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diff --git a/19725-h/19725-h.htm b/19725-h/19725-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dddae02 --- /dev/null +++ b/19725-h/19725-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,21808 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The History of Rome: Books One to Eight, by Titus Livius. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 1%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: left; + color: gray; + } /* page numbers */ + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .bookdes {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; font-size: 0.8em;} + .menu {font-size: 0.7em; text-align: center;} + .chapmen {margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: center; font-size: 0.7em;} + .lsidenote {position: absolute; left: 6%; right: 8%; font-weight: bold; font-size: 0.8em;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08, by Titus Livius + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08 + +Author: Titus Livius + +Release Date: November 6, 2006 [EBook #19725] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HISTORY OF ROME *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Taavi Kalju and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<h4>THE</h4> + +<h1>HISTORY OF ROME.</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>TITUS LIVIUS.</h2> + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> + +<h3>THE FIRST EIGHT BOOKS.</h3> + +<h4>LITERALLY TRANSLATED, WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS,</h4> + +<h5>BY</h5> + +<h3>D. SPILLAN, A.M. M.D.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h4>LONDON:</h4> + +<h4>HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.<br /> +MDCCCLIII. +</h4> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h4>JOHN CHILDS AND SON, BUNGAY</h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="menu"> + + <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" summary="Contents"> + + <tr> + + <td> <a href="#book1"><b>BOOK I</b></a> <br /> + + <a href="#a1">1</a> <a href="#a2">2</a> <a href="#a3">3</a> <a href="#a4">4</a> + + <a href="#a5">5</a> <a href="#a6">6</a> <a href="#a7">7</a> <a href="#a8">8</a> + + <a href="#a9">9</a> <a href="#a10">10</a><br /> + + <a href="#a11">11</a> <a href="#a12">12</a> <a href="#a13">13</a> <a href="#a14">14</a> + + <a href="#a15">15</a> <a href="#a16">16</a> <a href="#a17">17</a> <a href="#a18">18</a> + + <a href="#a19">19</a> <a href="#a20">20</a><br /> + + <a href="#a21">21</a> <a href="#a22">22</a> <a href="#a23">23</a> <a href="#a24">24</a> + + <a href="#a25">25</a> <a href="#a26">26</a> <a href="#a27">27</a> <a href="#a28">28</a> + + <a href="#a29">29</a> <a href="#a30">30</a><br /> + + <a href="#a31">31</a> <a href="#a32">32</a> <a href="#a33">33</a> <a href="#a34">34</a> + + <a href="#a35">35</a> <a href="#a36">36</a> <a href="#a37">37</a> <a href="#a38">38</a> + + <a href="#a39">39</a> <a href="#a40">40</a><br /> + + <a href="#a41">41</a> <a href="#a42">42</a> <a href="#a43">43</a> <a href="#a44">44</a> + + <a href="#a45">45</a> <a href="#a46">46</a> <a href="#a47">47</a> <a href="#a48">48</a> + + <a href="#a49">49</a> <a href="#a50">50</a><br /> + + <a href="#a51">51</a> <a href="#a52">52</a> <a href="#a53">53</a> <a href="#a54">54</a> + + <a href="#a55">55</a> <a href="#a56">56</a> <a href="#a57">57</a> <a href="#a58">58</a> + + <a href="#a59">59</a> <a href="#a60">60</a> </td> + + <td> <a href="#book2"><b>BOOK II</b></a><br /> + + <a href="#b1">1</a> <a href="#b2">2</a> <a href="#b3">3</a> <a href="#b4">4</a> + + <a href="#b5">5</a> <a href="#b6">6</a> <a href="#b7">7</a> <a href="#b8">8</a> + + <a href="#b9">9</a> <a href="#b10">10</a><br /> + + <a href="#b11">11</a> <a href="#b12">12</a> <a href="#b13">13</a> <a href="#b14">14</a> + + <a href="#b15">15</a> <a href="#b16">16</a> <a href="#b17">17</a> <a href="#b18">18</a> + + <a href="#b19">19</a> <a href="#b20">20</a><br /> + + <a href="#b21">21</a> <a href="#b22">22</a> <a href="#b23">23</a> <a href="#b24">24</a> + + <a href="#b25">25</a> <a href="#b26">26</a> <a href="#b27">27</a> <a href="#b28">28</a> + + <a href="#b29">29</a> <a href="#b30">30</a><br /> + + <a href="#b31">31</a> <a href="#b32">32</a> <a href="#b33">33</a> <a href="#b34">34</a> + + <a href="#b35">35</a> <a href="#b36">36</a> <a href="#b37">37</a> <a href="#b38">38</a> + + <a href="#b39">39</a> <a href="#b40">40</a><br /> + + <a href="#b41">41</a> <a href="#b42">42</a> <a href="#b43">43</a> <a href="#b44">44</a> + + <a href="#b45">45</a> <a href="#b46">46</a> <a href="#b47">47</a> <a href="#b48">48</a> + + <a href="#b49">49</a> <a href="#b50">50</a><br /> + + <a href="#b51">51</a> <a href="#b52">52</a> <a href="#b53">53</a> <a href="#b54">54</a> + + <a href="#b55">55</a> <a href="#b56">56</a> <a href="#b57">57</a> <a href="#b58">58</a> + + <a href="#b59">59</a> <a href="#b60">60</a><br /> + + <a href="#b61">61</a> <a href="#b62">62</a> <a href="#b63">63</a> <a href="#b64">64</a> + + <a href="#b65">65</a> </td> + + <td> <a href="#book3"><b>BOOK III</b></a><br /> + + <a href="#c1">1</a> <a href="#c2">2</a> <a href="#c3">3</a> <a href="#c4">4</a> + + <a href="#c5">5</a> <a href="#c6">6</a> <a href="#c7">7</a> <a href="#c8">8</a> + + <a href="#c9">9</a> <a href="#c10">10</a><br /> + + <a href="#c11">11</a> <a href="#c12">12</a> <a href="#c13">13</a> <a href="#c14">14</a> + + <a href="#c15">15</a> <a href="#c16">16</a> <a href="#c17">17</a> <a href="#c18">18</a> + + <a href="#c19">19</a> <a href="#c20">20</a><br /> + + <a href="#c21">21</a> <a href="#c22">22</a> <a href="#c23">23</a> <a href="#c24">24</a> + + <a href="#c25">25</a> <a href="#c26">26</a> <a href="#c27">27</a> <a href="#c28">28</a> + + <a href="#c29">29</a> <a href="#c30">30</a><br /> + + <a href="#c31">31</a> <a href="#c32">32</a> <a href="#c33">33</a> <a href="#c34">34</a> + + <a href="#c35">35</a> <a href="#c36">36</a> <a href="#c37">37</a> <a href="#c38">38</a> + + <a href="#c39">39</a> <a href="#c40">40</a><br /> + + <a href="#c41">41</a> <a href="#c42">42</a> <a href="#c43">43</a> <a href="#c44">44</a> + + <a href="#c45">45</a> <a href="#c46">46</a> <a href="#c47">47</a> <a href="#c48">48</a> + + <a href="#c49">49</a> <a href="#c50">50</a><br /> + + <a href="#c51">51</a> <a href="#c52">52</a> <a href="#c53">53</a> <a href="#c54">54</a> + + <a href="#c55">55</a> <a href="#c56">56</a> <a href="#c57">57</a> <a href="#c58">58</a> + + <a href="#c59">59</a> <a href="#c60">60</a><br /> + + <a href="#c61">61</a> <a href="#c62">62</a> <a href="#c63">63</a> <a href="#c64">64</a> + + <a href="#c65">65</a> <a href="#c66">66</a> <a href="#c67">67</a> <a href="#c68">68</a> + + <a href="#c69">69</a> <a href="#c70">70</a><br /> + + <a href="#c71">71</a> <a href="#c72">72</a> </td> + + </tr> + + <tr> + + <td> <a href="#book4"><b>BOOK IV</b></a><br /> + + <a href="#d1">1</a> <a href="#d2">2</a> <a href="#d3">3</a> <a href="#d4">4</a> + + <a href="#d5">5</a> <a href="#d6">6</a> <a href="#d7">7</a> <a href="#d8">8</a> + + <a href="#d9">9</a> <a href="#d10">10</a><br /> + + <a href="#d11">11</a> <a href="#d12">12</a> <a href="#d13">13</a> <a href="#d14">14</a> + + <a href="#d15">15</a> <a href="#d16">16</a> <a href="#d17">17</a> <a href="#d18">18</a> + + <a href="#d19">19</a> <a href="#d20">20</a><br /> + + <a href="#d21">21</a> <a href="#d22">22</a> <a href="#d23">23</a> <a href="#d24">24</a> + + <a href="#d25">25</a> <a href="#d26">26</a> <a href="#d27">27</a> <a href="#d28">28</a> + + <a href="#d29">29</a> <a href="#d30">30</a><br /> + + <a href="#d31">31</a> <a href="#d32">32</a> <a href="#d33">33</a> <a href="#d34">34</a> + + <a href="#d35">35</a> <a href="#d36">36</a> <a href="#d37">37</a> <a href="#d38">38</a> + + <a href="#d39">39</a> <a href="#d40">40</a><br /> + + <a href="#d41">41</a> <a href="#d42">42</a> <a href="#d43">43</a> <a href="#d44">44</a> + + <a href="#d45">45</a> <a href="#d46">46</a> <a href="#d47">47</a> <a href="#d48">48</a> + + <a href="#d49">49</a> <a href="#d50">50</a><br /> + + <a href="#d51">51</a> <a href="#d52">52</a> <a href="#d53">53</a> <a href="#d54">54</a> + + <a href="#d55">55</a> <a href="#d56">56</a> <a href="#d57">57</a> <a href="#d58">58</a> + + <a href="#d59">59</a> <a href="#d60">60</a><br /> + + <a href="#d61">61</a> </td> + + <td> <a href="#book5"><b>BOOK V</b></a><br /> + + <a href="#e1">1</a> <a href="#e2">2</a> <a href="#e3">3</a> <a href="#e4">4</a> + + <a href="#e5">5</a> <a href="#e6">6</a> <a href="#e7">7</a> <a href="#e8">8</a> + + <a href="#e9">9</a> <a href="#e10">10</a><br /> + + <a href="#e11">11</a> <a href="#e12">12</a> <a href="#e13">13</a> <a href="#e14">14</a> + + <a href="#e15">15</a> <a href="#e16">16</a> <a href="#e17">17</a> <a href="#e18">18</a> + + <a href="#e19">19</a> <a href="#e20">20</a><br /> + + <a href="#e21">21</a> <a href="#e22">22</a> <a href="#e23">23</a> <a href="#e24">24</a> + + <a href="#e25">25</a> <a href="#e26">26</a> <a href="#e27">27</a> <a href="#e28">28</a> + + <a href="#e29">29</a> <a href="#e30">30</a><br /> + + <a href="#e31">31</a> <a href="#e32">32</a> <a href="#e33">33</a> <a href="#e34">34</a> + + <a href="#e35">35</a> <a href="#e36">36</a> <a href="#e37">37</a> <a href="#e38">38</a> + + <a href="#e39">39</a> <a href="#e40">40</a><br /> + + <a href="#e41">41</a> <a href="#e42">42</a> <a href="#e43">43</a> <a href="#e44">44</a> + + <a href="#e45">45</a> <a href="#e46">46</a> <a href="#e47">47</a> <a href="#e48">48</a> + + <a href="#e49">49</a> <a href="#e50">50</a><br /> + + <a href="#e51">51</a> <a href="#e52">52</a> <a href="#e53">53</a> <a href="#e54">54</a> + + <a href="#e55">55</a> </td> + + <td> <a href="#book6"><b>BOOK VI</b></a><br /> + + <a href="#f1">1</a> <a href="#f2">2</a> <a href="#f3">3</a> <a href="#f4">4</a> + + <a href="#f5">5</a> <a href="#f6">6</a> <a href="#f7">7</a> <a href="#f8">8</a> + + <a href="#f9">9</a> <a href="#f10">10</a><br /> + + <a href="#f11">11</a> <a href="#f12">12</a> <a href="#f13">13</a> <a href="#f14">14</a> + + <a href="#f15">15</a> <a href="#f16">16</a> <a href="#f17">17</a> <a href="#f18">18</a> + + <a href="#f19">19</a> <a href="#f20">20</a><br /> + + <a href="#f21">21</a> <a href="#f22">22</a> <a href="#f23">23</a> <a href="#f24">24</a> + + <a href="#f25">25</a> <a href="#f26">26</a> <a href="#f27">27</a> <a href="#f28">28</a> + + <a href="#f29">29</a> <a href="#f30">30</a><br /> + + <a href="#f31">31</a> <a href="#f32">32</a> <a href="#f33">33</a> <a href="#f34">34</a> + + <a href="#f35">35</a> <a href="#f36">36</a> <a href="#f37">37</a> <a href="#f38">38</a> + + <a href="#f39">39</a> <a href="#f40">40</a><br /> + + <a href="#f41">41</a> <a href="#f42">42</a> </td> + + </tr> + + <tr> + + <td> <a href="#book7"><b>BOOK VII</b></a><br /> + + <a href="#g1">1</a> <a href="#g2">2</a> <a href="#g3">3</a> <a href="#g4">4</a> + + <a href="#g5">5</a> <a href="#g6">6</a> <a href="#g7">7</a> <a href="#g8">8</a> + + <a href="#g9">9</a> <a href="#g10">10</a><br /> + + <a href="#g11">11</a> <a href="#g12">12</a> <a href="#g13">13</a> <a href="#g14">14</a> + + <a href="#g15">15</a> <a href="#g16">16</a> <a href="#g17">17</a> <a href="#g18">18</a> + + <a href="#g19">19</a> <a href="#g20">20</a><br /> + + <a href="#g21">21</a> <a href="#g22">22</a> <a href="#g23">23</a> <a href="#g24">24</a> + + <a href="#g25">25</a> <a href="#g26">26</a> <a href="#g27">27</a> <a href="#g28">28</a> + + <a href="#g29">29</a> <a href="#g30">30</a><br /> + + <a href="#g31">31</a> <a href="#g32">32</a> <a href="#g33">33</a> <a href="#g34">34</a> + + <a href="#g35">35</a> <a href="#g36">36</a> <a href="#g37">37</a> <a href="#g38">38</a> + + <a href="#g39">39</a> <a href="#g40">40</a><br /> + + <a href="#g41">41</a> <a href="#g42">42</a> </td> + + <td> <a href="#book8"><b>BOOK VIII</b></a><br /> + + <a href="#h1">1</a> <a href="#h2">2</a> <a href="#h3">3</a> <a href="#h4">4</a> + + <a href="#h5">5</a> <a href="#h6">6</a> <a href="#h7">7</a> <a href="#h8">8</a> + + <a href="#h9">9</a> <a href="#h10">10</a><br /> + + <a href="#h11">11</a> <a href="#h12">12</a> <a href="#h13">13</a> <a href="#h14">14</a> + + <a href="#h15">15</a> <a href="#h16">16</a> <a href="#h17">17</a> <a href="#h18">18</a> + + <a href="#h19">19</a> <a href="#h20">20</a><br /> + + <a href="#h21">21</a> <a href="#h22">22</a> <a href="#h23">23</a> <a href="#h24">24</a> + + <a href="#h25">25</a> <a href="#h26">26</a> <a href="#h27">27</a> <a href="#h28">28</a> + + <a href="#h29">29</a> <a href="#h30">30</a><br /> + + <a href="#h31">31</a> <a href="#h32">32</a> <a href="#h33">33</a> <a href="#h34">34</a> + + <a href="#h35">35</a> <a href="#h36">36</a> <a href="#h37">37</a> <a href="#h38">38</a> + + <a href="#h39">39</a> <a href="#h40">40</a> </td> + + </tr> + </table> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>In this new English version of the most elegant of the Roman historians, +the object of the translator has been, to adhere as closely to the +original text as is consistent with the idioms of the respective +languages. But while thus providing more especially for the wants of the +classical student, he has not been unmindful of the neatness and +perspicuity required to satisfy the English reader.</p> + +<p>There have been several previous translations of our author, but the +only one now before the public, or deserving of particular mention, is +that by Baker, which is undoubtedly a very able performance, and had it +been more faithful, would have rendered any other unnecessary.</p> + +<p>The edition used for the present translation is that published at Oxford +under the superintendence of Travers Twiss, whose carefully revised text +is by far the best extant. The few notes and illustrations which the +limits of an edition in this popular form permit, are chiefly confined +to the explanation of grammatical difficulties. Historical and +antiquarian illustration is now so abundantly supplied by excellent +Manuals and Dictionaries, that it has been deemed unnecessary to swell +the present volumes by additions in that department.</p> + +<p>Among the manuals of Roman History which may most advantageously be used +by the student, is Twiss's Epitome of Niebuhr, 2 vols. 8vo, a work +frequently referred to in these pages.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE</h2> + +<h1>HISTORY OF ROME.</h1> + +<div class="chapmen"><a href="#a1">1</a> <a href="#a2">2</a> <a href="#a3">3</a> + + <a href="#a4">4</a> <a href="#a5">5</a> <a href="#a6">6</a> <a href="#a7">7</a> + + <a href="#a8">8</a> <a href="#a9">9</a> <a href="#a10">10</a> <a href="#a11">11</a> + + <a href="#a12">12</a> <a href="#a13">13</a> <a href="#a14">14</a> <a href="#a15">15</a> + + <a href="#a16">16</a> <a href="#a17">17</a> <a href="#a18">18</a> <a href="#a19">19</a> + + <a href="#a20">20</a> <a href="#a21">21</a> <a href="#a22">22</a> <a href="#a23">23</a> + + <a href="#a24">24</a> <a href="#a25">25</a> <a href="#a26">26</a> <a href="#a27">27</a> + + <a href="#a28">28</a> <a href="#a29">29</a> <a href="#a30">30</a> <a href="#a31">31</a> + + <a href="#a32">32</a> <a href="#a33">33</a> <a href="#a34">34</a> <a href="#a35">35</a> + + <a href="#a36">36</a> <a href="#a37">37</a> <a href="#a38">38</a> <a href="#a39">39</a> + + <a href="#a40">40</a> <a href="#a41">41</a> <a href="#a42">42</a> <a href="#a43">43</a> + + <a href="#a44">44</a> <a href="#a45">45</a> <a href="#a46">46</a> <a href="#a47">47</a> + + <a href="#a48">48</a> <a href="#a49">49</a> <a href="#a50">50</a> <a href="#a51">51</a> + + <a href="#a52">52</a> <a href="#a53">53</a> <a href="#a54">54</a> <a href="#a55">55</a> + + <a href="#a56">56</a> <a href="#a57">57</a> <a href="#a58">58</a> <a href="#a59">59</a> + + <a href="#a60">60</a> </div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a id="book1" name="book1"></a>BOOK I.</h2> + + +<div class="bookdes"><p><i>The coming of Æneas into Italy, and his achievements there; the +reign of Ascanius in Alba, and of the other Sylvian kings. Romulus +and Remus born. Amulius killed. Romulus builds Rome; forms a +senate; makes war upon the Sabines; presents the</i> opima spolia <i>to +Jupiter Feretrius; divides the people into</i> curiæ; <i>his victories; +is deified. Numa institutes the rites of religious worship; builds +a temple to Janus; and having made peace with all his neighbours, +closes it for the first time; enjoys a peaceful reign, and is +succeeded by Tullus Hostilius. War with the Albans; combat of the +Horatii and Curiatii. Alba demolished, and the Albans made citizens +of Rome. War declared against the Sabines; Tullus killed by +lightning. Ancus Marcius renews the religious institutions of Numa; +conquers the Latins, confers on them the right of citizenship, and +assigns them the Aventine hill to dwell on; adds the hill Janiculum +to the city; enlarges the bounds of the empire. In his reign Lucumo +comes to Rome; assumes the name of Tarquinius; and, after the death +of Ancus, is raised to the throne. He increases the senate, by +adding to it a hundred new senators; defeats the Latins and +Sabines; augments the centuries of knights; builds a wall round the +city; makes the common sewers; is slain by the sons of Ancus after +a reign of thirty-eight years; and is succeeded by Servius Tullius. +He institutes the census; closes the lustrum, in which eighty +thousand citizens are said to have been enrolled; divides the +people into classes and centuries; enlarges the Pomœrium, and +adds the Quirinal, Viminal, and Esquiline hills to the city; after +a reign of forty years, is murdered by L. Tarquin, afterwards +surnamed Superbus. He usurps the crown. Tarquin makes war on the +Volsci, and, with the plunder taken from them, builds a temple to +Jupiter Capitolinus. By a stratagem of his son, Sextus Tarquin, he +reduces the city of Gabii; after a reign of twenty-five years is +dethroned and banished, in consequence of the forcible violation of +the person of Lucretia by his son Sextus. L. Junius Brutus and L. +Tarquinius Collatinus first created consuls.</i></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>Whether in tracing the history of the Roman people, from the foundation +of the city, I shall employ myself to a useful purpose,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> I am neither +very certain, nor, if I were, dare I say: inasmuch as I observe, that it +is both an old and hackneyed practice,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> later authors always supposing +that they will either adduce something more authentic in the facts, or, +that they will excel the less polished ancients in their style of +writing. Be that as it may, it will, at all events, be a satisfaction to +me, that I too have contributed my share<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> to perpetuate the +achievements of a people, the lords of the world; and if, amidst so +great a number of historians,<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> my reputation should remain in +obscurity, I may console myself with the celebrity and lustre of those +who shall stand in the way of my fame. Moreover, the subject is both of +immense labour, as being one which must be traced back for more than +seven hundred years, and which, having set out from small beginnings, +has increased to such a degree that it is now distressed by its own +magnitude. And, to most readers, I doubt not but that the first origin +and the events immediately succeeding, will afford but little pleasure, +while they will be hastening to these later times,<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> which the +strength of this overgrown people has for a long period been working its +own destruction. I, on the contrary, shall seek this, as a reward of my +labour, viz. to withdraw myself from the view of the calamities, which +our age has witnessed for so many years, so long as I am reviewing with +my whole attention these ancient times, being free from every care<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> +that may distract a writer's mind, though it cannot warp it from the +truth. The traditions which have come down to us of what happened before +the building of the city, or before its building was contemplated, as +being suitable rather to the fictions of poetry than to the genuine +records of history, I have no intention either to affirm or refute. This +indulgence is conceded to antiquity, that by blending things human with +divine, it may make the origin of cities appear more venerable: and if +any people might be allowed to consecrate their origin, and to ascribe +it to the gods as its authors, such is the renown of the Roman people in +war, that when they represent Mars, in particular, as their own parent +and that of their founder, the nations of the world may submit to this +as patiently as they submit to their sovereignty.—But in whatever way +these and such like matters shall be attended to, or judged of, I shall +not deem of great importance. I would have every man apply his mind +seriously to consider these points, viz. what their life and what their +manners were; through what men and by what measures, both in peace and +in war, their empire was acquired<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> and extended; then, as discipline +gradually declined, let him follow in his thoughts their morals, at +first as slightly giving way, anon how they sunk more and more, then +began to fall headlong, until he reaches the present times, when we can +neither endure our vices, nor their remedies. This it is which is +particularly salutary and profitable in the study of history, that you +behold instances of every variety of conduct displayed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> on a conspicuous +monument; that from thence you may select for yourself and for your +country that which you may imitate; thence <i>note</i> what is shameful in +the undertaking, and shameful in the result, which you may avoid. But +either a fond partiality for the task I have undertaken deceives me, or +there never was any state either greater, or more moral, or richer in +good examples, nor one into which luxury and avarice made their entrance +so late, and where poverty and frugality were so much and so long +honoured; so that the less wealth there was, the less desire was there. +Of late, riches have introduced avarice, and excessive pleasures a +longing for them, amidst luxury and a passion for ruining ourselves and +destroying every thing else. But let complaints, which will not be +agreeable even then, when perhaps they will be also necessary, be kept +aloof at least from the first stage of commencing so great a work. We +should rather, if it was usual with us (historians) as it is with poets, +begin with good omens, vows and prayers to the gods and goddesses to +vouchsafe good success to our efforts in so arduous an undertaking.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a id="a1" name="a1"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<p>Now first of all it is sufficiently established that, Troy having been +taken, the utmost severity was shown to all the other Trojans; but that +towards two, Æneas and Antenor, the Greeks forbore all the rights of +war, both in accordance with an ancient tie of hospitality, and because +they had ever been the advisers of peace, and of the restoration of +Helen—then that Antenor after various vicissitudes came into the +innermost bay of the Adriatic Sea, with a body of the Heneti, who having +been driven from Paphlagonia in consequence of a civil commotion, were +in quest both of a settlement and a leader, their king Pylæmenes having +been lost at Troy; and that the Heneti and Trojans, having expelled the +Euganei, who dwelt between the sea and the Alps, took possession of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> the +country; and the place where they first landed is called Troy; from +whence also the name of Trojan is given to the canton; but the nation in +general is called Veneti: that Æneas was driven from home by a similar +calamity, but the fates leading him to the founding of a greater empire, +he came first to Macedonia: that he sailed from thence to Sicily in +quest of a settlement: that from Sicily he made for the Laurentine +territory; this place also has the name of Troy. When the Trojans, +having disembarked there, were driving plunder from the lands,—as being +persons to whom, after their almost immeasurable wandering, nothing was +left but their arms and ships,—Latinus the king, and the Aborigines, +who then occupied those places, assembled in arms from the city and +country to repel the violence of the new-comers. On this point the +tradition is two-fold: some say, that Latinus, after being overcome in +battle, made first a peace, and then an alliance with Æneas: others, +that when the armies were drawn out in battle-array, before the signals +were sounded, Latinus advanced to the front of the troops and invited +the leader of the adventurers to a conference. That he then inquired who +they were, whence (they had come), or by what casualty they had left +their home, and in quest of what they had landed on the Laurentine +territory: after he heard that the host were Trojans, their chief Æneas, +the son of Anchises and Venus, and that, driven from their own country +and their homes, which had been destroyed by fire, they were seeking a +settlement and a place for building a town, struck with admiration of +the noble origin of the nation and of the hero, and their spirit, alike +prepared for peace or war, he confirmed the assurance of future +friendship by giving his right hand: that upon this a compact was struck +between the chiefs, and mutual greetings passed between the armies: that +Æneas was hospitably entertained by Latinus: that Latinus, in the +presence of his household gods, added a family league to the public one, +by giving Æneas his daughter in marriage. This event confirms the +Trojans in the hope of at length terminating their wanderings by a fixed +and permanent settlement. They build a town. Æneas calls it Lavinium, +after the name of his wife. In a short time, too, a son was the issue of +the new marriage, to whom his parents gave the name of Ascanius.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a2" name="a2"></a>2</div> +<p>The Aborigines and Trojans were soon after attacked together in war. +Turnus, king of the Rutulians, to whom Lavinia had been affianced before +the coming of Æneas, enraged that a stranger had been preferred to +himself, made war on Æneas and Latinus together. Neither side came off +from that contest with cause for rejoicing. The Rutulians were +vanquished; the victorious Aborigines and Trojans lost their leader +Latinus. Upon this Turnus and the Rutulians, diffident of their +strength, have recourse to the flourishing state of the Etruscans, and +their king Mezentius; who holding his court at Cœre, at that time an +opulent town, being by no means pleased, even from the commencement, at +the founding of the new city, and then considering that the Trojan power +was increasing much more than was altogether consistent with the safety +of the neighbouring states, without reluctance joined his forces in +alliance with the Rutulians. Æneas, in order to conciliate the minds of +the Aborigines to meet the terror of so serious a war, called both +nations Latins, so that they might all be not only under the same laws, +but also the same name. Nor after that did the Aborigines yield to the +Trojans in zeal and fidelity towards their king Æneas; relying therefore +on this disposition of the two nations, who were now daily coalescing +more and more, although Etruria was so powerful, that it filled with the +fame of its prowess not only the land, but the sea also, through the +whole length of Italy, from the Alps to the Sicilian Strait, though he +might have repelled the war by means of fortifications, yet he led out +his forces to the field. Upon this a battle ensued successful to the +Latins, the last also of the mortal acts of Æneas. He was buried, by +whatever name human and divine laws require him to be called,<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> on the +banks of the river Numicius. They call him Jupiter Indiges.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a3" name="a3"></a>3</div> +<p>Ascanius, the son of Æneas, was not yet old enough to take the +government upon him; that government, however, remained secure for him +till the age of maturity. In the interim, the Latin state and the +kingdom of his grandfather<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> and father was secured for the boy under the +regency of his mother (such capacity was there in Lavinia). I have some +doubts (for who can state as certain a matter of such antiquity) whether +this was the Ascanius, or one older than he, born of Creusa before the +fall of Troy, and the companion of his father in his flight from thence, +the same whom, being called Iulus, the Julian family call the author of +their name. This Ascanius, wheresoever and of whatever mother born, (it +is at least certain that he was the son of Æneas,) Lavinium being +overstocked with inhabitants, left that flourishing and, considering +these times, wealthy city to his mother or step-mother, and built for +himself a new one at the foot of Mount Alba, which, being extended on +the ridge of a hill, was, from its situation, called Longa Alba. Between +the founding of Lavinium and the transplanting this colony to Longa +Alba, about thirty years intervened. Yet its power had increased to such +a degree, especially after the defeat of the Etrurians, that not even +upon the death of Æneas, nor after that, during the regency of Lavinia, +and the first essays of the young prince's reign, did Mezentius, the +Etrurians, or any other of its neighbours dare to take up arms against +it. A peace had been concluded between the two nations on these terms, +that the river Albula, now called Tiber, should be the common boundary +between the Etrurians and Latins. After him Sylvius, the son of +Ascanius, born by some accident in a wood, ascends the throne. He was +the father of Æneas Sylvius, who afterwards begot Latinus Sylvius. By +him several colonies, called the ancient Latins, were transplanted. From +this time, all the princes, who reigned at Alba, had the surname of +Sylvius. From Latinus sprung Alba; from Alba, Atys; from Atys, Capys; +from Capys, Capetus; from Capetus, Tiberinus, who, being drowned in +crossing the river Albula, gave it a name famous with posterity. Then +Agrippa, the son of Tiberinus; after Agrippa, Romulus Silvius ascends +the throne, in succession to his father. The latter, having been killed +by a thunderbolt, left the kingdom to Aventinus, who being buried on +that hill, which is now part of the city of Rome, gave his name to it. +After him reigns Proca; he begets Numitor and Amulius. To Numitor, his +eldest son, he bequeaths the ancient kingdom of the Sylvian family. But +force prevailed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> more than the father's will or the respect due to +seniority: for Amulius, having expelled his brother, seizes the kingdom; +he adds crime to crime, murders his brother's male issue; and under +pretence of doing his brother's daughter, Rhea Sylvia, honour, having +made her a vestal virgin, by obliging her to perpetual virginity he +deprives her of all hopes of issue.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a4" name="a4"></a>4</div> +<p>But, in my opinion, the origin of so great a city, and the +establishment of an empire next in power to that of the gods, was due to +the Fates. The vestal Rhea, being deflowered by force, when she had +brought forth twins, declares Mars to be the father of her illegitimate +offspring, either because she believed it to be so, or because a god was +a more creditable author of her offence. But neither gods nor men +protect her or her children from the king's cruelty: the priestess is +bound and thrown into prison; the children he commands to be thrown into +the current of the river. By some interposition of providence,<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> the +Tiber having overflowed its banks in stagnant pools, did not admit of +any access to the regular bed of the river; and the bearers supposed +that the infants could be drowned in water however still; thus, as if +they had effectually executed the king's orders, they expose the boys in +the nearest land-flood, where now stands the ficus Ruminalis (they say +that it was called Romularis). The country thereabout was then a vast +wilderness. The tradition is, that when the water, subsiding, had left +the floating trough, in which the children had been exposed, on dry +ground, a thirsty she-wolf, coming from the neighbouring mountains, +directed her course to the cries of the infants, and that she held down +her dugs to them with so much gentleness, that the keeper of the king's +flock found her licking the boys with her tongue. It is said his name +was Faustulus; and that they were carried by him to his homestead to be +nursed by his wife Laurentia. Some are of opinion that she was called +Lupa among the shepherds, from her being a common prostitute, and that +this gave rise to the surprising story. The children thus born and thus +brought up, when arrived at the years of manhood, did not loiter away +their time in tending the folds or following the flocks, but roamed and +hunted in the forests.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> Having by this exercise improved their strength +and courage, they not only encountered wild beasts, but even attacked +robbers laden with plunder, and afterwards divided the spoil among the +shepherds. And in company with these, the number of their young +associates daily increasing, they carried on their business and their +sports.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a5" name="a5"></a>5</div> +<p>They say, that the festival of the lupercal, as now celebrated, was +even at that time solemnized on the Palatine hill, which, from +Palanteum, a city of Arcadia, was first called Palatium, and afterwards +Mount Palatine. There they say that Evander, who belonged to the tribe +of Arcadians,<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> that for many years before had possessed that country, +appointed the observance of a feast, introduced from Arcadia, in such +manner, that young men ran about naked in sport and wantonness, doing +honour to Pan Lycæus, whom the Romans afterwards called Inuus. That the +robbers, through rage at the loss of their booty, having lain in wait +for them whilst intent on this sport, as the festival was now well +known, whilst Romulus vigorously defended himself, took Remus prisoner; +that they delivered him up, when taken, to king Amulius, accusing him +with the utmost effrontery. They principally alleged it as a charge +against them, that they had made incursions upon Numitor's lands, and +plundered them in a hostile manner, having assembled a band of young men +for the purpose. Upon this Remus was delivered to Numitor to be +punished. Now, from the very first, Faustulus had entertained hopes that +the boys whom he was bringing up were of the blood royal; for he both +knew that the children had been exposed by the king's orders, and that +the time at which he had taken them up agreed exactly with that period: +but he had been unwilling that the matter, as not being yet ripe for +discovery, should be disclosed, till either a fit opportunity or +necessity should arise. Necessity came first; accordingly, compelled by +fear, he discovers the whole affair to Romulus. By accident also, whilst +he had Remus in custody, and had heard that the brothers were twins, on +comparing their age, and <i>observing</i> their turn of mind entirely free +from servility, the recollection of his grand-children struck Numitor; +and on making<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> inquiries<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> he arrived at the same conclusion, so that +he was well nigh recognising Remus. Thus a plot is concerted for the +king on all sides. Romulus, not accompanied by a body of young men, (for +he was unequal to open force,) but having commanded the shepherds to +come to the palace by different roads at a fixed time, forces his way to +the king; and Remus, with another party from Numitor's house, assists +his brother, and so they kill the king.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a6" name="a6"></a>6</div> +<p>Numitor, at the beginning of the fray, having given out that enemies +had invaded the city, and assaulted the palace, after he had drawn off +the Alban youth to secure the citadel with a garrison and arms, when he +saw the young men, after they had killed the king, advancing to +congratulate him, immediately called an assembly of the people, and +represented to them the unnatural behaviour of his brother towards him, +the extraction of his grand-children, the manner of their birth and +education, and how they came to be discovered; then he informed them of +the king's death, and that he was killed by his orders. When the young +princes, coming up with their band through the middle of the assembly, +saluted their grandfather king, an approving shout, following from all +the people present, ratified to him both that title and the sovereignty. +Thus the government of Alba being committed to Numitor, a desire seized +Romulus and Remus to build a city on the spot where they had been +exposed and brought up. And there was an overflowing population of +Albans and of Latins. The shepherds too had come into that design, and +all these readily inspired hopes, that Alba and Lavinium would be but +petty places in comparison with the city which they intended to build. +But ambition of the sovereignty, the bane of their grandfather, +interrupted these designs, and thence arose a shameful quarrel from a +beginning sufficiently amicable. For as they were twins, and the respect +due to seniority could not determine the point, they agreed to leave to +the tutelary gods of the place to choose, by augury, which should give a +name to the new city, which govern it when built.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a7" name="a7"></a>7</div> +<p>Romulus chose the Palatine and Remus the Aventine hill as their +stands to make their observations. It is said, that to Remus an omen +came first, six vultures; and now, the omen having been declared, when +double the number presented itself to Romulus, his own party saluted +each king; the former claimed the kingdom on the ground of priority of +time, the latter on account of the number of birds. Upon this, having +met in an altercation, from the contest of angry feelings they turn to +bloodshed; there Remus fell from a blow received in the crowd. A more +common account is, that Remus, in derision of his brother, leaped over +his new-built wall, and was, for that reason, slain by Romulus in a +passion; who, after sharply chiding him, added words to this effect: "So +shall every one fare, who shall dare to leap over my +fortifications."<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> Thus Romulus got the sovereignty to himself; the +city, when built, was called after the name of its founder. His first +work was to fortify the Palatine hill where he had been educated. To the +other gods he offers sacrifices according to the Alban rite; to +Hercules, according to the Grecian rite, as they had been instituted by +Evander. There is a tradition, that Hercules, having killed Geryon, +drove his oxen, which were extremely beautiful, into those places; and +that, after swimming over the Tiber, and driving the cattle before him, +being fatigued with travelling, he laid himself down on the banks of the +river, in a grassy place, to refresh them with rest and rich pasture. +When sleep had overpowered him, satiated with food and wine, a shepherd +of the place, named Cacus, presuming on his strength, and charmed with +the beauty of the oxen, wished to purloin that booty, but because, if he +had driven them forward into the cave, their footsteps would have guided +the search of their owner thither, he therefore drew the most beautiful +of them, one by one, by the tails, backwards into a cave. Hercules, +awaking at day-break, when he had surveyed his herd, and observed that +some of them were missing, goes directly to the nearest cave, to see if +by chance their footsteps would lead him thither. But when he observed +that they were all turned from it, and directed him no other way, +confounded, and not knowing what to do, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> began to drive his cattle +out of that unlucky place. Upon this, some of the cows, as they usually +do, lowed on missing those that were left; and the lowings of those that +were confined being returned from the cave, made Hercules turn that way. +And when Cacus attempted to prevent him by force, as he was proceeding +to the cave, being struck with a club, he was slain, vainly imploring +the assistance of the shepherds. At that time Evander, who had fled from +the Peloponnesus, ruled this country more by his credit and reputation +than absolute sway. He was a person highly revered for his wondrous +knowledge of letters,<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> a discovery that was entirely new and +surprising to men ignorant of every art; but more highly respected on +account of the supposed divinity of his mother Carmenta, whom these +nations had admired as a prophetess, before the coming of the Sibyl into +Italy. This prince, alarmed by the concourse of the shepherds hastily +crowding round the stranger, whom they charged with open murder, after +he heard the act and the cause of the act, observing the person and mien +of the hero to be larger, and his gait more majestic, than human, asked +who he was? As soon as he was informed of his name, his father, and his +native country, he said, "Hail! Hercules! son of Jupiter, my mother, a +truth-telling interpreter of the gods, has revealed to me, that thou +shalt increase the number of the celestials; and that to thee an altar +shall be dedicated here, which some ages hence the most powerful people +on earth shall call Ara Maxima, and honour according to thy own +institution." Hercules having given him his right hand, said, "That he +accepted the omen, and would fulfil the predictions of the fates, by +building and consecrating an altar." There for the first time a +sacrifice was offered to Hercules of a chosen heifer, taken from the +herd, the Potitii and Pinarii, who were then the most distinguished +families that inhabited these parts, having been invited to the service +and the entertainment. It so happened that the Potitii were present in +due time, and the entrails were set before them; when they were eaten +up, the Pinarii came to the remainder of the feast. From this time it +was ordained, that while the Pinarian family subsisted, none of them +should eat of the entrails of the solemn sacri<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>fices. The Potitii, being +instructed by Evander, discharged this sacred function as priests for +many ages, until the office, solemnly appropriated to their family, +being delegated to public slaves, their whole race became extinct. This +was the only foreign religious institution which Romulus adopted, being +even then an abettor of immortality attained by merit, to which his own +destinies were conducting him.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a8" name="a8"></a>8</div> +<p>The duties of religion having been duly performed, and the multitude +summoned to a meeting, as they could be incorporated into one people by +no other means than fixed rules, he gave them a code of laws, and +judging that these would be best respected by this rude class of men, if +he made himself dignified by the insignia of authority, he assumed a +more majestic appearance both in his other appointments, and especially +by taking twelve lictors to attend him. Some think that he chose this +number of officers from that of the birds, which in the augury had +portended the kingdom to him. I do not object to be of the opinion of +those who will have it that the apparitors (in general), and this +particular class of them,<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> and even their number, was taken from +their neighbours the Etrurians, from whom were borrowed the curule +chair, and the gown edged with purple; and that the Etrurians adopted +that number, because their king being elected in common from twelve +states, each state assigned him one lictor. Meanwhile the city increased +by their taking in various lots of ground for buildings, whilst they +built rather with a view to future numbers, than for the population<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> +which they then had. Then, lest the size of the city might be of no +avail, in order to augment the population, according to the ancient +policy of the founders of cities, who, after drawing together to them an +obscure and mean multitude, used to feign that their offspring sprung +out of the earth, he opened as a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> sanctuary, a place which is now +enclosed as you go down "to the two groves."<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> Hither fled from the +neighbouring states, without distinction whether freemen or slaves, +crowds of all sorts, desirous of change: and this was the first +accession of strength to their rising greatness. When he was now not +dissatisfied with his strength, he next sets about forming some means of +directing that strength. He creates one hundred senators, either because +that number was sufficient, or because there were only one hundred who +could name their fathers. They certainly were called Fathers, through +respect, and their descendants, Patricians.<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a></p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a9" name="a9"></a>9</div> +<p>And now the Roman state was become so powerful, that it was a match +for any of the neighbouring nations in war, but, from the paucity of +women, its greatness could only last for one age of man; for they had no +hope of issue at home, nor had they any intermarriages with their +neighbours. Therefore, by the advice of the Fathers, Romulus sent +ambassadors to the neighbouring states to solicit an alliance and the +privilege of intermarriage for his new subjects. "That cities, like +every thing else, rose from very humble beginnings. That those which the +gods and their own merit aided, gained great power and high renown. That +he knew full well, both that the gods had aided the origin of Rome, and +that merit would not be wanting. Wherefore that, as men, they should +feel no reluctance to mix their blood and race with men." No where did +the embassy obtain a favourable hearing: so much did they at the same +time despise, and dread for themselves and their posterity, so great a +power growing up in the midst of them. They were dismissed by the +greater part with the repeated question, "Whether they had opened any +asylum for women also, for that such a plan only could obtain them +suitable matches?" The Roman youth resented this conduct bitterly, and +the matter unquestionably began to point towards violence. Romulus, in +order that he might afford a favourable time and place for this, +dissembling his resentment, purposely prepares games in honour of +Neptunus Equestris; he calls them Consualia. He then <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>orders the +spectacle to be proclaimed among their neighbours; and they prepare for +the celebration with all the magnificence they were then acquainted +with, or were capable of doing, that they might render the matter +famous, and an object of expectation. Great numbers assembled, from a +desire also of seeing the new city; especially their nearest neighbours, +the Cæninenses, Crustumini, and Antemnates. Moreover the whole multitude +of the Sabines came, with their wives and children. Having been +hospitably invited to the different houses, when they had seen the +situation, and fortifications, and the city crowded with houses, they +became astonished that the Roman power had increased so rapidly. When +the time of the spectacle came on, and while their minds and eyes were +intent upon it, according to concert a tumult began, and upon a signal +given the Roman youth ran different ways to carry off the virgins by +force. A great number were carried off at hap-hazard, according as they +fell into their hands. Persons from the common people, who had been +charged with the task, conveyed to their houses some women of surpassing +beauty, destined for the leading senators. They say that one, far +distinguished beyond the others for stature and beauty, was carried off +by the party of one Thalassius, and whilst many inquired to whom they +were carrying her, they cried out every now and then, in order that no +one might molest her, that she was being taken to Thalassius; that from +this circumstance this term became a nuptial one. The festival being +disturbed by this alarm, the parents of the young women retire in grief, +appealing to the compact of violated hospitality, and invoking the god, +to whose festival and games they had come, deceived by the pretence of +religion and good faith. Neither had the ravished virgins better hopes +of their condition, or less indignation. But Romulus in person went +about and declared, "That what was done was owing to the pride of their +fathers, who had refused to grant the privilege of marriage to their +neighbours; but notwithstanding, they should be joined in lawful +wedlock, participate in all their possessions and civil privileges, and, +than which nothing can be dearer to the human heart, in their common +children. He begged them only to assuage the fierceness of their anger, +and cheerfully surrender their affections to those to whom fortune had +con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>signed their persons." [He added,] "That from injuries love and +friendship often arise; and that they should find them kinder husbands +on this account, because each of them, besides the performance of his +conjugal duty, would endeavour to the utmost of his power to make up for +the want of their parents and native country." To this the caresses of +the husbands were added, excusing what they had done on the plea of +passion and love, arguments that work most successfully on women's +hearts.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a10" name="a10"></a>10</div> +<p>The minds of the ravished virgins were soon much soothed, but their +parents by putting on mourning, and tears and complaints, roused the +states. Nor did they confine their resentment to their own homes, but +they flocked from all quarters to Titus Tatius, king of the Sabines; and +because he bore the greatest character in these parts, embassies were +sent to him. The Cæninenses, Crustumini, and Antemnates were people to +whom a considerable portion of the outrage extended. To them Tatius and +the Sabines seemed to proceed somewhat dilatorily. Nor even do the +Crustumini and Antemnates bestir themselves with sufficient activity to +suit the impatience and rage of the Cæninenses. Accordingly the state of +the Cæninenses by itself makes an irruption into the Roman territory. +But Romulus with his army met them ravaging the country in straggling +parties, and by a slight engagement convinces them, that resentment +without strength is of no avail. He defeats and routs their army, +pursues it when routed, kills and despoils their king in battle, and +having slain their general takes the city at the first assault. From +thence having led back his victorious army, and being a man highly +distinguished by his exploits, and one who could place them in the best +light, went in state to the capitol, carrying before him, suspended on a +frame curiously wrought for that purpose, the spoils of the enemy's +general, whom he had slain, and there after he had laid them down at the +foot of an oak held sacred by the shepherds, together with the offering, +he marked out the bounds for a temple of Jupiter, and gave a surname to +the god: "Jupiter Feretrius," he says, "I, king Romulus, upon my +victory, present to thee these royal arms, and to thee I dedicate a +temple within those regions which I have now marked out in my mind, as a +receptacle for the grand spoils, which my suc<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>cessors, following my +example, shall, upon their killing the kings or generals of the enemy, +offer to thee." This is the origin of that temple, the first consecrated +at Rome. It afterwards so pleased the gods both that the declaration of +the founder of the temple should not be frustrated, by which he +announced that his posterity should offer such spoils, and that the +glory of that offering should not be depreciated by the great number of +those who shared it. During so many years, and amid so many wars since +that time, grand spoils have been only twice gained,<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> so rare has +been the successful attainment of that honour.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a11" name="a11"></a>11</div> +<p>Whilst the Romans are achieving these exploits, the army of the +Antemnates, taking advantage of their absence, makes an incursion into +the Roman territories in a hostile manner. A Roman legion being marched +out in haste against these also, surprise them whilst straggling through +the fields. Accordingly the enemy were routed at the very first shout +and charge: their town taken; and as Romulus was returning, exulting for +this double victory, his consort, Hersilia, importuned by the entreaties +of the captured women, beseeches him "to pardon their fathers, and to +admit them to the privilege of citizens; that thus his power might be +strengthened by a reconciliation." Her request was readily granted. +After this he marched against the Crustumini, who were commencing +hostilities; but as their spirits were sunk by the defeat of their +neighbours, there was still less resistance there. Colonies were sent to +both places, but more were found to give in their names for Crustuminum, +because of the fertility of the soil. Migrations in great numbers were +also made from thence to Rome, chiefly by the parents and relatives of +the ravished women. The last war broke out on the part of the Sabines, +and proved by far the most formidable: for they did nothing through +anger or cupidity; nor did they make a show of war, before they actually +began it. To prudence stratagem also was added. Sp. Tarpeius commanded +the Roman citadel; Tatius bribes his maiden daughter with gold, to admit +armed soldiers into the citadel: she had gone by chance outside the +walls to fetch water for the sacrifice. Those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> who were admitted crushed +her to death by heaping their arms upon her; either that the citadel +might seem rather to have been taken by storm, or for the purpose of +establishing a precedent, that no faith should, under any circumstances, +be kept with a traitor. A story is added, that the Sabines commonly wore +on their left arm golden bracelets of great weight, and large rings set +with precious stones, and that she bargained with them for what they had +on their left hands; hence that their shields were thrown upon her +instead of the golden presents. There are some who say that in pursuance +of the compact to deliver up what was on their left hands, she expressly +demanded their shields, and that appearing to act with treachery, she +was killed by the reward of her own choosing.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a12" name="a12"></a>12</div> +<p>The Sabines, however, kept possession of the citadel, and on the day +after, when the Roman army, drawn up in order of battle, filled up all +the ground lying between the Palatine and Capitoline hills, they did not +descend from thence into the plain, till the Romans, fired with +resentment, and with a desire of retaking the citadel, advanced to +attack them. Two chiefs, one on each side, animated the battle, viz. +Mettus Curtius on the part of the Sabines, Hostus Hostilius on that of +the Romans. The latter, in the front ranks, supported the Roman cause by +his courage and bravery, on disadvantageous ground. As soon as Hostus +fell, the Roman line immediately gave way and was beaten to the old gate +of the Palatium. Romulus, himself too carried away with the general +rout, raising his arms to heaven, says, "O Jupiter, commanded by thy +birds, I here laid the first foundation of the city on the Palatine +hill. The Sabines are in possession of the citadel, purchased by fraud. +From thence they are now advancing hither, sword in hand, having already +passed the middle of the valley. But do thou, father of gods and men, +keep back the enemy at least from hence, dispel the terror of the +Romans, and stop their shameful flight. Here I solemnly vow to build a +temple to thee as Jupiter Stator, as a monument to posterity, that this +city was saved by thy immediate aid." Having offered up this prayer, as +if he had felt that his prayers were heard, he cries out, "At this spot, +Romans, Jupiter, supremely good and great, commands you to halt, and +renew the fight." The Romans halted as if they had been commanded by a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +voice from heaven; Romulus himself flies to the foremost ranks. Mettus +Curtius, on the part of the Sabines, had rushed down at the head of his +army from the citadel, and driven the Romans in disorder over the whole +ground now occupied by the forum. He was already not far from the gate +of the Palatium, crying out, "We have defeated these perfidious +strangers, these dastardly enemies. They now feel that it is one thing +to ravish virgins, another far different to fight with men." On him, +thus vaunting, Romulus makes an attack with a band of the most +courageous youths. It happened that Mettus was then fighting on +horseback; he was on that account the more easily repulsed: the Romans +pursue him when repulsed: and the rest of the Roman army, encouraged by +the gallant behaviour of their king, routs the Sabines. Mettus, his +horse taking fright at the din of his pursuers, threw himself into a +lake; and this circumstance drew the attention of the Sabines at the +risk of so important a person. He, however, his own party beckoning and +calling to him, acquires new courage from the affection of his many +friends, and makes his escape. The Romans and Sabines renew the battle +in the valley between the hills; but Roman prowess had the advantage.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a13" name="a13"></a>13</div> +<p>At this juncture the Sabine women, from the outrage on whom the war +originated, with hair dishevelled and garments rent, the timidity of +their sex being overcome by such dreadful scenes, had the courage to +throw themselves amid the flying weapons, and making a rush across, to +part the incensed armies, and assuage their fury; imploring their +fathers on the one side, their husbands on the other, "that as +fathers-in-law and sons-in-law they would not contaminate each other +with impious blood, nor stain their offspring with parricide, the one<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> +their grandchildren, the other their children. If you are +dissatisfied with the affinity between you, if with our marriages, turn +your resentment against us; we are the cause of war, we of wounds and of +bloodshed to our husbands and parents. It were better that we perish +than live widowed or fatherless without one or other of you." The +circumstance affects both the multitude and the leaders. Silence and a +sudden suspension ensue. Upon this the leaders<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> come forward in order to +concert a treaty, and they not only conclude a peace, but form one state +out of two. They associate the regal power, and transfer the entire +sovereignty to Rome. The city being thus doubled, that some compliment +might be paid to the Sabines, they were called Quirites, from Cures. As +a memorial of this battle, they called the place where the horse, after +getting out of the deep marsh, first set Curtius in shallow water, the +Curtian Lake. This happy peace following suddenly a war so distressing, +rendered the Sabine women still dearer to their husbands and parents, +and above all to Romulus himself. Accordingly, when he divided the +people into thirty curiæ, he called the curiæ by their names. Since, +without doubt, the number of the Sabine women was considerably greater +than this, it is not recorded whether those who were to give their names +to the curiæ were selected on account of their age, or their own or +their husbands' rank, or by lot. At the same time three centuries of +knights were enrolled, called Ramnenses, from Romulus; Tatienses, from +Titus Tatius. The reason of the name and origin of the Luceres is +uncertain.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a14" name="a14"></a>14</div> +<p>Thenceforward the two kings held the regal power not only in common, +but in concord also. Several years after, some relatives of king Tatius +beat the ambassadors of the Laurentes, and when the Laurentes commenced +proceedings according to the law of nations, the influence of his +friends and their importunities had more weight with Tatius. He +therefore drew upon himself the punishment due to them; for he is slain +at Lavinium, in a tumult which arose on his going thither to an +anniversary sacrifice. They say that Romulus resented this with less +severity than the case required, either by reason of their association +in the kingly power being devoid of cordiality, or because he believed +that he was justly killed. He therefore declined going to war; in order, +however, that the ill-treatment of the ambassadors and the murder of the +king might be expiated, the treaty was renewed between the cities of +Rome and Lavinium. With this party, indeed, peace continued, contrary to +expectation; another war broke out much nearer home, and almost at the +very gates. The Fidenates, thinking that a power too near to themselves +was growing to a height, resolve to make war, before their strength +should become as great as it was apparent it would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> be. An armed body of +young men being sent in, all the land is laid waste between the city and +Fidenæ. Then turning to the left, because the Tiber confined them on the +right, they continue their depredations to the great consternation of +the peasantry. The sudden alarm reaching the city from the country, +served as the first announcement. Romulus, roused at this circumstance, +(for a war so near home could not admit of delay,) leads out his army: +he pitches his camp a mile from Fidenæ. Having left there a small +garrison, marching out with all his forces, he commanded a party of his +soldiers to lie in ambush in a place<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a>hidden by thick bushes which +were planted around. Then advancing with the greater part of the foot +and all the horse, and riding up to the very gates of the city in a +disorderly and menacing manner, he drew out the enemy, the very thing he +wanted. The same mode of fighting on the part of the cavalry likewise +made the cause of the flight, which was to be counterfeited, appear less +surprising: and when, the horse seeming irresolute, as if in +deliberation whether to fight or fly, the infantry also retreated, the +enemy suddenly rushed from the crowded gates, after they had made an +impression on the Roman line, are drawn on to the place of ambuscade in +their eagerness to press on and pursue. Upon this the Romans, rising +suddenly, attack the enemy's line in flank. The standards of those who +had been left behind on guard, advancing from the camp, further increase +the panic. The Fidenates, thus dismayed with terrors from so many +quarters, turn their backs almost before Romulus, and those who had +accompanied him on horseback, could wheel their horses round; and those +who a little before had pursued men pretending to fly, now ran back to +the town in much greater disorder, for their flight was in earnest. They +did not however get clear of the enemy: the Romans pressing on their +rear rush in as it were in one body before the gates could be shut +against them.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a15" name="a15"></a>15</div> +<p>The minds of the Veientes being excited by the contagious influence +of the Fidenatian war, both from the tie of consanguinity, for the +Fidenates also were Etrurians, and because the very proximity of +situation, in case the Roman arms<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> should be turned against all their +neighbours, urged them on, they made an incursion on the Roman +territories, more to commit depredations than after the manner of a +regular war. Accordingly, without pitching a camp, or awaiting the +approach of the enemy's army, they returned to Veii, carrying with them +the booty collected from the lands; the Roman army on the other side, +when they did not find the enemy in the country, being prepared for and +determined on a decisive action, cross the Tiber. And when the Veientes +heard that they were pitching a camp, and intended to advance to the +city, they came out to meet them, that they might rather decide the +matter in the open field, than be shut up and fight from their houses +and walls. Here the Roman king obtained the victory, his power not being +aided by any stratagem, merely by the strength of his veteran army: and +having pursued the routed enemies to their walls, he made no attempt on +the city, strong as it was by its fortifications, and well defended by +its situation: on his return he lays waste their lands, rather from a +desire of revenge than booty. And the Veientes, being humbled by that +loss no less than by the unsuccessful battle, send ambassadors to Rome +to sue for peace. A truce for one hundred years was granted them after +they were fined a part of their land. These are the principal +transactions which occurred during the reign of Romulus, in peace and +war, none of which seem inconsistent with the belief of his divine +original, or of the deification attributed to him after death, neither +his spirit in recovering his grandfather's kingdom, nor his project of +building a city, nor that of strengthening it by the arts of war and +peace. For by the strength attained from that outset under him, it +became so powerful, that for forty years after it enjoyed a profound +peace. He was, however, dearer to the people than to the fathers; but +above all others he was most beloved by the soldiers. And he kept three +hundred of them armed as a body-guard not only in war but in peace, whom +he called Celeres.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a16" name="a16"></a>16</div> +<p>After performing these immortal achievements, while he was holding +an assembly of the people for reviewing his army, in the plain near the +lake of Capra, on a sudden a storm having arisen, with great thunder and +lightning, enveloped the king in so dense a mist, that it took all sight +of him from the assembly. Nor was Romulus after this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> seen on earth. The +consternation being at length over, and fine clear weather succeeding so +turbulent a day, when the Roman youth saw the royal seat empty, though +they readily believed the fathers who had stood nearest him, that he was +carried aloft by the storm, yet, struck with the dread as it were of +orphanage, they preserved a sorrowful silence for a considerable time. +Then, a commencement having been made by a few, the whole multitude +salute Romulus a god, son of a god, the king and parent of the Roman +city; they implore his favour with prayers, that he would be pleased +always propitiously to preserve his own offspring. I believe that even +then there were some, who silently surmised that the king had been torn +in pieces by the hands of the fathers; for this rumour also spread, but +was not credited; their admiration of the man, and the consternation +felt at the moment, attached importance to the other report. By the +contrivance also of one individual, additional credit is said to have +been gained to the matter. For Proculus Julius, whilst the state was +still troubled with regret for the king, and felt incensed against the +senators, a person of weight, as we are told, in any matter however +important, comes forward to the assembly, "Romans," he says, "Romulus, +the father of this city, suddenly descending from heaven, appeared to me +this day at day-break. While I stood covered with awe, and filled with a +religious dread, beseeching him to allow me to see him face to face, he +said, Go tell the Romans, that the gods so will, that my Rome should +become the capitol of the world. Therefore let them cultivate the art of +war, and let them know and hand down to posterity, that no human power +shall be able to withstand the Roman arms. Having said this, he ascended +up to heaven." It is surprising what credit was given to the man on his +making this announcement, and how much the regret of the common people +and army, for the loss of Romulus, was assuaged upon the assurance of +his immortality.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a17" name="a17"></a>17</div> +<p>Meanwhile ambition and contention for the throne actuated the minds +of the fathers; factions had not yet sprung up from individuals, +because, among a new people, no one person was eminently distinguished +above the rest: the contest was carried on between the different orders. +The descendants of the Sabines wished a king to be elected<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> out of their +body, lest, because there had been no king on their side since the death +of Tatius, they might lose their claim to the crown<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> according to the +compact of equal participation. The old Romans spurned the idea of a +foreign prince. Amid this diversity of views, however, all were anxious +that there should be a king, they not having yet tasted the sweets of +liberty. Fear then seized the senators, lest the minds of the +surrounding states being incensed against them, some foreign power +should attack the state, now without a government, and the army without +a leader. It was therefore their wish that there should be some head, +but no one could bring himself to give way to another. Thus the hundred +senators divide the government among them, ten decuries being formed, +and one selected from each decury, who was to have the chief direction +of affairs. Ten governed; one only was attended with the insignia of +authority and the lictors: their power was limited to the space of five +days, and it passed through all in rotation, and the interval between a +kingly government lasted a year. From the circumstance it was called an +Interregnum, a term which holds good even now. But the people began to +murmur, that their slavery was multiplied, and that they had got a +hundred sovereigns instead of one, and they seemed determined to bear no +authority but that of a king, and that one of their own choosing. When +the fathers perceived that such schemes were in agitation, thinking it +advisable to offer them, of their own accord, what they were sure to +lose; they thus conciliate the favour of the people by yielding to them +the supreme power, yet in such a manner as to grant them no greater +privilege than they reserved to themselves. For they decreed, that when +the people should choose a king, the election should be valid, if the +senate approved. And<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> the same forms are observed at this day in +passing laws and electing magistrates, though their efficacy has been +taken away; for before the people begin to vote, the senators declare +their approbation, whilst the result of the elections is still +uncertain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> Then the interrex, having called an assembly of the people, +addressed them in this manner: "Do you, Romans, choose yourselves a +king, and may it prove fortunate, happy, and auspicious to you; so the +fathers have determined. Then, if you choose a prince worthy to succeed +Romulus, the fathers will confirm your choice." This concession was so +pleasing to the people, that, not to be outdone in generosity, they only +voted, and required that the senate should determine who should be king +of Rome.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a18" name="a18"></a>18</div> +<p>The justice and piety of Numa Pompilius was at that time celebrated. +He dwelt at Cures, a city of the Sabines, and was as eminently learned +in all laws human and divine, as any man could be in that age. They +falsely represent that Pythagoras of Samos was his instructor in +philosophy, because there appears no other person to refer to. Now it is +certain that this philosopher, in the reign of Servius Tullius, more +than a hundred years after this, held assemblies of young men, who +eagerly imbibed his doctrine, in the most distant part of Italy, about +Metapontus, Heraclea, and Croton. But<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a>from these places, even had he +flourished at the same time, what fame of his (extending) to the Sabines +could have aroused any one to a desire of learning, or by what +intercourse of language (could such a thing have been effected)? +Besides, how could a single man have safely passed through so many +nations differing in language and customs? I presume, therefore, that +his mind was naturally furnished with virtuous dispositions, and that he +was not so much versed in foreign sciences as in the severe and rigid +discipline of the ancient Sabines, than which class none was in former +times more strict. The Roman fathers, upon hearing the name of Numa, +although they perceived that the scale of power would incline to the +Sabines if a king were chosen from them, yet none of them ventured to +prefer himself, or any other of his party, or any of the citizens or +fathers, to that person, but unanimously resolved that the kingdom +should be conferred on Numa Pompilius. Being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> sent for, just as Romulus +before the building of the city obtained the throne by an augury, he +commanded the gods to be consulted concerning himself also. Upon this, +being conducted into the citadel by an augur, (to which profession that +office was made a public one and perpetual by way of honour,) he sat +down on a stone facing the south: the augur took his seat on his left +hand with his head covered, holding in his right a crooked wand free +from knots, which they called <i>lituus</i>; then taking a view towards the +city and country, after offering a prayer to the gods, he marked out the +regions from east to west, the parts towards the south he called the +right, those towards the north, the left; and in front of him he set out +in his mind a sign as far as ever his eye could reach. Then having +shifted the lituus into his left hand, placing his right hand on the +head of Numa, he prayed in this manner: "O father Jupiter, if it is thy +will that this Numa Pompilius, whose head I hold, should be king of +Rome, I beseech thee to give sure and evident signs of it within those +bounds which I have marked." Then he stated in set terms the omens which +he wished to be sent; and on their being sent, Numa was declared king +and came down from the stand.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a19" name="a19"></a>19</div> +<p>Having thus obtained the kingdom, he sets about establishing anew, +on the principles of laws and morals, the city recently established by +violence and arms. When he saw that their minds, as having been rendered +ferocious by military life, could not be reconciled to those principles +during the continuance of wars, considering that a fierce people should +be mollified by the disuse of arms, he erected at the foot of Argiletum +a temple of Janus, as an index of peace and war; that when open, it +might show the state was engaged in war, and when shut, that all the +neighbouring nations were at peace with it. Twice only since the reign +of Numa hath this temple been shut; once when T. Manlius was consul, at +the end of the first Punic war; and a second time, which the gods +granted our age to see, by the emperor Augustus Cæsar, after the battle +of Actium, peace being established by sea and land. This being shut, +after he had secured the friendship of the neighbouring states around by +alliance and treaties, all anxiety regarding dangers from abroad being +removed, lest their minds, which the fear of enemies and military +discipline had kept in check, should become licentious by tranquillity, +he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> considered, that, first of all, an awe of the gods should be +instilled into them, a principle of the greatest efficacy with a +multitude ignorant and uncivilized as in those times. But as it could +not sink deeply into their minds without some fiction of a miracle, he +pretends that he holds nightly interviews with the goddess Egeria; that +by her direction he instituted the sacred rites which would be most +acceptable to the gods, and appointed proper priests for each of the +deities. And, first of all, he divides the year into twelve months, +according to the course of the moon; and because the moon does not make +up thirty days in each month, and some days are wanting to the complete +year as constituted by the solstitial revolution, he so portioned it out +by inserting intercalary months, that every twenty-fourth year, the +lengths of all the intermediate years being completed, the days should +correspond to the same place of the sun (in the heavens) whence they had +set out.<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> He likewise made a distinction of the days<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> into +pro<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>fane and sacred, because on some it was likely to be expedient that +no business should be transacted with the people.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a20" name="a20"></a>20</div> +<p>Next he turned his attention to the appointment of priests, though +he performed many sacred rites himself, especially those which now +belong to the flamen of Jupiter. But, as he imagined that in a warlike +nation there would be more kings resembling Romulus than Numa, and that +they would go to war in person, he appointed a residentiary priest as +flamen to Jupiter, that the sacred functions of the royal office might +not be neglected, and he distinguished him by a fine robe, and a royal +curule chair. To him he added two other flamines, one for Mars, another +for Quirinus. He also selected virgins for Vesta, a priesthood derived +from Alba, and not foreign to the family of the founder. That they might +be constant attendants in the temple, he appointed them salaries out of +the public treasury; and by enjoining virginity, and other religious +observances, he made them sacred and venerable. He selected twelve Salii +for Mars Gradivus, and gave them the distinction of an embroidered +tunic, and over the tunic a brazen covering for the breast. He commanded +them to carry the celestial shields called<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a>Ancilia, and to go +through the city singing songs, with leaping and solemn dancing. Then he +chose out of the number of the fathers Numa Marcius, son of Marcus, as +pontiff,<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> and consigned to him an entire system of religious rites +written out and sealed, (showing) with what victims, upon what days, and +in what temples the sacred rites were to be performed; and from what +funds the money was to be taken for these expenses. He placed all +religious institutions, public and private, under the cognisance of the +pontiff to the end that there might be some place where the people +should come to consult, lest any confusion in the divine worship might +be occasioned by neglecting the ceremonies of their own country, and +introducing foreign ones. (He ordained) that the same pontiff should +instruct the people not only in the celestial ceremonies, but also in +(the manner of performing) funeral solemnities, and of appeasing the +manes of the dead; and what prodigies sent by lightning or any other +phenomenon were to be attended to and expiated.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> To elicit such +knowledge from the divine mind, he dedicated an altar on the Aventine to +Jupiter<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a>Elicius, and consulted the god by auguries as to what +(prodigies) should be expiated.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a21" name="a21"></a>21</div> +<p>The whole multitude having been diverted from violence and arms to +the considering and adjusting these matters, both their minds had been +engaged in doing something, and the constant watchfulness of the gods +now impressed upon them, as the deity of heaven seemed to interest +itself in human concerns, had filled the breasts of all with such piety, +that faith and religious obligations governed the state, no less than +fear of the laws and of punishment. And while<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> the people were +moulding themselves after the morals of the king, as their best example, +the neighbouring states also, who had formerly thought that it was a +camp, not a city, situate in the midst of them to disturb the general +peace, were brought (to feel) such respect for them that they considered +it impious that a state, wholly occupied in the worship of the gods, +should be molested. There was a grove, the middle of which was irrigated +by a spring of running water, issuing from a dark grotto. As Numa went +often thither alone, under pretence of conferring with the goddess, he +dedicated the place to the Muses, because their meetings with his wife +Egeria were held there. He also instituted a yearly festival to Faith +alone, and commanded the priests to be carried to her temple in an +arched chariot drawn by two horses, and to perform the divine service +with their hands wrapt up to the fingers, intimating that Faith ought to +be protected, and that her seat ought to be sacred even in men's right +hands. He instituted many other sacred rites, and dedicated places for +performing them, which the priests call Argei. But the greatest of all +his works was his maintenance of peace, during the whole period of his +reign, no less than of his royal prerogative. Thus two kings in +succession, by different me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>thods, the one by war, the other by peace, +aggrandized the state. Romulus reigned thirty-seven years, Numa +forty-three: the state was both strong and well versed in the arts of +war and peace.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a22" name="a22"></a>22</div> +<p>Upon the death of Numa, the administration returned again to an +interregnum. After that the people appointed as king, Tullus Hostilius, +the grandson of that Hostilius who had made the noble stand against the +Sabines at the foot of the citadel. The fathers confirmed the choice. He +was not only unlike the preceding king, but was even of a more warlike +disposition than Romulus. Both his youth and strength, and the renown of +his grandfather, stimulated his ambition. Thinking therefore that the +state was becoming languid through quiet, he every where sought for +pretexts for stirring up war. It happened that some Roman and Alban +peasants had mutually plundered each other's lands. C. Cluilius at that +time governed Alba. From both sides ambassadors were sent almost at the +same time, to demand restitution. Tullus ordered his to attend to +nothing before their instructions. He knew well that the Alban would +refuse, and that so war might be proclaimed on just grounds. Their +commission was executed more remissly by the Albans. For being +courteously and kindly entertained by Tullus, they politely avail +themselves of the king's hospitality. Meanwhile the Romans had both been +first in demanding restitution, and, upon the refusal of the Albans, had +proclaimed war after an interval of thirty days: of this they give +Tullus notice. Upon this he granted the Alban ambassadors an opportunity +of stating what they came to demand. They, ignorant of all, waste some +time in making apologies: "That it was with the utmost reluctance they +should say any thing which was not pleasing to Tullus; but they were +compelled by their orders. That they had come to demand restitution; and +if this be not made, they were commanded to declare war." To this Tullus +made answer, "Go tell your king, that the king of the Romans takes the +gods to witness, which of the two nations hath with contempt first +dismissed the ambassadors demanding restitution, that on it they may +visit all the calamities of this war." The Albans carry home these +tidings.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a23" name="a23"></a>23</div> +<p>War was prepared for on both sides with the utmost vigour, very like +to a civil war, in a manner between parents<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> and children: both being +Trojan offspring; for from Troy came Lavinium, from Lavinium Alba, and +the Romans were descended from the race of Alban kings. But the result +of the war rendered the quarrel less distressing, for they never came to +any action; and, when the houses only of one of the cities had been +demolished, the two states were incorporated into one. The Albans first +made an irruption into the Roman territories with a large army. They +pitch their camp not above five miles from the city, and surround it +with a trench, which, for several ages, was called the Cluilian trench, +from the name of the general, till, in process of time, the name, +together with the thing itself, were both forgotten. In that camp +Cluilius, the Alban king, dies; the Albans create Mettus<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> Fuffetius +dictator. In the mean time, Tullus being in high spirits, especially on +the death of the king, and giving out that the supreme power of the +gods, having begun at the head, would take vengeance on the whole Alban +nation for this impious war, having passed the enemy's camp in the +night-time, marches with a hostile army into the Alban territory. This +circumstance drew out Mettus from his camp likewise; he leads his forces +as near as he can to the enemy; from thence he commands a herald, +despatched by him, to tell Tullus that a conference was expedient before +they came to an engagement; and that if he would give him a meeting, he +was certain he should adduce matters which concerned the interest of +Rome not less than that of Alba. Tullus not slighting the proposal, +though the advances made were of little avail, draws out his men in +order of battle; the Albans on their part come out also. As both armies +stood in battle-array, the chiefs, with a few of the principal officers, +advance into the middle between them. Then the Alban commences thus:<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> +"That injuries and the non-restitution of property according to +treaty, when demanded, were the cause of this war, methinks I both heard +our King Cluilius (assert), and I doubt not, Tullus, but that you state +the same thing. But if the truth is to be told, rather than that which +is plausible, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> desire of dominion stimulates two kindred and +neighbouring states to arms. Nor do I take upon myself to determine +whether rightly or wrongly: be that his consideration who commenced the +war. The Albans have made me their leader for carrying on the war. Of +this, Tullus, I would wish to warn you; how powerful the Etruscan state +is around us, and round you particularly, you know better (than we), +inasmuch as you are nearer them. They are very powerful by land, +extremely so by sea. Recollect that, when you shall give the signal for +battle, these two armies will presently be a spectacle to them; and they +may fall on us wearied and exhausted, victor and vanquished together. +Therefore, in the name of heaven, since, not content with certain +liberty, we are incurring the dubious risk of sovereignty and slavery, +let us adopt some method, whereby, without much loss, without much blood +of either nation, it may be decided which shall rule the other."—The +proposal is not displeasing to Tullus, though both from the natural bent +of his mind, as also from the hope of victory, he was rather inclined to +violence. After some consideration, a plan is adopted on both sides, for +which Fortune herself afforded the materials.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a24" name="a24"></a>24</div> +<p>It happened that there were in each of the two armies three +brothers<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> born at one birth, unequal neither in age nor strength. +That they were called Horatii and Curiatii is certain enough; nor is +there any circumstance of antiquity more celebrated; yet in a matter so +well ascertained, a doubt remains concerning their names, to which +nation the Horatii and to which the Curiatii belonged. Authors claim +them for both sides; yet I find more who call the Horatii Romans. My +inclination leads me to follow them. The kings confer with the three +brothers, that they should fight with their swords each in defence of +their respective country; (assuring them) that dominion would be on that +side on which victory should be. No objection is made; time and place +are agreed on. Before they engaged, a compact is entered into between +the Romans and Albans on these conditions, that the state whose +champions should come off victorious in that combat, should rule the +other state without further dispute. Different treaties are made on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +different terms, but they are all concluded in the same general method. +We have heard that it was then concluded as follows, nor is there a more +ancient record of any treaty. A herald asked king Tullus thus, "Do you +command me, O king, to conclude a treaty with the pater patratus of the +Alban people?" After the king had given command, he said, "I demand +vervain of thee, O king." To which the king replied, "Take some that is +pure." The herald brought a pure blade of grass from the citadel; again +he asked the king thus, "Dost thou, O king, appoint me the royal +delegate of the Roman people, the Quirites? <i>including</i> my vessels and +attendants?" The king answered, "That which may be done without +detriment to me and to the Roman people, the Quirites, I do." The herald +was M. Valerius, who appointed Sp. Fusius pater patratus, touching his +head and hair with the vervain. The pater patratus is appointed "ad +jusjurandum patrandum," that is, to ratify the treaty; and he goes +through it in a great many words, which, being expressed in a long set +form, it is not worth while repeating. After setting forth the +conditions, he says, "Hear, O Jupiter; hear, O pater patratus of the +Alban people, and ye, Alban people, hear. As those (conditions), from +first to last, have been recited openly from those tablets or wax +without wicked fraud, and as they have been most correctly understood +here this day, from those conditions the Roman people will not be the +first to swerve. If they first swerve by public concert, by wicked +fraud, on that day do thou, O Jupiter, so strike the Roman people, as I +shall here this day strike this swine; and do thou strike them so much +the more, as thou art more able and more powerful." When he said this, +he struck the swine with a flint stone. The Albans likewise went through +their own form and oath by their own dictator and priests.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a25" name="a25"></a>25</div> +<p>The treaty being concluded, the twin-brothers, as had been agreed, +take arms. Whilst their respective friends exhortingly reminded each +party "that their country's gods, their country and parents, all their +countrymen both at home and in the army, had their eyes then fixed on +their arms, on their hands; naturally brave, and animated by the +exhortations of their friends, they advance into the midst between the +two lines." The two armies sat down before their respective camps, free +rather from present danger than from anxiety: for the sove<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>reign power +was at stake, depending on the valour and fortune of so few. +Accordingly, therefore, eager and anxious, they have their attention +intensely riveted on a spectacle far from pleasing. The signal is given: +and the three youths on each side, as if in battle-array, rush to the +charge with determined fury, bearing in their breasts the spirits of +mighty armies: nor do the one or the other regard their personal danger; +the public dominion or slavery is present to their mind, and the +fortune<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> of their country, which was ever after destined to be such +as they should now establish it. As soon as their arms clashed on the +first encounter, and their burnished swords glittered, great horror +strikes the spectators; and, hope inclining to neither side, their voice +and breath were suspended. Then having engaged hand to hand, when not +only the movements of their bodies, and the rapid brandishings of their +arms and weapons, but wounds also and blood were seen, two of the Romans +fell lifeless, one upon the other, the three Albans being wounded. And +when the Alban army raised a shout of joy at their fall, hope entirely, +anxiety however not yet, deserted the Roman legions, alarmed for the lot +of the one, whom the three Curiatii surrounded. He happened to be +unhurt, so that, though alone he was by no means a match for them all +together, yet he was confident against each singly. In order therefore +to separate their attack, he takes to flight, presuming that they would +pursue him with such swiftness as the wounded state of his body would +suffer each. He had now fled a considerable distance from the place +where they had fought, when, looking behind, he perceives them pursuing +him at great intervals from each other; and that one of them was not far +from him. On him he turned round with great fury. And whilst the Alban +army shouts out to the Curiatii to succour their brother, Horatius, +victorious in having slain his antagonist, was now proceeding to a +second attack. Then the Romans encourage their champion with a shout +such as is usually (given) by persons cheering in consequence of +unexpected success: he also hastens to put an end to the combat. +Wherefore before the other, who was not far off, could come<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> up he +despatches the second Curiatius also. And now, the combat being brought +to an equality of numbers, one on each side remained, but they were +equal neither in hope nor in strength. The one his body untouched by a +weapon, and a double victory made courageous for a third contest: the +other dragging along his body exhausted from the wound, exhausted from +running, and dispirited by the slaughter of his brethren before his +eyes, presents himself to his victorious antagonist. Nor was that a +fight. The Roman, exulting, says, "Two I have offered to the shades of +my brothers: the third I will offer to the cause of this war, that the +Roman may rule over the Alban." He thrusts his sword down into his +throat, whilst faintly sustaining the weight of his armour: he strips +him as he lies prostrate. The Romans receive Horatius with triumph and +congratulation; with so much the greater joy, as success had followed so +close on fear. They then turn to the burial of their friends with +dispositions by no means alike; for the one side was elated with (the +acquisition of) empire, the other subjected to foreign jurisdiction: +their sepulchres are still extant in the place where each fell; the two +Roman ones in one place nearer to Alba, the three Alban ones towards +Rome; but distant in situation from each other, and just as they +fought.<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a></p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a26" name="a26"></a>26</div> +<p>Before they parted from thence, when Mettus, in conformity to the +treaty which had been concluded, asked what orders he had to give, +Tullus orders him to keep the youth in arms, that he designed to employ +them, if a war should break out with the Veientes. After this both +armies returned to their homes. Horatius marched foremost, carrying +before him the spoils of the three brothers: his sister, a maiden who +had been betrothed to one of the Curiatii, met him before the gate +Capena: and having recognized her lover's military robe, which she +herself had wrought, on her brother's shoulders, she tore her hair, and +with bitter wailings called by name on her deceased lover. The sister's +lamentations in the midst of his own victory, and of such great public +rejoicings, raised the indignation of the excited<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> youth. Having +therefore drawn his sword, he run the damsel through the body, at the +same time chiding her in these words: "Go hence, with thy unseasonable +love to thy spouse, forgetful of thy dead brothers, and of him who +survives, forgetful of thy native country. So perish every Roman woman +who shall mourn an enemy." This action seemed shocking to the fathers +and to the people; but his recent services outweighed its guilt. +Nevertheless he was carried before the king for judgment. The king, that +he himself might not be the author of a decision so melancholy, and so +disagreeable to the people, or of the punishment consequent on that +decision, having summoned an assembly of the people, says, "I appoint, +according to law, duumvirs to pass sentence on Horatius for<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> +treason." The law was of dreadful import.<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a>"Let the duumvirs pass +sentence for treason. If he appeal from the duumvirs, let him contend by +appeal; if they shall gain the cause,<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> cover his head; hang him by a +rope from a gallows; scourge him either within the pomœrium or +without the pomœrium." When the duumvirs appointed by this law, who +did not consider that, according to the law, they could<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a>acquit even +an innocent person, had found him guilty; one of them says, "P. +Horatius, I judge thee guilty of treason. Go, lictor, bind his hands." +The lictor had approached him, and was fixing the rope. Then Horatius, +by the advice of Tullus,<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> a favourable interpreter of the law, says, +"I appeal." Accordingly the matter was contested by appeal to the +people. On that trial persons were much affected, especially by P. +Horatius the father declaring, that he considered his daughter +deservedly slain; were it not so, that he would by his authority as a +father have inflicted punishment on his son.<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> He then en<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>treated that +they would not render childless him whom but a little while ago they had +beheld with a fine progeny. During these words the old man, having +embraced the youth, pointing to the spoils of the Curiatii fixed up in +that place which is now called Pila Horatia, "Romans," said he, "can you +bear to see bound beneath a gallows amidst scourges and tortures, him +whom you just now beheld marching decorated (with spoils) and exulting +in victory; a sight so shocking as the eyes even of the Albans could +scarcely endure. Go, lictor, bind those hands, which but a little while +since, being armed, established sovereignty for the Roman people. Go, +cover the head of the liberator of this city; hang him on the gallows; +scourge him, either within the pomœrium, so it be only amid those +javelins and spoils of the enemy; or without the pomœrium, only amid +the graves of the Curiatii. For whither can you bring this youth, where +his own glories must not redeem him from such ignominy of punishment?" +The people could not withstand the tears of the father, or the +resolution of the son, so undaunted in every danger; and acquitted him +more through admiration of his bravery, than for the justice of his +cause. But that so notorious a murder might be atoned for by some +expiation, the father was commanded to make satisfaction for the son at +the public charge. He, having offered certain expiatory sacrifices, +which were ever after continued in the Horatian family, and laid a beam +across the street, made his son pass under it as under a yoke, with his +head covered. This remains even to this day, being constantly repaired +at the expense of the public; they call it Sororium Tigillum. A tomb of +square stone was erected to Horatia in the place where she was stabbed +and fell.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a27" name="a27"></a>27</div> +<p>Nor did the peace with Alba continue long. The dissatisfaction of +the populace, because the fortune of the state had been hazarded on +three soldiers, perverted the weak mind of the dictator; and because +honourable measures had not turned out well, he began to conciliate +their affections by perfidious means. Accordingly, as one formerly +seeking peace in war, so now seeking war in peace, because he perceived +that his own state possessed more courage than strength, he stirs up +other nations to make war openly and by proclamation:<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> for his own +people he reserves treachery under the mask of alliance. The Fidenates, +a Roman colony, having gained over the Veientes as partisans in the +confederacy, are instigated to declare war and take up arms under a +compact of desertion on the part of the Albans. When Fidenæ had openly<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> +revolted, Tullus, after summoning Mettus and his army from Alba, +marches against the enemy. When he crossed the Anio, he pitches his camp +at the<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a>conflux of the rivers. Between that place and Fidenæ, the +army of the Veientes had crossed the Tiber. These, in line of battle, +occupied the right wing near the river; the Fidenates are posted on the +left nearer the mountains. Tullus stations his own men opposite the +Veientian foe; the Albans he opposes to the legion of the Fidenates. The +Alban had not more courage than fidelity. Neither daring therefore to +keep his ground, nor to desert openly, he files off slowly to the +mountains. After this, when he supposed he had gone far enough, he<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> +halts his entire army; and being still irresolute in mind, in order +to waste time, he opens his ranks. His design was, to turn his forces to +that side to which fortune should give success. At first the Romans who +stood nearest were astonished, when they perceived their flanks were +uncovered by the departure of their allies; then a horseman in full +gallop announces to the king that the Albans were moving off. Tullus, in +this perilous juncture, vowed twelve Salii, and temples to Paleness and +Panic. Rebuking the horseman in a loud voice, so that the enemy might +hear him, he orders him to return to the fight, "that there was no +occasion for alarm; that by his order the Alban army was marching round +to fall on the unprotected rear of the Fidenates." He likewise commands +him to order the cavalry to raise their spears aloft; this expedient +intercepted from a great part of the Roman infantry the view of the +Alban army retreating. Those who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> saw it, believing what they had heard +the king say, fought with the greater ardour. The alarm is now +transferred to the enemy; they had both heard what had been pronounced +so audibly, and a great part of the Fidenates, as having been joined as +colonists to the Romans, understood Latin. Therefore, that they might +not be intercepted from the town by a sudden descent of the Albans from +the hills, they take to flight. Tullus presses forward, and having +routed the wing of the Fidenates, returned with greater fury against the +Veientes, disheartened by the panic of the others: nor did they sustain +his charge; but the river, opposed to them behind, prevented a +precipitate flight. Whither when their flight led, some, shamefully +throwing down their arms, rushed blindly into the river; others, while +they linger on the banks, doubting whether to fly or fight, were +overpowered. Never before had the Romans a more desperate battle.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a28" name="a28"></a>28</div> +<p>Then the Alban army, that had been spectators of the fight, was +marched down into the plains. Mettus congratulates Tullus on his defeat +of the enemy; Tullus on his part addresses Mettus with great civility. +He orders the Albans to unite their camp with the Romans, which he +prayed might prove beneficial to both; and prepares a sacrifice of +purification for the next day. As soon as it was light, all things being +in readiness, according to custom, he commands both armies to be +summoned to an assembly. The heralds,<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> beginning at the outside, +summoned the Albans first. They, struck<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> too with the novelty of the +thing, in order to hear the Roman king harangue, crowded next to him. +The Roman legions, under arms, by concert surrounded them; a charge had +been given to the centurions to execute their orders without delay. Then +Tullus begins as follows: "Romans, if ever before at any other time in +any war there was (an occasion) on which you should return thanks, first +to the immortal gods, next to your own valour, that occasion was +yesterday's battle. For the contest was not more with enemies than with +the treachery and perfidy of allies, a contest which is more serious and +more dangerous. For that a false opinion may not influence you, the +Albans retired to the mountains without my orders,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> nor was that my +command, but a stratagem and the pretence of a command: that so your +attention might not be drawn away from the fight, you being kept in +ignorance that you were deserted, and that terror and dismay might be +struck into the enemy, conceiving themselves to be surrounded on the +rear. Nor does that guilt, which I now state, extend to all the Albans. +They followed their leader; as you too would have done, if I had wished +my army to make a move to any other point from thence. Mettus there is +the leader of that march, the same Mettus is the contriver of this war; +Mettus is the violator of the treaty between Rome and Alba. Let another +hereafter attempt the like conduct, unless I now make of him a signal +example to mankind." The centurions in arms stand round Mettus, and the +king proceeds with the rest as he had commenced: "It is my intention, +and may it prove fortunate, auspicious, and happy to the Roman people, +to myself, and to you, O Albans, to transplant all the inhabitants of +Alba to Rome: to grant your people the rights of citizenship, and to +admit your nobles into the rank of senators: to make one city, one +republic; that as the Alban state was formerly divided from one people +into two, so it may now return into one." On hearing this the Alban +youth, unarmed, surrounded by armed men, however divided in their +sentiments, yet restrained by the common apprehension, continue silent. +Then Tullus proceeded: "If, Mettus Fuffetius, you were capable of +learning fidelity, and how to observe treaties, that lesson would have +been taught you by me, while still alive. Now, since your disposition is +incurable, do you at least by your punishment teach mankind to consider +those things sacred which have been violated by you. As therefore a +little while since you kept your mind divided between the interest of +Fidenæ and of Rome, so shall you now surrender your body to be torn +asunder in different directions." Upon this, two chariots drawn by four +horses being brought, he ties Mettus extended at full length to their +carriages: then the horses were driven on in different directions, +carrying off the mangled body on each carriage, where the limbs had been +fastened by the cords. All turned away their eyes from so shocking a +spectacle. That was the first and last instance of a punishment among +the Romans regardless of the laws of humanity. In other cases we may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +boast that no nation whatever adopted milder forms of punishment.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a29" name="a29"></a>29</div> +<p>During these occurrences the cavalry had been despatched onward to +Alba to remove the multitude to Rome. The legions were next led thither +to demolish the city. When they entered the gates, there was not indeed +that tumult nor panic, such as usually takes place with captured cities +when the gates being burst open, or the walls levelled by the ram, or +the citadel taken by assault, the shouts of the enemy and rush of armed +men through the city throws every thing into confusion by fire and +sword: but gloomy silence and speechless sorrow so absorbed the minds of +all, that, through fear, forgetting what they should leave behind, what +they should take with them, all concert failing them, and frequently +making inquiries of each other, they now stood at their thresholds, now +wandering about they strayed through their houses, doomed to see them +for that the last time. But as soon as the shouts of the horsemen +commanding them to depart now urged them on, the crashing of the +dwellings which were being demolished, was now heard in the remotest +parts of the city, and the dust, rising in distant places, had filled +every quarter as with a cloud spread over them; hastily snatching up +whatever each of them could, whilst they went forth leaving behind them +their guardian deity and household gods, and the homes in which each had +been born and brought up, a continued train of emigrants soon filled the +ways, and the sight of others through mutual commiseration renewed their +tears, and piteous cries too were heard, of the women more especially, +when they passed by their revered temples now beset with armed men, and +left their gods as it were in captivity. After the Albans had evacuated +the town, the Roman soldiery level all the public and private edifices +indiscriminately to the ground, and one short hour consigned to +demolition and ruin the work of four hundred years, during which Alba +had stood. The temples of the gods, however, for such had been the +orders given by the king, were spared.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a30" name="a30"></a>30</div> +<p>In the mean time Rome increases by the demolition of Alba. The +number of citizens is doubled. The Cœlian mount is added to the city, +and in order that it might be inhabited more populously, Tullus selects +that situation for his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> palace and there took up his abode. The leading +persons among the Albans he enrols among the patricians, that that +branch of the state also might increase, the Julii, Servilii, Quinctii, +Geganii, Curiatii, Clœlii; and as a consecrated place of meeting for +the order augmented by him he built a senate-house, which was called +Hostilia even down to the age of our fathers. And that every rank might +acquire some additional strength from the new people, he formed ten +troops of horsemen from among the Albans: he likewise recruited the old, +and raised new legions from the same source. Confiding in this increase +of strength, Tullus declares war against the Sabines, a nation at that +time the most powerful, next to the Etrurians, in men and in arms. +Injuries had been done on both sides, and restitution demanded in vain. +Tullus complained that some Roman merchants had been seized in an open +market near the temple of Feronia; the Sabines, that some of their +people had taken refuge in the asylum, and were detained at Rome. These +were assigned as the causes of the war. The Sabines, holding in +recollection both that a portion of their strength had been fixed at +Rome by Tatius, and that the Roman power had also been lately increased +by the accession of the Alban people, began, on their part, to look +around for foreign aid. Etruria was in their neighbourhood; of the +Etrurians the Veientes were the nearest. From thence they drew some +volunteers, their minds being stirred up to a revolt, chiefly in +consequence of the rankling animosities from (former) wars. And pay also +had its weight with some stragglers belonging to the indigent +population. They were assisted by no aid from the government, and the +faith of the truce stipulated with Romulus was strictly observed by the +Veientes (for with respect to the others it is less surprising). While +they were preparing for war with the utmost vigour, and the matter +seemed to turn on this, which should first commence hostilities, Tullus +first passes into the Sabine territory. A desperate battle ensued at the +wood called Malitiosa,<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> in which the Roman army was far superior, +both by the strength of their foot, and also by the recent augmentation +of their cavalry. The Sabine ranks were thrown into disorder by a sudden +charge of the cavalry, nor could either the fight be afterwards +restored, or a retreat accomplished without great slaughter.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a31" name="a31"></a>31</div> +<p>After the defeat of the Sabines, when the government of Tullus and +the whole Roman state was in high renown, and in a very flourishing +condition, word was brought to the king and senators, that it rained +stones on the Alban Mount. As this could scarcely be credited, on +persons being sent to inquire into the prodigy, a thick shower of stones +fell from heaven in their sight, just as when hail collected into balls +is pelted down to the earth by the winds. Besides, they imagined that +they heard a loud voice from the grove on the summit of the hill, +requiring the Albans to perform their religious service according to the +rites of their native country, which they had consigned to oblivion, as +if their gods had been abandoned together with their country; and they +had either adopted the religion of Rome, or, as may happen, enraged at +their evil destiny, had renounced altogether the worship of the gods. A +festival of nine days was instituted publicly by the Romans also on +account of the same prodigy, either in obedience to the heavenly voice +sent from the Alban mount, (for that too is stated,) or by the advice of +the aruspices. Certain it is, it continued a solemn observance, that +whenever the same prodigy was announced, a festival for nine days was +observed. Not long after, they were afflicted with a pestilence; and +though from this there arose an aversion to military service, yet no +respite from arms was granted by this warlike king, who considered that +the bodies of the young men were even more healthy abroad than at home, +until he himself also was seized with a lingering disease. Then, +together with his body, those fierce spirits became so broken, that he, +who formerly considered nothing less worthy of a king than to devote his +mind to religion, suddenly became a slave to every form of superstition, +important and trifling, and filled the people's minds also with +religious scruples. The generality of persons, now wishing to recur to +that state of things which had existed under king Numa, thought that the +only relief left for their sickly bodies was, if peace and pardon could +be obtained from the gods. They say that the king himself, turning over +the commentaries of Numa, after he had found therein that certain +sacrifices of a secret and solemn nature had been performed to Jupiter +Elicius, shut himself up and set about the performance of this +solemnity; but that that rite was not duly undertaken or conducted, and +that not only no appearance of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> heavenly notification was presented to +him, but that he was struck with lightning and burnt to ashes, together +with his house, through the anger of Jupiter, exasperated at the +impropriety of the ceremony. Tullus reigned two-and-thirty years with +great military renown.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a32" name="a32"></a>32</div> +<p>On the death of Tullus the government devolved once more upon the +senate, and they nominated an interrex; and on his holding the comitia, +the people elected Ancus Marcius king. The fathers confirmed the +election. Ancus Marcius was the grandson of king Numa Pompilius by his +daughter. As soon as he ascended the throne, reflecting on the renown of +his grandfather, and that the late reign, glorious in every other +respect, in one particular had not been sufficiently prosperous, the +rites of religion having either been utterly neglected, or improperly +performed; deeming it of the highest importance to perform the public +ceremonies of religion as they had been instituted by Numa, he orders +the pontiff, after he had transcribed them all from the king's +commentaries on white tables, to expose them to public view. Hence, both +his own subjects, desirous of peace, and the neighbouring nations, +entertained a hope that the king would conform to the conduct and +institutions of his grandfather. Accordingly the Latins, with whom a +treaty had been concluded in the reign of Tullus, assumed new courage; +and after they had made an incursion upon the Roman lands, return a +contemptuous answer to the Romans on their demanding restitution, +supposing that the Roman king would spend his reign in indolence among +chapels and altars. The genius of Ancus was of a middle kind, partaking +both of that of Numa and of Romulus; and, besides that, he thought that +peace was more necessary in his grandfather's reign, considering the +people were but recent as well as uncivilized, he also (considered) that +he could not, without injury, preserve the tranquillity which had fallen +to his lot; that his patience was tried, and being tried, was now +despised; and that the times were more suited to a king Tullus than to a +Numa. In order, however, that as Numa had instituted religious rites in +peace, ceremonies relating to war might be transmitted by him, and that +wars might not only be waged, but proclaimed also according to some +rite, he borrowed from an ancient nation, the Æquicolae, the form which +the heralds still preserve, according to which restitution is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> demanded. +The ambassador, when he comes to the frontiers of the people from whom +satisfaction is demanded, having his head covered with a fillet, (the +fillet is of wool,) says, "Hear, O Jupiter, hear, ye confines, (naming +the nation they belong to,) let Justice hear. I am a public messenger of +the Roman people; I come justly and religiously deputed, and let my +words gain credit." He then makes his demands; afterwards he makes a +solemn appeal to Jupiter, "If I unjustly or impiously demand those +persons and those goods to be given up to me, the messenger of the Roman +people, then never permit me to enjoy my native country." These words he +repeats when he passes over the frontiers; the same to the first man he +meets; the same on entering the gate; the same on entering the forum, +some few words in the form of the declaration and oath being changed. If +the persons whom he demands are not delivered up, on the expiration of +thirty-three days, for so many are enjoined by the rule, he declares +war, thus: "Hear, Jupiter, and thou, Juno, Romulus, and all ye +celestial, terrestrial, and infernal gods, give ear! I call you to +witness, that this nation (naming it) is unjust, and does not act with +equity; but we will consult the fathers in our own country concerning +these matters, and by what means we may obtain our right." After that +the messenger returns to Rome to consult: the king immediately used to +consult the fathers almost in the following words: "Concerning such +matters, differences, and quarrels, as the pater patratus of the Roman +people, the Quirites, has conferred with the pater patratus of the +ancient Latins, and with the ancient Latin people, which matters ought +to be given up, performed, discharged, which matters they have neither +given up, performed, nor discharged, declare," says he to him, whose +opinion he first asked, "what think you?" Then he said, "I think that +they should be demanded by a just and regularly declared war, therefore +I consent, and vote for it." Then the others were asked in order, and +when the majority of those present agreed in the same opinion, the war +was resolved on. It was customary for the fecialis to carry in his hand +a javelin pointed with steel, or burnt at the end and dipped in blood, +to the confines of the enemy's country, and in presence of at least +three grown-up persons, to say, "Forasmuch as the states of the ancient +Latins, and the ancient Latin people, have offended against the Roman +people, the Quirites,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> forasmuch as the Roman people, the Quirites, have +ordered that there should be war with the ancient Latins, and the senate +of the Roman people, the Quirites, have given their opinion, consented, +and voted that war should be made with the ancient Latins, on this +account I and the Roman people declare and make war on the states of the +ancient Latins, and on the ancient Latin people." After he had said +that, he threw the spear within their confines. After this manner +restitution was demanded from the Latins at that time, and war +proclaimed: and that usage posterity have adopted.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a33" name="a33"></a>33</div> +<p>Ancus, having committed the care of sacred things to the flamines +and other priests, set out with a new army, which he had levied, and +took Politorium, a city of the Latins, by storm; and following the +example of former kings, who had increased the Roman state by taking +enemies into the number of the citizens, he transplanted all the people +to Rome. And since the Sabines occupied the Capitol and citadel, and the +Albans the Cœlian mount around the Palatium, the residence of the old +Romans, the Aventine was assigned to the new people; not long after, on +Telleni and Ficana being taken, new citizens were added in the same +quarter. After this Politorium was taken a second time by force of arms, +because the ancient Latins had taken possession of it when vacated. This +was the cause of the Romans demolishing that city, that it might not +ever after serve as a receptacle to the enemy. At last, the whole war +with the Latins being concentrated in Medullia, they fought there with +various fortune, sometimes the one and sometimes the other gaining the +victory; for the town was both well fortified by works, and strengthened +by a strong garrison, and the Latins, having pitched their camp in the +open fields, had several times fought the Romans in close engagement. At +last Ancus, making an effort with all his forces, obtained a complete +victory over them in a pitched battle, and having got a considerable +booty, returned thence to Rome; many thousands of the Latins being then +also admitted into the city, to whom, in order that the Aventine might +be joined to the Palatium, a settlement was assigned near the temple of +Murcia. The Janiculum was likewise added, not for want of room, but lest +at any time it should become a lodgment for the enemy. It was determined +to join it to the city, not only by a wall, but likewise, for the sake +of the convenience of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> passage, by a wooden bridge, then for the first +time built across the Tiber. The Fossa Quiritium, no inconsiderable +defence against the easy access to the city from the low grounds, is the +work of king Ancus. The state being augmented by such great accessions, +seeing that, amid such a multitude of persons, the distinction of right +and wrong being as yet confounded, clandestine crimes were committed, a +prison is built in the heart of the city, overlooking the forum, to +intimidate the growing licentiousness. And not only was the city +increased under this king, but the territory also and the boundaries. +The Mæsian forest was taken from the Veientes, the Roman dominion was +extended as far as the sea, and the city of Ostia built at the mouth of +the Tiber; salt-pits were formed around it, and, in consequence of the +distinguished success achieved in war, the temple of Jupiter Feretrius +was enlarged.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a34" name="a34"></a>34</div> +<p>In the reign of Ancus, Lucumo, a rich and enterprising man, came to +settle at Rome, prompted chiefly by the desire and hope of obtaining +great preferment there, which he had no means of attaining at Tarquinii +(for there also he was descended from an alien stock). He was the son of +Demaratus, a Corinthian, who, flying his country for sedition, had +happened to settle at Tarquinii, and having married a wife there, had +two sons by her. Their names were<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a>Lucumo and Aruns. Lucumo survived +his father, and became heir to all his property. Aruns died before his +father, leaving a wife pregnant. The father did not long survive the +son, and as he, not knowing that his daughter-in-law was pregnant, died +without taking any notice of his grandchild in his will, to the boy that +was born after the death of his grandfather, without having any share in +his fortune, the name of Egerius was given on account of his poverty. +And when his wealth already inspired Lucumo, on the other hand, the heir +of all his father's wealth, with elevated notions, Tanaquil, whom he +married, further increased such feeling, she being descended from a very +high family, and one who would not readily brook the condition into +which she had married to be inferior to that in which she had been born. +As the Etrurians despised Lucumo, because sprung from a foreign exile, +she could not bear the affront, and regardless of the innate love of her +native country, provided<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> she might see her husband advanced to honours, +she formed the determination to leave Tarquinii. Rome seemed +particularly suited for her purpose. In this state, lately founded, +where all nobility is recent and the result of merit, there would be +room for her husband, a man of courage and activity. Tatius a Sabine had +been king of Rome: Numa had been sent for from Cures to reign there: +Ancus was sprung from a Sabine mother, and rested his nobility on the +single statue of Numa. She easily persuades him, as being ambitious of +honours, and one to whom Tarquinii was his country only on the mother's +side. Accordingly, removing their effects they set out together for +Rome. They happened to have reached the Janiculum; there, as he sat in +the chariot with his wife, an eagle, suspended on her wings, gently +stooping, takes off his cap, and flying round the chariot with loud +screams, as if she had been sent from heaven for the very purpose, +orderly replaced it on his head, and then flew aloft. Tanaquil is said +to have received this omen with great joy, being a woman well skilled, +as the Etrurians generally are, in celestial prodigies, and embracing +her husband, bids him hope for high and elevated fortune: that such bird +had come from such a quarter of the heavens, and the messenger of such a +god: that it had exhibited the omen around the highest part of man: that +it had lifted the ornament placed on the head of man, to restore it to +the same, by direction of the gods. Carrying with them these hopes and +thoughts, they entered the city, and having purchased a house there, +they gave out the name of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus. His being a +stranger and very rich, caused him to be taken notice of by the Romans. +He also promoted his own good fortune by his affable address, by the +courteousness of his invitations, and by conciliating those whom he +could by acts of kindness; until a report of him reached even to the +palace; and by paying court to the king with politeness and address, he +in a short time so improved the acquaintance to the footing of intimate +friendship, that he was present at all public and private deliberations, +foreign and domestic; and being now tried in every trust, he was at +length, by the king's will, appointed guardian to his children.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a35" name="a35"></a>35</div> +<p>Ancus reigned twenty-four years, equal to any of the former kings +both in the arts and renown of war and peace. His<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> sons were now nigh +the age of puberty, for this reason Tarquin was more urgent that the +assembly for the election of a king should be held as soon as possible. +The assembly being proclaimed, he sent away the boys to hunt towards the +time of their meeting. He is said to have been the first who earnestly +sued for the crown, and to have made a set speech for the purpose of +gaining the affections of the people: <i>he said</i> "that he did not aim at +any thing unprecedented; for that he was not the first foreigner, (a +thing at which any one might feel indignation or surprise,) but the +third who aspired to the sovereignty of Rome. That Tatius not only from +being an alien, but even an enemy, was made king: that Numa, +unacquainted with the city, and without soliciting it, had been +voluntarily invited by them to the throne. That he, as soon as he was +his own master, had come to Rome with his wife and whole fortune, and +had there spent a greater part of that age, in which men are employed in +civil offices, than he had in his native country: that he had both in +peace and war thoroughly learned the Roman laws and religious customs, +under a master not to be objected to, king Ancus himself; that he had +vied with all in duty and loyalty to his prince, and even with the king +himself in his bounty to others." While he was recounting these +undoubted facts, the people by a great majority elected him king. The +same ambition which had prompted Tarquin, in other respects an excellent +man, to aspire to the crown, followed him whilst on the throne. And +being no less mindful of strengthening his own power, than of increasing +that of the commonwealth, he elected a hundred into the fathers, who +from that time were called Minorum Gentium, <i>i. e.</i> of the younger +families: a party hearty in the king's cause, by whose favour they had +got into the senate. The first war he waged was with the Latins, from +whom he took the town of Apiolæ by storm, and having brought back thence +more booty than the character of the war would lead one to expect, he +celebrated games with more cost and magnificence than former kings. The +place for the circus, which is now called Maximus, was then first marked +out, and spaces were parted off for the senators and knights, where they +might each erect seats for themselves: they were called fori (benches). +They viewed the games from scaffolding which supported seats<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> twelve +feet high from the ground. The show took place; horses and boxers were +sent for, chiefly from Etruria. These solemn games afterwards continued +annual, being variously called the Roman and Great (games). By the same +king also spaces round the forum were portioned off for private +individuals to build on; porticoes and shops were erected.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a36" name="a36"></a>36</div> +<p>He was also preparing to surround the city with a stone wall, when a +Sabine war obstructed his designs. The matter was so sudden, that the +enemy had passed the Anio before the Roman army could meet and stop +them; great alarm therefore was produced at Rome. And at first they +fought with dubious success, but with great slaughter on both sides. +After this, the enemy's forces being led back into their camp, and the +Romans getting time to make new levies for the war, Tarquin, thinking +that the weakness of his army lay in the want of horse, determined to +add other centuries to the Ramnenses, the Titienses, and Luceres which +Romulus had appointed, and to leave them distinguished by his own name. +Because Romulus had done this by augury, Attus Navius, at that time a +celebrated soothsayer, insisted that no alteration or new appointment of +that kind could be made, unless the birds approved of it. The king, +enraged at this, and, as it is related, ridiculing the art, said, "Come, +thou diviner, tell me, whether what I am thinking on can be done or +not?" When he had tried the matter by divination, he affirmed it +certainly could. "But I was thinking," says he, "whether you could cut +asunder this whetstone with a razor. Take it, and perform what thy birds +portend may be done." Upon this, as they say, he immediately cut the +whetstone in two. A statue of Attus, with his head veiled, was erected +in the comitium, upon the very steps on the left of the senate-house, on +the spot where the transaction occurred. They say that the whetstone +also was deposited in the same place, that it might remain a monument of +that miracle to posterity. There certainly accrued so much honour to +augury and the college of augurs, that nothing was undertaken either in +peace or war without taking the auspices. Assemblies of the people, the +summoning of armies, and affairs of the greatest importance were put +off, when the birds would not allow of them. Nor did Tarquin then make +any other alteration in the centuries of horse, except doubling the +number of men in each of these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> corps, so that the three centuries +consisted of one thousand eight hundred knights. Those that were added +were called "the younger," but by the same names with the former; which, +now that they have been doubled, they call six centuries.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a37" name="a37"></a>37</div> +<p>This part of his forces being augmented, a second battle is fought +with the Sabines. But, besides that the Roman army was thus reinforced, +a stratagem also is secretly resorted to, persons having been sent to +throw into the river a great quantity of timber that lay on the banks of +the Anio, it being first set on fire; and the wood being further kindled +by favour of the wind, and the greater<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> part of it (being placed) on +rafts, when it stuck firmly impacted against the piers, sets the bridge +on fire. This accident struck terror into the Sabines during the battle, +and, after they were routed, impeded their flight; so that many, who had +escaped the enemy, perished in the river. Their arms floating down the +Tiber, and being recognised at the city, made known the victory, almost +before any account of it could be carried there. In that action the +glory of the cavalry was prominent: they say that, being posted in the +two wings, when the centre of their own infantry was being beaten, they +charged so briskly in flank, that they not only checked the Sabine +legions who pressed hard on those who retired, but quickly put them to +flight. The Sabines made for the mountains with great precipitation, yet +few reached them; for, as we said before, the greatest part were driven +by the cavalry into the river. Tarquin, thinking it advisable to pursue +the enemy closely while in this consternation, after sending the booty +and the prisoners to Rome, piling up and burning the spoils which he had +vowed to Vulcan, proceeds to lead his army onward into the Sabine +territory. And though matters had turned out adversely, nor could they +hope for better success; yet, because the occasion did not allow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> time +for deliberation, the Sabines came out to meet him with a hastily raised +army; and being again defeated there, and matters having now become +desperate, they sued for peace.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a38" name="a38"></a>38</div> +<p>Collatia and all the land about it was taken from the Sabines, and +Egerius, son to the king's brother, was left there with a garrison. I +understand that the people of Collatia were thus surrendered, and that +the form of the surrender was as follows: the king asked them, "Are ye +ambassadors and deputies sent by the people of Collatia to surrender +yourselves and the people of Collatia?" "We are." "Are the people of +Collatia their own masters?" "They are." "Do ye surrender yourselves and +the people of Collatia, their city, lands, water, boundaries, temples, +utensils, and every thing sacred or profane belonging to them, into my +power, and that of the Roman people?" "We do." "Then I receive them." +The Sabine war being ended, Tarquin returned in triumph to Rome. After +that he made war upon the ancient Latins, where they came on no occasion +to a general engagement; yet by carrying about his arms to the several +towns, he subdued the whole Latin nation. Corniculum, old Ficulea, +Cameria, Crustumerium, Ameriola, Medullia, and Nomentum, towns which +either belonged to the ancient Latins, or which had revolted to them, +were taken. Upon this a peace was concluded. The works of peace were +then set about with greater spirit, even than the efforts with which he +had conducted his wars; so that the people enjoyed no more ease and +quiet at home, than they had done abroad: for he both set about +surrounding the city with a stone wall, on the side where he had not +fortified it, the beginning of which work had been interrupted by the +Sabine war, and the lower parts of the city round the forum and the +other valleys lying between the hills, because they did not easily carry +off the water from the flat grounds, he drains by means of sewers drawn +sloping downward into the Tiber. Moreover he levels an area for founding +a temple to Jupiter in the Capitol, which he had vowed to him in the +Sabine war; his mind even then presaging the future grandeur of the +place.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a39" name="a39"></a>39</div> +<p>At that time, a prodigy occurred in the palace, wonderful both in +its appearance and in its result. They relate, that the head of a boy, +called Servius Tullius, as he lay fast asleep, blazed with fire in the +sight of many persons. That<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> by the very great noise made at so +miraculous a phenomenon, the royal family were awakened; and when one of +the servants was bringing water to extinguish the flame, that he was +kept back by the queen, and after the confusion was over, that she +forbade the boy to be disturbed till he should awake of his own accord. +As soon as he awoke the flame disappeared. Then Tanaquil, taking her +husband into a private place, said, "Do you observe this boy whom we +bring up in so mean a style? Be assured that hereafter he will be a +light to us in our adversity, and a protector to our palace in distress. +From henceforth let us, with all our care, train up this youth, who is +capable of becoming a great ornament publicly and privately." From this +time the boy began to be treated as their own son, and instructed in +those arts by which men's minds are qualified to maintain high rank. The +matter was easily accomplished, because it was agreeable to the gods. +The young man turned out to be of a disposition truly royal. Nor, when +they looked out for a son-in-law for Tarquin, could any of the Roman +youth be compared to him in any accomplishment; therefore the king +betrothed his own daughter to him. This high honour conferred upon him, +from whatever cause, prevents us from believing that he was the son of a +slave, and that he had himself been a slave when young. I am rather of +the opinion of those who say that, on the taking of Corniculum, the wife +of Servius Tullius, who had been the leading man in that city, being +pregnant when her husband was slain, being known among the other female +prisoners, and, in consequence of her high rank, exempted from servitude +by the Roman queen, was delivered of a child at Rome, in the house of +Tarquinius Priscus. Upon this, that both the intimacy between the ladies +was improved by so great a kindness, and that the boy, having been +brought up in the house from his infancy, was beloved and respected; +that his mother's lot, in having fallen into the hands of the enemy, +caused him to be considered the son of a slave.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a40" name="a40"></a>40</div> +<p>About the thirty-eighth year of Tarquin's reign, Servius Tullius was +in the highest esteem, not only with the king, but also with the senate +and people. At this time the two sons of Ancus, though they had before +that always considered it the highest indignity that they had been +deprived of their father's crown by the treachery of their guardian, +that a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> stranger should be king of Rome, who was not only not of a +civic, but not even of an Italian family, yet now felt their indignation +rise to a still higher pitch at the notion that the crown would not only +not revert to them after Tarquin, but would descend even lower to a +slave, so that in the same state about the hundredth year<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> after +Romulus, descended from a deity, and a deity himself, occupied the +throne as long as he lived, a slave, and one born of a slave, should now +possess it. That it would be a disgrace both common to the Roman name, +and more especially to their family, if, whilst there was male issue of +king Ancus still living, the sovereignty of Rome should be accessible +not only to strangers, but even to slaves. They determine therefore to +prevent that disgrace by the sword. But both resentment for the injury +done to them incensed them more against Tarquin himself, than against +Servius; and (the consideration) that a king was likely to prove a more +severe avenger of the murder, if he should survive, than a private +person; and moreover, in case of Servius being put to death, whatever +other person he might select as his son-in-law,<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> it seemed likely +that he would adopt as his successor on the throne.<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> For these +reasons the plot is laid against<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> the king himself. Two of the most +ferocious of the shepherds being selected for the daring deed, with the +rustic implements to which each had been accustomed, by conducting +themselves in as violent a manner as possible in the porch of the +palace, under pretence of a quarrel, draw the attention of all the +king's attendants to themselves; then, when both appealed to the king, +and their clamour reached even the interior of the palace, they are +called in and proceed before the king. At first both bawled aloud, and +vied in interrupting each other by their clamour, until being restrained +by the lictor, and commanded to speak in turns, they at length cease +railing. According to concert, one begins to state the matter. When the +king, attentive to him, had turned himself quite that way, the other, +raising up his axe, struck it into his head, and leaving the weapon in +the wound, they both rush out of the house.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a41" name="a41"></a>41</div> +<p>When those who were around had raised up the king in a dying state, +the lictors seize on the men who were endeavouring to escape. Upon this +followed an uproar and concourse of people, wondering what the matter +was. Tanaquil, during the tumult, orders the palace to be shut, thrusts +out all who were present: at the same time she sedulously prepares every +thing necessary for dressing the wound, as if a hope still remained; at +the same time, in case her hopes should disappoint her, she projects +other means of safety. Sending immediately for Servius, after she had +showed to him her husband almost expiring, holding his right hand, she +entreats him not to suffer the death of his father-in-law to pass +unavenged, nor his mother-in-law to be an object of insult to their +enemies. "Servius," she said, "if you are a man, the kingdom is yours, +not theirs, who, by the hands of others, have perpetrated the worst of +crimes. Exert yourself, and follow the guidance of the gods, who +portended that this head would be illustrious by having formerly shed a +blaze around it. Now let that celestial flame arouse you. Now awake in +earnest. We, too, though foreigners, have reigned. Consider who you are, +not whence you are sprung. If your own plans are not matured by reason +of the suddenness of this event, then follow mine." When the uproar and +violence of the multitude could scarcely be withstood, Tanaquil +addresses the populace from the upper part of the palace through the +windows facing the new street (for the royal family resided near the +temple of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> Jupiter Stator). She bids them "be of good courage; that the +king was stunned by the suddenness of the blow; that the weapon had not +sunk deep into his body; that he was already come to himself again; that +the wound had been examined, the blood having been wiped off; that all +the symptoms were favourable; that she hoped they would see him very +soon; and that, in the mean time, he commanded the people to obey the +orders of Servius Tullius. That he would administer justice, and would +perform all the functions of the king." Servius comes forth with the +trabea and lictors, and seating himself on the king's throne, decides +some cases, with respect to others pretends that he will consult the +king. Therefore, the death being concealed for several days, though +Tarquin had already expired, he, under pretence of discharging the duty +of another, strengthened his own interest. Then at length the matter +being made public, and lamentations being raised in the palace, Servius, +supported by a strong guard, took possession of the kingdom by the +consent of the senate, being the first who did so without the orders of +the people. The children of Ancus, the instruments of their villany +having been already seized, as soon as it was announced that the king +still lived, and that the power of Servius was so great, had already +gone into exile to Suessa Pometia.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a42" name="a42"></a>42</div> +<p>And now Servius began to strengthen his power, not more by +public<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> than by private measures; and lest the feelings of the +children of Tarquin might be the same towards himself as those of the +children of Ancus had been towards Tarquin, he unites his two daughters +in marriage to the young princes, the Tarquinii, Lucius and Aruns. Nor +yet did he break through the inevitable decrees of fate by human +measures, so that envy of the sovereign power should not produce general +treachery and animosity even among the members of his own family. Very +opportunely for maintaining the tranquillity of the present state, a war +was commenced with the Veientes (for the truce had now expired<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a>) and +with the other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> Etrurians. In that war, both the valour and good fortune +of Tullius were conspicuous, and he returned to Rome, after routing a +great army of the enemy, now unquestionably king, whether he tried the +dispositions of the fathers or the people. He then sets about a work of +peace of the utmost importance; that, as Numa had been the author of +religious institutions, so posterity might celebrate Servius as the +founder of all distinction among the members of the state, and of those +orders by which a limitation is established between the degrees of rank +and fortune. For he instituted the census, a most salutary measure for +an empire destined to become so great, according to which the services +of war and peace were to be performed, not by every person, +(indiscriminately,) as formerly, but in proportion to the amount of +property. Then he formed, according to the census, the classes and +centuries, and the arrangement as it now exists, eminently suited either +to peace or war.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a43" name="a43"></a>43</div> +<p>Of those who had an estate of a hundred thousand asses or more, he +made eighty centuries, forty of seniors and forty of juniors. All these +were called the first class, the seniors were to be in readiness to +guard the city, the juniors to carry on war abroad. The arms enjoined +them were a helmet, a round shield, greaves, and a coat of mail, all of +brass; these were for the defence of their body; their weapons of +offence were a spear and a sword. To this class were added two centuries +of mechanics, who were to serve without arms; the duty imposed upon them +was to carry the military engines. The second class comprehended all +whose estate was from seventy-five to a hundred thousand asses, and of +these, seniors and juniors, twenty centuries were enrolled. The arms +enjoined them were a buckler instead of a shield, and except a coat of +mail, all the rest were the same. He appointed the property of the third +class to amount to fifty thousand asses; the number of centuries was the +same, and formed with the same distinction of age, nor was there any +change in their arms, only greaves were taken from them. In the fourth +class, the property was twenty-five thousand asses, the same number of +centuries was formed: the arms were changed, nothing was given them but +a spear and a long javelin. The fifth class was increased, thirty +centuries were formed; these carried slings and stones for throwing. +Among them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> were reckoned the horn-blowers, and the trumpeters, +distributed into three centuries. This whole class was rated at eleven +thousand asses. Property lower than this comprehended all the rest of +the citizens, and of them one century was made up which was exempted +from serving in war. Having thus divided and armed the infantry, he +levied twelve centuries of knights from among the chief men of the +state. Likewise out of the three centuries, appointed by Romulus, he +formed other six under the same names which they had received at their +first institution. Ten thousand asses were given them out of the public +revenue, for the buying of horses, and widows were assigned them, who +were to pay two thousand asses yearly for the support of the horses. All +these burdens were taken off the poor and laid on the rich. Then an +additional honour was conferred upon them; for the suffrage was not now +granted promiscuously to all, as it had been established by Romulus, and +observed by his successors, to every man with the same privilege and the +same right, but gradations were established, so that no one might seem +excluded from the right of voting, and yet the whole power might reside +in the chief men of the state. For the knights were first called, and +then the eighty centuries of the first class; and if they happened to +differ, which was seldom the case, those of the second were called: and +they seldom ever descended so low as to come to the lowest class. Nor +need we be surprised, that the present regulation, which now exists, +since the tribes were increased to thirty-five, should not agree in the +number of centuries of juniors and seniors with the amount instituted by +Servius Tullius, they being now double of what they were at that time. +For the city being divided into four parts, according to the regions and +hills which were then inhabited, he called these divisions tribes, as I +think, from the tribute.<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> For the method of levying taxes rateably +according to the value of estates was also introduced by him; nor had +these tribes any relation to the number and distribution of the +centuries.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a44" name="a44"></a>44</div> +<p>The census being now completed, which he had expedited by the terror +of a law passed on those not rated, with threats of imprisonment and +death, he issued a proclamation that all the Roman citizens, horse and +foot, should attend at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> the dawn of day in the Campus Martius, each in +his century. There he drew up his army and performed a lustration of it +by the sacrifices called suovetaurilia, and that was called the closing +of the lustrum, because that was the conclusion of the census. Eighty +thousand citizens are said to have been rated in that survey. Fabius +Pictor, the oldest of our historians, adds, that such was the number of +those who were able to bear arms. To accommodate that number the city +seemed to require enlargement. He adds two hills, the Quirinal and +Viminal; then in continuation he enlarges the Esquiliæ, and takes up his +own residence there, in order that respectability might attach to the +place. He surrounds the city with a rampart, a moat, and a wall: thus he +enlarges the pomœrium. They who regard only the etymology of the +word, will have the pomœrium to be a space of ground without the +walls; but it is rather a space on each side the wall, which the +Etrurians in building cities consecrated by augury, reaching to a +certain extent both within and without in the direction they intended to +raise the wall; so that the houses might not be joined to it on the +inside, as they commonly are now, and also that there might be some +space without left free from human occupation. This space, which it was +not lawful to till or inhabit, the Romans called the pomœrium, not +for its being without the wall, more than for the wall's being without +it: and in enlarging the city, as far as the walls were intended to +proceed outwards, so far these consecrated limits were likewise +extended.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a45" name="a45"></a>45</div> +<p>The state being increased by the enlargement of the city, and every +thing modelled at home and abroad for the exigencies both of peace and +war, that the acquisition of power might not always depend on mere force +of arms, he endeavoured to extend his empire by policy, and at the same +time to add some ornament to the city.<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a>The temple of Diana at +Ephesus was at that time in high renown; fame represented it to have +been built by all the states of Asia, in common. When Servius, amid some +grandees of the Latins with whom he had taken pains to form connexions +of hospitality and friendship, extolled in high terms such concord and +associa<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>tion of their gods, by frequently insisting on the same subject, +he at length prevailed so far as that the Latin states agreed to build a +temple to Diana at Rome, in conjunction with the Roman people. This was +an acknowledgment that Rome was the head of both nations, concerning +which they had so often disputed in arms. Though that object seemed to +have been left out of consideration by all the Latins, in consequence of +the matter having been so often attempted unsuccessfully by arms, +fortune seemed to present one of the Sabines with an opportunity of +recovering the superiority to his country by his own address. A cow is +said to have been calved to a certain person, the head of a family among +the Sabines, of surprising size and beauty. Her horns, which were hung +up in the porch of the temple of Diana, remained, for many ages, a +monument of this wonder. The thing was looked upon as a prodigy, as it +was, and the soothsayers declared, that sovereignty would reside in that +state of which a citizen should immolate this heifer to Diana. This +prediction had also reached the ears of the high priest of Diana. The +Sabine, when he thought the proper time for offering the sacrifice was +come, drove the cow to Rome, led her to the temple of that goddess, and +set her before the altar. The Roman priest, struck with the uncommon +size of the victim, so much celebrated by fame, thus accosted the +Sabine: "What intendest thou to do, stranger?" says he. "Is it with +impure hands to offer a sacrifice to Diana? Why dost not thou first wash +thyself in running water? The Tiber runs along in the bottom of that +valley." The stranger, being seized with a scruple of conscience, and +desirous of having every thing done in due form, that the event might +answer the prediction, from the temple went down to the Tiber. In the +mean time the priest sacrificed the cow to Diana, which gave great +satisfaction to the king, and to the whole state.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a46" name="a46"></a>46</div> +<p>Servius, though he had now acquired an indisputable right to the +kingdom by long possession, yet as he heard that expressions were +sometimes thrown out by young Tarquin, importing, "That he held the +crown without the consent of the people," having first secured their +good will by dividing among them, man by man, the lands taken from their +enemies, he ventured to propose the question to the people, whether they +"chose and ordered that he should be king," and was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> declared king with +such unanimity, as had not been observed in the election of any of his +predecessors. But this circumstance diminished not Tarquin's hope of +obtaining the throne; nay, because he had observed that the question of +the distribution of land to the people<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> was carried against the will +of the fathers, he felt so much the more satisfied that an opportunity +was now presented to him of arraigning Servius before the fathers, and +of increasing his own influence in the senate, he being himself +naturally of a fiery temper, and his wife, Tullia, at home stimulating +his restless temper. For the Roman palace also afforded an instance of +tragic guilt, so that through their disgust of kings, liberty might come +more matured, and the throne, which should be attained through crime, +might be the last. This L. Tarquinius (whether he was the son or +grandson of Tarquinius Priscus is not clear; with the greater number of +authorities, however, I would say, his son<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a>) had a brother, Aruns +Tarquinius, a youth of a mild disposition. To these two, as has been +already stated, the two Tulliæ, daughters of the king, had been married, +they also being of widely different tempers. It had so happened that the +two violent dispositions were not united in marriage, through the good +fortune, I suspect, of the Roman people, in order that the reign of +Servius might be more protracted, and the morals of the state be firmly +established. The haughty Tullia was chagrined, that there was no +material in her husband, either for ambition or bold daring. Directing +all her regard to the other Tarquinius, him she admired, him she called +a man, and one truly descended of royal blood; she expressed her +contempt of her sister, because, having got a man, she was deficient in +the spirit becoming a woman. Similarity of mind soon draws them +together, as wickedness is in general most congenial to wickedness. But +the commencement of producing general confusion originated with the +woman. She, accustomed to the secret conversations of the other's +husband, refrained not from using the most contumelious language of her +husband to his brother, of her sister to (her sister's) husband, and +contended, that it were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> better that she herself were unmarried, and he +single, than that they should be matched unsuitably, so that they must +languish away through life by reason of the dastardly conduct of others. +If the gods had granted her the husband of whom she was worthy, that she +should soon see the crown in her own house, which she now saw at her +father's. She soon inspires the young man with her own daring notions. +Aruns Tarquinius and the younger Tullia, when they had, by immediate +successive deaths, made their houses vacant for new nuptials, are united +in marriage, Servius rather not prohibiting than approving the measure.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a47" name="a47"></a>47</div> +<p>Then indeed the old age of Servius began to be every day more +disquieted, his reign to be more unhappy. For now the woman looked from +one crime to another, and suffered not her husband to rest by night or +by day, lest their past murders might go for nothing. "That what she had +wanted was not a person whose wife she might be called, or one with whom +she might in silence live a slave; what she had wanted was one who would +consider himself worthy of the throne; who would remember that he was +the son of Tarquinius Priscus; who would rather possess a kingdom than +hope for it. If you, to whom I consider myself married, are such a one, +I address you both as husband and king; but if not, our condition has +been changed so far for the worse, as in that person crime is associated +with meanness. Why not prepare yourself? It is not necessary for you, as +for your father, (coming here) from Corinth or Tarquinii, to strive for +foreign thrones. Your household and country's gods, the image of your +father, and the royal palace, and the royal throne in that palace, +constitute and call you king. Or if you have too little spirit for this, +why do you disappoint the nation? Why do you suffer yourself to be +looked up to as a prince? Get hence to Tarquinii or Corinth. Sink back +again to your (original) race, more like your brother than your father." +By chiding him in these and other terms, she spurs on the young man; nor +can she herself rest; (indignant) that when Tanaquil, a foreign woman, +could achieve so great a project, as to bestow two successive thrones on +her husband, and then on her son-in-law, she, sprung from royal blood, +should have no weight in bestowing and taking away a kingdom. +Tarquinius, driven on by these frenzied instigations of the woman, +began<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> to go round and solicit the patricians, especially those of the +younger families;<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> reminded them of his father's kindness, and +claimed a return for it; enticed the young men by presents; increased +his interest, as well by making magnificent promises on his own part, as +by inveighing against the king at every opportunity. At length, as soon +as the time seemed convenient for accomplishing his object, he rushed +into the forum, accompanied by a party of armed men; then, whilst all +were struck with dismay, seating himself on the throne before the +senate-house, he ordered the fathers to be summoned to the senate-house +by the crier to attend king Tarquinius. They assembled immediately, some +being already prepared for the occasion, some through fear, lest their +not having come might prove detrimental to them, astounded at the +novelty and strangeness of the matter, and considering that it was now +all over with Servius. Then Tarquinius, commencing his invectives +against his immediate ancestors: "that a slave, and born of a slave, +after the untimely death of his parent, without an interregnum being +adopted, as on former occasions, without any comitia (being held), +without the suffrages of the people, or the sanction of the fathers, he +had taken possession of the kingdom as the gift of a woman. That so +born, so created king, ever a favourer of the most degraded class, to +which he himself belongs, through a hatred of the high station of +others, he had taken their land from the leading men of the state and +divided it among the very meanest; that he had laid all the burdens, +which were formerly common, on the chief members of the community; that +he had instituted the census, in order that the fortune of the wealthier +citizens might be conspicuous to (excite) public envy, and that all was +prepared whence he might bestow largesses on the most needy, whenever he +might please."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a48" name="a48"></a>48</div> +<p>When Servius, aroused by the alarming announcement, came in during +this harangue, immediately from the porch of the senate-house, he says +with a loud voice, "What means this, Tarquin? by what audacity hast thou +dared to summon the fathers, while I am still alive? or to sit on my +throne?" To this, when he fiercely replied "that he, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> son of a king, +occupied the throne of his father, a much fitter successor to the throne +than a slave; that he (Servius) had insulted his masters full long +enough by his arbitrary shuffling," a shout arises from the partisans of +both, and a rush of the people into the senate-house took place, and it +became evident that whoever came off victor would have the throne. Then +Tarquin, necessity itself now obliging him to have recourse to the last +extremity, having much the advantage both in years and strength, seizes +Servius by the middle, and having taken him out of the senate-house, +throws him down the steps to the bottom. He then returns to the +senate-house to assemble the senate. The king's officers and attendants +fly. He himself, almost lifeless, when he was returning home with his +royal retinue frightened to death, and had arrived at the top of the +Cyprian street, is slain by those who had been sent by Tarquin, and had +overtaken him in his flight. As the act is not inconsistent with her +other marked conduct, it is believed to have been done by Tullia's +advice. Certain it is, (for it is readily admitted,) that driving into +the forum in her chariot, and not abashed by the crowd of persons there, +she called her husband out of the senate-house, and was the first to +style him king; and when, on being commanded by him to withdraw from +such a tumult, she was returning home, and had arrived at the top of the +Cyprian street, where Diana's temple lately was, as she was turning to +the right to the Orbian hill, in order to arrive at the Esquiline, the +person who was driving, being terrified, stopped and drew in the reins, +and pointed out to his mistress the murdered Servius as he lay. On this +occasion a revolting and inhuman crime is stated to have been committed, +and the place is a monument of it. They call it the Wicked Street, where +Tullia, frantic and urged on by the furies of her sister and husband, is +reported to have driven her chariot over her father's body, and to have +carried a portion of her father's body and blood to her own and her +husband's household gods, herself also being stained and sprinkled with +it; through whose vengeance results corresponding to the wicked +commencement of the reign were soon to follow. Tullius reigned +forty-four years in such a manner that a competition with him would +prove difficult even for a good and moderate successor. But this also +has been an accession to his glory, that with him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> perished all just and +legitimate reigns. This authority, so mild and so moderate, yet, because +it was vested in one, some say that he had it in contemplation to +resign,<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> had not the wickedness of his family interfered with him +whilst meditating the liberation of his country.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a49" name="a49"></a>49</div> +<p>After this period Tarquin began his reign, whose actions procured +him the surname of the Proud, for he refused his father-in-law burial, +alleging, that even Romulus died without sepulture. He put to death the +principal senators, whom he suspected of having been in the interest of +Servius. Then, conscious that the precedent of obtaining the crown by +evil means might be adopted from him against himself, he surrounded his +person with armed men, for he had no claim to the kingdom except force, +inasmuch as he reigned without either the order of the people or the +sanction of the senate. To this was added (the fact) that, as he reposed +no hope in the affection of his subjects, he found it necessary to +secure his kingdom by terror; and in order to strike this into the +greater number, he took cognizance of capital cases solely by himself +without assessors; and under that pretext he had it in his power to put +to death, banish, or fine, not only those who were suspected or hated, +but those also from whom he could obtain nothing else but plunder. The +number of the fathers more especially being thus diminished, he +determined to elect none into the senate, in order that the order might +become contemptible by their very paucity, and that they might feel the +less resentment at no business being transacted by them. For he was the +first king who violated the custom derived from his predecessors of +consulting the senate on all subjects; he administered the public +business by domestic counsels. War, peace, treaties, alliances, he +contracted and dissolved with whomsoever he pleased, without the +sanction of the people and senate. The nation of the Latins in +particular he wished to attach to him, so that by foreign influence also +he might be more secure among his own subjects; and he contracted not +only ties of hospitality but affinities also with their leading men. To +Octavius Mamilius of Tusculum he gives his daughter in marriage; (he was +by far the most eminent of the Latin name, being de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>scended, if we +believe tradition, from Ulysses and the goddess Circe, and by this match +he attaches to himself his numerous kinsmen and friends).</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a50" name="a50"></a>50</div> +<p>The influence of Tarquin among the chief men of the Latins was now +considerable, when he issues an order that they should assemble on a +certain day at the grove of Ferentina; that there was business about +which he wished to confer with them touching their common interest. They +assemble in great numbers at the break of day. Tarquinius himself +observed the day indeed, but he came a little before sun-set. Many +matters were there canvassed in the meeting in various conversations. +Turnus Herdonius, from Aricia, inveighed violently against Tarquin for +his absence. "That it was no wonder the cognomen of Proud was given him +at Rome;" for they now called him so secretly and in whispers, but still +generally. "Could anything be more proud than thus to trifle with the +entire nation of the Latins? After their chiefs had been called at so +great a distance from home, that he who summoned the meeting did not +attend; that no doubt their patience was tried, in order that if they +submitted to the yoke, he may crush them when at his mercy. For to whom +did it not plainly appear that he was aiming at sovereignty over the +Latins? But if his own countrymen did well in intrusting it to him, or +if it was intrusted, and not seized on by means of murder, that the +Latins also ought to intrust him (though not even so, inasmuch as he was +a foreigner). But if his own subjects are dissatisfied with him, (seeing +that they are butchered one upon another, driven into exile, and +deprived of their property,) what better prospects are held out to the +Latins? If they follow his advice, that they would depart thence, each +to his own home, and take no more notice of the day of meeting than the +person who appointed it." When this man, turbulent and daring, and one +who had attained influence at home by these means, was pressing these +and other observations having the same tendency, Tarquin came in. This +put a conclusion to his harangue. All turned away from him to salute +Tarquin, who, on silence being enjoined, being advised by those next him +to apologize for having come at that time, says, that he had been chosen +arbiter between a father and a son; that, from his anxiety to reconcile +them, he had delayed; and because that circum<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>stance had consumed that +day, that on the morrow he would transact the business which he had +determined on. They say that he did not make even that observation +without a remark from Turnus; "that no controversy was shorter than one +between a father and son, and that it might be decided in a few +words,—unless he submitted to his father, that he must prove +unfortunate."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a51" name="a51"></a>51</div> +<p>The Arician withdrew from the meeting, uttering these reflections +against the Roman king. Tarquin, feeling the matter much more acutely +than he appeared to do, immediately sets about planning the death of +Turnus, in order that he might inspire into the Latins the same terror +with which he had crushed the spirits of his own subjects at home; and +because he could not be put to death openly, by virtue of his authority, +he accomplished the ruin of this innocent man by bringing a false +accusation against him. By means of some Aricians of the opposite +faction, he bribed a servant of Turnus with gold, to suffer a great +number of swords to be introduced privately into his lodging. When this +had been completed in the course of one night, Tarquin, having summoned +the chiefs of the Latins to him a little before day, as if alarmed by +some strange occurrence, says, "that his delay of yesterday, having been +occasioned as it were by some providential care of the gods, had been +the means of preservation to him and them; that it was told to him that +destruction was prepared by Turnus for him and the chiefs of the Latins, +that he alone might obtain the government of the Latins. That he was to +have made the attempt yesterday at the meeting; that the matter was +deferred, because the person who summoned the meeting was absent, whom +he chiefly aimed at. That thence arose that abuse of him for being +absent, because he disappointed his hopes by delaying. That he had no +doubt, but that if the truth were told him, he would come at the break +of day, when the assembly met, attended with a band of conspirators, and +with arms in his hands. That it was said that a great number of swords +had been conveyed to his house. Whether that be true or not, might be +known immediately. He requested that they would accompany him thence to +Turnus." Both the daring temper of Turnus, and his harangue of +yesterday, and the delay of Tarquin, rendered the matter suspicious, +because it seemed possible that the murder might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> have been put off in +consequence of it. They proceed then with minds inclined indeed to +believe, yet determined to consider every thing false, unless the swords +were detected. When they arrived there, Turnus is aroused from sleep, +and guards are placed around him; and the servants, who, from affection +to their master, were preparing to use force, being secured, when the +swords, which had been concealed, were drawn out from all parts of the +lodging, then indeed the whole matter appeared manifest, and chains were +placed on Turnus; and forthwith a meeting of the Latins was summoned +amid great confusion. There, on the swords being brought forward in the +midst, such violent hatred arose against him, that without being allowed +a defence, by a novel mode of death, being thrown into the reservoir of +the water of Ferentina, a hurdle<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> being placed over him, and stones +being thrown into that, he was drowned.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a52" name="a52"></a>52</div> +<p>Tarquin, having recalled the Latins to the meeting, and applauded +those who had inflicted well-merited punishment on Turnus, as one +convicted of parricide, by his attempting a change of government, spoke +as follows: "That he could indeed proceed by a long-established right; +because, since all the Latins were sprung from Alba, they were included +in that treaty by which the entire Alban nation, with their colonies, +fell under the dominion of Rome, under Tullus. However, for the sake of +the interest of all parties, he thought rather, that that treaty should +be renewed; and that the Latins should, as participators, enjoy the +prosperity of the Roman people, rather than that they should be +constantly either apprehending or suffering the demolition of their town +and the devastations of their lands, which they suffered formerly in the +reign of Ancus, afterwards in the reign of his own father." The Latins +were persuaded without any difficulty, though in that treaty the +advantage lay on the side of Rome; but they both saw that the chiefs of +the Latin nation sided and concurred with the king, and Turnus was a +recent instance of his danger to each, if he should make any opposition. +Thus the treaty was renewed, and notice was given to the young men of +the Latins, that, according to the treaty, they should attend in +considerable numbers in arms, on a certain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> day, at the grove of +Ferentina. And when they assembled from all the states according to the +edict of the Roman king, in order that they should neither have a +general of their own, nor a separate command, or their own standards, he +compounded companies of Latins and Romans, so as to make one out of two, +and two out of one; the companies being thus doubled, he appointed +centurions over them.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a53" name="a53"></a>53</div> +<p>Nor was Tarquin, though a tyrannical prince in peace, a despicable +general in war; nay, he would have equalled his predecessors in that +art, had not his<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a>degeneracy in other respects likewise detracted +from his merit here. He began the war against the Volsci, which lasted +two hundred years after his time, and took from them Suessa Pometia by +storm; and when by the sale of the spoils he had amassed forty talents +of silver and of gold, he designed such magnificence for a temple to +Jupiter, as should be worthy of the king of gods and men, of the Roman +empire, and of the majesty of the place itself: for the building of this +temple he set apart the money arising from the spoils. Soon after a war +came upon him, more tedious than he expected, in which, having in vain +attempted to storm Gabii, a city in his neighbourhood, when being +repulsed from the walls all hopes of taking it by siege also was taken +from him, he assailed it by fraud and stratagem, arts by no means Roman. +For when, as if the war was laid aside, he pretended to be busily taken +up with laying the foundation of the temple, and with his other works in +the city, Sextus, the youngest of his three sons, according to concert, +fled to Gabii, complaining of the inhuman cruelty of his father, "that +he had turned his tyranny from others against his own family, and was +uneasy at the number of his own children, intending to make the same +desolations in his own house which he had made in the senate, in order +that he might leave behind him no issue, nor heir to his kingdom. That +for his own part, as he had escaped from amidst the swords and other +weapons of his father, he was persuaded he could find no safety any +where but among the enemies of L. Tarquin. And, that they might not be +led astray, that the war, which it is now pretended has been given up, +still lies in reserve, and that he would attack them when off their +guard on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> the occurrence of an opportunity. But if there be no refuge +for suppliants among them, that he would traverse all Latium, and would +apply to the Volscians, and Æquians, and Hernicians, until he should +come to those who knew how to protect children from the impious and +cruel persecution of parents. That perhaps he would find some ardour +also to take up arms and wage war against this proud king and his +haughty subjects." As he seemed a person likely to go further onward, +incensed with anger, if they paid him no regard, he is received by the +Gabians very kindly. They bid him not to be surprised, if he were at +last the same to his children as he had been to his subjects and +allies;—that he would ultimately vent his rage on himself if other +objects failed him;—that his coming was very acceptable to them, and +they thought that it would come to pass that by his aid the war would be +transferred from the gates of Gabii to the walls of Rome.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a54" name="a54"></a>54</div> +<p>Upon this he was admitted into their public councils, where though, +with regard to other matters, he professed to submit to the judgment of +the old inhabitants of Gabii, to whom they were better known, yet he +every now and then advised them to renew the war; to that he pretended +to a superior knowledge, because he was well acquainted with the +strength of both nations, and knew that the king's pride was decidedly +become hateful to his subjects, which not even his own children could +now endure. As he thus by degrees stirred up the nobles of the Gabians +to renew the war, went himself with the most active of their youth on +plundering parties and expeditions, and ill-grounded credit was attached +to all his words and actions, framed as they were for deception, he is +at length chosen general-in-chief in the war. There when, the people +being still ignorant of what was really going on, several skirmishes +with the Romans took place, wherein the Gabians generally had the +advantage, then all the Gabians, from the highest to the lowest, were +firmly persuaded, that Sextus Tarquinius had been sent to them as their +general, by the special favour of the gods. By his exposing himself to +fatigues and dangers, and by his generosity in dividing the plunder, he +was so beloved by the soldiers, that Tarquin the father had not greater +power at Rome than the son at Gabii. When he saw he had got sufficient +strength collected to support him in any under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>taking, he sent one of +his confidants to Rome to ask his father what he wished him to do, +seeing the gods had granted him the sole management of all affairs at +Gabii. To this courier no answer by word of mouth was given, because, I +suppose, he appeared of questionable fidelity. The king going into a +garden of the palace, as it were to consider of the matter, followed by +his son's messenger; walking there for some time in silence, he is said +to have struck off the heads of the tallest poppies with his staff. The +messenger, wearied with demanding and waiting for an answer, returned to +Gabii as if without having accomplished his object, and told what he had +said himself, and what he had observed, adding, "that Tarquin, either +through passion, aversion to him, or his innate pride, had not spoke a +word." As soon as it became evident to Sextus what his father wished, +and what conduct he recommended by those silent intimations, he put to +death the most eminent men of the city, accusing some of them to the +people, and others who were exposed by their own unpopularity. Many were +executed publicly, and some, against whom an impeachment was likely to +prove less specious, were secretly assassinated. Means of escape were to +some allowed, and others were banished, and their estates, as well as +the estates of those who were put to death, publicly distributed. By the +sweets of corruption, plunder, and private advantage resulting from +these distributions, the sense of the public calamities became +extinguished in them, till the state of Gabii, destitute of counsel and +assistance, was delivered without a struggle into the hands of the Roman +king.