THE DOMESTIC GOOSE. 209 



Gauls by the geese kept in the capitol of Rome, oc- 

 curred so long baok as a. u. c. 365, or 388 years before 

 Christ. The passage is worth extracting — 



" Thus they were employed at Veii, whilst, in the 

 mean time, the citadel and capitol in Rome were in 

 utmost danger. The Gauls either peroeived the track 

 of a human foot, where the messenger from Yeii had 

 passed, or, from their own observation, had remarked 

 the easy ascent at the rock of Carmentis ; on a moon- 

 light night, therefore, having first sent forward a per- 

 son unarmed to make trial of the way, handing their 

 arms to those before them ; when any difficulty oc- 

 curred, supporting and supported in turns, and draw- 

 ing each other up according as the ground required, 

 they climbed to the summit in such silence, that they 

 not only escaped the notice of the guards, but did not 

 even alarm the dogs, animals particularly watchful 

 with regard to any noise at night. They were not un- 

 perceived, however, by some geese, which being sacred 

 to Juno, the people had spared, even in the present great 

 scarcity of food ; a circumstance to which they owed 

 their preservation ; for the cackling of these creatures, 

 and the clapping of their wings, Marcus Manlius was 

 roused from sleep, — a man of distinguished character 

 in war, who had been consul the third year before ; and 

 snatching up his arms, and at the same time calling to 

 the rest to do the same, he hastened to the spot, where, 

 while some ran about in confusion, he, by a stroke 

 with the boss of his shield, tumbled down a Gaul who 

 had already got footing on the summit ; and this man's 

 weight, as he fell, throwing down those who were 

 next, he slew several others, who, in their consterna- 

 tion, threw away their arms and caught hold of the 

 rooks, to which they clung. By this time, many of the 

 garrison had assembled at the place, who, by throwing 

 javelins and stones, beat down the enemy, so that the 

 whole band, unable to keep either their hold or foot- 

 ing, were hurled down the precipioe in promiscuous 

 ruin." 



