and burnt; the temple of Matuta the Mother was alone spared by the flames; all the plunder was given to the soldiers. In addition to the booty, there were the 4000 who had surrendered; these were marched in chains before the consul's chariot in his triumphal procession, then they were sold and a large sum was realised for the treasury.

Some authors assert that these prisoners were slaves who had been captured in Satricum, and this is more likely to have been the case than that men who had surrendered should have been sold.

M. Fabius Dorsuo and Ser. Sulpicius Camerinus were the next consuls. A sudden raid by the Auruncans led to a war with that people.

Fears were entertained that more than one city was concerned in this, that in fact it had been planned by the entire Latin League. To meet all Latium in arms L. Furius Camillus was nominated Dictator; he appointed Cnaeus Manlius Capitolinus Master of the Horse.

As usual in great and sudden alarms a suspension of all business was proclaimed and the enlistment was made without any claims to exemption being allowed; when it was completed the legions were marched as rapidly as possible against the Auruncans. They showed the temper of marauders rather than of soldiers, and the war was finished in the very first battle.