Book 9
29.4
In view of the seriousness of the emergency the Dictator compelled all who were liable for service to take the military oath, and used his utmost endeavours to have arms and whatever else was required in readiness. Notwithstanding the great preparations he was making, he had no intention of assuming the aggressive, and had quite made up his mind to wait until the Etruscans made the first move The Etruscans were equally energetic in their preparations, and equally reluctant to commence hostilities.
29.5
Neither side went outside their own frontiers. This year (312 B.C.> was signalised by the censorship of Appius Claudius. His claim to distinction with posterity rests mainly upon his public works, the roadThe Via Appia. This famous road, one of the greatest engineering works in the Old World, extended from Rome to Capua, a distance of about 120 miles, and was carried through deep cuttings, over the hills, and on vast substructures of stones through the valleys. It was subsequently extended to Brundisium. and the aqueductthe Appian Aqueduct was the first of fourteen which were successively constructed to supply the Romans with pure water. It was nearly eight miles in length and ran almost the whole way underground. which bear his name.
29.6
He carried out these undertakings single-handed, for, owing to the odium he incurred by the way he
