came tired of that sort of government, and demanded a king. The choice was difficult; as the Sabines on one side, and the Romans on the other, were desirous of a king's being chosen from among themselves. However, there happened at that time to live in the little town of Cures, not far from Rome, a man in great reputation for his probity and justice, called Numa Pompilius, who led a retired life, enjoying the sweets of repose in a country solitude. It was unanimously agreed to choose him king, and ambassadors were dispatched to notify to him his election; but he, far from being dazzled by so sudden and unexpected an elevation, refused the offer, and could scarce be prevailed on to accept it, by the repeated entreaties of the Romans, and of his nearest relations; proving himself the more worthy of that high dignity, as he the less sought it. Remark, from that example of Numa Pompilius, how virtue forces her way, and shines through the obscurity of a retired life; and that sooner or later it is always rewarded.

Numa, being now seated on the throne, applied himself to soften the manners of the Romans, and to inspire them with the love of peace, by exercising them in religious duties. He built a temple in honour of the god Janus, which was to be a public mark of war and peace, by keeping it open in time of war, and shut up in time of peace. It remained closed dur ing his whole long reign; but from that time down to the reign of Augustus Caesar, it was shut but twice; once at the end of the first Punic war, and the second time, in the reign of Augustus, after the fight of Actium, where he vanquished Marc Antony. The god Janus is always represented with two faces, one looking on the time past, and the other on the future; for which reason you will often find him, in the Latin Poets, called Janus bifrons, two-fronted Janus. But to return to Numa; he pretended to have secret conferences with the nymph Egeria, the better to prepare the people (who are ever fond of what is marvellous) to receive his laws and ordinances as divine inspirations. In short, he inspired his subjects with the love of industry, frugality, and even of pov erty. He died, universally regretted by his people, after a reign of forty-three years.

We may venture to say, that Rome was indebted for alk her grandeur to these two kings, Romulus and Numa, whỏ laid the foundations of it. Romulus took pains to form the Romans to war; Numa to peace and justice. Had it not been for Numa, they would have continued fierce and uncivilized: had it not been for Romulus, they would perhaps have fallen into indolence and obscurity, but it was the happy union of religious, civil, and military virtues, that rendered them masters of the world.

Tullus Hostilius was elected king immediately after the death of Numa Pompilius. This prince had as great talents for war as his predecessor had for peace, and he soon found an opportunity to exercise them; for the city of Alba, already jealous of the power of Rome, sought a pretext of coming to a rupture with her. War, in fact, was declared on both sides, and the two armies were ready to engage, when an Alban proposed, in order to spare so great an effusion of blood, that a certain number of warriors should be chosen out of each army, on whose victory the fortune of both nations should depend.

Tullus Hostilius accepted the proposal, and there happening to be, in the Alban army, three brothers, named Curiatii, and in the Roman army, three brothers called Horatii, who were all much of the same age and strength, they were pitched upon for the champions, and joyfully accepted a choice which reflected so much honour on them. Then advancing in presence of both armies, the signal for combat was given. Two of the Horatii were soon killed by the Curiatii, who were themselves all three wounded. The third of the Horatii remained yet unhurt; but, not capable of encountering the three Curiatii all together, what he wanted in strength he supplied by stratagem. He pretended to run away, and having gained some ground, looked back, and saw the three Curiatii pursuing him, at some distance from each other, hastening with as much speed as their wounds permitted them; he then, returning,killed all three, one after another.

The Romans received him joyfully in their camp; but his sister, who was promised in marriage to one of the Curiatii,

meeting him, poured forth a deluge of tears, reproaching him with the death of her lover; whereupon the young conqueror, transported with rage, plunged his sword into her bosom. Justice condemned him to death; but having appealed to the people, he received his pardon, in consideration of the service he had rendered to his country.

Tullus Hostilius reigned thirty-two years, and conducted other wars against the Sabines and Latins. He was a prince possessed of great qualities, but too much addicted to war.

I

DEAR BOY,

LETTER XVIII.

Monday.

SEND you here enclosed your historical exercise for this week; and thank you for correcting some faults I had been guilty of in former papers. I shall be very glad to be taught by you; and I assure you, I would rather have you able to instruct me, than any other body in the world. I was very well pleased with your objection to my calling the brothers that fought for the Romans and the Albans the Horatii and the Curiatii; for which I can give no better reason than usage and custom, which determine all languages. As to ancient proper names, there is no settled rule, and we must be guided by custom: for example, we say Ovid and Virgil, and not Ovidius and Virgilius, as they are in Latin: but then we say Augustus Cæsar as in the Latin, and not August Cæsar, which would be the true English. We say Scipio Africanus, as in Latin, and not Scipio the African. We say Tacitus, and not Tacit: so that, in short, custom is the only rule to be observed in this case. But wherever custom and usage will allow it, I would rather choose not to alter the ancient proper names. They have more dignity, I think, in their own, than in our language. The French change most of the ancient proper names, and give them a French termination or ending, which sometimes sounds even ridiculous; as for instance, they call the Emperor Titus, Tite; and the historian Titus Livius, whom we commonly call in English Livy, they call Tite Live. I am very glad you started this objection; for the

only way to get knowledge is to inquire and object. Pray remember to ask questions, and to make your objections whenever you do not understand, or have any doubts about any thing.

