Hi
ILLINOI

S

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

PRODUCTION NOTE
University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign Library
Brittle Books Project, 2009.

THE

FIRST FIVE BOOKS
OF THE

ROMAN HISTORY.

THE

FIRST FIVE BOOKS
OF THE

ROMAN HISTORY:
TRANSLATED FROM THE LATIN

OF TITUS LIVIUS
BY JOHN

BELLENDEN,

ARCHDEAN OF MORAY, AND CANON OF ROSS,

EDINBURGH:
PRINTED FOR W. AND C. TAIT.
M.DCCC.XXII.

-_FOLLOW THE PRINCE OF STORIE, LIVIUS,
QUHAIS CURIOUS RESSOUNS TONIT AR SO HIE,
AND EVERY SENS SA FULL OF MAIESTE,
THAT SO HE PASSIS UTHER STORIES ALL,
AS SILVER DIANE DOIS THE STERNIS SMALL.
PROLOUG TO TITUS LIVIUS.

NOTIJCED

*

TRANSLATION of the First
Five Books of Livy's Roman History, by John Bellenden, Archdean of Moray, and Canon of
S Ross, has been long known to
Sexist, among the Manuscripts prein the Library of the
~-*served
*

IID~(

*

I

,,

culty of Advocates at Edinburgh.

Fa-

Two short extracts

from this Work were, some years ago, printed in Dr
Leyden's Introduction to the Complaynt of Scotland,'
sufficient to excite, rather than gratify curiosity ; but
the early
a complete Edition. of so valuable a relic
time, pre.
Literature of Scotland is now, for the
sented to the Public. The favourable reception of

of
first

1

P. 181-2-3"

NOTICE.
the reprint of Iellen den's Translation of Hector
Boece's Chronicles, leads to the anticipation, that his
version of the Roman Historian will meet with similar
encouragement.
During the sixteenth century, various translations
from the writings of the Roman Historians were executed in England. " The Famous Cronycle of the
Warre which the Romyns had against Jugurth, cor"pyled in Lat. by the Renowned Romayn Sallust," was
"translated intoEnglishe by Sir Alex. Barclay, Preest;"
and printed by Pynson, without a date, probably between 1515 and 1528.1 '" Ceaser's Commentaries, as
" touching British Affairs," translated by John, Lord
Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester, were printed by Rastell,
about 1533.2 Four Books of the History of Tacitus,

Life of Agricola, were translated by Sir
1,591; and his Annals. by Richard

along with his
Henry Saville, in

Grenaway, in 1598.30'A small portion of Livy, translated by Anthony Cope, Esquier, was published at
London in 1545.4 The present version of the. First
Five Books of this Historian had been previously executed in Scotland by Bellenden.

1Shakspeare, edit. 1813, vol. ii. p. 111.
2 Typographiical Antiquities, p. 343.
'Shakspeare, ut supra.

4 Ibid.

NOTICE.

i

VII.

A short account of the Translator has been prefixed
to the Chronicles of Scotland, which supersedes the
necessity of recurring to his personal history on the
present occasion.' It was at the request of James the
Fifth, who was ignorant of the Latin language, that he
undertook a translation of Livy. His original intention was to transfer all that remains of the work of
that eminent Writer into the vernacular language of
his country ;2 but there is reason to suppose, that he
never proceeded beyond the Fifth Book.3

1 Dempster, who misnames Bellenden James, gives the following
short account of the Author and his Works, the inaccuracy of which
has been pointed out in the Introduction to the Chronicles of Scotland.
"JAcoBus BALLANTYN, S. Theologis Doctor, Archidiaconus Moraviensis, laboriosa cura, et incredibili studio artes omnes humanas atque etiam

divinas

percepit.

Ejus

sunt,

Boethii Historice, versio in Scoticum,
Historice Scoticce Cosmographia,
Albanice descriptio,
Epistolce ad .Jacobum'V.
De litera Pythagorce,

Lib. X VII.
Lib,. I.
Lib. I.
Lib. I.
Lib. I.

De

Lib. I.

Virtute

et Voluptate,

Super quodam Somnio,
Diversi generis Carmina,
Obiit Romae anno, ut puto, MDL,."
Hist.
2

" For I intend of this

Lib. I.
Lib. I.

Ecclesiast. Gent. S'cotorum, p. 107.

difficil werk

"To mak ane end, or I my lauboure stint."
Proloug to Titus Livius.
3 Vide .Lines, subjoined to the Translation, by A. Home, St. Leonardes.

viii

NOTICE.

No copy of his Translation has yet been discovered
except the one already alluded to. It is a small folio
volume, written in a neat hand; which may, with
probability, be referred to the early part of the sixteenth century, while Bellenden was still alive. The
work, however, is more likely to have been transcribed by an amanuensis, than by the Translator
himself.
The history of the Manuscript is, in a great measure, unknown. It belonged, at one period, to the
late Lord Elliock, and was presented by him to the
Faculty of Advocates.2
The precise period at which the Translation of Livy
was executed, and the extent to which Bellenden was
remunerated for his labours, may be ascertained from
the following notices in the Treasurer's accounts:
1533, July 26. Item, to Maister John Ballentyne,
in part payment of the Translation of Titus Livius, L.8.

1 The following autographof his Lordship appears upon the Manuscript: " JA. VEITCH, EDINB. 16th JULY, 1730."
2 This appears from a Note, upon the Catalogue of Manuscripts

belonging to the Faculty of Advocates, in the handwriting of the late
Malcolm Laing, Esq.

NOTICE.

1533, Aug. 24. To Maister John Ballentyne, in
part payment oftheSecundBuke
of Titus Livius, L.8.
---

, Nov. 30. To Maister John Ballentyne, be
the Kingis Precept for his lauboris done in translating of Livie, L.20.

As a specimen of the ancient language of Scotland,
and of the prose style of the purest of her early writers,
the Translation of Livy is peculiarly valuable. It contains more of vernacular Scotch than the Chronicles,
which appear, in some instances, to have been contaminated by the adoption of Latin phraseology,' and perhaps, too, by the emendations of a printer accustomed
to the language of England. The present work is besides, unquestionably, one of the first versions of a Roman Classic executed in Britain. Its intrinsic merit
equals its antiquity. In rendering the animated descriptions of Livy's picturedpage, the Translator evinces all
the imagination and vigour of a writer, untrammelled

' It was no uncommon thing, in the days of Bellenden, to find an
author apologizing for using the domestic Scottis langage, maist intelligiblefor the vulgare pepil. Vid. Complaynt of Scotland.

NOTICE.

by the necessity of adopting the thoughts and sentiments of another. He has not considered it necessary
implicitly to follow the original; but if the structure
of the Roman Historian's sentences is occasionally departed from, the spirit of his narrative is invariably
preserved. This power offree translationimplies, on
the part of Bellenden, a very intimate knowledge of
the Latin language, and entitles us to conclude, that
his classical attainments must have been of the highest
order. He flourished, indeed, during the brightest
era of Scottish literature. In the court of James the
Fifth, the most honourable rewards were bestowed
upon literary eminence, and of these inducements to
excel, Bellenden appears to have successfully availed
himself.
The First Five Books of Livy embrace a very interesting period of Roman story, and the enumeration
of Henry Peacham will guide the reader to some
of the most striking passages in Bellenden's Translation. " Titus Livius, like a milky fountain, you shall
everywhere find flowing, with such elegant sweetness,
such banquet-like variety, that you should imagine
other authors did but bring your mouth out of taste.
In his first Decad, you have the coming of .Xneas into
Italy-the building of Rome-the first choice of the
Senate-the religious rites of Numa-the brave combate of the Horatii and Curatii-thetyranny of Tarquine---the rape of Lucrece by Sexctus, his sonne-and

NOTICE.

xi

first Consuls created."
To these may be added, the
desolation of Alba Longa-the description of ane agit
man, elrage and wild with long years of imprisonment
-the exile of Coriolanus-the story of Virginia-the
battle of Allia--the seige and burning of Rome by the
Gauls-and the victories of Camillus, which, as a series
of historical pictures, cannot be too highly extolled.
The passages in the original must be in the recollection
of every scholar.2
Bellenden prefixed a poetical Proloug to his Translation of Livy, which has been printed in the present
publication, but which does not appear to possess any
peculiar merit. It has been elsewhere remarked, that
the principal interest of this piece consists in representing James the Fifth as an active patron of his native literature.3
The last chapter of the Translation,4 and the lines
with which the volume concludes, appear to be in the

1 The Compleat Gentleman, p. 47.
2 Lib. I. cap. 29. Lib. II. cap. 2S.-cap. 35, et seq.-cap. 44. 48.Lib. V. cap. 38. et seq.
SIntroduction to the Chronicles of Scotland, p. 45.
4 B. V. cap. 25.

xii

NOTICE.

handwriting of Alexander Hume. It is not improbable, that this may have been the individual who was
Rector of the High School of Edinburgh from 1596
to 1606, when he was admitted to the management of
the Grammar School at Prestonpans. Among his other
qualifications he was a poet, and a particular account
of his writings may be found in Dr M'Crie's valuable
Life of Andrew Melville.
With the exception of a Poem upon the Conception
of Christ, preserved in the Hyndford Manuscript, but
certainly not worthy of publication, the present volume, along with the Chronicles of Scotland, forms a
complete collection of the works of Bellenden which
are extant.

TRADUCTIOUN OF TITUS LIVIUS,

BE MAISTER JOHNNE BALLANTYNE,

ARCHDEN OF MURRAY.

A'ere

e grnintz tfitjc

votoug

apoun t j~ tabutionn of Q1ittu 1
c

of
att jt n e
J

a

RMIPOTENT Lady Bellona serene,
Goddes of wisdome, and jeoperdyis of were,
Sister of Mars, and ledare of his rene,
And of his batallis awfull

messingere;

Thy werelike trumpett thounder in mine ere,
The horribill battellis, and' the bludy harmes,
To write of Romanis, the nobil men of armes.
And bricht Appollo, with thy cours eterne,
That makis the frutis' spring on every' ground,
And with thy michty influence dois governe
The twinkland sternis about the mappamound ;
Thy firy visage on my vers diffound,
And quikin the spretis of my dull ingine,
With rutiland bemes of thy low divine,

iv

THE PROLOUG.
And ye, my Soverane, be line continewall,
Ay cum of kingis youre progenitouris,
And writis, in ornate stile poeticall,
Quik-flowand vers, of rethorik cullouris,
Sa freschlie springand in youre lusty flouris,
To the gret comfort of all trew Scottismen;
Be now my muse, and ledare of my pen.
That be youre helpe, and favoure gracius,
I may be abill, as ye commandit me,
To follow the prince of storie, Livius,
Quhais curious ressouns tonit ar so hie,
And every sens sa full of majeste,
That so he pass uther stories all,
As silver Diane dois the sternis small.
And schortlie for to tell I will assay,
How sobirly begouth the Romane blude;
Thare commoun weill augmentand day be day,
And mony yeris under kingis stude;
And syne how thay proude Terquine did exclude,
With tyrannye quhen he abone thame rang,
And all his linnage out of thare ciete dang.
And than how stoutlie Brutus was providit,
And gart the pepill with michty aithis swere,
Never with kingis eftir to be gidit,
Bot with two consullis, changit every yere.
And quhen maist troubill and perrell did appere,
How thay create ane prudent dictatoure,
Onlie sex monethis to be governoure.

THE PROLOUG.
Followis, how Romanis to the Grekis went,
And brocht ten tabillis of thare constitutiounis;
And becaus the samin was nocht sufficient
Of every douttis to gif decisiounis,
With two uthir tablis thay made addiciounis.
Thir twelf tablis, as the story schawis,
War the first foundment of the civill lawis.
Apperis be sindry boundis of this storie,
That na thing in the hicht is permanent,
Nor in the samin may have tranquillite.
For as of Rome the empire and regiment
Fra Romane kingis unto consullis went;
Sa fra the consullis, be ane uncouth gise,
It come to ten men, on the samin wise.
Thir ten men, eftir thare creacioun,
Renowne and favoure of all the ciete gat;
And doand justice but appellacioun,
Thare cours about on every mater sat:
Quhil at the last thay war exterminat,
For siclike crimis as the kingis did.
Thus the empire agane to consullis yeid.
Sa knichtly dedis, in bukis historiall,
Sall never be fundin quhil the warld induris;
Seand how fortoun rollis, as ane ball,
The liffe of man with sindry aventuris;
And how the state of mortall creaturis
Has nevir mare knawlage, as mine auctor beris,
Of suddand fall, than quhen it leist apperis.

vi

THE PROLOUG.
Quhat realmes and cieteis, for falt of justice, lost;
Quhat vailyeand campiounis, and dukis militare,
For falt of wisdome, bene tint, with all thare oist,
Mine auctor schewis; and sum time will declare
The dammage of divisioun populare,
Quhilk haistelie, quhare na concorde is socht,
The commoun weill resolvis into nocht.
Be mony exemplis dois this storie preif,
Of tressoun, falsett, and rebellioun,
The finale end is nothing bot mischefe:
And as na wrangis nor injure war done
Amang the Romanis but punicioun,
Richt so ye may into thare storie rede,
Conding rewarde for every nobil dede.
Of awfull batallis, the crafty governance,
The wise array, the manlie jeoperdie,
Ye may find here, with mony doutsum chance,
Als quik as thay war led afore your ee.
Ye may also, be mony stories, see
Quhat besines may proffitt or avance
Youre princely state, with ferme continuance.
Considder of Romanis, in all thare time bywent,
Baith wikkit fortune and prosperiteis;
Nocht fell to thame, quhen thay war necligent
In divine service, bot trubil and distres;
And be the contrare, ye sall find expres,
Quhen thay relligious and devote war found,
All welth and grace, with honour, did habound.

THE PROLOUG.
Ye may als se how goddis did invade
The Romane pepil with derth and pestilence,
Becaus thare sacrifice war nocht deulie made,
As aucht to be, with glore and reverence;
Syne how of goddis the cruell violence,
Be erdly wit couth never be pecifyit,
Quhil be sum meretis thare ire war satifyit.
Throw quhilk apperis ane notable doctrine
To us that: hes the trew relligioun,
To mak us fervent in the law divine,
And for offence to drede punicioun;
Sen sic vane faith and superstitioun
Preservit the pepill, quhen it was deuly servit,
Fra every vengeance that thare sin deservit.
To schaw all proffittis I wil nocht pretend,
Quhilk the first decade of this werk dois bere;
For thocht I spendit ane monetht to the end,
Thare suld yit rest ane largeare feild til ere,
Than all my pleuch micht teill into ane yere;
For in quhat sorte your Hien es will delite,
Ye may gett stories to youre appetite,
Richt proffittabill till underminde youre fais,
And for to lere the arte of chevelrie;
Seand how Romanis, be thair vertew, rais
Abone all pepill in riches, honeste,
Relligioun, manhede, witt, and equite;
And, finalie, how thay all cuntreis wan
Be jeoperdeis abone ingine of man.

Vii

viii

THE PROLOUG.
And war sa strang, that na thing micht doun cast
Thare soverane pouer, nor mak the samin decline,
War nocht thair rageit on thameself at last,
With civil batellis, and weris intestine:
Bot I wil na thing schew of thair rewine,
For that war nocht the way, I understand,
To dant the province quhilk I tuke on hand.
For I intend of this difficill werk
To mak ane end, or I my lauboure stint:
War nocht the passage and stremes ar sa stark,
Quhare I have salit full of crag and clint,
That ruddir and takillis of my schip ar tint;
And thus my schip, without ye mak supporte,
Wil peris lang or it cum to the porte.

trr

tbioOr

Jrp

uj

HERE BEGINNIS THE PREFACE, MAID. BE
THE NOBILL CLERKE, TITUS LIVIUS,
PRINCE OF HISTORIOGRAPHOURIS,
APOUN THE FIRST DECADE FRA THE
BEGINNING OF ROME.

WATE

first

"j'%
-~-I

''')
''

' '

I

nocht gif I war to do ane proffitabil

werk, gif I wrate the dedis of Romanis, sen
the
beginning of Rome ; peradventure,
dar nocht write the samin, thocht I could.
And yit I se these werkis, of, lang beginning
and

sicht,

authouris

divulgat' to the

belevis, ilk day

pepill; sen,

now,

outhir to write the

said history with more faith and sikkernes, or
ellis, be. thair crafty eloquence, traistis to vincus the rude langage of
anciant autbouris, in quhatsumevir- way it sail happin. It will pleis
me to have pastance and consolatioun with myself, to have in memorie the illuster and worthy dedis of that pepil, quhilk is the prince
of the world. And thocht, in sic pluralitie of writeris, my fame is
obscure, and of litill estimacioun ; yit I sail comforte myself in the
nobilite and magnitude of thare renoun, that sail noy my name.
Attoure, the historie of Romanis is of gret besines, becaus it is now
to be repetit abone sevin hundreth yeris. And thocht the Empire of

THE PREFACE.
Romanis is procedit of smal beginning, yit it is incresit and risin in
sic magnificence and hicht, that the samin is chargeand and lauborius to thameself.
I dout nocht bot the beginning of Romanis, and the historyis
nixt following, fra thair beginning, sall be of les plesour to the
redaris than recent historyis, becaus thay will haisty thameself to
here thir novelties and recent dedis done in our dayis: in quhilkis
the strenthis of the maist strang pepill in erde has devorit and
consumit thameself. On the tothir parte, I wil desire na thing
erare in reward of my laubouris, than to subtract me fra sicht of sic
miseryis as oft occuris into oure dayis, quhil I may rehers in minde
the antiquiteis of mony yeris departit; quharethrow I may be sa
void of curis, that howbeit the samin may mak my minde full of
solicitude, yit thay may na thing divert me fra the treuth of historie.
And thocht sic thingis as bene schewin afore the beginning of Rome,
or sen it was biggit, be decorit mair be poeticall fabillis, than ony
incorruppit testimonial of trew historie; yit the samin ar nouther to
be affirmit nor reprevit be us: for sic thingis suld be pardonit, be
ressoun of thair antiquiteis; becaus thay fabillis, in discriving the
beginning of Romanis, wald mak the samin the mair divine and mervellus, that the power of man is supportit be commixtioun of goddis.
Attoure, gif it be lefull to ony pepill to consecrate thair beginning,
and' to refer thair progenitouris to goddis, sic glore micht weil be
gevin to Romanis; for thay had Mars, the god of battall, to thair
progenitoure and first beginnare. All pepill sustenis thir opiniounis,
on the samin maner as thay sustene the Empire of Romanis. Bot
yit, in quhatsumevir way thir and sic opiniounis ar considerit or
belevit, we hald thaim of litil fors. Now, every redare gif his minde,
with vehement attendance, to knaw quhat maneris has bene afore
this time amang the Romanis; be quhat pepill, be quhat crafty inginis, the Empire of Romanis has bene conquest and eikit, baith in
weir and pece, to thir dayis; and consider in his minde, how sleuthfull war the maneris of Romanis, quhen morall disciplinis began to
failye; and how, the mair thay slaid fra gude maneris and doctrine,
thay ran the mair feirslie into every vice, quhil at last it is cummin
to thir dayis: inquhilkis we may nouthir suffir oure vices nor lawis
to remeid the samin.

THE PREFACE.

proffittable

Yit ane thing sail be richt hailsum and
to ye, that
happinnis to have cognicioun of this historie; seing the documentis
of sa mony illuster and nobil examplis, as ar colleckit here togiddir
under ane historie: quharethrow you may do grete conmoditeis,
baith to thyself and commoun weil;sum.times lerand sic doctrinis
as you may use eftir in thy life; and sumtimes lerand to eschew all
thingis quhilkis hes baith ane schamefull beginning and ane schame..
full ending. And forthir, outhir the affectioun that I beare to this
present besines dissavis me, or ellis thare was nevir ciete that had
thair commoun weil of mair renoun, of mair halines, nor mair riche
of gude examplis, than was the toun of Rome. Attoure, thare was
nevir pepil in quhilkis avarice and licherie gate later incres, nor in
quhilk hie renowne and honoure war gevin sa lang to temperance
and poverte; for the mair poverte thay had, the les avarice was with
thame: quhil now, latelie, riches and superaboundant plesouris has
brocht in avarice, and gevin occasioun, be voluptuous leving, to deyore and consume every thing.
The deploratioun of sic miseryis wil nocht be plesand, suppois the
time wes necessar thairto ; for sic thingis suld nocht be rehersit at
the beginning of this grete werk, bot erare to convert oure prayeris,
be imitacioun of poetis, to implore, with solemne cerimonyis, the
favour of goddis ; and goddis to grant me ane happy ending to the
beginning of this grete werk.

Were

tUbt0

te r

fate of

Cituoihtu0,

apoun btnc

t~rot 3$ukt, fra tfje betuutn~ of 3tonte; anb
bett t ti !torte+

HERE BEGINNIS THE

FIRST BUKE

OF

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP I.
How Eneas and Antenor come in Italy, eftir the eversioun of Troy.
How Antenor foundit Venis; and how Eneas foundit Lavine,
and was alliat with King Latine. Of his sindry aventuris, and
deith'
N the beginning, it is patent eneuch, quhen
Troy' was takin, that the Grekis slew mony of
the cieteyanis thairof. Two princis war in this
ciete, Antenor and Eneas, quhom the Grekis,
l I
be riclit of anciant lugeing, nocht invadit with
I i
battall ; for thir princes war compositouris of
pece, and lauborit to restore Helene agane to
:_
Grekis : and, for thir caussis, war sufferit to
departe, with thair body and gudis saif. It is als knawin, that
brokin be sindry aventuris, in the nmaist inwart partis of the
.

'

1'

tenor,

Adriaykis seyis,

An-

having with him ane multitude of pepill callit He-

nettis,. quhilkis, be seditioun falling amang thameself, war doung
out of Papblagone, thair ciete, and constranit to seik ane new, governoure and dwelling-place ; for thair king, Philome, was slane
at Troy.

THE FIRST BUKE.
Antenor, eftir his cuming in Italy, with thir Henettis and Trojanis, ejekkit the auld inhabitantis thairof, namit Eugonis, dwelland
that time betwix the seyis, and the montanis of Italy, callit Alpes.
Antenor, with thir Henettis and Trojanis, eftir the expulsioun of
Eugonis, tuke reall possessioun of all thair landis and gudis. The
place in quhilk thay come first, was namit be thame Troy; bot it
wes callit eftir Pagus, that is to say, ane landwart towne; syne callit
baith the pepill under ane name, Venecianis. It is als patent, how
Eneas fugitive fra his ciete, on the samin maner: howbeit, the weirdis
led him to the beginning of greter renoun and pepill; come first in
Macedonia, and, to seik ane dwelling-place, wes eftir drevin in Sicill;
and come eftir, with ane grete navy, in the cuntre of Laurence, and
namit the place quhare he first landit Troy, and all his pepill Trojanis. Thir Trojanis, brokin with lang travell in thair viage, eftir
thair cummin in the said land, becaus na thing was than restand
amang thame, saiffing thair municioun and armoure, tuke ane large
pray out of the landis of Laurence, to refresche thair wery pepill.
In the mene time, King Latine of Laurence assemblit the auld
inhabitantis of his realme, namit Aborigines, armit in thair maist
werelie ordinance, to repress the violent incursioun of thir strangeris.
Sindry opiniounis ar in this mater. Sum historianis allegeis that
King Latine was vincust be Eneas in batall, and constranit, thairthrow, to gif his dochter Lavinia, the heretour of his realme, in
mariage to the said Eneas; and maid pece with him be this affinite.
Utheris allegis, quhen baith the armyis stude arrayit in utheris sicht,
afore the trumpettis gaif signe to june, that King Latine drew Eneas,
governour of thir strangearis, to ane freindlie commoning, and demandit him quhat pepil thay war than present in his cumpany, how,
and be quhat aventure thay left thair native cuntre, and quhat thay
desirit or socht in his landis of Laurens. At last, King Latine,
herand thame Trojanis, and cummin within his landis with grete
pussance and multitude of pepil; and how thair prince, Eneas, was
the son of Anchises and Venus, banist, and his ciete brint, and sekand ane place to big ane toun; and fra he considerit the grete nobilite of his pepill, and his curage, of himself reddy to al aventuris,
baith in were and pece; he tuke trewis with the said Eneas, promitting to gif his dochter Lavinia in mariage to him.

6

TITUS LIVIUS.

Sone eftir, thir twa princes war confiderat, and generall concorde
maid betwix thair pepil. Than Eneas was ressavit in lugeing with
King Latine, and, in presence of his familiar goddis, ressavit Lavinia, his dochter, in mariage, in takin of perpetuall amite. This new
affinite and concorde gaif ferme esperance to Trojanis, to finis al
thair errouris with ane stabill and sikker dwelling. Sone eftir, thay
biggit ane toune, quhilk was namit Lavinium, eftir the name of
Eneas wiffe.
Eneas, within schort time following, had ane son, gottin be his
new affinite, namit Ascaneus. And, nochtwithstanding this new
affinite, lang weris continewit betwix thir Trojanis and Aborigines;
for Turnus, King of Rutules, to quhom Lavinia was hecht in mariage, afore the cummin of Eneas in Italy, was richt impacient to
sufir ane strangeare to be preferrit to him; and, for that caus, inva.
dit King Latine and Eneas with batall, baith at anis. Nane of thir
partyis war glaid of the chancis falling be this fechting; for the
Rutules war vincust: and thocht thir Trojanis and Aborigines war
victorius, yit thay tint King Latine; for he was slane in the said
batall.
Than Turnus and the Rutules, disparit of releif, fled to Mezentius, King of Hetruria, to get support of his maist riche and pussant
pepill, the Hethruschis. This Mezentius, regriand in his toun of
Ceres, than flowand in hie prosperite and riches, was na thing content of the suspicius rising of this new toun of Lavine; traisting the
commoun well of Trojanis to rise haistelie of sic firmance, that na
sikker rest nor felicite micht stand to thair nichtbouris: and, for
that caus, Mezentius was confiderate lichtlie with the Rutuleis.
Than Eneas, to resist the rage and terroure of sa pussant enemyis,
and to conques the mair hartlie kindenes of the auld inhabitantis of
that regioun, callit baith thaim and the Trojanis under ane name
of Latinis; to that fyne, that baith the pepill suld meres togidder,
under ane minde and lawis. Fra that furth, thir Aborigines concurrit with Eneas in all aventuris, in na les faith and ferme societe
than did the Trojanis.
Eneas, confiding in the curage of thir two pepill, incressit ilk day
in mair riches and strenth. Howbeit, the realme of Hethruschis
flowit in sic felicite and welth, that thair gret senyeorie fillit baith

THE- FIRST BUKE.
seyis and landis, fra the montanis namit Alpes, and land Italie, unto
Sicill, with the renoun thairof. Yit Eneas, suppois he micht have
resistit the incursioun of thir maist strang pepil, be onliemunitiounis
and wallis of his new toun he, brocht furth the pepil arrayit to the
campis, to gif battal to all invasouris. This batall was richt fortunat to Latinis, and wes the last of all Eneas mortale laubouris; for
the Hethruschis war vincust, and Eneas slane in it, and buryit beside the river of Numik.
With quhatsumevir name it is lefull to call him, he wes haldin be
the pepil for Jupiter Indiges, and ekit to the noumer of goddis.

CAP. II.
Of Ascanius empire, ftir the deith of Eneas and how hefoundit
the Ciete of lba. Of the langposteritesuccedingftir him.:how
Romulus and Remus slew thair ewe Amulius, and restorit Num?tor, thairgudschir, to his realme.
I

I

ScANIUs, eftir the deith of Eneas, was, be his minorite,

JII
J~ftJIremanit

nocht ganand to succede to his empire.

Howbeit, it

The

bail to his age of xiv- yeris.
realme of
Latinis and Trojanis was swiflt to this childe Ascanius,
be prudent tutorie of Lavinia,
-moder, ine quhom grete vertew

L~J

his

habouiidit.

