the cause in which we are engaged, that the
Roman may rule over. the Alban: and, whilst
the other could scarcely support the weight of
his armour, he plunged his sword downward
into his throat; then, as he lay prostrate, he
despoiled him of his arms. The Romans re-
ceived Horatius with triumphant congratula-
tions, and a degree of joy proportioned to the
greatness of the danger that had threatened
their cause.
Both parties then applied them-
selves to the burying of their dead, with very
different dispositions of mind; the one being
elated with the acquisition of empire, the other
depressed under a foreign jurisdiction. The
sepulchres still remain, in the several spots
where the combatants fell; those of the two
Romans in one place nearer to Alba, those of
the three Albans, on the side next to Rome;
but, in different places, as they fought.

people, and then said, "I appoint two commissioners to pass judgment on Horatius for murder, according to the law." The law was of dreadful import: "Let two commissioners pass judgment for murder; if the accused appeal from the commissioners, let the appeal be tried; if their sentence be confirmed, cover his head, hang him by a rope on the gallows, let him be scourged either within the Pomarium, or without the Pomarium." The two commissioners appointed were of opinion, that, according to that law, they were not authorized to acquit him, however small his offence might be; and, after they had found him guilty, one of them pronounced judgment in these words: « Publius Horatius, I sentence thee to punishment as a murderer; go, lictor, bind his hands." The lictor had come up to him, and was fixing the cord, when Horatius, by the advice of Tullus, XXVI. Before the armies separated, Met- who wished to give the mildest interpretation tius, in conformity to the terms of the treaty, to the law, said, "I appeal:" so the trial, on desired to know from Tullus what commands the appeal, came before the commons. During he would give, and was ordered to keep the this trial, the people were very deeply affected, young men in readiness, under arms, as he in- especially by the behaviour of Publius Horatius, tended to employ them in case of a war break- the father, who declared that, " in his judgment, ing out with the Veientians. The two parties his daughter was deservedly put to death; then retired to their respectives homes. Hora- had it not been so, he would, by his own autius advanced at the head of the Romans, bear- thority as a father, have inflicted punishment ing in triumph the spoils of the three brothers: on his son." He then besought them that near the gate Capena he was met by his sister, " they would not leave him childless, whom a maiden who had been betrothed to one of the they had beheld, but a few hours ago, surroundCuriatii: observing, on her brother's shoulder, ed by a progeny of uncommon merit." Uttering the military robe of her lover, made by her own these words, the old man embraced the youth, hands, she tore her hair, and, with loud and and pointing to the spoils of the Curiatii, which mournful outcries, called on the name of her were hung up in the place where now stands deceased spouse. His sister's lamentations, in the Horatian column; "O my fellow-citithe midst of his own triumph, and of so great zens," he exclaimed, "can you bear to behold public joy, irritated the fierce youth to such a him laden with chains, and condemned to ignodegree, that, drawing his sword, he plunged it miny, stripes, and torture, whom, but just now into her breast, at the same time upbraiding her you saw covered with the ornaments of victory, in these words, " Begone to thy spouse, with thy marching in triumph! a sight so horrid, that unseasonable love, since thou couldst forget what scarcely could the eyes of the Albans themis due to the memory of thy deceased brothers, to selves endure it. Go, lictor, bind the arms, him who still survives, and to thy native country: which, but now, wielded those weapons which so perish every daughter of Rome that shall acquired dominion to the Roman people: cover mourn for its enemy." Both the senate and the head of that man, to whom your city people were shocked at the horrid deed; but owes its liberty: hang him upon the gallows still, in their opinion, his recent merit outweigh-scourge him, within the Pomarium; but do it ed its guilt: he was, however, instantly carried between those pillars, to which are suspended before the king for judgment. The king, un- the trophies of his victory; scourge him withwilling to take on himself a decision of such a out the Pomarium, but do it between the melancholy nature, and evidently disagreeable tombs of the Curiatii. For to what place can to the multitude, or to inflict the cousequent ye lead this youth, where the monuments of his punishment, summoned an assembly of the glory would not redeem him from the ignominy

