"Romans! Gather ... Gather close, for this is the tale of a night when the wolf of Gaul prowled at our gates—and a handful of men, with the help of sacred birds, saved the very soul of Rome!"

It was after the day of doom at the River Allia, when the legions broke and fled, and Brennus the Gaul came down like fire on the seven hills. Rome burned—aye, burned till the very stones wept molten tears! But not all was lost. Upon the Capitoline Hill, a band of Romans, gaunt and grim, held the last fortress of our freedom. Below, the Gauls feasted among the ashes of our homes.

Month upon month they watched and waited, like wolves circling the fold. Hunger gnawed at us, despair darkened our souls—but we swore by Jupiter that we would never yield while life remained.

Then, one black night, the Gauls came. Silent as shadows, they climbed the steep rock of the Capitol, clutching vines and roots, their spears gripped in teeth. Our sentries slept—aye, slept, worn with hunger and watching. Death crept closer, step by stealthy step.

But the gods had not forsaken Rome! For in the temple of Juno, the sacred geese—white as snow, holy to the goddess—started from their nests and screamed a wild, shrill cry! Not dogs, not men—but geese, Romans! And their voices woke Marcus Manlius, that lion of the hill. He seized his shield, he seized his spear, and with one roar he struck down the foremost Gaul, sending him crashing to the depths below. Another followed, and another, till the rock ran red. The rest fled into the dark, and the Capitol was saved—by the faith of a soldier and the cry of holy birds!

When dawn broke, we gave thanks to the gods and crowned Manlius with oak—the wreath of the savior. And though famine still bit and death still hovered, hope blazed anew, for Camillus was gathering an army, and Rome would rise from her ashes like a phoenix crowned with steel!

And so she did. When Brennus cried, “Woe to the conquered!” as he cast his sword upon the ransom scales, Camillus strode in, like Mars himself, and thundered: "Rome is ransomed with steel, not with gold! Down with your weights, Gauls—here is our payment!"

Then his sword sang, and so ended the Gauls’ pride. Rome lived—and Rome shall live forever!