Such was Solon. To him we compare Poplicola, who received this latertitle from the Roman people for his merit, as a noble accession tohis former name, Publius Valerius. He descended from Valerius, a manamongst the early citizens, reputed the principal reconciler of thedifferences betwixt the Romans and Sabines, and one that was mostinstrumental in persuading their kings to assent to peace and union.Thus descended, Publius Valerius, as it is said, whilst Rome remainedunder its kingly government, obtained as great a name from his eloquenceas from his riches, charitably employing the one in liberal aid tothe poor, the other with integrity and freedom in the service of justicethereby giving assurance, that, should the government fall into arepublic, he would become a chief man in the community. The illegaland wicked accession of Tarquinius Superbus to the crown, with hismaking it, instead of kingly rule, the instrument of insolence andtyranny, having inspired the people with a hatred to his reign, uponthe death of Lucretia （she killing herself after violence had beendone to her）, they took an occasion of revolt； and Lucius Brutus,engaging in the change, came to Valerius before all others, and, withhis zealous assistance, deposed the kings. And whilst the people inclinedtowards the electing one leader instead of their king, Valerius acquiesced,that to rule was rather Brutus's due, as the author of the democracy.But when the name of monarchy was odious to the people, and a dividedpower appeared more grateful in the prospect, and two were chosento hold it, Valerius, entertaining hopes that he might be electedconsul with Brutus, was disappointed； for, instead of Valerius, notwithstandingthe endeavours of Brutus, Tarquinius Collatinus was chosen, the husbandof Lucretia, a man noways his superior in merit. But the nobles dreadingthe return of their kings, who still used all endeavours abroad andsolicitations at home, were resolved upon a chieftain of an intensehatred to them, and noways likely to yield.

    Now Valerius was troubled that his desire to serve his country shouldbe doubted, because he had sustained no private injury from the insolenceof the tyrants. He withdrew from the senate and practice of the bar,quitting all public concerns； which gave an occasion of discourse,and fear, too, lest his anger should reconcile him to the king's side,and he should prove the ruin of the state, tottering as yet underthe uncertainties of a change. But Brutus being doubtful of some others,and determined to give the test to the senate upon the altars, uponthe day appointed Valerius came with cheerfulness into the forum,and was the first man that took the oath, in no way to submit or yieldto Tarquin's propositions, but rigorously to maintain liberty； whichgave great satisfaction to the senate and assurance to the consuls,his action soon after showing the sincerity of his oath. For ambassadorscame from Tarquin, with popular and specious proposals, whereby theythought to seduce the people, as though the king had cast off allinsolence, and made moderation the only measure of his desires. Tothis embassy the consuls thought fit to give public audience, butValerius opposed it, and would not permit that the poorer people,who entertained more fear of war than of tyranny, should have anyoccasion offered them, or any temptations to new designs. Afterwardsother ambassadors arrived, who declared their king would recede fromhis crown, and lay down his arms, only capitulating for a restitutionto himself, his friends, and allies, of their moneys and estates tosupport them in their banishment. Now, several inclining to the request,and Collatinus in particular favouring it, Brutus, a man of vehementand unbending nature, rushed into the forum, there proclaiming hisfellow-consul to be a traitor, in granting subsidies to tyranny, andsupplies for a war to those to whom it was monstrous to allow so muchas subsistence in exile. This caused an assembly of the citizens,amongst whom the first that spake was Caius Minucius, a private man,who advised Brutus, and urged the Romans to keep the property, andemploy it against the tyrants, rather than to remit it to the tyrants,to be used against themselves. The Romans, however, decided that whilstthey had enjoyed the liberty they had fought for, they should notsacrifice peace for the sake of money, but send out the tyrants' propertyafter them. This question, however, of his property was the leastpart of Tarquin's design； the demand sounded the feelings of the people,and was preparatory to a conspiracy which the ambassadors endeavouredto excite, delaying their return, under pretence of selling some ofthe goods and reserving others to be sent away, till, in fine, theycorrupted two of the most eminent families in Rome, the Aquillian,which had three, and the Vitellian, which had two senators. Theseall were, by the mother's side, nephews to Collatinus； besides whichBrutus had a special alliance to the Vitellii from his marriage withtheir sister, by whom he had several children； two of whom, of theirown age, their near relations and daily companions, the Vitellii seducedto join in the plot, to ally themselves to the great house and royalhopes of the Tarquins, and gain emancipation from the violence andimbecility united of their father, whose austerity to offenders theytermed violence, while the imbecility which he had long feigned, toprotect himself from the tyrants, still, it appears, was, in nameat least, ascribed to him. When upon these inducements the youthscame to confer with the Aquillii, and thought it convenient to bindthemselves in a solemn and dreadful oath, by tasting the blood ofa murdered man, and touching his entrails. For which design they metat the house of the Aquillii. The building chosen for the transactionwas, as was natural, dark and unfrequented, and a slave named Vindiciushad, as it chanced, concealed himself there, not out of design orany intelligence of the affair, but, accidentally being within, seeingwith how much haste and concern they came in, he was afraid to bediscovered, and placed himself behind a chest, where he was able toobserve their actions and overhear their debates. Their resolutionswere to kill the consuls, and they wrote letters to Tarquin to thiseffect, and gave them to the ambassadors, who were lodging upon thespot with the Aquillii, and were present at the consultation.