of such a punishment?" The people could not so that, not daring either to keep his ground, withstand either the tears of the father, or the or openly to desert, he filed off slowly towards intrepid spirit of the youth himself, which no the mountains. When he thought he had prokind of danger could appal, and rather out of ceeded to a sufficient distance, he ordered the admiration of his bravery, than regard to the whole line to halt, and being still irresolute, in justice of his cause, they passed a sentence of order to waste time, he employed himself in acquittal. Wherefore, that some expiation forming the ranks: his scheme was to join his might be made for the act of manifest murder, forces to whichever of the parties fortune the father was ordered to make atonement for should favour with victory. At first, the Rohis son at the public expense. After perform-mans who stood nearest were astonished at ing expiatory sacrifices, which continued after- finding their flank left uncovered, by the dewards to be celebrated by the Horatian family, he laid a beam across the street, and, covering the young man's head, made him pass, as it were, under the yoke. The beam remains to this day, being constantly kept in repair at the expense of the public, and is called the Sister's beam. A tomb of squared stone was raised for Horatia, on the spot where she fell.

XXVII. The peace with Alba was not of long continuance. The dissatisfaction of the multitude, on account of the power and fortune of the state having been hazarded on three champions, perverted the unsteady mind of the dictator; and as his designs, though honourable, had not been crowned with success, he endeavoured, by others of a different kind, to recover the esteem of his countrymen. With this view, therefore, as formerly, in time of

war,

he had sought peace, so now, when peace was established, he as ardently wished for war: but, perceiving that his own state possessed more courage than strength, he persuaded other nations to make war, openly, by order of their governments, reserving to his own people the part of effecting their purposes, by treachery, under the mask of allies. The Fidenatians, a Roman colony, being assured of the concurrence of the Veientians, and receiving from the Albans a positive engagement to desert to their side, were prevailed on to take arms and de

clare war.
Fidene having thus openly revolt-
ed, Tullus, after summoning Mettius and his
army from Alba, marched against the enemy,
and passing the Anio, pitched his camp at the
conflux of the rivers. Between that place, and
Fidene, the Veientians had crossed the Tiber,
and, in the line of battle, they composed
the right wing near the river, the Fidenatians
being posted on the left towards the moun-
tains. Tullus drew up his own men facing
the Veientians, and posted the Albans oppo-
site to the troops of the Fidenatians. The
Alban had not more resolution than fidelity,

parture of their allies, and, in a short time, a horseman at full speed brought an account to the king that the Albans were retreating. Tullus, in this perilous juncture, vowed to institute twelve new Salian priests, and also to build temples to Paleness and Terror; then, rebuking the horseman with a loud voice, that the enemy might hear, he ordered him to re turn to the fight, telling him, that "there was no occasion for any uneasiness; that it was by his order the Alban army was wheeling round, in order to fall upon the unprotected rear of the Fidenatians." He commanded him, also, to order the cavalry to raise their spears aloft; and, this being performed, intercepted, from a great part of the infantry, the view of the Alban army retreating; while those who did see them, believing what the king had said, fought with the greater spirit. The fright was now transferred to the enemy, for they had heard what the king had spoken aloud, and many of the Fidenatians understood the Latin tongue, as having been intermixed with Romans in the colony. Wherefore, dreading lest the Albans might run down suddenly from the hills, and cut off their retreat to the town, they betook themselves to flight. Tullus pressed them close, and after routing this wing composed of the Fidenatians, turned back with double fury against the Veientians, now disheartened by the dismay of the other wing. Neither could they withstand his attack, and the river intercepting them behind, prevented a precipitate flight. As soon as they reached this, in their retreat, some, shamefully throwing away their arms, plunged desperately into the water, and the rest, hesitating on the bank, irresolute whether to fight or fly, were overpowered and cut off. Never before had the Romans been engaged in so desperate an action.

