The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08
[Footnote 79: Niebuhr thinks, that from this defeat of the Etrurians may
be dated the commencement of the recovery of their liberty by the
Romans, and that the flight of the Roman hostages, the sale of Porsena's
goods, &c. were subsequent to it.]
15. Then P. Lucretius and P. Valerius Publicola were elected consuls.
This year ambassadors came from Porsena for the last time, regarding the
restoration of Tarquin to the throne. And when they were answered, that
the senate would send deputies to the king; some of the principal
persons of that order were forthwith despatched to represent to him
"that it was not because the answer could not have been given in a few
words, that the royal family would not be received, that select members
of the senate had been deputed to him, rather than an answer given to
his ambassadors at Rome; but (it was done) that all mention of the
matter might be put an end to for evermore, and that their minds might
not be disturbed amid so many mutual acts of kindness, by his requiring
what was adverse to the liberty of the Roman people, and by their
denying to him to whom they would willingly deny nothing, unless they
would submit to their own ruin. That the Roman people were not now under
a kingly government, but in a state of freedom, and were firmly
determined rather to open their gates to enemies than to kings. That it
was the wish of all, that their city might have the same period of
existence as their freedom in that city. Wherefore, if he wished Rome to
be safe, they entreated that he would suffer it to be free." The king,
overcome by modesty, says, "Since it is your firm and fixed resolve, I
will neither tease you by repeatedly urging these same subjects more
frequently, nor will I disappoint the Tarquinii by holding out hopes of
aid which it is not in my power to give them; whether they have need of
peace, or of war, let them seek another place from here for their exile,
that nothing may disturb the peace between you and me." To these kind
promises he added actions still more friendly, for he delivered up the
remainder of the hostages, and restored to them the land of the
Veientians, which had been taken from them by the treaty concluded at
Janiculum. Tarquin, all hopes of return being now cut off, went to
Tusculum to live in exile with his son-in-law Mamilius Octavius. Thus
the peace between Porsena and the Romans was inviolably preserved.
16. M. Valerius and P. Posthumius were chosen consuls. This year war was
carried on successfully against the Sabines; the consuls received the
honour of a triumph. Upon this the Sabines made preparations for war on
a larger scale. To make head against them, and lest any sudden danger
might arise from Tusculum, (whence they suspected a war, though it was
not yet declared,) P. Valerius was created consul a fourth time, and T.
Lucretius a second time. A disturbance arising among the Sabines,
between the advisers of war and of peace, transferred from thence some
additional strength to the Romans. For Attus Clausus, afterwards called
at Rome Appius Claudius, when he himself, being an adviser of peace, was
hard put to it by those who abetted the war, and was not a match for the
faction, fled from Regillum to Rome, accompanied by a great number of
clients. The rights of citizenship and land on the other side of the
Anio were conferred on them. It was called the old Claudian tribe, and
was increased by the addition of some tribesmen who had come from that
country. Appius, being chosen into the senate, was soon after advanced,
to the highest dignity of that order. The consuls having entered the
territories of the Sabines with a hostile army, after they had, both by
laying waste their country, and afterwards by defeating them in battle,
so weakened the power of the enemy, that they had no reason to dread
their taking up arms again for a long time, returned to Rome in triumph.
The following year, Agrippa Menenius and P. Posthumius being consuls, P.
Valerius, allowed by universal consent to be the ablest man in Rome, in
the arts both of peace and war, died in the height of glory, but so
poor, that means to defray the expenses of his funeral were wanting: he
was buried at the public charge. The matrons mourned for him as they had
done for Brutus. The same year two Latin colonies, Pometia and Cora,
revolted to the Auruncians. War was commenced against the Auruncians,
and after defeating a numerous army of them who boldly met the consuls
entering their frontiers, the whole Auruncian war was confined to
Pometia. Nor, after the battle was over, did they refrain from slaughter
more than in the heat of the action; for a greater number were slain
than taken, and the prisoners they put to death indiscriminately. Nor
did the enemy, in their resentment, spare even the three hundred
hostages which they had received. This year also the consuls triumphed
at Rome.
17. The following consuls, Opiter Virginius and Sp. Cassius, first
endeavoured to take Pometia by storm, and afterwards by raising vineæ
and other works. But the Auruncians, prompted more by an irreconcilable
hatred against them, than induced by hopes of success, or by a
favourable opportunity, sallied out of the town, and though more of them
were armed with lighted torches than swords, filled all places with fire
and slaughter. After they had burnt down the vineæ, slain and wounded
many of the enemy, they were near killing one of the consuls, who had
been thrown from his horse and severely wounded (which of them authors
do not mention). Upon this they returned to Rome, foiled in their
object; the consul was left among many more who were wounded with very
uncertain hopes of his recovery. After a short time, sufficient for
curing their wounds and recruiting their army, they marched against
Pometia with redoubled fury and augmented strength. When, the vineæ
having been repaired and the other apparatus of war, the soldiers were
on the point of scaling the walls, the town surrendered. Yet though the
town had surrendered, the leading men of the Auruncians, with no less
cruelty than if it had been taken by assault, were beheaded
indiscriminately; the others who were colonists were sold by auction,
the town was razed, and the land sold. The consuls obtained a triumph
more from having severely gratified their revenge, than in consequence
of the importance of the war thus brought to a close.
