mans and Sabines, who became one and the same people; and Tatius, king of the Sabines, reigned jointly with Romulus; but dying soon after, Romulus reigned again alone.

Pray observe, that the rape of the Sabines was more an advantageous than a just measure; yet the utility of it should not warrant its injustice; for we ought to endure every misfortune, even death, rather than be guilty of an injustice; and indeed this is the only one that can be imputed to the Romans for many succeeding ages. An age, or century, means one hundred years.

Rome's growing power soon raised jealousy in her neighbours, so that Romulus was obliged to engage in several wars, from which he always came off victorious; but as he began to behave himself tyrannically at home, and attacked the privileges of the senate, with a view of reigning with more despotism, he suddenly disappeared. The truth is, the senators killed him; but, as they apprehended the indignation of the people, Proculus Julius, a senator of great repute, protested before the people, that Romulus had appeared to him as a god; assuring him that he had been taken up to heaven, and placed among the deities; and desired that the Romans should worship him under the name of Quirinus; which they accordingly did.

Take notice, that the Roman government, under Romulus, was a mixed and free government; and the king so far from being absolute, that the power was divided between him, the senate, and the people, much the same as it is between our King, the House of Lords, and House of Commons; so that Romulus, attempting so horrible a piece of injustice, as to violate the privileges of the senate, and the liberties of the people, was deservedly punished, as all tyrants ought to be. Every man has a natural right to his liberty; and whoever endeavours to ravish it from him deserves death more than the robber who attacks us for money on the highway.

Romulus directed the greatest part of his laws and regulations to war; and formed them with the view of rendering his subjects a warlike people, as indeed they were, above all others. Yet it likewise proved fortunate for Rome, that his successor, Numa Pompilius, was a prince of a pacific disposition, who applied himself to the establishing good order in the city, and enacting laws for the encouragement of virtue and religion.

An Inter

After the death of Romulus, there was a year's interregnum. regnum is the interval between the death of one king and the election of another, which can happen only in elective kingdoms, for, in hereditary monarchies, the moment a king dies, his son, or his nearest relation, immediately ascends the throne.

During the above interregnum, the senators alternately executed the functions of a sovereign; but the people soon became 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 being choseu 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 in time of peace. It remained closed during his whole long reign; but from that time, down to the reign of Augustus Cæsar, 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 Mark Anthony. 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, twofronted 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 poverty. He died, universally regretted by his people, after a reign of forty-three years.

We may venture to say, that Rome was indebted for all her grandeur to these two kings, Romulus and Numa, who 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 be 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.

LETTER XVIII.

DEAR BOY,

Monday.

I send you, here inclosed, 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 you 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 Caesar, 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.

Beintôt après la mort de Tullus Hostilius, le peuple choisit pour roi Ancus Marcius, petit fils de Numa. Il rétablit d'abord le culte divin, qui avoit été un peu négligé pendant le regne guerrier de Tullus Hostilius. Il essuya quelques guerres, malgré lui, et y remporta toujours l'avantage. Il aggrandit la ville de Rome, et mourut après avoir regné vingt-quatre ans. Il ne le céda en mérite, soit pour la guerre, soit pour la paix, à aucun de ses prédé

cesseurs.

Uu 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. Il augmenta, embellit, et fortifia la ville. Il fit des aqueducs et des egouts. 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 des 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, ayant trouvé mauvais, ils firent assassiner Tarquin, qui avoit 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 demander le consentement du sénat. 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 à abdiquer la couronne, et à établir à 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 monte sur le trone, sans que ni le peuple ni le sénat lui eussent conféré la royaute; la conduite qu'il y garda répondit à 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 ot despotique. Il bâtit un temple magnifique à Jupiter, qui fut appellé le Capitole, à cause qu'en creusant les fondemens, on y avoit trouvé le 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 déjà 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 Lucréce, femme de Collatin, et celle-ci ne voulant pas consentir à ses desirs, il la força. Elle decouvrit le tout â 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 Sybilles furent apportés 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 le guerre aux Romains pour le rétablir. Porsenna marcha donc contre les Romains, défit leur armée, et auroit pris Rome même, s'il n'eût été arrêté par la valeur d'Horatius Coclés, qui défendit seul contre toute l'armée, un pont, par où il falloit passer. 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.

