sacred worship. The consequence was, they restored us to our country, to victory, and to our former renown in war, which we had forfeited; and, on the heads of the enemy, who, blinded by avarice, broke the faith of a treaty in respect to the weight of the gold, they turned dismay, and flight, and slaughter.

LII. When ye reflect on these strong instances of the powerful effects produced on the affairs of men by their either honcuring or neglecting the deity, do ye not perceive, Romans, what an act of impiety we are about to perpetrate; even in the very moment of emerging from the wreck and ruin which followed our former misconduct? We are in possession of a city built under the direction of auspices and auguries, in which there is not a spot but is full of gods and religious rites. The days of the anniversary sacrifices are not more precisely stated, than are the places where they are to be performed. All these gods, both public and private, do ye intend, Romans, to forsake? What similitude 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 youth Caius Fabius, when he went down from the citadel through the midst of Gallic weapons, and performed on the Quirinal hill the

this struggle also affect the essential interests | gods and men, yet we did not intermit the of my country; to be wanting to which, as long as life remains, were base in others, in Camillus infamous. For to what purpose have we laboured its recovery? Why have we rescued it out of the hands of the enemy? After it has been recovered, shall we voluntarily desert it? Notwithstanding that the capitol and citadel continued to be held and inhabited by the gods and the natives of Rome, even when the Gauls were victorious, and in possession of the whole city; notwithstanding that the Romans are now the victors; shall that capitol and citadel be abandoned with all the rest, and our prosperity become the cause of greater desolution, than our adversity was? In truth, if we had no religious institutions which were founded together with the city, and regularly handed down from one generation to another; yet the divine power has been so manifestly displayed at this time in favour of the Roman affairs, that I should think all disposition to be negligent in paying due honour to the gods effectually removed from the minds of men. For, take a review of the transactions of these latter years in order,-prosperous and adverse,—ye will find that in every instance prosperity constantly attended submission to the immortals, and adversity the neglect of them. To begin with the war of Veii: for what a number of years, and with what an im-anniversary rites pertaining to the Fabian famensity of labour, was it carried on? Yet it mily? Is it your opinion that the religious could not be brought to a conclusion, until, in performances of particular families should not obedience to the admonition of the gods, the be intermitted, though war obstruct, but that water was discharged from the Alban lake. the public rites and the Roman gods should Consider, did this unparalleled train of misfor- be forsaken even in time of peace; and that tunes, which ruined our city, commence until the pontiffs and flamens should be more neglithe voice sent from heaven, concerning the ap-gent of those rites of religion than was a priproach of the Gauls, had been disregarded, un- vate person? Some, perhaps, may say, we will til the laws of nations had been violated by our perform these at Veii; we will send our priests ambassadors; and until we, with the same in- thither for that purpose: but this cannot be difference towards the deities, passed over that done without an infringement of the established crime which we were bound to punish? Van- forms. Even in the case of the feast of Jupiquished, therefore, made captives, and ransom-ter, (not to enumerate all the several gods, and ed, we have suffered such punishments at the hands of gods and men, as render us a warning to the whole world. After this, our misfortunes again reminded us of our duty to the heavens. We fled for refuge into the capitol, to the mansion of Jupiter, supremely good and great. The sacred utensils, amidst the ruin of our own properties, we partly concealed in the earth, partly conveyed out of the enemy's sight, to the neighbouring cities. Abandoned by VOL. I.-2 F

all the different kinds of sacred rites,) can the ceremonies of the Lectisternium be performed in any other place than the capitol? What shall I say of the eternal fire of Vesta; and of the sta tue, that pledge of empire, which is kept under the safeguard of her temple? What, O Mars Gradivus, and thou, Father Quirinus of thy Ancilia? Is it right that those sacred things, coval