18. The following year had Postumus Cominius and T. Lartius for consuls.
On this year, during the celebration of the games at Rome, as some of
the courtesans were being carried off by some of the Sabine youth in a
frolic, a mob having assembled, a scuffle ensued, and almost a battle;
and from this inconsiderable affair the whole nation seemed inclined to
a renewal of hostilities. Besides the dread of the Latin war, this
accession was further made to their fears; certain intelligence was
received that thirty different states had entered into a confederacy
against them, at the instigation of Octavius Mamilius. While the city
was perplexed amid this expectation of such important events, mention
was made for the first time of nominating a dictator. But in what year
or who the consuls[80] were in whom confidence was not reposed, because
they were of the Tarquinian faction, (for that also is recorded,) or who
was elected dictator for the first time, is not satisfactorily
established. Among the oldest writers however I find that Titus Lartius
was appointed the first dictator, and Spurius Cassius master of the
horse. They chose men of consular dignity, for so the law, made for the
election of a dictator, ordained. For this reason, I am more inclined to
believe that Lartius, who was of consular rank, was annexed to the
consuls as their director and master, rather than Manius Valerius, the
son of Marcus and grandson of Volesus, who had not yet been consul. For,
had they intended to choose a dictator from that family in particular,
they would much rather have chosen his father, Marcus Valerius, a
consular person, and a man of distinguished merit. On the creation of
the dictator first at Rome, when they saw the axes carried before him,
great awe struck the common people, so that they became more submissive
to obey orders. For neither was there now, as under the consuls who
possessed equal power, the assistance of one of the two, nor was there
appeal, nor was there any resource any where but in attentive
submission. The creation of a dictator at Rome terrified the Sabines,
and the more effectually, because they thought he was created on their
account.[81] Wherefore they sent ambassadors to sue for peace, to whom,
when earnestly entreating the dictator and senate to pardon the young
men's offence, an answer was given that the young men could easily be
forgiven, but not the old men, who continually raised one war after
another. Nevertheless they continued to treat about a peace, and it
would have been granted, if the Sabines would bring themselves to make
good the expenses incurred on the war (for that was demanded). War was
proclaimed; a tacit truce kept the year quiet.
[Footnote 80: _Nec quibus consulibus parum creditum sit_, scil. fides
non habita fuerit. Arnold in his Roman Hist. considers this to have been
the true cause of creating a dictator.]
[Footnote 81: _Eo magis quod propter se._ From this one would be
disposed to suspect that the dictator was created to take on him the
management of war. See Nieb. p. 553, and Niebhr. Epit. by Twiss, Append.
p. 355.]
19. Servius Sulpicius and M. Tullius were consuls the next year: nothing
worth mentioning happened. Then T. Æbutius and C. Vetusius. In their
consulship, Fidenæ was besieged, Crustumeria taken, and Præneste
revolted from the Latins to the Romans. Nor was the Latin war, which had
been fomenting for several years, any longer deferred. A. Postumius
dictator, and T. Æbutius his master of the horse, marching with a
numerous army of horse and foot, met the enemy's forces at the lake
Regillus, in the territory of Tusculum, and, because it was heard that
the Tarquins were in the army of the Latins, their rage could not be
restrained, but they must immediately come to an engagement. Accordingly
the battle was more obstinate and fierce than usual. For the generals
were present not only to direct matters by their orders, but even
charged one another, exposing their own persons. And there was hardly
any of the principal officers of either side who came off unwounded
except the Roman dictator. As Postumius was drawing up his men and
encouraging them in the first line, Tarquinius Superbus, though now
enfeebled by age, spurred on his horse with great fury to attack him;
but being wounded in the side, he was carried off by a party of his own
men to a place of safety. In the other wing also, Æbutius, master of the
horse, had charged Octavius Mamilius; nor was his approach unobserved by
the Tusculan general, who also briskly spurred on his horse to encounter
him. And such was their impetuosity as they advanced with hostile
spears, that Æbutius was run through the arm and Mamilius struck on the
breast. The Latins received the latter into their second line; but as
Æbutius was not able to wield his lance with his wounded arm, he retired
from the battle. The Latin general, not in the least discouraged by his
wound, stirs up the fight; and because he saw his own men begin to give
ground, sent for a company of Roman exiles to support them, commanded by
Tarquin's son. This body, inasmuch as they fought with greater fury from
having been banished from their country, and lost their estates,
restored the battle for a short time.
20. When the Romans were beginning to give ground on that side, M.
Valerius, brother to Poplicola, having observed young Tarquin boldly