Chapter 11
Book II. Part II. though such was the issue of the battle yet so great terror took possession of the tarquinius and the arturians that giving up the exercises impracticable both armies the vaintian and tarquinian retired by night to the respective countries to the accounts of this battle writers have added miracles that during the silence of the following night a loud voice was uttered from the arsian wood which was believed to be the voice of sylvanius in these words the number of the eturians who fell in the arrangement was greater by one the romans have the victory the romans certainly departed from the field as conquerors the eturians as vanquished for when the day appeared not one of the enemy was to be seen the consul publius valerius collected the spoils and returned in triumph to rome he celebrated the funeral of his colleague with the utmost degree of magnificence which those times could afford but a much higher mark of honour to the deceased was the grief expressed by the public
singularly remarkable in this particular that the matrons mourned for him as a parent during the whole year in gratitude for his vigorous exertions in avenging the cause of violated chastity in a little time the consul who survived so changeable are the minds of the populace from having enjoyed a high degree of popularity became an object not only of jealousy but of suspicion attended with the charge of an atrocious nature it was given out that he aspired to the sovereignty because he had not submitted a colleague in the room of brutus and besides was building a house on the summit of mount walia which in such a lofty and strong situation would be an impregnable fortress the consul's mind was deeply affected with concern and indignation finding that such reports were circulated and believed he therefore summoned the people to an assembly and ordering the fasces to be lowered mounted the rostrum it was a sight highly pleasing to the multitude to find the ensigns of sovereignty lowered to them and an acknowledgment thus openly given that the majesty and power of the people were superior to those of the consul
attention being ordered the consul exalted the good fortune of his colleague who after having accomplished the deliverance of his country and being raised to the highest post of honour met with death while fighting in defence of the republic when his glory had arrived at full maturity without having excited jealousy whereas he himself surviving his glory was become an object of calumny and from the character of deliverer of his country had sunk to a level with the aquilii and vitellii while no degree will no degree of merit then said he ever gain your confidence so far as to be secure from the attacks of suspicion could i have the least apprehension that i the bitterest enemy to kings should undergo the charge of aiming at kingly power supposing that i dwelt in the very citadel and in the capital could i believe that i was an object of terror to my countrymen does my reputation among you depend on so mere a trifle is my title to your confidence so slightly founded that it is more to be considered where i am than what i am citizens the house of publius valerius shall be no obstruction to your freedom the whelian mount shall be secure to you i will not only bring down my house to the plain but will fix it under the hill that your dwellings may overlook that of your suspected countryman
let those build on the whelian mount to whom ye can better entrust your liberty than to publius valerius immediately all the material were brought down from the whelian mount and the house was built at the foot of the hill where the temple of victory now stands some laws were then proposed by the consul which not only cleared him from all suspicion of a design to possess himself of regal power but whose tendency was so contrary thereto that they even rendered him popular and from thence he inquired the surname of publicula such particularly was that concerning an appeal to the people against the decrees of the magistrates and that which devoted both the persons and the goods of any who should form a design of assuming regal power these laws were highly acceptable to the populace and having effected the ratification of them while alone in office in order that the credit of them might be entirely his own he then held an assembly for the election of a new colleague the consul was spurius lucretius who being far advanced in years was too feeble to support the duties of his office died in a few days after marcus horatius puvilus was substituted in the room of lucretius
in some old writers i find no mention of lucretius as consul they place horatius as immediate successor to brutus i supposed he was not taken notice of because his consulate was not signalized by any important transaction The temple of Jupiter in the capital had not yet been dedicated. The consuls Valerius and Heratius cast lots which should perform the dedication, and it fell to Heratius. Publicula set out to conduct the war against the Venantians. The friends of Valerius showed more displeasure than the occasion merited, at the dedication of a temple so celebrated being given to Heratius.
Having endeavored by every means to prevent its taking place, and all their attempts having failed of success, when the consul had already laid his hands on the doorpost, and was employed in offering prayers to the gods, they hastily addressed him with the shocking intelligence that his son was dead, and insisted that his family, being thus defiled, he could not dedicate the temple. Whether he doubted the truth of the intelligence, or whether it was owing to great firmness of mind,
we are not informed with certainty. nor is it easy to conjecture. But he was no further diverted from the business he was engaged in by that information, than just to give orders that the body should be buried. And, still holding the post, he finished his prayer, and dedicated the temple. Such were the transactions at home and abroad, which occurred during the first year after the expulsion of the royal family.
