[Illustration: Verginius left his beautiful young daughter Verginia in
the care of her nurse]
THE
STORY OF ROME
FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES
TO THE DEATH OF AUGUSTUS
TOLD TO BOYS AND GIRLS BY
MARY MACGREGOR
AUTHOR OF ‘THE STORY OF FRANCE,’ ETC.
WITH TWENTY PLATES IN COLOUR
BY PAUL WOODROFFE, W. RAINEY
AND DUDLEY HEATH
[Illustration]
LONDON: T. C. & E. C. JACK
67 LONG ACRE, W. C.
AND EDINBURGH
TO
IAN AND WILLIE TAYLOR
DEAR IAN AND WILLIE,--The Story of Rome has been written, as you know,
in your beautiful, quiet old garden.
And as the story grew, the short cold days of winter passed and the
long warm days of summer were here.
In the garden a miracle had been wrought. It had become alive.
After slow, persistent struggle with storm and frost, the delicate bare
branches were no longer bare, but clothed in living green. The hard
black earth too had stirred, and shoots and blades appeared, until at
length the garden was ablaze with gold, purple, crimson.
Sometimes I dreamed that, in its own different way, the Story of Rome
too was a miracle, wrought out of the tears and throes of a brave and
ambitious people.
For the story tells of the birth of a city and of its growth through
storm and struggle, until it became a great world empire.
The city which Romulus founded was built upon a single hill; soon
seven hills were not great enough to contain her. And when Augustus,
the first Emperor of Rome, began to reign, part of Europe, Asia Minor,
Egypt, Syria, and a large portion of Africa formed his kingdom.
Although the story was written in the quiet of your garden, little of
its peace has stolen into the tale, and for that you boys may care for
it the more.
As you read, fierce battle-cries will ring in your ears, and the clash
of arms will startle you. You will hear the tramp of armies marching
to new lands to conquer them and their treasures for Rome, the city of
their love.
Sometimes you will catch your breath in horror as you read of terrible
and cruel deeds, for the Romans were often pitiless, showing little
mercy to those they conquered.
But at other times your breath will come quick with wonder as you read
of the dauntless courage, the rare endurance of these mighty men of old.
And if there are many things which you do not admire in the people of
Rome, yet they possess one virtue which you and every British boy and
girl may not only admire, but gladly imitate.
What that virtue is I will leave you to find out for yourselves as you
read _The Story of Rome_.--Yours affectionately,
MARY MACGREGOR.
CONTENTS
CHAP. PAGE
I. THE LADY ROMA 1
II. THE SHE-WOLF 4
III. THE TWIN BOYS 6
IV. NUMITOR RECOGNISES HIS GRANDSON 8
V. THE SACRED BIRDS 10
VI. THE FOUNDING OF ROME 12
VII. THE SABINE MAIDENS 14
VIII. THE TARPEIAN ROCK 17
IX. THE MYSTERIOUS GATE 19
X. THE KING DISAPPEARS 22
XI. THE PEACE-LOVING KING 24
XII. HORATIUS SLAYS HIS SISTER 28
XIII. THE PRIDE OF TULLUS HOSTILIUS 31
XIV. THE KING WHO FOUGHT AND PRAYED 33
XV. THE FAITHLESS FRIEND 35
XVI. A SLAVE BECOMES A KING 38
XVII. THE CRUEL DEED OF TULLIA 40
XVIII. THE FATE OF THE TOWN OF GABII 43
XIX. THE BOOKS OF THE SIBYL 46
XX. THE INDUSTRY OF LUCRETIA 48
XXI. THE DEATH OF LUCRETIA 50
XXII. THE SONS OF BRUTUS 52
XXIII. HORATIUS COCLES, OR THE ONE-EYED 55
XXIV. GAIUS MUCIUS BURNS HIS RIGHT HAND 60
XXV. THE DIVINE TWINS 63
XXVI. THE TRIBUNES 66
XXVII. CORIOLANUS AND HIS MOTHER VETURIA 68
XXVIII. THE ROMAN ARMY IN A TRAP 73
XXIX. THE HATED DECEMVIRS 77
XXX. THE DEATH OF VERGINIA 80
XXXI. THE FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE 85
XXXII. CAMILLUS CAPTURES THE CITY OF VEII 88
XXXIII. THE STATUE OF THE GODDESS 92
XXXIV. THE SCHOOLMASTER WHO PROVED A TRAITOR 94
XXXV. THE BATTLE OF ALLIA 97
XXXVI. THE SACRED GEESE 99
XXXVII. THE CITY IS REBUILT 105
XXXVIII. CAMILLUS SETS THE CAMP OF THE VOLSCIANS ON FIRE 109
XXXIX. THE BATTLE ON THE BANKS OF THE ANIO 111
XL. THE CURTIAN LAKE 116
XLI. THE DREAM OF THE TWO CONSULS 119
XLII. THE CAUDINE FORKS 124
XLIII. THE DISGRACE OF THE CAUDINE FORKS AVENGED 129
