were twins, should contend with the Curiatii, three twin brothers, on the part of the Albans; all six remarkable for courage, strength and activity. At length, the champions met in view of the two armies. Totally regardless of personal safety, each one sought the destruction of his opponents. The spectators, in horrid silence, trembled at every blow, and wished to share the danger. For a considerable time, victory appeared doubtful. At length, it seemed to declare against the Romans. They beheld two of their champions dead upon the plain, and the three Curiatii, who were wounded, slowly pursuing the survivor, who seemed, by flight, to beg for mercy. At this, the Alban army shouted, and the Romans repined at the apparent baseness of their countryman. Soon, however, they changed their sentiments. His flight was only a stratagem, to separate his antagonists. Suddenly he stops, and, one after another, lays them all dead at his feet. Agreeably to compact, the Albans consent to obey the Romans. Not long after this, Hostilius demolished the city of Alba, and removed the inhabitants to Rome.

B. C.

640.

After a victorious reign of 32 years, Tullus Hostilius was succeeded by Ancus Martius, grandson of Numa. His election was made by the people, and confirmed by the senate. He took his grandfather for his model, and endeavored to persuade the people to return to the arts of agriculture, and lay aside the less useful stratagems of war. Being forced into a war with the Latins, however, Ancus conquered them, destroyed their cities, and removed their inhabitants to Rome. He triumphed, also, over the Sabines and others, and built a port at the mouth of the Tiber, called Ostia.

After a reign of 24 years, Ancus was succeeded by Tarquin the Elder, whose original name was Lucumon. His father was a merchant of Corinth, who settled in Italy, on account of some troubles at home. Lucumon married Tanaquil, a lady of Tarquinio. He had been guardian to the sons of the late king; and after his death, he contrived to have them set aside, and himself elected. A kingdom, thus obtained by intrigue, was, notwithstanding, governed with equity. He added a hundred members to the senate, making their number three hundred. After reigning 38 years, he was murdered by two ruffians, at the instigation of the sons of Ancus. Servius Tullius, his son-in-law, succeeded him. The chief object of his reign, was to increase

the power of the senate by depressing that of the people. To ascertain the increase of his subjects, he instituted a regulation, called a lustrum, by which all the citizens were to assemble in the Campus Martius, in complete armor, once in five years, and there to give an exact account of their families and fortunes. In the beginning of his reign, to secure his throne by every precaution, he had married his two daughters to the two grandsons of Tarquin; and as he knew that the women were of opposite dispositions, as well as their intended husbands, he resolved to ross their tempers, by giving each of them to him of a contrary turn of mind; her that was meek and gentle, to him that was bold and furious; her that was ungovernable and proud, to him that was remarkable for a contrary character. By this, he supposed, each would correct the failing of the other, and that the mixture would be productive of concord. The event, however, proved otherwise. Lucius, his haughty son-in-law, soon grew displeased with the meekness of his consort, and placed his whole affections on Tullia, his brother's wife, who answered his passion with sympathetic ardor. As their wishes were ungovernable, they soon resolved to break through every restraint, that offered to prevent their union. Both undertook to murder their consorts, which they effected; and were, accordingly, soon after married together. A first crime generally produces a second. From the destruction of their consorts, they proceeded to conspiring that of the king; which they at length accomplished, with circumstances of savage cruelty, after he had reigned 44 years.

B. C. 534.

Lucius Tarquin, or Tarquin the Proud, having thus placed himself upon the throne, was resolved to support his dignity with the same violence, by which it was acquired. Regardless of the senate's or people's approbation, he seemed to claim the crown by hereditary right, and refused the late king's body burial, under pretence of his being a usurper. All the good part of the community, however, looked upon this accession with horror and detestation; and this act of cruelty only served to confirm their hatred. Conscious of this, he ordered to execution all whom he suspected to have been attached to Servius. His policy consisted in keeping the people constantly employed in wars and public works; and thus he diverted their attention from his unlawful method of coming to the throne. The city of the Gabii gave him much trouble; for having

attempted, with some loss, to besiege it, he was obliged to direct his efforts by stratagem, contrary to the usual practice of the Romans. He caused his son Sextus to counterfeit desertion, upon pretence of barbarous usage, and to seek refuge among the inhabitants of the place. By artful complaints and studied lamentations, he so prevailed on the pity of the people as to be chosen their governor, and soon after, general of their army. At first, he was successful in every engagement, till at length, finding himself possessed of the confidence of the state, he sent to his father for instructions. Tarquin made no other answer, than by taking the messenger into the garden, and cutting down before him, the tallest poppies. Sextus readily understood the meaning of this reply; and one by one, found means to destroy, or remove, the principal men of the city, confiscating their effects, and dividing them among the people. Thus keeping the giddy populace blind to their approaching ruin, till they found themselves, at last, without counsellors or head; and, in the end, fell under the power of Tarquin, without even striking a blow.