XXVIII. When all was over, the Alban troops, who had been spectators of the engage ment, marched down into the plain, and

the commons the privileges of citizens, and to enroll the principal inhabitants among the fathers, to form of the whole one city, one republic. As the state of Alba, from being one people, was heretofore divided into two, so let these be now re-united." On hearing this, the Alban youth who were unarmed, and surrounded by armed troops, however different their sentiments were, yet, being all restrained by the same apprehensions, kept a profound silence. Tullus then said, "Mettius Fuffetius, if you were capable of learning to preserve faith, and

and supply you with instructions; but your disposition is incurable: let your punishment, then, teach mankind to consider those things as sacred, which you have dared to violate. As, therefore, you lately kept your mind divided between the interest of the Fidenatians and of the Romans, so shall you now have your body divided and torn in pieces." Then two chariots being brought, each drawn by four horses, he tied Mettius extended at full length, to the carriages of them, and the horses being driven violently in different directions, bore away on each carriage part of his mangled body, with the limbs which were fastened by the cords. The eyes of all were turned with horror from this shocking spectacle. This was the first, and the last, instance among the Romans, of any punishment inflicted without regard to the laws of humanity. In every other case, we may justly boast, that no nation in the world has shown greater mildness.

Mettius congratulated Tullus on his victory over the enemy. Tullus answered him, without showing any sign of displeasure, and gave orders that the Albans should, with the favour of fortune, join their camp with that of the Romans, and appointed a sacrifice of purification to be performed next day. As soon as it was light, all things being prepared in the usual manner, he commanded both armies to be summoned to an assembly. The heralds, beginning at the outside, summoned the Albans first; and they, struck with the novelty of the affair, and wishing to hear the Roman king de-a regard to treaties, I should suffer you to live, livering a speech, took their places nearest to him: the Roman troops, under arms, pursuant to directions previously given, formed a circle round them, and a charge was given to the centurions to execute without delay such orders as they should receive. Then Tullus began in this manner; "If ever, Romans, there has hitherto occurred, at any time, or in any war, an occasion that called on you to return thanks, first, to the immortal gods, and next, to your own valour, it was the battle of yesterday: for ye had to struggle not only with your enemies, but, what is a more difficult and dangerous struggle, with the treachery and perfidy of your allies: for I will now undeceive you; it was not by my order that the Albans withdrew to the mountains, nor was what ye heard me say, the issuing of orders, but a stratagem, and a pretext of having given orders, to the end that while ye were kept in ignorance of your being deserted, your attention might not be drawn away from the fight; and that, at the same time, the enemy, believing themselves to be surrounded on the rear, might be struck with terror and dismay but the guilt which I am exposing to you, extends not to all the Albans: they followed their leader, as ye would have done, had I chosen that the army should make any movement from the ground which it occupied.Mettius there was the leader of that march, the same Mettius was the schemer of this war. Mettius it was who broke the league between the Romans and Albans. May others dare to commit like crimes, if I do not now make him a conspicuous example to all mankind." On this the centurions in arms gathered round Mettius, and the king proceeded in his discourse: "Albans, be the measure prosperous, fortunate, and happy to the Roman people, to me, and to you; it is my intention to remove the entire people of Alba to Rome, to give to