    Upon their departure, Vindicius secretly quitted the house, but wasat a loss what to do in the matter, for to arraign the sons beforethe father Brutus, or the nephews before the uncle Collatinus, seemedequally （as indeed it was） shocking； yet he knew no private Romanto whom he could intrust secrets of such importance. Unable, however,to keep silence, and burdened with his knowledge, he went and addressedhimself to Valerius, whose known freedom and kindness of temper werean inducement； as he was a person to whom the needy had easy access,and who never shut his gates against the petitions or indigences ofhumble people. But when Vindicius came and made a complete discoveryto him, his brother Marcus and his own wife being present, Valeriuswas struck with amazement, and by no means would dismiss the discoverer,but confined him to the room, and placed his wife as a guard to thedoor, sending his brother in the interim to beset the king's palace,and seize, if possible, the writings there, and secure the domestics,whilst he, with his constant attendance of clients and friends, anda great retinue of attendants, repaired to the house of the Aquillii,who were, as it chanced, absent from home； and so, forcing an entrancethrough the gates, they lit upon the letters then lying in the lodgingsof the ambassadors. Meantime the Aquillii returned in all haste, and,coming to blows about the gate, endeavoured a recovery of the letters.The other party made a resistance, and throwing their gowns aroundtheir opponents' necks, at last, after much struggling on both sides,made their way with them their prisoners through the streets intothe forum. The like engagement happened about the king's palace, whereMarcus seized some other letters which it was designed should be conveyedaway in the goods, and, laying hands on such of the king's peopleas he could find, dragged them also into the forum. When the consulshad quieted the tumult, Vindicius was brought out by the orders ofValerius, and the accusation stated, and the letters were opened,to which the traitors could make no plea. Most of the people standingmute and sorrowful, some only, out of kindness to Brutus, mentioningbanishment, the tears of Collatinus, attended with Valerius's silence,gave some hopes of mercy. But Brutus, calling his two sons by theirnames, "Canst not thou," said he, "O Titus, or thou, Tiberius, makeany defence against the indictment？" The question being thrice proposed,and no reply made, he turned himself to the lictors and cried, "Whatremains is your duty." They immediately seized the youths, and, strippingthem of their clothes, bound their hands behind them and scourgedtheir bodies with their rods； too tragical a scene for others to lookat； Brutus, however, is said not to have turned aside his face, norallowed the least glance of pity to soften and smooth his aspect ofrigour and austerity, but sternly watched his children suffer, eventill the lictors, extending them on the ground, cut off their headswith an axe； then departed, committing the rest to the judgment ofhis colleague. An action truly open alike to the highest commendationand the strongest censure； for either the greatness of his virtueraised him above the impressions of sorrow, or the extravagance ofhis misery took away all sense of it； but neither seemed common, orthe result of humanity, but either divine or brutish. Yet it is morereasonable that our judgment should yield to his reputation, thanthat his merit should suffer detraction by the weakness of our judgment；in the Roman's opinion, Brutus did a greater work in the establishmentof the government than Romulus in the foundation of the city.

