Livy Page 6

Porsinna primo conatu repulsus, consiliis ab oppugnanda urbe ad obsidendam versis, praesidio in Ianiculo locato, ipse in plano ripisque Tiberis castra posuit, navibus undique accitis et ad custodiam ne quid Romam frumenti subvehi sineret, et ut praedatum milites trans flumen per occasiones aliis atque aliis locis traiceret;

Porsinna, repulsed at his first try, turned his plans from attacking the city to besieging it, he placed a garrison on the Janiculum, he himself placed camps on the plain by the banks of the Tiber, he sent for ships from everywhere both to guard lest any grain should be allowed to be carried into Rome and in order to plunder, he made his soldiers go across the river as an opportunity offered in some place or another;

brevique adeo infestum omnem Romanum agrum reddidit ut non cetera solum ex agris sed pecus quoque omne in urbem compelleretur, neque quisquam extra portas propellere auderet.

And in a short time he rendered all the Roman territory so unsafe that not only their property but also all the cattle were forced out of the fields into the city, and no one dared to drive them outside the gates.

Hoc tantum licentiae Etruscis non metu magis quam consilio concessum.

This such degree of freedom was allowed to the Etruscans not through fear more than a plan.

Namque Valerius consul intentus in occasionem multos simul et effusos improviso adoriundi, in parvis rebus neglegens ultor, gravem se ad maiora vindicem servabat.

For Valerius the consul, eager for an opportunity to attack many people suddenly as soon as they spread out, an avenger disregarding small matters, [but instead] saving himself rather for serious vindication.

Itaque ut eliceret praedatores, edicit suis postero die frequentes porta Esquilina, quae aversissima ab hoste erat, expellerent pecus, scituros id hostes ratus, quod in obsidione et fame servitia infida transfugerent.

And so, in order to draw out pillagers, he declared to his men that on the following day, a large number of them should drive the cattle out via the Esquiline Gate, which was most distant from the enemy, believing that the enemy would have knowledge of it: which [is that] unfaithful slaves in a a siege and a fame go over to the enemy.