Upon this question the deputies of several cities and colonies were heard.
The Florentines besought, "that the bed of the Clanis [Footnote: Chiana.]
might not be turned into their river Arnus; [Footnote: Arno.] for that the
same would prove their utter ruin." The like plea was urged by the
Interamnates; [Footnote: Terni.] "since the most fruitful plains in Italy
would be lost, if, according to the project, the Nar, branched out into
rivulets, overflowed them." Nor were the Reatinians less earnest against
stopping the outlets of the Lake Velinus into the Nar; "otherwise," they
said, "it would break over its banks, and stagnate all the adjacent
country; the direction of nature was best in all natural things: it was
she that to rivers had appointed their courses and discharges, and set
them their limits as well as their sources. Regard too was to be paid to
the religion of our Latin allies, who, esteeming the rivers of their
country sacred, had to them dedicated Priests, and altars, and groves;
nay, the Tiber himself, when bereft of his auxiliary streams, would flow
with diminished grandeur.
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