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a55" name="a55"></a>55</div> +<p>Tarquin, thus put in possession of Gabii, made peace with the +Æquians, and renewed the treaty with the Etrurians. Then he turned his +thoughts to the business of the city. The chief whereof was that of +leaving behind him the temple of Jupiter on the Tarpeian mount, as a +monument of his name and reign; [since posterity would remember] that of +two Tarquinii, both kings, the father had vowed, the son completed it. +And that the area, excluding all other forms of worship, might be +entirely appropriated to Jupiter, and his temple, which was to be +erected upon it, he resolved to unhallow several small temples and +chapels, which had been vowed first by king Tatius, in the heat of the +battle against Romulus, and which he afterwards consecrated and +dedicated.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> In the very beginning of founding this work it is said that +the gods exerted their divinity to presage the future greatness of this +empire; for though the birds declared for the unhallowing of all the +other temples, they did not admit of it with respect to that of +Terminus. This omen and augury were taken to import that Terminus's not +changing his residence, and being the only one of the gods who was not +called out of the places devoted to their worship, presaged the duration +and stability of their empire. This being deemed an omen of the +perpetuity, there followed another portending the greatness of the +empire. It is reported that the head of a man, with the face entire, +appeared to the workmen when digging the foundation of the temple. The +sight of this phenomenon unequivocally presaged that this temple should +be the metropolis of the empire, and the head of the world; and so +declared the soothsayers, both those who were in the city, and those +whom they had sent for from Etruria, to consult on this subject. The +king was encouraged to enlarge the expense; so that the spoils of +Pometia, which had been destined to complete the work, scarcely sufficed +for laying the foundation. On this account I am more inclined to believe +Fabius Pictor, besides his being the more ancient historian, that there +were only forty talents, than Piso, who says that forty thousand pounds +weight of silver were set apart for that purpose; a sum of money neither +to be expected from the spoils of any one city in those times, and one +that would more than suffice for the foundation of any structure, even +though exhibiting the magnificence of modern structures.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a56" name="a56"></a>56</div> +<p>Tarquin, intent upon finishing this temple, having sent for workmen +from all parts of Etruria, employed on it not only the public money, but +the manual labour of the people; and when this labour, by no means +inconsiderable in itself, was added to their military service, still the +people murmured less at their building the temples of the gods with +their own hands; they were afterwards transferred to other works, which, +whilst less in show, (required) still greater toil: such as the erecting +benches in the circus, and conducting under ground the principal +sewer,<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> the receptacle of all the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> filth of the city; to which two +works even modern splendour can scarcely produce any thing equal. The +people having been employed in these works, because he both considered +that such a multitude was a burden to the city when there was no +employment for them, and further, he was anxious that the frontiers of +the empire should be more extensively occupied by sending colonists, he +sent colonists to Signia and Circeii, to serve as defensive barriers +hereafter to the city by land and sea. While he was thus employed a +frightful prodigy appeared to him. A serpent sliding out of a wooden +pillar, after causing dismay and a run into the palace, not so much +struck the king's heart with sudden terror, as filled him with anxious +solicitude. Accordingly when Etrurian soothsayers only were employed for +public prodigies, terrified at this as it were domestic apparition, he +determined on sending persons to Delphos to the most celebrated oracle +in the world; and not venturing to intrust the responses of the oracle +to any other person, he despatched his two sons to Greece through lands +unknown at that time, and seas still more so. Titus and Aruns were the +two who went. To them were added, as a companion, L. Junius Brutus, the +son of Tarquinia, sister to the king, a youth of an entirely different +quality of mind from that the disguise of which he had assumed. Brutus, +on hearing that the chief men of the city, and among others his own +brother, had been put to death by his uncle, resolved to leave nothing +in his intellects that might be dreaded by the king, nor any thing in +his fortune to be coveted, and thus to be secure in contempt, where +there was but little protection in justice. Therefore designedly +fashioning himself to the semblance of foolishness, after he suffered +himself and his whole estate to become a prey to the king, he did not +refuse to take even the surname of Brutus, that, concealed under the +cover of such a cognomen, that genius that was to liberate the Roman +people might await its proper time. He, being brought to Delphos by the +Tarquinii rather as a subject of sport than as a companion, is said to +have brought with him as an offering to Apollo a golden rod, enclosed in +a staff of cornel-wood hollowed out for the purpose, a mystical emblem +of his own mind. When they arrived there, their father's commission +being executed, a desire seized the young men of inquiring on which of +them the sovereignty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> of Rome should devolve. They say that a voice was +returned from the bottom of the cave, "Young men, whichever of you shall +first kiss his mother shall enjoy the sovereign power at Rome." The +Tarquinii order the matter to be kept secret with the utmost care, that +Sextus, who had been left behind at Rome, might be ignorant of the +response, and have no share in the kingdom; they cast lots among +themselves, as to which of them should first kiss his mother, after they +had returned to Rome. Brutus, thinking that the Pythian response had +another meaning, as if he had stumbled and fallen, touched the ground +with his lips; she being, forsooth, the common mother of all mankind. +After this they all returned to Rome, where preparations were being made +with the greatest vigour for a war against the Rutulians.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a57" name="a57"></a>57</div> +<p>The Rutulians, a nation very wealthy, considering the country and +age they lived in, were at that time in possession of Ardea. Their +riches gave occasion to the war; for the king of the Romans, being +exhausted of money by the magnificence of his public works, was desirous +both to enrich himself, and by a large booty to soothe the minds of his +subjects, who, besides other instances of his tyranny, were incensed +against his government, because they were indignant that they had been +kept so long a time by the king in the employments of mechanics, and in +labour fit for slaves. An attempt was made to take Ardea by storm; when +that did not succeed, the enemy began to be distressed by a blockade, +and by works raised around them. As it commonly happens in standing +camps, the war being rather tedious than violent, furloughs were easily +obtained, more so by the officers, however, than the common soldiers. +The young princes sometimes spent their leisure hours in feasting and +entertainments. One day as they were drinking in the tent of Sextus +Tarquin, where Collatinus Tarquinius, the son of Egerius, was also at +supper, mention was made of wives. Every one commended his own in an +extravagant manner, till a dispute arising about it, Collatinus said, +"There was no occasion for words, that it might be known in a few hours +how far his Lucretia excelled all the rest. If then, added he, we have +any share of the vigour of youth, let us mount our horses and examine +the behaviour of our wives; that must be most satisfactory to every one, +which shall meet his eyes on the unexpected arrival of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> the husband." +They were heated with wine; "Come on, then," say all. They immediately +galloped to Rome, where they arrived in the dusk of the evening. From +thence they went to Collatia, where they find Lucretia, not like the +king's daughters-in-law, whom they had seen spending their time in +luxurious entertainments with their equals, but though at an advanced +time of night, employed at her wool, sitting in the middle of the house +amid her maids working around her. The merit of the contest regarding +the ladies was assigned to Lucretia. Her husband on his arrival, and the +Tarquinii, were kindly received; the husband, proud of his victory, +gives the young princes a polite invitation. There the villanous passion +for violating Lucretia by force seizes Sextus Tarquin; both her beauty, +and her approved purity, act as incentives. And then, after this +youthful frolic of the night, they return to the camp.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a58" name="a58"></a>58</div> +<p>A few days after, without the knowledge of Collatinus, Sextus came +to Collatia with one attendant only; where, being kindly received by +them, as not being aware of his intention, after he had been conducted +after supper into the guests' chamber, burning with passion, when every +thing around seemed sufficiently secure, and all fast asleep, he comes +to Lucretia, as she lay asleep, with a naked sword, and with his left +hand pressing down the woman's breast, he says, "Be silent, Lucretia; I +am Sextus Tarquin; I have a sword in my hand; you shall die, if you +utter a word." When awaking terrified from sleep, the woman beheld no +aid, impending death nigh at hand; then Tarquin acknowledged his +passion, entreated, mixed threats with entreaties, tried the female's +mind in every possible way. When he saw her inflexible, and that she was +not moved even by the terror of death, he added to terror the threat of +dishonour; he says that he will lay a murdered slave naked by her side +when dead, so that she may be said to have been slain in infamous +adultery. When by the terror of this disgrace his lust, as it were +victorious, had overcome her inflexible chastity, and Tarquin had +departed, exulting in having triumphed over a lady's honour, Lucretia, +in melancholy distress at so dreadful a misfortune, despatches the same +messenger to Rome to her father, and to Ardea to her husband, that they +would come each with one trusty friend; that it was necessary to do so, +and that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> quickly.<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> Sp. Lucretius comes with P. Valerius, the son of +Volesus, Collatinus with L. Junius Brutus, with whom, as he was +returning to Rome, he happened to be met by his wife's messenger. They +find Lucretia sitting in her chamber in sorrowful dejection. On the +arrival of her friends the tears burst from her eyes; and to her +husband, on his inquiry "whether all was right," she says, "By no means, +for what can be right with a woman who has lost her honour? The traces +of another man are on your bed, Collatinus. But the body only has been +violated, the mind is guiltless; death shall be my witness. But give me +your right hands, and your honour, that the adulterer shall not come off +unpunished. It is Sextus Tarquin, who, an enemy in the guise of a guest, +has borne away hence a triumph fatal to me, and to himself, if you are +men." They all pledge their honour; they attempt to console her, +distracted as she was in mind, by turning away the guilt from her, +constrained by force, on the perpetrator of the crime; that it is the +mind sins, not the body; and that where intention was wanting guilt +could not be. "It is for you to see," says she, "what is due to him. As +for me, though I acquit myself of guilt, from punishment I do not +discharge myself; nor shall any woman survive her dishonour pleading the +example of Lucretia." The knife, which she kept concealed beneath her +garment, she plunges into her heart, and falling forward on the wound, +she dropped down expiring. The husband and father shriek aloud.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a59" name="a59"></a>59</div> +<p>Brutus, while they were overpowered with grief, having drawn the +knife out of the wound, and holding it up before him reeking with blood, +said, "By this blood, most pure before the pollution of royal villany, I +swear, and I call you, O gods, to witness my oath, that I shall pursue +Lucius Tarquin the Proud, his wicked wife, and all their race, with +fire, sword, and all other means in my power; nor shall I ever suffer +them or any other to reign at Rome." Then he gave the knife to +Collatinus, and after him to Lucretius and Valerius, who were surprised +at such extraordinary mind in the breast of Brutus. However, they all +take the oath as they were directed, and converting their sorrow into +rage, follow Brutus as their leader, who from that time ceased not to +so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>licit them to abolish the regal power. They carry Lucretia's body +from her own house, and convey it into the forum; and assemble a number +of persons by the strangeness and atrocity of the extraordinary +occurrence, as usually happens. They complain, each for himself, of the +royal villany and violence. Both the grief of the father moves them, as +also Brutus, the reprover of their tears and unavailing complaints, and +their adviser to take up arms against those who dared to treat them as +enemies, as would become men and Romans. Each most spirited of the youth +voluntarily presents himself in arms; the rest of the youth follow also. +From thence, after leaving an adequate garrison at the gates at +Collatia, and having appointed sentinels, so that no one might give +intelligence of the disturbance to the king's party, the rest set out +for Rome in arms under the conduct of Brutus. When they arrived there, +the armed multitude cause panic and confusion wherever they go. Again, +when they see the principal men of the state placing themselves at their +head, they think that, whatever it may be, it was not without good +reason. Nor does the heinousness of the circumstance excite less violent +emotions at Rome than it had done at Collatia; accordingly they run from +all parts of the city into the forum, whither, when they came, the +public crier summoned them to attend the tribune of the celeres, with +which office Brutus happened to be at that time vested. There an +harangue was delivered by him, by no means of that feeling and capacity +which had been counterfeited up to that day, concerning the violence and +lust of Sextus Tarquin, the horrid violation of Lucretia and her +lamentable death, the bereavement of Tricipitinus, to whom the cause of +his daughter's death was more exasperating and deplorable than the death +itself. To this was added the haughty insolence of the king himself, and +the sufferings and toils of the people, buried in the earth in cleansing +sinks and sewers; that the Romans, the conquerors of all the surrounding +states, instead of warriors had become labourers and stone-cutters. The +unnatural murder of king Servius Tullius was dwelt on, and his +daughter's driving over the body of her father in her impious chariot, +and the gods who avenge parents were invoked by him. By stating these +and other, I suppose, more exasperating circumstances, which though by +no means easily detailed by writers, the heinousness of the case +suggested at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> the time, he persuaded the multitude, already incensed, to +deprive the king of his authority, and to order the banishment of L. +Tarquin with his wife and children. He himself, having selected and +armed some of the young men, who readily gave in their names, set out +for Ardea to the camp to excite the army against the king: the command +in the city he leaves to Lucretius, who had been already appointed +prefect of the city by the king. During this tumult Tullia fled from her +house, both men and women cursing her wherever she went, and invoking on +her the furies the avengers of parents.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="a60" name="a60"></a>60</div> +<p>News of these transactions having reached the camp, when the king, +alarmed at this sudden revolution, was going to Rome to quell the +commotions, Brutus, for he had notice of his approach, turned out of the +way, that he might not meet him; and much about the same time Brutus and +Tarquin arrived by different routes, the one at Ardea, the other at +Rome. The gates were shut against Tarquin, and an act of banishment +passed against him; the deliverer of the state the camp received with +great joy, and the king's sons were expelled. Two of them followed their +father, and went into banishment to Cære, a city of Etruria. Sextus +Tarquin, having gone to Gabii, as to his own kingdom, was slain by the +avengers of the old feuds, which he had raised against himself by his +rapines and murders. Lucius Tarquin the Proud reigned twenty-five years: +the regal form of government continued from the building of the city to +this period of its deliverance, two hundred and forty-four years. Two +consuls, viz. Lucius Junius Brutus and Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus, +were elected by the prefect of the city at the comitia by centuries, +according to the commentaries of Servius Tullius.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="book2" id="book2"></a>BOOK II.</h2> + +<div class="chapmen"><a href="#b1">1</a> <a href="#b2">2</a> <a href="#b3">3</a> + + <a href="#b4">4</a> <a href="#b5">5</a> <a href="#b6">6</a> <a href="#b7">7</a> + + <a href="#b8">8</a> <a href="#b9">9</a> <a href="#b10">10</a> <a href="#b11">11</a> + + <a href="#b12">12</a> <a href="#b13">13</a> <a href="#b14">14</a> <a href="#b15">15</a> + + <a href="#b16">16</a> <a href="#b17">17</a> <a href="#b18">18</a> <a href="#b19">19</a> + + <a href="#b20">20</a> <a href="#b21">21</a> <a href="#b22">22</a> <a href="#b23">23</a> + + <a href="#b24">24</a> <a href="#b25">25</a> <a href="#b26">26</a> <a href="#b27">27</a> + + <a href="#b28">28</a> <a href="#b29">29</a> <a href="#b30">30</a> <a href="#b31">31</a> + + <a href="#b32">32</a> <a href="#b33">33</a> <a href="#b34">34</a> <a href="#b35">35</a> + + <a href="#b36">36</a> <a href="#b37">37</a> <a href="#b38">38</a> <a href="#b39">39</a> + + <a href="#b40">40</a> <a href="#b41">41</a> <a href="#b42">42</a> <a href="#b43">43</a> + + <a href="#b44">44</a> <a href="#b45">45</a> <a href="#b46">46</a> <a href="#b47">47</a> + + <a href="#b48">48</a> <a href="#b49">49</a> <a href="#b50">50</a> <a href="#b51">51</a> + + <a href="#b52">52</a> <a href="#b53">53</a> <a href="#b54">54</a> <a href="#b55">55</a> + + <a href="#b56">56</a> <a href="#b57">57</a> <a href="#b58">58</a> <a href="#b59">59</a> + + <a href="#b60">60</a> <a href="#b61">61</a> <a href="#b62">62</a> <a href="#b63">63</a> + + <a href="#b64">64</a> <a href="#b65">65</a></div> + + +<div class="bookdes"><p><i>Brutus binds the people by oath, never to suffer any king to reign +at Rome, obliges Tarquinius Collatinus, his colleague, to resign +the consulship, and leave the state; beheads some young noblemen, +and among the rest his own and his sister's sons, for a conspiracy +to receive the kings into the city. In a war against the Veientians +and Tarquiniensians, he engages in single combat with Aruns the son +of Tarquin the Proud, and expires at the same time with his +adversary. The ladies mourn for him a whole year. The Capitol +dedicated. Porsena, king of Clusium, undertakes a war in favour of +the Tarquins. Bravery of Horatius Cocles, and of Mucius. Porsena +concludes a peace on the receipt of hostages. Conduct of Clœlia. +Ap. Claudius removes from the country of the Sabines to Rome: for +this reason the Claudian tribe is added to the former number, which +by this means are increased to twenty-one. A. Posthumius the +dictator defeats at the lake Regillus Tarquin the Proud, making war +upon the Romans with an army of Latins. Secession of the commons to +the Sacred Mount; brought back by Menenius Agrippa. Five tribunes +of the people created. Corioli taken by C. Martius; from that he is +surnamed Coriolanus. Banishment and subsequent conduct of C. M. +Coriolanus. The Agrarian law first made. Sp. Cassius condemned and +put to death. Oppia, a vestal virgin, buried alive for +incontinence. The Fabian family undertake to carry on that war at +their own cost and hazard, against the Veientians, and for that +purpose send out three hundred and six men in arms, who were all +cut off. Ap. Claudius the consul decimates his army because he had +been unsuccessful in the war with the Veientians, by their refusing +to obey orders. An account of the wars with the Volscians, Æquians, +and Veientians, and the contests of the fathers with the commons.</i></p></div> + + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b1" name="b1"></a>1</div> +<p>The affairs, civil and military, of the Roman people, henceforward +free, their annual magistrates, and the sovereignty of the laws, more +powerful than that of men, I shall now detail.—The haughty insolence of +the late king had caused this liberty to be the more welcome: for the +former kings reigned in such a manner that they all in succession might +be not undeservedly set down as founders of the parts, at least of the +city, which they added as new residences for the population augmented by +themselves. Nor is there a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> doubt but that the very same Brutus who +earned so much glory for expelling this haughty monarch, would have done +so to the greatest injury of the public weal, if, through an over-hasty +desire of liberty, he had wrested the kingdom from any of the preceding +kings. For what would have been the consequence if that rabble of +shepherds and strangers, fugitives from their own countries, having, +under the protection of an inviolable asylum, found liberty, or at least +impunity, uncontrolled by the dread of regal authority, had begun to be +distracted by tribunician storms, and to engage in contests with the +fathers in a strange city, before the pledges of wives and children, and +love of the very soil, to which it requires a length of time to become +habituated, had united their affections. Their affairs not yet matured +would have been destroyed by discord, which the tranquil moderation of +the government so cherished, and by proper nourishment brought to such +perfection, that, their strength being now developed, they were able to +produce the wholesome fruits of liberty. But the origin of liberty you +may date from this period, rather because the consular authority was +made annual, than that any diminution was made from the kingly +prerogative. The first consuls had all their privileges and ensigns of +authority, only care was taken that the terror might not appear doubled, +by both having the fasces at the same time. Brutus was, with the consent +of his colleague, first attended by the fasces, who had not been a more +zealous assertor of liberty than he was afterwards its guardian. First +of all he bound over the people, whilst still enraptured with their +newly-acquired liberty, by an oath that they would suffer no one to be +king in Rome, lest afterwards they might be perverted by the +importunities or bribes of the royal family. Next in order, that the +fulness of the house might produce more of strength in the senate, he +filled up the number of the senators, diminished by the king's murders, +to the amount of three hundred, having elected the principal men of the +equestrian rank; and from thence it is said the custom was derived of +summoning into the senate both those who were patres and those who were +conscripti.<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> Forsooth they styled those who were elected into the new +senate Conscripti. It is wonderful how<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> much that contributed to the +concord of the state, and to attach the affection of the commons to the +patricians.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b2" name="b2"></a>2</div> +<p>Then attention was paid to religious matters, and as some part of the +public worship had been performed by the kings in person, that they +might not be missed in any respect, they elect a king of the sacrifices. +This office they made subject to the pontiff, that honour being added to +the name might be no infringement on their liberty, which was now their +principal care. And I know not whether by fencing it on every side to +excess, even in the most trivial matters, they may not have exceeded +bounds. For when there was nothing else to offend, the name of one of +the consuls became an object of dislike to the state. "That the +Tarquinii had been too much habituated to sovereignty; Priscus first +commenced; that Servius Tullus reigned next; that though an interval +thus intervened, that Tarquinius Superbus, not losing sight of the +kingdom as the property of another, had reclaimed it by crime and +violence, as the hereditary right of his family. That Superbus being +expelled, the government was in the hands of Collatinus: that the +Tarquinii knew not how to live in a private station; the name pleased +them not; that it was dangerous to liberty."—Such discourses were at +first gradually circulated through the entire state by persons sounding +their dispositions; and the people, now excited by jealousy, Brutus +convenes to a meeting. There first of all he recites the people's oath: +"that they would suffer no one to be king, nor any thing to be in Rome +whence danger might result to liberty. That it ought to be maintained +with all their might, and nothing that could tend that way ought to be +overlooked; he said it with reluctance, for the sake of the individual; +and would not say it, did not his affection for the commonwealth +predominate; that the people of Rome do not believe that entire liberty +has been recovered; that the regal family, the regal name, was not only +in the state but even in the government; that was unfavourable, that was +injurious to liberty. Do you, L. Tarquinius," says he, "do you, of your +own accord, remove this apprehension. We remember, we own it, you +expelled the royal family; complete your kindness; take hence the royal +name—your property your fellow citizens shall not only restore you, by +my advice, but if any thing is wanting they will generously supply. +Depart in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> amity. Relieve the state from a dread which is perhaps +groundless. So firmly are they persuaded in mind that only with the +Tarquinian race will kingly power depart hence." Amazement at so +extraordinary and sudden an occurrence at first impeded the consul's +utterance; then, when he was commencing to speak, the chief men of the +state stand around him, and by many importunities urge the same request. +Others indeed had less weight with him. After Sp. Lucretius, superior in +age and rank, his father-in-law besides, began to try various methods, +by entreating and advising alternately, that he would suffer himself to +be prevailed on by the general feeling of the state, the consul, +apprehending lest hereafter these same things might befall him, when +again in a private station, together with loss of property and other +additional disgrace, he resigned his consulship; and removing all his +effects to Lavinium, he withdrew from the state.<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> Brutus, according +to a decree of the senate, proposed to the people, that all the family +of the Tarquins should be banished from Rome; and in an assembly by +centuries he elected P. Valerius, with whose assistance he had expelled +the kings for his colleague.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b3" name="b3"></a>3</div> +<p>Though nobody doubted that a war was impending from the Tarquins, yet +it broke out later than was universally expected; but liberty was well +nigh lost by treachery and fraud, a thing they had never apprehended. +There were, among the Roman youth, several young men of no mean +families, who, during the regal government, had pursued their pleasures +without any restraint; being of the same age with, and companions of, +the young Tarquins, and accustomed to live in princely style. Longing +for that licentiousness, now that the privileges of all were equalized, +they complained that the liberty of others has been converted to their +slavery: "that a king was a human being, from whom you can obtain, where +right, or where wrong may be necessary; that there was room for favour +and for kindness; that he could be angry, and could forgive; that he +knew the difference between a friend and an enemy; that laws were a +deaf, inexorable thing, more beneficial and advantageous for the poor +than the rich; that they allowed of no relaxation or indulgence, if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> you +transgress bounds; that it was a perilous state, amid so many human +errors, to live solely by one's integrity." Whilst their minds were +already thus discontented of their own accord, ambassadors from the +royal family come unexpectedly, demanding restitution of their effects +merely, without any mention of return. After their application was heard +in the senate, the deliberation on it lasted for several days, (fearing) +lest the non-restitution might be a pretext for war, and the restitution +a fund and assistance for war. In the mean time the ambassadors were +planning different schemes; openly demanding the property, they secretly +concerted measures for recovering the throne, and soliciting them as if +for the object which appeared to be under consideration, they sound +their feelings; to those by whom their proposals were favourably +received they give letters from the Tarquins, and confer with them about +admitting the royal family into the city secretly by night.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b4" name="b4"></a>4</div> +<p>The matter was first intrusted to brothers of the name of Vitellii +and those of the name of Aquilii. A sister of the Vitellii had been +married to Brutus the consul, and the issue of that marriage were young +men, Titus and Tiberius; these also their uncles admit into a +participation of the plot: several young noblemen also were taken in as +associates, the memory of whose names has been lost from distance of +time. In the mean time, when that opinion had prevailed in the senate, +which recommended the giving back of the property, and the ambassadors +made use of this as a pretext for delay in the city, because they had +obtained from the consuls time to procure modes of conveyance, by which +they might convey away the effects of the royal family; all this time +they spend in consulting with the conspirators, and by pressing they +succeed in having letters given to them for the Tarquins. For otherwise +how were they to believe that the accounts brought by the ambassadors on +matters of such importance were not idle? The letters, given to be a +pledge of their sincerity, discovered the plot; for when, the day before +the ambassadors set out to the Tarquins, they had supped by chance at +the house of the Vitellii, and the conspirators there in private +discoursed much together concerning their new design, as is natural, one +of the slaves, who had already perceived what was going on, overheard +their conversation; but waited for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> the occasion when the letters should +be given to the ambassadors, the detection of which would prove the +transaction; when he perceived that they were given, he laid the whole +affair before the consuls. The consuls, having left their home to seize +the ambassadors and conspirators, crushed the whole affair without any +tumult; particular care being taken of the letters, lest they should +escape them. The traitors being immediately thrown into chains, a little +doubt was entertained respecting the ambassadors, and though they +deserved to be considered as enemies, the law of nations however +prevailed.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b5" name="b5"></a>5</div> +<p>The question concerning the restitution of the tyrants' effects, +which the senate had formerly voted, came again under consideration. The +fathers, fired with indignation, expressly forbad them either to be +restored or confiscated. They were given to be rifled by the people, +that after being made participators in the royal plunder, they might +lose for ever all hopes of a reconciliation with the Tarquins. A field +belonging to them, which lay between the city and the Tiber, having been +consecrated to Mars, has been called the Campus Martius. It happened +that there was a crop of corn upon it ready to be cut down, which +produce of the field, as they thought it unlawful to use, after it was +reaped, a great number of men carried the corn and straw in baskets, and +threw them into the Tiber, which then flowed with shallow water, as is +usual in the heat of summer; that thus the heaps of corn as it stuck in +the shallows became settled when covered over with mud: by these and the +afflux of other things, which the river happened to bring thither, an +island was formed by degrees. Afterwards I believe that mounds were +added, and that aid was afforded by art, that a surface so well raised +might be firm enough for sustaining temples and porticoes. After +plundering the tyrants' effects, the traitors were condemned and capital +punishment inflicted. Their punishment was the more remarkable, because +the consulship imposed on the father the office of punishing his own +children, and him who should have been removed as a spectator, fortune +assigned as the person to exact the punishment. Young men of the highest +quality stood tied to a stake; but the consul's sons attracted the eyes +of all the spectators from the rest of the criminals, as from persons +unknown; nor did the people pity them more on account of the severity of +the punishment, than the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> horrid crime by which they had deserved it. +"That they, in that year particularly, should have brought themselves to +betray into the hands of Tarquin, formerly a proud tyrant, and now an +exasperated exile, their country just delivered, their father its +deliverer, the consulate which took its rise from the family of the +Junii, the fathers, the people, and whatever belonged either to the gods +or the citizens of Rome."<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a> The consuls seated themselves in their +tribunal, and the lictors, being despatched to inflict punishment, strip +them naked, beat them with rods, and strike off their heads. Whilst +during all this time, the father, his looks and his countenance, +presented a touching spectacle,<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> the feelings of the father bursting +forth occasionally during the office of superintending the public +execution. Next after the punishment of the guilty, that there might be +a striking example in either way for the prevention of crime, a sum of +money was granted out of the treasury as a reward to the discoverer; +liberty also and the rights of citizenship were granted him. He is said +to have been the first person made free by the Vindicta; some think even +that the term vindicta is derived from him. After him it was observed as +a rule, that those who were set free in this manner were supposed to be +admitted to the rights of Roman citizens.<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a></p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b6" name="b6"></a>6</div> +<p>On these things being announced to him, as they had occurred, +Tarquin, inflamed not only with grief for the frustration of such great +hopes, but with hatred and resentment also, when he saw that the way was +blocked up against stratagem, considering that he should have recourse +to war open<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>ly, went round as a suppliant to the cities of Etruria, +"that they should not suffer him, sprung from themselves, of the same +blood, exiled and in want, lately in possession of so great a kingdom, +to perish before their eyes, with the young men his sons. That others +had been invited to Rome from foreign lands to the throne; that he, a +king, extending the Roman empire by his arms, was driven out by those +nearest to him by a villanous conspiracy; that they had by violence +divided the parts among themselves, because no one individual among them +was deemed sufficiently deserving of the kingdom; that they had given up +his effects to the people to be pillaged by them, that no one might be +free from that guilt. That he was desirous to recover his country and +his kingdom, and to punish his ungrateful subjects. That they should +bring succour and aid him; that they might also revenge the injuries +done to them of old, their legions so often slaughtered, their land +taken from them." These arguments prevailed on the people of Veii, and +with menaces they declare that now at least, under the conduct of a +Roman general, their former disgrace should be wiped off, and what they +had lost in war should be recovered. His name and relation to them +induced the people of Tarquinii to take part with him; it seemed an +honour that their countrymen should reign at Rome. Therefore the two +armies of these two states followed Tarquin in order to recover his +kingdom, and to take vengeance upon the Romans. When they entered the +Roman territories, the consuls marched to meet them. Valerius led up the +foot in a square battalion, and Brutus marched before with his horse to +reconnoitre (the enemy). Their cavalry likewise came up first; Aruns, +Tarquin's son, commanded it; the king himself followed with the legions. +Aruns, when he knew at a distance by the lictors that it was a consul, +and on coming nigher discovered for certain that it was Brutus by his +face, all inflamed with rage, he cried out, "There is the villain who +has banished us from our native country! see how he rides in state +adorned with the ensigns of our dignity! now assist me, gods, the +avengers of kings." He put spurs to his horse and drove furiously +against the consul. Brutus perceived the attack made on him; as it was +honourable in these days for the generals to engage in combat, he +eagerly offered himself to the combat. They encountered one another with +such furious animosity, neither mind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>ful of protecting his own person, +provided he could wound his adversary; so that both, transfixed through +the buckler by the blow from the opposite direction, fell lifeless from +their horses, entangled together by the two spears. The engagement +between the rest of the horse commenced at the same time, and soon after +the foot came up. There they fought with doubtful success, and as it +were with equal advantage, and the victory doubtful. The right wings of +both armies were victorious and the left worsted. The Veientians, +accustomed to be discomfited by the Roman soldiers, were routed and put +to flight. The Tarquinienses, who were a new enemy, not only stood their +ground, but even on their side obliged the Romans to give way.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b7" name="b7"></a>7</div> +<p>After the issue of this battle, so great a terror seized Tarquin and +the Etrurians, that both the armies, the Veientian and Tarquinian, +giving up the matter as impracticable, departed to their respective +homes. They annex strange incidents to this battle,—that in the silence +of the next night a loud voice was emitted from the Arsian wood; that it +was believed to be the voice of Silvanus: these words were spoken, "that +more of the Etrurians by one<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> had fallen in the battle; that the +Roman was victorious in the war." Certainly the Romans departed thence +as victors, the Etrurians as vanquished. For as soon as it was light, +and not one of the enemy was now to be seen, P. Valerius the consul +collected the spoils, and returned thence in triumph to Rome. His +colleague's funeral he celebrated with all the magnificence then +possible. But a far greater honour to his death was the public sorrow, +singularly remarkable in this particular, that the matrons mourned him a +year,<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> as a parent, because he had been so vigorous an avenger of +violated chastity. Afterwards the consul who survived, so changeable are +the minds of the people, from great popularity, encountered not only +jealousy, but suspicion, originating in an atrocious charge. Report +represented that he aspired to the crown, because he had not substituted +a colleague in the room of Brutus, and was building a house on the +summit of Mount Velia, that there would be there an impregnable fortress +on an elevated and well-for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>tified place. When these things, thus +circulated and believed, affected the consul's mind with indignation, +having summoned the people to an assembly, he mounts the rostrum, after +lowering the fasces. It was a grateful sight to the multitude that the +insignia of authority were lowered to them, and that an acknowledgment +was made, that the majesty and power of the people were greater than +that of the consul. When they were called to silence, Valerius highly +extolled the good fortune of his colleague, "who after delivering his +country had died vested with the supreme power, fighting bravely in +defence of the commonwealth, when his glory was in its maturity, and not +yet converted into jealousy. That he himself, having survived his glory, +now remained as an object of accusation and calumny; that from the +liberator of his country he had fallen to the level of the Aquilii and +Vitellii. Will no merit then, says he, ever be so tried and approved by +you, as to be exempted from the attacks of suspicion. Could I apprehend +that myself, the bitterest enemy of kings, should fall under the charge +of a desire of royalty? Could I believe that, even though I dwelt in the +very citadel and the Capitol, that I could be dreaded by my fellow +citizens? Does my character among you depend on so mere a trifle? Is my +integrity so slightly founded, that it makes more matter where I may be, +than what I may be. The house of Publius Valerius shall not stand in the +way of your liberty, Romans; the Velian mount shall be secure to you. I +will not only bring down my house into the plain, but I will build it +beneath the hill, that you may dwell above me a suspected citizen. Let +those build on the Velian mount to whom liberty is more securely +intrusted than to P. Valerius." Immediately all the materials were +brought down to the foot of the Velian mount, and the house was built at +the foot of the hill where the temple of Victory now stands.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b8" name="b8"></a>8</div> +<p>After this laws were passed, which not only cleared him of all +suspicions of aiming at the regal power, but had so contrary a tendency, +that they made him popular. From thence he was surnamed Poplicola. Above +all, the laws regarding an appeal to the people against the magistrates, +and that devoting the life and property of any one who should form a +design of assuming regal authority, were grateful to the people. And +after he had passed these while sole consul, so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> that the merit in them +was exclusively his own, he then held an assembly for the election of a +new colleague. Sp. Lucretius was elected consul, who being very old, and +his strength being inadequate to discharge the consular duties, dies in +a few days. M. Horatius Pulvillus was substituted in the room of +Lucretius. In some old writers I find no mention of Lucretius as consul; +they place Horatius immediately after Brutus. I believe that, because no +important event signalized his consulate, it has been unnoticed. +Jupiter's temple in the Capitol had not yet been dedicated; the consuls +Valerius and Horatius cast lots which should dedicate it. It fell by lot +to Horatius. Publicola departed to the war of the Veientians. The +friends of Valerius were more annoyed than they should have been, that +the dedication of so celebrated a temple should be given to +Horatius.<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> Having endeavoured by every means to prevent that, when +all other attempts had been tried in vain, when the consul was now +holding the door-post during his offering of prayer to the gods, they +suddenly announce to him the shocking intelligence that his son was +dead, and that his family being defiled<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> he could not dedicate the +temple. Whether he did not believe the fact, or possessed such great +firmness of mind, is neither handed down for certain, nor is a +conjecture easy. Diverted from his purpose at this intelligence in no +other way than to order that the body should be buried,<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a> he goes +through the prayer, and dedicates the temple. These were the +transactions at home and abroad the first year after the expulsion of +the kings. After this P. Valerius, a second time, and Titus Lucretius, +were elected consuls.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b9" name="b9"></a>9</div> +<p>By this time the Tarquins had fled to Lars<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a> Porsena, king of +Clusium. There, mixing advice with their entreaties, "They sometimes +besought him not to suffer them, who were descended from the Etrurians, +and of the same blood and name, to live in exile and poverty; at other +times they advised him not to let this commencing practice of expelling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +kings pass unpunished. That liberty has charms enough in itself; and +unless kings defend their crowns with as much vigour as the people +pursue their liberty, that the highest must be reduced to a level with +the lowest; there will be nothing exalted, nothing distinguished above +the rest; and hence there must be an end of regal government, the most +beautiful institution both among gods and men." Porsena, thinking that +it would be an honour to the Tuscans both that there should be a king at +Rome, and especially one of the Etrurian nation, marched towards Rome +with a hostile army. Never before on any other occasion did so great +terror seize the senate; so powerful was the state of Clusium at the +time, and so great the renown of Porsena. Nor did they only dread their +enemies, but even their own citizens, lest the common people, through +excess of fear, should, by receiving the Tarquins into the city, accept +peace even if purchased with slavery. Many conciliatory concessions were +therefore granted to the people by the senate during that period. Their +attention, in the first place, was directed to the markets, and persons +were sent, some to the Volscians, others to Cumæ, to buy up corn. The +privilege<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a> of selling salt, also, because it was farmed at a high +rent, was all taken into the hands of government,<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a> and withdrawn from +private individuals; and the people were freed from port-duties and +taxes; that the rich, who were adequate to bearing the burden, should +contribute; that the poor paid tax enough if they educated their +children. This indulgent care of the fathers accordingly kept the whole +state in such concord amid the subsequent se<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>verities in the siege and +famine, that the highest abhorred the name of king not more than the +lowest; nor was any single individual afterwards so popular by +intriguing practices, as the whole senate then was by their excellent +government.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b10" name="b10"></a>10</div> +<p>Some parts seemed secured by the walls, others by the interposition +of the Tiber. The Sublician bridge well nigh afforded a passage to the +enemy, had there not been one man, Horatius Cocles, (that defence the +fortune of Rome had on that day,) who, happening to be posted on guard +at the bridge, when he saw the Janiculum taken by a sudden assault, and +that the enemy were pouring down from thence in full speed, and that his +own party, in terror and confusion, were abandoning their arms and +ranks, laying hold of them one by one, standing in their way, and +appealing to the faith of gods and men, he declared, "That their flight +would avail them nothing if they deserted their post; if they passed the +bridge and left it behind them, there would soon be more of the enemy in +the Palatium and Capitol than in the Janiculum; for that reason he +advised and charged them to demolish the bridge, by their sword, by +fire, or by any means whatever; that he would stand the shock of the +enemy as far as could be done by one man." He then advances to the first +entrance of the bridge, and being easily distinguished among those who +showed their backs in retreating from the fight, facing about to engage +the foe hand to hand, by his surprising bravery he terrified the enemy. +Two indeed a sense of shame kept with him, Sp. Lartius and T. Herminius, +men eminent for their birth, and renowned for their gallant exploits. +With them he for a short time stood the first storm of the danger, and +the severest brunt of the battle. But as they who demolished the bridge +called upon them to retire, he obliged them also to withdraw to a place +of safety on a small portion of the bridge still left. Then casting his +stern eyes round all the officers of the Etrurians in a threatening +manner, he sometimes challenged them singly, sometimes reproached them +all; "the slaves of haughty tyrants, who, regardless of their own +freedom, came to oppress the liberty of others." They hesitated for a +considerable time, looking round one at the other, to commence the +fight; shame then put the army in motion, and a shout being raised, they +hurl their weapons from all sides on their single adversary; and when +they all stuck in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> the shield held before him, and he with no less +obstinacy kept possession of the bridge with firm step, they now +endeavoured to thrust him down from it by one push, when at once the +crash of the falling bridge, at the same time a shout of the Romans +raised for joy at having completed their purpose, checked their ardour +with sudden panic. Then Cocles says, "Holy father Tiberinus, I pray that +thou wouldst receive these arms, and this thy soldier, in thy propitious +stream." Armed as he was, he leaped into the Tiber, and amid showers of +darts hurled on him, swam across safe to his party, having dared an act +which is likely to obtain more fame than credit with posterity. The +state was grateful towards such valour; a statue was erected to him in +the comitium, and as much land was given to him as he ploughed around in +one day. The zeal of private individuals also was conspicuous among the +public honours. For, amid the great scarcity, each person contributed +something to him according to his supply at home, depriving himself of +his own support.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b11" name="b11"></a>11</div> +<p>Porsena being repulsed in his first attempt, having changed his +plans from a siege to a blockade, after he had placed a garrison in +Janiculum, pitched his camp in the plain and on the banks of the Tiber. +Then sending for boats from all parts, both to guard the river, so as +not to suffer any provision to be conveyed to Rome, and also to +transport his soldiers across the river, to plunder different places as +occasion required; in a short time he so harassed the entire country +round Rome, that not only every thing else from the country, but even +their cattle, was driven into the city, and nobody durst venture thence +without the gates. This liberty of action was granted to the Etrurians, +not more through fear than from policy; for Valerius, intent on an +opportunity of falling unawares upon a number of them, and when +straggling, a remiss avenger in trifling matters, reserved the weight of +his vengeance for more important occasions. Wherefore, to decoy the +pillagers, he ordered his men to drive their cattle the next day out at +the Esquiline gate, which was farthest from the enemy, presuming that +they would get intelligence of it, because during the blockade and +famine some slaves would turn traitors and desert. Accordingly they were +informed of it by a deserter, and parties more numerous than usual, in +hopes of seizing the entire body, crossed the river.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> Then P. Valerius +commanded T. Herminius, with a small body of men, to lie concealed two +miles from the city, on the Gabian road, and Sp. Lartius, with a party +of light-armed troops, to post himself at the Colline gate till the +enemy should pass by, and then to throw himself in their way so that +there may be no return to the river. The other consul, T. Lucretius, +marched out of the Nævian gate with some companies of soldiers; Valerius +himself led some chosen cohorts down from the Cœlian mount, and they +were first descried by the enemy. Herminius, when he perceived the +alarm, rose out of the ambush and fell upon the rear of the Tuscans, who +had charged Valerius. The shout was returned on the right and left, from +the Colline gate on the one hand, and the Nævian on the other. By this +stratagem the plunderers were put to the sword between both, they not +being a match in strength for fighting, and all the ways being blocked +up to prevent escape: this put an end to the Etrurians strolling about +in so disorderly a manner.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b12" name="b12"></a>12</div> +<p>Nevertheless the blockade continued, and there was a scarcity of +corn, with a very high price. Porsena entertained a hope that by +continuing the siege he should take the city, when C. Mucius, a young +nobleman, to whom it seemed a disgrace that the Roman people, when +enslaved under kings, had never been confined within their walls in any +war, nor by any enemy, should now when a free people be blocked up by +these very Etrurians whose armies they had often routed, thinking that +such indignity should be avenged by some great and daring effort, at +first designed of his own accord to penetrate into the enemy's camp. +Then, being afraid if he went without the permission of the consuls, or +the knowledge of any one, he might be seized by the Roman guards and +brought back as a deserter, the circumstances of the city at the time +justifying the charge, he went to the senate: "Fathers," says he, "I +intend to cross the Tiber, and enter the enemy's camp, if I can; not as +a plunderer, or as an avenger in our turn of their devastations. A +greater deed is in in my mind, if the gods assist." The senate approved +his design. He set out with a sword concealed under his garment. When he +came thither, he stationed himself among the thickest of the crowd, near +the king's tribunal. There, when the soldiers were receiving their pay, +and the king's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> secretary sitting by him, dressed nearly in the same +style, was busily engaged, and to him they commonly addressed +themselves, being afraid to ask which of them was Porsena, lest by not +knowing the king he should discover on himself, as fortune blindly +directed the blow, he killed the secretary instead of the king. When, as +he was going off thence where with his bloody dagger he had made his way +through the dismayed multitude, a concourse being attracted at the +noise, the king's guards immediately seized and brought him back +standing alone before the king's tribunal; even then, amid such menaces +of fortune, more capable of inspiring dread than of feeling it, "I am," +says he, "a Roman citizen, my name is Caius Mucius; an enemy, I wished +to slay an enemy, nor have I less of resolution to suffer death than I +had to inflict it. Both to act and to suffer with fortitude is a Roman's +part. Nor have I alone harboured such feelings towards you; there is +after me a long train of persons aspiring to the same honour. Therefore, +if you choose it, prepare yourself for this peril, to contend for your +life every hour; to have the sword and the enemy in the very entrance of +your pavilion; this is the war which we the Roman youth declare against +you; dread not an army in array, nor a battle; the affair will be to +yourself alone and with each of us singly." When the king, highly +incensed, and at the same time terrified at the danger, in a menacing +manner, commanded fires to be kindled about him, if he did not speedily +explain the plots, which, by his threats, he had darkly insinuated +against him; Mucius said, "Behold me, that you may be sensible of how +little account the body is to those who have great glory in view;" and +immediately he thrusts his right hand into the fire that was lighted for +the sacrifice. When he continued to broil it as if he had been quite +insensible, the king, astonished at this surprising sight, after he had +leaped from his throne and commanded the young man to be removed from +the altar, says, "Be gone, having acted more like an enemy towards +thyself than me. I would encourage thee to persevere in thy valour, if +that valour stood on the side of my country. I now dismiss you untouched +and unhurt, exempted from the right of war." Then Mucius, as if making a +return for the kindness, says, "Since bravery is honoured by you, so +that you have obtained by kindness that which you could not by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> threats, +three hundred of us, the chief of the Roman youth, have conspired to +attack you in this manner. It was my lot first. The rest will follow, +each in his turn, according as the lot shall set him forward, unless +fortune shall afford an opportunity of you."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b13" name="b13"></a>13</div> +<p>Mucius being dismissed, to whom the cognomen of Scævola was +afterwards given, from the loss of his right hand, ambassadors from +Porsena followed him to Rome. The risk of the first attempt, from which +nothing had saved him but the mistake of the assailant, and the risk to +be encountered so often in proportion to the number of conspirators, +made so strong an impression upon him, that of his own accord he made +propositions of peace to the Romans. Mention was made to no purpose +regarding the restoration of the Tarquinii to the throne, rather because +he had been unable to refuse that to the Tarquinii, than from not +knowing that it would be refused to him by the Romans. The condition of +restoring their territory to the Veientians was obtained by him, and the +necessity of giving hostages in case they wished the garrison to be +withdrawn from the Janiculum was extorted from the Romans. Peace being +concluded on these terms, Porsena drew his troops out of the Janiculum, +and marched out of the Roman territories. The fathers gave Mucius, as a +reward of his valour, lands on the other side of the Tiber, which were +afterwards called the Mucian meadows. By this honour paid to valour the +women were excited to merit public distinctions. As the camp of the +Etrurians had been pitched not far from the banks of the Tiber, a young +lady named Clælia, one of the hostages, deceiving her keepers, swam over +the river, amidst the darts of the enemy, at the head of a troop of +virgins, and brought them all safe to their relations. When the king was +informed of this, at first highly incensed, he sent deputies to Rome to +demand the hostage Clælia; that he did not regard the others; and +afterwards, being changed into admiration of her courage, he said, "that +this action surpassed those of Cocles and Mucius," and declared, "as he +would consider the treaty as broken if the hostage were not delivered +up, so, if given up, he would send her back safe to her friends." Both +sides kept their faith: the Romans restored their pledge of peace +according to treaty; and with the king of Etruria merit found not only +security,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> but honour; and, after making encomiums on the young lady, +promised to give her, as a present, half of the hostages, and that she +should choose whom she pleased. When they were all brought out, she is +said to have pitched upon the young boys below puberty, which was both +consonant to maiden delicacy, and by consent of the hostages themselves +it was deemed reasonable, that that age which was most exposed to injury +should be freed from the enemy's hand. The peace being re-established, +the Romans marked the uncommon instance of bravery in the woman, by an +uncommon kind of honour, an equestrian statue; (the statue representing) +a lady sitting on horseback was placed at the top of the Via Sacra.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b14" name="b14"></a>14</div> +<p>Inconsistent with this so peaceful a departure of the Etrurian king +from the city, is the custom handed down from the ancients, and which +continues down to our times among other usages at public sales, (I mean) +that of selling the goods of king Porsena; the origin<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a> of which +custom must either have occurred during the war, and was not +relinquished in peace, or it must have increased from a milder source +than the form of expression imports, of selling the goods in a hostile +manner. Of the accounts handed down, the most probable is, that Porsena, +on retiring from the Janiculum, made a present to the Romans of his camp +well stored with provisions conveyed from the neighbouring and fertile +fields of Etruria, the city being then exhausted by the long siege; that +this, lest it should be carried away in a hostile manner, by the people +being admitted in, was then sold, and called the goods of Porsena, the +expression rather importing gratitude for the gift, than an auction of +the king's property, which never even was in the power of the Roman +people. Porsena, after ending the Roman war, that his army might not +seem to have been led into these parts without effecting any thing, sent +his son Aruns with a part of his forces to besiege Aricia. The matter +not being expected, the Aricians were at first terrified; afterwards +assistance, which was sent for from the people of Latium and Cumæ, +inspired so much hope, that they ventured to meet them in the field. At +the commencement of the battle the Etrurians attacked the Aricians so +furiously, that they routed them at the first onset. But the Cuman +cohorts, op<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>posing stratagem to force, moved off a little to one side, +and when the enemy were carried beyond them in great disorder, they +faced about and charged them in the rear. By this means the Etrurians, +when they had almost got the victory, were enclosed and cut to +pieces.<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a> A very small part of them, having lost their general, +because they had no nearer refuge, came to Rome without their arms, in +the condition and with the air of suppliants. There they were kindly +received and provided with lodgings. When their wounds were cured, many +of them went home and told the kind hospitality they had met with. +Affection for their hosts and for the city detained many at Rome; a +place was assigned them to dwell in, which they have ever since called +the Tuscan Street.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b15" name="b15"></a>15</div> +<p>Then P. Lucretius and P. Valerius Publicola were elected consuls. +This year ambassadors came from Porsena for the last time, regarding the +restoration of Tarquin to the throne. And when they were answered, that +the senate would send deputies to the king; some of the principal +persons of that order were forthwith despatched to represent to him +"that it was not because the answer could not have been given in a few +words, that the royal family would not be received, that select members +of the senate had been deputed to him, rather than an answer given to +his ambassadors at Rome; but (it was done) that all mention of the +matter might be put an end to for evermore, and that their minds might +not be disturbed amid so many mutual acts of kindness, by his requiring +what was adverse to the liberty of the Roman people, and by their +denying to him to whom they would willingly deny nothing, unless they +would submit to their own ruin. That the Roman people were not now under +a kingly government, but in a state of freedom, and were firmly +determined rather to open their gates to enemies than to kings. That it +was the wish of all, that their city might have the same period of +existence as their freedom in that city. Wherefore, if he wished Rome to +be safe, they entreated that he would suffer it to be free." The king, +overcome by modesty, says, "Since it is your firm and fixed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> resolve, I +will neither tease you by repeatedly urging these same subjects more +frequently, nor will I disappoint the Tarquinii by holding out hopes of +aid which it is not in my power to give them; whether they have need of +peace, or of war, let them seek another place from here for their exile, +that nothing may disturb the peace between you and me." To these kind +promises he added actions still more friendly, for he delivered up the +remainder of the hostages, and restored to them the land of the +Veientians, which had been taken from them by the treaty concluded at +Janiculum. Tarquin, all hopes of return being now cut off, went to +Tusculum to live in exile with his son-in-law Mamilius Octavius. Thus +the peace between Porsena and the Romans was inviolably preserved.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b16" name="b16"></a>16</div> +<p>M. Valerius and P. Posthumius were chosen consuls. This year war was +carried on successfully against the Sabines; the consuls received the +honour of a triumph. Upon this the Sabines made preparations for war on +a larger scale. To make head against them, and lest any sudden danger +might arise from Tusculum, (whence they suspected a war, though it was +not yet declared,) P. Valerius was created consul a fourth time, and T. +Lucretius a second time. A disturbance arising among the Sabines, +between the advisers of war and of peace, transferred from thence some +additional strength to the Romans. For Attus Clausus, afterwards called +at Rome Appius Claudius, when he himself, being an adviser of peace, was +hard put to it by those who abetted the war, and was not a match for the +faction, fled from Regillum to Rome, accompanied by a great number of +clients. The rights of citizenship and land on the other side of the +Anio were conferred on them. It was called the old Claudian tribe, and +was increased by the addition of some tribesmen who had come from that +country. Appius, being chosen into the senate, was soon after advanced, +to the highest dignity of that order. The consuls having entered the +territories of the Sabines with a hostile army, after they had, both by +laying waste their country, and afterwards by defeating them in battle, +so weakened the power of the enemy, that they had no reason to dread +their taking up arms again for a long time, returned to Rome in triumph. +The following year, Agrippa Menenius and P. Posthumius being consuls, P. +Valerius, al<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>lowed by universal consent to be the ablest man in Rome, in +the arts both of peace and war, died in the height of glory, but so +poor, that means to defray the expenses of his funeral were wanting: he +was buried at the public charge. The matrons mourned for him as they had +done for Brutus. The same year two Latin colonies, Pometia and Cora, +revolted to the Auruncians. War was commenced against the Auruncians, +and after defeating a numerous army of them who boldly met the consuls +entering their frontiers, the whole Auruncian war was confined to +Pometia. Nor, after the battle was over, did they refrain from slaughter +more than in the heat of the action; for a greater number were slain +than taken, and the prisoners they put to death indiscriminately. Nor +did the enemy, in their resentment, spare even the three hundred +hostages which they had received. This year also the consuls triumphed +at Rome.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b17" name="b17"></a>17</div> +<p>The following consuls, Opiter Virginius and Sp. Cassius, first +endeavoured to take Pometia by storm, and afterwards by raising vineæ +and other works. But the Auruncians, prompted more by an irreconcilable +hatred against them, than induced by hopes of success, or by a +favourable opportunity, sallied out of the town, and though more of them +were armed with lighted torches than swords, filled all places with fire +and slaughter. After they had burnt down the vineæ, slain and wounded +many of the enemy, they were near killing one of the consuls, who had +been thrown from his horse and severely wounded (which of them authors +do not mention). Upon this they returned to Rome, foiled in their +object; the consul was left among many more who were wounded with very +uncertain hopes of his recovery. After a short time, sufficient for +curing their wounds and recruiting their army, they marched against +Pometia with redoubled fury and augmented strength. When, the vineæ +having been repaired and the other apparatus of war, the soldiers were +on the point of scaling the walls, the town surrendered. Yet though the +town had surrendered, the leading men of the Auruncians, with no less +cruelty than if it had been taken by assault, were beheaded +indiscriminately; the others who were colonists were sold by auction, +the town was razed, and the land sold. The consuls obtained a triumph +more from having severely gratified their revenge, than in con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>sequence +of the importance of the war thus brought to a close.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b18" name="b18"></a>18</div> +<p>The following year had Postumus Cominius and T. Lartius for consuls. +On this year, during the celebration of the games at Rome, as some of +the courtesans were being carried off by some of the Sabine youth in a +frolic, a mob having assembled, a scuffle ensued, and almost a battle; +and from this inconsiderable affair the whole nation seemed inclined to +a renewal of hostilities. Besides the dread of the Latin war, this +accession was further made to their fears; certain intelligence was +received that thirty different states had entered into a confederacy +against them, at the instigation of Octavius Mamilius. While the city +was perplexed amid this expectation of such important events, mention +was made for the first time of nominating a dictator. But in what year +or who the consuls<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> were in whom confidence was not reposed, because +they were of the Tarquinian faction, (for that also is recorded,) or who +was elected dictator for the first time, is not satisfactorily +established. Among the oldest writers however I find that Titus Lartius +was appointed the first dictator, and Spurius Cassius master of the +horse. They chose men of consular dignity, for so the law, made for the +election of a dictator, ordained. For this reason, I am more inclined to +believe that Lartius, who was of consular rank, was annexed to the +consuls as their director and master, rather than Manius Valerius, the +son of Marcus and grandson of Volesus, who had not yet been consul. For, +had they intended to choose a dictator from that family in particular, +they would much rather have chosen his father, Marcus Valerius, a +consular person, and a man of distinguished merit. On the creation of +the dictator first at Rome, when they saw the axes carried before him, +great awe struck the common people, so that they became more submissive +to obey orders. For neither was there now, as under the consuls who +possessed equal power, the assistance of one of the two, nor was there +appeal, nor was there any resource any where but in attentive +submission. The creation of a dictator at Rome terrified the Sabines, +and the more effectually, because<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> they thought he was created on their +account.<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a> Wherefore they sent ambassadors to sue for peace, to whom, +when earnestly entreating the dictator and senate to pardon the young +men's offence, an answer was given that the young men could easily be +forgiven, but not the old men, who continually raised one war after +another. Nevertheless they continued to treat about a peace, and it +would have been granted, if the Sabines would bring themselves to make +good the expenses incurred on the war (for that was demanded). War was +proclaimed; a tacit truce kept the year quiet.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b19" name="b19"></a>19</div> +<p>Servius Sulpicius and M. Tullius were consuls the next year: nothing +worth mentioning happened. Then T. Æbutius and C. Vetusius. In their +consulship, Fidenæ was besieged, Crustumeria taken, and Præneste +revolted from the Latins to the Romans. Nor was the Latin war, which had +been fomenting for several years, any longer deferred. A. Postumius +dictator, and T. Æbutius his master of the horse, marching with a +numerous army of horse and foot, met the enemy's forces at the lake +Regillus, in the territory of Tusculum, and, because it was heard that +the Tarquins were in the army of the Latins, their rage could not be +restrained, but they must immediately come to an engagement. Accordingly +the battle was more obstinate and fierce than usual. For the generals +were present not only to direct matters by their orders, but even +charged one another, exposing their own persons. And there was hardly +any of the principal officers of either side who came off unwounded +except the Roman dictator. As Postumius was drawing up his men and +encouraging them in the first line, Tarquinius Superbus, though now +enfeebled by age, spurred on his horse with great fury to attack him; +but being wounded in the side, he was carried off by a party of his own +men to a place of safety. In the other wing also, Æbutius, master of the +horse, had charged Octavius Mamilius; nor was his approach unobserved by +the Tusculan general, who also briskly spurred on his horse to encounter +him. And such was their impetuosity as they advanced with hostile +spears, that Æbutius was run through the arm and Mamilius struck on the +breast. The Latins received the latter into their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> second line; but as +Æbutius was not able to wield his lance with his wounded arm, he retired +from the battle. The Latin general, not in the least discouraged by his +wound, stirs up the fight; and because he saw his own men begin to give +ground, sent for a company of Roman exiles to support them, commanded by +Tarquin's son. This body, inasmuch as they fought with greater fury from +having been banished from their country, and lost their estates, +restored the battle for a short time.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b20" name="b20"></a>20</div> +<p>When the Romans were beginning to give ground on that side, M. +Valerius, brother to Poplicola, having observed young Tarquin boldly +figuring away at the head of his exiles, fired with the renown of his +family, that the slaying of the princes might belong to the same family +whose glory their expulsion had been, clapped spurs to his horse, and +with his javelin presented made towards Tarquin. Tarquin retired from +his violent enemy into a battalion of his own men. As Valerius rushed +rashly into the line of the exiles, one of them ran him sideways through +the body, and as the horse was in no way retarded by the wound of his +rider, the expiring Roman fell to the ground, his arms falling over him. +Postumius the dictator, on seeing so distinguished a man slain, the +exiles advancing boldly in a body, and his own men disheartened and +giving ground, gives the signal to his own cohort, a chosen body of men +which he kept for the defence of his person, to treat every Roman +soldier whom they should see fly from the battle as an enemy. Upon this +the Romans, by reason of the danger on both sides, turned from their +flight against the enemy, and, the battle being restored, the dictator's +cohort now for the first time engaged in the fight, and with fresh +vigour and undaunted resolution falling on the wearied exiles, cut them +to pieces. Here another engagement took place between the leading +officers. The Latin general, on seeing the cohort of the exiles almost +surrounded by the Roman dictator, advanced in haste to the front with +some companies of the body of reserve. T. Herminius, a +lieutenant-general, having seen them moving in a body, and well knowing +Mamilius, distinguished from the rest by his armour and dress, +encountered the leader of the enemy with a force so much superior to +that wherewith the general of the horse had lately done, that at one +thrust<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> he ran him through the side and slew him; and while stripping +the body of his enemy, he himself received a wound with a javelin; and +though brought back to the camp victorious, yet he died during the first +dressing of it. Then the dictator flies to the cavalry, entreating them +in the most pressing terms, as the foot were tired out with fighting, to +dismount from their horses and join the fight. They obeyed his orders, +dismounted, flew to the front, and taking their post at the first line, +cover themselves with their targets. The infantry immediately recovered +courage, when they saw the young noblemen sustaining a share of the +danger with them, the mode of fighting being now assimilated. Thus at +length were the Latins beaten back, and their line giving way,<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> they +retreated. The horses were then brought up to the cavalry that they +might pursue the enemy, and the infantry likewise followed. On this, the +dictator, omitting nothing (that could conciliate) divine or human aid, +is said to have vowed a temple to Castor, and likewise to have promised +rewards to the first and second of the soldiers who should enter the +enemy's camp. And such was their ardour, that the Romans took the camp +with the same impetuosity wherewith they had routed the enemy in the +field. Such was the engagement at the lake Regillus. The dictator and +master of the horse returned to the city in triumph.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b21" name="b21"></a>21</div> +<p>For the next three years there was neither settled peace nor open +war. The consuls were Q. Clælius and T. Lartius. After them A. +Sempronius and M. Minucius. In their consulship, a temple was dedicated +to Saturn, and the Saturnalia appointed to be kept as a festival. Then +A. Postumius and T. Virginius were chosen consuls. In some authors I +find that the battle at the lake Regillus was not fought till this year, +and that A. Postumius, because the fidelity of his colleague was +suspected, laid down his office, and thereupon was created dictator. +Such great mistakes of dates perplex one with the history of these +times, the magistrates being arranged differently in different writers, +that you cannot determine what consuls succeeded certain consuls,<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> +nor in what particular year every remarkable action<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> happened, by reason +of the antiquity, not only of the facts, but also of the historians. +Then Ap. Claudius and P. Servilius were elected consuls. This year was +remarkable for the news of Tarquin's death. He died at Cumæ, whither he +had fled to the tyrant Aristodemus, after the reduction of the power of +the Latins. The senate and people were elated by this news. But with the +senators their satisfaction was too extravagant, for by the chief men +among them oppression began to be practised on the people to whom they +had to that day been attentive to the utmost of their power. The same +year the colony which king Tarquin had sent to Signia was recruited by +filling up the number of the colonists. The tribes at Rome were +increased to twenty-one. And the temple of Mercury was dedicated the +fifteenth of May.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b22" name="b22"></a>22</div> +<p>During the Latin war, there had been neither peace nor war with the +nation of the Volscians; for both the Volscians had raised auxiliary +troops to send to the Latins had not so much expedition been used by the +Roman dictator, and the Roman employed this expedition that he might not +have to contend in one and the same battle with the Latin and the +Volscian. In resentment of this, the consuls marched their army into the +Volscian territory; the unexpected proceeding alarmed the Volscians, who +dreaded no chastisement of mere intention; unmindful of arms, they gave +three hundred children of the principal men of Cora and Pometia as +hostages. Upon this the legions were withdrawn without coming to any +action. Not long after their natural disposition returned to the +Volscians, now delivered of their fears; they again make secret +preparation for war, having taken the Hernicians into an alliance with +them. They send ambassadors in every direction to stir up Latium. But +the recent defeat received at the lake Regillus, could scarcely restrain +the Latins from offering violence to the ambassadors through resentment +and hatred of any one who would advise them to take up arms. Having +seized the Volscians, they brought them to Rome. They were there +delivered up to the consuls, and information was given that the +Volscians and Hernicians were making preparations for war against the +Romans. The matter being referred to the senate, it was so gratifying to +the senators that they both sent back six thousand prisoners to the +Latins, and referred to the new magistrates the business regarding the +treaty, which had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> been almost absolutely refused them. Upon this indeed +the Latins were heartily glad at what they had done, the advisers of +peace were in high esteem. They send a crown of gold to the Capitol as +an offering to Jupiter. Along with the ambassadors and the offering +there came a great crowd, consisting of the prisoners who had been sent +back to their friends. They proceed to the houses of those persons with +whom each had been in servitude, and return thanks for their having been +generously kept and treated during their calamity. They then form +connexions of hospitality. And never at any former time was the Latin +name more closely united to the Roman state, either by public or private +ties.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b23" name="b23"></a>23</div> +<p>But both the Volscian war was threatening, and the state, being +disturbed within itself, glowed with intestine animosity between the +senate and people, chiefly on account of those confined for debt. They +complained loudly, that whilst fighting abroad for liberty and dominion, +they were captured and oppressed at home by their fellow citizens; and +that the liberty of the people was more secure in war than in peace, +among enemies than among their fellow citizens; and this feeling of +discontent, increasing of itself, the striking sufferings of an +individual still further aggravated. A certain person advanced in years +threw himself into the forum with all the badges of his miseries on him. +His clothes were all over squalid, the figure of his body still more +shocking, being pale and emaciated. In addition, a long beard and hair +had impressed a savage wildness on his countenance; in such wretchedness +he was known notwithstanding, and they said that he had been a +centurion, and compassionating him they mentioned openly other +distinctions (obtained) in the service: he himself exhibited scars on +his breast, testimonies of honourable battles in several places. To +persons repeatedly inquiring, whence that garb, whence that ghastly +appearance of body, (the multitude having now assembled around him +almost like a popular assembly,) he says, "that whilst serving in the +Sabine war, because he had not only been deprived of the produce of his +land in consequence of the depredations of the enemy, but also his +residence had been burned down, all his effects pillaged, his cattle +driven off, a tax imposed on him at a time very distressing to him, he +had incurred debt; that this debt, aggravated by usury, had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> stripped +him first of his father's and grandfather's farm, then of his other +property; lastly that a pestilence, as it were, had reached his person. +That he was taken by his creditor, not into servitude, but into a house +of correction and a place of execution." He then showed his back +disfigured with the marks of stripes still recent. At the hearing and +seeing of this a great uproar takes place. The tumult is now no longer +confined to the forum, but spreads through the entire city. Those who +were confined for debt, and those who were now at their liberty, hurry +into the streets from all quarters and implore the protection of the +people. In no place is there wanting a voluntary associate of sedition. +They run through all the streets in crowds to the forum with loud +shouts. Such of the senators as happened to be in the forum, fell in +with this mob with great peril to themselves; nor would they have +refrained from violence, had not the consuls, P. Servilius and Ap. +Claudius, hastily interfered to quell the disturbance. The multitude +turning towards them, and showing their chains and other marks of +wretchedness, said that they deserved all this, taunting them (the +consuls) each with the military services performed by himself, one in +one place, and another in another. They require them with menaces, +rather than as suppliants, to assemble the senate, and stand round the +senate-house in a body, determined themselves to be witnesses and +directors of the public counsels. Very few of the senators, whom chance +had thrown in the way, were forced to attend the consuls; fear prevented +the rest from coming not only to the house, but even to the forum. Nor +could any thing be done by reason of the thinness of the senate. Then +indeed the people began to think their demand was eluded, and the +redress of their grievances delayed; that such of the senators as had +absented themselves did so not through chance or fear, but on purpose to +obstruct the business. That the consuls themselves trifled with them, +that their miseries were now a mere subject of mockery. By this time the +sedition was come to such a height, that the majesty of the consuls +could hardly restrain the violence of the people. Wherefore, uncertain +whether they incurred greater danger by staying at home, or venturing +abroad, they came at length to the senate; but though the house was at +length full, a want of agreement manifested itself, not only among the +fathers, but even between the consuls<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> themselves. Appius, a man of +violent temper, thought the matter was to be done by the authority of +the consuls, and that if one or two were seized, the rest would be +quiet. Servilius, more inclined to moderate measures, thought that while +their minds were in this ferment, it would be both more safe and more +easy to bend than to break them. Amidst these debates, another terror of +a more serious nature presented itself.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b24" name="b24"></a>24</div> +<p>Some Latin horse came full speed to Rome, with the alarming news +that the Volscians were marching with a hostile army, to besiege the +city, the announcement of which (so completely had discord made the +state two from one) affected the senators and people in a far different +manner. The people exulted with joy, and said, that the gods were come +as avengers of the tyranny of the fathers. They encouraged one another +not to enrol their names, that it was better that all should perish +together, than that they should perish alone. That the patricians should +serve as soldiers, that the patricians should take up arms, so that the +perils of war should remain with those with whom the advantages were. +But the senate, dejected and confounded by the two-fold terror, that +from their own countrymen, and that from the enemy, entreated the consul +Servilius, whose temper was more conciliating, that he would extricate +the commonwealth beset with such great terrors. Then the consul, +dismissing the senate, proceeds into the assembly. There he shows them +that the senate were solicitous that care should be taken for the +people's interest: but their alarm for the whole commonwealth had +interrupted their deliberation regarding that which was no doubt the +greatest part, but yet only a part; nor could they, when the enemy were +almost at the gates, allow any thing to take precedence of war: nor, if +there should be some respite, was it either to the credit of the people +not to have taken up arms in defence of their country unless they first +receive a recompence, nor consistent with the dignity of the senators +that they adopted measures of relief for the distresses of their +countrymen through fear rather than afterwards from inclination. He gave +additional confidence to the assembly by an edict, by which he ordained +that no one "should detain a Roman citizen either in chains or in +prison, so as to hinder his enrolling his name under the consuls. And +that nobody should either seize or sell the goods of any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> soldier, while +he was in the camp, or arrest his children or grandchildren." This +ordinance being published, the debtors under arrest who were present +immediately entered their names, and crowds of persons hastening from +all quarters of the city from their confinement, as their creditors had +no right to detain their persons, ran together into the forum to take +the military oath. These made up a considerable body of men, nor was the +bravery or activity of the others more conspicuous in the Volscian war. +The consul led out his army against the enemy, and pitched his camp at a +little distance from them.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b25" name="b25"></a>25</div> +<p>The next night the Volscians, relying on the dissension among the +Romans, made an attempt on their camp, to see if any desertion or +treachery might be resorted to during the night. The sentinels on guard +perceived them; the army was called up, and the signal being given they +ran to arms. Thus that attempt of the Volscians was frustrated; the +remainder of the night was dedicated to repose on both sides. The next +morning at daybreak the Volscians, having filled the trenches, attacked +the rampart. And already the fortifications were being demolished on +every side, when the consul, although all on every side, and more +especially the debtors, cried out that he should give the signal, having +delayed a little while for the purpose of trying the feelings of the +soldiers, when their great ardour became sufficiently apparent, having +at length given the signal for sallying forth, he lets out the soldiers +now impatient for the fight. At the very first onset the enemy were +routed; the rear of them who fled was harassed, as long as the infantry +was able to overtake them; the cavalry drove them in consternation to +their very camp. In a little time the camp itself was taken and +plundered, the legions having surrounded it, as the panic had driven the +Volscians even from thence also. On the next day the legions being led +to Suessa Pometia, whither the enemy had retreated, in a few days the +town is taken; when taken, it was given up for plunder: by these means +the needy soldiers were somewhat relieved. The consul leads back his +victorious army to Rome with the greatest glory to himself: as he is +setting out for Rome, the deputies of the Ecetrans, (a part) of the +Volscians, alarmed for their state after the taking of Pometia, come to +him. By a decree of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> the senate peace is granted them, but their land is +taken from them.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b26" name="b26"></a>26</div> +<p>Immediately after the Sabines also caused an alarm to the Romans; +but it was rather a tumult than a war. It was announced in the city +during the night that a Sabine army had advanced as far as the river +Anio, plundering the country: that the country houses there were +pillaged and burnt down indiscriminately. A. Postumius, who had been +dictator in the Latin war, was immediately sent against them with all +the horse. The consul Servilius followed him with a chosen body of foot. +The cavalry cut off most of the stragglers; nor did the Sabine legion +make any resistance against the foot when they came up with them. Being +tired both by their march and their plundering the country in the night, +and a great number of them being surfeited with eating and drinking in +the cottages, they had scarcely sufficient strength for flight. The +Sabine war being thus heard of and finished in one night, on the +following day, amid sanguine hope of peace being secured in every +quarter, ambassadors from the Auruncians come to the senate, proclaiming +war unless the troops are withdrawn from the Volscian territory. The +army of the Auruncians had set out from home simultaneously with the +ambassadors; the report of which having been seen not far from Aricia, +excited such a tumult among the Romans, that neither the senate could be +consulted in regular form, nor could they, while themselves taking up +arms, give a pacific answer to those advancing against them in arms. +They march to Aricia with a determined army, come to an engagement not +far from thence, and in one battle put an end to the war.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b27" name="b27"></a>27</div> +<p>After the defeat of the Auruncians, the people of Rome, victorious +in so many wars within a few days, were expecting the promises of the +consul and the engagement of the senate (to be made good). But Appius, +both through his natural pride, and in order to undermine the credit of +his colleague, issued his decrees regarding borrowed money, with all +possible severity. And from this time, both those who had been formerly +in confinement were delivered up to their creditors, and others also +were taken into custody. When this happened to a soldier, he appealed to +the colleague, and a crowd gathered about Servilius: they represented to +him his promises, severally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> upbraided him with their services in war, +and with the scars they had received. They loudly called upon him to lay +the matter before the senate, and that, as consul, he would relieve his +fellow citizens, as a general, his soldiers. These remonstrances +affected the consul, but the situation of affairs obliged him to back +out; so completely had not only his colleague, but the whole body of the +patricians, adopted an entirely opposite course. And thus, by acting a +middle part, he neither escaped the odium of the people, nor gained the +favour of the senators. The fathers looked upon him as a weak, +popularity-hunting consul, and the people considered him as a deceiver. +And it soon appeared that he was as odious to them as Appius himself. A +dispute had happened between the consuls, as to which should dedicate +the temple of Mercury. The senate referred the affair from themselves to +the people, and ordained that to whichsoever of them the dedication +should be granted by order of the people, he should preside over the +markets, establish a company of merchants, and perform the functions of +a pontifex maximus. The people gave the dedication of the temple to M. +Lætorius, the centurion of the first legion, that it might plainly +appear to have been done not so much out of respect to a person on whom +an honour above his rank had been conferred, as to affront the consuls. +Upon this one of the consuls particularly, and the senators, were highly +incensed. But the people had acquired courage, and proceeded in a manner +quite different from what they had at first intended. For when they +despaired of redress from the consuls and senate, upon seeing a debtor +led to the court, they flew together from all quarters. And neither the +decree of the consul could be heard in consequence of the noise and +clamour, nor, when he had pronounced the decree, did any one obey it. +All was managed by violence, and the entire dread and danger with +respect to personal liberty, was transferred from the debtors to the +creditors, who were severally abused by the crowd in the very sight of +the consul. In addition to all this, the dread of the Sabine war spread, +and when a levy was decreed, nobody gave in his name; Appius being +enraged, and bitterly inveighing against the ambitious arts of his +colleague, who by his popular silence was betraying the republic, and +besides his not passing sentence against the debtors, likewise neglected +to raise the levies, after they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> had been voted by the senate. Yet he +declared, that "the commonwealth was not entirely deserted, nor the +consular authority altogether debased. That he alone would vindicate +both his own dignity and that of the senators." When a daily mob, +emboldened by licentiousness, stood round him, he commanded a noted +ringleader of the sedition to be apprehended. He, as the lictors were +carrying him off, appealed to the people; nor would the consul have +allowed the appeal, because there was no doubt regarding the judgment of +the people, had not his obstinacy been with difficulty overcome, rather +by the advice and influence of the leading men, than by the clamours of +the people; so much resolution he had to bear the weight of their odium. +The evil gained ground daily, not only by open clamours, but, which was +far more dangerous, by a secession and by secret meetings. At length the +consuls, so odious to the commons, went out of office: Servilius liked +by neither party, Appius highly esteemed by the senators.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b28" name="b28"></a>28</div> +<p>Then A. Virginius and T. Vetusius enter on the consulship. Upon this +the commons, uncertain what sort of consuls they were to have, held +nightly meetings, some of them upon the Esquiline, and others upon the +Aventine hill, that they might not be confused by hasty resolutions in +the forum, or take their measures inconsiderately and without concert. +The consuls, judging this proceeding to be of dangerous tendency, as it +really was, laid the matter before the senate. But they were not allowed +after proposing it to take the votes regularly; so tumultuously was it +received on all sides by the clamours and indignation of the fathers, at +the consuls throwing on the senate the odium of that which should have +been put down by consular authority. "That if there really were +magistrates in the republic, there would have been no council in Rome +but the public one. That the republic was now divided and split into a +thousand senate-houses and assemblies, some of which were held on the +Esquiline, others on the Aventine hill. That one man, in truth such as +Appius Claudius, for that that was more than a consul, would in a moment +disperse these private meetings." When the consuls, thus rebuked, asked +them, "What they desired them to do, for that they would act with as +much energy and vigour as the senators wished," they resolve that they +should push on the levies as briskly as possible, that the people were +become insolent from want of em<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>ployment. When the house broke up, the +consuls ascend the tribunal and summon the young men by name. But none +of them made any answer, and the people crowding round them, as if in a +general assembly, said, "That the people would no longer be imposed on. +They should never list one soldier till the public faith was made good. +That liberty should be restored to each before arms were given, that +they might fight for their country and fellow citizens, and not for +arbitrary lords." The consuls fully understood the orders they had +received from the senate, but they saw none of those who had talked so +big within the walls of the senate-house present themselves to take any +share with them in the public odium. A desperate contest with the +commons seemed at hand. Therefore, before they would have recourse to +extremities, they thought it advisable to consult the senate a second +time. Then indeed the younger senators flocked in a hurry round the +chairs of the consuls, commanding them to abdicate the consulate, and +resign an office which they had not courage to support.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b29" name="b29"></a>29</div> +<p>Having sufficiently tried both<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> ways, the consuls at length said, +"Conscript fathers, lest you may say that you were not forewarned, a +great disturbance is at hand. We require that they who accuse us most +severely of cowardice, would assist us in raising the levies; we shall +proceed according to the resolution of the most intrepid amongst you, +since it so pleases you." They return to their tribunal, and on purpose +commanded one of the most factious of the people, who stood in their +view, to be called upon by name. When he stood mute, and a number of men +stood round him in a ring, to prevent his being seized, the consuls sent +a lictor to him. He being repulsed, such of the fathers as attended the +consuls, exclaiming against it as an intolerable insult, ran in a hurry +from the tribunal to assist the lictor. But when the violence was turned +from the lictor, who suffered nothing else but being prevented from +seizing him, against the fathers, the riot was quelled by the +interposition of the consuls, in which however, without stones or +weapons, there was more noise and angry words than mischief done. The +senate, called in a tumultuous manner, is consulted in a manner still<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +more tumultuous; such as had been beaten, calling out for an inquiry, +and the most violent members declaring their sentiments no less by +clamours and noise than by their votes. At length, when their passion +had subsided, the consuls reproaching them with there being as much +disorderly conduct in the senate as in the forum, the house began to +vote in regular order. There were three different opinions: P. Virginius +did not make the<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a>matter general. He voted that they should consider +only those who, relying on the promise of P. Servilius the consul, had +served in a war against the Auruncans and Sabines. Titius Largius was of +opinion, "That it was not now a proper time to reward services only. +That all the people were immersed in debt, and that a stop could not be +put to the evil, unless measures were adopted for all. And that if the +condition of different parties be different, the divisions would rather +be thereby inflamed than composed." Appius Claudius, who was naturally +severe, and, by the hatred of the commons on the one hand, and praises +of the senators on the other, was become quite infuriated, said, "That +these riots proceeded not from distress, but from licentiousness. That +the people were rather wanton than violent. That this terrible mischief +took its rise from the right of appeal; since threats, not authority, +was all that belonged to the consuls, while permission was given to +appeal to those who were accomplices in the crime. Come," added he, "let +us create a dictator from whom there lies no appeal; this madness, which +hath set every thing in a flame, will immediately subside. Let any one +dare then to strike a lictor, when he shall know that his back, and even +his life, are in the power of that person whose authority he has +insulted."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b30" name="b30"></a>30</div> +<p>To many the opinion of Appius appeared, as it really was, severe and +violent. On the other hand, those of Virginius and Largius were not safe +for the precedent they established; especially they thought that of +Largius so, as it would destroy all credit. The opinion of Virginius was +reckoned to be most moderate, and a happy medium between the other two. +But through the spirit of faction and a regard of private interest, +which always have and always will obstruct the public councils, Appius +prevailed, and was himself near being created dictator; which step would +certainly have alienated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> the commons at this most dangerous juncture, +when the Volsci, the Æqui, and the Sabines happened to be all in arms at +the same time. But the consuls and elder senators took care that this +office, in its own nature uncontrollable, should be committed to a man +of moderate temper. They choose Manius Valerius, son of Volesus, +dictator. The people, though they saw that this magistrate was created +against themselves, yet as they had got the right of appeal by his +brother's law, dreaded nothing oppressive or tyrannical from that +family. An edict of the dictator's, which was almost the same with that +published by the consul Servilius, afterwards confirmed their minds. But +judging it safer to confide in both the man and in the absolute power +with which he was vested, they gave in their names, desisting from all +contest. Ten legions were levied, a greater army than had ever been +raised before. Each of the consuls had three legions assigned him, and +the dictator commanded four. Nor could the war be deferred any longer. +The Æqui had made incursions upon the Latin territory; the deputies of +the Latins begged the senate either to send them assistance, or to allow +them to arm themselves for the purpose of defending their own frontiers. +It seemed safer that the Latins should be defended without arming, than +to allow them to take up arms again. Wherefore Vetusius the consul was +sent to their assistance; this immediately put a stop to the +devastations. The Æqui retired from the plains, and depending more on +the advantage of the ground than on their arms, secured themselves on +the summits of the mountains. The other consul, having marched against +the Volsci, in order that he too might not waste time, challenged the +enemy to pitch their camp nigh to his, and to risk an engagement by +ravaging their lands. Both armies stood in order of battle before their +lines in a plain between the two camps. The Volsci had considerably the +advantage in number. Accordingly they rushed on to the fight, in a +careless manner, and as if contemptuously. The Roman consul neither +advanced his forces, and not suffering the enemy's shouts to be +returned, he ordered them to stand still with their spears fixed in the +ground, and when the enemy came up, to draw their swords and fall upon +them with all their force. The Volsci, wearied with running and +shouting, set upon the Romans as if they had been quite be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>numbed +through fear; but when they found the vigorous resistance that was made, +and saw their swords glittering before their face, they turned their +backs in great disorder, just as if they had fallen into an ambuscade. +Nor had they strength sufficient even for flight, as they had advanced +to the battle in full speed. The Romans, on the other hand, as they had +not stirred from their ground in the beginning of the action, being +fresh and vigorous, easily overtook the enemy, who were weary, took +their camp by assault, and after driving them thence, pursued them to +Velitræ, into which the conquered and conquerors entered in a body. By +the promiscuous slaughter which was here made of all ranks, there was +more blood spilt than in the battle itself. Quarter was given to a small +number of them, who threw down their arms and surrendered.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b31" name="b31"></a>31</div> +<p>Whilst these things are going on among the Volsci, the dictator +routs, puts to flight, and strips of their camp, the Sabines, where by +far the most serious part of the war lay. By a charge of his cavalry he +had thrown into confusion the centre of the enemy's line, where, by the +wings extending themselves too far, they had not strengthened their line +by a suitable depth of files.<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> The infantry fell upon them in this +confusion, by one and the same charge their camp was taken and the war +concluded. There was no other battle in those times more memorable than +this since the action at the lake Regillus. The dictator is borne into +the city in triumph. Besides the usual honours, a place in the circus +was assigned to him and his descendants, to see the public games; a +curule chair was fixed in that place. The lands of Velitræ were taken +from the conquered Volsci: colonists were sent from the city to Velitræ, +and a colony planted there. Soon after there was an engagement with the +Æqui, but contrary to the wish of the consul, because they had to +approach the enemy by disadvantageous ground. But the soldiers +complaining that the war was on purpose spun out, that the dictator +might resign his office before they returned home to the city, and so +his promises might fall to the ground without effect, as those of the +consul had done before, forced him at all hazards to march his army up +the hill. This imprudent step, by the cowardice of the enemy, turned out +successfully; for before the Romans came<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> within reach of a dart, the +Æqui, quite amazed at their boldness, abandoned their camp, which was +situated in a very strong position, and ran down into the valleys on the +opposite side.<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a> In it abundance of booty was found, and the victory +was a bloodless one. Matters being thus successfully managed in war in +three different directions, anxiety respecting the event of their +domestic differences had left neither the senators nor the people. With +such powerful influence, and with such art also, had the money-lenders +made their arrangements, so as to disappoint not only the people, but +even the dictator himself. For Valerius, after the return of the consul +Vetusius, first of all matters brought before the senate that relating +to the victorious people, and proposed the question, what it was their +determination should be done with respect to those confined for debt. +And when this motion was rejected, "I am not acceptable," says he, "as +an adviser of concord. You will ere long wish, depend on it, that the +commons of Rome had patrons similar to me. For my part, I will neither +further disappoint my fellow citizens, nor will I be dictator to no +purpose. Intestine dissensions, foreign wars, caused the republic to +require such a magistrate. Peace has been secured abroad, it is impeded +at home. I will be a witness to disturbance as a private citizen rather +than as dictator." Then quitting the senate-house, he abdicated his +dictatorship. The case appeared to the commons, that he had resigned his +office indignant at the treatment shown to them. Accordingly, as if his +engagements to them had been fully discharged, since it had not been his +fault that they were not made good, they attended him when returning to +his home with approbation and applause.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b32" name="b32"></a>32</div> +<p>Fear then seized the senators lest, if the army should be dismissed, +secret meetings and conspiracies would be renewed; wherefore though the +levy had been held by the dictator, yet supposing that, as they had +sworn obedience to the consuls, the soldiers were bound by their oath, +under the pretext of hostilities being renewed by the Æqui, they ordered +the legions to be led out of the city; by which proceeding the sedition +was hastened. And it is said that at first<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> it was in contemplation to +put the consuls to death, that they might be discharged from their oath: +but that being afterwards informed that no religious obligation could be +dissolved by a criminal act, they, by the advice of one Sicinius, +retired, without the orders of the consuls, to the sacred mount, beyond +the river Anio, three miles from the city: this account is more general +than that which Piso has given, that the secession was made to the +Aventine. There without any leader, their camp being fortified with a +rampart and trench, remaining quiet, taking nothing but what was +necessary for sustenance, they kept themselves for several days, neither +being attacked, nor attacking others. Great was the panic in the city, +and through mutual fear all was suspense. The people left in the city +dreaded the violence of the senators; the senators dreaded the people +remaining in the city, uncertain whether they should prefer them to stay +or to depart; but how long would the multitude which had seceded, remain +quiet? what were to be the consequences then, if, in the mean time, any +foreign war should break out? they certainly considered no hope left, +save in the concord of the citizens; this should be restored to the +state by fair or by unfair means. It was resolved therefore that there +should be sent as ambassador to the people, Menenius Agrippa, an +eloquent man, and one who was a favourite with the people, because he +derived his origin from them. He being admitted into the camp, is said +to have related to them merely the following story in that antiquated +and uncouth style; "At a time when all the parts in the human body did +not, as now, agree together, but the several members had each its own +scheme, its own language, the other parts, indignant that every thing +was procured for the belly by their care, labour, and service; that the +belly, remaining quiet in the centre, did nothing but enjoy the +pleasures afforded it. They conspired accordingly, that the hands should +not convey food to the mouth, nor the mouth receive it when presented, +nor the teeth chew it: whilst they wished under the influence of this +feeling to subdue the belly by famine, the members themselves and the +entire body were reduced to the last degree of emaciation. Thence it +became apparent that the service of the belly was by no means a slothful +one; that it did not so much receive nourishment as supply it, sending +to all parts of the body this blood by which we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> live and possess +vigour, distributed equally to the veins when perfected by the digestion +of the food." By comparing in this way how similar the intestine +sedition of the body was to the resentment of the people against the +senators, he made an impression on the minds of the multitude.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b33" name="b33"></a>33</div> +<p>Then a commencement was made to treat of a reconciliation, and among +the conditions it was allowed, "that the commons should have their own +magistrates, with inviolable privileges, who should have the power of +bringing assistance against the consuls, and that it should not be +lawful for any of the patricians to hold that office." Thus two tribunes +of the commons were created, Caius Licinius and L. Albinus. These +created three colleagues for themselves. It is clear that among these +was Sicinius, the adviser of the sedition; with respect to two, who they +were is not so clear. There are some who say, that only two tribunes +were elected on the sacred mount, and that there the devoting law was +passed. During the secession of the commons, Sp. Cassius and Postumus +Cominius entered on the consulship. During their consulate, the treaty +with the Latin states was concluded. To ratify this, one of the consuls +remained at Rome; the other being sent to the Volscian war, routs and +puts to flight the Volscians of Antium, and continuing his pursuit of +them, now that they were driven into the town of Longula, he takes +possession of the town. Next he took Polusca, also belonging to the +Volscians; then he attacked Corioli with all his force. There was then +in the camp, among the young noblemen, C. Marcius, a youth distinguished +both for intelligence and courage, who afterwards attained the cognomen +of Coriolanus. When, as the Roman army was besieging Corioli, and was +wholly intent on the townspeople, whom they kept shut up, without any +apprehension of war threatening from without, the Volscian legion, +setting out from Antium, suddenly attacked them, and, at the same time +the enemy sallied forth from the town, Marcius happened to be on guard. +He with a chosen body of men not only repelled the attack of those who +had sallied out, but boldly rushed in through the open gate, and having +cut down all in the part of the city nearest him, and having hastily +seized some fire, threw it in the houses adjoining to the wall. Upon +this the shouts of the townsmen mingling with the wailings of the women +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> children, occasioned by the first fright,<a name="FNanchor_88_88" id="FNanchor_88_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> as is usual, both +increased the courage of the Romans, and dispirited the Volscians, +seeing the city captured to the relief of which they had come. Thus the +Volsci of Antium were defeated, the town of Corioli was taken. And so +much did Marcius by his valour eclipse the reputation of the consul, +that had not the treaty concluded with the Latins by Sp. Cassius alone, +because his colleague was absent, served as a memorial of it, it would +have been forgotten that Postumus Cominius had conducted the war with +the Volscians. The same year dies Agrippa Menenius, a man during all his +life equally a favourite with the senators and commons, still more +endeared to the commons after the secession. To this man, the mediator +and umpire in restoring concord among his countrymen, the ambassador of +the senators to the commons, the person who brought back the commons to +the city, were wanting the expenses of his funeral. The people buried +him by the contribution of a sextans from each person.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b34" name="b34"></a>34</div> +<p>T. Geganius and P. Minutius were next elected consuls. In this year, +when every thing was quiet from war abroad, and the dissensions were +healed at home, another much more serious evil fell upon the state; +first a scarcity of provisions, in consequence of the lands lying +untilled during the secession of the commons; then a famine such as +befals those who are besieged. And it would have ended in the +destruction of the slaves at least, and indeed some of the commons also, +had not the consuls adopted precautionary measures, by sending persons +in every direction to buy up corn, not only into Etruria on the coast to +the right of Ostia, and through the Volscians along the coast on the +left as far as Cumas, but into Sicily also, in quest of it. So far had +the hatred of their neighbours obliged them to stand in need of aid from +distant countries. When corn had been bought up at Cumæ, the ships were +detained in lieu of the property of the Tarquinii by the tyrant +Aristodemus, who was their heir. Among the Volsci and in the Pomptine +territory it could not even be purchased. The corn dealers themselves +incurred danger from the violence of the inhabitants. Corn came from +Etruria by the Tiber: by means of this the people were supported. Amid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +this distressing scarcity they would have been harassed by a very +inconvenient war, had not a dreadful pestilence attacked the Volsci when +about to commence hostilities. The minds of the enemy being alarmed by +this calamity, so that they were influenced by some terror, even after +it had abated, the Romans both augmented the number of their colonists +at Velitræ, and despatched a new colony to the mountains of Norba, to +serve as a barrier in the Pomptine district. Then in the consulship of +M. Minucius, and A. Sempronius, a great quantity of corn was imported +from Sicily, and it was debated in the senate at what rate it should be +given to the commons. Many were of opinion, that the time was come for +putting down the commons, and for recovering those rights which had been +wrested from the senators by secession and violence. In particular, +Marcius Coriolanus, an enemy to tribunitian power, says, "If they desire +the former rate of provisions, let them restore to the senators their +former rights. Why do I, after being sent under the yoke, after being, +as it were, ransomed from robbers, behold plebeian magistrates, and +Sicinius invested with power? Shall I submit to these indignities longer +than is necessary? Shall I, who would not have endured King Tarquin, +tolerate Sicinius. Let him now secede, let him call away the commons. +The road lies open to the sacred mount and to other hills. Let them +carry off the corn from our lands, as they did three years since. Let +them have the benefit of that scarcity which in their frenzy they have +occasioned. I will venture to say, that, brought to their senses by +these sufferings, they will themselves become tillers of the lands, +rather than, taking up arms and seceding, they would prevent them from +being tilled." It is not so easy to say whether it should have been +done, as I think that it might have been practicable for the senators, +on the condition of lowering the price of provisions, to have rid +themselves of both the tribunitian power, and all the restraints imposed +on them against their will.<a name="FNanchor_89_89" id="FNanchor_89_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b35" name="b35"></a>35</div> +<p>This proposal both appeared to the senate too harsh, and from +exasperation well nigh drove the people to arms: "that they were now +assailed with famine, as if enemies, that they were defrauded of food +and sustenance, that the foreign corn, the only support which fortune +unexpectedly furnished to them, was being snatched from their mouth, +unless the tribunes were given up in chains to C. Marcius, unless he +glut his rage on the backs of the commons of Rome. That in him a new +executioner had started up, who ordered them to die or be slaves." An +assault would have been made on him as he left the senate-house, had not +the tribunes very opportunely appointed him a day for trial; by this +their rage was suppressed, every one saw himself become the judge, the +arbiter of the life and death of his foe. At first Marcius heard the +threats of the tribunes with contempt.—"That the right to afford aid, +not to inflict punishment, had been granted to that office; that they +were tribunes of the commons and not of the senators." But the commons +had risen with such violent determination, that the senators were +obliged to extricate themselves from danger by the punishment of +one.<a name="FNanchor_90_90" id="FNanchor_90_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_90_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a> They resisted however, in spite of popular odium, and employed, +each individual his own powers, and all those of the entire order. And +first, the trial was made whether they could upset the affair, by +posting their clients (in several places), by deterring individuals from +attending meetings and cabals. Then they all proceeded in a body (you +would suppose that all the senators were on their trial) earnestly +entreating the commons, that if they would not acquit as innocent, they +would at least pardon as guilty, one citizen, one senator. As he did not +attend on the day appointed, they persevered in their resentment. Being +condemned in his absence, he went into exile to the Volsci, threatening +his country, and even then breathing all the resentment of an enemy. The +Volsci received him kindly on his arrival, and treated him still more +kindly every day in proportion as his resentful feelings towards his +countrymen became more striking, and one time frequent complaints, +another time threats were heard. He lodged with Attius Tullus. He was +then the chief man of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> the Volscian people, and always a determined +enemy of the Romans. Thus, when old animosity stimulated the one, recent +resentment the other, they concert schemes for (bringing about) a war +with Rome. They did not at once believe that their people could be +persuaded to take up arms, so often unsuccessfully tried. That by the +many frequent wars, and lastly, by the loss of their youth in the +pestilence, their spirits were now broken; that they must have recourse +to art, in a case where animosity had become blunted from length of +time, that their feelings might become exasperated by some fresh cause +of resentment.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b36" name="b36"></a>36</div> +<p>It happened that preparations were being made at Rome for a +repetition of the<a name="FNanchor_91_91" id="FNanchor_91_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_91_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a>great games; the cause of repeating them was this: +on the morning of the games, the show not yet being commenced, a master +of a family, after flogging his slave loaded with a neck-yoke, had +driven him through the middle of the circus; after this the games were +commenced, as if that circumstance bore no relation to religion. Not +long after it. Atinius, a plebeian, had a dream. Jupiter seemed to him +to say; "that the person who danced previous to the games had displeased +him; unless these games were renewed on a splendid scale, that the city +would be in danger; that he should go and announce these things to the +consuls." Though his mind was not altogether free from superstitious +feelings, his respectful awe of the dignity of the magistrates overcame +his religious fear, lest he might pass into the mouths of people as a +laughing-stock. This delay cost him dear; for he lost his son within a +few days; and lest the cause of this sudden calamity should be doubtful, +that same phantom, presenting itself to him sorrowful in mind, seemed to +ask him, whether he had received a sufficient requital for his contempt +of the deity; that a still heavier one awaited him, unless he went +immediately and delivered the message to the consuls. The matter was now +still more pressing. Hesitating, however, and delaying he was at length +overtaken by a severe stroke of disease, a sudden paralysis. Then indeed +the anger of the gods aroused him. Wearied out therefore by his past +sufferings and by those threatening him, having convened a meeting of +his friends, after he had detailed to them all he had seen and heard, +and Jupiter's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> having so often presented himself to him in his sleep, +the threats and anger of heaven realized<a name="FNanchor_92_92" id="FNanchor_92_92"></a><a href="#Footnote_92_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a> in his own calamities, by +the unhesitating assent of all who were present he is conveyed in a +litter into the forum to the consuls; from thence being conveyed into +the senate-house, after he had stated those same particulars to the +senators, to the great surprise of all, behold another miracle: he who +had been conveyed into the senate-house deprived of the use of all his +limbs, is recorded to have returned home on his own feet after he +discharged his duty.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b37" name="b37"></a>37</div> +<p>The senate decreed that the games should be celebrated on as grand a +scale as possible. To these games a great number of Volscians came by +the advice of Attius Tullus. Before the games were commenced, Tullus, as +had been concerted at home with Marcius, comes to the consuls. He tells +them that there were matters on which he wished to treat with them in +private concerning the commonwealth. All witnesses being removed, he +says, "With reluctance I say that of my countrymen which is rather +disparaging.<a name="FNanchor_93_93" id="FNanchor_93_93"></a><a href="#Footnote_93_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a> I do not however come to allege against them any thing +as having been committed by them, but to guard against their committing +any thing. The minds of our people are far more fickle than I could +wish. We have felt that by many disasters; seeing that we are still +preserved, not through our own deserts, but through your forbearance. +There is now here a great multitude of Volscians. The games are going +on; the city will be intent on the exhibition. I remember what has been +committed in this city on a similar occasion by the youth of the +Sabines. My mind shudders lest any thing should be committed +inconsiderately and rashly. I considered, that these matters should be +mentioned before-hand to you, consuls. With regard to myself, it is my +determination to depart hence home immediately, lest, if present, I may +be affected by the contagion of any word or deed." Having said this, he +departed. When the consuls laid before the senate the matter, doubtful +with respect to proof, though from credible authority, the authority +more than the thing itself, as usually happens, urged them to adopt even +needless precau<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>tions; and a decree of the senate being passed, that the +Volscians should quit the city, criers are sent in different directions +to order them all to depart before night. A great panic struck them at +first as they ran about to their lodgings to carry away their effects. +Afterwards, when setting out, indignation arose in their breasts: "that +they, as if polluted with crime and contaminated, were driven away from +the games, on festival days, from the converse in a manner of men and +gods."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b38" name="b38"></a>38</div> +<p>As they went along in an almost continuous body, Tullus having +preceded them to the fountain of Ferentina, accosting the chiefs among +them according as each arrived, by asking questions and expressing +indignation, he led both themselves, who greedily listened to language +congenial<a name="FNanchor_94_94" id="FNanchor_94_94"></a><a href="#Footnote_94_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a> to their angry feelings, and through them the rest of the +multitude, into a plain adjoining to the road. There having commenced an +address after the manner of a public harangue, he says, "Though you were +to forget the former ill treatment of the Roman people and the +calamities of the nation of the Volsci, and all other such matters, with +what feelings do you bear this outrage offered you to-day, whereon they +have commenced their games by insulting us? Have you not felt that a +triumph has been had over you this day? that you, when departing, were a +spectacle to all, citizens, foreigners, so many neighbouring states? +that your wives, your children were exhibited before the eyes of men? +What do you suppose to have been the sentiments of those who heard the +voice of the crier? what of those who saw you departing? what of those +who met this ignominious cavalcade? what, except that we are identified +with some enormous guilt by which we should profane the games, and +render an expiation necessary; that for this reason we are driven away +from the residences of these pious people, from their converse and +meeting? what, does it not strike you that we still live because we +hastened our departure? if this is a departure and not a flight. And do +you not consider this to be the city of enemies, where if you had +delayed a single day, you must have all died? War has been declared +against you; to the heavy injury of those who declared it, if you are +men." Thus, being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> both already charged with resentment, and incited (by +this harangue) they went severally to their homes, and by instigating +each his own state, they succeeded in making the entire Volscian nation +revolt.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b39" name="b39"></a>39</div> +<p>The generals selected for that war by the unanimous choice of all +the states were Attius Tullus and Caius Marcius; in the latter of whom +their chief hope was reposed. And this hope he by no means disappointed: +so that it clearly appeared that the Roman commonwealth was more +powerful by reason of its generals than its army. Having marched to +Circeii, he expelled from thence the Roman colonists, and delivered that +city in a state of freedom to the Volscians. From thence passing across +the country through by-roads into the Latin way, he deprived the Romans +of their recently acquired towns, Satricum, Longula, Polusca, Corioli. +He next retook Lavinium: he then took in succession Corbio, Vitellia, +Trebia, Lavici, and Pedum: Lastly he marches from Pedum to the city,<a name="FNanchor_95_95" id="FNanchor_95_95"></a><a href="#Footnote_95_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a> +and having pitched his camp at the Cluilian trenches five miles from the +city, he from thence ravages the Roman territory, guards being sent +among the devastators to preserve the lands of the patricians intact; +whether as being incensed chiefly against the plebeians, or in order +that dissension might arise between the senators and the people. And +this certainly would have arisen, so powerfully did the tribunes, by +inveighing against the leading men of the state, incite the plebeians, +already sufficiently violent of themselves; but their apprehensions of +the foe, the strongest bond of concord, united their minds, distrustful +and rancorous though they were. The only matter not agreed on was this, +that the senate and consuls rested their hopes on nothing else than on +arms; the plebeians preferred any thing to war. Sp. Nautius and Sex. +Furius were now consuls. Whilst they were reviewing the legions, posting +guards along the walls and other places where they had determined that +there should be posts and watches, a vast multitude of persons +de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span>manding peace terrified them first by their seditious clamour; then +compelled them to convene the senate, to consider the question of +sending ambassadors to C. Marcius. The senate entertained the question, +when it became evident that the spirits of the plebeians were giving +way, and ambassadors being sent to Marcius concerning peace, brought +back a harsh answer: "If their lands were restored to the Volscians, +that they might then consider the question of peace; if they were +disposed to enjoy the plunder of war at their ease, that he, mindful +both of the injurious treatment of his countrymen, as well as of the +kindness of strangers, would do his utmost to make it appear that his +spirit was irritated by exile, not crushed." When the same persons are +sent back a second time, they are not admitted into the camp. It is +recorded that the priests also, arrayed in their insignia, went as +suppliants to the enemy's camp; and that they did not influence his mind +more than the ambassadors.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b40" name="b40"></a>40</div> +<p>Then the matrons assemble in a body around Veturia, the mother of +Coriolanus, and his wife, Volumnia: whether that was the result of +public counsel, or of the women's fear, I cannot ascertain. They +certainly carried their point that Veturia, a lady advanced in years, +and Volumnia, leading her two sons by Marcius, should go into the camp +of the enemy, and that women should defend by entreaties and tears a +city which men were unable to defend by arms. When they reached the +camp, and it was announced to Coriolanus, that a great body of women +were approaching, he, who had been moved neither by the majesty of the +state in its ambassadors, nor by the sanctity of religion so strikingly +addressed to his eyes and understanding in its priests, was much more +obdurate against the women's tears. Then one of his acquaintances, who +recognised Veturia, distinguished from all the others by her sadness, +standing between her daughter-in-law and grand-children, says, "Unless +my eyes deceive me, your mother, children, and wife, are approaching." +When Coriolanus, almost like one bewildered, rushing in consternation +from his seat, offered to embrace his mother as she met him, the lady, +turning from entreaties to angry rebuke, says, "Before I receive your +embrace, let me know whether I have come to an enemy or to a son; +whether I am in your camp a captive or a mother? Has length of life and +a hapless old age reserved<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> me for this—to behold you an exile, then an +enemy? Could you lay waste this land, which gave you birth and nurtured +you? Though you had come with an incensed and vengeful mind, did not +your resentment subside when you entered its frontiers? When Rome came +within view, did it not occur to you, within these walls my house and +guardian gods are, my mother, wife, and children? So then, had I not +been a mother, Rome would not be besieged: had I not a son, I might have +died free in a free country. But I can now suffer nothing that is not +more discreditable to you than distressing to me; nor however wretched I +may be, shall I be so long. Look to these, whom, if you persist, either +an untimely death or lengthened slavery awaits." Then his wife and +children embraced him: and the lamentation proceeding from the entire +crowd of women, and their bemoaning themselves and their country, at +length overcame the man; then, after embracing his family, he sends them +away; he moved his camp farther back from the city. Then, after he had +drawn off his troops from the Roman territory, they say that he lost his +life, overwhelmed by the odium of the proceeding: different writers say +by different modes of death: I find in Fabius, far the most ancient +writer, that he lived even to old age; he states positively, that +advanced in years he made use of this phrase, "That exile bore much +heavier on the old man." The men of Rome were not remiss in awarding +their praises to the women, so truly did they live without detracting +from the merit of others; a temple was built also and dedicated to +female Fortune, to serve as a monument. The Volscians afterwards +returned in conjunction with the Æqui into the Roman territory: but the +Æqui would no longer have Attius Tullus as their leader; hence from +dispute, whether the Volscians or the Æqui should give a general to the +allied army, a sedition, and afterwards a furious battle arose. There +the good fortune of the Roman people destroyed the two armies of the +enemy, by a contest no less bloody than obstinate. T. Sicinius and C. +Aquillius were made consuls. The Volsci fell as a province to Sicinius; +the Hernici (for they too were in arms) to Aquillius. That year the +Hernici were defeated; they came off with respect to the Volscians on +equal terms.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b41" name="b41"></a>41</div> +<p>Sp. Cassius and Proculus Virginius were next made consuls; a treaty +was struck with the Hernici; two-thirds of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> their land were taken from +them: of this the consul Cassius was about to distribute one half among +the Latins, the other half among the commons. To this donation he was +adding a considerable portion of land, which, though public property, he +alleged was possessed by private individuals. This proceeding alarmed +several of the senators, the actual possessors, at the danger of their +property; the senators felt, moreover, a solicitude on public grounds, +that the consul by his donation was establishing an influence dangerous +to liberty. Then, for the first time, the Agrarian law was proposed, +which even down to our own recollection was never agitated without the +greatest commotions in the state. The other consul resisted the +donation, the senators seconding him, nor were all the commons opposed +to him; they had at first begun to despise a gift which was extended +from citizens to allies: in the next place they frequently heard the +consul Virginius in the assemblies as it were prophesying—"that the +gift of his colleague was pestilential—that those lands were sure to +bring slavery to those who should receive them; that the way was paving +to a throne." For why was it that the allies were included, and the +Latin nation? What was the object of a third of the land that had been +taken being given back to the Hernici so lately our enemies, except that +instead of Coriolanus being their leader they may have Cassius? The +dissuader and opposer of the agrarian law now began to be popular. Both +consuls then vied with each other in humouring the commons. Virginius +said that he would suffer the lands to be assigned, provided they were +assigned to no one but to a Roman citizen. Cassius, because in the +agrarian donation he sought popularity among the allies, and was +therefore lowered in the estimation of his countrymen, in order that by +another donation he might conciliate their affections, ordered that the +money received for the Sicilian corn should be refunded to the people. +That indeed the people rejected as nothing else than a present bribe for +regal authority: so strongly were his gifts spurned in the minds of men, +as if they possessed every thing in abundance, in consequence of their +inveterate suspicions of his aiming at sovereign power. As soon as he +went out of office, it is certain that he was condemned and put to +death. There are some who represent his father as the person who +inflicted the punishment: that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> he, having tried him at home, scourged +him and put him to death, and consecrated his son's private property to +Ceres; that out of this a statue was set up and inscribed, "given from +the Cassian family." In some authors I find it stated, and that is more +probable, that a day of trial was assigned him for high treason, by the +questors, Kæso Fabius and Lucius Valerius; and that he was condemned by +the decision of the people; that his house was demolished by a public +decree: this is the area before the temple of Tellus. But whether that +trial was private or public, he was condemned in the consulship of Ser. +Cornelius and Q. Fabius.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b42" name="b42"></a>42</div> +<p>The resentment of the people against Cassius was not of long +duration. The allurements of the agrarian law, now that its proposer was +gone, were of themselves gaining ground in their minds; and this feeling +was further heightened by the parsimonious conduct of the senators, who, +the Volsci and Æqui having been defeated that year, defrauded the +soldiers of the booty; whatever was taken from the enemy, the consul +Fabius sold, and lodged the proceeds in the treasury. The Fabian name +was odious to the commons on account of the last consul: the senate +however succeeded in having Kæso Fabius elected consul with L. Æmilius. +The commons, still further incensed at this, stirred up foreign war by +exciting disturbance at home; civil dissensions were then interrupted by +war. The senators and commons uniting, under the conduct of Æmilius, +conquered in battle the Volsci and Æqui who renewed hostilities. The +retreat, however, destroyed more of the enemy than the battle; so +perseveringly did the horse pursue them when routed. During the same +year, on the ides of July, the temple of Castor was dedicated: it had +been vowed during the Latin war in the dictatorship of Posthumius: his +son, who was elected duumvir for that special purpose, dedicated it. In +that year also the minds of the people were excited by the charms of the +agrarian law. The tribunes of the people were for enhancing the popular +power (vested in them) by promoting the popular law. The senators, +considering that there was enough and more than enough of frenzy in the +multitude without any additional incitement, viewed with horror +largesses and all inducements to temerity: the senators found in the +consuls most energetic abettors in making resistance. That portion of +the commonwealth therefore pre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>vailed; and not for the present only, but +for the forthcoming year they succeeded in bringing in M. Fabius, Kæso's +brother, as consul, and one still more detested by the commons for his +persecution of Sp. Cassius, L. Valerius. In that year also there was a +contest with the tribunes. The law proved to be a vain project, and the +abettors of the law mere boasters, by their holding out a gift that was +not realized. The Fabian name was from thence held in high repute, after +three successive consulates, and all as it were uniformly exercised in +contending with the tribunes; accordingly, the honour remained for a +considerable time in that family, as being right well placed. A +Veientian war was then commenced; the Volscians, too, renewed +hostilities; but for foreign wars their strength was almost more than +sufficient, and they abused it by contending among themselves. To the +distracted state of the public mind were added prodigies from heaven, +exhibiting almost daily threats in the city and in the country, and the +soothsayers, consulted by the state and by private individuals, one +while by means of entrails, another by birds, declared that there was no +other cause for the divine anger, but that the ceremonies of religion +were not duly attended to. These terrors, however, terminated in this, +that Oppia, a vestal virgin, being found guilty of a breach of chastity, +was made to suffer punishment.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b43" name="b43"></a>43</div> +<p>Quintus Fabius and C. Julius were then made consuls. During this +year the dissension at home was not abated, and the war abroad was more +desperate. Arms were taken up by the Æquans; the Veientes also entered +the territory of the Romans committing devastations; the solicitude +about which wars increasing, Kæso Fabius and Sp. Fusius are created +consuls. The Æqui were laying siege to Ortona, a Latin city. The +Veientes, now satiated with plunder, threatened that they would besiege +Rome itself. Which terrors, when they ought to assuage, increased still +further the bad feelings of the commons: and the custom of declining the +military service was now returning, not of their own accord; but Sp. +Licinius, a tribune of the people, thinking that the time was come for +forcing the agrarian law on the patricians by extreme necessity, had +taken on him the task of obstructing the military preparations. But all +the odium of the tribunitian power was turned on the author; nor did the +consuls rise up against him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> more zealously than his own colleagues; and +by their assistance the consuls hold the levy. An army is raised for the +two wars at the same time; one is given to Fabius to be led against the +Æqui, the other to Furius against the Veientians. And with respect to +the Veientians, nothing was done worthy of mention. Fabius had much more +trouble with his countrymen than with the enemy: that one man himself, +as consul, sustained the commonwealth, which the army was betraying, far +as in them lay, through their hatred of the consul. For when the consul, +in addition to his other military talents, which he exhibited amply in +his preparations for and conduct of war, had so drawn up his line that +he routed the enemy's army solely by a charge of his cavalry, the +infantry refused to pursue them when routed: and though the exhortation +of their general, whom they hated, could not move them, neither could +even their own infamy, and the present public disgrace and subsequent +danger, if the enemy should recover courage, oblige them to quicken +their pace, or even to stand in order of battle, if nothing else. +Without orders they face about, and with a sorrowful air (you would +suppose them beaten) they return to the camp, execrating at one time +their general, at another time the services rendered by the cavalry. Nor +were any remedies sought by the general for this so pestilent an +example; so true is it that the most distinguished talents are more +likely to be deficient in the tact of managing their countrymen than in +that of conquering an enemy. The consul returned to Rome, not having so +much increased his military glory as irritated and exasperated the +hatred of his soldiers towards him. The patricians, however, succeeded +in having the consulship remain in the Fabian family. They elect M. +Fabius consul: Cn. Manlius is assigned as a colleague to Fabius.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b44" name="b44"></a>44</div> +<p>This year also had a tribune as a proposer of the agrarian law. It +was Titus Pontificius: he pursuing the same course, as if it had +succeeded with Sp. Licinius, obstructed the levy for a little time. The +patricians being once more perplexed, Appius Claudius asserts "that the +tribunitian power was put down last year: for the present by the very +act, for the future by the precedent established, and since it was found +that it could be rendered ineffective by its own strength; for that +there never would be wanting a tribune who would both be willing to +obtain a victory for himself over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> his colleague, and the favour of the +better party by advancing the public weal. That both a plurality of +tribunes, if there were need of such plurality, would be ready to assist +the consuls; and that even one would be sufficient against all. Only let +the consuls and leading members of the senate take care to gain over, if +not all, at least some of the tribunes, to the commonwealth and the +senate." The senators, convinced by the counsels of Appius, both +collectively addressed the tribunes with kindness and civility, and the +men of consular rank, according as each possessed personal influence +over them individually, partly by conciliation, partly by authority, +prevailed so far as to make them consent that the powers of the +tribunitian office should be beneficial to the state; and by the aid of +four tribunes against one obstructor of the public good, the consuls +complete the levy. They then set out to the Veientian war, to which +auxiliaries had flocked from all parts of Etruria, collected not so much +for the sake of the Veientians, as because they had formed a hope that +the Roman state might be destroyed by internal discord. And in the +councils of all the states of Etruria the leading men openly stated, +"that the Roman power was eternal, unless they were distracted by +disturbances among themselves. That this was the only poison, this the +bane discovered for powerful states, to render great empires mortal. +That this evil, a long time retarded, partly by the wise measures of the +patricians, partly by the forbearance of the commons, had now proceeded +to extremities. That two states were now formed out of one: that each +party had its own magistrates, its own laws. That though at first they +were accustomed to be turbulent during the levies, still that these same +individuals had ever been obedient to their commanders during war; that +military discipline being still retained, no matter what might be the +state of the city, it had been possible to withstand the evil; that now +the custom of not obeying their superior followed the Roman soldier even +to the camp. That in the last war in the very field, in the very heat of +battle, by consent of the army the victory was voluntarily surrendered +to the vanquished Æqui: that the standards were deserted, the general +abandoned on the field, and that the army had returned to the camp +without orders. That without doubt, if perseverance were used, Rome +might be conquered by her own soldiery.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> That nothing else was necessary +than to declare and make a show of war: that the fates and the gods +would of themselves manage the rest." These hopes had armed the +Etrurians, who in many vicissitudes had been vanquished and victors.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b45" name="b45"></a>45</div> +<p>The Roman consuls also dreaded nothing else, than their own +strength, and their own arms. The recollection of the destructive +precedent set in the last war, deterred them from bringing matters to +such a pass as that they should have to fear two armies at the same +time. Accordingly they kept within their camp, avoiding this double +danger: "that delay and time itself would soften down resentment, and +bring a right way of thinking to their minds." The Veientian enemy and +the Etrurians proceeded with so much the greater precipitation; they +provoked them to battle, first riding up to the camp and challenging +them; at length, when they produced no effect by reviling as well the +consuls themselves as the army, they stated, "that the pretence of +internal dissension was assumed as a cloak for this cowardice; and that +the consuls distrusted as much the courage as the obedience of their +soldiers. That silence and inaction among men in arms were a novel form +of sedition." Besides this they threw out reproaches, both true as well +as false, on the upstart quality of their race and origin. Whilst they +vociferated these reproaches beneath the very rampart and gates, the +consuls bore them without impatience: but at one time indignation, at +another time shame, distracted the breasts of the ignorant multitude, +and diverted their attention from intestine evils; they were unwilling +that the enemy should come off unpunished; they were unwilling that +success should accrue to the patricians or the consuls; foreign and +domestic hatred struggled for mastery in their breasts; at length the +former prevail, so haughtily and insolently did the enemy revile them; +they crowd in a body to the general's tent; they demand battle, they +require that the signal be given. The consuls confer together as if to +deliberate; they continue the conference for a long time; they were +desirous of fighting, but that desire must be checked and concealed, +that by opposition and delay they might increase the ardour of the +soldiery once roused. An answer is returned, "that the matter in +question was premature, that it was not yet time for fighting: that they +should keep within their camp." They then issue a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> proclamation, "that +they should abstain from fighting; that if any one fought without +orders, they should punish him as an enemy." When they were thus +dismissed, their eagerness for fighting increases in proportion as they +think that the consuls were less disposed for it; the enemies moreover +come up much more insolently, as soon as it was known that the consuls +had determined not to fight. For they supposed "that they might insult +them with impunity; that their arms were not intrusted to the soldiery. +That the matter would explode in a violent mutiny; that a termination +had come to the Roman empire." Relying on these hopes, they run up to +the gates, heap reproaches on them, with difficulty refrain from +assaulting the camp. Now indeed the Romans could no longer endure these +insults; they crowd from every quarter of the camp to the consuls: they +no longer, as formerly, make their demand with reserve, through the +mediation of the centurions of the first rank; but all proceed +indiscriminately with loud clamours. The affair was now ripe; still they +put it off. Fabius then, his colleague giving way in consequence of his +dread of mutiny being now augmented by the uproar, after he had +commanded silence by sound of trumpet, says, "that these men are able to +conquer, Cneius Manlius, I know; that they are willing they themselves +have prevented me from knowing. It is therefore resolved and determined +not to give the signal, unless they swear that they will return +victorious from this battle. The soldier has once deceived the Roman +consul in the field, the gods he never will deceive." There was a +centurion, Marcus Flavoleius, one of the foremost in demanding battle; +he says, "M. Fabius, I will return victorious from the field." If he +deceived, he invokes the anger of father Jove, Mars Gradivus, and of the +other gods. After him the entire army severally take the same oath. The +signal is given to them when sworn; they take up arms, go into battle, +full of rage and of hope. They bid the Etrurians now to cast their +reproaches; they severally require that the enemy, once so ready with +the tongue, should now stand before them armed as they were. On that day +the bravery of all, both commons and patricians, was extraordinary: the +Fabian name, the Fabian race shone forth most conspicuous: they are +determined to recover in that battle the affections of the commons, +which during many civil con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>tests had been alienated from them. The line +of battle is formed; nor do the Veientian foe and the Etrurian legions +decline the contest.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b46" name="b46"></a>46</div> +<p>An almost certain hope was entertained that they would no more fight +with them than they had done with the Æqui; that even some more serious +attempt was not to be despaired of, considering the irritated state of +their feelings, and the very critical occasion. The affair turned out +altogether differently; for never before in any other war did the Roman +soldiers enter the field with more determined minds (so much had the +enemy exasperated them by taunts on the one hand, and the consuls by +delay on the other). The Etrurians had scarcely time to form their +ranks, when the javelins having been thrown away at random, in the first +hurry, rather than discharged with aim, the battle had now come to close +fighting, even to swords, where the fury of war is most desperate. Among +the foremost the Fabian family was distinguished for the sight it +afforded and the example it presented to their fellow citizens; one of +these, Q. Fabius, (he had been consul two years before,) as he was +advancing at the head of his men against a dense body of Veientians, and +whilst engaged amid numerous parties of the enemy, and therefore not +prepared for it, was transfixed with a sword through the breast by a +Tuscan who presumed on his bodily strength and skill in arms: on the +weapon being extracted, Fabius fell forward on the wound. Both armies +felt the fall of this one man, and the Roman began in consequence to +give way, when the consul Marcus Fabius leaped over the body as it lay, +and holding up his buckler, said, "Is this what you swore, soldiers, +that you would return to the camp in flight? are you thus more afraid of +your most dastardly enemies, than of Jupiter and Mars, by whom you have +sworn? But I who have not sworn will either return victorious, or will +fall fighting here beside thee, Q. Fabius." Then Kæso Fabius, the consul +of the preceding year, says to the consul, "Brother, is it by these +words you think you will prevail on them to fight? the gods by whom they +have sworn will prevail on them. Let us also, as men of noble birth, as +is worthy of the Fabian name, enkindle the courage of the soldiers by +fighting rather than by exhorting." Thus the two Fabii rush forward to +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> front with presented spears, and brought on with them the whole +line.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b47" name="b47"></a>47</div> +<p>The battle being restored on one side, Cn. Manlius, the consul, with +no less ardour, encouraged the fight on the other wing. Where an almost +similar result took place; for as the soldiers undauntedly followed Q. +Fabius on the one wing, so did they follow Manlius on this, as he was +driving the enemy now nearly routed, and when he, having received a +severe wound, retired from the battle, they fell back, supposing that he +was slain, and would have given way, had not the other consul, galloping +at full speed to that quarter with some troops of horse, supported their +drooping energies, crying out that his colleague was still alive, that +he himself was now come victorious, having routed the other wing. +Manlius also shows himself to restore the battle. The well-known voices +of the two consuls rekindle the courage of the soldiers; at the same +time too the enemy's line was now weakened, whilst, relying on their +superior numbers, they draw off their reserve and send them to storm the +camp. This being assaulted without much resistance, whilst they lose +time in attending to plunder rather than to fighting, the Roman +triarii,<a name="FNanchor_96_96" id="FNanchor_96_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_96_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a> who had not been able to sustain the first shock, having +sent an account to the consuls of the present position of affairs, +return in a compact body to the Prætorium, and of themselves renew the +battle. The consul Manlius also having returned to the camp, and posted +soldiers at all the gates, had blocked up every passage against the +enemy. This desperate situation aroused the fury rather than the bravery +of the Etrurians; for when rushing on wherever hope held out the +prospect of escape, they had frequently advanced with fruitless efforts; +one body of young men makes an attack on the consul himself, conspicuous +from his arms. The first weapons were intercepted by those who stood +around him; afterwards their force could not be sustained. The consul +falls, having received a mortal wound, and all around him are dispersed. +The courage of the Etrurians rises. Terror drives the Romans in dismay +through the entire camp; and matters would have come to extremities, had +not the lieutenant-generals, hastily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> seizing the body of the consul, +opened a passage for the enemy at one gate. Through this they rush out; +and going away in the utmost disorder, they fall in with the other +consul who had been victorious; there again they are slain and routed in +every direction. A glorious victory was obtained, saddened however by +two so illustrious deaths. The consul, therefore, on the senate voting +him a triumph, replied, that "if the army could triumph without their +general, he would readily accede to it in consideration of their +distinguished behaviour in that war: that for his own part, his family +being plunged in grief in consequence of the death of his brother Q. +Fabius, and the commonwealth being in some degree bereaved by the loss +of one of her consuls, he would not accept the laurel blasted by public +and private grief." The triumph thus resigned was more distinguished +than any triumph actually enjoyed; so true it is, that glory refused in +due season sometimes returns with accumulated lustre. He next celebrates +the two funerals of his colleague and brother, one after the other, he +himself acting as panegyrist in the case of both, when by ascribing to +them his own deserts, he himself obtained the greatest share of them. +And not unmindful of that which he had conceived at the commencement of +his consulate, namely, the regaining the affection of the people, he +distributes the wounded soldiers among the patricians to be cured. Most +of them were given to the Fabii: nor were they treated with greater +attention in any other place. From this time the Fabii began to be +popular, and that not by any practices except such as were beneficial to +the state.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b48" name="b48"></a>48</div> +<p>Accordingly Kæso Fabius, having been elected consul with T. +Virginius not more with the zealous wishes of the senators than of the +commons, attended neither to wars, nor levies, nor any other object, +until the hope of concord being now in some measure commenced, the +feelings of the commons might be consolidated with those of the senators +as soon as possible. Wherefore at the commencement of the year he +proposed: "that before any tribune should stand forth as an abettor of +the agrarian law, the patricians themselves should be beforehand with +them in performing their duty; that they should distribute among the +commons the land taken from the enemy in as equal a proportion as +possible; that it was but just that those should obtain it, by whose +blood and sweat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> it was obtained." The patricians rejected the proposal +with scorn; some even complained that the once brilliant talents of Kæso +were now becoming wanton, and were waning through excess of glory. There +were afterwards no factions in the city. The Latins were harassed by the +incursions of the Æqui. Kæso being sent thither with an army, passes +into the very territory of the Æqui to depopulate it. The Æqui retired +into the towns, and kept themselves within the walls: on that account no +battle worth mentioning was fought. But a blow was received from the +Veientian foe through the temerity of the other consul; and the army +would have been all cut off, had not Kæso Fabius come to their +assistance in time. From that time there was neither peace nor war with +the Veientians; their proceedings had now come very near to the form of +that of brigands. They retired from the Roman troops into the city; when +they perceived that the troops were drawn off, they made incursions into +the country, alternately evading war by quiet, quiet by war. Thus the +matter could neither be dropped altogether, nor brought to a conclusion; +and other wars were impending either at the moment, as from the Æqui and +Volsci, who remained inactive no longer than until the recent smart of +their late disaster should pass away; or it was evident that the +Sabines, ever hostile, and all Etruria would put themselves in motion: +but the Veientians, a constant rather than a formidable enemy, kept +their minds in constant uneasiness by their insults more frequently than +by any danger apprehended from them; a matter which could at no time be +neglected, and which suffered them not to direct their attention to any +other object. Then the Fabian family addressed the senate; the consul +speaks in the name of the family: "Conscript fathers, the Veientian war +requires, as you know, a constant rather than a strong force. Do you +attend to other wars: assign the Fabii as enemies to the Veientians. We +pledge ourselves that the majesty of the Roman name shall be safe in +that quarter. That war, as the property of our family, it is our +determination to conduct at our own private expense. Let the republic be +spared the expense of soldiers and money there." The warmest thanks were +returned to them. The consul, leaving the senate-house, accompanied by +the Fabii in a body, who had been standing in the porch of the +senate-house, returned home. Being ordered to attend<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> on the following +day in arms at the consul's gate, they retire to their homes.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b49" name="b49"></a>49</div> +<p>The rumour spreads through the entire city; they extol the Fabii to +the skies by their encomiums. "That a single family had taken on them +the burden of the state: that the Veientian war had now become a private +concern, a private quarrel. If there were two families of the same +strength in the city, let them demand, the one the Volsci for itself, +the other the Æqui; that all the neighbouring states might be subdued, +the Roman people all the time enjoying profound peace." The day +following, the Fabii take up arms; they assemble where they had been +ordered. The consul coming forth in his paludamentum,<a name="FNanchor_97_97" id="FNanchor_97_97"></a><a href="#Footnote_97_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a> beholds his +entire family in the porch drawn up in order of march; being received +into the centre, he orders the standards to be carried forward. Never +did an army march through the city, either smaller in number, or more +distinguished in fame and in the admiration of all men. Three hundred +and six soldiers, all patricians, all of the one stock, not one of whom +the senate would reject as a leader in its palmiest days, proceeded on +their march, menacing destruction to the Veientian state by the prowess +of a single family. A crowd followed, partly belonging to their kinsmen +and friends, who contemplated in mind no moderation either as to their +hopes or anxiety, but every thing on the highest scale; partly +consisting of individuals not connected with their family, aroused by +solicitude for the public weal, all enraptured with esteem and +admiration. They bid them "proceed in the brave resolve, proceed with +happy omens, bring back results proportioned to their undertaking: +thence to expect consulships and triumphs, all rewards, all honours from +them." As they passed the Capitol and the citadel, and the other sacred +edifices, they offer up prayers to all the gods that presented +themselves to their sight, or to their mind: that "they would send +forward that band with prosperity and success, and soon send them back +safe into their country to their parents." In vain were these prayers +sent up. Having set out on their luckless road by the right-hand postern +of the Carmental gate, they arrive at the river Cremera: this ap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>peared +a favourable situation for fortifying a post. L. Æmilius and C. +Servilius were then created consuls. And as long as there was nothing +else to occupy them but mutual devastations, the Fabii were not only +sufficiently able to protect their garrison, but through the entire +tract, as far as the Etrurian joins the Roman territory, they protected +all their own districts and ravaged those of the enemy, spreading their +forces along both frontiers. There was afterwards an intermission, +though not of long duration, to these depredations: whilst both the +Veientians, having sent for an army from Etruria, assault the post at +the Cremera, and the Roman troops, led thither by L. Æmilius the consul, +come to a close engagement in the field with the Etrurians; although the +Veientians had scarcely time to draw up their line: for during the first +alarm, whilst the ranks are posting themselves behind their respective +banners and they are stationing their reserves, a brigade of Roman +cavalry charging them suddenly in flank, took away all opportunity not +only of commencing the fight, but even of standing their ground. Thus +being driven back to the Red Rocks, (there they pitched their camp,) +they suppliantly sue for peace; for the obtaining of which they were +sorry, from the natural inconsistency of their minds, before the Roman +garrison was drawn off from the Cremera.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b50" name="b50"></a>50</div> +<p>Again the Veientian state had to contend with the Fabii without any +additional military armament [on either side]; and there were not merely +incursions into each other's territories, or sudden attacks on those +making the incursions, but they fought repeatedly in the open field, and +in pitched battles: and one family of the Roman people oftentimes gained +the victory over an entire Etrurian state, one of the most powerful at +that time. This at first appeared mortifying and humiliating to the +Veientians: then (they formed) a design, suggested by the circumstance, +of surprising their daring enemy by an ambuscade; they were even glad +that the confidence of the Fabii was increasing by their great success. +Wherefore cattle were frequently driven in the way of the plundering +parties, as if they had come there by mere accident, and tracts of land +were abandoned by the flight of the peasants; and troops of armed men +sent to prevent the devastations retreated more frequently from +pretended than from real fear. And now the Fabii had such a contempt for +the enemy, as to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> believe that their invincible arms could not be +withstood either in any place or on any occasion: this presumption +carried them so far, that at the sight of some cattle at a distance from +Cremera, with an extensive plain lying between, they ran down to it +(although few troops of the enemy were observed); and when incautious +and in disorderly haste they had passed the ambuscade placed on either +side of the very road; and when dispersed in different directions they +began to carry off the cattle straying about, as is usual when they are +frightened, the Veientians rise up suddenly from their ambuscade, and +the enemy were in front and on every side. At first the shout that was +raised terrified them; then weapons assailed them from every side; and, +the Etrurians closing, they also were compelled, hemmed in as they now +were by a compact body of soldiers, to contract their own circle within +a narrower compass; which circumstance rendered striking both their own +paucity of numbers, and the superior numbers of the enemy, the ranks +being crowded in a narrow space. Then the plan of fighting, which they +had directed equally against every part, being now relinquished, they +all incline their forces towards one point; in that direction straining +every effort both with their bodies and arms, they forced a passage by +forming a wedge. The way led to a hill of moderate acclivity; here they +first halted: presently, as soon as the higher ground afforded them time +to gain breath, and to recover from so great a panic, they repulsed them +as they advanced up; and the small band by the advantage of the ground +was gaining the victory, had not a party of the Veientians, sent round +the ridge of the hill, made their way to the summit; thus again the +enemy obtained the higher ground; all the Fabii were killed to a man, +and the fort was taken: it is agreed on all hands that the three hundred +and six were cut off; that one<a name="FNanchor_98_98" id="FNanchor_98_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_98_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a> only, who nearly attained the age of +puberty, was left as a stock for the Fabian race; and that he was +destined to prove the greatest support in the dangerous emergencies of +the Roman people both at home and in war.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b51" name="b51"></a>51</div> +<p>At the time when this disaster was received, C. Horatius and T. +Menenius were consuls. Menenius was immediately sent against the +Etrurians, elated with victory. Then too an unsuc<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>cessful battle was +fought, and the enemy took possession of the Janiculum: and the city +would have been besieged, scarcity of provisions bearing hard upon them +in addition to the war, (for the Etrurians had passed the Tiber,) had +not the consul Horatius been recalled from the Volsci; and so closely +did that war approach the very walls, that the first battle was fought +near the temple of Hope with doubtful success, and a second time at the +Colline gate. There, although the Romans had the advantage in a slight +degree only, yet that contest rendered the soldiers better for future +battles by restoring to them their former courage. Aulus Virginius and +Sp. Servilius are created consuls. After the defeat sustained in the +last battle, the Veientians declined an engagement. Ravages were +committed, and they made incursions in every direction on the Roman +territory from the Janiculum as if from a fortress; no where were the +cattle or the husbandmen safe. They were afterwards entrapped by the +same stratagem as that by which they had entrapped the Fabii: having +pursued some cattle that had been driven on designedly for the purpose +of decoying them, they fell into an ambuscade; in proportion as they +were more numerous, the slaughter was greater. The violent resentment +resulting from this disaster was the cause and commencement of one still +greater: for having crossed the Tiber by night, they attempted to +assault the camp of the consul Servilius; being repulsed from thence +with great slaughter, they with difficulty made good their retreat into +the Janiculum. The consul himself also crosses the Tiber, fortifies his +camp at the foot of the Janiculum: at break of day on the following +morning, both from being somewhat elated by the success of the battle of +the day before, more however because the scarcity of corn forced him +into measures which, though dangerous, (he adopted) because they were +more expeditious, he rashly marched his army up the steep of the +Janiculum to the camp of the enemy, and being repulsed from thence with +more disgrace than he had repulsed them on the preceding day, he was +saved, both himself and his army, by the intervention of his colleague. +The Etrurians (hemmed in) between the two armies, when they presented +their rear to the one and the other by turns, were entirely cut off. +Thus the Veientian war was crushed by a fortunate act of temerity.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b52" name="b52"></a>52</div> +<p>Together with the peace, provisions returned to the city<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> in greater +abundance, both by reason of corn having been brought in from Campania, +and, as soon as the fear felt by each of future famine left them, that +corn being brought forward which had been hoarded up. Then their minds +once more became licentious from their present abundance and ease, and +their former subjects of complaint, now that there were none abroad, +they sought for at home; the tribunes began to excite the commons by +their poison, the agrarian law: they roused them against the senators +who opposed it, and not only against them as a body, but also against +particular individuals. Q. Considius and T. Genucius, the proposers of +the agrarian law, appoint a day of trial for T. Menenius: the loss of +the fort of Cremera, whilst the consul had his standing camp at no great +distance from thence, was the charge against him. They crushed him, +though both the senators had exerted themselves in his behalf with no +less earnestness than in behalf of Coriolanus, and the popularity of his +father Agrippa was not yet forgotten. The tribunes, however, went no +further than a fine: though they had arraigned him for a capital +offence, they imposed on him, when found guilty, a fine of two thousand +<i>asses</i>. This proved fatal. They say that he could not submit to the +disgrace, and to the anguish of mind (occasioned by it): that, in +consequence, he was taken off by disease. Another senator, Sp. +Servilius, being soon after arraigned, as soon as he went out of office, +a day of trial having been appointed for him by the tribunes, L. +Cædicius and T. Statius, at the very commencement of the year, in the +consulship of C. Nautius and P. Valerius, did not, like Menenius, meet +the attacks of the tribunes with supplications from himself and the +patricians, but with firm reliance on his own integrity, and his +personal influence. The battle with the Etrurians at the Janiculum was +the charge against him also: but being a man of an intrepid spirit, as +he had formerly acted in the case of public peril, so now in that which +was personal to himself, he dispelled the danger by boldly facing it, by +confuting not only the tribunes but the commons also, by a bold speech, +and upbraiding them with the condemnation and death of T. Menenius, by +the good offices of whose father the commons were formerly +re-established, and were now in possession of those laws and those +magistrates, by means of which they then exercised their insolence; his +colleague<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> Virginius also, who was brought forward as a witness, aided +him by assigning to him a share of his own deserts; the condemnation of +Menenius however was of greater service to him (so much had they changed +their minds).</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b53" name="b53"></a>53</div> +<p>The contests at home were now concluded. A Veientian war broke out, +with whom the Sabines had united their forces. The consul P. Valerius, +after auxiliaries were sent for from the Latins and Hernicians, being +despatched to Veii with an army, immediately attacks the Sabine camp, +which had been pitched before the walls of their allies: and occasioned +such great consternation, that while, dispersed in different directions, +they sally forth to repel the assault of the enemy, the gate which the +Romans first attacked was taken; then within the rampart there was +rather a carnage than a battle. From the camp the alarm spreads into the +city; the Veientians run to arms in as great a panic as if Veii had been +taken: some come up to the support of the Sabines, others fall upon the +Romans, who had directed all their force against the camp. For a little +while they were disconcerted and thrown into confusion; then they too +forming two fronts make a stand: and the cavalry, being commanded by the +consul to charge, routs the Etrurians and puts them to flight; and in +the same hour two armies and two of the most influential and powerful of +the neighbouring states were vanquished. Whilst these transactions are +going on at Veii, the Volsci and Æqui had pitched their camp in the +Latin territory, and laid waste their frontiers. The Latins, by their +own exertions, being joined by the Hernicians, without either a Roman +general or Roman auxiliaries, stripped them of their camp. Besides +recovering their own effects, they obtained immense booty. The consul C. +Nautius, however, was sent against the Volsci from Rome. The custom, I +suppose, was not pleasing for allies to carry on wars with their own +forces and under their own direction without a Roman general and troops. +There was no kind of injury or indignity that was not practised against +the Volsci; nor could they be prevailed on however to come to an +engagement in the field.