Arion erected at Tænarus a statue in bronze, representing a man riding on
a dolphin's back.
STORIES FROM LIVY
ROMULUS, FOUNDER OF ROME
Adapted by Alfred J. Church
Æneas of Troy, coming to the land of Italy, took to wife Lavinia, daughter
of King Latinus, and built him a city, which he called Lavinium, after the
name of his wife. And, after thirty years, his son Ascanius went forth
from Lavinium with much people, and built him a new city, which he called
Alba. In this city reigned kings of the house and lineage of Æneas for
twelve generations. Of these kings the eleventh in descent was one Procas,
who, having two sons, Numitor and Amulius, left his kingdom, according to
the custom, to Numitor, the elder. But Amulius drove out his brother, and
reigned in his stead. Nor was he content with this wickedness, but slew
all the male children of his brother. And the daughter of his brother,
that was named Rhea Silvia, he chose to be a priestess of Vesta, making as
though he would do the maiden honor, but his thought was that the name of
his brother should perish, for they that serve Vesta are vowed to
perpetual virginity.
But it came to pass that Rhea bare twin sons, whose father, it was said,
was the god Mars. Very wroth was Amulius when he heard this thing; Rhea he
made fast in prison, and the children he gave to certain of his servants
that they should cast them into the river. Now it chanced that at this
season Tiber had overflowed his banks, neither could the servants come
near to the stream of the river; nevertheless they did not doubt that the
children would perish, for all that the overflowing of the water was
neither deep nor of a swift current. Thinking, then, that they had duly
performed the commandment of the king, they set down the babes in the
flood and departed. But after a while the flood abated, and left the
basket wherein the children had been laid on dry ground. And a she-wolf,
coming down from the hill to drink at the river (for the country in those
days was desert and abounding in wild beasts), heard the crying of the
children and ran to them. Nor did she devour them, but gave them suck;
nay, so gentle was she that Faustulus, the king's shepherd, chancing to go
by, saw that she licked them with her tongue. This Faustulus took the
children and gave them to his wife to rear; and these, when they were of
age to go by themselves, were not willing to abide with the flocks and
herds, but were hunters, wandering through the forests that were in those
parts. And afterward, being now come to full strength, they were not
content to slay wild beasts only, but would assail troops of robbers, as
these were returning laden with their booty, and would divide the spoils
among the shepherds. Now there was held in those days, on the hill that is
now called the Palatine, a yearly festival to the god Pan. This festival
King Evander first ordained, having come from Arcadia, in which land,
being a land of shepherds, Pan, that is the god of shepherds, is greatly
honored. And when the young men and their company (for they had gathered a
great company of shepherds about them, and led them in all matters both of
business and of sport) were busy with the festival, there came upon them
certain robbers that had made an ambush in the place, being very wroth by
reason of the booty which they had lost. These laid hands on Remus, but
Romulus they could not take, so fiercely did he fight against them. Remus,
therefore, they delivered up to King Amulius, accusing him of many things,
and chiefly of this, that he and his companions had invaded the land of
Numitor, dealing with them in the fashion of an enemy and carrying off
much spoil. To Numitor, therefore, did the king deliver Remus, that he
might put him to death. Now Faustulus had believed from the beginning that
the children were of the royal house, for he knew that the babes had been
cast into the river by the king's command, and the time also of his
finding them agreed thereto. Nevertheless he had not judged it expedient
to open the matter before due time, but waited till occasion or necessity
should arise. But now, there being such necessity, he opened the matter to
Romulus. Numitor also, when he had the young man Remus in his custody,
knowing that he and his brother were twins, and that the time agreed, and
seeing that they were of a high spirit, bethought him of his grandsons;
and, indeed, having asked many questions of Remus, was come nigh to
knowing of what race he was. And now also Romulus was ready to help his
brother. To come openly with his whole company he dared not, for he was
not a match for the power of King Amulius; but he bade sundry shepherds
make their way to the palace, each as best he could, appointing to them a
time at which they should meet. And now came Remus also, with a troop of
youths gathered together from the household of Numitor. Then did Romulus
and Remus slay King Amulius. In the meanwhile Numitor gathered the youth
of Alba to the citadel, crying out that they must make the place safe, for
that the enemy was upon them; but when he perceived that the young men had
done the deed, forthwith he called an assembly of the citizens, and set
forth to them the wickedness which his brother had wrought against him,
and how his grandsons had been born and bred and made known to him, and
then, in order, how the tyrant had been slain, himself having counseled
the deed. When he had so spoken the young men came with their company into
the midst of the assembly, and saluted him as king; to which thing the
whole multitude agreeing with one consent, Numitor was established upon
the throne.
