Ab urbe condita

A colony was sent there as an outpost against the Umbrians, and the place was called Narnia from the river Nar. The army marched back to Rome with a large amount of spoil. This[*](Renewal of Hostilities by the Etruscans and Samnites.) year the Etruscans determined to break the truce, and began to make preparations for war.

But the invasion of their country by an enormous army of Gauls —the last thing they were expecting —turned them for a time from their purpose.

Trusting to the power of money, which with them was very considerable, they endeavoured to convert the Gauls from enemies into allies in order that they might combine their forces in an attack on Rome. The barbarians did not object to an alliance, the only question was as to the amount of pay.

After this had been agreed upon and all the other preparations for war had been completed, the Etruscans called upon the Gauls to follow them. They refused to do so, and asserted that they had not taken the money to make war on Rome.