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Ils eurent plusieurs autres guerres avec leurs voisins, dont je ne ferai point mention, ne voulant m'arrêter qu'aux évenemens les plus importans. En voici un qui arriva bientôt, seize ans après l'établissement des consuls. Le peuple étoit extrêmement endetté, et refusa de s'enroller pour la guerre, moins que ses dettes ne fussent abolies. L'occasion étoit pressante, et la difficulté grande, mais le sénat s'avisa d'un expédient pour y remedier; ce fut de créer un dictateur, qui auroit un pouvoir absolu, et au dessus de toutes les loix, mais qui ne dureroit que pour un peu de tems seulement. Titus

Largius, qui fut nommé à cette dignité, appaisa le désordre, rétablit la tranquillité, et puis se démit de sa charge.

On eut souvent, dans la suite, recours à cet expédient d'un dictateur, dans les grands occasions; et il est à remarquer, que quoique cette charge fût revêtue d'un pouvoir absolu et despotique, pas un seul dictateur n'en abusa, pour plus de cent ans.

TRANSLATION.

Soon after the death of Tullus Hostilius, the people placed upon the throne Ancus Marcius, grandson to Numa Pompilius. His first care was to reestablish divine worship, which had been somewhat neglected during the warlike reign of his predecessor. He engaged in some wars, against his will, and always came off with advantage. He enlarged the city; and died after a reign of twenty-four years; a prince not inferior, whether in peace or war, to any of his predecessors.

One Lucumon, a Greek by birth, who had established himself at Rome in the reign of Ancus Marcius, was chosen king in his place, and took the name of Tarquin. He added a hundred senators to the former number; carried on, with success, several wars against the neighbouring states; and enlarged, beautified, and strengthened the city. He made the aqueducts. and common sewers, built the circus, and laid the foundation of the capitol ; the circus was a celebrated place at Rome, set apart for chariot-races, and other games.

Tarquin had destined for his successor Servius Tullius, one who, having been taken prisoner of war, was consequently a slave; which the sons of Ancus Marcius, now grown up, highly resenting, caused Tarquin to be assassinated, in the thirty-eighth year of his reign; but that criminal deed of the sons of Ancus Marcius was attended with no success; for the people elected Servius Tullius king, without asking the concurrence of the senate. This prince was engaged in various wars, which he happily concluded. He divided the people into nineteen tribes; established the Census, or general survey of the citizens; and introduced the custom of giving liberty to slaves, called otherwise manumission. Servius intended to abdicate the crown, and form a perfect republic at Rome, when he was assassinated by his sonin-law, Tarquin the Proud. He reigned forty-four years, and was, without dispute, the best of all the kings of Rome.

Tarquin having ascended the throne, invited to royalty neither by the people nor senate, his conduct was suitable to such a beginning, and caused him to be surnamed the Proud. He overturned the wise establishments of the kings, his predecessors, trampled upon the rights of the people, and governed as an arbitrary and despotic prince. He built a magnificent temple to Jupiter, called the Capitol, because, in digging its foundation, the head of a man had been found there, which in Latin is called Caput: the Capitol was the most celebrated edifice in Rome.

The tyranny of Tarquin was already become odious and insupportable to the Romans; when an atrocious act of his son Sextus administered to them an opportunity of asserting their liberty. This Sextus falling in love with Lucretia, wife to Collatinus, who would not consent to his desires, ravished her. The lady discovered the whole matter to her husband, and to Brutus, and then stabbed herself; having first made them promise to revenge the outrage done to her honour. Whereupon they raised the people; and Tar