按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
transactions there； the access to it was hard； and to see him far
off coming down； a stately and royal spectacle。 But Valerius showed
how well it were for men in power and great offices to have ears
that give admittance to truth before flattery； for upon his friends
telling him that he displeased the people； he contended not； neither
resented it； but while it was still night； sending for a number of
work…people； pulled down his house and levelled it with the ground； so
that in the morning the people； seeing and flocking together；
expressed their wonder and their respect for his magnanimity； and
their sorrow； as though it had been a human being； for the large and
beautiful house which was thus lost to them by an unfounded
jealousy； while its owner； their consul； without a roof of his own；
had to beg a lodging with his friends。 For his friends received him；
till a place the people gave him was furnished with a house； though
less stately than his own； where now stands the temple； as it is
called； of Vica Pota。
He resolved to render the government； as well as himself； instead of
terrible； familiar and pleasant to the people； and parted the axes
from the rods； and always； upon his entrance into the assembly；
lowered these also to the people； to show； in the strongest way； the
republican foundation of the government； and this the consuls
observe to this day。 But the humility of the man was but a means； not；
as they thought； of lessening himself； but merely to abate their
envy by this moderation； for whatever he detracted from his
authority he added to his real power； the people still submitting with
satisfaction； which they expressed by calling him Poplicola； or
people…lover； which name had the pre…eminence of the rest； and；
therefore； in the sequel of his narrative we shall use no other。
He gave free leave to any to sue for the consulship； but before
the admittance of a colleague； mistrusting the chances； lest emulation
or ignorance should cross his designs； by his sole authority enacted
his best and most important measures。 First； he supplied the vacancies
of the senators； whom either Tarquin long before had put to death；
or the war lately cut off； those that he enrolled； they write；
amounted to a hundred and sixty…four； afterwards he made several
laws which added much to the people's liberty； in particular one
granting offenders the liberty of appealing to the people from the
judgment of the consuls； a second； that made it death to usurp any
magistracy without the people's consent； a third； for the relief of
poor citizens； which； taking off their taxes； encouraged their
labours； another； against disobedience to the consuls； which was no
less popular than the rest； and rather to the benefit of the
commonalty than to the advantage of the nobles； for it imposed upon
disobedience the penalty of ten oxen and two sheep； the price of a
sheep being ten obols； of an ox； an hundred。 For the use of money
was then infrequent amongst the Romans； but their wealth in cattle
great； even now pieces of property are called peculia from pecus；
cattle； and they had stamped upon their most ancient money an ox； a
sheep； or a hog； and surnamed their sons Suillii； Bubulci； Caprarii；
and Porcii； from caproe； goats； and porci； hogs。
Amidst this mildness and moderation； for one excessive fault he
instituted one excessive punishment； for he made it lawful without
trial to take away any man's life that aspired to a tyranny； and
acquitted the slayer； if he produced evidence of the crime； for though
it was not probable for a man； whose designs were so great； to
escape all notice； yet because it was possible he might； although
observed； by force anticipate judgment； which the usurpation itself
would then preclue； he gave a licence to any to anticipate the
usurper。 He was honoured likewise for the law touching the treasury；
for because it was necessary for the citizens to contribute out of
their estates to the maintenance of wars； and he was unwilling himself
to be concerned in the care of it； or to permit his friends or
indeed to let the public money pass into any private house； he
allotted the temple of Saturn for the treasury； in which to this day
they deposit the tribute…money； and granted the people the liberty
of choosing two young men as quaestors； or treasurers。 The first
were Publius Veturius and Marcus Minucius； and a large sum was
collected； for they assessed one hundred and thirty thousand； excusing
orphans and widows from the payment。 After these dispositions； he
admitted Lucretius； the father of Lucretia； as his colleague； and gave
him the precedence in the government； by resigning the fasces to
him； as due to his years； which privilege of seniority continued to
our time。 But within a few days Lucretius died； and in a new
election Marcus Horatius succeeded in that honour； and continued
consul for the remainder of the year。
Now； whilst Tarquin was making preparations in Tuscany for a
second war against the Romans； it is said a great portent occurred。
When Tarquin was king； and had all but completed the buildings of
the Capitol； designing； whether from oracular advice or his own
pleasure； to erect an earthen chariot upon the top； he intrusted the
workmanship to Tuscans of the city Veii； but soon after lost his
kingdom。 The work thus modelled； the Tuscans set in a furnace； but the
clay showed not those passive qualities which usually attend its
nature； to subside and be condensed upon the evaporation of the
moisture； but rose and swelled out to that bulk； that； when solid
and firm； notwithstanding the removal of the roof and opening the
walls of the furnace； it could not be taken out without much
difficulty。 The soothsayers looked upon this as a divine prognostic of
success and power to those that should possess it； and the Tuscans
resolved not to deliver it to the Roman； who demanded it； but answered
that it rather belonged to Tarquin than to those who had sent him into
exile。 A few days after； they had a horse…race there； with the usual
shows and solemnities； and as the charioteer with his garland on his
head was quietly driving the victorious chariot out of the ring； the
horses； upon no apparent occasion； taking fright； either by divine
instigation or by accident； hurried away their driver at full speed to
Rome； neither did his holding them in prevail； nor his voice； but he
was forced along with violence till； coming to the Capitol； he was
thrown out by the gate called Ratumena。 This occurrence raised
wonder and fear in the Veientines； who now permitted the delivery of
the chariot。
The building of the temple of the Capitoline Jupiter had been
vowed by Tarquin； the son of Demaratus； when warring with the Sabines；
Tarquinius Superbus； his son or grandson； built but could not dedicate
it； because he lost his kingdom before it was quite finished。 And
now that it was completed with all its ornaments； Poplicola was
ambitious to dedicate it； but the nobility envied him that honour； as；
indeed； also； in some degree； those his prudence in making laws and
conduct in wars entitled him to。 Grudging him； at any rate； the
addition of this； they urged Horatius to sue for the dedication；
and； whilst Poplicola was engaged in some military expedition； voted
it to Horatius； and conducted him to the Capitol； as though； were
Poplicola present； they could not have carried it。 Yet； some write；
Poplicola was by lot destined against his will to the expedition；
the other to the dedication； and what happened in the performance
seems to intimate some ground for this conjecture； for； upon the
Ides of September； which happens about the full moon of the month
Metagitnion； the people having assembled at the Capitol and silence
being enjoined； Horatius； after the performance of other ceremonies；
holding the doors； according to custom； was proceeding to pronounce
the words of dedication； when Marcus； the brother of Poplicola； who
had got a place on purpose beforehand near the door； observing his
opportunity； cried； 〃O consul； thy son lies dead in the camp；〃 which
made a great impression upon all others who heard it； yet in nowise
discomposed Horatius； who returned merely the reply； 〃Cast the dead
out whither you please； I am not a mourner；〃 and so completed the
dedication。 The news was not true； but Marcus thought the he might
avert him from his performance； but it argues him a man of wonderful
self…possession； whether he at once saw through the cheat； or；
believing it as true； showed no discomposure。
The same fortune attended the dedication of the second temple； the
first； as has been said； was built by Tarquin； and dedicated by
Horatius； it was burnt down in the civil wars。 The second； Sylla
built； and； dying before the dedication； left that honour to
Catulus； and when this was demolished in the Vitellian sedition；
Vespasian； with the same success that attended him in other things；
began a third and lived to see it finished； but did not live to see it
again destroyed； as it presently was； but was as fortunate in dying
before its destruction； as Sylla was the reverse in dying before the
dedication of his。 For immediately after Vespasian's death