But beyond all evils of siege and war, famine distressed both armies; pestilence moreover oppressed the Gauls, since they were encamped in a place lying between the hills that was heated by the burning of the houses and full of exhalations, and that sent up clouds not only of dust but also of ashes whenever the wind rose to any degree; and as that race, accustomed to moisture and cold, is most intolerant of these annoyances, and suffered severely from the heat and suffocation, disease spread as if among cattle, and they died. And now becoming weary of burying separately, they heaped up the bodies promiscuously and burned them. A truce was now made with the Romans, and conferences were held with the permission of the commanders. At these the Gauls frequently alluded to the famine, and made the urgency of that a reason for summoning them to surrender. It is said that for the purpose of removing that opinion bread was thrown in many places from the Capitol to the advanced posts of the enemy. But the famine could neither be dissembled nor endured any longer. Accordingly whilst the dictator was engaged in person in holding a levy at Ardea, in ordering his master of the horse, Lucius Valerius, to bring the troops from Veii, and in raising forces and equipping them, so that he might attack the enemy on equal terms, in the mean time the army of the Capitol was wearied out with keeping guard and with watches. They had surmounted all calamities that man could cause, but famine alone nature would not suffer to be overcome. So after looking forward from day to day to see whether there were any signs of succour coming from the dictator, when at length not only food but hope also failed them, and their arms weighed down their debilitated bodies (since there was constant sentinel duty), they insisted that there should be either a surrender, or that they should be ransomed on whatever terms were possible, as the Gauls were intimating in rather plain terms that they could be induced for no very great compensation to relinquish the siege. Then a meeting of the senate was held and instructions were given to the military tribunes to capitulate. Upon this the matter was settled between Quintus Sulpicius, a military tribune, and Brennus, the chieftain of the Gauls, and one thousand pounds’ weight of gold was agreed on as the ransom of a people who were soon after to be the rulers of the world. To a transaction very humiliating in itself insult was added. False weights were brought by the Gauls. On the tribune’s objecting, the insolent Gaul threw his sword in in addition to the weight; and these words were heard—so repulsive to the Romans—“Woe to the vanquished!”