    Upon Brutus's departure out of the forum, consternation, horror, andsilence for some time possessed all that reflected on what was done；the easiness and tardiness, however, of Collatinus gave confidenceto the Aquillii to request some time to answer their charge, and thatVindicius, their servant, should be remitted into their hands, andno longer harboured amongst their accusers. The consul seemed inclinedto their proposal, and was proceeding to dissolve the assembly； butValerius would not suffer Vindicius, who was surrounded by his people,to be surrendered, nor the meeting to withdraw without punishing thetraitors； and at length laid violent hands upon the Aquillii, and,calling Brutus to his assistance, exclaimed against the unreasonablecourse of Collatinus, to impose upon his colleague the necessity oftaking away the lives of his own sons, and yet have thoughts of gratifyingsome women with the lives of traitors and public enemies. Collatinus,displeased at this, and commanding Vindicius to be taken away, thelictors made their way through the crowd and seized their man, andstruck all who endeavoured a rescue. Valerius's friends headed theresistance, and the people cried out for Brutus, who, returning, onsilence being made, told them he had been competent to pass sentenceby himself upon his own sons, but left the rest to the suffrages ofthe free citizens： "Let every man speak that wishes, and persuadewhom he can." But there was no need of oratory, for, it being referredto the vote, they were returned condemned by all the suffrages, andwere accordingly beheaded.

    Collatinus's relationship to the kings had, indeed, already renderedhim suspicious, and his second name, too, had made him obnoxious tothe people, who were loth to hear the very sound of Tarquin； but afterthis had happened, perceiving himself an offence to every one, herelinquished his charge and departed from the city. At the new electionsin his room, Valerius obtained, with high honour, the consulship,as a just reward of his zeal； of which he thought Vindicius deserveda share, whom he made, first of all freedmen, a citizen of Rome, andgave him the privilege of voting in what tribe soever he was pleasedto be enrolled； other freedmen received the right of suffrage a longtime after from Appius, who thus courted popularity； and from thisVindicius, a perfect manumission is called to this day vindicta. Thisdone, the goods of the kings were exposed to plunder, and the palaceto ruin.

    The pleasantest part of the field of Mars, which Tarquin had owned,was devoted to the service of that god； but, it happening to be harvestseason, and the sheaves yet being on the ground, they thought it notproper to commit them to the flail, or unsanctify them with any use；and, therefore, carrying them to the river-side, and trees withalthat were cut down, they cast all into the water, dedicating the soil,free from all occupation, to the deity. Now, these thrown in, oneupon another, and closing together, the stream did not bear them far,but where the first were carried down and came to a bottom, the remainder,finding no farther conveyance, were stopped and interwoven one withanother； the stream working the mass into a firmness, and washingdown fresh mud. This, settling there, became an accession of matter,as well as cement, to the rubbish, insomuch that the violence of thewaters could not remove it, but forced and compressed it all together.Thus its bulk and solidity gained it new subsidies, which gave itextension enough to stop on its way most of what the stream broughtdown. This is now a sacred island, lying by the city, adorned withthe temples of the gods, and walks, and is called in the Latin tongueinter duos pontes. Though some say this did not happen at the dedicationof Tarquin's field, but in aftertimes, when Tarquinia, a vestal priestess,gave an adjacent field to the public, and obtained great honours inconsequence, as, amongst the rest, that of all women her testimonyalone should be received； she had also the liberty to marry, but refusedit； thus some tell the story.

    Tarquin, despairing of a return to his kingdom by the conspiracy,found a kind reception amongst the Tuscans, who, with a great army,proceeded to restore him. The consuls headed the Romans against them,and made their rendezvous in certain holy places, the one called theArsian grove, the other the Aesuvian meadow. When they came into action,Aruns, the son of Tarquin, and Brutus, the Roman consul, not accidentallyencountering each other, but out of hatred and rage, the one to avengetyranny and enmity to his country, the other his banishment, set spursto their horses, and, engaging with more fury than forethought, disregardingtheir own security, fell together in the combat. This dreadful onsethardly was followed by a more favourable end； both armies, doing andreceiving equal damage, were separated by a storm. Valerius was muchconcerned, not knowing what the result of the day was, and seeinghis men as well dismayed at the sight of their own dead, as rejoicedat the loss of the enemy； so apparently equal in the number was theslaughter on either side. Each party, however, felt surer of defeatfrom the actual sight of their own dead, than they could feel of victoryfrom conjecture about those of their adversaries. The night beingcome （and such as one may presume must follow such a battle）, andthe armies laid to rest, they say that the grove shook, and uttereda voice, saying that the Tuscans had lost one man more than the Romans；clearly a divine announcement； and the Romans at once received itwith shouts and expressions of joy； whilst the Tuscans, through fearand amazement, deserted their tents, and were for the most part dispersed.The Romans, falling upon the remainder, amounting to nearly five thousand,took them prisoners, and plundered the camp； when they numbered thedead, they found on the Tuscans' side eleven thousand and three hundred,exceeding their own loss but by one man. This fight happened uponthe last of February, and Valerius triumphed in honour of it, beingthe first consul that drove in with a four-horse chariot； which sightboth appeared magnificent, and was received with an admiration freefrom envy or offence （as some suggest） on the part of the spectators；it would not otherwise have been continued with so much eagernessand emulation through all the after ages. The people applauded likewisethe honours he did to his colleague, in adding to his obsequies afuneral oration： which was so much liked by the Romans, and foundso good a reception, that it became customary for the best men tocelebrate the funerals of great citizens with speeches in their commendation；and their antiquity in Rome is affirmed to be greater than in Greece,unless, with the orator Anaximenes, we make Solon the first author.