Quha may sikkerlie afferme sa-renmote and uncouth historie?--I
wil. nocht dispute gif this Ascanius- wes mair agit than to be gottin
on Lavinia. He was gottin, as sum belevis, on Crusa, the spous of.
Eneas, mony yeris afore the exterminioun of Troy ; and come, with
his fader, as fugitive and, companyeoun in all his aventuris, namit
Julius ; fra quhom the hous of Julius tuke beginning. Trew it is,
that Ascaneus, in quhatsumevir place, or on quhatsumnevir woman
he wes gottin, wes the son of Eneas.
And, becaus he saw the toun of Lavine fluris in grete felicite, be
fouth of men arid riches, he left the samin to be inhabit be his moder,
or ellis his stepmoder, Lavinia ; and, in

assurance of greter felicite,

8

TITUS LIVIUS.

he beildit ane uthir new toun, under the fute of Mont Albane. This
toun, becaus it wes mair extendit to the lenth than brede, wes callit
Lang Alba. Fra the beginning of Lavine to the beginning of Alba,
the colony and pendikillis thairof, war xxx yeris.
Thir tounis, Lavine and Alba, incressit togidder in sic affluence
of men and riches, specially eftir this huge victorie gottin on Mezentius and Hethruschis, that nothir the said Hethruschis, nor yit ony
uthir pepil, had audacite to invaid thame in the deith of Eneas, nor
in the tutorie of Lavinia, nor yit in the first yeris of Ascaneus em.
pire; for sic pece wes maid betwix the Hethruschis and Latinis, that
the river of Albula, quhilk is now callit Tiber, wes equale marche
to thame baith.
Eftir Ascaneus, succedit his son Silvius, quhilk wes borne be aventure in ane wod. Silvius had to his son Eneas Silvius, succeding
eftir him. Eneas Silvius gat Latinus Silvius; fra quhom mony smal
cieteis tuke beginning, quhais inhabitantis war callit The Anciant
Latinis. Silvius wes the commoun surname to all thame, quhilk,
eftir the deith of Latinus Silvius, succedit to the empire of Alba.
Eftir Latinus Silvius, succedit his son Alba Silvius. Eftir Alba,
succedit Atis; eftir Atis, succedit Capis; and eftir Capis, rang Ca.
petus; and eftir Capetus, rang Tiberinus, quhilk passand ouir the
river of Albula, perist: throw quhilk, the river wes callit, eftir his
name, Tiber. Eftir Tiberinus, succedit Agrippa Silvius; and eftir
Agrippa, rang Romulus Silvius, and resignit the crown to his son
Aventine: quhilk Aventine wes slane be thunder, on ane litill montane, quhilk is now ane parte of Rome; be quhom the said montane
wes, eftir, callit Aventine. Eftir the deith of Aventine, succedit
his son Proca, quhilk had twa sonnis, Numitor and Amulus. This
Proca left in legacy to Numitor, becaus he wes the eldest son, the
kingdome of the hous and linage of Silvius. Yit the preis and violence of tyranny wes mair pussant in this mater, than ony reverence
of age or faderly piete; for Amulus banist his brothir, and usurpit
the crown be force: and, to eik ilk cruelte abone uthir, he slew all
the linage-mail of his brothir; traisting, thairthrow, to regne in
quiet, but ony eftir-clame. Syne tuke his brothir dochter, namit
Rhea, and profest hir as ane nun, in the tempil of Vesta, goddes of
chaistite; under cullour, to decore hir with solemne religioun: how-

THE FIRST BUKE.
beit, his purpois wes, that, be hir perpetual virginite, the successioun
of hir body suld aluterly expire.
Yit, as I beleif, the beginning of Rome, the maist pussant kingdome, under the power of goddis, wes thirllit to distanie and fatale
chance of weirdis. This Rhea happinnit to be deflorit of hir virginite, and brocht atanis to the licht, twa twinnis, namit, eftir, Romulus and Remus. Allwayis scho held Mars, the god of batall, to be
fader to hir sonnis: uncertane quhidder scho fermelie traistit sa wes
as scho imaginit, or gif scho thocht Mars micht be the mair honest
excuse for the offence maid aganis hir religioun. Yit nothir the fere
of goddis nor men micht deliver hir nor hir sonnis fra tyranny of
Amulus; for scho, nochtwithstanding the reverence of hir religioun,
wes cassin in presoun, quhare scho sone eftir deceissit: and hir sonnis
war commandit, but ony miseratioun, to be cassin in Tiber. This
river, be Divine purviance, wes yett furth with large flude abone
the brayis, in sic maner, that na men micht have passage to the streme
or justi bankis thairof. Yit it gaif sic esperance to the bureouris,
quhilkis bure the barnis to the river, that thay traistit, howbeit thay
kest thame in the schald watter thairof, yit thay suld peris. Thir
bureouris, traisting to haif done sufficient be thair devore, kest baith
the barnis in ane pule within the flude-mark. The place quhare
thir barnis war cassin to be perist, is now callit Ficus Ruminalis;
quhare grete wildernes and desertis war in thay dayis. The fame
is, quhen the river wes fallin to the auld marchis, ane wolf, richt
thristy eftir chais of beistis, discendit fra the montanis to the said
rivere, and, be skirl of thir barnis, come to the samin place quhare
thay war cassin to be perist, all ouircoverit, saiffand thair hedis, with
watter. And, be Divine Providence, this wolf shew hir sa meik to
thir barnis, that the master scheipherd, Fastulus, fand hir nocht alanerly gevand thame souke with her pappis, bot als likkand thame
with hir toung. This herd, movit be pietuous commiseratioun,
brocht hame thir barnis to be nurist be his wife, niamit Laurence.
Sum haldis this Laurence, becaus hir body wes commoun to lust of
men, wes callit Lupa, quhilk, in our langage, is ane wolf: throw
quhilk, it is fenyeit be poetis, that thir barnis war nurist be ane
wolf.

10

TITUS LIVIUS.

In quhatsumevir way thay war nurist, treuth is, fra thay come
to strenth and perfectioun of yeris, thay micht nothir be haldin at
vile nor small laubouris; bot, be innative ferocite, sum times, quhen
thay kepit thair bestiall, thay chasit and slew ravenis beistis: arid,
nocht satisfyit with sic besines, slew and tuke, be frequent incursiounis, sindrie strang thevis of the cuntre, quhilkis war accustomit
to invaid the herdis thairof; and, to conques the mair benivolence
of thair companyeounis, thay devidit the pray and spuleyeis, quhilkis
war takin fra the saidis theiffis, amang the remanent herdis of that
regioun.
Schortlie, be sindry cumpanyis of feris and young cumpanyeounis
daly assisting to thair opinioun, thay had exercitioun als weil in
merines as in uthir mair ernest gamin. And, to mak thair lauboris succede with mair felicite, thay maid solemne feistis, eftir
thair usage, on ane montane namit Palentine. This montane wes
namit Palantium, fra Palenteum, ane toun of Archadie; bot, eftir
that, wes callit Palentine. Under the fute of this montane, wes ane
den, or ellis ane vale, namit Lupercall, dedicat to Pan, god of Archadie, be King Evander, quhilk rang mony yeris abone the pepil of
that regioun. Be this Evander wes institut ane sportsum play, that
young men suld rin nakit, in thair lust and insolence, to wourschip
Pan Liceus, the foresaid god of Archadie, quhilk, eftir, wes callit
Inuus be the Romanis.
Quhen the young men of this cuntre war rinnand, eftir thair gise,
in veneracioun of the said Pan, god of Archadie; ane buschement
of brigantis lay in wate, with grete hatrent, aganis Romulus and
Remus, for the recovering of divers prayisof gudis fra thame. And
thocht Romulus eschapit, be his singulare manhede; yit thay tuke
Remus, and deliverit him, as presoner, to Amulius, saying he wes
ane theif, and, be assistence of uthir limmaris his companyeounis,
waistit and reft the landis of Numitor, the kingis brother. Thus
wes Remus gevin to Numitor, to be punist.
Now, had Fastulus gude cognossance that Romulus and Remus,
and blude-riall; for
quhilkis war nurist be him, war of the
he knew weill how thay war commandit to be drownit, and saw the
time of thair finding and date of yeris aggreand togidder: howbeit,
he wald nocht open ane haisty and unprovisit mater, les than he war

linage

THE FIRST BUiKE.

11

constranit be necessite; or ellis had fundin sufficient occasioun to
reveil the samin. Alwayis sic necessite occurrit, that he, for fere of
Remus life, opinnit this mater to Romulus, and, on the samin maner,
opinnit this mater to Numitor: quhilk havand the said Remus in
presoun, and herand how he and his brothir Romulus war twinnis,
and thair age respondent to the samin date, and supputacioun of
yeris, in quhilkis thay war devisit to be slane; and finding thaim of
hieare curage and sprete than apperis with men of vile and obscure
linage; come haistelie to his minde the memorie of his nevois, and
seirchit, finalie, the mater sa fer, that he knewe, almaist perfitelie,
Remus. Thus wes ane conspiracioun maid on ilk side aganis the
King Amulius.
Romulus, seand himself nocht party to invaid the king be opin
violence, come nocht with ane cumpany of armit men at anis, bot
traistit his freindis and companyeounis to mete him, ilk man cummand ane sindrie gate, at the palace of Amulius, agane ane certane
houre, Remus, supportit with na litill garnisoun be his gudeschir
Numitor, met Romulus at the samin place, at time affixt; and, be
this slicht, slew thair eme Amulius.
Numitor, herand the suddane effray, said to
his folkis, that sum
inemyis had invadit the toun; and, be that occasioun, gaderit haistelie ane strang band of armit men, as he wald haif passit to defend
the king and palace fra incursioun of all ennimes. And quhen he
wes enriterit in the castell, and saw his nevois, eftir the slauchter, returning with rejosit visage to him; he callit the pepill, haistelie, to
ane counsall, and began to schaw, baith the cruelte of his bruther
aganis him, and the mervellus and wounderfull beginning of his twa
nevois; how thay war gottin and nurist, and in quhat maner thay
war first knawin to him: and eftir this, schew the slauchter of the
tyrane Amulius, grantand him, be opin confessioun, the slaare thareof. And, in the middis of his orisoun, enterit Romulus and Remus,
with ane band of armit men, and salute thair gudeschir Numitor as
king. Than the remanent pepill did salute and ratify him king, on
the samin maner.

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP.

III.

How Rome wes foundit. Of the slauchter of Remus. How Cacus
wes slane be Hercules,for steling of
ky. Of the
dedicat be Evander to the said Hercules.
how Romulus maid
lawis to governe his pepil injustice.

his

o

And

sacrifice

the crowne of Alba wes restorit to Numitor in
this maner, Romulus and Remus tuke purpois to edifie
ane ciete in the Gamin place quhare thay war cassin to
0
o dangeir, and nurist.
Than war with Romulus and Remus, grete confluence baith of
Latinis and Albanis, assemblit togidder, with mony uthir herdis,
thair companyeounis. All thir pepil, under ane
and esperance, traistit fermelie the townis of Lavine and Alba to be of litill
estimacioun, in respect of this towne quhilk wes to be edifyit. Fob
lowit, be thir slichtis, the samin displesour that Numitor, thair gudeschir, sustenit afore; that is to say, avarice and desire of kingdome.
UHEN

minde

Succedit, finalie, ane schameful debait, rasit fra ane richt pure be-

ginning ; for sen. thir brethir war twinnis, the decisioun of thair
richtis micht nocht follow be reverence of age. And, for thir res.
sounis, it wes statute, to explore and serche the mindis of thair
goddis, in quhais tutorie thay 'placis war dedicat, be auguris and
divinacioun of foulis,' quhilkis of thir two brethir sail put name to
this toune, and rejose the senyeorie of the pepill. thairof in times
cummin. Romulus went to Mont Palentine, and Remus to Mont
Aventine, to mak thair templis thairon, and to haif knawlege of thair
desiris be auguris and divinacioun of foulis. Apperit to Remus sex
grapis, afore ony foul aperit to Romulus ; and quhen he had schawin
the samin, apperit to Romulus xii grapis.
Als sone as thir brethir had schawin thir auguries, every ane of
thame war salute king be thair favoraris and freindis. The freindis
of Remus allegit that he suld regne ; for he wes preferrit to Romulus be priority of time, for he saw first sex grapis. On the tothir

THE FIRST BUKE.

13

side wes allegit, that Romulus suld regne be pluralite of noumer, for
he saw xii grapis. Be thir contenciounis, thir brethir rais ilk day
in gret hatrent, persewing uthir with maist cruelte and slauchter.
At last, thay met togidder at ane skarmusche, in quhilk Remus alwayis wes slane. The opinioun mair vulgare is, that Remus, in
derisioun of his brothir, past ouir the new wallis of this toun, and
wes slane thairfore be Romulus, rageand that time in maist ire; to
certifye the pepil, that every uthir persoun that past ouir his wallis
suld be slane in the samin maner. Thus succedit Romulus, but ony
colleig, to the haill empire of this new toun; and namit the samin,
fra his name, Rome.
Sic thingis done, he garnist Mont Palentine, quhare he wes nurist,
with strang munitioun; syne maid sacrifice to the grete Hercules,
in the samin gise as thay war institute be King Evander, the fore
said King of Archadie: and eftir that, he maid sacrifice to the remanent goddis, on the Albane wise.
Sum men sayis, that Hercules, eftir the slauchter of Gereon, draif
in thir boundis fore plesand kye, of maist plesand bewte. And, becaus he wes sowpit with lang travel, he lay doun in ane hailsum and
plentuus gers, beside the river of Tiber, nocht far fra the samin
place quhare he swam ouir the said river with his beistis, to refresche
thaim with the battell gers thairof. This Hercules, eftir that he wes
fillit with surfett mete and wines, fell on ane hevy slepe. And in
the mene time, ane herd of that cuntre, namit Cacus, cruell and
richt strang of body, wes sa ravist with the bewtie of thir kye, that
he pullit ane certane of thame, quhilkis war farest and of maist bewtie, bakwartis, be the talis, inhis cove; for gif he had drevin thaim
to his cove, thair futesteppis wald haif schewin to Hercules to quhat
place thay war brocht.
Hercules arelie awalkinnit, on the nixt morow, out of his slepe.
Eftir he had vesyit his flok, and found ane large parte of thaim absent, past to the nixt cove, to espy gif he could finde thair ony futesteppis of his ky. And becaus he saw the futesteppis fordwart apperandlie, as certane beistis had be cum fra that cove, he wes confusit, and nocht knawand in his minde quhat wes to be done, and
began to drive away the residew of his beistis fra that noisum pasture. And last, quhen Hercules wes drivand the saidis ky by the

14

TITUS LIVIUS.

cove, ane certane of thaim lowit, be desire to haif thair marrowis.
The ky quhilkis war stollin, and inclusit within the said cove, lowit
agane on the samin maner, and causit Hercules to returne haistely
to the said cove. Cacus seand him cum, maid him, with grete minassing, to defend the said cove, and schoutit on the remanent herdis
and pepill of that cuntre to assist to his defence. Nochttheles, Hercules slew him with his mais.
King Evander, fugitive fra Peloponeso, ane province of Grece,
governit thir boundis in thay dayis, mair be autorite than ony empire, and wes haldin in veneracioun for his letteris, quhilkis war ane
new and uncouth thing amang the rude and uncrafty pepill of that
regioun. Bot, yit, he wes haldin in mair honoure and veneracioun
amang thame, for the prophecy and divinacioun of his moder Carpenta, quhom the pepill held in na litill admiratioun, afore the cumming of Sibilla in Italie.
This Evander assemblit haistelie the herdis and pepill of that regioun, to revenge the slauchter of Cacus, sa pertlie committit. Nochtheles, quhen he understude clerelie the maner of his slauchter, with
the hie offence and tressoun committit be him, and had vesyit the
habit, forme, and contenance of Hercules, apperand of mair devine
and hevinlie stature than wes sene with erdlie creaturis, he began to
demand him quhat he wes. Als sone as he wes advertist of his
name, his fader and cuntre, he fell on kneis, and said, " Haill, Her" cules, the son of Jupiter ! my moder Carpenta, the trew interpre' tour of devine mysteries, revelit to me, that yow suld eik the nou" mer of goddis; and schew, that here sall be dedicat to the, ane
"alter, quhilk sum time the maist riche pepil in erde sal haif in
"reverence, makand on it yerelie sacrifice, to thy honoure and lov" ing."

Als sone as this altare wes erekkit and dedicat on this wise, Hercules embrasit Evander, and said he acceppit the wordis, and suld
fulfill all destinyis, as his moder Carpenta divinit. And incontinent, the maist excellent and lusty kow, chosin amang the residewe
of his flok, wes slane in sacrifice to Hercules. And, to mak this
sacrifice, war brocht two pepil, that ane Poticianis, and this uthir
Pinarianis, discending of twa maist riche and illuster houssis of that

THE FIRST BUKE.

15

cuntre. It happinnit sa, that thir Paticianis war present and reddy
with all cerimonyis effering to the sacrifice; and quhen thay had
etin all the bowellis of this sacrifice, comperit the Pinarianis, to eit
of the remanent meit thairof. And for that caus, it wes commandit
be Hercules, sa lang as the Pinarianis war on life, nane of thame,
nor thair linnage, suld eit of the solemne bowellis of ony sacrifice.
The Paticianis, lernit to mak sacrifice in this wise, be King Evander, war, mony yeris eftir, maist happy bischoppis, quhil at last the
solemne office pertening to thair linage wes gevin to public servandis: throw quhilk, al the linnage of Paticianis sone eftir failyeit.
Thir sacrificis onely ressavit Romulus, of all the uthiris solemniteis
quhilkis war that time accustomit in the warld.
This Romulus, cloithit with vertew of immortalite, to quhilk his
werdis led him, wes the favorare of devine service lauchfully done;
and callit the cieteyanis of his new ciete to ane counsall, and gaif to
thaim mony hailsum and proffittabil constituciounis, to mak thame
leif and incres togidder under the lawis and justice. Attoure, becaus he knew the inair venerabill, the mair princely that he behad
him in his dignite riall, the mair his lawis and constituciounis wald
be dred and estemit be rude and simpill pepill: thairfore, he maid
him, in all his abulyementis, mair honest than afore. And first, he
gart xii lictoris, armit with xii braid axis, pas afore him quhare he
yede, baith in signe of his devine honouris, and punitioun of transgressouris.
Sum allegis, he tuke thir xii axis in honoure of the xii grapis
quhilkis apperit to him in Mont Palentine, be thair devinacioun
schew that he suld regne, and gif name to this new ciete. Yit it
plesis me to applaud erare to the opinioun of thaim quhilkis haldis,
that Romulus tuke thir xii axis be imitacioun of the Hethruschis,
thair nixt nichtbouris, quhilkis had certane apparatouris and men of
armes, reddy fornence all aventuris that micht occur. For, be exempill of thir Hethruschis, the Sadill Currell, and the Pretext Goune,
with mony uthir ornamentis, quhilkis war haldin, in thay dayis, in
signe of honoure, war brocht up in Rome. The Hethruschis had
xii serjandis, armit with xii axis, becaus thay had under thair senyeorie xii sindrie tribus and pepill; of quhilkis, every ane send ane

16

TITUS LIVIUS.

man, armit with ane axe, to the said Hethruschis, quhen thair king
wes to be chosin.
In the mene time, the Romanis incressit, ilk day, in new municioun, bringand new noumer under thair dominioun, and dilating
the boundis of thair toun with gret magnificence; traisting, be thair
esperance, mair noumer of pepill to cum haistelie to thair toun, than
wes present for the time. Attoure, that the renowne and magnificence of thair toun suld nocht appere in vane; be counsall of agit
pepill, sic as war beginnaris of new cieteis, fenyeing thair dochteris
gottin on the erde, to bring ane multitude of vile and obscure pepill,
to inhabit and fill thair ciete; thay proclamit ane generall refuge
within thair ciete. This refuge wes callit Asylum, circulit and hedgit
with thik breris on every side, betwix twa woddis, within the said
"toun. And schortlie, throw the generall proclamacioun, mony and
divers cumpanyis of pepill liand thairabout, richt desirus of new
changeis, fremen and servandis, but ony difference, fled to the said
refuge. This wes the first way that maid the ciete of Rome strang
and pussant, be multitude of pepill.
Romulus, na thing penitent of haisty munitioun and gret noumer
of pepil rising to his new ciete, chesit ane hundredth men, of maist
wisdome and age, to be senatouris; to that fyne, that his new ciete
micht rise equalie in wisdome and pussance. The caus of this noumer of senatouris wes, that he thocht the same sufficient, as he belevit, to decide all difficulte of quhatsumevir materis micht occur to
his pepil; or ellis becaus he could not find, in that time, ma persounis wourthy to rejois the said auctorite.
Thir senatouris war callit Patres, that is to say, the faderis of the
toun, be ressoun of thair reverence and honoure; and the baronis
discending of thair blude, war callit Patricii.

THE FIRST BUKE.

1

17

CAP. IV.
How the Romanis send thair legatis, desiring afinite and maiage
of thair nichtbouris. Of the solemne play institute be Romulus;
and how he revist the Madinnis and Virginis of his nichtbouris.
Of the weris rising thairthrow; and of his sindry victoryis.

Ow wes the pepill

and.power of Rome sa strang in
sorte, that it wes equale, in glore of armes, to ony
town approcheand. Yit the multitude of pepill thairof
mricht nocht endure abone the age of man; for thay'had
nothir barnis, nor yit had mariage of thair nichtbouris, to multiply
thair successioun.
Than Romulus, be counsall of the agit faderis, send legatis to his
nichtbouris, desiring to haif societe and manage of thaim to his new
pepil; and praying thaim to contempne nocht his desiris, sen cieteis,
as every uthir thingis, resis of small beginning. Attoure, thay haif
conquest gret riches and renoun, daly, sen the goddis began to sup.
port thaim, be thair awin vertew : throw quhilk, thair nichtbouris
micht: sufficientlie, understand, that nowther vertew, nor favour of'
goddis, apperit to fail to Romanis. in times, following. Forthir, sen
thair. nichtbouris war bot. men, prayit thaim to disdenye nocht to
haif societe and commixtioun of blude with pepill als gude as thaimself. This legacioun_ wes contempnit and evil herd in every partis ;
for all pepil_ approcheand towart thaim nocht 'onely refusit. to haif
confideraciou n or alliance with Romanis, bot als' dred that this new
ciete,' rising' haistelie within the middis of thair rowmes, be multitude and confluence of pepil, suld finalie succede, to. the grete 'dam.
every

mage baith of thaimself and thair

posterite.

The legatis returnit with repuls to Rome: eftir that sindry pepill
had demandit thaim to quhat ,purpois or fine, Romulus proclamit
ane generate refuge to women als weil as to 'men ; thinkand, thairfore, the women quhilk war fled to the said refuge, micht be suffi
cient eneuch for his societe.

18

TITUS LIVIUS.

The Romanis war sa hie commovit at this repuls, that, but ony
dout, thay had run to harnes, to be revengit, in maist furie, on thair
nichtbouris, gif Romulus had bene respondent to thair undantit furie. Nochtheles, Romulus, to find ane time and place mair ganand
to satisfy thair desiris, dissimilit the indignacioun of his minde; and,
be his crafty industry, proclamit ane solemne play, callit, in thay
dayis, Consualia, quhilkis war dedicat in honoure of Neptunus Chevelrier. Sone eftir, he commandit generall edittis and proclamacioun to be maid in all partis, to advertis his nichtbouris thairof.
The Romanis dressit furth this play in the maist solemne maner
thay culd or micht, to mak it the mair sichty and glorius to the
pepill. Mony uncouth and strange pepill assemblit to this convencioun, na les desirus to vesy this new toun than to see this play ;
specialie the pepill quhilkis war nerrest nichtbouris, as Ceninanis,
Crustumianis, and Antemnatis. And, beside thir, convenit ane
huge nowmer of Sabinis, with thair wiffis, barnis, and servandis,
quhilkis war all plesandlie lugit and entertenit within the said toune.
The pepill, eftir thay had vesyit the situacioun, wallis, and policyis
of this new toun, had grete admiracioun, that the Romanis war cummin sa haistelie to grete pussance.
At last, quhen the houre of play wes cumin, and the pepil maist
arnistlie gevand thair ene to the contemplacioun thairof, rais ane
suddane effray, be slicht and crafty industry. Incontinent, be sound
of trumpett, as wes devisit, all the young men of the town, armit in
feir of weir, ran thrbw the stretis, revisand the virginis and madinnis
that come to this play. The maist parte of thaim, be chance, fell
in pray to thair takaris, lk man rejosit hir that he gatt. Utheris,
of maist excellent and passing bewtie, war deliverit to the maist nobil
and principal faderis of the ciete. It is said that thare wes ane lusty
virgine, quhais bewtie wes superlative abone all the laif, revist, at
this time, be the garde of ane capitane, namit Thalasso. And quhen
this gard war demandit, be sindry persounis, to quhom thay wald
haif this virgine; thay answerit ay, "To Thalasso." And, thairfore,
it come in use, mony yeris eftir, that the pepill cryit, ay, Thalasso!
at every feist and solemnite of new mariage.
Quhen the play war interruppit be this uncouth effray, all the
parentis of thir revist virginis fled, with drery contenance, out of

THE FIRST BUKE.

19

Rome, sum times accusand the Romanis for breking of thair alliance, and violacioun of thair hospitalite, and sum times makand thair
invocatioun to the goddis, to quhais solemne feistis and playis thay,
cummand under assurance and faith, war tressonably dissavit. Attoure, thir revist virginis had na les indignacioun, in thair mindis,
for the offence committit aganis thaim, than had thair sorowfull
parentis; for thay war all disparit, but ony esperance of releif.
Nochtheles, Romulus vesyit thaim with consolacioun, saying, the
offence maid aganis thaim procedit only be proude arrogance of thair
parentis, sen thay denyit to haif ony societe or manage with his
pepill. Nochtheles, as the chance succedit, he thocht thay had na
occasioun to lament, sen thay micht leif in matrimony, and be participant with all riches and feliciteis that micht succede to thair husband and ciete foresaid; rejosand with the plesoure of thair barnis,
to quhilk na thing in erde micht be comparit: providing so thay
wald soft the indignacioun of thair mindis, and gif thair lufe and
kindnes to the men that hes won thair bodyis be gude aventure, sen
oft times is sene grete kindenes and amite follow eftir injuris. Attoure, thay suld find thair husbandis the mair luffand to thaim in
times cumming, that sic offence hes afore procedit; for thair husbandis wald gif thair uter besines, eftir that thay haif done thair
devore and chargis pertenand to mariage, to recovir baith the favour
of thair freindis and cuntre. Attoure, to meis the hatrent of thir
revist virginis, come, plesandlie, thair new luffaris, saying, with amiabil countenance, the offence done aganis thaim procedit be na invy
nor hatrent, bot alanerly be desire of lufe: quhilkis wourdis ar
richt proffittable and effectuus to move the ingine of women to ple.
sour.
Now, wes the ire and indignacioun of thir revist women in sum
parte mesit. Nochtheles, thair parentis and tendir freindis, cloithit
in vile and funerall habit, movit all the cieteis and townis adjacent,
with maist pietuous and dolorus lament of teres. And, nocht content to sitt with this importabil outrage, thay convenit out of all
partis, and send thair legatis to Tatius, King of Sabinis, for his
renoun wes grete in thay boundis, to assist to thaim, for punicioun
of thir tressonabil offencis. And nocht alanerlie war the Sabinis at
this assemblance, bot als war with thaim, thre sindry uthir pepill,

20

20
TITUS

LIVIUS.

namit, as afore, Ceninanis, Crustumianis, and Antemnatis; for this
injure wes equaly done unto thaim all.
And, becaus Tatius and the Sabinis war nocht sa fervent to punis
thir injuris as the dede requirit, thir thre uthir pepill afore rehersit
maid*thaim all atanis to invaid the Romanis. And yit the Crustumianis and Antemnatis had nocht sa impetuus and brim hatrent
as the Ceninanis had, to revenge this offence; and, thairfore, the
foresaidis Ceninanis, impacient of mair delay, come, but ony supporte of thair nichtbouris, with suddane incursioun, in the Romane
landis. Nochttheles, Romulus met thaim, quhare thay war skatterit
at thair spulye, and direptioun of the cuntre; and, be small skarmussing, gart thaim haif knawlege, that ire is vane but strenth. In
this conflict, the Ceninanis war vincust, and thair
Ac
and put to flicht: on quhom- Romulus followit sa ferslie, that
spulyeit him baith of his riche armoure and life atanis. And, within
the, effray of"this slauchter, come with suddane irruptioun on his
syne, with
toun, and tuke the sammin, with small
his victorius armie, returnit to Rome, na les vailyeant and magnifi
cent prince, than glorius schewerof his dedis.
Romulus, eftir this victorie, colleckit the riche army and spulye
of King Acron, in ane courtlie'veschell, namit Feretrum, and ascendit

kin,

he

contradictioun:

with the said spulye in the toure of Capitoll. And, quhen he had
hung up the said 'spulye and armoure apoun ane auld' aik, quhilk
wes baldin, in thay :dayis, -in grete veneracioun amang the hirdis of
that regioun,- he- compasit ane certane boundis,, in the quhilk he

promittit to edifie ane tempil in the honoure of Jupiter, and. decorit
saying, " 0, Jupiter Feretri I, King
this god. with new
with victorie abone mine inemyis, of..
" Romulus, triumphand
" feris, now, thir solemne spulyeis and *armour to thy honoure 'and
"loving, and dedicatis here ane tempil to the, in the samin boundis
that all
"quhilkis I haif latelie compasit in my minde : to that
me succeding, in exampill and imi-.
"my posterite, and kingis
"tacioun of me, salt offer perpetualie, in this tempill, the riche
' spulycis of kingis and dukis vincust be thaim in batall."
This wes the beginning of the first tempill that wes dedicat in
Rome. Sa plesit the goddis, that nouthir _wes the behecht of Romulus, the first beginnar of this tempill, in vane, be quhilk his pos-

surname:

here

eftir

!

fine,

THE FIRST BUKE.