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b54" name="b54"></a>54</div> +<p>Lucius Furius and Caius Manlius were the next consuls. The +Veientians fell to Manlius as his province. War however did not take +place: a truce for forty years was granted them at their request, corn +and pay for the soldiers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> being demanded of them. Disturbance at home +immediately succeeds to peace abroad: the commons were goaded by the +tribunes with the excitement of the agrarian law. The consuls, nothing +intimidated by the condemnation of Menenius, nor by the danger of +Servilius, resist with their utmost might; Cn. Genucius, a tribune of +the people, arraigned the consuls on their going out of office. Lucius +Æmilius and Opiter Virginius enter on the consulate. Instead of +Virginius I find Vopiscus Julius consul in some annals. In this year +(whatever consuls it had) Furius and Manlius, being summoned to trial +before the people, go about in suppliant garb not more to the commons +than to the younger patricians; they advise, they caution them "to keep +themselves from honours and the administration of public affairs, and +that they would consider the consular fasces, the prætexta and curule +chair, as nothing else than the decorations of a funeral; that when +covered with these fine insignia, as with fillets, they were doomed to +death. But if the charms of the consulate were so great, they should +rest satisfied that the consulate was held in captivity and crushed by +the tribunitian power; that every thing was to be done at the nod and +command of the tribune by the consul, as if he were a tribune's beadle. +If he stir, if he have reference to the patricians, if he should think +for a moment that there existed any other party in the state but the +commons, let him place before his eyes the banishment of Caius Marcius, +the condemnation and death of Menenius." Fired by these discourses, the +patricians from that time held their consultations not in public, but in +private, and withdrawn from the knowledge of the many; where when this +one point was agreed on, that the accused must be rescued whether by +just or unjust means, every proposition that was most desperate was most +approved; nor was an actor wanted for any deed however daring. +Accordingly on the day of trial, when the people stood in the forum in +anxious expectation, they at first began to feel surprised that the +tribune did not come down; then when the delay was now becoming more +suspicious, they considered that he was deterred by the nobles, and they +complained that the public cause was abandoned and betrayed. At length +those who had been waiting before the gate of the tribune's residence, +bring word that he was found dead in his house. As soon as rumour spread +this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> through the whole assembly, just as an army disperses on the fall +of its general, so did they separate in different directions. The +principal panic seized the tribunes, now warned by their colleague's +death what little aid the devoting laws afforded them. Nor did the +patricians bear their joy with sufficient moderation; and so far was any +of them from feeling compunction at the guilty act, that even those who +were innocent wished to be considered to have perpetrated it, and it was +openly declared that the tribunitian power should be subdued by +chastisement.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b55" name="b55"></a>55</div> +<p>Immediately after this victory of a most ruinous precedent a levy is +proclaimed; and the tribunes being now overawed, the consuls accomplish +the matter without any opposition. Then indeed the commons became +enraged more on account of the silence of the tribunes than the command +of the consuls: and they said "there was an end of their liberty; that +they were come back again to the old condition of things; that the +tribunitian power had died along with Genucius and was buried with him; +that other means must be devised and practised, by which to resist the +patricians; and that the only method for that was that the people should +defend themselves, since they now had no other aid. That four-and-twenty +lictors waited on the consuls; and that these very individuals were from +among the commons; that nothing could be more despicable, nor weaker, if +there were only persons who could despise them; that each person +magnified those things and made them objects of terror to himself." When +they had excited each other by these discourses, a lictor was despatched +by the consuls to Volero Publilius, a man belonging to the commons, +because he stated, that having been a centurion he ought not to be made +a common soldier. Volero appeals to the tribunes. When one came to his +assistance, the consuls order the man to be stripped and the rods to be +got ready. "I appeal to the people," says Volero, "since tribunes had +rather see a Roman citizen scourged before their eyes, than themselves +be butchered by you in their bed." The more vehemently he cried out, the +more violently did the lictor tear off his clothes and strip him. Then +Volero, being both himself of great bodily strength, and being aided by +his partisans, having repulsed the lictor, when the shouts of those +indignant in his behalf became very intense, betook himself into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +thickest part of the crowd, crying out, "I appeal, and implore the +protection of the commons; assist me, fellow citizens; assist me, fellow +soldiers; there is no use in waiting for the tribunes, who themselves +stand in need of your aid." The men, being much excited, prepare as it +were for battle; and it became manifest that there was urgent danger, +that nothing would be held sacred by any one, that there would no longer +exist any public or private right. When the consuls faced this so +violent storm, they soon experienced that majesty without strength had +but little security; the lictors being maltreated, the fasces broken, +they are driven from the forum into the senate-house, uncertain how far +Volero would push his victory. After that, the disturbance subsiding, +when they had ordered the senate to be convened, they complain of the +outrages committed on themselves, of the violence of the people, the +daring of Volero. Many violent measures having been proposed, the elder +members prevailed, who recommended that the unthinking rashness of the +commons should not be met by the passionate resentment of the +patricians.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b56" name="b56"></a>56</div> +<p>The commons having espoused the interest of Volero, with great +warmth choose him, at the next election, tribune of the people for that +year, which had Lucius Pinarius and Publius Furius for consuls; and, +contrary to the opinion of all men, who thought that he would let loose +his tribuneship in harassing the consuls of the preceding year, +postponing private resentment to the public interest, without assailing +the consuls even by a single word, he proposed a law to the people that +plebeian magistrates should be elected at the comitia by tribes. A +matter of no trifling moment was now being brought forward, under an +aspect at first sight by no means alarming; but one which in reality +deprived the patricians of all power to elect whatever tribunes they +pleased by the suffrages of their clients. The patricians used all their +energies in resisting this proposition, which was most pleasing to the +commons; and though none of the college could be induced by the +influence either of the consuls or of the chief members of the senate to +enter a protest against it, the only means of resistance which now +existed; yet the matter, important as it was by its own weight, is spun +out by contention till the following year. The commons re-elect Volero +as tribune. The senators, considering that the question would be carried +to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> very extreme of a struggle, elect to the consulate Appius +Claudius, the son of Appius, who was both hated by and hated the +commons, ever since the contests between them and his father. Titus +Quintius is assigned to him as his colleague. In the very commencement +of the year no other question took precedence of that regarding the law. +But though Volero was the inventor of it, his colleague, Lætorius, was +both a more recent abettor of it, as well as a more energetic one. +Whilst Volero confined himself to the subject of the law, avoiding all +abuse of the consuls, he commenced with accusing Appius and his family, +as having ever been most overbearing and cruel towards the Roman +commons, contending that he had been elected by the senators, not as +consul, but as executioner, to harass and torture the people; his rude +tongue, he being a military man, was not sufficient to express the +freedom of his sentiments. Language therefore failing him, he says, +"Romans, since I do not speak with as much readiness as I make good what +I have spoken, attend here to-morrow. I will either die here before your +eyes, or will carry the law." On the following day the tribunes take +possession of the temple; the consuls and the nobility take their places +in the assembly to obstruct the law. Lætorius orders all persons to be +removed, except those going to vote; the young nobles kept their places, +paying no regard to the officer; then Lætorius orders some of them to be +seized. The consul Appius insisted "that the tribune had no jurisdiction +over any one except a plebeian; for that he was not a magistrate of the +people in general, but only of the commons; for that even he himself +could not, according to the usage of their ancestors, by virtue of his +authority remove any person; because the words run thus, <i>if ye think +proper, depart, Romans</i>." He was able to disconcert Lætorius by arguing +fluently and contemptuously concerning the right. The tribune therefore, +burning with rage, sends his beadle to the consul; the consul sends his +lictor to the tribune, exclaiming that he was a private individual, +without power and without magistracy; and the tribune would have been +roughly treated, had not both the entire assembly risen up with great +warmth in behalf of the tribune against the consul, and a rush of +persons belonging to the multitude, which was now much excited, taken +place from the entire city into the forum. Appius, however, withstood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +so great a storm with obstinacy, and the contest would have ended in a +battle, not without blood, had not Quintius, the other consul, after +giving it in charge to the men of consular dignity to remove his +colleague from the forum by force, if they could not do it otherwise, +himself assuaged the enraged people by entreaties, and implored the +tribunes to dismiss the assembly. "That they should give their passion +time to cool; that delay would not deprive them of their power, but +would add prudence to strength; and that the senators would be under the +control of the people, and the consul under that of the senators."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b57" name="b57"></a>57</div> +<p>With difficulty the people were pacified by Quintius: with much more +difficulty was the other consul by the patricians. The assembly of the +people being at length dismissed, the consuls convene the senate; where, +though fear and resentment by turns had produced a diversity of +opinions, the more they were recalled, after the lapse of time, from +violence to reflection, the more averse did they become to a continuance +of the dispute, so that they returned thanks to Quintius, because by his +exertions the disturbance had been quieted. Appius is requested "to +consent that the consular dignity should be merely so great as it could +be in a peaceably conducted state; that as long as the tribune and +consuls were drawing all power, each to his own side, no strength was +left between; that the object aimed at was in whose hands the +commonwealth should be, distracted and torn as it was, rather than that +it should be safe." Appius, on the contrary, called gods and men to +witness that "the commonwealth was betrayed and abandoned through +cowardice; that it was not the consul that was wanting to the senate, +but the senate to the consul; that more oppressive laws were now being +submitted to than were sanctioned on the sacred mount." Overcome however +by the unanimous feeling of the senators, he desisted: the law is +carried without opposition.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b58" name="b58"></a>58</div> +<p>Then for the first time the tribunes were elected in the comitia by +tribes. Piso said that three were added to the number, whereas there had +been only two before. He names the tribunes also, Caius Sicinius, Lucius +Numitorius, Marcus Duilius, Spurius Icilius, Lucius Mecilius. During the +disturbance at Rome, a war with the Volscians and Æquans broke out; they +had laid waste the lands, so that if any secession<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> of the people should +take place, they might find a refuge with them. The differences being +afterwards settled, they removed their camp backwards. Appius Claudius +was sent against the Volscians; the Æquans fell to Quintius as his +province. The severity of Appius was the same in war as at home, being +more unrestrained because he was free from tribunitian control. He hated +the commons with more than his father's hatred: he had been defeated by +them: when he was set up as the only consul to oppose the tribunitian +influence, a law was passed, which former consuls obstructed with less +effort, amid hopes of the senators by no means so great (as those formed +of him). His resentment and indignation at this, excited his imperious +temper to harass the army by the rigour of his command; nor could it +(the army) however be subdued by any means; such a spirit of opposition +had they imbibed. They executed every measure slowly, indolently, +negligently, and with stubbornness: neither shame nor fear restrained +them. If he wished the army to move on with expedition, they designedly +went more slowly: if he came up to them to encourage them in their work, +they all relaxed the energy which they before exerted of their own +accord: when he was present they cast down their eyes, they silently +cursed him as he passed by; so that his mind, invulnerable to plebeian +hatred, was sometimes moved. All kind of harsh treatment being tried in +vain, he no longer held any intercourse with the soldiers; he said the +army was corrupted by the centurions; he sometimes gibingly called them +tribunes of the people and Voleros.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b59" name="b59"></a>59</div> +<p>None of these circumstances were unknown to the Volscians, and they +pressed on with so much the more vigour, hoping that the Roman army +would entertain the same spirit of opposition against Appius, which they +had formerly entertained against the consul Fabius. But they were much +more violent against Appius than against Fabius. For they were not only +unwilling to conquer, like Fabius' army, but they wished to be +conquered. When led out to the field, they made for their camp in an +ignominious flight, nor did they stand their ground until they saw the +Volscians advancing to their fortifications, and making dreadful havoc +on the rear of their army. Then the obligation to fight was wrung from +them, in order that the victorious enemy should be dislodged from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> their +lines; yet it was sufficiently plain that the Roman soldiers were only +unwilling that their camp should be taken; some of them gloried in their +own defeat and disgrace. When the determined spirit of Appius, undaunted +by these things, wished to exercise severity still further, and he +summoned a meeting, the lieutenant-generals and tribunes flock around +him, advising him "that he would not determine on venturing a trial of +an authority, the entire strength of which lay in the acquiescence of +those who were to obey. That the soldiers generally refused to come to +the assembly, and that their clamours were heard in every direction +demanding that the camp should be removed from the Volscian territory. +That the victorious enemy were but a little time ago almost at the very +gates and rampart; and that not merely a suspicion, but a manifest +indication of a grievous disaster presented itself to their eyes." +Yielding at length, (since they would gain nothing save a delay of +punishment,) having prorogued the assembly, after he had given orders +that their march should be proclaimed for the following day, he, at the +first dawn, gave the signal for departure by sound of trumpet. When the +army, having just got clear of the camp, were forming themselves, the +Volscians, as being aroused by the same signal, fall upon those in the +rear; from whom the alarm spreading to the van, confounded both the +battalions and ranks with such consternation, that neither the generals' +orders could be distinctly heard, nor the lines be drawn up, no one +thinking of any thing but flight. In such confusion did they make their +way through heaps of dead bodies and of arms, that the enemy ceased to +pursue sooner than the Romans to fly. The soldiers being at length +collected from their scattered rout, the consul, after he had in vain +followed his men for the purpose of rallying them, pitched his camp in a +peaceful part of the country; and an assembly being convened, after +inveighing not without good reason against the army, as traitors to +military discipline, deserters of their posts, frequently asking them, +one by one, where were their standards, where their arms; he first beat +with rods and then beheaded those soldiers who had thrown down their +arms, the standard-bearers who had lost their standards, and moreover +the centurions, and those with the double allowance, who had left their +ranks. With respect to the rest of the multitude, every tenth man was +drawn by lot for punishment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b60" name="b60"></a>60</div> +<p>In a contrary manner to this, the consul and soldiers in the country +of the Æquans vied with each other in courtesy and acts of kindness: +both Quintius was naturally milder in disposition, and the ill-fated +severity of his colleague caused him to indulge more in his own good +temper. This, such great cordiality between the general and his army, +the Æquans did not venture to meet; they suffered the enemy to go +through their lands committing devastations in every direction. Nor were +depredations committed more extensively in that quarter in any preceding +war. Praises were also added, in which the minds of soldiers find no +less pleasure than in rewards. The army returned more reconciled both to +their general, and also on account of the general to the patricians; +stating that a parent was assigned to them, a master to the other army +by the senate. The year now passed, with varied success in war, and +furious dissensions at home and abroad, was rendered memorable chiefly +by the elections by tribes; the matter was more important from the +victory in the contest entered into, than from any real advantage; for +there was more of dignity abstracted from the elections themselves by +the exclusion of the patricians, than there was influence either added +to the commons or taken from the patricians.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b61" name="b61"></a>61</div> +<p>A more turbulent year<a name="FNanchor_99_99" id="FNanchor_99_99"></a><a href="#Footnote_99_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a> next followed, Lucius Valerius, Tiberius +Æmilius being consuls, both by reason of the struggles between the +different orders concerning the agrarian law, as well as on account of +the trial of Appius Claudius; for whom, as a most active opposer of the +law, and as one who supported the cause of the possessors of the public +land, as if a third consul, Marcus Duilius and Caius Sicinius appointed +a day of trial.<a name="FNanchor_100_100" id="FNanchor_100_100"></a><a href="#Footnote_100_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a> Never before was an accused person so hateful to +the commons brought to trial before the people; overwhelmed with their +resentment on his own account,<a name="FNanchor_101_101" id="FNanchor_101_101"></a><a href="#Footnote_101_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a> and also on account of his father. +The patricians too seldom made equal exertions in behalf of any one: +"that the champion of the senate, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> the assertor of their dignity, +opposed to all the storms of the tribunes and commons, was exposed to +the resentment of the commons, merely for having exceeded bounds in the +contest." Appius Claudius himself was the only one of the patricians who +made light both of the tribunes and commons and his own trial. Neither +the threats of the commons, nor the entreaties of the senate, could ever +persuade him not only to change his garb, or address persons as a +suppliant, but not even so far as to soften or relax any thing from the +usual asperity of his style, when his cause was to be pleaded before the +people. The expression of his countenance was the same; the same +stubbornness in his looks, the same spirit of pride in his language; so +that a great part of the commons felt no less awe of Appius when +arraigned, than they had felt of him when consul. He pleaded his cause +once, and with the same spirit of an accuser which he had been +accustomed to adopt on all occasions: and he so far astounded both the +tribunes and the commons by his intrepidity, that, of their own accord, +they postponed the day of trial; then they allowed the matter to be +protracted. Nor was the time now very distant; before, however, the +appointed day came, he dies of some disease; and when the tribunes of +the people endeavoured to impede his funeral panegyric,<a name="FNanchor_102_102" id="FNanchor_102_102"></a><a href="#Footnote_102_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a> the commons +would not allow that the last day of so great a man should be defrauded +of the usual honours; and they listened to the panegyric of him when +dead with as patient ears, as they had listened to the charges brought +against him when living, and attended his funeral in vast numbers.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b62" name="b62"></a>62</div> +<p>In the same year the consul Valerius, having marched an army against +the Æquans, when he could not entice the enemy to an engagement, set +about assaulting their camp. A violent storm sent down from heaven with +thunder and hail prevented him. Then, on a signal for a retreat being +given, their surprise was excited by the return of such fair weather, +that they felt a scruple a second time to attack a camp which was +defended as it were by some divine power; all the rage of war was turned +on the devastation of the land. The other consul, Æmilius, conducted the +war against the Sabines. There also,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> because the enemy confined +themselves within their walls, the lands were laid waste. Then, by the +burning not only of the country-houses, but of the villages also, which +were thickly inhabited, the Sabines being aroused, after they met the +depredators, on retreating from an engagement left undecided, on the +following day removed their camp into a safer situation. This seemed a +sufficient reason to the consul why he should leave the enemy as +conquered, departing thence the war being still unfinished.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b63" name="b63"></a>63</div> +<p>During these wars, whilst dissensions still continued at home, Titus +Numicius Priscus, Aulus Virginius, were elected consuls. The commons +appeared determined no longer to brook a delay of the agrarian law, and +extreme violence was on the eve of being resorted to, when it was +ascertained from the burning of the country-houses and the flight of the +peasants that the Volscians were at hand: this circumstance checked the +sedition that was now ripe and almost breaking out. The consuls, having +been instantly forced to the war by the senate,<a name="FNanchor_103_103" id="FNanchor_103_103"></a><a href="#Footnote_103_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a> after leading forth +the youth from the city, rendered the rest of the commons more quiet. +And the enemy indeed, having done nothing else except alarming the +Romans by groundless fear, depart with great precipitation. Numicius +marched to Antium against the Volscians, Virginius against the Æquans. +Here a signal overthrow being well nigh received from an ambuscade, the +bravery of the soldiers restored (the Roman) superiority, which had been +endangered through the carelessness of the consul. The general conducted +affairs better against the Volscians. The enemy were routed in the first +engagement, and forced to fly into the city of Antium, a very wealthy +place considering those times; the consul, not venturing to attack it, +took from the people of Antium another town, Ceno, which was by no means +so wealthy. Whilst the Æquans and Volscians engage the attention of the +Roman armies, the Sabines advanced in their devastations even to the +gates of the city: then they themselves, a few days after, received from +the two armies heavier losses than they had occasioned, the two consuls +having entered their territories under exasperated feelings.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b64" name="b64"></a>64</div> +<p>Towards the close of the year there was some peace, but, as +frequently at other times, disturbed by contests between the patricians +and commons. The exasperated commons refused to attend the consular +elections: Titus Quintius, Quintus Servilius, were elected consuls by +the patricians and their dependents: the consuls have a year similar to +the preceding, the commencement embroiled, and afterwards tranquil by +external war. The Sabines marching across the plains of Crustuminum with +great rapidity, after carrying fire and sword along the banks of the +Anio, being repulsed when they had come up nearly to the Colline gate +and the walls, drove off however great booty of men and cattle: the +consul Servilius, having pursued them with a determined army, was unable +to come up with the main body itself on the campaign country; he carried +his devastation however so extensively, that he left nothing unmolested +by war, and returned after obtaining plunder much exceeding that carried +off by the enemy. The public interest was supported extremely well +against the Volscians also by the exertions as well of the general as of +the soldiers. First they fought a pitched battle, on equal ground, with +great slaughter and much bloodshed on both sides: and the Romans, +because the fewness of their numbers was more likely to make the loss +felt, would have given way, had not the consul, by a well-timed fiction, +re-animated the army, crying out that the enemy were flying on the other +wing; making a charge, they, by supposing that they were victorious, +became so. The consul, fearing lest by pressing too far he might renew +the contest, gave the signal for a retreat. A few days intervened; rest +being taken on both sides as if by a tacit suspension of arms; during +these days a vast number of persons from all the states of the Volscians +and Æquans came to the camp, certain that the Romans would depart during +the night, if they should perceive them. Accordingly about the third +watch they come to attack the camp. Quintius having allayed the +confusion which the sudden panic had occasioned, after ordering the +soldiers to remain quiet in their tents, leads out a cohort of the +Hernicians for an advance guard: the trumpeters and horneteers he mounts +on horseback, and commands them to sound their trumpets before the +rampart, and to keep the enemy in suspense till daylight: during the +rest of the night every thing was so quiet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> in the camp, that the Romans +had even the advantage of sleep. The sight of the armed infantry, whom +they both considered to be more numerous than they were, and to be +Romans, the bustle and neighing of the horses, which became restless, +both from the strange riders placed on them, and moreover from the sound +of the trumpets frightening them, kept the Volscians intently awaiting +an attack of the enemy.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="b65" name="b65"></a>65</div> +<p>When day dawned, the Romans, invigorated and refreshed with sleep, +on being marched out to battle, at the first onset overpowered the +Volscians, wearied from standing and want of rest; though the enemy +rather retired than were routed, because in the rear there were hills to +which there was a secure retreat, the ranks behind the first line being +unbroken. The consul, when they came to the uneven ground, halts his +army; the soldiers were kept back with difficulty; they cried out and +demanded to be allowed to pursue the enemy now discomfited. The cavalry, +crowding around the general, proceed more violently: they cry out that +they would proceed before the first line. Whilst the consul hesitates, +relying on the valour of his men, yet having little confidence in the +place, they all cry out that they would proceed; and execution followed +the shout. Fixing their spears in the ground, in order that they may be +lighter to ascend the steeps, they run upwards. The Volscians, having +discharged their missile weapons at the first onset, fling the stones +lying at their feet on them as they advanced upwards, and having thrown +them into confusion by incessant blows, they drove them from the higher +ground: thus the left wing of the Romans was nearly overborne, had not +the consul dispelled their fear by exciting a sense of shame as they +were just retreating, chiding at the same time their temerity and their +cowardice. At first they stood their ground with determined firmness; +then, according as their strength carried them against those in +possession of the ground, they venture to advance themselves; and by +renewing the shout they encourage the whole body to move on; then again +making a new effort, they force their way up and surmount the +disadvantage of the ground. They were on the point of gaining the summit +of the eminence, when the enemy turned their backs, and the pursued and +pursuers with precipitate speed rushed into the camp almost in a body. +In this consternation the camp is taken;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> such of the Volscians as were +able to make their escape, take the road to Antium. The Roman army also +was led to Antium; after being invested for a few days it surrenders +without any additional force of the besiegers,<a name="FNanchor_104_104" id="FNanchor_104_104"></a><a href="#Footnote_104_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a> but because their +spirits had sunk ever since the unsuccessful battle and the loss of +their camp.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="book3" id="book3"></a>BOOK III</h2> + +<div class="chapmen"><a href="#c1">1</a> <a href="#c2">2</a> <a href="#c3">3</a> + + <a href="#c4">4</a> <a href="#c5">5</a> <a href="#c6">6</a> <a href="#c7">7</a> + + <a href="#c8">8</a> <a href="#c9">9</a> <a href="#c10">10</a> <a href="#c11">11</a> + + <a href="#c12">12</a> <a href="#c13">13</a> <a href="#c14">14</a> <a href="#c15">15</a> + + <a href="#c16">16</a> <a href="#c17">17</a> <a href="#c18">18</a> <a href="#c19">19</a> + + <a href="#c20">20</a> <a href="#c21">21</a> <a href="#c22">22</a> <a href="#c23">23</a> + + <a href="#c24">24</a> <a href="#c25">25</a> <a href="#c26">26</a> <a href="#c27">27</a> + + <a href="#c28">28</a> <a href="#c29">29</a> <a href="#c30">30</a> <a href="#c31">31</a> + + <a href="#c32">32</a> <a href="#c33">33</a> <a href="#c34">34</a> <a href="#c35">35</a> + + <a href="#c36">36</a> <a href="#c37">37</a> <a href="#c38">38</a> <a href="#c39">39</a> + + <a href="#c40">40</a> <a href="#c41">41</a> <a href="#c42">42</a> <a href="#c43">43</a> + + <a href="#c44">44</a> <a href="#c45">45</a> <a href="#c46">46</a> <a href="#c47">47</a> + + <a href="#c48">48</a> <a href="#c49">49</a> <a href="#c50">50</a> <a href="#c51">51</a> + + <a href="#c52">52</a> <a href="#c53">53</a> <a href="#c54">54</a> <a href="#c55">55</a> + + <a href="#c56">56</a> <a href="#c57">57</a> <a href="#c58">58</a> <a href="#c59">59</a> + + <a href="#c60">60</a> <a href="#c61">61</a> <a href="#c62">62</a> <a href="#c63">63</a> + + <a href="#c64">64</a> <a href="#c65">65</a> <a href="#c66">66</a> <a href="#c67">67</a> + + <a href="#c68">68</a> <a href="#c69">69</a> <a href="#c70">70</a> <a href="#c71">71</a> + + <a href="#c72">72</a></div> + + +<div class="bookdes"><p><i>Disturbances about the agrarian laws. The Capitol surprised by +exiles and slaves. Quintius Cincinnatus called from the cultivation +of his farm in the country, made dictator, and appointed to conduct +the war against the Æquans. He conquers the enemy, and makes them +pass under the yoke. The number of the tribunes increased to ten. +Decemvirs, appointed for the purpose of digesting and publishing a +body of laws. These having promulgated a code of laws contained in +ten tables, obtain a continuation of their authority for another +year, during which they add two more to the former ten tables. +Refusing to resign their office, they retain it a third year. Their +conduct at first equitable and just; afterwards arbitrary and +tyrannical. The commons, in consequence of the base attempt of +Appius Claudius, one of them, to debauch the daughter of Virginius, +seize on the Aventine mount, and oblige them to resign. Appius and +Oppius, two of the most obnoxious, are thrown into prison, where +they put an end to their own lives; the rest are driven into exile. +War with the Sabines, Volscians, and Æquans.—Unfair decision of +the Roman people, who being chosen arbitrators between the people +of Ardea and Aricia concerning some disputed lands, adjudge them to +themselves.</i></p></div> + + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c1" name="c1"></a>1</div> +<p>After the taking of Antium, Titus Æmilius and Quintus Fabius are +elected consuls. This was the Fabius Quintus who alone had survived the +family cut off at Cremera. Already, in his former consulate, Æmilius had +been an adviser of giving land to the people. Accordingly in his second +consulate also both the abettors of the agrarian law had raised +themselves to the hope of carrying the measure, and the tribunes, +supposing that a matter frequently attempted in opposition to both +consuls might be obtained with the assistance at least of one consul, +take it up, and the consul remained stedfast in his sentiments. The +possessors and a considerable part of the patricians complaining that a +person at the head of the state was recommending himself by his +tribunitial proceedings, and that he was making himself popular by +giving away other persons' property, had transferred the odium of the +entire<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> affair from the tribunes to the consul. A violent contest was at +hand, had not Fabius set the matter straight, by an expedient +disagreeable to neither party, "that under the conduct and auspices of +Titus Quintius, there was a considerable tract of land taken the +preceding year from the Volscians; that a colony might be sent to +Antium, a neighbouring, convenient, and maritime city; that the commons +might come in for lands without any complaints of the present occupiers, +that the state might remain in quiet." This proposition was accepted. He +appoints as triumvirs for distributing the land, Titus Quintius, Aulus +Virginius, and Publius Furius: those who wished to obtain land were +ordered to give in their names. The gratification of their aim begat +disgust, as usually happens; so few gave in their names that Volscian +colonists were added to fill up the number: the rest of the people +preferred clamouring for land in Rome, rather than receive it elsewhere. +The Æquans sued for peace from Quintus Fabius, (he was sent thither with +an army,) and they themselves broke it by a sudden incursion into the +Latin territory.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c2" name="c2"></a>2</div> +<p>In the following year Quintus Servilius, (for he was consul with +Spurius Posthumius,) being sent against the Æquans, fixed his camp in +the Latin territory: inaction necessarily kept the army within the camp, +involved as they were in a distemper. The war was protracted to the +third year, Quintus Fabius and Titus Quintius being consuls. To Fabius, +because he, as conqueror, had granted<a name="FNanchor_105_105" id="FNanchor_105_105"></a><a href="#Footnote_105_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a> peace to the Æquans, that +province was assigned by an extraordinary commission: who, setting out +with certain hope that the fame of his name would reduce the Æquans to +submission, sent ambassadors to the council of the nation, and ordered +them to say "that Quintus Fabius, the consul, stated that he had brought +peace to Rome from the Æquans, that from Rome he now brought war to the +Æquans, that same right hand being armed, which he had formerly given to +them in amity; that the gods were now witnesses, and would presently be +avengers of those by whose perfidy and perjury that was brought to pass. +That he, however, be matters as they might, would even now prefer that +the Æquans should repent of their own accord than be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> subject to the +vengeance of an enemy. If they repent, that there would be a safe +retreat in that clemency already experienced; but if they still +delighted in perjury, they would wage war with the angry gods rather +than with enemies." This statement had so little effect on any of them, +that the ambassadors were near being ill-treated, and an army was sent +to Algidum against the Romans. When these tidings were brought to Rome, +the indignity of the affair, rather than the danger, called out the +other consul from the city; thus two consular armies advanced against +the enemy in order of battle, so that they might at once engage. But as +it so happened that much of the day did not now remain, a person from +the advanced guard of the enemy cries out, "This is making a display of +war, Romans, not waging it; you draw up your army in line of battle, +when night is at hand; we require a greater length of day-light for the +contest which is to come on. To-morrow by sun-rise return to the field: +you shall have an opportunity of fighting, never fear." The soldiers, +stung by these threats, are marched back into the camp till the +following day; thinking that the approaching night was tedious, which +would cause delay to the contest. Then indeed they refresh their bodies +with food and sleep: on the following day, when it was light, the Roman +army took their post considerably sooner. At length the Æquans also came +forward. The battle was obstinate on both sides, because both the Romans +fought under the influence of resentment and hatred; and a consciousness +of danger brought on by misconduct, and despair of obtaining future +confidence afterwards, obliged the Æquans to exert and have recourse to +the most desperate efforts. The Æquans however did not withstand the +Roman troops, and when on being beaten they had betaken themselves to +their own territories, the outrageous multitude, with dispositions not +at all more disposed to peace, began to chide their leaders: "that their +interest was committed to the hazard of a pitched battle, in which mode +of fighting the Romans were superior. That the Æquans were better fitted +for depredations and incursions, and that several parties acting in +different directions conducted wars more successfully than the unwieldy +mass of one single army."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c3" name="c3"></a>3</div> +<p>Having left therefore a guard on the camp, they marched out and +attacked the Roman frontiers with such fury, as to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> carry terror even to +the city: the unexpected nature of the thing also caused more alarm, +because nothing could be less apprehended, than that an enemy, +vanquished and almost besieged in their camp, should entertain a thought +of depredation: and the peasants, in a panic pouring in at the gates, +cried out, that it was not mere plundering, nor small parties of +depredators, but, exaggerating every thing through groundless fear, that +whole armies and legions of the enemy were advancing, and that they were +pushing forward to the city determined for an assault. Those who were +nearest (the gates) carried to others the accounts heard from these, +uncertain as they were, and therefore the more groundless; and the hurry +and confused clamour of those calling to arms bore no distant +resemblance to the panic of a city taken by storm. It so happened that +the consul Quintius had returned to Rome from Algidum; this was some +relief for their terror; and the tumult being calmed, and after chiding +them for being in dread of a vanquished enemy, he posted a guard on the +gates. Then having convened the senate, when he set out to defend the +frontiers, a suspension<a name="FNanchor_106_106" id="FNanchor_106_106"></a><a href="#Footnote_106_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a> of civil business having been proclaimed by +a decree of the senate, leaving Quintus Servilius behind as prefect of +the city, he found no enemy in the country. Matters were conducted with +distinguished success by the other consul; who having attacked the +enemy, wherever he knew that they were to come, laden with booty, and +proceeding therefore with their army the more encumbered, made their +depredation prove fatal to them. Few of the enemy escaped from the +ambuscade; all the booty was recovered; thus the return of the consul +Quintius to the city put a termination to the justitium, which lasted +only four days. A census was then held, and the lustrum was closed by +Quintius: the number of citizens rated are said to have been one hundred +and twenty-four thousand two hundred and fourteen, besides orphans of +both sexes. Nothing memorable occurred afterwards among the Æquans; they +betook themselves into their towns, suffering their possessions to be +consumed by fire and to be devastated. The consul, after he had +repeatedly carried depredation through the entire country of the enemy, +returned to Rome with great glory and booty.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c4" name="c4"></a>4</div> +<p>Then Aulus Posthumius Albus and Spurius Furius Fusus were consuls. +Furii some writers have written Fusii; this I mention, lest any one may +imagine that the change, which is only in the names, may be in the +persons themselves. There was no doubt but that one of the consuls would +commence hostilities against the Æquans. The Æquans accordingly sought +aid from the Volscians of Ecetra; which being granted readily, (so +keenly did these states vie in inveterate hatred against the Romans,) +preparations for war were made with the utmost vigour. The Hernicians +came to the knowledge of it, and warned the Romans that the Ecetrans had +revolted to the Æquans; the colony of Antium also was suspected, because +when the town was taken, a great number of the inhabitants had fled +thence for refuge to the Æquans: and these proved the bravest soldiers +during the war with the Æquans. Afterwards the Æquans being driven into +the towns, this rabble withdrawing privately, when they returned to +Antium, seduced from the Romans the colonists who were already disposed +to treachery of their own accord. The matter not being yet ripe, when it +was announced to the senate that a defection was intended, the consuls +were charged to inquire into the business by summoning to Rome the +leading men of the colony. When those persons attended without +reluctance, being conducted to the senate by the consuls, they so +answered to the questions put to them, that they were dismissed more +suspected than they had come. Upon this war was considered as +inevitable. Spurius Fusius, one of the consuls to whom that province had +fallen, having marched against the Æquans, found the enemy committing +depredations in the country of the Hernicians; and being ignorant of +their numbers, because they had never been seen all together, he rashly +hazarded an engagement with an army not a match for their forces. Being +beaten from his ground at the first onset, he betook himself to his +camp: nor was that an end of the danger: for both on the next night and +the following day, his camp was beset and assaulted with such vigour, +that not even a messenger could be sent from thence to Rome. The +Hernicians brought an account both that a defeat had taken place, and +that the army was besieged: and they struck such terror into the senate, +that a charge was given to the other consul Posthumius, that he should +"take care that the common<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>wealth sustained no injury,"<a name="FNanchor_107_107" id="FNanchor_107_107"></a><a href="#Footnote_107_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a> which form +of a decree has ever been deemed to be one of extreme exigency. It +seemed most advisable that the consul himself should remain at Rome to +enlist all who were able to bear arms: that Titus Quintius should be +sent as pro-consul<a name="FNanchor_108_108" id="FNanchor_108_108"></a><a href="#Footnote_108_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a> to the relief of the camp with the army of the +allies: to complete that army the Latins and Hernicians, and the colony +of Antium, were ordered to supply Quintius with subitary soldiers (so +they then called auxiliaries raised for sudden emergencies).</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c5" name="c5"></a>5</div> +<p>During those days many movements and many attempts were made on +either side, because the enemy, having the advantage in numbers, +attempted to weaken the Roman strength by dividing it into many parts, +as not being likely to suffice for all points of attack. At the same +time the camp was besieged, at the same time a part of the army was sent +to devastate the Roman territory, and to attempt the city itself, if +fortune should favour. Lucius Valerius was left to guard the city: the +consul Postumius was sent to repel the attacks on the frontiers. There +was no abatement in any part either in vigilance or activity; watches in +the city, out-posts before the gates, and guards stationed along the +walls: and a justitium was observed for several days (a thing which was +necessary in such general confusion). In the mean time the consul +Furius, after he had at first passively endured the siege in his camp, +burst forth from the Decuman gate on the enemy when off their guard; and +though he might have pursued them, he stopped through fear, lest an +attack should be made on the camp from the other side. The +lieutenant-general Furius (he was the consul's brother) was carried away +too far by his ardour; nor did he, from his eagerness to pursue, observe +his own party returning, nor the attack of the enemy on his rear: thus +being shut out, after repeatedly making many unavailing efforts to force +his way to the camp, he fell, fighting bravely. And the consul, turning +about to renew the fight, on hearing the account that his brother was +surrounded, rushing into the thick of the fight rather rashly than with +sufficient caution, received a wound, and was with difficulty rescued by +those around him. This both damped the courage of his own men,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> and +rendered the enemy more daring; who, being encouraged by the death of +the lieutenant-general, and by the consul's wound, could not afterwards +be withstood by any force, so as to prevent the Romans from being driven +within their camp and again submitting to a siege, as being a match for +them neither in hopes nor in strength; and every thing would have been +endangered, had not T. Quintius come to their relief with foreign troops +from the Latin and Hernician army. He attacked the Æquans on their rear +whilst intent on the Roman camp, and insultingly displaying the head of +the lieutenant-general, and, a sally being made at the same time from +the camp on a signal given at a distance by him, he surrounded a great +number of the enemy. Of the Æquans on the Roman territory the slaughter +was less, their dispersion was more complete. On these as they straggled +in different directions, and were driving plunder before them, Postumius +made an attack in several places, where he had posted convenient +detachments; these straying about and pursuing their flight in great +disorder, fell in with the victorious Quintius as he was returning with +the wounded consul. Then did the consular army by their distinguished +bravery take ample vengeance for the consul's wound, and for the death +of the lieutenant-general and the cohorts; heavy losses were both +inflicted and received on both sides during those days. In a matter of +such antiquity it is difficult to state with certainty the exact number +of those who fought or fell: Antias Valerius, however, ventures to sum +them up; that in the Hernician territory there fell five thousand three +hundred Romans; that of the predatory parties of the Æquans, who strayed +through the Roman frontiers for the purpose of plundering, two thousand +four hundred were slain by the consul Postumius; that the rest of the +body that were driving booty before them, and which fell in with +Quintius, by no means got off with so light a loss: that of these four +thousand, and by way of stating the number exactly, two hundred and +thirty, were slain. After this they returned to Rome; the order for the +justitium was discharged. The sky seemed to be all on fire; and other +prodigies either actually presented themselves to their sight, or +exhibited imaginary appearances to their affrighted minds. To avert +these terrors, a solemn festival of three days was proclaimed, during +which, all the temples were filled with a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> crowd of men and women, +earnestly imploring the protection of the gods. After this the Latin and +Hernician cohorts were sent back to their respective homes, thanks +having been returned to them for their spirited military services. The +thousand soldiers from Antium were dismissed almost with disgrace, +because they had come after the battle with assistance then too late.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c6" name="c6"></a>6</div> +<p>The elections were then held: Lucius Æbutius and Publius Servilius +being elected consuls, enter on their office on the calends of August, +which was then considered as the commencement of the year.<a name="FNanchor_109_109" id="FNanchor_109_109"></a><a href="#Footnote_109_109" class="fnanchor">[109]</a> This was +a distressing time, and it so happened that the season was pestilential +to the city and country, and not more to men than to cattle; and they +increased the malignity of the distemper, by admitting<a name="FNanchor_110_110" id="FNanchor_110_110"></a><a href="#Footnote_110_110" class="fnanchor">[110]</a> the cattle +and the peasants into the city through dread of devastation. This +collection of animals of every kind mixed together, distressed both the +citizens by the unusual stench, and the peasants crowded together into +their close apartments, with heat, want of sleep, and their attendance +on each other, and contact itself propagated the disease. Whilst with +difficulty sustaining these calamities, ambassadors from the Hernicians +suddenly bring word that the Æquans and Volscians, having united their +forces, had pitched their camp in their territory, that from thence they +were depopulating their frontiers with an immense army. Besides that the +thinness of the senate was a proof to the allies that the state was +prostrated by the pestilence, they further received this melancholy +answer: "That the Hernicians, with the Latins, must now defend their +possessions by their own exertions. That the Roman city, through the +sudden anger of the gods, was now depopulated by disease. If any respite +from that calamity should come, that they would afford aid to their +allies, as they had done the year before, and always on other +occasions." The allies departed, carrying home, instead of the +melancholy news (they had brought), news still more melancholy, as being +persons who were now obliged to sustain by their own means a war, which +they had sustained with difficulty when backed by the power of Rome. The +enemy did not confine themselves any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> longer to the Hernician territory. +They proceed thence with determined hostility into the Roman +territories, which were already devastated without the injuries of war. +Where, when there was no one to meet them, not even an unarmed person, +and they passed through every place destitute not only of troops, but +even of the cultivation of the husbandman, they reached as far as the +third stone on the Gabinian road. Æbutius, the Roman consul, was dead; +his colleague, Servilius, was dragging out life with slender hope of +recovery; most of the leading men, the chief part of the patricians, all +of the military age, were lying sick, so that strength was wanting not +only for the expeditions, which, amid such an alarm the conjuncture +required, but scarcely had they sufficient even for quietly mounting +guard. The senators whose age and health permitted them, discharged +personally the duty of sentinels. The going around<a name="FNanchor_111_111" id="FNanchor_111_111"></a><a href="#Footnote_111_111" class="fnanchor">[111]</a> and attending to +these was assigned to the ædiles of the people; on them devolved the +chief administration of affairs and the majesty of the consular +authority.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c7" name="c7"></a>7</div> +<p>The commonwealth thus desolate, without a head, without strength, the +guardian gods and good fortune of the city saved, which inspired the +Volscians and Æquans with the disposition of banditti rather than of +enemies; for so far was any hope not only of taking but even of +approaching the walls of Rome<a name="FNanchor_112_112" id="FNanchor_112_112"></a><a href="#Footnote_112_112" class="fnanchor">[112]</a> from taking possession of their +minds, and so thoroughly did the sight of the houses in the distance, +and the adjacent hills, divert their thoughts, (from such an attempt,) +that, a murmur having arisen in every direction throughout the entire +camp, "why they should waste time in indolence without booty in a wild +and desert land, amid the putrid decay of cattle and of human beings, +when they might repair to places uninjured by infection, the Tusculan +territory abounding in wealth?" they suddenly tore up their standards, +and by journeys across the country, they passed through the Lavican +territory to the Tusculan hills; and to that quarter was the whole +violence and storm of the war directed. In the mean time the Hernicians +and Latins, influenced not only by compassion but by shame, if they +neither gave opposition to the common<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> enemy, when making for the city +of Rome with a hostile army, nor afforded any aid to their allies when +besieged, march to Rome with their forces united. Where, when they did +not find the enemy, following their tracks as indicated by rumour, they +meet them as they are coming down from the Tusculan territory into the +Alban valley: there a battle was fought under circumstances by no means +equal; and their fidelity proved by no means favourable to the allies +for the present. The mortality at Rome by disease was not less than that +of the allies by the sword (of the enemy); the only surviving consul +dies; other eminent characters also died, Marcus Valerius, Titus +Virginius Rutilus, the augurs; Servius Sulpicius, principal curio; and +through persons of inferior note the virulence of the disease spread +extensively: and the senate, destitute of human aid, directed the +people's attention to the gods and to prayers; they were ordered to go +to supplicate with their wives and children, and earnestly to implore +the protection of heaven. Besides that their own sufferings obliged each +to do so, when called on by public authority, they fill all the shrines; +the prostrate matrons in every quarter sweeping the temples with their +hair, beg for a remission of the divine displeasure, and a termination +to the pestilence.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c8" name="c8"></a>8</div> +<p>From this time, whether it was from the favour of the gods being +obtained, or that the more unhealthy season of the year was now passed, +the bodies of the people having shaken off disease, gradually began to +be more healthy, and their attention being now directed to public +concerns, when several interregna had expired, Publius Valerius +Publicola, on the third day after he had entered on his office of +interrex, causes Lucretius Tricipitinus, and Titus Veturius Geminus, (or +Velusius,) to be elected consuls. They enter on their consulship on the +third day of the Ides of August, the state being now sufficiently +strong, not only to repel a hostile attack, but even to act itself on +the offensive. Therefore when the Hernicians brought an account that the +enemy had made an incursion into their frontiers, assistance was readily +promised; two consular armies were enlisted. Veturius was sent against +the Volscians to carry on an offensive war. Tricipitinus being appointed +to protect the territory of the allies from devastation, proceeds no +further than into the country of the Hernicians. Veturius routs and puts +to flight the enemy in the first en<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>gagement. A party of plunderers +which had marched over the Prænestine mountains, and from thence +descended into the plains, escaped the notice of Lucretius, whilst he +lay encamped amongst the Hernicians. These laid waste all the country +around Præneste and Gabii: from the Gabinian territory they turn their +course towards the heights of Tusculum; great alarm was excited in the +city of Rome also, more from the suddenness of the affair, than that +there was not sufficient strength to repel violence. Quintus Fabius had +the command in the city;<a name="FNanchor_113_113" id="FNanchor_113_113"></a><a href="#Footnote_113_113" class="fnanchor">[113]</a> he, by arming the young men and posting +guards, rendered things secure and tranquil. The enemy therefore +carrying off plunder from the adjacent places, not venturing to approach +the city, when they were returning by a circuitous route, their caution +being now more relaxed, in proportion as they removed to a greater +distance from the enemy's city, fall in with the consul Lucretius, who +had already explored their motions, drawn up in battle-array and +determined on an engagement. Accordingly having attacked them with +predetermined resolution whilst struck with sudden panic, though +considerably fewer in numbers, they rout and put to flight their +numerous army, and having driven them into the deep valleys, when an +egress from thence was not easy, they surround them. There the Volscian +nation was almost entirely cut off. In some histories I find that +thirteen thousand four hundred and seventy fell in the field and in the +pursuit, that one thousand two hundred and fifty were taken alive, that +twenty-seven military standards were carried off; where, though there +may have been some exaggeration in the number, there certainly was great +slaughter. The victorious consul having obtained immense booty returned +to the same standing camp. Then the consuls join their camps. The +Volscians and Æquans also unite their shattered strength. This was the +third battle on that year; the same good fortune gave them victory; the +enemy being beaten, their camp was also taken.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c9" name="c9"></a>9</div> +<p>Thus affairs at Rome returned to their former state; and successes +abroad immediately excited commotions in the city. Caius Terentillus +Arsa<a name="FNanchor_114_114" id="FNanchor_114_114"></a><a href="#Footnote_114_114" class="fnanchor">[114]</a> was tribune of the people in that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> year: he, considering that +an opportunity was afforded for tribunitian intrigues during the absence +of the consuls, after railing against the arrogance of the patricians +for several days before the people, inveighed chiefly against the +consular authority, as being exorbitant and intolerable in a free state: +"for that, in name only, it was less invidious, in reality almost more +oppressive than that of kings. For that two masters had been adopted +instead of one, with unbounded, unlimited power; who, themselves +unrestrained and unbridled, directed all the terrors of the law, and all +kinds of severity against the commons." Now, in order that this +licentious power might not continue perpetual, he would propose a law, +that five persons be appointed to draw up laws regarding the consular +power. That the consul should use that right which the people may give +him over them; that they should not hold their own caprice and +licentiousness as law. This law being published, when the patricians +became afraid, lest, in the absence of the consuls, they should be +subjected to the yoke, the senate is convened by Quintus Fabius, præfect +of the city, who inveighed so vehemently against the bill and the author +of it, that nothing was omitted of threats and intimidation, even though +both the consuls in all their exasperation surrounded the tribune, "that +he had lain in wait, and, watching his opportunity, he made an attack on +the commonwealth. If the gods in their anger had given them any tribune +like him on the preceding year, during the pestilence and war, he could +not have been withstood. Both the consuls being dead, and the exhausted +state lying enfeebled in universal confusion, that he would have +proposed laws to abolish the consular government altogether from the +state; that he would have headed the Volscians and Æquans to attack the +city. What? if the consuls adopted any tyrannical or cruel proceedings +against any of the citizens, was it not competent to him to appoint a +day of trial for him; to arraign him before those very judges against +any one of whom severity may have been exercised? That it was not the +consular authority but the tribunitian power that he was rendering +hateful and insupportable: which having been peaceable and reconciled to +the patricians, was now about to be brought back anew to its former +mischievous habits. Nor would he entreat him not to go on as he +commenced. Of you,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> the other tribunes, says Fabius, we request, that +you will first of all consider that that power was provided for the aid +of individuals, not for the ruin of the community: that you were created +tribunes of the commons, not enemies of the patricians. To us it is +distressing, to you a source of odium, that the republic, now bereft of +its chief magistrates, should be attacked; you will diminish not your +rights, but the odium against you. Confer with your colleague, that he +may postpone this business till the arrival of the consuls; even the +Æquans and the Volscians, when our consuls were carried off by +pestilence last year, did not press on us with a cruel and tyrannical +war." The tribunes confer with Terentillus, and the bill being to all +appearance deferred, but in reality abandoned, the consuls were +immediately sent for.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c10" name="c10"></a>10</div> +<p>Lucretius returned with immense spoil, and much greater glory; and +this glory he increased on his arrival, by exposing all the booty in the +Campus Martius, so that each person might, during three days, recognise +his own and carry it away; the remainder was sold, for which no owners +appeared. A triumph was by universal consent due to the consul: but the +matter was deferred, the tribune still pressing his law; this to the +consul seemed of greater importance. The business was discussed for +several days, both in the senate and before the people: at length the +tribune yielded to the majesty of the consul, and desisted; then the due +honour was rendered to the general and his army. He triumphed over the +Volscians and Æquans: his troops followed him in his triumph. The other +consul was allowed to enter the city in ovation without his soldiers. On +the following year the Terentillian law having been taken up by the +entire college, assailed the new consuls; the consuls were Publius +Volumnius and Servius Sulpicius. On that year the sky seemed to be on +fire; a violent earthquake also occurred; it was now believed that an ox +spoke, which circumstance had not obtained credit on the year before; +among other prodigies it rained flesh also;<a name="FNanchor_115_115" id="FNanchor_115_115"></a><a href="#Footnote_115_115" class="fnanchor">[115]</a> which shower a great +number of birds is reported to have carried off by flying so as to +intercept it; that which did fall, is said to have lain scattered about +for several<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> days, so that its smell evinced no change. The books<a name="FNanchor_116_116" id="FNanchor_116_116"></a><a href="#Footnote_116_116" class="fnanchor">[116]</a> +were consulted by the duumviri for sacred rites: dangers of attacks +being made on the highest parts of the city, and of bloodshed thence +resulting, were predicted as about to come from an assemblage of +strangers; among other things, an admonition was given that all +intestine disturbances should be abandoned. The tribunes alleged that +that was done to obstruct the law, and a desperate contest was at hand. +Lo! (that the same circle of events may revolve every year) the +Hernicians bring word that the Volscians and the Æquans, though their +strength was much impaired, were recruiting their armies: that their +chief dependence was Antium; that the inhabitants of Antium openly held +councils at Ecetra: that that was the source—there the strength—for +the war. As soon as this announcement was made in the senate, a levy was +ordered: the consuls were commanded to divide the management of the war +between them; that the Volscians should be the province of the one, the +Æquans that of the other. The tribunes cried out to their faces in the +forum, "That the Volscian war was all a concerted farce: that the +Hernicians were instructed to act their parts; that the liberty of the +Roman people was now no longer crushed by manly efforts, but that it was +baffled by cunning; because all probability was now gone that the +Volscians, who were almost exterminated, and the Æquans, would of +themselves commence hostilities, new enemies were sought for: that a +loyal colony, and one in their very vicinity, was being rendered +infamous: that war was proclaimed against the unoffending people of +Antium, and in reality waged with the commons of Rome, which after +loading them with arms they were determined to drive out of the city +with precipitous haste, wreaking their vengeance on the tribunes, by the +exile and expulsion of their fellow-citizens. That by these means, and +let them not think that there was any other object contemplated, the law +was defeated; unless, whilst the matter was still in abeyance, whilst +they were still at home and in the garb of citizens, they would take +precaution that they may not be driven out of possession of the city, +and be subjected to the yoke. If they only had spirit, that support +would not be wanting; that all the tribunes were unanimous; that there +was no apprehension from abroad, no danger. That the gods had taken +care, on the pre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>ceding year, that their liberty could now be defended +with safety." Thus far the tribunes.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c11" name="c11"></a>11</div> +<p>But, on the other side, the consuls, having placed their chairs +within view of them, were proceeding with the levy; thither the tribunes +hasten, and draw the assembly along with them; a few were cited, by way +of making an experiment, and instantly violence commenced. Whomsoever +the lictor laid hold of by order of the consul, him the tribune ordered +to be discharged; nor did his own proper jurisdiction set a limit to +each, but whatever you set your mind upon, was to be attained by the +hope of strength and by force. Just as the tribunes had behaved in +impeding the levy, in the same manner did the consuls conduct themselves +in obstructing the law which was brought on every assembly day. The +commencement of the riot was, when the tribunes ordered the people to +proceed to the vote, because the patricians refused to withdraw. The +elder citizens scarcely attended the contest, inasmuch as it was one +likely not to be directed by prudence, but abandoned to temerity and +daring. The consuls also generally kept out of the way, lest in the +general confusion they should expose their dignity to any insult. There +was a young man, Cæso Quintius, a daring youth, as well by the nobility +of his descent, as by his personal size and strength; to those +endowments granted by the gods he himself had added many military +honours, and eloquence in the forum; so that no person in the state was +considered more efficient either in speaking or in acting. When this +person took his place in the centre of a body of the patricians, +conspicuous above the rest, carrying as it were in his eloquence and +bodily strength dictatorships and consulships combined, he alone +withstood the storms of the tribunes and the populace. Under his +guidance the tribunes were frequently driven from the forum, the commons +routed and dispersed; such as came in his way, went off after being +ill-treated and stripped; so that it became sufficiently evident, that, +if he were allowed to proceed in this way, the law would be defeated. +Then the other tribunes being now almost thrown into despair, Aulus +Virginius, one of the college, institutes a criminal prosecution on a +capital charge against Cæso. By this proceeding he rather irritated than +intimidated his violent temper: so much the more vigorously did he +oppose the law, annoyed the commons, and persecuted the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> tribunes, as it +were by a regular war. The prosecutor suffered the accused to rush on +headlong, and to heighten the charges against him by the flame and +material of the popular odium thus incurred: in the mean time he +proceeded with the law, not so much in the hope of carrying it through, +as to provoke the temerity of Cæso. There many inconsiderate expressions +and actions passing among the young men, are charged on the temper of +Cæso, through the prejudice raised against him; still the law was +resisted. And Aulus Virginius frequently remarks to the people, "Are you +even now sensible that you cannot have Cæso, as a fellow-citizen, with +the law which you desire? Though why do I say law? he is an opponent of +your liberty; he surpasses all the Tarquins in arrogance. Wait till he +is made consul or dictator, whom, though but a private citizen, you now +see exercising kingly sway over you by his strength and audacity." Many +assented, complaining that they had been beaten by him: and strongly +urged on the tribune to go through with the prosecution.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c12" name="c12"></a>12</div> +<p>The day of trial now approached, and it was evident that persons in +general considered that their liberty depended on the condemnation of +Cæso: then, at length being forced to it, he addressed the commons +individually, though with a strong feeling of indignation; his relatives +followed him, the principal members of the state. Titus Quintius +Capitolinus, who had been thrice consul, after he recounted many +splendid achievements of his own, and of his family, stated, that +neither in the Quintian family, nor in the Roman state, had there +appeared such promising genius of such early valour. "That he had first +been his soldier, that he had often in his sight fought against the +enemy." Spurius Furius declared, that "he having been sent to him by +Quintius Capitolinus, had come to his aid when in the midst of danger; +that there was no individual by whose exertions he considered the common +weal more effectually re-established." Lucius Lucretius, the consul of +the preceding year, in the full splendour of recent glory, shared his +own services with Cæso; he recounted his battles, detailed his +distinguished exploits, both on expeditions and in the field; he advised +and recommended that they would prefer this extraordinary young man, +endowed with all the advantages of nature and of rank, and (one who +would prove) of the utmost importance to the interest of that state into +which he should come, to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> their fellow-citizen, rather than the +citizen of a foreign state. "That with respect to that which may be +offensive in him, heat and vehemence, time would diminish daily; that +the prudence, which may be wanting in him, was increasing daily; that as +his faults were declining and his virtues ripening to maturity, they +should allow so distinguished a man to become old in their state." Among +these his father, Lucius Quintius, who bore the surname of Cincinnatus, +without dwelling on his merits, lest he should heighten public hatred, +but soliciting pardon for his errors and his youth, implored of them to +forgive his son for his sake, who had not given offence to any one by +either word or deed. But some, through respect or fear, turned away from +listening to his entreaties; others complaining that themselves and +their friends had been ill-treated, by the harshness of their answer +declared their sentence beforehand.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c13" name="c13"></a>13</div> +<p>Independently of the general odium, one charge bore heavily on the +accused; that Marcus Volscius Fictor, who some years before had been +tribune of the people, had come forward as a witness: "that not long +after the pestilence had been in the city, he had fallen in with a party +of young men rioting in the Suburra; that a scuffle arose there; and +that his elder brother, not yet perfectly recovered from his illness, +had fallen down almost dead, being struck with the fist by Cæso; that he +was carried home between the hands of some persons, and that he +considered that he died from that blow; and that it had not been +permitted to him by the consuls of former years to follow up the +matter." In consequence of Volscius vociferating these charges, the +people became so excited, that Cæso was near being killed through the +violence of the people. Virginius orders him to be seized and carried to +prison. The patricians oppose force to force. Titus Quintius exclaims, +"that a person for whom a day of trial for a capital offence has been +appointed, and whose trial was now at hand, ought not to be outraged +before trial and without sentence being passed." The tribune says, "that +he would not inflict punishment<a name="FNanchor_117_117" id="FNanchor_117_117"></a><a href="#Footnote_117_117" class="fnanchor">[117]</a> on him before condemnation, that he +would however keep him in prison until the day of trial;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> that the Roman +people may have an opportunity of inflicting punishment on one who had +killed a man." The tribunes being appealed to, secure their prerogative +by adopting a middle course;<a name="FNanchor_118_118" id="FNanchor_118_118"></a><a href="#Footnote_118_118" class="fnanchor">[118]</a> they forbid his being thrown into +confinement, and declare it to be their wish that the accused should +appear on his trial, and that a sum of money should be promised to the +people, in case he should not appear. How large a sum of money ought to +be promised, came under discussion: that is referred to the senate. The +accused was detained in the public assembly, until the patricians should +be consulted: it was determined that he should give bail:<a name="FNanchor_119_119" id="FNanchor_119_119"></a><a href="#Footnote_119_119" class="fnanchor">[119]</a> each bail +they bound to the amount of three thousand <i>asses</i>; how many should be +given, was left to the tribunes; they limited the number to ten; for ten +sureties the prosecutor discharged the accused. He was the first who +gave public sureties. Being discharged from the forum, he went the +following night into exile among the Etrurians. When on the day of trial +it was pleaded that he had quitted his home in order to go into exile, +Virginius notwithstanding holding the comitia, his colleagues when +appealed to dismissed the assembly: the fine was rigorously exacted<a name="FNanchor_120_120" id="FNanchor_120_120"></a><a href="#Footnote_120_120" class="fnanchor">[120]</a> +from the father; so that after selling all his effects, he lived for a +considerable time in a solitary cottage on the other side of the Tiber, +as if in exile. This trial and the proposing of the law gave full +employment to the state: there was quiet from foreign arms.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c14" name="c14"></a>14</div> +<p>When the tribunes, flushed as it were with victory, imagined that +the law was in a manner passed, the patricians being now dismayed by the +banishment of Cæso, and when, with respect to the seniors of the +patricians, they had relinquished all share in the administration of the +commonwealth; the juniors, more especially those who were the intimate +friends<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> of Cæso, redoubled their resentful feelings against the +commons, and suffered not their spirits to droop; but the greatest +improvement was made in this particular, that they tempered their +animosity by a certain degree of moderation. When for the first time +after Cæso's banishment the law began to be brought forward, arrayed and +well prepared with a numerous body of clients, they attacked the +tribunes, on their affording a pretext for it by attempting to remove +them, in such a manner, that no one individual carried home from thence +any prominent share either of glory or ill-will; the people complained +that for one Cæso a thousand had started up. During the intermediate +days, when the tribunes made no stir regarding the law, nothing could be +more mild or peaceable than those same persons; they saluted the +plebeians courteously, entered into conversation, and invited them home; +they attended the forum, and suffered the tribunes themselves to hold +their meetings without interruption: they never were uncivil to any one +either in public or in private, unless when the business respecting the +law began to be agitated. On other occasions the young men were popular. +And not only did the tribunes transact all their other affairs without +disturbance, but they were even re-elected for the following year, +without one offensive expression, much less any violence being employed. +By soothing and managing the commons they gradually rendered them +tractable. By these methods the law was evaded for the entire year.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c15" name="c15"></a>15</div> +<p>The consuls Caius Claudius, the son of Appius, and Publius Valerius +Publicola, found the state in a more tranquil condition. The new year +had brought with it nothing new; the thoughts about carrying the law, or +submitting to it, engrossed all the members of the state. The more the +younger members of the senate endeavoured to insinuate themselves into +favour with the commons, the more strenuously did the tribunes strive to +thwart them, so that they rendered them suspicious in the eyes of the +commons by alleging: "that a conspiracy was formed; that Cæso was in +Rome; that plans were concerted for assassinating the tribunes, and +butchering the commons. That the commission assigned by the elder +members of the patricians was, that the young men should abolish the +tribunitian power from the state, and the form of government should be +the same as it had been before the sa<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span>cred mount had been taken +possession of." Both a war from the Volsci and Æqui, which was now a +stated thing, and one that was a regular occurrence for almost every +year, was apprehended, and another evil nearer home started up +unexpectedly. The exiles and slaves to the number of four thousand and +five hundred men took possession of the Capitol and citadel during the +night, under the command of Appius Herdonius, a Sabine. Immediately a +massacre took place in the citadel of those who had evinced an +unwillingness to enter into the conspiracy and to take up arms. Some, +during the alarm, run down to the forum, driven precipitately through +the panic; the cries, "to arms," and "the enemy are in the city," were +heard alternately. The consuls were both afraid to arm the commons, and +to suffer them to remain unarmed; uncertain what sudden calamity had +assailed the city, whether external or intestine, whether from the +hatred of the commons or the treachery of the slaves: they were for +quieting the tumults, by such endeavours they sometimes exasperated +them; for the populace, panic-stricken and terrified, could not be +directed by authority. They give out arms, however, not +indiscriminately; only so that, the enemy being still uncertain,<a name="FNanchor_121_121" id="FNanchor_121_121"></a><a href="#Footnote_121_121" class="fnanchor">[121]</a> +there might be a protection sufficient to be relied on for all +emergencies. The remainder of the night they passed in posting guards +through proper places through the entire city, anxious and uncertain, as +to who the persons might be, and how great the number of the enemy was. +Day-light then disclosed the war and the leader of the war. Appius +Herdonius summoned the slaves to liberty from the Capitol: "that he had +espoused the cause of every most unfortunate individual, in order to +bring back to their country those driven out by oppression, and to +remove the grievous yoke from the slaves. That he had rather that were +done under the authority of the Roman people. If there be no hope in +that quarter, that he would rouse the Volscians and Æqui, and would try +all extremities."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c16" name="c16"></a>16</div> +<p>The matter began to disclose itself more clearly to the patricians +and the consuls; besides those things, however, which were openly +declared, they dreaded lest this might be a scheme of the Veientes or +Sabines; and, as there were so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> many of the enemy in the city, lest the +Sabine and Etrurian troops might come on according to a concerted plan; +and then lest their eternal enemies, the Volscians and Æqui, should +come, not to ravage their territories, as before, but to their very +city, already in part taken. Many and various were their fears; among +others, the most prominent was their dread of the slaves, lest each +might harbour an enemy in his own house, one whom it was neither +sufficiently safe to trust, nor to deny<a name="FNanchor_122_122" id="FNanchor_122_122"></a><a href="#Footnote_122_122" class="fnanchor">[122]</a> confidence to him lest, by +not trusting him, he might become more incensed. And (the evil) seemed +scarcely capable of being resisted by perfect harmony (between the +different orders of the state); only no one apprehended the tribunes or +commons, other evils predominating and constantly starting up; that +appeared an evil of a mild nature, and one always arising during the +cessation of other evils, and it then appeared to be lulled to rest by +external terror. Yet that was almost the only one that most aggravated +their distressing circumstances: for such madness took possession of the +tribunes, that they contended that not war, but the empty appearance of +war had taken possession of the Capitol, to avert the people's minds +from attending to the law; that these friends and clients of the +patricians would depart in greater silence than they came, if they once +perceived that, by the law being passed, they had raised these tumults +in vain. They then held a meeting for passing the law, having called +away the people from their arms. In the mean time, the consuls convene +the senate, another dread presenting itself on the part of the tribunes, +greater than that which the nightly foe had occasioned.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c17" name="c17"></a>17</div> +<p>When it was announced that their arms were being laid aside, and +that the men were quitting their posts, Publius Valerius, his colleague +still detaining the senate, hastens from the senate-house; he comes +thence into the meeting to the tribunes: "What is all this," says he, +"tribunes? Are you determined to overthrow the commonwealth under the +guidance and auspices of Appius Herdonius? Has he been so successful in +corrupting you, who, by his authority, has not influenced your slaves? +When the enemies are over our heads, is it your pleasure that arms +should be given up, and laws be proposed?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> Then directing his discourse +to the populace: "If, Romans, no concern for your city, for yourselves, +moves you, at least revere the gods of your country, now made captive by +the enemy. Jupiter, the best and greatest, Queen Juno, and Minerva, the +other gods and goddesses, are besieged; the camp of slaves now holds the +tutelary gods of the state. Does this seem to you the form of a state in +its senses? Such a crowd of enemies is not only within the walls, but in +the citadel, commanding the forum and senate-house: in the mean while +meetings are being held in the forum; the senate is in the senate-house, +just as when perfect tranquillity prevails; the senator gives his +opinion, the other Romans give their votes. Would it not behove all the +patricians and commons, consuls, tribunes, citizens, and all classes of +persons, to bring aid with arms in their hands, to run into the Capitol, +to liberate and restore to peace that most august residence of Jupiter, +the best and greatest? O Father Romulus! do thou infuse into thy progeny +that determination of thine, by which you once recovered from these same +Sabines the citadel, when obtained by gold. Order them to pursue this +same path, which thou, as leader, and thy army, pursued. Lo! I, as +consul, shall be the first to follow thee and thy footsteps, as far as a +mortal can follow a god." The close of his speech was: "That he would +take up arms, that he invited every citizen of Rome to arms; if any one +should oppose, that he,<a name="FNanchor_123_123" id="FNanchor_123_123"></a><a href="#Footnote_123_123" class="fnanchor">[123]</a>forgetful of the consular authority, the +tribunitian power, and the devoting laws, would consider him as an +enemy, whoever he may, wheresoever he may, in the Capitol, or in the +forum. That the tribunes might order arms to be taken up against Publius +Valerius the consul, since they forbid it against Appius Herdonius; that +he would venture to act in that manner in the case of the tribunes, in +which the founder of his family had ventured to act in the case of +kings." It now became apparent that extreme violence was about to take +place, and that a disturbance among the Romans would be exhibited as a +sight to the enemy; the law, however, could neither be prepared, nor +could the consul proceed to the Capitol: night quashed the contest that +had commenced; the tribunes yielded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> to the night, dreading the arms of +the consuls. The fomenters of the disturbances being removed from +thence, the patricians went about among the commons, and introducing +themselves into their circles of conversation, they introduced +observations suited to the occasion: they advised them "to beware into +what hazard they were bringing the commonwealth; that the contest was +not between the patricians and commons, but that patricians and commons +together, the fortress of the city, the temples of the gods, the +guardian gods of the state and of private families, were being delivered +up to the enemy." Whilst these affairs are going on in the forum for the +purpose of appeasing the disturbances, the consuls in the mean time had +armed the several gates and the walls, lest the Sabines or the Veientian +enemy should make any move.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c18" name="c18"></a>18</div> +<p>On the same night, messengers come to Tusculum announcing that the +citadel was taken, and the Capitol seized, and the other state of +disturbance in the city. Lucius Mamilius was at that time dictator at +Tusculum; he, having immediately convoked the senate and introduced the +messengers, earnestly advises: "That they should not wait until +ambassadors came from Rome, suing for assistance; that the very danger +and risk, and the social gods, and the faith of treaties, demanded it; +that the gods would never afford them an equal opportunity of obliging +so powerful a state and so near a neighbour." It is determined that +assistance should be sent: the young men are enrolled; arms are given to +them. Coming to Rome at break of day, they at a distance exhibited the +appearance of enemies. The Æqui or Volscians appeared to be coming. Then +when the groundless alarm was removed, they are admitted into the city, +and descend in a body into the forum. There Publius Valerius, having +left his colleague to guard the gates, was now drawing up in order of +battle. The great influence of the man had produced an effect, when he +affirmed that, "the Capitol being recovered, and the city restored to +peace, if they would allow themselves to be convinced what lurking fraud +was concealed under the law proposed by the tribunes, that he would +offer no obstruction to the meeting of the people, mindful of his +ancestors, mindful of his surname, and that the province of protecting +the people had been handed down to him as hereditary by his ancestors." +Following him as their leader, notwithstand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>ing the tribunes cried out +against it, they direct their march up the Capitoline hill. The Tusculan +troops also joined them. Allies and citizens vied with each other which +of them should appropriate to themselves the honour of recovering the +citadel. Each leader encourages his own men. Then the enemy became +terrified, and placed no dependence on any but the place. The Romans and +allies advance on them whilst in this state of alarm. They had now +broken into the porch of the temple, when Publius Valerius is slain +animating the fight at the head of his men. Publius Volumnius, a man of +consular rank, saw him falling. Having directed his men to cover the +body, he rushes forward to the place and office of consul. Through their +ardour and impetuosity the perception of so heavy a blow did not reach +the soldiers; they conquered before they perceived that they conquered +without a leader. Many of the exiles defiled the temple with their +blood; many were taken alive; Herdonius was slain. Thus the Capitol was +recovered. With respect to the prisoners,<a name="FNanchor_124_124" id="FNanchor_124_124"></a><a href="#Footnote_124_124" class="fnanchor">[124]</a> punishment was inflicted +on each according to his station, whether he was a freeman or a slave. +The commons are stated to have thrown farthings into the consul's house, +that he might be buried with greater solemnity.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c19" name="c19"></a>19</div> +<p>Peace being established, the tribunes then pressed on the patricians +to fulfil the promise of Publius Valerius; they pressed on Claudius, to +free the shade of his colleague from breach of faith, and to allow the +business of the law to proceed. The consul asserted that he would suffer +the discussion on the law to go on, till he had a colleague appointed in +the room of the deceased. These disputes held on until the elections for +substituting a consul. In the month of December,<a name="FNanchor_125_125" id="FNanchor_125_125"></a><a href="#Footnote_125_125" class="fnanchor">[125]</a> by the most +zealous exertions of the patricians, Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus, Cæso's +father, is elected consul to enter on his office without delay. The +commons were dismayed at their being about to have as consul a man +incensed against them, powerful by the support of the patricians, by his +own merit, and by three sons, not one of whom yielded to Cæso in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +greatness of spirit; "whilst they were superior to him by their +exercising prudence and moderation, when the occasion required." When he +entered on his office, in his frequent harangues from the tribunal, he +was not more vehement in restraining the commons than in reproving the +senate, "by the listlessness of which body the tribunes of the commons, +now become perpetual, by means of their tongues and prosecutions +exercised regal authority, not as in a republic of the Roman people, but +as if in an ill-regulated family. That with his son Cæso, fortitude, +constancy, all the splendid qualifications of youth in war or in peace, +had been driven and exiled from the city of Rome: that talkative and +turbulent men, sowers of discord, twice and even thrice re-elected +tribunes, lived in the most destructive practices with regal tyranny. +Did that Aulus Virginius," says he, "deserve less punishment than Appius +Herdonius, because he was not in the Capitol? considerably more, by +Jove, (in the mind of any one) who would judge the matter fairly. +Herdonius, if nothing else, by avowing himself an enemy, in a manner +gave you notice to take up arms: this man, by denying the existence of +war, took arms out of your hands, and exposed you defenceless to your +slaves and exiles. And did you, (without any offence to Caius Claudius +and to Publius Valerius, now no more let me say it,) did you advance +against the Capitoline hill before you expelled those enemies from the +forum. It is shameful before gods and men. When the enemy were in the +citadel, in the very Capitol, when the leader of the exiles and slaves, +after profaning every thing, took up his residence in the shrine of +Jupiter, the best and greatest, arms were taken up in Tusculum sooner +than in Rome. It was a matter of doubt whether Lucius Mamilius, the +Tusculan leader, or Publius Valerius and Caius Claudius, the consuls, +recovered the Roman citadel, and we, who formerly did not suffer the +Latins to touch arms, even in their own defence, when they had the enemy +in their very frontiers, should have been taken and destroyed now, had +not the Latins taken up arms of their own accord. Tribunes, is this +bringing aid to the commons, to expose them in a defenceless state to be +butchered by the enemy. Now, if any one, even the humblest individual of +your commons, (which portion you have as it were broken off from the +rest of the state, and made it your country and pe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>culiar commonwealth,) +if any one of these persons were to bring word that his house was beset +by an armed band of slaves, you would think that assistance should be +afforded to him. Was Jupiter, the best and greatest, when surrounded by +the arms of exiles and of slaves, deserving of no human aid? And do +these persons require that they be considered sacred and +inviolable,<a name="FNanchor_126_126" id="FNanchor_126_126"></a><a href="#Footnote_126_126" class="fnanchor">[126]</a> with whom the gods themselves are neither sacred nor +inviolable? But, steeped as ye are in crimes against both gods and men, +do ye say that you will pass your law this year? Verily then the day on +which I was created consul was a disastrous day for the commonwealth, +much more so even than that on which Publius Valerius the consul fell, +if ye should carry it. Now, first of all," says he, "Romans, it is the +intention of myself and of my colleague to march the legions against the +Volsci and the Æqui. I know not by what fatality we find the gods more +propitious when we are at war than in peace. How great the danger from +those states would have been, had they known that the Capitol was +besieged by exiles, it is better to conjecture from the past, than to +feel from actual experience."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c20" name="c20"></a>20</div> +<p>The consul's harangue had a great effect on the commons; the +patricians, recovering their spirits, considered the state as +re-established. The other consul, more eager as a seconder than as the +first mover (of a measure), readily suffering his colleague to take the +first lead in a matter of so much importance, claimed to himself his +share of the consular duty in executing the plan. Then the tribunes, +mocking these declarations as empty, went on inquiring "by what means +the consuls would lead out the army, as no one would allow them to hold +a levy?" "But," says Quintius, "we have no occasion for a levy; since at +the time Publius Valerius gave arms to the commons to recover the +Capitol, they all took an oath to him, that they would assemble on an +order from the consul, and would not depart without an order. We +therefore publish our order that all of you, who have sworn, attend +to-morrow under arms at the lake Regillus." The tribunes then began to +cavil, and wished to absolve the people from their obligation; that +Quintius was a private person at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> time at which they were bound by +the oath. But that disregard of the gods which prevails in the present +age had not yet arrived; nor did every one, by his own interpretation, +accommodate oaths and laws to his own purposes, but rather adapted his +conduct to them. Wherefore the tribunes, as there was no hope of +obstructing the matter, attempted to delay the departure (of the army) +the more earnestly on this account, because a report had gone out "both +that the augurs had been ordered to attend at the lake Regillus, and to +consecrate a place, where business might be transacted with the people +with the benefit of auspices; that whatever had been passed at Rome by +tribunitian violence, might be repealed there in an assembly. That all +would agree to that which the consuls wished; for that there was no +appeal at a distance greater than that of a mile from the city: and that +the tribunes, if they should come there, would, among the rest of the +crowd, be subjected to the consular authority." These matters alarmed +them; but the greatest terror which acted on their minds was, that +Quintius frequently said, "that he would not hold an election of +consuls. That the state was affected with such a disease, as could not +be stopped by the ordinary remedies. That the commonwealth required a +dictator, so that whoever should stir a step to disturb the peace of the +state, might feel that the dictatorship was without appeal."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c21" name="c21"></a>21</div> +<p>The senate was assembled in the Capitol. Thither the tribunes come +with the commons in great consternation: the populace, with loud +clamours, implore the protection now of the consuls, now of the +patricians: nor could they make the consul recede from his +determination, until the tribunes promised that they would be under the +direction of the patricians. Then on the consul's laying before them the +demands of the tribunes and commons, decrees of the senate are passed, +"That neither the tribunes should propose the law during that year, and +that the consuls should not lead the army from the city—that for the +time to come, the senate decided that it was to the injury of the +commonwealth, that the same magistrates should be continued, and the +same tribunes be re-appointed." The consuls conformed to the authority +of the senate, the tribunes were re-appointed notwithstanding the +remonstrances of the consuls. The patricians also, that they might not +yield to the commons in any par<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>ticular, re-elected Lucius Quintius +consul. No proceeding of the consul was urged with more warmth during +the entire year. "Can I be surprised," says he, "if your authority is of +little weight, conscript fathers? yourselves are disparaging it. +Forsooth, because the commons have violated a decree of the senate, by +re-appointing their magistrates, you yourselves also wish it to be +violated, lest ye should yield to the populace in rashness; as if to +possess greater power in the state consisted in having more of +inconstancy and irregularity; for it is certainly more inconstant and +greater folly, to do away with one's own decrees and resolutions, than +those of others. Imitate, conscript fathers, the inconsiderate +multitude; and ye, who should be an example to others, transgress by the +example of others, rather than others should act correctly by yours, +provided I imitate not the tribunes, nor suffer myself to be re-elected +consul, contrary to a decree of the senate. But I advise you, Caius +Claudius, that both you on your part restrain the Roman people from this +licentiousness, and that you be persuaded of this on my part, that I +shall so take it, as not to consider that my honour has been obstructed +by you, but that the glory of declining the honour has been augmented, +and the odium, which would hang over me from its being continued, has +been lessened." Upon this they issue this order jointly: "That no one +should attempt to make Lucius Quintius consul: if any one should do so, +that they would not allow that vote."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c22" name="c22"></a>22</div> +<p>The consuls elected were Quintus Fabius Vibulanus, a third time, and +Lucius Cornelius Maluginensis. The census was performed that year; it +was a matter of religious scruple that the lustrum should be closed, on +account of the Capitol having been taken and the consul slain. In the +consulate of Quintus Fabius and Lucius Cornelius, disturbances broke out +immediately at the commencement of the year. The tribunes were urging on +the commons. The Latins and Hernici brought word that a formidable war +was in preparation on the part of the Volscians and Æqui; that the +troops of the Volscians were now at Antium. Great apprehension was also +entertained, that the colony itself would revolt: and with difficulty +were the tribunes prevailed on to allow the war to take precedence. The +consuls then divided the provinces between them. It was assigned to +Fabius to march the legions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> to Antium; to Cornelius, to protect the +city; lest any part of the enemy, as was the practice of the Æqui, +should come to commit depredations. The Hernici and Latins were ordered +to supply soldiers in conformity to the treaty; and in the army two +parts consisted of allies, one part of natives. When the allies came to +the day already appointed, the consul pitches his camp outside the +Capuan gate. Then, after the army was purified, he set out for Antium, +and encamped not far from the town, and standing camp of the enemy. +Where, when the Volscians, not venturing to risk an engagement, were +preparing to protect themselves quietly within their ramparts, on the +following day Fabius drew up not one mixed army of allies and citizens, +but three separate bodies of the three states around the enemy's works. +He himself was in the centre with the Roman legions. He ordered them to +watch for the signal from thence, so that the allies might both commence +the action together, and retire together, if he should sound a retreat. +He placed their cavalry in the rear of each division. Having thus +assailed the camp in three different points, he surrounds it; and when +he pressed on from every side, he dislodges from the rampart the +Volscians, not able to sustain his attack. Having then crossed the +fortifications, he expels from the camp the crowd who were dismayed and +inclining towards one direction. Upon this the cavalry, who could not +easily pass over the rampart, having stood by up to that period mere +spectators of the fight, having come up with them whilst flying in +disorder on the open plain, enjoys a share of the victory, by cutting +down the affrighted troops. The slaughter of them as they fled was +great, both in the camp and outside the lines; but the booty was still +greater, because the enemy were scarcely able to carry off their arms +with them; and their entire army would have been destroyed, had not the +woods covered them in their flight.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c23" name="c23"></a>23</div> +<p>Whilst these transactions are taking place at Antium, the Æqui, in +the mean while, sending forward the main strength of their youth, +surprise the citadel of Tusculum by night, and with the rest of their +army they sit down at no great distance from the walls of Tusculum, so +as to divide the forces of the enemy. This account being quickly brought +to Rome, and from Rome to Antium, affect the Romans not less than if it +was told them that the Capitol was taken; so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> recent were both the +services of the Tusculans, and the very similitude of the danger seemed +to require a return of the aid that had been afforded. Fabius, giving up +every other object, removes the booty hastily from the camp to Antium. +Having a small garrison there, he hurries on his army by forced marches +to Tusculum. The soldiers were allowed to carry nothing but their arms, +and whatever dressed provision was at hand. The consul Cornelius sends +provisions from Rome. The war was carried on at Tusculum for several +months. With one part of his army the consul assailed the camp of the +Æqui; a part he had given to the Tusculans to recover their citadel. +They never could have made their way to it by force. Famine at length +withdrew the enemy from it. And when they came to this at last, they +were all sent under the yoke by the Tusculans, unarmed and naked. These, +when betaking themselves home by an ignominious flight, were overtaken +by the Roman consul on Algidum and cut off to a man. After this victory, +having marched back<a name="FNanchor_127_127" id="FNanchor_127_127"></a><a href="#Footnote_127_127" class="fnanchor">[127]</a> his army to Columen, (that is the name of the +place,) he pitches his camp. The other consul also, as soon as the Roman +walls ceased to be in danger, the enemy being defeated, set out from +Rome. Thus the consuls, having entered the territories of the enemies on +two different sides, strenuously vie with each other in depopulating the +Volscians on the one hand, the Æqui on the other. I find in some writers +that the people of Antium revolted<a name="FNanchor_128_128" id="FNanchor_128_128"></a><a href="#Footnote_128_128" class="fnanchor">[128]</a> the same year. That Lucius +Cornelius, the consul, conducted that war and took the town, I would not +venture to affirm for certain, because no mention is made of the matter +among the older writers.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c24" name="c24"></a>24</div> +<p>This war being concluded, a tribunitian war at home alarms the +senate. They exclaim, "that the detaining the army abroad was done for a +fraudulent motive: that such frustration was for the purpose of doing +away with the law; that they, however, would go through with the matter +undertaken by them." Publius Lucretius, however, the præfect of the +city, so far prevailed that the proceedings of the tribunes were +postponed till the arrival of the consuls. A new cause of disturbance +also arose. Aulus Cornelius and Quintus Ser<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>vilius, quæstors, appoint a +day of trial for Marcus Volscius, because he had come forward as a +manifestly false witness against Cæso. For it appeared by many proofs, +that the brother of Volscius, from the time he first became ill, not +only never appeared in public, but that he had not even arisen from his +sick bed, and that he died of an illness of several months' standing; +and that at the time to which the witness had referred the commission of +the crime, Cæso had not been seen at Rome: those who served in the army +with him, positively stating that at that time he had constantly +attended at his post with them without any leave of absence. Many +persons proposed on their own private responsibility to Volscius to have +a judicial decision on the matter.<a name="FNanchor_129_129" id="FNanchor_129_129"></a><a href="#Footnote_129_129" class="fnanchor">[129]</a> As he would not venture to go to +trial, all these matters coinciding rendered the condemnation of +Volscius no less certain than that of Cæso had been on the testimony of +Volscius. The tribunes occasioned a delay, who said that they would not +suffer the quæstors to hold the assembly<a name="FNanchor_130_130" id="FNanchor_130_130"></a><a href="#Footnote_130_130" class="fnanchor">[130]</a> concerning the accused, +unless it was first held concerning the law. Thus both matters were spun +out till the arrival of the consuls. When they entered the city in +triumph with their victorious army, because silence was (observed) with +regard to the law, many thought that the tribunes were struck with +dismay. But they, (for it was now the close of the year,) desirous of +obtaining a fourth tribuneship, had turned away their efforts from the +law to canvassing for the elections; and when the consuls strove with no +less strenuousness than if the law in question were proposed for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> the +purpose of lessening their own dignity, the victory in the contest was +on the side of the tribunes. On the same year peace was granted to the +Æqui on their suing for it. The census, a matter commenced on the +preceding year, is completed. The number of citizens rated were one +hundred and seventeen thousand three hundred and nineteen. The consuls +obtained great glory this year both at home and in war, because they +both re-established peace abroad and at home; though the state was not +in a state of absolute concord, yet it was less disturbed than at other +times.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c25" name="c25"></a>25</div> +<p>Lucius Minucius and Caius Nautius being next elected consuls, took +up the two causes which lay over since the preceding year. The consuls +obstructed the law, the tribunes the trial of Volscius in the same +manner: but in the new quæstors there was greater power, and greater +influence. With Marcus Valerius, son of Valerius and grandson of +Volesus, Titus Quintius Capitolinus, who had been thrice consul, was +appointed quæstor. Since Cæso could neither be restored to the Quintian +family, nor could he, though a most promising young man, be restored to +the state, he justly, and as in duty bound, prosecuted the false witness +who had deprived an innocent person of the power of pleading his cause. +When Virginius in particular and the (other) tribunes were promoting the +passing of the law, the space of two months was allowed to the consuls +to examine into the law: so that, when they had satisfied the people, as +to what secret designs were concealed under it, they should then allow +them to give their votes. The granting this respite established +tranquillity in the city. The Æqui however did not allow them long rest; +who, in violation of the treaty which had been made with the Romans the +year before, confer the chief command on Gracchus Clælius. He was then +the leading man amongst the Æqui. Under the command of Gracchus they +carry hostile depredations into the district of Lavici, from thence into +that of Tusculum, and laden with booty they pitch their camp at Algidum. +To that camp Quintus Fabius, Publius Volumnius, Aulus Posthumius, come +to complain of the wrongs committed, and to demand restitution in +accordance with the treaty. The general of the Æqui commands them "to +deliver to the oak whatever instructions they brought from the Roman +senate; that he in the mean time should attend to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> other matters." A +large oak tree hung over the prætorium, the shade of which constituted a +pleasant seat. Then one of the ambassadors, when departing, says, "Let +both this consecrated oak and all the gods hear the treaty violated by +you, and favour both our complaints now, and our arms presently, when we +shall simultaneously avenge the rights of gods and men as violated by +you." As soon as the ambassadors returned to Rome, the senate ordered +one of the consuls to lead his army against Gracchus at Algidum, to the +other they assigned as his province the laying waste of the country of +the Æqui. The tribunes, according to their practice, attempted to +obstruct the levy; and probably would have eventually prevented it, but +a new cause of alarm was suddenly added.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c26" name="c26"></a>26</div> +<p>A large body of Sabines, committing dreadful devastation, approached +very close to the walls of the city. The fields were laid waste, the +city was struck with terror. Then the commons cheerfully took up arms; +two large armies were raised, the tribunes remonstrating to no purpose. +Nautius led the one against the Sabines; and having pitched his camp at +Eretum, by small detachments, generally by nightly incursions, he +effected such desolation in the Sabine land, that, when compared to it, +the Roman territories seemed intact by an enemy. Minucius had neither +the same success nor the same energy of mind in conducting his business; +for after he had pitched his camp at no great distance from the enemy, +without having experienced any considerable loss, he kept himself +through fear within the camp. When the enemy perceived this, their +boldness increased, as sometimes happens, from others' fears; and having +attacked his camp by night, when open force did not succeed well, they +on the following day drew lines of circumvallation around it. Before +these could close up all the passes, by a vallum being thrown up on all +sides, five horsemen being despatched between the enemies' posts, +brought the account to Rome, that the consul and his army were besieged. +Nothing could have happened so unexpected, nor so unlooked-for. +Accordingly the panic and the alarm was as great as if the enemy +besieged the city, not the camp. They send for the consul Nautius; in +whom when there seemed to be but insufficient protection, and they were +determined that a dictator should be appointed to retrieve their +embarrassed affairs, Lucius Quintius Cincinna<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>tus is appointed by +universal consent. It is worth those persons' while to listen, who +despise all things human in comparison with riches, and who suppose +"that there is no room for exalted honour, nor for virtue, unless where +riches abound in great profusion." Lucius Quintius, the sole hope of the +Roman people, cultivated a farm of four acres, at the other side of the +Tiber, which are called the Quintian meadows, opposite to the very place +where the dock-yard now is. There, whether leaning on a stake in a ditch +which he was digging, or in the employment of ploughing, engaged at +least on some rural work, as is certain, after mutual salutations had +passed, being requested by the ambassadors to put on his gown, and +listen to the commands of the senate, (with wishes) that it might be +happy both to him and to the commonwealth, being astonished, and asking +frequently "whether all was safe," he bids his wife Racilia immediately +to bring his toga from his hut. As soon as he put this on and came +forward, after first wiping off the dust and sweat, the ambassadors, +congratulating him, unite in saluting him as dictator: they call him +into the city; explain to him what terror now exists in the army. A +vessel was prepared for Quintius by order of government, and his three +sons having come out to meet him, receive him on his landing at the +other side; then his other relatives and friends; then the greater part +of the patricians. Accompanied by this numerous attendance, and the +lictors going before him, he was conducted to his residence. There was a +numerous concourse of the commons also; but they by no means looked on +Quintius with equal pleasure, considering both the extent of his +authority as too great, and the man vested with such authority rather +arbitrary. And during that night indeed nothing was done in the city +besides posting guards.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c27" name="c27"></a>27</div> +<p>On the next day the dictator, after he had come into the forum +before day-light, names a master of the horse, Lucius Tarquitius, a man +of patrician family, but one who, though he had served his campaigns +among the foot by reason of his scanty means, was yet considered by many +degrees the first in military skill among the Roman youth. With his +master of the horse he came into the assembly, proclaims a suspension of +civil business, orders the shops to be closed throughout the city, and +forbids any one to attend to any private affairs. Then he commands that +all, whoever were of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> the military age, should attend under arms, in the +Campus Martius, before sun-set, with dressed provisions for five days +and twelve palisades, and he commanded that whose age was too far +advanced for military service, should dress their victuals for the +soldiers in their vicinity, whilst the latter were preparing arms, and +procuring the palisade. Accordingly, the young men run in different +directions to procure the palisades; they took them wherever they were +nearest to them; no one was prevented, and they all attended punctually +according to the dictator's order. Then the troops being formed, not +more fitted for the march than for an engagement, should the occasion +require it, the dictator himself marches at the head of the legions, the +master of the horse at the head of his cavalry. In both bodies there +were such exhortations as the juncture itself required; that "they +should quicken their pace; that there was need of expedition, that they +might reach the enemy by night; that the consul and the Romans were +besieged; that they had been shut up now three days: that it was +uncertain what each day or night might bring with it; that the issue of +the most important affairs often depended on a moment of time." They, to +please their leaders, exclaimed among themselves, "Standard-bearer, +hasten on; follow, soldier." At midnight they reach Algidum: and, as +soon as they perceived that they were near the enemy, they halted.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c28" name="c28"></a>28</div> +<p>There the dictator, having rode about, and having observed, as far +as could be ascertained by night, what the situation of the camp was, +and what its form, commanded the tribunes of the soldiers to order the +baggage to be thrown into one place, and that the soldiers with their +arms and palisades should return to their ranks. What he commanded was +executed. Then, with the regularity which they had observed on the +march, he draws the entire army in a long column around the enemies' +camp, and directs that, when the signal was given, they should all raise +a shout; and that on the shout being raised, each man should throw up a +trench before his post, and fix his palisade. The orders being issued, +the signal followed: the soldiers perform what they were commanded; the +shout resounds around the enemy: it then passes beyond the camp of the +enemy, and reaches the consul's camp: it occasions panic in one place, +great joy in another.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> The Romans, observing to each other with +exultation, "that this was the shout of their countrymen, and that aid +was at hand," from their watch-guards and out-posts intimidate the enemy +on their part. The consul says, that there must be no delay: "that by +that shout not only their arrival was intimated, but that proceedings +were already commenced by their friends; and that it would be a wonder +if the enemies' camp were not attacked on the outside." He therefore +orders his men to take up arms and follow him. The battle was commenced +by the legions during the night: they give notice to the dictator by a +shout, that on that side also the action was commenced. The Æquans were +now preparing to prevent the works from being brought around them,<a name="FNanchor_131_131" id="FNanchor_131_131"></a><a href="#Footnote_131_131" class="fnanchor">[131]</a> +when, the battle being commenced by the enemy from within, turning their +attention from those employed on the fortifications to those who were +fighting on the inside, lest a sally should be made through the centre +of their camp, they left the night to remain without interruption for +the finishing of the work; and they continued the fight with the consul +till daylight. At the break of day they were now encompassed by the +dictator's works, and were scarcely able to maintain the fight against +one army. Then their lines were attacked by Quintius's army, who +immediately after completing their work returned to their arms. Here a +new fight pressed on them: the former one had suffered no relaxation. +Then the twofold peril pressing hard on them, turning from fighting to +entreaties, they implored the dictator on the one hand, the consul on +the other, not to make the victory consist in their general slaughter, +that they would suffer them to depart without arms. When they were bid +by the consul to go to the dictator, he, incensed against them, added +ignominy (to defeat). He orders Gracchus Cloelius, their general, and +other leaders to be brought to him in chains, and that they should +evacuate the town of Corbio; "that he wanted not the blood of the +Æquans: that they were allowed to depart; but that the confession may be +at length extorted, that their nation was defeated and subdued, that +they should pass under the yoke." The yoke is formed with three spears, +two fixed in the ground, and one tied across between the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> upper ends of +them. Under this yoke the dictator sent the Æquans.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c29" name="c29"></a>29</div> +<p>The enemy's camp being taken, which was full of every thing, (for he +had sent them away naked,) he distributed all the booty among his own +soldiers only: chiding the consul's army and the consul himself, he +says, "Soldiers, ye shall do without any portion of the spoil taken from +that enemy to which you were well nigh becoming a spoil: and you, Lucius +Minutius, until you begin to assume the spirit of a consul, shall +command these legions as lieutenant-general." Minutius accordingly +resigns his office of consul, and remains with the army, as he had been +commanded. But so meekly obedient were the minds of men at that time to +authority combined with superior merit, that this army, mindful of the +kindness (conferred) rather than of the slur (cast on them), both voted +a golden crown of a pound weight to the dictator, and saluted him as +their patron when setting out. The senate at Rome, being convened by +Quintus Fabius, præfect of the city, ordered Quintius to enter the city +in triumph, in the order of march in which he was coming. The leaders of +the enemy were led before his car: the military standards were carried +before him: his army followed laden with spoil. Tables with provisions +are said to have been laid out before the houses of all, and (the +soldiers) partaking of the entertainment, followed the car with the +triumphal hymn and the usual jests, after the manner of revellers. On +that day the freedom of the state was granted to Lucius Mamilius of +Tusculum, with universal approbation. The dictator would have laid down +his office, had not the assembly for the trial of Marcus Volscius, the +false witness, detained him; the fear of the dictator prevented the +tribunes from obstructing it. Volscius was condemned and went into exile +to Lanuvium. Quintius laid down his dictatorship on the sixteenth day, +having received it for six months. During those days the consul Nautius +engages the Sabines at Eretum with distinguished success. Besides the +devastation of their lands, this additional blow also befell the +Sabines. Fabius Quintus was sent to Algidum as successor to Minucius. +Towards the end of the year the tribunes began to agitate the question +of the law; but because two armies were abroad, the patricians carried +the point, that no business should be proposed to the people. The +commons<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> succeeded in electing the same tribunes for the fifth time. +They report that wolves seen in the Capitol were driven away by dogs; +that on account of that prodigy the Capitol was purified. Such were the +transactions in that year.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c30" name="c30"></a>30</div> +<p>Quintus Minucius and Caius Horatius Pulvillus follow as the next +consuls. At the commencement of this year, when there was peace abroad, +the same tribunes and the same law occasioned disturbances at home; and +parties would have proceeded further, (so highly were their passions +inflamed,) had not, as if for the very purpose, news been brought, that +by an attack of the Æquans the garrison at Corbio had been cut off. The +consuls convene the senate; they are ordered to raise a hasty levy and +to proceed to Algidum. Then the contest about the law being given up, a +new dispute arose regarding the levy. And the consular authority<a name="FNanchor_132_132" id="FNanchor_132_132"></a><a href="#Footnote_132_132" class="fnanchor">[132]</a> +was about to be overpowered by tribunitian influence, when an additional +cause of alarm comes on them: that the Sabine army had made a descent +into the Roman lands to commit depredations; that from thence they were +advancing to the city. This fear influenced the tribunes to allow the +levy to proceed, not without a stipulation, however, that since they had +been foiled for five years, and as that was but little protection to the +commons, ten tribunes of the people should henceforward be elected. +Necessity wrung this from the patricians; this exception only they made, +that they should not hereafter re-elect the same tribunes. The election +for the tribunes was held immediately, lest that measure also, like +others, might prove a delusion after the war. On the thirty-sixth year +after the first tribunes, ten were elected, two from each class; and +provision was made that they should be elected in this manner for the +future. The levy being then held, Minucius marched out against the +Sabines, and found no enemy. Horatius, after the Æquans, having put the +garrison at Corbio to the sword, had taken Ortona also, fights a battle +at Algidum; he slays a great number; drives the enemy not only from +Algidum, but from Corbio and Ortona also. Corbio he razed to the ground +for their having betrayed the garrison.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c31" name="c31"></a>31</div> +<p>Marcus Valerius and Spurius Virginius are next elected<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> consuls. +Quiet prevailed at home and abroad. They laboured under a scarcity of +provisions on account of the excessive rains. A law was proposed +regarding the making Mount Aventine public property. The same tribunes +of the people being re-elected on the following year, Titus Romilius and +Caius Veturius being consuls, strongly recommended the law<a name="FNanchor_133_133" id="FNanchor_133_133"></a><a href="#Footnote_133_133" class="fnanchor">[133]</a> in all +their harangues, "That they were ashamed of their number increased to no +purpose, if that question should lie for their two years in the same +manner as it had lain for the whole preceding five." Whilst they were +most busily employed in these matters, an alarming account comes from +Tusculum, that the Æquans were in the Tusculan territory. The recent +services of that state made them ashamed of delaying relief. Both the +consuls were sent with an army, and find the enemy in their usual post +in Algidum. A battle was fought there; upwards of seven thousand of the +enemy were slain; the rest were routed; immense booty was obtained. This +the consuls sold on account of the low state of the treasury; the +proceeding was the cause of dissatisfaction to the army, and it also +afforded to the tribunes materials for bringing a charge against the +consuls before the commons. Accordingly, as soon as they went out of +office, in the consulship of Spurius Tarpeius and Aulus Aterius, a day +was appointed for Romilius by Caius Claudius Cicero, tribune of the +people; for Veturius, by Lucius Alienus, plebeian ædile. They were both +condemned, to the great mortification of the patricians; Romilius to pay +ten thousand <i>asses</i>; Veturius, fifteen thousand. Nor did this +misfortune of their predecessors render the new consuls more remiss. +They said that they too might be condemned, and that the commons and +tribunes could not carry the law. Then having thrown up the law, which, +in its repeated publication, had now grown old, the tribunes adopted a +milder mode of proceeding with the patricians. "That they should at +length put an end to their disputes. If plebeian laws displeased them, +at least they should suffer legislators (chosen) in common, both from +the commons and from the patricians, who would propose measures +advantageous to both parties,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> and such as might tend to the +equalization of liberty." This proposal the patricians did not reject. +They said that "no one should propose laws, except some of the +patricians." When they agreed with respect to the laws, and differed +only with respect to the proposer; ambassadors were sent to Athens, +Spurius Posthumius Albus, Aulus Manlius, Publius Sulpicius Camerinus; +and they were ordered to copy out the celebrated laws of Solon, and to +become acquainted with the institutions, customs, and laws of the other +states of Greece.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c32" name="c32"></a>32</div> +<p>The year was undisturbed by foreign wars; the following one was +still more quiet, Publius Curiatius and Sextus Quintilius being consuls, +the tribunes observing uninterrupted silence, which was occasioned in +the first place by their waiting for the ambassadors who had gone to +Athens, and for the foreign laws; in the next place, two heavy +calamities arose at the same time, famine and pestilence, (which proved) +destructive to man, and equally so to cattle. The lands were left +desolate; the city exhausted by a constant succession of deaths. Many +and illustrious families were in mourning. The Flamen Quirinalis, +Servilius Cornelius, died; as also the augur, Caius Horatius Pulvillus; +into whose place the augurs elected Caius Veturius, the more eagerly, +because he had been condemned by the commons. The consul Quintilius +died, and four tribunes of the people. The year was rendered a +melancholy one by these manifold disasters; but from an enemy there was +perfect quiet. Then Caius Menenius and Publius Sestius Capitolinus were +elected consuls. Nor was there in that year any external war: +disturbances arose at home. The ambassadors had now returned with the +Athenian laws; the tribunes pressed the more urgently, that a +commencement should at length be made of compiling the laws. It was +resolved that decemvirs should be elected without appeal, and that there +should be no other magistrate during that year. There was, for a +considerable time, a dispute whether plebeians should be admitted among +them: at length the point was given up to the patricians, provided that +the Icilian law regarding the Aventine and the other devoting laws were +not repealed.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c33" name="c33"></a>33</div> +<p>In the three hundred and first year after Rome was built, the form +of the government was a second time changed, the supreme power being +transferred from consuls to decem<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>virs, as it had passed before from +kings to consuls. The change was less remarkable, because not of long +duration; for the joyous commencement of that government became too +licentious. So much the sooner did the matter fall, and (the usage) was +recurred to, that the name and authority of consuls was committed to two +persons. The decemvirs appointed were, Appius Claudius, Titus Genucius, +Publius Sestius, Lucius Veturius, Caius Julius, Aulus Manlius, Servius +Sulpicius, Publius Curiatius, Titus Romilius, Spurius Postumius. On +Claudius and Genucius, because they had been elected consuls for that +year, the honour was conferred in compensation for the honour (of the +consulate); and on Sestius, one of the consuls of the former year, +because he had proposed that matter to the senate against the will of +his colleague. Next to these were considered the three ambassadors who +had gone to Athens; at the same time that the honour might serve as a +recompence for so distant an embassy; at the same time they considered +that persons acquainted with the foreign laws would be of use in +digesting the new code of regulations. Other persons made up the number. +They say that persons advanced in years were appointed by the last +suffrages, in order that they might oppose with less warmth the opinions +of others. The direction of the entire government was rested in Appius +through the favour of the commons, and he had assumed a demeanour so +new, that from a severe and harsh reviler of the people, he became +suddenly a protector of the commons, and a candidate for popular favour. +They administered justice to the people one every tenth day. On that day +the twelve fasces attended the præfect of justice; one beadle attended +each of his nine colleagues, and in the singular harmony among +themselves, which unanimity might sometimes prove prejudicial to private +persons, the strictest equity was shown to others. It will suffice to +adduce a proof of their moderation by instancing one matter. Though they +had been appointed without (the privilege of) appeal, yet a dead body +having been found buried in the house of Publius Sestius, a man of +patrician rank, and this having been brought forward in an assembly, in +a matter equally clear and atrocious, Caius Julius, a decemvir, +appointed a day of trial for Sestius, and appeared before the people as +prosecutor (in a matter) of which he was legally a judge; and +relinquished his right, so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> that he might add what had been taken from +the power of the office to the liberty of the people.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c34" name="c34"></a>34</div> +<p>Whilst the highest and lowest alike experienced from them this +prompt administration of justice, impartial, as if from an oracle, then +their attention was devoted to the framing of laws; and the ten tables +being proposed amid the intense expectation of all, they summoned the +people to an assembly: and "what may prove favourable, advantageous, and +happy to the commonwealth themselves, and to their children, ordered +them to go and read the laws that were exhibited." "That they had +equalized the rights of all, both the highest and the lowest, as far as +could be devised by the abilities of ten men; that the understanding and +counsels of a greater number might prove more successful; that they +should turn in their minds each particular within themselves, canvass it +in conversation; and bring together under public discussion whatever +might seem an excess or deficiency under each particular. That the Roman +people should have such laws, as the general consent might appear not so +much to have ratified when proposed, as to have proposed from +themselves." When they appeared sufficiently corrected according to +public opinion (as expressed) regarding each chapter of the laws as it +was published, the laws of the ten tables were passed at the assembly +voting by centuries; which, even at the present time, amid this immense +heap of laws crowded one upon the other, still remain the source of all +public and private jurisprudence. A rumour was then spread that two +tables were wanting; on the addition of which a body, as it were, of the +whole Roman law might be completed. The expectation of this, as the day +of election approached, created a desire to appoint decemvirs again. The +commons now, besides that they detested the name of consuls as much as +that of kings, required not even the tribunitian aid, as the decemvirs +in turn submitted to appeal.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c35" name="c35"></a>35</div> +<p>But when the assembly for electing decemvirs was proclaimed for the +third market-day, so strong a flame of ambition blazed forth, that the +first men of the state began to canvass individuals, (through fear, I +suppose, lest the possession of such high authority might become +accessible to persons not sufficiently worthy, if the post were left +unoccupied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> by themselves,) suppliantly soliciting for an honour, which +had been opposed by them with all their might, from that commons with +whom they had so often contended. Their dignity now lowered to the risk +of a contest, at such an age, and after passing through such honours, +stimulated the exertions of Appius Claudius. You would not know whether +to reckon him among the decemvirs or the candidates; he resembled more +closely one canvassing for the office than one invested with it; he +aspersed the nobility, extolled every most insignificant and humble +candidate; surrounded by the Duilii and Icilii who had been tribunes, he +bustled about the forum, through their means he recommended himself to +the commons; until his colleagues even, who till then had been extremely +devoted to him, turned their eyes on him, wondering what he meant. It +was evident to them, that there was no sincerity in it; "that certainly +such affability amid such pride would not be for nothing. That this +excessive lowering of himself, and putting himself on a level with +private citizens, was not so much the conduct to be expected from one +hastening to go out of office, as of one seeking the means of continuing +that office." Not daring openly to oppose his wishes, they set about +baffling his ardour by humouring it. They by common consent confer on +him, as being the youngest, the office of presiding at the elections. +This was an artifice, that he might not appoint himself; which no one +ever did, except the tribunes of the people, and that too with the very +worst precedent. He, however, declaring that with the favour of fortune +he would preside at the elections, seized on the (intended) +obstacle<a name="FNanchor_134_134" id="FNanchor_134_134"></a><a href="#Footnote_134_134" class="fnanchor">[134]</a> as a happy occasion; and having by a coalition foiled the +two Quintii, Capitolinus and Cincinnatus, and his own uncle, Caius +Claudius, a man most stedfast in the interest of the nobility, and other +citizens of the same eminence, he appoints as decemvirs men by no means +equal in rank of life: himself in the first instance, which proceeding +honourable men disapproved so much the more, as no one had imagined that +he would have the daring to act so. With him were elected Marcus +Cornelius-Maluginensis, Marcus Sergius, Lucius Minutius, Quintus Fabius +Vibulanus, Quintus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> Pœtelius, Titus Antonius Merenda, Cæso Duilius, +Spurius Oppius Cornicen, Manius Rabuleius.<a name="FNanchor_135_135" id="FNanchor_135_135"></a><a href="#Footnote_135_135" class="fnanchor">[135]</a></p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c36" name="c36"></a>36</div> +<p>This was the end of Appius's assumption of a character not his own. +Henceforward he began to live according to his own natural disposition, +and to mould to his own temper his new colleagues before they should +enter on their office. They held daily meetings remote from witnesses: +then, furnished with their schemes of tyranny,<a name="FNanchor_136_136" id="FNanchor_136_136"></a><a href="#Footnote_136_136" class="fnanchor">[136]</a> which they digested +apart from others, no longer dissembling their arrogance, difficult of +access, morose to all who addressed them, they carried out the matter to +the ides of May. The ides of May were at that time the usual period for +commencing office. At the commencement then of their magistracy, they +rendered the first day of their office remarkable by making an +exhibition of great terror. For when the preceding decemvirs had +observed the rule, that only one should have the fasces, and that this +emblem of royalty should pass through all in rotation, to each in his +turn, they all suddenly came forth with the twelve fasces. One hundred +and twenty lictors filled the forum, and carried before them the axes +tied up with the fasces: and they explained that it was of no +consequence that the axe should be taken away, as they had been +appointed without the privilege of appeal.<a name="FNanchor_137_137" id="FNanchor_137_137"></a><a href="#Footnote_137_137" class="fnanchor">[137]</a> There was the appearance +of ten kings, and terrors were multiplied not only in the humblest +individuals, but even in the principal men among the patricians, who +thought that a pretext and commencement of bloodshed were sought for; so +that if any one should utter a word favourable to liberty, either in the +senate or in a meeting of the people, the rods and axes would be +instantly brought forward, even to intimidate the rest. For besides that +there was no protection in the people, the right of appeal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> being done +away with, they had also by mutual consent prohibited interference with +each other:<a name="FNanchor_138_138" id="FNanchor_138_138"></a><a href="#Footnote_138_138" class="fnanchor">[138]</a> whereas the preceding decemvirs had allowed the points +of law decided by themselves to be amended by appeal to a colleague, and +had referred to the people some points which might seem to come within +their own jurisdiction. For a considerable time the terror seemed +equalized among all ranks; gradually it began to turn entirely on the +commons. They spared the patricians; arbitrary and cruel treatment was +shown to the humbler classes: they were wholly respective of the person, +not of the cause: as being persons with whom interest usurped the force +of justice. Their decisions they concerted at home, and pronounced in +the forum. If any person appealed to a colleague, he left the one to +whom he had appealed in such a manner as to regret that he had not +abided by the sentence of the former. An opinion also had gone abroad +without an authority, that they had conspired in their tyranny not only +for the present time, but that a clandestine league had been struck +among them (accompanied) with an oath, that they would not hold the +comitia, and that by perpetuating the decemvirate they would retain the +power now in their possession.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c37" name="c37"></a>37</div> +<p>The plebeians then began to watch narrowly the countenances of the +patricians, and (hoped) to catch the breeze of liberty from that +quarter, by apprehending slavery from which, they had brought the +republic into its present condition. The leading members of the senate +detested the decemvirs, detested the commons; they neither approved of +what was going on, and they considered that what befell the latter was +not without their deserving it. They were unwilling to assist men who, +by rushing too eagerly towards liberty, had fallen into slavery: they +even heaped injuries on them, that, from their disgust at the present +state of things, two consuls and the former mode of government may at +length become desirable. The greater part of the year was now passed, +and two tables of laws had been added to the ten tables of the former +year; and if these laws also were once passed in an assembly of the +centuries, there now remained no reason why the republic should require +that form<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> of government. They were anxiously waiting to see how soon +the assembly would be proclaimed for the election of consuls. The +commons were only devising by what means they should re-establish the +tribunitian power, that bulwark of their liberty, a thing now so long +discontinued. When in the mean time no mention was made of the +elections, and the decemvirs, who had at first exhibited themselves to +the people, surrounded by men of tribunitian rank, because that was +deemed popular, now guarded themselves by collecting young patricians; +troops of these beset the tribunals. These seized and drove about the +commons, and the effects of the commons; when success attended the more +powerful individual, as far as obtaining any thing he might covet.<a name="FNanchor_139_139" id="FNanchor_139_139"></a><a href="#Footnote_139_139" class="fnanchor">[139]</a> +And now they spared not even their backs. Some were beaten with rods; +others had to submit to the axe; and lest such cruelty might go for +nothing, a grant of his effects followed the punishment of the owner. +Corrupted by such bribes, the young nobility not only made no opposition +to oppression, but openly avowed their preference of their own +gratification to the general liberty.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c38" name="c38"></a>38</div> +<p>The ides of May came. No new election of magistrates having taken +place, private persons came forth as decemvirs, without any abatement +either in their determination to enforce their authority,<a name="FNanchor_140_140" id="FNanchor_140_140"></a><a href="#Footnote_140_140" class="fnanchor">[140]</a> or any +diminution in the emblems employed to make a parade of their station. +This indeed seemed to be regal tyranny. Liberty is now deplored as lost +for ever; nor does any champion stand forth, or appear likely to do so. +And not only they themselves sunk into despondence, but they began to be +looked down upon by the neighbouring states; and they felt indignant +that dominion should exist where liberty was lost. The Sabines with a +numerous body of men made an incursion on the Roman territory; and +having committed extensive devastations, after they had driven with +impunity booty of men and cattle, they recalled their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> troops which had +been dispersed in different directions to Eretum, and pitch their camp +there, grounding their hopes on the dissensions at Rome; (and trusting) +that they would prove an obstruction to the levy. Not only the couriers, +but the flight of the country people through the city, occasioned alarm. +The decemvirs consult what should be done. Whilst they were thus left +destitute between the hatred of the patricians and people, fortune +added, moreover, another cause of alarm. The Æquans on the opposite side +pitch their camp at Algidum; and ambassadors from Tusculum, imploring +relief, bring accounts that the Tusculan land was ravaged by detachments +from thence. The panic occasioned hereby urged the decemvirs to consult +the senate, two wars at the same time surrounding the city. They order +the patricians to be summoned into the senate-house, well aware what a +storm of resentment was ready to break upon them; that all would heap on +them the causes of the land laid waste, and of the dangers which +threatened them; and that that would occasion an attempt to abolish +their office, if they did not unite in resisting, and by enforcing their +authority with severity on a few of an intractable spirit repress the +efforts of others. When the voice was heard in the forum of the crier +summoning the senators into the senate-house before the decemvirs; as a +matter altogether new, because they had long since laid aside the custom +of consulting the senate, it attracted the attention of the people, who +expressed their surprise: "What could have happened, that after so long +an interval they should revive a practice now discontinued. That they +had reason to return thanks to the enemy and to war, that any thing was +done that used to be done when their state was free." They looked around +for a senator through all parts of the forum, and seldom recognised one +any where: they then directed their attention to the senate-house, and +to the solitude around the decemvirs: whilst both they themselves +referred the non-assembling of the patricians to their own universally +detested government, and the commons (would have it, that the cause of +the non-assembling was) because, being but private citizens, they (the +decemvirs) had no right to convene the senate;<a name="FNanchor_141_141" id="FNanchor_141_141"></a><a href="#Footnote_141_141" class="fnanchor">[141]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> "that a head was +now formed of those who would demand back their liberty, if the commons +would but accompany the senate, and as the patricians, when summoned, +did not attend the senate, so the commons also should refuse to enlist." +Such were the remarks of the commons. There was scarcely any of the +patricians in the forum, and but very few in the city. In disgust with +the state of affairs, they had retired into the country, and were +attending to their own affairs, renouncing all public concerns, +considering that they themselves were aloof from ill-treatment in +proportion as they should remove themselves from the meeting and +converse of their imperious masters. When those who had been summoned +did not assemble, apparitors were despatched to their houses, both to +levy the penalties,<a name="FNanchor_142_142" id="FNanchor_142_142"></a><a href="#Footnote_142_142" class="fnanchor">[142]</a> and to ascertain whether they declined +attendance through design? They bring back word that the senate was in +the country. This was more pleasing to the decemvirs, than if they +brought word that they were present and refused obedience to their +commands. They command them all to be sent for, and proclaim a meeting +of the senate for the following day; which congregated together in much +greater numbers than they themselves had expected. By which proceeding +the commons considered that their liberty was betrayed by the +patricians, because the senate had obeyed those persons, as if they had +a right to compel them, who had already gone out of office; and were but +private individuals, were it not for the violence employed by them.<a name="FNanchor_143_143" id="FNanchor_143_143"></a><a href="#Footnote_143_143" class="fnanchor">[143]</a></p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c39" name="c39"></a>39</div> +<p>But they showed more obedience in coming into the senate than +servility in the sentiments expressed by them, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> we have learned. It +is recorded that, after Appius's stating the subject of the meeting, and +before the opinions were demanded in order, Lucius Valerius Potitus +excited a commotion, by demanding permission to express his sentiments +concerning the state, and when the decemvirs were prohibiting him with +threats, declaring that he would present himself before the people. (We +have also heard) that Marcus Horatius Barbatus entered the lists with no +less boldness, calling them "ten Tarquins," and reminding them, "that +under the leadership of the Valerii and Horatii<a name="FNanchor_144_144" id="FNanchor_144_144"></a><a href="#Footnote_144_144" class="fnanchor">[144]</a> the kings had been +expelled. Nor was it of the mere name that men were then tired, it being +that by which it was usual to style Jupiter, and by which Romulus, the +founder of the city, and his successors were also styled; a name too +which has been retained even in the ceremonies of religion, as a solemn +one; that it was the tyranny and arrogance of a king they then detested, +which if they were not to be tolerated in one who was both a king +himself and the son of a king, who was to tolerate it in so many private +citizens? that they should beware lest, by preventing persons from +speaking their sentiments freely in the senate, they might oblige them +to raise their voice outside the senate-house. Nor could he see how it +was less allowable for him, a private citizen, to summon the people to +an assembly, than for them to convene the senate. They might try, +whenever they pleased, how much more determined a sense of wrong will be +found to be in vindicating one's own liberty, than ambition in +(vindicating) usurped domination. That they proposed the question +concerning the Sabine war, as if the Roman people had any more important +war on hand, than that against those who, having been elected for the +purpose of framing laws, had left no law in the state; who had abolished +elections, annual magistrates, the regular change of rulers, which was +the only means of equalizing liberty; who, though private citizens, +still possess the fasces and regal dominion. That on the expulsion of +the kings, patrician magistrates were ap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>pointed, and subsequently, +after the secession of the people, plebeian magistrates. To which party, +he asked, did they belong? To the popular party? What had they ever done +with the concurrence of the people? were they nobles? who for now nearly +an entire year have not held a meeting of the senate; and then hold one +in such a manner, that they actually prevent numbers from expressing +their sentiments regarding the commonwealth; that they should not place +too much hope in the fears of others; that the grievances which they are +suffering now appear to men more oppressive than any they may have to +apprehend."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c40" name="c40"></a>40</div> +<p>Whilst Horatius was exclaiming in this manner, "and the decemvirs +could not discover any limit either to their anger or forbearance, nor +could they see to what the thing would come, Caius Claudius, who was +uncle to Appius the decemvir, delivered an address more like entreaties +than reproach, beseeching him by the shade of his own brother and of his +father, that he would hold in recollection the civil society in which he +had been born rather than the confederacy nefariously entered into with +his colleagues; that he besought this much more on Appius's own account, +than for the sake of the commonwealth. For that the commonwealth would +assert its rights in spite of them, if it could not obtain them with +their consent. But that from great contests great animosities arise; the +result of the latter he dreads." Though the decemvirs forbad them to +speak on any other subject than that which they had submitted to them, +they felt too much respect for Claudius to interrupt him. He therefore +concluded his address by moving that it was their wish that no decree of +the senate should be passed. And all understood the matter thus, that +they were judged by Claudius to be private citizens; and many of the men +of consular standing expressed their assent. Another measure proposed, +more harsh in appearance, possessed much less efficacy; one which +ordered the patricians to assemble to elect an interrex; for by passing +any resolution they judged, that those persons who convened the senate +were magistrates of some kind or other, whilst the person who +recommended that no decree of the senate should be passed, had thereby +declared them private citizens. When the cause of the decemvirs was now +sinking, Lucius Cornelius Maluginensis, brother of Marcus Cornelius<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> the +decemvir, having been purposely reserved from among the consular men to +close the debate, by affecting an anxiety about the war, defended his +brother and his colleagues thus: saying, "he wondered by what fatality +it had occurred, that those who had been candidates for the decemvirate, +should attack the decemvirs, either as secondaries,<a name="FNanchor_145_145" id="FNanchor_145_145"></a><a href="#Footnote_145_145" class="fnanchor">[145]</a> or as +principals: or when no one disputed for so many months whilst the state +was disengaged, whether legal magistrates had the management of affairs, +why do they now sow discord, when the enemies are nearly at the gate; +unless that in a state of confusion they think that what they are aiming +at will be less seen through." But that it was not just that any one +should prejudice so important a cause, whilst our minds are occupied +with a more momentous concern. It was his opinion, that the point which +Valerius and Horatius urged, viz. that the decemvirs had gone out of +office before the ides of May, should be discussed in the senate, when +the wars which are now impending are over, and the commonwealth has been +restored to tranquillity: and that Appius Claudius should now prepare to +take notice that an account is to be rendered by him of the comitia +which he himself held for electing decemvirs, whether they were elected +for one year, or until the laws which were wanting were ratified. It was +his opinion that all other matters should be laid aside for the present, +except the war; and if they thought that the reports regarding it were +propagated without foundation, and that not only the couriers, but the +ambassadors of the Tusculans also had stated what was false, he thought +that scouts should be despatched to bring back more certain information; +but if credit were given both to the couriers and the ambassadors, that +the levy should be held at the very earliest opportunity; that the +decemvirs should lead the armies, whither it may seem proper to each; +and that no other matter should take precedence.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c41" name="c41"></a>41</div> +<p>The junior patricians succeeded in having this opinion carried. +Valerius and Horatius rising again with greater vehemence demanded +aloud, "that it should be allowed them to express their sentiments +concerning the republic; that they would address the people, if by a +faction they were not allowed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> to do so in the senate. For that private +individuals, either in the senate or in a general assembly, could not +prevent them; nor would they yield to their imaginary fasces." Appius +then considering that the crisis was now nigh at hand, when their +authority would be overpowered, unless their violence were resisted with +equal boldness: "It will be better," says he, "not to utter a word on +any subject, except that which we are now considering: and to Valerius, +when he refused to be silent for a private individual, he commands a +lictor to proceed." When Valerius, on the threshold of the senate-house, +now craved the protection of the citizens, Lucius Cornelius, embracing +Appius, put an end to the dispute, not consulting the interest of him +whose interest he affected to consult; and permission to speak his +sentiments being obtained for Valerius through Cornelius, when this +liberty did not extend beyond words, the decemvirs obtained their +object. The consulars also and senior members, from the hatred of +tribunitian power still rankling in their bosoms, the desire of which +they considered was much more keenly felt by the commons than that of +the consular power, almost had rather that the decemvirs themselves +should voluntarily resign their office at some future period, than that +the people should rise once more into consequence through their +unpopularity. If the matter, conducted with gentleness, should again +return to the consuls without popular turbulence, that the commons might +be induced to forget their tribunes, either by the intervention of wars +or by the moderation of the consuls in exercising their authority. A +levy is proclaimed amid the silence of the patricians; the young men +answer to their names, as the government was without appeal. The legions +being enrolled, the decemvirs set about arranging among themselves who +should set out to the war, who command the armies. The leading men among +the decemvirs were, Quintus Fabius and Appius Claudius. There appeared a +more serious war at home than abroad. They considered the violence of +Appius as better suited to suppress commotions in the city; that Fabius +possessed a disposition rather inconstant in good pursuits than +strenuous in bad ones. For this man, formerly distinguished at home and +abroad, his office of decemvir and his colleagues had so changed, that +he chose rather to be like to Appius than like himself. To him the war +against the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> Sabines was committed, his colleagues, Manius Rabuleius and +Quintus Pætelius, being sent with him. Marcus Cornelius was sent to +Algidum with Lucius Menucius and Titus Antonius, and Cæso Duilius and +Marcus Sergius: they determine on Spurius Oppius as an assistant to +Appius Claudius to protect the city, their authority being equal to that +of all the decemvirs.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c42" name="c42"></a>42</div> +<p>The republic was managed with no better success in war than at home. +In this the only fault in the generals was, that they had rendered +themselves objects of hatred to their fellow citizens: in other respects +the whole fault lay with the soldiers; who, lest any enterprise should +succeed under the conduct and auspices of the decemvirs, suffered +themselves to be beaten, to their own disgrace, and that of them (the +generals). Their armies were routed by the Sabines at Eretum, and in +Algidum by the Æquans. Having fled from Eretum during the silence of the +night, they fortified their camp nearer to the city, on an elevated +situation between Fidenæ and Crustumeria; no where encountering the +enemy, who pursued them, on equal ground, they protected themselves by +the nature of the place and a rampart, not by valour or arms. Greater +disgrace and greater loss were sustained in Algidum, their camp also was +lost; and the soldiers, stripped of all their utensils, betook +themselves to Tusculum, determined to procure the means of subsistence +from the good faith and compassion of their hosts; which, however, did +not disappoint them. Such alarming accounts were brought to Rome, that +the patricians, having laid aside their hatred of the decemvirs, passed +an order that watches should be held in the city; commanded that all who +were able by reason of their age to carry arms, should mount guard on +the walls, and form out-posts before the gates; they also voted arms to +be sent to Tusculum, besides a reinforcement; that the decemvirs also +should come down from the citadel of Tusculum and keep their troops +encamped; that the other camp should be removed from Fidenæ into the +Sabine territory; and that the enemy might be deterred, by thus +attacking them first, from entertaining any intentions of attacking the +city.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c43" name="c43"></a>43</div> +<p>To the calamities received from the enemy, the decemvirs add two +flagitious deeds, one abroad, and the other in the city. In the Sabine +district, Lucius Siccius, who, during the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> unpopularity of the +decemvirs, introduced, in secret conversation with the common soldiers, +mention of electing tribunes and of a secession, was sent forwards to +select a place for a camp: instructions were given to the soldiers whom +they had sent to accompany him in that expedition, to attack him in a +convenient place and slay him. They did not kill him with impunity; for +several of the assassins fell around him resisting them, whilst, +possessing great personal strength and with a courage equal to that +strength, he was defending himself against them, now surrounded as he +was. The rest bring an account into the camp that Siccius, when fighting +bravely, had fallen into an ambush, and that some soldiers were lost +with him. At first the narrators were believed; afterwards a cohort, +which went by permission of the decemvirs to bury those who had fallen, +when they observed that none of the bodies there were stripped, that +Siccius lay in the middle with his arms, all the bodies being turned +towards him, whilst there was neither any body of the enemy, nor even +any traces of them as going away; they brought back his body, saying, +that he had certainly been slain by his own men. The camp was now filled +with indignation, and it was being determined that Siccius should be +forthwith brought to Rome, had not the decemvirs hastened to perform a +military funeral for him at the public expense. He was buried amid the +great grief of the soldiery, and with the worst possible reputation of +the decemvirs among the common people.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c44" name="c44"></a>44</div> +<p>Another atrocious deed follows in the city, originating in lust, +attended with results not less tragical than that deed which drove the +Tarquins from the city and the throne through the injured chastity and +violent death of Lucretia: so that the decemvirs not only had the same +end as the kings had, but the same cause also of losing their power. +Appius Claudius was seized with a criminal passion for violating the +person of a young woman of plebeian condition. Lucius Virginius, the +girl's father, held an honourable rank among the centurions at Algidum, +a man of exemplary good conduct both at home and in the service. His +wife had been educated in a similar manner, as also were their children. +He had betrothed his daughter to Lucius Icilius, who had been a tribune, +a man of spirit and of approved zeal in the interest of the people. This +young woman, in the bloom of youth,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> distinguished for beauty, Appius, +burning with desire, attempted to seduce by bribes and promises; and +when he perceived that all the avenues (to the possession of her) were +barred by modesty, he turned his thoughts to cruel and tyrannical +violence. He instructed a dependent of his, Marcus Claudius, to claim +the girl as his slave, and not to yield to those who might demand her +interim retention of liberty; considering that, because the girl's +father was absent, there was an opportunity for committing the injury. +The tool of the decemvir's lust laid hands on the girl as she was coming +into the forum (for there in the sheds the literary schools were held); +calling her "the daughter of his slave and a slave herself," he +commanded her to follow him; that he would force her away if she +demurred. The girl being stupified with terror, a crowd collects at the +cries of the girl's nurse, who besought the protection of the citizens. +The popular names of her father, Virginius, and of her spouse, Icilius, +are in the mouths of every one. Their regard for them gains over their +acquaintances, whilst the heinousness of the proceeding gains over the +crowd. She was now safe from violence, when the claimant says, "that +there was no occasion for raising a mob; that he was proceeding by law, +not by force." He cites the girl into court. Those who stood by her +advising her to follow him, they now reached the tribunal of Appius. The +claimant rehearses the farce well known to the judge, as being the +author of the plot, "that a girl born in his house, and clandestinely +transferred from thence to the house of Virginius, had been fathered on +the latter." That he stated a thing ascertained by certain evidence, and +would prove it to the satisfaction even of Virginius himself, whom the +principal portion of that loss would concern. That it was but just that +in the interim the girl should accompany her master. The advocates for +Virginia, after they had urged that Virginius was absent on business of +the state, that he would be here in two days if word were sent to him, +that it was unfair that in his absence he should run any risk regarding +his children, demand that he adjourn the whole matter till the arrival +of the father; that he should allow the claim for her interim liberty +according to the law passed by himself, and not allow a maiden of ripe +age to encounter the risk of her reputation before that of her liberty.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span></p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c45" name="c45"></a>45</div> +<p>Appius prefaced his decree by observing that the very law, which +Virginius's friends were putting forward as the ground of their demand, +clearly showed how much he favoured liberty. But that liberty would find +secure protection in it on this condition, that it varied<a name="FNanchor_146_146" id="FNanchor_146_146"></a><a href="#Footnote_146_146" class="fnanchor">[146]</a> neither +with respect to cases or persons.<a name="FNanchor_147_147" id="FNanchor_147_147"></a><a href="#Footnote_147_147" class="fnanchor">[147]</a> For with respect to those +individuals who were claimed as free, that point of law was good, +because<a name="FNanchor_148_148" id="FNanchor_148_148"></a><a href="#Footnote_148_148" class="fnanchor">[148]</a> any person may pro<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>ceed by law (and act for them); with +respect to her who is in the hands of her father, that there was no +other person (than her father) to whom her master need relinquish his +right of possession. That it was his determination, therefore, that her +father should be sent for: in the mean time, that the claimant should +suffer no loss of his right, but that he should carry off the girl with +him, and promise that she should be produced on the arrival of him who +was called her father. When many rather murmured against the injustice +of this decision than any one individual ventured to protest against it, +the girl's uncle, Publius Numitorius, and her betrothed spouse, Icilius, +just come in; and way being made through the crowd, the multitude +thinking that Appius might be most effectually resisted by the +intervention of Icilius, the lictor declares that "he had decided the +matter," and removes Icilius, when he attempted to raise his voice. +Injustice so atrocious would have fired even a cool temper. "By the +sword, Appius," says he, "I must be removed hence, that you may carry +off in silence that which you wish to be concealed. This young woman I +am about to marry, determined to have a lawful and chaste wife. +Wherefore call together all the lictors even of your colleagues; order +the rods and axes to be had in readiness; the betrothed wife of Icilius +shall not remain without her father's house. Though you have taken from +us the aid of our tribunes, and the power of appeal to the commons of +Rome, the two bulwarks for maintaining our liberty, absolute dominion +has not therefore been given to you over our wives and children. Vent +your fury on our backs and necks; let chastity at least be secure. If +violence be offered to her, I shall implore the protection of the +citizens here present in behalf of my spouse; Virginius will implore +that of the soldiers in behalf of his only daughter; we shall all +implore the protection of gods and men, nor shall you carry that +sentence into effect without our blood. I demand of you, Appius, +consider again and again to what lengths you are proceeding. Let +Virginius, when he comes, consider what conduct he should pursue with +respect to his daughter. Let him only be assured of this, that if he +yield to the claims of this man,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> he will have to seek out another match +for his daughter. As for my part, in vindicating the liberty of my +spouse, life shall leave me sooner than my honour."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c46" name="c46"></a>46</div> +<p>The multitude was now excited, and a contest seemed likely to ensue. +The lictors had taken their stand around Icilius; nor did they, however, +proceed beyond threats, when Appius said, "that it was not Virginia that +was defended by Icilius, but that, being a restless man, and even now +breathing the spirit of the tribuneship, he was seeking an occasion for +a disturbance. That he would not afford him material on that day; but in +order that he may now know that the concession has been made not to his +petulance, but to the absent Virginius, to the name of father and to +liberty, that he would not decide the cause on that day, nor interpose a +decree: that he would request of Marcus Claudius to forego somewhat of +his right, and suffer the girl to be bailed till the next day. But +unless the father attended on the following day, he gave notice to +Icilius and to men like Icilius, that neither the founder would be +wanting to his own law, nor firmness to the decemvir; nor would he +assemble the lictors of his colleagues to put down the promoters of +sedition; that he would be content with his own lictors." When the time +of this act of injustice was deferred, and the friends of the maiden had +retired, it was first of all determined, that the brother of Icilius and +the son of Numitorius, both active young men, should proceed thence +straightforward to the gate, and that Virginius should be brought from +the camp with all possible haste. That the safety of the girl depended +on his being present next day at the proper time, as her protector from +injury. They proceed according to directions and with all speed carry +the account to her father. When the claimant of the maiden was pressing +Icilius to become defendant, and give sureties,<a name="FNanchor_149_149" id="FNanchor_149_149"></a><a href="#Footnote_149_149" class="fnanchor">[149]</a> and Icilius said +that that was the very thing he was doing, designedly spinning out the +time, until the messengers sent to the camp might gain time for their +journey, the multitude raised their hands on all sides, and every one +showed himself ready to go surety for Icilius. And he with tears in his +eyes says, It is very kind of you; on to-morrow I will avail myself of +your assistance; at present I have sufficient sureties. Thus Virginia is +bailed on the security of her relations. Appius having<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> delayed a short +time, that he might not appear to have sat on account of the present +case, when no one applied, all other concerns being given up by reason +of their solicitude about the one, betook himself home, and writes to +his colleagues to the camp, "not to grant leave of absence to Virginius, +and even to keep him in confinement." This wicked scheme was late, as it +deserved to be; for Virginius, having already obtained his leave, had +set out at the first watch, while the letter regarding his detention was +delivered on the following morning to no purpose.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c47" name="c47"></a>47</div> +<p>But in the city, when the citizens were standing in the forum erect +with expectation, Virginius, clad in mourning, by break of day conducts +his daughter, also attired in weeds, attended by some matrons, into the +forum, with a considerable body of advocates. He then began to go round +and to solicit individuals; and not only to entreat their aid as a boon +to his prayers, but demanded it as due to him: "that he stood daily in +the field of battle in defence of their children and wives, nor was +there any other man, to whom a greater number of brave and intrepid +deeds in war can be ascribed than to him. What availed it, if, whilst +the city was still secure, their children would be exposed to suffer the +severest hardships which would have to be dreaded if it was taken?" +Delivering these observations like one haranguing in an assembly, he +solicited them individually. Similar arguments were used by Icilius: the +female attendants produced more effect by their silent tears than any +language. With a mind utterly insensible to all this, (such, a paroxysm +of madness, rather than of love, had perverted his mind,) Appius +ascended the tribunal; and when the claimant began to complain briefly, +that justice had not been administered to him on the preceding day +through a desire to please the people, before either he could go through +with his claim, or an opportunity of reply was afforded to Virginius, +Appius interrupts him. The preamble with which he prefaced the sentence, +ancient authors may have handed down perhaps with truth; because I no +where find any one that was likely (to have been used) on so scandalous +a business, it seems, that the naked fact should be stated as being a +point which is agreed on, viz. that he passed a sentence<a name="FNanchor_150_150" id="FNanchor_150_150"></a><a href="#Footnote_150_150" class="fnanchor">[150]</a> consigning +her to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> slavery. At first all were astounded with amazement at so +heinous a proceeding; then silence prevailed for some time. Then when +Marcus Claudius proceeded to seize the maiden, the matrons standing +around her, and was received with piteous lamentation of the women, +Virginius, menacingly extending his hands towards Appius, says, To +Icilius, and not to you, Appius, have I betrothed my daughter, and for +matrimony, not prostitution, have I brought her up. Do you wish men to +gratify their lust promiscuously, like cattle and wild beasts? Whether +these persons will endure such things, I know not; I hope that those +will not who have arms in their hands. When the claimant of the girl was +repulsed by the crowd of women and advocates who were standing around +her, silence was commanded by the crier.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c48" name="c48"></a>48</div> +<p>The decemvir, engrossed in mind by his lustful propensities, states +that not only from the abusive language of Icilius yesterday, and the +violence of Virginius, of which he had the entire Roman people as +witnesses, but from authentic information also he ascertained, that +cabals were held in the city during the whole night to stir up a +sedition. Accordingly that he, being aware of that danger, had come down +with armed soldiers; not that he would molest any peaceable person, but +in order to punish suitably to the majesty of the government persons +disturbing the tranquillity of the state. It will, therefore, be better +to remain quiet. Go, lictor, says he, remove the crowd; and make way for +the master to lay hold of his slave. When, bursting with passion, he had +thundered out these words, the multitude themselves voluntarily +separated, and the girl stood deserted a prey to injustice. Then +Virginius, when he saw no aid any where, says, I beg you, Appius, first +pardon a father's grief, if I have said any thing too harsh against you: +in the next place, suffer me to question the nurse before the maiden, +what all this matter is? that if I have been falsely called her father, +I may depart hence with a more resigned mind. Permission being granted, +he draws the girl and the nurse aside to the sheds near the temple of +Cloacina, which now go by the name of the new sheds: and there snatching +up a knife from a butcher, "In<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> this one way, the only one in my power, +do I secure to you your liberty." He then transfixes the girl's breast, +and looking back towards the tribunal, he says, "With this blood I +devote thee, Appius, and thy head." Appius, aroused by the cry raised at +so dreadful a deed, orders Virginius to be seized. He, armed with the +knife, cleared the way whithersoever he went, until, protected by the +crowd of persons attending him, he reached the gate. Icilius and +Numitorius take up the lifeless body and exhibit it to the people: they +deplore the villany of Appius, the fatal beauty of the maiden, and the +dire necessity of the father. The matrons who followed exclaim, "Was +this the condition of rearing children? were these the rewards of +chastity?" and other things which female grief on such occasions +suggests, when their complaints are so much the more affecting, in +proportion as (their grief) is more intense from the natural tenderness +of their minds. The voice of the men, and more especially of Icilius, +entirely turned on the tribunitian power, on the right of appeal to the +people which had been taken from them, and on the indignities thrown +upon the state.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c49" name="c49"></a>49</div> +<p>The multitude was excited partly by the atrocious nature of the +deed, partly by the hope of recovering their liberty through a +favourable opportunity. Appius now orders Icilius to be summoned before +him, now on refusing to come to be seized; at length, when an +opportunity of approaching him was not afforded to the beadles, he +himself proceeding through the crowd with a body of young patricians, +orders him to be taken into confinement. Now not only the multitude, but +Lucius Valerius and Marcus Horatius, the leaders of the multitude, stood +around Icilius: who, having repulsed the lictor, stated, that "if he +meant to proceed by law, they would protect Icilius from one who was but +a private citizen; if he desired to employ force, that they would be no +bad match for him even then." Hence arises a furious scuffle. The +decemvir's lictor attacks Valerius and Horatius: the fasces are broken +by the people. Appius ascends the tribunal; Horatius and Valerius follow +him. To them the assembly pays attention, they drown with clamour the +voice of the decemvir. Now Valerius authoritatively ordered the lictors +to depart from one who was but a private citizen: when Appius, whose +spirits were now broken, being alarmed for his life, betook himself into +a house in the vicinity of the forum,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> unknown to his enemies, with his +head covered up. Spurius Oppius, in order to assist his colleague, +rushes into the forum from the opposite side; he sees their authority +overpowered by force. Distracted then by various counsels between which +he wavered, by assenting to several advisers from every side, he +eventually ordered the senate to be convened. Because the proceedings of +the decemvirs seemed to be displeasing to the greater portion of the +patricians, this step quieted the people with the hope that the +government would be abolished through the senate. The senate gave their +opinion that neither the commons should be exasperated, and much more +that care should be taken that the arrival of Virginius should not +occasion any commotion in the army.