The Story of Mucius Scaevola.一一-Repulsed in his first attempt, Porsena changed his plans from assault to blockade.After placing a detachment to hold the Janiculum he fixed hiscamp on the plain between that hill and the Tiber, and senteverywhere for boats, partly to intercept any attempt to getcorn into Rome and partly to carry his troops across to differentspots for plunder, as opportunity might serve. In a short timehe made the whole of the district round Rome so insecure that not only were all the crops remothe cattle were all driven into the瞬六m theor did貂ds but evenone venture to take them outside the gates. The impunity with which the Ltruscax. s committed their depredations was due to strategy on the part of the Romans more than to fear. For the consul Valerius determined to get an opportunity of attacking them when they were scattered in 1 numbers over the fields, allowed small forages to pass unn ed，whilst he was reservinz r气 himself for vengeance on a larger scale. So to draw on the pillagers, he gave orders to a considerable body of his men to drive cattle out of the Esquiline gate, which was the furthest from the enemy, in the expectation that they would gain intelligence of it through the slaves who were deserting, ow吨 to the scarcity produced by the blockade. The information was duly conveyed, and in consequence they crossed the river in. larger numbers than usual in the hope of securing the.,-. ,. Y' 1 1 P'" V "r . 7 41 7吵oleP lot. .r. v alerius ordered 1.Hermxnius with. a small boay of troops to take up a concealed position at a distance of two miles on the Gabian road, whilst Sp. Lartius with some light-armed infantry was to post himself at the Colline gate until the enemy bad passed him and then to intercept their retreat to the river. The other consul, T. Lucretius, with a few maniples made a sortie from the Naevian ;valerius himself led some picked cohorts from the Caelian and these were the first to attract the enemy's notice. When Herminius became aware that fighting was begun, he rose from ambush and took the enemy who were，engaged， with walerius， in rear.r r. r } ,.% w,。、Answering'V 1 T cheers arose right and left, from the Lollxne and the N aevian gatesi and the pillaaers、hemmed in.unequal to the fight. and with 备%沪产‘孟、.J产 everv wav of escape blocked。were cut to Dieces. That put 1 603 an end to these irregular and scattered excursions on the part of the Etruscans.