XLIV. FABIUS AMONG THE CIMINIAN HILLS 131
XLV. THE BATTLE OF SENTINUM 135
XLVI. THE SON OF FABIUS LOSES A BATTLE 138
XLVII. PYRRHUS, KING OF THE EPIROTS 141
XLVIII. THE ELEPHANTS AT THE BATTLE OF HERACLEA 145
XLIX. PYRRHUS TRIES TO FRIGHTEN FABRICIUS 149
L. PYRRHUS IS DEFEATED 153
LI. THE ROMANS BUILD A FLEET 155
LII. THE BATTLE OF ECNOMUS 159
LIII. THE ROMAN LEGIONS IN AFRICA 161
LIV. REGULUS IS TAKEN PRISONER 164
LV. THE ROMANS CONQUER THE GAULS 168
LVI. THE BOY HANNIBAL 172
LVII. HANNIBAL PREPARES TO INVADE ITALY 176
LVIII. HANNIBAL CROSSES THE ALPS 178
LIX. THE BATTLE OF TREBIA 183
LX. THE BATTLE OF LAKE TRASIMENUS 187
LXI. HANNIBAL OUTWITS FABIUS 192
LXII. FABIUS WINS TWO VICTORIES 197
LXIII. THE BATTLE OF CANNÆ 200
LXIV. THE DESPAIR OF ROME 203
LXV. THE DEFEAT OF HASDRUBAL 208
LXVI. LIVIUS AND CLAUDIUS ENJOY A TRIUMPH 213
LXVII. THE CAPTURE OF NEW CARTHAGE 215
LXVIII. SCIPIO SAILS TO AFRICA 220
LXIX. THE ROMANS SET FIRE TO THE CAMP OF THE NUMIDIANS 223
LXX. HANNIBAL LEAVES ITALY 226
LXXI. THE BATTLE OF ZAMA 229
LXXII. SCIPIO RECEIVES A TRIUMPH 231
LXXIII. FLAMININUS IS COVERED WITH GARLANDS 233
LXXIV. THE DEATH OF HANNIBAL 238
LXXV. THE HATRED OF CATO FOR CARTHAGE 243
LXXVI. THE STERN DECREE 246
LXXVII. THE CARTHAGINIANS DEFEND THEIR CITY 249
LXXVIII. THE DESTRUCTION OF CARTHAGE 253
LXXIX. CORNELIA, THE MOTHER OF THE GRACCHI 258
LXXX. TIBERIUS AND HIS FRIEND OCTAVIUS 261
LXXXI. THE DEATH OF TIBERIUS GRACCHUS 266
LXXXII. THE DEATH OF GAIUS GRACCHUS 269
LXXXIII. THE GOLD OF JUGURTHA 278
LXXXIV. GAIUS MARIUS WINS THE NOTICE OF SCIPIO AFRICANUS 281
LXXXV. GAIUS MARIUS BECOMES COMMANDER OF THE ARMY 283
LXXXVI. THE CAPTURE OF JUGURTHA’S TREASURE TOWNS 287
LXXXVII. THE CAPTURE OF JUGURTHA 290
LXXXVIII. JUGURTHA IS BROUGHT TO ROME IN CHAINS 294
LXXXIX. MARIUS CONQUERS THE TEUTONES 297
XC. MARIUS MOCKS THE AMBASSADORS OF THE CIMBRI 303
XCI. METELLUS IS DRIVEN FROM ROME 307
XCII. SULLA ENTERS ROME WITH HIS TROOPS 311
XCIII. THE FLIGHT OF MARIUS 315
XCIV. THE GAUL DARES NOT KILL GAIUS MARIUS 318
XCV. MARIUS RETURNS TO ROME 320
XCVI. THE ORATOR ARISTION 325
XCVII. SULLA BESIEGES ATHENS 328
XCVIII. SULLA SAVES ROME FROM THE SAMNITES 331
XCIX. THE PROSCRIPTIONS OF SULLA 334
C. THE GLADIATORS’ REVOLT 337
CI. THE PIRATES 341
CII. POMPEY GOES TO WAR WITH MITHRIDATES 345
CIII. CICERO DISCOVERS THE CATILINARIAN CONSPIRACY 350
CIV. THE DEATH OF THE CONSPIRATORS 353
CV. JULIUS CÆSAR IS CAPTURED BY PIRATES 356
CVI. CÆSAR GIVES UP HIS TRIUMPH 360
CVII. CÆSAR PRAISES HIS TENTH LEGION 363
CVIII. CÆSAR WINS A GREAT VICTORY OVER THE NERVII 367
CIX. CÆSAR INVADES BRITAIN 370
CX. CÆSAR CROSSES THE RUBICON 374
CXI. CÆSAR AND THE PILOT 378
CXII. THE FLIGHT OF POMPEY 381
CXIII. CATO DIES RATHER THAN YIELD TO CÆSAR 386
CXIV. CÆSAR IS LOADED WITH HONOURS 389
CXV. THE NOBLES PLOT AGAINST CÆSAR 392
CXVI. THE ASSASSINATION OF CÆSAR 396
CXVII. BRUTUS SPEAKS TO THE CITIZENS 399
CXVIII. MARK ANTONY SPEAKS TO THE CITIZENS 402
CXIX. THE SECOND TRIUMVIRATE 405
CXX. THE BATTLE OF PHILIPPI 408
CXXI. THE DEATH OF BRUTUS 411
CXXII. ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 413
CXXIII. THE BATTLE OF ACTIUM 418
CXXIV. ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA DIE 421
CXXV. THE EMPEROR AUGUSTUS 425
INDEX 427
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Verginius left his beautiful young daughter Verginia
in the care of her nurse, _Frontispiece_
AT PAGE
A she-wolf, coming to the edge of the river to drink, heard their
cries, 6
When she saw Horatius wearing on his shoulders the cloak of her
betrothed, she broke into bitter sobs, 30
She carried in her arms nine books, 46
‘O my mother, thou hast saved Rome, but thou hast lost thy son,’ 72
Seated in chairs of ivory, sat a number of strange, venerable old
men, 100
The youth laid the arms he had taken from his foe at his father’s
feet, 120
The armour of Pyrrhus was richer and more beautiful than that of
his soldiers, 146
‘I carry here peace and war, choose, men of Carthage, which ye
will,’ 176
‘We are beaten, O Romans, in a great battle, our army is
destroyed,’ 190