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c50" name="c50"></a>50</div> +<p>Accordingly some of the junior patricians, being sent to the camp +which was at that time on Mount Vecilius, announce to the decemvirs +"that by every means in their power they should keep the soldiers from +mutinying." Where Virginius occasioned greater commotion than he had +left behind him in the city. For besides that he was seen coming with a +body of near four hundred men, who, fired at the heinous enormity of the +occurrence, had accompanied him from the city; the unsheathed weapon and +himself besmeared with blood, attracted to him the entire camp; and the +gowns<a name="FNanchor_151_151" id="FNanchor_151_151"></a><a href="#Footnote_151_151" class="fnanchor">[151]</a> seen in the different parts of the camp, had caused the +number of people from the city to appear much greater than it really +was. When they asked him what was the matter, in consequence of his +weeping he uttered not a word. At length, as soon as the crowd of those +running together became still, and silence took place, he related every +thing in order as it occurred. Then extending his hands towards heaven, +addressing his fellow soldiers, he begged of them, "not to impute to him +that which was the crime of Appius, not to abhor him as the murderer of +his children." To him the life of his daughter was dearer than his own, +if she had been allowed to live in freedom and chastity. When he beheld +her dragged to prostitution as if a slave, thinking it better that his +child should be lost by death than by dishonour, through compassion for +her he fell into an appearance of cruelty. Nor would he have survived +his daughter, had he not placed hope of avenging her death in the aid of +his fellow soldiers. For that they too had daughters, sisters, and +wives; nor was the lust of Ap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>pius Claudius extinguished with his +daughter; but in proportion as it escaped with impunity, so much the +more unbridled would it be. That in the calamities of others a warning +was given to them to guard against a similar injury. That for his own +part, his wife had been taken from him by fate; his daughter, because +she no longer could live in chastity, died an unfortunate but honourable +death; that there was no longer in his house an opportunity for Appius's +lust; that from any other violence of his he would defend his person +with the same spirit with which he vindicated that of his daughter. That +others should take care of themselves and of their children. To +Virginius, uttering these words in a loud voice, the multitude responded +with a shout, "that they would not be backward, with respect either to +his wrongs or their own liberty. And the gown-men mixing with the crowd +of soldiers, both by narrating with sorrow those same circumstances, and +by showing how much more shocking they must have appeared when seen than +when merely heard, and also by telling them that matters were now +desperate at Rome; those also who followed (the persons that accompanied +Virginius from Rome) and alleged that Appius, having with difficulty +escaped with life, had gone into exile;<a name="FNanchor_152_152" id="FNanchor_152_152"></a><a href="#Footnote_152_152" class="fnanchor">[152]</a> all these individuals so +far influenced them that there was a general cry to arms, they snatched +up their standards, and set out for Rome." The decemvirs, being alarmed +at the same time both by what they now saw, as well as by those things +which they had heard had taken place at Rome, ran about to different +parts of the camp to quell the commotion. Whilst they proceeded with +mildness no answer was returned to them. If any of them attempted to +exert authority over them, the answer given was, that "they were men and +had arms." They go in a body to the city and post themselves on the +Aventine; encouraging the commons, according as each person met them, to +reassume their liberty, and elect tribunes of the people; no other +violent expression was heard. Spurius Oppius holds a meeting of the +senate; it is resolved that no harsh proceedings should be adopted, as +occasion for the sedition had been given by themselves. Three men of +consular rank, Spurius Tarpeius, Caius Julius, Publius Sulpicius, are +sent as ambas<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>sadors, to inquire, in the name of the senate, by whose +orders they had deserted the camp? or what they intended in posting +themselves on the Aventine in arms, and in turning away their arms from +the enemy and taking their own country? They were at no loss for an +answer; they wanted some one to give the answer, there being as yet no +certain leader, and individuals not being forward enough to expose +themselves to the invidious office. The multitude only called out with +one voice, that they should send Lucius Valerius and Marcus Horatius to +them: that to them they would give their answer.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c51" name="c51"></a>51</div> +<p>The ambassadors being dismissed, Virginius reminds the soldiers +"that a little time before they had been embarrassed in a matter of no +very great difficulty, because the multitude was without a head; and +that the answer given, though not inexpedient, was the result rather of +an accidental concurrence than of a concerted plan. His opinion was, +that ten persons be elected, who should preside in the management of +their affairs, and, in the style of military dignity, that they should +be called tribunes of the soldiers." When that honour was offered to +himself in the first instance, he replied, "Reserve for an occasion more +favourable to you and to me those your kind opinions of me. My daughter +being unavenged, neither allows any honour to be satisfactory to me, nor +in the disturbed state of things is it useful that those should be at +your head who are most obnoxious to party malice. If there will be any +use of me, such use will be derived not in a less degree from me in a +private station." They then elect military tribunes ten in number. Nor +was the army among the Sabines inactive. There also, at the instance of +Icilius and Numitorius, a secession from the decemvirs took place, the +commotion of men's minds on recollecting the murder of Siccius being not +less than that, which the recent account of the barbarous attempt made +on the maiden to gratify lust had enkindled. When Icilius heard that +tribunes of the soldiers were elected on Mount Aventine, lest the +election-assembly in the city might follow the precedent of the military +assembly, by electing the same persons tribunes of the commons, being +well versed in popular intrigues and having an eye to that office, he +also takes care, before they proceeded to the city, that the same number +be elected by his own party with an equal power. They entered the city +through the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> Colline gate in military array, and proceeded in a body to +the Aventine through the middle of the city. There, joined to the other +army, they commissioned the twenty tribunes of the soldiers to select +two out of their number, who should hold the command in chief. They +choose Marcus Oppius and Sextus Manilius. The patricians, alarmed for +the general safety, though there was a meeting every day, waste the time +in wrangling more frequently than in deliberation. The murder of +Siccius, the lust of Appius, and the disgraces incurred in war were +urged as charges against the decemvirs. It was resolved that Valerius +and Horatius should proceed to the Aventine. They refused to go on any +other conditions, than that the decemvirs should lay down the badges of +that office, which had expired the year before. The decemvirs, +complaining that they were now being degraded, stated that they would +not resign their office, until those laws were passed on account of +which they had been appointed.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c52" name="c52"></a>52</div> +<p>The people being informed through Marcus Duilius, who had been +tribune of the people, that by reason of their continual contentions no +business was transacted, passes from the Aventine to the Sacred mount; +Duilius affirming that serious concern for business would not enter the +minds of the patricians, until they saw the city deserted. That the +Sacred mount would remind them of the people's firmness; that they would +then know, that matters could not be restored to concord without the +restoration of (the tribunitian) power. Having set out along the +Nomentan way, which was then called the Ficulnean, they pitched their +camp on the Sacred mount, imitating the moderation of their fathers by +committing no violence. The commons followed the army, no one whose age +would permit him declining to go. Their wives and children attended +their steps, piteously asking to whom would they leave them, in a city +in which neither chastity nor liberty were respected? When the unusual +solitude rendered every place in Rome void; when there was in the forum +no one but a few old men; when, the patricians being convened into the +senate, the forum appeared deserted; more now besides Horatius and +Valerius began to exclaim, "What will ye now wait for, conscript +fathers? If the decemvirs do not put an end to their obstinacy, will ye +suffer all things to go to wreck and ruin? What power is that, +decemvirs, which ye<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> embrace and hold so firmly? do you mean to +administer justice to walls and mere houses? Are you not ashamed that an +almost greater number of your lictors is to be seen in the forum than of +the other citizens? What are ye to do, in case the enemy should approach +the city? What, if the commons should come presently in arms, if we seem +not to be moved by their secession? do you mean to conclude your power +by the fall of the city? But (the case is this,) either we must not have +the commons, or they must have their tribunes. We would sooner dispense +with our patrician magistrates, than they with their plebeian. That +power, when new and untried, they wrested from our fathers; much less +will they, now that they have tested the sweets of it, endure its loss: +more especially since we make not a moderate use of our power, so that +they may not stand in need of (tribunitian) aid." When these arguments +were thrown out from every quarter, the decemvirs, overpowered by the +united opinions of all, declare that, since such seems to be the +feeling, they would submit to the authority of the patricians. All they +ask is, that they may be protected from popular rage; they give a +warning, that they should not through shedding their blood habituate the +people to inflict punishment on the patricians.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c53" name="c53"></a>53</div> +<p>Then Valerius and Horatius, having been sent to bring back the +people on such terms as might seem fit, and to adjust all differences, +are directed to make provision also for the decemvirs from the +resentment and violence of the multitude. They set forward and are +received into the camp with great joy by the people, as being their +liberators beyond all doubt, both at the commencement of the disturbance +and at the termination of the matter. In consideration of these things, +thanks were returned to them on their arrival. Icilius speaks in the +name of the people. When the terms came to be considered, the +ambassadors inquiring what were the demands of the people, the same +individual, having already concerted the plan before the arrival of the +ambassadors, stated demands of such a nature, that it became evident, +that more hope was placed in the justice of their case than in arms. For +they demanded back the tribunitian office and the right of appeal, +which, before the appointment of decemvirs, had been the props of the +people, and that it should not be visited with in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span>jury to any one, to +have instigated the soldiers or the commons to seek back their liberty +by a secession. Concerning the punishment only of the decemvirs was +their demand immoderate; for they thought it but just that they should +be delivered up to them; and they threatened that they would burn them +alive. In answer the ambassadors say, the demands which have been the +result of deliberation are so reasonable, that they should be +voluntarily offered to you; for you seek them as safeguards to your +liberty, not as means of licentious power to assail others. Your +resentment we must rather pardon than indulge; seeing that from your +hatred of cruelty ye rush into cruelty, and almost before you are free +yourselves, you wish already to lord it over your enemies. Shall our +state never enjoy rest from punishments, either of the patricians on the +Roman commons, or of the commons on the patricians? you have occasion +for a shield rather than for a sword. He is sufficiently and abundantly +humble, who lives in a state on an equal footing, neither inflicting nor +suffering injury. Moreover, "should you feel disposed to render +yourselves formidable, when, having recovered your magistrates and laws, +decisions on our lives and fortunes shall be in your hands; then you +shall determine according to the merits of each case; now it is +sufficient that your liberty be restored."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c54" name="c54"></a>54</div> +<p>All permitting them to act just as they think proper, the +ambassadors assure them that they would speedily return, having +completed every matter. When they went and laid before the patricians +the message of the commons, the other decemvirs, since, contrary to +their own expectation, no mention was made of their punishment, raised +no objection. Appius, being of a truculent disposition and a particular +object of detestation, measuring the rancour of others towards him by +his own towards them, says, "I am aware of the fate which hangs over me. +I see that the contest against us is deferred, until our arms are +delivered up to our adversaries. Blood must be offered up to popular +rage. Not even do I demur to resign my decemvirate." A decree of the +senate is then passed, "that the decemvirs should without delay resign +their office; that Quintus Furius, chief pontiff, should hold an +election of plebeian tribunes, and that the secession of the soldiers +and commons should not be visited on any one." These decrees being +finished, the senate being dismissed, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> decemvirs come forth into the +assembly, and resign their office, to the great joy of all. News of this +is carried to the commons. All the people remaining in the city escort +the ambassadors. This crowd was met by another joyous body from the +camp; they congratulate each other on the restoration of peace and +concord to the state. The deputies address the assembly: "Be it +advantageous, fortunate, and happy for you and the republic, return into +your country to your household gods, your wives and children; but carry +into the city the same modesty which you observed here, where, amid the +consumption of so many matters necessary for so large a number of +persons, no man's field has been injured. Go to the Aventine, whence ye +set out. In that auspicious place, where ye took the first step towards +liberty, ye shall elect tribunes of the people. The chief pontiff will +be at hand to hold the elections." Great was their assent and joy, as +evinced in their approbation of every measure. They then hastily raise +their standards, and having set out for Rome, vie in exultation with all +they met. There, the chief pontiff holding the meeting for the +elections, they elected as their tribunes of the people, first of all A. +Virginius, then Lucius Icilius, and Publius Numitorius the uncle of +Virginia, the advisers of the secession. Then Caius Sicinius, the +offspring of him who is recorded to have been elected first tribune of +the commons on the Sacred mount; and Marcus Duilius, who had passed +through a distinguished tribuneship before the creation of the +decemvirs, and was never wanting to the commons in their contests with +the decemvirs. Marcus Titinius, Marcus Pomponius, Caius Apronius, +Publius Villius, and Caius Oppius, were elected more from hope +(entertained of them) than from any services (performed). When he +entered on his tribuneship, Lucius Icilius proposed to the commons, and +the commons ordered, that the secession from the decemvirs which had +taken place should not prove detrimental to any individual. Immediately +after Duilius carried a proposition for electing consuls, with right of +appeal. All these things were transacted in an assembly of the commons +in the Flaminian meadows, which they now call the Flaminian circus.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c55" name="c55"></a>55</div> +<p>Then through an interrex Lucius Valerius and Marcus Horatius were +elected consuls, who immediately entered on their office; whose +consulship was popular without any ac<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span>tual injury to the patricians, +though not without their displeasure; for whatever provision was made +for securing the liberty of the commons, that they considered to be a +diminution made in their own power. First of all, when it was as it were +a point in controversy, whether patricians were bound by regulations +enacted in an assembly of the commons, they proposed a law in the +assembly of the centuries, that whatever the commons ordered +collectively, should bind the entire people; by which law a most +keen-edged weapon was given to motions introduced by tribunes. Then +another law made by a consul concerning the right of appeal, a singular +security to liberty, and subverted by the decemviral power, they not +only restore, but guard it also for the time to come, by enacting a new +law, "that no one should appoint any magistrate without a right of +appeal; if any person should so elect, it would be lawful and right that +he be put to death; and that such killing should not be deemed a capital +offence." And when they had sufficiently secured the commons by the +right of appeal on the one hand, by tribunitian aid on the other, they +renewed for the tribunes themselves (the privilege) that they should be +held sacred and inviolable, the memory of which matter had now been +almost lost, reviving certain ceremonies which had been long disused; +and they rendered them inviolable both by the religious institution, as +well as by a law, enacting, that "whoever should offer injury to +tribunes of the people, ædiles, judges, decemvirs, his person should be +devoted to Jupiter, and his property be sold at the temple of Ceres, +Liber and Libera." Commentators deny that any person is by this law +sacrosanct; but that he who may do an injury to any of them, is deemed +to be devoted; therefore that an ædile may be arrested and carried to +prison by superior magistrates, which, though it be not expressly +warranted by law, for an injury is done to a person to whom it is not +lawful to do an injury according to this law, yet it is a proof that an +ædile is not considered as sacred; that the tribunes were sacred and +inviolable by an ancient oath of the commons, when first they created +that office. There have been persons who supposed that by this same +Horatian law provision was made for the consuls also and the prætors, +because they were elected under the same auspices as the consuls; for +that a consul was called a judge. Which interpretation is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> refuted, +because at this time it was not yet the custom for the consul to be +styled judge, but the prætor. These were the laws proposed by the +consuls. It was also regulated by the same consuls, that decrees of the +senate should be deposited with the ædiles of the commons in the temple +of Ceres; which before that used to be suppressed and altered at the +pleasure of the consuls. Marcus Duilius then, tribune of the commons, +proposed to the people, and the people ordered, that "whoever left the +people without tribunes, and whoever caused a magistrate to be elected +without the right of appeal, should be punished with stripes and +beheaded." All these matters, though against the feelings of the +patricians, passed off without opposition from them, because no severity +was aimed at any particular individual.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c56" name="c56"></a>56</div> +<p>Then both the tribunitian power and the liberty of the commons being +firmly established, the tribunes now deeming it both safe and seasonable +to attack individuals, single out Virginius as the first prosecutor and +Appius as defendant. When Virginius appointed a day for Appius, and +Appius came down to the forum, accompanied by some young patricians, the +memory of his most profligate exercise of power was instantly revived in +the minds of all, as soon as they beheld himself and his satellites. +Then Virginius says, "Long speeches have been invented for matters of a +doubtful nature. Accordingly I shall neither waste time in dwelling on +the guilt of this man before you, from whose cruelty ye have rescued +yourselves by force of arms, nor shall I suffer him to add impudence to +his other enormous crimes in defending himself. Wherefore, Appius +Claudius, I remit to you the accumulated impious and nefarious deeds you +have had the effrontery to commit for the last two years; with respect +to one charge only, unless you will appoint a judge, (and prove) that +you have not, contrary to the laws, sentenced a free person to be a +slave, I order that you be taken into custody." Neither in the aid of +the tribunes, nor in the judgment of the people, could Appius place any +hope: still he both appealed to the tribunes, and, when no one regarded +him, being seized by the bailiff, he exclaims, "I appeal." The hearing +of this one expression, that safeguard of liberty, uttered from that +mouth by which a free citizen was so recently consigned to slavery, +occasioned general silence. And, whilst they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> observe to each other, +that "at length there are gods, and that they do not disregard human +affairs; and that punishments await tyranny and cruelty, which, though +late, are still by no means light; that he now appealed, who had +abolished all right of appeal; and that he implored the protection of +the people, who had trampled down all the rights of the people; and that +he was dragged off to prison, destitute of the rights of liberty, who +had doomed a free person to slavery." Amid the murmurs of the assembly, +the voice of Appius was heard imploring the protection of the Roman +people. He enumerated the services of his ancestors to the state, at +home and abroad; his own unfortunate zeal towards the Roman commons; +that he had resigned the consulship, to the great displeasure of the +patricians, for the purpose of equalizing the laws; (he then mentioned) +his laws; which, though they still remained in force, the framer of them +was dragged to a prison. But the peculiar advantages and disadvantages +of his case he would then make trial of, when an opportunity would be +afforded him of stating his defence. At present, he, a Roman citizen, +demanded, by the common right of citizenship, that he be allowed to +speak on the day appointed, and to appeal to the judgment of the Roman +people. That he did not dread popular rage so much as not to place any +hope in the equity and compassion of his fellow citizens. But if he were +led to prison without being heard, that he once more appealed to the +tribunes of the people, and warned them not to imitate those whom they +hated. But if the tribunes acknowledge themselves bound in the same +confederacy for abolishing the right of appeal, which they charged the +decemvirs with having formed, then he appealed to the people: he +implored the benefit of the laws passed that very year, both by the +consuls and tribunes, regarding the right of appeal. For who would +appeal, if this were not allowed a person as yet uncondemned, whose case +has not been heard? what plebeian and humble individual would find +protection in the laws, if Appius Claudius could not? that he would +afford a proof, whether tyranny or liberty was established by the new +laws; and whether the right of appeal and of challenge against the +injustice of magistrates was only held out in empty words, or +effectually granted.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c57" name="c57"></a>57</div> +<p>Virginius, on the other hand, affirmed that Appius<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> Claudius was the +only person not entitled to a participation in the laws, nor in civil or +human society. That men should look to the tribunal, the fortress of all +villanies; where that perpetual decemvir, venting his fury on the +properties, backs, and blood of the citizens, threatening all with his +rods and axes, a despiser of gods and men, attended with executioners, +not lictors, changing his mind from rapine and murder to lust, before +the eyes of the Roman people, tore a free-born maiden, as if a prisoner +of war, from the embraces of her father, and gave her as a present to a +dependant, the pander to his secret pleasures. Where by a cruel decree, +and by a most villainous decision, he armed the right hand of the father +against the daughter: where he ordered the spouse and uncle, on their +raising the lifeless body of the girl, to be taken off to a prison; +moved more at the interruption to his sensual gratification than at her +untimely death. That the prison was built for him also, which he used to +call the domicile of the Roman commons. Wherefore, though he may appeal +again and oftener, he would as frequently refer him to a judge, on the +charge of having sentenced a free person to slavery; if he would not go +before a judge, that he ordered him to be taken to prison as one +condemned. He was thrown into prison, and though without the +disapprobation of any individual, yet not without considerable emotions +of the public mind, when, in consequence of the punishment of so +distinguished a man, their own liberty began to appear to the commons +themselves as excessive. The tribune deferred the day of trial. Whilst +these matters are going on, ambassadors from the Hernicians and Latins +came to Rome to present their congratulations on the harmony subsisting +between the patricians and commons; and as an offering on that account +to Jupiter, the best and greatest, they brought into the Capitol a +golden crown, of small weight, as riches at that time did not abound, +and the duties of religion were performed rather with piety than +magnificence. From the same source it was ascertained that the Æquans +and Volscians were preparing for war with the utmost energy. The consuls +were therefore ordered to divide the provinces between them. The Sabines +fell to the lot of Horatius, the Æquans and Volscians to that of +Valerius. On their proclaiming a levy for these wars, through the good +wishes of the commons, not only the younger men, but of those who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> had +served out their time, a considerable portion as volunteers, attended to +give in their names: and hence the army was stronger not only by the +number, but also by the kind of soldiers, veterans being mixed with +them. Before they marched out of the city, they engraved on brass, and +fixed up in public view, the decemviral laws, which have received the +name of "the twelve tables." There are some who state that the ædiles +discharged that office by order of the tribunes.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c58" name="c58"></a>58</div> +<p>Caius Claudius, who, detesting the crimes of the decemvirs and, +above all, incensed at the arrogant conduct of his brother's son, had +retired to Regillum, the country of his forefathers, having returned, +though now advanced in years, to deprecate the dangers impending over +that man, whose vices he had shunned, now clad in a mourning garment, +with the members of his family and his clients, went about the forum, +and solicited the interest of the citizens individually, "That they +would not cast such a stain on the Claudian family, as to consider them +deserving of imprisonment and chains; that a man whose image would be +most highly honoured with posterity, the framer of their laws and the +founder of Roman jurisprudence, lay in chains amongst nightly thieves +and robbers. (He begged) that they would turn away their minds from +resentment for a while to examination and reflection; and rather pardon +one at the intercession of so many members of the Claudian family, than +through a hatred of one spurn the entreaties of many; that he himself +also paid this tribute to the family and the name; nor had he been +reconciled to him, whose unfortunate situation he wished to relieve; +that by fortitude liberty had been recovered; by clemency the harmony of +the several orders might be established." Some there were whom he +influenced more by his warm attachment to his family than for the sake +of him for whom he interceded. But Virginius begged that "they would +rather pity him and his daughter; and that they would listen to the +entreaties, not of the Claudian family, which had assumed a sort of +sovereignty over the commons, but those of the near friends of Virginia +and of the three tribunes; who having been created for the aid of the +commons, were now themselves imploring the protection and aid of the +commons." These tears appeared more just. Accordingly, all hope being +cut off, Appius put a period to his life, before the day arrived +appointed for his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> trial. Soon after, Spurius Oppius, the next object of +public indignation, as having been in the city when the unjust decision +was given by his colleague, was arraigned by Publius Numitorius. +However, an act of injustice committed by Oppius brought more odium on +him, than the not preventing one (in the case of Appius). A witness was +brought forward, who, after reckoning up twenty campaigns, after having +been particularly honoured eight different times, and wearing these +honours in the sight of the Roman people, tore open his garment and +exhibited his back torn with stripes, asking no other conditions but +"that, if the accused could name any one guilty act of his, he might, +though a private individual, once more repeat his severity on him." +Oppius was also thrown into prison, where he put a period to his life +before the day of trial. The tribunes confiscated the property of Appius +and Oppius. Their colleagues left their homes to go into exile; their +property was confiscated. Marcus Claudius, the claimant of Virginia, +being condemned on the day of his trial, was discharged and went away +into exile to Tibur, Virginius himself remitting the penalty as far as +it affected his life; and the shade of Virginia, more fortunate after +death than when living, after having roamed through so many families in +quest of vengeance, at length rested in peace, no guilty person being +left unpunished.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c59" name="c59"></a>59</div> +<p>Great alarm seized the patricians, and the countenances of the +tribunes were now the same as those of the decemvirs had been, when +Marcus Duilius, tribune of the people, having put a salutary check to +their immoderate power, says, "There has been both enough of liberty on +our own part, and of vengeance on our enemies; wherefore for this year I +will neither suffer a day of trial to be appointed for any one, nor any +person to be thrown into prison. For it is neither pleasing to me that +old crimes now forgotten should be again brought forward, seeing that +the recent ones have been atoned for by the punishment of the decemvirs; +and the unremitting care of both the consuls in defending your +liberties, is ample security that nothing will be committed which will +call for tribunitian interference." This moderation of the tribune first +relieved the patricians from their fears, and at the same time increased +their ill-will towards the consuls; for they had been so devoted to the +commons, that even a ple<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span>beian magistrate took an earlier interest in +the safety and liberty of the patricians, than one of patrician rank; +and their enemies would have been surfeited with inflicting punishments +on them, before the consuls, to all appearance, would have resisted +their licentious career. And there were many who said that a want of +firmness was shown, inasmuch as the fathers had given their approbation +to the laws proposed; nor was there a doubt, but that in this troubled +state of public affairs they had yielded to the times.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c60" name="c60"></a>60</div> +<p>The business in the city being settled, and the rights of the +commons being firmly established, the consuls departed to their +respective provinces. Valerius prudently deferred all warlike operations +against the armies of the Æquans and the Volscians, which had now formed +a junction at Algidum. But if he had immediately committed the result to +fortune, I know not but that, such were the feelings both of the Romans +and of their enemies since the unfavourable auspices of the decemvirs, +the contest would have stood them in a heavy loss. Having pitched his +camp at the distance of a mile from the enemy, he kept his men quiet. +The enemy filled the space lying between the two camps with their army +in order of battle, and not a single Roman made them any answer when +they challenged them to battle. At length, wearied from standing and +from waiting in vain for a contest, the Æquans and Volscians, +considering that the victory was in a manner conceded to them, go off, +some to the Hernicians, some to the Latins, to commit depredations. +There was left in the camp rather a garrison for its defence than +sufficient force for a contest. When the consul perceived this, he +retorted the terror previously occasioned to his men, and drawing up his +troops in order of battle, he now in his turn provokes the enemy to +fight. When they, from a feeling of the absence of their forces, +declined battle, the courage of the Romans immediately increased, and +they considered as vanquished those who stood panic-stricken within +their rampart. After having stood for the entire day prepared for the +contest, they retired at night. And the Romans, now full of hope, set +about refreshing themselves. The enemy, in by no means equal spirits, +being now in trepidation, despatch messengers in every direction to call +back the plundering parties. Those in the nearest places return thence; +those who were farther off were not found.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> When the day dawned, the +Romans leave the camp, determining on assaulting the rampart unless an +opportunity of fighting were afforded; and when the day was now far +advanced, and no movement was made by the enemy, the consul orders them +to advance; and the troops being put in motion, the Æquans and the +Volscians became indignant, that victorious armies were to be defended +by a rampart rather than by valour and arms. Wherefore they also +earnestly demanded the signal for battle from their generals, and +received it. And now half of them had got out of the gates, and the +others in succession were observing order, marching down each to his own +post, when the Roman consul, before the enemy's line could be drawn up, +supported by their entire strength, advanced on them; and having +attacked them before they were all as yet led forth, and when those who +were so had not their ranks sufficiently arranged, he falls on the +unsteady crowd of them, running in trepidation from one place to +another, and throwing around their eyes on themselves and on their +friends, a shout and violent onset adding to the already confused state +of their minds. The enemy at first gave way; then, when they had rallied +their spirits, and their generals on every side reprovingly asked them, +whether they were about to yield to their vanquished foes, the battle +was restored.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c61" name="c61"></a>61</div> +<p>On the other side, the consul desired the Romans to remember that +"on that day, for the first time, they fought as free men in defence of +Rome, now a free city. That it was for themselves they were to conquer, +and not that they should be the prize of the decemvirs, after +conquering. That it was not under the command of Appius that the action +was being conducted, but under their consul Valerius, descended from the +liberators of the Roman people, himself too a liberator. That they +should show that in former battles it had been the fault of the +generals, and not of the soldiers, that they did not conquer. That it +was shameful to have had more courage against their own countrymen than +against their enemies, and to have dreaded slavery more at home than +abroad. That Virginia was the only person whose chastity was in danger +in time of peace: that Appius was the only citizen of dangerous lust. +But if the fortune of war should turn against them, all their children +would be in danger from so many thou<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>sands of enemies. That he would +not, on account of the omen, mention things which may neither Jupiter +nor their father Mars suffer to befall a city built under such +auspices." He reminded them of the Aventine and the Sacred mount; and +"that they should bring back dominion unimpaired to that spot, where +their liberty had been established but a few months before: and that +they should show that the Roman soldiers retained the same abilities +after the expulsion of the decemvirs, which they had possessed before +they were appointed; and that the valour of the Roman people was not +deteriorated after the laws were equalized." After he uttered these +words among the battalions of the infantry, he flies from them to the +cavalry. "Come, young men, surpass in valour the infantry, as you +already surpass them in honour and in rank. The infantry at the first +onset have made the enemy give way: now that they have given way, do you +give reins to your horses and drive them from the field. They will not +stand your charge: even now they rather hesitate than resist." They spur +on their horses, and drive in amongst the enemy who were already thrown +into confusion by the attack of the infantry; and having broken through +the ranks, and pushed on to the rear of their line, a part wheeling +round in the open space, turn most of them away from the camp to which +they were now flying from all sides, and by riding on before they deter +them from that direction. The line of infantry, and the consul himself, +and the main body of the army make for the camp, and having taken it +with considerable slaughter, they get possession of a great quantity of +booty. The fame of this battle was carried not only to the city, but to +the other army also among the Sabines. In the city it was celebrated +only with public rejoicing; in the camp it fired the courage of the +soldiers to emulate such glory. Horatius, by training them in +excursions, and making trial of them in slight skirmishes, had +accustomed them to trust in themselves rather than to remember the +ignominy incurred under the command of the decemvirs, and these little +encounters had now gone so far as to insure to them the consummation of +all their hopes. The Sabines, elated at their success on the preceding +year, ceased not to provoke and urge them (to fight,) constantly asking +them why they wasted time, sallying forth in small numbers and returning +like marauders, and why they parcelled out the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> grand effort of a single +war on a number of insignificant skirmishes? why did they not engage +them in the field, and consign the result to fortune to be determined at +once?</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c62" name="c62"></a>62</div> +<p>Besides that they had already of themselves recovered a sufficient +degree of courage, the Romans were fired with exasperation "that the +other army would soon return victorious to the city; that the enemy were +now wantonly insulting them by contumelies; when would they be a match +for the enemy, if they were not so then?" When the consul ascertained +that the soldiers gave expression to these sentiments in the camp, +having summoned an assembly: "How matters have gone on in Algidum," says +he, "I suppose that you, soldiers, have already heard. As became the +army of a free people to behave, so have they behaved: through the +judicious conduct of my colleague and the valour of the soldiers, the +victory has been gained. For my part, the plan and determination which I +am to maintain, you yourselves shall suggest. The war may be both +prolonged with advantage, and be brought to a speedy conclusion. If it +is to be prolonged, I shall take care by the same discipline with which +I have commenced, that your hopes and your valour may increase every +day. If you have now sufficient courage, and it is your wish that the +matter be decided, come on, raise here that shout such as you will raise +in the field of battle, the index at once of your inclination and your +valour." When the shout was raised with great alacrity, he assures them +"that with the good favour of heaven, he would comply with their wishes +and lead them next day to the field." The remainder of the day is spent +in preparing their arms. On the following day, as soon as the Sabines +saw the Roman army being drawn up in order of battle, they too, as being +long since eager for the encounter, come forward. The battle was such a +one as may be expected between two armies confident in themselves, the +one animated by the glory of former and uninterrupted glory, the other +lately so by an unusual instance of success. The Sabines aided their +strength by stratagem also; for having formed a line equal (to that of +the enemy,) they kept two thousand men in reserve, to make an attack on +the left wing of the Romans in the heat of the battle. When these, by an +attack in flank, were overpowering that wing, now almost surrounded, +about six hundred of the cavalry of two legions leap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> down from their +horses, and rush forward in front of their men, now giving way; and they +at the same time both oppose the progress of the enemy, and incite the +courage of the infantry, first sharing the danger equally with them, and +then by arousing in them a sense of shame. It was a matter of shame that +the cavalry should fight in their own proper character and in that of +others; and that the infantry should not be equal to the cavalry even +when dismounted.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c63" name="c63"></a>63</div> +<p>They press forward therefore to the fight, which had been suspended +on their part, and endeavour to regain the ground which they had lost, +and in a moment not only is the battle restored, but one of the wings of +the Sabines gives way. The cavalry, covered between the ranks of the +foot, return to their horses; they then gallop across to the other +division to announce their success to their party; at the same time also +they make a charge on the enemy, now disheartened by the discomfiture of +their stronger wing. The valour of none shone more conspicuous in that +battle. The consul provided for all emergencies; he applauded the brave, +rebuked wherever the battle seemed to slacken. When reproved, they +displayed immediately the energy of brave men; and a sense of shame +stimulated them as much as praises excited the others. The shout being +raised anew, and making a united effort, they drive the enemy back; nor +could the Roman power be any longer resisted. The Sabines, driven in +every direction through the country, leave behind them their camp as +plunder for the enemy. There the Roman recovers the effects not of the +allies, as at Algidum, but his own property, which had been lost by the +devastations of their lands. For this double victory, obtained in two +battles, in two different places, the senate through jealousy decreed +merely supplications in the name of the consuls for one day only. The +people went, however, on the second day also in great numbers of their +own accord to offer thanksgiving; and this unauthorized and popular +supplication was even more zealously attended. The consuls by concert +came to the city within the same two days, and called out the senate to +the Campus Martius. Where, when they were relating the services +performed by themselves, the chiefs of the patricians complained that +the senate was convened among the soldiers designedly for the purpose of +intimidation. The consuls therefore, lest there might be any foundation +for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> such a charge, called away the senate to the Flaminian meadows, +where the temple of Apollo now is (even then they called it +Apollinaris). Where, when a triumph was refused by a large majority of +the patricians, Lucius Icilius, tribune of the commons, proposed to the +people regarding the triumph of the consuls, many persons coming forward +to argue against the measure, but in particular Caius Claudius, +exclaiming, "That it was over the senate, not over the enemy, the +consuls wished to triumph; and that it was intended as a return for a +private service to a tribune, and not as an honour due to valour. That +never before was the matter of a triumph managed through the people; but +that the consideration concerning the honour and the disposal of it, +always lay with the senate; that not even the kings had infringed on the +majesty of this highest order. That the tribunes should not thus occupy +every department with their own authority, so as to allow the existence +of no public council; that the state would be free, and the laws +equalized by these means only, if each rank would retain its own rights, +its own dignity." Though much had been said by the other senior +patricians also to the same purpose, all the tribes approved that +proposition. Then for the first time a triumph was celebrated by order +of the people, without the authority of the senate.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c64" name="c64"></a>64</div> +<p>This victory of the tribunes and people was well nigh terminating in +an extravagance of a by no means salutary tendency, a conspiracy being +formed among the tribunes to have the same tribunes re-elected, and in +order that their ambition might be the less conspicuous, to continue +their office to the consuls. They pleaded, as a cause, the combination +of the patricians by which the privileges of the commons were attempted +to be undermined by the affronts thrown upon the consuls. What would be +the consequence, before the laws are yet firmly established, if consuls +should through their factions attack the new tribunes. For that Horatii +and Valerii would not always be consuls, who would postpone their own +interest to the liberty of the people. By some concurrence of +circumstances, useful at the time, it fell by lot to Marcus Duilius +above any one else to preside at the elections, a man of prudence, and +who perceived the storm of public odium that was hanging over them from +the continuance of their office. And when he stated that he would take +no no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span>tice of the former tribunes, and his colleagues strenuously +insisted that he should allow the tribes to be at liberty to vote, or +should give up the office of presiding at the elections to his +colleagues, who would hold the election according to law rather than +according to the pleasure of the patricians; a contention being now +excited, when Duilius had sent for the consuls to his seat and asked +them what they contemplated doing with respect to the consular +elections, and they answered that they would appoint new consuls, having +found popular supporters of a measure by no means popular, he proceeded +with them into the assembly. Where, when the consuls, being brought +forward before the people, and asked, whether if the Roman people, +mindful of their liberty recovered at home through them, mindful also of +their military services, should again elect them consuls, what they +would do, made no change in their sentiments; he held the election, +after eulogizing the consuls, because they persevered to the last in +being unlike the decemvirs; and five tribunes of the people being +elected, when, through the zealous exertions of the nine tribunes who +openly pushed their canvass, the other candidates could not make up the +required number of tribes, he dismissed the assembly; nor did he hold +one after for the purpose of an election. He said that he had fulfilled +the law, which without any where specifying the number of tribunes, only +enacted that tribunes should be left; and recommended that colleagues be +chosen by those who had been elected. And he recited the terms of the +law, in which (it is said,) "If I shall propose ten tribunes of the +commons, if you elect this day less than ten tribunes of the people, +then that those whom they may have chosen as colleagues for themselves +be legitimate tribunes of the people, by the same law as those whom you +have this day elected tribunes of the people." When Duilius persevered +to the last, stating that the republic could not have fifteen tribunes +of the people, after baffling the ambition of his colleagues, he +resigned his office, being equally approved by the patricians and +people.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c65" name="c65"></a>65</div> +<p>The new tribunes of the people in electing their colleagues evinced +a disposition to gratify the wishes of the patricians; they even elected +two who were patricians, and even consulars, Spurius Tarpeius and Aulus +Aterius. The consuls then elected, Largius Herminius, Titus Virginius +Cælimon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>tanus not very much inclined to the cause either of the +patricians or commons, had perfect tranquillity both at home and abroad. +Lucius Trebonius, tribune of the commons, incensed against the +patricians, because, as he said, he was imposed on by them in the affair +of choosing colleagues, and betrayed by his colleagues, carried a +proposal, "that whoever took the votes of the commons in electing +tribunes of the people, he should go on taking the votes, until he +elected ten tribunes of the people;" and he spent his tribuneship in +worrying the patricians, whence the cognomen of Asper was given him. +Next Marcus Geganius Macerinus, and Caius Julius, being elected consuls, +quieted some combinations of the tribunes against the youth of the +nobility, without any harsh proceeding against that power, and still +preserving the dignity of the patricians; by proclaiming a levy for the +war against the Volscians and Æquans, they kept the people from riots by +keeping matters in abeyance; affirming, that every thing was quiet +abroad, there being harmony in the city, and that through civil discord +the enemies assumed new courage. Their anxiety for peace was also the +cause of concord at home. But each of the orders ever took advantage of +moderation in the other. Acts of injustice began to be committed by the +younger patricians on the commons when perfectly quiet. When the +tribunes would assist the weaker party, at first it was of little use; +then not even themselves escaped being ill-treated; particularly in the +latter months, when injustice was committed through the combinations +among the more powerful, and the vigour of every magistracy becomes +considerably more lax in the latter part of the year; and now the +commons placed hopes in the tribuneship, only on the condition that they +had tribunes like Icilius; that for the last two years they had had only +mere names. On the other hand, the elder members of the patrician order, +though they considered their young men to be too overbearing, yet would +rather, if bounds were to be exceeded, that a redundancy of spirit +should exist in their own order than in their adversaries. So difficult +a thing is moderation in maintaining liberty, whilst by pretending to +desire equalization, every person raises himself in such a manner as to +depress another; and men, by their very precautions against fear, cause +themselves to become objects of dread; and we saddle on others injustice +thrown off from ourselves, as if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> it were actually necessary either to +commit injustice or to submit to it.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c66" name="c66"></a>66</div> +<p>Titus Quintius Capitolinus, for the fourth time, and Agrippa Furius +being then elected consuls, found neither disturbance at home nor war +abroad; both, however, were impending. The discord of the citizens could +now no longer be checked, both tribunes and commons being exasperated +against the patricians, when a day of trial being appointed for any of +the nobility always embroiled the assemblies with new contests. On the +first noise of which the Æquans and Volscians, as if they had received a +signal, took up arms; at the same time because their leaders, desirous +of plunder, had persuaded them that the levy proclaimed two years +previously could not be proceeded with, the commons now refusing +obedience; that on that account no armies were sent against them; that +military discipline was subverted by licentiousness; and that Rome was +no longer considered as their common country; that whatever resentment +and animosity they may have entertained against foreigners, was now +turned against each other; that now an occasion offered for destroying +those wolves blinded by intestine rage. Having united their forces, they +first laid waste the Latin territory: when no resistance was found +there, then indeed, to the great exultation of the advisers of the war, +they approached the very walls of Rome, carrying their depredations into +the district around the Esquiline gate, pointing out to the city the +devastation of the land by way of insult. Whence when they marched back +to Corbio unmolested, and driving the prey before them, Quintius the +consul summoned the people to an assembly.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c67" name="c67"></a>67</div> +<p>There I find that he spoke to this purport: "Though I am conscious +to myself of no fault, Romans, yet with the greatest shame I have come +forward to your assembly. That you should know this; that this should be +handed down on record to posterity, that the Æquans and Volscians, a +short time since scarcely a match for the Hernicians, have with impunity +come with arms in their hands to the walls of Rome, in the fourth +consulate of Titus Quintius. Had I known that this ignominy was reserved +for this particular year, (though we are now long living in such a +manner, such is the state of affairs, that my mind could augur nothing +good,) I would have avoided this honour either by exile or by death,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> if +there were no other means of escaping it. Then if men of courage had +those arms, which were at our gates, could Rome be taken in my +consulate? I have had sufficient honours, enough and more than enough of +life: I should have died in my third consulate. Whom did these most +dastardly enemies despise? us, consuls, or you, citizens? If the fault +is in us, take away the command from us as unworthy persons; and if that +is insufficient, further inflict punishment on us. If in you, may there +be none of gods or men who will punish your offences; do you only repent +of them. It is not your cowardice they have despised, nor their own +valour they have confided in; for having been so often routed and put to +flight, stripped of their camp, amerced in their land, sent under the +yoke, they know both themselves and you. The discord among the several +orders is the bane of this city; the contests of the patricians and +commons have raised their spirits; whilst we have neither bounds in the +pursuit of power, nor you in that of liberty, whilst you are tired of +patrician, these of plebeian magistrates. In the name of heaven, what +would ye have? You coveted tribunes of the commons; we conceded them for +the sake of concord. Ye longed for decemvirs; we suffered them to be +created. Ye became weary of decemvirs; we compelled them to resign the +office. Your resentment against these same persons when they became +private citizens still continuing, we suffered men of the highest +families and rank to die or go into exile. Ye wished again to create +tribunes of the commons; ye created them. Though we saw that it was +unjust to the patricians to create consuls in your own interest, we have +even seen a patrician magistracy conceded as an offering to the people. +The aid of tribunes, right of appeal to the people, the acts of the +commons made binding on the patricians under the pretext of equalizing +the laws, the subversion of our privileges, we have borne and still +bear. What termination is there to be to our dissensions? when shall it +be allowed us to have a united city? when to have one common country? +When defeated we submit with more resignation than you when victorious. +Is it enough for you, that you are objects of terror to us? The Aventine +is taken against us; against us the Sacred mount is seized. When the +Esquiliæ is almost taken by the enemy, and when the Volscian foe is +scaling your rampart, there is no one to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> dislodge him: against us ye +are men, against us ye take up arms.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c68" name="c68"></a>68</div> +<p>"Come, when ye have blockaded the senate-house here, and have made +the forum the seat of war, and filled the prison with the leading men of +the state, march forth through the Esquiline gate, with that same +determined spirit; or if ye do not even venture thus far, behold from +your walls the lands laid waste with fire and sword, booty driven off, +the houses set on fire in every direction and smoking. But (I may be +told) it is the public weal that is in a worse condition through these +results: the land is burned, the city is besieged, all the glory of the +war is centred in the enemy. What in the name of heaven? in what state +is your own private interest? just now his own private losses were +announced to each of you from the lands. What, pray, is there at home, +whence you may recruit them? Will the tribunes restore and compensate +you for what ye have lost? Of sound and words they will heap on you as +much as ye please, and of charges against the leading men, and laws one +upon another, and of public meetings. But from these meetings never has +one of you returned home more increased in substance or in fortune. Has +any one ever brought back to his wife and children aught save hatred, +quarrels, grudges public and private? from which (and their effects) you +have been ever protected, not by your own valour and integrity, but by +the aid of others. But, when you served under the guidance of us +consuls, not under your tribunes, and the enemy trembled at your shout +in the field of battle, not the Roman patricians in the assembly, booty +being obtained, land taken from the enemy, with a plentiful stock of +wealth and glory, both public and private, you used to return home to +your household gods in triumph: now you allow the enemy to go off laden +with your property. Continue immovably tied to your assemblies, live in +the forum; the necessity of taking the field, which ye avoid, still +follows you. Was it too hard on you to march against the Æquans and the +Volscians? The war is at your gates: if it is not repelled from thence, +it will soon be within your walls, and will scale the citadel and +Capitol, and follow you into your very houses. Two years ago the senate +ordered a levy to be held, and the army to march to Algidum; yet we sit +down listless at home, quarrelling with each other like women; +delighting in pre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span>sent peace, and not seeing that after that short-lived +intermission complicated wars are sure to return. That there are other +topics more pleasing than these, I well know; but even though my own +mind did not prompt me to it, necessity obliges me to speak that which +is true instead of that which is pleasing. I would indeed be anxious to +please you, Romans; but I am much more anxious that ye should be +preserved, whatever sentiments ye shall entertain towards me. It has +been so ordained by nature, that he who addresses a multitude for his +own private interest, is more pleasing than the man whose mind has +nothing in view but the public interest. Unless perhaps you suppose that +those public sycophants, those flatterers of the commons, who neither +suffer you to take up arms nor to live in peace, incite and work you up +for your own interests. When excited, you are to them sources either of +honour or of profit: and because, during concord between the several +orders, they see that themselves are of no importance on any side, they +wish to be leaders of a bad cause rather than of no cause whatever, of +tumults, and of sedition. Of which state of things, if a tedium can at +length enter your minds, and if ye are willing to resume the modes of +acting practised by your forefathers, and formerly by yourselves, I +submit to any punishment, if I do not rout and put to flight, and strip +of their camp, those ravagers of our lands, and transfer from our gates +and walls to their cities this terror of war, by which you are now +thrown into consternation."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c69" name="c69"></a>69</div> +<p>Scarcely ever was the speech of a popular tribune more acceptable to +the commons, than was this of a most strict consul on that occasion. The +young men also, who during such alarming emergencies had been accustomed +to employ the refusal to enlist as the sharpest weapon against the +patricians, began to direct their thoughts to war and arms: and the +flight of the rustics, and those who had been robbed on the lands and +wounded, announcing matters more revolting even than what was exhibited +to view, filled the whole city with a spirit of vengeance. When the +senate assembled, these all turning to Quintius, looked on him as the +only champion of Roman majesty; and the leading senators declared "his +harangue to be worthy of the consular authority, worthy of so many +consulships formerly borne by him, worthy of his whole life, which was +full of honours frequently enjoyed, more frequently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> deserved. That +other consuls had either flattered the commons by betraying the dignity +of the patricians, or by harshly maintaining the rights of their order, +had rendered the multitude more difficult to subdue: that Titus Quintius +had delivered a speech mindful of the dignity of the patricians, of the +concord of the different orders, and above all, of the times. They +entreated him and his colleague to take up the interest of the +commonwealth; they entreated the tribunes, that by acting in concert +with the consuls they would join in repelling the war from the city and +the walls, and that they would induce the commons to be obedient to the +senate in so perilous a conjuncture: that, their lands being devastated, +and their city in a manner besieged, their common country appealed to +them as tribunes, and implored their aid." By universal consent the levy +is decreed and held. When the consuls gave public notice "that there was +no time for examining into excuses, that all the young men should attend +on the following morning at the first dawn in the Campus Martius; that +when the war was over, they should afford time for inquiring into the +excuses of those who had not given in their names; that the man should +be held as a deserter, with whose excuse they might not be satisfied;" +the entire youth attended on the following day. The cohorts chose each +their centurions: two senators were placed at the head of each cohort. +We have heard that all these measures were perfected with such +expedition, that the standards, having been brought forth from the +treasury on that very day by the quæstors and conveyed to the Campus, +began to move from thence at the fourth hour; and the newly raised army +halted at the tenth stone, followed by a few cohorts of veteran soldiers +as volunteers. The following day brought the enemy within view, and camp +was joined to camp near Corbio. On the third day, when resentment urged +on the Romans, a consciousness of guilt for having so often rebelled, +and despair (of pardon) urged them on the other side, there was no delay +made in coming to an engagement.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c70" name="c70"></a>70</div> +<p>In the Roman army, though the two consuls were invested with equal +authority, the supreme command was by the concession of Agrippa resigned +to his colleague, a thing which is most salutary in the management of +matters of great importance; and he who was preferred politely +re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span>sponded to the ready condescension of him who lowered himself, by +communicating to him all his measures and sharing with him his honours, +and by equalizing himself to him no longer his equal. On the field of +battle Quintius commanded the right, Agrippa the left wing; the command +of the central line is intrusted to Spurius Postumius Albus, as +lieutenant-general. Servius Sulpicius, the other lieutenant-general, +they place over the cavalry. The infantry on the right wing fought with +distinguished valour, with stout resistance from the Volscians. Servius +Sulpicius broke with his cavalry through the centre of the enemy's line; +whence though he might have returned in the same way to his own party, +before the enemy could have restored their broken ranks, it seemed more +advisable to attack the enemy's rear, and by attacking the rear he would +in a moment have dispersed the enemy by the twofold attack, had not the +cavalry of the Volscians and Æquans intercepted him and kept him engaged +by a mode of fighting similar to his own. Then indeed Sulpicius asserted +that "there was no time for delaying," crying out that "they were +surrounded and cut off from their own friends, unless they united all +their efforts and despatched the engagement with the cavalry. Nor was it +enough to rout the enemy without disabling them; that they should slay +horses and men, lest any might return to the fight or renew the battle; +that they could not resist them, before whom a compact body of infantry +had given way." His orders were addressed to by no means deaf ears; by +one charge they routed the entire cavalry, dismounted great numbers, and +killed with their javelins both the men and the horses. This put a +termination to the battle with the cavalry. Then attacking the enemy's +line, they send an account to the consuls of what they had done, where +the enemy's line was now giving way. The news both gave new spirits to +the Romans who were now conquering, and dismayed the Æquans as they were +beginning to give way. They first began to be beaten in the centre, +where the charge of the cavalry had broken their ranks. Then the left +wing began to lose ground before the consul Quintius; there was most +difficulty on the right. Then Agrippa, buoyed up by youth and vigour, on +seeing matters going more favourably in every part of the battle than in +his own quarter, took some of the standards from the standard-bearers +and carried them on himself, some even he began to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> throw into the thick +of the enemy. The soldiers, urged on by the fear of this disgrace, +attacked the enemy; thus the victory was equalized in every quarter. +News then came from Quintius that he, being now victorious, was about to +attack the enemy's camp; that he was unwilling to break into it before +he learned that they were beaten in the left wing also. If he had routed +the enemy, that he should now join him, that all the army together might +take possession of the booty. Agrippa being victorious came with mutual +congratulations to his victorious colleague and to the enemy's camp. +There being but few to defend it, and these being routed in a moment, +they break into the fortifications without a struggle; and they march +back the army after it obtained a large share of spoil, having recovered +also their own effects, which had been lost by the devastation of the +lands. I have not ascertained that either they themselves demanded a +triumph, nor that such was conferred on them by the senate; nor is any +cause assigned for the honour being either overlooked or not hoped for. +As far as I can conjecture at so great a distance of time, when a +triumph had been refused to the consuls Horatius and Valerius, who, in +addition to the Æquans and Volscians, had gained the glory of finishing +the Sabine war, the consuls were ashamed to demand a triumph for one +half of the services done by them; lest if they even should obtain it, +regard of persons rather than of merit might appear to have been +entertained.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c71" name="c71"></a>71</div> +<p>A disgraceful decision of the people regarding the boundaries of +their allies disgraced the honourable victory obtained over their +enemies. The states of Aricia and of Ardea, having frequently contended +in arms concerning a disputed piece of land, and being wearied out by +many mutual losses, appointed the Roman people as arbitrators. When they +came to support their claims, an assembly of the people being granted +them by the magistrates, a debate ensued conducted with great warmth. +And the witnesses being now produced, when the tribes were to be called, +and the people were to give their votes, Publius Scaptius, a plebeian +advanced in years, rises up and says; "Consuls, if it is permitted me to +speak on the public interest, I will not suffer the people to be led +into a mistake in this matter." When the consuls said that he, as +unworthy of attention, was not to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> be heard and, on his exclaiming "that +the public interest was being betrayed," ordered him to be put aside, he +appeals to the tribunes. The tribunes, as they are always directed by +the multitude, rather than they direct them, indulged the people, who +were anxious to hear him, in granting Scaptius leave to say what he +pleased. He then commences: "That he was in his eighty-third year, and +that he had served in that district which was now in dispute, not even +then a young man as he was serving his twentieth campaign, when +operations were going on at Corioli. He therefore adduced a fact +forgotten by length of time, but one deeply fixed in his own memory: the +district now in dispute had belonged to the territory of Corioli, and +after the taking of Corioli, it became by right of war the public +property of the Roman people. That he was surprised how the states of +Ardea and Aricia should hope to intercept from the Roman people, whom +from being the right owners they made arbitrators, a district the right +to which they never claimed whilst the state of Corioli subsisted. That +he for his part had but a short time to live; he could not however bring +himself, old as he now was, to decline claiming by his voice, the only +means he now had, a district which, as a soldier, he had contributed to +acquire, as far as an individual could. That he strenuously advised the +people not to damn their own interest by an improper feeling of +delicacy."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="c72" name="c72"></a>72</div> +<p>The consuls, when they perceived that Scaptius was listened to not +only in silence, but even with approbation, appealing to gods and men, +that an enormous and disgraceful act was being committed, send for the +principal senators: with these they went around to the tribunes; +entreated, "that, as judges, they would not be guilty of a most heinous +crime, with a still worse precedent, by converting the dispute to their +own interest, more especially when, even though it may be lawful for a +judge to protect his own emolument, so much would by no means be +acquired by keeping the land, as would be lost by alienating the +affections of their allies by injustice; for that the losses of +character and of reputation were greater than could be estimated. Were +the ambassadors to carry home this answer; was this to go out to the +world; were their allies to hear this; were their enemies to hear +it—with what sorrow the one—with what joy the other party? Could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> they +suppose, that the neighbouring states would impute this proceeding to +Scaptius, an old babbler at assemblies? that Scaptius would be rendered +distinguished by this statue: that the Roman people would assume the +character of a usurper and intercepter of the claims of others. For what +judge in a private cause ever acted in this way, so as to adjudge to +himself the property in dispute? That even Scaptius himself would not +act so, though he has now outlived all sense of shame." Thus the +consuls, thus the senators exclaimed; but covetousness, and Scaptius, +the adviser of that covetousness, had more influence. The tribes, when +convened, decided that the district was the public property of the Roman +people. Nor is it denied that it might have been so, if they had gone to +other judges; now the disgrace of the decision is certainly not at all +diminished by the fairness of the title: nor did it appear more +disgraceful or more hideous to the people of Aricia and of Ardea, than +it did to the Roman senate. The remainder of the year continued free +from either city or foreign commotions.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="book4" id="book4"></a>BOOK IV.</h2> + +<div class="chapmen"><a href="#d1">1</a> <a href="#d2">2</a> <a href="#d3">3</a> + + <a href="#d4">4</a> <a href="#d5">5</a> <a href="#d6">6</a> <a href="#d7">7</a> + + <a href="#d8">8</a> <a href="#d9">9</a> <a href="#d10">10</a> <a href="#d11">11</a> + + <a href="#d12">12</a> <a href="#d13">13</a> <a href="#d14">14</a> <a href="#d15">15</a> + + <a href="#d16">16</a> <a href="#d17">17</a> <a href="#d18">18</a> <a href="#d19">19</a> + + <a href="#d20">20</a> <a href="#d21">21</a> <a href="#d22">22</a> <a href="#d23">23</a> + + <a href="#d24">24</a> <a href="#d25">25</a> <a href="#d26">26</a> <a href="#d27">27</a> + + <a href="#d28">28</a> <a href="#d29">29</a> <a href="#d30">30</a> <a href="#d31">31</a> + + <a href="#d32">32</a> <a href="#d33">33</a> <a href="#d34">34</a> <a href="#d35">35</a> + + <a href="#d36">36</a> <a href="#d37">37</a> <a href="#d38">38</a> <a href="#d39">39</a> + + <a href="#d40">40</a> <a href="#d41">41</a> <a href="#d42">42</a> <a href="#d43">43</a> + + <a href="#d44">44</a> <a href="#d45">45</a> <a href="#d46">46</a> <a href="#d47">47</a> + + <a href="#d48">48</a> <a href="#d49">49</a> <a href="#d50">50</a> <a href="#d51">51</a> + + <a href="#d52">52</a> <a href="#d53">53</a> <a href="#d54">54</a> <a href="#d55">55</a> + + <a href="#d56">56</a> <a href="#d57">57</a> <a href="#d58">58</a> <a href="#d59">59</a> + + <a href="#d60">60</a> <a href="#d61">61</a></div> + + + +<div class="bookdes"><p><i>A law was passed concerning the intermarriage of the patricians +and plebeians, after strong resistance on the part of the +patricians. Military tribunes with consular power. Censors created. +Restoration of the lands unjustly taken from the people of Ardea. +Spurius Melius, suspected of aiming at regal power, is slain by C. +Servilius Ahala by order of Quintius Cincinnatus, dictator. +Cornelius Cossus, having killed Tolumnius, king of the Veientes, +offers the second</i> spolia opima. <i>Duration of the censorship, +originally five years, limited to one year and a half. Fidenæ +reduced, and a colony settled there. The colonists destroyed by the +Fidenatians, who are subsequently conquered by Mamercus Æmilius, +dictator. A conspiracy of the slaves put down. Postumius, a +military tribune, slain by the army for his cruelties. Pay from the +treasury first given to the soldiers. Operations against the +Volscians, Fidenatians, and Faliscians.</i></p></div> + + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d1" name="d1"></a>1</div> +<p>Marcus Genucius and Caius Curtius followed these as consuls. The year +was disturbed both at home and abroad. For at the commencement of the +year Caius Canuleius, tribune of the people, proposed a law concerning +the intermarriage of the patricians and commons; by which the patricians +considered that their blood would be contaminated, and the privileges of +birth would be confounded; and a hint at first lightly suggested by the +tribunes, that it should be lawful that one of the consuls should be +elected from the commons, afterwards proceeded so far, that the nine +tribunes proposed a bill, "that the people should have the power of +electing the consuls, whether they wished, from the commons or the +patricians. But they thought that if that were done, the supreme +authority would not only be shared with the lowest ranks, but be wholly +transferred from the nobility to the commons. With joy therefore the +patricians heard that the people of Ardea had revolted in consequence of +the injustice of the taking away their land, and that the Veientians had +laid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> waste the frontiers of the Roman territory, and that the Volscians +and Æquans murmured on account of the fortifying of Verrago; so much did +they prefer an unsuccessful war to an ignominious peace." These tidings +therefore being received and with exaggerations, in order that during +the din of so many wars the tribunitian proceedings might be suspended, +they order the levies to be held, preparations to be made for war and +arms with the utmost activity; with more energy, if possible, than had +been used in the consulship of Titus Quintius. Then Caius Canuleius +declared aloud in brief terms in the senate, that "the consuls wished in +vain to divert the commons from attention to the new laws; that they +never should hold a levee while he lived, before the commons had first +ratified the laws proposed by him and his colleagues;" and he instantly +summoned them to an assembly.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d2" name="d2"></a>2</div> +<p>Both the consuls incited the senate against the tribune, and the +tribune the people against the consuls at one and the same time. The +consuls denied "that tribunitian frenzies could any longer be endured; +that they were now come to a crisis; that more hostilities were being +stirred up at home than abroad. That this happened not more through the +fault of the commons than of the patricians; nor more through that of +the tribunes than of the consuls. That the matter for which there was a +reward in the state thrived always with the greatest proficiency; that +thus it was that men became meritorious in peace, thus in war. That at +Rome the highest reward was for sedition; that had ever been the source +of honour both to individuals and to collective bodies. They should +remember in what condition they had received the majesty of the senate +from their forefathers, in what condition they were about to transmit it +to their children; that, like the commons, they should have it in their +power to boast that it was improved in degree and in splendour. That +there was no end, nor would there be, so long as the promoters of +sedition were rewarded with honour in proportion as sedition was +successful. What and how important schemes Caius Canuleius had set on +foot! that he was introducing confounding of family rank, a disturbance +of the auspices both public and private, that nothing may remain pure, +nothing uncontaminated; that, all distinction being abolished, no one +might know either himself or those he belonged to. For what other +tendency had those promiscuous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> intermarriages, except that intercourse +between commons and patricians might be made common after the manner of +wild beasts; so that of the offspring each may be ignorant of what blood +he may be, of what form of religion he was; that he may belong half to +the patricians, half to the commons, not being homogeneous even with +himself? That it appeared not enough, that all things divine and human +should be confounded; that those disturbers of the common people were +now preparing to (seize) the consulship; and first that they sounded +people's sentiments in mere conversation on the project of having one +consul appointed from the commons; that now the proposition was brought +forward, that the people may appoint the consuls, whether they pleased +from the patricians or from the people; and that they would appoint no +doubt every most turbulent person. The Canuleii, therefore, and the +Icilii would be consuls. (They expressed a hope) that Jupiter, the best +and greatest, would not suffer the imperial majesty of the sovereign +power to descend to that; and that they would certainly die a thousand +deaths rather than such a disgrace should be incurred. They were certain +that their ancestors, could they have divined that the commons would +become not more placable to them, but more intractable, by making +successive demands still more unreasonable, after they had obtained the +first, would have rather submitted to any struggle, than have suffered +such laws to be saddled on them. Because it was then conceded to them +with respect to tribunes, the concession was made a second time. There +was no end to it; tribunes of the commons and patricians could not +subsist in the same state; either the one order or the other office must +be abolished; and that a stop should be put to presumption and temerity +rather late than never. (Was it right) that they, by sowing discord, +should with impunity stir up the neighbouring states against us? and +then prevent the state from arming and defending itself against those +evils which they may have brought on us? and after they have almost sent +for the enemy, not suffer the armies to be levied against the enemies? +But Canuleius may have the audacity to declare openly in the senate +that, unless the patrician suffer the laws proposed by himself as +victorious, to be enacted, he would prevent the levy from being held. +What else was this, but threatening that he would betray his country; +that he would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> suffer it to be attacked and captured? What courage would +that expression afford, not to the Roman commons, but to the Volscians, +Æquans, and the Veientians! would they not hope that, under the +generalship of Canuleius, they should be able to scale the Capitol and +citadel, if with the deprivation of privilege and majesty, the tribunes +should rob the patricians of their courage also? That the consuls were +prepared to act against the wicked schemes of their countrymen, before +they would act against the arms of the enemy."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d3" name="d3"></a>3</div> +<p>Just when these matters were going on in the senate, Canuleius thus +declaimed in favour of his laws and against the consuls: "Frequently +even before now I think I have observed how much the patricians despised +you, Romans, how unworthy they deemed you to dwell in the one city and +within the same walls with them; but on the present occasion most +clearly, in their having risen up so determinedly in opposition to those +propositions of ours: in which what else do we do, but remind them that +we are their fellow citizens, and that though we possess not the same +power, we inhabit the same city? In the one we demand intermarriage, a +thing which is usually granted to neighbours and foreigners: we have +granted even to vanquished enemies the right of citizenship, which is +more than the right of intermarriage. In the other we propose nothing +new; we only reclaim and demand that which is the people's; that the +Roman people may confer honours on whomsoever they may please. And what +in the name of goodness is it for which they embroil heaven and earth? +why was almost an attack made on me just now in the senate? why do they +say that they will not restrain themselves from violence, and threaten +that they will insult an office, sacred and inviolable? Shall this city +no longer be able to stand, and is the empire at stake, if the right of +free suffrage is granted to the Roman people, to confer the consulship +on whomsoever they may please, and if a plebeian, though he may be +worthy of the highest honour, is not precluded from the hope of +attaining that honour? and is this of the same import, whether a +plebeian be made a consul, as if any one were to propose a slave or the +son of a slave to be consul? Do you perceive in what contempt you live? +they would take from you a participation in this light, if it were +permitted them. That you breathe, that you enjoy the faculty of speech, +that you possess the forms of human beings, excites their indignation. +Nay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> even, as I hope for mercy, they say that it is contrary to religion +that a plebeian should be made consul. I pray, though we are not +admitted to the annals, nor to the commentaries of the pontiffs, do we +not know even those things which strangers know? that consuls have +succeeded kings? and that they possess no privilege, no majesty which +was not formerly inherent in kings? Do you suppose that we ever heard it +mentioned that Numa Pompilius, who not only was not a patrician, but not +even a citizen of Rome, was sent for from the country of the Sabines by +order of the people, with the approbation of the senate, and that he was +made king at Rome? that afterwards Lucius Tarquinius, who was not only +not of Roman, but not even of Italian extraction, the son of Damaratus +of Corinth, an emigrant from Tarquinii, was made king, even whilst the +sons of Ancus still lived? that after him Servius Tullius, the son of a +captive woman of Corniculum, with his father unknown, his mother a +slave, attained the throne by his ability and merit? For what shall I +say of Titus Tatius the Sabine, whom Romulus himself, the founder of our +city, admitted into partnership of the throne? Accordingly, whilst no +class of persons is disdained, in whom conspicuous merit may be found, +the Roman dominion increased. You do well to be dissatisfied now with a +plebeian consul, when your ancestors disdained not foreigners as kings, +and when, even after the expulsion of kings, the city was not shut +against foreign merit. After the expulsion of the kings, we certainly +admitted the Claudian family from the Sabine country not only into +citizenship, but even into the number of the patricians. Can a man from +a foreigner be made a patrician, then a consul? shall a Roman citizen, +if he belong to the commons, be precluded from all hope of the +consulate? Do we then deem it impossible that a man of the commons can +be a person of fortitude and activity, qualified to excel both in peace +and war, tyke to Numa, Lucius Tarquinius, and Servius Tullius? Or, +should such appear, shall we not suffer him to meddle with the helm of +government? or shall we have consuls like the decemvirs, the most +abandoned of mortals, who were, however, all patricians, rather than +like the best of kings, though new men?</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d4" name="d4"></a>4</div> +<p>"But (I may be told) no commoner has been consul since the expulsion +of the kings. What then? ought no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> innovation to be introduced? and what +has not yet been practised, (and in a new state there are many things +not yet practised,) ought not even such measures, even though they be +useful, be adopted? During the reign of Romulus there were no pontiffs, +nor augurs: they were appointed by Numa Pompilius. There was no census +in the state, nor the distribution of centuries and classes; it was +introduced by Servius Tullius: there never had been consuls; they were +created after the expulsion of the kings. Of a dictator neither the +office nor the name had existed; it commenced its existence among the +senators. There were no tribunes of the people, ædiles, nor quæstors: it +was resolved that those officers should be appointed. Within the last +ten years we both created decemvirs for compiling laws, and we abolished +them. Who can doubt but that in a city doomed for eternal duration, +increasing to an immense magnitude, new civil offices, priesthoods, +rights of families and of individuals, may be established? This very +matter, that there should not be the right of intermarriage between +patricians and commons, did not the decemvirs introduce within the last +few years to the utmost injury of the commons, on a principle most +detrimental to the public? Can there be a greater or more marked insult, +than that one portion of the state, as if contaminated, should be deemed +unworthy of intermarriage? What else is it than to suffer exile within +the same walls, actual rustication? They wish to prevent our being mixed +with them by affinity or consanguinity; that our blood be not mingled +with theirs. What? if this cast a stain on that nobility of yours, which +most of you, the progeny of Albans or Sabines, possess, not in right of +birth or blood, but by co-optation into the patricians, having been +elected either by the kings, or after the expulsion of kings, by order +of the people, could ye not keep it pure by private regulations, by +neither marrying into the commons, and by not suffering your daughters +or sisters to marry out of the patricians. No one of the commons would +offer violence to a patrician maiden; such lust as that belongs to the +patricians. None of them would oblige any man against his will to enter +into a marriage contract. But really that such a thing should be +prevented by law, that the intermarriage of the patricians and plebeians +should be interdicted, that it is which is insulting to the commons. Why +do you not combine in enacting a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> law that there shall be no +intermarriage between rich and poor? That which has in all places and +always been the business of private regulations, that a woman might +marry into whatever family she has been engaged to, and that each man +might take a wife out of whatever family he had contracted with, that ye +shackle with the restraints of a most tyrannical law, by which ye sever +the bonds of civil society and split one state into two. Why do ye not +enact a law that a plebeian shall not dwell in the neighbourhood of a +patrician? that he shall not go the same road with him? that he shall +not enter the same banquet with him? that he shall not stand in the same +forum? For what else is there in the matter, if a patrician man wed a +plebeian woman, or a plebeian a patrician? What right, pray, is thereby +changed? the children surely go with the father. Nor is there any thing +which we seek from intermarriage with you, except that we may be held in +the number of human beings and fellow citizens; nor is there any reason +why ye contest the point, except that it delights you to strive for +insult and ignominy to us.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d5" name="d5"></a>5</div> +<p>"In a word, whether is the supreme power belonging to the Roman +people, or is it yours? Whether by the expulsion of kings has dominion +been acquired for you or equal liberty for all? It is fitting that the +Roman people should be allowed to enact a law, if it please. Or will ye +decree a levy by way of punishment, according as each bill shall be +proposed? and as soon as I, as tribune, shall begin to call the tribes +to give their votes, will you, forthwith, as consul, force the younger +men to take the military oath, and lead them out to camp? and will you +threaten the commons? will you threaten the tribune? What, if you had +not already twice experienced how little those threats availed against +the united sense of the people? Of course it was because you wished to +consult for our interest, that you abstained from force. Or was there no +contest for this reason, that the party which was the stronger was also +the more moderate? Nor will there be any contest now, Romans: they will +try your spirit; your strength they will not make trial of. Wherefore, +consuls, the commons are prepared to accompany you to these wars, +whether real or fictitious, if, by restoring the right of intermarriage, +you at length make this one state; if they can coalesce, be united and +mixed with you by private ties; if the hope, if the access<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> to honours +be granted to men of ability and energy; if it is lawful to be in a +partnership and share of the government; if, what is the result of equal +freedom, it be allowed in the distribution of the annual offices to obey +and to govern in their turns. If any one shall obstruct these measures, +talk about wars, multiply them by report; no one will give in his name, +no one will take up arms, no one will fight for haughty masters, with +whom there is no participation of honours in public, nor of +intermarriage in private."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d6" name="d6"></a>6</div> +<p>When both the consuls came forward into the assembly, and the matter +had changed from a long series of harangues to altercation, the tribune, +on asking why it was not right that a plebeian should be made a consul, +an answer was returned truly perhaps, though by no means expediently for +the present contest, "that no plebeian could have the auspices, and for +this reason the decemvirs had prohibited the intermarriage, lest from +uncertainty of descent the auspices might be vitiated." The commons were +fired with indignation at this above all, because, as if hateful to the +immortal gods, they were denied to be qualified to take auspices. And +now (as the commons both had a most energetic supporter in the tribune, +and they themselves vied with him in perseverance) there was no end of +the contentions, until the patricians, being at length overpowered, +agreed that the law regarding intermarriage should be passed, judging +that by these means most probably the tribunes would either give up +altogether or postpone till after the war the question concerning the +plebeian consuls; and that in the mean time the commons, content with +the intermarriage-law (being passed,) would be ready to enlist. When +Canuleius was now in high repute by his victory over the patricians and +by the favour of the commons, the other tribunes being excited to +contend for their bill, set to work with all their might, and, the +accounts regarding the war augmenting daily, obstruct the levy. The +consuls, when nothing could be transacted through the senate in +consequence of the opposition of the tribunes, held meetings of the +leading men at their own houses. It was becoming evident that they must +concede the victory either to the enemies or to their countrymen. +Valerius and Horatius alone of the consulars did not attend the +meetings. The opinion of Caius Claudius was for arming the consuls +against the tribunes. The sentiments of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> the Quintii, both Cincinnatus +and Capitolinus, were averse to bloodshed, and to violating (persons) +whom by the treaty concluded with the commons they had admitted to be +sacred and inviolable. Through these meetings the matter was brought to +this, that they suffered tribunes of the soldiers with consular +authority to be elected from the patricians and commons without +distinction; that with respect to the election of consuls no change +should be made; and with this the tribunes were content, as were also +the commons. An assembly is now proclaimed for electing three tribunes +with consular power. This being proclaimed, forthwith whoever had +contributed to promote sedition by word or deed, more particularly men +who had been tribunes, began to solicit support and to bustle about the +forum as candidates; so that despair, in the first instance, of +obtaining the honour, by reason of the irritated state of the people's +mind, then indignation at having to hold the office with such persons, +deterred the patricians; at length however, being forced, they stood as +candidates, lest they might appear to have relinquished all share in the +government. The result of this election showed that the sentiments of +persons in the struggle for liberty and dignity are different from those +they feel when the contest is laid aside, the judgment being unbiassed; +for the people elected all patricians as tribunes, content with this, +that the plebeians had been taken into account. Where could you now find +in an individual such moderation, disinterestedness, and elevation of +mind, as was then displayed by the entire people?</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d7" name="d7"></a>7</div> +<p>In the three hundred and tenth year after the city of Rome was built, +for the first time military tribunes in the room of consuls enter into +office, Aulus Sempronius Atratinus, Lucius Atilius, Titus Clælius; in +whose office the concord prevailing at home afforded peace also abroad. +There are some who, without mentioning the proposal of the law +concerning the election of consuls from among the commons, say that +three military tribunes were elected on account of the Veientian war +being added to the war of the Æquans and the Volscians and to the revolt +of the Ardeates, because two consuls could not execute so many wars +together, these tribunes being invested also with the authority and +insignia of consuls. The jurisdiction of that office however did not +stand on a firm footing, because the third month<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> after they entered on +the office, they resigned the honour, in pursuance of a decree of the +augurs, as if unduly elected; because Caius Curtius, who had presided at +the election, had not selected his tent with due regard to ceremony. +Ambassadors came to Rome from Ardea complaining of the injustice in such +a manner, that it appeared that, if it were redressed, they would +continue in amity and the observance of the treaty, on the restitution +of their land. The answer returned by the senate was: "that the judgment +of the people could not be rescinded by the senate, besides such a +measure could not be adopted on precedent or with justice;, as an +additional reason also for the purpose of preserving concord between the +several orders of the state. If the Ardeans were willing to abide a +seasonable conjuncture, and leave to the senate the mode of redressing +the injustice done to them, that the consequence would be that they +would rejoice for having moderated their resentment, and that they +should be convinced that the patricians were equally anxious that no +injustice should arise against them, and that any which may have arisen +should not be lasting." Thus the ambassadors, saying that they should +lay the whole matter anew before their friends, were dismissed +courteously. The patricians, now that the republic was without any +curule magistrate, assembled together and elected an interrex. The +contest whether consuls or military tribunes should be elected, kept the +matter for several days in a state of interregnum. The interrex and +senate strive that the elections of consuls be held; the tribunes of the +people, and the people themselves, that elections of the military +tribunes be held. The patricians succeeded, because both the commons, +sure to confer the one or the other honour on patricians, gave up a +needless contest, and the leaders of the commons preferred those +elections at which no account was to be taken of them (as candidates) to +those at which they should be passed by as unworthy. The tribunes of the +commons also gave up the contest without a decision, as a compliment to +the chiefs of the patricians. Titus Quintius Barbatus, the interrex, +elects consuls Lucius Papirius Mugillanus, Lucius Sempronius Atratinus. +During their consulship, the treaty was renewed with the Ardeans; and +that is a record to prove, that they were consuls in that year, though +they are not to be found among the ancient annals,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> nor in the books of +the magistrates. I suppose because military tribunes existed at the +commencement of the year, on that account, though these consuls were +substituted, the names of the consuls were left out, just as if the +military tribunes were the entire year in office. Licinius Macer states, +that they were found both in the Ardean treaty and in the linen books at +the temple of Moneta. There was tranquillity both at home and abroad, +though so many alarms were held out by the neighbouring states.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d8" name="d8"></a>8</div> +<p>This year (whether it had tribunes only, or consuls substituted in +the room of tribunes) is followed by a year when there were undoubtedly +consuls, scil. Marcus Geganius Macerinus a second time, Titus Quintius +Capitolinus a fifth time. This same year was the commencement of the +censorship, a thing which arose from an humble origin, which afterwards +increased so much in importance, that in it was vested the regulation of +the morals and discipline of Rome, the senate and the centuries of the +knights, the distinction of honour and of ignominy were under the sway +of that office, the legal right to public and private places, the +revenues of the Roman people fell under their beck and jurisdiction. The +institution of the thing originated in this, that the people not having +been subjected to a survey for several years, the census could neither +be deferred, nor had the consuls leisure to discharge their duty, when +wars impended from so many states. An observation was made by the +senate, "that an office laborious in itself, and one little suited to +the consular office, required a magistrate for itself, to whose +authority should be submitted the duties of the several scribes, the +custody and care of the records, as well as the adjustment of the form +to be adopted in the census." And inconsiderable though the proposal +might be, still the senate received it with great pleasure, because it +increased the number of patrician magistrates in the state, judging also +that that would come to pass, which really did occur, viz. that the +influence of those who should preside, and the honour of the office +would derive on it additional authority and dignity. The tribunes also, +considering the discharge of the duty (as was really the case) as +necessary rather than the duty itself, as being attended with lustre, +did not indeed offer opposition, lest they should through perverseness +show a disposition to thwart them even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> in trifles. After the honour was +rejected by the leading men of the state, the people by their suffrages +appointed to the office of conducting the census Papirius and +Sempronius, concerning whose consulate doubts are entertained, that in +that magistracy they might have some recompence for the incompleteness +of their consulate. They were called censors from the nature of their +office.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d9" name="d9"></a>9</div> +<p>Whilst these matters are transacting at Rome, ambassadors come from +Ardea, imploring aid for their city, which was nearly destroyed, in +consideration of their very ancient alliance, and of the treaty recently +renewed. For by intestine wars they were not allowed to enjoy the peace +with Rome, which they had by the soundest policy preserved; the cause +and origin of which is said to have arisen from a struggle between +factions; which have proved and ever will prove more a cause of +destruction to several states, than foreign wars, famine, or disease, or +any of the other evils which men refer to the anger of heaven, as the +severest of public calamities. Two young men courted a maiden of a +plebeian family, highly distinguished for beauty: one of them on a level +with the maid in point of birth, and favoured by her guardians, who were +themselves of the same rank; the other of noble birth, captivated by +nothing but her beauty. The latter was aided by the good wishes of the +nobles, through which party disputes made their way even into the girl's +family. The nobleman was preferred in the judgment of the mother, who +was anxious that her daughter should have the most splendid match +possible: the guardians, mindful of party even in that transaction, +strove for the person of their own order. As the matter could not be +settled within the walls of the house, they proceeded to a court of +justice. On hearing the claim of the mother and of the guardians, the +magistrate decides the right of marriage in conformity with the wish of +the mother. But violence was the more powerful. For the guardians, +having harangued openly in the forum among persons of their own faction, +on the injustice of the decree, collected a party and carry off the girl +from her mother's house: against whom a body of nobles having arisen +more incensed than before, attends the young man rendered furious by the +outrage. A desperate battle takes place; the commons in no respect like +to the Roman commons were worsted, and having set out from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> the city in +arms, and taken possession of a hill, make excursions into the lands of +the nobles with fire and sword. The city too, which had been previously +free from all contest, they set about besieging, having induced, by the +hope of plunder, a multitude of artisans to join them: nor was any +appearance or calamity of war absent; as if the whole state were +infested by the mad rage of the two young men, who sought the +accomplishment of the fatal match through their country's ruin. The arms +and war at home seemed insufficient to both parties. The nobles called +in the Romans to the relief of their besieged city; the commons called +upon the Volscians to join them in storming Ardea. The Volscians, under +the command of Clælius, an Æquan, came first to Ardea, and drew a line +of circumvallation around the enemy's walls. When news of this was +brought to Rome, Marcus Geganius, the consul, having set out immediately +at the head of an army, selected a place for his camp about three miles +from the enemy; and the day being now fast declining, he orders his +soldiers to refresh themselves; then at the fourth watch he puts his +troops in motion; and the work, once commenced, was expedited in such a +manner, that at sun-rise the Volscians found themselves enclosed by the +Romans with stronger works than the city was by themselves. The consul +had also at another place connected an arm to the wall of Ardea, through +which his friends might pass to and from the town.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d10" name="d10"></a>10</div> +<p>The Volscian general, who up to that period had maintained his army, +not out of provisions which had been previously provided, but with corn +brought in daily from the plunder of the country, when now encompassed +by a rampart he perceives himself suddenly destitute of every thing, +calling the consul to a conference, says, that "if the Roman came for +the purpose of raising the siege, he would withdraw the Volscians from +thence." To this the consul made answer, that "the vanquished had to +accept terms, not to dictate them; and as the Volscians came at their +own discretion to attack the allies of the Roman people, they should not +go off in the same same way." He orders, "that their general be given +up, their arms laid down, acknowledging themselves vanquished, and ready +to submit to his further orders: otherwise, whether they went away or +stayed, that he would prove a determined enemy, and would prefer to +carry to Rome a victory over the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> Volscians than an insidious peace." +The Volscians, determined on trying the slender hope they had in arms, +all other being now cut off, besides many other disadvantages, having +come to an engagement in a place unfavourable for fighting, and still +more so for retreat, when they were being cut down on every side, from +fighting have recourse to entreaties; having given up their general and +surrendered their arms, they are sent under the yoke and dismissed full +of disgrace and suffering, with one garment each. And when they halted +not far from the city of Tusculum, in consequence of an old grudge of +the Tusculans they were surprised, unarmed as they were, and suffered +severe punishment, a messenger being scarcely left to bring an account +of their defeat. The Roman general quieted the disturbed state of +affairs at Ardea, beheading the principal authors of that commotion, and +confiscating their effects to the public treasury of the Ardeans; the +Ardeans considered the injustice of the decision completely repaired by +such kindness on the part of the Roman people; it seemed to the senate, +however, that something remained to be done to obliterate the +remembrance of public avarice. The consul returns to the city in +triumph, Clælius, the general of the Volscians, being led before his +chariot, and the spoils being carried before him, of which he had +stripped the enemy's army after he had sent them under the yoke. +Quintius the consul, by his civil administration, equalled, which is no +easy matter, the glory attained by his colleague in war; for he so +regulated the domestic care of harmony and peace, by dispensing justice +with moderation to the highest and the lowest, that both the patricians +considered him a strict consul, and the commons, as one sufficiently +lenient. Against the tribunes too he carried his measures more by his +influence than by striving against them. Five consulships conducted with +the same even tenor of conduct, and every part of his life being passed +in a manner worthy of the consular dignity, rendered himself almost more +venerable than the high office itself. On this account no mention was +made of the military tribunes during this consulate.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d11" name="d11"></a>11</div> +<p>They appoint as consuls Marcus Fabius Vibulanus, Publius Æbutius +Cornicen. Fabius and Æbutius, the consuls, inasmuch as they perceived +that they succeeded to a greater glory of achievements performed at home +and abroad,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> (the year was rendered particularly remarkable among the +neighbouring states, both friendly and hostile, because relief had been +afforded to the Ardeans in their perilous situation with so much zeal,) +the more strenuously exerted themselves in obtaining a decree of the +senate, that they might completely efface the infamy of the decision +from the memory of men, to the effect that since the state of the +Ardeans had been reduced to a few by intestine war, a colony should be +sent thither as a protection against the Volscians. This is what was +stated publicly on the tables, that the intention entertained of +rescinding the decision might escape the knowledge of the commons and +tribunes. But they had agreed that, a much greater number of Rutulian +colonists being enrolled than of Romans, no land should be distributed, +except that which had been intercepted by the infamous decision; and +that not a sod of it should be assigned to any Roman, until all the +Rutulians had had their share. In this way the land returned to the +Ardeans. The commissioners appointed to transplant the colony to Ardea +were Agrippa Menenius, Titus Clælius Siculus, and Marcus Æbutius Elva. +When they, in the discharge of their by no means popular office, had +given offence to the commons by assigning to the allies the land which +the Roman people had decided to be their own, and were not even much +supported by the patricians, because they had not deferred in any way to +the influence of any one, a day having been appointed for them by the +tribunes to appear before the people, they escaped all vexatious +annoyance by enrolling themselves as settlers and remaining in the +colony, which they now had as a testimony of their integrity and +justice.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d12" name="d12"></a>12</div> +<p>There was peace at home and abroad both this and the following year, +Caius Furius Pacilus and Marcus Papirius Crassus being consuls. The +games which had been vowed by the decemvirs, in pursuance of a decree of +the senate on occasion of the secession of the commons from the +patricians, were performed this year. An occasion for sedition was +sought in vain by Pætelius, who, having been made a tribune of the +commons a second time, by denouncing these same threats, could neither +prevail on the consuls to submit to the senate the questions concerning +the division of the lands<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> among the people; and when, after a hard +struggle, he had succeeded so far that the patricians should be +consulted as to whether it was their pleasure that an election should be +held of consuls or of tribunes, consuls were ordered to be elected; and +the menaces of the tribune were now laughed at, when he threatened that +he would stop the levy, inasmuch as the neighbouring states being now +quiet, there was no occasion either for war or for preparations for war. +This tranquil state of things is followed by a year, in which Proculus +Geganius Macerinus, Lucius Menenius Lanatus were consuls, remarkable for +a variety of disasters and dangers, also for disturbances, famine, for +their having almost submitted their necks to the yoke of arbitrary power +through the allurement of largesses. Foreign war alone was wanting, by +which if matters had been aggravated, they could scarcely have stood out +against them by the aid of all the gods. Their misfortunes began with +famine; whether it was that the season was unfavourable to the crops, or +that the cultivation of the land was relinquished for the allurements of +the city, and of public harangues; for both causes are assigned. And the +patricians accused the commons as being idle; the tribunes of the +commons complained sometimes of the fraud, at other times of the +negligence of the consuls. At length the commons prevailed, without +opposition on the part of the senate, that Lucius Minutius should be +appointed president of the market; doomed to be more successful in that +office in preserving liberty than in the discharge of his own peculiar +province: although in the end he bore away the well-earned gratitude of +the people as well as the glory of having lowered the price of +provisions. When he had made but slight advance in relieving the markets +by sending embassies around the neighbouring states by land and sea to +no purpose, except that an inconsiderable quantity of corn was imported +from Etruria, and applying himself to the careful dispensations of their +scanty stock, by obliging persons to show their supply, and to sell +whatever was over and above a month's provision, and by depriving the +slaves of one half of their daily allowance; then by censuring and +holding up to the resentment of the people the corn-hoarders, he rather +discovered the great scarcity of grain than relieved it by this rigorous +inquisition. Many of the com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span>mons, all hope being lost, rather than be +tortured by dragging out existence, muffled up their heads and +precipitated themselves into the Tiber.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d13" name="d13"></a>13</div> +<p>Then Spurius Mælius, of the equestrian order, extremely rich +considering these times, set about a project useful in itself, but +having a most pernicious tendency, and a still more pernicious motive. +For having, by the assistance of his friends and clients, bought up corn +from Etruria at his private expense, (which very circumstance, I think, +had been an impediment in the endeavour to reduce the price of corn by +the exertions of the state,) he set about giving out largesses of corn: +and having won over the commons by this munificence, he drew them with +him wherever he went, conspicuous and consequential beyond the rank of a +private citizen, insuring to him as undoubted the consulship by the +favour (they manifested towards him) and the hopes (they excited in +him.) He himself, as the mind of man is not to be satiated with that +which fortune holds out the hope of, began to aspire to things still +higher, and altogether unwarrantable; and since even the consulship +would have to be taken from the patricians against their will, he began +to set his mind on kingly power;—that that would be the only prize +worthy of such grand designs and of the struggle which would have to be +endured. The consular elections were now coming on, which circumstance +destroyed him completely, his plans being not yet arranged or +sufficiently matured. Titus Quintius Capitolinus was elected consul for +the sixth time, a man by no means well suited to answer the views of one +meditating political innovations: Agrippa Menenius is attached to him as +colleague, who bore the cognomen of Lanatus: and Lucius Minutius as +president of the markets, whether he was re-elected, or created for an +indefinite period, as long as circumstances should require; for there is +nothing certain in the matter, except this, his name was entered as +president in the linen books among the magistrates for both years. Here +Minucius, conducting the same office in a public capacity which Mælius +had undertaken to conduct in a private character, the same class of +persons frequenting the houses of both, having ascertained the matter, +lays it before the senate, "that arms were collecting in the house of +Mælius, and that he held assemblies in his house: and that his designs +were unquestionably bent on regal dominion: that the time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> for the +execution of the project was not yet fixed: that all other matters were +settled; and that the tribunes were bought over for hire to betray the +public liberty, and that the several parts were assigned to the leaders +of the multitude. That he laid these things before them almost later +than was consistent with safety, lest he might be the reporter of any +thing uncertain or ill-grounded." When these things were heard, the +chiefs of the patricians both rebuked the consuls of the former year, +for having suffered those largesses and meetings of the people to go on +in a private house, as well as the new consuls for having waited until a +matter of such importance should be reported to the senate by the +president of the markets, which required the consul to be not only the +reporter, but the punisher also; then Titus Quintius said, "that the +consuls were unfairly censured, who being fettered by the laws +concerning appeal, enacted to weaken their authority, by no means +possessed as much power in their office as will, to punish that +proceeding according to its atrocity. That there was wanting a man not +only determined in himself, but one who was unshackled and freed from +the fetters of those laws. That he would therefore appoint Lucius +Quintius dictator; that in him there would be a determination suitable +to so great a power." Whilst all approved, Quintius at first refused; +and asked them what they meant, in exposing him in the extremity of age +to such a contest. Then when they all said that in that aged mind there +was not only more wisdom, but more energy also, than in all the rest, +and went on loading him with deserved praises, whilst the consul relaxed +not in his original determination; Cincinnatus at length having prayed +to the immortal gods, that his old age might not prove a detriment or +disgrace to the republic at so dangerous a juncture, is appointed +dictator by the consul: he himself then appoints Caius Servilius Ahala +his master of the horse.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d14" name="d14"></a>14</div> +<p>On the next day, having stationed proper guards, when he had gone +down to the forum, and the attention of the commons was attracted to him +by the strangeness and extraordinary nature of the thing, and Mælius's +friends and himself their leader perceived that the power of such high +authority was directly aimed at them; when, moreover, those who were not +aware of the designs on regal power, went on asking, "what tumult, what +sudden war, had called for either the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> dictatorial authority, or +Quintius, after his eightieth year, administrator of affairs," +Servilius, master of the horse, being sent by the dictator to Mælius, +says, "The dictator summons you." When he, being alarmed, asked what he +meant, and Servilius stated that "he must stand a trial," and answer the +charge brought against him before the senate by Minucius, Mælius drew +back into the band of his adherents, and at first, looking around him, +he began to skulk off: at length when the beadle, by order of the master +of the horse, was bringing him off, being rescued by those present, and +running away, he implored the protection of the Roman people, and +alleged that he was persecuted by a conspiracy of the patricians because +he had acted kindly towards the people: he besought them that they would +assist him in this critical emergency, and not suffer him to be +butchered before their eyes. Ahala Servilius overtook and slew him +whilst exclaiming in this manner; and smeared with the blood of the +person so slain, and surrounded by a body of young nobles, he carries +back word to the dictator that Mælius having been summoned to him, and +commencing to excite the multitude after he had repulsed the beadle, had +received condign punishment. "Thou hast acted nobly, Caius Servilius," +said the dictator, "in having saved the republic."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d15" name="d15"></a>15</div> +<p>He then ordered the multitude, who were much agitated, not knowing +what judgment to form of the deed, to be called to an assembly: and he +openly declared, "that Mælius had been justly put to death, even though +he may have been innocent of the charge of aiming at regal power, who, +when summoned to attend the dictator by the master of the horse, had not +come. That he himself had taken his seat to examine into the case; that, +after it had been investigated, Mælius should have met a result +corresponding to his deserts; that when employing force, in order that +he might not commit himself to a trial, he had been checked by force. +Nor should they proceed with him as with a citizen, who, born in a free +state amid laws and rights, in a city from which he knew that kings had +been expelled, and on the same year the sons of the king's sister and +the children of the consul, the liberator of his country, had been put +to death by their father, on a plot for readmitting the royal family +into the city having been discovered, from which Collatinus Tarquinius +the consul, through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> a hatred of his name, was ordered to resign his +office and go into exile; in which capital punishment was inflicted on +Spurius Cassius several years after for forming designs to assume the +sovereignty; in which the decemvirs were recently punished with +confiscation, exile, and death, in consequence of regal tyranny in that +city, Spurius Mælius conceived a hope of attaining regal power. And who +was this man? Although no nobility, no honours, no deserts should open +to any man the road to domination, yet still the Claudii and Cassii, by +reason of the consulates, the decemvirates, the honours of their own and +those of their ancestors, and from the splendour of their families, had +raised their aspiring minds to heights to which it was impious to raise +them: that Spurius Mælius, to whom a tribuneship of the commons should +rather be an object of wishes than of hope, a wealthy corn-merchant, had +conceived the hope to purchase the liberty of his countrymen for two +pounds of corn; had supposed that a people victorious over all their +neighbours could be cajoled into servitude by throwing them a morsel of +food; so that a person whom the state could scarcely digest as a +senator, it should tolerate as king, possessing the ensigns and +authority of Romulus their founder, who had descended from and had +returned to the gods. This was to be considered not more criminal than +it was monstrous: nor was it sufficiently expiated by his blood; unless +the roof and walls within which so mad a project had been conceived, +should be levelled to the ground, and his effects were confiscated, as +being contaminated with the price of purchasing kingly domination. He +ordered, therefore, that the quæstors should sell this property and +deposit the proceeds in the treasury."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d16" name="d16"></a>16</div> +<p>He then ordered his house to be immediately razed, that the vacant +ground might serve as a monument of nefarious hopes destroyed. This was +called Æquimælium. Lucius Minucius was presented with a gilded ox on the +outside of the gate Trigemina, and this not even against the will of the +commons, because he distributed Mælius's corn, after valuing it at one +<i>as</i> per bushel. In some writers I find that this Minucius had changed +sides from the patricians to the commons, and that having been chosen as +eleventh tribune of the people, he quieted a commotion which arose on +the death of Mælius. But it is scarcely credible that the patricians<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> +would have suffered the number of the tribunes to be increased, and that +such a precedent should be introduced more particularly in the case of a +man who was a patrician; or that the commons did not afterwards +maintain, or at least attempt, that privilege once conceded to them. But +the legal provision made a few years before, viz. that it should not be +lawful for the tribunes to choose a colleague, refutes beyond every +thing else the false inscription on the statue. Quintus Cæcilius, +Quintus Junius, Sextus Titinius, were the only members of the college of +tribunes who had not been concerned in passing the law for conferring +honours on Minucius; nor did they cease both to throw out censures one +time on Minucius, at another time on Servilius, before the commons, and +to complain of the unmerited death of Mælius. They succeeded, therefore, +in having an election held for military tribunes rather than for +consuls, not doubting but that in six places, for so many were now +allowed to be elected, some plebeians also might be appointed, by their +professing to be avengers of the death of Mælius. The commons, though +they had been agitated that year by many and various commotions, neither +elected more than three tribunes with consular power; and among them +Lucius Quintius, son of Cincinnatus, from the unpopular nature of whose +dictatorship an occasion for disturbance was sought. Mamercus Æmilius, a +man of the highest dignity, was voted in, prior to Quintius. In the +third place they appoint Lucius Julius.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d17" name="d17"></a>17</div> +<p>During their office Fidenæ, a Roman colony, revolted to Lars +Tolunmius, king of the Veientians, and to the Veientians. To the revolt +a more heinous crime was added. By order of Tolumnius they put to death +Caius Fulcinius, Clælius Tullus, Spurius Antius, Lucius Roscius, Roman +ambassadors, who came to inquire into the reason of this new line of +conduct. Some palliate the guilt of the king; that an ambiguous +expression of his, during a lucky throw of dice, having been mistaken by +the Fidenatians, as if it seemed to be an order for their execution, had +been the cause of the ambassadors' death. An incredible tale; that his +thoughts should not have been drawn away from the game on the arrival of +the Fidenatians, his new allies, when consulting him on a murder tending +to violate the law of nations; and that the act was not afterwards +viewed by him with horror. It is more probable that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> he wished the state +of the Fidenatians to be so compromised by their participation in so +great a crime, that they might not afterwards look to any hope from the +Romans. Statues of the ambassadors, who were slain at Fidenæ, were set +up in the rostra at the public expense. A desperate struggle was coming +on with the Veientians and Fidenatians, who, besides that they were +neighbouring states, had commenced the war with so heinous a +provocation. Therefore, the commons and their tribunes being now quiet, +so as to attend to the general welfare, there was no dispute with +respect to the electing of Marcus Geganius Macerinus a third time, and +Lucius Sergius Fidenas, as consuls; so called, I suppose, from the war +which he afterwards conducted. For he was the first who fought a +successful battle with the king of the Veientians on this side of the +Anio, nor did he obtain an unbloody victory. Greater grief was therefore +felt from the loss of their countrymen, than joy from the defeat of the +enemy: and the senate, as in an alarming crisis, ordered Mamercus +Æmilius to be appointed dictator. He appointed as his master of the +horse from the college of the preceding year, in which there had been +tribunes of the soldiers with consular power, Lucius Quintius +Cincinnatus, a youth worthy of his parent. To the levy held by the +consuls were added the old centurions well versed in war, and the number +of those lost in the late battle was made up. The dictator ordered +Lucius Quintius Capitolinus and Marcus Fabius Vibulanus to attend him as +his lieutenants-general. Both the higher powers, and the man suitable to +such powers, caused the enemy to move from the Roman territory to the +other side of the Anio, and continuing their retrograde movement, they +took possession of the hills between Fidenæ and the Anio, nor did they +descend into the plains until the troops of the Faliscians came to their +aid; then at length the camp of the Etrurians was pitched before the +walls of Fidenæ. The Roman dictator took his post at no great distance +from thence at the conflux on the banks of both rivers, lines being run +across between them, as far as he was able to follow by a fortification. +Next day he marched out his army into the field.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d18" name="d18"></a>18</div> +<p>Among the enemy there was a diversity of opinion. The Faliscians, +impatient of the hardships of war at a distance from home, and +sufficiently confident of their own strength,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> earnestly demanded +battle; the Veientians and Fidenatians placed more hope in protracting +the war. Tolumnius, though the measures of his own subjects were more +agreeable to him, proclaims that he would give battle on the following +day, lest the Faliscians might not brook the service at so great a +distance from their home. The dictator and the Romans took additional +courage from the fact of the enemy having declined giving battle: and on +the following day, the soldiers exclaiming that they would attack the +camp and the city, if an opportunity of fighting were not afforded them, +the armies advance on both sides into the middle of a plain between the +two camps. The Veientians, having the advantage in numbers, sent around +a party behind the mountains to attack the Roman camp during the heat of +the battle. The army of the three states stood drawn up in such a +manner, that the Veientians occupied the right wing, the Faliscians the +left, whilst the Fidenatians constituted the centre. The dictator +charged on the right wing against the Faliscians, Quintius Capitolinus +on the left against the Veientians, and the master of the horse with the +cavalry advanced in the centre. For a short time all was silence and +quiet, the Etrurians being determined not to engage unless they were +compelled, and the dictator looking back towards a Roman fort, until a +signal should be raised, as had been agreed on, by the augurs, as soon +as the birds had given a favourable omen. As soon as he perceived this, +he orders the cavalry first to charge the enemy, after raising a loud +shout; the line of infantry following, engaged with great fury. In no +quarter did the Etrurian legions withstand the shock of the Romans. The +cavalry made the greatest resistance; and the king himself, far the +bravest of the cavalry, charging the Romans whilst they were pursuing in +disorder in every direction, prolonged the contest.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d19" name="d19"></a>19</div> +<p>There was then among the cavalry, Aulus Cornelius Cossus, a tribune +of the soldiers, distinguished for the beauty of his person, and equally +so for courage and great strength of body, and mindful of his rank, +which, having received in a state of the highest lustre, he left to his +posterity still greater and more distinguished. He perceiving that the +Roman troops gave way at the approach of Tolumnius, wherever he directed +his charge, and knowing him as being remarkable by his royal apparel, as +he flew through the entire line, ex<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span>claims, "Is this the infringer of +human treaties and the violator of the law of nations? This victim I +shall now slay, (provided the gods wish that there should be any thing +sacred on earth,) and shall offer him up to the manes of the +ambassadors." Having clapped spurs to his horse, he advances against +this single foe with spear presented; and after having struck and +unhorsed him, he immediately, by help of his lance, sprung on the +ground. And as the king attempted to rise, he throws him back again with +the boss of his shield, and with repeated thrusts pins him to the earth. +He then stripped off the spoils from the lifeless body; and having cut +off his head and carrying it on the point of his spear, he puts the +enemy to rout through terror on seeing their king slain. Thus the line +of cavalry, which alone had rendered the combat doubtful, was beaten. +The dictator pursues closely the routed legions, and drove them to their +camp with slaughter. The greater number of the Fidenatians, through +their knowledge of the country, made their escape to the mountains. +Cossus, having crossed the Tiber with the cavalry, carried off great +plunder from the Veientian territory to the city. During the battle +there was a fight also at the Roman camp against a party of the forces, +which, as has been already mentioned, had been sent by Tolumnius to the +camp. Fabius Vibulanus first defends his lines by a ring; then, whilst +the enemy were wholly taken up with the entrenchment, sallying out from +the principal gate on the right, he suddenly attacks them with the +triarii: and a panic being thus struck into them there was less +slaughter, because they were fewer, but their flight was no less +disorderly than it had been on the field of battle.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d20" name="d20"></a>20</div> +<p>Matters being managed successfully in every direction, the dictator, +by a decree of the senate and order of the people, returned to the city +in triumph. By far the most remarkable object in the triumph was Cossus, +bearing the <i>spolia opima</i> of the king he had slain. The soldiers +chaunted their uncouth verses on him, extolling him as equal to Romulus. +With the usual form of dedication, he presented, as an offering, the +spoils in the temple of Jupiter Feretrius, near the spoils of Romulus, +which, having been the first called <i>opima</i>, were the only ones at that +time; and he attracted the eyes of all the citizens from the dictator's +chariot to himself, and en<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span>joyed almost solely the honour of that day's +solemnity. The dictator offered up to Jupiter in the Capitol a golden +crown a pound in weight, at the public expense, by order of the people. +Following all the Roman writers, I have represented Aulus Cornelius +Cossus as a military tribune, when he carried the second <i>spolia opima</i> +to the temple of Jupiter Feretrius. But besides that those spoils are +rightly considered <i>opima</i>, which one general has taken from another; +and we know no general but the person under whose auspices the war is +conducted, the inscription itself written on the spoils proves, against +both me and them, that Cossus was consul when he took them. Having once +heard Augustus Cæsar, the founder or restorer of all our temples, on +entering the temple of Jupiter Feretrius, which being dilapidated by +time he rebuilt, aver that he himself had read the said inscription on +the linen breastplate, I thought it would be next to sacrilege to rob +Cossus of such a testimony respecting his spoils as that of Cæsar, the +renovator of the temple itself. Whether the mistake is chargeable on the +very ancient annals and the linen books of the magistrates, deposited in +the temple of Moneta, and which Licinius Macer occasionally cites as +authorities, which have Aulus Cornelius Cossus consul with Titus +Quintius Pennus, in the ninth year after this, every person may form his +own opinion. For there is this additional proof, that a battle so +celebrated could not be transferred to that year; that the three years +before and after the consulship of Aulus Cornelius were entirely free +from war, in consequence of a pestilence and a scarcity of grain; so +that some annals, as if in mourning, present nothing but the names of +the consuls. The third year from the consulship of Cossus has him as +military tribune with consular power; in the same year as master of the +horse, in which office he fought another distinguished horse battle. +Conjecture is open on the matter; but, as I think, idle surmises may be +turned to support any opinion: when the hero of the fight, having placed +the recent spoils in the sacred repository, having before him Jove +himself, to whom they were consecrated, and Romulus, no contemptible +witnesses in case of a false inscription, entitled himself Aulus +Cornelius Cossus consul.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d21" name="d21"></a>21</div> +<p>Marcus Cornelius Maluginensis and Lucius Papirius Crassus being +consuls, the armies were led into the territories<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> of the Veientians and +Faliscians; numbers of men and cattle were driven off as spoil; the +enemy was no where to be found on the land, and no opportunity of +fighting was afforded; the cities however were not attacked, because a +pestilential disorder ran through the people. Disturbances were also +sought at home, but not actually excited, however, by Spurius Mælius, +tribune of the people; who thinking that he might create some tumult +through the popularity of his name, had both appointed a day of trial +for Minucius, and had also proposed a law for confiscating the property +of Servilius Ahala: alleging that Mælius had been circumvented through +false impeachments by Minucius, charging Servilius with the killing of a +citizen on whom no sentence had been passed; charges which, when brought +before the people, proved to be more idle than the author himself. But +the virulence of the disease now becoming worse, was more an object of +concern to them, as also the terrors and prodigies, more especially +because accounts were being brought, that houses were falling throughout +the country, in consequence of frequent earthquakes. A supplication was +therefore performed by the people, according to the form dictated by the +decemvirs.<a name="FNanchor_153_153" id="FNanchor_153_153"></a><a href="#Footnote_153_153" class="fnanchor">[153]</a> The year being still more pestilential, Caius Julius a +second time and Lucius Virginius being consuls, occasioned such dread of +desolation through the city and country, that not only no one left the +Roman territory for the purpose of committing depredations, and not only +did none of the patricians or commons entertain an idea of commencing +any military aggressions; but the Fidenatians, who at first had shut +themselves up either within their town, or mountains, or fortifications, +now descended without provocation to commit depredations on the Roman +territory. Then the army of the Veientians being called in to their aid, +(for the Faliscians could be induced to renew the war neither by the +distresses of the Romans, nor by the remonstrances of their allies,) the +two states crossed the Anio; and displayed their ensigns at no great +distance from the Colline gate. Great consternation arose therefore, not +more in the country than in the city. Julius<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> the consul draws up his +troops on the rampart and walls; the senate is consulted by Virginius in +the temple of Quirinus. It is determined that Aulus Servilius be +appointed dictator, who some say had the cognomen of Priscus, others +that of Structus. Virginius having delayed whilst he consulted his +colleague, with his permission, named the dictator at night. He appoints +Postumus Æbutius Elva his master of the horse.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d22" name="d22"></a>22</div> +<p>The dictator orders all to attend at break of day outside the +Colline gate. All whosoever had sufficient strength to bear arms, +attended; the standards were quickly brought forth from the treasury and +conveyed to the dictator. Whilst these matters were going on, the +enemies retired to the higher grounds; thither the dictator follows them +with a determined army; and having come to a general engagement not far +from Nomentum, he routed the Etrurian legions; he then drove them into +the city of Fidenæ, and surrounded it with a rampart. But neither could +the city be taken by storm as being high and well fortified, nor was +there any effect in a blockade, because corn was supplied to them in +abundance not only for necessary consumption, but for plenty also, in +consequence of that previously laid up. Thus all hope being lost of +taking it by assault, or of forcing it to a surrender, the dictator +determined on carrying a sap into the citadel in places which were well +known to him on account of their near situation on the remote side of +the city, as being most neglected because it was best protected by +reason of its own nature; he himself by advancing up to the walls in +places most remote, with his army divided into four sections, which were +to succeed each other in the action, by continuing the fight day and +night continuously he prevented the enemy from perceiving the work; +until the mountain being dug through from the camp, a passage was opened +up into the citadel; and the Etrurians being diverted from the real +danger by the idle threats, the shouting of the enemy over their heads +proved to them that their city was taken. On that year Caius Furius +Pacilus and Marcus Geganius Macerinus, censors, approved of the public +edifice<a name="FNanchor_154_154" id="FNanchor_154_154"></a><a href="#Footnote_154_154" class="fnanchor">[154]</a> in the Campus Martius, and the census of the people was +there performed for the first time.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d23" name="d23"></a>23</div> +<p>That the same consuls were re-elected on the follow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span>ing year, Julius +for the third time, Virginius for the second time, I find in Licinius +Macer. Valerius Antias and Quintus Tubero state that Marcus Manlius and +Quintus Sulpicius were, the consuls for that year. But in +representations so different both Tubero and Macer cite the linen books +as their authority; neither of them denies that it was said by ancient +historians that there were military tribunes on that year. Licinius +thinks that we should unhesitatingly follow the linen books; and Tubero +is uncertain as to the truth. But this also is left unsettled among +other points not ascertained from length of time. Alarm was raised in +Etruria after the capture of Fidenæ, not only the Veientians being +terrified by the apprehension of similar ruin, but the Faliscians also, +from the recollection of the war having first commenced with them, +although they had not joined with those who renewed hostilities. +Accordingly when the two nations, having sent ambassadors around to the +twelve states, succeeded so far that a general meeting was proclaimed +for all Etruria at the temple of Voltumna; the senate, apprehending a +great attack threatening from that quarter, ordered Mamercus Æmilius +again to be appointed dictator. Aulus Postumius Tubertus was appointed +by him as master of the horse; and preparations for war were made with +so much the more energy than on the last occasion, in proportion as +there was more danger from the whole body of Etruria than from two of +its states.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d24" name="d24"></a>24</div> +<p>That matter passed off much more quietly than any one expected. +Therefore when word was brought by certain traders, that aid was refused +to the Veientians, and that they were bid to prosecute with their own +strength a war entered into on their own separate views, and not to seek +out persons as sharers in their distresses, to whom they had not +communicated their hopes when flourishing; the dictator, that his +appointment might not be in vain, all opportunity of acquiring military +glory being now taken from him, desirous of performing during peace some +work which might serve as a memorial of his dictatorship, sets about +limiting the censorship, either judging its powers excessive, or +disapproving of the duration rather than the extent of the office. +Accordingly, having summoned a meeting, he says "that the immortal gods +had taken on themselves that the public affairs should be managed +externally, and that the general security<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> should be insured; that with +respect to what was to be done within the walls, he would provide for +the liberty of the Roman people. But that the most effectual guarding of +it was, that offices of great power should not be of long continuance; +and that a limit of time should be set to those to which a limit of +jurisdiction could not be set. That other offices were annual, that the +censorship was quinquennial; that it was a grievance to be subject to +the same individuals for such a number of years in a considerable part +of the affairs of life. That he would propose a law, that the censorship +should not last longer than a year and half." Amid the great approbation +of the people he passed the law on the following day, and says, "that +you may know, Romans, in reality, how little pleasing to me are offices +of long duration, I resign the dictatorship." Having laid down his own +office, and set a limit to the office of others, he was escorted home +with the congratulation and great good will of the people. The censors +resenting Mamercus' conduct for his having diminished the duration of +one of the offices of the Roman people, degraded him from his tribe, and +increasing his taxes eight-fold, disfranchised<a name="FNanchor_155_155" id="FNanchor_155_155"></a><a href="#Footnote_155_155" class="fnanchor">[155]</a> him. They say that +he bore this with great magnanimity, as he considered the cause of the +disgrace, rather than the disgrace itself; that the principal patricians +also, though they had been averse to the curtailing the privileges of +the censorship, were much displeased at this instance of censorial +severity; inasmuch as each saw that he would be longer and more +frequently subjected to the censors, than he should hold the office of +censor. Certain it is that such indignation is said to have arisen on +the part of the people, that violence could not be kept off from the +censors through the influence of any person except of Mamercus himself.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d25" name="d25"></a>25</div> +<p>The tribunes of the people, by preventing the election of consuls by +incessant harangues, succeeded at length, after the matter had been well +nigh brought to an interregnum, in having tribunes of the soldiers +elected with consular authority: as for the prize of their victory, +which was the thing sought, <i>scil.</i> that a plebeian should be elected, +there was none. All patricians were elected, Marcus Fabius Vibulanus, +Marcus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> Foslius, Lucius Sergius Fidenas. The pestilence during that year +afforded a quiet in other matters. A temple was vowed to Apollo for the +health of the people. The duumvirs did much, by direction of the books, +for the purpose of appeasing the wrath of heaven and averting the plague +from the people; a great mortality however was sustained in the city and +country, by the death of men and of cattle promiscuously. Apprehending a +famine for the agriculturists, they sent into Etruria, and the Pomptine +district, and to Cumæ, and at last to Sicily also to procure corn. No +mention was made of electing consuls. Military tribunes with consular +authority were appointed, all patricians, Lucius Pinarius Mamercinus, +Lucius Furius Medullinus, Spurius Postumius Albus. In this year the +violence of the distemper abated, nor was there any danger from a +scarcity of corn, because provision had been previously made against it. +Schemes for exciting wars were agitated in the meetings of the Æquans +and Volscians, and in Etruria at the temple of Voltumna. Here the matter +was postponed for a year, and by a decree it was enacted, that no +meeting should be held before that time, the Veientian state in vain +complaining that the same destiny hung over Veii, as that by which +Fidenæ was destroyed. Meanwhile at Rome the chiefs of the commons, who +had now for a long time been vainly pursuing the hope of higher dignity, +whilst there was tranquillity abroad, appointed meetings to be held in +the houses of the tribunes of the commons. There they concerted plans in +secret: they complained "that they were so despised by the commons, that +though tribunes of the soldiers, with consular authority, were now +appointed for so many years, no plebeian ever obtained access to that +honour. That their ancestors had shown much foresight in providing that +plebeian offices should not be open to any patrician; otherwise they +should be forced to have patricians as tribunes of the commons; so +despicable were they even with their own party, and were not less +despised by the commons than by the patricians." Others exculpated the +commons, and threw the blame on the patricians,—"that by their +intriguing and schemes it happened that the road to honour was barred +against the commons. If the commons were allowed to breathe from their +mixed entreaties and menaces, that they would enter on their suffrages +with a due regard to men of their own party; and, assistance being +al<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span>ready procured, that they would assume a share in the government +also." It is determined that, for the purpose of doing away with all +intriguing, the tribunes should propose a law, that no person be allowed +to add white to his garment for the purposes of canvassing. The matter +may now appear trivial and scarcely deserving serious consideration, +which then enkindled such strife between the patricians and commons. The +tribunes, however, prevailed in carrying the law; and it appeared +evident, that in their present state of irritation, the commons would +incline their support to men of their own party; and lest this should be +optional with them, a decree of the senate is passed, that the election +for consuls should be held.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d26" name="d26"></a>26</div> +<p>The cause was the rising, which the Hernicians and Latins announced +as about to take place on the part of the Æquans and Volscians. Titus +Quintius Cincinnatus, son of Lucius, (to the same person the cognomen of +Pennus also is annexed,) and Caius Julius Mento were elected consuls: +nor was the terror of war longer deferred. A levy being held under the +devoting law, which with them is the most powerful instrument of forcing +men into service, powerful armies set out from thence, and met at +Algidum; and there the Æquans and Volscians fortified their camps +separately; and the general took greater care than ever before to +fortify their posts and train their soldiers; so much the more terror +did the messengers bring to Rome. The senate wished that a dictator +should be appointed, because though these nations had been often +conquered, yet they renewed hostilities with more vigorous efforts than +ever before, and a considerable number of the Roman youth had been +carried off by sickness. Above all, the perverseness of the consuls, and +the disagreement between them, and their contentions in all the +councils, terrified them. There are some who state that an unsuccessful +battle was fought by these consuls at Algidum, and that such was the +cause of appointing a dictator. This much is certain, that, though +differing in other points, they perfectly agreed in one against the +wishes of the patricians, not to nominate a dictator; until when +accounts were brought, one more alarming than another, and the consuls +would not be swayed by the authority of the senate, Quintus Servilius +Priscus, who had passed through the highest honours with singular +honour, says, "Tri<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span>bunes of the people, since we are come to +extremities, the senate calls on you, that you would, by virtue of your +authority, compel the consuls to nominate a dictator in so critical a +conjuncture of the state." On hearing this, the tribunes, conceiving +that an opportunity was presented to them of extending their power, +retire together, and declare for their college, that "it was their wish +that the consuls should be obedient to the instruction of the senate; if +they persisted further against the consent of that most illustrious +order, that they would order them to be taken to prison." The consuls +were better pleased to be overcome by the tribunes than by the senate, +alleging that the prerogatives of the highest magistracy were betrayed +by the patricians and the consulship subjugated to tribunitian power, +inasmuch as the consuls were liable to be overruled by a tribune in any +particular by virtue of his power, and (what greater hardship could a +private man have to dread?) even to be carried off to prison. The lot to +nominate the dictator (for the colleagues had not even agreed on that) +fell on Titus Quintius. He appointed a dictator, Aulus Postumius +Tubertus, his own father-in-law, a man of the utmost strictness in +command: by him Lucius Julius was appointed master of the horse: a +suspension of civil business is also proclaimed; and, that nothing else +should be attended to throughout the city but preparations for war, the +examination of the cases of those who claimed exemption from the +military service is deferred till after the war. Thus even doubtful +persons are induced to give in their names. Soldiers were also enjoined +of the Hernicians and Latins: the most zealous obedience is shown to the +dictator on both sides.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d27" name="d27"></a>27</div> +<p>All these measures were executed with great despatch: and Caius +Julius the consul being left to guard the city, and Lucius Julius master +of the horse, for the sudden exigencies of the war, lest any thing which +they might want in the camp should cause delay, the dictator, repeating +the words after Aulus Cornelius the chief pontiff, vowed the great games +on account of the sudden war; and having set out from the city, after +dividing his army with the consul Quintius, he came up with the enemy. +As they had observed two separate camps of the enemy at a small distance +one from the other, they in like manner encamped separately about a mile +from them, the dictator towards Tusculum, the consul towards Lanuvium.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +Thus they had their four armies, as many fortified posts, having between +them a plain sufficiently extended not only for excursions to skirmish, +but even for drawing up the armies on both sides in battle-array. From +the time camp was brought close to camp, they ceased not from light +skirmishing, the dictator readily allowing his soldiers, by comparing +strength, to entertain beforehand the hope of a general victory, after +they had gradually essayed the result of slight skirmishes. Wherefore +the enemy, no hope being now left in a regular engagement, attacked the +consuls' camp in the night, and bring the matter to the chance of a +doubtful result. The shout which arose suddenly awoke not only the +consuls' sentinels and then all the army, but the dictator also. When +circumstances required instant exertion, the consul evinced no +deficiency either in spirit or in judgment. One part of the troops +reinforce the guards at the gates, another man the rampart around. In +the other camp with the dictator, inasmuch as there is less of +confusion, so much the more readily is it observed, what is required to +be done. Despatching then forthwith a reinforcement to the consuls' +camp, to which Spurius Postumius Albus is appointed lieutenant-general, +he himself with a part of his forces, making a small circuit, proceeds +to a place entirely sequestered from the bustle, whence he might +suddenly attack the enemy's rear. Quintus Sulpicius, his +lieutenant-general, he appoints to take charge of the camp; to Marcus +Fabius as lieutenant he assigns the cavalry, and orders that those +troops, which it would be difficult to manage amid a nightly conflict, +should not stir before day-light. All the measures which any other +prudent and active general could order and execute at such a juncture, +he orders and executes with regularity; that was an extraordinary +specimen of judgment and intrepidity, and one deserving of no ordinary +praise, that he despatched Marcus Geganius with some chosen troops to +attack the enemy's camp, whence it had been ascertained that they had +departed with the greater part of their troops. When he fell on these +men, wholly intent on the result of the danger of their friends, and +incautious with respect to themselves, the watches and advanced guards +being even neglected, he took their camp almost before the enemy were +perfectly sure that it was attacked. Then when the signal given with +smoke, as had been agreed on, was perceived<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> by the dictator, he +exclaims that the enemy's camp was taken, and orders it to be announced +in every direction.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d28" name="d28"></a>28</div> +<p>And now day was appearing, and every thing lay open to view; and +Fabius had made an attack with his cavalry, and the consul had sallied +from the camp on the enemy now disconcerted; when the dictator on the +other side, having attacked their reserve and second line, threw his +victorious troops, both horse and foot, in the way of the enemy as they +turned themselves about to the dissonant shouts and the various sudden +assaults. Thus surrounded on every side, they would to a man have +suffered the punishment due to their reassumption of hostilities, had +not Vectius Messius, a Volscian, a man more ennobled by his deeds than +his extraction, upbraiding his men as they were forming a circle, called +out with a loud voice, "Are ye about offering yourselves here to the +weapons of the enemy, undefended, unavenged? why is it then ye have +arms? or why have you undertaken an offensive war, ever turbulent in +peace, and dastardly in war? What hopes have you in standing here? do +you expect that some god will protect you and bear you hence? With the +sword way must be opened. Come on ye, who wish to behold your homes, +your parents, your wives, and your children, follow me in the way in +which you shall see me lead you on. It is not a wall, not a rampart, but +armed men that stand in your way with arms in your hands. In valour you +are equal to them; in necessity, which is the ultimate and most +effective weapon, superior." As he uttered these words and was putting +them into execution, they, renewing the shout and following him, make a +push in that quarter where Postumius Alba had opposed his troops to +them: and they made the victor give ground, until the dictator came up, +as his own men were now retreating. To that quarter the whole weight of +the battle was now turned. On Messius alone the fortune of the enemy +depends. Many wounds and great slaughter now took place on both sides. +By this time not even the Roman generals themselves fight without +receiving wounds, one of them, Postumius, retired from the field having +his skull fractured by a stroke of a stone; neither the dictator could +be removed by a wound in the shoulder, nor Fabius by having his thigh +almost pinned to his horse, nor the consul by his arm being cut off, +from the perilous conflict.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span></p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d29" name="d29"></a>29</div> +<p>Messius, with a band of the bravest youths, by a furious charge +through heaps of slaughtered foes, was carried on to the camp of the +Volscians, which had not yet been taken: the same route the entire body +of the army followed. The consul, pursuing them in their disordered +flight to the very rampart, attacks both the camp and the rampart; in +the same direction the dictator also brings up his forces on the other +side. The assault was conducted with no less intrepidity than the battle +had been. They say that the consul even threw a standard within the +rampart, in order that the soldiers might push on the more briskly, and +that the first impression was made in recovering the standard. The +dictator also, having levelled the rampart, had now carried the fight +into the camp. Then the enemy began in every direction to throw down +their arms and to surrender: and their camp also being taken, all the +enemy were set up to sale, except the senators.<a name="FNanchor_156_156" id="FNanchor_156_156"></a><a href="#Footnote_156_156" class="fnanchor">[156]</a> Part of the plunder +was restored to the Latins and Hernicians, when they demanded their +property; the remainder the dictator sold by auction: and the consul, +being invested with the command of the camp, he himself, entering the +city in triumph, resigned his dictatorship. Some writers cast a gloom on +the memory of this glorious dictatorship, when they state that his son, +though victorious, was beheaded by Aulus Postumius, because, tempted by +a favourable opportunity of fighting to advantage, he had left his post +without orders. We are disposed to refuse our belief; and we are +warranted by the variety of opinions on the matter. And it is an +argument against it, that such orders have been entitled "Manlian," not +"Postumian," since the person who first set on foot so barbarous a +precedent, was likely to obtain the signal title of cruelty. Besides, +the cognomen of "Imperiosus" was affixed to Manlius: Postumius has not +been marked by any hateful brand. Caius Julius the consul, in the +absence of his colleague, without casting lots, dedicated the temple of +Apollo: Quintius resenting this, when, after disbanding his army, he +returned into the city, made a complaint of it in the senate to no +purpose.</p> + +<p>To the year marked by great achievements is added an event which seemed +to have no relation to the interest of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> Rome, viz. that the +Carthaginians, destined to be such formidable enemies, then, for the +first times on the occasion of some disturbances among the Sicilians, +transported an army into Sicily in aid of one of the parties.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d30" name="d30"></a>30</div> +<p>In the city efforts were made by the tribunes of the people that +military tribunes with consular power should be elected; nor could the +point be carried. Lucius Papirius Crassus and Lucius Junius were made +consuls. When the ambassadors of the Æquans solicited a treaty from the +senate, and instead of a treaty a surrender was pointed out to them, +they obtained a truce for eight years. The affairs of the Volscians, in +addition to the disaster sustained at Algidum, were involved in strifes +and seditions by an obstinate contention between the advocates for peace +and those for war. The Romans enjoyed tranquillity on all sides. The +consuls, having ascertained through the information of one of the +college, that a law regarding the appraising of the fines,<a name="FNanchor_157_157" id="FNanchor_157_157"></a><a href="#Footnote_157_157" class="fnanchor">[157]</a> which +was very acceptable to the people, was about to be introduced by the +tribunes, took the lead themselves in proposing it. The new consuls were +Lucius Sergius Fidenas a second time, and Hostus Lucretius Tricipitinus. +During their consulate nothing worth mentioning occurred. The consuls +who followed them were Aulus Cornelius Cossus and Titus Quintius Pennus +a second time. The Veientians made excursions into the Roman territory. +A report existed that some of the youth of the Fidenatians had been +participators in that depredation; and the cognizance of that matter was +left to Lucius Sergius, and Quintus Servilius and Mamercus Æmilius. Some +of them were sent into banishment to Ostia, because it did not appear +sufficiently clear why during these days they had been absent from +Fidenæ. A number of new settlers was added, and the land of those who +had fallen in war was assigned to them. There was very great distress +that year in consequence of drought; there was not only a deficiency of +rain; but the earth also destitute of its natural moisture, scarcely +enabled the rivers to flow. In some places the want of water occasioned +heaps of cattle, which had died of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> thirst, around the springs and +rivulets which were dried up; others were carried off by the mange; and +the distempers spread by infection to the human subject, and first +assailed the husbandmen and slaves; soon after the city becomes filled +with them; and not only were men's bodies afflicted by the contagion, +but superstitions of various kinds, and most of them of foreign growth, +took possession of their minds; persons, to whom minds enslaved by +superstition were a source of gain, introducing by pretending to +divination new modes of sacrificing; until a sense of public shame now +reached the leading men of the state, seeing in all the streets and +chapels extraneous and unaccustomed ceremonies of expiation for the +purpose of obtaining the favour of the gods. A charge was then given to +the ædiles, that they should see that no other than Roman gods should be +worshipped, nor in any other manner, save that of the country. Their +resentment against the Veientians was deferred till the following year, +Caius Servilius Ahala and Lucius Papirius Mugillanus being consuls. Then +also superstitious influences prevented the immediate declaration of war +or the armies being sent; they deemed it necessary that heralds should +be first sent to demand restitution. There had been battles fought +lately with the Veientians at Nomentum and Fidenæ; and after that a +truce, not a peace, had been concluded; of which both the time had +expired and they had renewed hostilities before the expiration. Heralds +however were sent; and when, according to ancient usage, they were sworn +and demanded restitution, their application was not listened to. Then +arose a dispute whether a war should be declared by order of the people, +or whether a decree of the senate would be sufficient. The tribunes, by +threatening that they would stop the levy, so far prevailed that the +consuls should take the sense of the people concerning the war. All the +centuries voted for it. In this particular also the commons showed a +superiority by gaining this point, that consuls should not be elected +for the next year.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d31" name="d31"></a>31</div> +<p>Four military tribunes with consular authority were elected—Titus +Quintius Pennus, from the consulship, Caius Furius, Marcus Postumius, +and Aulus Cornelius Cossus. Of these Cossus held the command in the +city. The other three, after the levy was held, set out to Veii, and +were an instance how mischievous in military affairs is a plurality of +com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span>manders. By insisting each on his own plans, whilst they severally +entertained different views, they left an opportunity open to the enemy +to take them at advantage. For the Veientians, taking an opportunity, +attacked their line whilst still uncertain as to their movements, some +ordering the signal to be given, others a retreat to be sounded: their +camp, which was nigh at hand, received them in their confusion and +turning their backs. There was more disgrace therefore than loss. The +state, unaccustomed to defeat, was become melancholy; they hated the +tribunes, they insisted on a dictator, the hopes of the state now seemed +to rest on him. When a religious scruple interfered here also, lest a +dictator could not be appointed except by a consul, the augurs on being +consulted removed that scruple. Aulus Cornelius nominated Mamercus +Æmilius, and he himself was nominated by him master of the horse. So +little did censorial animadversion avail, so as to prevent them from +seeking a regulator of their affairs from a family unmeritedly censured, +as soon as the condition of the state stood in need of genuine merit. +The Veientians elated with their success, having sent ambassadors around +the states of Etruria, boasting that three Roman generals had been +beaten by them in an engagement, though they could not effect a public +co-operation in their designs, procured volunteers from all quarters +allured by the hope of plunder. The state of the Fidenatians alone +determined on renewing hostilities; and as if it would be an impiety to +commence war unless with guilt, after staining their arms with the blood +of the new settlers there, as they had on a former occasion with that of +the ambassadors, they join the Veientians. After this the leading men of +the two states consulted whether they should select Veii or Fidenæ as +the seat of war. Fidenæ appeared the more convenient. Accordingly, +having crossed the Tiber, the Veientians transferred the war thither. +There was great consternation at Rome. The army being recalled from +Veii, and that same army dispirited in consequence of their defeat, the +camp is pitched before the Colline gate, and armed soldiers are posted +along the walls, and a suspension of all civil business is proclaimed in +the forum, and the shops were closed; and every place becomes more like +to a camp than a city.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d32" name="d32"></a>32</div> +<p>Then the dictator, having sent criers through the streets,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> and +having summoned the alarmed citizens to an assembly, began to chide them +"that they allowed their minds to depend on such slight impulses of +fortune, that, on the receipt of a trifling loss, which itself was +sustained not by the bravery of the enemy, nor by the cowardice of the +Roman army, but by the disagreement of the generals, they now dreaded +the Veientian enemy, six times vanquished, and Fidenæ, which was almost +taken oftener than attacked. That both the Romans and the enemies were +the same as they were for so many ages: that they retained the same +spirits, the same bodily strength, the same arms. That he himself, +Mamercus Æmilius, was also the same dictator, who formerly defeated the +armies of the Veientians and Fidenatians, with the additional support of +the Faliscians, at Nomentum. That his master of the horse, Aulus +Cornelius, would be the same in the field, he who, as military tribune +in a former war, slew Lar Tolumnius, king of the Veientians, in the +sight of both armies, and brought the <i>spolia opima</i> into the temple of +Jupiter Feretrius. Wherefore that they should take up arms, mindful that +with them were triumphs, with them spoils, with them victory; with the +enemy the guilt of murdering the ambassadors contrary to the law of +nations, the massacre of the Fidenatian colonists in time of peace, the +infraction of truces, a seventh unsuccessful revolt. As soon as they +should bring their camp near them, he was fully confident that the joy +of these most impious enemies at the disgrace of the Roman army would +not be of long continuance, and that the Roman people would be convinced +how much better those persons deserved of the republic, who nominated +him dictator for the third time, than those who, in consequence of his +abolishing the despotism of the censorship, would cast a slur on his +second dictatorship." Having offered up his vows and set out on his +march, he pitches his camp fifteen hundred paces on this side of Fidenæ, +covered on his right by mountains, on his left by the river Tiber. He +orders Titus Quintius Pennus to take possession of the mountains, and to +post himself secretly on some eminence which might be in the enemy's +rear. On the following day, when the Etrurians had marched out to the +field, full of confidence in consequence of their accidental success of +the preceding day, rather than of their good fighting, he himself, +having delayed a little until the senate brought back word that Quintius +had gained<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> an eminence nigh to the citadel of Fidenæ, puts his troops +into motion and led on his line of infantry in order of battle in their +quickest pace against the enemy: the master of the horse he directs not +to commence the fight without orders; that, when it would be necessary, +he would give the signal for the aid of the cavalry; then that he would +conduct the action, mindful of his fight with the king, mindful of the +rich oblation, and of Romulus and Jupiter Feretrius. The legions begin +the conflict with impetuosity. The Romans, fired with hatred, gratified +that feeling both with deeds and words, calling the Fidenatian impious, +the Veientian robbers, truce-breakers, stained with the horrid murder of +ambassadors, sprinkled with the blood of their own brother-colonists, +treacherous allies, and dastardly enemies.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d33" name="d33"></a>33</div> +<p>In the very first onset they had made an impression on the enemy; +when on a sudden, the gates of Fidenæ flying open, a strange sort of +army sallies forth, unheard of and unseen before that time. An immense +multitude armed with fire and all blazing with fire-brands, as if urged +on by fanatical rage, rush on the enemy: and the form of this unusual +mode of fighting frightened the Romans for the moment. Then the +dictator, having called to him the master of the horse and the cavalry, +and also Quintius from the mountains animating the fight, hastens +himself to the left wing, which, more nearly resembling a conflagration +than a battle, had from terror given way to the flames, and exclaims +with a loud voice, "Vanquished by smoke, driven from your ground as if a +swarm of bees, will ye yield to an unarmed enemy? will ye not extinguish +the fires with the sword? or if it is with fire, not with weapons, we +are to fight, will ye not, each in his post, snatch those brands, and +hurl them on them? Come, mindful of the Roman name, of the valour of +your fathers, and of your own, turn this conflagration against the city +of your enemy, and destroy Fidenæ by its own flames, which ye could not +reclaim by your kindness. The blood of your ambassadors and colonists +and the desolation of your frontiers suggest this." At the command of +the dictator the whole line advanced; the firebrands that were +discharged are partly caught up; others are wrested by force: the armies +on either side are now armed with fire. The master of the horse too, on +his part, introduces among the cavalry a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> new mode of fighting; he +commands his men to take the bridles off their horses: and he himself at +their head, putting spurs to his own, dashing forward, is carried by the +unbridled steed into the midst of the fires: the other horses also being +urged on carry their riders with unrestrained speed against the enemy. +The dust being raised and mixed with smoke excluded the light from the +eyes of both men and horses. That appearance which had terrified the +soldiers, no longer terrified the horses. The cavalry therefore, +wherever they penetrated, produced a heap of bodies like a ruin. A new +shout then assailed their ears; and when this attracted the attention of +the two armies looking with amazement at each other, the dictator cries +out "that his lieutenant-general and his men had attacked the enemy on +the rear:" he himself, on the shout being renewed, advances against them +with redoubled vigour. When two armies, two different battles pressed on +the Etrurians, now surrounded, in front and rear, and there was now no +means of flight back to their camp, nor to the mountains, where new +enemies were ready to oppose them, and the horses, now freed from their +bridles, had scattered their riders in every direction, the principal +part of the Veientians make precipitately for the Tiber. Such of the +Fidenatians as survived, bend their course to the city of Fidenæ. Their +flight hurries them in their state of panic into the midst of slaughter; +they are cut to pieces on the banks; others, when driven into the water, +were carried off by the eddies; even those who could swim were weighed +down by fatigue, by their wounds, and by fright; a few out of the many +make their way across. The other party make their way through the camp +into the city. In the same direction their impetuosity carries the +Romans in pursuit; Quintius more especially, and with him those who had +just come down from the mountain, being the soldiers who were freshest +for labour, because they had come up towards the close of the +engagement.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d34" name="d34"></a>34</div> +<p>These, after they entered the gate mixed with the enemy, make their +way to the walls, and raise from their summit a signal to their friends +of the town being taken. When the dictator saw this, (for he had now +made his way into the deserted camp of the enemy,) he leads on the +soldiers, who were now anxious to disperse themselves in quest of booty, +entertaining a hope of a greater spoil in the city, to the gate; and +being admitted within the walls, he proceeds to the citadel,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> whither he +saw the crowds of fugitives hurrying. Nor was the slaughter in the city +less than in the battle; until, throwing down their arms, begging +nothing but their life, they surrendered to the dictator. The city and +camp are plundered. On the following day, one captive being allotted to +each horseman and centurion, and two to those whose valour had been +conspicuous, and the rest being sold by auction, the dictator in triumph +led back to Rome his army victorious and enriched with spoil; and having +ordered the master of the horse to resign his office, he immediately +resigned his own on the sixteenth day (after he had obtained it); +surrendering in peace that authority which he had received during war +and trepidations. Some annals have reported that there was a naval +engagement with the Veientians at Fidenæ, a thing as difficult as it was +incredible, the river even now not being broad enough for such a +purpose; and at that time, as we learn from old writers, being +considerably narrower: except that perhaps in disputing the passage of +the river, magnifying, as will happen, the scuffle of a few ships, they +sought the empty honour of a naval victory.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d35" name="d35"></a>35</div> +<p>The following year had as military tribunes with consular power +Aulus Sempronius Atratinus, Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus, Lucius Furius +Medullinus, Lucius Horatius Barbatus. To the Veientians a truce for +twenty years was granted, and one for three years to the Æquans, though +they had solicited one for a longer term. There was quiet also from city +riots. The year following, though not distinguished either by war abroad +or by disturbance at home, was rendered celebrated by the games which +had been vowed during the war, both through the magnificence displayed +in them by the military tribunes, and also through the concourse of the +neighbouring states. The tribunes with consular power were Appius +Claudius Crassus, Spurius Nautilus Rutilus, Lucius Sergius Fidenas, +Sextus Julius Iulus. The exhibition, besides that they had come with the +public concurrence of their states, was rendered still more grateful to +the strangers by the courtesy of their hosts. After the games seditious +harangues were delivered by the tribunes of the commons upbraiding the +multitude; "that stupified with admiration of those persons whom they +hated, they kept themselves in a state of eternal bondage; and they not +only had not the cou<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span>rage to aspire to the recovery of their hopes of a +share in the consulship, but even in the electing of military tribunes, +which elections lay open to both patricians and commons, they neither +thought of themselves nor of their party. That they must therefore cease +feeling surprised why no one busied himself about the interests of the +commons: that labour and danger would be expended on objects whence +emolument and honour might be expected. That there was nothing men would +not attempt if great rewards were proposed for those who make great +attempts. That any tribune of the commons should rush blindly at great +risk and with no advantage into contentions, in consequence of which he +may rest satisfied that the patricians against whom he should strive, +will persecute him with inexpiable war, whilst with the commons in whose +behalf he may have contended he will not be one whit the more honoured, +was a thing neither to be expected nor required. That by great honours +minds became great. That no plebeian would think meanly of himself, when +they ceased to be despised by others. That the experiment should be at +length made in the case of one or two, whether there were any plebeian +capable of sustaining a high dignity, or whether it were next to a +miracle and a prodigy that any one sprung from the commons should be a +brave and industrious man. That by the utmost energy the point had been +gained, that military tribunes with consular power might be chosen from +among the commons also. That men well approved both in the civil and +military line had stood as candidates. That during the first years they +were hooted at, rejected, and ridiculed by the patricians: that at +length they had ceased to expose themselves to insult. Nor did he for +his part see why the law itself might not be repealed; by which that was +made lawful which never could take place; for that there would be less +cause for blushing at the injustice of the law, than if they were to be +passed over through their own want of merit."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d36" name="d36"></a>36</div> +<p>Harangues of this kind, listened to with approbation, induced some +persons to stand for the military tribuneship, each avowing that if in +office he would propose something to the advantage of the commons. Hopes +were held out of a distribution of the public land, of colonies to be +planted, and of money to be raised for the pay of the soldiers, by a tax +imposed on the proprietors of estates. Then an opportunity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> was laid +hold of by the military tribunes, so that during the absence of most +persons from the city, when the patricians who were to be recalled by a +private intimation were to attend on a certain day, a decree of the +senate might be passed in the absence of the tribunes of the commons; +that a report existed that the Volscians had gone forth into the lands +of Hernici to commit depredations, the military tribunes were to set out +to examine into the matter, and that an assembly should be held for the +election of consuls. Having set out, they leave Appius Claudius, son of +the decemvir, as prefect of the city, a young man of great energy, and +one who had ever from his cradle imbibed a hatred of the tribunes and +the commons. The tribunes of the commons had nothing for which they +should contend, either with those persons now absent, who had procured +the decree of the senate, nor with Appius, the matter being now all +over.