2

terite wes thirilit to offer in it the spulyeis of thair vincust innemyis.
Nor yit wes the renoun thairof oure commoun or vulgare, bowbeit
his vote succedit to the pepill as he desirit; for, amang sa mony
yeris and-batellis following, sa seildin wes the glore of that honoure,
twa spulyeis of vincust pepill, eftir Romulus, alanerlie war offerit
in the said tempill.
Quhill sic thingis war done be Romanis, the Antemnatis rasit
thair army in maist werelie ordinance, and maid ane suddane incursioun in the Romane landis, specialy in sic partis qubare maist de.
sertis and wildernes occurrit. Aganis
wes send baistelie out
of Rome ane legioun of feirs pepill, and opprest thain with small
difficulte; quhare thay war.cassin, but array, at thair spulye, and
tuke thair tour. Than Hirsilia, the spous of Romulus, at the requeist of thir revist ladyis, past to hir said husband, than rejosing
with doubill victoryis abone his inemyis, and prayit him to perdoun
and forgeif thair parentis, and ressave thaim within his ciete; for,
be concorde, his pepill micht sone incress in grete pussance. Thir
desiris war plesandlie grantit.
Romulus, eftir this victorie, displayit his baner aganis the Crus-.

quhom,

tumianis, quhilkis, on' the samin maner, war, invading the Romane

landis.

And, becaus thair: curage. wes dej eckit, be recent discomfi.-

toure fallin to thair freindis afore rehersit, thay war the sonar vincust.
Quhen

thir thre pepill war dantit in this maner, Romulus send

new. colonyis out; of Rome, to inhabit the townis of thir vincust pe-.
pill. Mony men war fund at this time in Rome, quhilkis gaif thair

names in writt, and war content to be transportit to the townis of
Crustumianis, for the grete fertilite of the landis. Than mony of
the parentis and freindis of thir revist virginis left thair native landis
and townis,

and come to remane and dwell in Rome.

TITUS LIVIUS.
~22

22

CAP. V.
How the Sabinis invadit the Romanis with grete slichtis ; and lw
that'tuke the toure of Capitoll, and slew Twpea, the dochter of
Tarpeins, capitane thairof Of the scharp weris continewing betwix Romanis and Sabinis; and how thay war aggreit,
finalie, be interventioun of Sabine wemen.

Spureus

HE last bataill that Romulus had aganis his nichtbouris,
for revissing of thir virginis afore rehersit, wes aganis
the Sabinis; quhilk batall wes in sa far mair cruell than
ony of the batellis precedent, that it wes nocht led be
avarice and hatrent, hot with sic ingine and craft of chevelrie, that
thay demittit na were to Romanis, quhil thay war cummin with arrayit batall in thair landis. Attoure, thay supportit thair prudence
be subtellour treasonabil slichtis, in this
Spureus Tarpeius wes capitane of the Capitoll; quhais dochter,
Tarpea, wes corruppit be Tatius, King of Sabinis, with ane soume
of gold, to ressave ane buschement of Sabinis, armit in thair best
avise, within the said toure of Capitoll. This Tarpea happinnit, be
aventure, to pas furth of the toure foresaid,' in ane solemne day, to
bring watter to anse sacrifice. And in the mene time, the Sabinis,
as scho promittit, gat enitres in the said toure, and slew hir cruelly
to hir rewarde, that. this castell suld appere tane erare be violence
than ony tressoun ; or ellis to gif ane notabil exempill, in times
cumming, that nouthir .faith, band, nor promis, suld be observat to
ane tratoure. Utheris allegis, that the Sabinis had goldin brochis
of grete wecht apoun- thair left arme, with mony goldin ringis set
with precius stanis ; and promittit to gif to this madin, Tarpea, all
the riches on thair left armes, gif scho wald rander to thaim the
castell. And quhen thay war ressavit in the samin, to fulfil thair
promiss, thay kest at hir al thair targis, quhilkis thay bure on thair
left armes, and smorit hir thairwith. Utheris allegis, that quhen

maner.

THE FIRST BUKE.
scho promittit to rander to thaim the said toure, scho desirit, be hir
condicioun, to haif nocht bot thre targis; to that purpois, that thay
micht haif bene the mair facill pray to Romanis. And, becaus thay
fand hir fra'udefull, thay slew hir, be hir awin tressoun.
Allwayis, the Sabinis kepit the toure of the Capitoll. And, on the
nixt day, the oist of Romanis stude arrayit betwix Mont Palentine
and Mont Capitoline; and na soner war the Sabinis cummin, with
arrayit batall, to the planis, bot als sone war the Romanis arrayit
on the hill fornence thaim, rageand in maist hatrent, be desire to
recover thair toure fra handis of Sabinis.
Baith the princes of thair armyis war richt desirus to haif batall.
Metius Cursius wes governoure of the Sabinis, and Hostius Hostilius, governoure of Romanis. This Hostilius, be fers curage of singulare manhede, debatit the Romane armye, in ane maist doutsum
and dangerus place, and wes finalie slane: throw quhais slauchter,
the Romanis began to fle, and war drevin with continewall chace,
quhil thay come to the anciant portis of the palice.
Romulus, drevin abak on this maner, be preis of discomfist and
fleand pepill, rasit up his armoure to the hevin, and said, " 0 Ju" piter ! you knawis how I, be auguris and divinacioun of thy foulis,
" began here, in Mont Palentine, the first foundament of Rome.
" The Sabinis hes tane my castell b. tressoun, and intendis, quhen
Sthay haif conquest this vale, to procede forthir on us, in oure
" maist inwart boundis. But, 0 you Jupiter, the fader of goddis
" and men! repres the furie of oure inemyis, and remove this schameSful terroure of fleing fra my pepill. And here I avow to dedicate
" ane tempilt to the, Jupiter Stator ! to remane in memorie to oure
" posterite, that my ciete wes saiffit be thy helpe."
Quhen he had said thir wourdis, as his prayeris had bene weil
herde with Jupiter, he cryit, with schil voce, " 0 Romanis! the
" maist hie, maist riche, and pussant Jupiter, commandis you to re" sist youre inemyis, and to renewe batall."
Incontinent, all the army of Romanis stude, but ony fleing, as
thay had bene commandit be sum hevinly voce; and Romulus went
haistelie to the formest bront of the army, to bring thaim to new
arraye. In the mene time, Metius Cursius, quhilk had latelie ischit

24

TITUS LIVIUS.

fra the Capitol], eftir that he wes drevin, and put the Romanis ane
grete space abak; come criand, nocht far fra the portis of the palice, " Now we haif vincust the fals and tressonabil lugearis, and
" ouirthrawin our effeminat inemyis ! nowmay oure febil invasouris
" understand how brade difference is betwix fechting with forcy
" campiounis, and revessing of febill virginis !"
Quhil Metius wes pransand throw the field, with thir and siclike
glorius wourdis, Romulus come on him haistelie, with ane knot of
feirs knichtis. This Metius faucht, this time, in ane plane and
evin place: throw quhilk, thir feirs knichtis, than being with Romulus, micht invaid him the better on every side: and, thairfore, he wes put the mair haistelie to flicht. On quhom the Ro-'

CAP. VI.

The first centurie of thir liorsmen war namit Ramnenses, fra
Romulus; the secund, Titienses, fra Tatius; and the thrid war namit
Luceres, of quhilk the caus and ressoun is uncertane. The kingdome of Rome stude mony yeris eftir, nocht onlie commoun to
Romanis and Sabinis, bot als stude under the sikkir pece and concorde of two kingis, that is to say, the King of Romanis and the
King of Sabinis.
It happinnit, that within schort time eftir, certane freindis and
kinnismen of King Tatius hurte and straik cruelly the legatis of
Laurentius. And quhen the Laurentinis complenit to Tatius, of
thir injuris done to thir oratouris and legatis, in violacioun of the
law of pepill; the said Tatius, blindit with favoure and requeist of

1 Two pages of the MS. are wanting here.

THE FIRST BUKE.
his freindis, denyit justice to the Laurentinis: throw quhilk, he gaif
occasioun to thir Laurentinis to invaid him with the samin punicioun that his freindis justlie deservit.
Schort dayis following, King Tatius past to Lavine, to haif maid
ane solemne sacrifice, in hie honoure of his goddis; quhare he, be
suddane effray, devisit for the nanes, wes slane. It is said that Romulus wes nocht sa commovit as the crime requirit at this slauchter,
outhir becaus the empire of kingdomes is nocht sociabil nor patient
of fallowschip; or ellis he thocht King Tatius, for the repuls of
justice, deservit weil his deith. In quhatsumevir way it wes, treuth
is, that Romulus persewit nocht the slaaris of Tatius with displesoure. Yit, that the slauchter of Tatius, and the offence maid to
thir legatis, micht be purgit be dew sacrifice, he renewit pece betwix
Lavine and Rome, quhilk mony yeris eftir continewit. Howbeit,
the samin wes nocht traistit.
Eftir this, followit ane uthir batall, be nere nichtbouris, almaist
within the portis of Rome. The Fidenatis, seand the Romanis incres beside thaim, with oure grete dominioun and riches; thocht na
thing sa gude as to invaid thaim, afore thay come to sic felicite as
haistelie apperit to thaim: and send ane army of fers and rank weremen, with haisty incursioun, in the Romane landis; and, be the
samin, waistit and heryit all the boundis of Romanis betwix Fidena
and Rome. And, becaus the rivere of Tiber severit thaim fra the
Romane landis on thair richt handis, thay turnit thaim on thair
wrang handis, and ran with feirs incursiounis throw the samin, to
the huge terroure and spulye of the pepil thairof.
The noyis and rumoure of thir incursiounis war brocht haistelie
to Rome. Romulus, seing this outrage micht suffir na delacioun,
sen it wes sa nere approcheand to the wallis and portis of the toun,
rasit his army, and sat doun with his tentis within Mpacis to Fidena;
and first, he left, be craft of chevelrie, ane buschement of weremen,
to kepe the saidis tentis. He went fordwart with the residew of his
armie; and in the mene time, he hid ane uthir buschement of his
weremen in ane mirk and obscure place, amang the scroggis of thik
rammell of the wod approcheand, that thay micht ly in wate to invaid thair inemyis, quhen thay saw occasioun.

TITUS LIVIUS.
Sic thingis done, with maist prudence, Romulus went fordwart
with the remanent army, baith on fute and hors, and come with sic
fere and minassing to the portis of Fidena, that he gaif occasioun to
the cieteyanis thairof to ische out of the toun. Nochttheles, the
cumpany of horsmen that come with Romulus, wes impediment,
that he micht nocht dissimill his fleing sa weil as he desirit. At last,
quhen Romulus apperit doutsum in his minde quhidder he waldfle,
or perseveir in obstinat bergane; he happinnit to pas sum part bakwart with his astonist cumpany of horsmen. And in the mene time,
the cieteyanis ischit, all atanis, out of thair portis, and followit with
grete furie on the Romanis, quhil thay war drevin to the samin
place quhare the buschement wes laid in wate, hid amang the rammell, as said is. Incontinent, the buschement foresaid come thortoure
thair gait, to gif thaim batall. And in the samin time, the busche-.
ment of Romanis, quhilkis war left with the tentis and palyounis,
began to mustoure, and display thair baneris: throw quhilkis, the
Fidenatis war sa astonist, that, or Romulus and his folkis micht
turn thair facis, al the Fidenatis war fleand, with maist diligence,
to the toun. Bot yit thay micht nocht deliver thaimself fra the
dangeir of thair inemyis; for Romulus followit sa fast, with ithand
slauchter, on thair bakkis, that he come, with suddane irrupcioun,
within the toun, or the cieteyanis thairof micht clois the portis.

THE FIRST BUKE.

CAP. VII.

c

How the

pecc

eris
fist, and tuke, thaireftir,
Veanis war discom
with Romanis. Of the deith and loving of Romulus. How Julius
Proculius mesit the indignaciounof the Commounis anentis the
Faderis and Senatouris of Rome; and how every ane of the said
Faderis rang thair cours about.

HE Veanis, provokit to hie displesour for the harmer

rr

thair
latelie fallin
Jand grete infeliciteis nichtbouris to the Pidenatis,Veanis
tendir freindis and
for baith. the

and Fidenatis war discendit of the linnage of the Hethruschis, come, with terribil and suddane incursioun, in the Romane
landis, invading the' samin mair be rubbery than ony ordoure of
cheveirie, becaus thay thocht the Romanis war invasouris of thair
nichtbouris, but ony ressoun or richt of armes. And. sa thir Veanis,
but
stenting of palyounis in the campis, and nocht abiding the
cuming of thair inemyis, returnit, with ane huge pray of men and
gudis, to thair toun of Veos.
On the tothir side, Romulus come with ane haisty army out of

'ony

the

toun;

and, becaus he. fand nocht his inemyis afore him in the

campis, he determit to seik thaim with extreme jepei'dy and chance
of acmes ; syne past ouir Tiber.
The Veanis, advertist of. his. ordinance, afore hie war
or
cummin to thair touns, ischit out of all partis, with purpois to debait

campit,

thair actioun and mater, erare be chance of batell, than to be inclusit ; havand na esperance of

de bait, bot onelie in the munitioun of

thair wallis.
Romulus, yit havand na supporte, bot alanerly of the agit and
maist exercit campiounis of
thaim, eftir this.

Rome, put thaim to flicht, and persewit

discomfitoure,

quhil thay war ressett within the

portis and wallis of thair toun. And becaus thair touns was strang,
als weill be wallis as situacioun thairof, he persewit the samin na

28

TITUS LIVIUS.

forthir : syne, in his returning in Rome, he waistit and spulyeit all
the landis of Veanis, mair to revenge the hatrent of his minde, than
ony desire of pray.
The Veanis, brokin na les with thir harmes, than greter afflictioun
had fallin to thaim, send thair oratouris to Rome, desiring pece for
ane hundreth yeris. Romulus, to repres thair insolence in times
cuming, confisket ane large part of thair landis, and gaif thaim pece
for ane hundreth yeris.
Thir war the nobill and illuster dedis of Romulus, during his
empire, baith in were and pece: of quhilkis thare may na thingis
be found unsemand to his divine linnage, nor to his immortalite eftir
deith, war nocht his curage gevin to recovir his realme, and to restore his gudeschir Numitor to his kindelie heritage; war nocht his
minde gevin to found and big ane nobill ciete, and to stabil the
samin als weil in pece and weir: for certane, this toun war garnist
with sic pussance be him, that it rang in sikkir pece, fourty yeris
eftir his deith. Howbeit, he wes mair plesand and gracius to the
commounis than to the. nobillis of the toune. And abone all utheris,
he wes maist acceptabill and belovit with his weirmen. He had daly
four hundreth men of armes to the defence of his body, als weill in
time of were as pece.
Romulus, eftir thir and mony uthir his immortale dedis, come to
the pule of Caprea, to mak ane orisoun to the Faderis, and to haif
sene quhat nowmer of pepill wes than present in his new toun, quhen
suddanlie rais ane horribill tempest, with huge flambis and noyis of
thounder, and maid this nobill prince sa invisibill with thik schoure
of wete and mist, that he wes haistelie revist out of sicht, and nevir
eftir sene into this erde. The pepill war astonist be this uncouth
effray. At last, quhen thair dredour wes in sum part mesit, and
the day turnit to maist serenite, thay fand the king absent; and,
howbeit thay gaif credence to the faderis quhilkis stude nerrest him
for the time, saying, that he wes revist to the hevin be ane tempestuous cloude; yit thay war strikkin with sic dredour of desolacioun,
for wanting of thair nobill prince, that thay stude with grete silence
certane houris eftir, but ony motioun or -noyis, quhil, at last, ane
certane of thame began to adore the said Romulus as ane god, and

THE FIRST BUKE.

29

son of ane god: and incontinent, all the remanent pepill salust him
as King and Fader of the Romane Ciete, besekand him to stand sa
propiciant, that thay, his posterite and linage, micht regne in gude
felicite and pece.
Sum men sayis quietlie, that Romulus wes revin sindry be the
Faderis in this tempestuous houre. This opinioun is obscure: bot
the first, be present dredoure of the pepill, and uncouth aventure
falling to the said Romulus, is mair authorist; and, be the counsell
of ane prudent man, namit Proculus, it gat the mair credit: for this
Proculus, seand the pepill full of maist drery sollicitude, for the lufe
and affectioun that he had to Romulus, and richt commovit with
extreme hatrent aganis the Faderis, for the suspicioun of his deith;
past to the said pepill with maist gravite, and said in this maner :
"Understand, maist prudent faderis and pepill! that Romulus, the
" fader of this nobil ciete, sliding haistelie fra the hevin, met me
" arelie on this morow: at last, seand me astonist, throw fere of his
" divine majeste, and humelie praying him that it micht be lefull to
" me to contempil, and behald him pas; said he, ' And schaw to
" Romanis the goddis will, that Rome, my ciete, be the hede of the
" warld; commandand thaim to hant and lere chevelry, that thair
" posterite may perseveir and continew in the samin be thair imita" cioun: for na pussance in erde may resist the Romane weris.'
" And als sone as he had said thir wourdis, he evanist hie out of
c"

my sicht."

It is na litill wounder quhat haisty credence and faith war gevin
to the wourdis of this man; for the grete desire that baith the small
pepill and army had towart the said Romulus, war suddanelie mesit,
fra thay belevit him deificat in this wise.
Quhil sic thingis war done, the Faderis began to contend amang
thaimself be avarice, for desire of the croune. And yit thir contenciounis rais nocht fra every ane of thaim alike; for thare war bot
few persounis havand ony prerogatif to be preferrit to uthir, amang
sa new pepill. The contenciounis war onelie betwix the twa ordouris,
that is to say, betwix the Sabinis and the Romanis. Thay quhilkis
war cumin of the Sabinis, desirit ane king to be creat of thair blude,
that thay suld nocht tine thair possessioun, to regne with equale

30

TITUS LIVIUS.

empire with Romanis; for sen the deith of Tatius, thair last king,
thare wes nocht ane king chosin of thair linage. On the tothir side,
the agit Romanis micht nocht suffir ane king of uncouth blude to
regne abone thaim. Thus war the communite, baith of Sabinis and
Romanis, devidit in sindrie opiniounis: howbeit, thay war all concordavit to haif ane king; for thay knewe nocht, as yit, quhat hevinlie swetenes wes in liberte.
The faderis began to haif grete fere and dredoure in thair mindis,
traisting sum extern and uncouth violence of divers cieteis liand
thairabout, quhilkis war boldin, with grete hatrent aganis thaim, to
rise haistelie, and baith invaid thair toune, than desolate but ane
hede, and thair army but ane capitane, atanis. Thus thay war all
concluding, under ane minde, to haif ane king; bot yit na man wald
dedenye to geif consent to ane uthir. And thairfore the faderis,
quhilk war ane hundreth in nowmer, devidit thaimself in ten decuris,
ilk decure contening ten men in nowmer; and thir ten decuris to
haif the equale regiment and moderacioun of public empire, in sic
maner, that ane of ilk ane decure sal begin first, and regne as king
his cours about, with the samin diademe, rob, riall ornamentis, and
axis, as Romulus bare in his time. And the empire of this king
alanerlie to endure bot five dayis; and quhen the five dayis war outrun, the nixt of thair decure sal succede, and sa ay furth in ordoure.
This governance continewit ane yere eftir the deith of Romulus,
and wes callit the Interregne; that is to say, the vacance betwix the
deith of ane king, to the electioun of ane uthir.

THE FIRST BlUKE.

3

Si

CAP. VIII.
How Numa Pompilius was chosin, for his singulare vertew, to be
King of the Romanis. Of his sindry religiounis brocht amang
Romanis, to preserve thaimfta sleuth and idilnes.
he
stabillit his empire in gude pece with his nichtbouris. And of his
loving and deith.

.the

How

W

HE Romanis beand governit in this maner, began to

___

murmur, saying, thay war thirlit to mair servitude than

ringand

afore; ane hundreth kingis
abone thaim quhare
thay suld have but ane; and thairfore apperit, thay
wald suffir_ nane, in time cuming, to regne abone thaim but ane king,
and this king to be create be thair onelie electioun. The Faderis
herand thaim movit in sic purpois, thocht best to
the thing
plesandlie to the pepill, quhilk thay belevit to tyne; and maid Con.
corde with thame in.this wise.: The electioun of Romane kingis sail
be gevin to the pepill, so that the Faderis haif als mekill power remanand with thaimself in his. electioun as thay gaif ; for thay' concludit, quham' the pepill maid king suld
king, gif the Faderis
war _doaris thairof ; that is to
the electioun of the king maid be
the pepill suld be of nane effett, bot gif the Faderis him ratifyit and
confirmit. This consuetude is observat to thir dayis. 'Quhen ony
.officis or digniteis ar desirit on the commiciall dayis,.the .suifragis
and.votis of the pepill. ar uncertane, and of na effett, quhil the Fa.
denis afferme the saminl be thair auctorite.
Sic thingis done,- the' Senatoris,. quhilkis wer cled- with dignite
riale. for the. time, maid ane orisoun afore the pepill, and said,"1 That
"honoure,: heill, and- felicite, may succede to you, 0 Romanis,
"c reat ane, king, for that is plesand to the Faderis ; and, gif 3ye
"creat ony man that is worthy, to regne eftir Romulus, the Fadenis
"will assist to you, and confirme him."
Thir offeris of the Faderis wer plesand to the small pepill ; and,
to that
that thay suld nocht appere unthankfull nor vincust be

offer

say,*

fine,

-be

TITUS LIVIUS.
thair humanite, thay, be gude avisement, commandit the Senatoris
to decerne him to regne quham thay thocht maist expedient.
The justice and relligioun of Numa Pompilius was of singulare
renowne in thir dayis. This maist resolute and prudent man dwelt
in ane place callit Curis of Sabinis, and had, sa far as ony creature
micht have into thay dayis, full cognossance baith of devine and
humane lawis. Sindry belevit, that Pythagoras was preceptour and
auctor of his doctrine; for thay can nocht imagin, that ony uthir
man micht have sic erudicioun in thay dayis. Bot thair opinioun
is vane; for it wes cleirlie knawin, that Pythagoras was more than
c yeris eftir the empire of Numa; that is to say, in the time of Servius Tullius; and held ane scule of young childrin in the remote
and last boundis of Italie, beside the landis of Metapont, Heraclea,
and Crotona. Attoure, howbeit the said Pythagoras had bene equale
of aige with Numa, quhat fame suld have drawin him out of sa remote and fer cuntre, to have cummin amang the Sabinis ? be quhat
langage micht he have drawin sa mony young childerne to desire of
letteris ? be quhat way or supple micht ane man have travellit throw
sa mony uncouth pepill, different fra uthir in maneris and langage ?
Be thir ressouns I can nocht afferme, that Numa was lerned ony
maner of way be Pythagoras; but erar, that Numa, of his awin ingine, temperat his liffe in vertewe, and nocht alanerlie was instruckit in strange and uncouth science, but als in the tetrik and sorrowfull science usit amang the Sabinis; of quhilkis na kinde of science
was mair corruppit in this erde. The Romanis herand the name
of Numa Pompilius rehersit afore thaim, howbeit it apperit that all
thair riches suld cum in the Sabinis handis gif he war king, yit becaus thair was nane amang the pepill, nor Faderis, nor citeyanis of
the toun, that micht prefer thaimself, or ony uthir of thair opinioun,
to the said Numa, thay condiscendit to maik him king.
Atticus Nanius, devinoure, becaus Romulus succedit to the crown
of Romanis be augurie and divinacioun of foulis, consellit Numa, to
explore the mindis of the Goddis towart him in the samin maner.
Sone eftir, Numa wes brocht in the toure of Capitole be the devinoure; quhilk, to mak him the mair honorabil, wes maid perpetuall
and public preist of sic honoris in times cuming: and, eftir that
Numa wes brocht in the said toure, he was sett doun be this preist

THE FIRST BUKE.

