Ancient Rome: An Introductory History (5 page)

Read Ancient Rome: An Introductory History Online

Authors: Paul A. Zoch

Tags: #History, #Ancient, #Rome, #test

BOOK: Ancient Rome: An Introductory History
8.55Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
 
Page 18
Curiatiusand the battle was on equal terms, but the men were not equal in hope or strength. The one had not received any wounds and was charged up with his double victory; that made him a fierce opponent for the third duel. The other, however, was exhausted from his wounds and the chase, and was demoralized by the slaughter of his brothers before his very eyes; he dragged his weary body to meet his conquerer.
Theirs was not much of a battle. Proud and confident, Horatius cried, "I have given two men to the ghosts of my brothers; I will give the third to the reason for this war, so that Rome may rule Alba Longa!"
Horatius thrust his sword down into the neck of his opponent, who could barely hold up his weapons, and then took his weapons as spoils. Shouting triumphantly, the Romans received Horatius with congratulations, their joy as great as their fear had been. (Livy I.XXV. 3)
Horatius, although a hero, soon found himself in trouble. As he was returning from the battle, bearing the spoils of those whom he had killed, he was met at the Capena Gate by his sister, who had been engaged to one of the Curiatii. She saw among the spoils a cloak that she had woven with her own hands, as a gift for her fiancé. She began mourning for her dead boyfriend and tearfully called his name. Enraged, her brother shouted, "Since you have forgotten your country and your brothers, both dead and alive, take your misplaced love and go to your fiancé. May all who mourn the foe do the same!" and stabbed her.
Horatius was seized and put on trial, and convicted of
perduellio
(a type of treason). King Tullus did not want the hero to receive the death sentence, however, and urged him to appeal his sentence to the people. Only his recent heroism and a tearful speech by his fatherwho by this time had lost two sons and a daughtersaved him from the punishment of death.
The Treachery of Mettius Fufetius
Mettius was now unpopular in Alba Longa because the city had lost its sovereignty. He sought to regain the city's independence through treachery. He secretly induced the Latin colony Fidenae to revolt against Rome and convinced the Etruscan city Veii to join him in a war against Rome.
 
Page 19
Tullus summoned Mettius and his army so they could put down the revolt at Fidenae, and he placed Mettius and his troops across from the soldiers of Fidenae, near the mountains. Slowly and imperceptibly, Mettius and his troops drifted to the mountains, hoping to help whichever side was winning.
A messenger soon told Tullus that the Albans had deserted, but Tullus replied, in a very loud voice, that the Albans had gone to attack the unprotected rear of the Fidenates (the army of Fidenae). The Fidenates, who spoke Latin, heard and understood the message. They became alarmed and retreated; Tullus then routed the enemy.
Mettius soon came to congratulate Tullus for the victory. Tullus thanked him, and asked him and his soldiers to join him at dawn for a purification ceremony. At dawn the Albans came and were seated closest to Tullus. The Romans, armed, then came into the meeting-place and surrounded the Albans. Tullus addressed the Romans, saying that he had not ordered the Albans to depart; he had lied about their departure so that the Romans would not lose hope and thus lose the battle. He did not blame the Alban soldiers, who were only following the orders of their commander, but he did blame Mettius, who had given the orders. The Romans then surrounded Mettius, and Tullus addressed him:
"Mettius Fufetius, if you could learn trustworthiness and how to live up to your treaties, I would let you live to learn the lessons from me. Since your way of thinking is incurable, you must now with your punishment teach the human race to consider sacred the things that you have violated. Since a short time ago you had a mind torn in its loyalty to Fidenae or Rome, you will now offer your body to be torn in two."
After having two four-wheeled chariots brought forward, Tullus had Mettius stretched out and bound to the chariots. Then the horses, facing opposite directions, were lashed, carrying the mutilated corpse on each chariot, where his body parts were still attached to the chains. All turned their eyes from the hideous sight. That was the first and last time a punishment of a type so heedless of human laws occurred among us Romans; otherwise, we can say with pride that no other nation has been more content with gentle punishments. (Livy 1.28)

Other books

Outback Blaze by Rachael Johns
Poacher Peril by J. Burchett
Star Rigger's Way by Jeffrey A. Carver
Swell Foop by Piers Anthony
Verse of the Vampyre by Diana Killian
Break of Dawn by Rita Bradshaw
Children of Paranoia by Trevor Shane