BOOK XI.
[Y.R. 460. B.C. 292.]
Fabius Gurges, consul,
having fought an unsuccessful battle with the Samnites, the
senate deliberate about dismissing him from the command of
the army; are prevailed upon not to inflict that disgrace upon
him, principally by the entreaties of his father, Fabius Maximus, and by his promising to join the army, and serve, in
quality of lieutenant-general, under his son: which promise
he performs, and the consul, aided by his counsel and cooperation, obtains a victory over the Samnites, and a triumph
in consequence. C. Pontius, the general of the Samnites, led
in triumph before the victor's carriage, and afterwards beheaded. A plague at Rome. [Y.R. 461. B.C. 291.] Ambassadors sent to Epidaurus, to bring from thence to Rome
the statue of Aesculapius: a serpent, of itself, goes on board
their ship; supposing it to be the abode of the deity, they
bring it with them; and, upon its quitting their vessel, and
swimming to the island in the Tiber, they consecrate there
a temple to Aesculapius. L. Postumius, a man of consular
rank, condemned for employing the soldiers under his command in working upon his farm. [Y.R. 462. B.C. 290.]
Curius Dentatus, consul, having subdued the Samnites, and
the rebellious Sabines, triumphs twice during his year of
office. [Y.R. 463. B.C. 289.] The colonies of Castrum,
Sena, and Adria, established. Three judges of capital crimes
now first appointed. A census and lustrum: the number of
citizens found to be two hundred and seventy-three thousand.
After a long-continued sedition, on account of debts, the com-
[p. 695]
mons secede to the Janiculum: [Y.R. 466. B.C. 286.] are
brought back by Hortensius, dictator, who dies in office.
Successful operations against the Volsinians and Lucanians,
[Y.R. 468. B.C. 284.] against whom it was thought expedient
to send succour to the Thuringians.
