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of him； of plain and antique workmanship。
Afterwards； the Sabines； making incursions upon the Romans； Marcus
Valerius； brother to Poplicola； was made consul； and with him
Postumius Tubertus。 Marcus； through the management of affairs by the
conduct and direct assistance of Poplicola； obtained two great
victories； in the latter of which he slew thirteen thousand Sabines
without the loss of one Roman； and was honoured； as an accession to
his triumph； with an house built in the Palatium at the public charge；
and whereas the doors of other houses opened inward into the house；
they made this to open outward into the street； to intimate their
perpetual public recognition of his merit by thus continually making
way for him。 The same fashion in their doors the Greeks； they say； had
of old universally； which appears from their comedies； where those
that are going out make a noise at the door within； to give notice
to those that pass by or stand near the door； that the opening the
door into the street might occasion no surprisal。
The year after； Poplicola was made consul the fourth time； when a
confederacy of the Sabines and Latins threatened a war； a
superstitious fear also overran the city on the occasion of general
miscarriages of their women； no single birth coming to its due time。
Poplicola； upon consultation of the Sibylline books； sacrificing to
Pluto； and renewing certain games commanded by Apollo； restored the
city to more cheerful assurance in the gods； and then prepared against
the menaces of men。 There were appearances of great preparation； and
of a formidable confederacy。 Amongst the Sabines there was one
Appius Clausus； a man of a great wealth and strength of body； but most
eminent for his high character and for his eloquence； yet； as is
usually the fate of great men； he could not escape the envy of others；
which was much occasioned by his dissuading the war； and seeming to
promote the Roman interest； with a view； it is thought； to obtaining
absolute power in his own country for himself。 Knowing how welcome
these reports would be to the multitude； and how offensive to the army
and the abettors of the war； he was afraid to stand a trial； but；
having a considerable body of friends and allies to assist him； raised
a tumult amongst the Sabines； which delayed the war。 Neither was
Poplicola wanting； not only to understand the grounds of the sedition；
but to promote and increase it； and he despatched emissaries with
instructions to Clausus； that Poplicola was assured of his goodness
and justice； and thought it indeed unworthy in any man； however
injured； to seek revenge upon his fellow citizens； yet if he
pleased； for his own security； to leave his enemies and come to
Rome； he should be received； both in public and private； with the
honour his merit deserved； and their own glory required。 Appius；
seriously weighing the matter； came to the conclusion that it was
the best resource which necessity left him； and advising with his
friends； and they inviting others in the same manner； he came to Rome；
bringing five thousand families； with their wives and children； people
of the quietest and steadiest temper of all the Sabines。 Poplicola；
informed of their approach； received them with all the kind offices of
a friend； and admitted them at once to the franchise allotting to
every one two acres of land by the river Anio； but to Clausus
twenty…five acres； and gave him a place in the senate； a
commencement of political power which he used so wisely； that he
rose to the highest reputation； was very influential； and left the
Claudian house behind him； inferior to none in Rome。
The departure of these men rendered things quiet amongst the
Sabines； yet the chief of the community would not suffer them to
settle into peace； but resented that Clausus now； by turning deserter；
should disappoint that revenge upon the Romans； which； while at
home； he had unsuccessfully opposed。 Coming with a great army； they
sat down before Fidenae； and placed an ambuscade of two thousand men
near Rome； in wooded and hollow spots； with a design that some few
horsemen； as soon as it was day； should go out and ravage the country；
commanding them upon their approach to the town so to retreat as to
draw the enemy into the ambush。 Poplicola； however； soon advertised of
these designs by deserters； disposed his forces to their respective
charges。 Postumius Balbus； his son…in…law； going out with three
thousand men in the evening； was ordered to take the hills； under
which the ambush lay； there to observe their motions； his colleague；
Lucretius； attended with a body of the lightest and boldest men； was
appointed to meet the Sabine horse； whilst he； with the rest of the
army； encompassed the enemy。 And a thick mist rising accidentally；
Postumius； early in the morning； with shouts from the hills；
assailed the ambuscade； Lucretius charged the light…horse； and
Poplicola besieged the camp； so that on all sides defeat and ruin came
upon the Sabines； and without any resistance the Romans killed them in
their flight； their very hopes leading them to their death； for each
division； presuming that the other was safe； gave up all thought of
fighting or keeping their ground； and these quitting the camp to
retire to the ambuscade； and the ambuscade flying to the camp；
fugitives thus met fugitives； and found those from whom they
expected succour as much in need of succour from themselves。 The
nearness； however； of the city Fidenae was the preservation of the
Sabines； especially those that fled from the camp； those that could
not gain the city either perished in the field； or were taken
prisoners。 This victory； the Romans； though usually ascribing such
success to some god； attributed to the conduct of one captain； and
it was observed to be heard amongst the soldiers； that Poplicola had
delivered their enemies lame and blind； and only not in chains； to
be despatched by their swords。 From the spoil and prisoners great
wealth accrued to the people。
Poplicola； having completed his triumph； and bequeathed the city
to the care of the succeeding consuls； died； thus closing a life
which； so far as human life may be； had been full of all that is
good and honourable。 The people； as though they had not duly
rewarded his deserts when alive； but still were in his debt； decreed
him a public interment； every one contributing his quadrans towards
the charge； the women； besides； by private consent； mourned a whole
year； a signal mark of honour to his memory。 He was buried； by the
people's desire； within the city； in the part called Velia； where
his posterity had likewise privilege of burial； now； however； none
of the family are interred there； but the body is carried thither
and set down； and some one places a burning torch under it and
immediately takes it away； as an attestation of the deceased's
privilege； and his receding from his honour； after which the body is
removed。
THE END