Enormous wealth, particularly in landed property, became concentrated in the hands of a few nobles, while the masses were impoverished; the social revolutions which thence arose increased the distress which they sought to remedy; and, in consequence of the impotence of the central power, no course at last remained to the distressed aristocrats-- e.g.in Arretium in 453, and in Volsinii in 488--but to call in the aid of the Romans, who accordingly put an end to the disorder but at the same time extinguished the remnant of independence.

The energies of the nation were broken from the day of Veii and Melpum.

Earnest attempts were still once or twice made to escape from the Roman supremacy, but in such instances the stimulus was communicated to the Etruscans from without--from another Italian stock, the Samnites.
Notes for Book II Chapter IV 1.

I.X.Phoenicians and Italians in Opposition to the Hellenes 2.

--Fiaron o Deinomeneos kai toi Surakosioi toi Di Turan apo Kumas .-- 3.