bringing back this answer from the god. "Let not imprisoned chafe the Alban Lake, Nor yet to sea its wilful passage take; Draw high its gates, but in the boundless plain Disperse its power, its pride of speed refrain; Then mount the breach, for then by Heaven's decree Long-leaguered Veii, Roman, yields to thee. Thy warfare done, throng thankful to the shrine, Repair thy great default, and pay me that is mine." When this answer was had the Etrurian soothsayer was held in great honour, and the magistrates sought his help that all things might be done duly and in order. Especially they desired to know what rites had been neglected, and what solemnity left unperformed. As to this they discovered that magistrates not appointed according to due order had kept profanely the yearly festival of the Latins on the hills of Alba. It was commanded therefore that these should resign their office and that all things should be done afresh. In the meanwhile there was held a council of the tribes of the Etrurians at the temple of Voltumna, and when the men of Capena and of Falerii demanded that the whole nation should join their forces with one consent, and deliver Veii from being besieged, they were thus answered: "Before we denied our aid to the men of Veii because they had not asked our counsel in a matter wherein such counsel was most needed. But now it is not we but our necessities that deny it, and especially in this part of Etruria, for there is come hither among us a strange people even the Gauls, with whom we have neither sure peace nor open war."