*Ancile, a shield, supposed to be of the god Mars, said

anew,

66

with the city, nay some of them more ancient | men Dialis remain one night out of the city. than the city itself, should all be abandoned to Do ye intend to make them Veientian priests profanation? Now, observe the difference be- instead of Roman? And, O Vesta, shall thy tween us and our ancestors. They handed down virgins forsake thee? And shall the flamen, by to us certain sacred rites to be performed on the foreign residence, draw every night on himself Alban, and on the Lavinian mounts. Was it and the commonwealth so great a load of guilt? then deemed not offensive to the gods, that What shall we say of other kinds of business such rites should be brought to Rome, and which we necessarily transact under auspices, from the cities of our enemies; and shall we, and almost all within the Pomarium? Το without impiety, remove them from hence to what oblivion, or to what neglect, are we to an enemy's city, to Veii? Recollect, I beseech consign them? The assemblies of the Curias, you, how often sacred rites are performed which have the regulation of military affairs, because some particular ceremony of our the assemblies of the centuries, in which ye country has been omitted through negligence elect consuls and military tribunes; where can or accident. In a late instance, what other they be held under auspices, except in the accusmatter, after the prodigy of the Alban lake, tomed place? Shall we transfer these to Veii? proved a remedy for the distresses brought on Or shall the people, in order to hold their the commonwealth by the war of Veii, but the meetings, lawfully crowd together here, with repetition of them, and the renewal of the aus- so great inconvenience, and into a city deserted pices? But besides, as if zealously attached to by gods and men? religious institutions, we have brought not only foreign deities to Rome, but have established new ones. It was but the other day that imperial Juno was removed hither from Veii; and with what a crowded attendance was her dedication on the Aventine celebrated? And how greatly was it distinguished by the extraordinary zeal of the matrons? We have passed an order for the erecting of a temple to Aius Locutius in the new street, out of regard to the heavenly voice which was heard there. To our other solemnities we have added Capitoline games, and have, by direction of the senate, founded a new college for the performance thereof. Where was there occasion for any of these institutions, if we were to abandon the city at the same time with the Gauls; if it was against our will that we resided in the capitol for the many months that the siege continued; if it was through a motive of fear that we suffered ourselves to be confined there by the enemy? Hitherto we have spoken of the sacred rites and the temples, what are we now to say of the priests? Does it not occur to you, what a degree of profaneness would be committed with respect to them? For the vestals have but that one residence, from which nothing ever disturbed them, except the capture of the city. It is deemed impious if the Flato have fallen from heaven in the reign of Numa. It was reposited in the sanctuary, and kept with great care by the priests of Mars, called Salii. Being considered as a symbol of the perpetual duration of the empire, to prevent its being stolen, eleven others were made exactly resemb ng it, and laid up with it.

LIII. But it is urged that the case itself compels us to leave a city desolated by fire and ruin, and remove to Veii, where every thing is entire, and not to distress the needy commons by building here. Now, I think, Romans, it must be evident to most of you, though I should not say a word on the subject, that this is but a pretext held out to serve a purpose, and not the real motive. For ye remember, that this scheme of our removing to Veii was agitated before the coming of the Gauls, when the buildings, both public and private, were unhurt, and when the city stood in safety. Observe, then, tribunes, the difference between my way of thinking and yours. Ye are of opinion, that even though it were not advisable to remove at that time, yet it is plainly expedient now. On the contrary, and be not surprised at what I say until ye hear my reasons, even allowing that it had been advisable so to do, when the whole city was in a state of safety, I would not vote for leaving these ruins now. At that time, removing into a captured city from a victory obtained, had been a cause glorious to us and our posterity; but now, it would be wretched and dishonourable to us, while it would be glorious to the Gauls. For we shall appear not to have left our country in consequence of our successes, but from being vanquished; and by the flight at the Allia, the capture of the city, and the blockade of the capitol, to have been obliged to forsake our dwelling, and fly from a place which we had not strength to defend. And have the Gauls

the ties of affection, to remain to your own established settlements, rather than hereafter prove the cause of your pining away in anxious regret at having left them. Not without good reason did gods and men select this spot for the building of Rome, where are most healthful hills, a commodious river, whose stream brings down the produce of the interior countries, while it opens a passage for foreign commerce; the sea, so near as to answer every purpose of convenience, yet at such a distance as not to expose it to danger from the fleets of foreigners; and in the centre of the regions of Italy, a situation singularly adapted by its nature to promote the increase of a city. Of this the very size, as it was, must be held a demonstration. Romans, this present year is the three hundred and sixty-fifth of the city; during so long a time ye have been engaged in war, in the midst of nations of the oldest standing: yet, not to mention single nations, neither the quans in conjunction with the Volscians, who possess so many and so strong towns, nor the whole body of Etruria, possessed of such extensive power, by land and

been able to demolish Rome, and shall the | been born and educated; and it is my wish, Romans be deemed unable to restore it? What Romans, that these may now engage you, by remains, then, but that ye allow them to come with new forces, for it is certain they have numbers scarcely credible, and make it their choice to dwell in this city, once captured by them, and now forsaken by you? What would you think, if, not the Gauls, but your old enemies the Equans or Volscians, should 'orm the design of removing to Rome? Would ye be willing that they should become Romans, and you Veientians? Or would ye that this should be either a desert in your possession, or a city in that of the enemy? Any thing more impious I really cannot conceive. Is it out of aversion from the trouble of rebuilding, that ye are ready to incur such guilt and such disgrace? Supposing that there could not be erected a better or more ample structure than that cottage of our founder, were it not more desirable to dwell in cottages, after the manner of shepherds and rustics, in the midst of your sacred places and tutelar deities, than to have the commonwealth go into exile? Our forefathers, a body of uncivilized strangers, when there was nothing in these places but woods and marshes, erected a city in a very short time. Do we, though we have the cap-sea, and occupying the whole breadth of Italy, itol and citadel safe, and the temples of the gods standing, think it too great a labour to rebuild one that has been burned? What each particular man would have done, if his house had been destroyed by fire, should the whole of us refuse, in the case of a general conflagration.