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d37" name="d37"></a>37</div> +<p>Caius Sempronius Atratinus, Quintus Fabius Vibulanus were elected +consuls. An affair in a foreign country, but one deserving of record, is +stated to have happened in that year. Vulturnum, a city of the +Etrurians, which is now Capua, was taken by the Samnites; and was called +Capua from their leader, Capys, or, what is more probable, from its +champaign grounds. But they took possession of it, after having been +admitted into a share of the city and its lands, when the Etrurians had +been previously much harassed in war; afterwards the new-comers attacked +and massacred during the night the old inhabitants, when on a festival +day they had become heavy with wine and sleep. After those transactions +the consuls whom we have mentioned entered on office on the ides of +December. Now not only those who had been expressly sent, reported that +a Volscian war was impending; but ambassadors also from the Latins and +Hernicians brought word, "that never at any former period were the +Volscians more intent either in selecting commanders, or in levying an +army; that they commonly observed either that arms and war were to be +for ever consigned to oblivion, and the yoke to be submitted to; or that +they must not yield to those, with whom they contended for empire, +either in valour, perseverance, or military discipline." The accounts +they brought were not unfounded; but neither the senate were so much +affected by the circumstance; and Caius Sempronius, to whom the province +fell by lot,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> relying on fortune, as if a most constant object, because +he was the leader of a victorious state against one frequently +vanquished, executed all his measures carelessly and remissly; so that +there was more of the Roman discipline in the Volscian than in the Roman +army. Success therefore, as on many other occasions, attended merit. In +the first battle, which was entered on by Sempronius without either +prudence or caution, they met, without their lines being strengthened by +reserves, or their cavalry being properly stationed. The shout was the +first presage which way the victory would incline; that raised by the +enemy was louder and more continued; that by the Romans, being +dissonant, uneven, and frequently repeated in a lifeless manner, +betrayed the prostration of their spirits. The enemy advancing the more +boldly on this account, pushed with their shields, brandished their +swords; on the other side the helmets drooped, as the men looked around, +and disconcerted they waver, and keep close to the main body. The +ensigns at one time standing their ground are deserted by their +supporters, at another time they retreat between their respective +companies. As yet there was no absolute flight, nor was there victory. +The Romans rather covered themselves than fought. The Volscians +advanced, pushed against their line, saw more of the enemy slain than +running away.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d38" name="d38"></a>38</div> +<p>They now give way in every direction, the consul Sempronius in vain +chiding and exhorting them; neither his authority nor his dignity +availed any thing; and they would presently have turned their backs to +the enemy, had not Sextus Tempanius, a commander of a troop of horse, +with great presence of mind brought them support, when matters were now +desperate. When he called out aloud, "that the horsemen who wished for +the safety of the commonwealth should leap from their horses," the +horsemen of all the troops being moved, as if by the consul's orders, he +says, "unless this cohort by its arms can stop the progress of the +enemy, there is an end of the empire. Follow my spear as your standard. +Show to the Romans and Volscians, that no cavalry are equal to you as +cavalry, nor infantry to you as infantry." When this exhortation was +approved by a loud shout, he advances, holding his spear aloft. Wherever +they go, they open a passage for themselves; putting forward their +targets they force on to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> the place where they saw the distress of their +friends greatest. The fight is restored in every part, as far as their +onset reached; nor was there a doubt but that if so few could, +accomplish every thing at the same time, the enemy would have turned +their backs.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d39" name="d39"></a>39</div> +<p>And when they could now be withstood in no part, the Volscian +commander gives a signal, that an opening should be made for the +targeteers, the enemy's new cohort; until carried away by their +impetuosity they should be cut off from their own party. When this was +done, the horsemen were intercepted; nor were they able to force their +way in the same direction as that through which they had passed; the +enemy being thickest in that part through which they had made their way; +and the consul and Roman legions, when they could no where see that +party which had lately been a protection to the entire army, lest the +enemy should cut down so many men of distinguished valour by cutting +them off, push forward at all hazards. The Volscians, forming two +fronts, sustained the attack of the consul and the legions on the one +hand, with the other front pressed on Tempanius and the horsemen: and +when they after repeated attempts were unable to force their way to +their own party, they took possession of an eminence, and defended +themselves by forming a circle, not without taking vengeance on their +enemies. Nor was there an end of the battle before night. The consul +also, never relaxing his efforts as long as any light remained, kept the +enemy employed. The night at length separated them undecided as to +victory; and such a panic seized both camps, from their uncertainty as +to the issue, that, leaving behind their wounded and a great part of the +baggage, both armies, as if vanquished, betook themselves to the +adjoining mountains. The eminence, however, continued to be besieged +till beyond midnight; but when word was brought to the besiegers that +the camp was deserted, supposing that their own party had been defeated, +they too fled, each whithersoever his fears carried him in the dark. +Tempanius, through fear of an ambush, detained his men till daylight. +Then having himself descended with a few men to look about, when he +ascertained by inquiring from some of the wounded enemy that the camp of +the Volscians was deserted, he joyously calls down his men from the +eminence, and makes his way into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> Roman camp: where, when he found +every thing waste and deserted, and the same unsightliness as with the +enemy, before the discovery of this mistake should bring back the +Volscians, taking with him all the wounded he could, and not knowing +what route the consul had taken, he proceeds by the shortest roads to +the city.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d40" name="d40"></a>40</div> +<p>The report of the unsuccessful battle and of the abandonment of the +camp had already reached there; and, above all other objects, the +horsemen were mourned not more with private than with public grief; and +the consul Fabius, the city also being now alarmed, stationed guards +before the gates; when the horsemen, seen at a distance, not without +some degree of terror by those who doubted who they were, but soon being +recognised, from a state of dread produced such joy, that a shout +pervaded the city, of persons congratulating each other on the horsemen +having returned safe and victorious; and from the houses a little before +in mourning, as they had given up their friends for lost, persons were +seen running into the street; and the affrighted mothers and wives, +forgetful of all ceremony through joy, ran out to meet the band, each +one rushing up to her own friends, and through extravagance of delight +scarcely retaining power over body or mind. The tribunes of the people +who had appointed a day of trial for Marcus Postumius and Titus +Quintius, because of the unsuccessful battle fought near Veii by their +means, thought that an opportunity now presented itself for renewing the +public odium against them by reason of the recent displeasure felt +against the consul Sempronius. Accordingly, a meeting being convened, +when they exclaimed aloud that the commonwealth had been betrayed at +Veii by the generals, that the army was afterwards betrayed by the +consul in the country of the Volscians, because they had escaped with +impunity, that the very brave horsemen were consigned to slaughter, that +the camp was shamefully deserted; Caius Julius, one of the tribunes, +ordered the horseman Tempanius to be cited, and in presence of them he +says, "Sextus Tempanius, I ask of you, whether do you think that Caius +Sempronius the consul either commenced the battle at the proper time, or +strengthened his line with reserves, or that he discharged any duty of a +good consul? or did you yourself, when the Roman legions were beaten, of +your own judgment dismount the cavalry and re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span>store the fight? then when +you and the horsemen with you were cut off from our army, did either the +consul himself come to your relief, or did he send you succour? Then +again, on the following day, had you any assistance any where? or did +you and your cohort by your own bravery make your way into your camp? +Did you find a consul or an army in the camp, or did you find the camp +forsaken, the wounded soldiers left behind? These things are to be +declared by you this day, as becomes your valour and honour, by which +alone the republic has stood its ground on this day. In a word, where is +Caius Sempronius, where are our legions? Have you been deserted, or have +you deserted the consul and the army? In a word, have we been defeated, +or have we gained the victory?"</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d41" name="d41"></a>41</div> +<p>In answer to these questions the language of Tempanius is said to +have been entirely devoid of elegance, but firm as became a soldier, not +vainly parading his own merits, nor exulting in the inculpation of +others: "How much military skill Caius Sempronius possessed, that it was +not his business as a soldier to judge with respect to his commander, +but the business of the Roman people when they were choosing consuls at +the election. Wherefore that they should not require from him a detail +of the plans to be adopted by a general, nor of the qualifications to be +looked for in a consul; which matters required to be considered by great +minds and great capacities; but what he saw, that he could state. That +before he was separated from his own party, he saw the consul fighting +in the first line, encouraging his men, actively employed amid the Roman +ensigns and the weapons of the enemy; that he was afterwards carried out +of sight of his friends. That from the din and shouting he perceived +that the contest was protracted till night; nor did he think it +possible, from the great numbers of the enemy, that they could force +their way to the eminence which he had seized on. Where the army might +be, he did not know; he supposed that as he protected himself and his +men, by advantage of situation when in danger, in the same way the +consul, for the purpose of preserving his army, had selected a more +secure place for his camp. Nor did he think that the affairs of the +Volscians were in a better condition than those of the Roman people. +That fortune and the night had occasioned a multitude of mistakes on +both sides:"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> and then when he begged that they would not detain him, +fatigued with toil and wounds, he was dismissed with high encomiums, not +more on his bravery than his modesty. While these things were going on, +the consul was at the temple of Rest on the road leading to Lavici. +Waggons and other modes of conveyance were sent thither from the city, +and took up the army, exhausted by the action and the travelling by +night. Soon after the consul entered the city, not more anxious to +remove the blame from himself, than to bestow on Tempanius the praises +so well deserved. Whilst the citizens were still sorrowful in +consequence of their ill success, and incensed against their leaders, +Marcus Postumius, being arraigned and brought before them, he who had +been military tribune with consular power at Veii, is condemned in a +fine of ten thousand <i>asses</i> in weight, of brass. His colleague, Titus +Quintius, who endeavoured to shift the entire blame of that period on +his previously condemned colleague, was acquitted by all the tribes, +because both in the country of the Volscians, when consul, he had +conducted business successfully under the auspices of the dictator, +Postumius Tubertus, and also at Fidenæ, as lieutenant-general of another +dictator, Mamercus Æmilius. The memory of his father, Cincinnatus, a man +highly deserving of veneration, is said to have been serviceable to him, +as also Capitolinus Quintius, now advanced in years, humbly entreating +that they would not suffer him who had so short a time to live to be the +bearer of such dismal tidings to Cincinnatus.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d42" name="d42"></a>42</div> +<p>The commons elected as tribunes of the people, though absent, Sextus +Tempanius, Aulus Sellius, Sextus Antistius, and Spurius Icilius, whom +the horsemen by the advice of Tempanius had appointed to command them as +centurions. The senate, inasmuch as the name of consuls was now becoming +displeasing through the hatred felt towards Sempronius, ordered that +military tribunes with consular power should be elected. Those elected +were Lucius Manlius Capitolinus, Quintus Antonius Merenda, Lucius +Papirius Mugillanus. At the very commencement of the year, Lucius +Hortensius, a tribune of the people, appointed a day of trial for Caius +Sempronius, a consul of the preceding year, and when his four +colleagues, in sight of the Roman people, entreated him that he would +not involve in vexation their unoffending general, in whose case<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> +nothing but fortune could be blamed, Hortensius took offence, thinking +it to be a trying of his perseverance, and that the accused depended not +on the entreaties of the tribunes, which were merely used for show, but +on their protection. Therefore now turning to him, he asked, "Where were +those patrician airs, where the spirit supported and confiding in +conscious innocence; that a man of consular dignity took shelter under +the shade of the tribunes?" Another time to his colleagues, "What do you +intend doing, if I go on with the prosecution; will you wrest their +jurisdiction from the people and overturn the tribunitian authority?" +When they said that, "both with respect to Sempronius and all others, +the power of the Roman people was supreme; that they had neither the +will nor the power to do away with the judgment of the people; but if +their entreaties for their commander, who was to them in the light of a +parent, were to prove of no avail, that they would change their apparel +along with him:" then Hortensius says, "The commons of Rome shall not +see their tribunes in the garb of culprits. To Caius Sempronius I have +nothing more to say, since when in office he has attained this good +fortune, to be so dear to his soldiers." Nor was the dutiful attachment +of the four tribunes more grateful alike to the commons and patricians, +than was the temper of Hortensius, which yielded so readily to their +just entreaties. Fortune no longer indulged the Æquans, who had embraced +the doubtful victory of the Volscians as their own.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d43" name="d43"></a>43</div> +<p>In the year following, when Numerius Fabius Vibulanus and Titus +Quintius Capitolinus, son of Capitolinus, were consuls, nothing worth +mentioning was performed under the conduct of Fabius, to whom that +province had fallen by lot. When the Æquans had merely showed their +dastardly army, they were routed by a shameful flight, without any great +honour to the consul; therefore a triumph is refused. However in +consequence of having effaced the ignominy of Sempronius's defeat, he +was allowed to enter the city with an ovation. As the war was terminated +with less difficulty than they had apprehended, so in the city, from a +state of tranquillity, an unexpected mass of dissensions arose between +the commons and patricians, which commenced with doubling the number of +quæstors. When the patricians approved most highly of this measure, +(viz. that, besides the two city quæs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span>tors, two should attend the +consuls to discharge some duties of the military service,) after it was +moved by the consuls, the tribunes of the commons contended in +opposition to the consuls, that half of the quæstors should be appointed +from the commons; for up to that time all patricians were appointed. +Against this proceeding both the consuls and patricians at first strove +with all their might; then by making a concession that the will of the +people should be equally free in the case of quæstors, as they enjoyed +in the election of tribunes with consular power, when they produced but +little effect, they gave up the entire matter about increasing the +number of quæstors. When relinquished, the tribunes take it up, and +other seditious schemes are continually started, among which is that of +the agrarian law. On account of these disturbances the senate was +desirous that consuls should be elected rather than tribunes, but no +decree of the senate could be passed in consequence of the protests of +the tribunes; the government from being consular came to an interregnum, +and not even that without a great struggle (for the tribunes prevented +the patricians from meeting). When the greater part of the following +year was wasted in contentions by the new tribunes of the commons and +some interreges, the tribunes at one time hindering the patricians from +assembling to declare an interrex, at another time preventing the +interrex from passing a decree regarding the election of consuls; at +length Lucius Papirius Mugillanus, being nominated interrex, censuring +now the patricians, now the tribunes of the people, asserted "that the +state, deserted and forsaken by man, being taken up by the providence +and care of the gods, subsisted by the Veientian truce and the +dilatoriness of the Æquans. From which quarter if any alarm of danger be +heard, did it please them that the state, left without a patrician +magistrate, should be taken by surprise? that there should be no army, +nor general to enlist one? Will they repel a foreign war by an intestine +one? And if they both meet, the Roman state can scarcely be saved, even +by the aid of the gods, from being overwhelmed. That they, by resigning +each a portion of their strict right, should establish concord by a +compromise; the patricians, by suffering military tribunes with consular +authority to be elected; the tribunes of the commons, by ceasing to +protest against the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> four quæstors being elected promiscuously from the +commons and patricians by the free suffrage of the people."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d44" name="d44"></a>44</div> +<p>The election of tribunes was first held. There were chosen tribunes +with consular power, Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus a third time, Lucius +Furius Medullinus a second time, Marcus Manlius, Aulus Sempronius +Atratinus. On the last-named tribune presiding at the election of +quæstors, and among several other plebeians a son of Antistius, a +plebeian tribune, and a brother of Sextus Pompilius, also a tribune of +the commons, becoming candidates, neither the power nor interest of the +latter at all availed so as to prevent those, whose fathers and +grandfathers they had seen consuls, from being preferred for their high +birth. All the tribunes of the commons became enraged, above all +Pompilius and Antistius were incensed at the rejection of their +relatives. "What could this mean? that neither through their own +kindnesses, nor in consequence of the injurious treatment of the +patricians, nor even through the natural desire of making use of their +new right, as that is now allowed which was not allowed before, was any +individual of the commons elected if not a military tribune, not even a +quæstor. That the prayers of a father in behalf of a son, those of one +brother in behalf of another, had been of no avail, though proceeding +from tribunes of the people, a sacrosanct power created for the support +of liberty. There must have been some fraud in the matter, and Aulus +Sempronius must have used more of artifice at the elections than was +compatible with honour." They complained that by the unfairness of his +conduct their friends had been kept out of office. Accordingly as no +attack could be made on him, secured by his innocence and by the office +he then held, they turned their resentment against Caius Sempronius, +uncle to Atratinus; and, with the aid of their colleague Marcus +Cornelius, they entered a prosecution against him on account of the +disgrace sustained in the Volscian war. By the same tribunes mention was +frequently made in the senate concerning the division of the lands, +(which scheme Caius Sempronius had always most vigorously opposed,) they +supposing, as was really the case, that the accused, should he give up +the question, would become less valued among the patricians, or by +persevering up to the period of trial he would give offence to the +commons.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> He preferred to expose himself to the torrent of popular +prejudice, and to injure his own cause, than to be wanting to the public +cause; and he stood firm in the same sentiment, "that no largess should +be made, which was sure to turn to the benefit of the three tribunes; +that it was not land was sought for the people, but odium for him. That +he too would undergo that storm with a determined mind; nor should +either himself, nor any other citizen, be of so much consequence to the +senate, that in showing tenderness to an individual, a public injury may +be done." When the day of trial came, he, having pleaded his own cause +with a spirit by no means subdued, is condemned in a fine of fifteen +thousand <i>asses</i>, though the patricians tried every means to make the +people relent. The same year Postumia, a Vestal virgin, is tried for a +breach of chastity, though guiltless of the charge; having fallen under +suspicion in consequence of her dress being too gay and her manners less +reserved than becomes a virgin, not avoiding the imputation with +sufficient care. The case was first deferred, she was afterwards +acquitted; but the chief pontiff, by the instruction of the college, +commanded her to refrain from indiscreet mirth, and to dress with more +regard to sanctity than elegance. In the same year Cumæ, a city which +the Greeks then occupied, was taken by the Campanians.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d45" name="d45"></a>45</div> +<p>The following year had for military tribunes with consular power, +Agrippa Menenius Lanatus, Publius Lucretius Tricipitinus, Spurius +Nautius Rutilus: to the good fortune of the Roman people, the year was +remarkable rather by great danger than by losses. The slaves conspire to +set fire to the city in several quarters, and whilst the people should +be intent in bearing assistance to the houses in every direction, to +take up arms and seize the citadel and Capitol. Jupiter frustrated their +horrid designs; and the offenders, being seized on the information of +two (accomplices), were punished. Ten thousand <i>asses</i> in weight of +brass paid out of the treasury, a sum which at that time was considered +wealth, and their freedom, was the reward conferred on the parties who +discovered. The Æquans then began to prepare for a renewal of +hostilities; and an account was brought to Rome from good authority, +that new enemies, the Lavicanians, were forming a coalition with the old +ones. The state had now become habituated, as it were, to the +anniversary arms of the Æquans. When am<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span>bassadors were sent to Lavici +and brought back from thence an evasive answer, from which it became +evident that neither war was intended there, nor would peace be of long +continuance, instructions were given to the Tusculans, that they should +observe attentively, lest any new commotion should arise at Lavici. To +the military tribunes, with consular power, of the following year, +Lucius Sergius Fidenas, Marcus Papirius Mugillanus, Caius Servilius the +son of Priscus, in whose dictatorship Fidenæ had been taken, ambassadors +came from Tusculum, just as they entered on their office. The +ambassadors brought word that the Lavicanians had taken arms, and having +ravaged the Tusculan territory in conjunction with the army of the +Æquans, that they had pitched their camp at Algidum. Then war was +proclaimed against the Lavicanians; and a decree of the senate having +been passed, that two of the tribunes should proceed to the war, and +that one should manage affairs at Rome, a contest suddenly sprung up +among the tribunes. Each represented himself as a fitter person to take +the lead in the war, and scorned the management of the city as +disagreeable and inglorious. When the senate beheld with surprise the +indecent contention between the colleagues, Quintus Servilius says, +"Since there is no respect either for this house, or for the +commonwealth, parental authority shall set aside this altercation of +yours. My son, without having recourse to lots, shall take charge of the +city. I wish that those who are so desirous of managing the war, may +conduct it with more consideration and harmony than they covet it."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d46" name="d46"></a>46</div> +<p>It was determined that the levy should not be made out of the entire +body of the people indiscriminately. Ten tribes were drawn by lot; the +two tribunes enlisted the younger men out of these, and led them to the +war. The contentions which commenced between them in the city, were, +through the same eager ambition for command, carried to a much greater +height in the camp: on no one point did they think alike; they contended +strenuously for their own opinion; they desired their own plans, their +own commands only to be ratified; they mutually despised each other, and +were despised, until, on the remonstrances of the lieutenant-generals, +it was at length so arranged, that they should hold the supreme command +on alternate days. When an account of these proceedings was brought to +Rome, Quintus Servilius, taught by years<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> and experience, is said to +have prayed to the immortal gods, that the discord of the tribunes might +not prove more detrimental to the commonwealth than it had done at Veii: +and, as if some certain disaster was impending over them, he pressed his +son to enlist soldiers and prepare arms. Nor was he a false prophet. For +under the conduct of Lucius Sergius, whose day of command it was, being +suddenly attacked by the Æquans on disadvantageous ground near the +enemy's camp, after having been decoyed thither by the vain hope of +taking it, because the enemy had counterfeited fear and betaken +themselves to their rampart, they were beaten down a declivity, and +great numbers were overpowered and slaughtered by their tumbling one +over the other rather than by flight: and the camp, retained with +difficulty on that day, was, on the following day, deserted by a +shameful flight through the opposite gate, the enemy having invested it +in several directions. The generals, lieutenant-generals, and such of +the main body of the army as kept near the colours, made their way to +Tusculum; others, dispersed in every direction through the fields, +hastened to Rome by different roads, announcing a heavier loss than had +been sustained. There was less of consternation, because the result +corresponded to the apprehensions of persons; and because the +reinforcements, which they could look to in this distressing state of +things, had been prepared by the military tribune: and by his orders, +after the disturbance in the city was quieted by the inferior +magistrates, scouts were instantly despatched, and brought intelligence +that the generals and the army were at Tusculum; that the enemy had not +removed their camp. And, what raised their spirits most, Quintus +Servilius Priscus was created dictator in pursuance of a decree of the +senate; a man whose judgment in public affairs the state had experienced +as well on many previous occasions, as in the issue of that war, because +he alone had expressed his apprehensions of the result of the disputes +among the tribunes, before the occurrence of the misfortune; he having +appointed for his master of the horse, by whom, as military tribune, he +had been nominated dictator, his own son, as some have stated, (for +others mention that Ahala Servilius was master of the horse that year;) +and setting out to the war with his newly-raised army, after sending for +those who were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> at Tusculum, chose ground for his camp at the distance +of two miles from the enemy.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d47" name="d47"></a>47</div> +<p>The arrogance and negligence arising from success, which had +previously existed in the Roman generals, were now transferred to the +Æquans. Accordingly, when in the very first engagement the dictator had +thrown the enemy's van into disorder by a charge of his cavalry, he +immediately ordered the infantry to advance, and slew one of his own +standard-bearers who hesitated in so doing. So great was the ardour to +fight, that the Æquans did not stand the shock; and when, vanquished in +the field, they made for their camp in a precipitate flight, the taking +of it was shorter in time and less in trouble than the battle had been. +After the camp had been taken and plundered, and the dictator had given +up the spoil to the soldiers, and the cavalry, who had pursued the enemy +in their flight, brought back intelligence that all the Lavicanians were +vanquished, and that a considerable number of the Æquans had fled to +Lavici, the army was marched to Lavici on the following day; and the +town, being invested on all sides, was taken by storm and plundered. The +dictator, having marched back his victorious army to Rome, resigned his +office on the eighth day after he had been appointed; and before +agrarian disturbances could be raised by the tribunes of the commons, +allusion having been made to a division of the Lavicanian land, the +senate very opportunely voted in full assembly that a colony should be +conducted to Lavici. One thousand five hundred colonists were sent from +the city, and received each two acres. Lavici being taken, and +subsequently Agrippa Menenius Lanatus, and Lucius Servilius Structus, +and Publius Lucretius Tricipitinus, all these a second time, and Spurius +Rutilius Crassus being military tribunes with consular authority, and on +the following year Aulus Sempronius Atratinus a third time, and Marcus +Papirius Mugillanus and Spurius Nautius Rutilus both a second time, +affairs abroad were peaceable for two years, but at home there was +dissension from the agrarian laws.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d48" name="d48"></a>48</div> +<p>The disturbers of the commons were Spurius Mæcilius a fourth time, +and Spurius Mætilius a third time, tribunes of the people, both elected +during their absence. And after they had proposed a bill, that the land +taken from the enemy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> should be divided man by man, and the property of +a considerable part of the nobles would be confiscated by such a +measure; for there was scarcely any of the land, considering the city +itself was built on a strange soil, that had not been acquired by arms; +nor had any other persons except the commons possession of that which +had been sold or publicly assigned, a violent contest between the +commons and patricians seemed to be at hand; nor did the military +tribunes discover either in the senate, or in the private meetings of +the nobles, any line of conduct to pursue; when Appius Claudius, the +grandson of him who had been decemvir for compiling the laws, being the +youngest senator of the meeting, is stated to have said; "that he +brought from home an old and a family scheme, for that his +great-grandfather, Appius Claudius, had shown the patricians one method +of baffling tribunitian power by the protests of their colleagues; that +men of low rank were easily led away from their opinions by the +influence of men of distinction, if language were addressed to them +suitable to the times, rather than to the dignity of the speakers. That +their sentiments were regulated by their circumstances. When they should +see that their colleagues, having the start in introducing the measure, +had engrossed to themselves the whole credit of it with the commons, and +that no room was left for them, that they would without reluctance +incline to the interest of the senate, through which they may conciliate +the favour not only of the principal senators, but of the whole body." +All expressing their approbation, and above all, Quintius Servilius +Priscus eulogizing the youth, because he had not degenerated from the +Claudian race, a charge is given, that they should gain over as many of +the college of the tribunes as they could, to enter protests. On the +breaking up of the senate the tribunes are applied to by the leading +patricians: by persuading, admonishing, and assuring them "that it would +be gratefully felt by them individually, and gratefully by the entire +senate, they prevailed on six to give in their protests." And on the +following day, when the proposition was submitted to the senate, as had +been preconcerted, concerning the sedition which Mæcilius and Mætilius +were exciting by urging a largess of a most mischievous precedent, such +speeches were delivered by the leading senators, that each declared +"that for his part he had no measure to advise, nor did he see any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> +other resource in any thing, except in the aid of the tribunes. That to +the protection of that power the republic, embarrassed as it was, fled +for succour, just as a private individual in distress. That it was +highly honourable to themselves and to their office that there resided +not in the tribuneship more strength to harass the senate and to excite +disunion among the several orders, than to resist their perverse +colleagues." Then a shout arose throughout the entire senate, when the +tribunes were appealed to from all parts of the house: then silence +being established, those who had been prepared through the interest of +the leading men, declare that they will protest against the measure +which had been proposed by their colleagues, and which the senate +considers to tend to the dissolution of the state. Thanks were returned +to the protestors by the senate. The movers of the law, having convened +a meeting, and styling their colleagues traitors to the interests of the +commons and the slaves of the consulars, and after inveighing against +them in other abusive language, relinquished the measure.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d49" name="d49"></a>49</div> +<p>The following year, on which Publius Cornelius Cossus, Caius +Valerius Potitus, Quintus Quintius Cincinnatus, Numerius Fabius +Vibulanus were military tribunes with consular power, would have brought +with it two continual wars, had not the Veientian campaign been deferred +by the religious scruples of the leaders, whose lands were destroyed, +chiefly by the ruin of the country-seats, in consequence of the Tiber +having overflowed its banks. At the same time the loss sustained three +years before prevented the Æquans from affording assistance to the +Bolani, a state belonging to their own nation. Excursions had been made +from thence on the contiguous territory of Lavici, and hostilities were +committed on the new colony. As they had expected to be able to defend +this act of aggression by the concurrent support of all the Æquans, when +deserted by their friends they lost both their town and lands, after a +war not even worth mentioning, through a siege and one slight battle. An +attempt made by Lucius Sextius, tribune of the people, to move a law by +which colonists might be sent to Bolæ also, in like manner as to Lavici, +was defeated by the protests of his colleagues, who declared openly that +they would suffer no order of the commons to be passed, unless with the +approbation of the senate. On the following year the Æquans, having +recovered Bolæ,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> and sent a colony thither, strengthened the town with +additional fortifications, the military tribunes with consular power at +Rome being Cneius Cornelius Cossus, Lucius Valerius Potitus, Quintus +Fabius Vibulanus a second time, Marcus Postumius Regillensis. The war +against the Æquans was intrusted to the latter, a man of depraved mind, +which victory manifested more effectually than war. For having with +great activity levied an army and marched it to Bolæ, after breaking +down the spirits of the Æquans in slight engagements, he at length +forced his way into the town. He then turned the contest from the enemy +to his countrymen; and when during the assault he had proclaimed, that +the plunder should belong to the soldiers, after the town was taken he +broke his word. I am more inclined to believe that this was the cause of +the displeasure of the army, than that in a city lately sacked and in a +colony still young there was less booty found than the tribune had +represented. An expression of his heard in the assembly, which was very +silly and almost insane, after he returned into the city on being sent +for on account of some tribunitian disturbances, increased this bad +feeling; on Sextus, a tribune of the commons, proposing an agrarian law, +and at the same time declaring that he would also propose that colonists +should be sent to Bolæ; for that those who had taken them by their arms +were deserving that the city and lands of Bolæ should belong to them, he +exclaimed, "Woe to my soldiers, if they are not quiet;" which words, +when heard, gave not greater offence to the assembly, than they did soon +after to the patricians. And the plebeian tribune being a sharp man and +by no means devoid of eloquence, having found among his adversaries this +haughty temper and unbridled tongue, which by irritating and exciting he +could urge into such expressions as might prove a source of odium not +only to himself, but to his cause and to the entire body, he strove to +draw Postumius into discussion more frequently than any of the college +of military tribunes. Then indeed, after so brutal and inhuman an +expression, "Romans," says he, "do ye hear him threatening woe to his +soldiers as to slaves? Yet this brute will appear to you more deserving +of so high an honour than those who send you into colonies, after having +granted to you cities and lands; who provide a settlement for your old +age, who fight against such cruel and arrogant adversaries in defence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> +of your interests. Begin then to wonder why few persons now undertake +your cause. What are they to expect from you? is it honours which you +give to your adversaries rather than to the champions of the Roman +people. You felt indignant just now, on hearing an expression of this +man? What matters that, if you will prefer this man who threatens woe to +you, to those who are desirous to secure for you lands, settlements, and +property?"</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d50" name="d50"></a>50</div> +<p>This expression of Postumius being conveyed to the soldiers, excited +in the camp much greater indignation. "Did the embezzler of the spoils +and the defrauder threaten woe also to the soldiers?" Accordingly, when +the murmur of indignation now became avowed, and the quæstor, Publius +Sestius, thought that the mutiny might be quashed by the same violence +by which it had been excited; on his sending a lictor to one of the +soldiers who was clamorous, when a tumult and scuffle arose from the +circumstance, being struck with a stone he retired from the crowd; the +person who had given the blow, further observing with a sneer, "That the +quæstor got what the general had threatened to the soldiers." Postumius +being sent for in consequence of the disturbance, exasperated every +thing by the severity of his inquiries and the cruelty of his +punishment. At last, when he set no bounds to his resentment, a crowd +collecting at the cries of those whom he had ordered to be put to death +under a hurdle, he himself madly ran down from his tribunal to those who +were interrupting the execution. There, when the lictors, endeavouring +to disperse them, as also the centurions, irritated the crowd, their +indignation burst forth to such a degree, that the military tribune was +overwhelmed with stones by his own army. When an account was brought to +Rome of so heinous a deed, the military tribunes endeavouring to procure +a decree of the senate for an inquiry into the death of their colleague, +the tribunes of the people entered their protest. But that contention +branched out of another subject of dispute; because the patricians had +become uneasy lest the commons, through dread of the inquiries and +through resentment, might elect military tribunes from their own body: +and they strove with all their might that consuls should be elected. +When the plebeian tribunes did not suffer the decree of the senate to +pass, and when they also protested against the election of consuls, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> +affair was brought to an interregnum. The victory was then on the side +of the patricians.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d51" name="d51"></a>51</div> +<p>Quintus Fabius Vibulanus, interrex, presiding in the assembly, Aulus +Cornelius Cossus, Lucius Furius Medullinus were elected consuls. During +their office, at the commencement of the year, a decree of the senate +was passed that the tribunes should, at the earliest opportunity, +propose to the commons an inquiry into the murder of Postumius, and that +the commons should appoint whomsoever they thought proper to conduct the +inquiry. The office is intrusted to the consuls by the commons with the +consent of the people at large, who, after having executed the task with +the utmost moderation and lenity by punishing only a few, who there are +sufficient grounds for believing put a period to their own lives, still +could not succeed so as to prevent the people from feeling the utmost +displeasure. "That constitutions, which were enacted for their +advantages, lay so long unexecuted; while a law passed in the mean time +regarding their blood and punishment was instantly put into execution +and possessed full force." This was a most seasonable time, after the +punishment of the mutiny, that the division of the territory of Bolæ +should be presented as a soother to their minds; by which proceeding +they would have diminished their eagerness for an agrarian law, which +tended to expel the patricians from the public land unjustly possessed +by them. Then this very indignity exasperated their minds, that the +nobility persisted not only in retaining the public lands, which they +got possession of by force, but would not even distribute to the commons +the unoccupied land lately taken from the enemy, and which would, like +the rest, soon become the prey of a few. The same year the legions were +led out by the consul Furius against the Volscians, who were ravaging +the country of the Hernicians, and finding no enemy there, they took +Ferentinum, whither a great multitude of the Volscians had betaken +themselves. There was less plunder than they had expected; because the +Volscians, seeing small hopes of keeping it, carried off their effects +and abandoned the town. It was taken on the following day, being nearly +deserted. The land itself was given to the Hernicians.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d52" name="d52"></a>52</div> +<p>The year, tranquil through the moderation of the tribunes, was +succeeded by one in which Lucius Icilius was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> plebeian tribune, Quintus +Fabius Ambustus, Caius Furius Pacilus being consuls. When this man, at +the very commencement of the year, began to excite disturbances by the +publication of agrarian laws, as if such was the task of his name and +family, a pestilence broke out, more alarming however than deadly, which +diverted men's thoughts from the forum and political disputes to their +domestic concerns and the care of their personal health; and persons +think that it was less mischievous than the disturbance would have +proved. The state being freed from this (which was attended) with a very +general spread of illness, though very few deaths, the year of +pestilence was followed by a scarcity of grain, the cultivation of the +land having been neglected, as usually happens, Marcus Papirius +Atratinus, Caius Nautius Rutilus being consuls. The famine would now +have proved more dismal than the pestilence, had not the scarcity been +relieved by sending envoys around all the states, which border on the +Tuscan Sea and the Tiber, to purchase the corn. The envoys were +prevented from trading in an insolent manner by the Samnitians, who were +in possession of Capua and Cumæ; on the contrary, they were kindly +assisted by the tyrants of Sicily. The Tiber brought down the greatest +supplies, through the very active zeal of the Etrurians. In consequence +of the sickness, the consuls laboured under a paucity of hands in +conducting the government; when not finding more than one senator for +each embassy, they were obliged to attach to it two knights. Except from +the pestilence and the scarcity, there was no internal or external +annoyance during those two years. But as soon as these causes of anxiety +disappeared, all those evils by which the state had hitherto been +distressed, started up, discord at home, war abroad.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d53" name="d53"></a>53</div> +<p>In the consulship of Mamercus Æmilius and Caius Valerius Potitus, +the Æquans made preparations for war; the Volscians, though not by +public authority, taking up arms, and entering the service as volunteers +for pay. When on the report of these enemies having started up, (for +they had now passed into the Latin and Hernican land,) Marcus Mænius, a +proposer of an agrarian law, would obstruct Valerius the consul when +holding a levy, and when no one took the military oath against his own +will under the protection of the tribune; an account is suddenly brought +that the citadel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> of Carventa had been seized by the enemy. The disgrace +incurred by this event was both a source of odium to Mænius in the hands +of the fathers, and it moreover afforded to the other tribunes, already +pre-engaged as protestors against an agrarian law, a more justifiable +pretext for resisting their colleague. Wherefore after the matter had +been protracted for a long time by wrangling, the consuls calling gods +and men to witness, that whatever disgrace or loss had either been +already sustained or hung over them from the enemy, the blame of it +would be imputed to Mænius, who hindered the levy; Mænius, on the other +hand, exclaiming "that if the unjust occupiers would yield up possession +of the public land, he would cause no delay to the levy:" the nine +tribunes interposing a decree, put an end to the contest; and they +proclaimed as the determination of their college, "that they would, for +the purposes of the levy, in opposition to the protest of their +colleague, afford their aid to Caius Valerius the consul in inflicting +fines and other penalties on those who refused to enlist." When the +consul, armed with this decree, ordered into prison a few who appealed +to the tribune, the rest took the military oath from fear. The army was +marched to the citadel of Carventa, and though hated by and disliking +the consul, they on their first arrival recovered the citadel in a +spirited manner, having dislodged those who were protecting it; some in +quest of plunder having straggled away through carelessness from the +garrison, afforded an opportunity for attacking them. There was +considerable booty from the constant devastations, because all had been +collected into a safe place. This the consul ordered the quæstors to +sell by auction and carry it into the treasury, declaring that the army +should then participate in the booty, when they had not declined the +service. The exasperation of the commons and soldiers against the consul +was then augmented. Accordingly, when by a decree of the senate the +consul entered the city in an ovation, rude verses in couplets were +thrown out with military licence; in which the consul was severely +handled, whilst the name of Mænius was cried up with encomiums, when at +every mention of the tribune the attachment of the surrounding people +vied by their applause and commendation with the loud praises of the +soldiers. And that circumstance occasioned more anxiety to the +patricians, than the wanton raillery of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> soldiers against the +consul, which was in a manner a usual thing; and the election of Mænius +among the military tribunes being deemed as no longer questionable, if +he should become a candidate, he was kept out of it by an election for +consuls being appointed.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d54" name="d54"></a>54</div> +<p>Cneius Cornelius Cossus and Lucius Furius Medullinus were elected +consuls. The commons were not on any other occasion more dissatisfied at +the election of tribunes not being conceded to them. This sense of +annoyance they both manifested at the nomination of quæstors, and +avenged by then electing plebeians for the first time as quæstors; so +that in electing four, room was left for only one patrician; whilst +three plebeians, Quintus Silius, Publius Aelius, and Publius Pupius, +were preferred to young men of the most illustrious families. I learn +that the principal advisers of the people, in this so independent a +bestowing of their suffrage, were the Icilii, three out of this family +most hostile to the patricians having been elected tribunes of the +commons for that year, by their holding out the grand prospect of many +and great achievements to the people, who became consequently most +ardent; after they had affirmed that they would not stir a step, if the +people would not, even at the election of quæstors, the only one which +the senate had left open to the commons and patricians, evince +sufficient spirit to accomplish that which they had so long wished for, +and which was allowed by the laws. This therefore the people considered +an important victory; and that quæstorship they estimated not by the +extent of the honour itself; but an access seemed opened to new men to +the consulship and the honours of a triumph. The patricians, on the +other hand, expressed their indignation not so much at the honours of +the state being shared, but at their being lost; they said that, "if +matters be so, children need no longer be educated; who being driven +from the station of their ancestors, and seeing others in the possession +of their dignity, would be left without command or power, as mere salii +and flamens, with no other employment than to offer sacrifices for the +people." The minds of both parties being irritated, since the commons +had both assumed new courage, and had now three leaders of the most +distinguished reputation for the popular side; the patricians seeing +that the result of all the elections would be similar to that for +quæstors,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> wherever the people had the choice from both sides, strove +vigorously for the election of consuls, which was not yet open to them. +The Icilii, on the contrary, said that military tribunes should be +elected, and that posts of honour should be at length imparted to the +commons.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d55" name="d55"></a>55</div> +<p>But the consuls had no proceeding on hand, by opposing which they +could extort that which they desired; when by an extraordinary and +favourable occurrence an account is brought that the Volscians and +Æquans had proceeded beyond their frontiers into the Latin and Hernican +territory to commit depredations. For which war when the consuls +commence to hold a levy in pursuance of a decree of the senate, the +tribunes then strenuously opposed them, affirming that such a fortunate +opportunity was presented to them and to the commons. There were three, +and all very active men, and of respectable families, considering they +were plebeians. Two of them choose each a consul, to be watched by them +with unremitting assiduity; to one is assigned the charge sometimes of +restraining, sometimes of exciting, the commons by his harangues. +Neither the consuls effected the levy, nor the tribunes the election +which they desired. Then fortune inclining to the cause of the people, +expresses arrive that the Æquans had attacked the citadel of Carventa, +the soldiers who were in garrison having straggled away in quest of +plunder, and had put to death the few left to guard it; that others were +slain as they were returning to the citadel, and others who were +dispersed through the country. This circumstance, prejudicial to the +state, added force to the project of the tribunes. For, assailed by +every argument to no purpose that they would then at length desist from +obstructing the war, when they yielded neither to the public storm, nor +to the odium themselves, they succeed so far as to have a decree of the +senate passed for the election of military tribunes; with an express +stipulation, however, that no candidate should be considered, who was +tribune of the people that year, and that no one should be re-elected +plebeian tribune for the year following; the senate undoubtedly pointing +at the Icilians, whom they suspected of aiming at the consular +tribuneship as the reward of their turbulent tribuneship of the commons. +Then the levy began to proceed, and preparations for war began to be +made with the concurrence of all ranks. The diversity of the state<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span>ments +of writers leaves it uncertain whether both the consuls set out for the +citadel of Carventa, or whether one remained behind to hold the +elections; those facts in which they do not disagree are to be received +as certain, that they retired from the citadel of Carventa, after having +carried on the attack for a long time to no purpose: that Verrugo in the +Volscian country was taken by the same army, and that great devastation +had been made, and considerable booty captured both amongst the Æquans +and in the Volscian territory.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d56" name="d56"></a>56</div> +<p>At Rome, as the commons gained the victory so far as to have the +kind of elections which they preferred, so in the issue of the elections +the patricians were victorious; for, contrary to the expectation of all, +three patricians were elected military tribunes with consular power, +Caius Julius Julus, Publius Cornelius Cossus, Caius Servilius Ahala. +They say that an artifice was employed by the patricians (with which the +Icilii charged them even at the time); that by intermixing a crowd of +unworthy candidates with the deserving, they turned away the thoughts of +the people from the plebeian through the disgust excited by the +remarkable meanness of some. Then tidings are brought that the Volscians +and Æquans, whether the retention of the citadel of Carventa raised +their hopes, or the loss of the garrison at Verrugo excited their +resentment, united in making preparations for war with the utmost +energy: that the Antians were the chief promoters of the project; that +their ambassadors had gone about the states of both these nations, +upbraiding their dastardly conduct; that shut up within their walls, +they had on the preceding year suffered the Romans to carry their +depredations throughout their country, and the garrison of Verrugo to be +overpowered. That now not only armed troops but colonies also were sent +into their territories; and that not only the Romans distributed among +themselves and kept their property, but that they had made a present to +the Hernici of Ferentinum what had been taken from them. After their +minds were inflamed by these remonstrances, according as they made +applications to each, a great number of young men were enlisted. Thus +the youth of all the states were drawn together to Antium: there they +pitched their camp and awaited the enemy. When these accounts are +reported at Rome with much greater alarm than the circumstance +warranted, the senate instantly ordered a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> dictator to be nominated, +which was their last resource in perilous circumstances. They say that +Julius and Cornelius were much offended at this proceeding, and that the +matter was accomplished with great warmth of temper: when the leading +men of the patricians, complaining fruitlessly that the military +tribunes would not conform to the judgment of the senate, at last +appealed even to the tribunes of the commons, and stated that force had +been used even with the consuls by that body on a similar occasion. The +plebeian tribunes, overjoyed at the dissension among the patricians, +said, "that there was no support in persons who were not held in the +rank of citizens, nor even of human beings; if ever the posts of honour +were open, and the administration of government were shared, that they +should then see that the decrees of the senate should not be invalidated +by the arrogance of magistrates; that in the mean while, the patricians, +unrestrained as they were by respect for laws or magistrates, must +manage the tribunitian office also by themselves."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d57" name="d57"></a>57</div> +<p>This contention occupied men's thoughts at a most unseasonable time, +when a war of such importance was on hand: until when Julius and +Cornelius descanted for a long time by turns, on "how unjust it was that +a post of honour conferred on them by the people was now to be wrested +from them, since they were generals sufficiently qualified to conduct +that war." Then Ahala Servilius, military tribune, says, "that he had +remained silent for so long a time, not because he was uncertain as to +his opinion, (for what good citizen can separate his own interests from +those of the public,) but because he wished that his colleagues should +of their own accord yield to the authority of the senate, rather than +suffer the tribunitian power to be suppliantly appealed to against them. +That even then, if circumstances permitted, he would still give them +time to retract an opinion too pertinaciously adhered to. But since the +exigences of war do not await the counsels of men, that the public weal +was of deeper importance to him than the good will of his colleagues, +and if the senate continued in the same sentiments, he would, on the +following night, nominate a dictator; and if any one protested against a +decree of the senate being passed, that he would be content with its +authority."<a name="FNanchor_158_158" id="FNanchor_158_158"></a><a href="#Footnote_158_158" class="fnanchor">[158]</a> When by this conduct he bore away the well<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span>-merited +praises and good will of all, having named Publius Cornelius dictator, +he himself being appointed by him as master of the horse, served as an +instance to those who considered his case and that of his colleagues, +how much more attainable public favour and honour sometimes were to +those who evinced no desire for them. The war was in no respect a +memorable one. The enemy were beaten at Antium in one, and that an easy +battle; the victorious army laid waste the Volscian territory; their +fort at the lake Fucinus was taken by storm, and in it three thousand +men made prisoners; the rest of the Volscians being driven within the +walls, and not defending the lands. The dictator having conducted the +war in such a manner as to show that he was not negligent of fortune's +favours, returned to the city with a greater share of success than of +glory, and resigned his office. The military tribunes, without making +any mention of an election of consuls, (through pique, I suppose, for +the appointment of a dictator,) issued a proclamation for the election +of military tribunes. Then indeed the perplexity of the patricians +became still greater, as seeing their cause betrayed by their own party. +Wherefore, as on the year before, by bringing forward as candidates the +most unworthy individuals from amongst the plebeians, they produced a +disgust against all, even those who were deserving; so then by engaging +such of the patricians as were most distinguished by the splendour of +their character and by their influence to stand as candidates, they +secured all the places; so that no plebeian could get in. Four were +elected, all of them men who had already served the office, Lucius +Furius Medullinus, Caius Valerius Potitus, Numerius Fabius Vibulanus, +Caius Servilius Ahala. The last had the honour continued to him by +re-election, as well in consequence of his other deserts, as on account +of his recent popularity, acquired by his singular moderation.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d58" name="d58"></a>58</div> +<p>In that year, because the term of the truce with the Veientian +nation was expired, restitution began to be demanded through ambassadors +and heralds, who on coming to the frontiers were met by an embassy from +the Veientians. They requested that they would not proceed to Veii, +until<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span> they should first have access to the Roman senate. They obtained +from the senate, that, because the Veientians were distressed by +intestine dissension, restitution would not be demanded from them; so +far were they from seeking, in the troubles of others, an opportunity +for advancing their own interest. In the Volscian territory also a +disaster was sustained in the loss of the garrison at Verrugo; where so +much depended on time, that when the soldiers who were besieged there, +and were calling for succour, might have been relieved, if expedition +had been used, the army sent to their aid only came in time to surprise +the enemy, who were straggling in quest of plunder, just after their +putting [the garrison] to the sword. The cause of the dilatoriness was +less referrible to the tribunes than to the senate, who, because word +was brought that they were holding out with the most vigorous +resistance, did not duly reflect that there is a limit to human +strength, which no bravery can exceed. These very gallant soldiers, +however, were not without revenge, both before and after their death. In +the following year, Publius and Cneius Cornelius Cossus, Numerius Fabius +Ambustus, and Lucius Valerius Potitus, being military tribunes with +consular power, the Veientian war was commenced on account of an +insolent answer of the Veientian senate, who, when the ambassadors +demanded restitution, ordered them to be told, that if they did not +speedily quit the city and the territories, they should give them what +Lars Tolumnius had given them. The senate, indignant at this, decreed +that the military tribunes should, on as early a day as possible, +propose to the people the proclaiming war against the Veientians. When +this was first made public, the young men expressed their +dissatisfaction. "That the war with the Volscians was not yet over; that +a little time ago two garrisons were utterly destroyed, and that [one of +the forts] was with great risk retained. That there was not a year in +which they had not to fight in the field: and, as if they were +dissatisfied at the insufficiency of these toils, a new war was now set +on foot with a neighbouring and most powerful nation, who were likely to +rouse all Etruria." These discontents, first discussed among themselves, +were further aggravated by the plebeian tribunes. These constantly +affirm that the war of the greatest moment was that between the +patricians and commons. That the latter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> was designedly harassed by +military service, and exposed to be butchered by the enemy; that they +were kept at a distance from the enemy, and as it were banished, lest +during the enjoyment of rest at home, mindful of liberty and of +establishing colonies, they may form plans for obtaining some of the +public land, or for giving their suffrages freely; and taking hold of +the veterans, they recounted the campaigns of each, and their wounds and +scars, frequently asking what sound spot was there on their body for the +reception of new wounds? what blood had they remaining which could be +shed for the commonwealth? When by discussing these subjects in private +conversations, and also in public harangues, they produced in the people +an aversion to undertaking a war, the time for proposing the law was +adjourned; which would obviously have been rejected, if it had been +subjected to the feeling of discontent then prevailing.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d59" name="d59"></a>59</div> +<p>In the mean time it was determined that the military tribunes should +lead an army into the Volscian territory. Cneius Cornelius alone was +left at Rome. The three tribunes, when it became evident that the +Volscians had not established a camp any where, and that they would not +venture an engagement, separated into three different parties to lay +waste the country. Valerius makes for Antium, Cornelius for Ecetræ. +Wherever they came, they committed extensive devastations on the houses +and lands, so as to separate the Volscians: Fabius, without committing +any devastation, proceeded to attack Auxur, which was a principal object +in view. Auxur is the town now called Tarracinæ; a city built on a +declivity leading to a morass: Fabius made a feint of attacking it on +that side. When four cohorts sent round under Caius Servilius Ahala took +possession of a hill which commanded the city, they attacked the walls +with a loud shout and tumult, from the higher ground where there was no +guard of defence. Those who were defending the lower parts of the city +against Fabius, astounded at this tumult, afforded him an opportunity of +applying the scaling ladders, and every place soon became filled with +the enemy, and a dreadful slaughter continued for a long time, +indiscriminately of those who fled and those who resisted, of the armed +or unarmed. The vanquished were therefore obliged to fight, there being +no hope for those who gave way, when a pro<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span>clamation suddenly issued, +that no persons except those with arms in their hands should be injured, +induced all the remaining multitude voluntarily to lay down their arms; +of whom two thousand five hundred are taken alive. Fabius kept his +soldiers from the spoil, until his colleagues should come; affirming +that Auxur had been taken by these armies also, who had diverted the +other Volscian troops from the defence of that place. When they came, +the three armies plundered the town, which was enriched with wealth of +many years' accumulation; and this generosity of the commanders first +reconciled the commons to the patricians. It was afterwards added, by a +liberality towards the people on the part of the leading men the most +seasonable ever shown, that before any mention should be made of it by +the commons or tribunes, the senate should decree that the soldiers +should receive pay out of the public treasury, whereas up to that period +every one had discharged that duty at his own expense.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d60" name="d60"></a>60</div> +<p>It is recorded that nothing was ever received by the commons with so +much joy; that they ran in crowds to the senate-house, and caught the +hands of those coming out, and called them fathers indeed; acknowledging +that the result of such conduct was that no one would spare his person +or his blood, whilst he had any strength remaining, in defence of a +country so liberal. Whilst the prospect of advantage pleased them, that +their private property should remain unimpaired at the time during which +their bodies should be devoted and employed for the interest of the +commonwealth, it further increased their joy very much, and rendered +their gratitude for the favour more complete, because it had been +offered to them voluntarily, without ever having been agitated by the +tribunes of the commons, or made the subject of a demand in their own +conversations. The tribunes of the commons, the only parties who did not +participate in the general joy and harmony prevailing through the +different ranks, denied "that this measure would prove so much a matter +of joy, or so honourable to the patricians,<a name="FNanchor_159_159" id="FNanchor_159_159"></a><a href="#Footnote_159_159" class="fnanchor">[159]</a> as they themselves +might imagine. That the measure at first sight was better than it would +prove by experience. For from what source was that money to be raised, +except by levying a tax on the people.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> That they were generous to some +therefore at the expense of others; and even though others may endure +it, those who had already served out their time in the service, would +never endure that others should serve on better terms than they +themselves had served; and that these same individuals should have to +bear the expense of their own service, and then that of others." By +these arguments they influenced a part of the commons. At last, when the +tax was now announced, the tribunes publicly declared, that they would +afford protection to any one who should refuse to contribute his +proportion for the pay of the soldiers. The patricians persisted in +supporting a matter so happily commenced. They themselves were the first +to contribute; and because there was as yet no coined silver, some of +them conveying their weighed brass to the treasury in waggons, rendered +their contribution very showy. After the senate had contributed with the +utmost punctuality according to their rated properties, the principal +plebeians, friends of the nobility, according to a concerted plan, began +to contribute. And when the populace saw these men highly applauded by +the patricians, and also looked up to as good citizens by men of the +military age, scorning the support of the tribunes, an emulation +commenced at once about paying the tax. And the law being passed about +declaring war against the Veientians, the new military tribunes with +consular power marched to Veii an army consisting in a great measure of +volunteers.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="d61" name="d61"></a>61</div> +<p>The tribunes were Titus Quintius Capitolinus, Publius Quintius +Cincinnatus, Caius Julius Julus a second time, Aulus Manlius, Lucius +Furius Medullinus a second time, and Manius Æmilius Mamercinus. By these +Veii was first invested. A little before the commencement of this siege, +when a full meeting of the Etrurians was held at the temple of Voltumna, +it was not finally determined whether the Veientians were to be +supported by the public concurrence of the whole confederacy. The siege +was less vigorous in the following year, some of the tribunes and their +army being called off to the Volscian war. The military tribunes with +consular power in this year were Caius Valerius Potitus a third time, +Manius Largius Fidenas, Publius Cornelius Maluginensis, Cneius Cornelius +Cossus, Kæso Fabius Ambustus, Spurius Nautius Rutilus a second time. A +pitched battle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> was fought with the Volscians between Ferentinum and +Ecetra; the result of the battle was favourable to the Romans. Artena +then, a town of the Volscians, began to be besieged by the tribunes. +Thence during an attempt at a sally, the enemy being driven back into +the town, an opportunity was afforded to the Romans of forcing in; and +every place was taken except the citadel. Into the fortress, well +protected by nature, a body of armed men retired. Beneath the fortress +many were slain and made prisoners. The citadel was then besieged; nor +could it either be taken by storm, because it had a garrison sufficient +for the size of the place, nor did it hold out any hope of surrender, +all the public corn having been conveyed to the citadel before the city +was taken; and they would have retired from it, being wearied out, had +not a slave betrayed the fortress to the Romans: the soldiers being +admitted by him through a place difficult of access, took it; by whom +when the guards were being killed, the rest of the multitude, +overpowered with sudden panic, surrendered. After demolishing both the +citadel and city of Artena, the legions were led back from the Volscian +territory; and the whole Roman power was turned against Veii. To the +traitor, besides his freedom, the property of two families was given as +a reward. His name was Servius Romanus. There are some who think that +Artena belonged to the Veientians, not to the Volscians. What occasions +the mistake is that there was a city of the same name between Cære and +Veii. But the Roman kings destroyed it; and it belonged to the +Cæretians, not to the Veientians. The other of the same name, the +demolition of which has been mentioned, was in the Volscian territory.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="book5" id="book5"></a>BOOK V.</h2> + +<div class="chapmen"><a href="#e1">1</a> <a href="#e2">2</a> <a href="#e3">3</a> + + <a href="#e4">4</a> <a href="#e5">5</a> <a href="#e6">6</a> <a href="#e7">7</a> + + <a href="#e8">8</a> <a href="#e9">9</a> <a href="#e10">10</a> <a href="#e11">11</a> + + <a href="#e12">12</a> <a href="#e13">13</a> <a href="#e14">14</a> <a href="#e15">15</a> + + <a href="#e16">16</a> <a href="#e17">17</a> <a href="#e18">18</a> <a href="#e19">19</a> + + <a href="#e20">20</a> <a href="#e21">21</a> <a href="#e22">22</a> <a href="#e23">23</a> + + <a href="#e24">24</a> <a href="#e25">25</a> <a href="#e26">26</a> <a href="#e27">27</a> + + <a href="#e28">28</a> <a href="#e29">29</a> <a href="#e30">30</a> <a href="#e31">31</a> + + <a href="#e32">32</a> <a href="#e33">33</a> <a href="#e34">34</a> <a href="#e35">35</a> + + <a href="#e36">36</a> <a href="#e37">37</a> <a href="#e38">38</a> <a href="#e39">39</a> + + <a href="#e40">40</a> <a href="#e41">41</a> <a href="#e42">42</a> <a href="#e43">43</a> + + <a href="#e44">44</a> <a href="#e45">45</a> <a href="#e46">46</a> <a href="#e47">47</a> + + <a href="#e48">48</a> <a href="#e49">49</a> <a href="#e50">50</a> <a href="#e51">51</a> + + <a href="#e52">52</a> <a href="#e53">53</a> <a href="#e54">54</a> <a href="#e55">55</a></div> + + +<div class="bookdes"><p><i>During the siege of Veii winter dwellings erected for the +soldiers. This being a novelty, affords the tribunes of the people +a pretext for exciting discontent. The cavalry for the first time +serve on horses of their own. Furius Camillus, dictator, takes Veii +after a siege of ten years. In the character of military tribune, +whilst laying siege to Falisci, he sends back the children of the +enemy, who were betrayed into his hands. Furius Camillus, on a day +being appointed for his trial, goes into exile. The Senonian Gauls +lay siege to Clusium. Roman ambassadors, sent to mediate peace +between the Clusians and Gauls, are found to take part with the +former; in consequence of which the Gauls march directly against +Rome, and after defeating the Romans at Allia take possession of +the city with the exception of the Capitol. They scaled the Capitol +by night, but are discovered by the cackling of geese, and +repulsed, chiefly by the exertions of Marcus Manlius. The Romans, +compelled by famine, agree to ransom themselves. Whilst the gold is +being weighed to them, Camillus, who had been appointed dictator, +arrives with an army, expels the Gauls, and destroys their army. He +successfully opposes the design of removing to Veii.</i></p></div> + + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e1" name="e1"></a>1</div> +<p>Peace being established in every other quarter, the Romans and +Veientians were still in arms with such rancour and animosity, that it +was evident that ruin awaited the vanquished party. The elections in the +two states were conducted in very different methods. The Romans +augmented the number of military tribunes with consular power. Eight, a +number greater than on any previous occasion, were appointed, Manius +Æmilius Mamercinus a second time, Lucius Valerius Potitus a third time, +Appius Claudius Crassus, Marcus Quintilius Varus, Lucius Julius Iulus, +Marcus Postumius, Marcus Furius Camillus, Marcus Postumius Albinus. The +Veientians, on the contrary, through disgust at the annual intriguing +which was sometimes the cause of dissensions, elected a king. That step +gave offence to the feelings of the states of Etruria, not more from +their hatred of kingly government than of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> king himself. He had +before this become obnoxious to the nation by reason of his wealth and +arrogance, because he had violently broken off the performance of some +annual games, the omission of which was deemed an impiety: when through +resentment of a repulse, because another had been preferred to him as a +priest by the suffrages of the twelve states, he suddenly carried off, +in the middle of the performance, the performers, of whom a great part +were his own slaves. The nation, therefore, devoted beyond all others to +religious performances, because they excelled in the method of +conducting them, passed a decree that aid should be refused to the +Veientians, as long as they should be subject to a king. All allusion to +this decree was suppressed at Veii through fear of the king, who would +have considered the person by whom any such matter might be mentioned as +a leader of sedition, not as the author of an idle rumour. Although +matters were announced to the Romans as being quiet in Etruria, yet +because it was stated that this matter was being agitated in all their +meetings, they so managed their fortifications, that there should be +security on both sides; some were directed towards the city and the +sallies of the townsmen; by means of others a front looking towards +Etruria was opposed to such auxiliaries as might happen to come from +thence.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e2" name="e2"></a>2</div> +<p>When the Roman generals conceived greater hopes from a blockade than +from an assault, winter huts also, a thing quite new to the Roman +soldier, began to be built; and their determination was to continue the +war by wintering there. After an account of this was brought to Rome to +the tribunes of the people, who for a long time past had found no +pretext for exciting disturbances, they run forward into the assembly, +stir up the minds of the commons, saying that "this was the motive for +which pay had been established for the soldiers, nor had it escaped +their knowledge, that such a present from the enemies was tainted with +poison. That the liberty of the commons had been sold; that their youth +removed for ever, and exiled from the city and the republic, did not now +even yield to the winter and to the season of the year, and visit their +homes and private affairs. What could they suppose was the cause for +continuing the service without intermission? That undoubtedly they +should find none other than [the fear] lest any thing might be done in +furtherance of their interests by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> the attendance of those youths in +whom the entire strength of the commons lay. Besides that they were +harassed and worked much more severely than the Veientians. For the +latter spent the winter beneath their own roofs, defending their city by +strong walls and its natural situation, whilst the Roman soldier, in the +midst of toil and hardship, continued beneath the covering of skins, +overwhelmed with snow and frost, not laying aside his arms even during +the period of winter, which is a respite from all wars by land and sea. +Neither kings, nor those consuls, tyrannical as they were before the +institution of the tribunitian office, nor the stern authority of the +dictator, nor the overbearing decemvirs, ever imposed such slavery as +that they should perform unremitting military service, which degree of +regal power the military tribunes now exercised over the Roman commons. +What would these men have done as consuls or dictators, who have +exhibited the picture of the proconsular office so implacable and +menacing? but that all this happened justly. Among eight military +tribunes there was no room even for one plebeian. Formerly the +patricians filled up three places with the utmost difficulty; now they +went in file eight deep to take possession of the various offices; and +not even in such a crowd is any plebeian intermixed; who, if he did no +other good, might remind his colleagues, that it was freemen and fellow +citizens, and not slaves, that constituted the army, who ought to be +brought back during winter at least to their homes and roofs; and to +come and see at some part of the year their parents, children, and +wives, and to exercise the rights of freedom, and to take part in +electing magistrates." While they exclaimed in these and such terms, +they found in Appius Claudius an opponent not unequal to them, who had +been left behind by his colleagues to check the turbulence of the +tribunes; a man trained even from his youth in contests with the +plebeians; who several year's before, as has been mentioned, recommended +the dissolution of the tribunitian power by means of the protests of +their colleagues.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e3" name="e3"></a>3</div> +<p>He, not only endowed with good natural powers, but well trained also +by experience, on that particular occasion, delivered the following +address: "If, Romans, there was ever reason to doubt, whether the +tribunes of the people have ever promoted sedition for your sake or +their own, I am certain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span> that in the course of this year that doubt must +have ceased to exist; and while I rejoice that an end has at length come +of a mistake of such long continuance, I in the next place congratulate +you, and on your account the republic, that this delusion has been +removed during a course of prosperous events. Is there any person who +can feel a doubt that the tribunes of the commons were never so highly +displeased and provoked by any wrongs done to you, if ever such did +happen, as by the munificence of the patricians to the commons, when pay +was established for those serving in the army. What else do you suppose +that they either then dreaded, or now wish to disturb, except the union +between the orders, which they think contributes most to the dissolution +of the tribunitian power? Thus, by Jove, like workers in iniquity, they +are seeking for work, who also wish that there should be always some +diseased part in the republic, that there may be something for the cure +of which they may be employed by you. For, [tribunes,] whether do you +defend or attack the commons? whether are you the enemies of those in +the service, or do you plead their cause? Unless perhaps you say, +whatever the patricians do, displeases us; whether it is for the +commons, or against the commons; and just as masters forbid their slaves +to have any dealing with those belonging to others, and deem it right +that they should equally refrain from having any commerce with them, +either for kindness or unkindness; ye, in like manner, interdict us the +patricians from all intercourse with the people, lest by our +courteousness and munificence we may challenge their regard, and they +become tractable and obedient to our direction. And if there were in you +any thing of the feeling, I say not of fellow-citizens, but of human +beings, how much more ought you to favour, and, as far as in you lay, to +promote rather the kindly demeanour of the patricians and the +tractability of the commons! And if such concord were once permanent, +who would not venture to engage, that this empire would in a short time +become the highest among the neighbouring states?</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e4" name="e4"></a>4</div> +<p>"I shall hereafter explain to you how not only expedient, but even +necessary has been this plan of my colleagues, according to which they +would not draw off the army from Veii until the business has been +completed. For the present I am disposed to speak concerning the +condition of the soldiers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span> Which observations of mine I think would +appear reasonable not only before you, but even, if they were delivered +in the camp, in the opinion of the soldiers themselves; on which subject +if nothing could suggest itself to my own mind to say, I certainly +should be satisfied with that which is suggested by the arguments of my +adversaries. They lately said, that pay should not be given to the +soldiers because it had never been given. How then can they now feel +displeased, that additional labour should be imposed in due proportion +on those to whom some addition of profit has been added? In no case is +there either labour without emolument, nor emolument in general without +the expense of labour. Toil and pleasure, in their natures most unlike, +are yet linked together by a sort of natural connexion. Formerly the +soldier thought it a hardship that he gave his labour to the +commonwealth at his own expense; at the same time he was glad for a part +of the year to till his own ground; to acquire that means whence he +might support himself and family at home and in war. Now he feels a +pleasure that the republic is a source of advantage to him, and gladly +receives his pay. Let him therefore bear with patience that he is a +little longer absent from home and his family affairs, to which no heavy +expense is now attached. Whether if the commonwealth should call him to +a settlement of accounts, would it not justly say, You have pay by the +year, perform labour by the year? do you think it just to receive a +whole year's pay for six months' service? Romans, with reluctance do I +dwell on this topic; for so ought those persons proceed who employ +mercenary troops. But we wish to treat as with fellow-citizens, and we +think it only just that you treat with us as with the country. Either +the war should not have been undertaken, or it ought to be conducted +suitably to the dignity of the Roman people, and brought to a close as +soon as possible. But it will be brought to a conclusion if we press on +the besieged; if we do not retire until we have consummated our hopes by +the capture of Veii. In truth, if there were no other motive, the very +discredit of the thing should impose on us perseverance. In former times +a city was kept besieged for ten years, on account of one woman, by all +Greece. At what a distance from their homes! how many lands, how many +seas distant! We grumble at enduring a siege of a year's duration within +twenty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span> miles of us, almost within sight of our own city; because, I +suppose, the cause of the war is trifling, nor is there resentment +sufficiently just to stimulate us to persevere. Seven times they have +rebelled: in peace they never acted faithfully. They have laid waste our +lands a thousand times: the Fidenatians they forced to revolt from us: +they have put to death our colonists there: contrary to the law of +nations, they have been the instigators of the impious murder of our +ambassadors: they wished to excite all Etruria against us, and are at +this day busily employed at it; and they scarcely refrained from +violating our ambassadors when demanding restitution. With such people +ought war to be conducted in a remiss and dilatory manner?</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e5" name="e5"></a>5</div> +<p>"If such just resentment have no influence with us, will not, I +entreat you, the following considerations influence you? Their city has +been enclosed with immense works, by which the enemy is confined within +their walls. They have not tilled their land, and what was previously +tilled has been laid waste in the war. If we withdraw our army, who is +there who can doubt that they will invade our territory not only from a +desire of revenge, but from the necessity also imposed on them of +plundering from the property of others, since they have lost their own? +By such measures then we do not put off the war, but admit it within our +own frontiers. What shall I say of that which properly interests the +soldiers, for whose interests those worthy tribunes of the commons, all +on a sudden, are now so anxious to provide, after they have endeavoured +to wrest their pay from them? How does it stand? They have formed a +rampart and a trench, both works of great labour, through so great an +extent of ground; they have erected forts, at first only a few, +afterwards very many, when the army became increased; they have raised +defenders not only towards the city, but towards Etruria also, against +any succours which may come from thence. What need I mention towers, +vineæ, and testudines, and the other apparatus used in attacking towns? +When so much labour has been expended, and they have now at length +reached the end of the work, do you think that all these preparations +should be abandoned that, next summer, the same course of toil may have +to be undergone again in forming them anew? How much less trouble to +support the works already<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span> done, and to press on and persevere, and to +get rid of our task! For certainly the matter is of short duration, if +it be conducted with a uniform course of exertions; nor do we by these +intermissions and interruptions expedite the attainment of our hopes. I +am now speaking of labour and of loss of time. What? do these such +frequent meetings in Etruria on the subject of sending aid to Veii +suffer us to disregard the danger which we encounter by procrastinating +the war? As matters stand now, they are incensed, they dislike them, +they refuse to send any; as far as they are concerned, we are at liberty +to take Veii. Who can promise that their temper will be the same +hereafter, if the war is suspended? when, if you suffer any relaxation, +more respectable and more frequent embassies will go; when that which +now displeases the Etrurians, the establishment of a king at Veii, may, +after an interval, be done away with, either by the joint determination +of the state that they may recover the good will of the Etrurians, or by +a voluntary act of the king, who may be unwilling that his reign should +stand in the way of the welfare of his countrymen. See how many +circumstances, and how detrimental, follow that line of conduct: the +loss of works formed with so great labour; the threatening devastation +of our frontiers; an Etruscan excited instead of a Veientian war. These, +tribunes, are your measures, pretty much the same, in truth, as if a +person should render a disease tedious, and perhaps incurable, for the +sake of present meat or drink, in a patient who, by resolutely suffering +himself to be treated, might soon recover his health.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e6" name="e6"></a>6</div> +<p>"If, by Jove, it were of no consequence with respect to the present +war, yet it certainly would be of the utmost importance to military +discipline, that our soldiers should be accustomed not only to enjoy the +victory obtained by them; but even though matters should proceed more +slowly than was anticipated, to brook the tediousness and await the +issue of their hopes, however tardy; and if the war be not finished in +the summer, to wait for the winter, and not, like summer birds, in the +very commencement of autumn look out for shelter and a retreat. I pray +you, the eagerness and pleasure of hunting hurries men into snow and +frost, over mountains and woods; shall we not employ that patience on +the exigencies of war, which even sport and pleasure are wont to call +forth? Are we to suppose that the bodies of our soldiers are so +effeminate, their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> minds so feeble, that they cannot hold out for one +winter in a camp, and be absent from home? that, like persons who wage a +naval war, by taking advantage of the weather, and observing the season +of the year, they are able to endure neither heat nor cold? They would +certainly blush, should any one lay these things to their charge; and +would maintain that both their minds and their bodies were possessed of +manly endurance, and that they were able to conduct war equally well in +winter and in summer; and that they had not consigned to the tribunes +the patronage of indolence and sloth, and that they remembered that +their ancestors had created this very power, neither in the shade nor +beneath their roofs. Such sentiments are worthy of the valour of your +soldiers, such sentiments are worthy of the Roman name, not to consider +merely Veii, nor this war which is now pressing us, but to seek a +reputation for hereafter for other wars and for other states. Do you +consider the difference of opinion likely to result from this matter as +trivial? Whether, pray, are the neighbouring states to suppose that the +Roman people is such, that if any one shall sustain their first assault, +and that of very short continuance, they have nothing afterwards to +fear? or whether such should be the terror of our name, that neither the +tediousness of a distant siege, nor the inclemency of winter, can +dislodge the Roman army from a city once invested, and that they know no +other termination of war than victory, and that they carry on wars not +more by briskness than by perseverance; which is necessary no doubt in +every kind of war, but more especially in besieging cities; most of +which, impregnable both by their works and by natural situation, time +itself overpowers and reduces by famine and thirst; as it will reduce +Veii, unless the tribunes of the commons shall afford aid to the enemy, +and the Veientians find in Rome reinforcements which they seek in vain +in Etruria. Is there any thing which can happen so much in accordance +with the wishes of the Veientians, as that first the Roman city, then +the camp, as it were by contagion, should be filled with sedition? But, +by Jove, among the enemy so forbearing a state of mind prevails, that +not a single change has taken place among them, either through disgust +at the length of the siege nor even of the kingly form of government; +nor has the refusal of aid by the Etrurians aroused their tempers. For<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span> +whoever will be the abettor of sedition, will be instantly put to death; +nor will it be permitted to any one to utter those sentiments which +amongst you are expressed with impunity. He is sure to receive the +bastinade, who forsakes his colours or quits his post. Persons advising +not one or two soldiers, but whole armies to relinquish their colours or +to forsake their camp, are openly listened to in your public assemblies. +Accordingly whatever a tribune of the people says, although it tends to +the ruin of the country or the dissolution of the commonwealth, you are +accustomed to listen to with partiality; and captivated with the charms +of that authority, you suffer all sorts of crimes to lie concealed +beneath it. The only thing that remains is, that what they vociferate +here, the same projects do they realize in the camp and among the +soldiers, and seduce the armies, and not suffer them to obey their +officers; since that and that only is liberty in Rome, to show no +deference to the senate, nor to magistrates, nor laws, nor the usages of +ancestors, nor the institutions of our fathers, nor military +discipline."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e7" name="e7"></a>7</div> +<p>Even already Appius was a match for the tribunes of the people in the +popular assemblies; when suddenly a misfortune sustained before Veii, +from a quarter whence no one could expect it, both gave Appius the +superiority in the dispute, produced also a greater harmony between the +different orders, and greater ardour to carry on the siege of Veii with +more pertinacity. For when the trenches were now advanced to the very +city, and the machines were almost about to be applied to the walls, +whilst the works are carried on with greater assiduity by day, than they +are guarded by night, a gate was thrown open on a sudden, and a vast +multitude, armed chiefly with torches, cast fire about on all sides; and +after the lapse of an hour the flames destroyed both the rampart and the +machines, the work of so long a time, and great numbers of men, bearing +assistance in vain, were destroyed by the sword and by fire. When the +account of this circumstance was brought to Rome, it inspired sadness +into all ranks; into the senate anxiety and apprehension, lest the +sedition could no longer be withstood either in the city or in the camp, +and lest the tribunes of the commons should insult over the +commonwealth, as if vanquished by them; when on a sudden, those who +possessed an equestrian fortune,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span> but to whom horses had not been +assigned by the public, having previously held a meeting together, went +to the senate; and having obtained permission to speak, promise that +they will serve on their own horses. And when thanks were returned to +them by the senate in the most complimentary terms, and the report of +this proceeding spread through the forum and the city, there suddenly +ensues a concourse of the commons to the senate-house. They say that +"they are now of the pedestrian order, and they preferred their services +to the commonwealth, though not compelled to serve, whether they wished +to march them to Veii, or to any other place. If they were led to Veii, +they affirm, that they would not return from thence, until the city of +the enemy was taken." Then indeed they with difficulty set bounds to the +joy which now poured in upon them; for they were not ordered, as in the +case of the horsemen, to be publicly eulogized, the order for so doing +being consigned to the magistrates, nor were they summoned into the +senate-house to receive an answer; nor did the senate confine themselves +within the threshold of their house, but every one of them individually +with their voice and hands testified from the elevated ground the public +joy to the multitude standing in the assembly; they declared that by +that unanimity the Roman city would be happy, and invincible and +eternal; praised the horsemen, praised the commons; extolled the day +itself by their praises; they acknowledged that the courtesy and +kindness of the senate was outdone. Tears flowed in abundance through +joy both from the patricians and commons; until the senators being +called back into the house, a decree of the senate was passed, "that the +military tribunes, summoning an assembly, should return thanks to the +infantry and cavalry; and should state that the senate would be mindful +of their affectionate attachment to their country. But that it was their +wish that their pay should go on for those who had, out of their turn, +undertaken voluntary service." To the horsemen also a certain stipend +was assigned. Then for the first time the cavalry began to serve on +their own horses. This army of volunteers being led to Veii, not only +restored the works which had been lost, but also erected new ones. +Supplies were conveyed from the city with greater care than before; lest +any thing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> should be wanting for the accommodation of an army who +deserved so well.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e8" name="e8"></a>8</div> +<p>The following year had military tribunes with consular authority, +Caius Servilius Ahala a third time, Quintus Servilius, Lucius Virginius, +Quintus Sulpicius, Aulus Manlius a second time, Manius Sergius a second +time. During their tribuneship, whilst the solicitude of all was +directed to the Veientian war, the garrison at Anxur was neglected in +consequence of the absence of the soldiers on leave, and from the +indiscriminate admission of Volscian traders was overpowered, the guards +at the gates being suddenly betrayed. Less of the soldiers perished, +because they were all trafficking through the country and city like +suttlers. Nor were matters conducted more successfully at Veii, which +was then the chief object of all public solicitude. For both the Roman +commanders had more quarrels among themselves, than spirit against the +enemy; and the severity of the war was exaggerated by the sudden arrival +of the Capenatians and the Faliscians. These two states of Etruria, +because they were contiguous in situation, judging that in case Veii was +conquered, they should be next to the attacks of the Romans in war; the +Faliscians also, incensed from a cause affecting themselves, because +they had already on a former occasion mixed themselves up in a +Fidenatian war, being bound together by an oath by reciprocal embassies, +marched unexpectedly with their armies to Veii. It so happened, they +attacked the camp in that quarter where Manius Sergius, military +tribune, commanded, and occasioned great alarm; because the Romans +imagined that all Etruria was aroused and were advancing in a great +mass. The same opinion aroused the Veientians in the city. Thus the +Roman camp was attacked on both sides; and crowding together, whilst +they wheeled round their battalions from one post to another, they were +unable either to confine the Veientians within their fortifications, or +repel the assault from their own works, and to defend themselves from +the enemy on the outside. The only hope was, if succour could be brought +from the greater camp, that the different legions should fight, some +against the Capenatians and Faliscians, others against the sallies of +the townsmen. But Virginius had the command of that camp, who, from +personal grounds, was hateful to and incensed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span> against Sergius. This +man, when word was brought that most of the forts were attacked, the +fortifications scaled, and that the enemy were pouring in on both sides, +kept his men under arms, saying that if there was need of assistance, +his colleague would send to him. His arrogance was equalled by the +obstinacy of the other; who, that he might not appear to have sought any +aid from an adversary, preferred being defeated by an enemy to +conquering through a fellow-citizen. His men were for a long time cut +down between both: at length, abandoning their works, a very small +number made their way to the principal camp; the greater number, with +Sergius himself, made their way to Rome. Where, when he threw the entire +blame on his colleague, it was resolved that Virginius should be sent +for from the camp, and that lieutenant-generals should take the command +in the mean time. The affair was then discussed in the senate, and the +dispute was carried on between the colleagues with (mutual) +recriminations. But few took up the interests of the republic, (the +greater number) favoured the one or the other, according as private +regard or interest prejudiced each.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e9" name="e9"></a>9</div> +<p>The principal senators were of opinion, that whether so ignominious a +defeat had been sustained through the misconduct or the misfortune of +the commanders, "the regular time of the elections should not be waited +for, but that new military tribunes should be created immediately, who +should enter into office on the calends of October." Whilst they were +proceeding to intimate their assent to this opinion, the other military +tribunes offered no opposition. But Sergius and Virginius, on whose +account it was evident that the senate were dissatisfied with the +magistrates of that year, at first deprecated the ignominy, then +protested against the decree of the senate; they declared that they +would not retire from office before the ides of December, the usual day +for persons entering on magisterial duties. Upon this the tribunes of +the plebeians, whilst in the general harmony and in the prosperous state +of public affairs they had unwillingly kept silence, suddenly becoming +confident, began to threaten the military tribunes, that unless they +conformed to the order of the senate, they would order them to be thrown +into prison. Then Caius Servilius Ahala, a military tribune, observed, +"With respect to you, tribunes of the commons, and your threats,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span> I +would with pleasure put it to the test, how there is not more of +authority in the latter than of spirit in yourselves. But it is impious +to strive against the authority of the senate. Wherefore do you cease to +seek amid our quarrels for an opportunity of doing mischief; and my +colleagues will either do that which the senate thinks fit, or if they +shall persist with too much pertinacity, I will immediately nominate a +dictator, who will oblige them to retire from office." When this speech +was approved with general consent, and the patricians rejoiced, that +without the terrors of the tribunitian office, another and a superior +power had been discovered to coerce the magistrates, overcome by the +universal consent, they held the elections of military tribunes, who +were to commence their office on the calends of October, and before that +day they retired from office.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e10" name="e10"></a>10</div> +<p>During the military tribuneship of Lucius Valerius Potitus for the +fourth time, Marcus Furius Camillus for the second time, Manius Æmilius +Mamercinus a third time, Cneius Cornelius Cossus a second time, Kæso +Fabius Ambustus, Lucius Julius Iulus, much business was transacted at +home and abroad. For there was both a complex war at the same time, at +Veii, at Capena, at Falerii, and among the Volscians, that Anxur might +be recovered from the enemy; and at the same time there was some +difficulty experienced both in consequence of the levy, and of the +contribution of the tax: there was also a contention about the +appointment of plebeian tribunes; and the two trials of those, who a +little before had been invested with consular authority, excited no +trifling commotion. First of all the tribunes of the soldiers took care +that the levy should be held; and not only the juniors were enlisted, +but the seniors also were compelled to give in their names, to serve as +a garrison to the city. But in proportion as the number of the soldiers +was augmented, so much the greater sum of money was required for pay; +and this was collected by a tax, those who remained at home contributing +against their will, because those who guarded the city had to perform +military service also, and to serve the commonwealth. The tribunes of +the commons, by their seditious harangues, caused these things, grievous +in themselves, to seem more exasperating, by their asserting, "that pay +was established for the soldiers with this view, that they might wear +out one half of the commons by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span> military service, the other half by the +tax. That a single war was being waged now for the third year, on +purpose that they may have a longer time to wage it. That armies had +been raised at one levy for four different wars, and that boys even and +old men were dragged from home. That neither summer nor winter now made +any difference, so that there may never be any respite for the +unfortunate commons, who were now even at last made to pay a tax; so +that after they brought home their bodies wasted by hardship, wounds, +and eventually by age, and found their properties at home neglected by +the absence of the proprietors, had to pay a tax out of their impaired +fortunes, and to refund to the state in a manifold proportion the +military pay which had been as it were received on interest." Between +the levy and the tax, and their minds being taken up by more important +concerns, the number of plebeian tribunes could not be filled up at the +elections. A struggle was afterwards made that patricians should be +elected into the vacant places. When this could not be carried, still, +for the purpose of weakening the Trebonian law, it was managed that +Caius Lacerius and Marcus Acutius should be admitted as tribunes of the +commons, no doubt through the influence of the patricians.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e11" name="e11"></a>11</div> +<p>Chance so directed it, that this year Cneius Trebonius was tribune +of the commons, and he considered that he undertook the patronage of the +Trebonian law as a debt due to his name and family. He crying out aloud, +"that a point which some patricians had aimed at, though baffled in +their first attempt, had yet been carried by the military tribunes; that +the Trebonian law had been subverted, and tribunes of the commons had +been elected not by the suffrages of the people but by the mandate of +the patricians; and that the thing was now come to this, that either +patricians or dependants of patricians were to be had for tribunes of +the commons; that the devoting laws were taken away, the tribunitian +power wrested from them; he alleged that this was effected by some +artifice of the patricians, by the villany and treachery of his +colleagues." While not only the patricians, but the tribunes of the +commons also became objects of public resentment; as well those who were +elected, as those who had elected them; then three of the college, +Publius Curiatius, Marcus Metilius, and Marcus Minucius, alarmed for +their interests, make an attack<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span> on Sergius and Virginius, military +tribunes of the former year; they turn away the resentment of the +commons, and public odium from themselves on them, by appointing a day +of trial for them. They observe that "those persons by whom the levy, +the tribute, the long service, and the distant seat of the war was felt +as a grievance, those who lamented the calamity sustained at Veii; such +as had their houses in mourning through the loss of children, brothers, +relatives, and kinsmen, had now through their means the right and power +of avenging the public and private sorrow on the two guilty causes. For +that the sources of all their sufferings were centred in Sergius and +Virginius: nor did the prosecutor advance that charge more +satisfactorily than the accused acknowledged it; who, both guilty, threw +the blame from one to the other, Virginius charging Sergius with running +away, Sergius charging Virginius with treachery. The folly of whose +conduct was so incredible, that it is much more probable that the affair +had been contrived by concert, and by the common artifice of the +patricians. That by them also an opportunity was formerly given to the +Veientians to burn the works for the sake of protracting the war; and +that now the army was betrayed, and the Roman camp delivered up to the +Faliscians. That every thing was done that the young men should grow old +before Veii, and that the tribunes should not be able to consult the +people either regarding the lands or the other interests of the commons, +and to give weight to their measures by a numerous attendance [of +citizens], and to make head against the conspiracy of the patricians. +That a previous judgment had been already passed on the accused both by +the senate and the Roman people and by their own colleagues. For that by +a decree of the senate they had been removed from the administration of +affairs, and when they refused to resign their office they had been +forced into it by their colleagues; and that the Roman people had +elected tribunes, who were to enter on their office not on the ides of +December, the usual day, but instantly on the calends of October, +because the republic could no longer subsist, these persons remaining in +office. And yet these individuals, overwhelmed and already condemned by +so many decisions against them, presented themselves for trial before +the people; and thought that they were done with the matter, and had +suffered sufficient punish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span>ment, because they were reduced to the state +of private citizens two months sooner [than ordinary]: and did not +consider that the power of doing mischief any longer was then taken from +them, that punishment was not inflicted; for that the official power of +their colleagues also had been taken from them who certainly had +committed no fault. That the Roman citizens should resume those +sentiments which they had when the recent disaster was sustained, when +they beheld the army flying in consternation, covered with wounds, and +in dismay pouring into the gates, accusing not fortune nor any of the +gods, but these their commanders. They were certain, that there was not +a man present in the assembly who did not execrate and detest the +persons, families, and fortunes of Lucius Virginius and Manius Sergius. +That it was by no means consistent that now, when it was lawful and +their duty, they should not exert their power against persons, on whom +they had severally imprecated the vengeance of the gods. That the gods +themselves never laid hands on the guilty; it was enough if they armed +the injured with the means of taking revenge."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e12" name="e12"></a>12</div> +<p>Urged on by these discourses the commons condemn the accused [in a +fine] of ten thousand <i>asses</i> in weight, Sergius in vain throwing the +blame on fortune and the common chance of war, Virginius entreating that +he might not be more unfortunate at home than he had been in the field. +The resentment of the people being turned against them, obliterated the +remembrance of the assumption of the tribunes and of the fraud committed +against the Trebonian law. The victorious tribunes, in order that the +people might reap an immediate benefit from the trial, publish a form of +an agrarian law, and prevent the tax from being contributed, since there +was need of pay for so great a number of troops, and the enterprises of +the service were conducted with success in such a manner, that in none +of the wars did they reach the consummation of their hope. At Veii the +camp which had been lost was recovered and strengthened with forts and a +garrison. Here M. Æmilius and Kæso Fabius, military tribunes, commanded. +None of the enemy were found outside the walls by Marcus Furius in the +Falisean territory, and Cneius Cornelius in the Capenatian district: +spoil was driven off, and the country laid waste by burning of the +houses and the fruits of the earth:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span> the towns were neither assaulted +nor besieged. But among the Volscians, their territory being +depopulated, Anxur, which was situate on an eminence, was assaulted, but +to no purpose; and when force was ineffectual, they commenced to +surround it with a rampart and a trench. The province of the Volscians +had fallen [to the lot of] Valerius Potitus. In this state of military +affairs an intestine disturbance broke out with greater violence than +the wars were proceeded with. And when it was rendered impossible by the +tribunes to have the tax paid, and the payment [of the army] was not +remitted to the generals, and the soldiers became importunate for their +pay, the camp also was well nigh being involved in the contagion of the +sedition in the city. Amid this resentment of the commons against the +patricians, though the tribunes asserted that now was the time for +establishing liberty, and transferring the sovereign dignity from the +Sergii and Virginii to plebeians, men of fortitude and energy, still +they proceeded no further than the election of one of the commons, +Publius Licinius Calvus, military tribune with consular power for the +purpose of establishing their right by precedent: the others elected +were patricians, Publius Mænius, Lucius Titinius, Publius Mælius, Lucius +Furius Medullinus, Lucius Publius Volscus. The commons themselves were +surprised at having gained so important a point, and not merely he who +had been elected, being a person who had filled no post of honour +before, being only a senator of long standing, and now weighed down with +years. Nor does it sufficiently appear, why he was elected first and in +preference to any one else to taste the sweets of the new dignity. Some +think that he was raised to so high a dignity through the influence of +his brother, Cneius Cornelius, who had been military tribune on the +preceding year, and had given triple pay to the cavalry. Others [say] +that he had himself delivered a seasonable address equally acceptable to +the patricians and commons, concerning the harmony of the several orders +[of the state]. The tribunes of the commons, exulting in this victory at +the election, relaxed in their opposition regarding the tax, a matter +which very much impeded the progress of public business. It was paid in +with submission, and sent to the army.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e13" name="e13"></a>13</div> +<p>In the country of the Volscians Anxur was soon retaken, the guarding +of the city having been neglected during a fes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span>tival day. This year was +remarkable for a cold and snowy winter, so that the roads were +impassable, and the Tiber not navigable. The price of provisions +underwent no change, in consequence of the abundance previously laid in. +And because Publius Licinius, as he obtained his office without any +rioting, to the greater joy of the commons than annoyance of the +patricians, so also did he administer it; a rapturous desire of electing +plebeians at the next election took possession of them. Of the +patricians Marcus Veturius alone obtained a place: almost all the +centuries appointed the other plebeian candidates as military tribunes +with consular authority. Marcus Pomponius, Caius Duilius, Volero +Publilius, Cneius Genucius, Lucius Atilius. The severe winter, whether +from the ill temperature of the air [arising] from the abrupt transition +to the contrary state, or from whatsoever other cause, was followed by +an unhealthy summer, destructive to all species of animals; and when +neither the cause nor termination of this intractable pestilence could +be discovered, the Sibylline books were consulted according to a decree +of the senate. The duumvirs for the direction of religious matters, the +lectisternium being then for the first time introduced into the city of +Rome, for eight days implored the favour of Apollo and Latona, Diana and +Hercules, Mercury and Neptune, three couches being laid out with the +greatest magnificence that was then possible. The same solemn rite was +observed also by private individuals. The doors lying open throughout +the entire city, and the use of every thing lying out in common, they +say that all passengers, both those known and those unknown +indiscriminately, were invited to lodgings, and that conversation was +adopted between persons at variance with complaisance and kindness, and +that they refrained from disputes and quarrels; their chains were also +taken off those who were in confinement during those days; that +afterward a scruple was felt in imprisoning those to whom the gods had +brought such aid. In the mean while the alarm was multiplied at Veii, +three wars being concentred in the one place. For as the Capenatians and +Faliscians had suddenly come with succour [to the Veientians], they had +to fight against three armies on different sides in the same manner as +formerly, through the whole extent of their works. The recollection of +the sentence passed on Sergius and Virginius aided them above every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span> +thing else. Accordingly some forces being led around in a short time +from the principal camp, where some delay had been made on the former +occasion, attack the Capenatians on their rear, whilst they were engaged +in front against the Roman rampart. The fight commencing in this quarter +struck terror into the Faliscians also, and a sally from the camp +opportunely made put them to flight, thrown into disorder as they now +were. The victors, having then pursued them in their retreat, made great +slaughter amongst them. And soon after those who had been devastating +the territory of Capena, having met them as it were by chance, entirely +cut off the survivors of the fight as they were straggling through the +country: and many of the Veientians in their retreat to the city were +slain before the gates; whilst, through fear lest the Romans should +force in along with them, they excluded the hindmost of their men by +closing the gates.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e14" name="e14"></a>14</div> +<p>These were the transactions of that year. And now the election of +military tribunes approached; about which the patricians felt more +intense solicitude than about the war, inasmuch as they saw that the +supreme authority was not only shared with the commons, but almost lost +to themselves. Wherefore the most distinguished individuals being, by +concert, prepared to stand candidates, whom they thought [the people] +would feel ashamed to pass by, they themselves, nevertheless, as if they +were all candidates, trying every expedient, strove to gain over not +only men, but the gods also, raising religious scruples about the +elections held the two preceding years; that, in the former of those +years, a winter set in intolerably severe, and like to a prodigy from +the gods; on the next year [they had] not prodigies, but events, a +pestilence inflicted on both city and country through the manifest +resentment of the gods: whom, as was discovered in the books of the +fates, it was necessary to appease, for the purpose of warding off that +plague. That it seemed to the gods an affront that honours should be +prostituted, and the distinctions of birth confounded, in an election +which was held under proper auspices. The people, overawed as well by +the dignity of the candidates as by a sense of religion, elected all the +military tribunes with consular power from among the patricians, the +greater part being men who had been most highly distinguished by honour; +Lucius Valerius<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span> Potitus a fifth time, Marcus Valerius Maximus, Marcus +Furius Camillus a third time, Lucius Furius Medullinus a third time, +Quintus Servilius Fidenas a second time, Quintus Sulpicius Camerinus a +second time. During this tribunate, nothing very memorable was performed +at Veii. All their force was employed in depopulating the country. Two +consummate commanders, Potitus from Falerii, Camillus from Capena, +carried off great booty, nothing being left undestroyed which could be +injured by sword or by fire.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e15" name="e15"></a>15</div> +<p>In the mean time many prodigies were announced; the greater part of +which were little credited or even slighted, because individuals were +the reporters of them, and also because, the Etrurians being now at war +with them, they had no aruspices through whom they might attend to them. +The attention of all was turned to a particular one: the lake in the +Alban grove swelled to an unusual height without any rain, or any other +cause which could account for the matter independently of a miracle. +Commissioners were sent to the Delphic oracle to inquire what the gods +portended by this prodigy; but an interpreter of the fates was presented +to them nearer home in a certain aged Veientian, who, amid the scoffs +thrown out by the Roman and Etrurian soldiers from the out-posts and +guards, declared, after the manner of one delivering a prophecy, that +until the water should be discharged from the Alban lake, the Romans +should never become masters of Veii. This was disregarded at first as +having been thrown out at random, afterwards it began to be canvassed in +conversation; until one of the Roman soldiers on guard asked one of the +townsmen who was nearest him (a conversational intercourse having now +taken place in consequence of the long continuance of the war) who he +was, who threw out those dark expressions concerning the Alban lake? +After he heard that he was an aruspex, being a man whose mind was not +without a tincture of religion, pretending that he wished to consult him +on the expiation of a private portent, if he could aid him, he enticed +the prophet to a conference. And when, being unarmed, they had proceeded +a considerable distance from their respective parties without any +apprehension, the Roman youth having the advantage in strength, took up +the feeble old man in the sight of all, and amid the ineffectual bustle +made by the Etrurians, carried him away to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span> his own party. When he was +conducted before the general, and sent from thence to Rome to the +senate, to those who asked him what that was which he had stated +concerning the Alban lake, he replied, "that undoubtedly the gods were +angry with the Veientian people on that day, on which they had inspired +him with the resolve to disclose the ruin of his country as destined by +the fates. Wherefore what he then declared urged by divine inspiration, +he neither could recall so that it may be unsaid; and perhaps by +concealing what the immortal gods wished to be published, no less guilt +was contracted than by openly declaring what ought to be concealed. Thus +therefore it was recorded in the books of the fates, thus in the +Etrurian doctrine, that whensoever the Alban water should rise to a +great height, then, if the Romans should discharge it in a proper +manner, victory was granted them over the Veientians: before that +occurred, that the gods would not desert the walls of Veii." He then +detailed what would be the legitimate method of draining. But the senate +deeming his authority as but of little weight, and not to be entirely +depended on in so important a matter, determined to wait for the +deputies and the responses of the Pythian oracle.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e16" name="e16"></a>16</div> +<p>Before the commissioners returned from Delphos, or an expiation of +the Alban prodigy was discovered, the new military tribunes with +consular power entered on their office, Lucius Julius Iulus, Lucius +Furius Medullinus for the fourth time, Lucius Sergius Fidenas, Aulus +Postumius Regillensis, Publius Cornelius Maluginensis, and Aulus +Manlius. This year a new enemy, the Tarquinians, started up. Because +they saw the Romans engaged in many wars together, that of the Volscians +at Anxur, where the garrison was besieged, that of the Æquans at Lavici, +who were attacking the Roman colony there, moreover in the Veientian, +Faliscan, and Capenatian war, and that matters were not more tranquil +within the walls, by reason of the dissensions between the patricians +and commons; considering that amid these [troubles] there was an +opportunity for an attack, they send their light-armed cohorts to commit +depredations on the Roman territory. For [they concluded] either that +the Romans would suffer that injury to pass off unavenged, that they +might not encumber themselves with an additional war, or that they would +resent it with a scanty army, and one by no means strong. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span> Romans +[felt] greater indignation, than alarm, at the inroads of the +Tarquinians. On this account the matter was neither taken up with great +preparation, nor was it delayed for any length of time. Aulus Postumius +and Lucius Julius, having raised a body of men, not by a regular levy, +(for they were prevented by the tribunes of the commons,) but [a body +consisting] mostly of volunteers, whom they had aroused by exhortations, +having proceeded by cross marches through the territory of Cære, fell +unexpectedly on the Tarquinians, as they were returning from their +depredations and laden with booty; they slew great numbers, stripped +them all of their baggage, and, having recovered the spoils of their own +lands, they return to Rome. Two days were allowed to the owners to +reclaim their effects. On the third day, that portion not owned (for +most of it belonged to the enemies themselves) was sold by public +auction; and what was produced from thence, was distributed among the +soldiers. The other wars, and more especially the Veientian, were of +doubtful issue. And now the Romans, despairing of human aid, began to +look to the fates and the gods, when the deputies returned from Delphos, +bringing with them an answer of the oracle, corresponding with the +response of the captive prophet: "Roman, beware lest the Alban water be +confined in the lake, beware of suffering it to flow into the sea in its +own stream. Thou shalt let it out and form a passage for it through the +fields, and by dispersing it in channels thou shalt consume it. Then +press boldly on the walls of the enemy, mindful that the victory is +granted to you by these fates which are now revealed over that city +which thou art besieging for so many years. The war being ended, do +thou, as victorious, bring ample offerings to my temples, and having +renewed the religious institutions of your country, the care of which +has been given up, perform them in the usual manner."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e17" name="e17"></a>17</div> +<p>Upon this the captive prophet began to be held in high esteem, and +Cornelius and Postumius, the military tribunes, began to employ him for +the expiation of the Alban prodigy, and to appease the gods in due form. +And it was at length discovered wherein the gods found fault with the +neglect of the ceremonies and the omission of the customary rites; that +it was undoubtedly nothing else, than that the magistrates, having been +appointed under some defect [in their election],<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span> had not directed the +Latin festival and the solemnities on the Alban mount with due +regularity. The only mode of expiation in the case was, that the +military tribunes should resign their office, the auspices be taken +anew, and an interregnum be adopted. All these things were performed +according to a decree of the senate. There were three interreges in +succession, Lucius Valerius, Quintus Servilius Fidenas, Marcus Furius +Camillus. In the mean time disturbances never ceased to exist, the +tribunes of the commons impeding the elections until it was previously +stipulated, that the greater number of the military tribunes should be +elected out of the commons. Whilst these things are going on, assemblies +of Etruria were held at the temple of Voltumna, and the Capenatians and +Faliscians demanding that all the states of Etruria should by common +consent and resolve aid in raising the siege of Veii, the answer given +was: "that on a former occasion they had refused that to the Veientians, +because they had no right to demand aid from those from whom they had +not solicited advice on so important a matter. That for the present +their own condition instead of themselves<a name="FNanchor_160_160" id="FNanchor_160_160"></a><a href="#Footnote_160_160" class="fnanchor">[160]</a> denied it to them, more +especially in that part of Etruria. That a strange nation, the Gauls, +were become new neighbours, with whom they neither had a sufficiently +secure peace, nor a certainty of war: to the blood, however, and the +name and the present dangers of their kinsmen this [mark of respect] was +paid, that if any of their youth were disposed to go to that war, they +would not prevent them." Hence there was a report at Rome, that a great +number of enemies had arrived, and in consequence the intestine +dissensions began to subside, as is usual, through alarm for the general +safety.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e18" name="e18"></a>18</div> +<p>Without opposition on the part of the patricians, the prerogative +tribe elect Publius Licinius Calvus military tribune without his suing +for it, a man of tried moderation in his former tribunate, but now of +extreme old age; and it was observed that all were re-elected in regular +succession out of the college of the same year, Lucius Titinius, Publius +Mænius, Publius Mælius, Cneius Genucius, Lucius Atilius: before these +were proclaimed, the tribes being summoned in the ordi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span>nary course, +Publius Licinius Calvus, by permission of the interrex, spoke as +follows: "Romans, I perceive that from the recollection of our +administration you are seeking an omen of concord, a thing most +important at the present time, for the ensuing year. If you re-elect the +same colleagues, improved also by experience, in me you no longer behold +the same person, but the shadow and name of Publius Licinius now left. +The powers of my body are decayed, my senses of sight and hearing are +grown dull, my memory falters, the vigour of my mind is blunted. Behold +here a youth," says he, holding his son, "the representation and image +of him whom ye formerly made a military tribune, the first from among +the commons. This youth, formed under my own discipline, I present and +dedicate to the commonwealth as a substitute for myself. And I beseech +you, Romans, that the honour readily offered by yourselves to me, you +would grant to his suit, and to my prayers added in his behalf." The +favour was granted to the request of the father, and his son, Publius +Licinius, was declared military tribune with consular power along with +those whom I have mentioned above. Titinius and Genucius, military +tribunes, proceeded against the Faliscians and Capenatians, and whilst +they conduct the war with more courage than conduct, they fall into an +ambush. Genucius, atoning for his temerity by an honourable death, fell +among the foremost in front of the standards. Titinius, having collected +his men from the great confusion [into which they were thrown] on a +rising ground, restored their order of battle; nor did he, however, +venture to engage the enemy on even ground. More of disgrace than of +loss was sustained; which was well nigh proving a great calamity; so +much alarm was excited not only at Rome, whither an exaggerated account +of it had reached, but in the camp also at Veii. There the soldiers were +with difficulty restrained from flight, as a report had spread through +the camp that, the generals and army having been cut to pieces, the +victorious Capenatians and Faliscians and all the youth of Etruria were +not far off. At Rome they gave credit to accounts still more alarming +than these, that the camp at Veii was now attacked, that a part of the +enemy was now advancing to the city prepared for an attack: they crowded +to the walls, and supplications of the matrons, which the public panic +had called forth from their houses, were offered up in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span> temples; and +the gods were petitioned by prayers, that they would repel destruction +from the houses and temples of the city and from the walls of Rome, and +that they would avert that terror to Veii, if the sacred rites had been +duly renewed, if the prodigies had been expiated.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e19" name="e19"></a>19</div> +<p>The games and the Latin festival had now been performed anew; now +the water from the Alban lake had been discharged upon the fields, and +the fates were demanding [the ruin of] Veii. Accordingly a general +destined for the destruction of that city and the preservation of his +country, Marcus Furius Camillus, being nominated dictator, appointed +Publius Cornelius Scipio his master of the horse. The change of the +general suddenly produced a change in every thing. Their hopes seemed +different, the spirits of the people were different, the fortune also of +the city seemed changed. First of all, he punished according to military +discipline those who had fled from Veii in that panic, and took measures +that the enemy should not be the most formidable object to the soldier. +Then a levy being proclaimed for a certain day, he himself in the mean +while makes an excursion to Veii to strengthen the spirits of the +soldiers: thence he returns to Rome to enlist the new army, not a single +man declining the service. Youth from foreign states also, Latins and +Hernicians, came, promising their service for the war: after the +dictator returned them thanks in the senate, all preparations being now +completed for the war, he vowed, according to a decree of the senate, +that he would, on the capture of Veii, celebrate the great games, and +that he would repair and dedicate the temple of Mother Matuta, which had +been formerly consecrated by King Servius Tullius. Having set out from +the city with his army amid the high expectation<a name="FNanchor_161_161" id="FNanchor_161_161"></a><a href="#Footnote_161_161" class="fnanchor">[161]</a> rather than mere +hopes of persons, he first encountered the Faliscians and Capenatians in +the district of Nepote. Every thing there being managed with consummate +prudence and skill, was attended, as is usual, with success. He not only +routed the enemy in battle, but he stripped them also of their camp, and +obtained a great quantity of spoil, the principal part of which was +handed over to the quæstor; not much was given to the soldiers. From +thence the army was marched to Veii, and additional forts close to each +other were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span> erected; and by a proclamation being issued, that no one +should fight without orders, the soldiers were taken off from those +skirmishes, which frequently took place at random between the wall and +rampart, [so as to apply] to the work. Of all the works, far the +greatest and more laborious was a mine which they commenced to carry +into the enemies' citadel. And that the work might not be interrupted, +and that the continued labour under ground might not exhaust the same +individuals, he divided the number of pioneers into six companies; six +hours were allotted for the work in rotation; nor by night or day did +they give up, until they made a passage into the citadel.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e20" name="e20"></a>20</div> +<p>When the dictator now saw that the victory was in his hands, that a +most opulent city was on the point of being taken, and that there would +be more spoil than had been obtained in all previous wars taken +together, that he might not incur either the resentment of the soldiers +from a parsimonious partition of the plunder, or displeasure among the +patricians from a prodigal lavishing of it, he sent a letter to the +senate, "that by the kindness of the immortal gods, his own measures, +and the perseverance of the soldiers, Veii would be soon in the power of +the Roman people." What did they think should be done with respect to +the spoil? Two opinions divided the senate; the one that of the elder +Publius Licinius, who on being first asked by his son, as they say, +proposed it as his opinion, that a proclamation should be openly sent +forth to the people, that whoever wished to share in the plunder, should +proceed to the camp before Veii; the other that of Appius Claudius,<a name="FNanchor_162_162" id="FNanchor_162_162"></a><a href="#Footnote_162_162" class="fnanchor">[162]</a> +who, censuring such profusion as unprecedented, extravagant, partial, +and one that was unadvisable,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span> if they should once judge it criminal, +that money taken from the enemy should be [deposited] in the treasury +when exhausted by wars, advised their pay to be paid to the soldiers out +of that money, so that the commons might thereby have to pay less tax. +For that "the families of all would feel their share of such a bounty in +equal proportion; that the hands of the idlers in the city, ever greedy +for plunder, would not then carry off the prizes due to brave warriors, +as it generally so happens that according as each individual is wont to +seek the principal part of the toil and danger, so is he the least +active as a plunderer." Licinius, on the other hand, argued that the +money in that case would ever prove the source of jealousy and +animosity, and that it would afford grounds for charges before the +commons, and thence for seditions and new laws. "That it was more +advisable therefore that the feelings of the commons should be +conciliated by that bounty; that succour should be afforded them, +exhausted and drained by a tax of so many years, and that they should +feel the fruits arising from a war, in which they had in a manner grown +old. What each took from the enemy with his own hand and brought home +with him would be more gratifying and delightful, than if he were to +receive a much larger share at the will of another." That the dictator +himself wished to shun the odium and recriminations arising from the +matter; for that reason he transferred it to the senate. The senate, +too, ought to hand the matter thus referred to them over to the commons, +and suffer every man to have what the fortune of war gave to him. This +proposition appeared to be the safer, as it would make the senate +popular. A proclamation was therefore issued, that those who chose +should proceed to the camp to the dictator for the plunder of Veii.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e21" name="e21"></a>21</div> +<p>The vast multitude who went filled the camp. Then the dictator, +going forth after taking the auspices, having issued orders that the +soldiers should take arms, says, "Under thy guidance, O Pythian Apollo, +and inspired by thy divinity, I proceed to destroy the city of Veii, and +I vow to thee the tenth part of the spoil.<a name="FNanchor_163_163" id="FNanchor_163_163"></a><a href="#Footnote_163_163" class="fnanchor">[163]</a> Thee also, queen Juno, +who inhabitest Veii, I beseech, that thou wilt accompany us, when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span> +victors, into our city, soon to be thine, where a temple worthy of thy +majesty shall receive thee."<a name="FNanchor_164_164" id="FNanchor_164_164"></a><a href="#Footnote_164_164" class="fnanchor">[164]</a> Having offered up these prayers, there +being more than a sufficient number of men, he assaults the city on +every quarter, in order that the perception of the danger threatening +them from the mine might be diminished. The Veientians, ignorant that +they had already been doomed by their own prophets, already by foreign +oracles, that the gods had been already invited to a share in their +plunder, that some, called out by vows from their city, were looking +towards the temple of the enemy and new habitations, and that they were +spending that the last day [of their existence], fearing nothing less +than that, their walls being undermined, the citadel was now filled with +enemies, briskly run to the walls in arms, wondering what could be the +reason that, when no one had stirred from the Roman posts for so many +days, then, as if struck with sudden fury, they should run heedlessly to +the walls. A fabulous narrative is introduced here, that, when the king +of the Veientians was offering sacrifice, the voice of the aruspex, +declaring that the victory was given to him who should cut up the +entrails of that victim, having been heard in the mine, incited the +Roman soldiers to burst open the mine, carry off the entrails, and bring +them to the dictator. But in matters of such remote antiquity, I should +deem it sufficient, if matters bearing a resemblance to truth be +admitted as true. Such stories as this, more suited to display on the +stage, which delights in the marvellous, than to historic authenticity, +it is not worth while either to affirm or refute. The mine, at this time +full of chosen men, suddenly discharged the armed troops in the temple +of Juno which was in the citadel of Veii.<a name="FNanchor_165_165" id="FNanchor_165_165"></a><a href="#Footnote_165_165" class="fnanchor">[165]</a> Some of them attack the +rear of the enemy on the walls; some tore open the bars of the gates; +some set fire to the houses, while stones and tiles were thrown down +from the roofs by the women and slaves. Clamour, consisting of the +various voices of the assailants and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span> the terrified, mixed with the +crying of women and children, fills every place. The soldiers being in +an instant beaten off from the walls, and the gates being thrown open, +some entering in bodies, others scaling the deserted walls, the city +become filled with enemies, fighting takes place in every quarter. Then, +much slaughter being now made, the ardour of the fight abates; and the +dictator commands the heralds to proclaim that the unarmed should be +spared. This put an end to bloodshed. Then laying down their arms, they +commenced to surrender; and, by permission of the dictator, the soldiers +disperse in quest of plunder. And when this was collected before his +eyes, greater in quantity and in the value of the effects than he had +hoped or expected, the dictator, raising his hands to heaven, is said to +have prayed, "that, if his success and that of the Roman people seemed +excessive to any of the gods and men, it might be permitted to the Roman +people to appease that jealousy with as little detriment as possible to +himself and the Roman people."<a name="FNanchor_166_166" id="FNanchor_166_166"></a><a href="#Footnote_166_166" class="fnanchor">[166]</a> It is recorded that, when turning +about during this prayer, he stumbled and fell; and to persons judging +of the matter by subsequent events, that seemed to refer as an omen to +Camillus' own condemnation, and the disaster of the city of Rome being +akin, which happened a few years after. And that day was consumed in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span> +slaughtering the enemy and in the plunder of this most opulent city.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e22" name="e22"></a>22</div> +<p>On the following day the dictator sold the inhabitants of free +condition by auction: that was the only money applied to public use, not +without resentment on the part of the people: and for the spoil they +brought home with them, they felt no obligation either to their +commander, who, in his search for abettors of his own parsimony, had +referred to the senate a matter within his own jurisdiction, or to the +senate, but to the Licinian family, of which the son had laid the matter +before the senate, and the father had been the proposer of so popular a +resolution. When all human wealth had been carried away from Veii, they +then began to remove the offerings to their gods and the gods +themselves, but more after the manner of worshippers than of plunderers. +For youths selected from the entire army, to whom the charge of +conveying queen Juno to Rome was assigned, after having thoroughly +washed their bodies and arrayed themselves in white garments, entered +her temple with profound adoration, applying their hands at first with +religious awe, because, according to the Etrurian usage, no one but a +priest of a certain family had been accustomed to touch that statue. +Then when some one, moved either by divine inspiration, or in youthful +jocularity, said, "Juno, art thou willing to go to Rome," the rest +joined in shouting that the goddess had nodded assent. To the story an +addition was afterwards made, that her voice was heard, declaring that +"she was willing." Certain it is, we are informed that, having been +raised from her place by machines of trifling power, she was light and +easily removed, like as if she [willingly] followed; and that she was +conveyed safe to the Aventine, her eternal seat, whither the vows of the +dictator had invited her; where the same Camillus who had vowed it, +afterwards dedicated a temple to her. Such was the fall of Veii, the +wealthiest city of the Etrurian nation, which even in its final +overthrow demonstrated its greatness; for having been besieged for ten +summers and winters without intermission, after it had inflicted +considerably greater losses than it had sustained, eventually, fate now +at length urging [its destruction], it was carried after all by the +contrivances of art, not by force.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e23" name="e23"></a>23</div> +<p>When news was brought to Rome that Veii was taken,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span> although both +the prodigies had been expiated, and the answers of the prophets and the +Pythian responses were well known, and though they had selected as their +commander Marcus Furius, the greatest general of the day, which was +doing as much to promote success as could be done by human prudence; yet +because the war had been carried on there for so many years with various +success, and many losses had been sustained, their joy was unbounded, as +if for an event not expected; and before the senate could pass any +decree, all the temples were crowded with Roman matrons returning thanks +to the gods. The senate decrees supplications for the space of four +days, a number of days greater than [was prescribed] in any former war. +The dictator's arrival also, all ranks pouring out to meet him, was +better attended than that of any general before, and his triumph +considerably surpassed all the ordinary style of honouring such a day. +The most conspicuous of all was himself, riding through the city in a +chariot drawn by white horses; and that appeared unbecoming, not to say +a citizen, but even a human being. The people considered it an outrage +on religion that the dictator's equipage should emulate that of Jupiter +and Apollo; and for that single reason his triumph was rather splendid +than pleasing. He then contracted for a temple for queen Juno on Mount +Aventine, and consecrated that of Mother Matuta: and, after having +performed these services to the gods and to mankind, he laid down his +dictatorship. They then began to consider regarding the offering to +Apollo; and when Camillus stated that he had vowed the tenth part of the +spoil to him, and the pontiff declared that the people ought to +discharge their own obligation, a plan was not readily struck out of +ordering the people to refund the spoil, so that the due proportion +might be set aside out of it for sacred purposes. At length they had +recourse to this which seemed the easiest course, that, whoever wished +to acquit himself and his family of the religious obligation, after he +had made his own estimate of his portion of the plunder, should pay into +the treasury the value of the tenth part, so that out of it a golden +offering worthy of the grandeur of the temple and the divinity of the +god might be made, suitable to the dignity of the Roman people. This +contribution also tended to alienate the affections of the commons from +Camillus. During these transactions ambassadors came from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span> the Volscians +and Æquans to sue for peace; and peace was obtained, rather that the +state wearied by so tedious a war might obtain repose, than that the +petitioners were deserving of it.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e24" name="e24"></a>24</div> +<p>After the capture of Veii, the following year had six military +tribunes with consular power, the two Publii Cornelii, Cossus and +Scipio, Marcus Valerius Maximus a second time, Kæso Fabius Ambustus a +third time, Lucius Furius Medullinus a fifth time, Quintus Servilius a +third time. To the Cornelii the Faliscian war, to Valerius and Servilius +the Capenatian war, fell by lot. By them no cities were attempted by +storm or by siege, but the country was laid waste, and the plunder of +the effects on the lands was driven off; not a single fruit tree, not a +vegetable was left on the land. These losses reduced the people of +Capena; peace was granted to them on their suing for it. The war among +the Faliscians still continued. At Rome in the mean time sedition became +multiplied; and for the purpose of assuaging this they resolved that a +colony should be sent off to the Volscian country, for which three +thousand Roman citizens should be enrolled; and the triumvirs appointed +for the purpose, distributed three acres and seven-twelfths to each man. +This donation began to be scorned, because they thought that it was +offered as a solace for the disappointment of higher hopes. For why were +the commons to be sent into exile to the Volscians, when the magnificent +city of Veii was still in view, and the Veientian territory, more +fertile and extensive than the Roman territor? The city also they +extolled as preferable to the city of Rome, both in situation, in the +grandeur of its enclosures, and buildings, both public and private. Nay, +even that scheme was proposed, which after the taking of Rome by the +Gauls was still more strongly urged, of removing to Veii. But they +destined Veii to be inhabited by half the commons and half the senate; +and that two cities of one common republic might be inhabited by the +Roman people.<a name="FNanchor_167_167" id="FNanchor_167_167"></a><a href="#Footnote_167_167" class="fnanchor">[167]</a> When the nobles strove against these measures so +strenuously, as to de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span>clare "that they would sooner die in the sight of +the Roman people, than that any of these things should be put to the +vote; for that now in one city there were so many dissensions; what +would there be in two? Would any one prefer a vanquished to a victorious +city; and suffer Veii now after being captured to enjoy greater +prosperity than it had before its capture? Lastly, that they may be +forsaken in their country by their fellow-citizens; that no power should +ever oblige them to forsake their country and fellow-citizens, and +follow Titus Licinius (for he was the tribune of the commons who +proposed the measure) as a founder to Veii, abandoning the divine +Romulus, the son of a god, the parent and founder of the city of Rome." +When these proceedings were going on with shameful contentions, (for the +patricians had drawn over, one half of the tribunes of the commons to +their sentiments,) nothing else obliged the commons to refrain from +violence, but that whenever a clamour was set up for the purpose of +commencing a riot, the principal members of the senate, presenting +themselves among the foremost to the crowd, ordered that they themselves +should be attacked, struck, and put to death. Whilst they abstained from +violating their age, dignity, and honourable station, their respect for +them checked their rage even with respect to similar attempts on others.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e25" name="e25"></a>25</div> +<p>Camillus, at every opportunity and in all places, stated publicly, +"that this was not at all surprising; that the state was gone mad; +which, though bound by a vow, yet felt greater concern in all other +matters than in acquitting itself of its religious obligations. He would +say nothing of the contribution of an alms more strictly speaking than +of a tenth; since each man bound himself in his private capacity by it, +the public was set free. However, that his conscience would not permit +him to pass this over in silence, that out of that spoil only which +consisted of movable effects, a tenth was set apart; that no mention was +made of the city and captured land, which were also included in the +vow." As the discussion of this point seemed difficult to the senate, it +was referred to the pontiffs; Camillus being invited [to the council], +the college decided, that whatever had belonged to the Veientians before +the uttering of the vow, and had come into the power of the Roman people +after the vow was made, of that a tenth part was sacred to Apollo. Thus +the city and land<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span> were brought into the estimate. The money was issued +from the treasury, and the consular tribunes of the soldiers were +commissioned to purchase gold with it. And when there was not a +sufficient quantity of this [metal], the matrons having held meetings to +deliberate on the subject, and by a general resolution having promised +the military tribunes their gold and all their ornaments, brought them +into the treasury. This circumstance was peculiarly grateful to the +senate, and they say that in return for this generosity the honour was +conferred on the matrons, that they might use covered chariots [when +going] to public worship and the games, and open chaises on festival and +common days. A certain weight of gold being received from each and +valued, in order that the price might be paid for it, it was resolved +that a golden bowl should be made of it, which was to be carried to +Delphos as an offering to Apollo. As soon as they disengaged their minds +from the religious obligation, the tribunes of the commons renew their +seditious practices; the populace are excited against all the nobles, +but above all against Camillus: that "he by confiscating and +consecrating the plunder of Veii had reduced it to nothing." The absent +[nobles] they abuse in violent terms: they evince a respect for them in +their presence, when they voluntarily presented themselves to their +fury. As soon as they perceived that the business would be protracted +beyond that year, they re-elect as tribunes of the commons for the +following year the same abettors of the law; and the patricians strove +to accomplish the same thing with respect to those who were opponents of +the law. Thus the same persons in a great measure were re-elected +tribunes of the commons.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e26" name="e26"></a>26</div> +<p>At the election of military tribunes the patricians succeeded by +their utmost exertions in having Marcus Furius Camillus elected. They +pretended that he was wanted as a commander on account of the wars; but +he was intended as an opponent to the tribunes in their profusion. The +military tribunes with consular authority elected with Camillus were, +Lucius Furius Medullinus a sixth time, Caius Æmilius, Lucius Valerius +Publicola, Spurius Postumius, Publius Cornelius a second time. At the +commencement of the year the tribunes of the commons took not a step +until Marcus Furius Camillus should set out to the Faliscians, as that +war had been assigned to him. Then by delaying the project cooled; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span> +Camillus, whom they chiefly dreaded as an antagonist, acquired an +increase of glory among the Faliscians. For when the enemy at first +confined themselves within the walls, considering it the safest plan, by +laying waste their lands and burning their houses, he compelled them to +come forth from the city; but their fears prevented them from proceeding +to any considerable length. At about a mile from the town they pitch +their camp; trusting that it was sufficiently secure from no other +cause, than the difficulty of the approaches, the roads around being +rough and craggy, in some parts narrow, in others steep. But Camillus +having followed the direction of a prisoner belonging to the country as +his guide, decamping at an advanced hour of the night, at break of day +shows himself on ground considerably higher [than theirs]. The Romans +worked at the fortifications in three divisions: the rest of the army +stood prepared for battle. There he routs and puts to flight the enemy +when they attempted to interrupt his works; and such terror was struck +into the Faliscians in consequence, that, in their precipitate flight +passing by their own camp which lay in their way, they made for the +city. Many were slain and wounded, before that in their panic they could +make their way through the gates. Their camp was taken; the spoil was +given up to the quæstors, to the great dissatisfaction of the soldiers; +but overcome by the strictness of his authority, they both hated and +admired the same firmness of conduct. Then a regular siege of the city +took place, and the lines of circumvallation were carried on, and +sometimes occasional attacks were made by the townsmen on the Roman +posts, and slight skirmishes took place: and the time was spent, no hope +[of success] inclining to either side, whilst corn and other provisions +were possessed in much greater abundance by the besieged than the +besiegers from [the store] which had been previously laid in. And their +toil appeared likely to prove just as tedious as it had at Veii, had not +fortune presented to the Roman general at once both an opportunity for +displaying his virtuous firmness of mind already tested in warlike +affairs, and a speedy victory.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e27" name="e27"></a>27</div> +<p>It was the custom among the Faliscians to employ the same person as +preceptor and private tutor for their children; and, as continues the +usage to this day in Greece, several youths were intrusted to the care +of one man. The person<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span> who appeared to excel in knowledge, instructed, +as it is natural to suppose, the children of the leading men. As he had +established it as a custom during peace to carry the boys out beyond the +city for the sake of play and of exercise; that custom not having been +discontinued during the existence of the war; then drawing them away +from the gate, sometimes in shorter, sometimes in longer excursions, +advancing farther than usual, when an opportunity offered, by varying +their play and conversation, he led them on between the enemy's guards, +and thence to the Roman camp into his tent to Camillus. There to the +atrocious act he added a still more atrocious speech: that "he had +delivered Falerii into the hands of the Romans, when he put into their +power those children, whose parents are there at the head of affairs." +When Camillus heard this, he says, "Wicked as thou art, thou hast come +with thy villanous offering neither to a people nor a commander like +thyself. Between us and the Faliscians there exists not that form of +society which is established by human compact; but between both there +does exist, and ever will exist, that which nature has implanted. There +are laws of war as well of peace; and we have learned to wage them +justly not less than bravely. We carry arms not against that age which +is spared even when towns are taken, but against men who are themselves +armed, and who, not having been injured or provoked by us, attacked the +Roman camp at Veii. Those thou hast surpassed, as far as lay in you, by +an unprecedented act of villany: I shall conquer them, as I did Veii, by +Roman arts, by bravery, labour, and by arms." Then having stripped him +naked, and tied his hands behind his back, he delivered him up to the +boys to be brought back to Falerii; and supplied them with rods to +scourge the traitor and drive him into the city. At which spectacle, a +crowd of people being assembled, afterwards the senate being convened by +the magistrates on the extraordinary circumstance, so great a change was +produced in their sentiments, that the entire state earnestly demanded +peace at the hands of those, who lately, outrageous by hatred and anger, +almost preferred the fate of the Veientians to the peace of the +Capenatians. The Roman faith, the justice of the commander, are cried up +in the forum and in the senate-house; and by universal consent +ambassadors set out to the camp to Camillus, and thence by permission of +Camillus to Rome to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span> the senate, in order to deliver up Falerii. When +introduced before the senate, they are represented as having spoken +thus: "Conscript fathers, overcome by you and your commander by a +victory at which neither god nor man can feel displeasure, we surrender +ourselves to you, considering that we shall live more happily under your +rule than under our own law, than which nothing can be more glorious for +a conqueror. In the result of this war, two salutary examples have been +exhibited to mankind. You preferred faith in war to present victory: we, +challenged by your good faith, have voluntarily given up to you the +victory. We are under your sovereignty. Send men to receive our arms, +our hostages, our city with its gates thrown open. You shall never have +to repent of our fidelity, nor we of your dominion." Thanks were +returned to Camillus both by the enemy and by his own countrymen. Money +was required of the Faliscians to pay off the soldiers for that year, +that the Roman people might be relieved from the tribute. Peace being +granted, the army was led back to Rome.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e28" name="e28"></a>28</div> +<p>When Camillus returned home, signalized by much more solid glory +than when white horses had drawn him through the city, having vanquished +the enemy by justice and good faith, the senate did not conceal their +sense of respect for him, but immediately set about acquitting him of +his vow; and Lucius Valerius, Lucius Sergius, Aulus Manlius, being sent +in a ship of war as ambassadors to carry the golden bowl to Delphos as +an offering to Apollo, were intercepted by the pirates of the Liparenses +not far from the Sicilian Strait, and carried to Liparæ. It was the +custom of the state to make a division of all booty which was acquired, +as it were, by public piracy. On that year it so happened that one +Timasitheus filled the office of chief magistrate, a man more like the +Romans than his own countrymen. Who, himself reverencing the name of +ambassadors, and the offering, and the god to whom it was sent, and the +cause of the offering, impressed the multitude also, who almost on all +occasions resemble their ruler, with [a sense] of religious justice; and +after having brought the ambassadors to a public entertainment, escorted +them with the protection of some ships to Delphos, and from thence +brought them back in safety to Rome. By a decree of the senate a league +of hospitality was formed with him, and presents were conferred on him +by the state. During the same<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span> year the war with the Æquans was +conducted with varying success; so that it was a matter of doubt both +among the troops themselves and at Rome, whether they had been +victorious or were vanquished. The Roman commanders were Caius Æmilius +and Spurius Postumius, two of the military tribunes. At first they acted +in conjunction; then, after the enemy were routed in the field, it was +agreed that Æmilius should take possession of Verrugo with a certain +force, and that Postumius should devastate the country. There, as the +latter proceeded rather negligently, and with his troops irregularly +drawn up, he was attacked by the Æquans, and an alarm being occasioned, +he was driven to the nearest hill; and the panic spread from thence to +Verrugo to the other detachment of the army. When Postumius, having +withdrawn his men to a place of safety, summoned an assembly and +upbraided them with their fright and flight; with having been beaten by +a most cowardly and dastardly enemy; the entire army shout aloud that +they deserved to hear all this, and admitted the disgrace they had +incurred; but [they promised] that they would make amends, and that the +enemy's joy should not be of long duration. Demanding that he would +instantly lead them from thence to the camp of the enemy, (this lay in +the plain within their view,) they submitted to any punishment, if they +did not take it before night. Having praised them, he orders them to +take refreshment, and to be in readiness at the fourth watch. And the +enemy, in order to prevent the flight of the Romans from the hill +through the road which led to Verrugo, were posted to meet them; and the +battle commenced before daylight, (but the moon was up all the night,) +and was not more confused than a battle fought by day. But the shout +having reached Verrugo, when they thought that the Roman camp was +attacked, occasioned such a panic, that in spite of the entreaties of +Æmilius and his efforts to stop them, they fled to Tusculum in great +disorder. From thence a report was carried to Rome that "Postumius and +his army were cut to pieces." When the dawn of day had removed all +apprehension of an ambuscade in case of a hasty pursuit, after riding +through the ranks, by demanding [the performance of] their promises he +infused such ardour into them, that the Æquans could no longer withstand +their impetuosity. Then the slaughter of them in their flight, such as +takes place when matters are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</a></span> conducted more under the influence of +anger than of courage, was continued even to the total destruction of +the enemy, and the melancholy news from Tusculum, the state having been +alarmed without cause, was followed by a letter from Postumius decked +with laurel, (announcing) that "the victory belonged to the Roman +people; that the army of the Æquans was destroyed."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e29" name="e29"></a>29</div> +<p>As the proceedings of the plebeian tribunes had not yet attained a +termination, both the commons exerted themselves to continue their +office for the promoters of the law, and the patricians to re-elect the +opponents of the law; but the commons were more successful in the +election of their own magistrates. Which annoyance the patricians +avenged by passing a decree of the senate that consuls should be +elected, magistrates detested by the commons. After an interval of +fifteen years, Lucius Lucretius Flavus and Servius Sulpicius Camerinus +were appointed consuls. In the beginning of this year, whilst the +tribunes of the commons united their efforts to pass the law, because +none of their college were likely to oppose them, and the consuls +resisted them with no less energy, the Æquans storm Vitellia, a Roman +colony in their territory. The chief part of the colonists made their +way in safety to Rome, because the town, having been taken by treachery +in the night, afforded an unimpeded mode of escape by the remote side of +the city. That province fell to the lot of Lucius Lucretius the consul. +He having set out with his army, vanquished the enemy in the field; and +returned victorious to Rome to a much more serious contest. A day of +trial had been appointed for Aulus Virginius and Quintus Pomponius, +plebeian tribunes of the two preceding years, in whose defence by the +combined power of the patricians, the honour of the senate was involved. +For no one laid against them any other impeachment, either of their mode +of life or of their conduct in office, save that, to gratify the +patricians, they had protested against the tribunitian law. The +resentment of the commons, however, prevailed over the influence of the +senate; and by a most pernicious precedent these men, though innocent, +were condemned [to pay a fine of] ten thousand <i>asses</i> in weight. At +this the patricians were very much incensed. Camillus openly charged the +commons with gross violation of duty, "who, now turning their venom +against their own body,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span> did not feel that by their iniquitous sentence +on the tribune they abolished the right of protesting; that abolishing +this right of protesting, they had upset the tribunitian authority. For +they were mistaken in expecting that the patricians would tolerate the +unbridled licentiousness of that office. If tribunitian violence could +not be repelled by tribunitian aid, that the patricians would find out +some other weapon." The consuls he also blamed, because they had in +silence suffered those tribunes who had followed the authority of the +senate to be deceived by [their reliance] on the public faith. By openly +expressing these sentiments, he every day still further exasperated the +angry feelings of the people.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e30" name="e30"></a>30</div> +<p>But he ceased not to urge the senate to oppose the law; "that when +the day for proposing the law had arrived they should go down to the +forum with no other feeling than as men who remembered that they had to +contend for their altars and homes, and the temples of the gods, and the +soil in which they had been born. For that as far as he himself +individually was concerned, if during this contest [to be sustained] by +his country it were allowable for him to think of his own glory, it +would even reflect honour on himself, that a city captured by him should +be densely inhabited, that he would daily enjoy the monument of his +glory, and that he would have before his eyes a city borne by him in his +triumph, that all would tread in the footsteps of his renown. But that +he deemed it an impiety that a city deserted and forsaken by the +immortal gods should be inhabited; that the Roman people should reside +in a captive soil, and that a vanquished should be taken in exchange for +a victorious country." Stimulated by these exhortations of their leader, +the patricians, both young and old, entered the forum in a body, when +the law was about to be proposed: and dispersing themselves through the +tribes, each earnestly appealing to the members of their own tribe, +began to entreat them with tears "not to desert that country for which +they themselves and their fathers had fought most valiantly and +successfully," pointing to the Capitol, the temple of Vesta, and the +other temples of the gods around; "not to drive the Roman people, exiles +and outcasts, from their native soil and household gods into the city of +the enemy; and not to bring matters to such a state, that it was better +that Veii were not taken, lest Rome should be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</a></span> deserted." Because they +proceeded not by violence, but by entreaties, and in the midst of these +entreaties frequent mention was [made] of the gods, the greatest part +[of the people] were influenced by religious scruples: and more tribes +by one rejected the law than voted for it. And so gratifying was this +victory to the patricians, that on the following day, on a motion made +by the consuls, a decree of the senate was passed, that seven acres a +man of Veientian territory should be distributed to the commons; and not +only to the fathers of families, but so that all persons in their house +in a state of freedom should be considered, and that they might be +willing to rear up their children with that prospect.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e31" name="e31"></a>31</div> +<p>The commons being won over by such a boon, no opposition was made to +holding the elections for consuls. Lucius Valerius Potitus, and Marcus +Manlius, who afterwards obtained the surname of Capitolinus, were +elected consuls. These consuls celebrated the great games which Marcus +Furius, when dictator, had vowed in the Veientian war. In the same year +the temple of imperial Juno, vowed by the same dictator and during the +same war, is dedicated; and they state that the dedication was attended +with great zeal by the matrons. A war scarcely worth mentioning was +waged with the Æquans at Algidum, the enemies taking to flight almost +before they commenced the fight. To Valerius, because he was more +persevering in slaughtering them in their flight, a triumph was granted; +it was decreed that Manlius should enter the city with an ovation. The +same year a new war broke out with the Volsinians; whither an army could +not be led, on account of a famine and pestilence in the Roman +territories, which arose from drought and excessive heat; on account of +which the Volsinians forming a junction with the Salpinians, being +elated with pride, made an unprovoked incursion into the Roman +territories. War was then proclaimed against the two states. Caius +Julius died during his censorship; Marcus Cornelius was substituted in +his room; a proceeding which was afterwards considered as offensive to +religion; because during that lustrum Rome was taken. Nor since that +time has a censor ever been substituted in the room of one deceased. And +the consuls being seized by the distemper, it was determined that the +auspices should be taken anew during an interregnum.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span></p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e32" name="e32"></a>32</div> +<p>Therefore when in pursuance of a decree of the senate the consuls +resigned their office, Marcus Furius Camillus is created interrex, who +appointed Publius Cornelius Scipio interrex, and he afterwards Lucius +Valerius Potitus. By him were appointed six military tribunes with +consular power; so that, though any one of them should be incommoded by +bad health, the state might have a sufficient number of magistrates. On +the calends of July, the following entered on their office, Lucius +Lucretius, Servius Sulpicius, Marcus Æmilius, Lucius Furius Medullinus a +seventh time, Agrippa Furius, Caius Æmilius a second time. Of these, +Lucius Lucretius and Caius Æmilius got the Volsinians as their province; +the Salpinians fell to the lot of Agrippa Furius and Servius Sulpicius. +The first engagement was with the Volsinians. The war, important from +the number of the enemy, was without difficulty brought to a close. At +the first onset, their army was put to flight. Eight thousand soldiers, +hemmed in by the cavalry, laid down their arms and surrendered. The +account received of that war had the effect of preventing the Salpinians +from hazarding an engagement; the troops secured themselves within their +towns. The Romans drove spoil in every direction, both from the +Salpinian and Volsinian territory, there being no one to repel that +aggression; until a truce for twenty years was granted to the +Volsinians, exhausted by the war, on this condition, that they should +make restitution to the Roman people, and furnish the pay of the army +for that year. During the same year, Marcus Cædicius, a plebeian, +announced to the tribunes that in the New Street, where the chapel now +stands, above the temple of Vesta, he had heard in the silence of the +night a voice louder than that of a human being, which ordered the +magistrates to be told, that the Gauls were approaching. This, as is +usual, was disregarded, on account of the humble station of the author, +and also because the nation was a remote one, and therefore the less +known. And not only were the warnings of the gods disregarded, fate now +impending; but further, the only human aid which was left them, Marcus +Furius, they drove away from the city; who, on a day [of trial] being +appointed for him by Lucius Appuleius, a tribune of the people, in +reference to the Veientian spoil, he having also lost his son, a young +man, about the same time, when he summoned to his house the members of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span> +his tribe and his dependents, (they constituted a considerable portion +of the commons,) and having sounded their sentiments, he received for +answer, "that they would contribute whatever fine he should be condemned +to pay; that to acquit him they were unable,"<a name="FNanchor_168_168" id="FNanchor_168_168"></a><a href="#Footnote_168_168" class="fnanchor">[168]</a> retired into exile; +after praying to the immortal gods, "that if that outrage was done to +him without his deserving it, they would at the earliest opportunity +give cause to his ungrateful country to regret his absence." In his +absence he was fined fifteen thousand <i>asses</i> in weight.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e33" name="e33"></a>33</div> +<p>That citizen being driven away, who being present, Rome could not be +captured, if any thing is certain regarding human affairs; the destined +ruin now approaching the city, ambassadors came from the Clusinians, +soliciting aid against the Gauls. A report is current that that nation, +allured by the delightfulness of the crops, and more especially of the +wine, an enjoyment then new to them, crossed the Alps, and took +possession of the lands formerly cultivated by the Etrurians; and that +Aruns, a native of Clusium, introduced wine into Gaul for the purpose of +enticing the nation, through resentment for his wife's having been +debauched by Lucumo, whose guardian he himself had been, a very +influential young man, and on whom vengeance could not be taken, unless +foreign aid were resorted to; that this person served as a guide to them +when crossing the Alps, and advised them to lay siege to Clusium. I +would not indeed deny that the Gauls were brought to Clusium by Aruns or +any other native of Clusium; but that those persons who laid siege to +Clusium were not they who first crossed the Alps, is sufficiently +certain. For two hundred years before they laid siege to Clusium and +captured the city of Rome, the Gauls passed over into Italy. Nor were +these the first of the Etrurians with whom the Gauls fought, but long +before that they frequently fought with those who dwelt between the +Apennines and the Alps. Before the Roman empire the sway of the Tuscans +was much extended by land and by sea; how very powerful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span> they were in +the upper and lower seas, by which Italy is encompassed like an island, +the names [of these seas] is a proof; the one of which the Italian +nations have called the Tuscan sea, the general appellation of the +people; the other the Hadriatic, from Hadria, a colony of Tuscans. The +Greeks call these same seas the Tyrrhenian and Hadriatic. This people +inhabited the country extending to both seas in twelve cities, colonies +equal in number to the mother cities having been sent, first on this +side the Apennines towards the lower sea, afterwards to the other side +of the Apennines; who obtained possession of all the district beyond the +Po, even as far as the Alps, except the corner of the Venetians, who +dwell round the extreme point of the [Hadriatic] sea. The Alpine nations +also have this origin, more especially the Rhætians; whom their very +situation has rendered savage, so as to retain nothing of their +original, except the accent of their language, and not even that without +corruption.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e34" name="e34"></a>34</div> +<p>Concerning the passage of the Gauls into Italy we have heard as +follows. In the reign of Tarquinius Priscus at Rome, the supreme +government of the Celts, who compose the third part of Gaul, was in the +hands of the Biturigians: they gave a king to the Celtic nation. This +was Ambigatus, one very much distinguished by his merit, and both his +great prosperity in his own concerns and in those of the public; for +under his administration Gaul was so fruitful and so well peopled, that +so very great a population appeared scarcely capable of being restrained +by any government. He being now advanced in years, and anxious to +relieve his kingdom of so oppressive a crowd, declares his intention to +send his sister's sons, Bellovesus and Sigovesus, two enterprising +youths, into whatever settlements the gods should grant them by augury: +that they should take out with them as great a number of men as they +pleased, so that no nation might be able to obstruct them in their +progress. Then to Sigovesus the Hercynian forest was assigned by the +oracle: to Bellovesus the gods marked out a much more cheering route +into Italy. He carried out with him from the Biturigians, the +Arvernians, the Senonians, the Æduans, the Ambarrians, the Carnutians, +and the Aulercians, all that was superfluous in their population. Having +set out with an immense force of horse and foot, he arrived in the +country of the Tricastinians.