    Yet some part of Valerius's behaviour did give offence and disgustto the people, because Brutus, whom they esteemed the father of theirliberty, had not presumed to rule without a colleague, but unitedone and then another to him in his commission； while Valerius, theysaid, centering all authority in himself, seemed not in any sensea successor to Brutus in the consulship, but to Tarquin in the tyranny；he might make verbal harangues to Brutus's memory, yet when he wasattended with all the rods and axes, proceeding down from a housethan which the king's house that he had demolished had not been statelier,those actions showed him an imitator of Tarquin. For, indeed, hisdwelling-house on the Velia was somewhat imposing in appearance, hangingover the forum, and overlooking all transactions there； the accessto it was hard, and to see him far off coming down, a stately androyal spectacle. But Valerius showed how well it were for men in powerand great offices to have ears that give admittance to truth beforeflattery； for upon his friends telling him that he displeased thepeople, he contended not, neither resented it, but while it was stillnight, sending for a number of work-people, pulled down his houseand levelled it with the ground； so that in the morning the people,seeing and flocking together, expressed their wonder and their respectfor his magnanimity, and their sorrow, as though it had been a humanbeing, for the large and beautiful house which was thus lost to themby an unfounded jealousy, while its owner, their consul, without aroof of his own, had to beg a lodging with his friends. For his friendsreceived him, till a place the people gave him was furnished witha house, though less stately than his own, where now stands the temple,as it is called, of Vica Pota.

    He resolved to render the government, as well as himself, insteadof terrible, familiar and pleasant to the people, and parted the axesfrom the rods, and always, upon his entrance into the assembly, loweredthese also to the people, to show, in the strongest way, the republicanfoundation of the government； and this the consuls observe to thisday. But the humility of the man was but a means, not, as they thought,of lessening himself, but merely to abate their envy by this moderation；for whatever he detracted from his authority he added to his realpower, the people still submitting with satisfaction, which they expressedby calling him Poplicola, or people-lover, which name had the pre-eminenceof the rest, and, therefore, in the sequel of his narrative we shalluse no other.

    He gave free leave to any to sue for the consulship； but before theadmittance of a colleague, mistrusting the chances, lest emulationor ignorance should cross his designs, by his sole authority enactedhis best and most important measures. First, he supplied the vacanciesof the senators, whom either Tarquin long before had put to death,or the war lately cut off； those that he enrolled, they write, amountedto a hundred and sixty-four； afterwards he made several laws whichadded much to the people's liberty, in particular one granting offendersthe liberty of appealing to the people from the judgment of the consuls；a second, that made it death to usurp any magistracy without the people'sconsent； a third, for the relief of poor citizens, which, taking offtheir taxes, encouraged their labours； another, against disobedienceto the consuls, which was no less popular than the rest, and ratherto the benefit of the commonalty than to the advantage of the nobles,for it imposed upon disobedience the penalty of ten oxen and two sheep；the price of a sheep being ten obols, of an ox, an hundred. For theuse of money was then infrequent amongst the Romans, but their wealthin cattle great； even now pieces of property are called peculia frompecus, cattle； and they had stamped upon their most ancient moneyan ox, a sheep, or a hog； and surnamed their sons Suillii, Bubulci,Caprarii, and Porcii, from caproe, goats, and porci, hogs.

