He let the women depart, and led back the army (B.c. 488), and it was commonly reported that he was slain by the enraged Volscians soon after; but opinions differ respecting his end, for other accounts relate that he lived among that people to an advanced age, and that he was often heard to complain how bitter it was for an old man to live in exile.

Though the attempt of Coriolanus to diminish the rights of the people had failed, yet their condition had become even more miserable. Accordingly there appeared from time to time men, even among the patricians, who sought to improve the condition of the oppressed classes. One of them, Spurius Cassius, who had been three time a consul, and had been three times honoured with a triumph, made the proposal to hand over part of the conquered lands to the plebeians. But his colleagues were so outraged at this suggestion, that they resolved to compass his destruction. They accused him of striving to secure the royal power, and that to this end he sought to win the favour of the plebeians by corrupting influence. Accordingly the assembly of patricians condemned him to death, caused him to be executed, and his house to be levelled with the ground. A tribune of the people, who shortly after proposed the same measure, was murdered in his house by the patricians. Thus, in the midst of perpetual wars, the contest between the two factions continued, and even increased in bitterness (B.C. 477).

A ROMAN LICTOR.

CHAPTER VI.

CINCINNATUS (B.c. 458).

AMID the perpetual wars of the Romans with the neighbouring people, and the frequent intestine disturbances of the state, it could not fail that the city should often fall into great distress. In this strait the Romans adopted a step that proved almost always

beneficial-they chose a dictator; that is, they conferred the royal power for six months on a man of tried probity and ability. When this was done the consuls laid down their power, and the remaining functionaries were placed entirely under the authority of the dictator, from whose decision no appeal could be made to the assembly of the people, and who therefore had an unlimited power over the lives of his fellowcitizens.

It happened that once, during an obstinate struggle with the Æqui and other people, the army of one consul was beaten, and that of the other surrounded. Reduced to this extremity, the Romans remembered a man who already, on previous occasions, had won victories as consul, but who had lost all his property in giving caution for his son who had run away. Cincinnatus

such was the name of this remarkable man-appeared to be the only Roman who could save the republic, and he was accordingly named dictator.

Cincinnatus lived on a small landed property on the Tiber, the only remnant he retained of his former large possessions. Here, as was the wont of eminent Romans, in those earlier and more frugal times, he cultivated his land himself; but he had been so impoverished that, in order to save his only toga,* he went almost without clothing, behind the plough. It was while he was engaged in this honourable labour, that the envoys of the senate appeared, and announced that they had an important message to convey to him. On hearing this, Cincinnatus. caused his wife to bring his toga from his hut, and then the envoys saluted and congratulated him as dictator, summoned him to the city, and represented the distress of their fatherland. Cincinnatus followed them instantly to their boat, which lay ready for them on the Tiber, and was received in the city by all his relatives and friends, by all the senators, and great crowds of the citizens. He was accompanied by all this multitude to his dwelling, preceded by the lictors.

On the following day he marched forth from Rome, at the head of all citizens capable of bearing arms, set free the consul who was surrounded, conquered the enemy's camp, took prisoner the whole of the hostile army, and sent it back, after he had disarmed it and made it pass under the jugum, or yoke. This consisted of two lances driven into the ground, under which the enemy were obliged to pass, one by one-the greatest disgrace

* Roman cloak.

that could accrue to a warrior. The senate allowed Cincinnatus to enter the city in triumph. The hostile generals were made to march, and the enemy's flags were carried in front of his triumphal car, and the whole army followed him, laden with spoil. Before every house in Rome a meal was prepared, and the carousers joined the triumphal procession amidst jubilant shouts and merriment (B.C. 458).

After this, Cincinnatus laid down the power conferred on him for six months, sixteen days after he had accepted it, and returned, as saviour of his country, to his little plot of land, that he might till it, as he had done before.

.

We live in an age and a country where an exaggerated display of dress in bad taste is confounded with gentility, and the possession of a fortune, or office, with dignity. It is refreshing to pass from such vulgar errors to the simple grandeur of types like Cincinnatus.

THE LEGISLATION OF THE TWELVE TABLES (B.C. 452).

The Roman state had hitherto lacked written laws, and this circumstance had contributed not a little in increasing the aversion of the two classes, as the plebeians were entirely subject to the caprice of the patricians, clothed with judicial functions. Accordingly, the tribunes of the people had demanded several times that written laws should be prepared, but always in vain. At length they succeeded in carrying their measure; an embassy was sent to Greece, to become acquainted with the laws of the principal states, and then ten men, or decemviri," were commissioned to draw up these laws.