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span> Next the Alps were opposed [to their +progress], and I am not surprised that they should seem impassable, as +they had never been climbed over through any path as yet, as far at +least as tradition can extend, unless we are disposed to believe the +stories regarding Hercules. When the height of the mountains kept the +Gauls there penned up as it were, and they were looking around [to +discover] by what path they might pass into another world between the +summits, which joined the sky, a religious scruple detained them, it +having been announced to them that strangers in search of lands were +attacked by the nation of the Salyans. These were the Massilians, who +had come by sea from Phocæa. The Gauls considering this an omen of their +own fortune, assisted them in fortifying the ground which they had taken +possession of on their first landing, covered with spacious woods. They +themselves crossed the Alps through the Taurinian and pathless forests; +and having defeated the Etrurians not far from the Ticinus, on hearing +that the land in which they had posted themselves was called Insubria, +the same name as the Insubres, a canton of the Ædui: embracing the omen +of the place, they built a city there, and called it Mediolanum.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e35" name="e35"></a>35</div> +<p>Some time after another body, consisting of Cenomanians, having +followed the tracks of the former under the conduct of Elitovius, +crossed the Alps through the same forest, with the aid of Bellovesus, +and settle themselves where the cities of Brixia and Verona now stand +(the Libuans then possessed these places). After these came the +Salluvians, who fix themselves near the ancient canton of the Ligurians +called Lævi, inhabiting the banks of the Ticinus. Next the Boians and +Lingonians, having made their way over through the Penine pass, all the +tract between the Po and the Alps being occupied, crossed the Po on +rafts, and drove out of the country not only the Etrurians, but the +Umbrians also: they confined themselves however within the Apennines. +Then the Senonians, the latest of these emigrants, took possession of +the track [extending] from the Utens to the Æsis. I find that it was +this nation that came to Clusium, and thence to Rome; whether alone, or +aided by all the nations of the Cisalpine Gauls, is not duly +ascertained. The Clusians, terrified at their strange enemy, on +beholding their great numbers, the forms of the men such as they had +never seen, and the kind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span> of arms [they carried], and on hearing that +the troops of the Etrurians had been frequently defeated by them on both +sides of the Po, sent ambassadors to Rome to solicit aid from the +senate, though they had no claim on the Roman people, in respect either +of alliance or friendship, except that they had not defended their +relations the Veientians against the Roman people. No aid was obtained: +three ambassadors were sent, sons of Marcus Fabius Ambustus, to treat +with the Gauls in the name of the senate and Roman people; that they +should not attack the allies and friends of the Roman people from whom +they had received no wrong. That they should be supported by the Romans +even by force of arms, if circumstances obliged them; but it seemed +better that war itself should be kept aloof, if possible; and that the +Gauls, a nation strangers to them, should be known by peace, rather than +by arms.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e36" name="e36"></a>36</div> +<p>The embassy was a mild one, had it not been consigned to ambassadors +too hot in temper, and who resembled Gauls more than Romans. To whom, +after they delivered their commission in the assembly of the Gauls, the +following answer is returned: Though the name of the Romans was new to +their ears, yet they believed them to be brave men, whose aid was +implored by the Clusians in their perilous conjuncture. And since they +chose to defend their allies against them by negociation rather than by +arms, that they on their part would not reject the pacific terms which +they propose, if the Clusians would give up to the Gauls in want of +land, a portion of their territories which they possessed to a greater +extent than they could cultivate; otherwise peace could not be obtained: +that they wished to receive an answer in presence of the Romans; and if +the land were refused them, that they would decide the matter with the +sword in presence of the same Romans; that they might have an +opportunity of carrying home an account how much the Gauls excelled all +other mortals in bravery. On the Romans asking what right they had to +demand land from the possessors, or to threaten war [in case of +refusal], and what business the Gauls had in Etruria, and on their +fiercely replying, that they carried their right in their swords, that +all things were the property of the brave, with minds inflamed on both +sides they severally have recourse to arms, and the battle is commenced. +Here, fate now pressing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</a></span> hard on the Roman city, the ambassadors, +contrary to the law of nations, take up arms; nor could this be done in +secret, as three of the noblest and bravest of the Roman youth fought in +the van of the Etrurians; so conspicuous was the valour of the +foreigners. Moreover Quintus Fabius, riding out beyond the line, slew a +general of the Gauls who was furiously charging the very standards of +the Etrurians, having run him through the side with his spear: and the +Gauls recognised him when stripping him of his spoils; and a signal was +given throughout the entire line that he was a Roman ambassador. Giving +up therefore their resentment against the Clusians, they sound a +retreat, threatening the Romans. Some gave it as their opinion that they +should proceed forthwith to Rome. The seniors prevailed, that +ambassadors should be sent to complain of the injuries done them, and to +demand that the Fabii should be given up to them in satisfaction for +having violated the law of nations. When the ambassadors had stated +matters, according to the instructions given to them, the conduct of the +Fabii was neither approved by the senate, and the barbarians seemed to +them to demand what was just: but in the case of men of such station +party favour prevented them from decreeing that which they felt to be +right. Wherefore lest the blame of any misfortune, which might happen to +be received in a war with the Gauls, should lie with them, they refer +the consideration of the demands of the Gauls to the people, where +influence and wealth were so predominant, that those persons, whose +punishment was under consideration, were elected military tribunes with +consular power for the ensuing year. At which proceeding the Gauls being +enraged, as was very natural, openly menacing war, return to their own +party. With the three Fabii the military tribunes elected were Quintus +Sulpicius Longus, Quintus Servilius a fourth time, Servius Cornelius +Maluginensis.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e37" name="e37"></a>37</div> +<p>Though danger of such magnitude was impending (so completely does +Fortune blind the minds of men when she wishes not her threatening +stroke to be foiled) a state, which against the Fidenatian and Veientian +enemies, and other neighbouring states, had recourse to aid even from +the most extreme quarters, and had appointed a dictator on many trying +occasions, that same state now, when an enemy, never before seen or +heard of, from the ocean and remotest regions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span> of the earth, was +advancing in arms against them, looked not for any extraordinary command +or aid. Tribunes, by whose temerity the war had been brought on them, +were appointed to the chief direction of affairs, and even making less +of the war than fame had represented it, held the levy with no greater +diligence than used to be exercised for ordinary wars. In the mean while +the Gauls, on hearing that honour was even conferred on the violators of +human law, and that their embassy was slighted, inflamed with +resentment, over which that nation has no control, immediately snatched +up their standards, and enter on their march with the utmost expedition. +When the cities, alarmed at the tumult occasioned by them as they passed +precipitately along, began to run to arms, and the peasants took to +flight, they indicated by a loud shout that they were proceeding to +Rome, taking up an immense space of ground, wherever they passed, with +their horses and men, their troops spreading widely in every direction. +But fame and the messengers of the Clusians, and then of the other +states one after another, preceding them, the rapid advance of the enemy +brought the greatest consternation to Rome; for, with their tumultuary +troops hastily led on, they met them within the distance of the eleventh +mile-stone, where the river Allia, descending from the Crustuminian +mountains in a very deep channel, joins the river Tiber not far below +the road. Already all places in front and on each side were crowded with +the enemy, and this nation, which has a natural turn for causeless +confusion, by their harsh music and discordant clamours, filled all +places with a horrible din.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e38" name="e38"></a>38</div> +<p>There the military tribunes, without having previously selected a +place for their camp, without having previously raised a rampart to +which they might have a retreat, unmindful of their duty to the gods, to +say nothing of that to man, without taking auspices or offering +sacrifices, draw up their line, which was extended towards the flanks, +lest they should be surrounded by the great numbers of the enemy. Still +their front could not be made equal to that of the enemy, though by +thinning their line they rendered their centre weak and scarcely +connected. There was on the right a small eminence, which it was +determined to fill with bodies of reserve; and that circumstance, as it +was the first cause of their dismay and flight, so it proved their only +means of safety in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span> their flight. For Brennus, the chieftain of the +Gauls, being chiefly apprehensive of some design<a name="FNanchor_169_169" id="FNanchor_169_169"></a><a href="#Footnote_169_169" class="fnanchor">[169]</a> being intended in +the small number of the enemy, thinking that the high ground had been +seized for this purpose, that, when the Gauls had been engaged in front +with the line of the legions, the reserve was to make an attack on their +rear and flank, directed his troops against the reserve; certain, that +if he had dislodged them from their ground, the victory would be easy in +the plain for a force which had so much the advantage in point of +numbers: thus not only fortune, but judgment also stood on the side of +the barbarians. In the opposite army there appeared nothing like Romans, +either in the commanders, or in the soldiers. Terror and dismay had +taken possession of their minds, and such a forgetfulness of every +thing, that a far greater number of them fled to Veii, a city of their +enemy, though the Tiber stood in their way, than by the direct road to +Rome, to their wives and children. Their situation defended the reserve +for some time; throughout the remainder of the line as soon as the shout +was heard, by those who stood nearest on their flank, and by those at a +distance on their rear, almost before they could look at the enemy as +yet untried, not only without attempting to fight, but without even +returning the shout, fresh and unhurt they took to flight. Nor was there +any slaughter of them in the act of fighting; but their rear was cut to +pieces, whilst they obstructed their flight by their struggling one with +another. Great slaughter was made on the bank of the Tiber, whither the +entire left wing, having thrown down their arms, directed their flight; +and many who did not know how to swim, or were exhausted, being weighed +down by their coats of mail and other defensive armour, were swallowed +up in the current. The greatest part however escaped safe to Veii; +whence not only no reinforcement, but not even an account of their +defeat, was forwarded to Rome. Those on the right wing which had been +posted at a distance from the river, and rather near the foot of the +mountain, all made for Rome, and, without even shutting the gates, fled +into the citadel.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</a></span></p> +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e39" name="e39"></a>39</div> +<p>The miraculous attainment of so sudden a victory held even the Gauls +in a state of stupefaction. And at first they stood motionless with +panic, as if not knowing what had happened; then they apprehended a +stratagem; at length they began to collect the spoils of the slain, and +to pile up the arms in heaps, as is their custom. Then, at length, when +no appearance of any thing hostile was any where observed, having +proceeded on their journey, they reach the city of Rome not long before +sun-set: where when some horsemen, who had advanced before, brought back +word that the gates were not shut, that no guard was posted before the +gates, no armed troops on the walls, another cause of amazement similar +to the former made them halt; and dreading the night and ignorance of +the situation of the city, they posted themselves between Rome and the +Anio, after sending scouts about the walls and the several gates to +ascertain what plans the enemy would adopt in their desperate +circumstances. With respect to the Romans, as the greater part had gone +to Veii from the field of battle, and no one supposed that any survived +except those who had fled back to Rome, being all lamented as lost, both +those living and those dead, they caused the entire city to be filled +with wailings. The alarm for the public interest stifled private sorrow, +as soon as it was announced that the enemy were at hand. Presently the +barbarians patrolling around the walls in troops, they heard their yells +and the dissonant clangour of their arms. All the interval up to the +next day kept their minds in such a state of suspense, that an assault +seemed every moment about to be made on the city: on their first +approach, when they arrived at the city, [it was expected;] for if this +were not their design, that they would have remained at the Allia; then +towards sunset, because there was not much of the day remaining, they +imagined that they would attack them before night; then that the design +was deferred until night, in order to strike the greater terror. At +length the approach of light struck them with dismay; and the calamity +itself followed closely upon their continued apprehension of it, when +the troops entered the gates in hostile array. During that night, +however, and the following day, the state by no means bore any +resemblance to that which which had fled in so dastardly a manner at the +Allia. For as there was not a hope that the city could be defended, so +small a number<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</a></span> of troops now remaining, it was determined that the +youth fit for military service, and the abler part of the senate with +their wives and children, should retire into the citadel and Capitol; +and having collected stores of arms and corn, and thence from a +fortified post, that they should defend the deities, and the +inhabitants, and the Roman name: that the flamen [Quirinalis] and the +vestal priestesses should carry away far from slaughter and +conflagration the objects appertaining to the religion of the state: and +that their worship should not be intermitted, until there remained no +one who should continue it. If the citadel and Capitol, the mansion of +the gods, if the senate, the source of public counsel, if the youth of +military age, should survive the impending ruin of the city, the loss +would be light of the aged, the crowd left behind in the city, and who +were sure to perish<a name="FNanchor_170_170" id="FNanchor_170_170"></a><a href="#Footnote_170_170" class="fnanchor">[170]</a> under any circumstances. And in order that the +plebeian portion of the multitude might bear the thing with greater +resignation, the aged men, who had enjoyed triumphs and consulships, +openly declared that they would die along with them, and that they would +not burden the scanty stores of the armed men with those bodies, with +which they were now unable to bear arms, or to defend their country. +Such was the consolation addressed to each other by the aged now +destined to death.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e40" name="e40"></a>40</div> +<p>Their exhortations were then turned to the band of young men, whom +they escorted to the Capitol and citadel, commending to their valour and +youth whatever might be the remaining fortune of a city, which for three +hundred and sixty years had been victorious in all its wars. When those +who carried with them all their hope and resources, parted with the +others, who had determined not to survive the ruin of their captured +city; both the circumstance itself and the appearance [it exhibited] was +really distressing, and also the weeping of the women, and their +undecided running together, following now these, now those, and asking +their husbands and children what was to become of them, [all together] +left nothing that could be added to human misery. A great many of them, +however, escorted their friends into the citadel, no one either +preventing or inviting them; because the measure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</a></span> which was advantageous +to the besieged, that of reducing the number of useless persons, was but +little in accordance with humanity. The rest of the crowd, chiefly +plebeians, whom so small a hill could not contain, nor could they be +supported amid such a scarcity of corn, pouring out of the city as if in +one continued train, repaired to the Janiculum. From thence some were +dispersed through the country, some made for the neighbouring cities, +without any leader or concert, following each his own hopes, his own +plans, those of the public being given up as lost. In the mean time the +Flamen Quirinalis and the vestal virgins, laying aside all concern for +their own affairs, consulting which of the sacred deposits should be +carried with them, which should be left behind, for they had not +strength to carry them all, or what place would best preserve them in +safe custody, consider it best to put them into casks and to bury them +in the chapel adjoining to the residence of the Flamen Quirinalis, where +now it is profane to spit out. The rest they carry away with them, after +dividing the burden among themselves, by the road which leads by the +Sublician bridge to the Janiculum. When Lucius Albinius, a Roman +plebeian, who was conveying his wife and children in a waggon, beheld +them on that ascent among the rest of the crowd which was leaving the +city as unfit to carry arms; even then the distinction of things divine +and human being preserved, considering it an outrage on religion, that +the public priests and sacred utensils of the Roman people should go on +foot and be carried, that he and his family should be seen in a +carriage, he commanded his wife and children to alight, placed the +virgins and sacred utensils in the vehicle, and carried them on to Cære, +whither the priests had intended to go.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e41" name="e41"></a>41</div> +<p>Meanwhile at Rome all arrangements being now made, as far as was +possible in such an emergency, for the defence of the citadel, the crowd +of aged persons having returned to their houses, awaited the enemy's +coming with minds firmly prepared for death. Such of them as had borne +curule offices, in order that they may die in the insignia of their +former station, honours, and merit, arraying themselves in the most +magnificent garments worn by those drawing the chariots of the gods in +procession, or by persons riding in triumph, seated themselves in their +ivory chairs, in the middle of their halls. Some say that they devoted +themselves for their coun<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</a></span>try and the citizens of Rome, Marcus Fabius, +the chief pontiff, dictating the form of words. The Gauls, both because +by the intervention of the night they had abated all angry feelings +arising from the irritation of battle, and because they had on no +occasion fought a well-disputed fight, and were then not taking the city +by storm or violence, entering the city the next day, free from +resentment or heat of passion, through the Colline gate which lay open, +advance into the forum, casting their eyes around on the temples of the +gods, and on the citadel, which alone exhibited any appearance of war. +From thence, after leaving a small guard, lest any attack should be made +on them whilst scattered, from the citadel or Capitol, they dispersed in +quest of plunder; the streets being entirely desolate, rush some of them +in a body into the houses that were nearest; some repair to those which +were most distant, considering these to be untouched and abounding with +spoil. Afterwards being terrified by the very solitude, lest any +stratagem of the enemy should surprise them whilst being dispersed, they +returned in bodies into the forum and the parts adjoining to the forum, +where the houses of the commons being shut, and the halls of the leading +men lying open, almost greater backwardness was felt to attack the open +than the shut houses; so completely did they behold with a sort of +veneration men sitting in the porches of the palaces, who besides their +ornaments and apparel more august than human, bore a striking +resemblance to gods, in the majesty which their looks and the gravity of +their countenance displayed. Whilst they stood gazing on these as on +statues, it is said that Marcus Papirius, one of them, roused the anger +of a Gaul by striking him on the head with his ivory, while he was +stroking his beard, which was then universally worn long; and that the +commencement of the bloodshed began with him, that the rest were slain +in their seats. After the slaughter of the nobles, no person whatever +was spared; the houses were plundered, and when emptied were set on +fire.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e42" name="e42"></a>42</div> +<p>But whether it was that all were not possessed with a desire of +destroying the city, or it had been so determined by the leading men of +the Gauls, both that some fires should be presented to their view, [to +see] if the besieged could be forced into a surrender through affection +for their dwellings, and that all the houses should not be burned down, +so that what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</a></span>ever portion should remain of the city, they might hold as +a pledge to work upon the minds of the enemy; the fire by no means +spread either indiscriminately or extensively on the first day, as is +usual in a captured city. The Romans beholding from the citadel the city +filled with the enemy, and their running to and fro through all the +streets, some new calamity presenting itself in every different quarter, +were neither able to preserve their presence of mind, nor even to have +perfect command of their ears and eyes. To whatever direction the shouts +of the enemy, the cries of women and children, the crackling of the +flames, and the crash of falling houses, had called their attention, +thither, terrified at every incident, they turned their thoughts, faces, +and eyes, as if placed by fortune to be spectators of their falling +country, and as if left as protectors of no other of their effects, +except their own persons: so much more to be commiserated than any +others who were ever besieged, because, shut out from their country, +they were besieged, beholding all their effects in the power of the +enemy. Nor was the night, which succeeded so shockingly spent a day, +more tranquil; daylight then followed a restless night; nor was there +any time which failed to produce the sight of some new disaster. Loaded +and overwhelmed by so many evils, they did not at all abate their +determination, [resolved,] though they should see every thing in flames +and levelled to the dust, to defend by their bravery the hill which they +occupied, small and ill provided as it was, being left [as a refuge] for +liberty. And now, as the same events recurred every day, as if +habituated to misfortunes, they abstracted their thoughts from all +feeling of their circumstances, regarding their arms only, and the +swords in their right hands, as the sole remnants of their hopes.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e43" name="e43"></a>43</div> +<p>The Gauls also, after having for several days waged an ineffectual +war against the buildings of the city, when they saw that among the +fires and ruins of the captured city nothing now remained except armed +enemies, neither terrified by so many disasters, nor likely to turn +their thoughts to a surrender, unless force were employed, determine to +have recourse to extremities, and to make an attack on the citadel. A +signal being given at break of day, their entire multitude is marshalled +in the forum; thence, after raising the shout and forming a testudo, +they advance to the attack. Against<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</a></span> whom the Romans, acting neither +rashly nor precipitately, having strengthened the guards at every +approach, and opposing the main strength of their men in that quarter +where they saw the battalions advancing, suffer the enemy to ascend, +judging that the higher they ascended, the more easily would they be +driven back down the steep. About the middle of the ascent they met +them: and making a charge thence from the higher ground, which of itself +bore them against the enemy, they routed the Gauls with slaughter and +destruction, so that never after, either in parties or with their whole +force, did they try that kind of fighting. Laying aside all hope of +succeeding by force of arms, they prepare for a blockade; of which +having had no idea up to that time, they had, whilst burning the city, +destroyed whatever corn had been therein, and during those very days all +the provisions had been carried off from the land to Veii. Accordingly, +dividing their army, they resolved that one part should plunder through +the neighbouring states, that the other part should carry on the siege +of the citadel, so that the ravagers of the country might supply the +besiegers with corn.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e44" name="e44"></a>44</div> +<p>The Gauls, who marched from the city, were led by fortune herself, +to make trial of Roman valour, to Ardea, where Camillus was in exile: +who, more distressed by the fortune of the public than his own, whilst +he now pined away arraigning gods and men, fired with indignation, and +wondering where were now those men who with him had taken Veii and +Falerii, who had conducted other wars rather by their own valour than by +the favour of fortune, hears on a sudden that the army of the Gauls was +approaching, and that the people of Ardea in consternation were met in +council on the subject. And as if moved by divine inspiration, after he +advanced into the midst of the assembly, having hitherto been accustomed +to absent himself from such meetings, he says, "People of Ardea, my +friends of old, of late my fellow-citizens also, since your kindness so +ordered it, and my good fortune achieved it, let no one of you suppose +that I have come forward here forgetful of my condition; but the +[present] case and the common danger obliges every one to contribute to +the common good whatever service he can in our present alarming +situation. And when shall I repay you for your so very important +services to me, if I now be remiss? or where will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</a></span> you derive benefit +from me, if not in war? By this accomplishment I maintained my rank in +my native country: and, unconquered in war, I was banished during peace +by my ungrateful fellow-citizens. To you, men of Ardea, a favourable +opportunity has been presented of making a return for all the former +favours conferred by the Roman people, such as you yourselves remember, +(for which reason, as being mindful of them, you are not to be upbraided +with them,) and of obtaining great military renown for this your city +over the common enemy. The nation, which now approaches in disorderly +march, is one to which nature has given great spirits and bodies rather +huge than firm. Let the disaster of Rome serve as a proof. They captured +the city when lying open to them; a small handful of men from the +citadel and Capitol withstand them. Already tired out by the slow +process of a siege, they retire and spread themselves through the +country. Gorged with food and wine hastily swallowed, when night comes +on they stretch themselves indiscriminately, like brutes, near streams +of water, without entrenchment, without guards or advanced posts; more +incautious even now than usual in consequence of success. If you then +are disposed to defend your own walls, and not to suffer all these +places to become Gaul, take up arms in a full body at the first watch: +follow me to slaughter, not to battle. If I do not deliver them up to +you fettered by sleep, to be butchered like cattle, I decline not the +same issue of my affairs at Ardea as I had at Rome."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e45" name="e45"></a>45</div> +<p>Both friends and enemies were satisfied that there existed no where +at that time a man of equal military talent. The assembly being +dismissed, they refresh themselves, carefully watching the moment the +signal should be given; which being given, during the silence of the +beginning of the night they attended Camillus at the gates. Having gone +forth to no great distance from the city, they found the camp of the +Gauls, as had been foretold, unprotected and neglected on every side, +and attack it with a shout. No fight any where, but slaughter every +where; their bodies, naked and relaxed with sleep, are cut to pieces. +Those most remote, however, being roused from their beds, not knowing +what the tumult was, or whence it came, were directed to flight, and +some of them, without perceiving it, into the midst of the enemy. A +great number flying into the territory of Antium, an attack<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</a></span> being made +on them in their straggling march by the townspeople, were surrounded +and cut off. A like carnage was made of the Tuscans in the Veientian +territory; who were so far from compassionating the city which had now +been its neighbour for nearly four hundred years, overpowered as it now +was by a strange and unheard-of enemy, that at that very time they made +incursions on the Roman territory; and laden with plunder, had it in +contemplation to lay siege to Veii, the bulwark and last hope of the +Roman race. The Roman soldiers had seen them straggling over the +country, and collected in a body, driving the spoil before them, and +they perceived their camp pitched at no great distance from Veii. Upon +this, first self-commiseration, then indignation, and after that +resentment, took possession of their minds: "Were their calamities to be +a subject of mockery to the Etrurians, from whom they had turned off the +Gallic war on themselves?" Scarce could they curb their passions, so as +to refrain from attacking them at the moment; and being restrained by +Quintus Cædicius, the centurion, whom they had appointed their +commander, they deferred the matter until night. A leader equal to +Camillus was all that was wanted; in other respects matters were +conducted in the same order and with the same fortunate result. And +further, under the guidance of some prisoners, who had survived the +nightly slaughter, they set out to Salinæ against another body of +Tuscans, they suddenly made on the following night still greater havoc, +and returned to Veii exulting in their double victory.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e46" name="e46"></a>46</div> +<p>Meanwhile, at Rome, the siege, in general, was slow, and there was +quiet on both sides, the Gauls being intent only on this, that none of +the enemy should escape from between their posts; when, on a sudden, a +Roman youth drew on himself the admiration both of his countrymen and +the enemy. There was a sacrifice solemnized at stated times by the +Fabian family on the Quirinal hill. To perform this Caius Fabius Dorso +having descended from the Capitol, in the Gabine cincture, carrying in +his hands the sacred utensils, passed out through the midst of the +enemy's post, without being at all moved by the calls or threats of any +of them, and reached the Quirinal hill; and after duly performing there +the solemn rites, coming back by the same way with the same firm +countenance and gait, confident that the gods<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</a></span> were propitious, whose +worship he had not even neglected when prohibited by the fear of death, +he returned to the Capitol to his friends, the Gauls being either +astounded at such an extraordinary manifestation of boldness, or moved +even by religious considerations, of which the nation is by no means +regardless. In the mean time, not only the courage, but the strength of +those at Veii increased daily, not only those Romans repairing thither +from the country who had strayed away after the unsuccessful battle, or +the disaster of the city being taken, but volunteers also flowing in +from Latium, to come in for share of the spoil. It now seemed high time +that their country should be recovered and rescued from the hands of the +enemy. But a head was wanting to this strong body. The very spot put +them in mind of Camillus, and a considerable part consisted of soldiers +who had fought successfully under his guidance and auspices: and +Cædicius declared that he would not give occasion that any one, whether +god or man, should terminate his command rather than that, mindful of +his own rank, he would himself call (for the appointment of) a general. +With universal consent it was resolved that Camillus should be sent for +from Ardea, but not until the senate at Rome were first consulted: so +far did a sense of propriety regulate every proceeding, and so carefully +did they observe the distinctions of things in their almost desperate +circumstances. They had to pass at great risk through the enemy's +guards. For this purpose a spirited youth, Pontius Cominius, offered his +services, and supporting himself on cork was carried down the Tiber to +the city. From thence, where the distance from the bank was shortest, he +makes his way into the Capitol over a portion of the rock that was +craggy, and therefore neglected by the enemy's guard: and being +conducted to the magistrates, he delivers the instructions received from +the army. Then having received a decree of the senate, both that +Camillus should be recalled from exile at the comitia curiata, and be +forthwith appointed dictator by order of the people, and that the +soldiers should have the general whom they wished, he passed out the +same way and proceeded with his despatches to Veii; and deputies being +sent to Camillus to Ardea, conducted him to Veii: or else the law was +passed by the curiæ, and he was nominated dictator in his absence; for I +am more inclined to believe that he did not set out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</a></span> from Ardea until he +found that the law was passed; because he could neither change his +residence without an order of the people, nor hold the privilege of the +auspices in the army until he was nominated dictator.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e47" name="e47"></a>47</div> +<p>Whilst these things were going on at Veii, in the mean while the +citadel and Capitol of Rome were in great danger. For the Gauls either +having perceived the track of a human foot where the messenger from Veii +had passed, or having of themselves remarked the easy ascent by the rock +at the temple of Carmentis, on a moonlight night, after they had at +first sent forward an unarmed person, to make trial of the way, +delivering their arms, whenever any difficulty occurred, alternately +supported and supporting each other, and drawing each other up, +according as the ground required, they reached the summit in such +silence, that they not only escaped the notice of the sentinels, but of +the dogs also, an animal extremely wakeful with respect to noises by +night. The notice of the geese they did not escape, which, as being +sacred to Juno, were spared though they were in the greatest scarcity of +food. Which circumstance was the cause of their preservation. For Marcus +Manlius, who three years before had been consul, a man distinguished in +war, being aroused from sleep by their cackling and the clapping of +their wings, snatched up his arms, and at the same time calling the +others to do the same, proceeds to the spot; and whilst the others are +thrown into confusion, he struck with the boss of his shield and tumbles +down a Gaul, who had already got footing on the summit; and when the +fall of this man as he tumbled threw down those who were next him, he +slew others, who in their consternation had thrown away their arms, and +caught hold of the rocks to which they clung. And now the others also +having assembled beat down the enemy by javelins and stones, and the +entire band, having lost their footing, were hurled down the precipice +in promiscuous ruin. The alarm then subsiding, the remainder of the +night was given up to repose, (as far as could be done considering the +disturbed state of their minds,) when the danger, even though past, +still kept them in a state of anxiety. Day having appeared, the soldiers +were summoned by sound of trumpet to attend the tribunes in assembly, +when recompence was to be made both to merit and to demerit; Manlius was +first of all commended for his bravery and presented with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</a></span> gifts, not +only by the military tribunes, but with the consent of the soldiers, for +they all carried to his house, which was in the citadel, a contribution +of half a pound of corn and half a pint of wine: a matter trifling in +the relation, but the [prevailing] scarcity had rendered it a strong +proof of esteem, when each man, depriving himself of his own food, +contributed in honour of one man a portion subtracted from his body and +from his necessary requirements. Then the guards of that place where the +enemy had climbed up unobserved, were summoned; and when Quintus +Sulpicius declared openly that he would punish all according to the +usage of military discipline, being deterred by the consentient shout of +the soldiers who threw the blame on one sentinel, he spared the rest. +The man, who was manifestly guilty of the crime, he threw down from the +rock, with the approbation of all. From this time forth the guards on +both sides became more vigilant; on the part of the Gauls, because a +rumour spread that messengers passed between Veii and Rome, and on that +of the Romans, from the recollection of the danger which occurred during +the night.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e48" name="e48"></a>48</div> +<p>But beyond all the evils of siege and war, famine distressed both +armies; pestilence, moreover, [oppressed] the Gauls, both as being +encamped in a place lying between hills, as well as heated by the +burning of the houses, and full of exhalations, and sending up not only +ashes but embers also, whenever the wind rose to any degree; and as the +nation, accustomed to moisture and cold, is most intolerant of these +annoyances, and, suffering severely from the heat and suffocation, they +were dying, the diseases spreading as among cattle, now becoming weary +of burying separately, they heaped up the bodies promiscuously and +burned them; and rendered the place remarkable by the name of Gallic +piles. A truce was now made with the Romans, and conferences were held +with the permission of the commanders; in which when the Gauls +frequently alluded to the famine, and referred to the urgency of that as +a further motive for their surrendering, for the purpose of removing +that opinion, bread is said to have been thrown in many places from the +Capitol, into the advanced posts of the enemy. But the famine could +neither be dissembled nor endured any longer. Accordingly, whilst the +dictator is engaged in person in holding a levy, in ordering his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</a></span> master +of the horse, Lucius Valerius, to bring up the troops from Veii, in +making preparations and arrangements, so that he may attack the enemy on +equal terms, in the mean time the army of the Capitol, wearied out with +keeping guard and with watches, having surmounted all human sufferings, +whilst nature would not suffer famine alone to be overcome, looking +forward from day to day, to see whether any succour would come from the +dictator, at length not only food but hope also failing, and their arms +weighing down their debilitated bodies, whilst the guards were being +relieved, insisted that there should be either a surrender, or that they +should be bought off, on whatever terms were possible, the Gauls +intimating in rather plain terms, that they could be induced for no very +great compensation to relinquish the siege. Then the senate was held and +instructions were given to the military tribunes to capitulate. Upon +this the matter was settled between Quintus Sulpicius, a military +tribune, and Brennus, the chieftain of the Gauls, and one thousand +pounds' weight of gold was agreed on as the ransom of a people, who were +soon after to be the rulers of the world. To a transaction very +humiliating in itself, insult was added. False weights were brought by +the Gauls, and on the tribune objecting, his sword was thrown in in +addition to the weight by the insolent Gaul, and an expression was heard +intolerable to the Romans, "Woe to the vanquished!"</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e49" name="e49"></a>49</div> +<p>But both gods and men interfered to prevent the Romans from living +on the condition of being ransomed; for by some chance, before the +execrable price was completed, all the gold being not yet weighed in +consequence of the altercation, the dictator comes up, and orders the +gold to be removed, and the Gauls to clear away. When they, holding out +against him, affirmed that they had concluded a bargain, he denied that +the agreement was a valid one, which had been entered into with a +magistrate of inferior authority without his orders, after he had been +nominated dictator; and he gives notice to the Gauls to get ready for +battle. He orders his men to throw their baggage in a heap, and to get +ready their arms, and to recover their country with steel, not with +gold, having before their eyes the temples of the gods, and their wives +and children, and the soil of their country disfigured by the calamities +of war, and all those objects which they were solemnly bound<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</a></span> to defend, +to recover, and to revenge. He then draws up his army, as the nature of +the place admitted, on the site of the half-demolished city, and which +was uneven by nature, and he secured all those advantages for his own +men, which could be prepared or selected by military skill. The Gauls, +thrown into confusion by the unexpected event, take up arms, and with +rage, rather than good judgment, rushed upon the Romans. Fortune had now +changed; now the aid of the gods and human prudence assisted the Roman +cause. At the first encounter, therefore, the Gauls were routed with no +greater difficulty than they had found in gaining the victory at Allia. +They were afterwards beaten under the conduct and auspices of the same +Camillus, in a more regular engagement, at the eighth stone on the +Gabine road, whither they had betaken themselves after their defeat. +There the slaughter was universal: their camp was taken, and not even +one person was left to carry news of the defeat. The dictator, after +having recovered his country from the enemy, returns into the city in +triumph; and among the rough military jests which they throw out [on +such occasions] he is styled, with praises by no means undeserved, +Romulus, and parent of his country, and a second founder of the city. +His country, thus preserved by arms, he unquestionably saved a second +time in peace, when he hindered the people from removing to Veii, both +the tribunes pressing the matter with greater earnestness after the +burning of the city, and the commons of themselves being more inclined +to that measure; and that was the cause of his not resigning his +dictatorship after the triumph, the senate entreating him not to leave +the commonwealth in so unsettled a state.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e50" name="e50"></a>50</div> +<p>First of all, he proposed matters appertaining to the immortal gods; +for he was a most scrupulous observer of religious duties; and he +procures a decree of the senate, "that all the temples, as the enemy had +possessed them, should be restored, their bounds traced, and expiations +made for them, and that the form of expiation should be sought in the +books by the decemvirs; that a league of hospitality should be entered +into by public authority with the people of Cære, because they had +afforded a reception to the sacred utensils of the Roman people and to +their priests; and because, by the kindness of that people, the worship +of the immortal gods had not been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</a></span> intermitted; that Capitoline games +should be exhibited, for that Jupiter, supremely good and great, had +protected his own mansion and the citadel of the Roman people when in +danger; and that Marcus Furius, the dictator, should establish a college +for that purpose, out of those who should inhabit the Capitol and +citadel." Mention was also introduced of expiating the voice heard by +night, which had been heard announcing the calamity before the Gallic +war, and neglected, and a temple was ordered in the New Street to Aius +Locutius. The gold, which had been rescued from the Gauls, and that also +which during the alarm had been collected from the other temples into +the recess of Jupiter's temple, the recollection being confused as to +the temples to which it should be carried back, was all judged to be +sacred, and ordered to be placed under the throne of Jupiter. Already +the religious scruples of the state had appeared in this, that when gold +was wanting for public uses, to make up for the Gauls the amount of the +ransom agreed upon, they had accepted that which was contributed by the +matrons, so that they might not touch the sacred gold. Thanks were +returned to the matrons, and to this was added the honour of their +having funeral orations pronounced on them after death, in the same +manner as the men. Those things being finished which appertained to the +gods, and such measures as could be transacted through the senate, then, +at length, as the tribunes were teasing the commons by their unceasing +harangues, to leave the ruins, to remove to Veii, a city ready prepared +for them, being escorted by the entire senate, he ascends the tribunal, +and spoke as follows:</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e51" name="e51"></a>51</div> +<p>"Romans, so disagreeable to me are contentions with the tribunes of +the people, that in my most melancholy exile, whilst I resided at Ardea, +I had no other consolation than that I was removed from these contests; +and for this same reason I would never have returned, even though you +recalled me by a decree of the senate, and by order of the people. Nor +has it been any change in my own sentiments, but in your fortune, that +has persuaded me to return now. For the question was that my country +should remain in its own established seat, not that I should reside in +my country. And on the present occasion I would gladly remain quiet and +silent, were not the present struggle also appertaining to my country's +interests, to be wanting to which, as long as life lasts, were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</a></span> base in +others, in Camillus impious. For why have we recovered it? Why have we +rescued it when besieged out of the hands of the enemy, if we ourselves +desert it when recovered? And when, the Gauls being victorious, the +entire city captured, both the gods and the natives of Rome still +retained and inhabited the Capitol and citadel, shall even the citadel +and the Capitol be deserted, now when the Romans are victorious and the +city has been recovered? And shall our prosperous fortune cause more +desolation to this city than our adverse caused? Truly if we had no +religious institutions established together with the city, and regularly +transmitted down to us, still the divine power has so manifestly +interested itself in behalf of the Roman state on the present trying +occasion, that I should think that all neglect of the divine worship was +removed from the minds of men. For consider the events of these latter +years one after the other, whether prosperous or adverse; you will find +that all things succeeded favourably with us whilst we followed the +gods, and unfavourably when we neglected them. Now, first of all the +Veientian war—of how many years' duration, with what immense labour +waged!—was not brought to a termination, until the water was discharged +from the Alban lake by the admonition of the gods. What, in the name of +heaven, regarding this recent calamity of our city? did it arise, until +the voice sent from heaven concerning the approach of the Gauls was +treated with slight? until the law of nations was violated by our +ambassadors, and until such violation was passed over by us with the +same indifference towards the gods, when it should have been punished by +us? Accordingly vanquished, made captives and ransomed, we have suffered +such punishments at the hands of gods and men, as that we are now a +warning to the whole world. Afterwards our misfortunes reminded us of +our religious duties. We fled for refuge to the gods, to the seat of +Jupiter supremely good and great; amid the ruin of all our effects our +sacred utensils we partly concealed in the earth; part of them we +carried away to the neighbouring cities and removed from the eyes of the +enemy. Though deserted by gods and men, still we intermitted not the +worship of the gods. Accordingly they have restored to us our country, +and victory, our ancient renown in war which had been lost, and on our +enemies, who, blinded by avarice, have violated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</a></span> the faith of a treaty +with respect to the weight of gold, they have turned dismay, and flight, +and slaughter.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e52" name="e52"></a>52</div> +<p>"When you behold such striking instances of the effects of honouring +or neglecting the deity, do you perceive what an act of impiety we are +about to perpetrate, scarcely emerging from the wreck of our former +misconduct and calamity? We possess a city founded under auspices and +auguries; not a spot is there in it that is not full of religious rites +and of the gods: the days for the anniversary sacrifices are not more +definitely stated, than are the places in which they are to be +performed. All these gods, both public and private, do ye, Romans, +pretend to forsake. What similarity does your conduct bear [to that] +which lately during the siege was beheld with no less admiration by the +enemy than by yourselves in that excellent Caius Fabius, when he +descended from the citadel amid the Gallic weapons, and performed on the +Quirinal hill the solemn rites of the Fabian family? Is it your wish +that the family religious rites should not be intermitted even during +war, but that the public rites and the Roman gods should be deserted +even in time of peace, and that the pontiffs and flamens should be more +negligent of public religious ceremonies, than a private individual in +the anniversary rite of a particular family? Perhaps some one may say, +that we will either perform these duties at Veii, or that we will send +our priests hither from thence in order to perform them; neither of +which can be done, without infringing on the established forms. For not +to enumerate all the sacred rites severally and all the gods, whether in +the banquet of Jupiter can the lectisternium be performed in any other +place, save in the Capitol? What shall I say of the eternal fire of +Vesta, and of the statue, which, as the pledge of empire, is kept under +the safeguard of her temple? What, O Mars Gradivus, and you, father +Quirinus, of your Ancilia? Is it right that these sacred things, coeval +with the city, some of them more ancient than the origin of the city, +should be abandoned to profanation? And, observe the difference existing +between us and our ancestors. They handed down to us certain sacred +rites to be performed by us on the Alban and on the Lavinian mounts. Was +it in conformity with religion that these sacred rites were transferred +to us to Rome from the cities of our enemies? shall we transfer them +hence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</a></span> to Veii, an enemy's city, without impiety? Come, recollect how +often sacred rites are performed anew, because some ceremony of our +country had been omitted through negligence or accident. On a late +occasion, what circumstance, after the prodigy of the Alban lake, proved +a remedy to the state distressed by the Veientian war, but the +repetition of the sacred rites and the renewal of the auspices? But +further, as if duly mindful of ancient religious usages, we have both +transferred foreign deities to Rome, and have established new ones. Very +recently, imperial Juno was transferred from Veii, and had her +dedication performed on a day how distinguished for the extraordinary +zeal of the matrons, and with what a full attendance! We have directed a +temple to be erected to Aius Locutius, in consequence of the heavenly +voice heard in the New Street. To our other solemnities we have added +the Capitoline games, and, by direction of the senate, we have founded a +new college for that purpose. Which of these things need we have done, +if we were to leave the Roman city together with the Gauls? if it was +not voluntarily we remained in the Capitol for so many months of siege; +if we were retained by the enemy through motives of fear? We are +speaking of the sacred rites and of the temples; what, pray, of the +priests? Does it not occur to you, what a degree of profaneness would be +committed in respect of them. The Vestals, forsooth, have but that one +settlement, from which nothing ever disturbed them, except the capture +of the city. It is an act of impiety for the flamen Dialis to remain for +a single night without the city. Do ye mean to make them Veientian +instead of Roman priests? And shall the virgins forsake thee, O Vesta? +And shall the flamen by living abroad draw on himself and on his country +such a weight of guilt every night? What of the other things, all of +which we transact under auspices within the Pomærium, to what oblivion, +to what neglect do we consign them? The assemblies of the Curias, which +comprise military affairs; the assemblies of the Centuries, at which you +elect consuls and military tribunes, when can they be held under +auspices, unless where they are wont [to be held]? Shall we transfer +them to Veii? or whether for the purpose of holding their elections +shall the people assemble at so great inconvenience into a city deserted +by gods and men?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</a></span></p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e53" name="e53"></a>53</div> +<p>"But the case itself forces us to leave a city desolated by fire and +ruin, and remove to Veii, where all things are entire, and not to +distress the needy commons by building here. But that this is only held +out as a pretext, rather than that it is the real motive, I think is +evident to you, though I should say nothing on the subject; for you +remember that before the arrival of the Gauls, when the buildings, both +public and private, were still unhurt, and the city still stood in +safety, this same question was agitated, that we should remove to Veii. +Observe then, tribunes, what a difference there is between my way of +thinking and yours. Ye think that though it may not have been advisable +to do it then, still that now it ought certainly to be done; I, on the +contrary, (and be not surprised until you shall have heard the state of +the case,) admitting it were advisable to remove when the entire city +was safe, would not vote for relinquishing these ruins now. For then +victory would be the cause of our removing into a captured city, one +that would be glorious to ourselves and our posterity; whilst now this +same removal would be wretched and disgraceful to us, and glorious to +the Gauls. For we shall appear not to have left our country as +conquerors, but to have lost it from having been vanquished; the flight +at Allia, the capture of the city, the blockading of the Capitol, [will +seem] to have imposed this necessity on us of forsaking our household +gods, of having recourse to exile and flight from that place which we +were unable to defend. And have the Gauls been able to demolish Rome, +which the Romans shall be deemed to have been unable to restore? What +remains, but that if they should now come with new forces, (for it is +evident that their number is scarcely credible,) and should they feel +disposed to dwell in this city, captured by them, and deserted by you, +would you suffer them? What, if not the Gauls, but your old enemies, the +Æquans and Volscians, should form the design of removing to Rome; would +you be willing that they should become Romans, you Veientians? Would ye +prefer that this should be a desert in your possession, or a city of the +enemy? For my part I can see nothing more impious. Is it because ye are +averse to building, ye are prepared to incur this guilt, this disgrace? +Even though no better, no more ample structure could be erected +throughout the entire city than that cottage of our founder, is it not +bet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</a></span>ter to dwell in cottages, like shepherds and rustics, amid your +sacred places and your household gods, than to go publicly into exile? +Our forefathers, strangers and shepherds, when there was nothing in +these places but woods and marshes, erected a new city in a very short +time; do we, with a Capitol and citadel safe, and the temples of the +gods still standing, feel it irksome to build up what has been burnt? +and what we individually would have done, if our private residence had +been burned down, shall we as a body refuse to do in the case of a +public conflagration?</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e54" name="e54"></a>54</div> +<p>"What, if by some evil design of accident a fire should break out at +Veii, and the flames spread by the wind, as may happen, should consume a +considerable portion of the city; are we then to seek Fidenæ, or Gabii, +or any other city to remove to? Has our native soil so slight a hold on +us, or this earth which we call mother; or does our love of country lie +merely in the surface and in the timber of the houses? For my part, I +will acknowledge to you, whilst I was absent, though I am less disposed +to remember this as the effect of your injustice than of my own +misfortune, as often as my country came into my mind, all these +circumstances occurred to me, the hills, the plains, the Tiber, the face +of the country familiar to my eyes, and this sky, beneath which I had +been born and educated; may these now induce you, by their endearing +hold on you, to remain in your present settlement, rather than they +should cause you to pine away through regret, after having left them. +Not without good reason did gods and men select this place for founding +a city: these most healthful hills; a commodious river, by means of +which the produce of the soil may be conveyed from the inland countries, +by which maritime supplies may be obtained; close enough to the sea for +all purposes of convenience, and not exposed by too much proximity to +the dangers of foreign fleets; a situation in the centre of the regions +of Italy, singularly adapted by nature for the increase of a city. The +very size of so new a city is a proof. Romans, the present year is the +three hundred and sixty-fifth year of the city; for so long a time are +you waging war amid nations of such long standing; yet not to mention +single cities, neither the Volscians combined with the Æquans, so many +and such strong towns, nor all Etruria, so potent by land and sea, +occupying the breadth of Italy between the two seas, can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</a></span> cope with you +in war. And as the case is so, where, in the name of goodness, is the +wisdom in you who have tried [this situation] to make trial now of some +other, when, though your own valour may be removed elsewhere, the +fortune of this place certainly cannot be transferred? Here is the +Capitol, where, a human head being found, it was foretold that in that +place would be the head of the world, and the chief seat of empire. +Here, when the Capitol was to be freed by the rites of augury, Juventas +and Terminus, to the very great joy of our fathers, suffered not +themselves to be moved. Here is the fire of Vesta, here the Ancilia sent +down from heaven, here are all the gods propitious to you if you stay."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="e55" name="e55"></a>55</div> +<p>Camillus is said to have moved them as well by other parts of his +speech, but chiefly by that which related to religious matters. But an +expression seasonably uttered determined the matter whilst still +undecided; for when a meeting of the senate, a little after this, was +being held in the Curia Hostilia regarding these questions, and some +troops returning from relieving guard passed through the forum in their +march, a centurion in the comitium cried out, "Standard-bearer, fix your +standard! it is best for us to remain here." Which expression being +heard, both the senate came out from the senate-house, and all cried out +that "they embraced the omen," and the commons, who were collected +around, joined their approbation. The law [under discussion] being +rejected, the building of the city commenced in several parts at once. +Tiles were supplied at the public expense. The privilege of hewing stone +and felling timber wherever each person wished was granted, security +being taken that they would finish the buildings on that year. Their +haste took away all attention to the regulating the course of the +streets, whilst, setting aside all distinction of property, they build +on any part that was vacant. That is the reason why the ancient sewers, +at first conducted through the public streets, now in many places pass +under private houses, and why the form of the city appears more like one +taken up by individuals, than regularly portioned out [by +commissioners].</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="book6" id="book6"></a>BOOK VI.</h2> + +<div class="chapmen"><a href="#f1">1</a> <a href="#f2">2</a> <a href="#f3">3</a> + + <a href="#f4">4</a> <a href="#f5">5</a> <a href="#f6">6</a> <a href="#f7">7</a> + + <a href="#f8">8</a> <a href="#f9">9</a> <a href="#f10">10</a> <a href="#f11">11</a> + + <a href="#f12">12</a> <a href="#f13">13</a> <a href="#f14">14</a> <a href="#f15">15</a> + + <a href="#f16">16</a> <a href="#f17">17</a> <a href="#f18">18</a> <a href="#f19">19</a> + + <a href="#f20">20</a> <a href="#f21">21</a> <a href="#f22">22</a> <a href="#f23">23</a> + + <a href="#f24">24</a> <a href="#f25">25</a> <a href="#f26">26</a> <a href="#f27">27</a> + + <a href="#f28">28</a> <a href="#f29">29</a> <a href="#f30">30</a> <a href="#f31">31</a> + + <a href="#f32">32</a> <a href="#f33">33</a> <a href="#f34">34</a> <a href="#f35">35</a> + + <a href="#f36">36</a> <a href="#f37">37</a> <a href="#f38">38</a> <a href="#f39">39</a> + + <a href="#f40">40</a> <a href="#f41">41</a> <a href="#f42">42</a></div> + + +<div class="bookdes"><p><i>Successful operations against the Volscians, and Æquans, and +Prænestines. Four tribes were added. Marcus Manlius, who had +defended the Capitol from the Gauls, being condemned for aspiring +to regal power, is thrown from the Tarpeian rock; in commemoration +of which circumstance a decree of the senate was passed, that none +of the Manlian family should henceforward bear the cognomen of +Marcus. Caius Licinius and Lucius Sextius, tribunes of the people, +proposed a law that consuls might be chosen from among the commons; +and after a violent contest, succeeded in passing that law, +notwithstanding the opposition of the patricians, the same tribunes +of the commons being for five years the only magistrates in the +state; and Lucius Sextius was the first consul elected from the +commons.</i></p></div> + + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f1" name="f1"></a>1</div> +<p>The transactions of the Romans, from the building of the city of Rome +to the capture of the same city, first under kings, then under consuls, +and dictators, and decemvirs, and consular tribunes, their wars abroad, +their dissensions at home, I have exhibited in five books: matters +obscure, as well by reason of their very great antiquity, like objects +which from their great distance are scarcely perceptible, as also +because in those times the use of letters, the only faithful guardian of +the memory of events, was inconsiderable and rare: and, moreover, +whatever was contained in the commentaries of the pontiffs, and other +public and private records, were lost for the most part in the burning +of the city. Henceforwards, from the second origin of the city, which +sprung up again more healthfully and vigorously, as if from its root, +its achievements at home and abroad, shall be narrated with more +clearness and authenticity. But it now stood erect, leaning chiefly on +the same support, Marcus Furius, by which it had been first raised; nor +did they suffer him to lay down the dictatorship until the end of the +year. It was not agreeable to them, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</a></span> the tribunes during whose time +of office the city had been taken, should preside at the elections for +the following year: the administration came to an interregnum. Whilst +the state was kept occupied in the employment and constant labour of +repairing the city, in the mean time a day of trial was named by Caius +Marcius, tribune of the people, for Quintus Fabius, as soon as he went +out of office, because whilst an ambassador he had, contrary to the law +of nations, appeared in arms against the Gauls, to whom he had been sent +as a negotiator; from which trial death removed him so opportunely that +most people thought it voluntary. The interregnum commenced. Publius +Cornelius Scipio was interrex, and after him Marcus Furius Camillus. He +nominates as military tribunes with consular power, Lucius Valerius +Publicola a second time, Lucius Virginius, Publius Cornelius, Aulus +Manlius, Lucius Æmilius, Lucius Postumius. These having entered on their +office immediately after the interregnum, consulted the senate on no +other business previous to that which related to religion. In the first +place they ordered that the treaties and laws which could be found, +should be collected; (these consisted of the twelve tables, and some +laws made under the kings.) Some of them were publicly promulgated; but +such as appertained to religious matters were kept secret chiefly by the +pontiffs, that they might hold the minds of the people fettered by them. +Then they began to turn their attention to the subject of desecrated +days; and the day before the fifteenth day of the calends of August, +remarkable for a double disaster, (as being the day on which the Fabii +were slain at Cremera, and afterwards the disgraceful battle attended +with the ruin of the city had been fought at Allia,) they called the +Allian day from the latter disaster, and they rendered it remarkable for +transacting no business whether public or private. Some persons think, +that because Sulpicius, the military tribune, had not duly offered +sacrifice on the day after the ides of July, and because, without having +obtained the favour of the gods, the Roman army had been exposed to the +enemy on the third day after, an order was also made to abstain from all +religious undertakings on the day following the ides: thence the same +religious observance was derived with respect to the days following the +calends and the nones.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f2" name="f2"></a>2</div> +<p>But it was not long allowed them to consult in quiet re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</a></span>garding the +means of raising the city, after so grievous a fall. On the one side +their old enemies, the Volscians, had taken arms, to extinguish the +Roman name: on the other, some traders brought [intelligence] that a +conspiracy of the leading men of Etruria from all the states had been +formed at the temple of Voltumna. A new cause of terror also had been +added by the defection of the Latins and Hernicians, who, since the +battle fought at the lake Regillus, had remained in friendship with the +Roman people with fidelity not to be questioned. Accordingly, when such +great alarms surrounded them on every side, and it became apparent to +all that the Roman name laboured not only under hatred with their +enemies, but under contempt also with their allies; it was resolved that +the state should be defended under the same auspices, as those under +which it had been recovered, and that Marcus Furius should be nominated +dictator. He, when dictator, nominated Caius Servilius Ahala master of +the horse; and a suspension of all public business being proclaimed, he +held a levy of the juniors, in such a manner as to divide them into +centuries after they had sworn allegiance to him. The army, when raised +and equipped with arms, he divided into three parts. One part he opposed +to Etruria in the Veientian territory; another he ordered to pitch their +camp before the city. A military tribune, Aulus Manlius, commanded the +latter; those who were sent against the Etrurians, Lucius Æmilius +commanded. The third part he led in person against the Volscians; and +not far from Lanuvium, (the place is called ad Mæcium,) he set about +storming their camp. Into these, who set out to the war from motives of +contempt, because they thought that all the Roman youth were cut off by +the Gauls, the fact of having heard that Camillus was appointed to the +command struck such terror, that they fenced themselves with a rampart, +and the rampart itself with trees piled up together, lest the enemy +might by any means reach to the works. When Camillus observed this, he +ordered fire to be thrown into the fence opposed to him; and it so +happened that a very strong wind was turned towards the enemy. He +therefore not only opened a passage by the fire, but the flames being +directed against the camp, by the vapour also and the smoke, and by the +crackling of the green timber as it burned, he so confounded the enemy +that the Romans had less diffi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</a></span>culty in passing the rampart into the +camp of the Volscians, than they had experienced in climbing over the +fence which had been consumed by the fire. The enemy being routed and +cut down, after the dictator had taken the camp by assault, he gave up +the booty to the soldiers, which was so much the more agreeable, as it +was less expected, the commander being by no means profusely generous. +Then having pursued them in their flight, after he had depopulated the +entire Volscian land, he at length in the seventieth year forced the +Volscians to a surrender. After his victory he passed from the Volscians +to the Æquans, who were also preparing for hostilities: he surprised +their army at Bolæ, and having attacked not only their camp, but their +city also, he took them at the first onset.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f3" name="f3"></a>3</div> +<p>When such fortune manifested itself on that side where Camillus, the +life and soul of the Roman interest, was, a great alarm had fallen on +another quarter. For almost all Etruria, taking up arms, were besieging +Sutrium, allies of the Roman people, whose ambassadors having applied to +the senate, imploring aid in their distress, obtained a decree, that the +dictator should at the earliest opportunity bear aid to the Sutrians. +And when the circumstances of the besieged would not suffer them to +brook the delay of this hope, and the small number of the townsmen were +spent with labour, watching, and wounds, all which fell heavily on the +same individuals, and when, the city being delivered up to the enemy by +a capitulation, they were leaving their habitations in a miserable +train, being discharged without their arms with only a single garment; +at that juncture Camillus happened to come up at the head of the Roman +army. And when the mournful crowd prostrated themselves at his feet, and +the address of the leading men, wrung from them by extreme necessity, +was followed by the weeping of women and boys, who were dragged along by +the companions of their exile, he bade the Sutrians to give over their +lamentations: that he brought with him grief and tears to the Etrurians. +He then orders the baggage to be deposited, and the Sutrians to remain +there with a small guard left with them, and the soldiers to follow him +in arms. Having thus proceeded to Sutrium with his army disencumbered, +he found, as he expected, every thing in disorder, as usually happens in +success; no advanced guard before the walls, the gates lying open, and +the conquerors dispersed, carrying out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</a></span> the booty from the houses of the +enemy. Sutrium is therefore taken a second time on the same day; the +Etrurians, lately victorious, are cut down in every quarter by their new +enemy, nor is time afforded them to collect and form one body, or even +to take up arms. When each pushed eagerly towards the gates, to try if +by any chance they could throw themselves into the fields, they found +the gates shut; for the dictator had given those orders in the first +instance. Upon this some took up arms, others, who happened to be armed +before the tumult came on them, called their friends together in order +to make battle; which would have been kindled by the despair of the +enemy, had not criers, sent in every direction through the city, issued +orders that their arms should be laid down, that the unarmed should be +spared, and that no one should be injured except those who were armed. +Then even those whose minds had been, in their last hope, obstinately +bent on fighting, when hopes of life were offered, threw down their arms +in every direction, and surrendered themselves unarmed to the enemy, +which fortune had rendered the safer method. Their number being +considerable, they were distributed among several guards; the town was +before night restored to the Sutrians uninjured and free from all the +calamities of war, because it had not been taken by force but delivered +up on terms.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f4" name="f4"></a>4</div> +<p>Camillus returned to the city in triumph, being victorious in three +wars at the same time. By far the greatest number of the prisoners whom +he led before his chariot were from among the Etrurians. And these being +sold by auction, such a sum of money was raised, that after paying the +matrons the price of their gold, out of that which was over and above, +three golden bowls were made; which, inscribed with the name of +Camillus, it is certain, lay, before the burning of the Capitol, in the +recess of Jupiter's temple at the feet of Juno. On that year such of the +Veientians, Capenatians, and Faliscians as had come over to the Romans +during the wars with those nations, were admitted into the state, and +land was assigned to these new citizens. Those also were recalled by a +decree of the senate from Veii, who, from a dislike to building at Rome, +had betaken themselves to Veii, and had seized on the vacant houses +there. And at first there was a murmuring on their part disregarding the +order; then a day having<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</a></span> been appointed, and capital punishment +[denounced against any one] who did not return to Rome, from being +refractory as they were collectively, rendered them when taken singly +obedient, each through fear for himself. And Rome both now increased in +numbers, and rose throughout its entire extent by its buildings, the +state assisting in the expenses, and the ædiles urging on the work as if +public, and private persons (for the want felt of accommodation +stimulated them) hastening to complete the work; and within a year a new +city was erected. At the termination of the year an election was held of +military tribunes with consular power. Those elected were, Titus +Quinctius Cincinnatus, Quintus Servilius Fidenas a fifth time, Lucius +Julius Iulus, Lucius Aquillius Corvus, Lucius Lucretius Tricipitinus, +Servius Sulpicius Rufus. They led one army against the Æquans, not to +war, (for they owned themselves conquered,) but from motives of +animosity, to lay waste their territories, lest they should leave them +any strength for new designs; the other into the territory of Tarquinii. +Here Cortuosa and Contenebra, towns belonging to the Etrurians, were +taken by storm and demolished. At Cortuosa there was no contest; having +attacked it by surprise, they took it at the first shout and onset; the +town was plundered and burned. Contenebra sustained a siege for a few +days; and it was continual labour, abated neither by night nor by day, +that reduced them. When the Roman army, having been divided into six +parts, each [division] relieved the other in the battle one hour in six +in rotation, and the paucity of numbers exposed the same individual +townsmen, wearied as they were, to a contest ever new, they at length +yielded, and an opportunity was afforded to the Romans of entering the +city. It was the wish of the tribunes that the spoil should be made +public property; but the order [that such should be so] was too late for +their determination. Whilst they hesitate, the spoil already became the +property of the soldiers; nor could it be taken from them, except by +means calculated to excite dissatisfaction. On the same year, that the +city should not increase by private buildings only, the lower parts of +the Capitol also were built of hewn stone; a work deserving of +admiration even amid the present magnificence of the city.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f5" name="f5"></a>5</div> +<p>Now, whilst the state was busily occupied in building, the tribunes +of the commons endeavoured to draw crowds to their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[Pg 397]</a></span> harangues by +[proposing] the agrarian laws. The Pomptine territory was then, for the +first time since the power of the Volscians had been reduced by +Camillus, held out to them as their indisputable right. They alleged it +as a charge, that "that district was much more harassed on the part of +the nobility than it had been on that of the Volscians, for that +incursions were made by the one party on it, only as long as they had +strength and arms; that persons belonging to the nobility encroached on +the possession of land that was public, nor would there be any room in +it for the commons, unless a division were now made, before they seized +on all." They made not much impression on the commons, who through their +anxiety for building attended the forum only in small numbers, and were +drained by their expenses on the same object, and were therefore +careless about land for the improvement of which means were wanting. The +state being full of religious impressions, and then even the leading men +having become superstitious by reason of their recent misfortunes, in +order that the auspices might be taken anew, the government had once +more recourse to an interregnum. The successive interreges were, Marcus +Manlius Capitolinus, Servius Sulpicius Camerinus, and Lucius Valerius +Potitus. The last at length held an election of military tribunes with +consular power. He nominates Lucius Papirius, Caius Cornelius, Caius +Sergius, Lucius Æmilius a second time, Lucius Menenius, and Lucius +Valerius Publicola a third time. These entered on their office after the +interregnum. This year the temple of Mars, vowed in the Gallic war, was +dedicated by Titus Quinctius, duumvir for performing religious rites. +Four tribes were added from the new citizens, the Stellatine, the +Tormentine, the Sabatine, and the Arnian, and they made up the number of +twenty-five tribes.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f6" name="f6"></a>6</div> +<p>Regarding the Pomptine land the matter was pressed by Lucius +Sicinius, plebeian tribune, on the people, who now attended in greater +numbers, and more readily aroused to the desire of land than they had +been. And mention having been introduced in the senate regarding war +against the Latins and Hernicians, the matter was deferred in +consequence of their attending to a more important war, because Etruria +was up in arms. Matters reverted to their electing Camillus military +tribune with consular power. Five colleagues were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</a></span> added, Servius +Cornelius Maluginensis, Quintus Servilius Fidenas a sixth time, Lucius +Quinctius Cincinnatus, Lucius Horatius Pulvillus, and Publius Valerius. +At the commencement of the year the attention of the people was drawn +away from the Etrurian war, because a body of fugitives from the +Pomptine district, suddenly entering the city, brought word that the +Antians were up in arms; and that the states of the Latins privately +sent their youth to that war, denying that there was any public concert +in it, they alleging that volunteers were only not prevented from +serving in whatever quarter they pleased. They had now ceased to despise +any wars. Accordingly the senate returned thanks to the gods, because +Camillus was in office; for (they knew) that it would have been +necessary to nominate him dictator, if he were in a private station. And +his colleagues agreed that when any terror with respect to war +threatened, the supreme direction of every thing should be vested in one +man, and that they had determined to consign their authority into the +hands of Camillus; and that they did not consider, that any concession +they should make to the dignity of that man, derogated in any way from +their own. The tribunes having been highly commended by the senate, +Camillus himself also, covered with confusion, returned thanks. He then +said that "a heavy burden was laid on him by the Roman people, by their +having now nominated him dictator for the fourth time; a great one by +the senate, by reason of such flattering judgments of that house +concerning him; the greatest of all, however, by the condescension of +such distinguished colleagues. Where if any addition could be made to +his diligence and vigilance, that, vying with himself, he would strive +to render the opinion of the state, [expressed] with such unanimity +regarding him, as permanent as it was most honourable." In reference to +the war and to the people of Antium, that there was more of threats +there than of danger; that he, however, would advise that, as they +should fear nothing, so should they despise nothing. That the city of +Rome was beset by the ill-will and hatred of its neighbours: therefore +that the commonwealth should be maintained by a plurality, both of +generals and of armies. "It is my wish," said he, "that you, Publius +Valerius, as my associate in command and counsel, should lead the troops +with me against the enemy at Antium; that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</a></span> you, Quintus Servilius, after +raising and equipping another army, shall encamp in the city, ready to +act, whether Etruria, as lately, or these new causes of anxiety, the +Latins and Hernicians, should bestir themselves. I deem it as certain +that you will conduct matters, as is worthy of your father and +grandfather, and of yourself and six tribuneships. Let a third army be +raised by Lucius Quinctius, out of those excused from service and the +seniors, [those past the military age,] who may protect the city and the +walls. Let Lucius Horatius provide arms, weapons, corn, and whatever the +other exigencies of the war shall demand. You, Servius Cornelius, we +your colleagues appoint the president of this council of the state, the +guardian of religion, of the assemblies, of the laws, and of all matters +pertaining to the city." All cheerfully promising their utmost +endeavours in the discharge of their apportioned offices, Valerius, +chosen as his associate in command, added, "that Marcus Furius should be +considered by him as dictator, and that he would act as master of the +horse to him. Wherefore, that they should entertain hopes regarding the +war, proportioned to the opinion they formed of their sole commander." +The senate, elated with joy, cry out, that "they entertained good hopes, +both regarding war, and peace, and the republic in general; and that the +republic would never have need of a dictator, if it were to have such +men in office, united together in such harmony of sentiments, prepared +alike to obey and to command, and who were laying up praise as common +stock, rather than taking it from the common fund to themselves +individually."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f7" name="f7"></a>7</div> +<p>A suspension of civil business being proclaimed, and a levy being +held, Furius and Valerius set out to Satricum; to which place the +Antians had drawn together not only the youth of the Volscians, selected +out of the new generation, but immense numbers of the Latins and +Hernicians, out of states which by a long [enjoyment of] peace were in +the most unimpaired condition. The new enemy then added to the old shook +the spirits of the Roman soldiers. When the centurions reported this to +Camillus, whilst forming his line of battle, that "the minds of the +soldiers were disturbed, that arms were taken up by them with +backwardness, and that they left the camp with hesitation and +reluctance; nay, that some expressions were heard, that they should each +have to fight with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[Pg 400]</a></span> one hundred enemies, and that such numbers, even if +unarmed, much less when furnished with arms, could with difficulty be +withstood," he leaped on his horse, and in front of the troops, turning +to the line, and riding between the ranks, "What dejection of mind is +this, soldiers, what backwardness? Is it with the enemy, or me, or +yourselves you are unacquainted? What else are the enemy, but the +constant subject of your bravery and your glory? on the other hand, with +me as your general, to say nothing of the taking of Falerii and Veii, +you have lately celebrated a triple triumph for a three-fold victory +over these self-same Volscians and Æquans, and Etruria. Do you not +recognise me as your general, because I gave you the signal, not as +dictator, but as tribune? I neither feel the want of the highest +authority over you, and you should look to nothing in me but myself; for +the dictatorship neither added to my courage, any more than exile took +it from me. We are all therefore the same individuals; and as we bring +to this war the same requisites as we brought to former wars, let us +look for the same result of the war. As soon as you commence the fight, +each will do that which he has learned and been accustomed to do. You +will conquer, they will run."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f8" name="f8"></a>8</div> +<p>Then having given the signal, he leaps from his horse, and seizing +the standard-bearer who was next him by the hand, he hurries him on with +him against the enemy, calling aloud, "Soldiers, advance the standard." +And when they saw Camillus himself, now disabled through age for bodily +exertion, advancing against the enemy, they all rush forwards together, +having raised a shout, each eagerly crying out, "Follow the general." +They say further that the standard was thrown into the enemy's line by +order of Camillus, and that the van was then exerted to recover it. That +there first the Antians were forced to give way, and that the panic +spread not only to the first line, but to the reserve troops also. Nor +was it merely the ardour of the soldiers animated by the presence of +their general that made this impression, but because nothing was more +terrible to the minds of the Volscians, than the sight of Camillus which +happened to present itself. Thus, in whatever direction he went, he +carried certain victory with him. This was particularly evident, when, +hastily mounting his horse, he rode with a footman's shield to the left +wing, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[Pg 401]</a></span> was almost giving way, by the fact of showing himself he +restored the battle, pointing out the rest of the line gaining the +victory. Now the result was decided, but the flight of the enemy was +impeded by their great numbers, and the wearied soldiers would have had +tedious work in putting so great a number to the sword, when rain +suddenly falling with a violent storm, put an end to the pursuit of the +victory which was now decided, rather than to the battle. Then the +signal for retreat being given, the fall of night put an end to the war, +without further trouble to the Romans. For the Latins and Hernicians, +having abandoned the Volscians, marched to their homes, having attained +results corresponding to their wicked measures. The Volscians, when they +saw themselves deserted by those through reliance on whom they had +resumed hostilities, abandoned their camp, and shut themselves up within +the walls of Satricum. Camillus at first prepared to surround them by +lines of circumvallation, and to prosecute the siege by a mound and +other works. But seeing that this was obstructed by no sally from the +town, and considering that the enemy possessed too little spirit for him +to wait in tedious expectation of victory under the circumstances, after +exhorting his soldiers not to waste themselves by tedious labours, as +[they had done] when besieging Veii, that the victory was in their +hands, he attacked the walls on every side, amid the great alacrity of +the soldiers, and took the town by scalade. The Volscians, having thrown +down their arms, surrendered themselves.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f9" name="f9"></a>9</div> +<p>But the general's thoughts were fixed on a higher object, on Antium: +[he knew] that that was the great aim of the Volscians, and main source +of the late war. But because so strong a city could not be taken without +great preparations, engines and machines, leaving his colleague with the +army, he set out for Rome, in order to advise the senate to have Antium +destroyed. In the middle of his discourse, (I suppose that it was the +wish of the gods that the state of Antium should last a longer time,) +ambassadors came from Nepete and Sutrium, soliciting aid against the +Etrurians, urging that the time for giving them aid would soon pass by. +Thither did fortune avert the force of Camillus from Antium; for as +those places were situate opposite Etruria, and were barriers or gates +as it were on that side, both they had a wish to get possession of them, +whenever they meditated any new enter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[Pg 402]</a></span>prise, and the Romans to recover +and secure them. Wherefore the senate resolved to treat with Camillus, +that he would relinquish Antium and undertake the Etrurian war. The city +troops, which Quinctius had commanded, are decreed to him. Though he +would have preferred the army which was in the Volscian territory, as +being tried and accustomed to him, he made no objection: he only +demanded Valerius as his associate in command. Quinctius and Horatius +were sent against the Volscians, as successors to Valerius. Furius and +Valerius, having set out from the city to Sutrium, found one part of the +town already taken by the Etrurians, and on the other part, the +approaches to which were barricaded, the townsmen with difficulty +repelling the assault of the enemy. Both the approach of aid from Rome, +as also the name of Camillus, universally respected both with the enemy +and the allies, sustained their tottering state for the present, and +afforded time for bringing them relief. Accordingly Camillus, having +divided his army, orders his colleague to lead round his troops to that +side which the enemy already possessed, and to assault the walls; not so +much from any hope that the city could be taken by scalade, as that, by +turning away the enemy's attention to that quarter, both the townsmen +who were wearied with fighting might have some relaxation of their toil, +and that he himself might have an opportunity of entering the city +without a contest. This having been done on both sides, and the double +terror now surrounding the Etrurians, when they saw that the walls were +assailed with the utmost fury, and that the enemy were within the walls, +they threw themselves out in consternation, in one body, by a gate which +alone happened not to be guarded. Great slaughter was made on them as +they fled, both in the city and through the fields. The greater number +were slain within the walls by Furius' soldiers: those of Valerius were +more alert for the pursuit; nor did they put an end to the slaughter +until night, which prevented them from seeing. Sutrium being recovered +and restored to the allies, the army was led to Nepete, which having +been received by capitulation, was now entirely in the possession of the +Etrurians.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f10" name="f10"></a>10</div> +<p>It appeared probable, that there would be more of labour in +recovering the city, not only for this reason, be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[Pg 403]</a></span>cause it was all in +possession of the enemy, but also because the surrender had been made in +consequence of a party of the Nepesinians having betrayed the state. It +was determined, however, that a message should be sent to their leading +men, to separate themselves from the Etrurians, and that they themselves +should evince that strict fidelity, which they had implored from the +Romans. Whence as soon as an answer was brought that there was nothing +in their power, that the Etrurians occupied the walls and the guards of +the gates, first, terror was struck into the townsmen by laying waste +their land; then, when the faith of the capitulation was more +religiously observed than that of the alliance, the army was led up to +the walls with fascines of bushes collected from the fields, and the +ditches being filled, the scaling ladders were raised, and the town was +taken at the first shout and attack. Proclamation was then made to the +Nepesinians, that they should lay down their arms, and orders were given +that the unarmed should be spared. The Etrurians, armed and unarmed, +were put to the sword without distinction: of the Nepesinians also the +authors of the surrender were beheaded. To the unoffending multitude +their property was restored, and the town was left with a garrison. Thus +having recovered two allied cities from the enemy, the tribunes marched +back their victorious army to Rome. During the same year restitution was +demanded from the Latins and Hernicians, and the cause was asked why +they had not during some years supplied soldiers according to +stipulation. An answer was given in a full assembly of both nations, +"that neither the blame was public, nor was there any design in the +circumstance of some of their youth having served among the Volscians. +That these individuals, however, suffered the penalty of their improper +conduct, and that none of them had returned. But that the cause of their +not supplying the soldiers had been their continual terror from the +Volscians, which pest adhering to their side, had not been capable of +being destroyed by so many successive wars." Which answer being reported +to the senate, they decided that there was wanting rather a seasonable +time for declaring war than sufficient grounds for it.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f11" name="f11"></a>11</div> +<p>In the following year, Aulus Manlius, Publius Cornelius, Titus and +Lucius Quintii Capitolini, Lucius Papirius<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[Pg 404]</a></span> Cursor a second time, Caius +Sergius a second time, being military tribunes with consular power, a +grievous war broke out abroad, a still more grievous disturbance at +home; the war originated on the part of the Volscians, to which was +added a revolt of the Latins and Hernicians; the sedition from one from +whom it could be least of all apprehended, a man of patrician birth and +distinguished character, Marcus Manlius Capitolinus; who being too +aspiring in mind, whilst he despised the other leading men, envied one, +who was peculiarly distinguished both by honours and by merit, Marcus +Furius: he became indignant that he should be the only man among the +magistrates; the only man at the head of the armies; that he now +attained such eminence that he treated not as colleagues but as mere +tools the persons elected under the same auspices; though, in the mean +time, if any one would form a just estimate, his country could not have +been recovered by Marcus Furius from the siege of the enemy, had not the +Capitol and citadel been first preserved by him; and the other attacked +the Gauls, whilst their attention was distracted between receiving the +gold and the hope of peace, when he himself drove them off when armed +and taking the citadel; of the other's glory, a man's share appertained +to all the soldiers who conquered along with him; that in his victory no +man living was a sharer. His mind puffed by these notions, and moreover, +from a viciousness of disposition being vehement and headstrong, when he +perceived that his influence among the patricians did not stand forth as +prominent as he thought it should, he, the first of all the patricians, +became a plebeian partisan, and formed plans in conjunction with the +plebeian magistrates; and by criminating the fathers, and alluring the +commons to his side, he now came to be carried along by the tide of +popular applause, not by prudence, and preferred to be of a great, +rather than of a good character: and not content with agrarian laws, +which had ever served the tribunes of the commons as material for +disturbances, he now began to undermine public credit; for [he well +knew] "that the incentives of debt were sharper, as not only threatening +poverty and ignominy, but intimidated personal liberty with stocks and +chains." And the amount of the debt was immense, contracted by building, +a circumstance most destructive even to the rich. The Volscian war +therefore, heavy in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[Pg 405]</a></span> itself, charged with additional weight by the +defection of the Latins and Hernicians, was held out as a colourable +pretext, for having a higher authority resorted to. But it was rather +the reforming plans that drove the senate to create a dictator. Aulus +Cornelius Cossus having been elected dictator, nominated Titus Quinctius +Capitolinus his master of the horse.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f12" name="f12"></a>12</div> +<p>The dictator, though he perceived that a greater struggle was +reserved for him at home than abroad; still, either because there was +need of despatch for the war, or supposing that by a victory and a +triumph he should add to the powers of the dictatorship itself, held a +levee and proceeds into the Pomptine territory, where he had heard that +the Volscians had appointed their army to assemble. I doubt not but +that, in addition to satiety, to persons reading of so many wars waged +with the Volscians, this same circumstance will suggest itself, which +often served as an occasion of surprise to me when perusing the writers +who lived nearer to the times of these occurrences, from what source the +Volscians and Æquans, so often vanquished, could have procured supplies +of soldiers. And as this has been unnoticed and passed over in silence +by ancient writers; on which matter what can I state, except mere +opinion, which every one may from his own conjecture form for himself? +It seems probable, either that they employed, as is now practised in the +Roman levies, successive generations of their young men one after the +other, during the intervals between the wars; or that the armies were +not always recruited out of the same states, though the same nation may +have made war; or that there was an innumerable multitude of free-men in +those places, which, at the present day, Roman slaves save from being a +desert, a scanty seminary of soldiers being scarcely left. Certain it +is, (as is agreed upon among all authors,) although their power was very +much impaired under the guidance and auspices of Camillus, the forces of +the Volscians were strong: besides, the Latins and Hernicians had been +added, and some of the Circeians, and some Roman colonists also from +Velitræ. The dictator, having pitched his camp on that day, and on +coming forth on the day following after taking the auspices, and having, +by sacrificing a victim, implored the favour of the gods, with joyful +countenance presented himself to the soldiers, who were now taking arms +at day-break, according to orders, on the signal for battle being +displayed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[Pg 406]</a></span> "Soldiers," says he, "the victory is ours, if the gods and +their prophets see aught into futurity. Accordingly, as it becomes men +full of well-grounded hope, and who are about to engage with their +inferiors, let us place our spears at our feet, and arm our right hands +only with our swords. I would not even wish that any should push forward +beyond the line; but that, standing firm, you receive the enemy's charge +in a steady posture. When they shall have discharged their ineffective +missives, and, breaking their ranks, they shall rush on you as you stand +firm, then let your swords glitter, and let each man recollect, that +there are gods who aid the Roman; those gods, who have sent us into +battle with favourable omens. Do you, Titus Quinctius, keep back the +cavalry, attentively observing the very commencement of the contest; as +soon as you observe the armies closed foot to foot, then, whilst they +are taken up with another panic, strike terror into them with your +cavalry, and by making a charge on them, disperse the ranks of those +engaged in the fight." The cavalry, the infantry conduct the fight, just +as he had ordered them. Nor did either the general disappoint the +legions, nor fortune the general.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f13" name="f13"></a>13</div> +<p>The army of the enemy, relying on nothing but on their number, and +measuring both armies merely by the eye, entered on the battle +inconsiderately, and inconsiderately gave it over: fierce only in their +shout and with their missive weapons, and at the first onset of the +fight, they were unable to withstand the swords, and the close +engagement foot to foot, and the looks of the enemy, darting fire +through their ardour for the fight. Their front line was driven in, and +confusion spread to the reserve troops, and the cavalry occasioned alarm +on their part: the ranks were then broken in many places, every thing +was set in motion, and the line seemed as it were fluctuating. Then +when, the foremost having fallen, each saw that death was about to reach +himself, they turn their backs. The Roman followed close on them; and as +long as they went off armed and in bodies, the labour in the pursuit +fell to the infantry; when it was observed that their arms were thrown +away in every direction, and that the enemy's line was scattered in +flight through the country; then squadrons of horse were sent out, +intimation being given that they should not, by losing time with the +massacre of individuals,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[Pg 407]</a></span> afford an opportunity in the mean time to the +multitude to escape: it would be sufficient that their speed should be +retarded by missive weapons and by terror, and that the progress of +their forces should be detained by skirmishing, until the infantry +should be able to overtake and despatch the enemy by regular slaughter. +There was no end of the flight and slaughter before night; on the same +day the camp of the Volscians was taken also and pillaged, and all the +plunder, save the persons of free condition, was given up to the +soldiers. The greatest part of the prisoners consisted of Latins and +Hernicians, and these not men of plebeian rank, so that it could be +supposed that they had served for hire, but some young men of rank were +found among them: an evident proof that the Volscian enemies had been +aided by public authority. Some of the Circeians also were recognised, +and colonists from Velitræ; and being all sent to Rome, on being +interrogated by the leading senators, plainly revealed the same +circumstances as they had done to the dictator, the defection each of +his respective state.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f14" name="f14"></a>14</div> +<p>The dictator kept his army in the standing camp, not at all doubting +that the senate would order war with these states; when a more momentous +difficulty having occurred at home, rendered it necessary that he should +be sent for to Rome, the sedition gaining strength every day, which the +fomenter was now rendering more than ordinarily formidable. For now it +was easy to see from what motives proceeded not only the discourses of +Manlius, but his actions also, apparently suggested by popular zeal, but +at the same time tending to create disturbance. When he saw a centurion, +illustrious for his military exploits, leading off to prison by reason +of a judgment for debt, he ran up with his attendants in the middle of +the forum and laid hands on him; and exclaiming aloud against the +insolence of the patricians, the cruelty of the usurers, and the +grievances of the commons, and the deserts and misfortunes of the man. +"Then indeed," said he, "in vain have I preserved the Capitol and +citadel by this right hand, if I am to see my fellow-citizen and +fellow-soldier, as if captured by the victorious Gauls, dragged into +slavery and chains." He then paid the debt to the creditor openly before +the people, and having purchased his freedom with the scales and brass, +he sets the man at liberty, whilst the latter implored both gods and +men, that they would grant a recompence to Marcus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[Pg 408]</a></span> Manlius, his +liberator, the parent of the Roman commons; and being immediately +received into the tumultuous crowd, he himself also increased the +tumult, displaying the scars received in the Veientian, Gallic, and +other succeeding wars: "that he, whilst serving in the field, and +rebuilding his dwelling which had been demolished, though he had paid +off the principal many times over, the interest always keeping down the +principal, had been overwhelmed with interest: that through the kind +interference of Marcus Manlius, he now beheld the light, the forum, and +the faces of his fellow-citizens: that he received from him all the kind +services usually conferred by parents; that to him therefore he devoted +whatever remained of his person, of his life, and of his blood; whatever +ties subsisted between him and his country, public and private guardian +deities, were all centred in that one man." When the commons, worked +upon by these expressions, were now wholly in the interest of the one +individual, another circumstance was added, emanating from a scheme +still more effectually calculated to create general confusion. A farm in +the Veientian territory, the principal part of his estate, he subjected +to public sale: "that I may not," says he, "suffer any of you, Romans, +as long as any of my property shall remain, to be dragged off to prison, +after judgment has been given against him, and he has been consigned to +a creditor." That circumstance, indeed, so inflamed their minds, that +they seemed determined on following the assertor of their freedom +through every thing, right and wrong. Besides this, speeches [were made] +at his house, as if he were delivering an harangue, full of imputations +against the patricians; among which he threw out, waving all distinction +whether he said what was true or false, that treasures of the Gallic +gold were concealed by the patricians; that "they were now no longer +content with possessing the public lands, unless they appropriated the +public money also; if that were made public, that the commons might be +freed from their debt." When this hope was presented to them, then +indeed it seemed a scandalous proceeding, that when gold was to be +contributed to ransom the state from the Gauls, the collection was made +by a public tribute; that the same gold, when taken from the Gauls, had +become the plunder of a few. Accordingly they followed up the inquiry, +where the furtive possession of so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[Pg 409]</a></span> enormous a treasure could be kept; +and when he deferred, and told them that he would inform them at the +proper time, all other objects being given up, the attention of all was +directed to this point; and it became evident that neither their +gratitude, if the information were true, nor their displeasure if it +proved false, would know any bounds.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f15" name="f15"></a>15</div> +<p>Matters being in this state, the dictator, being summoned home from +the army, came into the city. A meeting of the senate being held on the +following day, when, having sufficiently sounded the inclinations of the +people, he forbade the senate to leave him, attended by that body, he +placed his throne in the comitium, and sent his sergeant to Marcus +Manlius; who on being summoned by the dictator's order, after he had +given intimation to his party that a contest was at hand, came to the +tribunal, attended by a numerous party. On the one side stood the +senate, on the other the people as if in battle-array, attentively +observing, each party, their respective leader. Then silence being made, +the dictator said, "I wish that I and the Roman patricians may agree +with the commons on all other matters, as I am confident we shall agree +on the business which regards you, and on that about which I am about to +interrogate you. I perceive that hopes have been raised by you in the +minds of the citizens, that, with safety to the public credit, their +debts may be paid off out of the Gallic treasures, which it is alleged +the leading patricians are secreting. To which proceeding so far am I +from being any obstruction, that on the contrary, Marcus Manlius, I +exhort you to free the Roman commons from the weight of interest; and to +tumble from their secreted spoil, those who lie now brooding on those +public treasures. If you refuse to do this, whether because you yourself +desire to be a sharer in the spoil, or because the information is +unfounded, I shall order you to be carried off to prison, nor will I any +longer suffer the multitude to be disquieted by you with delusive +hopes." To this Manlius replied, "That it had not escaped him, that it +was not against the Volscians, who were enemies as often as it suited +the interests of the patricians, nor against the Latins and Hernicians, +whom they were driving into hostilities by false charges, but against +him and the Roman commons, that he was appointed dictator. Now the war +being dropped, which was only feigned, that an attack was being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[Pg 410]</a></span> made +against himself; that the dictator now professed to defend the usurers +against the commons; that now a charge and destruction was sought for +him out of the favour of the multitude. Does the crowd that surrounds my +person offend you," said he, "Aulus Cornelius, and you, conscript +fathers? Why then do you not draw it away from me, each of you by your +own acts of kindness? by becoming surety, by delivering your +fellow-citizens from the stocks, by preventing those cast in law-suits, +and assigned over to their creditors, from being dragged away to prison, +by sustaining the necessities of others out of your own superfluities? +But why do I exhort you to expend out of your own property? Fix some +capital; deduct from the principal what has been paid in interest; soon +will my crowd not be a whit more remarkable than that of any other +person. But [I may be asked] why do I alone thus interest myself in +behalf of my fellow-citizens? I have no other answer to give, than if +you were to ask me, why in the same way did I alone preserve the Capitol +and the citadel. Both then I afforded the aid which I could to all +collectively, and now I will afford it to each individually. Now with +respect to the Gallic treasures, the mode of interrogation renders +difficult a matter which in itself is easy. For why do you ask that +which you know? why do you order that which is in your own laps to be +shaken out of them rather than resign it, unless some fraud lurks +beneath? The more you require your own impositions to be examined into, +the more do I dread lest you should blind the eyes of those narrowly +watching you. Wherefore, it is not I that am to be compelled to discover +your hoard, but you must be forced to produce it to the public."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f16" name="f16"></a>16</div> +<p>When the dictator ordered him to lay aside evasion, and urged him to +prove the truth of his information, or to own the guilt of having +advanced a false accusation against the senate, and of having exposed +them to the odium of a lying charge of concealment; when he refused to +speak, to meet the wishes of his enemies, he ordered him to be carried +off to prison. When arrested by the sergeant, he said, "O Jupiter, +supremely great and good, imperial Juno, and Minerva, and ye other gods +and goddesses, who inhabit the Capitol and citadel, do ye suffer your +soldier and defender to be thus harassed by his enemies? Shall this +right hand, by which I beat off the Gauls from your temples, be now in +bonds and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[Pg 411]</a></span> chains?" Neither the eyes nor ears of any one could well +endure the indignity [thus offered him], but the state, most patient of +legitimate authority, had rendered certain offices absolute to +themselves; nor did either the tribunes of the commons, nor the commons +themselves, dare to raise their eyes or utter a sentence in opposition +to the dictatorial power. On Manlius being thrown into prison, it +appears that a great part of the commons put on mourning, that a great +many persons had let their hair and beard grow, and that a dejected +crowd presented itself at the entrance of the prison. The dictator +triumphed over the Volscians; and that triumph was the occasion rather +of ill-will than of glory. For they murmured that "it had been acquired +at home, not abroad, and that it was celebrated over a citizen, not over +an enemy; that only one thing was wanting to his arrogance, that Manlius +was not led before his car." And now the affair fell little short of +sedition, for the purpose of appeasing which, the senate, without the +solicitation of any one, suddenly becoming bountiful of their own +free-will, decreed that a colony of two thousand Roman citizens should +be conducted to Satricum; two acres and half of land were assigned to +each. And when they considered this, both as scanty in itself, conferred +on a few, and as a bribe for betraying Marcus Manlius, the sedition was +irritated by the remedy. And now the crowd of Manlius' partisans was +become more remarkable, both by their squalid attire and by the +appearance of persons under prosecutions, and terror being removed by +the resignation of the dictatorship, after the triumph had set both the +tongues and thoughts of men at liberty.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f17" name="f17"></a>17</div> +<p>Expressions were therefore heard freely uttered of persons +upbraiding the multitude, that "by their favour they always raised their +defenders to a precipice, then at the very critical moment of danger +they forsook them. That in this way Spurius Cassius, when inviting the +commons to a share in the lands, in this way Spurius Mælius, when +warding off famine from the mouths of his fellow-citizens at his own +expense, had been undone; thus Marcus Manlius was betrayed to his +enemies, whilst drawing forth to liberty and light one half of the +state, when sunk and overwhelmed with usury. That the commons fattened +their favourites that they might be slaughtered. Was this punishment to +be suffered, if a man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[Pg 412]</a></span> of consular rank did not answer at the nod of a +dictator? Suppose that he had lied before, and that on that account he +had had no answer to make; what slave was ever imprisoned in punishment +of a lie? Did not the memory of that night present itself, which was +well nigh the last and an eternal one to the Roman name? nor any idea of +the band of Gauls climbing up the Tarpeian rock? nor that of Marcus +Manlius himself, such as they had seen him in arms, covered with sweat +and blood, after having in a manner rescued Jupiter himself from the +hands of the enemy? Was a recompence made to the preserver of their +country with their half pounds of corn? and would they suffer a person, +whom they almost deified, whom they had set on a footing with Jupiter, +at least with respect to the surname of Capitolinus, to drag out an +existence subject to the will of an executioner, chained in a prison and +in darkness? Was there thus sufficient aid in one person for all; and no +relief for one in so many?" The crowd did not disperse from that place +even during the night, and they threatened that they would break open +the prison; when that being conceded which they were about to take by +force, Manlius was discharged from prison by a decree of the senate; by +which proceeding the sedition was not terminated, but a leader was +supplied to the sedition. About the same time the Latins and Hernicians, +as also the colonists of Circeii and Velitræ, when striving to clear +themselves of the charge [of being concerned] in the Volscian war, and +demanding back the prisoners, that they may punish them according to +their own laws, received a harsh answer; the colonists the severer, +because being Roman citizens they had formed the abominable design of +attacking their own country. They were therefore not only refused with +respect to the prisoners, but notice was given them in the name of the +senate, who however forbore from such a proceeding in the case of the +allies, instantly to depart from the city, from the presence and sight +of the Roman people; lest the law of embassy, provided for the +foreigner, not for the citizen, should afford them no protection.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f18" name="f18"></a>18</div> +<p>The sedition excited by Manlius reassuming its former violence, on +the expiration of the year the election was held, and military tribunes +with consular power were elected from among the patricians; they were +Servius Cornelius Malugi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">[Pg 413]</a></span>nensis a third time, Publius Valerius Potitus a +second time, Marcus Furius Camillus, Servius Sulpicius Rufus a second +time, Caius Papirius Crassus, Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus a second time. +At the commencement of which year peace with foreign countries afforded +every opportunity both to the patricians and plebeians: to the +plebeians, because not being called away by any levy, they conceived +hopes of destroying usury, whilst they had so influential a leader; to +the patricians, because their minds were not called away by any external +terror from relieving the evils existing at home. Accordingly, as both +sides arose much more strenuous then ever, Manlius also was present for +the approaching contest. Having summoned the commons to his house, he +holds consultations both by night and day with the leading men amongst +them with respect to effecting a revolution of affairs, being filled +with a much higher degree both of spirit and of resentment than he had +been before. The recent ignominy had lighted up resentment in a mind +unused to affront; it gave him additional courage, that the dictator had +not ventured to the same extent against him, as Quinctius Cincinnatus +had done in the case of Spurius Mælius, and because the dictator had not +only endeavoured to avoid the unpopularity of his imprisonment by +abdicating the dictatorship, but not even the senate could bear up +against it. Elated by these considerations, and at the same time +exasperated, he set about inflaming the minds of the commons, already +sufficiently heated of themselves: "How long," says he, "will you be +ignorant of your own strength, which nature has not wished even the +brutes to be ignorant of? At least count how many you are, and how many +enemies you have. Even if each of you were to attack an individual +antagonist, still I should suppose that you would strive more vigorously +in defence of liberty, than they in defence of tyranny. For as many of +you as have been clients around each single patron, in the same number +will ye be against a single enemy. Only make a show of war; ye shall +have peace. Let them see you prepared for open force; they themselves +will relax their pretensions. Collectively you must attempt something, +or individually submit to every thing. How long will you look to me? I +for my part will not be wanting to any of you: do you see that my +fortune fail not. I, your avenger, when my enemies thought well of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">[Pg 414]</a></span> it, +was suddenly reduced to nothing; and you all in a body beheld that +person thrown into chains, who had warded off chains from each one of +you. What am I to hope, if my enemies attempt more against me? Am I to +expect the fate of Cassius and Mælius? You acted kindly in appearing +shocked at it: the gods will avert it: but never will they come down +from heaven on my account: they must inspire you with a determination to +avert it; as they inspired me, in arms and in peace, to defend you from +barbarous foes and tyrannical fellow-citizens. Is the spirit of so great +a people so mean, that aid against your adversaries always satisfies +you? And are you not to know any contest against the patricians, except +how you may suffer them to domineer over you? Nor is this implanted in +you by nature; but you are theirs by possession. For why is it you bear +such spirit with respect to foreigners, as to think it meet that you +should rule over them? because you have been accustomed to vie with them +for empire, against these to essay liberty rather than to maintain it. +Nevertheless, whatsoever sort of leaders you have, whatever has been +your own conduct, ye have up to this carried every thing which ye have +demanded, either by force, or your own good fortune. It is now time to +aim at still higher objects. Only make trial both of your own good +fortune, and of me, who have been, as I hope, already tried to your +advantage. Ye will with less difficulty set up some one to rule the +patricians, than ye have set up persons to resist their rule. +Dictatorships and consulships must be levelled to the ground, that the +Roman commons may be able to raise their heads. Wherefore stand by me, +prevent judicial proceedings from going on regarding money. I profess +myself the patron of the commons—a title with which my solicitude and +zeal invests me. If you will dignify your leader by any more +distinguishing title of honour or command, ye will render him still more +powerful to obtain what ye desire." From this his first attempt is said +to have arisen with respect to the obtaining of regal power; but no +sufficiently clear account is handed down, either with whom [he acted], +or how far his designs extended.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f19" name="f19"></a>19</div> +<p>But, on the other side, the senate began to deliberate regarding the +secession of the commons into a private house, and that, as it so +happened, situate in the citadel, and regarding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">[Pg 415]</a></span> the great danger that +was threatening liberty. Great numbers cry out, that a Servilius Ahala +was wanted, who would not irritate a public enemy by ordering him to be +led to prison, but would finish an intestine war with the loss of one +citizen. They came to a resolution milder in terms, but possessing the +same force, that the magistrates should see that "the commonwealth +received no detriment from the designs of Marcus Manlius." Then the +consular tribunes, and the tribunes of the commons, (for these also had +submitted to the authority of the senate, because they saw that the +termination of their own power and of the liberty of all would be the +same,) all these then consult together as to what was necessary to be +done. When nothing suggested itself to the mind of any, except violence +and bloodshed, and it was evident that that would be attended with great +risk; then Marcus Mænius, and Quintus Publilius, tribunes of the +commons, say, "Why do we make that a contest between the patricians and +commons, which ought to be between the state and one pestilent citizen? +Why do we attack, together with the commons, a man whom it is safer to +attack through the commons themselves, that he may fall overpowered by +his own strength? We have it in contemplation to appoint a day of trial +for him. Nothing is less popular than regal power; as soon as the +multitude shall perceive that the contest is not with them, and that +from advocates they are to be made judges, and shall behold the +prosecutors from among the commons, the accused a patrician, and that +the charge between both parties is that of aiming at regal power, they +will favour no object more than their own liberty."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f20" name="f20"></a>20</div> +<p>With the approbation of all, they appoint a day of trial for +Manlius. When this took place, the commons were at first excited, +especially when they saw the accused in a mourning habit, and with him +not only none of the patricians, but not even any of his kinsmen or +relatives, nay, not even his brothers Aulus and Titus Manlius; a +circumstance which had never occurred before, that at so critical a +juncture a man's nearest friends did not put on mourning. When Appius +Claudius was thrown into prison [they remarked], that Caius Claudius, +who was at enmity with him and the entire Claudian family, appeared in +mourning; that this favourite of the people was about to be destroyed by +a con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">[Pg 416]</a></span>spiracy, because he was the first who had come over from the +patricians to the commons. When the day arrived, I find in no author, +what acts were alleged by the prosecutors against the accused bearing +properly on the charge of aspiring to kingly power, except his +assembling the multitude, and his seditious expressions and his +largesses, and pretended discovery; nor have I any doubt that they were +by no means unimportant, as the people's delay in condemning him was +occasioned not by the merits of the cause, but by the place of trial. +This seems deserving of notice, that men may know what great and +glorious achievements his depraved ambition of regal power rendered not +only bereft of all merit, but absolutely hateful. He is said to have +brought forward near four hundred persons to whom he had lent money +without interest, whose goods he had prevented from being sold, whom he +had prevented from being carried off to prison after being adjudged to +their creditors. Besides this, that he not only enumerated also his +military rewards, but also produced them to view; spoils of enemies +slain up to thirty; presents from generals to the number of forty; in +which the most remarkable were two mural crowns and eight civic. In +addition to this, that he brought forward citizens saved from the enemy, +amongst whom was mentioned Caius Servilius, when master of the horse, +now absent. Then after he had recounted his exploits in war, in pompous +language suitable to the dignity of the subject, equalling his actions +by his eloquence, he bared his breast marked with scars received in +battle: and now and then, directing his eyes to the Capitol, he called +down Jupiter and the other gods to aid him in his present lot; and he +prayed, that the same sentiments with which they had inspired him when +protecting the fortress of the Capitol, for the preservation of the +Roman people, they would now inspire the Roman people with in his +critical situation: and he entreated them singly and collectively, that +they would form their judgment of him with their eyes fixed on the +Capitol and citadel and their faces turned to the immortal gods. As the +people were summoned by centuries in the field of Mars, and as the +accused, extending his hands towards the Capitol, directed his prayers +from men to the gods; it became evident to the tribunes, that unless +they removed the eyes of men also from the memory of so great an +exploit, the best founded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417">[Pg 417]</a></span> charge would find no place in minds +prejudiced by services. Thus the day of trial being adjourned, a meeting +of the people was summoned in the Pœteline grove outside the Nomentan +gate, from whence there was no view of the Capitol; there the charge was +made good, and their minds being now unmoved [by adventitious +circumstances], a fatal sentence, and one which excited horror even in +his judges, was passed on him. There are some who state that he was +condemned by duumvirs appointed to inquire concerning cases of treason. +The tribunes cast him down from the Tarpeian rock: and the same place in +the case of one man became a monument of distinguished glory and of +extreme punishment. Marks of infamy were offered to him when dead: one, +a public one; that, when his house had been that where the temple of +Moneta and the mint-office now stand, it was proposed to the people, +that no patrician should dwell in the citadel and Capitol: the other +appertaining to his family; it being commanded by a decree that no one +of the Manlian family should ever after bear the name of Marcus Manlius. +Such was the fate of a man, who, had he not been born in a free state, +would have been celebrated with posterity. In a short time, when there +was no longer any danger from him, the people, recollecting only his +virtues, were seized with regret for him. A pestilence too which soon +followed, no causes of so great a calamity presenting themselves, seemed +to a great many to have arisen from the punishment inflicted on Manlius: +"The Capitol" [they said] "had been polluted with the blood of its +preserver; nor was it agreeable to the gods that the punishment of him +by whom their temples had been rescued from the hands of the enemy, had +been brought in a manner before their eyes."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f21" name="f21"></a>21</div> +<p>The pestilence was succeeded by a scarcity of the fruits of the +earth, and the report of both calamities by spreading [was followed] by +a variety of wars in the following year, Lucius Valerius a fourth time, +Aulus Manlius a third time, Servius Sulpicius a third time, Lucius +Lucretius, Lucius Æmilius a third time, Marcus Trebonius, being military +tribunes with consular power. Besides the Volscians, assigned by some +fatality to give eternal employment to the Roman soldiery, and the +colonies of Circeii and Velitræ, long meditating a revolt, and Latium +which had been suspected, new<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">[Pg 418]</a></span> enemies suddenly sprung up in the people +of Lanuvium, which had been a most faithful city. The fathers, +considering that this arose from contempt, because the revolt of their +own citizens, the people of Velitræ, had been so long unpunished, +decreed that a proposition should be submitted to the people at the +earliest opportunity on the subject of declaring war against them: and +in order that the commons might be the more disposed for that service, +they appointed five commissioners for distributing the Pomptine land, +and three for conducting a colony to Nepete. Then it was proposed to the +people that they should order a declaration of war; and the plebeian +tribunes in vain endeavouring to dissuade them, all the tribes declared +for war. That year preparations were made for war; the army was not led +out into the field on account of the pestilence. And that delay afforded +full time to the colonists to deprecate the anger of the senate; and a +great number of the people were disposed that a suppliant embassy should +be sent to Rome, had not the public been involved, as is usual, with the +private danger, and the abettors of the revolt from the Romans, through +fear, lest they, being alone answerable for the guilt, might be given up +as victims to the resentment of the Romans, dissuaded the colonies from +counsels of peace. And not only was the embassy obstructed by them in +the senate, but a great part of the commons were excited to make +predatory excursions into the Roman territory. This new injury broke off +all hope of peace. This year a report first originated regarding a +revolt of the Prænestines; and the people of Tusculum, Gabii and Lavici, +into whose territories the incursions had been made, accusing them of +the fact, the senate returned so placid an answer, that it became +evident that less credit was given to the charges, because they wished +them not to be true.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f22" name="f22"></a>22</div> +<p>In the following year the Papirii, Spurius and Lucius, new military +tribunes, led the legions to Velitræ; their four colleagues in the +tribuneship, Servius Cornelius Maluginensis a fourth time, Quintus +Servilius, Servius Sulpicius, Lucius Æmilius a fourth time, being left +behind to protect the city, and in case any new commotion should be +announced from Etruria; for every thing was apprehended from that +quarter. At Velitræ they fought a successful battle against the +auxiliaries of the Prænestines, who were almost greater than the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">[Pg 419]</a></span> number +of colonists themselves; so that the proximity of the city was both the +cause of an earlier flight to the enemy, and was their only refuge after +the flight. The tribunes refrained from besieging the town, both because +[the result] was uncertain, and they considered that the war should not +be pushed to the total destruction of the colony. Letters were sent to +Rome to the senate with news of the victory, expressive of more +animosity against the Prænestine enemy than against those of Velitræ. In +consequence, by a decree of the senate and an order of the people, war +was declared against the Prænestines: who, in conjunction with the +Volscians, took, on the following year, Satricum, a colony of the Roman +people, by storm, after an obstinate defence by the colonists, and made, +with respect to the prisoners, a disgraceful use of their victory. +Incensed at this, the Romans elected Marcus Furius Camillus a seventh +time military tribune. The colleagues conjoined with him were the two +Postumii Regillenses, Aulus and Lucius, and Lucius Furius, with Lucius +Lucretius and Marcus Fabius Ambustus. The Volscian war was decreed to +Marcus Furius out of the ordinary course, Lucius Furius is assigned by +lot from among the tribunes his assistant; [which proved] not so +advantageous to the public as a source of all manner of praise to his +colleague: both on public grounds, because he restored the [Roman] +interest which had been prostrated by his rash conduct; and on private +grounds, because from his error he sought to obtain his gratitude rather +than his own glory. Camillus was now in the decline of life, and when +prepared at the election to take the usual oath for the purpose of +excusing himself on the plea of his health, he was opposed by the +consent of the people: but his active mind was still vigorous within his +ardent breast, and he enjoyed all his faculties entire, and now that he +concerned himself but little in civil affairs, war still aroused him. +Having enlisted four legions of four thousand men each, and having +ordered the troops to assemble the next day at the Esquiline gate, he +set out to Satricum. There the conquerors of the colony, nowise +dismayed, confiding in their number of men, in which they had +considerably the advantage, awaited him. When they perceived that the +Romans were approaching, they marched out immediately to the field, +determined to make no delay to put all to the risk of an engagement, +that by proceeding thus they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">[Pg 420]</a></span> should derive no advantage from the +judgment of their distinguished commander, on which alone they confided.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f23" name="f23"></a>23</div> +<p>The same ardour existed also in the Roman army; nor did any thing, +but the wisdom and authority of one man, delay the fortune of the +present engagement, who sought, by protracting the war, an opportunity +of aiding their strength by skill. The enemy urged them the more on that +account, and now not only did they draw out their troops in order of +battle before their camp, but advanced into the middle of the plain, and +by throwing up trenches near the battalions of the enemy, made a show of +their insolent confidence in their strength. The Roman soldier was +indignant at this; the other military tribune, Lucius Furius, still more +so, who, encouraged both by his youth and his natural disposition, was +still further elated by the hopes entertained by the multitude, who +assumed great spirits on grounds the most uncertain. The soldiers, +already excited of themselves, he still further instigated by +disparaging the authority of his colleague by reference to his age, the +only point on which he could do so: saying constantly, "that wars were +the province of young men, and that with the body the mind also +flourishes and withers; that from having been a most vigorous warrior he +was become a drone; and that he who, on coming up, had been wont to +carry off camps and cities at the first onset, now consumed the time +inactive within the trenches. What accession to his own strength, or +diminution of that of the enemy, did he hope for? What opportunity, what +season, what place for practising stratagem? that the old man's plans +were frigid and languid. Camillus had both sufficient share of life as +well as of glory. What use was it to suffer the strength of a state +which ought to be immortal, to sink into old age along with one mortal +body." By such observations, he had attracted to himself the attention +of the entire camp; and when in every quarter battle was called for, "We +cannot," he says, "Marcus Furius, withstand the violence of the +soldiers; and the enemy, whose spirits we have increased by delaying, +insults us by insolence by no means to be borne. Do you, who are but one +man, yield to all, and suffer yourself to be overcome in counsel, that +you may the sooner overcome in battle." To this Camillus replies, that +"whatever wars had been waged up to that day under his single auspices, +in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">[Pg 421]</a></span> these that neither himself nor the Roman people had been +dissatisfied either with his judgment or with his fortune; now he knew +that he had a colleague, his equal in command and in authority, in +vigour of age superior; with respect to the army, that he had been +accustomed to rule, not to be ruled; with his colleague's authority he +could not interfere. That he might do, with the favour of the gods, +whatever he might deem to be to the interest of the state. That he would +even solicit for his years the indulgence, that he might not be placed +in the front line; that whatever duties in war an old man could +discharge, in these he would not be deficient; that he prayed to the +immortal gods, that no mischance might prove his plan to be the more +advisable." Neither his salutary advice was listened to by men, nor such +pious prayers by the gods. The adviser of the battle draws up the front +line; Camillus forms the reserve, and posts a strong guard before the +camp; he himself took his station on an elevated place as a spectator, +anxiously watching the result of the other's plan.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f24" name="f24"></a>24</div> +<p>As soon as the arms clashed at the first encounter, the enemy, from +stratagem, not from fear, retreated. There was a gentle acclivity in +their rear, between the army and their camp; and because they had +sufficient numbers, they had left in the camp several strong cohorts, +armed and ready for action, which were to rush forth, when the battle +was now commenced, and when the enemy had approached the rampart. The +Roman being drawn into disadvantageous ground by following the +retreating enemy in disorder, became exposed to this sally. Terror +therefore being turned on the victor, by reason of this new force, and +the declivity of the valley, caused the Roman line to give way. The +Volscians, who made the attack from the camp, being fresh, press on +them; those also who had given way by a pretended flight, renew the +fight. The Roman soldiers no longer recovered themselves; but unmindful +of their recent presumption and former glory, were turning their backs +in every direction, and with disorderly speed were making for their +camp, when Camillus, being mounted on his horse by those around him, and +hastily opposing the reserved troops to them, "Is this," says he, +"soldiers, the battle which ye called for? What man, what god is there, +whom ye can blame? That was your rashness, this your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">[Pg 422]</a></span> cowardice. Having +followed another leader, now follow Camillus; and as ye are accustomed +to do under my leadership, conquer. Why do ye look to the rampart and +camp? Not a man of you shall that camp receive, except as victor." Shame +at first stopped their disorderly flight; then when they saw the +standards wheel about, and a line formed to meet the enemy, and the +general, besides being distinguished by so many triumphs, venerable also +by his age, presented himself in front of the battalions, where the +greatest toil and danger was, every one began to upbraid both himself +and others, and mutual exhortation with a brisk shout pervaded the +entire line. Nor was the other tribune deficient on the occasion. Being +despatched to the cavalry by his colleague, who was restoring the line +of the infantry, not by rebuking them, (for which task his share in +their fault had rendered him an authority of little weight,) but from +command turning entirely to entreaties, he besought them individually +and collectively, "to redeem him from blame, who was answerable for the +events of that day. Notwithstanding the repugnance and dissuasion of my +colleague, I gave myself a partner in the rashness of all rather than in +the prudence of one. Camillus sees his own glory in your fortune, +whatever it be; for my part, unless the battle is restored, I shall feel +the result with you all, the infamy alone (which is most distressing)." +It was deemed best that the horse should be transferred into the line +whilst still unsteady, and that they should attack the enemy by fighting +on foot. Distinguished by their arms and courage, they proceed in +whatever direction they perceive the line of the infantry most pressed; +nor among either the officers or soldiers is there any abatement +observed from the utmost effort of courage. The result therefore felt +the aid of the bravery exerted; and the Volscians being put to real +flight in that direction in which they had lately retreated under +pretended fear, great numbers were slain both in the battle itself, and +afterwards in flight; the others in the camp, which was taken in the +same onset: more, however, were captured than slain.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f25" name="f25"></a>25</div> +<p>Where when, on taking an account of the prisoners, several Tusculans +were recognised, being separated from the rest, they are brought to the +tribunes; and they confessed to those who interrogated them, that they +had taken up arms by the authority of the state. By the fear of which +war<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">[Pg 423]</a></span> so near home Camillus being alarmed, says that he would immediately +carry the prisoners to Rome, that the senate might not be ignorant, that +the Tusculans had revolted from the alliance; meanwhile his colleague, +if he thought proper, should command the camp and army. One day had been +a lesson to him not to prefer his own counsels to better. However +neither himself, nor any person in the army, supposed that Camillus +would pass over his misconduct without some angry feelings, by which the +commonwealth had been brought into so perilous a situation; and both in +the army and at Rome, the uniform account of all was, that, as matters +had been conducted with varying success among the Volscians, the blame +of the unsuccessful battle and of the flight lay with Lucius Furius, all +the glory of the successful one was to be attributed to Camillus. The +prisoners being brought into the senate, when the senate decreed that +the Tusculans should be punished with war, and they intrusted the +management of that war to Camillus, he requests one assistant for +himself in that business, and being allowed to select which ever of his +colleagues he pleased, contrary to the expectation of every one, he +solicited Lucius Furius. By which moderation of feeling he both +alleviated the disgrace of his colleague, and acquired great glory to +himself. There was no war, however, with the Tusculans. By firm +adherence to peace they warded off the Roman violence, which they could +not have done by arms. When the Romans entered their territories, no +removals were made from the places adjoining to the road, the +cultivation of the lands was not interrupted: the gates of the city +lying open, they came forth in crowds clad in their gowns to meet the +generals; provision for the army was brought with alacrity from the city +and the lands. Camillus having pitched his camp before the gates, +wishing to know whether the same appearance of peace, which was +displayed in the country, prevailed also within the walls, entered the +city, where he beheld the gates lying open, and every thing exposed to +sale in the open shops, and the workmen engaged each on their respective +employments, and the schools of learning buzzing with the voices of the +scholars, and the streets filled amid the different kinds of people, +with boys and women going different ways, whithersoever the occasions of +their respective callings carried them; nothing in any quarter that bore +any appear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">[Pg 424]</a></span>ance of panic or even of surprise; he looked around at every +object, attentively inquiring where the war had been. No trace was there +of any thing having been removed, or brought forward for the occasion; +so completely was every thing in a state of steady tranquil peace, so +that it scarcely seemed that even the rumour of war could have reached +them.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f26" name="f26"></a>26</div> +<p>Overcome therefore by the submissive demeanour of the enemy, he +ordered their senate to be called. "Tusculans," he says, "ye are the +only persons who have yet found the true arms and the true strength, by +which to protect your possessions from the resentment of the Romans. +Proceed to Rome to the senate. The fathers will consider, whether you +have merited more punishment for your former conduct, or forgiveness for +your present. I shall not anticipate your gratitude for a favour to be +conferred by the state. From me ye shall have the power of seeking +pardon. The senate will grant to your entreaties such a result, as they +shall consider meet." When the Tusculans came to Rome, and the senate +[of a people], who were till a little before faithful allies, were seen +with sorrowful countenances in the porch of the senate-house, the +fathers, immediately moved [at the sight,] even then ordered them to be +called in rather in a friendly than a hostile manner. The Tusculan +dictator spoke as follows: "Conscript fathers, we against whom ye +proclaimed and made war, just as you see us now standing in the porch of +your house, so armed and so attired did we go forth to meet your +generals and your legions. This was our habit, this the habit of our +commons; and ever shall be, unless whenever we shall receive arms from +you and defence of you. We return thanks to your generals and your +troops for having trusted their eyes more than their ears; and for +having committed nothing hostile, where none subsisted. The peace, which +we observed, the same we solicit at your hands: we pray you, avert war +to that quarter where, if any where, it subsists. What your arms may be +able to effect on us, if after our submission we are to experience it, +we will experience unarmed. This is our determination. May the immortal +gods grant that it be as successful as it is dutiful! With respect to +the charges, by which you were induced to declare war against us, though +it is needless to refute by words what has been contradicted by facts; +yet, admitting they were true, we think it safe for us to confess<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">[Pg 425]</a></span> them, +after having shown such evident marks of repentance. Admit then that we +have offended against you, since ye deserve that such satisfaction be +made to you." These were nearly the words used by the Tusculans. They +obtained peace at the present, and not long after the freedom of the +state also. The legions were withdrawn from Tusculum.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f27" name="f27"></a>27</div> +<p>Camillus, distinguished by his prudence and bravery in the Volscian +war, by his success in the Tusculan expedition, in both by his +extraordinary moderation and forbearance towards his colleague, went out +of office; the military tribunes for the following year being Lucius and +Publius Valerius, Lucius a fifth, Publius a third time, and Caius +Sergius a third time, Lucius Menenius a second time, Spurius Papirius, +and Servius Cornelius Maluginensis. The year required censors also, +chiefly on account of the uncertain representations regarding the debt; +the tribunes of the commons exaggerating the amount of it on account of +the odium of the thing, whilst it was underrated by those whose interest +it was that the difficulty of procuring payment should appear to depend +rather on [the want of] integrity, than of ability in the debtors. The +censors appointed were Caius Sulpicius Camerinus, Spurius Postumius +Regillensis; and the matter having been commenced was interrupted by the +death of Postumius, because it was not conformable to religion that a +substitute should be colleague to a censor. Accordingly after Sulpicius +had resigned his office, other censors having been appointed under some +defect, they did not discharge the office; that a third set should be +appointed was not allowed, as though the gods did not admit a censorship +for that year. The tribunes denied that such mockery of the commons was +to be tolerated; "that the senate were averse to the public tablets, the +witnesses of each man's property, because they were unwilling that the +amount of the debt should be seen, which would clearly show that one +part of the state was depressed by the other; whilst in the mean time +the commons, oppressed with debt, were exposed to one enemy after +another. Wars were now sought out in every direction without +distinction. Troops were marched from Antium to Satricum, from Satricum +to Velitræ, and thence to Tusculum. The Latins, Hernicians, and the +Prænestines were now threatened with hostilities, more through a hatred +of their fellow-citizens than of the enemy, in order to wear out the +commons under arms,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426">[Pg 426]</a></span> and not suffer them to breathe in the city, or to +reflect on their liberty at their leisure, or to stand in an assembly +where they may hear a tribune's voice discussing concerning the +reduction of interest and the termination of other grievances. But if +the commons had a spirit mindful of the liberty of their fathers, that +they would neither suffer any Roman citizen to be assigned to a creditor +on account of debt, nor a levy to be held; until, the debts being +examined, and some method adopted for lessening them, each man should +know what was his own, and what another's; whether his person was still +free to him, or that also was due to the stocks." The price held out for +sedition soon raised it: for both several were made over to creditors, +and on account of the rumour of the Prænestine war, the senate decreed +that new legions should be levied; both which measures began to be +obstructed by tribunitian interposition and the combined efforts of the +commons. For neither the tribunes suffered those consigned to their +creditors to be thrown into prison, nor did the young men give in their +names. While the senate felt less pressing anxiety about enforcing the +laws regarding the lending of money than about the levy; for now it was +announced that the enemy, having marched from Præneste, had encamped in +the Gabinian territory; meanwhile this very report rather aroused the +tribunes of the commons to the struggle commenced than deterred them; +nor did any thing else suffice to allay the discontent in the city, but +the approach of hostilities to the very walls.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f28" name="f28"></a>28</div> +<p>For when the Prænestines had been informed that no army was levied +at Rome, no general fixed on, that the senate and people were turned the +one against the other; their leaders thinking that an opportunity +presented itself, making a hasty march, and laying waste the country as +they went along, they advanced their standards as far as the Colline +gate. The panic in the city was great. The alarm was given to take up +arms; persons ran together to the walls and gates, and at length turning +from sedition to war, they created Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus dictator. +He appointed Aulus Sempronius Atratinus his master of the horse. When +this was heard, (such was the terror of that office,) the enemy retired +from the walls, and the young Romans assembled to the edict without +refusal. Whilst the army is being levied at Rome, in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427">[Pg 427]</a></span> mean time the +enemy's camp is pitched not far from the river Allia: thence laying +waste the land far and wide, they boasted one to the other that they had +chosen a place fatal to the Roman city; that there would be a similar +consternation and flight from thence as occurred in the Gallic war. For +"if the Romans dread a day deemed inauspicious, and marked with the name +of that place, how much more than the Allian day would they dread the +Allia itself, the monument of so great a disaster. No doubt the fierce +looks of the Gauls and the sound of their voices would recur to their +eyes and ears." Turning over in mind those groundless notions of +circumstances as groundless, they rested their hopes on the fortune of +the place. On the other hand, the Romans [considered] that, "in whatever +place a Latin enemy stood, they knew full well that they were the same +whom, after having utterly defeated at the lake Regillus, they kept in +peaceable subjection for one hundred years; that the place being +distinguished by the memory of their defeat, would rather stimulate them +to blot out the remembrance of their disgrace, than raise a fear that +any land should be unfavourable to their success. Were even the Gauls +themselves presented to them in that place, that they would fight just +as they fought at Rome in recovering their country, as the day after at +Gabii; then, when they took care, that no enemy, who had entered the +walls of Rome, should carry home an account of their success or defeat."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f29" name="f29"></a>29</div> +<p>With these feelings on either side they came to the Allia. The Roman +dictator, when the enemy were in view drawn up and ready for action, +says, "Aulus Sempronius, do you see that these men have taken their +stand at the Allia, relying on the fortune of the place? nor have the +immortal gods granted them any thing of surer confidence, or any more +effectual support. But do you, relying on arms and on courage, make a +brisk charge on the middle of their line; I will bear down on them when +thrown into disorder and consternation with the legions. Ye gods, +witnesses of the treaty, assist us, and exact the penalty, due for +yourselves having been violated, and for us who have been deceived +through the appeal made to your divinity." The Prænestines sustained not +the attack of cavalry, or infantry; their ranks were broken at the first +charge and shout. Then when their line maintained its ground in no +quarter, they turn their backs; and being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428">[Pg 428]</a></span> thrown into consternation and +carried beyond their own camp by their panic, they stop not from their +precipitate speed, until Præneste came in view. There, having been +dispersed in consequence of their flight, they select a post for the +purpose of fortifying it in a hasty manner; lest, if they betook +themselves within the walls, the country should be burned forthwith, and +when all places should be desolated, siege should be laid to the city. +But when the victorious Romans approached, the camp at the Allia having +been plundered, that fortress also was abandoned, and considering the +walls scarcely secure, they shut themselves up within the town of +Præneste. There were eight towns besides under the sway of the +Prænestines. Hostilities were carried round to these also; and these +being taken one after the other without much difficulty, the army was +led to Velitræ. This also was taken by storm. They then came to +Præneste, the main source of the war. That town was obtained, not by +force, but by capitulation. Titus Quinctius, being once victorious in a +pitched battle, having taken also two camps belonging to the enemy, and +nine towns by storm, and Præneste being obtained by surrender, returned +to Rome: and in his triumph brought into the Capitol the statue of +Jupiter Imperator, which he had conveyed from Præneste. It was dedicated +between the recesses of Jupiter and Minerva, and a tablet fixed under +it, as a monument of his exploits, was engraved with nearly these words: +"Jupiter and all the gods granted, that Titus Quinctius, dictator, +should take nine towns." On the twentieth day after the appointment he +abdicated the dictatorship.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f30" name="f30"></a>30</div> +<p>An election was then held of military tribunes with consular power; +in which the number of patricians and plebeians was equal. From the +patricians were elected Publius and Caius Manlius, with Lucius Julius; +the commons gave Caius Sextilius, Marcus Albinius, and Lucius Antistius. +To the Manlii, because they had the advantage of the plebeians in family +station, and of Julius in interest, the province of the Volscians was +assigned out of the ordinary course, without lots, or mutual +arrangement; of which circumstance both themselves and the patricians +who conferred it afterwards repented. Without any previous reconnoitre +they sent out some cohorts to forage. It having been falsely reported +to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429">[Pg 429]</a></span> them that these were ensnared, whilst they march in great haste, in +order to support them, without even retaining the author [of the report] +who had deceived them, he being a Latin enemy instead of a Roman +soldier, they themselves fell into an ambuscade. There, whilst they +suffer and commit great havoc, making resistance on disadvantageous +ground solely by the valour of the soldiers, the enemy in the mean time +in another quarter attacked the Roman camp which was situate on a plain. +By their temerity and want of skill, matters were brought into jeopardy +in both places by the generals. Whatever portion [of the army] was +saved, the good fortune of the Roman people, and the steady valour of +the soldiers, even without a director, protected. When an account of +these events was brought to Rome, it was at first agreeable to them that +a dictator should be appointed; then when intelligence was received from +the Volscian country that matters were quiet, and it appeared manifest +that they knew not how to take advantage of victory and of opportunity, +the army and generals were recalled from thence also; and there was +quiet from that quarter, as far as regarded the Volscians. The only +disturbance there was towards the end of the year was, that the +Prænestines, having stirred up some of the states of the Latins, renewed +hostilities. During the same year new colonists were enrolled for Setia, +the colony itself complaining of the paucity of men. Domestic +tranquillity, which the influence of the plebeian military tribunes and +the respect shown to them among their own party procured, was a +consolation for the want of success in war.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f31" name="f31"></a>31</div> +<p>The commencement of the following year blazed forth with violent +sedition, the military tribunes with consular power being Spurius +Furius, Quintus Servilius a second time, Caius Licinius, Publius +Clœlius, Marcus Horatius, Lucius Geganius. The debt was both the +ground-work and cause of the disturbance: for the purpose of +ascertaining which Spurius Servilius Priscus and Quintus Clœlius +Siculus, being appointed censors, were prevented by war from proceeding +in the business. For alarming news at first, then the flight [of the +country people] from the lands, brought intelligence that the legions of +the Volscians had entered the borders, and were laying waste the Roman +land in every direction. In which alarm, so far was the fear of the +foreign enemy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430">[Pg 430]</a></span> from putting a check to the domestic feuds, that on the +contrary the tribunitian power became even more vehement in obstructing +the levy; until these conditions were imposed on the patricians, that no +one was to pay tribute as long as the war lasted, nor issue any judicial +process respecting money due. This relaxation being obtained for the +commons, there was no delay with respect to the levy. New legions being +enlisted, it was resolved that two armies should be led into the +Volscian territory, the legions being divided. Spurius Furius and Marcus +Horatius proceed to the right, towards the sea-coast and Antium; Quintus +Servilius and Lucius Geganius to the left, to Ecetra towards the +mountains. On neither side did the enemy meet them. Devastation was +therefore committed, not similar to that straggling kind which the +Volscian had practised by snatches under the influence of trepidation +after the manner of a banditti, relying on the dissensions among the +enemy and dreading their valour; but committed with the full meed of +their resentment by a regular army, more severe also by reason of their +continuance. For the incursions had been made by the Volscians on the +skirts of the borders, as they were afraid lest an army might in the +mean time come forth from Rome: the Romans, on the contrary, had a +motive for tarrying in the enemy's country, in order to entice them to +an engagement. All the houses therefore on the lands, and some villages +also, being burnt down, not a fruit-tree nor the seed being left for the +hope of a harvest, all the booty both of men and cattle, which was +outside the walls, being driven off, the troops were led back from both +quarters to Rome.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f32" name="f32"></a>32</div> +<p>A short interval having been granted to the debtors to recover +breath, when matters became perfectly quiet with respect to the enemy, +legal proceedings began to be instituted anew; and so remote was all +hope of relieving the former debt, that a new one was now contracted by +a tax for building a wall of hewn stone bargained for by the censors: to +which burden the commons were obliged to submit, because the tribunes of +the commons had no levy which they could obstruct. Forced by the +influence of the nobles, they elected all the military tribunes from +among the patricians, Lucius Æmilius, Publius Valerius a fourth time, +Caius Veturius, Servius Sulpicius, Lucius and Caius Quinctius +Cincinnatus.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431">[Pg 431]</a></span> By the same influence they succeeded in raising three +armies against the Latins and Volscians, who with combined forces were +encamped at Satricum, all the juniors being bound by the military oath +without any opposition; one army for the protection of the city; the +other to be sent for the sudden emergencies of war, if any disturbance +should arise elsewhere. The third, and by far the most powerful, Publius +Valerius and Lucius Æmilius led to Satricum. Where when they found the +enemy's line of battle drawn up on level ground, they immediately +engaged; and before the victory was sufficiently declared, the battle, +which held out fair hopes of success, was put a stop to by rain +accompanied by a violent storm of wind. On the following day the battle +was renewed; and for a considerable time the Latin troops particularly, +who had learned the Roman discipline during the long confederacy, stood +their ground with equal bravery and success. A charge of cavalry broke +their ranks; when thus confused, the infantry advanced upon them; and as +much as the Roman line advanced, so much were the enemy dislodged from +their ground; and when once the battle gave way, the Roman prowess +became irresistible. When the enemy being routed made for Satricum, +which was two miles distant, not for their camp, they were cut down +chiefly by the cavalry; their camp was taken and plundered. The night +succeeding the battle, they betake themselves to Antium in a march +resembling a flight; and though the Roman army followed them almost in +their steps, fear however possessed more swiftness than anger. Wherefore +the enemy entered the walls before the Roman could annoy or impede their +rear. After that several days were spent in laying waste the country, as +the Romans were neither supplied with military engines to attack walls, +nor the others to hazard the chance of a battle.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f33" name="f33"></a>33</div> +<p>At this time a dissension arose between the Antians and the Latins; +when the Antians, overcome by misfortunes and reduced by a war, in which +they had both been born and had grown old, began to think of a +surrender; whilst their recent revolt after a long peace, their spirits +being still fresh, rendered the Latins more determined to persevere in +the war. There was an end to the contest, when it became evident to both +parties that neither would stand in the way of the other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_432" id="Page_432">[Pg 432]</a></span> so as to +prevent them from following out their own views. The Latins by departing +redeemed themselves from a share in what they deemed a dishonourable +peace. The Antians, on the removal of those who by their presence +impeded their salutary counsels, surrender their city and lands to the +Romans. The resentment and rage of the Latins, because they were neither +able to damage the Romans in war, nor to retain the Volscians in arms, +vented itself in setting fire to the city of Satricum, which had been +their first place of retreat after their defeat; nor did any other +building in that city remain, since they cast firebrands +indiscriminately into those sacred and profane, except the temple of +Mother Matuta. From that neither the sanctity of the building itself, +nor respect for the gods, is said to have restrained them, but an awful +voice, emitted from the temple with threats of dismal vengeance, unless +they removed their abominable fires to a distance from the temples. +Fired with this rage, their impetuosity carried them on to Tusculum, +under the influence of resentment, because, having abandoned the general +association of the Latins, they joined themselves not only in alliance +with the Romans, but also as members of their state. As they +unexpectedly rushed in at the gates, which were lying open, the town, +except the citadel, was taken at the first shout. The townsmen with +their wives and children took refuge in the citadel, and sent messengers +to Rome, to inform the senate of their situation. An army was led to +Tusculum with no less expedition than was worthy of the honour of the +Roman people. Lucius Quinctius and Servius Sulpicius, military tribunes, +commanded it. They beheld the gates of Tusculum shut, and the Latins, +with the feelings of besiegers and besieged, on the one side defending +the walls of Tusculum, on the other hand attacking the citadel; they +struck terror and felt it at the same time. The arrival of the Romans +produced a change in the minds of both parties: it turned the Tusculans +from great alarm into the utmost alacrity, and the Latins from almost +assured confidence of soon taking the citadel, as they were masters of +the town, to very slender hope of even their own safety. A shout is +raised by the Tusculans from the citadel; it is answered by a much +louder one from the Roman army. The Latins are hard pressed on both +sides: they neither withstand the force of the Tusculans pouring down on +them from the higher ground; nor are they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_433" id="Page_433">[Pg 433]</a></span> able to repel the Romans +advancing up to the walls, and forcing the bars of the gates. The walls +were first taken by scalade; the gates were then broken open; and when +the two enemies pressed them both in front and in the rear, nor did +there remain any strength for fight, nor any room for running away, +between both they were all cut to pieces to a man. Tusculum being +recovered from the enemy, the army was led back to Rome.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f34" name="f34"></a>34</div> +<p>In proportion as all matters were more tranquil abroad in +consequence of their successes in war this year, so much did the +violence of the patricians and the distresses of the commons in the city +increase every day; as the ability to pay was prevented by the very fact +that it was necessary to pay. Accordingly, when nothing could now be +paid out of their property, being cast in suits and assigned over to +custody, they satisfied their creditors by their character and persons, +and punishment was substituted for payment. Wherefore not only the +lowest, but even the leading men in the commons had sunk so low in +spirit, that no enterprising and adventurous man had courage, not only +to stand for the military tribuneship among the patricians, (for which +privilege they had strained all their energies,) but not even to take on +them and sue for plebeian magistracies: and the patricians seemed to +have for ever recovered the possession of an honour that had been only +usurped by the commons for a few years. A trifling cause, as generally +happens, which had the effect of producing a mighty result, intervened +to prevent the other party from exulting too much in that. Two daughters +of Marcus Fabius Ambustus, an influential man, both among persons of his +own station, and also with the commons, because he was by no means +considered a despiser of persons of that order, had been married, the +elder to Servius Sulpicius, the younger to Caius Licinius Stolo, a +distinguished person, but still a plebeian; and the fact of such an +alliance not having been scorned, had gained influence for Fabius with +the people. It so happened, that when the two sisters, the Fabiæ, were +passing away the time in conversation in the house of Servius Sulpicius, +military tribune, a lictor of Sulpicius, when he returned home from the +forum, rapped at the door, as is usual, with the rod. When the younger +Fabia, a stranger to this custom, was frightened at it, she was laughed +at by her sister, who was surprised at her sister not knowing the +matter. That laugh, however, gave a sting to the female<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_434" id="Page_434">[Pg 434]</a></span> mind, sensitive +as it is to mere trifles. From the number of persons attending on her, +and asking her commands, her sister's match, I suppose, appeared to her +to be a fortunate one, and she repined at her own, according to that +erroneous feeling, by which every one is most annoyed at being +outstripped by those nearest to him. When her father happened to see her +disappointed after the recent mortification, by kindly inquiring he +prevailed on her, who was dissembling the cause of her annoyance, (as +being neither affectionate with respect to her sister, nor respectful +towards her husband,) to confess, that the cause of her chagrin was, +that she had been united to an inferior, and married into a house which +neither honour nor influence could enter. Ambustus then, consoling his +daughter, bid her keep up good spirits; that she should soon see the +same honours at her own house, which she now sees at her sister's. Upon +this he began to draw up his plans with his son-in-law, having attached +to himself Lucius Sextius, an enterprising young man, and one to whose +hope nothing was wanting but patrician descent.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f35" name="f35"></a>35</div> +<p>There appeared a favourable opportunity for making innovations on +account of the immense load of debt, no alleviation of which evil the +commons could hope for unless their own party were placed in the highest +authority. To [bring about] that object [they saw] that they should +exert themselves. That the plebeians, by endeavouring and persevering, +had already gained a step towards it, whence, if they struggled forward, +they might reach the summit, and be on a level with the patricians, in +honour as well as in merit. For the present it was resolved that +plebeian tribunes should be created, in which office they might open for +themselves a way to other honours. And Caius Licinius and Lucius +Sextius, being elected tribunes, proposed laws all against the power of +the patricians, and for the interests of the commons: one regarding the +debt, that, whatever had been paid in interest being deducted from the +principal, the remainder should be paid off in three years by equal +instalments; the other concerning the limitation of land, that no one +should possess more than five hundred acres of land; a third, that there +should be no election of military tribunes, and that one at least of the +consuls should be elected from the commons; all matters of great +importance, and such as could not be attained without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435">[Pg 435]</a></span> the greatest +struggles. A contest therefore for all those objects, of which there is +ever an inordinate desire among men, viz. land, money, and honours, +being now proposed, the patricians became terrified and dismayed, and +finding no other remedy in their public and private consultations except +the protest, which had been tried in many previous contests, they gained +over their colleagues to oppose the bills of the tribunes. When they saw +the tribes summoned by Licinius and Sextius to announce their votes, +surrounded by bands of patricians, they neither suffered the bills to be +read, nor any other usual form for taking the votes of the commons to be +gone through. And now assemblies being frequently convened to no +purpose, when the propositions were now considered as rejected; "It is +very well," says Sextius; "since it is determined that a protest should +possess so much power, by that same weapon will we protect the people. +Come, patricians, proclaim an assembly for the election of military +tribunes; I will take care that that word, I <span class="smcap">forbid it</span>, which you listen +to our colleagues chaunting with so much pleasure, shall not be very +delightful to you." Nor did the threats fall ineffectual: no elections +were held, except those of ædiles and plebeian tribunes. Licinius and +Sextius, being re-elected plebeian tribunes, suffered not any curule +magistrates to be appointed, and this total absence of magistrates +continued in the city for the space of five years, the people +re-electing the two tribunes, and these preventing the election of +military tribunes.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f36" name="f36"></a>36</div> +<p>There was an opportune cessation of other wars: the colonists of +Velitræ, becoming wanton through ease, because there was no Roman army, +made repeated incursions on the Roman territory, and set about laying +siege to Tusculum. This circumstance, the Tusculans, old allies, new +fellow-citizens, imploring aid, moved not only the patricians, but the +commons also, chiefly with a sense of honour. The tribunes of the +commons relaxing their opposition, the elections were held by the +interrex; and Lucius Furius, Aulus Manlius, Servius Sulpicius, Servius +Cornelius, Publius and Caius Valerius, found the commons by no means so +complying in the levy as in the elections; and an army having been +raised amid great contention, they set out, and not only dislodged the +enemy from Tusculum, but shut them up even within their own walls. +Velitræ began to be besieged by a much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436">[Pg 436]</a></span> greater force than that with +which Tusculum had been besieged; nor still could it be taken by those +by whom the siege had been commenced. The new military tribunes were +elected first: Quintius Servilius, Caius Veturius, Aulus and Marcus +Cornelius, Quintus Quinctius, Marcus Fabius. Nothing worthy of mention +was performed even by these at Velitræ. Matters were involved in greater +peril at home: for besides Sextius and Licinius, the proposers of the +laws, re-elected tribunes of the commons now for the eighth time, Fabius +also, military tribune, father-in-law of Stolo, avowed himself the +unhesitating supporter of those laws of which he had been the adviser. +And whereas, there had been at first eight of the college of the +plebeian tribunes protesters against the laws, there were now only five: +and (as is usual with men who leave their own party) dismayed and +astounded, they in words borrowed from others, urged as a reason for +their protest, that which had been taught them at home; "that a great +number of the commons were absent with the army at Velitræ; that the +assembly ought to be deferred till the coming of the soldiers, that the +entire body of the commons might give their vote concerning their own +interests." Sextius and Licinius with some of their colleagues, and +Fabius one of the military tribunes, well-versed now by an experience of +many years in managing the minds of the commons, having brought forward +the leading men of the patricians, teased them by interrogating them on +each of the subjects which were about to be brought before the people: +"would they dare to demand, that when two acres of land a head were +distributed among the plebeians, they themselves should be allowed to +have more than five hundred acres? that a single man should possess the +share of nearly three hundred citizens; whilst his portion of land +scarcely extended for the plebeian to a stinted habitation and a place +of burial? Was it their wish that the commons, surrounded with usury, +should surrender their persons to the stocks and to punishment, rather +than pay off their debt by [discharging] the principal; and that persons +should be daily led off from the forum in flocks, after being assigned +to their creditors, and that the houses of the nobility should be filled +with prisoners? and that wherever a patrician dwelt, there should be a +private prison?"</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f37" name="f37"></a>37</div> +<p>When they had uttered these statements, exasperating<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_437" id="Page_437">[Pg 437]</a></span> and pitiable +in the recital, before persons alarmed for themselves, exciting greater +indignation in the hearers than was felt by themselves, they affirmed +"that there never would be any other limit to their occupying the lands, +or to their butchering the commons by usury, unless the commons were to +elect one consul from among the plebeians, as a guardian of their +liberty. That the tribunes of the commons were now despised, as being an +office which breaks down its own power by the privilege of protest. That +there could be no equality of right, where the dominion was in the hands +of the one party, assistance only in that of the other. Unless the +authority were shared, the commons would never enjoy an equal share in +the commonwealth; nor was there any reason why any one should think it +enough that plebeians were taken into account at the consular elections; +unless it were made indispensable that one consul at least should be +from the commons, no one would be elected. Or had they already +forgotten, that when it had been determined that military tribunes +should be elected rather than consuls, for this reason, that the highest +honours should be opened to plebeians also, no one out of the commons +was elected military tribune for forty-four years? How could they +suppose, that they would voluntarily confer, when there are but two +places, a share of the honour on the commons, who at the election of +military tribunes used to monopolize the eight places? and that they +would suffer a way to be opened to the consulship, who kept the +tribuneship so long a time fenced up? That they must obtain by a law, +what could not be obtained by influence at elections; and that one +consulate must be set apart out of the way of contest, to which the +commons may have access; since when left open to dispute it is sure ever +to become the prize of the more powerful. Nor can that now be alleged, +which they used formerly to boast of, that there were not among the +plebeians qualified persons for curule magistracies. For, was the +government conducted with less activity and less vigour, since the +tribunate of Publius Licinius Calvus, who was the first plebeian elected +to that office, than it was conducted during those years when no one but +patricians was a military tribune? Nay, on the contrary, several +patricians had been condemned after their tribuneship, no plebeian. +Quæstors also, as military tribunes, began to be elected from the +commons a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_438" id="Page_438">[Pg 438]</a></span> few years before; nor had the Roman people been dissatisfied +with any one of them. The consulate still remained for the attainment of +the plebeians; that it was the bulwark, the prop of their liberty. If +they should attain that, then that the Roman people would consider that +kings were really expelled from the city, and their liberty firmly +established. For from that day that every thing in which the patricians +surpassed them, would flow in on the commons, power and honour, military +glory, birth, nobility, valuable at present for their own enjoyment, +sure to be left still more valuable to their children." When they saw +such discourses favourably listened to, they publish a new proposition; +that instead of two commissioners for performing religious rites, ten +should be appointed; so that one half should be elected out of the +commons, the other half from the patricians; and they deferred the +meeting [for the discussion] of all those propositions, till the coming +of that army which was besieging Velitræ.