The next consuls appointed were Publius Valerius a second time, and Titus Lucretius. Meanwhile the Tarquinii had carried their complaints to Lars Porsena, king of Clusium, and there, mixing admonitions with entreaties, they at one time besought him that he would not suffer those, who derived their origin from Etruria, and were of the same blood and name, to spend their lives in poverty and exile, then warned him not to let this new practice of
dethroning kings proceed without chastisement, adding that liberty had in itself sufficient sweets to allure others to follow the example, unless kings would show the same degree of vigor in support of kingly power which the people exerted to wrest it from them. The highest ranks would be reduced to a level with the lowest. There would be no dignity, no preeminence, among the several members of society. There would soon be an end to regal authority,
which among the gods and men had heretofore been held in the highest degree of estimation. Porsena, considering it as highly conducive to the honor of Etruria, that there should be a king at Rome, and also that that king should be of the Etrurian race, led an army to Rome, determined to support his pretensions by force of arms. Never on any former occasion were the senate struck with such terror. So powerful was the state of Clusium at that time, and so great the name of
Porcena. Nor were they in dread of the enemies only, but also of their own countrymen, lest the Roman populace, overcome them by their fears, might admit the kings into the city, and for the sake of peace submit to slavery. The Senate, therefore, as this season practiced many conciliatory measures toward the commons, their first care was applied to the markets, and people were sent, some to the Woloskians, others to Kumai, to purchase corn. The privilege also of selling salt, because the
price had been raised to an extravagant height, was taken out of the hands of private persons, and placed entirely under the management of government. The commons were also exempted from port duties and taxes, that the public expenses might fall upon the rich, who were equal to the burden, the poor paying tax-efficient if they educated their children. This indulgent care preserved such harmony in the state, even during the people's severe sufferings afterwards,
from siege and famine, that the name of king was abhorred by all, nor did any single person, and after times ever acquire such a high degree of popularity, by artful intrigues, as the whole senate then obtained, by their wise administration. As the enemy drew nigh, everyone removed hastily from the country into this city, on every side of which strong guards were posted. Some parts seemed well secured by the walls, others by the Tiber running close to
them. The Subluchian bridge was very near affording the enemy an entrance, had it not been for one man, Heratius Cocles. No other bulwark had the fortune of Rome on that day. He happened to be posted on guard at the bridge, and when he saw the geniculum taken by a sudden assault, and the enemy pouring down from thence in full speed, his countrymen in disorder and confusion, no longer attempting opposition, but quitting their ranks. He called hold of every one that
he could, and appealing to gods and men, assured them that it was in vain that they fled, after deserting the post that could protect them, that if they passed the bridge and left it behind them, they would see greater numbers of the enemy in the palatium and the capital than in the geniculum. Wherefore he advised them, and warned them, to break down the bridge, by their swords, fire, or any other effectual means, while he should sustain the attack of the enemy, as long as it
was possible for one person to withstand them. He then advanced to the first entrance of the bridge, and being easily distinguished from those who showed their backs in retreating from the fight, by his facing to the front, with his arms prepared for action, he astonished the enemy by such wonderful intrepidity. Shame, however, prevailed on two to remain with him, Spurius Lartius and Titus Herminius, both of them men of distinguished families and characters. With their assistance,
he, for a time, supported the first storm, and the most furious part of the fight, even those he sent back, when the bridge was nearly destroyed, and those who were employed in breaking it down called upon them to retire. Then, darting fierce menacing looks at each of the leaders of the Etrurians, he sometimes challenged them singly, sometimes upbraided them together, as slaves of haughty kings, who were incapable of relishing liberty themselves, had come to wrest it from
others. For a considerable time they hesitated, looking about for some other to begin the combat. Shame at length put their troops in motion, and setting up a shout they poured their javelins from all sides against their single opponent, all which, having struck in the shield with which he guarded himself, he was still persisting with the same undaunted resolution, and with haughty strides to keep possession of his post. They had now resolved, by making a violent push, to force him
from it, when the crash of the falling bridge, and at the same time a shout raised by the Romans, for joy at having completed their purpose, filled them with sudden dismay, and stopped them from proceeding in the attempt. Then Cocles said, Holy Father, Tiberanus, I beseech thee to receive these arms, and this thy soldier, into thy propitious stream. With these words, armed as he was, he leaped down into the Tiber, and, through showers of darts which fell around him, swam safe
across to his friends, having exhibited a degree of intrepidity, which, in aftertimes, was more generally celebrated than believed. The state showed a grateful sense of such high desert. A statue was erected to him in the comitium, with a grant of land as large as he could plow completely in one day. The zeal of private persons, too, was conspicuous, amidst the honors conferred on him by the public. For great as the scarcity then was, everyone contributed something
to him, in proportion to the stock of their family, abridging themselves of their own proper support. Porcena, disappointed of success in this first effort, changed his plan from assault to a blockade, and leaving a force sufficient to secure the juniculum, encamped his main body in the plain along the bank of the Tiber, at the same time collecting ships from all quarters, at once to guard the passage, that no corn should be conveyed to Rome, and to enable his troops to cross over