But while engaged in wars abroad, he did not suffer the people to continue in idleness at home. He undertook to build the capitol, the foundation of which had been laid in a former reign; and an extraordinary event contributed to hasten the execution of his design. It is said, that during this reign, a woman in strange attire, made her appearance at Rome, and came to the king, offering to sell nine books, which she said were of her own composing. Not knowing the abilities of the seller, or that she was in fact one of the celebrated Sybils, whose prophecies were never found to fail, Tarquin refused to buy them. Upon this, she departed, and burning three of her books, returned again, demanding the same price for the remainder. Being once more despised as an impostor, she again departed, and burning three more, she returned with those remaining, still asking the same price as at first. Tarquin surprised at the inconsistency of her conduct, consulted the augurs to advise him what to do. These much blamed him for not buying the nine, and commanded him to buy the three remaining at whatever price they were to be had. woman, says the historian, after selling and delivering the three prophetic volumes, vanished from before him, and was never seen after.

The

The people, having been four years employed in building the capitol, began to wish for something new, to engage them. Tarquin, therefore, upon some frivolous pretences, proclaimed war against the Rutulians. Sextus, the king's son, while his father was at the head of the army, besieging the city of Ardea, violated the honor of Lucretia, a Roman lady of great spirit and still greater virtue. The illustrious heroine survived the disgrace long enough to acquaint her husband and friends with her misfortune, and to entreat them, as they regarded her memory, to take vengeance on her destroyer. She then drew a poniard from her robe, and plunging it into her bosom, expired before their eyes.

Collatinus her husband, and her friends stood round her, petrified with grief, and distracted with rage and despair. But their grief was for a moment arrested and turned into astonishment, when Brutus, the reputed fool, seized the bloody dagger, and, lifting it toward heaven, exclaimed, "Be witness, ye gods, that from this moment, I proclaim myself the avenger of the chaste Lucretia's cause. From this moment, I declare myself the enemy of Tarquin and his bloody house. Henceforth, my life shall be employed in opposition to tyranny, and for the freedom and happiness of my country." He then told them, that tears and entreaties must now give way to the sterner sentiments of just revenge; and delivering them the poniard, still reeking with Lucretia's blood, caused each of them to swear the same oath, that he had sworn. The Roman people flocked from all quarters, and were struck with horror at the deplorable spectacle; and were equally amazed to behold the authority and wisdom of Junius Brutus. The revolt from the tyrant was general; and the senate passed a decree depriving the king of all authority, and banishing him and his family forever from the Roman state. He lived, however, to give his country much trouble; for though a detestable tyrant, void of every principle of humanity and justice, yet he was bold, active and vigorous, and found means to excite frequent disturbances, and even to enkindle dangerous wars against his country.]

We have now passed over 245 years from the founding of the Roman state. During this period, the Assyrian empire had fallen; Babylon was become a province of Persia; and Cyrus had extended his dominions from the Indian to the Atlantic ocean; and a power was already pre

pared to eclipse forever the glory of the Persians. Greece was fast rising; the morning of her brightest day evidently dawned. Before the fall of Tarquin, Miltiades, Leonidas and Themistocles were born. During this period, also, the Jews, having experienced a captivity of 70 years, were restored by Cyrus, and had returned, and rebuilt their temple at Jerusalem.

CHAPTER XII.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE, FROM THE EXPULSION OF TARQUIN TO THE CONQUEST OF CARTHAGE.

THE great and vigorous spirit of Lucius Junius Brutus, displayed in avenging the death of Lucretia, may be regarded as a brilliant specimen of that power and grandeur of mind, in which the Romans surpassed all other nations, both ancient and modern. In variety of genius and taste, the Greeks certainly excelled them; but in a masculine boldness-in a grave, dignified, martial energy, the Romans were never equalled. Brutus and his associates were able to dethrone a powerful tyrant; to abolish a monarchy, which had existed several centuries; and to organize, and put in operation, a new form of government, under which the Roman people rose to the sublimest heights of power, prosperity and splendor.

The Roman government, during the reigns of the kings, had, in its original spirit and design, embraced many of the principles of freedom. The king was assisted by a council, consisting of a hundred senators, which number was increased at various times. These were men advanced in years, and venerable for their knowledge, prudence and integrity. The most important acts of government were generally sanctioned by an assembly of the people, or plebeians, particularly acts relative to peace or war, the raising of money, the appointment of chief magistrates, and the election of the monarch.

But the kings, and especially Tarquin, had, in a great measure, acted independently of all these salutary checks. To avoid these inconveniences, the kingly office was now

* The word empire is here used in its popular sense, to represent merely government, or dominion, without reference to its form."