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f38" name="f38"></a>38</div> +<p>The year was completed before the legions were brought back from +Velitræ. Thus the question regarding the laws was suspended and deferred +for the new military tribunes; for the commons re-elected the same two +plebeian tribunes, because they were the proposers of the laws. Titus +Quinctius, Servius Cornelius, Servius Sulpicius, Spurius Servilius, +Lucius Papirius, Lucius Valerius, were elected military tribunes. +Immediately at the commencement of the year the question about the laws +was pushed to the extreme of contention; and when the tribes were +called, nor did the protest of their colleagues prevent the proposers of +the laws, the patricians being alarmed have recourse to their two last +aids, to the highest authority and the highest citizen. It is resolved +that a dictator be appointed: Marcus Furius Camillus is appointed, who +nominates Lucius Æmilius his master of the horse. To meet so powerful a +measure of their opponents, the proposers of the laws also set forth the +people's cause with great determination of mind, and having convened an +assembly of the people, they summon the tribes to vote. When the +dictator took his seat, accompanied by a band of patricians, full of +anger and of threats, and the business was going on at first with the +usual contention of the plebeian tribunes, some proposing the law and +others protesting against it, and though the protest was more powerful +by right, still it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_439" id="Page_439">[Pg 439]</a></span> overpowered by the popularity of the laws +themselves and of their proposers, and when the first tribes pronounced, +"Be it as you propose," then Camillus says, "Since, Romans, tribunitian +extravagance, not authority, sways you now, and ye are rendering the +right of protest, acquired formerly by a secession of the commons, +totally unavailing by the same violent conduct by which you acquired it, +I, as dictator, will support the right of protest, not more for the +interest of the whole commonwealth than for your sake; and by my +authority I will defend your rights of protection, which have been +overturned. Wherefore if Caius Licinius and Lucius Sextius give way to +the protest of their colleagues, I shall not introduce a patrician +magistrate into an assembly of the commons. If, in opposition to the +right of protest, they will strive to saddle laws on the state as though +captive, I will not suffer the tribunitian power to be destroyed by +itself." When the plebeian tribunes still persisted in the matter with +unabated energy and contemptuously, Camillus, being highly provoked, +sent his lictors to disperse the commons; and added threats, that if +they persisted he would bind down the younger men by the military oath, +and would forthwith lead an army out of the city. He struck great terror +into the people; by the opposition he rather inflamed than lessened the +spirits of their leaders. But the matter inclining neither way, he +abdicated his dictatorship, either because he had been appointed with +some informality, as some have stated; or because the tribunes of the +people proposed to the commons, and the commons passed it, that if +Marcus Furius did any thing as dictator, he should be fined five hundred +thousand <i>asses</i>. But both the disposition of the man himself, and the +fact that Publius Manlius was immediately substituted as dictator for +him, incline me to believe, that he was deterred rather by some defect +in the auspices than by this unprecedented order. What could be the use +of appointing him (Manlius) to manage a contest in which Camillus had +been defeated? and because the following year had the same Marcus Furius +dictator, who certainly would not without shame have resumed an +authority which but the year before had been worsted in his hands; at +the same time, because at the time when the motion about fining him is +said to have been published, he could either resist this order, by which +he saw himself degraded, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_440" id="Page_440">[Pg 440]</a></span> he could not have obstructed those others +on account of which this was introduced, and throughout the whole series +of disputes regarding the tribunitian and consular authority, even down +to our own memory, the pre-eminence of the dictatorship was always +decided.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f39" name="f39"></a>39</div> +<p>Between the abdication of the former dictatorship and the new one +entered on by Manlius, an assembly of the commons being held by the +tribunes, as if it were an interregnum, it became evident which of the +laws proposed were more grateful to the commons, which to the proposers. +For they passed the bills regarding the interest and the land, rejected +the one regarding the plebeian consulate. And both decisions would have +been carried into effect, had not the tribunes declared that they +consulted the people on all the laws collectively. Publius Manlius, +dictator, then inclined the advantage to the side of the people, by +naming Caius Licinius from the commons, who had been military tribune, +as master of the horse. The patricians, I understand, were much +displeased at this nomination, but the dictator used to excuse himself +to the senate, alleging the near relationship between him and Licinius; +at the same time denying that the authority of master of the horse was +higher than that of consular tribune. When the elections for the +appointment of plebeian tribunes were declared, Licinius and Sextius so +conducted themselves, that by denying that they any longer desired a +continuation of the honour, they most powerfully stimulated the commons +to effectuate that which they were anxious for notwithstanding their +dissimulation. "That they were now standing the ninth year as it were in +battle-array against the patricians, with the greatest danger to their +private interests, without any benefit to the public. That the measures +published, and the entire strength of the tribunitian authority, had +grown old with them; the attack was made on their propositions, first by +the protest of their colleagues, then by banishing their youth to the +war at Velitræ; at length the dictatorial thunder was levelled against +them. That now neither colleagues, nor war, nor dictator stood in their +way; as being a man, who by nominating a plebeian as master of the +horse, has even given an omen for a plebeian consul. That the commons +retarded themselves and their interests. They could, if they liked, have +the city and forum free from creditors, their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_441" id="Page_441">[Pg 441]</a></span> lands immediately free +from unjust possessors. Which kindnesses, when would they ever estimate +them with sufficiently grateful feelings, if, whilst receiving the +measures respecting their own interests, they cut away from the authors +of them all hopes of distinction? That it was not becoming the modesty +of the Roman people to require that they themselves be eased from usury, +and be put in possession of the land unjustly occupied by the great, +whilst they leave those persons through whom they attained these +advantages, become old tribunitians, not only without honour, but even +without the hope of honour. Wherefore they should first determine in +their minds what choice they would make, then declare that choice at the +tribunitian elections. If they wished that the measures published by +them should be passed collectively, there was some reason for +re-electing the same tribunes; for they would carry into effect what +they published. But if they wished that only to be entertained which may +be necessary for each in private, there was no occasion for the +invidious continuation of honour; that they would neither have the +tribuneship, nor the people those matters which were proposed."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f40" name="f40"></a>40</div> +<p>In reply to such peremptory language of the tribunes, when amazement +at the insolence of their conduct and silence struck all the rest of the +patricians motionless, Appius Claudius Crassus, the grandson of the +decemvir, is said to have stepped forward to refute their arguments, +[urged on] more by hatred and anger than by hope [of succeeding], and to +have spoken nearly to this effect: "Romans, to me it would be neither +new nor surprising, if I too on the present occasion were to hear that +one charge, which has ever been advanced against our family by turbulent +tribunes, that even from the beginning nothing in the state has been of +more importance to the Claudian family than the dignity of the +patricians; that they have ever resisted the interests of the commons. +Of which charges I neither deny nor object to the one, that we, since we +have been admitted into the state and the patricians, have strenuously +done our utmost, that the dignity of those families, among which ye were +pleased that we should be, might be truly said rather to have been +increased than diminished. With respect to the other, in my own defence +and that of my ancestors, I would venture to maintain, Romans, (unless +any one may consider those things, which may be done for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_442" id="Page_442">[Pg 442]</a></span> general +good of the state, were injurious to the commons as if inhabitants of +another city,) that we, neither in our private nor in our official +capacity, ever knowingly did any thing which was intended to be +detrimental to the commons; and that no act nor word of ours can be +mentioned with truth contrary to your interest (though some may have +been contrary to your inclinations). Even though I were not of the +Claudian family, nor descended from patrician blood, but an ordinary +individual of the Roman citizens, who merely felt that I was descended +from free-born parents, and that I lived in a free state, could I be +silent on this matter: that Lucius Sextius and Caius Licinius, perpetual +tribunes, forsooth, have assumed such a stock of arrogance during the +nine years in which they have reigned, as to refuse to allow you the +free exercise of your suffrage either at the elections or in enacting +laws. On a certain condition, one of them says, ye shall re-elect us +tribunes for the tenth time. What else is it, but saying, what others +sue for, we disdain so thoroughly, that without some consideration we +will not accept it? But in the name of goodness, what is that +consideration, for which we may always have you tribunes of the commons? +that ye admit collectively all our measures, whether they please or +displease, are profitable or unprofitable. I beg you, Tarquinii, +tribunes of the commons, suppose that I, an individual citizen, should +call out in reply from the middle of the assembly, With your good leave +be it permitted us to select out of these measures those which we deem +to be beneficial to us; to reject the others. It will not be permitted, +he says. Must you enact concerning the interest of money and the lands, +that which tends to the interest of you all; and must not this prodigy +take place in the city of Rome, that of seeing Lucius Sextius and this +Caius Licinius consuls, a thing which you loathe and abominate? Either +admit all; or I propose none. Just as if any one were to place poison +and food together before any one who was oppressed with famine, and +order him either to abstain from that which would sustain life, or to +mix with it that which would cause death. Wherefore, if this state were +free, would they not all in full assembly have replied to you, Begone +hence with your tribuneships and your propositions? What? if you will +not propose that which it is the interest of the people to accept, will +there be no one who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_443" id="Page_443">[Pg 443]</a></span> will propose it? If any patrician, if (what they +desire to be still more invidious) any Claudius should say, Either +accept all, or I propose nothing; which of you, Romans, would bear it? +Will ye never look at facts rather than persons? but always listen with +partial ears to every thing which that officer will say, and with +prejudiced ears to what may be said by any of us? But, by Jove, their +language is by no means becoming members of a republic. What! what sort +is the measure, which they are indignant at its having been rejected by +you? very like their language, Romans. I ask, he says, that it may not +be lawful for you to elect, as consuls, such persons as ye may wish. +Does he require any thing else, who orders that one consul at least be +elected from the commons; nor does he grant you the power of electing +two patricians? If there were wars at the present day, such as the +Etrurian for instance, when Porsenna took the Janiculum, such as the +Gallic war lately, when, except the Capitol and citadel, all these +places were in possession of the enemy; and should Lucius Sextius stand +candidate for the consulate with Marcus Furius or any other of the +patricians: could ye endure that Sextius should be consul without any +risk; that Camillus should run the risk of a repulse? Is this allowing a +community of honours, that it should be lawful that two plebeians, and +not lawful that two patricians, be made consuls, and that it should be +necessary that one be elected from among the commons, and lawful to pass +by both of the patricians? what fellowship, what confederacy is that? Is +it not sufficient, if you come in for a share of that in which you had +no share hitherto, unless whilst suing for a part you seize on the +whole? I fear, he says, lest, if it be lawful that two patricians are to +be elected, ye will elect no plebeian. What else is this but saying, +Because ye will not of your own choice elect unworthy persons, I will +impose on you the necessity of electing persons whom you do not wish? +What follows, but that if one plebeian stand candidate with two +patricians, he owes no obligation to the people, and may say that he was +appointed by the law, not by suffrages?</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f41" name="f41"></a>41</div> +<p>"How they may extort, not how they may sue for honours, is what they +seek: and they are anxious to attain the highest honour, so that they +may not owe the obligations incurred even for the lowest; and they +prefer to sue for honours<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_444" id="Page_444">[Pg 444]</a></span> rather through favourable conjunctures than +by merit. Is there any one who can feel it an affront to have himself +inspected and estimated; who thinks it reasonable that to himself alone, +amidst struggling competitors, honours should be certain? who would +withdraw himself from your judgment? who would make your suffrages +necessary instead of voluntary; servile instead of free? I omit mention +of Licinius and Sextius, whose years of perpetuated power ye number, as +that of the kings in the Capitol; who is there this day in the state so +mean, to whom the road to the consulate is not rendered easier through +the advantages of that law, than to us and to our children? inasmuch as +you will sometimes not be able to elect us even though you may wish it; +those persons you must elect, even though you were unwilling. Of the +insult offered to merit enough has been said (for merit appertains to +human beings); what shall I say respecting religion and the auspices, +which is contempt and injustice relating exclusively to the immortal +gods? Who is there who does not know that this city was built by +auspices, that all things are conducted by auspices during war and +peace, at home and abroad? In whom therefore are the auspices vested +according to the usage of our forefathers? In the patricians, no doubt; +for no plebeian magistrate is ever elected by auspices. So peculiar to +us are the auspices, that not only do the people elect in no other +manner, save by auspices, the patrician magistrates whom they do elect, +but even we ourselves, without the suffrages of the people, appoint the +interrex by auspices, and in our private station we hold those auspices, +which they do not hold even in office. What else then does he do, than +abolish auspices out of the state, who, by creating plebeian consuls, +takes them away from the patricians who alone can hold them? They may +now mock at religion. For what else is it, if the chickens do not feed? +if they come out too slowly from the coop? if a bird chaunt an +unfavourable note? These are trifling: but by not despising these +trifling matters, our ancestors have raised this state to the highest +eminence. Now, as if we had no need of the favour of the gods, we +violate all religious ceremonies. Wherefore let pontiffs, augurs, kings +of the sacrifices be appointed at random. Let us place the tiara of +Jupiter's flamen on any person, provided he be a man. Let us hand over +the ancilia, the shrines, the gods, and the charge of the worship of the +gods, to those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_445" id="Page_445">[Pg 445]</a></span> to whom it is impious to commit them. Let not laws be +enacted, nor magistrates elected under auspices. Let not the senate give +their approbation, either to the assemblies of the centuries or of the +Curiæ. Let Sextius and Licinius, like Romulus and Tatius, reign in the +city of Rome, because they give away as donations other persons' money +and lands. So great is the charm of plundering the possessions of other +persons: nor does it occur to you that by the one law vast wilds are +produced throughout the lands by expelling the proprietors from their +territories; by the other credit is destroyed, along with which all +human society ceases to exist. For every reason, I consider that those +propositions ought to be rejected by you. Whatever ye may do, I pray the +gods to render it successful."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="f42" name="f42"></a>42</div> +<p>The speech of Appius merely had this effect, that the time for +passing the propositions was deferred. The same tribunes, Sextius and +Licinius, being re-elected for the tenth time, succeeded in passing a +law, that of the decemvirs for religious matters, one half should be +elected from the commons. Five patricians were elected, and five out of +the plebeians; and by that step the way appeared opened to the +consulship. The commons, content with this victory, yielded to the +patricians, that, all mention of consuls being omitted for the present, +military tribunes should be elected. Those elected were, Aulus and +Marcus Cornelius a second time, Marcus Geganius, Publius Manlius, Lucius +Veturius, and Publius Valerius a sixth time. When, except the siege of +Velitræ, a matter rather of a slow than dubious result, there was no +disquiet from foreign concerns among the Romans; the sudden rumour of a +Gallic war being brought, influenced the state to appoint Marcus Furius +dictator for the fifth time. He named Titus Quinctius Pennus master of +the horse. Claudius asserts that a battle was fought that year with the +Gauls, on the banks of the Anio; and that then the famous battle was +fought on the bridge, in which Titus Manlius, engaging with a Gaul by +whom he had been challenged, slew him in the sight of the two armies and +despoiled him of his chain. But I am induced by the authority of several +writers to believe that those things happened not less than ten years +later; but that in this year a pitched battle was fought with the Gauls +by the dictator, Marcus Furius, in the territory of Alba. The victory +was neither<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_446" id="Page_446">[Pg 446]</a></span> doubtful nor difficult to the Romans, though from the +recollection of the former defeat the Gauls had diffused great terror. +Many thousands of the barbarians were slain in the field, and great +numbers in the storming of the camp. The rest dispersing, making chiefly +for Apulia, saved themselves from the enemy, both by continuing their +flight to a great distance, as also because panic and terror had +scattered them very widely. A triumph was decreed to the dictator with +the concurrence of the senate and commons. Scarcely had he as yet +finished the war, when a more violent disturbance awaited him at home; +and by great struggles the dictator and the senate were overpowered, so +that the measures of the tribunes were admitted; and the elections of +the consuls were held in spite of the resistance of the nobility, at +which Lucius Sextius was made consul, the first of plebeian rank. And +not even was that an end of the contests. Because the patricians refused +to give their approbation, the affair came very near a secession of the +people, and other terrible threats of civil contests: when, however, the +dissensions were accommodated on certain terms through the interference +of the dictator; and concessions to the commons were made by the +nobility regarding the plebeian consul; by the commons to the nobility, +with respect to one prætor to be elected out of the patricians, to +administer justice in the city. The different orders being at length +restored to concord after their long-continued animosity, when the +senate were of opinion that for the sake of the immortal gods they would +readily do a thing deserving, and that justly, if ever on any occasion +before, that the most magnificent games should be performed, and that +one day should be added to the three; the plebeian ædiles refusing the +office, the young patricians cried out with one accord, that they, for +the purpose of paying honour to the immortal gods, would readily +undertake the task, so that they were appointed ædiles. And when thanks +were returned to them by all, a decree of the senate passed, that the +dictator should ask of the people two persons as ædiles from among the +patricians; that the senate should give their approbation to all the +elections of that year.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_447" id="Page_447">[Pg 447]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="book7" id="book7"></a>BOOK VII.</h2> + +<div class="chapmen"><a href="#g1">1</a> <a href="#g2">2</a> <a href="#g3">3</a> + + <a href="#g4">4</a> <a href="#g5">5</a> <a href="#g6">6</a> <a href="#g7">7</a> + + <a href="#g8">8</a> <a href="#g9">9</a> <a href="#g10">10</a> <a href="#g11">11</a> + + <a href="#g12">12</a> <a href="#g13">13</a> <a href="#g14">14</a> <a href="#g15">15</a> + + <a href="#g16">16</a> <a href="#g17">17</a> <a href="#g18">18</a> <a href="#g19">19</a> + + <a href="#g20">20</a> <a href="#g21">21</a> <a href="#g22">22</a> <a href="#g23">23</a> + + <a href="#g24">24</a> <a href="#g25">25</a> <a href="#g26">26</a> <a href="#g27">27</a> + + <a href="#g28">28</a> <a href="#g29">29</a> <a href="#g30">30</a> <a href="#g31">31</a> + + <a href="#g32">32</a> <a href="#g33">33</a> <a href="#g34">34</a> <a href="#g35">35</a> + + <a href="#g36">36</a> <a href="#g37">37</a> <a href="#g38">38</a> <a href="#g39">39</a> + + <a href="#g40">40</a> <a href="#g41">41</a> <a href="#g42">42</a></div> + + +<div class="bookdes"><p><i>Two magistrates were added, the prætorship and curule ædileship. A +pestilence rages in the city, which carries off the celebrated +Furius Camillus. Scenic representations first introduced. Curtius +leaps on horseback completely armed into a gulf in the forum. Titus +Manlius, having slain a Gaul in single combat, who challenged any +of the Roman soldiers, takes from him a golden chain, and hence +gets the name of Torquatus. Two new tribes are added, called the +Pomptine and Publilian. Licinius Stolo is condemned on a law which +he himself had carried, for possessing more than five hundred acres +of land. Marcus Valerius, surnamed Corvinus, from having with the +aid of a crow killed a Gaul, who challenged him, is on the +following year elected consul, though but twenty-three years old. A +treaty of friendship made with the Carthaginians. The Campanians, +overpowered by the Samnites, surrender themselves to the Roman +people, who declare war against the Samnites. P. Decius Mus saves +the Roman army, when brought into very great danger by the consul +A. Cornelius. Conspiracy and revolt of the Roman soldiers in the +garrison of Capua. They are brought to a sense of duty, and +restored to their country, by Marcus Valerius Corvus, dictator. +Successful operations against the Hernicians, Gauls, Tiburtians, +Privernians, Tarquinians, Samnites, and Volscians.</i></p></div> + + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g1" name="g1"></a>1</div> +<p>This year will be remarkable for the consulship of a man of mean +birth, remarkable for two new magistracies, the prætorship and curule +ædileship. These honours the patricians claimed to themselves, in +consideration of one consulship having been conceded to the plebeians. +The commons gave the consulship to Lucius Sextius, by whose law it had +been obtained. The patricians by their popular influence obtained the +prætorship for Spurius Furius Camillus, the son of Marcus, the ædileship +for Cneius Quinctius Capitolinus and Publius Cornelius Scipio, men of +their own rank. To Lucius Sextius, the patrician colleague assigned was +Lucius Æmilius Mamercinus. In the beginning of the year mention was made +both of the Gauls, who, after having strayed about through Apulia, it +was now rumoured were forming into a body; and also<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_448" id="Page_448">[Pg 448]</a></span> concerning a revolt +of the Hernicians. When all business was purposely deferred, so that +nothing should be transacted through means of the plebeian consul, +silence was observed on all matters, and a state of inaction like to a +justitium; except that, the tribunes not suffering it to pass unnoticed +that the nobility had arrogated to themselves three patrician +magistracies as a compensation for one plebeian consul, sitting in +curule chairs, clad in the prætexta like consuls; the prætor, too, +administering justice, and as if colleague to the consuls, and elected +under the same auspices, the senate were in consequence made ashamed to +order the curule ædiles to be elected from among the patricians. It was +at first agreed, that they should be elected from the commons every +second year: afterwards the matter was left open. Then, in the consulate +of Lucius Genucius and Quintus Servilius, affairs being tranquil both at +home and abroad, that they might at no period be exempt from fear and +danger, a great pestilence arose. They say that a prætor, a curule +ædile, and three plebeian tribunes died of it, and that several other +deaths took place in proportion among the populace; and that pestilence +was made memorable chiefly by the death of Marcus Furius, which, though +occurring at an advanced age, was still much lamented. For he was a +truly extraordinary man under every change of fortune; the first man in +the state in peace and war, before he went into exile; still more +illustrious in exile, whether by the regret felt for him by the state, +which, when in captivity, implored his aid when absent; or by the +success with which, when restored to his country, he restored that +country along with himself. For five and twenty years afterwards (for so +many years afterwards did he live) he uniformly preserved his claims to +such great glory, and was deemed deserving of their considering him, +next after Romulus, a second founder of the city of Rome.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g2" name="g2"></a>2</div> +<p>The pestilence continued both for this and the following year, Caius +Sulpicius Peticus and Caius Licinius Stolo being consuls. During that +year nothing worth recording took place, except that for the purpose of +imploring the favour of the gods, there was a Lectisternium, the third +time since the building of the city. And when the violence of the +disease was alleviated neither by human measures nor by divine +interference, their minds being broken down by superstition,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_449" id="Page_449">[Pg 449]</a></span> among +other means of appeasing the wrath of heaven, scenic plays also are said +to have been instituted, a new thing to a warlike people (for hitherto +there had been only the shows of the circus). But the matter was +trivial, (as all beginnings generally are,) and even that itself from a +foreign source. Without any poetry, or gesticulating in imitation of +such poetry, actors were sent for from Etruria, dancing to the measures +of a musician, and exhibited, according to the Tuscan fashion, movements +by no means ungraceful. The young men afterwards began to imitate these, +throwing out at the same time among each other jocular expressions in +uncouth verses; nor were their gestures irrelevant to their language. +Wherefore the matter was received with approbation, and by frequent use +was much improved. To the native performers the name of <i>histriones</i> was +given, because <i>hister</i>, in the Tuscan vocabulary, was the name of an +actor, who did not, as formerly, throw out alternately artless and +unpolished verses like the Fescennine at random, but represented medleys +complete with metre, the music being regularly adjusted for the +musician, and with appropriate gesticulation. Livius, who several years +after, giving up medleys, was the first who ventured to digest a story +with a regular plot, (the same being, forsooth, as all were at that +time, the actor of his own pieces,) after having broken his voice from +having been too repeatedly called on, and after having sought +permission, is said to have placed a boy before the musician to chaunt, +and to have performed the gesticulations with considerably freer +movement, because the employment of his voice was no impediment to him. +Thence commenced the practice of chaunting to the actors according to +their manual gesticulations, and the dialogues only were left to their +voice. When by this arrangement the business of the scenic performances +was called away from laughter and intemperate mirth, and the amusement +became gradually converted into an art, the young men, leaving to +regular actors the performance of plays, began themselves, according to +the ancient usage, to throw out ludicrous jests comprised in verses, +which from that time were called <i>exodia</i>, and were collected chiefly +from the Atellan farces. Which kind of amusement, received from the +Osci, the young kept to themselves, nor did they suffer it to be debased +by regular players. Hence it remains an established usage that the +actors of the Atellan farces are neither degraded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_450" id="Page_450">[Pg 450]</a></span> from their tribe, and +may serve in the army, as if having no connexion with the profession of +the stage. Among the trifling beginnings of other matters, it seemed to +me that the first origin of plays also should be noticed; that it might +appear how from a moderate commencement it has reached its present +extravagance, scarcely to be supported by opulent kingdoms.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g3" name="g3"></a>3</div> +<p>However, the first introduction of plays, intended as a religious +expiation, neither relieved their minds from religious awe, nor their +bodies from disease. Nay more, when the circus being inundated by the +overflowing of the Tiber happened to interrupt the middle of the +performance, that indeed, as if the gods were now turned from them, and +despised their efforts to soothe their wrath, excited great terror. +Accordingly, Cneius Genucius and Lucius Æmilius Mamercinus being a +second time consuls, when the searching for expiations harassed their +minds, more than the diseases did their bodies, it is said to have been +collected from the memory of the more aged, that a pestilence had +formerly been relieved, on the nail being driven by a dictator. Induced +by this superstitious circumstance, the senate ordered a dictator to be +appointed for the purpose of driving the nail. Lucius Manlius Imperiosus +being appointed, named Lucius Pinarius master of the horse. There is an +ancient law written in antique letters and words, that whoever is +supreme officer should drive a nail on the ides of September. It was +driven into the right side of the temple of Jupiter supremely good and +great, on that part where the temple of Minerva is. They say that the +nail was a mark of the number of years elapsed, because letters were +rare in those times, and that the law was referred to the temple of +Minerva, because number is the invention of that goddess. Cincius, a +careful writer on such monuments, asserts that there were seen at +Volsinii also nails fixed in the temple of Nortia, a Tuscan goddess, as +indices of the number of years. Marcus Horatius, being consul, according +to law dedicated the temple of Jupiter the best and greatest the year +after the expulsion of kings; the solemnity of fixing the nail was +afterwards transferred from the consuls to the dictators, because theirs +was a superior office. The custom being afterwards dropped, it seemed a +matter of sufficient importance in itself, on account of which a +dictator should be appointed. For which reason Lucius Manlius being +appoint<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_451" id="Page_451">[Pg 451]</a></span>ed, just as if he had been appointed for the purpose of managing +the business of the state in general, and not to acquit it of a +religious obligation, being ambitious to manage the Hernician war, +harassed the youth by a severe levy, and at length, all the plebeian +tribunes having risen up against him, whether overcome by force or +shame, he resigned the dictatorship.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g4" name="g4"></a>4</div> +<p>Notwithstanding this, in the commencement of the ensuing year, +Quintus Servilius Ahala, Lucius Genucius being consuls, a day of trial +is appointed for Manlius, by Marcus Pomponius, tribune of the commons. +His severity in the levies, carried not only to the fining of the +citizens, but even to the laceration of their bodies, those who had not +answered to their names being some beaten with rods, others thrown into +prison, was hateful; and more hateful than all was his violent temper, +and the surname of Imperiosus, offensive to a free state, adopted by him +from an ostentation of severity, which he exercised not more against +strangers than his nearest friends, and even those of his own blood. And +among other things, the tribune alleged as a charge against him that "he +had banished his son, a youth convicted of no improper conduct, from the +city, home, household gods, forum, light, from the society of his +equals, and consigned him in a manner to a prison or workhouse; where a +youth of dictatorian rank, born of a very high family, should learn by +his daily suffering that he was descended of a truly imperious father. +And for what offence? because he was not eloquent, nor ready in +discourse. Which defect of nature, whether ought it to be treated with +leniency if there were a particle of humanity in him, or ought it to be +punished, and rendered more remarkable by harsh treatment? The dumb +beasts even, if any of their offspring happen to be badly formed, are +not the less careful in nourishing and cherishing them. But Lucius +Manlius aggravated the misfortune of his son by severity, and further +clogged the slowness of his intellects; and if there were in him even +the least spark of natural ability he extinguished it by a rustic life +and a clownish education, and keeping him among cattle."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g5" name="g5"></a>5</div> +<p>By these charges the minds of all were exasperated against him more +than that of the young man himself: nay, on the contrary, being grieved +that he was even the cause of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_452" id="Page_452">[Pg 452]</a></span> public odium and accusations to his +father, that all the gods and men might know that he would rather afford +aid to his father than to his enemies, he forms the design, +characteristic of a rude and rustic mind no doubt, and though of a +precedent not conformable to the rules of civil life, yet commendable +for its filial piety. Having furnished himself with a knife, without the +knowledge of any one he proceeds early in the morning into the city, and +from the gate straightway to the house of Marcus Pomponius the tribune: +he tells the porter, that he wanted to see his master immediately, and +bid him to announce that he was Titus Manlius, son of Lucius. Being +introduced immediately, (for he had hopes that the youth, incensed +against his father, brought either some new charge, or some advice to +accomplish the project,) after mutual greeting, he says that there were +some matters which he wished to transact with him in private. Then, all +persons being ordered to withdraw to a distance, he draws his dagger; +and standing over the couch with his dagger ready to strike, he +threatens that he would immediately stab him, unless he would swear in +the words which he would dictate, that "he never would hold a meeting of +the commons for the purpose of prosecuting his father." The tribune +alarmed, (for he saw the steel glittering before his eyes, himself alone +and unarmed; the other a young man, and very powerful, and what was no +less terrifying, savagely ferocious in his bodily strength,) swears in +the terms in which he was obliged; and afterwards acknowledged that +forced by this proceeding he gave up his undertaking. Nor though the +commons would have preferred that an opportunity was afforded them of +passing sentence on so cruel and tyrannical a culprit, they were not +much displeased that the son had dared to act so in behalf of his +father; and that was the more commendable in this, that such great +severity on the part of the father had not weaned his mind from his +filial affection. Wherefore the pleading of his cause was not only +dispensed with for the father, but the matter even became a source of +honour to the young man; and when it had been determined on that year +for the first time that tribunes of the soldiers for the legions should +be appointed by suffrage, (for before that the commanders themselves +used to appoint them, as they now do those whom they call Rufuli,) he +obtained the second place among six, without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_453" id="Page_453">[Pg 453]</a></span> any merit of a civil or +military nature to conciliate public favour; as he had spent his youth +in the country and at a distance from all intercourse with the world.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g6" name="g6"></a>6</div> +<p>On the same year the middle of the forum is said to have fallen in to +an immense depth, forming a sort of vast cave, either by reason of an +earthquake, or some other violent cause; nor could that gulf be filled +up by throwing earth into it, every one exerting himself to the utmost, +until by the admonition of the gods an inquiry began to be instituted, +as to what constituted the chief strength of the Roman people? for the +soothsayers declare that must be devoted to that place, if they desired +the Roman state to be perpetual. Then they tell us that Marcus Curtius, +a youth distinguished in war, reproved them for hesitating, whether +there was any greater Roman good than arms and valour. Silence being +made, looking to the temples of the immortal gods, which command a view +of the forum, and towards the Capitol, and extending his hands at one +time towards heaven, at another towards the infernal gods, through the +gaping aperture of the earth, he devoted himself: then, mounted on a +horse accoutred in the most gorgeous style possible, he plunged in full +armour into the opening, and offerings and the fruits of the earth were +thrown in over him by the multitude of men and women, and the lake was +called Curtian not from Curtius Mettus, the ancient soldier of Titus +Tatius, but from this circumstance. If any way would lead one's inquiry +to the truth, industry would not be wanting: now, when length of time +precludes all certainty of evidence, we must stand by the rumour of +tradition; and the name of the lake must be accounted for from this more +recent story. After due attention being paid to so great a prodigy, the +senate, during the same year, being consulted regarding the Hernicians, +(after having sent heralds to demand restitution in vain,) voted, that a +motion be submitted on the earliest day to the people on the subject of +declaring war against the Hernicians, and the people, in full assembly, +ordered it. That province fell by lot to the consul Lucius Genucius. The +state was in anxious suspense, because he was the first plebeian consul +that was about to conduct a war under his own auspices, being sure to +judge of the good or bad policy of establishing a community of honours, +according as the matter should turn out. Chance so arranged it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_454" id="Page_454">[Pg 454]</a></span> that +Genucius, marching against the enemy with a considerable force, fell +into an ambush; the legions being routed by reason of a sudden panic, +the consul was slain after being surrounded by persons who knew not whom +they had slain. When this news was brought to Rome, the patricians, by +no means so grieved for the public disaster, as elated at the +unsuccessful guidance of the plebeian consul, every where exclaim, "They +might now go, and elect consuls from the commons, they might transfer +the auspices where it was impious to do so. The patricians might by a +vote of the people be driven from their own exclusive honour: whether +had this inauspicious law availed also against the immortal gods? They +had vindicated their authority, their auspices; which as soon as ever +they were defiled by one by whom it was contrary to human and divine law +that they should have been, the destruction of the army with its leader +was a warning, that elections should hereafter be conducted in utter +violation of the rights of birth." The senate-house and the forum +resound with expressions such as these. Appius Claudius, because he had +dissuaded the law, and now with greater authority blamed the issue of a +measure which had been found fault with by himself, the consul Servilius +appoints dictator by the general wish of the patricians, and a levy and +cessation of business are procaimed.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g7" name="g7"></a>7</div> +<p>Before the dictator and the new legions could arrive among the +Hernicians, matters were conducted with great success under the +direction of Caius Sulpicius the lieutenant-general, making use of a +favourable opportunity. On the Hernicians, who after the death of the +consul came up contemptuously to the Roman camp with the certainty of +taking it, a sally was made by the exhortations of the consul, the minds +of the soldiers also being full of rage and indignation. The Hernicians +were much disappointed in their hopes of approaching the rampart; in +such complete confusion did they retire from thence. Then on the arrival +of the dictator the new army is joined to the old, the forces are +doubled; and the dictator in a public assembly, by bestowing praises on +the lieutenant-general and the soldiers by whose valour the camp had +been defended, at the same time raises the spirits of those who heard +their own deserved praises, and at the same time stimulates the others +to rival such valour. With no less vigour<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_455" id="Page_455">[Pg 455]</a></span> are the military preparations +made on the part of the enemy, who, mindful of the honour previously +acquired, and not ignorant that the enemy had increased their strength, +augment their forces also. The entire Hernician race, all of military +age, are called out. Eight cohorts, each consisting of four hundred men, +the chosen strength of their people, are levied. This, the select flower +of their youth, they filled with hope and courage by their having +decreed that they should receive double pay. They were exempt also from +military work, that, being reserved for the single labour of fighting, +they might feel that they should make exertions more than are made by +ordinary men. They are placed in an extraordinary position in the field, +that their valour might be the more conspicuous. A plain two miles in +breadth separated the Roman camp from the Hernicians; in the middle of +this, the spaces being about equal on both sides, they came to an +engagement. At first the fight was kept up with doubtful hope; the Roman +cavalry having repeatedly essayed to no purpose to break the enemy's +line by their charge. When their fighting as cavalry was less marked by +success than by great efforts, the cavalry, having first consulted the +dictator, and then obtained his permission, leaving their horses behind, +rush forward in front of the line, with a loud shout, and recommence the +battle after a new style; nor could they be resisted, had not the +extraordinary cohorts, possessing equal vigour both of body and spirit, +thrown themselves in their way.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g8" name="g8"></a>8</div> +<p>Then the contest is carried on between the leading men of the two +states. Whatever the common fortune of war carried off from either side, +the loss was many times greater than can be estimated by the numbers: +the rest, an armed populace, as if they had delegated the fight to the +leading men, rest the issue of their own success on the bravery of +others. Many fall on both sides; more are wounded. At length the +horsemen, chiding each other, asking, "what now remained," if neither +when mounted they had made an impression on the enemy, nor as infantry +did they achieve any thing of moment; what third mode of fighting did +they wait for? Why had they so fiercely rushed forward before the line, +and fought in a post not belonging to them? Aroused by these mutual +chidings, they raise the shout anew, and press forward; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_456" id="Page_456">[Pg 456]</a></span> first they +made the enemy shrink, then made them give way, and at length fairly +made them turn their backs. Nor is it easy to say what circumstance +obtained the advantage against strength so well matched; except that the +constant fortune of both people might have raised or depressed their +spirits. The Romans pursued the Hernicians in their flight to their +camp; they refrained from attacking the camp, because it was late. The +fact of not having finished the sacrifices with success detained the +dictator, so that he could not give the signal before noon, and hence +the contest was protracted till night. Next day the camp of the +Hernicians was deserted, and some wounded men were found left behind, +and the main body of the fugitives was routed by the Signians, as their +standards were seen passing by their walls but thinly attended, and +dispersed over the country in precipitate flight. Nor was the victory an +unbloody one to the Romans; a fourth part of the soldiers perished; and, +where there was no less of loss, several Roman horsemen fell.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g9" name="g9"></a>9</div> +<p>On the following year, when the consuls Caius Sulpicius and Caius +Licinius Calvus led an army against the Hernicians, and finding no enemy +in the country took their city Ferentinum by storm, as they were +returning thence, the Tiburtians shut their gates against them. Though +many complaints had been made on both sides before this, this was the +determining cause why war was declared against the Tiburtian people, +restitution having been demanded through heralds. It is sufficiently +ascertained that Titus Quinctius Pennus was dictator that year, and that +Servius Cornelius Maluginensis was his master of the horse. Macer +Licinius writes, that he was named by the consul for the purpose of +holding the elections, because his colleague hastening to have the +elections over before undertaking the war, that he might continue the +consulship, he thought it right to thwart his ambitious designs. This +being designed as a compliment to his own family, renders the authority +of Licinius of the less weight. As I find no mention of that +circumstance in the more ancient annals, my mind inclines me to consider +that the dictator was appointed on account of the Gallic war. On that +year, certainly, the Gauls pitched their camp at the third stone on the +Salarian road, at the further side of the bridge of the Anio. The +dictator, after he had proclaimed a cessation of civil business on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_457" id="Page_457">[Pg 457]</a></span> +account of the Gallic tumult, bound all the younger citizens by the +military oath; and having set forth from the city with a great army, +pitched his camp on the hither bank of the Anio. The bridge lay between +both armies, neither side attempting to break it down, lest it should be +an indication of fear. There were frequent skirmishes for the possession +of the bridge; nor could it be clearly determined who were masters of +it, the superiority being so indecisive. A Gaul of very large stature +advanced on the bridge, then unoccupied, and says with as loud a voice +as he could exert, "Let the bravest man that Rome now possesses come +forward here to battle, that the event of an engagement between us both +may show which nation is superior in war."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g10" name="g10"></a>10</div> +<p>There was for a long time silence among the young Roman nobility, as +they were both ashamed to decline the contest, and unwilling to claim +the principal post of danger. Then Titus Manlius, son of Lucius, the +same who had freed his father from the vexatious persecution of the +tribune, proceeds from his station to the dictator: "Without your +commands, general, I would never fight out of the ordinary course, not +though I should see certain victory before me. If you permit me, I wish +to show that brute, who insolently makes such a parade before the +enemy's line, that I am sprung from that family which dislodged a body +of Gauls from the Tarpeian rock." Then the dictator says, "Titus +Manlius, may you prosper for your valour and dutiful affection to your +father and your country. Go on, and make good the invincibility of the +Roman name with the aid of the gods." His companions then arm the youth; +he takes a footman's shield, girds himself with a Spanish sword, fit for +a close fight. When armed and equipped, they lead him out against the +Gaul, who exhibited stolid exultation, and (for the ancients thought +that also worthy of mention) thrust out his tongue in derision. They +then retire to their station; and the two being armed, are left in the +middle space, more after the manner of a spectacle, than according to +the law of combat, by no means well matched, according to those who +judged by sight and appearance. The one had a body enormous in size, +glittering in a vest of various colours, and in armour painted and +inlaid with gold; the other had a middle stature, as is seen among +soldiers, and a mien unostentatious, in arms fit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_458" id="Page_458">[Pg 458]</a></span> for ready use rather +than adapted for show. He had no song, no capering, nor idle flourishing +of arms, but his breast, teeming with courage and silent rage, had +reserved all its ferocity for the decision of the contest. When they +took their stand between the two armies, the minds of so many +individuals around them suspended between hope and fear, the Gaul, like +a huge mass threatening to fall on that which was beneath it, stretching +forward his shield with his left hand, discharged an ineffectual cut of +his sword with a great noise on the armour of his foe as he advanced +towards him. The Roman, raising the point of his sword, after he had +pushed aside the lower part of the enemy's shield with his own, and +closing on him so as to be exempt from the danger of a wound, insinuated +himself with his entire body between the body and arms of the foe, with +one and immediately with another thrust pierced his belly and groin, and +stretched his enemy now prostrate over a vast extent of ground. Without +offering the body of the prostrate foe any other indignity, he despoiled +it of one chain; which, though smeared with blood, he threw around his +neck. Dismay with astonishment now held the Gauls motionless. The +Romans, elated with joy, advancing from their post to meet their +champion, with congratulations and praises conduct him to the dictator. +Among them uttering some uncouth jests in military fashion somewhat +resembling verses, the name of Torquatus was heard: this name, being +kept up, became afterwards an honour to the descendants even of the +family. The dictator added a present of a golden crown, and before a +public assembly extolled that action with the highest praises.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g11" name="g11"></a>11</div> +<p>And, indeed, of so great moment was the contest with respect to the +issue of the war in general, that on the night following the army of the +Gauls, having abandoned their camp in confusion, passed over into the +territory of Tibur, and from thence soon after into Campania, having +concluded an alliance for the purpose of war, and being abundantly +supplied with provision by the Tiburtians. That was the reason why, on +the next year, Caius Pætelius Balbus, consul, though the province of the +Hernicians had fallen to the lot of his colleague, Marcus Fabius +Ambustus, led an army, by order of the people, against the Tiburtians. +To whose assistance when the Gauls came back from Campania, dreadful +devastations were com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_459" id="Page_459">[Pg 459]</a></span>mitted in the Lavican, Tusculan, and Alban +territories. And though the state was satisfied with a consul as leader +against the Tiburtian enemy, the alarm created by the Gauls rendered it +necessary that a dictator should be appointed. Quintus Servilius Ahala +having been appointed, named Titus Quinctius master of the horse; and +with the sanction of the senate, vowed the great games, should that war +turn out successfully. The dictator then, having ordered the consular +army to remain to confine the Tiburtians to their own war, bound all the +younger citizens by the military oath, none declining the service. A +battle was fought not far from the Colline gate with the strength of the +entire city, in the sight of their parents, wives, and children: which +being great incitements to courage, even when these relatives are +absent, being now placed before their eyes, fired the soldiers at once +with feelings of shame and compassion. Great havoc being made on both +sides, the Gallic army is at length worsted. In their flight they make +for Tibur, as being the main stay of the war; and being intercepted +whilst straggling by the consul Pætelius not far from Tibur, and the +Tiburtians having come out to bring them aid, they are with the latter +driven within the gates. Matters were managed with distinguished success +both by the dictator and the consul. And the other consul, Fabius, at +first in slight skirmishes, and at length in one single battle, defeated +the Hernicians, when they attacked him with all their forces. The +dictator, after passing the highest encomiums on the consuls in the +senate and before the people, and yielding up the honour of his own +exploits to them, resigned his dictatorship. Pætelius enjoyed a double +triumph, over the Gauls and the Tiburtians. Fabius was satisfied with +entering the city in ovation. The Tiburtians derided the triumph of +Pætelius; "for where," they said, "had he encountered them in the field? +that a few of their people having gone outside the gates to witness the +flight and confusion of the Gauls, on seeing an attack made on +themselves, and that those who came in the way were slaughtered without +distinction, had retired within the city. Did that seem to the Romans +worthy of a triumph? They should not consider it an extraordinary and +wondrous feat to raise a tumult at the enemy's gates, as they should +soon see greater confusion before their own walls."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g12" name="g12"></a>12</div> +<p>Accordingly in the year following, Marcus Popilius<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_460" id="Page_460">[Pg 460]</a></span> Lænas and Cneius +Manlius being consuls, during the first silence of the night having set +out from Tibur with an army prepared for action, they came to the city +of Rome. The suddenness of the thing, and the panic occurring at night, +occasioned some terror among them on being suddenly aroused from sleep; +further, the ignorance of many as to who the enemy were or whence they +had come. However they quickly ran to arms, and guards were posted at +the gates, and the walls were secured with troops; and when daylight +showed but an inconsiderable force before the walls, and that the enemy +were none other than the Tiburtines, the consuls, having gone forth from +the two gates, attack on either side the army of these now advancing up +to the walls; and it became obvious that they had come relying rather on +the opportunity than on their valour, for they hardly sustained the +first charge of the Romans. Nay more, it was evident that their coming +proved an advantage to the Romans, and that a disturbance just arising +between the patricians and commons was checked by the dread of a war so +near them. In the next war there was another irruption of the enemy, +more terrible to the country than to the city. The Tarquinians overran +the Roman frontiers, committing depredations on that side more +especially where they are contiguous to Etruria; and restitution being +demanded in vain, the new consuls, Cneius Fabius and Caius Plautius, +proclaimed war on them by order of the people; and that province fell to +the lot of Fabius, the Hernicians to Plautius. A rumour of a Gallic war +also was gaining ground. But amid their many terrors, they had some +consolation from a peace granted to the Latins at their own request, as +also from a considerable reinforcement of soldiers received from them in +conformity with an old treaty, which, they had for several years ceased +to observe. When the Roman cause was supported by this aid, the tidings +that the Gauls had come to Præneste and were encamped near to Pedum, +were less heeded. It was determined that Caius Sulpicius should be +appointed dictator. Caius Plautius the consul, being sent for for the +purpose, nominated him; Marcus Valerius was assigned as master of the +horse to the dictator. These having selected the best of the soldiers +out of the two consular armies, led them against the Gauls. This war was +more tedious than was satisfactory to either party. When at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_461" id="Page_461">[Pg 461]</a></span> first the +Gauls only were desirous of fighting, afterwards the Roman soldiers +considerably surpassed the ferocity of the Gauls in their ardour for +arms and battle; it by no means met the approbation of the dictator when +no urgent necessity existed to run any hazard against an enemy, whose +strength time and inconvenient situation would daily impair, in total +inactivity, without provisions previously laid up or any fortified +situation; besides, being persons of such minds and bodies, that all +their force lay in brisk exertion, whilst the same flagged by short +delay. On these considerations the dictator protracted the war, and +denounced a severe penalty against any one who should fight against the +enemy without orders. The soldiers, being much dissatisfied with this, +first censured the dictator, in their conversation, when on guard and on +the watches; sometimes they found fault with the patricians in general, +for not having commanded the war to be conducted by the consuls. "That +an excellent general, an extraordinary commander, had been selected, who +thinks that whilst he does nothing victory will fly down from heaven +into his lap." Afterwards they gave expression to these same sentiments +openly during the day, and to others still more outrageous; that "they +would either fight without the general's orders, or would proceed in a +body to Rome." The centurions, too, began to mix with the soldiers; and +they murmured not only in their own quarters, but now their observations +began to be confounded together at head-quarters and at the general's +tent, and the crowd increased to the magnitude of an assembly, and they +now shouted from all quarters that "they should go forthwith to the +dictator; that Sextus Tullius should speak in behalf of the army, so as +became his courage."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g13" name="g13"></a>13</div> +<p>Tullius was now for the seventh time first centurion of a legion, +nor was there in the army, at least among those who served in the +infantry, a man more distinguished by his conduct. He, at the head of a +body of the soldiers, proceeds to the tribunal, and to Sulpicius, not +more surprised at the crowd than at Tullius, the leader of the crowd, a +soldier most obedient to command, he says: "Dictator, the whole army, +conceiving that they have been condemned by you of cowardice, and kept +without their arms by way of disgrace, has entreated me to plead their +cause before you. In truth, if having deserted our post any where, if +turning our backs to the enemy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_462" id="Page_462">[Pg 462]</a></span> if the disgraceful loss of our +standards could be laid to our charge, I would still think it but just +that we should obtain this from you, that you would suffer us to redeem +our fault by our bravery, and to blot out the memory of our disgrace by +newly acquired glory. Even the legions defeated at the Allia, when they +afterwards set out from Veii, recovered by their valour the same country +which they had lost through a panic. We, by the bounty of the gods, your +good fortune, and that of the Roman people, have both our cause and our +glory uninjured. Though of glory I would scarcely venture to say any +thing; since both the enemy scoff at us with every kind of insult, as +women hiding ourselves behind a rampart; and you, our general, what we +grieve at still more, judge your army to be without spirit, without +arms, without hands; and before you had made trial of us, you have so +despaired of us, as to consider yourself to be the leader of a set of +maimed and disabled men. For what else shall we believe to be the reason +why you, a veteran general, most valiant in war, sit down with hands +folded, as they say. But however it may be, it is fitter that you should +seem to doubt of our courage than we of yours. If however this plan of +proceeding be not your own, but a public one, if some concerted scheme +of the patricians, and not the Gallic war, keeps us exiled from the +city, from our homes, I beg that you consider what I may say here, as +addressed not by soldiers to their general, but to the patricians by the +commons, who tell you that as ye have your separate plans, so will they +have theirs. Who in the name of goodness can be angry that we (consider +ourselves) your soldiers, not your slaves? as men who have been sent to +war, not into exile? as men who, if any one give the signal, and lead +them out into the field, will fight as becomes men and Romans? as men +who, if there be no need of arms, would spend their idle time in Rome +rather than in a camp? Consider these observations as addressed to the +patricians. As your soldiers, we entreat you, general, to afford us an +opportunity of fighting. We both desire to conquer, and also to conquer +with you for our leader; to confer on you the distinguished laurel, with +you to enter the city in triumph; following your car with +congratulations and rejoicings, to approach the temple of Jupiter +supremely great and good." The entreaties of the multitude followed the +speech of Tullius; and from every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_463" id="Page_463">[Pg 463]</a></span> side they cried out, that he would +give the signal, that he would order them to take arms.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g14" name="g14"></a>14</div> +<p>The dictator, though he saw that a good result was brought about by +a precedent not to be approved of, yet took on himself to do what the +soldiers wished, and inquires of Tullius privately, what the nature of +this transaction was, or on what precedent it was done? Tullius +earnestly entreated the dictator "not to believe him forgetful of +military discipline, of himself, nor of the respect due to his general; +that he had not declined to put himself at the head of the excited +multitude, who generally were like to their instigators, lest any other +person might step forward, such an excited multitude were wont to elect. +That for his own part he would do nothing without the orders of his +general; that he also however must carefully see, that he keep the army +in obedience. That minds so excited could not be put off: that they +would choose for themselves time and place, if they were not granted by +the general." While they are conversing in this way, it so happened, +that as a Gaul was driving away some cattle feeding on the outside of +the rampart two Roman soldiers took them from him. Stones were thrown at +them by the Gauls, then a shout was raised at the next Roman post, and +several ran forward on both sides. And now matters were not far from a +regular engagement, had not the contest been quickly stopped by the +centurions. By this event the testimony of Tullius was certainly +confirmed with the dictator; and the matter not admitting of further +delay, a proclamation is issued that they were to fight on the day +following. The dictator however, as one who went into the field relying +more on the courage of his men than on their numerical strength, began +to look about and consider how he might by some artifice strike terror +into the enemy. With a sagacious mind he devises a new project, which +many generals both of our own and of foreign countries have since +adopted, some indeed in our own times. He orders the panniers to be +taken from the mules, and two side-cloths only being left, he mounts the +muleteers on them, equipped with arms partly belonging to the prisoners, +and some to the sick. About a thousand of these being equipped, he mixes +with them one hundred horsemen, and orders them to go up during the +night into the mountains over the camp and to conceal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_464" id="Page_464">[Pg 464]</a></span> themselves in the +woods, and not to stir from thence, till they should receive a signal +from him. As soon as day dawned, he himself began to extend his line +along the bottom of the mountain, for the express purpose that the enemy +should face the mountains. The measures for infusing groundless terror +being now completed, which terror indeed proved almost more serviceable +than real strength, the leaders of the Gauls first believed that the +Romans would not come down to the plain: then when they saw them begin +on a sudden to descend, they also, on their part eager for the fight, +rush forward to the encounter; and the battle commenced before the +signal could be given by the leaders.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g15" name="g15"></a>15</div> +<p>The Gauls attacked the right wing with greater fierceness, nor could +they have been withstood, had not the dictator happened to be on the +spot, rebuking Sextus Tullius by name, and asking him, "Was it in this +way he had engaged that the soldiers would fight? Where now were the +shouts of those demanding their arms? where the threats that they would +commence the fight without the orders of their general? Behold the +general himself calling them with a loud voice to battle, and advancing +in arms before the front of the line. Would any of those now follow him, +who were just now to have led the way; fierce in the camp, but cowards +in the field?" What they heard was all true; wherefore shame applied +such strong incentives, that they rushed upon the weapons of the enemy, +their attention being turned away from the thought of danger. This +onset, which was almost frantic at first, threw the enemy into disorder; +then the cavalry charging them whilst thus disordered, made them turn +their backs. The dictator himself, when he saw their line wavering in +one direction, carries round some troops to the left wing, where he saw +a crowd of the enemy collected, and gave to those who were on the +mountain the signal which had been agreed on. When a new shout arose +from that quarter also, and they seemed to make their way in an oblique +direction, down the mountain to the camp of the Gauls; then through fear +lest they should be cut off from it, the fight was given up, and they +were carried towards the camp with precipitate speed. Where when Marcus +Valerius, master of the horse, who, after having routed their left wing, +was riding towards the enemies' entrenchment, met them, they turn their +flight to the mountains and woods: and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_465" id="Page_465">[Pg 465]</a></span> the greater part of them were +there intercepted by the fallacious show of horsemen, and the muleteers, +and of those whom panic had carried into the woods, a dreadful slaughter +took place after the battle was ended. Nor did any one since Camillus +obtain a more complete triumph over the Gauls than Caius Sulpicius. A +considerable weight of gold taken from the Gallic spoils, which he +enclosed in hewn stone, he consecrated in the Capitol. The same year the +consuls also were engaged in fighting with various success. For the +Hernicians were vanquished and subdued by Cneius Plautius. His colleague +Fabius fought against the Tarquinians without caution or prudence; nor +was the loss sustained in the field so much [a subject of regret] as +that the Tarquinians put to death three hundred and seven Roman +soldiers, their prisoners, by which barbarous mode of punishment the +disgrace of the Roman people was rendered considerably more remarkable. +To this disaster moreover was added, the laying waste of the Roman +territory, which the Privernatians, and afterwards the people of +Velitræ, committed by a sudden incursion. The same year two tribes, the +Pomptine and Publilian, were added. The votive games, which Marcus +Furius in his dictatorship had vowed, were performed; and a proposition +was then for the first time made to the people regarding bribery at +elections by Caius Pætilius, tribune of the commons, with the +approbation of the senate; and by that bill they thought that the +ambition of new men in particular, who had been accustomed to go around +the markets and places of meeting, was checked.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g16" name="g16"></a>16</div> +<p>Not equally pleasing to the patricians on the following year was a +law passed in the consulship of Caius Marcius and Cneius Manlius, by +Marcus Duilius and Lucius Mænius, tribunes of the commons, regarding the +interest of money at twelve per cent., and the people received and +passed it with much more eagerness. In addition to the new wars +determined on the preceding year, a new enemy arose in the Faliscians, +in consequence of a double charge; both that their youth had taken up +arms in conjunction with the Tarquinians, and because they had refused +to restore to the demand of the Roman heralds those who had fled to +Falerii, after the unsuccessful battle. That province fell to the lot of +Cneius Manlius, Marcius led the army into the Privernatian territory, +which, from the long continuance of peace, was in a flourishing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_466" id="Page_466">[Pg 466]</a></span> +condition; and he enriched the soldiers with abundance of spoil. To the +great quantity of effects he added an act of munificence; for, by +setting aside nothing for public use, he favoured the soldier in his +endeavours to accumulate private property. When the Privernatians had +taken their post in a well-fortified camp under their own walls, having +summoned the soldiers to an assembly, he says to them, "I now give to +you the camp and city of the enemy for plunder, if you promise me that +you will exert yourselves bravely in the field, and that you are not +better prepared for plunder than for fighting." With loud shouts they +call for the signal, and elated and buoyed up with certain confidence, +they proceed to the battle. Then, in front of the line, Sextus Tullius, +whom we have already mentioned, exclaims, "Behold, general," says he, +"how your army are performing their promises to you;" and laying aside +his javelin, he attacks the enemy sword in hand. The whole van follow +Tullius, and at the first onset put the enemy to flight; then pursuing +them, when routed, to the town, when they were just applying the scaling +ladders to the walls, they received the city on a surrender. A triumph +was had over the Privernatians. Nothing worth mentioning was achieved by +the other consul, except that he, by an unusual precedent, holding an +assembly of the tribes in the camp at Sutrium, he passed a law regarding +the twentieth part of the value of those set free by manumission. As by +this law no small revenue was added to the treasury, now low, the senate +gave it their sanction. But the tribunes of the commons, influenced not +so much by the law as by the precedent, passed a law, making it a +capital offence for any one in future to summon an assembly of the +people at a distance from the city; for if that were allowed, there was +nothing, no matter how destructive to the people, that might not he done +by soldiers, who had sworn allegiance to their consul. The same year +Caius Licinius Stolo was condemned in a fine of ten thousand <i>asses</i>, on +his own law, by Marcus Popillius Lænas, because he possessed in +conjunction with his son a thousand acres of land, and because he had +attempted to evade the law by emancipating his son.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g17" name="g17"></a>17</div> +<p>The next two consuls, Marcus Fabius Ambustus a second time, and +Marcus Popillius Lænas a second time, had two wars on their hands. The +one with the Tiburtians was easy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_467" id="Page_467">[Pg 467]</a></span> which Licinius managed, who drove the +enemy into their city, and laid waste their lands. The Faliscians and +Tarquinians routed the other consul in the commencement of the fight. +From these parties the utmost terror was raised, in consequence of their +priests, who, by carrying before them lighted torches and the figures of +serpents, and advancing with the gait of furies, disconcerted the Roman +soldiers by their extraordinary appearance; and then indeed they ran +back to their entrenchments, in all the hurry of trepidation, as if +frenzied or thunderstruck; and then when the consul, and +lieutenant-generals, and tribunes began to ridicule and chide them for +being frightened like children at mere sights, shame suddenly changed +their minds; and they rushed, as if blindfold, on those very objects +from which they had fled. Having, therefore, dissipated the idle +contrivance of the enemy, having attacked those who were in arms, they +drove their whole line before them, and having got possession of the +camp also on that day, and obtained great booty, they returned +victorious, uttering military jests, both on the stratagem of the enemy +as also on their own panic. Then the whole Etruscan nation is aroused, +and under the conduct of the Tarquinians and Faliscians, they come to +Salinæ. To meet this alarm, Caius Marcius Rutilus, being appointed +dictator, the first plebeian who was so, named Caius Plautius, also a +plebeian, master of the horse. This was deemed an indignity by the +patricians, that the dictatorship also was now become common, and with +all their exertions they prevented any thing from either being decreed +or prepared for the dictator, for the prosecution of that war. With the +more promptitude, on that account, did the people order things, as +proposed by the dictator. Having set out from the city, along both sides +of the Tiber, and transporting his army on rafts whithersoever his +intelligence of the enemy led him, he surprised many of them straggling +about in scattered parties, laying waste the lands. Moreover, he +suddenly attacked their camp and took it; and eight thousand of the +enemy being made prisoners, all the rest being either slain or driven +out of the Roman territory, he triumphed by order of the people, without +the sanction of the senate. Because they neither wished that the +consular elections should be held by a plebeian dictator or consul, and +the other consul, Fabius, was detained by the war, matters came to an +interregnum. There<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_468" id="Page_468">[Pg 468]</a></span> were then interreges in succession, Quintus +Servilius Ahala, Marcus Fabius, Cneius Manlius, Caius Fabius, Caius +Sulpicius, Lucius Æmilius, Quintus Servilius, Marcus Fabius Ambustas. In +the second interregnum a dispute arose, because two patrician consuls +were elected: and the tribunes protesting, Fabius the interrex said, +that "it was a law in the twelve tables, that whatever the people +ordered last should be law and in force; that the suffrages of the +people were their orders." When the tribunes by their protest had been +able to effect nothing else than to put off the elections, two +patricians were chosen consuls, Caius Sulpicius Peticus a third time, +Marcus Valerius Publicola; and on the same day they entered into office.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g18" name="g18"></a>18</div> +<p>On the four hundredth year after the building of the city of Rome, +and the thirty-fifth after its recovery from the Gauls, the consulship +being taken away from the commons after eleven years, consuls, both +patricians, entered into office after the interregnum, Caius Sulpicius +Peticus a third time, and Marcus Valerius Publicola. During this year +Empulum was taken from the Tiburtians with a struggle not worth +mentioning; whether the war was waged there under the auspices of the +two consuls, as some have stated; or whether the lands of the +Tarquinians were laid waste by the consul Sulpicius about the same time +that Valerius led the troops against the Tiburtians. The consuls had a +more arduous contest at home with the commons and tribunes. As two +patricians had received the consulship, they considered that not only +their resolution, but their honour also, was involved in their +consigning it to two patricians. For if the consulship were made a +plebeian magistracy, they must either yield it up entirely, or possess +it entire, which possession they had received from their fathers +unimpaired. The commons on the other hand loudly remonstrate; "Why did +they live; why were they reckoned in the number of citizens; if they +collectively cannot maintain that which was acquired by the firmness of +two men, Lucius Sextius and Caius Licinius? That either kings, or +decemvirs, or, if there be any denomination of power more offensive, +would be submitted to rather than see both the consuls patricians, or +rather than not obey and rule in turn; but the one half, located in +perpetual power, thinks the commons born for no other purpose than to be +subservient." The tribunes are not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_469" id="Page_469">[Pg 469]</a></span> remiss in encouraging the +disturbances; but amid the excited state of all scarcely any are +distinguished as leaders. When they had several times gone down to the +Campus Martius to no purpose, and when many days of meeting had been +spent in seditious movements; at length the resentment of the commons, +overcome by the perseverance of the consuls, broke out to such a degree, +that the commons followed in sorrow the tribunes, exclaiming, that there +was an end of liberty; that not only the Campus should be relinquished, +but the city also as being held captive and oppressed by the tyranny of +the patricians. The consuls, deserted by a part of the people, finish +the election nevertheless with the small number [who attended]. Both the +consuls elected were patricians, Marcus Fabius Ambustus a third time, +Titus Quinctius. In some annals I find Marcus Popilius mentioned as +consul instead of Titus Quinctius.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g19" name="g19"></a>19</div> +<p>Two wars were conducted with success on that year: and they forced +the Tiburtians by force of arms to a surrender. The city of Sassula was +taken from them; and the other towns would have shared the same fate, +had not the entire nation laid down their arms, and put themselves under +the protection of the consul. A triumph was obtained by him over the +Tiburtians: in other respects the victory was a mild one. Rigorous +severity was practised against the Tarquinians. A great many being +slaughtered in the field, out of a great number of prisoners three +hundred and fifty-eight were selected, all of the highest rank, to be +sent to Rome; the rest of the multitude were put to the sword. Nor were +the people more merciful towards those who had been sent to Rome. They +were all beaten with rods and beheaded in the middle of the forum. That +was the punishment retaliated on the enemy for their butchering the +Romans in the forum of Tarquinii. The successes in war induced the +Samnites to seek their friendship. A courteous answer was returned to +their ambassadors by the senate: they were received into an alliance by +a treaty. The Roman commons had not the same success at home as in war. +For though the burden of interest money had been relieved by fixing the +rate at one to the hundred, the poor were overwhelmed by the principal +alone, and submitted to confinement. On this account, the commons took +little heed either of the two consuls being patricians, or the +management of the elections, by reason of their private<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_470" id="Page_470">[Pg 470]</a></span> distresses. +Both consulships therefore remained with the patricians. The consuls +appointed were Caius Sulpicius Pæticus a fourth time, Marcus Valerius +Publicola a second time. Whilst the state was occupied with the Etrurian +war, [entered into] because a report prevailed that the people of Cære +had joined the Tarquinians through compassion for them from their +relationship, ambassadors from the Latins drew their attention to the +Volscians, bringing tidings that an army enlisted and fully armed was +now on the point of attacking their frontiers; from thence that they +were to enter the Roman territory in order to commit depredations. The +senate therefore determined that neither affair should be neglected; +they ordered that troops should be raised for both purposes, and that +the consuls should cast lots for the provinces. The greater share of +their anxiety afterwards inclined to the Etrurian war; after it was +ascertained, from a letter of the consul Sulpicius, to whom the province +of Tarquinii had fallen, that the land around the Roman Salinæ had been +depopulated, and that part of the plunder had been carried away into the +country of the people of Cære, and that the young men of that people +were certainly among the depredators. The senate therefore, having +recalled the consul Valerius, who was opposed to the Volscians, and who +had his camp on the frontiers of Tusculum, ordered him to nominate a +dictator. He nominated Titus Manlius, son of Lucius. He, after he had +appointed Aulus Cornelius Cossus his master of the horse, content with +the consular army, declared war against the Cæritians by order of the +people, with the sanction of the senate.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g20" name="g20"></a>20</div> +<p>Then for the first time were the Cæritians seized with a real dread +of war, as if there was greater power in the words of the enemy to +indicate war than in their own acts, who had provoked the Romans by +devastation; and they perceived how ill suited the contest was to their +strength. They repented of their depredations, and cursed the +Tarquinians as the instigators of the revolt. Nor did any one think of +preparing arms and hostilities; but each strenuously urged the necessity +of sending ambassadors to sue for pardon for their error. When their +ambassadors applied to the senate, being referred by the senate to the +people, they implored the gods, whose sacred utensils they had received +in the Gallic war and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_471" id="Page_471">[Pg 471]</a></span> treated with all due ceremony, that the same +compassion for them might influence the Romans now in a flourishing +condition, which had formerly influenced themselves when the state of +the Roman people was distressed; and turning to the temple of Vesta, +they invoked the bonds of hospitality subsisting [between themselves] +and the flamens and vestals entered into by them with holy and religious +zeal: "Would any one believe that persons, who possessed such merits, +had suddenly become enemies without cause? or if they had committed any +act in a hostile manner, that they had, through design rather than under +the influence of error from frenzy, so acted, as to cancel their former +acts of kindness by recent injuries, more especially when conferred on +persons so grateful, and that they would choose to themselves as enemies +the Roman people, now in the most flourishing state and most successful +in war, whose friendship they had cultivated when they were distressed? +That they should not call it design, which should rather be called force +and necessity. That the Tarquinians, passing through their territory +with a hostile army, after they had asked for nothing but a passage, +forced with them some of their peasants, to accompany them in that +depredation, which was charged on them as a crime. That they were +prepared to deliver them up, if it pleased them that they should be +delivered up; or that they should be subjected to punishment, if [they +desired] that they should be punished. That Cære, the sanctuary of the +Roman people, the harbourer of its priests, the receptacle of the sacred +utensils of Rome, they should suffer to escape, in regard to the ties of +hospitality contracted with the vestals, and in regard to the religious +devotion paid to their gods, intact and unstained with the charge of +hostilities committed." The people were influenced not so much by [the +merits of] the present case, as by their former deserts, so as to be +unmindful rather of the injury than of the kindness. Peace was therefore +granted to the people of Cære, and it was resolved that the making of a +truce for one hundred years should be referred to a decree of the +senate. Against the Faliscians, implicated in the same charge, the force +of the war was turned; but the enemy was no where found. Though their +territories were visited in all directions with devastation, they +refrained from besieging the towns; and the legions being brought back +to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_472" id="Page_472">[Pg 472]</a></span> Rome, the remainder of the year was spent in repairing the walls and +the towers, and the temple of Apollo was dedicated.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g21" name="g21"></a>21</div> +<p>At the close of the year a dispute between the patricians and +commons suspended the consular elections, the tribunes refusing to allow +the elections to be held, unless they were held conformably to the +Licinian law; the dictator being determined to do away with the +consulate altogether from the state, rather than to make it common to +the patricians and the commons. Accordingly when, the elections being +repeatedly adjourned, the dictator resigned his office, matters came to +an interregnum. Upon this, when the interreges found the commons +incensed against the fathers, the contest was carried on by various +disturbances to the eleventh interrex. The tribunes held out as their +plea, the protection of the Licinian law. The people had the painful +sense of the increasing weight of interest nearer to their hearts; and +their private troubles became predominant amid the public contests. +Through the wearisome effects of which the patricians ordered Lucius +Cornelius Scipio, the interrex, for peace' sake to observe the Licinian +law in the election of consuls. To Publius Valerius Publicola, Caius +Marcius Rutilus, a plebeian, was assigned as a colleague. Once their +minds were disposed to concord, the new consuls, setting about to +relieve the affair of the interest money also, which seemed to prevent +perfect unanimity, made the payment of the debts a matter of public +concern, five commissioners having been appointed, whom from their +management of the money they called bankers. By their justice and +diligence they deserved to have their names signalized by the records of +every history. They were Caius Duilius, Publius Decius Mus, Marcus +Papirius, Quintus Publilius, and Titus Æmilius; who underwent a task +most difficult to be managed, and dissatisfactory in general to both +parties, certainly always so to one, both with moderation in other +respects, as well as at the public expense, rather than with any loss +[to the creditors]. For the tardy debts and those which were more +troublesome, rather by the inertness of the debtors than by want of +means, either the treasury paid off, tables with money being placed in +the forum, in such a manner that the public was first secured; or a +valuation, at equitable prices, of their property freed them; so that +not only without injury, but even without com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_473" id="Page_473">[Pg 473]</a></span>plaints on either side, an +immense amount of debt was cleared off. After this a groundless alarm of +an Etrurian war, as there was a report that the twelve states had +conspired, rendered it necessary that a dictator should be appointed. +Caius Julius was nominated in the camp, (for the decree of the senate +was sent thither to the consuls,) to whom Lucius Æmilius was attached as +master of the horse. But all things were quiet abroad.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g22" name="g22"></a>22</div> +<p>An attempt made at home by the dictator, to have the election of two +patrician consuls, brought the government to an interregnum. The two +interreges, Caius Sulpicius and Marcus Fabius, succeeded in that which +the dictator had in vain attempted, scil. in having both the consuls +elected from the patricians, the people being rather more appeased in +consequence of the service done them in lightening their debts. The +persons elected were, Caius Sulpicius Peticus himself, who first +resigned the office of interrex, and Titus Quinctius Pennus. Some attach +the name of Kæso, others that of Caius to Quinctius. They both set out +to the war, Quinctius to the Faliscian, Sulpicius to the Tarquinian; and +the enemy no where meeting them in the field, they waged war more +against the lands than the men, by burning and laying waste every thing, +by the debilitating effects of which, as of a slow consumption, the +pertinacity of both states was so broken, that they solicited a truce, +first from the consuls, then through their permission from the senate. +They obtained a truce for forty years. Thus the concern regarding the +two wars which were hanging over them being laid aside, whilst there was +some repose from arms, it was determined that a census should be +instituted, because the payment of the debt had changed the owners of +much property. But when the assembly was proclaimed for the appointment +of censors, Caius Marcius Rutilus, who had been the first plebeian +dictator, having declared himself a candidate for the censorship, +disturbed the harmony of the different orders. This step he seemed to +have taken at an unseasonable time; because both the consuls then +happened to be patricians, who declared that they would take no account +of him. But he both succeeded in his undertaking by his own +perseverance, and the tribunes aided him by recovering a right lost in +the election of the consuls; and both the worth of the man brought him +to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_474" id="Page_474">[Pg 474]</a></span> level of the highest honour, and also the commons were anxious +that the censorship also should be brought within their participation +through the medium of the same person who had opened a way to the +dictatorship. Nor was any dissent [from this feeling] evinced at the +election, so that Marcius was elected censor along with Cneius Manlius. +This year also had Marcus Fabius as dictator, not by reason of any +terror of war, but in order that the Licinian law should not be observed +at the consular elections. Quintus Servilius was attached to the +dictator as master of the horse. Nor yet did the dictatorship render +that combination of the senators more effectual at the consular +elections, than it had proved at that of the censors.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g23" name="g23"></a>23</div> +<p>Marcus Popillius Lænas was chosen consul on the part of the commons, +Lucius Cornelius Scipio on that of the patricians. Fortune even rendered +the plebeian consul more distinguished; for when news was brought that a +vast army of the Gauls had pitched their camp in the Latin territory, +Scipio being attacked with a serious fit of illness, the Gallic war was +intrusted out of course to Popillius. He having raised an army with +great energy, after he had ordered the younger citizens to assemble in +arms outside the Capuan gate, and the quæstors to carry the standards +from the treasury to the same place, having completed four legions, he +gave the surplus of the men to the prætor Publius Valerius Publicola, +recommending to the senate to raise another army, which might be a +reserve to the state against the sudden contingencies of war. He +himself, after sufficiently preparing and arranging every thing, +proceeds towards the enemy; and in order to ascertain their strength +before he should hazard a decisive action, he commenced drawing an +intrenchment on a hill, the nearest he could select to the camp of the +Gauls. They being a fierce race and of an eager turn for fighting, when, +on descrying the standards of the Romans at a distance, they drew out +their forces, as expecting to commence the battle forthwith, when they +perceived that neither the opposite army descended into the plain, and +that the Romans were protected both by the height of the ground and also +by the entrenchments, supposing that they were dismayed with fear, and +also more exposed to attack, because they were intent on the work, they +advance with a furious shout. On the side of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_475" id="Page_475">[Pg 475]</a></span> the Romans neither the +works were interrupted, (it was the triarii who were employed at them,) +but the battle was commenced by the hastati and the principes, who stood +in front of the workmen armed and prepared for the fight. Besides their +own valour, the higher ground aided them, so that all the spears and +javelins did not fall ineffectual, as when thrown on the same level, (as +is generally the case,) but being steadied by their own weight they took +effect; and the Gauls weighed down by the weapons, with which they had +their bodies transfixed, or their shields rendered too cumbrous by those +sticking in them. When they advanced almost up the steep at a run, +becoming irresolute, they at first halted; then when the very delay +shook the courage of the one party, and raised that of the enemy, being +then pushed backwards they fell one upon the other, and produced a +carnage among themselves more shocking than the carnage [caused by the +enemy]. For more were crushed by the precipitate rout, than there were +slain by the sword.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g24" name="g24"></a>24</div> +<p>Nor as yet was the victory decided in favour of the Romans; another +difficulty still was remaining for them after they had descended into +the plain; for the great numbers of the Gauls being such as to prevent +all feeling of such a disaster, raised up fresh troops against the +victorious enemy, as if a new army rose up once more. And the Romans +stood still, suppressing their ardour; both because the struggle had to +be undergone a second time by them wearied as they were, and the consul, +having his left arm well nigh transfixed with a javelin, whilst he +exposed himself incautiously in the van, had retired for a short time +from the field. And now, by the delay, the victory was on the point of +being relinquished, when the consul, having had his wound tied up, +riding back to the van, cries out, "Soldiers, why do you stand? You have +not to do with a Latin or Sabine enemy, whom, when you have vanquished +by your arms, from an enemy you may make an ally; against brutes we have +drawn our swords. Their blood must be drawn or ours given to them. You +have repulsed them from your camp, you have driven them headlong down +the valley, you stand on the prostrated bodies of your foes. Fill the +plains with the same carnage as you have filled the mountains; do not +wait till they fly, you standing still; your standards must be advanced, +you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_476" id="Page_476">[Pg 476]</a></span> must proceed against the enemy." Roused again by these +exhortations, they drive back from their ground the foremost companies +of the Gauls, and by forming wedges, they break through the centre of +their body. By these means, the enemy being disunited, as being now +without regular command, or subordination of officers, they turn their +violence against their own; and being dispersed through the plains, and +carried beyond their own camp in their precipitate flight, they make for +the citadel of Alba, which met their eyes as the most elevated among +hills of equal altitude. The consul, not pursuing them beyond the camp, +because the wound weakened him, and he was unwilling to expose his +wearied army to hills occupied by the enemy, bestowed the entire plunder +of the camp on the soldiers, and led back his army, victorious and +enriched with the Gallic spoils, to Rome. The consul's wound occasioned +a delay of the triumph, and the same cause made the senate wish for a +dictator, that there might be some one who, the consuls being both sick, +should hold the elections. Lucius Furius Camillus being nominated +dictator, Publius Cornelius Scipio being attached as master of the +horse, restored to the patricians their former possession of the +consulship. He himself being, for that service, elected consul, had +Appius Claudius Crassus named as his colleague.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g25" name="g25"></a>25</div> +<p>Before the new consuls entered on their office, a triumph was +celebrated by Popillius over the Gauls amid the great applause of the +commons; and they, in a low voice, frequently asked one another, whether +any one was dissatisfied with a plebeian consul. At the same time they +found fault with the dictator, who had obtained the consulship as a +bribe for having infringed the Licinian law, more dishonourable for the +private ambition [evinced] thereby than for the injury inflicted on the +public, so that, when dictator, he might have himself appointed consul. +The year was remarkable for many and various commotions. The Gauls +[descending] from the Alban mountains, because they were unable to +endure the severity of the winter, straggling through the plains and the +parts adjoining the sea, committed devastations. The sea was infested by +fleets of the Greeks; and the borders of the Antian shore, and the mouth +of the Tiber; so that the maritime plunderers, encountering those on +land, fought on one occasion an obstinate fight, and separated, the +Gauls to their camp, the Greeks back to their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_477" id="Page_477">[Pg 477]</a></span> ships, doubting whether +they should consider themselves as vanquished or victors. Among these +the greatest alarm arose at the circumstance, that assemblies of the +Latin states were held at the grove of Ferentina; and an unequivocal +answer was given to the Romans on their ordering soldiers from them, +"that they should cease to issue their orders to those of whose +assistance they stood in need: that the Latins would take up arms in +defence of their own liberty, rather than for the dominion of others." +The senate becoming uneasy at the defection of their allies, whilst two +foreign wars existed at the same time, when they perceived that those +whom fidelity had not restrained, should be restrained by fear, ordered +the consuls to exert to the utmost the energies of their authority in +holding a levy. For that they should depend on an army of their +countrymen, since their allies were deserting them. Ten legions are said +to have been levied, consisting each of four thousand two hundred +infantry and three hundred horse. Such a newly-raised army, if any +foreign force should assail, the present power of the Roman people, +which is scarcely confined within the whole world, could not easily +raise now, if concentrated upon one point: so true it is, we have +improved in those particulars only about which we are solicitous, riches +and luxury. Among the other distressing events of this year, Appius +Claudius, one of the consuls, dies in the midst of the preparations for +the war; and the whole direction of affairs devolved on Camillus; over +whom, the only consul, it did not appear seemly that a dictator should +be appointed, either in consideration of his high character, which +should not be made subordinate to the dictatorship, or on account of the +auspicious omen of his surname with respect to a Gallic war. The consul, +then, having stationed two legions to protect the city, and divided the +remaining eight with the prætor Lucius Pinarius, mindful of his father's +valour, selects the Gallic war for himself without any appeal to lots: +the prætor he commanded to protect the sea-coast, and to drive the +Greeks from the shore. And after he had marched down into the Pomptine +territory, because he neither wished to engage on the level ground, no +circumstance rendering it necessary, and he considered that the enemy +were sufficiently subdued, by preventing from plunder persons whom +necessity obliged to live on what was so obtained, he selected a +suitable place for a fixed encampment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_478" id="Page_478">[Pg 478]</a></span></p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g26" name="g26"></a>26</div> +<p>Where when they were spending the time in quiet in their quarters, a +Gaul, remarkable for his size and the appearance of his arms, came +forward; and striking his shield with his spear, after he had procured +silence, through an interpreter he challenged any one of the Romans to +contend with him with the sword. There was a tribune of the soldiers, a +young man, Marcus Valerius, who considering himself not less worthy of +that distinction than Titus Manlius, having first ascertained the +consul's pleasure, advanced fully armed into the middle space. The human +contest was rendered less remarkable by reason of the interposition of +the divine power. For just as the Roman was commencing the encounter, a +crow settled suddenly on his helmet, facing the enemy, which, as an +augury sent from heaven, the tribune at first received with pleasure. +Then he prayed that whatever god or goddess had sent him the auspicious +bird, would willingly and kindly aid him. Wondrous to relate, the bird +not only kept the place it had once taken, but as often as the encounter +was renewed, raising itself on its wings, it attacked the face and eyes +of the foe with its beak and talons, until Valerius slays him, terrified +at the sight of such a prodigy, and confounded both in his vision and +understanding. The crow soaring out of sight makes towards the east. +Hitherto the advanced guards on both sides remained quiet. When the +tribune began to strip the body of the slain enemy, neither the Gauls +any longer confined themselves to their post, and the Romans began to +run to their successful champion with still greater speed. There a +scuffle taking place around the body of the prostrate Gaul, a desperate +fight is stirred up. And now the contest is carried on not by the +companies of the nearest posts, but by the legions pouring out from both +sides. The soldiers exulting in the victory of the tribune, and also at +such favour and attention from the gods, are commanded by Camillus to +advance against the enemy: and he, pointing to the tribune distinguished +by the spoils, "Soldiers," said he, "imitate this man; and around their +fallen leader strew heaps of Gauls." Gods and men assisted at that +fight; and the struggle was carried on against the Gauls with a fury by +no means equivocal in its result, so thoroughly were both armies +impressed with the respective success of the two soldiers, between whom +the single combat had taken place.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_479" id="Page_479">[Pg 479]</a></span> Among the first party, whose +encounter had called out the others, there was a desperate encounter: +the rest of the soldiery, before they came within throw of a weapon, +turned their backs. At first they were dispersed through the Volscians +and the Falernian territory; thence they made for Apulia and the upper +sea. The consul, calling an assembly, after heaping praises on the +tribune, bestows on him ten oxen and a golden crown. He himself, being +commanded by the senate to take charge of the maritime war, joined his +camp to that of the prætor. There because matters seemed to be delayed +by the dastardly conduct of the Greeks, who did not venture into the +field, with the approbation of the senate, he nominated Titus Manlius +Torquatus dictator. The dictator, after appointing Aulus Cornelius +Cossus his master of the horse, held the consular elections, and with +the greatest applause of the people he returned Marcus Valerius Corvus +(for that was his surname from thenceforth) as consul, though absent, +the rival of his own glory, then three and twenty years of age. As +colleague to Corvus, Marcus Popillius Lænas, a plebeian, was assigned to +be consul for the fourth time. Nothing memorable occurred between +Camillus and the Greeks; neither the one were warriors by land, nor the +Romans by sea. At length, when they were repelled from the shore, among +other things necessary for use, water also failing, they abandoned +Italy. To what state or what nation that fleet belonged, there is +nothing certain. I would be most inclined to think that they belonged to +the tyrants of Sicily; for the farther Greece, being at that time +wearied by intestine war, was now in dread of the power of the +Macedonians.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g27" name="g27"></a>27</div> +<p>The armies being disbanded, whilst there was both peace abroad, and +tranquillity at home by reason of the concord of the different orders, +lest matters might be too happy, a pestilence having attacked the state, +compelled the senate to order the decemvirs to inspect the Sibylline +books, and by their suggestion a lectisternium took place. The same year +a colony was led to Satricum by the Antians, and the city, which the +Latins had demolished, was rebuilt. And a treaty was concluded at Rome +with the Carthaginian ambassadors, they having come to request +friendship and an alliance. The same tranquillity continued at home and +abroad, during the consulate of Titus Manlius Torquatus and Caius +Plautius.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_480" id="Page_480">[Pg 480]</a></span> Only the interest of money from twelve was reduced to six per +cent; and the payment of the debts was adjusted into equal portions of +three years, on condition that the fourth payment should be made at the +present time. And then also, though a portion of the commons were +distressed, still public credit engrossed the attention of the senate in +preference to the difficulties of private individuals. Their +circumstances were relieved most effectually, because a cessation was +introduced of the taxes and levy. On the third year after Satricum was +rebuilt by the Volscians, Marcus Valerius Corvus having been elected +consul for the second time with Caius Poetelius, when news had been +brought from Latium, that ambassadors from Antium were going round the +states of the Latins to excite a war, being ordered to attack the +Volscians, before greater numbers of the enemy should be assembled, +proceeds to Satricum with his army ready for action. And when the +Antians and other Volscians met him, their forces being previously +prepared, in case any movement should be made on the part of Rome, no +delay of engaging took place between the two parties incensed with long +pent-up hate. The Volscians, a nation more spirited to renew hostilities +than to carry on war, being defeated in the fight, make for the walls of +Satricum in a precipitate flight; and their reliance in their walls not +being sufficiently strong, when the city, encompassed by a continuous +line of troops, was now on the point of being taken by scalade, they +surrendered to the number of four thousand soldiers, besides the unarmed +multitude. The town was demolished and burnt; only they kept the fire +from the temple of Mother Matuta. The entire plunder was given up to the +soldiers. The four thousand who had surrendered were considered +exclusive of the spoil; these the consul when triumphing drove before +his chariot in chains; afterwards by selling them he brought a great sum +of money into the treasury. There are some who state that this body of +captives consisted of slaves; and this is more probable than that +persons who had surrendered were exposed to sale.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g28" name="g28"></a>28</div> +<p>Marcus Fabius Dorso and Servius Sulpicius Camerinus succeeded these +consuls. After this the Auruncan war commenced in consequence of a +sudden attempt at depredation: and through fear lest this act of one +state might be the concerted scheme of the whole Latin nation, Lucius +Furius being created<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_481" id="Page_481">[Pg 481]</a></span> dictator, as if against all Latium already in +arms, nominated Cneius Manlius Capitolinus his master of the horse. And +when, a suspension of public business being proclaimed, (a measure +usually adopted during great alarms,) the levy was held without +exemptions, the legions were led against the Auruncans with all possible +expedition. The spirit of freebooters rather than of enemies was found +there. They were vanquished therefore in the first encounter. However +the dictator, both because they had commenced hostilities without +provocation, and presented themselves to the contest without reluctance, +considering that the aid of the gods should also be engaged, vowed a +temple to Juno Moneta in the heat of the battle, and when he returned +victorious to Rome, obliged by his vow, he resigned his dictatorship. +The senate ordered duumvirs to be appointed to have the temple built +suitably to the grandeur of the Roman people; the site destined for it +was in the citadel, where the ground was on which the house of Marcus +Manlius Capitolinus had stood. The consuls, having employed the +dictator's army for the Volscian war, took Sora from the enemy, having +attacked them by surprise. The temple of Moneta is dedicated the year +after it had been vowed, Caius Marcius Rutilus being consul for the +third time, and Titus Manlius Torquatus for the second time. A prodigy +immediately followed the dedication, similar to the ancient one of the +Alban mount. For it both rained stones, and during the day night seemed +to be spread [over the sky]; and on the books being inspected, the state +being filled with religious scruples, it was resolved by the senate that +a dictator should be nominated for the purpose of regulating the +ceremonies. Publius Valerius Publicola was nominated; Quintus Fabius +Ambustus was assigned to him as master of the horse. It was determined +that not only the tribes, but the neighbouring states also should offer +supplications: and a certain order was appointed for them on what day +each should offer supplication. Severe sentences of the people are said +to have been passed on that year against usurers, for whom a day of +trial had been appointed by the ædiles. Matters came to an interregnum, +there being no particular reason on record. After the interregnum, both +the consuls were elected from the patricians, Marcus Valerius Corvus a +third time, and Aulus Cornelius Cossus, so that it would seem that such +was the end aimed at.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_482" id="Page_482">[Pg 482]</a></span></p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g29" name="g29"></a>29</div> +<p>Henceforward shall be recorded wars of greater importance, both by +the strength of the belligerent powers, by the distance of the +countries, or the length of time during which they were carried on. For +in that year arms were taken up against the Samnites, a nation powerful +both in wealth and in arms. Pyrrhus followed as an enemy the war of the +Samnites carried on with various success, the Carthaginians followed +Pyrrhus. How great a mass of events! How often have extreme dangers been +encountered, that the empire might be raised to its present magnitude, +which is now scarcely sustained! But the cause of the war between the +Samnites and Romans, as they had been joined in alliance and friendship, +came from without; it originated not among themselves. After the +Samnites had unjustly taken up arms, because they had the advantage in +strength, against the Sidicinians, the weaker party being obliged to +have recourse to the aid of the more powerful, unite themselves to the +Campanians. As the Campanians brought to the relief of their allies +rather a name than strength, enervated as they were by luxury, they were +beaten in the Sidicinian territory by men who were inured to the use of +arms, and then brought on themselves the entire burthen of the war. For +the Samnites, taking no further notice of the Sidicinians, having +attacked the Campanians as being the chief of the neighbouring states, +from whom the victory might be equally easy, and a greater share of +spoil and glory, after they had secured Tifata, a ridge of hills hanging +over Capua, with a strong garrison, they march down from thence with +their army formed in a square into the plain which lies between Capua +and Tifata. There a second battle was fought; and the Campanians, after +an unsuccessful fight, being driven within their walls, when the flower +of their youth being cut down, no hope was nigh at hand, they were +obliged to sue for aid from the Romans.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g30" name="g30"></a>30</div> +<p>Their ambassadors, being introduced into the senate, spoke as near +as possible to this purport: "Conscript fathers, the Campanian state has +sent us to you, to solicit from you friendship for ever, and present +aid, which if we had solicited whilst our affairs were prosperous, as it +would have commenced more readily, so would it have been bound by a +weaker tie. For then, as we should have recollected that we entered into +friendship on equal terms, we might be equally friendly as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_483" id="Page_483">[Pg 483]</a></span> now, but +less submissive and compliant with your wishes. Now, won over by your +compassion for us, and defended by your aid in our critical +circumstances, it is incumbent on us that we show our sense also of the +kindness received; lest we should seem ungrateful, and undeserving of +aid from either god or man. Nor, indeed, do I think that because the +Samnites first became your allies and friends, such a circumstance is +sufficient to prevent our being admitted into friendship; but merely +shows that they excel us in priority and in the degree of honour; for no +provision has been made in your treaty with the Samnites that you should +not form any new treaties. It has ever been with you a sufficient title +to your friendship, that he who sought it desired to be a friend of +yours. We, Campanians, though our present state forbids us to speak in +high terms, not yielding to any state save you in the extent of our +city, or in the fertility of our land, come into friendship with you, no +inconsiderable accession in my opinion to your flourishing condition. We +shall be in the rear of the Æquans and Volscians, the eternal enemies of +this city, whenever they may stir; and whatever ye shall be the first to +perform in defence of our safety, the same shall we ever do in defence +of your empire and glory. Those nations which lie between us and you +being reduced, which both your bravery and good fortune makes it certain +will soon be the case, you will then have an uninterrupted empire +extending even to us. It is distressing and painful, what our condition +obliges us to confess. Conscript fathers, matters are come to this, that +we Campanians must be the property either of friends or enemies. If you +defend us, yours; if you desert us, we shall be the property of the +Samnites. Consider, then, whether you would rather that Capua and all +Campania should be added to your power or to that of the Samnites. +Romans, it is surely but just, that your compassion and your aid should +lie open to all men; to those, however, chiefly, who, whilst they afford +it beyond their means to others imploring aid, have themselves been +involved in this distress. Although we fought nominally for the +Sidicinians, in reality for ourselves, when we saw a neighbouring state +assailed by the nefarious plunder of the Samnites; and after the +Sidicinians had been consumed, we saw that the conflagration would pass +over to ourselves. For the Samnites do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_484" id="Page_484">[Pg 484]</a></span> not come to attack us, because +they resent an injury received, but because they are glad that a pretext +has been presented to them. If this were the gratification of their +resentment, and not an occasion for satiating their ambition, was it not +sufficient that they cut down our legions once in the Sidicinian +territory, a second time in Campania itself? What sort of resentment +must that be, which the blood shed in two pitched battles cannot +satiate? To this add the laying waste of our lands; the spoil of men and +cattle driven away, the burning and ruin of our country-houses, every +thing destroyed by fire and sword. Could not resentment be satisfied +with this? But ambition must be satiated. That hurries them on to +besiege Capua. They either wish to destroy that most beautiful city, or +to possess it themselves. But, Romans, do you take possession of it in +your kindness, rather than suffer them to hold it by injustice. I am not +addressing a people who decline just wars; but still, if you make but a +show of your aid, I do not think that you will have occasion for war. +The contempt of the Samnites has just reached to us; it soars not +higher. Accordingly, Romans, we may be protected even by the shadow of +your aid: whatever after this we shall possess, whatever we ourselves +shall be, determined to consider all that as yours. For you the +Campanian field shall be ploughed; for you the city of Capua shall be +made populous; you shall be to us in the light of founders, parents, ay, +even immortal gods. There shall be no colony of your own which shall +surpass us in attachment and loyalty to you. Grant to the Campanians, +conscript fathers, your nod, and your irresistible favour, and bid us +hope that Capua will be safe. With what crowds of persons of all classes +attending us do you suppose that we set out from thence—how, think you, +did we leave every place full of vows and tears? In what a state of +expectation do you suppose that the senate are, the Campanian nation, +our wives and our children? I am certain that the entire multitude are +standing at the gates, looking forward to the road that leads from +hence, anxious as to what answer you may order us, conscript fathers, to +bring back to them, in their solicitude and suspense of mind. One kind +of answer may bring them safety, victory, light, and liberty—what the +other may, I feel horror to think. Determine there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_485" id="Page_485">[Pg 485]</a></span>fore about us, as +about persons who will be your future friends and allies, or as persons +who are to have no existence any where."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g31" name="g31"></a>31</div> +<p>The ambassadors then withdrawing, after the senate had been +consulted, though to a great many, their city the greatest and +wealthiest in Italy, their land the most fertile, and situated near the +sea, seemed likely to prove a granary to the Roman people for all +varieties of provision; still the faith of their engagements was more +regarded than such great advantages, and the consul, by the direction of +the senate, answered as follows: "Campanians, the senate considers you +deserving of aid. But it is meet that friendship be so established with +you, that no prior friendship and alliance be violated. The Samnites are +united in a treaty with us. Therefore we refuse you arms against the +Samnites, which would be a violation of duty to the gods first, and then +to men. We will, as divine and human law requires, send ambassadors to +our allies and friends to entreat that no violence be committed against +you?" To this the chief of the embassy replied, (for such were the +instructions they had brought from home,) "Since you are not willing to +defend by just force our possessions against violence and injustice, at +least you will defend your own. Wherefore, conscript fathers, we +surrender the Campanian people, and the city of Capua, their lands, the +temples of the gods, all things divine and human, into your jurisdiction +and that of the Roman people; whatever we shall suffer henceforth, being +determined to suffer as men who have surrendered to you." On these +words, all extending their hands towards the consuls, bathed in tears +they fell prostrate in the porch of the senate-house. The fathers, +affected at the vicissitude of human greatness, seeing that a nation +abounding in wealth, noted for luxury and pride, from which a little +time since their neighbours had solicited assistance, was now so broken +in spirit, as to give up themselves and all they possessed into the +power of others; moreover, their honour also seemed to be involved in +not betraying those who had surrendered, nor did they consider that the +people of the Samnites would act fairly, if they should attack a +territory and a city which had become the property of the Roman people +by a surrender. It was resolved therefore, that ambassadors should be +sent forthwith to the Samnites; instructions were given "that they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_486" id="Page_486">[Pg 486]</a></span> +should lay before the Samnites the entreaties of the Campanians, the +answer of the senate duly mindful of the friendship of the Samnites, and +finally the surrender that had been concluded. That they requested, in +consideration of the friendship and alliance subsisting between them, +that they would spare their subjects; and that they would not carry +hostilities into that territory which had become the property of the +Roman people. If by gentle measures they did not succeed, that they +should denounce to the Samnites in the name of the senate and Roman +people, to withhold their arms from the city of Capua and the Campanian +territory." When the ambassadors urged these matters in the assembly of +the Samnites, so fierce an answer was returned, that they not only said +that they would prosecute that war, but their magistrates, having gone +out of the senate-house, in the very presence of the ambassadors, +summoned the prefects of the cohorts; and with a distinct voice +commanded them, to proceed forthwith into the Campanian territory, in +order to plunder it.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g32" name="g32"></a>32</div> +<p>The result of this embassy being reported at Rome, the care of all +other concerns being laid aside, the senate, having despatched heralds +to demand satisfaction, and, because this was not complied with, war +being proclaimed in the usual way, they decreed that the matter should +be submitted to the people at the very earliest opportunity; and both +the consuls having set out from the city by order of the people with two +armies, Valerius into Campania, Cornelius into Samnium, the former +pitches his camp at Mount Gaurus, the latter at Saticula. The legions of +the Samnites met with Valerius first; for they thought that the whole +weight of the war would incline to that side. At the same time +resentment stimulated them against the Campanians, that they should be +so ready at one time to lend aid, at another to call in aid against +them. But as soon as they beheld the Roman camp, they fiercely demanded +the signal each from his leader; they maintained that the Roman would +bring aid to the Campanian with the same fate with which the Campanian +had done to the Sidicinian. Valerius, having delayed for a few days in +slight skirmishes for the purpose of making trial of the enemy, +displayed the signal for battle, exhorting his men in few words "not to +let the new war or the new enemy terrify them. In proportion as they +should carry their arms to a greater<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_487" id="Page_487">[Pg 487]</a></span> distance from the city, the more +and more unwarlike should the nation prove to be against whom they +should proceed. That they should not estimate the valour of the Samnites +by the defeats of the Sidicinians and Campanians. Let the combatants be +of what kind they may be, that it was necessary that one side should be +vanquished. That as for the Campanians indeed, they were undoubtedly +vanquished more by circumstances flowing from excessive luxury and by +their own want of energy than by the bravery of the enemy. What were the +two successful wars of the Samnites, during so many ages, against so +many glorious exploits of the Roman people, who counted almost more +triumphs than years since the building of their city? who held subdued +by their arms all the states around them, the Sabines, Etruria, the +Latins, Hernicians, Æquans, Volscians, Auruncans? who eventually drove +by flight into the sea, and into their ships, the Gauls, after +slaughtering them in so many engagements? That soldiers ought both to +enter the field relying on their national military renown, and on their +own valour, and also to consider under whose command and auspices the +battle is to be fought; whether he be one which is to be listened to as +a pompous exhorter, bold merely in words, unacquainted with military +labours, or one who knows how to wield arms himself also, to advance +before the standards, and to show himself in the midst of the danger. My +acts, not my words merely, I wish you to follow; and to seek from me not +military orders only, but example also. It was not by intrigues merely, +nor by cabals usual among the nobles, but by this right hand, I procured +for myself three consulships, and the highest eulogies. There was a time +when this could be said; [no wonder,] for you were a patrician, and +sprung from the liberators of your country; and that family of yours had +the consulship the same year that the city had consuls. Now the +consulship lies open in common to us patricians and to you plebeians; +nor is it, as formerly, the prize of birth, but of valour. Look forward, +therefore, soldiers, to even the highest honour. Though you, as men, +have, with the approbation of the gods, given me this new surname of +Corvus, the ancient surname of our family, Publicolæ, has not been +erased from my memory. I ever do and ever have cultivated the good will +of the Roman commons abroad and at home, as a private man and in public<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_488" id="Page_488">[Pg 488]</a></span> +offices, high and low, as tribune equally as when consul, with the same +undeviating line of conduct through all my successive consulships. Now, +with respect to that which is at hand, with the aid of the gods, join +with me in seeking a new and complete triumph over the Samnites."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g33" name="g33"></a>33</div> +<p>Never was a general on a more familiar footing with his soldiers, by +his performing all the duties among the lowest of the soldiers without +reluctance. Moreover in the military sports, wherein equals vie with +their equals in contests of swiftness and strength, affable and +condescending, he conquered and was conquered with the same countenance; +nor did he spurn any competitor who should offer; in his acts kind +according to the occasion; in his conversation no less mindful of the +ease of others than of his own dignity; and, a thing than which nothing +is more agreeable to the people, he administered his offices by the same +line of conduct by which he had gained them. The whole army therefore, +cheering the exhortation of their leader with the utmost alacrity, march +forth from the camp. The battle commenced with equal hopes and equal +strength on both sides, as much as any battle ever did, with confidence +in themselves, and without contempt of their enemies. Their recent +exploits and their double victory a few days before, increased the +spirits of the Samnites on the other side; the glories of four hundred +years and victory coeval with the building of their city [had the same +effect] on the Romans; to both sides, however, the circumstance of the +enemy being a new one gave additional anxiety. The battle was a proof +what spirits they possessed; for they maintained the conflict in such a +manner, that, for a considerable time, the armies inclined to neither +side. Then the consul, thinking that some confusion should be caused +among them, since they could not be overpowered by force, endeavours to +disorder their foremost battalions by a charge of cavalry. And when he +saw them wheel their troops within a narrow compass in fruitless +disorder, and that they could not open a passage to the enemy, riding +back to the van of the legions, after leaping from his horse, he says, +"Soldiers, this is the task for us infantry; come on, as ye shall see me +making way with my sword, in whatever direction I shall advance into the +enemy's line, so let each man, with all his might, beat down those who +oppose him. All those places, where their erected spears now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_489" id="Page_489">[Pg 489]</a></span> glitter, +you shall see cleared by widely-extended slaughter." He had uttered +these words, when the cavalry by order of the consul turn to the wings, +and open a passage for the legions to the centre of the line. First of +all, the consul attacks the enemy, and slays him whom he happened to +engage. Those on the right and left, fired at this sight, commence a +dreadful fight, each with the foe opposite him. The Samnites obstinately +stand their ground, though they receive more wounds than they inflict. +The battle had now lasted for a considerable time, great slaughter +occurred around the standards of the Samnites; in no part was there a +flight, so firmly had they made up their minds to be vanquished by death +alone. Wherefore the Romans, when they perceived their strength to relax +by fatigue, and but a small part of the day still remained, fired with +fury, rush upon the enemy. Then for the first time it appeared that they +were giving ground, and that the matter was inclining to a flight; then +the Samnites were taken, some slain; nor would many have survived, had +not night terminated the victory rather than the battle. Both the Romans +confessed, that they had never fought with a more determined enemy; and +the Samnites, on being asked what cause first drove them to fly after +being so determined, said, that it was the eyes of the Romans which +seemed to them to flash fire, and their distracted looks, and furious +aspect; that more of terror arose from thence, than from any thing else. +Which terror they confessed not only in the issue of the battle, but in +their departure by night. Next day the Romans take possession of the +deserted camp of the enemy, whither all the Campanians flocked to +congratulate them.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g34" name="g34"></a>34</div> +<p>But this joy was well nigh alloyed by a great loss sustained in +Samnium. For the consul Cornelius, having set out from Saticula, +incautiously led his army into a mountainous tract, passable through a +deep defile, and beset on all sides by the enemy; nor did he perceive +the enemy stationed over his head, until a retreat could no longer be +made with safety. Whilst the Samnites delayed only till he should bring +down his entire army into the valley; Publius Decius, a tribune of the +soldiers, espies in the tract a hill higher than the rest, hanging over +the enemies' camp, rather steep to be ascended by an encumbered army, +not difficult for such as were lightly armed. He says therefore to the +consul, greatly alarmed in mind, "Aulus Cor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_490" id="Page_490">[Pg 490]</a></span>nelius, do you perceive that +elevated point above the enemy? That is the bulwark of our hope and +safety, if we briskly gain possession of it, which the Samnites in their +blindness have given up. Only give me the first rank and spearmen of one +legion; when with these I shall have gained the summit, do you proceed +hence free from all apprehension, and save yourself and the army. For +the enemy, lying beneath us and [exposed thereby] to all our weapons, +will not be able to stir without destruction to themselves. After that +either the good fortune of the Roman people or our own bravery will +extricate us." Being commanded by the consul, he received the body of +men [required] and proceeds by secret paths through the mountain, nor +was he observed by the enemy until he approached the place which he was +making for. Then, whilst all were struck with astonishment, after he had +attracted the eyes of all to himself, he both afforded the consul time +to draw off his army to more advantageous ground, and he himself was +posted on the top of the hill. The Samnites, whilst they march their +forces now in this direction, now in that, having lost the opportunity +of effecting either object, can neither pursue the consul, unless +through the same defile in which they had him a little before exposed to +their weapons, nor march up the rising ground over themselves, which had +been seized on by Decius. But both their resentment stimulated them more +against the latter, who had taken from them the favourable opportunity +of achieving their object, and also the proximity of the place, and the +paucity of the enemy; and one time they would fain surround the hill on +all sides with armed men, so as to cut off Decius from the consul; at +another time they wished to open a passage, so that they may fall on +them when they had descended into the defile. Before they had determined +on what they should do, night came on them. Decius at first entertained +a hope, that he would have to engage them from the higher ground, as +they ascended against the steep; then surprise took possession of him, +that they neither commenced the fight, nor if they were deterred from +that by the unevenness of the ground, that they did not surround him +with works and a circumvallation. Then summoning the centurions to him, +he said, "What ignorance of war and indolence is that? or how did such +men obtain a victory over the Sidicinians and Campanians? You see that +their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_491" id="Page_491">[Pg 491]</a></span> battalions move to and fro, that sometimes they are collected to +one spot, at other times they are drawn out. As for work, no one +attempts it, when we might by this time have been surrounded with a +rampart. Then indeed should we be like to them, if we delay longer here +than is expedient. Come on, accompany me; that whilst some day light +remains, we may ascertain in what places they put their guards, in what +direction an escape may lie open from hence." All these points he +carefully observed, clad in a soldier's vest, the centurions whom he +took with him being also in the attire of common soldiers, lest the +enemy might notice the general going the round.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g35" name="g35"></a>35</div> +<p>Then having placed watch-guards, he commands the ticket to be issued +to all the rest, that when the signal had been given by the trumpet of +the second watch, they should assemble to him in silence fully armed. +Whither when they had assembled in silence according to the orders +issued, "Soldiers," says he, "this silence is to be observed in +listening to me, waving the military mode of expressing assent. When I +shall have thoroughly explained my sentiments to you, then such of you +as shall approve the same, will pass over; we will follow that line of +conduct which shall meet the judgment of the majority. Now hear what I +meditate in mind. The enemy have surrounded you, not brought hither in +flight, nor left behind through cowardice. By valour you seized this +ground; by valour you must make your way from it. By coming hither you +have saved a valuable army of the Roman people; by forcing your way +hence, save yourselves. You have proved yourselves worthy, though few in +number, of affording aid to multitudes, whilst you yourselves stand in +need of aid from no one. You have to do with that enemy, who on +yesterday, through their supineness, availed themselves not of the +fortunate opportunity of destroying our whole army, who did not see this +hill so advantageously situate hanging over their heads, until it was +seized on by us; who with so many thousand men did not prevent us so few +from the ascent, and did not surround us with a rampart when in +possession of the ground, though so much of the day still remained. That +enemy which with their eyes open and awake you so baffled, it is +incumbent on you now to beguile, buried, as they are, in sleep; nay, it +is absolutely necessary. For our affairs are in that situation,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_492" id="Page_492">[Pg 492]</a></span> that I +am rather to point out to you your necessity than to propose advice. For +whether you are to remain or to depart hence, can no longer be matter of +deliberation, since, with the exception of your arms, and courage +mindful of those arms, fortune has left you nothing, and we must die of +famine and thirst, if we are more afraid of the sword than becomes men +and Romans. Therefore our only safety is to sally forth from this and to +depart. That we must do either by day or by night. But lo! another point +which admits of less doubt; for if daylight be waited for, what hope is +there, that the enemy, who have now encompassed the hill on every side, +as you perceive, with their bodies exposed at disadvantage, will not hem +us in with a continued rampart and ditch? If night then be favourable +for a sally, as it is, this is undoubtedly the most suitable hour of +night. You assembled here on the signal of the second watch, a time +which buries mortals in the profoundest sleep. You will pass through +their bodies lulled to sleep, either in silence unnoticed by them, or +ready to strike terror into them, should they perceive you, by a sudden +shout. Only follow me, whom you have followed. The same fortune which +conducted us hither, will I follow. Those of you to whom these measures +seem salutary, come on, pass over to the right."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g36" name="g36"></a>36</div> +<p>They all passed over, and followed Decius as he proceeded through +the intervals which lay between the guards. They had now passed the +middle of the camp, when a soldier, striding over the bodies of the +watchmen as they lay asleep, occasioned a noise by striking one of their +shields. When the watchman, being aroused by this, stirred the next one +to him, and those who were awake stirred up others, not knowing whether +they were friends or foes, whether it was the garrison that sallied +forth or the consul had taken their camp; Decius, having ordered the +soldiers to raise a shout, as they were no longer unobserved, +disheartens them by panic whilst still heavy from sleep, by which being +perplexed, they were neither able to take arms briskly, nor make +resistance, nor to pursue them. During the trepidation and confusion of +the Samnites, the Roman guard, slaying such of the guards as came in +their way, reached the consul's camp. A considerable portion of night +still remained, and things now appeared to be in safety; when Decius +says, "Roman soldiers, be honoured for your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_493" id="Page_493">[Pg 493]</a></span> bravery. Your journey and +return ages shall extol. But to behold such bravery light and day are +necessary; nor do you deserve that silence and night should cover you, +whilst you return to the camp with such distinguished glory. Here let us +wait in quiet for the daylight." His words they obeyed. And as soon as +it was day, a messenger being despatched to the camp to the consul, they +were aroused from sleep with great joy; and the signal being given by +ticket, that those persons returned safe who had exposed their persons +to evident danger for the preservation of all, rushing out each most +anxiously to meet them, they applaud them, congratulate them, they call +them singly and collectively their preservers, they give praises and +thanks to the gods, they raise Decius to heaven. This was a sort of camp +triumph for Decius, who proceeded through the middle of the camp, with +his guard fully armed, the eyes of all being fixed on him, and all +giving him equal honour with the consul. When they came to the general's +tent, the consul summons them by sound of trumpet to an assembly; and +commencing with the well-earned praises of Decius, he adjourned the +assembly on the interposition of Decius himself, who advising the +postponement of every thing else, whilst the occasion was still present, +persuaded the consul to attack the enemy, whilst still in consternation +from the panic of the night, and dispersing in separate detachments +around the hill, [adding] that he believed that some who had been sent +out in pursuit of him were straggling through the forest. The legions +were ordered to take arms; and having departed from the camp, as the +forest was now better known by means of scouts, they are led onwards to +the enemy through a more open tract. Having unexpectedly attacked the +enemy when off their guard, since the soldiers of the Samnites +straggling in every direction, most of them unarmed, were not able +either to rally, nor to take arms, nor to betake themselves within the +rampart, they first drive them in a panic into the camp: then they take +the camp itself, having dislodged the guards. The shout spread around +the hill; and puts each to flight from their respective posts. Thus a +great part yielded to an enemy they had not seen. Those whom the panic +had driven within the rampart (they amounted to thirty thousand) were +all slain; the camp was plundered.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g37" name="g37"></a>37</div> +<p>Matters being thus conducted, the consul, having sum<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_494" id="Page_494">[Pg 494]</a></span>moned an +assembly, pronounces a panegyric on Decius, not only that which had been +commenced on a previous occasion, but as now completed by his recent +deserts; and besides other military gifts, he presents him with a golden +crown and one hundred oxen, and with one white one of distinguished +beauty, richly decorated with gilded horns. The soldiers who had been in +the guard with him, were presented with a double allowance of corn for +ever; for the present, with an ox and two vests each. Immediately after +the consuls' donation, the legions place on the head of Decius a crown +of grass, indicative of their deliverance from a blockade, expressing +their approbation of the present with a shout. Decorated with these +emblems, he sacrificed the beautiful ox to Mars; the hundred oxen he +bestowed on the soldiers, who had been with him in the expedition. On +the same soldiers the legions conferred, each a pound of corn and a pint +of wine; and all these things were performed with great alacrity, with a +military shout, a token of the approbation of all. The third battle was +fought near Suessula, in which the army of the Samnites, having been +routed by Marcus Valerius, having summoned from home the flower of their +youth, determined on trying their strength by a final contest. From +Suessula messengers came in great haste to Capua, and from thence +horsemen in full speed to the consul Valerius, to implore aid. The +troops were immediately put in motion; and the baggage in the camp being +left with a strong guard, the army moves on with rapidity; and they +select at no great distance from the enemy a very narrow spot (as, with +the exception of their horses, they were unaccompanied by a crowd of +cattle and servants). The army of the Samnites, as if there was to be no +delay in coming to an engagement, draw up in order of battle; then, when +no one came to meet them, they advance to the enemy's camp in readiness +for action. There when they saw the soldiers on the rampart, and persons +sent out to reconnoitre in every direction, brought back word into how +narrow a compass the camp had been contracted, inferring thence the +scanty number of the enemy. The whole army began to exclaim, that the +trenches ought to be filled up, the rampart to be torn down, and that +they should force their way into the camp; and by that temerity the war +would have been soon over, had not the generals restrained the +impetuosity of the soldiers. However,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_495" id="Page_495">[Pg 495]</a></span> as their own numbers bore heavily +on their supplies, and in consequence, first of their sitting down so +long at Suessula, and then by the delay of the contest, they were not +far from a want of provisions, it was determined, whilst the enemy +remained shut up as if through fear, that the soldiers should be led +through the country to forage; [supposing] in the mean time, that all +supplies would fail the Romans also, who having marched in haste, had +brought with him only as much corn as could be carried on his shoulders +amid his arms. The consul, after he had observed the enemy scattered +through the country, that the posts were left but insufficiently +attended, having in a few words encouraged his men, leads them on to +besiege the camp. After he had taken this on the first shout and +contest, more of the enemy being slain in their tents than at the gates +and rampart, he ordered the captive standards to be collected into one +place, and having left behind two legions as a guard and protection, +after giving them strict order that they should abstain from the booty, +until he himself should return; having set out with his troops in +regular order, the cavalry who had been sent on driving the dispersed +Samnites as it were by hunting toils, he committed great slaughter among +them. For in their terror they could neither determine by what signal +they should collect themselves into a body, whether they should make for +the camp, or continue their flight to a greater distance. And so great +was their terror, and so precipitate their flight, that to the number of +forty thousand shields, though by no means were so many slain, and one +hundred and seventy standards, with those which had been taken in the +camp, were brought to the consul. Then they returned to the enemy's +camp; and there all the plunder was given up to the soldiers.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g38" name="g38"></a>38</div> +<p>The result of this contest obliged the Faliscians, who were on terms +of a truce, to petition for a treaty of alliance from the senate; and +diverted the Latins, who had their armies already prepared, from the +Roman to a Pelignian war. Nor did the fame of such success confine +itself within the limits of Italy; but the Carthaginians also sent +ambassadors to Rome to congratulate them, with an offering of a golden +crown, to be placed in Jupiter's shrine in the Capitol. Its weight was +twenty-five pounds. Both consuls triumphed over the Samnites, whilst +Decius followed distinguished with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_496" id="Page_496">[Pg 496]</a></span> praises and presents, when amid the +rough jesting of the soldiers the name of the tribune was no less +celebrated than that of the consuls. The embassies of the Campanians and +Suessulans were then heard; and to their entreaties it was granted that +a garrison should be sent thither, in order that the incursions of the +Samnites might be repelled. Capua, even then by no means favourable to +military discipline, alienated from the memory of their country the +affections of the soldiers, which were debauched by the supply of +pleasures of all kinds; and schemes were being formed in winter-quarters +for taking away Capua from the Campanians by the same kind of wickedness +as that by which they had taken it from its original possessors: "and +not undeservedly would they turn their own example against themselves. +For why should the Campanians, who were neither able to defend +themselves nor their possessions, occupy the most fertile land of Italy, +and a city worthy of that land, rather than the victorious army, who had +driven the Samnites from thence by their sweat and blood? Was it +reasonable that men who had surrendered to them should have the full +enjoyment of that fertile and delightful country; that they, wearied by +military toil, had to struggle in an insalubrious and arid soil around +their city, or within the city to suffer the oppressive and exhausting +weight of interest-money daily increasing?" These schemes agitated in +secret cabals, and as yet communicated only to a few, were encountered +by the new consul Caius Marcius Rutilus, to whom the province of +Campania had fallen by lot, Quintus Servilius, his colleague, being left +behind in the city. Accordingly when he was in possession of all these +circumstances just as they had occurred, having ascertained them through +the tribunes, matured by years and experience, (for he was consul now +for the fourth time, and had been dictator and censor,) thinking it the +wisest proceeding to frustrate the violence of the soldiers, by +prolonging their hope of executing their project whenever they might +wish, he spreads the rumour, that the troops were to winter in the same +towns on the year after also. For they had been cantoned throughout the +cities of Campania, and their plots had spread from Capua to the entire +army. This abatement being given to the eagerness of their projects, the +mutiny was set at rest for the present.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g39" name="g39"></a>39</div> +<p>The consul, having led out his army to the summer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_497" id="Page_497">[Pg 497]</a></span> campaign, +determined, whilst he had the Samnites quiet, to purge the army by +sending away the turbulent men; by telling some that their regular time +had been served; that others were weighed down by years and debilitated +in bodily vigour. Some were sent away on furloughs, at first +individuals, then some cohorts also, on the plea that they had wintered +far from their home and domestic affairs. When different individuals +were sent to different places under pretence of the business of the +service, a considerable number were put out of the way; which multitude +the other consul detained in Rome under different pretences. And first +indeed, not suspecting the artifice, they returned to their homes by no +means with reluctance. After they saw that neither those first sent +returned to their standards, and that scarcely any others, except those +who had wintered in Campania, and chiefly the fomenters of the mutiny, +were sent away; at first wonder, and then certain fear entered their +minds, that their schemes had been divulged; "that now they would have +to suffer trials, discoveries, the secret punishments of individuals, +and the tyrannical and cruel despotism of the consuls and the senate. +Those who were in the camp, discuss these things in secret conferences, +seeing that the sinews of the conspiracy had been got rid of by the +artifice of the consul." One cohort, when they were at no great distance +from Anxur, posted itself at Lautulæ, in a narrow woody pass between the +sea and the mountains, to intercept those whom the consul was dismissing +under various pretences (as has been already mentioned). Their body was +now becoming strong in numbers; nor was any thing wanting to complete +the form of a regular army, except a leader. Without order, therefore, +they come into the Alban territory committing depredations, and under +the hill of Alba Longa, they encompass their camp with a rampart. The +work here being completed, during the remainder of the day they discuss +their different opinions regarding the choice of a commander, not having +sufficient confidence in any of those present. Whom could they invite +out from Rome? What individuals of the patricians or of the commons was +there, who would either knowingly expose himself to such imminent +danger, or to whom could the cause of the army, set mad by +ill-treatment, be safely committed? On the following day, when the same +subject of deliberation detained<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_498" id="Page_498">[Pg 498]</a></span> them, some of the straggling marauders +ascertained and brought an account, that Titus Quinctius cultivated a +farm in the Tusculan territory, forgetful of the city and its honours. +This was a man of patrician family, whose military career, which was +passed with great glory, having been relinquished in consequence of one +of his feet being lamed by a wound, he determined on spending his life +in the country far from ambition and the forum. His name once heard, +they immediately recognised the man; and with wishes for success, +ordered him to be sent for. There was, however, but little hope that he +would do any thing voluntarily; they resolved on employing force and +intimidation. Accordingly those who had been sent for the purpose, +having entered the house in the silence of the night, and surprising +Quinctius overcome in sleep, threatening that there was no alternative, +either authority and honour, or death, in case he resisted, unless he +followed, they force him to the camp. Immediately on his arrival he was +styled general, and whilst he was startled at the strange nature of the +sudden occurrence, they convey to him the ensigns of honour, and bid him +lead them to the city. Then having torn up their standard, more under +the influence of their own impetuosity than by the command of their +general, they arrive in hostile array at the eighth stone on the road, +which is now the Appian; and would have proceeded immediately to the +city, had they not heard that an army was coming to meet them, and that +Marcus Valerius Corvus was nominated dictator against them, and Lucius +Æmilius Mamercinus master of the horse.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g40" name="g40"></a>40</div> +<p>As soon as they came in sight and recognised the arms and standards, +instantly the recollection of their country softened the resentment of +all. Not yet were they so hardy as to shed the blood of their +countrymen, nor had they known any but foreign wars, and secession from +their own was deemed the extreme of rage. Accordingly now the generals, +now the soldiers sought a meeting for a negotiation. Quinctius, who was +satiated with arms [taken up] even in defence of his country, much more +so against it; Corvus, who entertained a warm affection for all his +countrymen, chiefly the soldiers, and above others, for his own army, +advanced to a conference. To him, being immediately recognised, silence +was granted with no less respect by his adversaries, than by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_499" id="Page_499">[Pg 499]</a></span> his own +party: he says, "Soldiers, at my departure from the city, I prayed to +the immortal gods, your public deities as well as mine, and earnestly +implored their goodness so, that they would grant me the glory of +establishing concord among you, not victory over you. There have been +and there will be sufficient opportunities, whence military fame may be +obtained: on this occasion peace should be the object of our wishes. +What I earnestly called for from the immortal gods when offering up my +prayers, you have it in your power to grant to me, if you will remember, +that you have your camp not in Samnium, nor among the Volscians, but on +Roman ground; that those hills which you behold are those of your +country, that this is the army of your countrymen; that I am your own +consul, under whose guidance and auspices ye last year twice defeated +the legions of the Samnites, twice took their camp by storm. Soldiers, I +am Marcus Valerius Corvus, whose nobility ye have felt by acts of +kindness towards you, not by ill-treatment; the proposer of no +tyrannical law against you, of no harsh decree of the senate; in every +post of command more strict on myself than on you. And if birth, if +personal merit, if high dignity, if public honours could suggest +arrogance to any one, from such ancestors have I been descended, such a +specimen had I given of myself, at such an age did I attain the +consulship, that when but twenty-three years old I might have been a +proud consul, even to the patricians, not to the commons only. What act +or saying of mine, when consul, have ye heard of more severe than when +only tribune? With the same tenor did I administer two successive +consulships; with the same shall this uncontrollable office, the +dictatorship, be administered. So that I shall be found not more +indulgent to these my own soldiers and the soldiers of my country, than +to you, I shudder to call you so, its enemies. Ye shall therefore draw +the sword against me, before I draw it against you. On that side the +signal shall be sounded, on that the shout and onset shall begin, if a +battle must take place. Determine in your minds, on that which neither +your fathers nor grandfathers could; neither those who seceded to the +Sacred Mount, nor yet those who afterwards posted themselves on the +Aventine. Wait till your mothers and wives come out to meet you from the +city with dishevelled hair, as they did formerly to Coriolanus. At that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_500" id="Page_500">[Pg 500]</a></span> +time the legions of the Volscians, because they had a Roman for their +leader, ceased from hostilities; will not ye, a Roman army, desist from +an unnatural war? Titus Quinctius, under whatever circumstances you +stand on that side, whether voluntarily or reluctantly, if there must be +fighting, do you then retire to the rear. With more honour even will you +fly, and turn your back to your countryman, than fight against your +country. Now you will stand with propriety and honour among the foremost +to promote peace; and may you be a salutary agent in this conference. +Require and offer that which is just; though we should admit even unjust +terms, rather than engage in an impious combat with each other." Titus +Quinctius, turning to his party with his eyes full of tears, said, "In +me too, soldiers, if there is any use of me, ye have a better leader for +peace than for war. For that speech just now delivered, not a Volscian, +nor a Samnite expressed, but a Roman: your own consul, your own general, +soldiers: whose auspices having already experienced for you, do not wish +to experience them against you. The senate had other generals also, who +would engage you with more animosity; they have selected the one who +would be most indulgent to you, his own soldiers, in whom as your +general you would have most confidence. Even those who can conquer, +desire peace: what ought we to desire? Why do we not, renouncing +resentment and hope, those fallacious advisers, resign ourselves and all +our interests to his tried honour?"</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g41" name="g41"></a>41</div> +<p>All approving with a shout, Titus Quinctius, advancing before the +standards, declared that "the soldiers would be obedient to the +dictator; he entreated that he would espouse the cause of his +unfortunate countrymen, and having espoused it, he would maintain it +with the same fidelity with which he had wont to administer public +affairs. That for himself individually he made no terms: that he would +found his hope in nothing else but in his innocence. That provision +should be made for the soldiers, as provision had been made by the +senate, once for the commons, a second time for the legions, so that the +secession should not be visited with punishment." The dictator, having +lauded Quinctius, and having bid the others to hope for the best, +returned back to the city with all speed, and, with the approbation of +the senate, proposed to the people in the Peteline grove, that the +secession should not be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_501" id="Page_501">[Pg 501]</a></span> visited with chastisement on any of the +soldiers. He also entreated, with their permission, that no one should +either in jest or earnest upbraid any one with that proceeding. A +military devoting law was also passed, that the name of any soldier once +enrolled, should not be erased unless with his own consent; and to the +law [a clause] was added that no one, after he had been a tribune of the +soldiers, should afterwards be a centurion. That demand was made by the +conspirators on account of Publius Salonius; who in alternate years was +both tribune of the soldiers and first centurion, which they now call +<i>primi pili</i>. The soldiers were incensed against him, because he had +always been opposed to their recent measures, and had fled from Lantulæ, +that he might have no share in them. Accordingly when this alone was not +obtained from the senate through their regard for Salonius, then +Salonius, conjuring the conscript fathers, that they would not value his +promotion more highly than the concord of the state, prevailed in having +that also carried. Equally ineffectual was the demand, that some +deductions should be made from the pay of the cavalry, (they then +received triple,) because they had opposed the conspiracy.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="g42" name="g42"></a>42</div> +<p>Besides these, I find in some writers that Lucius Genucius, tribune +of the commons, proposed to the people, that no one should be allowed to +practise usury; likewise provision was made by other enactments, that no +one should fill the same office within ten years; nor hold two offices +on the same year; and that it should be allowed that both the consuls +should be plebeians. If all these concessions were made to the people, +it is evident that the revolt possessed no little strength. In other +annals it is recorded, that Valerius was not appointed dictator, but +that the entire business was managed by the consuls; and also that that +band of conspirators were driven to arms not before they came to Rome, +but at Rome; and that it was not on the country-house of Titus +Quinctius, but on the residence of Caius Manlius the assault was made by +night, and that he was seized by the conspirators to become their +leader: that having proceeded thence to the fourth mile-stone, they +posted themselves in a well-defended place; and that it was not with the +leaders mention of a reconciliation originated; but that suddenly, when +the armies marched out to battle fully armed, a mutual saluta<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_502" id="Page_502">[Pg 502]</a></span>tion took +place; that mixing together the soldiers began to join hands, and to +embrace each other with tears; and that the consuls, on seeing the minds +of the soldiers averse from fighting, made a proposition to the senate +concerning the re-establishment of concord. So that among ancient +writers nothing is agreed on, except that there was a mutiny, and that +it was composed. Both the report of this disturbance, and the heavy war +entered into with the Samnites, alienated some states from the Roman +alliance: and besides the treaty of the Latins, which now for a long +time was not to be depended on, the Privernians also by a sudden +incursion laid waste Norba and Setia, Roman colonies in their +neighbourhood.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_503" id="Page_503">[Pg 503]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="book8" id="book8"></a>BOOK VIII.</h2> + +<div class="chapmen"><a href="#h1">1</a> <a href="#h2">2</a> <a href="#h3">3</a> + + <a href="#h4">4</a> <a href="#h5">5</a> <a href="#h6">6</a> <a href="#h7">7</a> + + <a href="#h8">8</a> <a href="#h9">9</a> <a href="#h10">10</a> <a href="#h11">11</a> + + <a href="#h12">12</a> <a href="#h13">13</a> <a href="#h14">14</a> <a href="#h15">15</a> + + <a href="#h16">16</a> <a href="#h17">17</a> <a href="#h18">18</a> <a href="#h19">19</a> + + <a href="#h20">20</a> <a href="#h21">21</a> <a href="#h22">22</a> <a href="#h23">23</a> + + <a href="#h24">24</a> <a href="#h25">25</a> <a href="#h26">26</a> <a href="#h27">27</a> + + <a href="#h28">28</a> <a href="#h29">29</a> <a href="#h30">30</a> <a href="#h31">31</a> + + <a href="#h32">32</a> <a href="#h33">33</a> <a href="#h34">34</a> <a href="#h35">35</a> + + <a href="#h36">36</a> <a href="#h37">37</a> <a href="#h38">38</a> <a href="#h39">39</a> + + <a href="#h40">40</a></div> + + +<div class="bookdes"><p><i>The Latins with the Campanians revolt; and ambassadors having been +sent to the senate, they propose that, if they wished for peace, +they should elect one of the consuls from among the Latins. Titus +Manlius, the consul, put his son to death, because he had fought, +though successfully, against the Latins, contrary to orders. The +Romans being hard pressed in the battle, Publius Decius, then +consul with Manlius, devoted himself for the army. The Latins +surrender. None of the young men came out to meet Manlius on his +return to the city. Minucia, a vestal virgin, was condemned for +incest. Several matrons convicted of poisoning. Laws then first +made against that crime. The Ausonians, Privernians, and +Palæpolitans subdued. Quintus Publilius the first instance of a +person continuing in command after the expiration of his office, +and of a triumph decreed to any person not a consul. Law against +confinement for debt. Quintus Fabius, master of the horse, fights +the Samnites with success, contrary to the orders of Lucius +Papirius, dictator; and, with difficulty, obtains pardon, through +the intercession of the people. Successful expedition against the +Samnites.</i></p></div> + + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h1" name="h1"></a>1</div> +<p>The consuls now were Caius Plautius a second time, and Lucius Æmilius +Mamercinus; when the people of Setia and Norba came to Rome to announce +the revolt of the Privernians, with complaints of the damages received +by them. News were brought that the army of the Volscians, under the +guidance of the people of Antium, had taken post at Satricum. Both wars +fell by lot to Plautius. He, marching first to Privernum, immediately +came to an engagement. The enemy were defeated after a slight +resistance: the town was taken, and given back to the Privernians, a +strong garrison being placed in it: two thirds of their land were taken +from them. The victorious army was marched thence to Satricum against +the Antians; there a desperate battle was fought with great slaughter on +both sides; and when a storm separated the combatants, hope inclining to +neither side, the Romans, nowise disheartened by this so indecisive an +engagement, pre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_504" id="Page_504">[Pg 504]</a></span>pare for battle against the following day. The +Volscians, reckoning up what men they had lost in battle, had by no +means the same spirits to repeat the risk. They went off in the night to +Antium as a vanquished army in the utmost confusion, leaving behind +their wounded and a part of their baggage. A vast quantity of arms was +found, both among the dead bodies of the enemy, and also in the camp. +These, the consul declared, that he offered up to Mother Lua; and he +laid waste the enemy's country as far as the sea-coast. The other +consul, Æmilius, on entering the Sabellan territory, found neither a +camp of the Samnites nor legions opposed to him. Whilst he laid waste +their territories with fire and sword, the ambassadors of the Samnites +came to him, suing for peace; by whom being referred to the senate, +after leave to address them was granted, laying aside their ferocious +spirits, they sued for peace for themselves from the Romans, and the +right of waging war against the Sidicinians. Which requests, [they +alleged,] that "they were the more justified in making, because they had +both united in friendship with the Roman people, when their affairs were +flourishing, not under circumstances of distress, as the Campanians had +done, and they were taking up arms against the Sidicinians, ever their +enemies, never the friends of the Roman people; who had neither, as the +Samnites, sought their friendship in time of peace, nor, as the +Campanians, their assistance in time of war, and were neither in +alliance with, nor under subjection to the Roman people."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h2" name="h2"></a>2</div> +<p>After the prætor Tiberius Æmilius had consulted the senate respecting +the demands of the Samnites, and the senate voted that the treaty should +be renewed with them, the prætor returned this answer to the Samnites: +"That it neither had been the fault of the Roman people that their +friendship with them was not perpetual; nor was any objection made to +that friendship being once more re-established, since they themselves +were now become tired of a war entered into through their own fault. +With respect to what regarded the Sidicinians, they did not interfere +with the Samnite nation having the free decision of peace and war." The +treaty being concluded, on their return home, the Roman army was +immediately withdrawn after they had received a year's pay, and corn for +three months: for which the consul had stipulated, to grant time for a +truce,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_505" id="Page_505">[Pg 505]</a></span> until the ambassadors should return. The Samnites having marched +against the Sidicinians with the same forces which they had employed in +their war against the Romans, entertained rather sanguine hopes of +becoming masters of the enemies' citadel. Then the Sidicinians first +began to surrender to the Romans. Afterwards, when the senate rejected +that offer as too late, and as being wrung from them by extreme +necessity, it was made to the Latins, who were already taking up arms on +their own account. Nor did even the Campanians (so much stronger was +their recollection of the injuries done them by the Samnites than of the +kindness of the Romans) keep themselves from this quarrel. Out of these +so many states, one vast army, entering the territories of the Samnites +under the direction of the Latins, committed more damage by depredations +than by battles; and though the Latins had the advantage in the field, +they retired out of the enemies' territory without reluctance, that they +might not be obliged to fight too frequently. This opportunity was +afforded to the Samnites to send ambassadors to Rome. When they appeared +before the senate, having complained that they, though now confederates, +were subjected to the same hardships as those they had suffered as +enemies, solicited, with the humblest entreaties, that "the Romans would +think it enough the victory, of which they had deprived the Samnites, +over their Campanian and Sidicinian enemy; that they would not besides +suffer them to be vanquished by these most dastardly states. That they +could by their sovereign authority keep the Latins and the Campanians +out of the Samnite territory, if they really were under the dominion of +the Roman people; but if they rejected their authority, that they might +compel them by arms." To this an equivocal answer was returned, because +it was mortifying to acknowledge, that the Latins were not now in their +power, and they were afraid lest by finding fault they might estrange +them from their side: that the case of the Campanians was different, +they having come under their protection, not by treaty but by surrender: +accordingly, that the Campanians, whether they wished or not, should +remain quiet: that in the Latin treaty there was no clause by which they +were prevented from going to war with whomsoever they pleased.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h3" name="h3"></a>3</div> +<p>Which answer, whilst it sent away the Samnites uncertain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_506" id="Page_506">[Pg 506]</a></span> as to what +conduct they were to think that the Romans would pursue, it further +estranged the Campanians through fear; it rendered the Samnites more +presuming, they considering that there was nothing which the Romans +would now refuse them. Wherefore, proclaiming frequent meetings under +the pretext of preparing for war against the Samnites, their leading +men, in their several deliberations among themselves, secretly fomented +the plan of a war with Rome. In this war the Campanians too joined +against their preservers. But though all their schemes were carefully +concealed, and they were anxious that their Samnite enemy should be got +rid of in their rear before the Romans should be aroused, yet through +the agency of some who were attached [to the latter] by private +friendships and other ties, information of their conspiracy made its way +to Rome, and the consuls being ordered to resign their office before the +usual time, in order that the new consuls might be elected the sooner to +meet so important a war, a religious scruple entered their minds at the +idea of the elections being held by persons whose time of office had +been cut short. Accordingly an interregnum took place. There were two +interreges, Marcus Valerius and Marcus Fabius. The consuls elected were +Titus Manlius Torquatus a third time, and Publius Decius Mus. It is +agreed on that, in this year, Alexander, king of Epirus, made a descent +on Italy with a fleet. Which war, if the first commencement had been +sufficiently successful, would unquestionably have extended to the +Romans. The same was the era of the exploits of Alexander the Great, +whom, being son to the other's sister, in another region of the world, +having shown himself invincible in war, fortune cut short in his youth +by disease. But the Romans, although the revolt of their allies and of +the Latin nation was now no matter of doubt, yet as if they felt +solicitude regarding the Samnites, not for themselves, summoned ten of +the leading men of the Latins to Rome, to whom they wished to issue such +orders as they might wish. Latium had at that time two prætors, Lucius +Annius, a native of Setia, and Lucius Numisius of Circeii, both from the +Roman colonists; through whose means, besides Signia and Velitræ, also +Roman colonies, the Volscians too had been stirred up to arms. It was +determined that these two should be summoned specially; it was a matter +of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_507" id="Page_507">[Pg 507]</a></span> doubt to no one, on what matter they were sent for. Accordingly the +prætors, having held an assembly, before they set out for Rome, inform +them, that they were summoned by the Roman senate, and consult them as +to what answer it was their wish should be given on those subjects which +they thought would be discussed with them.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h4" name="h4"></a>4</div> +<p>When different persons advanced different opinions, then Annius says: +"Though I myself put the question, as to what answer it might be your +pleasure should be given, yet I think it more concerns our general +interest how we should act than how we should speak. Your plans being +once unfolded, it will be easy to suit words to the subject; for if even +now we are capable of submitting to slavery under the shadow of a +confederacy on equal terms, what is wanting but to betray the +Sidicinians, be obedient to the orders not only of the Romans, but of +the Samnites, and tell the Romans, that we will lay down our arms +whenever they intimate it to be their wish? But if at length a desire of +liberty stimulates your minds, if a confederacy does subsist, if +alliance be equalization of rights, if there be reason now to boast that +we are of the same blood as the Romans, of which they were formerly +ashamed, if they have such an army of allies, by the junction of which +they may double their strength, such a one as their consuls would be +unwilling to separate from themselves either in concluding or commencing +their own wars; why are not all things equalized? why is not one of the +consuls chosen from the Latins? Where there is an equal share of +strength, is there also an equal share in the government? This indeed in +itself reflects no extraordinary degree of honour on us, as still +acknowledging Rome to be the metropolis of Latium; but that it may +possibly appear to do so, has been effected by our long-continued +forbearance. But if ye ever wished for an opportunity of sharing in the +government, and enjoying freedom, lo! this opportunity is now at hand, +presented both by your own valour and the bounty of the gods. Ye have +tried their patience by refusing them soldiers. Who doubts that they +were fired with rage, when we broke through a custom of more than two +hundred years? Still they submitted to this feeling of resentment. We +waged war with the Pelignians in our own name. They who formerly did not +even concede to us the right of defending our own territories through +our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_508" id="Page_508">[Pg 508]</a></span>selves, interfered not. They heard that the Sidicinians were +received under our protection, that the Campanians had revolted from +themselves to us, that we were preparing armies against their +confederates, the Samnites; yet they stirred not from the city. Whence +this so great forbearance on their part, except from a knowledge of our +strength and their own? I have it from competent authority, that when +the Samnites complained of us, such an answer was given them by the +Roman senate, as plainly showed that not even themselves insisted that +Latium was under the Roman jurisdiction. Only assume your rights in +demanding that which they tacitly concede to you. If fear prevents any +one from saying this, lo! I pledge myself that I will say it, in the +hearing not only of the Roman people and senate, but of Jupiter himself, +who inhabits the Capitol; that if they wish us to be in confederacy and +alliance with them, they are to receive one consul from us, and one half +of the senate." When he not only recommended these measures boldly, but +promised also his aid, they all, with acclamations of assent, permitted +him to do and say whatever might appear to him conducive to the republic +of the Latin nation and his own honour.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h5" name="h5"></a>5</div> +<p>When they arrived in Rome, an audience of the senate was granted them +in the Capitol. There, when Titus Manlius the consul, by direction of +the senate, required of them not to make war on their confederates the +Samnites, Annius, as if he had taken the Capitol by arms as a victor, +and were not addressing them as an ambassador protected by the law of +nations, says: "It were time, Titus Manlius, and you, conscript fathers, +to cease at length treating with us on a footing of superiority, when +you see Latium in a most flourishing state by the bounty of the gods in +arms and men, the Samnites being vanquished in war, the Sidicinians and +Campanians our allies, the Volscians now united to us in alliance, and +that your own colonies even prefer the government of Latium to that of +Rome. But since ye do not bring your minds to put an end to your +arbitrary despotism, we, though able by force of arms to vindicate the +independence of Latium, yet will make this concession to the ties of +blood between us, as to offer terms of peace on terms of equality for +both, since it has pleased the immortal gods that the strength of both +is equalized. One of the consuls must be selected out of Rome,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_509" id="Page_509">[Pg 509]</a></span> the +other out of Latium; an equal portion of the senate must be from both +nations; we must be one people, one republic; and that the seat of +government may be the same, and we all may have the same name, since the +concession must be made by the one party or other, let this, and may it +be auspicious to both, have the advantage of being the mother country, +and let us all be called Romans." It so happened that the Romans also +had a consul, a match for this man's high spirit; who, so far from +restraining his angry feelings, openly declared, that if such +infatuation took possession of the conscript fathers, that they would +receive laws from a man of Setia, he would himself come into the senate +armed with a sword, and would slay with his hand any Latin whom he +should see in the senate-house. And turning to the statue of Jupiter, +"Hear thou, Jupiter," says he, "hear these impious proposals; hear ye +them, Justice and Equity. Jupiter, art thou to behold foreign consuls +and a foreign senate in thy consecrated temple, as if thou wert a +captive and overpowered? Were these the treaties which Tullus, a Roman +king, concluded with the Albans, your forefathers, Latins, and which +Lucius Tarquinius subsequently concluded with you? Does not the battle +at the Lake Regillus occur to your thoughts? Have you so forgotten your +own calamities and our kindnesses towards you?"