LONG, long time ago there lived a Roman noble statesman and soldier called Marcus Furius Camillus. He loved his homeland, Rome, more than anything in the world. He could sacrifice anything for it, except his principles.

The city of Falerii for many days heroically resisted the attacks of Camillus. Its residents, the Falisci, were courageous and daring people! So, however hard the Romans tried, they could not seize it.

Even in the state of war, the people of Falerii didn’t let the hard times affect their morale and everyday life. But there lived a greedy school tutor in the city. He was a conspirator and traitor, as he loved money more than anything in the world and for riches he could do anything, even betray his country.

Every morning before classes, he would gather his disciples and take them out of the city for an excursion. Initially, he would walk them near the city walls, but then gradually he began taking them farther and farther from the city, and closer to the Roman camp. And one day he took the children from of the city and to the Roman camp.

The children, without suspecting anything, happily marched forward, when suddenly two Roman soldiers appeared in front of them from the bushes.

“Halt! Who are you? Where are you going?”

Frightened, the kids began to loudly cry. Seeing the weeping kids, the soldiers thought that they probably got lost and after a slight hesitation, they decided to let the little Falisci go, when the tutor stepped forward and said: “We won’t go back. Take us to Furius Camillus!”

Camillus was in his tent. “Might be negotiators!” he thought with excitement. “With capitulation offer, I am sure!” But when he stepped out of the tent, he saw a group of small children, their eyes red from crying.

“What are these children doing here?” he was taken aback.

The tutor came forward, bowed and said: “It’s me, venerable Camillus, me, a humble and poor Falisci tutor who has brought you these captives.”

“Captives?” Camillus laughed. “What should I do with these captives? Don’t you know that Camillus does not wage a war against children?”

“I do,” said the amoral man. “I do know that brave, magnanimous and invincible Camillus never fights with children. But let me tell you that these kids are the sprigs of the Falerii’s nobility. Today you can surely celebrate your victory, for in order to save their children, the Falisci would definitely surrender the city. These kids are a guarantee. Take it!”

And the tutor once again bowed to the ground, expecting Camillus to hug him and reward with some precious ring or a bag of gold coins. But Camillus only frowned and remained silent for quite a long while. Then he turned to his soldiers and ordered: “Come and strip this man off his clothes.”

The soldiers rushed to carry the command.

The traitor turned pale and yelled: “What are you doing? Roman! You do not understand me!”

But the soldiers were already tearing his robe apart.

“Truss his hands with a rope,” the next order came, which was duly followed.

The conspirator’s body shook with terror, as he threw himself at the Roman leader’s feet, but Camillus never glanced at him. He turned to the children and said: “Young Falisci! When you’ll grow up and have to face a strong and courageous enemy, remember you should always rely on your own strength and not on the villainy of others!”

Perhaps the kids did not fully understand the importance of what the Roman statesman was telling them, as they were very young, but I am sure that you, my dear friends, understood and will always remember those words of the Roman general.

“And now,” said Camillus. “Take your tutor back to your city.”

The kids droved their vile tutor back home, as if he was a stray goat or goose.

When the people of Falerii came to know about the incident, they were so moved with gratitude, that they urgently called an assembly, where it was unanimously resolved to immediately swear peace with Rome.

And when the honourable negotiators came to Camillus, they said to him: “You won us neither with the swords nor with tactics. You succeeded to capture our hearts with your honesty and commitment to right principles.”