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names； 〃Canst not thou；〃 said he； 〃O Titus； or thou； Tiberius； make
any defence against the indictment？〃 The question being thrice
proposed； and no reply made； he turned himself to the lictors and
cried； 〃What remains is your duty。〃 They immediately seized the
youths； and； stripping them of their clothes； bound their hands behind
them and scourged their bodies with their rods； too tragical a scene
for others to look at； Brutus； however； is said not to have turned
aside his face； nor allowed the least glance of pity to soften and
smooth his aspect of rigour and austerity； but sternly watched his
children suffer； even till the lictors； extending them on the
ground； cut off their heads with an axe； then departed； committing the
rest to the judgment of his colleague。 An action truly open alike to
the highest commendation and the strongest censure； for either the
greatness of his virtue raised him above the impressions of sorrow； or
the extravagance of his misery took away all sense of it； but
neither seemed common； or the result of humanity； but either divine or
brutish。 Yet it is more reasonable that our judgment should yield to
his reputation； than that his merit should suffer detraction by the
weakness of our judgment； in the Roman's opinion； Brutus did a greater
work in the establishment of the government than Romulus in the
foundation of the city。
Upon Brutus's departure out of the forum； consternation； horror； and
silence for some time possessed all that reflected on what was done；
the easiness and tardiness； however； of Collatinus gave confidence
to the Aquillii to request some time to answer their charge； and
that Vindicius； their servant； should be remitted into their hands；
and no longer harboured amongst their accusers。 The consul seemed
inclined to their proposal； and was proceeding to dissolve the
assembly； but Valerius would not suffer Vindicius； who was
surrounded by his people； to be surrendered； nor the meeting to
withdraw without punishing the traitors； and at length laid violent
hands upon the Aquillii； and； calling Brutus to his assistance；
exclaimed against the unreasonable course of Collatinus； to impose
upon his colleague the necessity of taking away the lives of his own
sons； and yet have thoughts of gratifying some women with the lives of
traitors and public enemies。 Collatinus； displeased at this； and
commanding Vindicius to be taken away； the lictors made their way
through the crowd and seized their man； and struck all who endeavoured
a rescue。 Valerius's friends headed the resistance； and the people
cried out for Brutus； who； returning； on silence being made； told them
he had been competent to pass sentence by himself upon his own sons；
but left the rest to the suffrages of the free citizens： 〃Let every
man speak that wishes； and persuade whom he can。〃 But there was no
need of oratory； for； it being referred to the vote； they were
returned condemned by all the suffrages； and were accordingly
beheaded。
Collatinus's relationship to the kings had； indeed； already rendered
him suspicious； and his second name； too； had made him obnoxious to
the people； who were loth to hear the very sound of Tarquin； but after
this had happened； perceiving himself an offence to every one； he
relinquished his charge and departed from the city。 At the new
elections in his room； Valerius obtained； with high honour； the
consulship； as a just reward of his zeal； of which he thought
Vindicius deserved a share； whom he made； first of all freedmen； a
citizen of Rome； and gave him the privilege of voting in what tribe
soever he was pleased to be enrolled； other freedmen received the
right of suffrage a long time after from Appius； who thus courted
popularity； and from this Vindicius； a perfect manumission is called
to this day vindicta。 This done； the goods of the kings were exposed
to plunder； and the palace to ruin。
The pleasantest part of the field of Mars； which Tarquin had
owned； was devoted to the service of that god； but； it happening to be
harvest season； and the sheaves yet being on the ground； they
thought it not proper to commit them to the flail； or unsanctify
them with any use； and； therefore； carrying them to the river…side；
and trees withal that were cut down； they cast all into the water；
dedicating the soil； free from all occupation； to the deity。 Now；
these thrown in； one upon another； and closing together； the stream
did not bear them far； but where the first were carried down and
came to a bottom； the remainder； finding no farther conveyance； were
stopped and interwoven one with another； the stream working the mass
into a firmness； and washing down fresh mud。 This； settling there；
became an accession of matter； as well as cement； to the rubbish；
insomuch that the violence of the waters could not remove it； but
forced and compressed it all together。 Thus its bulk and solidity
gained it new subsidies； which gave it extension enough to stop on its
way most of what the stream brought down。 This is now a sacred island；
lying by the city； adorned with the temples of the gods； and walks；
and is called in the Latin tongue inter duos pontes。 Though some say
this did not happen at the dedication of Tarquin's field； but in
aftertimes； when Tarquinia； a vestal priestess； gave an adjacent field
to the public； and obtained great honours in consequence； as；
amongst the rest； that of all women her testimony alone should be
received； she had also the liberty to marry； but refused it； thus some
tell the story。
Tarquin； despairing of a return to his kingdom by the conspiracy；
found a kind reception amongst the Tuscans； who； with a great army；
proceeded to restore him。 The consuls headed the Romans against
them； and made their rendezvous in certain holy places； the one called
the Arsian grove； the other the Aesuvian meadow。 When they came into
action； Aruns； the son of Tarquin； and Brutus； the Roman consul； not
accidentally encountering each other； but out of hatred and rage；
the one to avenge tyranny and enmity to his country； the other his
banishment； set spurs to their horses； and； engaging with more fury
than forethought； disregarding their own security； fell together in
the combat。 This dreadful onset hardly was followed by a more
favourable end； both armies； doing and receiving equal damage； were
separated by a storm。 Valerius was much concerned； not knowing what
the result of the day was； and seeing his men as well dismayed at
the sight of their own dead； as rejoiced at the loss of the enemy；
so apparently equal in the number was the slaughter on either side。
Each party； however； felt surer of defeat from the actual sight of
their own dead； than they could feel of victory from conjecture
about those of their adversaries。 The night being come （and such as
one may presume must follow such a battle）； and the armies laid to
rest； they say that the grove shook； and uttered a voice； saying
that the Tuscans had lost one man more than the Romans； clearly a
divine announcement； and the Romans at once received it with shouts
and expressions of joy； whilst the Tuscans； through fear and
amazement； deserted their tents； and were for the most part dispersed。
The Romans； falling upon the remainder； amounting to nearly five
thousand； took them prisoners； and plundered the camp； when they
numbered the dead； they found on the Tuscans' side eleven thousand and
three hundred； exceeding their own loss but by one man。 This fight
happened upon the last of February； and Valerius triumphed in honour
of it； being the first consul that drove in with a four…horse chariot；
which sight both appeared magnificent； and was received with an
admiration free from envy or offence （as some suggest） on the part
of the spectators； it would not otherwise have been continued with
so much eagerness and emulation through all the after ages。 The people
applauded likewise the honours he did to his colleague； in adding to
his obsequies a funeral oration： which was so much liked by the
Romans； and found so good a reception； that it became customary for
the best men to celebrate the funerals of great citizens with speeches
in their commendation； and their antiquity in Rome is affirmed to be
greater than in Greece； unless； with the orator Anaximenes； we make
Solon the first author。
Yet some part of Valerius's behaviour did give offence and disgust
to the people； because Brutus； whom they esteemed the father of
their liberty； had not presumed to rule without a colleague； but
united one and then another to him in his commission； while
Valerius； they said； centering all authority in himself； seemed not in
any sense a successor to Brutus in the consulship； but to Tarquin in
the tyranny； he might make verbal harangues to Brutus's memory； yet
when he was attended with all the rods and axes； proceeding down
from a house than which the king's house that he had demolished had
not been statelier； those actions showed him an imitator of Tarquin。
For； indeed； his dwelling…house on the Velia was somewhat imposing
in appearance； hanging over the forum； and overlooking all
transactions there； the access to it was hard； and to see him far
off coming down；