A messenger was seen spurring his horse toward the city, 213
His progress was as that of a king, 232
So Carthage was given to the flames, 258
Here it would be possible, he thought, to hold the enemy at bay, 276
Jugurtha came to the tent of his father-in-law unarmed, 292
Gaius Marius sitting in exile among the ruins of Carthage, 320
Lists of those who were doomed were hung up in the Forum, 336
The following morning Cicero made another speech against
Catiline, 352
Looking down upon the stream, he stood awhile deep in thought, 378
Here, sheltered by steep cliffs, he sat down to rest, 412
THE STORY OF ROME
CHAPTER I
THE LADY ROMA
Long, long years ago, Troy, one of the great cities in Asia Minor, was
taken by the Greeks.
Many mighty Trojans had defended their city well, and among them all
none had fought more bravely than the prince Æneas.
But when Æneas saw that the Greeks had set fire to the city, he fled,
carrying, it is said, his father on his shoulders, and grasping by the
hand his son Ascanius.
Moreover, so precious to him was the sacred image of the goddess
Pallas, that he saved it from the burning city.
The gods, pleased with his reverence, helped him in his flight by
building a ship. So when Æneas reached the sea he at once embarked in
it, with his followers and their wives, and sailed away to seek for a
new land in which to build a new city.
As the Trojans sailed they saw a bright star shining above them. Day
and night the star was always to be seen, showing the seafarers the
direction in which to steer.
At length the Trojans reached the western shore of Italy, and here, at
a town called Latium, they disembarked.
The women were weary of the sea, and no sooner had they landed than
they began to wonder how they could persuade their husbands to journey
no farther, but to settle in the pleasant country which they had
reached.
Among these women was a lady of noble birth, who was wise as she was
good.
Roma, for that was the lady’s name, proposed that they should burn the
ship in which they had sailed. Then it would be impossible for their
husbands to go any farther in search of a new home.
The other women agreed to Roma’s daring plan, and with mingled hope and
fear the ship was set on fire.
When the men saw the flames devouring the vessel they were troubled,
but when they found out how it had been set on fire, they were angry.
Yet, as anger could not give them back their ship, and as Italy was a
pleasant land, the men did as the women wished. They settled near a
hill called Mount Palatine, and there they built a city.
Some old stories tell that the city was called Rome after Roma, the
noble lady who had first thought of setting the ship on fire.
But other stories say that the country in which Æneas landed belonged
to a king named Latinus, who welcomed the Trojan, and gave him ground
on which to build. Æneas married Lavinia, the daughter of the king, and
called the city which he built after her Lavinium.
Soon after this, King Latinus was killed in battle, and then for
three years Æneas ruled well and wisely not only over his own Trojan
followers, but also over the subjects of his royal father-in-law. His
people he now called Latins, in memory of King Latinus.
When the three years were passed, war broke out against the Etruscans,
who were at that time the most powerful tribe in Italy.
One day a terrible storm overtook the armies on the battlefield; so
dark grew the clouds that the soldiers could not see each other.
When at length the sky cleared Æneas had disappeared, and was seen no
more on earth.
‘The gods have taken him away,’ said the Latins. So they built an
altar, and henceforth worshipped their king as the god Jupiter.
Ascanius, who had escaped from Troy with his father, now ruled in
Lavinium. But he soon found that the city was not large enough for all
his people; so, leaving Lavinium, he built a new city, and called it
Alba Longa, or the Long White City.
Alba Longa stood in the midst of the Alban hills, not far from the site
on which Rome itself was soon to be built.