made many delays and excuses; till at length they were once more obliged to have recourse to a dictator'; and they fixed upon Quintus Cincinna'tus) a man who had for some time given up all views of ambition, and retired to his little farm, where the deputies of the senate found him holding the plough, and dressed in the mean attire of a labouring husbandman?. 3. He appeared but little elevated with the addresses of ceremony, and the pompous habits they brought him; and upon declaring to him the senate's pleasure, he testified rather a concern that his aid should be wanted. He naturally preferred the charms of a country retirement to the fatiguing splendours of office, and only said to his wife as they were leading him away, "I fear, my Atti'lia, that for this year our little fields must remain unsown." 4. Then taking a tender leave, he departed for the city, where both parties were strongly inflamed against each other. However, he resolved to side with neither; but by a strict attention to the interests of his country, instead of gaining the confidence of faction, to seize the esteem of all. 5. Thus, by threats and welltimed submission, he prevailed upon the tribunes to put off their law for a time, and conducted himself so as to be a terror to the multitude whenever they refused to enlist; and their greatest encourager whenever their submission deserved it. 6 Having by these means restored that tranquillity to the people which he so much loved himself, he again gave up the splendours of ambition, to enjoy it with a greater relish in his little farm 7.Cincinnatus had not long retired from his office, when a fresh exigence of the state once more re- U.C. quired his assistance and the 'qui and the 295. Vol'sci, who, although always worsted, were still for renewing the war, made new inroads into the territories of 1 Cincinna'tus was chosen consul only, in the room of Pub ́lius Vale'rius, who died during his consulship. He was afterwards appointed dictator, in the war with the Æ'qui and Vol'sci. 2 The poverty of Cincinna'tus was caused by the crimes of his son, Ca'so Quinc'tius. This young patrician, with a band of his associates, insulted the plebeian magistrates and offered violence to their persons. He was of course indicted, but allowed to remain at large on giving heavy security for his appearance on the day of trial. In the intervening time, Caso and his companions murdered an aged and sick plebeian, and justly dreading popular resentment he fled into Tuscany. The payment of the heavy bail compelled Cincinna'tus to sell all his property. Cincinna'tus was a violent partisan of the aristocracy, and a fierce enemy of the rights and privileges of the people. Rome. 8. Minu'tius, one of the consuls who succeeded Cincinna'tus, was sent to oppose them; but being naturally timid, and rather more afraid of being conquered than desirous of victory, his army was driven into a defile between two mountains, from which, except through the enemy, there was no egress 9.1This, however, the Æ'qui had the precaution to fortify, by which the Roman army was so hemmed in on every side, that nothing remained but submission to the enemy, famine, or immediate death. 10. Some knights, who found means of getting away privately through the enemy's camp, were the first that brought the account of this disaster to Rome of 11. Nothing could exceed the first ranks of people when informed of it the thought of the other consul; but not having sufficient experience of his abilities, they unanimously turned their eyes upon Cincinna'tus, and resolved to make Him dictator/ 12. Cincinna'tus, the only person on whom Rome could now place her whole dependence, was found, as before, by the messengers of the senate, labouring in his field with cheerful industry. 13. He was at first astonished at the ensigns of unbounded power with which the deputies came to invest him; but still more at the approach of the principal of the senate, who came out to attend him 14. A dignity so unlooked for, however, had no effect upon the simplicity or integrity of his manners; and being now possessed of absolute power, and called upon to nominate his master of the horse, he chose a poor man named Tarqui'tius, one who, like himself, despised riches when they led to dishonour. Thus the saving a great nation was devolved upon a husbandman taken from the plough, and an obscure sentinel found among the dregs of the army'. 15. Upon entering the city, the dictator put on a serene look, and entreated all those who were able to bear arms to repair before sunset to the Cam'pus Martius (the place where the levies were made), with necessary arms, and provisions for five days 16.He put himself at the head of these, and marching all night with great expedition, arrived early the next day within sight of the enemy Upon his approach, he ordered his soldiers to raise a loud shout, to 1 Though Tarqui'tius was poor, and served as a private sentinel, he was a patrician by birth, and of uncommon valour. Cincinna'tus, therefore, did justice to his merit, and notwithstanding his poverty, raised him to that high station. apprise the consul's army of the relief that was at hand. 17.The 'qui were not a little amazed when they saw themselves between two enemies but still more when they perceived Cincinna'tus making the strongest intrenchments beyond them, to prevent their escape, and enclosing them as they had enclosed the consul 18. To prevent this a furious combat ensued; but the 'qui being attacked on both sides, and unable longer to resist or fly, begged a cessation of arms. 19.They offered the dictator his own terms; he gave them their lives, and obliged them, in token of servitude, to pass under the yoke which was two spears set upright, and another across, in the form of a gallows, beneath which the vanquished were to march. Their captains and generals he made prisoners of war, being reserved to adorn his triumph. 