CAMILLUS. 279

citizens to choose what magistrates they pleased, and to appoint Camillas military tribune, with five colleagues; affairs then requiring a commander of authority and repu- tation, as well as experience. And when the people had ratified the election, he marched with his forces into the territories of the Faliscans, and laid siege to Falerii, a well-fortified city, and- plentifully stored with all neces- saries of war. And although he perceived it would be no small work to take it, and no little time would be required for it, yet he was willing to exercise the citizens and keep them abroad, that they might have no leisure, idling at home, to follow the tribunes in factions and sedi- tions ; a very common remedy, indeed, with the Romans, who thus carried off, like good physicians, the ill humors of their commonwealth. The Falerians,* trusting in the strength of their city, which was well fortified on all sides, made so little account of the siege, that all, with the ex- ception of those that guarded the walls, as in times of peace, walked about the streets in their common dress; the boys went to school, and were led by their master to play and exercise about the town walls ; for the Falerians, like the Greeks, used to have a single teacher for many pupils, wishing their children to live and be brought up from the beginning in each other's company. This schoolmaster, designing to betray the Falerians by their children, led them out every day under the town wall, at first but a little way, and, when they had exer- cised, brought them home again. Afterwards by degrees he drew them farther and farther, till by practice he had made them bold and fearless, as if no danger was about them ; and at last, having got them all together, he brought them to the outposts of the Romans, and de- livered them up, demanding to be led to Camillus.

• The Falerians, in this narra- the Faliscans, the nation in gen-

tive, are the people of the town ; eral.