After this Romulus and his brother conceived this purpose, that, leaving
their grandfather to be king at Alba, they should build for themselves a
new city in the place where, having been at the first left to die, they
had been brought up by Faustulus the shepherd. And to this purpose many
agreed both of the men of Alba and of the Latins, and also of the
shepherds that had followed them from the first, holding it for certain
all of them that Alba and Lavinium would be of small account in comparison
of this new city which they should build together. But while the brothers
were busy with these things, there sprang up afresh the same evil thing
which had before wrought such trouble in their house, even the lust of
power. For though the beginnings of the strife between them were peaceful,
yet did it end in great wickedness. The matter fell out in this wise.
Seeing that the brothers were twins, and that neither could claim to have
the preference to the other in respect of his age, it was agreed between
them that the gods that were the guardians of that country should make
known by means of augury which of the two they chose to give his name to
the new city. Then Romulus stood on the Palatine hill, and when there had
been marked out for him a certain region of the sky, watched therein for a
sign; and Remus watched in like manner, standing on the Aventine. And to
Remus first came a sign, six vultures; but so soon as the sign had been
proclaimed there came another to Romulus, even twelve vultures. Then they
that favored Remus clamored that the gods had chosen him for king, because
he had first seen the birds; and they that favored Romulus answered that
he was to be preferred because he had seen more in number. This dispute
waxed so hot that they fell to fighting; and in the fight it chanced that
Remus was slain. But some say that when Romulus had marked out the borders
of the town which he would build, and had caused a wall to be built round
it, Remus leapt over the wall, scorning it because it was mean and low;
and that Romulus slew him, crying out, "Thus shall every man perish that
shall dare to leap over my walls." Only others will have it that though he
perished for this cause Romulus slew him not, but a certain Celer. This
much is certain, that Romulus gained the whole kingdom for himself, and
called the city after his own name.
And now, having first done sacrifice to the Gods, he called a general
assembly of the people, that he might give them laws, knowing that without
laws no city can endure. And judging that these would be the better kept
of his subjects if he should himself bear something of the show of royal
majesty, he took certain signs of dignity, and especially twelve men that
should continually attend him, bearing bundles of rods, and in the midst
of the rods an axe; these men they called _lictors_. Meanwhile the city
increased, for the king and his people enlarged their borders, looking
rather to the greatness for which they hoped than to that which they had.
And that this increase might not be altogether empty walls without men,
Romulus set up a sanctuary, to which were gathered a great multitude of
men from the nations round about. All that were discontented and lovers of
novelty came to him. Nor did he take any account of their condition,
whether they were bond or free, but received them all. Thus was there
added to the city great strength. And the king, when he judged that there
was strength sufficient, was minded to add to the strength counsel.
Wherefore he chose a hundred men for counselors. A hundred he chose,
either because he held that number to be sufficient, or because there were
no more that were fit to bear this dignity and be called Fathers, for this
was the name of these counselors.