    Amidst this mildness and moderation, for one excessive fault he institutedone excessive punishment； for he made it lawful without trial to takeaway any man's life that aspired to a tyranny, and acquitted the slayer,if he produced evidence of the crime； for though it was not probablefor a man, whose designs were so great, to escape all notice； yetbecause it was possible he might, although observed, by force anticipatejudgment, which the usurpation itself would then preclue, he gavea licence to any to anticipate the usurper. He was honoured likewisefor the law touching the treasury； for because it was necessary forthe citizens to contribute out of their estates to the maintenanceof wars, and he was unwilling himself to be concerned in the careof it, or to permit his friends or indeed to let the public moneypass into any private house, he allotted the temple of Saturn forthe treasury, in which to this day they deposit the tribute-money,and granted the people the liberty of choosing two young men as quaestors,or treasurers. The first were Publius Veturius and Marcus Minucius；and a large sum was collected, for they assessed one hundred and thirtythousand, excusing orphans and widows from the payment. After thesedispositions, he admitted Lucretius, the father of Lucretia, as hiscolleague, and gave him the precedence in the government, by resigningthe fasces to him, as due to his years, which privilege of senioritycontinued to our time. But within a few days Lucretius died, and ina new election Marcus Horatius succeeded in that honour, and continuedconsul for the remainder of the year.

    Now, whilst Tarquin was making preparations in Tuscany for a secondwar against the Romans, it is said a great portent occurred. WhenTarquin was king, and had all but completed the buildings of the Capitol,designing, whether from oracular advice or his own pleasure, to erectan earthen chariot upon the top, he intrusted the workmanship to Tuscansof the city Veii, but soon after lost his kingdom. The work thus modelled,the Tuscans set in a furnace, but the clay showed not those passivequalities which usually attend its nature, to subside and be condensedupon the evaporation of the moisture, but rose and swelled out tothat bulk, that, when solid and firm, notwithstanding the removalof the roof and opening the walls of the furnace, it could not betaken out without much difficulty. The soothsayers looked upon thisas a divine prognostic of success and power to those that should possessit； and the Tuscans resolved not to deliver it to the Roman, who demandedit, but answered that it rather belonged to Tarquin than to thosewho had sent him into exile. A few days after, they had a horse-racethere, with the usual shows and solemnities, and as the charioteerwith his garland on his head was quietly driving the victorious chariotout of the ring, the horses, upon no apparent occasion, taking fright,either by divine instigation or by accident, hurried away their driverat full speed to Rome； neither did his holding them in prevail, norhis voice, but he was forced along with violence till, coming to theCapitol, he was thrown out by the gate called Ratumena. This occurrenceraised wonder and fear in the Veientines, who now permitted the deliveryof the chariot.

    The building of the temple of the Capitoline Jupiter had been vowedby Tarquin, the son of Demaratus, when warring with the Sabines； TarquiniusSuperbus, his son or grandson, built but could not dedicate it, becausehe lost his kingdom before it was quite finished. And now that itwas completed with all its ornaments, Poplicola was ambitious to dedicateit； but the nobility envied him that honour, as, indeed, also, insome degree, those his prudence in making laws and conduct in warsentitled him to. Grudging him, at any rate, the addition of this,they urged Horatius to sue for the dedication, and, whilst Poplicolawas engaged in some military expedition, voted it to Horatius, andconducted him to the Capitol, as though, were Poplicola present, theycould not have carried it. Yet, some write, Poplicola was by lot destinedagainst his will to the expedition, the other to the dedication； andwhat happened in the performance seems to intimate some ground forthis conjecture； for, upon the Ides of September, which happens aboutthe full moon of the month Metagitnion, the people having assembledat the Capitol and silence being enjoined, Horatius, after the performanceof other ceremonies, holding the doors, according to custom, was proceedingto pronounce the words of dedication, when Marcus, the brother ofPoplicola, who had got a place on purpose beforehand near the door,observing his opportunity, cried, "O consul, thy son lies dead inthe camp；" which made a great impression upon all others who heardit, yet in nowise discomposed Horatius, who returned merely the reply,"Cast the dead out whither you please； I am not a mourner；" and socompleted the dedication. The news was not true, but Marcus thoughtthe he might avert him from his performance； but it argues him a manof wonderful self-possession, whether he at once saw through the cheat,or, believing it as true, showed no discomposure.