88

on ane stane fornens the south. Than this devinoure sat doun beside him, on his left hand, with his hede coverit, havand in his richt
hand ane crukit club, bot ony knott, quhilk in thay dayis wes callit
Lituus. Than, quhen he had maid his orisoun to the Goddis, castand his sicht to the town and feildis thairabout, he dividit and compasit inhis minde all the regiouns fra the est to the. west, and assignit the gude and happy signis to the south, and the evil signis to
the north; and thus tuke ane signe, or meith, in his minde, als far
as his ene micht suffice to behald. Thir cerimonyis beand done,
this preist transportit or ellis changit the crukit staff to his left hand,
and laid his richt hand on Numais hede, saying on this wise, " O,
" Fader Jupiter, gif it be lefule this Numa, quhais hede I tuich
" now, to regne abone the Romanis, declare the samin be sum evi" dent and clere signis within the boundis quhilkis I have maid,
" and now comnpasit in my minde." Eftir this, the preist, be certane devote wourdis, [declarit] quhare thir signis suld be quhilkis
he desirit to be schawin; and, als sone as the signis apperit, Numa
wes doun fra the tempill and declarit king.
Numa,succeding to the crowne of Romanis in this maner, set
him halely, be prudent industrie, sen his new ciete was onelie foundit
be force and rigour of armes, to strenth the samin, in times cuming,
be lawis, relligioun, and gude maneris; and, becaus he saw the
mindis of his pepill, sa lang as thay war hantit in rage and fury of
weris, micht nocht be softit nor temperat, thairfore, to draw thaim
fra exercitioun and use of chevelrie, he biggit the tempill of Janus,
at the fute of Mont Argelet, to signify the time of were and pece;
that is to say, quhen this tempill stude opin, the ciete suld than mak
thaim reddy for batell; and, quhen it wes closit, to signify, all
nichtbouris, liand thaim about, war mesit and pecifyit, bot ony haterent to the Romanis.
This tempill, eftir the time of Numa, was nevir closit but twyis.
The first wes eftir the end of the first Punik batall, quhen Titus
Manlius wes Consul; the tothir is happinnit, be favour of Goddis, in
owre dayis, that we micht se the samin closit, efter the Actiak battall, quhen Cesar Augustus, Emprioure, brocht al seis and landis
undir maist firme tranquillite and pece.
E

TITUS LIVIUS.
And thocht Numa, this civil and illuster prince, closit the portis
of the tempill, and wes confiderat in societe and friendschip with all
his nichtbouris, yit that his pepill, quhilk afore levit chaist throw
fere of enemyis and ordour militare, suld nocht haif occasioun to
lust and insolence be ociosite and sleuth, quhen every trubill and
fere of extreme and uncouth enimyis war set aside, he thocht maist
proffitabil to induce the rude and sempill pepill in thay dayis to religioun and dredoure of Goddis. And becaus nowthir the veneracioun of relligioun, nor yit the dredour of Goddis, micht sink, nor
be imprentit, ony wayis in the hartis of his pepill, bot sum new invencioun of uncouth mirakill, or bot sic thingis quhilkis war abone
the commoun and naturall operacioun of man, he feneyeit, that he
had familiare cumpany, on the nicht, with the goddes Egeria; and,
be hir avise, he wald institute certane divine sacrifice, quhilkis suld
be maist acceptabil to the Goddis, and wald found and limit divers
preistis, to bere speciall charge and care of thir sacrifices; yit afore
the institucioun of thir sacrifices, he set him to ordour the yeir.
And, first, he dividit the yeir in xii monethis, be cours of the mone.
And becaus the mone completis hir cours every moneth in les than
xxx dayis, thairfore inlakit xi dayis and vi houris to complete the
hail vere, and cours of the son in the zodiak; nochtheles, be his singulare wisdome, he colleckit all thir odd dayis togidder, and interponit thame with monethis intercalaris ilk xxiv yeris anis, that the
son come to the samin dayis, houris, minutis, greis, and signis, at
the yeris end as it began. Attoure, Numa scheme, in his calendar,
sic dayis as wer happy, and sic dayis as wer unhappy, be supersticioun that certane dayis micht occur in quhilkis the pepill micht gett
thair erandis happely sped, and utheris sa mailhouris that na felicite micht follow be thair operacioun.
Sic thingis done, he gaif his besines to institute preistis to relligioun of goddis. And thocht he institute mony haly sacrifices at
this time, yit he institute the sacrifice that pertenit to the flamin
diall, with maist solemne cerimonyis. And thocht mony personis
in his weirly ciete apperit erar like to the maneris of Romulus than
Numa, and reddy to chance of batall; yit, that the sacrifice and solemne cerimonyis, institute be kingis, suld nocht dekey nor failye,

THE FIRST BUKE.

85

he foundit ane preist, uthirwayis namit anejtlamen, to remane with
continuale residence in the sacrifice of Jupiter; and, to mak him in
more reverence to the pepill, he cled him with riche and riall abulyementis, that he wes wourthy to sitt in the Sadill Curall. Attoure,
he ekit uthir twa flaminis, that ane dedicate to Mars, and this uthir
to Romulus Quirinus, the god and fader of Romanis. He chesit
als certane virginis to be profest to Vesta, goddes of chaistite. This
ordour of preisthede was first begun in the ciete of Alba, nocht uncouth to the pepill Albane, nor to thair beginnaris. Attoure, to
mak thir virginis the mair contemplative, with devote and continuall sacrifice in thair tempils, he assignit to thame certane yeirlie
rentis to be payit to thame of the commoun purs, and causit thame
for thair gude life, virginite, and devote maneris, to be haldin in
grete veneracioun amang the pepill. Attoure, he dedicate xi
preistis, namit Salis, to the honoure of Mars Gradivus, and gaif to
thame abulyementis, paintit in maner of cote-armouris, commanding thame to bere abone thair cote-armouris certane targis of bras,
namit Ancitia, that is to say, the hevenlie armoure; and als commandit, that thir preistis sail pas throw the stretis of the town singand melodius sangis, with solemne dansing and leping. Sic thingis
done, he create ane grete bischop, namit Marcius, the son of Marcus, ane of the Faderis of Rome, and gaif him the keiping of the
bukis, in quhilkis war contenit the cerimonis and ordoring of all thir
foresaidis sacrificis, that is to say, in quhat tempillis, in quhat dayis,
and with quhat kinde of sacrifice these Goddis suld be honorit;
schawing, als, quhare the money suld be tane to sustene thir preistis,
and divine service. All the remanent chargis, baith public and private, he submitted to the discretioun and wisdome of thair bischop;
and commandit this bischop to be chosin of sic pre-eminence and
wisdome, that he micht support the pepill be his consultatioun
quhen ony doubtsum matter occurrit, and to provide sic wayis, that
nowthir the religious maneris, quhilkis war inducit be him, suld be
troublit be negligence, nor yit new supersticioun brocht in abone
the samin. And nocht alanerlie sal this bischop lere the pepill to
do thir and siclike divine service, but sall lere thame als how all funerall obsequies sal be done, to meis and pecify the offence of saulis
towart thair Goddis. And als this bischop sall schaw to the pepill,

36

TITUS LIVIUS.

for quhat causis the thounder and uncouth mervellis ar send down
in the erde, that the pepill thairthrow may accept the gude werdis
following be the samin, and eschew the evill. And to draw the consatis of thingis to cum fra the mindis of Goddis, he dedicate ane
tempil in Mont Aventine to Jupiter Eliseus, to explore the minde
of the said Jupiter be augurie and divinacioun of foulis.
Thus wer the haill pepill drawin fra cruelte and violence of armes
to sum morall exercisioun, throw quhilk thair continuall exercisioun
of divine service, be quhilkis the favoure of Goddis apperit to thame
sa supportabill and helplie in all thair besines, fillit all thair mindis
with sic religioun and piete, that faith and swering governit the
ciete be onelie dredoure of the lawis, and punicioun following thairapoun. And quhen the cieteyanis of this new ciete had cassin thame
to counterfeit and follow the maneris of this maist haly prince, all
the pepill liand about thame, quhilkis before belevit this ciete rising
in the middis of thame nocht to seik pece of al pepill, but onely to
invaid thair nichtbouris with continewall armeis, war brocht to sic
reverence and dreddoure of the Goddis, that thay thocht na thing
mair rulesum than to trubil sa haly and religius pepill, perseverant,
as apperit, in continewal veneracioun of the Goddis.
In this ciete was ane wod, and throw the middis of it ran ane
burne with continuall streme of wafter, quhilk discendit fra ane
mirk and obscure fountane, within ane den; and becaus Numa frequentit oft times in this wod, solitare and bot ony cumpany, to have
commoning with Egerea, the goddes aforenamit, he dedicate this
wod and fountane to the Musis; to signify, that the secret counsel
of the Goddis was haldin in the same place with Egerea, his spous
and wife. And thocht he consecrat this wod to the Musis, yit he
commandit that the sacrifice thairof suld be maid alanerlie to the
goddes Faith; and, to do this sacrifice, he ordanit twa preistis to
be caryit in ane chariot, maid in maner of ane pend abone thair
hede, and thair handis to be cled owre all partis except the pointis
of thair fingeris, be quhilkis thay suld do the sacrifice; to signifie,
that howbeit faith be hid, and but ony evident demonstraciouns,
yit it suld be defendit. He commandit als, that ane sate suld be
dedicate to the goddes Faith, on the richt side on this wod. Attoure he dedicate mony uthir sacrificis, with tempils, and placis con-

7

THDE FIRST BUKE.

venient, quhare the samin suld be done, quhilkis are callit be the
bischoppis Argeos; yit, amang all his memoriall werkis ane thing
was maist apprisit, that- in all the dayis and yeris of his empire he
was sett na les to defend pece, than to defend his realme.
Thus we have sene the live and maneris of twa kingis, ilk ane of
sindrie governance. That ane ekit his realme and commounweill
be force and rigoure of armes, and this uthir be wisdome and pece;
that ane rang xxxvii yeris, and this uthir xuii yeris, abone the
Romanis.
Than the ciete was strenthenit, and skillet baith in the airts of
pece and weir.

CAP.

IX.

occa-

How Tullus Hostilius wes maid King of Romanis. Of the
sioun of weris betwix the Romanis and Albanis. How the Albanis, eftir the deith of thair King, Gains Givilius, chesit Mecius
FifCicius to be Dictator. And of the commoning and contract maid
betwix him and Tullus.

SE deith of Numa, the crown returnit as afore to the

IB

interregne. Eftir this, the pepill chesit Tullus Hostilius to be king. He was nevo to the samin Hostilius
~
led the batall sa vailyeantlie, in the low vail under
Monte Capitoll, aganis the Sabinis ; and, quhen the pepill had chesit
him king, the Faderis confirmit him as it was accustumit.
religious maThis prince was nocht alanerlie repugnant, to
neris of Numa his antecessoure, bot was als of more feirs curage
than Romulus. Attoure, his flurisant youth, his michty strenth of
body, the glore of his vailyeant antecessouris, enforcit him to wirk
some notabill and marciale vassalege. This nobil prince, beleving
his pepill to incres dull and unweildy be lang eis and sleuth, serchit
occasioun mony wayis to invaid his nichtbouris with batall. It fell,
be aventure, that sindrie landwart pepill, under Roman senyeory,
tuke pray and gudis out of Albane landis ; and, siclike, sindry
,I__

.that

the

TITUS LIVIUS,
landwart pepill, under the empire of Albanis, tuke pray and gudis
out of the Roman landes. In this time was regnand abone the Albanis Caius Civilius. Throw taking of thir prayis and spuleyeis
foresaidis, legatis war send on athir side, under ane time, desiring
redres of all displesouris. Tullus gaif sic chargis to his legatis, that
thay suld attempt na thing be his command, and thairfore gaif thame
power to desire nocht but redres, and to returne with haisty answere; and, becaus he knew the Albanis wald deny redres in that
sorte, he thocht the samin might be sufficient motive to invaid thame
with batall. The legatis of Albanis did thare message with mair
sleuth than diligence; for, in the samin time, quhen thay war makand solemne feist and banket with Tullus in his maist magnificence,
the legatis of Tullus desirit the first redres, and becaus the King of
Albanis denyit the samin, thay denuncit weir, and assignit the xxx
day nixt following to invaid him with batall. Tullus, as sone as
thir legatis war returnit, and schawin thair damagis, commandit thir
legatis of Albanis to propoune thair message, and to schaw to quhat
fine thay war cummin. Thir legatis, na thing advertist of all materis done be the legatis of Tullus, began, be lang proces, to excuse
thame, saying, it was contrare thair will to schaw ony thing displesand to Tullus; nochtheles thay wer thirllit to servitude, and behuffit to execute thair credit. Schortlie, thay schew thaim cummin
to desire redres of the gudis tane be Romanis; and, gif the samin
war nocht done, to gif up trewis. To thir wourdis answerit Tullus,
" Schaw to your king, that the King of Romanis takkis the Goddis
"in witnes, and prayis thame to turne all the harmes and slauchtir
" that is to follow be thir weris on that pepill that first denyit re"dres, or first send hame othir legatis with repuls."
Als sone as thir legatis war returnit to the Albanis with this answer, ilk ane of thir pepill began to mak provisioun, in the maist
riche and substancius maner that thay micht, to invaid uthir;
quhairthrow thare batall apperit nocht unlike to ane civil batall betwix faderis and sonnis. Baith thir pepill war Trojanis; for Lavine
was cummin fra Troy, and Alba fra Lavine, and all the Romanis
discending of the linage and blude of Albanis. Nochtheles, the
aventure that eftir followit maid the end of this batall the less miserabill, that it was nocht fochten be universale meting of baith the

THE FIRST BUKE.

39

armyis; for, at last, baith thir pepill war brocht undir ane communite to leif in Rome, and the ciete Alba equate, as ye sal eftir heir,
to the ground.
The Albanis cum first, with gret violence, in the Romane landis,
and sat down campit, with thair tentis within v.M pais to Rome,
syne beltit thair army with ane strang fowsye on every side; quhilk
was callit, certane yeris eftir, Civilius fowsye, quhil at last the memorie thairof perist be roust of yeris. Quhen the Albanis war liand
on this maner in thair garnist campe, deceissit thair king, Civilius;
and than thay create Mecius Fufficius to be Dictator.
Tullus, be deith of Civilius, become more feirs than afore; and
traistit fermelie, sic favour of Goddis apperand to him be this werde,
sen the hede of his enemyis wes sa haistelie tane away, that he micht
justlie tak punicioun of all the Albane pepill, for the batall movit
be thame in ane wrangous actioun. In that samin nicht, he past be
the camp of Albanis, and enterit, with haisty and terribil incursioun, in thair landis; quhilk thing movit Fufficius to depart fra
his garnist fowsyis, and to cum fordwart with all his armye als ner
as he micht to invaid the Romanis. Nochtheles, he send ane legate
afore to Tullus, desiring to commoun with him afore the batallis
jonit of certane hie materis, gif it wer his plesour, na les plesand
and proffitabil to Romanis than to Albanis. Tullus refusit nocht
this commouning; howbeit he brocht his army arrayit in his best
awise, that he suld nocht be frustrate gif thir desiris of Fufficius
war vane and but effect. On the tothir side, the Albanis come forwart arrayit fornens the army of Romanis.
Thir armyis standing arrayit in this wise, baith the princis convenit in the middis of thame. And Fufficius, Prince of Albanis,
spak first in this maner: " I here say, that Civilius, owre last king,
" was ane grete occasioun of this batall now appering betwix thir
" two pepill, becaus the injuris done to his liegis war nocht redressit
" as he desirit. I dout nocht but you, Tullus, is occasioun of thir
" weris be the samin ressoun; yit gif it be leful to me erar to schaw
" the verite than to schaw ony dissimilit or eloquent wourdis, I say
" na thing has inducit this twa pepill, alliat togidder be proximite
" of blude and rowmes, to invaid uthir with batall, bot alanerlie
"avarice, and desire of senyeorie. And quhidder this batall be just-

40

40
TITUS

LIVIUS.

"'lie or injustlie begun, I wil nocht interpret at this time; hit him
" decerne the samin that first denuncit batall.
The Albanis has
"create me to be thair governoure; ane thing thairfore is, with
"quhilk I wald have thee riplie avisit. Behald, first, with quhat
"riches, gret dominioun, and pussance, the Hethruschis lyis cir" culit about us baith on every side. Attoure you knawis, in sa far
" as thy pepill ar mair approcheand to the Volschis than we
in
CCfer dangeir apperis to thy pepill than to ouris. Thay ar mekil
sa
" pussant be land, and mekil mair be the seyis. Remember, als
"sone as we, be thounderand preis of trumpitt, jonis togidder, baith
" the pepill afore rehersit, eftir that we are brokin with athir slauch.
" ter, sal stand arrayit in our sicht, reddy to distroy baith the
cn ust and victorious partie with thair fresche ordinance.
Thair" fore, gif the Goddis favouris us, and gif we be nocht content to
"leif in sikker liberte, bot wil sett owre empire and servitude apoun
" sum doutsum chance, let us mak sic way, that it may be plesand" lie discussit quhilk of thir two pepill sail have perpetuall senyeory
" above utbir, but ony gret slauchtir or effusioun of blude."
Thir desiris war nocht displesand to Tullus, bowbeit Mecius Fufficius was at this time. nair feirs than he was, baith in
and
hope of victorie. At last, quhen thay had socht on all sidis how this

ar,

curage,

mater micht be dressit, ane reponabill way was found, to quhilk for.

toun gaif sufficient occasioun to discuss this pley ; for in ilk ane of
thir armyis war thre brcthir, nocht unlike to utheris in yeris and
strenth; thay quhilkis war in the Romane. army war namit Hracianis, and thir uthir, quhilkis wvar in the Albane cumpany, namit
Curacianis. Thair is nane uthir opinioun, that is authorist amang

owre anciant faderis, mair illuster and nobill than is this opinioun ;
and thoclit the said' Historie be notabil, yit it is sum erroure, nocht
knawing quhilk of thir twa pepill war callit Horacianis, and quhilk
Curacianis. Ilk opinioun has sufficient auctoriteis ; nochtheles, I
find monyest. auctoriteis saying, the iRomane brethir war Horacianis ;
and-thairfore I, applaude to thair opinioun.
The twa princis afore namit tretis with thir sex brethir to fecht
aganis uthir with scharpe and 'grundin swerdis to the deith, for defence of thair naciouns 'and pepill ; with sic condicioun, that the em..
pire, and liberte' sail .stand perpetually with the samin pepill quhare

THE FIRST BUKE.

41

victorie war presentlie fallin. Thir sex brethir refusit nocht thir
condiciounis; and sone eftir thay war aggreit baith of day and place
for batall. Yit, afore the batall, ane band was maid betwix Romanis
and Albanis, undir thir ferme condicionis: Of quhilkis pepill the
cieteyanis war victorius, that samin pepill sall regne with perpetual
empire abone that uthir, but ony eftir rebellioun. Mony uthir
bandis war roborat betwix the twa pepill, with uthir condiciounis,
howbeit the samin war maid all to the samin effett. We find all
thingis done in this wise, as we have schawin; for of ony uthir mair
anciant band of confideracioun is na memorie.
In the mene time, the Feciale demandit King Tullus on this maner: " Commandis you me to fens ane band with the Fader-Patrate
"' Albane pepill ?" And becaus the king commandit him to pas
of
to execucioun thairof, "Deliver to me," said the Feciall, " the herbe
" namit verbene." Then said the king, " Ressave it clene and pu" rifyit." Incontinent, the Feciall past to the tour of the Capitoll,
and pullit up the said herbe; syne demandit the king, saying,
" Makis you me messinger riall of the Queritis and Romane pepill,
" and ratifyis all thingis done be me, my vessell, and collegis ?"
The king said, " I consent and dois it, sa it be nocht to fraude of
" me or Romane pepill." This Feciall had to name Marcus Valerius; and he maid Spurius Fusius Fader-Patrate, and twichit baith
his hede and his hare with the herbe verbene. The Fader-Patrate
was ordanit to strenth and corroborate bandis and contractis with
maist solemne faith; and did the samin with mony devote cerimonis
and conjuraciouns, quhilkis, for prolixite, ar nocht necessare to rehers
at this time. And quhen he had repetit the samin eftir the ritis and
customes thairof, he said in this wise: " Here me, 0 Jupiter! here
" me, 0 Fader-Patrate of Albane pepill ! and here me, 0 you Al" bane pepill! that all and sindrie thay artikillis, first and last re" hersit, concerning our promis and band be observate, but ony dis" sate or fraude eftir following be Romanis, als richtuislie as thay
"are here ingravin in thir tabillis or walx. And gif the Romanis
" failye first, be thair public counsell and fraudfull slichtis, than, 0
" Jupiter ! strike thaim the samin day with na les cruelte than I sall
" strik this pork; and the mair you art vailyeant and pussant, strike

42
TITUS LIVIUS.

412

" thaini, ay the mair cruellie. And incontinent, fra the Feciall had
said thir wourdis, he slew the pork with ane hevy stane.
Attoure, the Albanis hallowit thair fretis, and terribill
ciouns, for observacioun of thir pointis afore repetit, be anise of thair
Dictatour, and uthir priestis, on the samin maner.

conjura-

CAP. X.
the thre uracianis
faucht aganis the thre Horacianis; and
how two of the Horacianiswar slane. And how the thrid Horaciane slew all the thre CJuracianis, and ftir slew his Sister, and
wes adjugit to the deith; and how he eschapit.

How

HE forme of aith naist faithfully corroborat, in naner
afore rehersit, betwix the twa pepill; thir sex brethir,
as wes convenit, tuke thair armoure and wappmnis.
Than ilk side began to exhort thair cieteyanis and campiounis to schaw thair manhede and vassalage, saying, thair goddis,
thair landis, thair liberte, and every uthir thingis pertening to thaim,
baith at hame and of feuld, dependit on the chance of thair batall,
and beheld thair fechting that day.
Thir brethir, feirs and f'ul of enrage, rasit to extreme jeoperdie

kindelie

nacioun, come
of armes, be hortacioun of thair- native and
campe, betwix baith the oistis, quhilkis stude campit
pertlie to

the

about thaim on every side, and richt pensive in thair mindis : for
thocht thay war exonerat of all present dangere, thay

wary it,

fld

of grete sollicitude and thocbt ; for thair empire wes set on the fortoun and vertewe of thir fewe campiounis. Baith the pepill,, ereckit
sum time in esperance of victorie, and sum time suspendit betwix
hope and drede, beheld* the unthankful sicht.
At last, quhen the signe, be blast of trumpat, wes gevin to jone,,
thir sex brethir, inflammit with sprete and enrage of baith the oistis,
ruschit, with maist penetrive and awful wapinnis, like the bront of
twa armyis togiddir : for noutbir this nor that side regardit thair

THE FIRST BUKE.

43

propir dammage or slauchter, bot alanerlie tuke sicht to the public
empire, to the public liberte, and public servitude, following be the
chance of thair batall; knawing weill sic fortoun suld stand perpetualie to thair pepill as thay wan that day. Als sone as thair bricht
armoure, be feirs concursioun, resoundit in the aire, and thair schinand swerdis begouth to glance; incontinent, ane huge trimling invadit all the pepill that beheld this batall. And, becaus nouthir this
nor that oist saw, as yit, ony signe of victorie appere, baith thair
voce wes rank, and thair sprete solist and dull, quhen thir brethir
war fechtand togidder hand for hand. Nocht alanerlie apperit the
ichand mocioun of thair bodyis, and weilding of thair doutsum and
dangerus swerdis and dartis, bot als thair rude and wide woundis,
springand with rede stremes of blude, apperit to the sicht of the
pepill.
In the mene time, twa of the Romane brethir, woundit and slane,
fell doun, ilk ane abone uthir. All the thre Albane brethir beand,
for the time, woundit cruelly and hurte, the fall and slauchter of
thir twa Romane brethir maid the Albanis to rejose, with vehement
noyis and clamoure. Yit the Romane legiounis war nocht halelie
destitute of curage, howbeit thay war pensive in thair mindis; hayand, as than, na esperance bot in the thrid broder, namit Horaciane,
quhilk wes inclusit amang the thre Albane brethir namit Curacianis.
This Horaciane happinnit, as than, to be haill, but ony stres or hurte
of body; and wes of sic strenth, that, howbeit he micht nocht be
equale partie to fecht aganis all the thre Curacianis atanis, yit he
micht haif fochtin aganis thaim all, ilk ane eftir uthir. And thairfore, to skail thaim in sindry partis, he began to fle; traisting ilk
ane of thaim, be this way, ay to follow on him, as the hurte or woundis
of thair bodyis micht suffir for the time.
Now wes the Horaciane fled fra the place quhare he faucht afore,
and lukand behind him, saw all thir thre Curacianis following on
him as fast as thay micht, ilk ane severit ane large space fra uthir,
and ane of thaim nocht far fra him. Incontinent, he returnit with
grete force on this nerrest Curaciane, quhil the Albanis war criand,
with schil noyis, on the remanent Curacianimis to support thair brothir.
This Horaciane had slane his fallow, and enterand with new victorie

TITUS LIVIUS.
on the secund Curaciane. Than the oist of Romanis began to help
thair campioun, with sic clamoure as effrayit pepill hes quhen ony
gude fortoun fallis abone thair esperance. This forcy campioun
maid him, with grete diligence, to end this bataill, afore the thrid
brother, quhilk wes nocht far distant, micht cum to his supporte;
and finalie, slew the secund brothir.
Now, wes nocht bot man for man on athir side, with equale chance
of batall : howbeit, thay war nouthir equale in strenth of body nor
esperance of victorie; for this ane deliverand but ony wound of
body, havand double victorie of inemyis, come mair feirsly to fecht
in the thrid bataill, that he had sa recent victorie. That uthir, ouirset with bleding of his woundis, and fast rink to haif supportit his
brotherand, nere discomfist for thair slauchter afore his ene, enterit
in the batall aganis his victorius inemye, and maid bot smal debait.
This Horaciane, rejosing in his minde, said, " I haif send twa bre" thir to hell ; and I sal send the thrid, quhilk is occasioun of our
" debait, the samin gate: to that fine, that the Romanis, in times
" cuming, may regne with perpetual empire abone the Albanis."
And incontinent, he straik this thrid brothir, quhilk micht skarslie
bere up his wapinnis, in the thrappill, and spulyeit him baith of his
life and armoure at anis.
The Romanis, rejosing of this gude fortoun, resavit Horaciane,
thair campioun, with the mair triumphe and glaidnes, that thair
commoun weil wes anis sa nere approcheand to uter rewine. Than
baith the oistis, howbeit thay war in divers mindis, went to the berying of thair cieteyanis; for that ane hes ekit thair commoun weil be
empire, and this uthir thirlit to servitude of that uthir pepil. The
sepulturis remanis in that samin place quhare thay war slane. The
two Horacianis war beryit togidder, in ane place nocht far fra Alba.
The thre Curacianis war beryit beside Rome, in sindry placis, as
thay fell.
The batell endit in this maner, Mecius Fufllicius, dictatour of
Albanis, demandit King Tullus, afore the severing of thair armyis,
quhat chargis he wald desire of the saidis Albanis, be ressoun of the
band afore rehersit ? Than Tullus commandit him to hald the
Albanis in continewal exercitioun of chevalrie, that he micht have

THE FIRST BUKE

45

support thairof, gif he had ony weris aganis the Veanis. Sone eftir,
baith the armyis severit, and returnit hame.
Amang quhom, Horaciane, the invincibil campioun afore rehersit,
wes returning to Rome, with the thre spulyeis of Curacianis; and,
afore his entres in the toun, met him his sister Horacia, ane virgine
of grete bewtie, quhilk wes handfast and promittit in mariage to ane
of thir thre Curacianis. Als sone as scho saw hir husbandis cloik,
quhilk scho hes wovin afore, liand, with utheris spulyeis, on hir
brutheris schulderis, scho raif hir hare, and, with sorrowfull countenance and teris, lamentit the deith of hir husband. Horacaine,
this feirs campioun, wes movit in sa grete hatrent, for the lamentacioun of his sister, within his triumphe of victorie and public glaidnes, that he pullit out his swerd; and quhen he had spoken maist
injurius wourdis to his sister, he peirsit hir throw the body with
his swerd, and said, " Pas now, with thy importune lufe, to thy
".husband, sen you hes na sicht to thy cuntre, nor yit to thy bre" thir, quik or dede. I pray the goddis, that ilk creature that de" ploris the deith of the ennemyis to Rome, be slane in the samin
" maner."
This wikkit and outrageous deid wes sair aggregeit, baith afore
the faderis and pepill of Rome. Howbeit, his recent and honorabil
meritis sum parte excusit the offence thairof. Nochtheles, he wes
brocht haistelie in jugement afore the king. Than King Tullus,
that he suld nocht be auctor of sa trist and unthankful jugement
aganis this nobill man, callit the pepill afore him, and said, "I create
" here twa men to be jugeis in this mater, that thay may gif the
"sentence of perduellioun on Horaciane, eftir the tenoure of the
" lawis !"