After this the people bethought themselves how they should get for
themselves wives, for there were no women in the place. Wherefore Romulus
sent ambassadors to the nations round about, praying that they should give
their daughters to his people for wives. "Cities," he said, "have humble
beginnings even as all other things. Nevertheless they that have the Gods
and their own valor to help become great. Now that the gods are with us,
as ye know, be assured also that valor shall not be wanting." But the
nations round about would not hearken to him, thinking scorn of this
gathering of robbers and slaves and runaways, so that they said, "Why do
ye not open a sanctuary for women also that so ye may find fit wives for
your people?" Also they feared for themselves and their children what this
new city might grow to. Now when the ambassadors brought back this answer
the Romans were greatly wroth, and would take by force that which their
neighbors would not give of their free will. And to the end that they
might do this more easily, King Romulus appointed certain days whereon he
and his people would hold a festival with games to Neptune; and to this
festival he called all them that dwelt in the cities round about. But when
many were gathered together (for they were fain to see what this new city
might be), and were now wholly bent on the spectacle of the games, the
young men of the Romans ran in upon them, and carried off all such as were
unwedded among the women. To these King Romulus spake kindly, saying, "The
fault is not with us but with your fathers, who dealt proudly with us, and
would not give you to us in marriage. But now ye shall be held in all
honor as our wives, and shall have your portion of all that we possess.
Put away therefore your anger, for ye shall find us so much the better
husbands than other men, as we must be to you not for husbands only but
parents also and native country."
In the meanwhile the parents of them that had been carried off put on
sackcloth, and went about through the cities crying out for vengeance upon
the Romans. And chiefly they sought for help from Titus Tatius, that was
king of the Sabines in those days, and of great power and renown. But when
the Sabines seemed to be tardy in the matter, the men of Cære first
gathered together their army and marched into the country of the Romans.
Against these King Romulus led forth his men and put them to flight
without much ado, having first slain their king with his own hand. Then,
after returning to Rome, he carried the arms which he had taken from the
body of the king to the hill of the Capitol, and laid them down at the
shepherds' oak that stood thereon in those days. And when he had measured
out the length and breadth of a temple that he would build to Jupiter upon
the hill, he said, "O Jupiter, I, King Romulus, offer to thee these arms
of a king, and dedicate therewith a temple in this place, in which temple
they that come after me shall offer to thee like spoils in like manner,
when it shall chance that the leader of our host shall himself slay with
his own hands the leader of the host of the enemy." And this was the first
temple that was dedicated in Rome. And in all the time to come two only
offered in this manner, to wit, Cornelius Cossus that slew Lars Tolumnius,
king of Veii, and Claudius Marcellus that slew Britomarus, king of the
Gauls.
After this, King Tatius and the Sabines came up against Rome with a great
army. And first of all they gained the citadel by treachery in this
manner. One Tarpeius was governor of the citadel, whose daughter, Tarpeia
by name, going forth from the walls to fetch water for a sacrifice, took
money from the king that she should receive certain of the soldiers within
the citadel; but when they had been so received, the men cast their
shields upon her, slaying her with the weight of them. This they did
either that they might be thought to have taken the place by force, or
that they judged it to be well that no faith should be kept with traitors.
Some also tell this tale, that the Sabines wore great bracelets of gold on
their left arms, and on their left hands fair rings with precious stones
therein, and that when the maiden covenanted with them that she should
have for a reward that which they carried in their left hands, they cast
their shields upon her. And others say that she asked for their shields
having the purpose to betray them, and for this cause was slain.