    The same fortune attended the dedication of the second temple； thefirst, as has been said, was built by Tarquin, and dedicated by Horatius；it was burnt down in the civil wars. The second, Sylla built, and,dying before the dedication, left that honour to Catulus； and whenthis was demolished in the Vitellian sedition, Vespasian, with thesame success that attended him in other things, began a third andlived to see it finished, but did not live to see it again destroyed,as it presently was； but was as fortunate in dying before its destruction,as Sylla was the reverse in dying before the dedication of his. Forimmediately after Vespasian's death it was consumed by fire. The fourth,which now exists, was both built and dedicated by Domitian. It issaid Tarquin expended forty thousand pounds of silver in the veryfoundations； but the whole wealth of the richest private man in Romewould not discharge the cost of the gilding of this temple in ourdays, it amounting to above twelve thousand talents； the pillars werecut out of Pentelican marble, of a length most happily proportionedto their thickness； these we saw at Athens； but when they were cutanew at Rome and polished, they did not gain so much in embellishmentas they lost in symmetry, being rendered too taper and slender. Shouldany one who wonders at the costliness of the Capitol visit any onegallery in Domitian's palace, or hall, or bath, or the apartmentsof his concubines, Epicharmus's remark upon the prodigal, that-

    "'Tis not beneficence, but truth to say, A mere disease of giving things away," would be in his mouth in applicationto Domitian. It is neither piety, he would say, nor magnificence,but, indeed, a mere disease of building, and a desire, like Midas,of converting everything into gold or stone. And thus much for thismatter.

    Tarquin, after the great battle wherein he lost his son in combatwith Brutus, fled to Clusium, and sought aid from Lars Porsenna, thenone of those most powerful princes of Italy, and a man of worth andgenerosity； who assured him of assistance, immediately sending hiscommands to Rome that they should receive Tarquin as their king, and,upon the Romans' refusal, proclaimed war, and, having signified thetime and place where he intended his attack, approached with a greatarmy. Poplicola was, in his absence, chosen consul a second time,and Titus Lucretius his colleague, and, returning to Rome, to showa spirit yet loftier than Porsenna's, built the city Sigliura whenPorsenna was already in the neighbourhood； and walling it at greatexpense, there placed a colony of seven hundred men, as being littleconcerned at the war. Nevertheless, Porsenna, making a sharp assault,obliged the defendants to retire to Rome, who had almost in theirentrance admitted the enemy into the city with them； only Poplicolaby sallying out at the gate prevented them, and, joining battle byTiber side, opposed the enemy, that pressed on with their multitude,but at last, sinking under desperate wounds, was carried out of thefight. The same fortune fell upon Lucretius, so that the Romans, beingdismayed, retreated into the city for their security, and Rome wasin great hazard of being taken, the enemy forcing their way on tothe wooden bridge, where Horatius Cocles, seconded by two of the firstmen in Rome, Herminius and Lartius, made head against them. Horatiusobtained this name from the loss of one of his eyes in the war, or,as others write, from the depressure of his nose, which, leaving nothingin the middle to separate them, made both eyes appear but as one；and hence, intending to say Cyclops, by a mispronunciation they calledhim Cocles. This Cocles kept the bridge, and held back the enemy,till his own party broke it down behind, and then with his armourdropped into the river, and swam to the hither side, with a woundin his hip from a Tuscan spear. Poplicola, admiring his courage, proposedat once that the Romans should every one make him a present of a day'sprovisions, and afterwards give him as much land as he could ploughround in one day, and besides erected a brazen statute to his honourin the temple of Vulcan, as a requital for the lameness caused byhis wound.

    But Porsenna laying close siege to the city, and a famine raging amongstthe Romans, also a new army of the Tuscans making incursions intothe country, Poplicola, a third time chosen consul, designed to make,without sallying out, his defence against Porsenna, but, privatelystealing forth against the new army of the Tuscans, put them to flightand slew five thousand. The story of Mucius is variously given； we,like others, must follow the commonly received statement. He was aman endowed with every virtue, but most eminent in war； and, resolvingto kill Porsenna, attired himself in the Tuscan habit, and using theTuscan language, came to the camp, and approaching the seat wherethe king sat amongst his nobles, but not certainly knowing the king,and fearful to inquire, drew out his sword, and stabbed one who hethought had most the appearance of king. Mucius was taken in the act,and whilst he was under examination, a pan of fire was brought tothe king, who intended to sacrifice； Mucius thrust his right handinto the flame, and whilst it burnt stood looking at Porsenna witha steadfast and undaunted countenance； Porsenna at last in admirationdismissed him, and returned his sword, reaching it from his seat；Mucius received it in his left hand, which occasioned the name ofScaevola, left-handed, and said, "I have overcome the terrors of Porsenna,yet am vanquished by his generosity, and gratitude obliges me to disclosewhat no punishment could extort； and assured him then, that threehundred Romans, all of the same resolution, lurked about his camp,only waiting for an opportunity； he, by lot appointed to the enterprise,was not sorry that he had miscarried in it, because so brave and gooda man deserved rather to be a friend to the Romans than an enemy.To this Porsenna gave credit, and thereupon expressed an inclinationto a truce, not, I presume, so much out of fear of the three hundredRomans, as in admiration of the Roman courage. All other writers callthis man Mucius Scaevola, yet Athendrous, son of Sandon, in a bookaddressed to Octavia, Caesar's sister, avers he was also called Postumus.