This law of perduellioun wes of maist horribil crime; and, for
that caus, quhatevir he wes that wes gilty thairof, wes ay ajugit to
the deith; for the twa jugis, to quhom the caus wes committit, behufit to pronunce the sentence of perduellioun, gif this Horaciane
happinnit, be sentence of thir twa jugis, to be convickit be said appele to the pepil: and than behuffis thir twa jugis to fallow him, for
his crime, afore the pepill. And gif thir jugis frivole his appellacioun, and convict him, than sail his hede be coverit, his body skurgit

TITUS LIVIUS.
outhir utouth or inwith the Pomerie, and eftir all hingit on ane unhappy tre.
Thir twa men, create jugis be this law, seeing that thay micht na
wayis absolye this Horaciane as innocent of the crime foresaid, condampnit him to the deith. Than said ane of the jugis, " I gif the
" sentence of perduellioun on the, Horaciane ! Cum hidder, you
" burreo, and bind this Horacianis handis." In the mene time, the
burreo come with the corde, and faldet the samin about his handis.
Than said Horaciane, " Be authorite of King Tullus, interpretoure
" of thir lawis, I appeill." And thus wes his appellacioun devolvit
afore the pepill.
The commoun pepill war movit to grete miseracioun in thair
jugement, specially be pietuous lamentacioun of the auld man Horacius, fader to this Horaciane that slew his sister; for he allegit
that his dochter wes justlie slane for hir demeritis, uthirwayis he
suld have punist his son be the law paternale, in maist cruell maner
that micht be devisit. Attoure, this agit man besocht the pepill to
suffir him nocht to be nakit, and destitute of all his barnis, quhilk
war the samin morrow sa proudly rejosing with the swetnes thairof. And in the mene time, he embrasit his son, and began to
schaw the spulyeis of the thre Curaciane brethir hingand in the
samin place, quhilk is yit callit the Horaciane Pillaris. " 0 Ro" manis !" said he, " have ye sa feirs and innative cruelte in
your
" hartis, that may se him bound under the gallows, with grete tor" ment and punicioun, quhom ye saw laitlie decorit and triumphand
" with hie victorie of your inemyis. I beleif the Albanis, his un"merciful fais, micht nocht behald sa terribil sicht and cruelte done
"to him. Pas, you burreo! and bind thay handis quhilkis lait" lie, quhen thay war armit, conquest sa hie empire to Romane
" pepill! Pas, you burreo! and cover the hede of that campioun
" quhilk is the deliverare of this ciete fra thirldome! Hing up
"his body in ane unchancy tre ! skurge him now within the Po"merie, amang the Horaciane Pillaris, and spulyeis conquest be
" him of inemyis ! or ellis skurge him utouth the Pomerie, amang
"the sepulturis of Curacianis ! Ye can have him to na maner of
"placis within your senyeorie, bot his grete meritis, and glore of

THE FIRST BUKE.

47

" victorie, sail, ay, deliver him fra sic schamefull and vile puni" cioun."
The pepill micht nouthir suffir pacientlie the teris of the fader,
nor yit his curage, quhilk wes of sic excellente constance in every
dangere, to peris: and, thairfore, assoilyeit him fra the deith, mair
for admiracioun and loving of vertew, than ony just merit of the
caus. And yit, that the said offence and slauchter, sa manifestlie
committit, micht be purgit be sum sacrifice and satisfactioun, it wes
commandit be the pepil, that the fader sal purge the son, be ane
parte of the commoun and public money of the toun.
In the mene time, the fader purgit his son with certane sacrificis
namit Piaculis, quhilk remanit in use mony yeris with the linnage
of Horacianis, for purgacioun of siclike offensis, gif ony occurrit.
The fader, to purge the son, dang ane staik in the erde, thortoure
the gate, nocht far fra the samin places quhare his son suld have
bene justifyit. And quhen'he suld have coverit his hede, as the
dome requirit, he set him doun under the said staik; to signifie
that he wes under yoik of subjectioun. This staik is reparit, all
times quhen it failyeis; and callit, to oure dayis, The Staik of the
Sister.
This virgine, Horacia, wes buryit in the samin place quhare scho
wes slane be hir bruthir, in ane sepulture of quernell stanis.

48
TITUS LIVIUS.

48

CA
AP.

XL

How Mecius, Dictator of Albanis, causit the Veanis and Fidenatis
to invade the-Romanis, be proynis of his support. Of the gret prudence and crafty industrie of King Tullus aganis his enemyis.
How the Veanis and Fidenatiswar discomfist; and Mecius, Dictator, drawin sindrie
for his demeritis.

r7

1

HE pece continewit nocht lang betwix the Albanis and

Romanis; for the Albane pepill, be thair invy and haterent, becaus thair public liberte was committit on the
chance of sa few knichtis, corruppit sa the ingine of
Mecius, thair dictator, that quhen he saw his prudent devise suecede nocht with sic felicite as he belevit, he kest him to recounsell
him agane to the favoure of his pepill be wikkit and tressonabill
wayis; and as he afore in time of weir made pece, sa now, in time
of pece, he kest him to find occasioun of weir.
Mecius, seeing the pepill of his ciete of mair curage than

This

strenth, persuadit sindry pepill, Band about him on every side, to

invaid the JRomanis with opin weris ; and reservit sic tressoun to
his pepill, becaus thay war confiderate with IRomanis, that his pe..
pill, undir schaddow of this alliance, micht more esalie invade the
Romanis qulhen thay saw occasioun. The Fidenatis, quhilkis war

afore ane colonie of Romanis, and confiderate with the Veanis, thair
nichtbouris, undir ane opinioun, maid thame haistily for batall aganis
the Romanis, be condicioun and promis of the Albanis to concur to
thair support.
Als sone as Tullus was advertist that the Fidenatis, be opin rebellioun, had denuncit weir, he rasit ane strang army of Romanis,
togidder with Mecius and the Albanis, quhilkis he belevit to have
stand- surelie at his opinioun aganis his enemyis ; and quhen he was
cumin owre the rivere of Anyen, he campit his army on the brayis
and bordouris thairof'. And betwix the place quhare he was campit
and the town of Fidena, the Veanis, with all thair army was cumin

THE FIRST BUKE.

49

owre Tiber. Thir Veanis, campit in this place afore rehersit, had
the sade river of Tiber on thair richt wing, and sa the Fidenatis, on
thair left wing, quhare thay war campit, had the montanis. Tullus
than come fordwart with his army aganis the Veanis, and arrayit
the Albanis, with Mecius, thair dictator, to have fochtin aganis the
Fidenatis. Nochtheles, Mecius, the governour of Albanis, was als
nakit of manhede and curage as he was of faith; for he was sa fals
and febil, that he durst nothir remane with the Romanis, nor yit
durst pertly pas fra thame, and thairfore fled with slaw passage to
the montanis ; and quhen he saw himself ane large space severit fra
baith the armyis, he gart display his ansenye on hicht. And becaus he was flowand in his minde, and uncertane to quhat parte he
wald assist, he began to array his batallis, to cutt and drive owre
the time; for his purpois was, quharevir the victorie inclinit, to concur with al his army to the samin parte.
The Romanis, quhilkis stude nerrest him for the time, had first
gret admiracioun quhat this Mecius intendit, quhen thay saw thair
sidis nakit of thair fallowis. In the mene time, ane knicht cum to
Tullus on ane spedy hors, and schew how the Albanis war fled.
Tullus, astonist be this effray, avowit xii preistis, quhilkis war namit
Salis, to be perpetualy dedicate to Mars, God of batall; and attoure
avowit to big twa tempillis, in the honour of twa Goddis, namit
Palnes and Dredoure; and, in the mene time, he reprevit dispicuusly this knicht that schew thir thingis. Syne, with schil voce, that
his enemyis micht here, he commandit his pepill to returne with
gret curage in batall aganis thair enemyis; saying, thay aucht nocht
to be astonist, for the Albanis war nocht past to the montanis bot
alanerlie be his avise, and war commandit be him to pas about the
Fidenatis, and to invaid thair sidis, quhare thay war maist nakit.
And, incontinent, he commandit all his horsmen to erect and bere
up thair speiris and dartis in thair handis; quhilkis doingis war sa
crafty, that the samin hid the fleing of Albanis fra sicht of his futemen. Attoure the horsmen of Romanis, quhilkis saw clerelie the
fleing of the saidis Albanis, belevit every thing to be as thay herd
Tullus say, and faucht sa cruelly, that the Fidenatis, thair enemyis,
with huge dredoure, war astonist; for mony of thaim understude

50

TITUS LIVIUS.

the Latine toung as colonyis of Romanis, and belevit, as thay herd
the king say, that the Albanis suld cum haistelie on thair sidis, quhare
thay war maist nakit of pepill; and, thairfore, dredand, quhen the
Albanis war discendit fra the montanis, to be inclusit on every side
fra thair toun of Fidena, thay gaif bakkis: on quhom Tullus followit with gret furie, and brocht thaim to utir discomfitoure. And
incontinent with recent victorie, cum mair ferslie on the Veanis,
quhilkis war abasit and brokin be discomfitoure of thair marrowis,
throw quhilkis thay micht nocht sustene the dint of Romanis; and
thocht the river of Tiber was impedimentto thaim to fie abak, yit
thay war constrenit to have thare utir riskours to the samin. And
quhen thay war cummin to the said river, ane parte thairof, schamefully nakit thameself of thair wapinnis, and throw fere of thair enemyis, ran, as blind and ramist pepill, in the wattir. Utheris, uncertane quhidder thay suld fle or fecht, abaid sa, lang on the river
side, quhil thay war opprest and slane be Romanis. Treuth is,
afore thay dayis na batall of Romanis was sarare on thair enemyis
than was this last now rehersit.
Mecius, dictator, seing this glorius victorie inclinand to Romanis,
discendit haistelie fra the montanis, as he wald haif made haisty
supporte to Romanis be his army, and schew to King Tullus, that
he was hertlie rejosit of the victorie fallin to him. On the tothir
side, Tullus, dissimiland his mind, ressavit Mecius with bening and
tendir countenance; and, that ilk thing micht be done with mair
felicite, he commandit Mecius to conjone all his folkis togidder with
Romanis, for the nixt morrow he wald mak ane sacrifice lustrale als
sone as licht apperit.
On the nixt morrow, quhen every thingis war reddy for the sacrifice, he commandit baith the pepill to compere to his concioun; and
quhen the serjandis had, with thair noyis and hohas, warnit in speciall the Albanis to here the kingis concioun, mony of thame war sa
movit be desire of novellis, and to here the king of Romanis mak
his concioun, that thay thristit in on every side, and made thameself nerrest to the king. Incontinent ane Romane legioun, devisit
be crafty industry of King Tullus, stude armit with wapinnis on
every side about thir Albanis; for the charge was gevin sa straitlie

THE FIRST BUKE.

51

to the centuriouns, that thay behufit to execute the samin but ony
dilacioun.
Than Tullus said in this maner: " 0 Romanis, gif evir afore this
" houre succedit ony felicite in batall, for the quhilk ye aucht first to
'"gif the loving and glore thairof to imnortale Goddis, and, secund" lie, to your onelie manhede and curage; the samin apperit in
"'
the last batall recentlie strikkin be us aganis our cruel enemyis.
" For in this last batall we faucht nocht alanerlie with owre enemyis,
" bot als with maist tressonabill slicht, and falset of owre nicht" bouris and freindis, and in sa far owre batall was the mair dan" gerus; herefore, that na fals nor vane opinioun dessave you, ye
6"sall undirstand, that the Albanis left my array and fled to the
" montanis but ony command of me, for sic tressonabil fleing cum
" nevir be my industry. And howbeit I dissimillit schawing sic
" thingis done be my counsale, yit the samin was done, to that fine,
" that baith your curage suld nocht be drawin fra batall quhen ye
" knew nocht the fleing of your freindis fra your support, and that
" your enemyis micht have extreme fere and dredoure in thair
" mindis, herand the Albanis, as I schew, to cum haistely on thair
" sidis. Attoure, the Albanis ar nocht accusit be me for this tres" soun, sa manifestlie committit in perdicioun of my pepill, for thay
"did nocht bot followit, as ye wald haif done, thair capitane. Gif
"I wald have drawin you to ony place, ye wald sone have obtem" perat, and obeyit my chargis. Mecius is nocht onelie the fals and
Stressonabil dissaver of me and you into owre jorney, bot is als the
" hale dissaver of this sorowful and maist dangerus batall latelie
Sstrikkin. He is the onelie brekare of allience and confideracioun
" betwix the Romanis and Albanis. Attoure, uther tratouris sal at"tempt siclike besines gif I punis him nocht sa justlie, that he may
"be ane notabil exempil to all pepill to do sic tressoun in times
"cuming."
The centuriouns, armit in thair best avise, stude about Mecius on
every side; and Tullus spak furth the remanent of his orisoun on
this maner as he began afore: " That gude chance, felicite, and
" welth, may succede als well to you, Romanis and Albanis, as to
" me, it is now my determit purpois to transport all the Albane pe" pill to Rome, and to gif nocht onelie the cietie of Rome to thair

52
"
"
"
"
"
"

TITUS LIVIUS.

inhabitacioun, bot als to decore the nobillis and principall men
thairof with auctorite amang owre faderis and senaturis; to that
fine, that baith thir pepill sail be, in times cuming, alanerlie ane
ciete and ane commounweil; for as sum time the empire of Albanis
was dividit in two pepill, sa now, be the samin maner, baith thir
pepill sail returne agane undir ane empire and body."
The Albanis inclusit but armoure on this wise, within the garnist
oist of Romanis, war pensive, and drawin in sindrie desire and
mindis. Nochtheles, ilk man had sic dredoure that thay kepit silence but ony wourdis. Than said King Tullus in this wise: " Gif
" you Mecius Fufficius, dictator of Albanis, micht ony maner of
" way haif lerned to observe thy faith and promiss, I suld erar haif
" correckit thy maneris, reservand thy life, than to haif put thee to
" deith. But now sen thy ingine and falset ar incurabil, you sall
" lere all pepill, be thy notabil punicioun, to observe the band of
" faith and promiss, quhilkis ar violate be ye; and as you was evir
"doubill and variant in thy werkis, and be the samin drew the
"Veanis and Fidenatis in displesour of Romanis, sa sall now thy
" body be drawin in divers partis."
Incontinent, he gart twa cheriotis be brocht afore him, and band
this Mecius speldit betwix the twa cheriotis; and, quhen the hors
war chasit in sindrie partis, ilk cheriot reft and dismembrit sa mekil
of him as wes bund to the cheriot. All the pepill drew away thair
ene fra this schamefull sicht.
This was the first and last cruell punicioun that evir the Romanis
tuke on thair transgressouris, but ony exempil or consideracioun of
humane lawis; for the Romanis may have all uthir times that glore,
that na pepill was sa gracius and soft in punissing of thair transgressouris or subdittis as thay war.

THE FIRST BUTKE.

53

3

CAP. XII.
How the Ciete oflbaw distroyit, and all the pepill thairoftran8wes
portit to Rome. How grete nowmer of Sabinis war discomfist
and slane be Romanis. Of uncouth mervellis.
Of the
Novemdial ; and of the deith of Tullus.

sacrflce

UHILL

Sic thingis war done be Tullus, ane large now-

mer of horsmen war send to the ciete of Alba, to transport the pepill thairof to Rome; and eftir thame war
send certane legiounis of futemen, to evert and cast
doun the foresaid ciete to the ground: for thir. legiounis war enterit
within the partis of Alba.
Thare wes nocht sic din and dredoure amang the Albanis as usis
to be amang captive pepill, quben noyis
clamoure of armit men
rinnis in maist fury, distroying every thing be
and swerde, thair
ciete tane be men of armes, thair portis brokin, thair walls dejeckit,
be force of rammis, to the grund; and finale, all thair castellis and

And
fire

strenthis tane be force.

Bot erare, wes amang the Albanis ane

sorowfull and drery silence, quhilk with sic stil sadnes depressit all
thair mindis and curage, that all thair wisdome

decayit in that ex-

treme adversite ; and, throw thair dredoure, forgett quhat thay suld
leif behind thaim, or. quhat thay, suld turs with thaim. And than
began every ane of thaim to demand uthir, gif thay suld stand in
thair dure threschaldis,' or gif thay suld pas, as vagaboundis and
uncertane pepill, throw thair housis, and tak thair leif, as nevir to
se the samin agane.
At last, fra the noyis of horsmen began to rise, commanding the
Albanis to ische out of the ciete, than wes herd the huge rummilling and sound of brokin houssis and wallis, in all partis thareof.
Than rais the dust of powder fra divers partis of the ciete, and ouircovenit the same with maist vile and terribil cloud. Incontinent, ilk
persoun tuke the thing that he micht bere, and left his native goddis
and houss, quhare he wes bred and nurist..

54

TITUS LIVIUS.

The Albanis departing on this wise in grete cumpanyis to pas to
Rome, fillit the gatis sa full of pepill, that skarslie micht ane of
thame pas beside ane uthir. Than the pietuous sicht and commiseracioun of ilk ane of thame to ane uthir, maid thame to fall in lamentabil and continuall teris. Mony miserabil cryis war herd, specially of wemen; for quhen thay war passand by thair tempillis,
quhilkis war than occupyit or ellis segeit be men of armes, apperit
that thay left behind thame thair goddis as presoneris in thair enemyis handis.
Als sone as the Albanis war halely ischit out of this ciete, the
Romanis kest down all the public and private housis of this ciete,
and equate the wallis thairof to the ground. Thus was the ciete of
Alba, quhilk stude iv yeris in gret magnificence and policy, brocht
be ane houris laubour to uter eversioun, and na thing sauffit in it
sauf onelie the housis and tempillis of the goddis; for it was commandit to desist thairfra be generale edite and proclamacioun of
Tullus.
Rome began thus ilk day to rise mair and mair in policy and
riches be rewine of Alba, and the pepill thairof augmentit with doubil nowmer; and, for the samin caus, King Tullus sett out his ciete
with mair boundis, and tuke in Mont Celius. And to mak the pepill to resorte with more frequent habitacioun on the said montane,
he biggit his palice-riall on the said montane, quhare he dwelt the
residew of his dayis.
Eftir this, he chesit out the princis and maist nobill men of Alba,
as Julianis, Servilianis, Quincianis, Geganianis, Curacianis, and
Chelianis and maid thame faderis and senaturis of his ciete, that
commoun weill suld rise als weill be sic besines as be utheris. And
in the honoure of thir senaturis quhilkis war now ekit be his auctorite, he maid ane counsel-hous in maner of ane tempill, quhare thir
senatouris suld dres all materis concerning the public weill in times
cummin. This hous is callit yit to owre dayis Hostiliane. And that
sum thing, be cummin of thir new pepill, micht be ekit to the strenth
and roboracioun of all religioun and ordoure afore devisit, he chesit
out ten turmis of horsmen, ilk turme contening xxxii men in nowmer, and supportit the auld legiouns of Romanis be the said nowmer, and wrate new nowmer in the samin gise.

THE FIRST BUKE.

55

Tullus, confiding in this new strenth of pepill brocht to his ciete,
denuncit were to the Sabinis, quhilkis war ane pepill in thay dayis
maist pussant in erde, nixt the Hethruschis, baith in men, riches, and
armoure. Sone eftir, baith thir pepill invadit uthir with injuris;
and, thocht the reddres thairof was askit, yit nane was maid on
athir side. Tullus complenit, that his merchandis war oft times tane
and spulyeit be Sabinis, doing thair erandis beside the tempill of
thothir side, the Sabinis comthe goddess namit Fevonia. On the
planit, that thair rebellis and transgressouris fled to Asile, the refuge
of Rome, and war thair entertenyit but ony reclame or punicioun
eftir following. This was the occasioun of weris betwix the Romanis and Sabinis. The Sabinis, remembering well ane large parte
of thair pepill brocht be Tatius to Rome, and als how the Romanis,
be transportacioun of Albanis, war doublit in new power of pepill,
sett thair besines to conques support of all uthir pepill, baith strangearis and nichtbouris, aganis the Romanis. The land of Hethruria
was liand nere the saidis Sabinis; bot the Veanis war nerrer, and
mair approcheand to thaim. All wayis, the Sabinis persuadit mony
of the said pepill, with small lauboure to assist to thair opinioun,
throw roust and auld haterent of weris, quhilkis thay bore with
boldin hartis aganis the Romanis; and mony of thir pepill, vagabound and ouirsett with poverte, tuke wagis of the Sabinis. Nochtheles, the foresaid pepill wald nocht send opinlie supporte to the
Sabinis; for the faith and band of trewis, as it was condicionate
afore be Romulus, was inviolately observit be the Veanis: and howbeit the faith of uthir vile and indigent pepill was brokin, it was the
les admiracioun, quhen the Romanis and Sabinis war makand thair
provisioun, with maist diligence, quhilk of thaim suld invaid uthir
sonest with batall.
Tullus rasit haistelie his army, and cum first in the Sabine landis
Followit ane richt sare and terribill bargane, beside ane place callit
the malicius and unhappy wod; quhare the Romanis, ekit be huge
nowmer of futemen and horsmen, cumin, as said is, to thair ciete,
war richt pussant and strang abone thair enemyis. Incontinent, be
haisty irrupcioun of the horsmen, all the array and ordoure of Sabinis was sa brokin that thay micht nouthir fecht nor fle, but innoumerabill slauchter following on thaim.

56

TITUS LIVIUS.

Quhen the Sabinis war dantit in this maner, and maist triumphe
apperand to Tullus, and the commounweill of his realme and pepill,
it was schawin to him and the faderis, that it ranit stanis continewally in Mont Albane; and, becaus thir tithings micht skarsly be
trowit, sindrie persounis war send furth to explore gif the samin was
trewe: in quhais sicht, the stanis fell as ithandlie out of the lift as
dois the round hailstanis, quhen thay ar drevin be violence of windis
in the erde. Attoure apperit to thir persouns, send furth in this behalf, that thay herd huge vocis amang the hie woddis of the said
montane, commanding the Albanis to mak sacrifice to thair goddis
on the maner as thair eldaris and faderis did afore; for the Albanis
forgett all the sacrifice of thair native goddis als sone as thay war
departit fra thair native town and cuntre, and had outhir ressavit
the sacrifice of Romane goddis, or ellis war sa commovit aganis fortoun for eversioun of thair ciete, that thay left the service of thair
goddis undone.
The Romanis, becaus thir uncouth prodigies apperit, institute ane
new sacrifice, callit in thay dayis, the sacrifice Novemdiall. The
ressoun quhy thay institute this sacrifice, was outhir throw this celestiall and hevinlie voce that was herd in Mont Albane, for that
opinioun is haldin; or ellis thay institute this sacrifice be command
of the divinouris, namit Auruspices. This sacrifice was haldin in
sic solemnite, that ay quhen ony prodigius or uncouth woundir apperit, the feries war thair eftir nine dayis.
Nocht lang eftir, ane terribil pestilence rang abone the Romanis;
and yet this marciall and maist werelie prince micht nocht suffir his
pepill to rest or dull in strenth, bot throw his active life sustenit
thame in continewall exercioun of chevelry; for he traistit that his
pepill suld have bettir heill in thair bodyis quhen thay war travellit
in thair werelie campis, than quhen thay war solpit at hame in sleuth
and idilnes; quhil, at last, he was trublit with uncouth and difficil
infirmite, throw the quhilk his feirs and michty curage was sa brokin, that quhare he held afore na thing sa degrading to imperial
dignite as to lief in religius and contemplative life, he became suddanlie alterit and thrall to every supersticioun grete and small; and,
finalie, began to subdew his pepill to sic devote maneris, that thay
belevit halely thair realme to returne to the samin estait and gover-

THE FIRST BUKE.

5l

nance as it wes afore in the time of Numa Pompilius: and als traistit, na succours nor medicine to cum to thair infirme and wery bodyis without sum pece war grantit be commiseracioun of the Goddis,
to perdoun thair tressonable and wikkit offens.
It is said finalie, that this nobil prince wes reding the Commentaris of Numa Pompilius, and, be aventure, fand certane occulte
and solemne sacrificis in the saidis Commentaris, maid in the honour of Jupiter Eliseus. And becaus he nouthir began, nor yit
endit the said sacrifice with sic reverence and divine cerimonis as
war expedient, he tint nocht alanerlie his lauboure, but ony thankis
or meritis of the Goddis, but wes als strikkin with thunder and
flambis, within the tempill quhare he maid the sacrifice, to nocht,
becaus he did nocht his divine service as he suld have done.
Tullus rang xxxII yeris in grete glore abone the Romanis.

CAP. XIII.
How Ancus Marcius wes maid King ofRomanis. How the Latinis,
contrare thair band of confederacioun, invadit the Romanis. Of
thairproude answere maid to Romanis, desiring reddres of thair
injuris ; and of theforme and maner to denunce were.

SULLUS beand deceissit in this maner, the kingdome of
Romanis wes devolvit, as the use wes fra the beginning,
to the faderis; and, sone eftir, thay chesit ane regent
to governe the ciete, quhill the pepill war digestlie resolvit quha suld be king. Quhen this regent had maid his comites,
as wes accustumit, the pepill chesit Ancus Marcius to be king, and
the Faderis confirmit him.
This Ancus wes nepote to Numa Pompilius, gottin on his dochter. Als sone as he began to regne, he considerit in his memorie
the renoune and glore of his gudeschir, and how the empire of this
last King Tullus wes governit in maist felicite all wayis, saif onelie
the rite and cerimonis of divine religioun wes neclectit, or ellis nocht
Hi

58

TITUS LIVIUS.

done in dew maner as thay war institute; and, for this caus, he
thocht na besines sa gude, as to mak the divine sacrifice to the Goddis
of the samin gise as thay war institute be Numa. And, that sic
thingis micht be done mair eselie be the pepill, he commandit the
grete bischop to public and schaw furth the bukis of Numa, his
gudeschir, in quhilkis war contenit the proces and maner of every
religioun be him devisit; and the samin to be drawin out of his
bukis to be inserit in public tabillis, quhare all the pepill micht behald the samin.
Ancus, throw thir and siclike doingis, wes traistit be his cieteyanis
richt desirus of pece, and be sindry cieteis, approchand to his em:.
pire, to cum to the maneris and religius institucioun of Numa, his
gudeschir. For thir causis, the Latines, quhilkis war confiderate
afore with Romanis in time of Tullus, began to erect thair curage;
and, be suddane incursioun, tuke ane large pray of gudis out of the
Romane landis. And quhen the Romanis had send thair legatis desiring redres of thir injuris, thay answerit with proude wourdis, saying, Thay held the King of Romanis for ane slow and effiminate
prince, and belevit nocht bot he suld pas his dayis, but ony glore of
armes, amang templis and altares of Goddis.
Ancus had ingine indiffirent baith to were and pece; havand in
remembrance baith the religius life of Numa, and the marciale empire of Romulus. And howbeit he considerit, that pece wes maist
necessare to the empire of Numa, his gudeschir, becaus the said
Numa had as than mony feirs and young pepill, yit he thocht he
micht nocht obtene pece sa lichtlie as Numa did, quhilkis purchest
pece but injure of nichtbouris liand about him for the time. At last,
seing his pacience mokit and contempnit be the Latines, he thocht
best, as the sessioun occurrit, erare to follow the maneris of Tullus
than Numa. Herefore, as Numa, in time of pece, maid mony religius rites, sa he thocht, in the time of were, to be author of marciall
cerimonis; and nocht alanerlie to lere the pepill how batallis suld
be led aganis thair enemyis, bot als be quhat ordoure and werely
proces thair batallis sal be denuncit.
And, first, he declarit the maneris and custume how redres suld
be desirit of all injuris. This rite of chevelry, and repeticioun of
gudis, began first be ane anciant pepill namit Equicoli; quhilkis re-

THE FIRST BUKE.

