such unbroken success and glory would call down upon him the wrath of
the gods.[A] His most obvious reason for declining the appointment was
the state of his health, for at this time he was sick. However, the
people would not permit him to retire, but loudly urged that they did
not want him to ride on horseback or fight in the ranks, but merely to
advise and superintend. Thus they compelled him to accept the office,
and with one of his colleagues, Lucius Furius, at once to lead an army
against the enemy. He left the city and encamped near the enemy, where
he wished to remain inactive, in order that, if a battle should be
necessary, he might recover his health sufficiently to take part in it.
But as his colleague Lucius, who longed to distinguish himself, was so
eager for action that he could not be restrained, and excited the
subordinate officers, Camillus, fearing that it might be supposed that
he grudged younger men an opportunity of gaining laurels, agreed, sorely
against his will, to allow his colleague to lead out the army and offer
battle, while he with a few troops remained behind in the camp. But when
he heard that Lucius had rashly engaged and that the Romans were
defeated, he could not restrain himself, but leaping from his couch met
them with his followers at the gate of the camp. Here he forced his way
through the fugitives and attacked the pursuing force, so that those
Romans whom he had passed at once turned and followed him, while those
who were still outside the camp rallied round him, calling upon one
another not to desert their general. The enemy's pursuit was thus
checked, and on the following day Camillus marched out with his entire
force, entirely defeated them, and entering their camp together with the
fugitives, put most of them to the sword. After this, hearing that
Satria had been captured by the Etruscans, and all the Roman colonists
there put to death, he sent the greater part of his force back to Rome,
reserving only the youngest and most vigorous of the soldiers, with whom
he assaulted the Etruscans who held the city, and conquered them,