_The siege of Rome by Porsenna, and the valiaunt deliuerie thereof by
Mutius Scœuola, with his stoute aunswere vnto the kinge._
When P. Valerius and T. Lucretius were created Consuls, Porsenna kinge
of Hetruria, vppon the instigation of the banished Tarquinians, came
before the citie with a huge armie. The brute wherof did wonderfully
appall the Senate: for the like occasion of terrour, neuer before that
time chaunced to the Romaines, who did not onely feare their enemies,
but also their owne subiects, suspecting lest they should be forced to
retaine the kinges againe. All which afterwards, were through the
wisedome and discretion of the fathers quietlye appeased, and the citie
reduced to such vnitie and courage, as all sorts of people despised the
name of king. When the enemies were approched, the rurall people
abandoning their colonies, fled for rescue into the citie. The citie was
diuided into garrisons: some kept the walles, and some the waye ouer
Tiber, which was thought very safe and able to be defended. Althoughe
the wodden bridge made ouer the Riuer, had almost been an open way for
the enemies entrie, whereof Horacius Cocles, as fortune serued that day,
had the charge. Who so manfully behaued himselfe, as after he had broken
vp and burned the bridge, and done other notable exploites, he defended
that passage with such valiance, that the defence therof seemed
miraculous, to the great astonishment of the enemies. In fine Porsenna
seing that he coulde litle preuaile in the assault, retourned to the
Campe, determining neuerthelesse to continue his siege. At which time
one Caius Mutius, a yonge gentleman of Rome, purposed to aduenture some
notable enterprise: saying to the Senators these wordes: “I determine to
passe the Riuer, and enter if I can, into the campe of the enemies, not
to fetch spoile, or to reuenge mutuall iniuries, but to hazard greater
matters, if the Gods be assistant vnto me.” The senate vnderstanding the
effect of his indeuour, allowed his deuise. And then hauinge a sword
vnder his garment, went forth. When he was come into the throng, he
conueighed himselfe as nere the kinges pauilion as he could. It chaunced
that he was paying wages that day to his souldiours, by whom his
Secretarie did sit in such apparell, almost as the king himselfe did
weare. Mutius being afraide to demaunde which of them was the king, lest
he should bewray himselfe, sodainly killed the Secretarie in steede of
the king, and as he was making waye with his bloudie sworde to escape,
he was apprehended and brought before the king, and with maruailous
stoutnesse and audacitie, spake these wordes: “I am a citizen of Rome,
and my name is Mutius, and beinge an enemy, I woulde faine haue killed
mine enemie. For which attempt I esteeme no more to die, then I cared to
commit the murder. It is naturally giuen to the Romaines, both valiantly
to do and stoutly to suffer. And not I alone haue conspired thy death,
but a greate nomber of vs, haue promised the like, and hope to prosecute
semblable prayse and glorie: wherfore if this beginninge do not please
thee, make thy selfe ready euerye houre to expect like perill, and to
fight for thy selfe. And make accompt, that euery day euen at the dore
of thine owne lodging, thy enemye armed doth waite for thee: we alone
yong gentlemen of the Citie do stand at defiance, and pronounce vppon
thee this kinde of battaile. Feare no armies or other hostilitie, for
with thee alone, and with euerye one of vs these warres shalbe tryed.”
The king astonied with that bold and desperate enterprise, fell into a
great rage and furie, commaundinge Mutius presentlye to be consumed with
fyre, vnlesse he would out of hand tell him the order of the purposed
and deuised treason. “Behold O king (quoth hee) how litle they care for
theyr bodies, that do aspire and seeke for fame and glorie.” And then he
thrust his right hand into the fire, and rosted the same in the flame,
like one that had been out of his wits. The king amazed wyth the
straungnes of the fact, stepped downe from the seate, and caused him to
be taken from the fire, saying: “Away, frend (quoth the king) thou hast
killed thy selfe, and aduentured hostilitie vppon thy selfe rather then
against mee. Surely I would thincke mine estate happie, if like
valiaunce were to be found wythin the boundes of my countrye. Wherfore
by law of Armes I set the at libertie to go whither thou list.”
Whereunto Mutius for acquiting that desert, aunswered: “For as much as
thou hast thus honourably delt with me, I wil for recompence of this
benefite, saye thus muche vnto thee, whych by threates thou shouldest
neuer haue gotten at my handes. Three hundred of vs that be yonge noble
men of Rome, haue conspired thy death, euen by the like attempt. It was
my lot to come first, the reste when fortune shall giue opportunitie,
euerye one in his tourne will giue the aduenture.” Whereupon he was
dismissed, and afterwards was called Scæuola, for the losse of his right
hande. Then peace was offered to the Romaynes, who vpon conditions that
the enemies garrisons should be withdrawen from Ianiculum, and that the
country wonne of the Veientines, should be restored againe, gaue
hostages. Amonges whom there was a gentlewoman called Cloelia deliuered
into the handes of the Hetrurians, who deceyuinge her keepers,
conueighed herselfe and the other pledges from their enemies, and
swimming ouer the riuer of Tiber, arriued at Rome in safetye, which
being redemaunded by Porsenna, were sent backe againe. The king driuen
into a wonderfull admiration for the desperate and manly enterprises,
done by the Romaine Nation, retourned the maiden home againe to Rome. In
whose honour the Romaines erected an Image on horse backe, placed at the
vpper ende of the streate called Sacra via. And so peace was concluded
betweene Porsenna and the Romaynes.