59

manis now with the preistis namit Fecialis. The Legate, as sone
as he is cumin to the marchis and utir boundis of that pepill quhare
he desiris redres, sal first covir his hede with certane thredis maid
of woll, and say in this maner: " Here me, 0 Jupiter! here me,
" 0 ye indwellaris and inhabitantis of this land to quhilk I am di"Creckit !"-In the mene time he namis the land,-" Here me, 0
public messinger of Romane
" ye Ressoun and Justice! for I
" pepill. I cum here as Legate, send baith meiklie and justlie,
" thairfore gif faith and credence to my wourdis." Thir wourdis beand said, he desiris redres of sic injuris as war to him committit,
and takis Jupiter in witnes, saying thir wourdis: " Gif I desire thir
"'men, or thir gudis, injustlie or wikkitle to be randerit to Romane
" pepill, or to me, then, 0 Jupiter, suffir me nevir to returne hame
" in my cuntre with my life or my hele." Thir wourdis beand said,
the Legate sal entir within the cuntre to quhilk he is direckit, and
sall repete the wordis afore rehersit to the first men he metis, uthir
be the gate, or in the entres of the toun; and, siclike, sal repete
thir wourdis, with changeing of uthir litill cerimonis, quhen he enteris in the courte or merket within the said toun. And gif the men
and gudis, quhilkis he desiris, be nocht randerit and restorit agane
within xxx dayis,--for that noumer wes ay accustumit for the mair
solemnite,--than sail he denunce batall in this maner : " Here me,
" 0 Jupiter ! here me, 0 Juno! here me, 0 Quirine ! and here me,
" 0 celestiall, terrestriall, and infernale Goddis ! I tak you in wit"nes, that the pepill"-quhilk he namis for the time,-" be injust,
"quhilk will nocht mak satisfaccioun nor redres for the offensis
" done, according to richt; and protestis here, thairfore, quhen we
" ar returnit in owre cuntre, that we may prudentlie avise with our
" nobillis, how and be quhat maner we may best recovir thay gudis
" quhilkis richtuisly pertenis to.us."
Als sone as this Legate is returnit to Rome, and takis avisement
of the senatouris quhat thingis ar to be done, than sal the king tak
consultacioun of the said senate and faderis; and be his wourdis
schaw, for quhat occasioun, for quhat actioun and debait, the FaderPatrat of the Quirites and Romane pepill has denuncit were to the
Fader-Patrat of prisk Latinis, and to all the Latine pepill, and sall
expres quhat thir gudis or injuris war quhilkis suld have bene re-

-am

60

TITUS LIVIUS.

storit or reparit be the Latinis to Romanis, and how the samin ar
on na maner of way done; and quhen the king has said thir wourdis,
than sall he say to the fader or senatouris of quhilkis he first askis
counsale, " O fader, quhat thinkis thou to be done in this mater?"
Than sal the senatoure or fader, that is demandit be the king, say
in this wise: " I decerne and jugis all thir gudis, or injuris afore
" rehersit, to be recoverit with just and lauchfull batall. I consent
"hereto, and discernis the samin to be done." Quhen this senatoure
has gevin this sentence in this maner, than sal the remanent faderis
and senatouris be demandit in the samin wise, ilk ane in ordoure
eftir uthir. And quhen the maist parte and noumir of senatouris
war foundin of the samin votis as the first has schawin, and the batall declarit just be generale consent of all the ordoure of senatouris,
than it is accustumit, that the Feciall sall pas to the out marchis of
the pepill quhilk is to be invadit be this batall, and bere in hand
ane lance, or ane darte, with the point of the samin brint and scharpe,
or ellis hedit with irne, and, in presence of thre young childrin, say
thir wourdis: " Becaus the prisk Latine pepill, or ellis the prisk
"Latine men, have faleyit or done injuris aganis the Quirites.anud
"Romane pepill, thairfore the said Quirites and Romane pepill has
"commandit batall to be denuncit aganis the prisk Latine pepill;
"or ellis, the Quirites and senate of Rome has consentit, decretit,
"and adjugit batall to be led aganis the prisk Latine pepill. And
"for thir causis and ressouns, I, the preist Feciall, with avise of
" Romane pepill, makis and denuncis batall to the prisk Latine pe"pill, and to the prisk Latine men." And als sone as he had said
thir wourdis, he flang his lance or darte within the landis of Latine
pepill. And be this and siclike maner of way the redres was desirit fra the Latinis, and batall denuncit to thame.
The samin maner of denunciacioun of weris, and desire of red res,
wes observit mony yeris eftir be the posterite of Romanis.

THE FIRST BUJKE.

6

61

CAP. XIV.
How Ancus wan sindrie townis of Sabinis, and transportit the yepill thairof to Rome. How Lacumo, the riche citeyane of
quine, cum with his
and gudis in Rome, and wes namit Terquine. Of the uncouth mervel that apperit in his viage; and how
he was tutoure-testamentare to Ancus'ssonnfis.

Ter-

wiffe

FTin that Ring Ancus had committit the charge ofall
divine and religius ritis to the flaminis and uthir preistis
of his realme, he rasit his oist, and be preiss of armes
tuke ane riche and strang ciete of Latinis, namit Politore. Syne, be exempil and imitacioun of uthir precedent kingis,
his antecessouris, quhilkis ekit the Romane empire, be ressaving of
thair vincust enemyis within the town of Rome, he transportit all
the pepill of Politore to the said town. And becaus he persavit,
that the' auld Romanis had biggit sa mony housis, rising in grete
nowmer abone the palice riall, that thay micht nocht have sufficient
and plesand lugeing within the town.; attoure, the Sabinis and Latinis, be fouth and multitude of pepill, had
all rowmes with
thair housis beside

the

filit

tour of Capitoll and Mont

Celius;

for thir

causis, Ancus dilatit his ciete to Mont Aventine, that. his new pepill, the cieteyanis of Politore, micht inhabit the samin. And to

cans the said Mont Aventine to be ekit with more frequent nowmer
of pepill, he ekit to it new cieteyanis of the townis namit rrellenos
and Ficana, eftir that the samin wes subdewit. to his empire.
Eftir this, he returnit with his recent and victorius army to the
said= town of Politore, becaus the- Latinis began. to garnis. the samin

with new municioun and pepill, .eftir that it wes .left be him in his
last journay, and, finalie, brocht the samin, to uter eversioun ; the
Wallis and housis thairof equate to the ground ; to that
that it
suld nocht be, in times cuming, ane generall resset to his enemyis.
At last. this marciall and maist werelie prince transportit all his
ordinance and army to Medulla, ane strang town of Latinis, quhare

fine,

TITUS LIVIUS.
it wes fochtin lang time with variant and doutsum victorie; for the
foresaid town wes strang be municiounis, and weil garnist with men
of armes. And, becaus the Romane campis stude opinly afore the
said town, followit frequent skarmussing betwix the Romanis and
Latinis. At last Ancus cum with the hale power of his army aganis
the Latinis, and put thaim to utir discomfitoure; sync returnit with
huge pray of men and guddis to Rome. Throw this victorie mony
thousandis of Latine pepill war transportit fra thair native ciete to
Rome; to quhais habitacioun war gevin certane mansions beside
the tempil of the Goddes Murchea; to that fine, that Mont Aventine suld be conjunit to the palice. Attoure, Mont Janikle was ekit
and drawin at this time within the boundis of this town, nocht for
that caus that the pepill had penurite of rowmes to thair habitacioun within the town, bot to that fine, that the said montane suld
nocht be ane municioun to ressait of enemyis sum uthir times agane
the town. It wes thairfore fund expedient, that the said Mont Janikil sall nocht onelie be drawin within the wallis of the ciete, bot
als, for commodite of passage, that ane brig micht be mair eselie
drawin owre Tiber fra the said Mont Janikil to the town. This
wes the first brig that evir wes maid owre Tiber, and wes callit Sublicius, that is to say, ane Brig of Tre.
Sic thingis done, King Ancus inclusit his toun in every part with
ane fowsye, quhilk wes callit Quiritium in thay dayis. This fowsye
wes the mair strang defence to the toun, that it wes drawin on plane
grund on every side.
Quhen Ancus had ekit his empire with sic fouth of pepill, began
to rise ilk day occult slauchteris and cruelteis in his ciete, be confusit difference of gude and evil werkis; and, thairfore, to repres
sic iniquiteis, ane prisoun wes edifyit in middis of the town, beside
the merket.
Thus wes the ciete of Rome nocht onelie dilatit with mair ampill
boundis than afore, during the empire of this prince, bot als war
ekit to the senyeorie thairof mony uthir landis and provincis liand
about the samin. The grete wod Mesea wes tane fra the empire of
Veanis, throw quhilk the empire of Romanis wes dilatit with ampill
boundis to the seyis. He biggit als, in the mouth of Tiber, the
ciete callit Hostia, and mony Sabinis war edifyit about the samin.

THE FIRST BUKE.

63

And becaus his marciall dedis succedit with thir and siclike feliciteis, he reparit the tempil of Jupiter Feretrius with mair ampill
rowmes and magnificence than afore.
Quhill King Ancus wes regnand thus in Rome, Lacumo, ane man
of industry and grete riches, left the ciete of Terquine, and cum to
Rome, be esperance alanerlie and desire of honouris. This Lacumo had na hope to conques honoris or riches in the ciete of Terquine, becaus he wes cummin of uncouth and strange blude; for
he wes son to Daramathus, cieteyane of the toun of Corinthy,
quhilk wes banist fra the samin be seditioun, and dwelt with his
wiffe in the ciete of Terquine, on quham he had twa sonnis, that
ane namit Lacumo, and this uthir Aruns. Lacumo levit behind his
fader, and wes hale heritoure to his faderis heritage and gudis.
Aruns deceissit afore his fader, and left his wife grete with childe:
and, sone eftir the deith of Aruns, deceissit Daramathus, his fader,
quhilk havand na cognissance that his sonnis wife wes with childe,
left nane of his gudis be his testament to his nepote afore his deith.
This childe, quhilk wes borne eftir his gudeschiris deceis, and succeding to na porcioun of his gudis, wes namit for his indigence and
poverte Egerius. On the tothir side, the grete riches that Lacumo
gat be his faderis deith rasit his minde with gude curage. At last,
throw his gudelie behavingis, and fame of his riches, he maryit ane
lady, borne of illuster and gentil linage and blude, namit Tanaquill.
This woman wes of sa hie spreit, that scho micht nocht suffir hir
husband to be estimeit with less honouris than efferit to his estait;
and, thairfore, seing the Hethruschis, quhilkis war cieteyanis of the
said toun of Terquine, vilepend hir husband, becaus he wes ane
strangeare and cummin of uncouth blude, scho micht nocht suffir
thair unkindnes, bot sett aside all lufe and kindnes that scho bure
to hir native cuntre. And, to bring hir husband to mair renoun and
honouris, determit to change hir habitacioun out of Terquine, and
to leif the residew of hir dayis in Rome; for Rome apperit maist
ganand to vertewus and vailyeand campiouns, becaus the samin wes
full of uncouth and new pepill, and every virtew sa apprisit in the
samin, that ane man micht cum thairthrow haistelie to hie nobilite
and honouris, as weill apperit be Tacius, for thocht he wes ane Sabine, yit he wes King of Romanis. Siclike, Numa Pompilius wes

64

TITUS LIVIUS.

brocht fra Cureo, his habitacioun, and maid King of Romanis; and
Ancus Marcius, quhais moder wes ane Sabine, nocht unlike to the
maneris of Numa, wes than regnand in Rome. Thir and siclike
ressouns, and desire of honouris, perswadit lichtlie Lacumo, howbeit
he and his moder war borne in the ciete of Terquine, to leif the samin, and to pas to Rome.
At last this Lacumo, and his wiffe Tanaquill, war passand in ane
cheriott, with thair gudis tursit with thame, in thair viage, and nere
approcheand to Mont Janikle, quhan suddanelie betid him ane uncouth aventure; for ane erne discendit suddanelie out of the aer,
and tuke his hat of his hede, and, with displayit wingis, flew abone
the cheriott, berand the hat into hir clukis, with grete noyis and
clamoure; syne returnit, as scho had bene with celestiall purviance
send, and put the hat softlie on his hede agane, syne vanist without
ony uthir displesour.
It is said, that Tanaquill, richt expert in divinacioun of uncouth
prodigeis, as uthir pepill of Hethruschis ar, acceppit this mirakil
with grete joy, and embrasit hir husband, commanding him to beleif gude fortoun appering; for this woundir apperit be the erne,
the foule of maist honoure, and discending fra the maist sonsy pairt
of hevin on the left hand, and messinger to Jupiter, the god of
maist renoun and prowes; and the woundir done to the hiest pairt
of his body, that is to say, the hede; syne rasing the ornament that
wes thairon hie in the aer, and reponing it with plesour, in signe
that he suld have divine and hie honoure, with favoure of the pepill.
Finalie, Lacumo and his wife, with thir and sic interpretaciouns
of this mirakil, enterit in Rome, and bocht ane hous and lugeing
in the samin, and wes callit be the pepill Tarquinius Priscus, becaus
he wes cummin fra the anciant ciete of Tarquine; and, throw his
wisdome and riches, he wes haldin in reverance and grete veneracioun amang the Romanis. Attoure, he supportit the gude werde
and fortoun quhilk wes prenosticate to him be his gude behavingis
and bening speche; and conquest, be his liberalite and bankettis,
sa mony tendir freindis within the ciete of Rome, that the faim and
renowne of his governance and virtew wes brocht in the kingis pa-..
lice; and, finalie, maid him sa familiare to the king, that he wes

THE FIRST BUKE.

6

65

-his

put baith on
private and public counsell, and did all chargeis
quhilkis war committit to him with grete prudence, baith in time of
were and pece. And, last of all, becaus he was found of sa hie experience in every materis, he was left be the king tutoure-testamentare
to his barnis.
Ancus rang xxiv yeris abone the Romanis, equale, baith in were
and pece, to ony his antecessouris in glore and crafty policy.

CAP. XV.
How Priscus Tarquinius was maid Iing of Romanis. How he
ekit the sate of senaturis with ane hundrethfaderis. How the
Sabinis and Romanisfaucht aganis utheris with uncertane victonie. How the divinoure cuttit ane quhitstane with ane rasoure.
How the Sabinis war sindrie times discomjist, and constranit to
gjf Collatia, thair principall ciete, to-the empire of Rome.

_______l war the sonnis
Ow

of King Ancus nere thair perfectioun
and lauchfull age; and, for that cans, Tarquinius Priscus

n
laubourit the mair
_________-iou of the king :

ardentlie to mak the comites for creaand quhen the hour-and day thairof

was cuming, he send the sonnis of Ancus, be crafty industry, to the
huntis.
This Tarquine was the first that socht the crowne of Romanis be
ambicioun. It is said, he maid ane crafty and plesand orisoun to induce the mindis of small pepill to his purpois; saying, He socht nocht
ane new and uncouth thing, or unherd afore in .Rome; and, thairfore,
na indignacioun nor yit woundering suld follow amang the-pepill, sen
bot alanerlie the thrid strangeare that desirit
he was nocht the
the crown of Romanis. Tacius was nocht onelie ane strangeare, and
of uncouth blude, bot als inemye to Romanis ; and yit he wes maid
thair king. Secundly, Numa, havand na cognossance of Rome nor
Romane pepill, was chosin but ony his solicitacioun, and maid king.
And now, thridlie, the said Tarquine, as sone as he .had liberte and

first,

66

TITUS LIVIUS.

power of himself, was cummin with his wife and all his gudis to dwell
in Rome, and has spendit mair of his prudent age, that is to say sic
age as was ganand for civill offices, in Rome, than he had spendit in
the auld ciete of Tarquine, quhare he wes bred and borne. And now,
be lang accustum, has perfitelie lernit all the Romane lawis, with thair
cerimonis and instituciouns, baith in were and pece, undir ane gude
maister, Ancus, ane prince of na litill estimacioun; and hes gevin his
hale ingine and besines nocht onelie to obey the said prince with faith,
amite, and observance, with all uthir dewteis possibill, bot als to the
plesour of the pepill in that samin maner.
The Romanis herand him schew the thingis quhilkis thay knew
of verite, chesit him king, with all thair consentis; yit, nochtwithstanding mony his excellent virtewis, the samin ambicioun that he
had in ser.cheing the crown, followit him during his empire.
This Tarquine, havand na les remembrance to stabil his empire
with sikker firmance, than to augment the commounweill, ekit the seit
with ane hundreth senatouris, quhilkis war callit the faderis of small
pepill. This was done, but dout, be the king, to caus the faderis,
sen thay war ekit to the ordoure of senatouris be his industry, to
stand his freindis in time cuming.
The first weris that he maid war aganis the Latinis ; and, sone eftir, he tuke, be forsy violence, ane toun undir thair senyeorie, namnit
Apiola, syne returnit to Rome with mare riche pray of men and gudis
than was presumit; and, thairfore, he institute and maid plais with
mair magnificence, riches, and pompe, than ony his antecessouris did
afore. He wes the first king that assignit grete boundis within Rome
to be playing placis; quhilkis placis war namit Circus. Thir playing placis war dividit with sic ordinance amang the faderis, horsmen,
and uthiris nobillis of Rome, that every ane of thaim, eftir thair estait, had thair sete edifyit for contemplacioun of thir playis. Thir
settis war namit Fori,and war rasit on certane stakis, xii fute of hicht
fra the erde, that thir foresaidis nobillis micht the mair eselie behald
and vesy the playis quhen thay occurrit. Thir playis war sa joyus,
and sa full of every plesoure, that sindry vailyeant campiouns and
horsmen, specially of Hethruria, cum to vesy the samin quhen thay
occurrit. Thir sportis and joyus merines continewit yerelie aminang

THE FIRST BUKE.

67

the Romanis, and was callit sumtimes the Romane playis, and sumtimes the grete playis.
Attoure, sindry placis, liand fornens he commoun merket, war dividit be this Tarquine amang certane obscure and private persouns,
to be edifyit be thaim with tavernis and galaris, to sauf thaim fra
somer schouris, or fra fervint hetis of the sone. Tarquine gevand his
ingine to eik the commounweill with thir and siclike policyis, began
to big ane wall of stane about his toun; and, in the mene time, wes
impeschit be the weris of Sabinis: quhilk mater wes sa suddanelie attemtate, that the Sabinis war cumin owre the river of Anien afore
the Romanis micht be reddy to resist thair incursioun, throw quhilk
the Romanis wer astonist with grete dredoure. Nochtheles, thay met
the Sabinis, and faucht aganis thaim, first, with uncertane victorie
and huge slauchtir on all sidis. At last, quhen baith thir armyis war
returnit to thair campis, and dressand thaim with maist properand
diligence to invaid uthir with new batall, King Tarquine considerit,
and saw perfitelie, the power of horsmen dekay maist in his armye;
and, for that caus, he tuke purpois to eik new centuries to thay centuries quhilkis war devisit afore be Romulus, namit Ramnes, Tacienses, and Luceres, that the doing thairof micht remane in perpetuall memorie of his renoune and fame.
In the mene time, Accius Navius, the maist excellent divinoure
that was in thay dayis, allegit, becaus Romulus did all his notabill
actis be augurie and divinacioun of foulis, that na thing suld be
changeit nor alterit but jugement of the foulis. Tarquine tuke ane
hie indignacioun in his minde that this divinoure impeschit him of
honorabill purpois; and thairfore, in derisioun of his science and divinacioun, said to him in this maner: " Schaw me now, be divina" cioun of thy foulis, gif the thing be possibill to be that I think now
" into my minde." And quhen the said Accius Navius had fund,
be experience and augurie of the foulis, that the samin thing quhilk
the king thocht was possibill, and micht sikkerlie be done, than said
Tarquine, " I thocht in my mind, that you suld cut that quhitstane
" in thy hand with an rasoure; thairfore, tak that quhitstane, and
"do now the thing that thy foulis sa manifestlie schawis." It is said,
that this divinoure cuttit haistelie the stane with his rasoure, but ony
obstakill. The image of Accius Navius was sett, with hede coverit,

68

TITUS LIVIUS.

risand on certane stagis towart the left hand of the counsel-hous, in
the samin parte of generall convencioun quhare it was done, and the
quhitstane houng on the samin maner, to be ane memoriall of sa uncouth and prodigious wounder to our posterite.
Throw this wounderful mervell, sic honour and reverence was gevin
to auguries, and to preistis and divinouris thairof, that na thing was
done mony yeris eftir concerning grete materis, outhir in time of were
or pece, but consultacioun of foulis: attoure, the counsalis of pepill,
the rasing of armyis, and all hie chargis, suld be statit and repute of
na effect, without the foulis had schawin ane notabil pronosticacioun
for the sicker felicite thaireftir following. And yit Tarquine maid na
alteracioun nor change concerning the centuries of horsmen; howbeit
and
he ekit the samin ordoure with mair nowmer on sic maner, that
ccc horsmen war dividit amang thre centuries. Thus war the last
centuries, quhilkis war now ekit, conjunit to the first, but ony change
or difference of name; and yit, becaus the nowmer thairof was doublit,
the pepill callit thaim the new sex centuries.
King Tarquine, eftir that his army was ekit with this ordinance
and new power, faucht the secund time aganis the Sabinis. And
howbeit the Romane army was mair strang and pussand than afore
be this new power of centuries, yit to support the samin was fundin
ane subtil slicht and craft of chevelrie to distroy thair enemyis. Certane personis war send out of the Romane oist to the rivere of
Aniene, quhilkis fand ane huge nowmer of treis liand on the brais
thairof; and quhen thir persouns had bound thir treis togidder on
thair maner, thay harlit the samin in the streme of the foresaid rivere,
and kendillit ane huge fire aboune thaim. Thir treis finalie cuming
doun the rivere of Aniene, war inflammit cruelly be the violent windis,
and stintit nevir quhil thay cum rageand in maist terribill blesis throw
the town of Sabinis to the pillaris of the brig; and becaus the stoupis
and pillaris thairof war all of tre, thay war haistelie brint and resolvit
in powdir; for the windis war grete, and maid the fire sa bald, that
it micht nevir be slokinnit. This slicht and crafty devise was na litill
discomfitour to the oist of Sabinis, quhilkis, with haisty irrupcioun,
war ischit out of the town; for, eftir that thay war discomfist, thay
micht nocht fle, as thay did afore, owre the rivere; throw quhilk incredibill nowmer of thaim, quhen thay had eschapit thair enemyis,

m

THE FIRST BUKE.

69

perist in the said rivere. Mony of thair wappinnis and targis cum
flotand doun the rivere of Tiber, and maid this huge victorie patent
to the pepill of Rome, afore ony sikker tithingis cum fra thair oist to
schaw. the maner thairof. The soverane glore of victorie succeding
be this batall was gevin to the horsmen; for thay war arrayit in two
wingis, baith on the richt and left hand, fornens the Sabinis: for
quhen thay saw the band of thair futemen clerelie discomfist, thay
cum sa fast to thair supporte on every side, that thay nocht alanerlie
dang and stoppit the Sabinis legiouns, bot als put thaim to flicht.
The Sabinis, discomfist on this wise, fled with few nowmer to the
montanis; for the maist part of thame, as said is, was drevin be the
horsmen in the flude, quhare thay perist. King Tarquine thinkand
na thing sa gude as to follow feirslie on thir Sabinis quhil thay war
astonist be this effray and troubill, send all the pray and spulyeis,
gottin be this victorie, with the prisoneris to Rome. And becaus he
votit to consecrate the harnes and armoure of his enemyis to the god
Vulcane, he collectit the samin togidder, and maid ane sacrifice thairof eftir his promis.
Sone eftir he rasit his baner, and, with suddand irrupcioun, enterit
in the Sabine landis; and, nochtwithstanding that the Sabinis faucht
unhappily in this last batall, and had na esperance of better fortoun to
follow, yit, becaus thay had na sufficient laser to tak avisement, thay
cum aganis the Romanis with ane haisty skarmusch. Nochtheles thay
war vincust as afore; and, eftir that thay war brocht to extreme desolacioun, thay send thair legatis to King Tarquine desiring pece, quhilk
wes grantit to thaim undir thir condiciounis: That thair principall
ciete, namit Collatia, with all the landis liand to the senyeorie thairof, sal be tane fra thlair dominioun and ekit to the perpetual dominioun of Rome. To kepe this ciete was send Egerius, quhilk was
broder to Tarquine as afore is rehersit, with ane garisoun, and band
of sodjouris. The maner how the Collatinis war randerit to Tarquine
followis: First war send certane oratouris fra the Collatinis, quham
King Tarquine demandit in this wise: " Ar ye send as oratouris be
"the Collatinis to rander baith you and thaim to the empire of Rome?"
" We ar," said the oratouris. Than King Tarquine said, "Ar the
" Collatinis undir thair awin power, but ony servitude to uthir pe" pill ?" " Thay ar," said the oratouris. " Wil ye randir you and

70

70
TITUS LIVIUS.

the Collatinis, with thair ciete, thair landis, thair marchis, watteris,
tempillis, and gudis, with al uthir dewiteis pertening ony maner of
" way to thaim, outhir be law of God or man ?" "We rander all,"
said the oratouris; " And I ressave all," said King Tarquine.
"
"

CAP.

XVI.

How Tarquine dantit the Latinis, and gafthair landis and cieteis
to the empire of Romanis. Of his magniicent werlkis. Of the
on Servius Tullius hede, and of the inuncouthfire that
terpretaciounthairofbe Tanaquill. How the sonnis of Ancus wer
banistfor the slauchter of Tarquine; and how Servius Tullius,
be slicht of Tanaquill,wes maid King of Romanis.

apperit

HE batall of Sabinis endit in maner afore rehersit, King
Tarquine returnit, with grete triumphe and glore of vietorie, to Rome; and sone eftir he rasit his army with
fresch ordinance aganis the Latinis; and, becaus he culd
nocht persuade thaim to gif him batall, he tuke be sindry incursiouns
mony of all thair cietes and landis, sic as war namit Cornikill, auld

Ficulea, Chawmeria, Crustumerie, Ameriola, Medulla, Nomentum.
All thir townis war outhir tane fra the prisk Latinis, or ellis fra sic
pepill as war rebellit aganis Romanis, and applauding to the opinioun
of Latinis quhen Tarquine had dantit the Latins. In this maner he
began to do werkis of policy in Rome with mair coist and magnificence than evir he did ony werkis of chevelrie afore; and to that fine,
that his pepill suld be na les quiet, but seditioun within the time of
pece, than thay wer afore during the time of were. He began to belt
his ciete with ane strang wall of stane on every side ; for he had as
yit nocht

sufficientlie garnist the samin, becaus

he' wes impeschit, as

said is, be the weris of Sabinis.
Sic thingis done, he drewe mony closettis, condittis, and sinkis fra
the hicht of the toun to the merket and uthir law partis thairof, to
purge the samin of all corrupcioun and filth ; for on the plane and
evin ground micht na discensis be maid for purgacioun thairof. And

THE FIRST BUKE.
quhen he had done thir thingis with grete magnificence, he began to
compes the foundament of ane tempill beside the Capitoll with large
boutdis; for he was votit in this uther batall led be him aganis the
Sabinis, to dedicate ane new tempill to Jupiter.
The samin time, within the kingis palice, happinnit ane uncouth
wounder. Ane childe, namit Servius Tullius, was slepand, and, in
sicht of all the pepill, his hede apperit as it wer blesand in ane rede
low. Throw clamoure and din of pepill gaddering on all sidis to se
this wounder, the king comperit;:and quhen ane of his servitouris
had brocht watter to slokkin the fire that apperit on Servius hede,
the quene maid impediment, and wald nocht suffir him to slokin the
fire, At last quhen the noyis wes mesit, scho inhibit that this child
war trublit quhill he was awalkinnit of his awne will; and als sone as
he wes walkinnit the low evanist. Incontinent, Tanaquill tuke hir
husband in ane secrete chawmer, and said, " Consideris you this
" childe quhilk we have nurist with sa vile habit. This child sall
" nocht faill to be ane grete releif and helpe to us quhen we ar
" trublit with doutsum chance or ony adversite; herefore lat us nuris
" baith privatelie and opinlie, the mater of sa grete honoure apper" ing." It is said thay tuke this childe eftir this, and held him in the
place of thair awne barnis, and maid him to be nurist with sic vertew
and moral doctrine as wald rais his sprete to attempt grete matteris.
It come al wayis, as the goddis ordanit, this childe grew with sa hie
ingine and princelie maneris, that quhen King Terquine had socht in
sundry partis quhare ony illustir and excellent persoun micht be
wourthy to have his dochter in mariage, thare wes nane fund sa
wourthy to be his maith as the said Servius. And sa the king gaif
him finalie his dochter in mariage. For quhatsumevir caus sa grete
honoure was gevin to him, I can nocht beleif that he was borne on
ane servand, or was ever thirlit to ony service, for I am erare of
thare opinioun that haldis quhen the toune of Cornikill was tane be
Romanis, the king of the said toun, namit Servius Tullius, was slane.
And amang mony sindry spulyeis and presoneris tane in the said
toun, the kingis wiffe, namit Corniculana, was captive, and saiffit, becaus scho was with childe, and send to Rome. Tanaquil herand that
scho was of the linage riall, wald nocht suffir hir to remane in servitude amang the remanent prisoneris, bot held hir within the palice,

TITUS LIVIUS.
quhil scho wes deliver of ane childe, quhilk wes namit after his fader,
Servius Tullius. And thocht he was nurist in the said palice, in familiarite of the quene, yit becaus his moder was presoner be chance
of fortoun, his cuntre captive, and him self cummin in his inemyis
handis, the pepill held him as borne of ane servand. This Servius,
eftir that Terquine had rung xxxviii yeris, was nocht onelie haldin in
grete honoure and reverence with King Terquine, bot als wes haldin
on the samin maner with all pepill and faderis of the ciete.
In the mene time the two sonnis of Ancus had na litill indignacioun in thare mindis that thay war nocht alanerlie ejekkit fra thare
riall and kindelie heretage be dissate of thare curatoure, hot als war
gretumlie displesit that ane man, nouthir of Italiane nor Romane linage, bot of maist unknawin blude, suld regne abone thame; yit
wes thare indignacioun ekit with the mare haterent, that thay knew
weill that the crowne wald nocht returne to thaim eftir the deith of
Tarquine, bot wald pas under servitude; for it apperit richt un,wourthy that ane servand, borne of ane servand, culd possede sa
recentlie within the space of ane hundreth yeris, the kingdome and
cietie that Romulus the god of Romanis, and gottin be ane god, had
rejosit afore, sa lang as he levit in this erde. Attour thir sonnis of
Ancus thocht it wes ane hie dishonour to thair hous, quhil ane of
thaim war on liffe, that the kingdome of Romanis suld nocht alanerlie be patent to uncouth and strange blude, bot als to servandis. And
for thir ressouns thay concludit to refuse this maist schamefull displesour be the swerde. And yet the haterent proceeding be this ingine movit thaim erare to execute thair indignacioun on Terquine
than on Servius; for Terquine, gif he eschapit, wald be, throw his
singulare wisdome, the mair active punisare of thair attemptatis than
ony private man; and thocht thay slew Servius, yit King Terquine
suld find haistilie ane new maith, and mak him heretoure to the croun.
And for thir ressouns thay thocht na thing sa sikker as to sla the
king.
To execute thir cruell attemptatis war chosin two hindis of grete
ferocite, quhilkis war accustomit to mak plais and generall sportis for
solace of the pepill, and usit to fecht mare with landwart staffes and
axis, than ony marciall wappinnis of armoure in thair gammin. Thir
two hindis, armit on this maner, come to the porch afore the kingis
palice; and in maner of ane haisty bargane with schil noyis and cry,

THE FIRST BUKE.