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The possession of unlimited power for one year, was added to this function, and all other authorities, even that of the tribunes, were to cease during that time. As they could not complete their labour in one year, their unlimited power was continued to them for the space of another year; but the decemvirs used this interval to found an unlimited rule permanently. They bound themselves mutually by an oath never to summon the senate or the people again, and to support each other in the most vigorous manner, against all citizens who should resist their authority.

As they were the exclusive judges, it became an easy matter for them to put out of the way all men who were suspected by them, by imprisoning them, or banishing them from Rome; nor did they scruple to condemn and execute innocent citizens, to

get rid of them. The soul of this traitorous conduct was Appius Claudius, a man of proud, ambitious character, who exercised so great an influence over his colleagues, that they acted entirely in conformity with his whims. At length two crimes roused the popular hatred to break out into open resistance.

Nine of the decemvirs had marched into the field against the Equi, while Appius Claudius remained behind at Rome, to check all seditions, and force obedience from the people, whose hatred of the cruel oppression of the decemvirs showed itself in a clearer light every day. In the army was an old soldier, Sicinius Dentatus, who had fought in one hundred and twenty battles, and was universally loved and venerated on account of his bravery and virtue. As he had often expressed the sentiment that the tribunes of the people would have to be appointed again, the decemvirs resolved to get rid of him by assassination. They thereupon sent him out with several followers, and ordered the latter to slay him in a retired place. Sicinius fell under their blows; but only after he had sold his life dear, and had slain eight of his murderers. This led to the circulation of the news, and excited the greatest indignation against the decemvirs throughout the army (B.c. 449).

Meanwhile, Appius Claudius had committed a similar crime at Rome; for he had robbed a centurion of his daughter, Virginia, by causing false witnesses to swear that she was one of his slaves. Now, when the maid was led forth, the unhappy father seized a knife and plunged it into the heart of his daughter. This roused the people to instant rebellion, and Virginius hurried with his bloody knife, and the blood-stained garments of his daughter, into the camp, and summoned the soldiers to freedom, and to drive away their tyrants.

The army marched on Rome, united with the citizens who had stayed behind, and proceeded to the Mons Sacer, accompanied by the old men, women, and children. Now, many of the senators who had held with the decemvirs, were obliged to make common cause with the plebeians. It was agreed that consuls and tribunes of the people should be chosen again, and the old administration re-established. Appius Claudius, and one of his colleagues, who had been cast into prison, killed them-selves there, and the other decemvirs were banished for ever from the city; but the laws which they had drawn up were retained, because they were regarded as suitable; they were en-graved on twelve brazen tables, and publicly exposed.

In this manner tranquillity was re-established; but ere long;

new troubles broke out between the patricians and plebeians, because the latter strove to obtain for themselves privileges reserved for the patricians in the twelve tables.

CHAPTER VII.

THE GAULS AT ROME (B.C. 390).

SIXTY years after the overthrow of the decemviri, the Romans were exposed to great danger, which brought their city to the brink of ruin. The Gauls, a people hitherto unknown in Italy, occupying the present territory of France, enticed by the splendour and the productions of the South, crossed over the Alps, and penetrated into Etruria, through Upper Italy. The Etruscans begged the Romans to assist them, and the latter sent envoys to demand of the Gauls, in the name of the Roman senate and people, that the allies of Rome, who had done no harm to them the Gauls-should be left in peace; otherwise, if necessary, the Romans would help their friends, arms in hand. Το this message the Gauls replied that, although they now heard the name of Romans for the first time, they supposed them to be brave men, as the Etruscans had applied to them in their dilemma. They were also ready to agree to the proposed peace, if the Etruscans would give them the amount of superfluous land that they required. Upon this, when the Romans asked them by what right they claimed lands from inoffensive occupants, and sought to take them with arms, and, in short, what the Gauls came to seek in Etruria, the answer ran thus: "They carried their right in their arms, and the world belonged to brave men."

On hearing this the Etruscans took up arms, and the battle began. Contrary to the law of nations, the Roman ambassadors also took part in the fight, and distinguished themselves by their bravery; nay, one of them ran out in front of the lines and slew one of the Gaulish chieftans. On this occurrence, the Gauls stopped the engagement and drew off, uttering violent threats against the Romans. They proceeded to send an embassy to Rome to complain of this breach of the law of nations, and to require the three ambassadors to be delivered up to them; but the Roman people rejected the demand, and proceeded