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they only knew it to be a received law among all nations, that the conqueror hath a right to whatever he can acquire: and that the Romans themselves had no other pretensions to moft of the countries they had subdued, than what was founded on the sword. That they had how- ever, a great veneration for the Roman people, on account of their virtue and bravery; in confideration of which, al- though they knew not what it was to fear, they consented to leave the Norici in peace, and to employ their valour in some other quarter, where they could do it without incurring the displeasure of the commonwealth.” Satisfied with fo moderate an anfwer, the conful fuffered them quietly to remove; but when the Cimbri were retired into Dalmatia, and ex- pected nothing lefs than hoftilities from the Romans: a party of thefe commanded by Carbo, furprized them by night, afleep and unarmed. Thefe brave warriors full of in- dignation, flew to their arms, and defend- ed themfelves with fo much intrepidity, that they wrefted the victory out of their enemies hands, and forced them to feek their fafety by flight. But although the Romans almoft all efcaped the vengeance of their enemies, this defeat was not the lefs fatal to the republic; for the fplendour