Thus the Sabines had possession of the citadel; and the next day King
Romulus set the battle in array on the plain that lay between the hill of
the Capitol and the hill of the Palatine. And first the Romans were very
eager to recover the citadel, a certain Hostilius being their leader. But
when this man, fighting in the forefront of the battle, was slain, the
Romans turned their backs and fled before the Sabines, even unto the gate
of the Palatine. Then King Romulus (for he himself had been carried away
by the crowd of them that fled) held up his sword and his spear to the
heavens, and cried aloud, "O Jupiter, here in the Palatine didst thou
first, by the tokens which thou sentest me, lay the foundations of my
city. And lo! the Sabines have taken the citadel by wicked craft, and have
crossed the valley, and are come up even hither. But if thou sufferest
them so far, do thou at the least defend this place against them, and stay
this shameful flight of my people. So will I build a temple for thee in
this place, even a temple of Jupiter the Stayer, that may be a memorial to
after generations of how thou didst this day save this city." And when he
had so spoken, even as though he knew that the prayer had been heard, he
cried, "Ye men of Rome, Jupiter bids you stand fast in this place and
renew the battle." And when the men of Rome heard these words, it was as
if a voice from heaven had spoken to them, and they stood fast, and the
king himself went forward and stood among the foremost. Now the leader of
the Sabines was one Curtius. This man, as he drave the Romans before him,
cried out to his comrades, "See, we have conquered these men, false hosts
and feeble foes that they are! Surely now they know that it is one thing
to carry off maidens and another to fight with men." But whilst he boasted
himself thus, King Romulus and a company of the youth rushed upon him. Now
Curtius was fighting on horseback, and being thus assailed he fled,
plunging into a certain pool which lay between the Palatine hill and the
Capitol. Thus did he barely escape with his life, and the lake was called
thereafter Curtius' pool. And now the Sabines began to give way to the
Romans, when suddenly the women for whose sake they fought, having their
hair loosened and their garments rent, ran in between them that fought,
crying out, "Shed ye not each other's blood, ye that are fathers-in-law
and sons-in-law to each other. But if ye break this bond that is between
you, slay us that are the cause of this trouble. And surely it were better
for us to die than to live if we be bereaved of our fathers or of our
husbands." With these words they stirred the hearts both of the chiefs and
of the people, so that there was suddenly made a great silence. And
afterward the leaders came forth to make a covenant; and these indeed so
ordered matters that there was not peace only, but one state where there
had been two. For the Sabines came to Rome and dwelt there; and King
Romulus and King Tatius reigned together. Only, after a while, certain men
of Lanuvium slew King Tatius as he was sacrificing to the Gods at
Lavinium; and thereafter Romulus only was king as before.
When he had reigned thirty and seven years there befell the thing that
shall now be told. On a certain day he called the people together on the
field of Mars, and held a review of his army. But while he did this there
arose suddenly a great storm, with loud thunderings and very thick clouds,
so that the king was hidden away from the eyes of all the people. Nor
indeed was he ever again seen upon the earth. And when men were recovered
of their fear they were in great trouble, because they had lost their
king, though indeed the Fathers would have it that he had been carried by
a whirlwind into heaven. Yet after a while they began to worship him as
being now a god; and when nevertheless some doubted, and would even
whisper among themselves that Romulus had been torn in pieces by the
Fathers, there came forward a certain Proculus, who spake after this
manner: "Ye men of Rome, this day, in the early morning, I saw Romulus,
the father of this city, come down from heaven and stand before me. And
when great fear came upon me, I prayed that it might be lawful for me to
look upon him face to face. Then said he to me, 'Go thy way, tell the men
of Rome that it is the will of them that dwell in heaven that Rome should
be the chiefest city in the world. Bid them therefore be diligent in war;
and let them know for themselves and tell their children after them that
there is no power on earth so great that it shall be able to stand against
them.' And when he had thus spoken, he departed from me, going up into
heaven." All men believed Proculus when he thus spake, and the people
ceased from their sorrow when they knew that King Romulus had been taken
up into heaven.
HOW HORATIUS HELD THE BRIDGE
Adapted by Alfred J. Church
[King Tarquin had been driven from Rome because of his tyranny.]
King Tarquin and his son Lucius (for he only remained to him of the three)
fled to Lars Porsenna, king of Clusium, and besought him that he would
help them. "Suffer not," they said, "that we, who are Tuscans by birth,
should remain any more in poverty and exile. And take heed also to thyself
and thine own kingdom if thou permit this new fashion of driving forth
kings to go unpunished. For surely there is that in freedom which men
greatly desire, and if they that be kings defend not their dignity as
stoutly as others seek to overthrow it, then shall the highest be made
even as the lowest, and there shall be an end of kingship, than which
there is nothing more honorable under heaven." With these words they
persuaded King Porsenna, who judging it well for the Etrurians that there
should be a king at Rome, and that king an Etrurian by birth, gathered
together a great army and came up against Rome. But when men heard of his
coming, so mighty a city was Clusium in those days, and so great the fame
of King Porsenna, there was such fear as had never been before.