4

XXIX. During these proceedings, [Y. R. 87. B. C. 665.] the cavalry had been sent forward to Alba, to remove the multitude to Rome. The legions were now led thither, to demolish the city. As soon as they entered the gates, there ensued not a tumult, or panic, as is usual in cities taken by storm, where the gates being burst open, or the walls levelled by the ram, or the citadel being taken by force, the shouts of the enemy, and the troops running furiously through the city, throw all into confusion with fire and sword; but gloomy silence, and dumb sorrow, so stupified the inhabitants, that, not knowing in their distraction what to leave behind or what to carry with them, and incapable of forming any plan, they stood at their doors, making inquiries of each other, or wandering through their own houses, which they were now to see for the last time. But now, when the horsemen, with shouts, urged

them to depart, and the crash of the houses, | man traders had been seized in an open fair at which the troops were demolishing in the outer at the temple of Feronia. The Sabines, that parts of the city, assailed their ears, and the prior to this, some of their people had fled into dust, raised in distant places, had filled all parts, the Asylum, and were detained at Rome. enveloping them as with a cloud; each of them These were the reasons assigned for the war. hastily snatching up whatever he could, and The Sabines, reflecting that a great part of their leaving behind his guardian deity, his household original strength had been fixed at Rome by gods, and the house wherein he had been born Tatius, and that the Roman power had been and educated, they began their departure, and also lately increased, by the accession of the soon filled the roads with one continued troop people of Alba, took care, on their part, to look of emigrants. The sight of each other continu- round for foreign aid. Etruria lay in their ally renewed their tears, through the mutual neighbourhood, and the state of the Etrurians commiseration which it excited in every breast. nearest to them was that of the Veientians. Their ears were assailed with bitter lamenta- From among these they procured a number of tions, especially from the women, as they passed volunteers, who were induced to take part the temples which they had been used to revere, against the Romans, principally by the resentnow filled with armed soldiers, and reflected ment which they still retained on account of that they were leaving their gods, as it were, their former quarrels. Several also of the in captivity. When the Albans had evacuated populace, who were indigent and unprovided the city, the Romans levelled to the ground all of a settlement, were allured by pay. From the the buildings in every part of it, both public government they received no assistance, and the and private, and in one hour ruined and de- Veientians, for it was less surprising in others, stroyed the work of four hundred years, during adhered to the terms of the truce stipulated which Alba had stood. The temples of the with Romulus. Vigorous preparations being gods, however, they left untouched, for so the made on both sides, and it being evident, that, king had commanded. whichever party should first commence hostilities, would have considerably the advantage, Tullus seized the opportunity of making an incursion into the lands of the Sabines. A furious battle ensued at the wood called Malitiosa, in which the Romans obtained the victory. For this, they were indebted not only to the firm strength of their infantry, but chiefly to the cavalry, which had been lately augmented; since, by a sudden charge of this body, the ranks of the Sabines were thrown into such disorder, that they were neither able to continue the fight, nor to make good their retreat, without great slaughter.

XXX. Meanwhile from this destruction of Alba, Rome received a considerable augmentation. The number of citizens was doubled. The Calian mount was added to the city; and, in order to induce others to fix their habitations there, Tullus chose that situation for his palace, where, from henceforth, he resided. The persons of chief note among the Albans, the Tulii, Servilii, Quintii, Gegani, Curiatii, Clælii, he enrolled among the senators, that this part of the state also might receive an addition and, as a consecrated place of meeting for this body, thus augmented, he built a senate-house, which retained the name of Hostilia, even within the memory of our fathers. And, that every order in the state might receive an accession of strength from this new people, he chose from among the Albans ten troops of horsemen. From among them also he drew recruits, with which he both filled up the old, and formed some new, legions. [Y. R. 100. B. C. 652.] Encouraged by this formidable state of his forces, he declared was against the Sabines, a nation the most powerful of that age, next to the Etrurians, both in point of numbers, and of skill in arms. Injuries had been offered on both sides, and satisfaction demanded in vain. Tullus complained that some Ro