LETTER XIX.

IENTOT aprés la mort de Tullus Hostilius, le peuple choisit pour roi Ancus Marcius, petit-fils de Numa. II rétablit d'abord le culte divin, qui avoit été un peu néglige pendant le regne guerrier de Tullus Hostilius. Il essuïa quelques guerres, malgré lui, et y remporta toujours l'avantage. Il aggrandit la ville de Rome, et mourut apres avoir regne vingtquatre ans. Il ne le céda en mérite, soit pour la guerre, soit pour la paix, à aucun de ses prédécesseurs.

Un certain Lucumon, Grec de naissance, qui s'étoit établi à Rome sous le Regne d'Ancus Marcius, fut élu roi à sa place, et prit le nom de Tarquin. Il créa cent nouveaux sénateurs, et soutint plusieurs guerres contre les peuples voisins, dont il sortit toujours avec avantage. augmenta, embellit, et fortifia la ville. Il fit des aqueducs et des égouts. Il bâtit aussi le cirque, et jetta les fondemens du capitole : le cirque étoit un lieu célébre, à Rome, où l'on faisoit les courses de chariots.

Tarquin avoit destiné pour son successeur Servius Tullius, qui avoit été prisonnier de guerre, et par conséquent esclave; ce que les fils d'Ancus Marcius, qui étoient à cette heure devenus grands, aïant trouvé mauvais, ils firent assassiner Tarquin, qui àvoit regné trente-huit ans. L'attentat et le crime des fils d'Ancus Marcius leur furent inutiles; car Servius Tullius fut déclaré roi par le peuple, sans damander le con sentement du senat. Il soutint plusieurs guerres, qu'il termina heureusement. Il partagea le peuple en dix-neuf tribus ; il établit le cens, ou le dénombrement du peuple, et il introduisit la coutume d'affranchir les esclaves. Servius songeoit á abdiquer la couronne, et á établir á Rome une parfaite république, quand il fut assassiné par son gendre Tarquin le Superbe. Il regna quarante-quatre ans, et fut sans contredit le meilleur de tous les rois de Rome,

Tarquin étant monté sur le trône, sans que ni le peuple ni le sénat lui eussent conféré la roïauté ; la conduite qu'il y gar da répondit a de tels commencemens, et lui fit donner le surnom de Superbe. Il renversa les sages établissemens des rois ses prédécesseurs, foula aux pieds les droits du peuple, et gouverna en prince arbitraire et despotique. Il bâtit un temple magnifique à Jupiter, qui fut appellé le Capitole, à cause qu'en creusant les fondemens, on avoit trouvé la tête d'un homme, qui s'appelle en Latin Caput: le capitole étoit le bâtiment le plus célébre de Rome.

La tyrannie de Tarquin étoit déja devenue odieuse et insupportable aux Romains, quand l'action de son fils Sextus leur fournit une occasion de s'en affranchir. Sextus étant devenu amoureux de Lucrece, femme de Collatin, et celle-ci ne voulant pas consentir à ses desirs, il la força. Elle decouvrit le tout à son mari et à Brutus; et après leur avoir fait promettre de venger l'affront qu'on lui avoit fait, elle se poignarda.. Là-dessus ils soulevèrent le peuple, et Tarquin avec toute sa famille fut banni de Rome, par un décret solemnel, après y avoir regné vingt-cinq ans. Telle est la fin que méritent tous les tyrans, et tous ceux qui ne se servent du pouvoir que le sort leur a donné, que pour faire du mal, et opprimer le genre humain.

Du tems de Tarquin, les livres des Sibylles furent opportés à Rome, conservés toujours après avec un grand soin, et consultés comme des oracles.

Tarquin, chassé de Rome, fit plusieurs tentatives pour y rentrer, et causa quelques guerres aux Romains. Il engagea Porsenna, Roi d'Hétrurie, à appuyer ses intérêts, et à faire la guerre aux Romains pour le rétablir. Porsenna marcha donc contre les Romains, défit leur armée, et auroit pris Rome mês'il n'eût été arrêté par la valeur d'Horatius Coclés, qui défendit seul contre tou e l'armée un pont, par où il falloit pas ser. Porsenna, intimidé par les prodiges de valeur et de courage, qu'il voyoit faire tous les jours aux Romains, jugea à propos de conclure la paix avec, eux et de se retirer.

me,