73

drew all the kingis apparatouris and gard to behald thair fechting.
At last quhen baith thir hindis had callit fast apoun the king, thair
noyis and clamoure come finalie to the kingis eris, throw quhilk
thay war baith brocht to his presence; and incontinent, ilkane of
thaim began to cry and chide aganis uthir. Then the servandis commandit thaim to leif thair crying, and in the mene time ane of thaim
begouth to schaw ane sportsum fabil.
At last, quhen the king wes behaldin this man maist earnistfull,
that uthir limmare rasit his ax, and straik the king on the hede, and
for fersnes to fle, left the axe stikkand in the kingis hede. Incontinent, thay gat baith out at the door. Als sone as thir apparatouris,
quhilkis war standand by, had tane up the king, swownand in the
dede thraw, the servandis followit sa feirslie on thir limmaris, quhil
thay war baith apprehendit. Grete confluence of pepill ruschit haistely
to the palice, desiring to here the cause of this effray. And, in the
mene time, Tanaquil gart clois the yettis of the palice; and quhen
scho had ischit the chalmer of al persouns, that na man suld juge
quhidder he wald leif or die, scho went with maist diligence to gadder sic herbis, as scho knew proffittabill to cure woundis, as sum esperance had bene yit of his liffe. At last, seing her husband wes
dede, scho began to sail on ane uthir burde, and callit Servius, hir
gude son, haistelie afore hir; and eftir scho had schewin hir husband,
liand cauld and dede afore him, scho tuke the said Servius be the
hand, and prayit him to suffir nouthir the deith of his gude fader to
be unpunist, nor yit to suffir his gude moder to leif in derisioun of
ennemies; and said, "0 son, gif you be now ane man, the kingdome
O
"and croun of Romanis is thine, for the sonnis of Ancus, quhilkis
" has subornate thir limmaris to sla the king, may na wayis succede
" thairto. Now, rais thy curage, and follow the goddis as thy go" vernouris, quhilkis has schawin that thy hede, sumtime schinand
"with divine bemis, suld cum to maist dignite and honouris afore
"thy deith ;-let thir hevinlie and prodigius flammes rais now thy
" curage. Now is the time to be awalkinnit fra thy slepe; for thay
"quhilkis war of mare uncouth and strange blude, than you ar, has
" roung lang time in Rome; and, thairfore, regarde nocht of quhat
"hlinage and blude you art born, bot consider quhat presentlie you art.
K

74

TITUS LIVIUS.

" Gif thy witt dekeyis be this suddane effray, than follow my ingine
" 'and counsale."
At last Tanaquill, because scho micht nocht sustene the noyis and
clamoure of the pepill, desiring to here quhidder the king was levand
or dede, past to ane hie windo of the palice, fornens the new gate;
for the king dwelt beside the tempil of Jupiter Stator; and commandit the pepill to be of gude comfort, for thocht the king wes hurt
be suddand aventure, yit the wound wes nocht ingravin depe, and
now latelie vesyit and dicht, throw quhilk the king wes returnit to
himself, with gude rest; traisting thairthrow all thingis to fall with
sic felicitie, that the king sall be sene within few dayis, on the samin
maner and estate as he wes afore. And thairfore desirit thame, quhil
he was convalescit, to obtempir the command and chargis of Servius,
his gude son; for he suld execute all besines pertening to the king,
with gude justice. Sone eftir, Servius came furth among the faderis,
clothit with the rob riale, and the servandis of armis passand afore
him, and sat down pertly in the sate riall, gevand jugement now of
thir materis, and sumtime schew himself as king, to tak consultacioun
of uther greter materis. And, howbeit Tarquine was deceissit, yet
he causit his deith to be hid certane dais, quhill he micht, under his
name, etabill the kingdome of Romanis to him with mair sikker firmance. At last, rais ane lamentacioun, with grete murning and
teris, in the palace, throw quhilk apperit clerely that Tarquine wes
deceissit.
And, in the mene time, Servius was sa garnist be sindre buschmentis of his friendis and gude willaris, that he wes the first king that
rang abone the Romanis, be consent of the faderis, without decicioun
of the pepill. The sonnis of Ancus herand, as the quene schew, that
the king wes levand, and the hirdis quhilkis war instrucktit to his
slauchter, apprehendit; and als Servius cumin to grete honoure and
riches, thay become desperit of ony beleve: and, to saif thare lives,
fled in strange and uncouth landis, namit Pornesia ar d Suessa, quhare
thav eldit in miserie.

THE FIRST BUKE.

7
75

CAP. XVII.
How King Servius maryit his dochteris with the sonnis of Tar.
quine, and dividit his pepill in'sindrie classis and centuries, and
institute the sacrifice Lustrale. How he dilatit the town of Rome
with grete boundis; and inclusit the samin with wallis and fowseis.
® UHILL the

sonnis of Ancus war banist in this wise, King
Servius began, als well with public as private counsale,
to mak himself strang be affluence of riches. Attoure,
® that the sonnis of Tarquine, his gude fader, suld nocht
have sic invy and haterent aganis him, for the crownis of Romanis,
as the sonnis of Ancus had aganis Tarquine, he maryit his two dochteris on the two sonnis of Tarquine, namit Lucius Tarquine and
Aruncius Tarquine. Yit he could nocht brek, be witt and ingine of
man, the necessitie and violence of fortoun, for the invy and impacience of kingdome armit thir persouns, quhilkis war alliate togeddir
with familiare and domestick tendirnes, to invaid uthir with maist

tressonabill slauchter and troubil. It happinnit weill for the sikker
quiet and tranquillite of the time present, that Servius was constrenit
to rais ane army aganis the Veanis and Hethruschis, for. the trewis
war outrun. In this batall apperit weil the singulare

vertew and gude

fortoun of Servius, for be the union he gat ane glorius victorie of his
ennemies.
At last, knowing sum danger apperand to him,

outhier be invie of

the pepill or the faderis, he returnit to Rome, and tuke purpois to
matk ane maist excellent werk of lang peace, to that fine, that as Numa
Pompilius was the first -authoure of all divine religioun

-and

lawis

within Rome, sa suld he. be authoure and beginnour of all difference
and divisioun of estatis with the samin, eftir thair faculteis, that the
posterite and pepill eftir following micht understand be generall renoun and, fame, in quhat sorte, in quhat digniteis, and greis of fortoun, ilk state wes different fra utheris. And for this caus he insti-

76

TITUS LIVIUS.

tute the cens, ane thing richt proffittabil in times cummin for the
empire of Rome, that the public charges, baith in times of were and
pece, suld nocht be done be every man elike as afore; bot alanerlie
be thair faculteis and gudis. Than Servius dividit this pepill in
classis and centuries, and distrivit this ordoure be cens, ane richt
honorabill thing baith in time of were and pece. The first class wes
made of sic persouns as had ane hundreth thousand brasin pennyis,
or more of thair awne gudis; and of thir persouns he gaderit and
made LXXX centuries; of quhilkis thair wes XL centuries of young,
and als mony of agit men, al participant togiddir with this foresaid
noumer of gudis and riches. Thir agit men war ordanit to remane
at hame, ay reddy to defend the toun; and thir young men war
ordanit to be reddy to pas in werefare aganis thair inemyis. Thir
centuries war commandit to bere wapinnis and armoure, sic as hew,
montis, targis, butis, and habirjeonis, al maid of bras, for defence of
thair bodyis. Thair wapinnis, to invaid thair inemyis, war ordanit
to be lancis, dartis, and swerdis. And to thir centuries of young
men, war ekit uther twa centuries of smithis, nocht to bere armoure
and wapinnis ; bot alanerlie to turn the municioun and inginis of chevelry, with the centuries afore rehersit. The secund clas wes gaderit
of sic persouns as had LXXV.M pennyis in pois; and of thir pepill,
young and auld, war found xx centuries, and war commandit to bere
the samin armoure and wapinnis as the first classe bare, except thay
bare buckleris instede of targis, but ony habirjohns. The third class
wes maid of sic pepill, young and auld, as had fifty thousand pennyis,
with the samin array as the second classe had; but ony difference,
sauffing thay micht nocht were butis. The fourt classe wes maid of
sic pepill as had xxv.M pennyis; and of this classe was maid als xx
centuries. Thair armoure was changeit, and therefore thay micht
bere na wapinnis but dartis and speris. The fifte classe wes maid of
sic pepill as had xI.M pennyis; and of thaim wes found xxx centuries,
quhilkis war commandit to bere sloungis and casting stanis. And
with this last classe past the cryaris, serjandis, and trumpettis, bugil
blaweris, and menstrialis, and war dividit in three centuries. All the
remanent pepill, quhilkis micht nocht for thair poverte be noumerit
amang the estatis afore rehersit, war callit the last classe; and of

THE FIRST BUKE.

77

thaim war found bot ane centurie, quhilkis for thair poverte war exonerate of all charges of battall.
The army of futemen ordourit and dividit with digniteis and estatis,
in maner afore rehersit, King Servius tuke purpois to ordoure the
estate of horsmen, and made finalie xii centuries thairof, chosin of
the maist nobil and wourthiest persouns of his toun. He maid uthir
sex centuries, and ekit thame to the thre centuries, quhilkis war divisit and institute afore be Romulus, to remane under the samin
names as thay war devinit be auguries; and to by hors to thir centuries, was gevin x.M brasin pennyis of the common purs; and to
nuris the hors war gevin riche medois, sic as micht spend ii.M pennyis
of yerely importance and rentis. All thir chargis, afore rehersit, war
surelie translatit fra vexacioun and troubil of pure pepill, to the estate
of riche and maist potent men; and thairfore, quhen maist charge
war gevin, or sustenit for the commoun proffitt, thare maist honoure
and dignite followit. Thus was nocht the maner observate be the
remanent kingis, touching the governance of the empire, as wes observate be Romulus; for the suffrage wes gevin be every man elike
in the samin gre, and in the samin faculte as he paid. Howbeit
thair wes sum difference of greis; yit it wes ordanit in sic maner,
that ilk man suld have his awne voce and suffrage, and the grete
chargis to remane with the principall and wourthiest men of the toun.
Of this ordoure of horsmen war maist principal Lxxx, quhais wisdomes war first consultit, quhen ony materis occurrit concerning
outhir public or private chargis of pepill. And gif thir cxxx horsmen
war nocht concurrand under ane minde and wisdome to the decisioun
of sic materis, than was the classe of the first centurie of futemen to
be consultit. And gif ony vacances, as seildin happinit, war found
in this first classe, than wes the secund classe callit. All wayis na
mater occurrit of sic difficulte, bot it wes sufficientlie opinnit and discussit afore it come to the consultacioun of the lowest classe. Attoure
na persoun suld be movit with admiracioun; howbeit this ordoure,
that is in oure dayis be nocht respondent to the soume of centuries
maid be Servius; becaus sin syne has bene maid xxxv tribus of the
nowmer thairof, doubled with centuries of young and agit pepill; for,
as I belief, the toun of Rome wes dividit be regiouns and montanis
in sundry partis; and every ane of thir partis war callit tribus, be

78

TITUS LIVIUS.

thirlage of tribute that thay aucht to pay to the king; for the tribute
was equalie rasit on every persoun eftir the proporcioun of his gudis
and facixlteis. Attoure, thir tribus pertenit na thing to the distribucioun and nowmer of centuries.
At last, quhen Servius had distrivit the cens and taxacioun of every
man, eftir his faculteis, with sic properant diligence as he micht, he
commandit, undir maist traist punicioun, that all the cieteyanis and
pepill of Rome, als weill horsmen as futemen, suld compere, arelie
on the nixt morow, in the place of generall convencioun, namit Campus
Marcius, arrayit in the samin centuries and ordinance as he afore devisit. And quhen thay war all assemblit togidder in this maner, he
purgit thame be ane sacrifice namit Lustrale, maid, in reverence of
the Goddis, with schepe, swine, and bullis.
This sacrifice, maid be Servius at this time, was namit Lustrale,
becaus he yeid about thaim, and nowmerit every centurie and ordour be thaimself; for at this time war fund, in gude nowmer, within the wallis of Rome, Lxxx.M men. Attoure, it is said be Fabius
Pictor, the maist anciant historiciane, that this nowmer wes alanerlie
of sic men as bure wapinnis and armoure; and, that this nowmer
micht have the bettir lugeing within Rome, King Servius dilatit the
boundis thairof, and tuke in twa montanis, namit Quirinall and Mont
Viminall, throw quhilk the wallis war schot out with mair magnificent
boundis than afore; and nocht alanerlie ekit be thir montanis foresaid within Rome, bot als ekit the Mont Esquillies on the samin
maner, and biggit his principall habitacioun on this last montane, to
mak the samin of mair renowne and honoure in times cuming. Eftir
this, he beltit the ciete with wallis, foussyes, and trincheis, in all
partis. Attoure, he gart leif wide boundis, baith outwith and inwith
the wallis, callit Pomerie.
Sum men havand na sicht bot alanerlie to the Latine ressoun of
this worde Pomerie, belevit it callit Postmeneum, that is to say, the
boundis behind the toun. But thir men ar dissavit; for Pomerie is
calht ane certane boundis, passand round about ony toun, nixt the
wallis thairof; quhilkis boundis war consecrate be the Hethruschis,
with certane marchis, be auguryis and divinacioun of fowlis, quhen
thay tuke purpois to begin ony toun; with sic ordinance, that nowthir the saidis placis, liand inwith the toun, suld be edifyit or biggit

THE FIRST BUKE.
with ony housis, nor yit the boundis liand outwith the toun telit or
brokin to any produccioun of cornis. Thir boundis, quhilkis lay in
this maner inwith or outwith any toun, war callit Pomerie but ony
uthir ressoun. Attoure, quhen ony toun wes dilatit with mair ampill
boundis than it had afore, the Pomerie wes dilatit and consecrate in
the samin maner.

CAP. XVIII.
Of the Tempill of Diane, maid be Servius; and of the fatall Kow.
How Servius delt landis amang the pepill, and conquest thair benevolence. How Tullia thefeirs slew hir husband, to get Lucius
Tarquine in meriage. How scho perswadit him to sla hirfader,
and how scho rade in ane cheriot owre his body.
N tothir dayis wes ane anciant and illuster tempill, biggit
in the honoure of Diane, the goddes, in the ciete of
Ephesie, quhilk tempill, as the fame was in thay dayis,
was biggit with generale consent of the pepill of Asia.
It happinnit that Servius was loving gretumly the said pepill, becaus
thay, be generale avise, beildit the said tempill to the honoure of
thair Goddes. At last, quhen he had repetit oft times the magnificence thairof amang sindry princis and nobillis of the Latinis, with
quhilkis he wes, be prudent industry, makand maist ferme alliance
and concorde for the time, he brocht the Latinis to sic purpois, that
thay war fully accordit to big ane tempill with the Romanis, in the
honoure of the foresaid Diane; for baith thir pepill, with ane mind,
confessit, that Rome wes hede of the warld; for quhilk thay have oft
times invadit uthir. And howbeit the desire and conques of Romane
empire apperit at this time nocht possibill to succede to the Latinis.
becaus thay war brokin and oft times unhappily discomfist be the said
Romanis, yit followit sic ane aventure to ane preist of Sabinis, that
he belevit privatelie to conques the empire of Romanis.
Ane husbandman amang the Sabinis had ane kow, quhais incredibil bewte and magnitude wes to the grete admiracioun of the pepill.

80

TITUS LIVIUS.

The hornis of this kow war affixit, mony yeris eftir, in the porchis
afore the tempill of Diane, for ane uncouth and prodigius mirakill.
The divinouris had ane prophecy, that quhatsumevir cieteyane offerit
this kow to Diane, his pepill and nacioun suld have the monarchy
and perpetuall empire of the warld. This prophecy and divinacioun
cum finalie to the eris of ane Sabine, quhilk wes bischop of the said
tempill for the time. The Sabine bischop, als sone as ane solemne
and convenient day apperit for the foresaid sacrifice, brocht this said
kow to Rome, and sett hir afore the altare to have maid ane sacrifice
thairof to Diane. In the mene time, the bischop of Rome happinnit
to cum be aventure in the tempill, and seing this kow, as the fame
afore had schewin of sa huge quantite, cum haistelie to his mind the
prophecy concerning the immolacioun and sacrifice of this fatall kow;
and, to fruster' the Sabine bischop thairof, he said, " Quhy intendis
" you to offir ane prophane and pollute sacrifice to Diane, consider" ing you suld first haif purgit thyself in the quik stremes of ane rin"n and wattir ? Pass thairfore to Tiber, quhilk rinnis in ane low vaill,
" and purge thyself." The Sabine bischop, movit with vane religioun, and that the sacrifice suld have bene the mair digne and acceptabill gif all thingis war done with maist ordoure in dew circumstance, and als that the wourdis suld follow with mair fermance, he
left the kow afore the altare, and discendit haistelie to purge him in
the river of Tiber. In the mene time, the Romane bischop offerit
the kow to Diane, quhilk thing wes mervellus plesand and thankfull
baith to the king and pepill of Rome.
And thocht Servius had possessioun of the crown of Romanis be
lang use, yit becaus it cum to his eris, that young Tarquine murmurit him, saying, He usurpit the crown but ony consent or avise of
the pepill, he sett his industry to stabill his empire with mair fermance; and, thairfore, to recovir thair benevolence ana favour, he delt
amang thaim equally certane landis quhilkis wer conquest afore be
his weris. And quhen he wes surelie advertist of thair kindnes, he
demandit thame, in thair convencioun, gif thay desirit or wald command him to be king. Be this way he wes declarit king with mair
suffrage and votis of pepill than ony uthir king had afore.
And yit this prudent industry of Servius na thing minist the esperance that young Tarquine had to the crown, but erare gaif him mair

THE FIRST BUKE.

81

ardent impulsioun to persew the samin than afore; for he traistit, becaus the landis afore rehersit war dividit be Servius amang the pepill
but consultacioun of the Faderis, to find sufficient mater to bring him
thairfore in haterent and displeseris of the saidis Faderis, quharthrow he micht haif the bettir occasioun to obtene his purpois in the
courte. Attoure, this young Tarquine, namit uthirwayis Lucius
Tarquine, wes ane man of feirs and burning spreit, and had ane wife
at hame quhilk held him in grete troubil and unquiet.
It cum finalie, that the palice-riall of Rome wes maid ane notabill
exempill of maist terribil and tragik cruelte, howbeit that the samin
succedit to the grete commodite of Romane pepill, that, throw the
haterent and insufferabil tyrannie of kingis, baith the commoun liberte micht be more ripelie recoverit, and the empire, gottin be sic
cruelte, suld be hindmest empire abone the Romanis. And quhidder
this Lucius Tarquine was son or nevo to Priscus Tarquine, small is
difference: and yit I find mair authouris saying, that he wes his soh;
allwayis he had ane brothir, eldare of yeris than he, was namit Aruns
Tarquine; and with thir twa brethir, as afore is rehersit, wes maryit
twa dochteris of Servius Tullius, richt discrepant in thair condiciouns
and maneris. Peraventure, this wes done be purviance of the Goddis,
that twa feirs and violent inginis suld nocht be conjonit togidder in
mariage; or ellis, I beleif, it wes the chance of fortoun, that the empire of Servius micht endure the langare, and that the maneris and
condiciouns of Romane pepill micht be the mair notably reformit.
Young Tullia, ane cruell and feirs woman, wes maryit on Aruns
Tarquine, ane meik and innocent persoun. On the tothir side, Tullia, the eldest, ane meik and innocent woman, wes maryit on Lucius
Tarquine, ane cruell and furius man. Young feirs Tullia wes every
day in mair anguis and sorow, becaus schow saw hir husband, Aruns
Tarquine, nocht gevin to maist audacite and avarice, to attempt grete
changis; and, thairfore, scho gave hir hert and hale affeccioun to
Lucius Tarquine, saying, " He wes ane man discending of linage
"and blude riall;" and had hir sister in contempcioun, becaus [thocht]
scho had gottin ane man to hir husband, [scho wes] of mair effeminate sleuth than ony woman. We se, as oft occurris, elike cumpanyis
drawis to uthir, for ane evil dede is ay ganand for ane uthir; yit the
beginning of all trubill risis fra ane woman.
L

TITUS LIVIUS.
This feirs Tullia was oft times accustumit to have secret langage
with this said Lucius Tarquine, hir sisteris husband, and sparit nocht
to say to him maist injurius wordis of his brothir; and, on the samin
maner, scho sparit nocht, as ane seditius woman, to speik maist odius
wordis of hir sister to hir awin husband; oft times allegeand him
bettir to haif had ane chaist life, and hir sister to haif bene ane wedo,
than to be maryit with ane that wes unlike to him in condicioun. For
thir ressouns, it wes nocht proffittabil to him to dul and pas owre his
dayis nocht be his awin but be his wiffis sleuth, and, gif the Goddis
had gevin to hir ane nobil man equal to hir curage and spreit, scho
suld have gart him, within few dayis, rejose the crown and diademe
that hir fader presentlie rejosit. This feirs and cruell Tullia armit
haistelie young Tarquine to conform him to hir cruelteis: and within schort time eftir, quhen Aruns Tarquine and the eldest Tullia war
deceissit, young Tarquine and this feirs Tullia war maryit togidder;
howbeit Servius nouthir assentit nor yit disassentit to thair mariage.
Than Servius, be dammage of lang age, wes trublit ilk day with
new infirmite, throw quhilk the realme was patent to mony injuris;
for quhen this young Tullia had slane, be hir cruelte, Aruns Tarquine, hir first husband; eftir that, Lucius Tarquine his wife; be
hant of maist unnatural cruelteis, scho fell ilk day in new tressouns
and crimes, and nouthir nicht nor day micht suffir hir husband to
haif rest. And that the slauchtir, be hir committit, suld nocht be for
nocht, scho began to reproche hir new husband, saying, The defalt
that hir desiris war nocht completit, wes nocht for that caus scho
wantit ane husband quhilk micht suffir hir to leif undir quiet and servitude, bot erare becaus scho had nocht ane husband that thocht him
worthy to be ane king, and becaus he wald nocht remembir that he
was the son of Priscus Tarquinius, quhilk had ay mair desire to possede ane realme presentlie, than to leif in esperance sum time to haif
it. " Gif you be this man," said scho, "to quhom I am fallin in new
" mariage, than I wil call the baith king and husband; gif it be uthir"wayis, than I think my mariage changeit into the wers, and suc"ceding with the mair infelicite, that I haif done the cruelte with
" my handis that continewis thee in sleuth. And gif thy ingine is
"ereckit in mair curage, than belt thee with manheid to cum esely
" to thy purpois; for it is nocht now necessare to thee, as it wes to

TIE FIRST BUKE.
"
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thy fader, to serche uncouth and strange realmes or cieteis, sic as
Corinthy or Terquine, sen baith thy domestic and freindlie Goddis,
the image of thy fader, the palice-riall, thy kindelie and native heritage, and the name of thy fader Tarquine, has create thee king,
and callis thee to the empire thairof. And gif you decayis als well
in thy manhede as curage, than quhy dissavis you thy awne ciete ?
Quhy suffiris you thyself to be estimit the kingis son, and discending of his linage riall ? Return, erare, schamefully to the landis of
' Corinthy and Tarquinis. Return agane to thy native cuntre, mair
" like in condiciouns to thy febill brothir, than to thy vailyeant and
" active fader."'
The fiers Tullia, be this and siclike persuacions, armit young Tarquine to usurpe the croune of Romanis, contrare the empire of hir
fader, and micht na wayis suffir him to have quiet, saying, Sen Tanaquill, quhilk was ane strange and uncouth woman, micht attempt
sa wechty and ponderous ane mater, to mak first hir husband, syne
hir gude son, Kingis of Romanis continually, ilkane succeding eftir
uthir be hir onely industry; how and be quhat aventure micht it fall,
but scho, the kingis dochter, discending of the blude royal, suld have
ony impediment to rais and put down Kingis of Romanis at hir pleasure. Young Tarquine, instrukkit be thir and siclike furyis of ane
woman, began to seirch the mindis of the senatouris and faderis of
Rome towart him, and specially the mindis of the faderis of small
pepill, remembring thame of the humanite and kindenes done to
thame be his fader, Priscus Tarquinius; and thairfore desirit thame
to schaw thame benevolus to his grete materis, quhen thay occurrit.
Attoure, he tyisht the young men of his ciete to his purpois, with his
liberalite and gudis; promitting, gif all materis succedit to his desiris,
to rewarde thame condignly to thare plesure: and thus he garnist
and made himself strang in every partis, objeckand the vices of Servius. At last, quhen he saw the time respondent to his besines, he
come armit with ane strang band of weremen, in the counsel-house;
and thocht the pepill war sudanely affrayit he sat down in the kingis
seit, as he wald have execute all chargis in the kingis name. And
incontinent, he warnit all the faderis, be ane officiare, to convene in
the counsel-hous, to here quhat thingis war to be dressit be King Tarquine. Mony of the faderis convenit to this convencioun; sum of

