After Camillus had taken the auspices, he had uttered the following prayer: Pythian Apollo, guided and inspired by thy will I go forth to destroy the city of Veii, and a tenth part of its spoils I devote to thee.
[citation needed]Relying on the superior size of the Roman army, Camillus attacked the city on all sides.
The Veientines wondered "what had happened to make the Romans, after never stirring from their lines for so many days, now run recklessly up to the walls as though struck with sudden frenzy".
As the fighting slackened, Camillus gave orders to spare the unarmed who began to surrender as the soldiers gathered loot.
The wealth so impressed Camillus that he gave a speech, during which he turned and stumbled, which was seen to be an omen of his later condemnation and the sack of Rome, which followed a few years later after the battle of the Allia.