XXXI. After the defeat of the Sabines, the government of Tullus, and the Roman state in general, possessed a large degree of power and of fame. At this time an account was brought to the king and the senate that a shower of stones had fallen on the Alban mount. This appearing scarcely credible, and some persons being sent to examine into the prodigy, there fell from the air, in their sight, a vast quantity of stones, like a storm of hail. They imagined also that they heard a loud voice from the grove on the summit of the hill, ordering, that the Albans should perform religious rites according to the practice of their native country. These the Albans had entirely neglected,

as if, with their country, they had also abandoned its deities, and had adopted the Roman practice, or, perhaps, incensed against fortune, had renounced the worship of the gods. On account of the same prodigy, the Romans also instituted for themselves, by order of government, a festival of nine days; either in obedience to a voice from heaven, uttered on the Alban mount, for that likewise is mentioned, or by direction of the auspices. Be this as it may, it is certain, that, whenever an account was received of a similar phenomenon, a festival for nine days was celebrated. In a short time after, the country was afflicted with a pestilence; and though this necessarily rendered men averse to military service, yet the king, in himself fond of war, and persuaded that young men enjoyed better health while employed abroad, than when loitering at home, gave them no rest from arms, until he was seized by a tedious disorder. Then, together with the strength of his body, the fierceness of his spirit was reduced to such a degree, that he who lately thought nothing less becoming a king than to busy his thoughts in matters of religion, became, at once, a slave to every kind of superstition, in cases either of great or of trifling import, and even filled the minds of the people also with superstitious notions. The generality, comparing the present state of their affairs with that which they had enjoyed under Numa, became possessed of an opinion, that the only prospect left them, of being relieved from the sickness, was, in obtaining pardon and favour from the gods. It is said, that the king himself, turning over the commentaries of Numa, and discovering 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, not having undertaken, or conducted, the rites in due form, he not only failed of obtaining any notification from the gods, but, through the resentment of Jupiter, for being addressed in an improper manner, was struck with lightning, and reduced to ashes, together with his house. Tallus reigned thirty-two years, highly renowned for his military achievements.

and the senate approved of their choice. Ancus Marcius was the grandson of Numa Pompilius, by his daughter. As soon as he was in possession of the throne, reflecting on the glory which his grandfather had acquired, and considering that the late reign, though highly honourable in other respects, yet, in one particular, had been very deficient, the affairs of religion having been either quite neglected or improperly managed, he judged it to be a matter of the utmost consequence, to provide that the public worship should be performed in the manner instituted by Numa, and ordered the pontiff to make a transcript of every particular rite, from the commentaries of that king, on white tables, and to expose it to the view of the people. From these proceedings, not only his subjects, whose wishes tended to peace, but the neighbouring states also, conceived hopes that the king would conform himself to the manners and institutions of his grandfather. In consequence of which, the Latines, with whom a treaty had been concluded in the reign of Tullus, assumed new courage, and made an incursion into the Roman territories; and, when the Romans demanded satisfaction, returned a haughty answer, imagining the Roman king so averse to action, that he would spend his reign among chapels and altars. The genius of Ancus was of a middle kind, partaking both of that of Numa and of Romulus. He was sensible, not only that peace had been more necessary in the reign of his grandfather, to a people who were but lately incorporated and still uncivilized, but also, that the tranquillity, which had obtained at that time, could not now be preserved, without a tame submission to injuries; that they were making trial of his patience, and would soon come to despise it; in short, that the times required a king like Tullus, rather than one like Numa. However, being desirous, that, as Numa had instituted the religious rites to be observed in time of peace, so the ceremonies, to be observed in war, should have himself for their founder, and that wars should not only be waged, but be proclaimed likewise, according to a certain established mode, he borrowed from the anXXXII. [Y. R. 114. B. C. 638.] On the cient race of the quicole that form of dedeath of Tullus, the direction of affairs, accord-manding satisfaction which is still used by the ing to the mode adopted from the beginning, heralds. The ambassador, when he comes to fell into the hands of the senate; they nomin- the frontiers of the state, from whom satisfacated an interrex, who presided at the election, tion is demanded, having his head covered with when the people created Ancus Marcius king, a fillet of wool, says, "O Jupiter, hear me;