Nevertheless they were steadfastly purposed to hold out. And first all
that were in the country fled into the city, and round about the city they
set guards to keep it, part thereof being defended by walls, and part, for
so it seemed, being made safe by the river. But here a great peril had
well-nigh overtaken the city; for there was a wooden bridge on the river
by which the enemy had crossed but for the courage of a certain Horatius
Cocles. The matter fell out in this wise.
There was a certain hill which men called Janiculum on the side of the
river, and this hill King Porsenna took by a sudden attack. Which when
Horatius saw (for he chanced to have been set to guard the bridge, and saw
also how the enemy were running at full speed to the place, and how the
Romans were fleeing in confusion and threw away their arms as they ran),
he cried with a loud voice, "Men of Rome, it is to no purpose that ye thus
leave your post and flee, for if ye leave this bridge behind you for men
to pass over, ye shall soon find that ye have more enemies in your city
than in Janiculum. Do ye therefore break it down with axe and fire as best
ye can. In the meanwhile I, so far as one man may do, will stay the
enemy." And as he spake he ran forward to the farther end of the bridge
and made ready to keep the way against the enemy. Nevertheless there stood
two with him, Lartius and Herminius by name, men of noble birth both of
them and of great renown in arms. So these three for a while stayed the
first onset of the enemy; and the men of Rome meanwhile brake down the
bridge. And when there was but a small part remaining, and they that brake
it down called to the three that they should come back, Horatius bade
Lartius and Herminius return, but he himself remained on the farther side,
turning his eyes full of wrath in threatening fashion on the princes of
the Etrurians, and crying, "Dare ye now to fight with me? or why are ye
thus come at the bidding of your master, King Porsenna, to rob others of
the freedom that ye care not to have for yourselves?" For a while they
delayed, looking each man to his neighbor, who should first deal with this
champion of the Romans. Then, for very shame, they all ran forward, and
raising a great shout, threw their javelins at him. These all he took upon
his shield, nor stood the less firmly in his place on the bridge, from
which when they would have thrust him by force, of a sudden the men of
Rome raised a great shout, for the bridge was now altogether broken down,
and fell with a great crash into the river. And as the enemy stayed a
while for fear, Horatius turned him to the river and said, "O Father
Tiber, I beseech thee this day with all reverence that thou kindly receive
this soldier and his arms." And as he spake he leapt with all his arms
into the river and swam across to his own people, and though many javelins
of the enemy fell about him, he was not one whit hurt. Nor did such valor
fail to receive due honor from the city. For the citizens set up a statue
of Horatius in the market-place; and they gave him of the public land so
much as he could plough about in one day. Also there was this honor paid
him, that each citizen took somewhat of his own store and gave it to him,
for food was scarce in the city by reason of the siege.
HOW CINCINNATUS SAVED ROME
Adapted by Alfred J. Church
It came to pass that the Æquians brake the treaty of peace which they had
made with Rome, and, taking one Gracchus Cloelius for their leader,
marched into the land of Tusculum; and when they had plundered the country
thereabouts, and had gathered together much booty, they pitched their camp
on Mount Ægidus. To them the Romans sent three ambassadors, who should
complain of the wrong done, and seek redress. But when they would have
fulfilled their errand, Gracchus the Æquian spake, saying, "If ye have any
message from the Senate of Rome, tell it to this oak, for I have other
business to do;" for it chanced that there was a great oak that stood hard
by, and made a shadow over the general's tent. Then one of the
ambassadors, as he turned to depart, made reply, "Yes, let this sacred oak
and all the gods that are in heaven hear how ye have wrongfully broken the
treaty of peace; and let them that hear help us also in the day of battle,
when we shall avenge on you the laws both of gods and of men that ye have
set at nought."