20, As for the plunder Lof the enemy's camp, that he gave entirely up to his own soldiers, without reserving any part for himself, or permitting those of the delivered army to have a share. 21. Thus having rescued a Roman army from inevitable destruction, having defeated a powerful enemy, having taken and fortified their city, and still more, having refused any part of the spoil, he resigned his dictatorship, after having enjoyed it but fourteen days. The senate would have enriched him, but he declined their proffers, choosing to retire once more to his farm and his cottage, content with competence and fame. 22. But this repose from foreign invasion did not lessen the tumults of the city within The clamours for the Agrarian law still continued, and still more fiercely, when Sic'cius Denta'tus, a plebe'ian advanced in years, but of an admirable person and military deportment, came forward to enumerate his hardships and his merits. This old soldier made no scruple of extolling the various achievements of his youth; indeed, his merits more than supported his ostentation. 23. He had served his country in the wars forty years: he had been an officer thirty, first a centurion, and then a tribune; he had fought one hundred and twenty battles, in which, by the force of his single arm, he had saved a multitude of lives he had gained fourteen civic 2, three mural3, and eight golden crowns; 1 About this time the number of the tribunes was increased from five to ten. 2 A civic crown among the Romans was made of oaken leaves, and given to those who had saved the life of a citizen. 3 A mural crown was an honorary reward, given by the ancient Romans to the soldiers who first scaled the walls of an enemy's city. besides eighty-three chains, sixty bracelets, eighteen gilt spears, and twenty-three horse-trappings, whereof nine were for killing the enemy in single combat; moreover, he had received forty-five wounds in front, and none behind. 24. These were his honours; yet, notwithstanding all these, he had never received any share of those lands which were won from the enemy, but continued to drag on a life of poverty and contempt, while others were possessed of those very territories which his valour had won, without any merit to deserve them, or ever having contributed to the conquest'. 25. A case of so much hardship had a strong effect upon the multitude; they unanimously demanded that the law might be passed, and that such merit should not go unrewarded. It was in vain that some of the senators rose up to speak against it, their voices were drowned by the cries of the people. 26. When reason, therefore, could no longer be heard, passion, as usual, succeeded; and the young patricians, running furiously into the throng, broke the balloting urns, and dispersed the multitude that offered to oppose them. 27. For this they were some time after fined by the tribunes; but were afterwards reimbursed the amount of their fines by the voluntary contributions of the senate. This illegal violence prevented the enactment of the proposed law, and greatly increased the animosity between the patricians and plebeians. wwwwwwwww Questions for Examination. 1. On what accusation were Manlius and Fabius cited to appear before the people? 2. What measures did the consuls adopt? Where, and in what employment, was Cincinnatus found? 3. What effect had this new dignity on Cincinnatus? 4. How did he conduct himself? 5. Were his measures successful? . 6. Did Cincinnatus continue in office? 7. Was he permitted to continue in retirement? 8. What was the exigence that required his return to office 9. What prevented the Romans from forcing their way through 1 "These military toys," said he, "are the only rewards I have hitherto received. No lands, no share of the conquered countries. Usurpers, without any title but that of a patrician extraction, possess them. Is this to be endured? Shall they alone possess the fruits of our conquests? The purchase of our blood?" 10. Who brought the news of this disaster to Rome? 11. How was this news received at Rome? Whom did they resolve to appoint dictator? 12. How was Cincinnatus now employed when the messengers arrived 13. What was his behaviour on the occasion? 14. How was he affected by this exaltation? 15. What were his first measures 16. What followed? 17. How were the enemy affected by his approach? 18. What was the consequence? 19. What were the terms of peace? 20. What became of the plunder 21. What were his rewards for this important service? 22. Was domestic tranquillity the consequence of foreign conquest ?—23. What were these achievements? 24. How was he rewarded ple+ 25. What was the consequence of his appeal to the people? 26. Did the people obtain their demand? 27. How was this outrage punished? CHAPTER XII. SECT. I. FROM THE CREATION OF THE DECEMVIRI TO THE EXTINCTION She's gone; for ever gone! The king of terrors 1. Fluctuating, part. changing, waver- Respi're, v. to breathe. Arbitrary, a. tyrannic, despotic, without regard to any law. 4 Depop'ulated, v. unpeopled, laid waste. 9. Decem'viri, s. (from the Latin words decem, ten, and viri, men,) ten magistrates, chosen annually at Rome, to govern the commonwealth, and to make laws. DENNIS. 12. Rapa'city, s. covetousness, extor tion. 13. Proscrip'tion, s. confiscation of goods, a doom to death. 17. Depo'sed, v. removed from office. 23. Achilles, s. (pro. Akilles), the son of Pe'leus, king of Thrace, a Grecian hero, who signalized himself at the siege of Troy, and was killed by Paris with an arrow. Detest'able, a. hateful, odious. 29. 1. THE Commonwealth of Rome had now for nearly sixty years been fluctuating between the contending orders that composed it till at length each side, as if weary, was willing to respire awhile from the mutual exertions of its claims. The citizens of every rank began to complain of the arbitrary decisions of their magistrates, and wished to be guided by a written body of laws, which being known, might prevent wrongs as well as punish them. 2. In this both the senate and the people concurred, as |