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fall ; and afterwards joined those of the Nera. But so considerably 
had the stony matter filled up this cataract, as to shut up the 
waters, though accumulated to a great depth, in the marshes of 
Reate : threatening to swallow up the delightful fields of the 
Reatines, in a permanent lake. To prevent this mischief, the 
Roman Senate sent M. Curius, who drew off the river from the 
lake, and led it into the Nera, through a new channel, cut be- 
tween the mountains. The nature of the waters, however, occa- 
sioned the advantages derived from this expedient to be but of 
short duration : for the accumulating stone had began to narrow 
the channel so much, that the inhabitants of Terni (Inter amnates ) 
foresaw danger to themselves ; they therefore complained against 
the Reatines, whose cause was defended by Cicero. After this, 
during the reign of Tiberius, when the danger became more evident, 
and the Interamnates had reason to complain, that all their posses- 
sions might be taken from them by a single flood, they petitioned, 
that access might be given from the river to the lake, by a channel, 
leading back from the side of the aqueduct, formed by Curius. 
This was ordered by Tiberius to be performed; but the peculiar 
property of the water resisted the endeavours of Tiberius, as well 
as those of Curius. The straight, as well as the reverted channel, 
became filled with stone ; and the river, possessing itself of the 
course, which it had at first, emptied itself into the lake, which, 
not being able to retain it, there being now no opening, it again 
overflowed the Reatine marshes. The Reatines were therefore 
anxious to open the cataract which had first of all been closed up 
by the stone ; but this alarming the Intermnni, great disputes arose, 
which would have terminated in a war between these people, if the 
Pope, Paul III. had not interfered. He directed the old cataract 
to be opened ; and, lest its immense force should terrify the Inter- 
amnates, he moderated its violence by making three additional open- 
