Cincinnatus was once again entreated to leave his plough, to come to Rome and save his country. So, lest his country should be betrayed by the honest plebeian, Cincinnatus hastened to the city, and appointing one named Ahala master of the horse, bade him summon Mælius to the Forum. Here the Dictator awaited the traitor, sitting on his tribunal. Mælius knew all that had been said against him, and not wishing to be accused of treason, he refused to go with Ahala, and appealed to the people he had helped to support him. But Ahala, furious that the plebeian dared to ignore his summons, drew a dagger and stabbed Mælius to death. The people, horrified at the fate of their friend, rushed to the Forum and demanded that the Dictator should punish Ahala. But this Cincinnatus refused to do, saying that even if Mælius had not been guilty of treason, yet he had deserved death for disobeying the command of the Dictator. Too weak from want of food to persist that their benefactor should be avenged, the people, so some stories tell, soon grew quiet, for Minucius promised that the corn still stored at the house of Mælius should be sold to them at a low price. But other stories say that the people refused to be satisfied until they had driven Ahala from the city. It was in such selfish, wicked ways that the patricians sought to ruin the plebeians when they saw them gaining power and influence in the State. CHAPTER XXXII CAMILLUS CAPTURES THE CITY OF VEII When Rome was in danger, the people, as you know, were called from their homes, their shops, and their fields to fight for their country. If the army was sent to besiege a town, it was one which could be taken in a short time, so that the soldiers were soon free to go home to plough their fields and tend their shops. These soldier citizens received no wages for fighting for their country. They were but doing their duty in defending her or in adding to her dominions. But the Romans were now growing ambitious to win greater glory by their conquests than they had yet done. To do this they knew that they must have a regular army that could stay in the field as long as was necessary. This army, too, would have to be paid by the State. It was, partly, at least, through the influence of Camillus, who was soon to be made Dictator, that a standing army was raised. Under him the army began to grow in power, nor did it cease to grow until at length it was able to control Senate and people alike. In 406 B.C. the Romans began their more ambitious wars by besieging a beautiful city called Veii. Veii was in Etruria, about ten miles north of Rome. For many years the inhabitants of this city had made raids along the borders of Rome, plundering and burning the countryside, until the people fled from their homes at the slightest rumour of their approach. To destroy Veii was the only way to put an end to these constant and irritating border raids, and the siege was begun.