On the day preceding the Calends of January,Lucius thought to avail himself of the holiday,under the belief that the enemy would be off their guard,to make a sally by night against their gates,hoping to break through them and bring in his other forces,of which he had abundance in many places.But the legion that was lying in wait near by,and Octavian himself with some praetorian cohorts,attacked him,and Lucius, although he fought valiantly, was driven back. About the same time the mass of the people in Rome openly denounced the war and the victory, because the grain was kept under guard for the soldiers. They broke into houses in search of food, and carried off whatever they could find.
Ventidius and his friends, ashamed to look on while Lucius was perishing of hunger, all moved to his support, intending to overpower Caesar's forces surrounding and besieging him.Agrippa and Salvidienus went to meet them with still larger forces. Fearing lest they should be surrounded, they diverged to the stronghold of Fulginium, distant 160 stades from Perusia. There Agrippa besieged them, and they lighted many fires as signals to Lucius. Ventidius and Asinius were of the opinion that they should still go forward and fight, but Plancus said that, as they were between Octavian and Agrippa, they had best await events. The opinion of Plancus prevailed. Those in Perusia rejoiced when they saw the fires,
but when Ventidius delayed his coming they conjectured that he,too,was in difficulties,and when the fires ceased they thought that he had been destroyed.Lucius,oppressed by hunger,again fought a night battle,extending from the first watch till daylight,around the whole circumvallation;but he failed and was driven back into Perusia.There he took an account of the remaining provisions,and forbade the giving of any to the slaves,and prohibited them from escaping,lest the enemy should gain better knowledge of his desperate situation.The slaves wandered about in crowds,threw themselves upon the ground in the city,and between the city and their forts,and ate grass or green leaves wherever they could find them.