the river in different places, as occasion offered, to lay waste the country. In a short time he extended his depredations so successfully, through every part of the Roman territories, that people were obliged to convey their effects into the city, as also their cattle, which no one would venture to drive within the gates. The Aturians were permitted to act in this uncontrolled manner, not so much through fear as design, for Valerius the consul, intent on gaining an
opportunity of making an unexpected attack on a large number of them, at a time when they were unprepared, overlooked trifling advantages, reserved his force for a severe revenge on a more important occasion. With this view, in order to allure the plunderers, he gave orders to his men to drive out some cattle through the Esquiline Gate, which was at the opposite side from the enemy, judging that these would soon get information of it, because during the blockade,
and the scarcity of provisions, many of the slaves turned traitors and deserted. Accordingly, they were informed of it by a deserter, and passed over the river in much greater numbers than usual, in hopes of gaining possession of the entire booty. Publius Valerius then ordered Titus Herminius, with the small body of men, to lie concealed near the two-mile stone on the Gabion road. Spurius Lartius, with a body of light-armed
troops, to stand at the Colleen Gate, until the enemy should pass by, and then to take post in their rear, so as to cut off their retreat to the river. The other consul, Titus Lucratius, with some companies afoot, marched out of the Nivian gate. Valerius himself led down his chosen cohorts from the Colian mount, and these were the first who were observed by the enemy. Hermenius, as soon as he found that the alarm was taken, rushed out from his ambush to take his
share in the fray, and while the Eturians were busied in forming an opposition to Valerius, fell upon their rear the shot was returned both from the right and the left from the calline gate on the one hand and the nivian on the other the plunderers being thus surrounded destitute of strength to make head against their adversaries and shut out from all possibilities of a retreat were cut to pieces after this the aturians confined their ravages to narrower limits the siege continued notwithstanding and provisions becoming exceedingly scarce and dear porsena entertained hopes that by remaining quiet in his present position he should become master of the city when gaius mucius a noble youth filled with indignation on reflecting that the roman people while they were in bondage under their kings were never in any war besieged by any enemy and that the same people now in a state of freedom were held besieged by those very etrurians whose armies they had often routed resolved therefore by some great and daring effort to remove much reproach
At first he designed to make his way into the enemy's camp, without communicating his intention, but afterward, dreading lest, if he should go without the order of the consuls, and the knowledge of any, he might be apprehended by the roaming guards, and brought back as a deserter, an imputation for which the present circumstances of the city would afford plausible grounds. He applied to the senate, and told them, Fathers, I intend to cross the Tiber, and to enter, if I can, the enemy's camp, not to seek for plunder, or to revenge their depredations in kind. The blow, which I meditate, with the aid of the gods, is of more importance. The senate gave their approbation, and he set out with a sword, concealed under his garment. When he came into the camp, he took his place close to the king's tribunal, where a very great crowd was assembled.
It happened that, at this time, the soldiers were receiving their pay, and a secretary, sitting beside the king, and dressed nearly in the same manner, acted a principal part in the business, and to him the soldiers generally addressed themselves. Lucius, not daring to inquire which was Porsena, lest his not knowing the king should discover what he was, fortune blindly directing the stroke where it was not intended, slew the secretary instead of the king, then endeavoring to make his escape through a passage, which, with his bloody weapon, he cleared for himself among the dismayed crowd, a concourse of soldiers being attracted by the noise, he was seized by the king's lifeguards, and dragged back. standing there, single, among a crowd of enemies and before the king's tribunal, even in this situation, in the midst of fortune's severest threats, showed himself more capable of inspiring terror than of feeling it. He spoke to this effect, I am a Roman citizen. My name is Gaius
Mucius. As an enemy, I intended to have slain an enemy, nor is my resolution less firmly prepared to suffer death than to inflict it. It is the part of a Roman both to act and to suffer with fortitude. Nor am I the only one who has harbored such designs against you. There is a long list after me of candidates for the same glorious distinction. Prepare, therefore, if you choose, for a contest of this sort, wherein you must every hour engage at the hazard of your life,
and have the enemy and the sword continually in the porch of your pavilion. this is the kind of war in which we roman youths engage against you fear not an army in the field nor in battle the affair will rest between your single person and each of us separately the king inflamed with rage and at the same time terrified at the danger ordered fires to be kindled round him threatening him with severe punishment unless he instantly explained what these plots were with which he had threatened him in those ambiguous expressions behold said mucius and perceive what little account is made of the body by those who have in view the attainment of great glory and thrusting his right hand into a chafing-dish of coals which had been kindled for the purpose of a sacrifice held it there to burn as if he were void of all sense of feeling on which the king thunderstruck in a manner by such astonishing behaviour left from his seat ordered the youth to be removed from the altars and said to him retire in safety for the treatment which you intended for me was mild in comparison with that which you have practised on yourself
i should wish to increase in success to your bravery if that bravery were exerted on the side of my own country however i dismissed you untouched and unhurt and discharged you from the penalties which by the laws of war i might inflict mucius then as if to make a return for this act of favour told him since i find you disposed to honour bravery that you may obtain for me by kindness what you cannot by threats know that three hundred of us the principal youths in rome have bound ourselves to each other by an oath to attack you in this manner my lot happen to be the first the others will be with you each in his turn according as the lot shall set him foremost until fortune shall afford an opportunity of succeeding against you book two part two