</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h6" name="h6"></a>6</div> +<p>When the indignation of the senate followed these words of the +consul, it is recorded that, in reply to the frequent appeals to the +gods, whom the consuls frequently invoked as witnesses to the treaties, +an expression of Annius was heard in contempt of the divinity of the +Roman Jupiter. Certainly, when aroused with wrath he was proceeding with +rapid steps from the porch of the temple, having fallen down the stairs, +his head being severely struck, he was dashed against a stone at the +bottom with such force, as to be deprived of sense. As all writers do +not say that he was killed, I too shall leave it in doubt; as also the +circumstance, that a storm, with a dreadful noise in the heavens, took +place during the appeal made in reference to the violated treaties; for +they may both be true, and also invented aptly to express in a striking +manner the resentment of heaven. Torquatus, being despatched by the +senate to dismiss the ambassadors, on seeing Annius lying prostrate, +exclaimed, so as that his voice was heard both by the people and the +senate, "It is well. The gods have excited a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_510" id="Page_510">[Pg 510]</a></span> just war. There is a deity +in heaven. Thou dost exist, great Jove; not without reason have we +consecrated thee the father of gods and men in this mansion. Why do ye +hesitate, Romans, and you, conscript fathers, to take up arms under the +direction of the gods? Thus will I lay low the legions of the Latins, as +you now see this man lying prostrate." The words of the consul, received +with the approbation of the people, filled their breasts with such +ardour, that the ambassadors on their departure were protected from the +anger and violence of the people more by the care of the magistrates, +who escorted them by order of the consul, than by the law of nations. +The senate also voted for the war; and the consuls, after raising two +armies, marched into the territories of the Marsians and Pelignians, the +army of the Samnites having joined them, and pitched their camp near +Capua, where the Latins and their allies had now assembled. There it is +said there appeared to both the consuls, during sleep, the same form of +a man larger and more majestic than human, who said, "Of the one side a +general, of the other an army was due to the dii Manes and to Mother +Earth; from whichever army a general should devote the legions of the +enemy and himself, in addition, that the victory would belong to that +nation and that party." When the consuls compared together these visions +of the night, it was resolved that victims should be slain for the +purpose of averting the anger of the gods; at the same time, that if the +same portents were exhibited in the entrails as those which had been +seen during sleep, either of the consuls should fulfil the fates. When +the answers of the haruspices coincided with the secret religious +impression already implanted in their minds; then, having brought +together the lieutenant-generals and tribunes, and having openly +expounded to them the commands of the gods, they settle among +themselves, lest the consul's voluntary death should intimidate the army +in the field, that on which side soever the Roman army should commence +to give way, the consul in that quarter should devote himself for the +Roman people and the Quirites. In this consultation it was also +suggested, that if ever on any occasion any war had been conducted with +strict discipline, then indeed military discipline should be reduced to +the ancient standard. What excited their attention particularly was, +that they had to contend against Latins, who coincided with themselves +in lan<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_511" id="Page_511">[Pg 511]</a></span>guage, manners, in the same kind of arms, and more especially in +military institutions; soldiers had been mixed with soldiers, centurions +with centurions, tribunes with tribunes, as comrades and colleagues, in +the same armies, and often in the same companies. Lest in consequence of +this the soldiers should be involved in any mistake, the consuls issue +orders that no one should fight against an enemy out of his post.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h7" name="h7"></a>7</div> +<p>It happened that among the other prefects of the troops, who had been +sent out in all directions to reconnoitre, Titus Manlius, the consul's +son, came with his troop to the back of the enemy's camp, so near that +he was scarcely distant a dart's throw from the next post. In that place +were some Tusculan cavalry; they were commanded by Geminus Metius, a man +distinguished among his countrymen both by birth and exploits. When he +recognised the Roman cavalry, and conspicuous among them the consul's +son marching at their head, (for they were all known to each other, +especially the men of note,) "Romans, are ye going to wage war with the +Latins and allies with a single troop. What in the interim will the +consuls, what will the two consular armies be doing?" "They will be here +in good time," says Manlius, "and with them will be Jupiter himself, as +a witness of the treaties violated by you, who is stronger and more +powerful. If we fought at the lake Regillus until you had quite enough, +here also we shall so act, that a line of battle and an encounter with +us may afford you no very great gratification." In reply to this, +Geminus, advancing some distance from his own party, says, "Do you +choose then, until that day arrives on which you are to put your armies +in motion with such mighty labour, to enter the lists with me, that from +the result of a contest between us both, it may be seen how much a Latin +excels a Roman horseman?" Either resentment, or shame at declining the +contest, or the invincible power of fate, arouses the determined spirit +of the youth. Forgetful therefore of his father's command, and the +consul's edict, he is driven headlong to that contest, in which it made +not much difference whether he conquered or was conquered. The other +horsemen being removed to a distance as if to witness the sight, in the +space of clear ground which lay between them they spurred on their +horses against each other; and when they were together in fierce +encounter, the spear of Manlius passed over the helmet of his +antagonist, that of Me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_512" id="Page_512">[Pg 512]</a></span>tius across the neck of the other's horse. Then +wheeling round their horses, when Manlius arose to repeat the blow, he +fixed his javelin between the ears of his opponent's horse. When, by the +pain of this wound, the horse, having raised his fore-feet on high, +tossed his head with great violence, he shook off his rider, whom, when +he was raising himself from the severe fall, by leaning on his spear and +buckler, Manlius pierced through the throat, so that the steel passed +out through the ribs, and pinned him to the earth; and having collected +the spoils, he returned to his own party, and with his troop, who were +exulting with joy, he proceeds to the camp, and thence to the general's +tent to his father, ignorant of what awaited him, whether praise or +punishment had been merited. "Father," says he, "that all may truly +represent me as sprung from your blood; when challenged, I slew my +adversary, and have taken from him these equestrian spoils." When the +consul heard this, immediately turning away from his son, he ordered an +assembly to be summoned by sound of trumpet. When these assembled in +great numbers, "Since you, Titus Manlius," says he, "revering neither +the consular power nor a father's majesty, have fought against the enemy +out of your post contrary to our orders, and, as far as in you lay, have +subverted military discipline, by which the Roman power has stood to +this day, and have brought me to this necessity, that I must either +forget the republic, or myself and mine; we shall expiate our own +transgressions rather than the republic should sustain so serious a loss +for our misdeeds. We shall be a melancholy example, but a profitable +one, to the youth of future ages. As for me, both the natural affection +for my children, as well as that instance of bravery which has led you +astray by the false notion of honour, affects me for you. But since +either the authority of consuls is to be established by your death, or +by your forgiveness to be for ever annulled; I do not think that even +you, if you have any of our blood in you, will refuse to restore, by +your punishment, the military discipline which has been subverted by +your misconduct. Go, lictor, bind him to the stake." All became +motionless, more through fear than discipline, astounded by so cruel an +order, each looking on the axe as if drawn against himself. Therefore +when they stood in profound silence, suddenly, when the blood spouted +from his severed neck, their minds recovering, as it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_513" id="Page_513">[Pg 513]</a></span> were, from a state +of stupefaction, then their voices arose together in free expressions of +complaint, so that they spared neither lamentations nor execrations: and +the body of the youth, being covered with the spoils, was burned on a +pile erected outside the rampart, with all the military zeal with which +any funeral could be celebrated: and Manlian orders were considered with +horror, not only for the present, but of the most austere severity for +future times.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h8" name="h8"></a>8</div> +<p>The severity of the punishment however rendered the soldiers more +obedient to the general; and besides that the guards and watches and the +regulation of the posts were every where more strictly attended to, such +severity was also profitable in the final struggle when they came into +the field of battle. But the battle was very like to a civil war; so +very similar was every thing among the Romans and Latins, except with +respect to courage. The Romans formerly used targets; afterwards, when +they began to receive pay, they made shields instead of targets; and +what before constituted phalanxes similar to the Macedonian, afterwards +became a line drawn up in distinct companies. At length they were +divided into several centuries. A century contained sixty soldiers, two +centurions, and one standard-bearer. The spearmen (hastati) formed the +first line in fifteen companies, with small intervals between them: a +company had twenty light-armed soldiers, the rest wearing shields; those +were called light who carried only a spear and short iron javelins. +This, which constituted the van in the field of battle, contained the +youth in early bloom advancing towards the age of service. Next followed +men of more robust age, in the same number of companies, who were called +principes, all wearing shields, and distinguished by the completest +armour. This band of thirty companies they called antepilani, because +there were fifteen others placed behind them with the standards; of +which each company consisted of three divisions, and the first division +of each they called a pilus. Each company consisted of three ensigns, +and contained one hundred and eighty-six men. The first ensign was at +the head of the Triarii, veteran soldiers of tried bravery; the second, +at the head of the Rorarii, men whose ability was less by reason of +their age and course of service; the third, at the head of the Accensi, +a body in whom very little confidence was reposed. For this reason also +they were thrown<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_514" id="Page_514">[Pg 514]</a></span> back to the rear. When the army was marshalled +according to this arrangement, the spearmen first commenced the fight. +If the spearmen were unable to repulse the enemy, they retreated +leisurely, and were received by the principes into the intervals of the +ranks. The fight then devolved on the principes; the spearmen followed. +The Triarii continued kneeling behind the ensigns, their left leg +extended forward, holding their shields resting on their shoulders, and +their spears fixed in the ground, with the points erect, so that their +line bristled as if enclosed by a rampart. If the principes also did not +make sufficient impression in the fight, they retreated slowly from the +front to the Triarii. Hence, when a difficulty is felt, "Matters have +come to the Triarii," became a usual proverb. The Triarii rising up, +after receiving the principes and spearmen into the intervals between +their ranks, immediately closing their files, shut up as it were the +openings; and in one compact body fell upon the enemy, no other hope +being now left: that was the most formidable circumstance to the enemy, +when having pursued them as vanquished, they beheld a new line suddenly +starting up, increased also in strength. In general about four legions +were raised, each consisting of five thousand infantry and three hundred +horse. As many more were added from the Latin levy, who were at that +time enemies to the Romans, and drew up their line after the same +manner; and they knew that unless the ranks were disturbed they would +have to engage not only standard with standard, spearmen with spearmen, +principes with principes, but centurion also with centurion. There were +among the veterans two first centurions in either army, the Roman by no +means possessing bodily strength, but a brave man, and experienced in +the service; the Latin powerful in bodily strength, and a first-rate +warrior; they were very well known to each other, because they had +always held equal rank. The Roman, somewhat diffident of his strength, +had at Rome obtained permission from the consuls, to select any one whom +he wished, his own subcenturion, to protect him from the one destined to +be his adversary; and this youth being opposed to him in the battle, +obtained the victory over the Latin centurion. They came to an +engagement not far from the foot of Mount Vesuvius, where the road led +to the Veseris.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_515" id="Page_515">[Pg 515]</a></span></p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h9" name="h9"></a>9</div> +<p>The Roman consuls, before they marched out their armies to the field, +offered sacrifices. The aruspex is said to have shown to Decius the head +of the liver wounded on the side relating to himself, in other respects +the victim was acceptable to the gods; whilst Manlius obtained highly +favourable omens from his sacrifice. "But all is well," says Decius, "if +my colleague has offered an acceptable sacrifice." The ranks being drawn +up in the order already described, they marched forth to battle. Manlius +commanded the right, Decius the left wing. At first the action was +conducted with equal strength on both sides, and with the same ardent +courage. Afterwards the Roman spearmen on the left wing, not sustaining +the violent assault of the Latins, betook themselves to the principes. +In this state of trepidation the consul Decius cries out with a loud +voice to Marcus Valerius, "Valerius, we have need of the aid of the +gods. Come, as public pontiff of the Roman people, dictate to me the +words in which I may devote myself for the legions." The pontiff +directed him to take the gown called prætexta, and with his head covered +and his hand thrust out under the gown to the chin, standing upon a +spear placed under his feet, to say these words: "Janus, Jupiter, father +Mars, Quirinus, Bellona, ye Lares, ye gods Novensiles,<a name="FNanchor_171_171" id="FNanchor_171_171"></a><a href="#Footnote_171_171" class="fnanchor">[171]</a> ye gods +Indigetes, ye divinities, under whose power we and our enemies are, and +ye dii Manes, I pray you, I adore you, I ask your favour, that you would +prosperously grant strength and victory to the Roman people, the +Quirites; and that ye may affect the enemies of the Roman people, the +Quirites, with terror, dismay, and death. In such manner as I have +expressed in words, so do I devote the legions and auxiliaries of the +enemy, together with myself, to the dii Manes and to Earth for the +republic of the Quirites, for the army, legions, auxiliaries of the +Roman people, the Quirites." Having uttered this prayer, he orders the +lictors to go to Titus Manlius, and without delay to announce to his +colleague that he had devoted himself for the army. He, girding himself +in a Gabine cincture, and fully armed, mounted his horse, and rushed +into the midst of the enemy. He was observed by both armies to present a +more majestic appearance than human,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_516" id="Page_516">[Pg 516]</a></span> as one sent from heaven as an +expiation of all the wrath of the gods, to transfer to the enemy +destruction turned away from his own side: accordingly, all the terror +and panic being carried along with him, at first disturbed the +battalions of the Latins, then completely pervaded their entire line. +This was most evident, because, in whatever direction he was carried +with his horse, there they became panic-stricken, as if struck by some +pestilential constellation; but when he fell overwhelmed with darts, +instantly the cohorts of the Latins, thrown into manifest consternation, +took to flight, leaving a void to a considerable extent. At the same +time also the Romans, their minds being freed from religious dread, +exerting themselves as if the signal was then given for the first time, +commenced to fight with renewed ardour. For the Rorarii also pushed +forward among the antepilani, and added strength to the spearmen and +principes, and the Triarii resting on the right knee awaited the +consul's nod to rise up.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h10" name="h10"></a>10</div> +<p>Afterwards, as the contest proceeded, when the superior numbers of +the Latins had the advantage in some places, the consul, Manlius, on +hearing the circumstance of his colleague's death, after he had, as was +right and just, honoured his so glorious a death with tears, as well as +with praises so well merited, hesitated, for a little time, whether it +was yet time for the Triarii to rise; then judging it better that they +should be kept fresh for the decisive blow, he ordered the Accensi to +advance from the rear before the standards. When they moved forward, the +Latins immediately called up their Triarii, as if their opponents had +done the same thing: who, when they had by desperate fighting for a +considerable time both fatigued themselves, and had either broken or +blunted their spears, and were, however, beating back their adversaries, +thinking that the battle was now nearly decided, and that they had come +to the last line; then the consul calls to the Triarii, "Arise now, +fresh as ye are, against men now wearied, mindful of your country and +parents, your wives and children; mindful of your consul who has +submitted to death to insure your victory." When the Triarii arose, +fresh as they were, with their arms glittering, a new line which +appeared unexpectedly, receiving the antepilani into the intervals +between the ranks, raised a shout, and broke through the first line of +the Latins; and goading their faces, after cutting down those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_517" id="Page_517">[Pg 517]</a></span> who +constituted their principal strength, they passed almost intact through +the other companies, with such slaughter that they scarcely left one +fourth of the enemy. The Samnites also, drawn up at a distance at the +foot of the mountain, struck terror into the Latins. But of all, whether +citizens or allies, the principal praise for that action was due to the +consuls; the one of whom turned on himself alone all the threats and +dangers (denounced) by the divinities of heaven and hell; the other +evinced such valour and such judgment in the battle, that it was +universally agreed among both the Romans and Latins who have transmitted +to posterity an account of the battle, that, on whichever side Titus +Manlius held the command, the victory must belong to that. The Latins in +their flight betook themselves to Minturnæ. Immediately after the battle +the camp was taken, and great numbers still alive were surprised +therein, chiefly Campanians. Night surprised them in their search, and +prevented the body of Decius from being discovered on that day. On the +day after it was found amid vast heaps of slaughtered enemies, pierced +with a great number of darts, and his funeral was solemnized under the +direction of his colleague, in a manner suited to his death. It seems +right to add here, that it is lawful for a consul, a dictator, and a +prætor, when he devotes the legions of the enemy, to devote not himself +particularly, but whatever citizen he may choose out of a Roman legion +regularly enrolled: if the person who has been devoted die, the matter +is duly performed; if he do not perish, then an image, seven feet high +or more, must be buried in the ground, and a victim slain, as an +expiation. Where that image shall be buried, there it is not lawful that +a Roman magistrate should pass. But if he wish to devote himself, as +Decius did, unless he who has devoted himself die, he shall not with +propriety perform any act of religion regarding either himself or the +public. Should he wish to devote his arms to Vulcan or to any other god, +he has a right, whether he shall please, by a victim, or in any other +manner. It is not proper that the enemy should get possession of the +weapon, on which the consul, standing, pronounced the imprecation: if +they should get possession of it, then an expiation must be made to Mars +by the sacrifices called the Suove-taurilia. Although the memory of +every divine and human custom has been obliter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_518" id="Page_518">[Pg 518]</a></span>ated, in consequence of +preferring what is modern and foreign to that which is ancient and +belonging to our own country, I deemed it not irrelevant to relate the +particulars even in the very terms used, as they have been handed down +and expressed.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h11" name="h11"></a>11</div> +<p>I find it stated in some writers, that the Samnites, having awaited +the issue of the battle, came at length with support to the Romans after +the battle was over. Also aid from Lavinium, whilst they wasted time in +deliberating, was at length sent to the Latins after they had been +vanquished. And when the first standards and part of the army just +issued from the gates, news being brought of the defeat of the Latins, +they faced about and returned back to the city; on which occasion they +say that their prætor, Milionius, observed, that "for so very short a +journey a high price must be paid to the Romans." Such of the Latins as +survived the battle, after being scattered over many roads, collected +themselves into a body, and found refuge in the city of Vescia. There +their general, Numisius, insisted in their counsels, that "the truly +common fortune of war had prostrated both armies by equal losses, and +that only the name of victory rested with the Romans; that in other +respects they too shared the lot of defeated persons; the two pavilions +of the consuls were polluted; one by the murder committed on a son, the +other by the blood of a devoted consul; that their army was cut down in +every direction; their spearmen and principes were cut down; great havoc +was made before the standards and behind them; the Triarii at length +restored their cause. Though the forces of the Latins were cut down in +an equal proportion, yet for reinforcements, Latium or the Volscians +were nearer than Rome. Wherefore, if they thought well of it, he would +speedily call out the youth from the Latin and Volscian states, and +would return to Capua with a determined army, and by his unexpected +arrival strike dismay among the Romans, who were expecting nothing less +than battle." Deceptive letters being sent around Latium and the +Volscian nation, a tumultuary army, hastily raised from all quarters, +was assembled, for as they had not been present at the battle, they were +more disposed to believe on slight grounds. This army the consul +Torquatus met at Trisanum, a place between Sinuessa and Minturnæ. Before +a place was selected for a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_519" id="Page_519">[Pg 519]</a></span> camp, the baggage on both sides being piled +up in a heap, they fought and terminated the war; for so impaired was +their strength, that all the Latins surrendered themselves to the +consul, who was leading his victorious army to lay waste their lands, +and the Campanians followed the example of this surrender. Latium and +Capua were fined some land. The Latin with the addition of the +Privernian land; and the Falernian land, which had belonged to the +people of Campania, as far as the river Vulturnus, is all distributed to +the commons of Rome. In the Latin land two acres a man were assigned, so +that they should receive an additional three-fourths of an acre from the +Privernian land; in the Falernian land three acres were assigned, one +fourth of an acre being further added, in consideration of the distance. +Of the Latins the Laurentians were exempted from punishment, as also the +horsemen of the Campanians, because they had not revolted. An order was +issued that the treaty should be renewed with the Laurentians; and it is +renewed every year since, on the tenth day after the Latin festival. The +rights of citizenship were granted to the Campanian horsemen; and that +it might serve as a memorial, they hung up a brazen tablet in the temple +of Castor at Rome. The Campanian state was also enjoined to pay them a +yearly stipend of four hundred and fifty denarii each; their number +amounted to one thousand six hundred.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h12" name="h12"></a>12</div> +<p>The war being thus concluded, after rewards and punishment were +distributed according to the deserts of each, Titus Manlius returned to +Rome: on his approach it appears that the aged only went forth to meet +him; and that the young men, both then, and all his life after, detested +and cursed him. The Antians made incursions on the territories of Ostia, +Ardea, and Solonia. The consul Manlius, because he was unable by reason +of his health to conduct that war, nominated as dictator Lucius Papirius +Crassus, who then happened to be prætor; by him Lucius Papirius Cursor +was appointed master of the horse. Nothing worthy of mention was +performed against the Antians by the dictator, although he had kept a +standing camp for several months in the Antian territory. To a year +signalized by a victory over so many and such powerful states, further +by the illustrious death of one of the consuls, as well as by the +unrelenting, though memorable, severity of command in the other, there +succeeded as consuls Titus Æmi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_520" id="Page_520">[Pg 520]</a></span>lius Mamercinus and Quintus Publilius +Philo; neither to a similar opportunity of exploits, and they themselves +being mindful rather of their own interests as well as of those of the +parties in the state, than of the interests of their country. They +routed on the plains of Ferentinum, and stripped of their camp, the +Latins, who, in resentment of the land they had lost, took up arms +again. Publilius, under whose guidance and auspices the action had been +fought, receiving the submission of the Latin states, who had lost a +great many of their young men there, Æmilius marched the army to Pedum. +The people of Pedum were supported by the states of Tibur, Præneste, and +Velitræ; auxiliaries had also come from Lanuvium and Antium. Where, +though the Romans had the advantage in several engagements, still the +entire labour remained at the city of Pedum itself and at the camp of +the allied states, which was adjoining the city: suddenly leaving the +war unfinished, because he heard that a triumph was decreed to his +colleague, he himself also returned to Rome to demand a triumph before a +victory had been obtained. The senate displeased by this ambitious +conduct, and refusing a triumph unless Pedum was either taken or should +surrender, Æmilius, alienated from the senate in consequence of this +act, administered the remainder of the consulship like to a seditious +tribuneship. For, as long as he was consul, he neither ceased to +criminate the patricians to the people, his colleague by no means +interfering, because he himself also was a plebeian; (the scanty +distribution of the land among the commons in the Latin and Falernian +territory afforded the groundwork of the criminations;) and when the +senate, wishing to put an end to the administration of the consuls, +ordered a dictator to be nominated against the Latins, who were again in +arms, Æmilius, to whom the fasces then belonged, nominated his colleague +dictator; by him Junius Brutus was constituted master of the horse. The +dictatorship was popular, both in consequence of his discourses +containing invectives against the patricians, and because he passed +three laws, most advantageous to the commons, and injurious to the +nobility; one, that the orders of the commons should be binding on all +the Romans; another, that the patricians should, before the suffrages +commenced, declare their approbation of the laws which should be passed +in the assemblies of the centuries; the third, that one at least of the +censors<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_521" id="Page_521">[Pg 521]</a></span> should be elected from the commons, as they had already gone so +far as that it was lawful that both the consuls should be plebeians. The +patricians considered that more of detriment had been sustained on that +year from the consuls and dictator than was counterbalanced by their +success and achievements abroad.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h13" name="h13"></a>13</div> +<p>On the following year, Lucius Furius Camillus and Caius Mænius were +consuls, in order that the neglect of his duty by Æmilius, the consul of +the preceding year, might be rendered more markedly reproachful, the +senate loudly urge that Pedum should be assailed with arms, men, and +every kind of force, and be demolished; and the new consuls, being +forced to give that matter the precedence of all others, set out on that +expedition. The state of affairs was now such in Latium, that they could +no longer submit to either war or peace. For war they were deficient in +resources; they spurned at peace through resentment for the loss of +their land. It seemed necessary therefore to steer a middle course, to +keep within their towns, so that the Romans by being provoked might have +no pretext for hostilities; and that if the siege of any town should be +announced to them, aid should be sent from every quarter from all the +states. And still the people of Pedum were aided by only a very few +states. The Tiburtians and Prænestines, whose territory lay nearest, +came to Pedum. Mænius suddenly making an attack, defeated the +Aricinians, and Lanuvians, and Veliternians, at the river Astura, the +Volscians of Antium forming a junction with them. The Tiburtian, far the +strongest body, Camillus engages at Pedum, encountering much greater +difficulty, though with a result equally successful. A sudden sally of +the townsmen during the battle chiefly occasioned confusion: Camillus, +turning on these with a part of his army, not only drove them within +their walls, but on the very same day, after he had discomfited +themselves and their auxiliaries, he took the town by scalade. It was +then resolved to lead round with greater energy and spirit his +victorious army from the storming of a single city to the entire +conquest of Latium. Nor did they stop until they reduced all Latium, +either by storming, or by becoming masters of the cities one after the +other by capitulation. Then, disposing garrisons in the towns which they +had taken, they departed to Rome to a triumph<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_522" id="Page_522">[Pg 522]</a></span> universally admitted to +be due to them. To the triumph was added the honour of having equestrian +statues erected to them in the forum, a compliment very unusual at that +period. Before they commenced holding the meeting for the election of +the consuls for the ensuing year, Camillus moved the senate concerning +the Latin states, and spoke thus: "Conscript fathers, that which was to +be done by war and arms in Latium has now been fully accomplished by the +bounty of the gods and the valour of the soldiers. The armies of the +enemy have been cut down at Pedum and the Astura. All the Latin towns, +and Antium belonging to the Volscians, either taken by storm, or +received into surrender, are occupied by your garrisons. It now remains +to be considered, since they annoy us by their repeated rebellions, how +we may keep them in quiet submission and in the observance of perpetual +peace. The immortal gods have put the determination of this matter so +completely in your power, that they have placed it at your option +whether Latium is to exist henceforward or not. Ye can therefore insure +to yourselves perpetual peace, as far as regards the Latins, either by +adopting severe or lenient measures. Do ye choose to adopt cruel conduct +towards people who have surrendered and have been conquered? Ye may +destroy all Latium, make a vast desert of a place whence, in many and +serious wars, ye have often made use of an excellent army of allies. Do +you wish, according to the example of your ancestors, to augment the +Roman state by admitting the vanquished among your citizens? Materials +for extending your power by the highest glory are at hand. That +government is certainly by far the most secure, which the subjects feel +a pleasure in obeying. But whatever determination ye wish to come to, it +is necessary that it be speedy. So many states have ye in a state of +suspense between hope and fear; and it is necessary that you be +discharged as soon as possible of your solicitude about them, and that +their minds, whilst they are still in a state of insensibility from +uncertainty, be at once impressed either by punishment or clemency. It +was our duty to bring matters to such a pass that you may have full +power to deliberate on every matter; yours to decide what is most +expedient to yourselves and the commonwealth."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h14" name="h14"></a>14</div> +<p>The principal members of the senate applauded the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_523" id="Page_523">[Pg 523]</a></span> consul's +statement of the business on the whole; but said that "as the states +were differently circumstanced, that their plan might be readily +adjusted so that it might be determined according to the desert of each, +if they should put the question regarding each state specifically." The +question was therefore so put regarding each separately and a decree +past. To the Lanuvians the right of citizenship was granted, and the +exercise of their religious rights was restored to them with this +provision, that the temple and grove of Juno Sospita should be common +between the Lanuvian burghers and the Roman people. The Aricians, +Nomentans, and Pedans were admitted into the number of citizens on the +same terms as the Lanuvians. To the Tusculans the rights of citizenship +which they already possessed were continued; and the crime of rebellion +was turned from disaffection on public grounds against a few +instigators. On the Veliternians, Roman citizens of long standing, +measures of great severity were inflicted because they had so often +rebelled; their walls were razed, and their senate removed from thence, +and they were ordered to dwell on the other side of the Tiber, so that +the fine of any individual who should be caught on the hither side of +that river should amount to one thousand <i>asses</i>; and that the person +who had apprehended him, should not discharge his prisoner from +confinement, until the money was paid down. Into the land of the +senators colonists were sent; from the additions of which Velitræ +recovered its appearance of former populousness. A new colony was also +sent to Antium, with this provision, that if the Antians desired to be +enrolled as colonists, permission to that effect should be granted. +Their ships of war were removed from thence, and the people of Antium +were interdicted the sea, and the rights of citizenship were granted +them. The Tiburtians and Prænestines were amerced in some land, not only +on account of the recent guilt of the rebellion, which was common to +them with the other Latins; but also because, from their dislike to the +Roman government, they had formerly associated in arms with the Gauls, a +nation of savages. From the other Latin states they took away the +privileges of intermarriage, commerce, and of holding meetings. To the +Campanians, in compliment to their horsemen, because they had refused to +join in rebellion with the Latins, and to the Fundans and Formians,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_524" id="Page_524">[Pg 524]</a></span> +because the passage through their territories had been always secure and +peaceful, the freedom of the state was granted with the right of +suffrage. It was determined that the people of Cumæ and Suessula should +have the same rights and be on the same footing as Capua. Of the ships +of the Antians some were drawn up to the docks at Rome, some were +burned, and with the prows of these a pulpit built in the forum was +ordered to be decorated; and that temple was called Rostra.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h15" name="h15"></a>15</div> +<p>During the consulship of Caius Sulpicius Longus and Publius Ælius +Pætus, when the Roman power not more than the kindly feeling engendered +by acts of kindness diffused the blessings of peace among all parties, a +war broke out between the Sidicinians and Auruncans. The Auruncans +having been admitted into alliance on the occasion of their +surrendering, had since that period made no disturbance; accordingly +they had a juster pretext for seeking aid from the Romans. But before +the consuls led forth their army from the city, (for the senate had +ordered the Auruncans to be defended,) intelligence is brought that the +Auruncans deserted their town through fear, and flying with their wives +and children, that they fortified Suessa, which is now called Aurunca; +that their ancient walls and city were demolished by the Sidicinians. +The senate being in consequence incensed against the consuls, by whose +delays the allies had been betrayed, ordered a dictator to be created. +Caius Claudius Regillensis was appointed, and he nominated Caius +Claudius Hortator as master of the horse. A scruple afterwards arose +concerning the dictator; and when the augurs declared that he seemed to +have been created under an informality, the dictator and the master of +the horse laid down their office. This year Minucia, a vestal, at first +suspected on account of her dress being more elegant than was becoming, +afterwards being arraigned before the pontiffs on the testimony of a +slave, after she had been ordered by their decree to abstain from +meddling in sacred rites, and to keep her slaves under her own power, +when brought to trial, was buried alive at the Colline gate, on the +right of the causeway, in the field of wickedness. I suppose that name +was given to the place from her crime. On the same year Quintus +Publilius Philo was the first of the plebeians elected prætor, being +opposed by Sulpicius the consul, who refused to take any notice of him +as a candidate; the senate, as they had not suc<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_525" id="Page_525">[Pg 525]</a></span>ceeded on that ground in +the case of the highest offices, being less earnest with respect to the +prætorship.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h16" name="h16"></a>16</div> +<p>The following year, Lucius Papirius Crassus and Kæso Duilius being +consuls, was distinguished by a war with the Ausonians, as being new +rather than important. This people inhabited the city Cales; they had +united their arms with their neighbours the Sidicinians; and the army of +the two states being defeated in one battle scarcely worthy of record, +was induced to take to flight the earlier in consequence of the +proximity of the cities, and the more sheltered on their flight. Nor did +the senate, however, discontinue their attention to that war, because +the Sidicinians had now so often taken up arms either as principals, or +had afforded aid to those who did so, or had been the cause of +hostilities. Accordingly they exerted themselves with all their might, +to raise to the consulship for the fourth time, Marcus Valerius Corvus, +the greatest general of that day. To Corvus was added Marcus Atilius +Regulus as colleague; and lest any disappointment might by any chance +occur, a request was made of the consuls, that, without drawing lots, +that province might be assigned to Corvus. Receiving the victorious army +from the former consuls, proceeding to Cales, whence the war had +originated, after he had, at the first shout and onset, routed the +enemy, who were disheartened by the recollection also of the former +engagement, he set about attacking the town itself. And such was the +ardour of the soldiers, that they wished to advance immediately up to +the walls, and strenuously asserted that they would scale them. Corvus, +because that was a hazardous undertaking, wished to accomplish his +object rather by the labour than the risk of his men. Accordingly he +formed a rampart, prepared his vineæ, and advanced towers up to the +walls; but an opportunity which accidentally presented itself, prevented +the occasion for them. For Marcius Fabius, a Roman prisoner, when, +having broken his chains during the inattention of his guards on a +festival day, suspending himself by means of a rope which was fastened +to a battlement of the wall, he let himself down by the hands, persuaded +the general to make an assault on the enemy whilst stupified by wine and +feasting; nor were the Ausonians, together with their city, captured +with greater difficulty than they had been routed in the field. A great +amount of booty was obtained; and a garrison being stationed at Cales,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_526" id="Page_526">[Pg 526]</a></span> +the legions were marched back to Rome. The consul triumphed in pursuance +of a decree of the senate; and that Atilius might not be without a share +of glory, both the consuls were ordered to lead the army against the +Sidicinians. But first, in conformity with a decree of the senate, they +nominated as dictator for the purpose of holding the elections, Lucius +Æmilius Mamercinus; he named Quintus Publilius Philo his master of the +horse. The dictator presiding at the elections, Titus Veturius and +Spurius Postumius were elected consuls. Though a part of the war with +the Sidicinians still remained; yet that they might anticipate, by an +act of kindness, the wishes of the commons, they proposed about sending +a colony to Cales; and a decree of the senate being passed that two +thousand five hundred men should be enrolled for that purpose, they +appointed Kæso Duilius, Titus Quinctius, and Marcus Fabius commissioners +for conducting the colony and distributing the land.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h17" name="h17"></a>17</div> +<p>The new consuls then, recovering the army from their predecessors, +entered the enemy's territories and carried their depredations up to the +walls and the city. There because the Sidicinians, who had raised a +numerous army, seemed determined to fight vigorously for their last +hope, and a report existed that Samnium also was preparing for +hostilities, Publius Cornelius Rufinus was created dictator by the +consuls in pursuance of a decree of the senate; Marcus Antonius was +nominated master of the horse. A scruple afterwards arose that they were +elected under an informality: and they laid down their office; and +because a pestilence followed, recourse was had to an interregnum, as if +all the auspices had been infected by that irregularity. By Marcus +Valerius Corvus, the fifth interrex from the commencement of the +interregnum, Aulus Cornelius a second time, and Cneius Domitius were +elected consuls. Things being now tranquil, the rumour of a Gallic war +had the effect of a real outbreak, so that they were determined that a +dictator should be nominated. Marcus Papirius Crassus was nominated, and +Publius Valerius Publicola master of the horse. And when the levy was +conducted by them with more activity than was deemed necessary in the +case of neighbouring wars, scouts were sent out and brought word, that +there was perfect quiet with the Gauls in every direction. It was +suspected that Samnium also was now for the second year<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_527" id="Page_527">[Pg 527]</a></span> in a state of +disturbance in consequence of their entertaining new designs: hence the +Roman troops were not withdrawn from the Sidicinian territory. But a +hostile attack made by Alexander of Epirus on the Lucanians drew away +the attention of the Samnites to another quarter; these two nations +fought a pitched battle against the king, as he was making a descent on +the district adjoining Pæstum. Alexander, having come off victorious in +that contest, concluded a peace with the Romans; with what fidelity he +would have kept it, if his other projects had been equally successful, +is uncertain. The same year the census was performed, and the new +citizens were rated; on their account the Mæscian and Scaptian tribes +were added: the censors who added them were Quintus Publilius Philo and +Spurius Postumius. The Acerrans were enrolled as Romans, in conformity +with a law introduced by the prætor, Lucius Papirius, by which the right +of citizenship with the privilege of suffrage was conferred. These were +the transactions at home and abroad during that year.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h18" name="h18"></a>18</div> +<p>The following year was disastrous, whether by the intemperature of +the air, or by human guilt, Marcus Claudius Marcellus and Caius Valerius +being consuls. I find in the annals Flaccus and Potitus variously given +as the surname of the consul; but in this it is of little consequence +which is the true one. I would heartily wish that this other account +were a false one, (nor indeed do all writers mention it,) viz. that +those persons, whose death rendered the year signal for the pestilence, +were carried off by poison. The circumstance however must be stated as +it is handed down to us, that I may not detract from the credit of any +writer. When the principal persons of the state were dying of similar +diseases, and all generally with the same result, a certain maid-servant +undertook, before Quintius Fabius Maximus, curule ædile, to discover the +cause of the public malady, provided the public faith would be given to +her by him, that the discovery should not be made detrimental to her. +Fabius immediately lays the matter before the consuls, and the consuls +before the senate, and with the concurrence of that order the public +faith was pledged to the informer. It was then disclosed that the state +was afflicted by the wickedness of certain women, and that certain +matrons were preparing those poisonous drugs; and if they wished to +follow her forthwith, they might be de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_528" id="Page_528">[Pg 528]</a></span>tected in the very fact. Having +followed the informer, they found women preparing certain drugs, and +others of the same kind laid up. These being brought into the forum, and +several matrons, to the number of twenty, in whose possession they had +been detected, being summoned by the beadle, two of them, Cornelia and +Sergia, both of patrician rank, maintaining that these drugs were +wholesome, were directed by the informer who confronted them to drink +some, that they might convict her of having stated what was false; +having taken time to confer together, when, the crowd being removed, +they referred the matter to the other matrons in the open view of all; +they also not refusing to drink, they all drank of the preparation, and +perished by their own wicked device. Their attendants being instantly +seized, informed against a great number of matrons, of whom to the +number of one hundred and seventy were condemned. Nor up to that day was +there ever an inquiry made at Rome concerning poisoning. The +circumstance was considered a prodigy; and seemed the act rather of +insane persons than of persons depraved by guilt. Wherefore mention +having been found in the annals, that formerly in the secessions of the +commons the nail had been driven by the dictator, and that the minds of +the people, distracted by discord, had been restored to a sane state, it +was determined that a dictator should be nominated for the purpose of +driving the nail. Cneius Quinctilius being nominated, appointed Lucius +Valerius master of the horse, who, as soon as the nail was driven, +abdicated their offices.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h19" name="h19"></a>19</div> +<p>Lucius Papirius Crassus a second time, and Lucius Plautius Venno +were elected consuls; at the commencement of which year ambassadors came +to Rome from the Fabraternians, a Volscian people, and from the +Lucanians, soliciting to be admitted into alliance: [promising] that if +they were defended from the arms of the Samnites, they would continue in +fidelity and obedience under the government of the Roman people. +Ambassadors were then sent by the senate; and the Samnites were directed +to withhold all violence from the territories of those states; and this +embassy proved effectual not so much because the Samnites were desirous +of peace, as because they were not prepared for war. The same year a war +broke out with the people of Privernum; in which the people of Fundi +were their supporters, their leader also being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_529" id="Page_529">[Pg 529]</a></span> a Fundanian, Vitruvius +Vaccus; a man of distinction not only at home, but in Rome also. He had +a house on the Palatine hill, which, after the building was razed and +the ground thrown open, was called the Vacciprata. Lucius Papirius +having set out to oppose him whilst devastating extensively the +districts of Setia, Norba, and Cora, posted himself at no great distance +from his camp. Vitruvius neither adopted the prudent resolution to +enclose himself with his trenches against an enemy his superior in +strength, nor had he sufficient courage to engage at any great distance +from his camp. When his army had scarcely got out of the gate of the +camp, and his soldiers were looking backwards to flight rather than to +battle or the enemy, he enters on an engagement without judgment or +boldness; and as he was conquered by a very slight effort and +unequivocally, so did he by the very shortness of the distance, and by +the facility of his retreat into the camp so near at hand, protect his +soldiers without difficulty from much loss; and scarcely were any slain +in the engagement itself, and but few in the confusion of the flight in +the rear, whilst they were making their way into the camp; and as soon +as it was dark they repaired to Privernum in trepidation, so that they +might protect themselves rather by walls than by a rampart. Plautius, +the other consul, after laying waste the lands in every direction and +driving off the spoil, leads his army into the Fundanian territory. The +senate of the Fundanians met him as he was entering their borders; they +declare that "they had not come to intercede in behalf of Vitruvius or +those who followed his faction, but in behalf of the people of Fundi, +whose exemption from any blame in the war had been proved by Vitruvius +himself, when he made Privernum his place of retreat, and not his native +country, Fundi. At Privernum, therefore, the enemies of the Roman people +were to be looked for, and punished, who revolted at the same time from +the Fundanians and the Romans, unmindful of both countries. That the +Fundanians were at peace, that they had Roman feelings and a grateful +recollection of the political rights received. They entreated the consul +to withhold war from an inoffensive people; their lands, city, their own +bodies and those of their wives and children, were, and ever should be, +at the disposal of the Roman people." The consul, having commended the +Fundanians, and despatched letters to Rome that the Fundanians had +preserved their allegiance,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_530" id="Page_530">[Pg 530]</a></span> turned his march to Privernum. Claudius +states, that the consul first punished those who were at the head of the +conspiracy; that three hundred and fifty of the conspirators were sent +in chains to Rome; and that such submission was not received by the +senate, because they considered that the people of Fundi wished to come +off with impunity by the punishment of needy and humble persons.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h20" name="h20"></a>20</div> +<p>While the siege of Privernum was being conducted by the two consular +armies, one of the consuls was recalled to Rome, on account of the +elections. This year gaols were first erected in the circus. While the +attention of the public was still occupied by the Privernian war, an +alarming report of the Gauls being in arms, a matter scarcely ever +slighted by the senate, suddenly came on them. The new consuls, +therefore, Lucius Æmilius Mamercinus and Caius Plautius, on the calends +of July, the very day on which they entered into office, received orders +to settle the provinces immediately between themselves; and Mamercinus, +to whom the Gallic war fell, was directed to levy troops, without +admitting any plea of immunity: nay, it is said, that even the rabble of +handicrafts, and those of sedentary trades, of all the worst qualified +for military service, were called out; and a vast army was collected at +Veii, in readiness to meet the Gauls. It was thought proper not to +proceed to a greater distance, lest the enemy might by some other route +arrive at the city without being observed. In the course of a few days +it being ascertained, on a careful inquiry, that every thing on that +side was quiet at the time; the whole force, which was to have opposed +the Gauls, was then turned against Privernum. Of the issue of the +business, there are two different accounts: some say, that the city was +taken by storm; and that Vitruvius fell alive into the hands [of the +conquerors]: others maintain that the townsmen, to avoid the extremities +of a storm, presenting the rod of peace, surrendered to the consul; and +that Vitruvius was delivered up by his troops. The senate, being +consulted with respect to Vitruvius and the Privernians, sent +directions, that the consul Plautius should demolish the walls of +Privernum, and, leaving a strong garrison there, come home to enjoy the +honour of a triumph; at the same time ordering that Vitruvius should be +kept in prison, until the return of the consul, and that he should then +be beaten with rods, and put to death. His house, which stood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_531" id="Page_531">[Pg 531]</a></span> on the +Palatine hill, they commanded to be razed to the ground, and his effects +to be devoted to Semo Sancus. With the money produced by the sale of +them, brazen globes were formed, and placed in the chapel of Sancus, +opposite to the temple of Quirinus. As to the senate of Privernum, it +was decreed, that every person who had continued to act as a senator of +Privernum, after the revolt from the Romans, should reside on the +farther side of the Tiber, under the same restrictions as those of +Velitræ. After the passing of these decrees, there was no further +mention of the Privernians, until Plautius had triumphed. After the +triumph, Vitruvius, with his accomplices, having been put to death, the +consul thought that all being now fully gratified by the sufferings of +the guilty, allusion might be safely made to the business of the +Privernians, he spoke in the following manner: "Conscript fathers, since +the authors of the revolt have received, both from the immortal gods and +from you, the punishment so well merited, what do ye judge proper to be +done with respect to the guiltless multitude? For my part, although my +duty consists rather in collecting the opinions of others than in +offering my own, yet, when I reflect that the Privernians are situated +in the neighbourhood of the Samnites, our peace with whom is exceedingly +uncertain, I should wish, that as little ground of animosity as possible +may be left between them and us."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h21" name="h21"></a>21</div> +<p>The affair naturally admitted of a diversity of opinions, each, +agreeably to his particular temper, recommending either severity or +lenity; matters were still further perplexed by one of the Privernian +ambassadors, more mindful of the prospects to which he had been born, +than to the exigency of the present juncture: who being asked by one of +the advocates for severity, "What punishment he thought the Privernians +deserved?" answered, "Such as those deserve who deem themselves worthy +of liberty." The consul observing, that, by this stubborn answer, those +who were adverse to the cause of the Privernians were the more +exasperated against them, and wishing, by a question of favourable +import, to draw from him a more conciliating reply, said to him, "What +if we remit the punishment, in what manner may we expect that ye will +observe the peace which shall be established between us?" He replied, +"If the peace which ye grant us be a good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_532" id="Page_532">[Pg 532]</a></span> one, both inviolable and +eternal; if bad, of no long continuance." Then indeed some exclaimed, +that the Privernian menaced them, and not in ambiguous terms; and that +by such expressions peaceable states were incited to rebellion. But the +more reasonable part of the senate interpreted his answers more +favourably, and said, that "the words they had heard were those of a +man, and of a free-man. Could it be believed that any people, or even +any individual, would remain, longer than necessity constrained, in a +situation which he felt painful? That peace was faithfully observed, +only when those at peace were voluntarily so; but that fidelity was not +to be expected where they wished to establish slavery." In this opinion +they were led to concur, principally, by the consul himself, who +frequently observed to the consulars, who had proposed the different +resolutions, in such a manner as to be heard by several, that "surely +those men only who thought of nothing but liberty, were worthy of being +made Romans." They consequently both carried their cause in the senate; +and, moreover, by direction of that body, a proposal was laid before the +people, that the freedom of the state should be granted to the +Privernians. The same year a colony of three hundred was sent to Anxur, +and received two acres of land each.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h22" name="h22"></a>22</div> +<p>The year following, in which the consuls were Publius Plautius +Proculus and Publius Cornelius Scapula, was remarkable for no one +transaction, civil or military, except the sending of a colony to +Fregellæ, a district which had belonged to the Sidicinians, and +afterwards to the Volscians; and a distribution of meat to the people, +made by Marcus Flavius, on occasion of the funeral of his mother. There +were many who represented, that, under the appearance of doing honour to +his parent, a deserved recompence was made to the people, for having +acquitted him, when prosecuted by the ædiles on a charge of having +debauched a married woman. This distribution of meat intended as a +return for favours shown on the trial, proved also the means of +procuring him the honour of a public office; for, at the next election, +though absent, he was preferred before the candidates who solicited in +person the tribuneship of the commons. The city of Palæpolis was +situated at no great distance from the spot where Neapolis now stands. +The two cities were inhabited by one people: these came from Cumæ, and +the Cumans derive their origin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_533" id="Page_533">[Pg 533]</a></span> from Chalcis in Eubœa. By means of +the fleet in which they had been conveyed hither, they possessed great +power on the coast of the sea, near which they dwelt. Having first +landed on the islands of Ænaria, and the Pithecusæ, they afterwards +ventured to transfer their settlement to the continent. This state, +relying both on their own strength, as well as on the treacherous nature +of the alliance of the Samnites with the Romans; or, encouraged by the +report of a pestilence having attacked the city of Rome, committed +various acts of hostility against the Romans settled in the Campanian +and Falernian territories. Wherefore, in the succeeding consulate of +Lucius Cornelius, and Quintus Publilius Philo a second time, heralds +being sent to Palæpolis to demand satisfaction, when a haughty answer +was returned by these Greeks, a race more magnanimous in words than in +action, the people, in pursuance of the direction of the senate, ordered +war to be declared against the Palæpolitans. On settling the provinces +between the consuls, the war against the Greeks fell to Publilius. +Cornelius, with another army, was appointed to watch the Samnites if +they should attempt any movement; but a report prevailed that they, +anxiously expecting a revolt in Campania, intended to march their troops +thither; that was judged by Cornelius the properest station for him.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h23" name="h23"></a>23</div> +<p>The senate received information, from both the consuls, that there +was very little hope of peace with the Samnites. Publilius informed +them, that two thousand soldiers from Nolæ, and four thousand of the +Samnites, had been received into Palæpolis, a measure rather forced on +the Greeks by the Nolans than agreeable to their inclination. Cornelius +wrote, that a levy of troops had been ordered, that all Samnium was in +motion, and that the neighbouring states of Privernum, Fundi, and +Formiæ, were openly solicited to join them. When in consequence it was +thought proper, that, before hostilities were commenced, ambassadors +should be sent to the Samnites, an insolent answer is returned by them; +they even went so far as to accuse the Romans of behaving injuriously +towards them; but, nevertheless, they took pains to clear themselves of +the charges made against them, asserting, that "the Greeks were not +assisted with either counsel or aid by their state, nor were the +Fundanians or Formians tampered with by them; for, if they were disposed +to war,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_534" id="Page_534">[Pg 534]</a></span> they had not the least reason to be diffident of their own +strength. However, they could not dissemble, that it gave great offence +to the state of the Samnites, that Fregellæ, by them taken from the +Volscians and demolished, should have been rebuilt by the Romans; and +that they should have established a colony within the territory of the +Samnites, to which their colonists gave the name of Fregellæ. This +injury and affront, if not done away by the authors, they were +determined themselves to remove, by every means in their power." When +one of the Roman ambassadors proposed to discuss the matter before their +common allies and friends, their magistrate said, "Why do we disguise +our sentiments? Romans, no conferences of ambassadors, nor arbitration +of any person whatever, can terminate our differences; but the plains of +Campania, in which we must meet; our arms and the common fortune of war +will settle the point. Let our armies, therefore, meet between Capua and +Suessula; and there let us decide, whether the Samnite or the Roman +shall hold the sovereignty of Italy." To this the ambassadors of the +Romans replied, "that they would go, not whither their enemy called, but +whither their commanders should lead." In the mean time, Publilius, by +seizing an advantageous post between Palæpolis and Neapolis, had cut off +that interchange of mutual aid, which they had hitherto afforded each +other, according as either place was hard pressed. Accordingly, when +both the day of the elections approached, and as it was highly +inexpedient for the public interest that Publilius should be called away +when on the point of assailing the enemy's walls, and in daily +expectation of gaining possession of their city, application was made to +the tribunes, to recommend to the people the passing of an order, that +Publilius Philo, when his year of office should expire, might continue +in command, as pro-consul, until the war with the Greeks should be +finished. A letter was despatched to Lucius Cornelius, with orders to +name a dictator; for it was not thought proper that the consul should be +recalled from the vigorous prosecution of the war now that he had +entered into Samnium. He nominated Marcus Claudius Marcellus, who +appointed Spurius Postumius master of the horse. The elections, however, +were not held by the dictator, because it became a question whether he +had been appointed under an irregularity;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_535" id="Page_535">[Pg 535]</a></span> and the augurs being +consulted, pronounced that it appeared that the dictator's appointment +was defective. The tribunes inveighed against this proceeding as +dangerous and dishonourable; "for it was not probable," they said, "that +such defect could have been discovered, as the consul, rising in the +night, had nominated the dictator while every thing was still;<a name="FNanchor_172_172" id="FNanchor_172_172"></a><a href="#Footnote_172_172" class="fnanchor">[172]</a> nor +had the said consul in any of his letters, either public or private, +made any mention of such a thing to any one; nor did any person whatever +come forward who said that he saw or heard any thing which could vitiate +the auspices. Neither could the augurs sitting at Rome divine what +inauspicious circumstance had occurred to the consul in the camp. Who +did not plainly perceive, that the dictator's being a plebeian, was the +defect which the augurs had discovered?" These and other arguments were +urged in vain by the tribunes: the affair however ended in an +interregnum. At last, after the elections had been adjourned repeatedly +on one pretext or another, the fourteenth interrex, Lucius Æmilius, +elected consuls Caius Pætelius, and Lucius Papirius Mugillanus, or +Cursor, as I find him named in some annals.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h24" name="h24"></a>24</div> +<p>It has been recorded, that in this year Alexandria in Egypt was +founded; and that Alexander, king of Epirus, being slain by a Lucanian +exile, verified in the circumstances of his death the prediction of +Jupiter of Dodona. At the time when he was invited into Italy by the +Tarentines, a caution had been given him, "to beware of the Acherusian +waters and the city Pandosia, for there were fixed the limits of his +destiny." For that reason he made the greater haste to pass over to +Italy, in order to be at as great a distance as possible from the city +Pandosia in Epirus, and the river Acheron, which, after flowing through +Molossis, runs into the lakes called Infernal, and is received into the +Thesprotian gulf. But, (as it frequently happens, that men, by +endeavouring to shun their fate, run directly upon it,) after having +often defeated the armies of Bruttium and Lucania, and taken Heraclea, a +colony of the Tarentines, Consentia and Metapontum from the Lucanians, +Terina from the Bruttians, and several other cities of the Messapians +and Lucanians; and having sent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_536" id="Page_536">[Pg 536]</a></span> into Epirus three hundred illustrious +families, whom he intended to keep as hostages, he posted his troops on +three hills, which stood at a small distance from each other, not far +from the city Pandosia, and close to the frontiers of the Bruttians and +Lucanians, in order that he might thence make incursions into every part +of the enemy's country. At that time he kept about his person two +hundred Lucanian exiles, as faithful attendants, but whose fidelity, +according to the general disposition of people of that description, was +ever ready to follow the changes of fortune. When continual rains spread +such an inundation over all the plains, as cut off from the three +separate divisions of the army all means of mutual aid, the two parties, +in neither of which the king was present, were suddenly attacked and +overpowered by the enemy, who, after putting them to the sword, employed +their whole force in blockading the king himself. From this place the +Lucanian exiles sent emissaries to their countrymen, and stipulating a +safe return for themselves, promised to deliver the king, either alive +or dead, into their power. But he, bravely resolving to make an +extraordinary effort, at the head of a chosen band, broke through the +midst of their forces; engaged singly, and slew the general of the +Lucanians, and collecting together his men, who had been scattered in +the retreat, arrived at a river which pointed out his road by the ruins +of a bridge which had been recently broken by the violence of the flood. +Here, while the party was fording the river on a very uneven bottom, a +soldier, almost spent with fatigue and apprehension, cried out as a +reflection on the odious name of it,—"You are justly named Acheros +(dismal):" which expression reaching the king's ears, and instantly +recalling to his mind the fate denounced on him, he halted, hesitating +whether he should cross over or not. Then Sotimus, one of the royal band +of youths which attended him, asking why he delayed in such a critical +moment, showed him that the Lucanians were watching an opportunity to +perpetrate some act of treachery: whereupon the king, looking back, and +seeing them coming towards him in a body, drew his sword, and pushed on +his horse through the middle of the river. When he had now reached the +shallow, a Lucanian exile from a distance transfixed him with a javelin: +after his fall, the current carried down his lifeless body, with the +weapon sticking in it, to the posts of the enemy: there a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_537" id="Page_537">[Pg 537]</a></span> shocking +mangling of it took place; for dividing it in the middle, they sent one +half to Consentia, and kept the other, as a subject of mockery, to +themselves. While they were throwing darts and stones at it, a woman +mixing with the crowd, who were enraged to a degree beyond the credible +extent of human resentment, prevailed on them to stop for a moment. She +then told them with tears in her eyes that she had a husband and +children, prisoners among the enemy; and that she hoped to be able with +the king's body, however disfigured, to ransom her friends: this put an +end to their outrages. The remnants of his limbs were buried at +Consentia, entirely through the care of the woman; and his bones were +sent to Metapontum to the enemy, from whence they were conveyed to +Epirus to his wife Cleopatra and his sister Olympias; the latter of whom +was the mother, the former the sister, of Alexander the Great. Such was +the melancholy end of Alexander of Epirus; of which, although fortune +did not allow him to engage in hostilities with the Romans, yet, as he +waged war in Italy, I have thought it proper to give this brief account. +This year, the fifth time since the building of the city, the +lectisternium was performed at Rome for procuring the favour of the same +deities to whom it was addressed before.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h25" name="h25"></a>25</div> +<p>When the new consuls had, by order of the people, sent persons to +declare war against the Samnites, and they themselves were making all +preparations with greater energy than against the Greeks, a new +accession of strength also came to them when expecting no such thing. +The Lucanians and Apulians, nations who, until that time, had no kind of +intercourse with the Roman people, proposed an alliance with them, +promising a supply of men and arms for the war: a treaty of friendship +was accordingly concluded. At the same time, their affairs went on +successfully in Samnium. Three towns fell into their hands, Allifæ, +Callifæ, and Ruffrium; and the adjoining country to a great extent was, +on the first arrival of the consuls, laid entirely waste. Whilst the war +on this side was commenced with so much success, so the war in the other +quarter where the Greeks were held besieged, now drew towards a +conclusion. For, besides the communication between the two posts of the +enemy being cut off, by the besiegers having possession of part of the +works through which it had been carried on, they now suffered within the +walls hardships far<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_538" id="Page_538">[Pg 538]</a></span> more grievous than those with which the enemy +threatened them, and as if made prisoners by their own garrison, they +were now subjected to the greatest indignities in the persons of their +wives and children, and to such extremities as are generally felt on the +sacking of cities. When, therefore, intelligence arrived that +reinforcements were to come from Tarentum and from the Samnites, all +agreed that there were more of the latter already within the walls than +they wished; but the young men of Tarentum, who were Greeks as well as +themselves, they earnestly longed for, as they hoped to be enabled by +their means to oppose the Samnites and Nolans, no less than to resist +their Roman enemies. At last a surrender to the Romans appeared to be +the lightest evil. Charilaus and Nymphius, the two principal men in the +state, consulting together on the subject, settled the part which each +was to act; it, was, that one should desert to the Roman general, and +the other stay behind to manage affairs in the city, so as to facilitate +the execution of their plan. Charilaus was the person who came to +Publilius Philo; he told him that "he had taken a resolution, which he +hoped would prove advantageous, fortunate, and happy to the Palæpolitans +and to the Roman people, of delivering the fortifications into his +hands. Whether he should appear by that deed to have betrayed or +preserved his country, depended on the honour of the Romans. That for +himself in particular, he neither stipulated nor requested any thing; +but, in behalf of the state, he requested rather than stipulated, that +in case the design should succeed, the Roman people would consider more +especially the zeal and hazard with which it sought a renewal of their +friendship, than its folly and rashness in deviating from its duty." He +was commended by the general, and received a body of three thousand +soldiers, with which he was to seize on that part of the city which was +possessed by the Samnites; this detachment was commanded by Lucius +Quinctius, military tribune.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h26" name="h26"></a>26</div> +<p>At the same time also, Nymphius, on his part, artfully addressing +himself to the commander of the Samnites, prevailed upon him, as all the +troops of the Romans were employed either about Palæpolis or in Samnium, +to allow him to sail round with the fleet to the territory of Rome, +where he undertook to ravage, not only the sea-coast, but the country +adjoining the very city. But, in order to avoid observation, it was +necessary,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_539" id="Page_539">[Pg 539]</a></span> he told him, to set out by night, and to launch the ships +immediately. That this might be effected with the greater despatch, all +the young Samnites, except the necessary guards of the city, were sent +to the shore. While Nymphius wasted the time there, giving contradictory +orders, designedly, to create confusion, which was increased by the +darkness, and by the crowd, which was so numerous as to obstruct each +other's operations, Charilaus, according to the plan concerted, was +admitted by his associates into the city; and have filled the higher +parts of it with Roman soldiers, he ordered them to raise a shout; on +which the Greeks, who had received previous directions from their +leaders, kept themselves quiet. The Nolans fled through the opposite +part of the town, by the road leading to Nola. The flight of the +Samnites, who were shut out from the city, was easier, but had a more +disgraceful appearance; for they returned to their homes without arms, +stripped, and destitute of every thing; all, in short, belonging to them +being left with their enemies; so that they were objects of ridicule, +not only to foreigners, but even to their own countrymen. I know that +there is another account of this matter, according to which the town is +represented to have been betrayed by the Samnites; but I have this +account on the authority most worthy of credit; besides, the treaty of +Neapolis, for to that place the seat of government of the Greeks was +then transferred, renders it more probable that the renewal of +friendship was voluntary on their side. A triumph was decreed to +Publilius, because people were well convinced that the enemy, reduced by +the siege, had adopted terms of submission. These two extraordinary +incidents, which never before occurred in any case, befell this man: a +prolongation of command never before granted to any one; and a triumph +after the expiration of his office.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h27" name="h27"></a>27</div> +<p>Another war soon after arose with the Greeks of the other coast. For +the Tarentines having, for a considerable time, buoyed up the state of +Palæpolis with delusive hopes of assistance, when they understood that +the Romans had gotten possession of that city, as if they were the +persons who had suffered the disappointment, and not the authors of it, +they inveighed against the Palæpolitans, and became furious in their +anger and malice towards the Romans; on this account also, because +information was brought that the Lucanians and Apulians had submitted to +the Roman people; for a treaty of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_540" id="Page_540">[Pg 540]</a></span> alliance had been this year concluded +with both these nations. "The business," they observed, "was now brought +almost to their doors; and that the matter would soon come to this, that +the Romans must either be dealt with as enemies, or received as masters: +that, in fact, their interests were involved in the war of the Samnites, +and in its issue. That that was the only nation which continued to make +opposition; and that with power very inadequate, since the Lucanians +left them: these however might yet be brought back, and induced to +renounce the Roman alliance, if proper skill were used in sowing +dissension between them." These reasonings being readily adopted, by +people who wished for a change, some young Lucanians of considerable +note among their countrymen, but devoid of honour, were procured for +money; these having lacerated each other's persons with stripes, after +they had come naked into a public meeting of their countrymen, exclaimed +that, because they had ventured to go into the Roman camp, they had been +thus beaten with rods, by order of the consul, and had hardly escaped +the loss of their heads. A circumstance, so shocking in its nature, +carrying strong proofs of the ill-treatment, none of artifice, the +people were so irritated, that, by their clamours, they compelled the +magistrates to call together the senate; and some standing round that +assembly, insisted on a declaration of war against the Romans, others +ran different ways to rouse to arms the multitude residing in the +country. Thus the tumult hurrying into imprudence the minds even of +rational men, a decree was passed, that the alliance with the Samnites +should be renewed, and ambassadors sent for that purpose. Because this +so sudden a proceeding was totally devoid of any obvious cause for its +adoption, and consequently was little relied on for its sincerity; they +were, however, obliged both to give hostages, and also to receive +garrisons into their fortified places; and they, blinded by fraud and +resentment, refused no terms. In a little time after, on the authors of +the false charges removing to Tarentum, the whole imposition came to +light. But as they had given all power out of their own hands, nothing +was left them but unavailing repentance.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h28" name="h28"></a>28</div> +<p>This year there arose, as it were, a new era of liberty to the Roman +commons; in this that a stop was put to the practice of confining +debtors. This alteration of the law was effected in consequence of the +lust and signal cruelty of one usurer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_541" id="Page_541">[Pg 541]</a></span> His name was Lucius Papirius. To +him one Caius Publilius having surrendered his person to be confined for +a debt due by his father, his youth and beauty, which ought to have +excited commiseration, operated on the other's mind as incentives to +lust and insult. He first attempted to seduce the young man by impure +discourses, considering the bloom of his youth his own adventitious +gain; but finding that his ears were shocked at their infamous tendency, +he then endeavoured to terrify him by threats, and reminded him +frequently of his situation. At last, convinced of his resolution to act +conformably to his honourable birth, rather than to his present +condition, he ordered him to be stripped and scourged. When with the +marks of the rods imprinted in his flesh the youth rushed out into the +public street, loudly complaining of the depravedness and inhumanity of +the usurer; a vast number of people, moved by compassion for his early +age, and indignation at his barbarous treatment, reflecting at the same +time on their own lot and that of their children, flocked together into +the forum, and from thence in a body to the senate-house. When the +consuls were obliged by the sudden tumult to call a meeting of the +senate, the people, falling at the feet of each of the senators, as they +were going into the senate-house, presented to their view the lacerated +back of the youth. On that day, in consequence of the outrageous conduct +of an individual, the strongest bonds of credit were broken; and the +consuls were commanded to propose to the people, that no person should +be held in fetters or stocks, except convicted of a crime, and in order +to punishment; but that, for money due, the goods of the debtor, not his +person, should be answerable. Thus the confined debtors were released; +and provision made, for the time to come, that they should not be liable +to confinement.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h29" name="h29"></a>29</div> +<p>In the course of this year, while the war with the Samnites was +sufficient in itself to give full employment to the senate, besides the +sudden defection of the Lucanians, and the Tarentines, the promoters of +the defection, [another source of uneasiness] was added in a union +formed by the state of the Vestinians with the Samnites. Which event, +though it continued, during the present year, to be the general subject +of conversation, without coming under any public discussion, appeared so +important to the consuls of the year following, Lucius Furius Camillus a +second time, and Junius Brutus Scæva, that it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_542" id="Page_542">[Pg 542]</a></span> was the first business +which they proposed to the consideration of the state. And though the +matter was still recent, still great perplexity seized the senate, as +they dreaded equally the consequences, either of passing it over, or of +taking it up; lest, on the one hand, impunity might stir up the +neighbouring states with wantonness and arrogance; and, on the other, +punishment inflicted on them by force of arms, and dread of immediate +danger, might produce the same effect by exciting resentment. And the +whole body, too, was in every way equal in strength to the Samnites, +being composed of the Marsians, the Pelignians, and the Marrusinians; +all of whom would have to be encountered as enemies, if the Vestinians +were to be interfered with. However, that side prevailed which might, at +the time, seem to have more spirit than prudence; but the event proved +that fortune assists the brave. The people, in pursuance of the +direction of the senate, ordered war against the Vestinians; that +province fell by lot to Junius, Samnium to Camillus. Armies were led to +both places, and by carefully guarding the frontiers, the enemy were +prevented from joining their forces. But the other consul, Lucius +Furius, on whom the principal weight of the business rested, was +withdrawn by chance from the war, being seized with a severe sickness. +Being therefore ordered to nominate a dictator to conduct the business, +he nominated Lucius Papirius Cursor, the most celebrated general, by +far, of any in that age, who appointed Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus +master of the horse: a pair of commanders distinguished for their +exploits in war; more so, however, for a quarrel between themselves, and +which proceeded almost to violence. The other consul, in the territory +of the Vestinians, carried on operations of various kinds; and, in all, +was uniformly successful. For he both utterly laid waste their lands, +and, by spoiling and burning their houses and corn, compelled them to +come to an engagement; and, in one battle, he reduced the strength of +the Vestinians to such a degree, though not without loss on his own +side, that the enemy not only fled to their camp, but, fearing even to +trust to the rampart and trench, dispersed from thence into the several +towns, in hopes of finding security in the situation and fortifications +of their cities. At last, having undertaken to reduce their towns by +force, amid the great ardour of the soldiers, and their resentment for +the wounds which they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_543" id="Page_543">[Pg 543]</a></span> had received, (hardly one of them having come out +of the battle unhurt,) he took Cutina by scalade, and afterwards +Cingilia. The spoil of both cities he gave to the soldiers, in +consideration of their having bravely surmounted the obstruction both of +gates and walls.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h30" name="h30"></a>30</div> +<p>The commanders entered Samnium under uncertain auspices; an +informality which pointed, not at the event of war, for that was +prosperous, but at the furious passions and the quarrels which broke out +between the leaders. For Papirius the dictator, returning to Rome in +order to take the auspices anew, in consequence of a caution received +from the aruspex, left strict orders with the master of the horse to +remain in his post, and not to engage in battle during his absence. +After the departure of the dictator, Fabius having discovered by his +scouts that the enemy were in as unguarded a state as if there was not a +single Roman in Samnium, the high-spirited youth, (either conceiving +indignation at the sole authority in every point appearing to be lodged +in the hands of the dictator, or induced by the opportunity of striking +an important blow,) having made the necessary preparations and +dispositions, marched to a place called Imbrinium, and there fought a +battle with the Samnites. His success in the fight was such, that there +was no one circumstance which could have been improved to more +advantage, if the dictator had been present. The leader was not wanting +to the soldiers, nor the soldiers to their leader. The cavalry too, +(finding, after repeated charges, that they could not break the ranks,) +by the advice of Lucius Cominius, a military tribune, pulled off the +bridles from their horses and spurred them on so furiously, that no +power could withstand them; forcing their way through the thickest of +the enemy, they bore down every thing before them; and the infantry +seconding the charge, the whole body was thrown into confusion. Twenty +thousand of the enemy are said to have fallen on that day. I have +authority for saying that there were two battles fought during the +dictator's absence, and two victories obtained; but, according to the +most ancient writers, only this one is found, and in some histories the +whole transaction is omitted. The master of the horse getting possession +of abundance of spoils, in consequence of the great numbers slain, +collected the arms into a huge heap, and burned them; either in +pursuance of a vow to some of the gods, or, if we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_544" id="Page_544">[Pg 544]</a></span> choose to credit the +authority of Fabius, it was done on this account, that the dictator +might not reap the fruits of his glory, inscribe his name on them, or +carry the spoils in triumph. His letters also, containing an account of +the success, being sent to the senate, not to the dictator, showed +plainly that he wished not to impart to him any share of the honour; who +certainly viewed the proceeding in this light, for while others rejoiced +at the victory obtained, he showed only surliness and anger; insomuch +that, immediately dismissing the senate, he hastened out of the +senate-house, and frequently repeated with warmth, that the legions of +the Samnites were not more effectually vanquished and overthrown by the +master of the horse, than were the dictatorial dignity and military +discipline, if such contempt of orders escaped with impunity. Thus, +breathing resentment and menaces, he set out for the camp; but, though +he travelled with all possible expedition, he was unable, however, to +outstrip the report of his coming. For messengers had started from the +city before him, who brought intelligence that the dictator was coming, +eager for vengeance, and in almost every second sentence applauding the +conduct of Titus Manlius.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h31" name="h31"></a>31</div> +<p>Fabius instantly called an assembly, and entreated the soldiers to +"show the same courage in protecting him, under whose conduct and +auspices they had conquered, from the outrageous cruelty of the +dictator, which they had so lately displayed in defending the +commonwealth from its most inveterate enemies. He was now coming," he +told them, "frantic with envy; enraged at another's bravery and success, +he was mad, because, in his absence, the business of the public had been +executed, with remarkable success; and if he could change the fortune of +the engagement, would wish the Samnites in possession of victory rather +than the Romans. He talked much of contempt of orders; as if his +prohibition of fighting were not dictated by the same motive, which +caused his vexation at the fight having taken place. He wished to +shackle the valour of others through envy, and meant to take away the +soldiers' arms when they were most eager for action, and that no use +might be made of them in his absence: he was further enraged too, +because without Lucius Papirius the soldiers were not without hands or +arms, and because Quintus Fabius considered himself as master of the +horse, not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_545" id="Page_545">[Pg 545]</a></span> as a beadle to the dictator. How would he have behaved, had +the issue of the fight been unfortunate; which, through the chances of +war and the uncertainty of military operations, might have been the +case; since now, when the enemy has been vanquished, (as completely, +indeed, as if that leader's own singular talents had been employed in +the matter,) he yet threatens the master of the horse with punishment? +Nor is he more incensed against the master of the horse, than against +the military tribunes, the centurions, and the soldiers. On all, he +would vent his rage if he could; and because that is not in his power, +he vents it on one. Envy, like flame, soars upwards; aims at the summit; +that he makes his attack on the head of the business, on the leader. If +he could put him out of the way, together with the glory of the service +performed, he would then lord it, like a conqueror over vanquished +troops; and, without scruple, practise against the soldiers what he had +been allowed to act against their commander. That they should, +therefore, in his cause, support the general liberty of all. If the +dictator perceived among the troops the same unanimity in justifying +their victory that they had displayed in the battle, and that all +interested themselves in the safety of one, it would bend his temper to +milder counsels. In fine," he told them, "that he committed his life, +and all his interests, to their honour and to their courage."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h32" name="h32"></a>32</div> +<p>His speech was received with the loudest acclamations from every +part of the assembly, bidding him "have courage; for while the Roman +legions were in being, no man should offer him violence." Not long +after, the dictator arrived, and instantly summoned an assembly by sound +of trumpet. Then silence being made, a crier cited Quintus Fabius, +master of the horse, and as soon as, on the lower ground, he had +approached the tribunal, the dictator said, "Quintus Fabius, I demand of +you, when the authority of dictator is acknowledged to be supreme, and +is submitted to by the consuls, officers endowed with regal power; and +likewise by the prætors, created under the same auspices with consuls; +whether or no you think it reasonable that it should not meet obedience +from a master of the horse? I also ask you whether, when I knew that I +set out from home under uncertain auspices, the safety of the +commonwealth ought to have been endangered by me, whilst the omens were +confused, or whether the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_546" id="Page_546">[Pg 546]</a></span> auspices ought to be newly taken, so that +nothing might be done while the will of the gods remained doubtful? And +further, when a religious scruple was of such a nature as to hinder the +dictator from acting, whether the master of the horse could be exempt +from it and at liberty? But why do I ask these questions, when, though I +had gone without leaving any orders, your own judgment ought to have +been regulated according to what you could discover of my intention? Why +do you not answer? Did I not forbid you to act, in any respect, during +my absence? Did I not forbid you to engage the enemy? Yet, in contempt +of these my orders, while the auspices were uncertain, while the omens +were confused, contrary to the practice of war, contrary to the +discipline of our ancestors, and contrary to the authority of the gods, +you dared to enter on the fight. Answer to these questions proposed to +you. On any other matter utter not a word. Lictor, draw near him." To +each of these particulars, Fabius, finding it no easy matter to answer, +at one time remonstrated against the same person acting as accuser and +judge, in a cause which affected his very existence; at another, he +asserted that his life should sooner be forced from him, than the glory +of his past services; clearing himself and accusing the other by turns; +so then Papirius' anger blazing out with fresh fury, he ordered the +master of the horse to be stripped, and the rods and axes to be got +ready. Fabius, imploring the protection of the soldiers, while the +lictors were tearing his garments, betook himself to the quarters of the +veterans, who were already raising a commotion in the assembly: from +them the uproar spread through the whole body; in one place the voice of +supplication was heard; in another, menaces. Those who happened to stand +nearest to the tribunal, because, being under the eyes of the general, +they could easily be known, entreated him to spare the master of the +horse, and not in him to condemn the whole army. The remoter parts of +the assembly, and the crowd collected round Fabius, railed at the +unrelenting spirit of the dictator, and were not far from mutiny; nor +was even the tribunal perfectly quiet. The lieutenants-general standing +round the general's seat besought him to adjourn the business to the +next day, and to allow time to his anger, and room for consideration; +representing that "the indiscretion of Fabius had been sufficiently +rebuked;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_547" id="Page_547">[Pg 547]</a></span> his victory sufficiently disgraced; and they begged him not to +proceed to the extreme of severity; not to brand with ignominy a youth +of extraordinary merit, or his father, a man of most illustrious +character, together with the whole family of the Fabii." When they made +but little impression either by their prayers or arguments, they desired +him to observe the violent ferment of the assembly, and told him that +"while the soldiers' tempers were heated to such a degree, it became not +either his age or his wisdom to kindle them into a flame, and afford +matter for a mutiny; that no one would lay the blame of such an event on +Quintus Fabius, who only deprecated punishment; but on the dictator, if, +blinded by resentment, he should, by an ill-judged contest, draw on +himself the fury of the multitude: and lest he should think that they +acted from motives of regard to Quintus Fabius, they were ready to make +oath that, in their judgment, it was not for the interest of the +commonwealth that Quintus Fabius should be punished at that time."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h33" name="h33"></a>33</div> +<p>When by these expostulations they rather irritated the dictator +against themselves, than appeased his anger against the master of the +horse, the lieutenants-general were ordered to go down from the +tribunal; and after several vain attempts were made to procure silence +by means of a crier, the noise and tumult being so great that neither +the voice of the dictator himself, nor that of his apparitors, could be +heard; night, as in the case of a battle, put an end to the contest. The +master of the horse was ordered to attend on the day following; but when +all assured him that Papirius, being agitated and exasperated in the +course of the present contention, would proceed against him with greater +violence, he fled privately from the camp to Rome; where, by the advice +of his father, Marcus Fabius, who had been three times consul, and +likewise dictator, he immediately called a meeting of the senate. While +he was strenuously complaining before the fathers of the rage and +injustice of the dictator, on a sudden was heard the noise of lictors +before the senate-house, clearing the way, and Papirius himself arrived, +full of resentment, having followed, with a guard of light horse, as +soon as he heard that the other had quitted the camp. The contention +then began anew, and the dictator ordered Fabius to be seized. Where, +when his unrelenting spirit persisted in its purpose, notwith<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_548" id="Page_548">[Pg 548]</a></span>standing +the united intercessions of the principal patricians, and of the whole +senate, Fabius, the father, then said, "Since neither the authority of +the senate has any weight with you; nor my age, which you wish to render +childless; nor the noble birth and merit of a master of the horse, +nominated by yourself; nor prayers which have often mitigated the rage +of an enemy, and which appease the wrath of the gods; I call upon the +tribunes of the commons for support, and appeal to the people; and since +you decline the judgment of your own army, as well as of the senate, I +call you before a judge who must certainly be allowed, though no other +should, to possess more power and authority than yourself, though +dictator. I shall see whether you will submit to an appeal, to which +Tullus Hostilius, a Roman king, submitted." They proceeded directly from +the senate-house to the assembly; where, being arrived, the dictator +attended by few, the master of the horse by all the people of the first +rank in a body, Papirius commanded him to be taken from the rostrum to +the lower ground; his father, following him, said, "You do well in +ordering us to be brought down to a place where even as private persons +we have liberty of speech." At first, instead of regular speeches, +nothing but altercation was heard; at length, the indignation of old +Fabius, and the strength of his voice, got the better of noise, while he +reproached Papirius with arrogance and cruelty. "He himself," he said, +"had been dictator at Rome; and no man, not even the lowest plebeian, or +centurion, or soldier, had been outraged by him. But Papirius sought for +victory and triumph over a Roman commander, as over the generals of the +enemy. What an immense difference between the moderation of the +ancients, and modern oppression and cruelty. Quinctius Cincinnatus when +dictator exercised no further severity on Lucius Minucius the consul, +although rescued by him from a siege, than leaving him at the head of +the army, in the quality of lieutenant-general, instead of consul. +Marcus Furius Camillus, in the case of Lucius Furius, who, in contempt +of his great age and authority, had fought a battle with a most +disgraceful result, not only restrained his anger at the time so as to +write no unfavourable representation of his conduct to the people or the +senate; but after returning home, when the patricians gave him a power +of electing from among his colleagues whoever he might approve as an +associ<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_549" id="Page_549">[Pg 549]</a></span>ate with himself in the command, chose that very man in +preference to all the other consular tribunes. Nay, that not even the +resentment of the people, with whom lay the supreme power in all cases, +was ever exercised with greater severity towards those who, through +rashness and ignorance, had occasioned the loss of armies, than the +fining them in a sum of money. Until that day, a capital prosecution for +ill conduct in war had never been instituted against any commander, but +now generals of the Roman people when victorious, and meriting the most +honourable triumphs, are threatened with rods and axes; a treatment +which would not have been deemed allowable, even towards those who had +been defeated by an enemy. What would his son have to suffer, if he had +occasioned the loss of the army? if he had been routed, put to flight, +and driven out of his camp? To what greater length could his resentment +and violence be stretched, than to scourge him, and put him to death? +How was it consistent with reason, that through the means of Quintus +Fabius, the state should be filled with joy, exulting in victory, and +occupied in thanksgivings and congratulations; while at the same time, +he who had given occasion to the temples of the gods being thrown open, +their altars yet smoking with sacrifices, and loaded with honours and +offerings, should be stripped naked, and torn with stripes in the sight +of the Roman people; within view of the Capitol and citadel, and of +those gods not in vain invoked in two different battles? With what +temper would the army which had conquered under his conduct and auspices +have borne it? What mourning would there be in the Roman camp! what joy +among their enemies!" This speech he accompanied with an abundant flow +of tears; uniting reproaches and complaints, imploring the aid both of +gods and men, and warmly embracing his son.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h34" name="h34"></a>34</div> +<p>On his side stood the majesty of the senate, the favour of the +people, the support of the tribunes, and regard for the absent army. On +the other side were urged the inviolable authority of the Roman +government and military discipline; the edict of the dictator, always +observed as the mandate of a deity; the orders of Manlius, and his +postponing even parental affection to public utility. "The same also," +said the dictator, "was the conduct of Lucius Brutus, the founder of +Roman liberty, in the case of his two sons. That now fathers were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_550" id="Page_550">[Pg 550]</a></span> +become indulgent, and the aged indifferent in the case of the authority +of others being despised, and indulge the young in the subversion of +military order, as if it were a matter of trifling consequence. For his +part, however, he would persevere in his purpose, and would not remit +the smallest part of the punishment justly due to a person who fought +contrary to his orders, while the rites of religion were imperfectly +executed, and the auspices uncertain. Whether the majesty of the supreme +authority was to be perpetual or not, depended not on him; but Lucius +Papirius would not diminish aught of its rights. He wished that the +tribunitian office, inviolate itself, would not by its interposition +violate the authority of the Roman government; nor the Roman people, to +their own detriment particularly, annihilate the dictator and the rights +of the dictatorship together. But if this should be the case, not Lucius +Papirius but the tribunes and the people would be blamed by posterity in +vain; when military discipline being once dissolved, the soldier would +no longer obey the orders of the centurion, the centurion those of the +tribune, the tribune those of the lieutenant-general, the +lieutenant-general those of the consul, nor the master of the horse +those of the dictator. No one would then pay any deference to men, no, +nor even to the gods. Neither edicts of generals nor auspices would be +observed. The soldiers, without leave of absence, would straggle at +random through the lands of friends and of foes; and regardless of their +oath would, influenced solely by a wanton humour, quit the service +whenever they might choose. The standards would be unattended and +forsaken: the men would neither assemble in pursuance of orders, nor +would any distinction be made as to fighting by night or by day, on +favourable or unfavourable ground, by order or without the orders of +the general; nor would they observe standards or ranks; the service, +instead of being solemn and sacred, would be confused and the result of +mere chance, like that of freebooters. Render yourselves then, tribunes +of the commons, accountable for all these evils to all future ages. +Expose your own persons to these heavy imputations in defence of the +licentious conduct of Quintus Fabius."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h35" name="h35"></a>35</div> +<p>The tribunes now confounded, and more anxiously concerned at their +own situation than at his for whom their support was sought, were freed +from this embarrassment by the Roman<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_551" id="Page_551">[Pg 551]</a></span> people unanimously having recourse +to prayers and entreaties, that the dictator would, for their sakes, +remit the punishment of the master of the horse. The tribunes likewise, +following the example set them of employing entreaties, earnestly +beseech the dictator to pardon human error, to consider the immaturity +of the offender's age; that he had suffered sufficiently; and now the +youth himself, now his father, Marcus Fabius, disclaiming further +contest, fell at the dictator's knees and deprecated his wrath. Then the +dictator, after causing silence, said, "Romans, it is well. Military +discipline has prevailed; the majesty of government has prevailed; both +which were in danger of ceasing this day to exist. Quintus Fabius, who +fought contrary to the order of his commander, is not acquitted of +guilt; but after being condemned as guilty, is granted as a boon to the +Roman people; is granted to the college of tribunes, supporting him with +their prayers, not with the regular power of their office. Live, Quintus +Fabius, more happy in this united sympathy of the state for your +preservation, than in the victory in which you lately exulted. Live, +after having ventured on such an act, as your father himself, had he +been in the place of Lucius Papirius, would not have pardoned. With me +you shall be reconciled whenever you wish it. To the Roman people, to +whom you owe your life, you can perform no greater service than to let +this day teach you a sufficient lesson to enable you to submit to lawful +commands, both in war and peace." He then declared, that he no longer +detained the master of the horse, and as he retired from the rostrum, +the senate being greatly rejoiced, and the people still more so, +gathered round him and escorted him, on one hand commending the +dictator, on the other congratulating the master of the horse; while it +was considered that the authority of military command was confirmed no +less effectually by the danger of Quintus Fabius than the lamentable +punishment of young Manlius. It so happened, that, through the course of +that year, as often as the dictator left the army the Samnites were in +motion: but Marcus Valerius, the lieutenant-general who commanded in the +camp, had Quintus Fabius before his eyes for an example, not to fear any +violence of the enemy, so much as the unrelenting anger of the dictator. +So that when a body of his foragers fell into an ambuscade and were cut +to pieces in disadvantageous ground, it was generally believed that the +lieutenant-general<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_552" id="Page_552">[Pg 552]</a></span> could have given them assistance if he had not been +held in dread by his rigorous orders. The resentment for this also +alienated the affections of the soldiery from the dictator, already +incensed against him because he had been implacable towards Quintus +Fabius, and because he had granted him pardon at the intercession of the +Roman people, a thing which he had refused to their entreaties.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h36" name="h36"></a>36</div> +<p>The dictator, having appointed Lucius Papirius Crassus, as master of +the horse, to the command of the city, and prohibited Quintus Fabius +from acting in any case as magistrate, returned to the camp; where his +arrival brought neither any great joy to his countrymen, nor any degree +of terror to the enemy: for on the day following, either not knowing +that the dictator had arrived, or little regarding whether he were +present or absent, they approached his camp in order of battle. Of such +importance, however, was that single man, Lucius Papirius, that had the +zeal of the soldiers seconded the dispositions of the commander, no +doubt was entertained that an end might have been put that day to the +war with the Samnites; so judiciously did he draw up his army with +respect to situation and reserves, in such a manner did he strengthen +them with every advantage of military skill: but the soldiers exerted no +vigour; and designedly kept from conquering, in order to injure the +reputation of their leader. Of the Samnites, however, very many were +slain; and great numbers of the Romans wounded. The experienced +commander quickly perceived the circumstance which prevented his +success, and that it would be necessary to moderate his temper, and to +mingle mildness with austerity. Accordingly, attended by the +lieutenants-general, going round to the wounded soldiers, thrusting his +head into their tents, and asking them, one by one, how they were in +health; then, mentioning them by name, he gave them in charge to the +officers, tribunes, and præfects. This behaviour, popular in itself, he +maintained with such dexterity, that by his attention to their recovery +he gradually gained their affection; nor did any thing so much +contribute towards their recovery as the circumstance of this attention +being received with gratitude. The army being restored to health, he +came to an engagement with the enemy; and both himself and the troops, +being possessed with full confidence of success, he so entirely defeated +and dispersed the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_553" id="Page_553">[Pg 553]</a></span> Samnites, that that was the last day they met the +dictator in the field. The victorious army, afterwards, directed its +march wherever a prospect of booty invited, and traversed the enemies' +territories, encountering not a weapon, nor any opposition, either +openly or by stratagem. It added to their alacrity, that the dictator +had, by proclamation, given the whole spoil to the soldiers; so that +they were animated not only by the public quarrel, but by their private +emolument. Reduced by these losses, the Samnites sued to the dictator +for peace, and, after they had engaged to supply each of his soldiers +with a suit of clothes and a year's pay, being ordered to apply to the +senate, they answered, that they would follow the dictator, committing +their cause wholly to his integrity and honour. On this the troops were +withdrawn out of Samnium.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h37" name="h37"></a>37</div> +<p>The dictator entered the city in triumph; and, though desirous of +resigning his office immediately, yet, by order of the senate, he held +it until the consuls were elected: these were Caius Sulpicius Longus a +second time, and Quintus Æmilius Cerretanus. The Samnites, without +finishing the treaty of peace, the terms being still in negotiation, +brought home with them a truce for a year. Nor was even that faithfully +observed; so strongly was their inclination for war excited, on hearing +that Papirius was gone out of office. In this consulate of Caius +Sulpicius and Quintus Æmilius, (some histories have Aulius,) to the +revolt of the Samnites was added a new war with the Apulians. Armies +were sent against both. The Samnites fell by lot to Sulpicius, the +Apulians to Æmilius. Some writers say, that this war was not waged with +the Apulians, but that the allied states of that nation were defended +against the violence and injustice of the Samnites. But the +circumstances of the Samnites, who could with difficulty, at that +period, support a war in which themselves were engaged, render it more +probable that they did not make war on the Apulians, but that both +nations were in arms against the Romans at the same time. However, no +memorable event occurred. The lands of the Apulians and of Samnium were +utterly laid waste; but in neither quarter were the enemy to be found. +At Rome, an alarm, which happened in the night, suddenly roused the +people from their sleep, in such a fright, that the Capitol and citadel, +the walls and gates, were all filled with men in arms. But after they +had called all to their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_554" id="Page_554">[Pg 554]</a></span> posts, and run together in bodies, in every +quarter, when day approached, neither the author nor cause of the alarm +could be discovered. This year, in pursuance to the advice of Flavius, +the Tusculans were brought to a trial before the people. Marcus Flavius, +a tribune of the commons, proposed, that punishment should be inflicted +on those of the Tusculans, "by whose advice and assistance the +Veliternians and Privernians had made war on the Roman people." The +Tusculans, with their wives and children, came to Rome. The whole party +in mourning habits, like persons under accusation, went round the +tribes, throwing themselves at the feet of the citizens. The compassion +thus excited operated more effectually towards procuring them pardon, +than all their arguments did towards clearing them of guilt. Every one +of the tribes, except the Pollian, negatived the proposition. The +sentence of the Pollian tribe was, that the grown-up males should be +beaten and put to death, and their wives and children sold by auction, +according to the rules of war. It appears that the resentment which rose +against the advisers of so rigorous a measure, was retained in memory by +the Tusculans down to the age of our fathers; and that hardly any +candidate of the Pollian tribe could, ever since, gain the votes of the +Papirian.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h38" name="h38"></a>38</div> +<p>On the following year, in the consulate of Quintus Fabius and Lucius +Fulvius, Aulus Cornelius Arvina being made dictator, and Marcus Fabius +Ambustus master of the horse, a levy being held with more than usual +rigour in consequence of their apprehension of a very serious war in +Samnium, (for it was reported that some young men had been hired from +their neighbours,) led forth a very strong army against the Samnites. +Although in a hostile country, their camp was pitched in as careless a +manner as if the foe were at a great distance; when, suddenly, the +legions of the Samnites approached with so much boldness as to advance +their rampart close to an out-post of the Romans. Night was now coming +on; that prevented their assaulting the works; but they did not conceal +their intention of doing so next day, as soon as the light should +appear. The dictator found that there would be a necessity for fighting +sooner than he had expected, and lest the situation should be an +obstruction to the bravery of the troops, he led away the legions in +silence, leaving a great number of fires the better to deceive the +enemy. On account of the proximity of the camps,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_555" id="Page_555">[Pg 555]</a></span> however, he could not +escape their observation: their cavalry instantly pursued, and pressed +closely on his troops, in such a way as to refrain from attacking them +until the day appeared. Their infantry did not even quit their camp +before daylight. As soon as it was dawn, the cavalry venturing to attack +the enemy by harassing the Roman rear, and pressing them in places of +difficult passage, considerably delayed their march. Meanwhile their +infantry overtook the cavalry; and now the Samnites pursued close with +their entire force. The dictator then, finding that he could no longer +go forward without great inconvenience, ordered the spot where he stood +to be measured out for a camp. But it was impossible, while the enemy's +horse were spread about on every side, that palisades could be brought, +and the work be begun: seeing it, therefore, impracticable, either to +march forward or to settle himself there, he drew up his troops for +battle, removing the baggage out of the line. The enemy likewise formed +their line opposite to his; fully equal both in spirit and in strength. +Their courage was chiefly improved from not knowing that the motive of +the Romans' retreat was the incommodiousness of the ground, so that they +imagined themselves objects of terror, and supposed that they were +pursuing men who fled through fear. This kept the balance of the fight +equal for a considerable time; though, of late, it had been unusual with +the Samnites to stand even the shout of a Roman army. Certain it is, +that the contest, on this day, continued so very doubtful from the third +hour to the eighth, that neither was the shout repeated, after being +raised at the first onset, nor the standards moved either forward or +backward; nor any ground lost on either side. They fought without taking +breath or looking behind them, every man in his post, and pushing +against their opponents with their shields. The noise continuing equal, +and the terror of the fight the same, seemed to denote, that the +decision would be effected either by fatigue or by the night. The men +had now exhausted their strength, the sword its power, and the leaders +their skill; when, on a sudden, the Samnite cavalry, having learned from +a single troop which had advanced beyond the rest, that the baggage of +the Romans lay at a distance from their army, without any guard or +defence; through eagerness for booty, they attack it: of which the +dictator being informed by a hasty messenger, said, "Let them only +encumber themselves with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_556" id="Page_556">[Pg 556]</a></span> spoils." Afterwards came several, one after +another, crying out, that they were plundering and carrying off all the +effects of the soldiers: he then called to him the master of the horse, +and said, "Do you see, Marcus Fabius, that the fight has been forsaken +by the enemy's cavalry? They are entangled and encumbered with our +baggage. Attack them whilst scattered about, as is the case of every +multitude employed in plundering; you will find few mounted on +horseback, few with swords in their hands; and, while they are loading +their horses with spoil, and unarmed, put them to the sword, and make it +bloody spoil for them. I will take care of the legions, and the fight of +the infantry: yours be the honour which the horse shall acquire."</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h39" name="h39"></a>39</div> +<p>The body of cavalry, in the most exact order possible, charging the +enemy, who were straggling and embarrassed, filled every place with +slaughter: for amid the packages which they hastily threw down, and +which lay in the way of their feet, and of the affrighted horses, as +they endeavoured to escape, being now unable either to fight or fly, +they are slaughtered. Then Fabius, after he had almost entirely cut off +the enemy's horse, led round his squadrons in a small circuit, and +attacked the infantry in the rear. The new shout, raised in that +quarter, terrified the Samnites on the one hand; and when, on the other, +the dictator saw their troops in the van looking behind them, their +battalions in confusion, and their line wavering, he earnestly exhorted +and animated his men, calling on the tribunes and chief centurions, by +name, to join him in renewing the fight. Raising the shout anew, they +pressed forward, and as they advanced, perceived the enemy more and more +confused. The cavalry now could be seen by those in front, and +Cornelius, turning about to the several companies, made them understand, +by raising his voice and hands, that he saw the standards and bucklers +of his own horsemen. On hearing which, and at the same time seeing them, +they, at once, so far forgot the fatigue which they had endured through +almost the whole day, and even their wounds, that they rushed on against +the enemy with as much vigour and alacrity as if they were coming fresh +out of camp on receiving the signal for battle. The Samnites could no +longer sustain the charge of horse and foot together; part of them, +enclosed on both sides, were cut off; the rest were scattered and fled +different ways. The infantry slew those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_557" id="Page_557">[Pg 557]</a></span> who were surrounded and made +resistance; and the cavalry made great havoc of the fugitives, among +whom fell their general. This battle crushed, at length, the power of +the Samnites so effectually, that, in all their meetings, they said, "it +was not at all to be wondered at, if in an impious war, commenced in +violation of a treaty, when the gods were, with justice, more incensed +against them than men, they succeeded in none of their undertakings. +That war must be expiated and atoned for with a heavy penalty. The only +alternative they had, was whether the penalty should be the guilty blood +of a few, or the innocent blood of all." Some now ventured to name the +authors of the war; one name in particular, by the united voices of all, +was mentioned, that of Brutulus Papius; he was a man of power and noble +birth, and undoubtedly the violator of the late truce. The prætors being +compelled to take the opinion of the assembly concerning him, a decree +was made, "that Brutulus Papius should be delivered into the hands of +the Romans; and that, together with him, all the spoil taken from the +Romans, and the prisoners, should be sent to Rome, and that the +restitution demanded by the heralds, in conformity to treaty, should be +made, as was agreeable to justice and equity." In pursuance of this +determination heralds were sent to Rome, and also the dead body of +Brutulus; for, by a voluntary death, he avoided the punishment and +ignominy intended for him. It was thought proper that his goods also +should be delivered up along with the body. But none of all those things +were accepted, except the prisoners, and such articles of the spoil as +were recognised by the owners. The dictator obtained a triumph by a +decree of the senate.</p> + +<div class="lsidenote"><a id="h40" name="h40"></a>40</div> +<p>Some writers affirm, that this war was conducted by the consuls, and +that they triumphed over the Samnites; and also, that Fabius advanced +into Apulia, and carried off from thence abundance of spoil. But that +Aulus Cornelius was dictator that year is an undisputed fact. The +question then is, whether he was appointed for the purpose of conducting +the war, or on occasion of the illness of Lucius Plautius, the prætor; +in order that there might be a magistrate to give the signal for the +starting of the chariots at the Roman games. This latter is asserted of +him; and that after performing the business, which in truth reflected no +great lustre on his office,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_558" id="Page_558">[Pg 558]</a></span> he resigned the dictatorship. It is not +easy to determine between either the facts or the writers, which of them +deserves the preference: I am inclined to think that history has been +much corrupted by means of funeral panegyrics and false inscriptions on +statues; each family striving by false representations to appropriate to +itself the fame of warlike exploits and public honours. From this cause, +certainly, both the actions of individuals and the public records of +events have been confused. Nor is there extant any writer, contemporary +with those events, on whose authority we can with certainty rely.</p> + + +<h4>END OF VOL. I.</h4> + + +<h5>JOHN CHILDS AND SON, BUNGAY.</h5> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> "Employ myself to a useful purpose,"—<i>facere operæ +pretium</i>, "to do a thing that is worth the trouble,"—"to employ oneself +to a good purpose."—See Scheller's Lat. Lexicon.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> "A practice,"—<i>rem</i>.—Some, as Baker, refer it to <i>res +populi R.</i> Others, as Stroth, to <i>res pop. Rom. perscribere</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> "My share,"—<i>pro virili parte</i>, or, "to the best of my +ability."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> "Historians."—Those mentioned by Livy himself are Q. +Fabius Pictor, Valerius Antias, L. Piso, Q. Ælius Tubero, C. Licinius +Macer, Cœlius, Polybius, etc.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> "Hastening to these later times."—The history of the +recent civil wars would possess a more intense interest for the Romans +of the Augustan age.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> "From every care,"—the fear of giving offence by +expressing his opinions freely, and the sorrow, which, as a patriot, he +could not but feel in recording the civil wars of his countrymen.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> "Acquired."—This refers to the whole period antecedent to +the time when Ap. Claudius carried the Roman arms beyond Italy against +the Carthaginians; (2) <i>extended</i>, from that time till the fall of +Carthage; (3) <i>sinking</i>, the times of the Gracchi; (4) <i>gave way more +and more</i>, those of Sulla; (5) <i>precipitate</i>, those of Cæsar; (6) <i>the +present times</i>, those of Augustus after the battle of +Actium.—<i>Stocker.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> Æneas, being now deified, could not be called by his human +name; and in speaking of his being buried, it would be improper to name +him by his divine title. <i>—— Indigetem</i>. He is called by Dionysius +Χθόνιος Θεός.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> <i>Forte quádam divinitus</i>. θείᾳ τινι τύχῃ. Plut.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Scil. "The Pallantean."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> By all his inquiries he arrived at the same conclusion as +before, viz. that they were his grand-children.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> According to Cato, Rome was founded on the day of the +<i>Palilia</i>, the 11th of the Calends of May, in the first year of the 7th +Olympiad, and 751 B.C. This is two years short of Varro's computation.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> He taught the Italians to read and write.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> <i>Apparitores hoc genus</i>. There is something incorrect in +the language of the original here. In my version I have followed +Drakenborch. Walker, in his edition, proposes to read <i>ut</i> for <i>et</i>; +thus, <i>quibus ut apparitores et hoc genus ab Etruscis —— numerum +quoque ipsum ductum placet, "who will have it, that as public servants +of this kind, so was their number also, derived from the Etrurians</i>."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> The population at that time consisted of not more than +3,000 foot, and less than 300 horse. At the death of Romulus, it is said +to have amounted to 46,000 foot and almost 1,000 horse.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> τὸ μεταξὺ χωρίον τοῦ τε Καπιτωλίου καὶ τῆς ἄκρας ὅ +καλεῖται νῦν κατὰ τὴν Ῥωμαίων διάλεκτον μεθόριον δυοῖν δρυμῶν. +Dio. ii. 15.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> <i>Ex industria</i>—<i>deditâ operá</i>—ἀπὸ παρασκευῆς.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Two, one by A. Cornelius Cossus for slaying L. Tolumnius, +king of Veii, <span class="smcap">u. c.</span> 318, another by M. Claudius Marcellus, for killing +Viridomarus, king of the Gauls, <span class="smcap">u. c.</span> 532.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> <i>Nepotum et liberûm progeniem</i> = Nepotes et +liberos,—ὕιες Ἀχαιων = οἵ Ἀχαιοι.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> The original has undergone various changes here: my +version coincides with the reading, <i>locis circà densa obsita virgulta +obscuris</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Although, according to the terms of the alliance, the +Sabines and the Romans were to be in all respects on an equal footing.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> The order of the people still requires the sanction of the +senate for its ratification: but that sanction now being given +beforehand, the order of the people is no longer subject to the control +of the senate, and therefore not precarious as heretofore.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> <i>Ex quibus locis, quæ fama in Sabinos, aut quo linguæ +commercio —— quenquam excivisset</i>. "From which (remote) places, what +high character of him (could have reached) to the Sabines, or by what +intercourse of language could such high character of him have aroused +any one to become a pupil?" Other editions read <i>quâ famâ</i>; thus, from +which places by what high character for talent, or by what intercourse +of language, could he, Pythagoras, have aroused any one, etc.?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> Romulus had made his year to consist of ten months, the +first month being March, and the number of days in the year being only +304, which corresponded neither with the course of the sun or moon. +Numa, who added the two months of January and February, divided the year +into twelve months, according to the course of the moon. This was the +lunar Greek year, and consisted of 354 days. Numa, however, adopted 355 +days for his year, from his partiality to odd numbers. The lunar year of +354 days fell short of the solar year by 11-1/4 days;—this in 8 years +amounted to (11-1/4 × 8) 90 days. These 90 days he divided into 2 months +of 22 and 2 of 23 days, ([2 × 22] + [2 × 23] = 90,) and introduced them +alternately every second year for two octennial periods: every third +octennial period, however, Numa intercalated only 66 days instead of 90 +days, <i>i. e.</i> he inserted 3 months of only 22 days each. The reason was, +because he adopted 355 days as the length of his lunar year instead of +354, and this in 24 years (3 octennial periods) produced an error of 24 +days; this error was exactly compensated by intercalating only 66 days +(90-24) in the third octennial period. The intercalations were generally +made in the month of February, after the 23rd of the month. Their +management was left to the pontiffs—<i>ad metam eandem solis unde orsi +essent</i>—<i>dies congruerent</i>; "that the days might correspond to the same +starting-point of the sun in the heavens whence they had set out." That +is, taking for instance the tropic of Cancer for the place or +starting-point of the sun any one year, and observing that he was in +that point of the heavens on precisely the 21st of June, the object was +so to dispense the year, that the day on which the sun was observed to +arrive at that same <i>meta</i> or starting-point again, should also be +called the 21st of June:—such was the <i>congruity</i> aimed at by these +intercalations.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Ille nefastus erit per quem tria verba silentur;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Fastus erit, per quem lege licebit agi.</i>—Ov. F. i. 47.<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> <i>Ancilia</i>, from ἄγκυλος.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> <i>Pontificem</i>, scil. Maximum.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Eliciunt cœlo te, Jupiter: unde minores</i><br /></span> +<span class="i4"><i>Nunc quoque te celebrant, Eliciumque vocant</i>.<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p> +Ov. F. iii. 327.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> <i>Cum ipsi se —— formarent, tum finitimi etiam</i>, etc. +Some of the editors of Livy have remarked on this passage, that <i>cum</i> +when answering to <i>tum</i> may be joined to a subjunctive, as here; the +fact however is, that <i>cum</i> here does not answer to <i>tum</i> at all; <i>cum</i> +is here "whilst,"—and so necessarily requires the verb to be in the +subjunctive mood.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> <i>Mettus</i>. Gronovius and Bekker read <i>Mettius</i>; Niebuhr +also prefers <i>Mettius</i>; he conceives that the Latin <i>prænomina</i> and the +Roman <i>nomina</i> terminated in <i>ius</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> <i>Injurias et non redditas</i>, etc. The construction is, <i>et +ego videor audisse regem nostrum Cluilium (præ se ferre) injurias et non +redditas res ... nec dubito te ferre eadem præ te, Tulle</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> <i>Three brothers born at one birth</i>. Dionys. iii. 14, +describes them as cousin-germans. Vid. Wachsmuth, p. 147. Niebuhr, i. p. +342.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> The order is: <i>fortuna patriæ deinde futura ea quam ipsi +f. (animo obvers.)</i>; the fortune of their country, the high or humble +character of which for the future depended on their exertions on that +occasion.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> The two Roman champions, we have seen, fell in the one +place, <i>super alium alius</i>; consequently were buried together; whilst +the Curiatii fell in different places, as Horatius contrived to separate +them to avoid their joint attack.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> <i>Perduellio</i>, (duellum, bellum,) high treason against the +state or its sovereign; but in those times any offence deserving capital +punishment was included under that of treason, <i>Qui Horatio +perduellionem judicent</i>, to pass sentence on Horatius, as being +manifestly guilty of murder; not to try whether he was guilty or not.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> Duumviri, etc. Niebuhr considers these to be the very +words of the old formula.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> If the sentence (of the duumviri) be confirmed by the +people.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> The letter of the law allowed of no justification or +extenuation of the fact. It left no alternative to the judge.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> He kindly pointed out the loop-hole in the law, which left +an opening for the culprit's acquittal.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> By the laws of Romulus, a father had the power of life and +death over his children.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> The part which he reserves for himself and the Albans is +to play the traitors to Tullus in the hour of need, wearing meanwhile +the mark of friendship to Rome.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> The fact is, that the subject population rose up against +the Roman colonists, drove them out of the town, and asserted their +independence. Nieb. i. 24. 5.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> The Tiber and the Anio.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> <i>Erigit</i>—"he makes it halt," from the French <i>faire +alte</i>, or formerly <i>haut</i>, because soldiers then stand upright and hold +their spears erect.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> <i>Præcones ab extremo</i>. At the farther part of the Roman +camp, where it joined that of the Albans.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> As well as by the orders issued by Tullus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> <i>Malitiosam</i>. Την ὕλην καλουμένην Κακοῦργον. +Dio. iii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> The Lucumones were a class of persons among the Etrurians +of a warlike sacerdotal character, patricians, not kings. Vid. Niebuhr, +i. p. 372.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> In my version of this passage I have followed the reading, +<i>et pleraque in ratibus, impacta sublicis quum hærerent</i>, p. i. The +burning logs were not sent down the river one by one, but were placed on +rafts, so that being incapable of passing on between the piers of the +bridge, they firmly stuck there, and burnt the bridge. This mode of +interpretation is confirmed by Dion. iii. 5, 6. The bridge here meant is +the one built by the Sabines at the confluence of the Anio and the +Tiber——Another reading is, <i>pleraque in ratibus impacta subliciis quam +hærerent</i>, "most of them being driven against the boats, resting on +piles, stuck there," &c.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> <i>The hundredth year</i>. 138 years had elapsed since the +death of Romulus: they diminish the number of years designedly, to make +the matter appear still worse.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> <i>Son-in-law</i>. Why not one of his two sons, Lucius and +Aruns? Dio. iv. 1. If these were not his grandchildren rather, they must +have been infants at the time. Dio. iv. 4, 6.—At this time infants +could not succeed to the throne.—<i>Ruperti.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> This sentence has given some trouble to the +commentators.—Some will have it that three distinct reasons are given +for assassinating Tarquinius rather than Servius Tullius, and that these +are severally marked and distinguished by <i>et</i>—<i>et</i>—<i>tum</i>, the second +only having <i>quia</i>.—Stroth will have it that only two reasons are +assigned, one, why the king should be killed, and the other, why Servius +Tullius should not be killed, arising from the danger and uselessness of +the act—the former has not a <i>quia</i>, because it was a fact, (<i>et +injuriæ dolor</i>, &c.,) while the latter has it in the first part (the +danger, <i>et quia gravior</i>, &c., <i>quia</i> being understood also before the +other, the uselessness, <i>tum</i>, <i>Servio occiso</i>, &c.) because it +contained the reasoning of the youths. Doering says there were only two +powerful reasons, revenge and fear, and a ratio probabilis introduced by +<i>tum</i>; which has the force of insuper. According to Dr. Hunter, there +are two formal assertions, one, that resentment stimulated the sons of +Ancus against the king himself; the other, that the plot is laid for the +king himself upon two considerations, of reason and policy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> By <i>public</i>—<i>private</i>. The "public" were the steps taken +by Servius to establish his political ascendency, whilst the "private" +refer to those intended to strengthen his family connexions.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> <i>The truce had now expired.</i> If the truce concluded with +them by Romulus be here meant, it was long since expired, since about +140 years had now elapsed. It is probable, however, that it was renewed +in the reign of Tullius.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> Varro, de L.L. iv. 36, thinks, on the contrary, that +<i>tributum</i> was so called, as being paid by the <i>tribes</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> <i>Temple of Diana</i>. Built on the summit of the Aventine +mount towards the Tiber. On its brazen pillar were engraved the laws of +the treaty, and which were still extant in the time of Augustus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> This is noticed as the first trace of the Agrarian +division by Niebuhr, i. p. 161.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> <i>His son</i>. Dionysius will have it that he was the +grandson. See Nieb. i. p. 367.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> <i>Younger families</i>. These had been brought into the +senate, as we have seen, by Tarquinius Priscus, and consequently +favoured the Tarquinian interest. Nieb. i. p. 372.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> <i>To resign</i>. Niebuhr is of opinion that what is said +regarding the Commentaries of Servius Tullius, chap. 60, has reference +to this.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> <i>Hurdle</i>, a mode of punishment in use among the +Carthaginians. See Tac. Germ. 12. Similar to the Greek, Καταποντισμός.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> <i>His degeneracy—degeneratum</i>. This use of the passive +participle is of frequent occurrence in Livy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> <i>The principal sewer</i>—the <i>cloaca maxima</i>. This is +attributed to Tarquinius Priscus by several writers. Dio. iii. 67, +states that it was he who commenced it. See Plin. H. N. xxxvi. Nieb. i. +p. 385.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> <i>To do so, and that quickly</i>,—a use of the participles +<i>facto</i> and <i>maturato</i> similar to that already noticed in chap. 53, +<i>degeneratum</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> All were called <i>Patres conscripti</i>. Scil. Patres et +Conscripti, the conjunction being omitted. Nieb. i. p. 517.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> Collatinus is supposed to have earned the odium of the +people, and his consequent expulsion from Rome, by his endeavours to +save his nephews, the Aquillii, from punishment.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> Niebuhr will have it that Brutus punished his children by +his authority as a father, and that there was no appeal to the people +from the father. See Nieb. i. p. 488.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> <i>Animo patris</i>, the strength of his mind, though that of a +father, being even more conspicuous, &c. So Drakenborch understands the +passage,—this sternness of mind, he says, though he was their father, +was a more remarkable spectacle than his stern countenance. This +character of Brutus, as inferrible from the words thus interpreted, +coincides with that given of him by Dionysius and others. I prefer +understanding the passage with Crevier, scil. symptoms of paternal +affection to his children displaying themselves during the discharge of +his duty in superintending the public punishment inflicted on them.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> Previously, by the institution of Servius, only such +manumitted slaves were admitted to the rights of citizenship as were +registered by their masters in the census.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> <i>Uno plus Tuscorum.</i> Ὡς ἑνὶ πλείους ἐν τῇ μάχῃ τεθνήκασι +Τυῤῥηνῶν ἢ Ῥωμαίων.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> <i>A year</i>, scil. of ten months.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> The Horatii being of the <i>minores patres</i>. Nieb. i. p. +533.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> <i>Funesta familia</i>, as having in it an unburied corpse. +Thus Misenus, whilst unburied, <i>incestat funere classem</i>. Virg. Æn. vi. +150.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> He here rejected the omen. Cic. i. 7, 14.; auguria aut +<i>oblativa</i> sunt, quæ non poscuntur, aut <i>impetrativa</i>, quæ optata +veniunt. The latter could not be rejected.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> <i>Lar</i>. This is generally understood to have been a title +of honour equivalent to our term <i>Lord</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> <i>Arbitrium</i> signifies not only the "privilege," but the +"rent" paid for such privilege, or right of monopoly.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> <i>Was all taken into the hands of government</i>. In my +version of this passage I have conformed to the emendation of the +original first proposed by Gronovius, and admitted by Stroth and Bekker; +scil. <i>in publicum omne sumptum</i>.—They did not let these salt-works by +auction, but took them into their own management, and carried them on by +means of persons employed to work on the public account. These +salt-works, first established at Ostia by Ancus, were, like other public +property, farmed out to the publicans. As they had a high rent to pay, +the price of salt was raised in proportion; but now the patricians, to +curry favour with the plebeians, did not let the salt-pits to private +tenants, but kept them in the hands of public labourers, to collect all +the salt for the public use; and appointed salesmen to retail it to the +people at a cheaper rate. See Stocker's ed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> <i>The origin</i>. Niebuhr mentions a more probable one. See +Nieb. i. p. 541; ii. p. 204.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> Niebuhr thinks, that from this defeat of the Etrurians may +be dated the commencement of the recovery of their liberty by the +Romans, and that the flight of the Roman hostages, the sale of Porsena's +goods, &c. were subsequent to it.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> <i>Nec quibus consulibus parum creditum sit</i>, scil. fides +non habita fuerit. Arnold in his Roman Hist. considers this to have been +the true cause of creating a dictator.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> <i>Eo magis quod propter se.</i> From this one would be +disposed to suspect that the dictator was created to take on him the +management of war. See Nieb. p. 553, and Niebhr. Epit. by Twiss, Append. +p. 355.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> By giving up the advantage of their horses, and forgetting +their superiority of rank.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> Qui consules secundum quosdam, who were the consuls that +came after certain consuls.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> The determination of the plebeians and senators.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> <i>rem non vulgabat</i>, was not for extending the relief to +all.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> i. e. by deepening the files.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> "On the opposite side." Gronovius proposes instead of +<i>adversus</i> to read <i>aversas</i>: scil. the valleys behind them, or in their +rear.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88_88" id="Footnote_88_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> I have here adopted the reading of Stacker and others, +scil. <i>ad terrorem, ut solet, primum ortus</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89_89" id="Footnote_89_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> i. e. I think it might have been done; whether it would +have been right to do so, it is not so easy to decide. Livy means to say +that it was possible enough for the senators, by lowering the price of +corn, to get rid of the tribunes, &c. Such a judgment is easily formed; +it is not, however, he says, so easy to determine, whether it would have +been expedient to follow the advice of Coriolanus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_90_90" id="Footnote_90_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> i. e. the senate found themselves reduced to the necessity +of delivering one up to the vengeance of the people, in order to save +themselves from the further consequences of plebeian rage.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_91_91" id="Footnote_91_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> The same as the Circenses.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_92_92" id="Footnote_92_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92_92"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> <i>Realized</i>—<i>repræsentatas</i>—quasi præsentes factas, +oculis subjectas—presented as it were to the sight.—<i>Rasch</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_93_93" id="Footnote_93_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93_93"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> <i>Sequius sit</i>—otherwise than as it should be.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_94_94" id="Footnote_94_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94_94"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> <i>Audientes secunda iræ verba</i>—attentively listening to +words which fanned (or chimed in with) their anger.—<i>St</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_95_95" id="Footnote_95_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95_95"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> Scil. Rome. Dionysius narrates the expedition of +Coriolanus in a different order from that given by Livy, and says that +he approached the city twice. Niebuhr, ii. p. 94, n. 535, thinks that +the words "passing across the country into the Latin way" (in Latinam +viam transversis itineribus transgressus) have been transposed from +their proper place, and that they should come in after "he then took," +&c. (tunc deinceps).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_96_96" id="Footnote_96_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96_96"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> The triarii were veteran soldiers of approved valour: they +formed the third line, whence their name.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_97_97" id="Footnote_97_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97_97"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> Before a consul set out on any expedition, he offered +sacrifices and prayers in the Capitol; and then, laying aside his +consular gown, marched out of the city, dressed in a military robe of +state, called Paludamentum.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_98_98" id="Footnote_98_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98_98"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> This statement is rejected by Niebuhr entirely.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_99_99" id="Footnote_99_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99_99"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> Niebuhr, ii. p. 231, thinks that it was in this year the +Icilian law was passed, according to which, any person interrupting the +proceedings of the tribunes, rendered himself liable to capital +punishment.—<i>Twiss.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_100_100" id="Footnote_100_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100_100"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> Several charges were brought against Appius, according to +Dion. ix. 54, who also states that he did not die of any disease, but +that he laid violent hands on himself.—<i>Ruperti.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_101_101" id="Footnote_101_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101_101"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> The original has <i>plenus suarum</i>—<i>irarum</i>,—that is, the +anger not of Appius against the commons, but of the commons against +him.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_102_102" id="Footnote_102_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_102_102"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> Conf. Nieb. ii. n. 754. It may be well to mention that +Niebuhr considered that this account regarding the death of Appius was +all fictitious. The Greek writers, scil. Dion. ix. 54, Zonar. vii. 17, +state that he laid violent hands on himself.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_103_103" id="Footnote_103_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_103_103"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> In the original we read <i>coacti extemplo ab senatu</i>. +Niebuhr considers this reading to be corrupt, and is satisfied that the +correct reading is <i>coacto extemplo senatu</i>. See ii. n. 555.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_104_104" id="Footnote_104_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_104_104"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> <i>Additional force of the</i>, &c. Crovier understands this +to signify that the Romans did not employ a greater force for besieging +Antium, than they had employed the preceding year, and which at that +time seemed insufficient for the purpose. Others understand the words to +signify that they surrendered without waiting for the Romans to make any +additional efforts to take the town.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_105_105" id="Footnote_105_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_105_105"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> <i>Dederat</i>. The <i>oratio obliqua</i> would require <i>dederit</i> +here, but such instances of the indicative being used for the +subjunctive are by no means infrequent.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_106_106" id="Footnote_106_106"></a><a href="#FNanchor_106_106"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> <i>Justitium</i>—a jure sistendo.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_107_107" id="Footnote_107_107"></a><a href="#FNanchor_107_107"><span class="label">[107]</span></a> According to Stroth, this is the first instance we have +of a decree of the senate arming the consul with almost dictatorial +power.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_108_108" id="Footnote_108_108"></a><a href="#FNanchor_108_108"><span class="label">[108]</span></a> <i>Pro-consul</i>:—the first mention of a pro-consul in +Livy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_109_109" id="Footnote_109_109"></a><a href="#FNanchor_109_109"><span class="label">[109]</span></a> Of the year,—i.e. the consular year, not the civil one, +which commenced in January.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_110_110" id="Footnote_110_110"></a><a href="#FNanchor_110_110"><span class="label">[110]</span></a> A similar measure was adopted at Athens. See Thucyd. ii. +52.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_111_111" id="Footnote_111_111"></a><a href="#FNanchor_111_111"><span class="label">[111]</span></a> <i>Circuitio</i>. Stroth observes, that this is what we +understand by 'the Round.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_112_112" id="Footnote_112_112"></a><a href="#FNanchor_112_112"><span class="label">[112]</span></a> According to Dionysius, the Volsci attacked Rome on this +occasion.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_113_113" id="Footnote_113_113"></a><a href="#FNanchor_113_113"><span class="label">[113]</span></a> As <i>præfectus urbis</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_114_114" id="Footnote_114_114"></a><a href="#FNanchor_114_114"><span class="label">[114]</span></a> Niebuhr n. 24, 634, would have us read <i>Terentilius</i>, the +Roman family names always, he says, ending in <i>ius</i>. He also thinks that +for <i>Arsa</i>, we should read <i>Harsa</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_115_115" id="Footnote_115_115"></a><a href="#FNanchor_115_115"><span class="label">[115]</span></a> Niebuhr, ii. n. 631, asks whether it was worms. Σαρκῶν +θραύσματα. Dion. x. 2.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_116_116" id="Footnote_116_116"></a><a href="#FNanchor_116_116"><span class="label">[116]</span></a> The Sibylline books.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_117_117" id="Footnote_117_117"></a><a href="#FNanchor_117_117"><span class="label">[117]</span></a> Niebuhr denies that the tribunes had the power before the +establishment of the decemviri to commit patricians to prison. See +however Dion. vii. 17.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_118_118" id="Footnote_118_118"></a><a href="#FNanchor_118_118"><span class="label">[118]</span></a> In the original the words are, <i>Medio decreto jus auxilii +sui expediunt</i>. The tribunes were afraid lest, if they allowed Cæso to +go entirely at large, the commons might become irritated; whilst if they +refused to listen to the application of a patrician when he craved their +assistance, they feared lest they should lose an excellent opportunity +of establishing their influence and increasing their power. By adopting +a line of conduct then which conceded something both to the commons and +to Cæso, they as it were <i>extricate</i> (expediunt) their power from this +double danger.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_119_119" id="Footnote_119_119"></a><a href="#FNanchor_119_119"><span class="label">[119]</span></a> <i>Vadis publicos</i>. According to Gronovius, <i>publico</i>, +scil. <i>plebi</i>. Niebuhr prefers this reading.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_120_120" id="Footnote_120_120"></a><a href="#FNanchor_120_120"><span class="label">[120]</span></a> <i>Rigorously exacted</i>. See Niebuhr ii. p. 289, who +expresses a different opinion on the matter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_121_121" id="Footnote_121_121"></a><a href="#FNanchor_121_121"><span class="label">[121]</span></a> <i>Incerto hoste</i>, it being as yet uncertain who the enemy +was.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_122_122" id="Footnote_122_122"></a><a href="#FNanchor_122_122"><span class="label">[122]</span></a> <i>Fidem abrogare</i>,—non habere fidem, non credere. <i>Non +credendo</i> here seems superfluous.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_123_123" id="Footnote_123_123"></a><a href="#FNanchor_123_123"><span class="label">[123]</span></a> <i>Forgetful of the consular, &c.</i>—i.e. forgetful of the +limits of the consular authority; acting in the same manner as if its +power were unbounded, and admitted no appeal.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_124_124" id="Footnote_124_124"></a><a href="#FNanchor_124_124"><span class="label">[124]</span></a> Niebuhr thinks that Cæso was among the number. See cap. +25, where we read "Cæsonem neque Quintiæ familiæ, neque reipublicæ +restitui posse." Comp. Niebuhr ii. n. 673, Wachsmuth, p. 347.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_125_125" id="Footnote_125_125"></a><a href="#FNanchor_125_125"><span class="label">[125]</span></a> The consuls under ordinary circumstances used to commence +their office at this time on the Calends of August.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_126_126" id="Footnote_126_126"></a><a href="#FNanchor_126_126"><span class="label">[126]</span></a> <i>Neque sacri neque sancti</i>. Whatever is consecrated by +religion is said to be <i>sacrum</i>; whilst <i>sanctum</i> is said of that which +the law states to be inviolable.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_127_127" id="Footnote_127_127"></a><a href="#FNanchor_127_127"><span class="label">[127]</span></a> <i>Exercitu relicto</i> is the ordinary reading. Crevier +observes that <i>reducto</i> is the more correct.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_128_128" id="Footnote_128_128"></a><a href="#FNanchor_128_128"><span class="label">[128]</span></a> This account does not seem to be correct. See Niebuhr ii. +p. 254.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_129_129" id="Footnote_129_129"></a><a href="#FNanchor_129_129"><span class="label">[129]</span></a> <i>Ni ita esset</i>, a legal form of expression, amounting in +this place to "if Volscius attempted to deny it." <i>Privatim</i>. Besides +the quæstors who by virtue of their office were to prosecute Volscius, +many persons on their own account, and on their private responsibility, +cited him into court, and challenged him to discuss the case before a +judge. A prosecutor was said <i>ferre judicem res</i>, when he proposed to +the accused person some one out of the <i>judices selecti</i>, before whom +the case might be tried; if the accused person consented to the person +named by prosecutor, then the judge was said <i>convenisse</i>, to have been +agreed on. Sometimes the accused was allowed to select his own judge, +<i>judicem dicere</i>. When both the prosecutor and the accused agreed as to +the judge, they presented a joint petition to the prætor that he would +appoint (<i>ut daret</i>) that person to try the cause; at the same time they +both bound themselves to pay a certain sum, the one if he did not +establish his charge, <i>ni ita esset</i>; the other if he did not prove his +innocence.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_130_130" id="Footnote_130_130"></a><a href="#FNanchor_130_130"><span class="label">[130]</span></a> <i>Comitia</i>, i. e. <i>curiata</i>, which exercised authority in +the cases of persons accused of inflicting injuries on the patricians.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_131_131" id="Footnote_131_131"></a><a href="#FNanchor_131_131"><span class="label">[131]</span></a> <i>Ad prohibenda circumdari opera</i>. Stroth observes that it +should be more properly <i>ad prohibenda circumdanda opera</i>, i. e. ad +prohibendum, ne opera circumdarentur.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_132_132" id="Footnote_132_132"></a><a href="#FNanchor_132_132"><span class="label">[132]</span></a> <i>Consulare, imperium tribunicio auxilio</i>.—The consuls +possessed <i>imperium</i>. The tribunes could not be said to possess it. +Their province was confined to <i>auxilii latio</i>, sc. adversus consules.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_133_133" id="Footnote_133_133"></a><a href="#FNanchor_133_133"><span class="label">[133]</span></a> It is extraordinary that Livy makes no mention here of +Siccius Dentatus, and his strenuous exertions in endeavouring to carry +the agrarian law, as well as of his angry contentions with the consuls. +For his character, see Dion. x. 31, 32.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_134_134" id="Footnote_134_134"></a><a href="#FNanchor_134_134"><span class="label">[134]</span></a> <i>Impedimentum</i>. The fact of his presiding at the meeting +should have been a bar to his being elected a decemvir.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_135_135" id="Footnote_135_135"></a><a href="#FNanchor_135_135"><span class="label">[135]</span></a> Niebuhr will have it that five of these were of plebeian +rank.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_136_136" id="Footnote_136_136"></a><a href="#FNanchor_136_136"><span class="label">[136]</span></a> <i>Impotentibus</i>, sc. immoderatis—<i>rari aditus</i>, the +genitive singular.—<i>Stroth.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_137_137" id="Footnote_137_137"></a><a href="#FNanchor_137_137"><span class="label">[137]</span></a> <i>Nec attinuisse demi securim, quum sine provocatione +creati essent, interpretabantur</i>. Valerius Publicola had introduced the +custom of not having the axes tied up with the fasces when carried +before the consuls in the city. But the decemvirs said that this was, +because an appeal from the consuls to the people was allowed. Whence, +since their jurisdiction allowed of no appeal, they <i>interpreted</i>, i. e. +by interpreting the meaning or intention of this custom, they concluded +that they were not bound by it, and that there was no reason why they +should remove the axes from the fasces.—<i>Crev.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_138_138" id="Footnote_138_138"></a><a href="#FNanchor_138_138"><span class="label">[138]</span></a> <i>Provocatione</i>—intercessionem. The <i>provocatio</i> was to +the people, whilst the <i>intercessio</i> referred to the decemvirs against a +colleague.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_139_139" id="Footnote_139_139"></a><a href="#FNanchor_139_139"><span class="label">[139]</span></a> <i>Quum fortuna, qua quicquid cupitum foret, potentioris +esset</i>. Stroth considers this passage to be corrupt: he proposes to read +<i>cum fortuna</i>, so that <i>portentioris esset</i> may refer to <i>quicquid +cupitum foret</i>, i. e. with such favourable success, that every thing +which the more powerful person might covet, became his.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_140_140" id="Footnote_140_140"></a><a href="#FNanchor_140_140"><span class="label">[140]</span></a> <i>Inhibendum</i>, sc. <i>adhibendum</i>—the term <i>inhibeo</i> occurs +frequently in this sense, as below, <i>imperioque inhibendo</i>. The +adjective <i>imminutis</i> also refers evidently to <i>honoris +insignibus</i>.—<i>Stroth.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_141_141" id="Footnote_141_141"></a><a href="#FNanchor_141_141"><span class="label">[141]</span></a> The words are, <i>quum et ipsi invisum consensu imperium, +et plebs, quid privatis jus non esset vocandi senatum, non convenire +patres interpretarentur</i>, i. e. while, on the one hand, the decemvirs +themselves accounted for the staying away of the senators from the +meeting, by the fact of their (the decemvirs') government being disliked +by them; whilst, on the other hand, the commons accounted for the +non-appearance of the senators by the fact, that being now mere private +citizens, their time of office being passed, they (the decemvirs) had no +right whatever to convene the senate.—<i>Stroth.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_142_142" id="Footnote_142_142"></a><a href="#FNanchor_142_142"><span class="label">[142]</span></a> The senators were obliged to attend the meeting of the +senate when convened by the magistrate; otherwise a fine was imposed, to +insure the payment of which pledges were exacted, which were sold in +case of non-payment. See Cicero de Orat. iii. 1. Philip. i. 5.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_143_143" id="Footnote_143_143"></a><a href="#FNanchor_143_143"><span class="label">[143]</span></a> In the original the words are: <i>quod iis qui jam +magistratu abissent, privatisque, si vis abesset</i>, &c., i. e. who +differed in no other respect from mere private citizens, except that +they had recourse to violence, which it was competent for the magistrate +only to do.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_144_144" id="Footnote_144_144"></a><a href="#FNanchor_144_144"><span class="label">[144]</span></a> Livy's own account of the matter does not justify this +claim of the Horatii to having been at the head of the revolution which +banished the kings. But Dionysius of Halicarnassus informs us that it +was Marcus Horatius who made the army revolt against Tarquinius +Superbus, and that the same in his second consulate rendered unavailing +all the efforts of Porsenna to restore the Tarquins.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_145_145" id="Footnote_145_145"></a><a href="#FNanchor_145_145"><span class="label">[145]</span></a> The original here is rather obscure. <i>Aut socii, aut hi +maxime.</i> Crevier prefers to read <i>aut soli aut hi maxime</i>. Stroth +explains <i>socii, se socios præbendo</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_146_146" id="Footnote_146_146"></a><a href="#FNanchor_146_146"><span class="label">[146]</span></a> Appius here contrasts two classes of persons, one +consisting of individuals, who are in their own power; the other, of +those who are not <i>sui juris</i>, but are under the control either of a +parent, or some other person. If the question arise concerning a person +who is <i>sui juris</i>, whether he is to be consigned to slavery, or to be +restored to liberty, then "<i>id juris esse</i>," sc. that he remain free +till the decision is made, <i>because any person</i>, as being <i>homo sui +juris</i>, and consequently he himself, "may proceed by law;" but he says, +that this does not hold good with respect to a person who is not <i>sui +juris</i>, but is in the hands of others; such a person, he says, cannot be +pronounced free, but must be subject to the power, either of the parent +or master, so that no injury be done to either. Wherefore, since the +girl is not <i>sui juris</i>, she must be in the power, either of Virginius, +who says he is her father, or of Claudius, who says he is her master. +But since Virginius is not present, that she can be in the power of no +one but Claudius, until Virginius arrive. +</p><p> +I cannot resist the temptation of giving in full Mr. Gunn's note on the +passage, as found in his very neat edition of our author. +</p><p> +"Appius for his own purposes, in interpreting his own law, introduces a +distinction betwixt those who were <i>sui juris</i>, entirely free, and those +who were subject to the <i>patria potestas</i>. The law, according to him, +can apply only to the former, because in them only is there a true claim +for liberty, and in them only could a judge give an interim decision +<i>secundum libertatem</i>. To give such a decision in favour of Virginia, +would be a <i>variatio personarum</i>; it would be introducing as entitled to +the benefit of the law a class of persons, who were, even according to +their own statements, not entitled to <i>vindiciæ secundum libertatem</i>. +Besides, and most important of all, the law could act in the former, as +any citizen was entitled to plead the cause of one presumptively free. +But in this case no one could plead, but either the father as master on +the one hand, or the alleged master on the other: as the father was not +present, consequently no one had any legal claim to urge the law."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_147_147" id="Footnote_147_147"></a><a href="#FNanchor_147_147"><span class="label">[147]</span></a> <i>Si nec causis nec personis variet.</i> Sc. lex variet. Some +understand <i>libertas</i> as the nominative to variet.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_148_148" id="Footnote_148_148"></a><a href="#FNanchor_148_148"><span class="label">[148]</span></a> <i>Because any person</i>. "As the law permits any strangers +to interpose in vindicating an individual's liberty, they have an +undoubted right so to do. But the question is not whether this maiden is +free: that she cannot be in any case; for she belongs either to her +father or her master. Now as her father is not present to take charge of +her, no one here but her master can have any title to her." Appius +argues that he could not pronounce in favour of her temporary liberty, +without prejudice to her father's right and power over her: as there was +no one present, who claimed a legal right to the possession of her but +M. Claudius, the judge had no alternative but to award her during the +interim to his safe keeping.—<i>Stocker.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_149_149" id="Footnote_149_149"></a><a href="#FNanchor_149_149"><span class="label">[149]</span></a> <i>Sureties</i>—sponsores. The preliminary bail.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_150_150" id="Footnote_150_150"></a><a href="#FNanchor_150_150"><span class="label">[150]</span></a> <i>He passed a sentence</i>, &c. In the original it is, +"decresse vindicias secundum servitutem." This decision relates to the +definitive bail. Appius the day before had made up his mind to this +decision. He had calculated, however, on the non-appearance of the +father; yet did not now choose to be foiled by his unexpected +presence.—<i>Stocker.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_151_151" id="Footnote_151_151"></a><a href="#FNanchor_151_151"><span class="label">[151]</span></a> The dress of the citizens.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_152_152" id="Footnote_152_152"></a><a href="#FNanchor_152_152"><span class="label">[152]</span></a> Two classes of persons are here intended: 1. Those who +accompanied Virginius into the camp. 2. Others who followed them +subsequently.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_153_153" id="Footnote_153_153"></a><a href="#FNanchor_153_153"><span class="label">[153]</span></a> In the performance of such rites, the slightest mistake +of a word or syllable was deemed highly inauspicious; to prevent which, +the regular form of words was pronounced by a priest, and repeated after +him by the persons officiating.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_154_154" id="Footnote_154_154"></a><a href="#FNanchor_154_154"><span class="label">[154]</span></a> <i>Villa publica</i>. It was destined to public uses, such as +holding the <i>census</i>, or survey of the people, the reception of +ambassadors, &c.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_155_155" id="Footnote_155_155"></a><a href="#FNanchor_155_155"><span class="label">[155]</span></a> <i>ærarium facere</i>, signifies to strip a person of all the +privileges of a citizen, on which he became <i>civis ærarius</i>, a citizen +only so far as he paid taxes.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_156_156" id="Footnote_156_156"></a><a href="#FNanchor_156_156"><span class="label">[156]</span></a> <i>Senators.</i> Niebuhr, ii. note 995, seems to doubt whether +these belonged to single cities or were the senators of the entire +Volscian nation.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_157_157" id="Footnote_157_157"></a><a href="#FNanchor_157_157"><span class="label">[157]</span></a> <i>Fines</i>. The fines imposed in early times were certain +numbers of sheep or oxen; afterwards it was ordered by law that these +fines should be appraised and the value paid in money. Another law fixed +a certain rate at which the cattle should be estimated, 100 asses for an +ox, 10 for a sheep.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_158_158" id="Footnote_158_158"></a><a href="#FNanchor_158_158"><span class="label">[158]</span></a> The passing of a <i>senatus-consultum</i>, or decree of the +senate, might be prevented in several ways; as, for instance, by the +want of a sufficiently full meeting, &c.; in such cases the judgment of +the majority was recorded, and that was called <i>auctoritas senatûs</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_159_159" id="Footnote_159_159"></a><a href="#FNanchor_159_159"><span class="label">[159]</span></a> The reading of the original here is decidedly incorrect. +Various emendations have been attempted, but none can be deemed +satisfactory.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_160_160" id="Footnote_160_160"></a><a href="#FNanchor_160_160"><span class="label">[160]</span></a> So I have rendered <i>pro se</i>—or it may be rendered, +"considering their circumstances," scil. the external circumstances in +which they were placed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_161_161" id="Footnote_161_161"></a><a href="#FNanchor_161_161"><span class="label">[161]</span></a> <i>Expectatione, &c.</i> With confident expectations on the +part of his countrymen, rather than simple hope.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_162_162" id="Footnote_162_162"></a><a href="#FNanchor_162_162"><span class="label">[162]</span></a> According to Niebuhr, (vol. ii. p. 233,) this fear put +into the mouth of Claudius, is attributable to ignorance or +forgetfulness on the part of Livy, of the early usage in the dividing of +spoils, which had ceased to be observed in the time of Augustus. +According to former Roman usage, half of the conquering army was +employed, under the sanction of a solemn oath, to subtract nothing, in +collecting the spoil, which was then partly divided by lot, partly sold, +and the proceeds, if promised to the soldiers, disbursed to them man by +man, if otherwise, it was brought into the treasury. Both schemes +mentioned here by Livy, it will be observed, contemplated compensation +to the people for the war-tax which they had so long paid; but that of +Licinius was more favourable, especially to the poor, as the ordinary +citizens would receive equal shares, and the compensation would be +direct and immediate.—<i>Gunne.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_163_163" id="Footnote_163_163"></a><a href="#FNanchor_163_163"><span class="label">[163]</span></a> "This vow frequently occurs in Grecian history, like that +made of the Persian booty, but this is the only instance in the history +of Rome."—<i>Niebuhr</i>, vol. ii. 239.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_164_164" id="Footnote_164_164"></a><a href="#FNanchor_164_164"><span class="label">[164]</span></a> <i>Evocatos</i>. When the Romans besieged a town, and thought +themselves sure of taking it, they used solemnly to call out of it the +gods in whose protection the place was supposed to be.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_165_165" id="Footnote_165_165"></a><a href="#FNanchor_165_165"><span class="label">[165]</span></a> The idea of the Romans working a mine, even through the +soil of Veii, so as to be sure of reaching not only the town and the +citadel, and even the temple, is considered by Niebuhr as extremely +ridiculous. He deems the circumstance a clear proof of the fiction that +attaches to the entire story of the capture of Veii. The whole seems to +be an imitation of the siege of Troy.—<i>Gunne.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_166_166" id="Footnote_166_166"></a><a href="#FNanchor_166_166"><span class="label">[166]</span></a> The passage in the original, in the generality of +editions, is read as follows: <i>ut eam invidium lenire, quàm minimo suo +privato incommodo publicoque, populo Romano liceret</i>: i. e. that both +himself and the Roman people may get over the evil consequences of the +jealousy of the gods with as little detriment as possible to either: +<i>populi Romani</i> seems preferable here: i. e. "that it might be allowed +to lighten that jealousy, by the least possible injury to his own +private interest, and to the public interests of the Roman people." +There were certainly two persons concerned in the <i>invidia</i> and +<i>incommodum</i> here, Camillus himself, and the Roman people; to whom +respectively the <i>damnatio</i>, and <i>elades captæ urbis</i>, afterwards +mentioned, obviously refer. Some editions read, <i>invidiam lenire suo +privato incommodo, quàm minimo publico populi Romani liceret</i>. This is +the reading adopted by Crevier; i. e. "to appease the jealousy by his +own private loss, rather than the least public loss." This is more in +accordance with the account given of Camillus by Plutarch, and contains +a sentiment certainly more worthy both of Livy and of Camillus. +Sentiments ascribed by Plutarch to Camillus, will have suo privato +incommodo, quam minimo publico P. R., giving him the patriotic wish to +render light the odium by his own private loss, <i>rather than</i> the least +public loss; or, by his own private loss, but if not, <i>by</i> as small a +public loss as possible. Pop-<i>li</i> R-<i>i</i>, better than <i>o</i>, <i>o</i>, as +<i>liceret</i> would, in the latter case, apply only to one of the parties; +in the former both are understood.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_167_167" id="Footnote_167_167"></a><a href="#FNanchor_167_167"><span class="label">[167]</span></a> "A proposal so absurd would have justified the most +vehement opposition of the senate. But it is much more probable, that +the scope of the proposition was, that on this occasion the whole of the +conquered land should be divided, but amongst the whole nation, so that +the patricians also and their clients should receive a share as absolute +property."—<i>Neibuhr</i>, vol. ii. p. 248.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_168_168" id="Footnote_168_168"></a><a href="#FNanchor_168_168"><span class="label">[168]</span></a> Niebuhr and Arnold understand these words to signify, +that these persons had already made up their minds not to acquit him, or +assist him by voting in favour of him—in fact, that they could not +conscientiously do so. It may, however, signify simply, that the people +were so incensed against him, that there existed not a rational prospect +of acquittal for him.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_169_169" id="Footnote_169_169"></a><a href="#FNanchor_169_169"><span class="label">[169]</span></a> In my translation of this passage I have differed from +Baker, who thus renders: "thinking, that as his enemies were few in +number, their skill was what he had chiefly to guard against." Dureau De +Lamalle thus translates: "supposant de la ruse aux ennemis, a raison de +leur petit nombre." This is obviously the correct version.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_170_170" id="Footnote_170_170"></a><a href="#FNanchor_170_170"><span class="label">[170]</span></a> The aged were doomed to perish under any circumstances, +(<i>utique</i>,) from scarcity of provisions, whether they retired into the +Capitol with the military youth, or were left behind in the city.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_171_171" id="Footnote_171_171"></a><a href="#FNanchor_171_171"><span class="label">[171]</span></a> The Novensiles were nine deities brought to Rome by the +Sabines: Lara, Vesta, Minerva, Feronia, Concord, Faith, Fortune, Chance, +Health. See Niebuhr III. ii. 249.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_172_172" id="Footnote_172_172"></a><a href="#FNanchor_172_172"><span class="label">[172]</span></a> Any noise happening during the taking of the auspices was +reckoned inauspicious; hence <i>silentium</i> signified among the augurs, +every circumstance being favourable.</p></div> + +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08, by +Titus Livius + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HISTORY OF ROME *** + +***** This file should be named 19725-h.htm or 19725-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/7/2/19725/ + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Taavi Kalju and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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