LIV. Let me ask you, if, through some ill design or accident, a fire should break out at Veii, and the flames being spread by the wind, as might be the case, should consume a great part of the city; must we seek Fidena, or Gabii, or some other city, to remove to? Has our native soil so slight a hold of our affections; and this earth, which we call our mother? Or does our love for our country extend no farther than the surface, and the timber of the houses? I assure you, for I will confess it readily, that during the time of my absence, (which I am less willing to recollect, as the effect of ill treatment from you, than of my own hard fortune,) as often as my country came into my mind, every one of these circumstances occurred to me; the hills, the plains, the Tiber, the face of the country to which my eyes had been accustomed, and the sky, under which I had

from one sea to the other, have shown themselves equal to you in war. This being the case, where can be the wisdom in making trial of a change, when, though your valour might accompany you in your removal to another place, the fortune of this spot could not certainly be transferred? Here is the capitol, where a human head being formerly found, it was foretold that in that spot should be the head of the world, and the seat of sovereign empire. Here, when the capitol was to be cleared 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 all the gods, and they, too, propitious to your stay." Camillus is said to have affected them much by other parts of his discourse, but particularly by that which related to religious matters. But still the affair remained in suspense, until an accidental expression, seasonably uttered, determined it. For in a short time after this, the senate sitting on this business in the Curia Hostilia, it happened that some cohorts, returning from relieving the guards, passed through the forum in their

march, when a centurion in the comitium called | taken for their completing the edifices within out, "Standard-bearer, fix your standard. It the year. Their haste took away all attention is best for us to stay here." On hearing which expression, the senate, coming forth from the Curia, called out with one voice, that "they embraced the omen;" and the surrounding crowd of commons joined their approbation. The proposed law being then rejected, they set about rebuilding the city in all parts at once. Tiles were supplied at the public expense, and liberty granted to hew stones and fell timber, wherever each person chose, security being

to the regulation of the course of the streets: for setting aside all regard to distinction of property, they built on any spot which they found vacant. And that is the reason that the old sewers which at first were conducted under the public streets, do now, in many places, pass under private houses, and that the form of the city appears as if force alone had directed the distribution of the lots.

THE

HISTORY OF ROME.

BOOK VI.

Successful operations against the quans, and Volscians, and Præstines. Four new tribes added. Marcus Manlius, who defended the capitol, being convicted of aspiring to regal power, is thrown from the Tarpeian rock. A law proposed by two plebeian tribunes, that consuls might be chosen from among the commons, causes a long and violent contest, during which, for five years, the same set of plebeian tribunes are the only magistrates in the state: is at length passed: and Lucius Sextus, one of the proposers made the first plebeian consul. A law passed, that no person shall possess more than five hundred acres of land.

I. In the five preceding books, I have exhibit-on. While the public were kept diligently ed a view of the affairs of the Romans, from employed in repairing the city, Quintus Fathe building of the city of Rome, until its cap- bius, as soon as he went out of office, had a ture; [Y. R. 365. B. C. 387.] under the go- prosecution instituted against him by Caius vernment, first of kings, then of consuls and Marcius, a tribune of the commons, for having," dictators, decemvirs, and consular tribunes: while in the character of Ambassador, contrary their foreign wars, and domestic dissensions: to the law of nations, acted in arms against the matters involved in obscurity, not only by rea- Gauls, with whom he had been sent as a minson of their great antiquity, like objects placed ister to negotiate: he escaped standing his at such a distance as to be scarcely discernible trial, by a death so opportune, that most peoby the eye; but also because that, in those ple believed it voluntary. The interregnum times, the use of letters, the only faithful commenced. Publius Cornelius Scipio was guardian of the memory of events, was very interrex; and, after him, Marcus Furius Carare. And besides whatever information millus a second time. [Y. R. 366. B. C. might have been contained in the commentaries of the pontiffs, and other public or private records, it was almost entirely lost in the burning of the city. Henceforward, from the second origin of Rome, from whence, as from its root, receiving new life, it sprung up with redoubled health and vigour, I shall be able to give the relation of its affairs, both civil and military, with more clearness and certainty. Now, after its restoration, it leaned still, for principal support, on the same instrument which had raised it from ruin, Marcus Furius Camillus. Nor did the people suffer him to lay kings. Some of these were publicly proaside the dictatorship before the end of that mulgated; but such as related to religious year. It was judged improper that the tribunes, matters, were kept secret, chiefly througl during whose administration the city had been means of the pontiffs, that they might hold taken should preside at the elections for the the minds of the multitude in bondage. year ensuing, and an interregnum was resolved They next turned their deliberations

386.] He elected military tribunes with consular power, Lucius Valerius Poplicola a second time, Lucius Virginius, Publius Cornelius, Aulus Manlius, Lucius Æmilius, and Lucius Postumius. These, entering on office, immediately on the conclusion of the interregnum, consulted the senate on no other business previous to that which related to religion. They ordered, in the first place, that a collection should be made of the treaties and laws which could be found. The latter consisted of the twelve tables, and some laws enacted by the

to