    Poplicola, not so much esteeming Porsenna's enmity dangerous to Romeas his friendship and alliance serviceable, was induced to refer thecontroversy with Tarquin to his arbitration, and several times undertookto prove Tarquin the worst of men, and justly deprived of his kingdom.But Tarquin proudly replied he would admit no judge, much less Porsenna,that had fallen away from his engagements； and Porsenna, resentingthis answer, and mistrusting the equity of his cause, moved also bythe solicitations of his son Aruns, who was earnest for the Romaninterest, made a peace on these conditions, that they should resignthe land they had taken from the Tuscans, and restore all prisonersand receive back their deserters. To confirm the peace, the Romansgave as hostages ten sons of patrician parents, and as many daughters,amongst whom was Valeria, the daughter of Poplicola.

    Upon these assurances, Porsenna ceased from all acts of hostility,and the young girls went down to the river to bathe at that part wherethe winding of the bank formed a bay and made the waters stiller andquieter； and, seeing no guard, nor any one coming or going over, theywere encouraged to swim over, notwithstanding the depth and violenceof the stream. Some affirm that one of them, by name Cloelia, passingover on horseback, persuaded the rest to swim after； but, upon theirsafe arrival, presenting themselves to Poplicola, he neither praisednor approved their return, but was concerned lest he should appearless faithful than Porsenna, and this boldness in the maidens shouldargue treachery in the Romans； so that, apprehending them, he sentthem back to Porsenna. But Tarquin's men, having intelligence of this,laid a strong ambuscade on the other side for those that conductedthem； and while these were skirmishing together, Valeria, the daughterof Poplicola, rushed through the enemy, and fled, and with the assistanceof three of her attendants made good her escape, whilst the rest weredangerously hedged in by the soldiers； but Aruns, Porsenna's son,upon tidings of it, hastened to their rescue, and, putting the enemyto flight, delivered the Romans. When Porsenna saw the maiden returned,demanding who was the author and adviser of the act, and understandingCloelia to be the person, he looked on her with a cheerful and benignantcountenance, and, commanding one of his horses to be brought, sumptuouslyadorned, made her a present of it. This is produced as evidence bythose who affirm that only Cloelia passed the river on horseback；those who deny it call it only the honour the Tuscan did to her courage；a figure, however, on horseback, stands in the Via Sacra, as you goto the Palatium, which some say is the statue of Cloelia, others ofValeria. Porsenna, thus reconciled to the Romans, gave them a freshinstance of his generosity, and commanded his soldiers to quit thecamp merely with their arms, leaving their tents, full of corn andother stores, as a gift to the Romans. Hence, even down to our time,when there is a public sale of goods, they cry Porsenna's first, byway of perpetual commemoration of his kindness. There stood also,by the senate-house, a brazen statue of him, of plain and antiqueworkmanship.

    Afterwards, the Sabines, making incursions upon the Romans, MarcusValerius, brother to Poplicola, was made consul, and with him PostumiusTubertus. Marcus, through the management of affairs by the conductand direct assistance of Poplicola, obtained two great victories,in the latter of which he slew thirteen thousand Sabines without theloss of one Roman, and was honoured, as an accession to his triumph,with an house built in the Palatium at the public charge； and whereasthe doors of other houses opened inward into the house, they madethis to open outward into the street, to intimate their perpetualpublic recognition of his merit by thus continually making way forhim. The same fashion in their doors the Greeks, they say, had ofold universally, which appears from their comedies, where those thatare going out make a noise at the door within, to give notice to thosethat pass by or stand near the door, that the opening the door intothe street might occasion no surprisal.

    The year after, Poplicola was made consul the fourth time, when aconfederacy of the Sabines and Latins threatened a war； a superstitiousfear also overran the city on the occasion of general miscarriagesof their women, no single birth coming to its due time. Poplicola,upon consultation of the Sibylline books, sacrificing to Pluto, andrenewing certain games commanded by Apollo, restored the city to morecheerful assurance in the gods, and then prepared against the menacesof men. There were appearances of great preparation, and of a formidableconfederacy. Amongst the Sabines there was one Appius Clausus, a manof a great wealth and strength of body, but most eminent for his highcharacter and for his eloquence； yet, as is usually the fate of greatmen, he could not escape the envy of others, which was much occasionedby his dissuading the war, and seeming to promote the Roman interest,with a view, it is thought, to obtaining absolute power in his owncountry for himself. Knowing how welcome these reports would be tothe multitude, and how offensive to the army and the abettors of thewar, he was afraid to stand a trial, but, having a considerable bodyof friends and allies to assist him, raised a tumult amongst the Sabines,which delayed the war. Neither was Poplicola wanting, not only tounderstand the grounds of the sedition, but to promote and increaseit, and he despatched emissaries with instructions to Clausus, thatPoplicola was assured of his goodness and justice, and thought itindeed unworthy in any man, however injured, to seek revenge uponhis fellow citizens； yet if he pleased, for his own security, to leavehis enemies and come to Rome, he should be received, both in publicand private, with the honour his merit deserved, and their own gloryrequired. Appius, seriously weighing the matter, came to the conclusionthat it was the best resource which necessity left him, and advisingwith his friends, and they inviting others in the same manner, hecame to Rome, bringing five thousand families, with their wives andchildren； people of the quietest and steadiest temper of all the Sabines.Poplicola, informed of their approach, received them with all thekind offices of a friend, and admitted them at once to the franchiseallotting to every one two acres of land by the river Anio, but toClausus twenty-five acres, and gave him a place in the senate； a commencementof political power which he used so wisely, that he rose to the highestreputation, was very influential, and left the Claudian house behindhim, inferior to none in Rome.

    The departure of these men rendered things quiet amongst the Sabines；yet the chief of the community would not suffer them to settle intopeace, but resented that Clausus now, by turning deserter, shoulddisappoint that revenge upon the Romans, which, while at home, hehad unsuccessfully opposed. Coming with a great army, they sat downbefore Fidenae, and placed an ambuscade of two thousand men near Rome,in wooded and hollow spots, with a design that some few horsemen,as soon as it was day, should go out and ravage the country, commandingthem upon their approach to the town so to retreat as to draw theenemy into the ambush. Poplicola, however, soon advertised of thesedesigns by deserters, disposed his forces to their respective charges.Postumius Balbus, his son-in-law, going out with three thousand menin the evening, was ordered to take the hills, under which the ambushlay, there to observe their motions； his colleague, Lucretius, attendedwith a body of the lightest and boldest men, was appointed to meetthe Sabine horse； whilst he, with the rest of the army, encompassedthe enemy. And a thick mist rising accidentally, Postumius, earlyin the morning, with shouts from the hills, assailed the ambuscade,Lucretius charged the light-horse, and Poplicola besieged the camp；so that on all sides defeat and ruin came upon the Sabines, and withoutany resistance the Romans killed them in their flight, their veryhopes leading them to their death, for each division, presuming thatthe other was safe, gave up all thought of fighting or keeping theirground； and these quitting the camp to retire to the ambuscade, andthe ambuscade flying to the camp, fugitives thus met fugitives, andfound those from whom they expected succour as much in need of succourfrom themselves. The nearness, however, of the city Fidenae was thepreservation of the Sabines, especially those that fled from the camp；those that could not gain the city either perished in the field, orwere taken prisoners. This victory, the Romans, though usually ascribingsuch success to some god, attributed to the conduct of one captain；and it was observed to be heard amongst the soldiers, that Poplicolahad delivered their enemies lame and blind, and only not in chains,to be despatched by their swords. From the spoil and prisoners greatwealth accrued to the people.

    Poplicola, having completed his triumph, and bequeathed the city tothe care of the succeeding consuls, died； thus closing a life which,so far as human life may be, had been full of all that is good andhonourable. The people, as though they had not duly rewarded his desertswhen alive, but still were in his debt, decreed him a public interment,every one contributing his quadrans towards the charge； the women,besides, by private consent, mourned a whole year, a signal mark ofhonour to his memory. He was buried, by the people's desire, withinthe city, in the part called Velia, where his posterity had likewiseprivilege of burial； now, however, none of the family are interredthere, but the body is carried thither and set down, and some oneplaces a burning torch under it and immediately takes it away, asan attestation of the deceased's privilege, and his receding fromhis honour； after which the body is removed.

    THE END