84

TITUS LIVIUS.

thame war subornat and corruppit afore be his crafty industrey to compere; utheris, dredand sic thingis as micht follow eftir be his tyranny, comperit; and war sa astonist be this uncouth wounder, that thay
traistit Servius to be slane. Als sone as the faderis wer generalie assemblit, Tarquine began to speik maist vile and odius language of
Servius, and repeting his linage, callit him ane servand, borne of ane
servand, quhilk, eftir the pituous slauchter of his fader, Tarquinius
Priscus, had usurpit the croune, by the auld lawis and cerimonis accustumat, but ony commites or interregne, but ony suffrage or votis
of pepill, and but ony authorite of faderis intrusit in the samin, allanerlie be dissate of ane woman. Thus wes he borne, thus wes he
made king and favorare, all his dayis, of sic vile and obscure pepill
as himself. To the haterent of al uthir honeste, has he nocht latelie
reft certane landis fra the maist nobil and honest men of the ciete,
and dividit the samin amang the maist vile persouns thairof; has he
nocht put all the ill chargis, quhilkis war afore commoun amang the
pepill, now allanerlie to be rasit on the nobillis; has he nocht institute
the cens and estimacioun of every manis gudis, to caus the gudis of
riche men to be the more invyit with the pure pepill, quharethrow he
may dispone the gudis quhilkis ar conquest be us, among the pure
and indigent pepill quhare he list.
Servius, advertist be ane astonist messingere of this assemblance
and convencioun of pepill drawin be Tarquine, comperit haistilie in
the porchis of the court, and cryit with loud voce, " 0 Tarquine,
" quhat is this that you intendis to do; quhat malapert audacite hes
" movit the, during my life, to convene the faderis to ony courte or
" counsell; or quhat presumpcioun has armit thee to set in my sete."
Tarquine answerit richt feirsly, saying, "He did nocht bot sat in
" his faderis sete, and had more ressoun, sen he was just heretoure
" thairto, than ony servand micht have to the samin; affirming eik
"that he wes oure lang licent to the said authorite, in contempcioun
" baith of the faderis and pepill of Rome."
In the mene time, rais ane huge cry and noyis, be the favoraris of
uthir side, throw quhilk sic confluence of pepill come haistilie to the
counsel-hous, that nane of thir twa partis apperit to regne, bot he that
was maist pussant, or wan the victorie be the swerde. Tarquine seing
that it was necessare to him outhir de, or ellis assaileye extreme jeo-

THE FIRST BUKE.
perdie and chance of armes, gat Servius be the middill, for he wes
more wicht, and lustiar than this uthir, and ejeckit him with sic violence out of the court, that he fell certane stageis to the ground.
Sic thingis done, Tarquine returnit, as afore, to the counsel to con
vene the faderis. Incontinent, King Servius fled, with all his garde
and servandis, to the palace. And quhen he was cummin, as discom-

fist and hertles wicht, to ane place callit the Cypriane Rew, he come
be aventure on ane cumpanye of armit men, quhilkis war send be Tarquine, and wes slane. It was traistit that Tullia was the doare of
this cruelte; becaus scho abhorrit nocht with uthir siclike cruelteis,
afore rehersit.
All wayis, it is clerely knawin, that, eftir the deith of hir fader,
scho come ridand on ane chariot to the courte; and nocht being astonist be the noyis and fere of pepill that war gaderit in this terribil
effray, scho cryit on hir husband Tarquine to cum furth, and wes the
first that salust him king. Als sone as scho had gottin hir husband
in the chariot, scho was commandit be him to returne hame with maist
diligence. And quhen scho wes cummin to the Cypriane Rew, quhare
the tempil of Diane wes latelie beildet, and turnand the chariot to hir
richt hand, to have passit be ane stay discente, callit Virbius, to Mont
Esquillis, quhare hir lugeing wes, the man that led hir bridill stude
astonist, and wald not pas fordwart, quhil he had schawin to hir the
body of hir fader, liand dede in the gate. Followis ane schamefull
and unnaturall cruelte; and in memorie thairof, the place, quhare
the deid wes done, is callit yet the unhappy and cursit rew. This
wod and waryit woman, be impulsioun baith of the furyis of hir husband and sister, draif the chariot our hir faderis body with sic violence, that nocht allanerlie the blude of hir faderis body spendit on
hir face, bot als fylit baith hir claithes and the chariot; and scho
beand fylit with his blude, scho returnit to hir lugeing; for quhilk
horribill and inhumane cruelteis and slauchteris, the goddis war sa
commovit and wraith, that the empire of Tarquine, conquest with sic
waryit and evil beginning, behuffit to finis with siclike ending.
Servius Tullius rang abone the Romanis x.v yeris, in sic maner,
that gif ony juste or temperate prince had succedit eftir him, na reproche micht have bene aganis his empire. Attoure, ane thing succedit to his soverane glore, that with him endit baith just and resson-

86

TITUS LIVIUS.

abill governance concerning the kingdome of Romanis. And howbeit, his empire was moderate and meik; yit, becaus it was under the
governance of ane allanerly persoun, sum authouris sais, the pepill
thocht to have deprivit him fra his sete and dignite riall, war nocht
thir intestine cruelteis, afore rehersit, rising amang sa tender friendis,
preventit him thairof, to deliver the pepill of all tyranny, baith of him
and all uthir kingis, quhilkis war to succede him.

CAP. XIX.
Of King Tarquine the Proude, and how he rang with grete tyranny
and slauchter abone the Romanis. How he was alliate with the
Prince of Latinis, and gart Turnus, the Senyeoure of Aricia,
be drownit be ane tressonabilslicht.
Ic thingis done, Lucius Tarquine begun to regne abone
the Romanis, and wes callit Tarquine the Proude, becaus he wald nocht suffer the body of Servius Tullius,
his gude fader, to be buryit; for he allegit, that Servius

micht ly als weil unburyit as Romulus, the Fader and God of Romanis. This Tarquine slew al the faderis and nobillis of Rome,
quhilkis he traistit to have ony favour to his gude fader Servius;
forthir, this Lucius Tarquine, knawing the kingdome of Romanis
conquest be him in ane evil maner, to that fine, that utheris sal nocht
invade him with siclike tyrannye, as he did Servius, he garnist him
with strang garde of armit men. For he had na richt to the croune
bot usurpit the samin, allanerly be violence as he that rang baith but
eleccioun of pepill and confirmacioun of faderis, throw quhilk he come
to sic point, that becaus he wes odius to the pepill, throw his curst
tyranny, he micht have na confidence in thame; thairfore, his empire
behuvit to be defendit under fere and dredoure. And to caus the
pepill to have the mare fere and dredoure in thair mindis, he tuke
cognicioun of all capitale crimes alanerlie be himself, but ony consultacioun of the senate or faderis. Thus war sindry of his nobillis, but
ony demeritis, be him slane, and utheris banist; and nocht alanerly

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87

he slew thame, quhilk war invyit or suspeckit be him; but als all
uthir persouns, quhar he traistit to get ony prey of gudis. And
thocht he had minist ane grete noumer of the faderis be this way, he
wald cheis nane utheris to put in thair placis; to that fine, that the
ordoure of senatouris for thair few noumer suld be the les estimit,
and the les indignacioun to follow to the pepill, that na thing wes
done be the said senatouris.
This Tarquine wes the first, amang the Romane kingis, as is written, that put the senatouris fra consultacioun of public materis; and
als wes the first that governit the empire of Rome be domestic and
private counsale. Attoure, he denuncit weris, and maid pece, confederacioun, and alliance, with all pepill, as he plesit, but ony avise of
the senate and pepill of Rome. He kest him, in speciall, to conques
the favoure of Latinis ; traisting, be supporte of strange and uncouth
pepill, to be the mair sikker amang his commouns and cieteyanis of
Rome. And nocht alanerlie had he familiarite with the saidis princes of Latinis, bot als maid affinite with thame; for he gaif his dochter to Octavius Manilius, prince of Latine pepill. This Manilius, as
is traistit, wes the son of Ulisses, gottin on Circe the Goddes; and
be this mariage he conquest mony freindis and cousingis amangis the
Latinis.
Now wes Tarquine of grete renoun and authorite amang the Latinis, quhen he, be generall edict, commandit thame to mete him beside the wod of Ferentine, aganis ane certane day. At the said day
and place be him assignit, comperit grete noumer of Latinis, richt
arely in the morow. Tarquine kepit the day, bot nocht the houre of
thair convencioun; for he come nocht quhil ane litil afore the occasioun of the son. Mony materis war dispute at this convencioun
amang the Latinis to sindry purpoisis. Turnus Herdonius, seneyour of Aricia, invayit feirsly aganis Tarquine, and accusit his absence, saying quietly, It was na wounder thocht he wes callit Tarquine the Proude; for how micht he schaw himself mair proud and
arrogant than to mok the hale pepill of Latinis, sen the princes thairof war drawin be lang journay fra thair cuntre, and he that devidit
this convencioun is now absent. " This is done," said Turnus, " to
" assailye our pacience; to that fine, that gif we resave plesandlie the
" yoke of servitude, he micht suddanelie, as him list, oppres us.

88

TITUS LIVIUS.

"Quha is he, that is now amang us, to quhom it is nocht clerelie ap" perit, bot Tarquine desiris to haif empire abone us? Attoure, gif
" he be suspect with his awin cieteyanis, or gif his cruell tyrannyis
"has credit amang the pepill and freindis, that knawis him best, be
"penitent of his empire, becaus he hes slane ane parte thairof, utheris
" banist, and of utheris confiscate the gudis, to thair utir poverte;
" quhat uthir confidence may the Latinis haif, bot the said Tarquine
" to invaid thaim on the samin maner ? Thairfore, gif thay will here
" him, na thing wes sa honorabill as every man to returne hame, and
" nane of thaim to observe the day and place set be Tarquine mair
" than he hes kepit it be himself. This seditious creature, Tarquine,"
said Turnus, " has done thir and mony uthir siclike cruelteis; and,
" be the samin falset and slichtis, has conquest grete proffitt and
" riches."
Quhen Turnus was rehersing thir and uthir siclike wourdis, King
Tarquine comperit in jugement, and interruppit his orisoun. Incontinent, all the Latinis turnit thair bakkis to Turnus, and began to salute Tarquine.
Than Tarquine, eftir that he wes desirit be sic men as war maist
approcheand to him to purge him of his lang tary, commandit silence,
and said, He wes chosin ane amicabill compositoure of certane hie
contenciouns fallin betwix twa illuster persouns, that ane the fader,
and this uthir the son, dwelling undir his empire, and wes taryit alanerlie to recounsell thame to amite and kindnes; and, becaus he had
spendit the day bigane in sic besines, he suld glaidlie vaik on thaim
the nixt morow to dress all materis as efferit.
It is said, that Turnus was na thing satisfyit on this respons; for
he allegit, na mater micht be mair haistelie discussit than betwix the
fader and the son; for gif the son wes nocht obeysante to his fader,
he micht nocht eschewe the vengeance and maladictioun of the Goddis
to fal on him. Als sone as Turnus, the senyeoure of Aricia, had rehersit thir injurius wourdis aganis the King of Romanis, he departit
fra the counsel.
Tarquine tuke mair displesour at his reprufe than he schew for the
time; and set him incontinent, be sum tressonabill slichtis, to sla
this Turnus; to that fine, that he micht incus be his deith the samin
terroure to the Latinis, be quhilkis he opprest the mindis of his awne

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89

cieteyanis at hame. And becaus he micht nocht sla Turnus be opin
violence, for he wes ane prince of grete dominioun and rentis, thairfore he opprest the said Turnus, ane innocent man, be ane fals and
dissimilit slicht; and, be certane cieteyanis of Aricia, his unfreindis,
he corruppit ane familiere servand of Turnus with large sowmes of
gold, to suffir grete nowmer of swerdis to be secretlie hid in the hous
quhare the said Turnus wes lugeit.
Als sone as thir slichtis war done in maner afore devisit, King
Tarquine, ane litil afore evin, callit all the princes of Latinis to ane
counsell, as he war to be consultit with thame of certane novellis and
haisty materis, quhilkis, be divine purviance, taryit him this uthir day
fra thair convencioun, to the saifty baith of his life and thairis; for
he allegit, That Turnus had devisit tressonably baith the deith of him
and all the princes of Latinis, that he micht, be himself alanerlie, rejose the hale empire of Latinis. Attoure, Turnus but ony dout had
execute his tressoun on thaim this uthir day, war nocht the man that
he desirit maist was absent. In verification hereof, the said Turnus
did maist cruelte in way aganis him, becaus throw his absence alanerlie he wes frustrate of his tressonabill purpois. Attoure, gif it war
lefull to schew the verite, he doutit nocht bot als sone as the princes
of Latinis war assemblit on the nixt morow, the said Turnus sal cum
armit, with ane grete cumpany of conspiratouris, to invaid baith him
and thame to deith; for, as he wes sikkerlie informit, thair wes ane
huge nowmer of swerdis hid in his secret chalmer to the samin effect;
and gif thir imaginaciouns be vane, it may be sone knawin. Praying
thame, thairfore, to pas with him to the said Turnus lugeing, the feirs
ingine of Turnus, and his dispitefull orisoun maid aganis Tarquine
in the day afore, and als the tary of the said Tarquine, maid the
mater the mair credibill to the Latine princes; for thay belevit thair
slauchtir alanerlie differit be his tary
Sone eftir, all togidder thay past to Turnus hous, with purpois to
haif gevin na credit to thir imaginaciouns afore rehersit, bot gif the
swerdis war found in his hous. At last, quhen thay war cumin to the
place desirit, thay stude awfully about Turnus, quhare he wes awalkinnit out of his sleip, and first tuke all his servandis, quhilkis, for
the lufe thay had to thair maister, maid debait. Als sone as the

90
TITUS LIVIUS.

90

swerdis war drawin out of sindry partis of the hous, quhare thay war
hid, the tressoun apperit manifest to all the princes of Latinis; and,
incontinent, thay band Turnus with chenyeis, and callit the residew
of Latinis to ane counsell. In the quhilkis, als sone as the swerdis
war producit afore thaim in opin jugement, all the Latine princes war
movit.aganis him with sic invy, for the tressoun aganis thaim comparit, that he wes condampnit to de.with ane new maner of deith; for
thay band ane brandreth of irne, with mony grete stanis, to his crag,
and slang him in the watter of Ferentire, quhare he wes perisix

CAP. XX.
How King Tarquine wes new confiderate with the Latinis. Of hi:
weris aganis the Volschis, and how he wan sindry of thair townis.
Ofhis.grete magnficence in bigging the Tempill of Jupiter. How
he send Sixtus Tarquinius, his son, to dissave the Gabinis; and
how he gat thaim randerit to his empire be tressoun.
ARQTJINE,

eftir this, callit the Latinis agane to ane new

T

counsell ; and, quhen he had lovit thaim gretumlie for
thair punicioun' takin on Turnus, quhilk he condignly
deservit, intending, be manifest cruelte. and slauchtir, to
haif changeit the governance of thair empire, he said' as followis :
"Ye nobill princes and senyonris of Latine pepill suld leif, be anciant
"richt, undir the' samin confideracioun and amite with Romnanis as
"did the Albanis, sen the Latinis
discendit of the ciete of Alba ;
"and, as ye knaw, the ciete of Alba, with all the pepill thairof, war.
"translatit to Rome, in the time of Tullus Hostiius." Ferther, he
thocht it mair. proffitabil, for thair singulare and commoun weill, to

ar

rejose

renewe band and kindenes with Romanis, that thay micht
and
be
of the hie felicite. succeding to Romanis, than to suffir.

participant

or abide. sic heirschippis and direpcioun of thair landis and cieteis as
thay suffirit afore, in time of Ancus Marcius and
Priscus,
his fader.

Tarquinius

THE FIRST BUKE.

91

The Latinis war drawin with smal difficulte to this alliance, howbeit, be the said confideracioun, the Romanis war ordanit to haif empire apoun the Latinis ; for nocht onelie the hedismen and princes of
Latinis stude of ald to the opinioun and minde of Tarquine, bot als
the punicioun maid on Turnus for his demeritis, schew, be notabill
document, quhat frute micht follow be thair rebellioun.
Thus wes the band renewit betwix Latinis and Romanis; and
charge gevin to all the young pepill of Latinis to convene, armit in
thair best avise, aganis ane certane day, beside the wod of Ferentine;
and quhen thay war assemblit, be his edict, at the day and place assignit, that nane of thaim, in times cuming, sal haif thair propir capitane, at thair propir baner, undir thair awin empire, he mengit
baith the manipillis of Romanis and Latinis togidder, and stabillit
baith the two armyis undir ane band. And, quhen the manipillis war
doublit in this maner, he maid centuriouns abone thaim, to hald thaim
in array; for, thocht Tarquine wes ane wrangus and injust king in
time of pece, yit he wes nocht ane evil capitane in time of were; for
in chevelrie and science militar he micht haif bene comparit to ony
his antecessouris, war nocht his slauchtir and tyrannie obscurit the
glore of all his vailyeant dedis.
Tarquine wes the first of all the Romane kingis that movit ony
were aganis the Volschis, quhilkis war continewit eftir him mair than
ii yeris. He tuke fra the said Volschis baith the toune of Pomecia
and Suessa be violence of armis, and in the spuleyeis and direpciouns
of the saidis tounis he gat XL talentis, als weil of gold as silver; and,
be occasioun of the said riches, he tuke purpois to spend all the monie and riches, gottin be this aventure, in ampliacioun of the Hous
of Jupiter; that the samin micht be biggit with sic magnificence and
honour, that it suld nocht onelie be sufficient to ressave him that is
Prince of Goddis and men, bot als wourthy to present the majeste
and empire of Romanis.
And quhen he had dantit the Volschis in this maner, he rasit his
army aganis the Gabyis, and led the batall aganis thaim, with les esperance of victorie, that he assaleyit afore thair principall ciete, namit
Gabios, quhilk wes nere approcheand to Rome, and wes doung fra
the oppugnacioun thairof alanerlie be force of pepill; and, finally, he
assailyeit the said toun be na fassoun of chevelry, hantit or accustu-

92

TITUS LIVIUS.

mit be Romanis, bot alanerlie be tressoun, falset, and slicht; for * *
* * * * he was rebutit at the said sege. To caus his enemyis
beleve fermlie that he had put an end to all his weris, he began to
dissimile his minde, as he war gevin alanerlie to the fundacioun of
the tempill of Jupiter, and to siclike urbane and civil laubouris; and,
in the mene time, he falslie subornit and instruckit Sixtus Tarquinius,
quhilk wes his youngest son of thre, to fle be crafty industry to the
Gabyis; to complane to the said pepill, that he micht [nocht] sustene
the intollerabil cruelte of his fader aganis him, and to desire supporte
of thaim as enemyis; and to schaw thaim, that the proude tyrane, his
fader, has turnit all his cruelte, that he before exercit.on uthir uncouth
strange pepill, on his awin blude, and is penitent of his grete nowmer
of barnis, and intendis to mak his hous als full of drery solitude, be
slauchter of his awin barnis, as he maid the court afore be slauchter
of the faderis and senatouris of Rome; traisting thairthrow, that he
sal leif nouthir heritoure nor barnis of blude to succede eftir him.
Attoure, the said Sixtus wes sa narrowlie eschapit fra sindry armit
men laid for his slauchter, that he culd find na place sikker to him,
bot alanerly amang sic men.as war maist enemyis to Lucius Tarquine,
his fader. Forthir, to awalkin thaim of thair vane beleve and errouris;
and, to that fine, that thay eschew the irrecoverabil dammage following haistelie to thair ciete and pepill, he schew how his fader wes reddy
to invaid thaim unawarnistlie, quhen he saw occasioun and time.
Attoure, gif thair was na place afore thaim for dejeckit and disparit
men, force wes to him to pas wilsum throw all Italie, to seik supporte
of the pepill namit Volschis, Equis, and Hernikis, to se gif he micht
find be aventure thay pepill, quhilkis, throw innative piete, list defend
the barnis fra maist persecucioun of the fader; for peradventure sic
pepill micht find be him, sum birnand curage and spreit to every cais
of batall that may fall, als weil aganis the maist proude tyrane, his
fader, as aganis the maist feirs pepill in erde.
At last, quhen this Sixtus Tarquinius wes maid to departe with
hevy displesour and indignacioun, for the pepill apperit na thing
commovit be his lamentabil complant and miseryis, the Gabinis ressavit him with grete solemnite and gladnes; and bad him haif na
admiracioun howbeit his fader, Tarquine, exercit siclike tyrannyis
on his awin sonnis, as he exercit afore on his cieteyanis and compa-

THE FIRST BUKE.
neyouns, for quhen thir pepill may nocht be gottin to satisfy his
cruelte, he behuffit, finalie, to rage on himself. Allwayis, the cuming of the said Tarquine wes thankfull and plesand to thaim; for
thay belevit, within schort time, to transport the batall appering
fra the portis of Gabios to the wallis of Rome. Eftir this, quhen he
wes admittit to sit on thair public counsale, he said, He wald assint to
the agit Gabinis in all materis in quhilkis thay had experience and
wisdom, reservand the chargesand governance of batall to himself;
for in sic materis he had singulare prudence, becaus he knew the pussance of baith the pepill, and understude the pride and tyranny of
Tarquine wes richt odius to the cieteyanis and pepill of Rome, sen
it wes sa intollerabil to his awin barnis.
Quhen Sixtus Tarquinius had, be this slicht, movit the hedismen
and principall capitanis of Gabinis to rebellioun aganis his fader, he
past with ane cumpany of feirs young men, and maid frequent direpcioun and spulyeis in the Romane landis; to that fine, that ane vane
faith suld incres ilk day mair and mair to all his wourdis and dedis,
quhilkis war alanerlie instruckit to dissate and falset. Nochtheles,
he behavit himself at all journeis sa craftelie, that he wes chosin finalie governoure of all the Gabinis army aganis his fader.
The fulich Gabinis, na thing knawing quhat suld be done, straik
sindry small skarmuschingis and batallis aganis the Romanis; and,
becaus the victorie succedit oft times be his industry as apperit, all
the princes and commouns of Gabinis belevit halely, that he wes nocht
send to thaim but speciale favour of the Goddis, to support thaim in
extreme danger aganis the cruell tyranny of his fader. Attoure, he
behavit him so manfullie at every lauboure and jeoperdie, with sic liberalite amang his men of armis, and wes sa ferventlie lufit with all
the pepill, that he wes als strang and pussant in the ciete of Gabinis,
as his fader, Tarquine, wes in the ciete of Rome.
And quhen he saw his powers sufficient to every purpois and aventure that micht fall, he send ane of his familiaris to inquire at his fader
in Rome, quhat he desirit him to do; for the Goddis hes schewin to
him sic favoure, that he may do allane all thingis that he list in the
ciete of Gabios. King Tarquine gaif no answer be his wourdis to this
messinger, for he traistit him, as I beleve, nocht faithfull; and, for

94

TITUS LIVIUS.

that caus, wald nocht opin his minde to him. Nochtheles, he enterit
with this messinger in ane quiet garding, apperandlie as he had bene
richt pensive and musing in his mind of sum hie materis; ay gangand
up and down the said garding but ony wourdis, and, in the mene time,
he straik of the hedis of the chesbowis, ay quhare thay war hiest, with
his club. The messinger, in the abiding and desiring his deliverance,
wes sa faschit and wery, that he returnit to Gabios but ony answer,
and schew to Tarquinius Sixtus all the behavingis and contenance,
as he saw, of his fader, and how his fader list nocht denye to speik
with him; uncertane, quhidder the samin was throw ire or haterent
that he bore aganis his son, or gif it wes throw his insolent pride.
Sixtus Tarquinius knawing weill, be thir hid conjecturaciouns,
quhat his fader desirit him to do, began to accuse sindry of the maist
nobill of Gabios for certane crimes be thaim committit aganis thair
ciete; and, in the mene time, slew ane parte of thaim, as convickit
afore the pepill; and utheris slew, be occasioun maid aganis thaim be
invie and parcialite of partie. Monyutheris war slane opinlie, be vane
occasioun; utheris, quhare na crimes, nor occasioun, or falt micht be
gottin, war slane quietlie out of the ciete; and utheris war banist
aganis thair wil. And, schortlie, all the gudis of thaim quhilkis war
outhir slane or absent wes dividit amang the commoun pepill; throw
quhilk, the said pepill war sa tane with the sweitnes of the eschetis
and gudis, falling to thaim be ithand slauchter of thair nobillis, that
thay war blindit, and micht nocht knaw the haisty dammage cuming
to thair commounweill; quhil, at last, thair ciete wes sa destitute and
nakit of wisdome, gude counsell, and supporte, that it wes maid ane
facil pray to the King of Romanis, and randerit but ony straik in his
handis.

9

THE FIRST BUKE.

'5

CAP. XXI.
How Tarquine biggit the Tempil of Jupiter. Of sindry Prodigyis
schewin to the perpetuete and magnitude thairof
how Tarquine send his twa Sonnis to the
of Apollo, to explore
quhat wes sign jfyit be the prodigious eddir; and of the respons
gevin to thaim. And how Junius Brutus kist the erde.

Tempill

And

HE ciete of Gabinis tane, and the pepil thairof brocht
undir Romane empire be thir fals and tressonabil slichtis,
T
King Tarquine maid pece with the pepill namit Equis
syne renewit the band of confideracioun with Tuskanis.
Eftir this, settand his mind to policy and civil laubouris, first he maid
him to big the tempil of Jupiter in the Mont Terpey; and, becaus
baith he and his fader had maid ane vow to big this tempil, he thocht
he wald complete the samin, that it micht remane heireftir, in
ne of his empire and name. Attoure, to mak the said montane fre
of all uthir religionis, and na Goddis, bot alanerlie Jupiter, to be

memo-

adorit in the samin, he tuke purpois to distroy be augury all the re-

manent te ,pillis and' chapellis, quhilk war biggit, and consecrate in
it afore be auguryis, during the empire of King Tacius, quhen he,
beand in extreme dangere, votit thaim to' his Goddis, for victorie to
be had aganis Romulus.
It is said, :that, in, the beginning of this magnificent lauboure,
G-oddis schew certane prodigyis and uncouth mervellis, to signifie the
grete pussance' and magnitude:
Romane. empire ; for, quhen the

the

of:

foulis, be .auguryis, had schewin thair evident

'wald

takinnis

to suffer all

the tempillis quhilkis war. biggit in the montane foresaid to be evertit
and distroyit, yit thay
nocht admit that the tempill of the God

Terminus

namit
suld be distroyit ; of quhilk tempill wes gevin this
augurie and divinacioun
The unchangeabil seit of God

following:.

Terminus, quhilk alanerlie, amang the remanent Goddis, sal abide
unchasit away fra his -mansioun, signifyis,. all thingis'-ferme and sta~.
bill within his hallowit mnarchis,

96

TITUS LIVIUS.

This werde of perpetuite beand acceppit, followit ane uthir prodigie, to signify the magnitude of Romane empire. Apperit to the lauboraris, quhilkis war castand up the fundament of the said tempill,
ane hede of ane man, with visage hale, but ony corrupcioun; quhilk
signifyit that the said tempill suld be hede of the warld; for all the
divinouris and prophetis quhilkis war in the toun, and als all the divinouris quhilkis war brought out of Hetruria, interpret this prodigie
foresaid to the samin effect. Allwayis the minde of Tarquine wes
gretumlie troublit, for the importabill expens daily rising be this magnificent bigging; for all the mony gottin be expugnacioun of the ciete
of Pomecia, quhilk was ordanit to have completit this tempill, micht
skarslie lay the ground and first foundament thairof.
In this mater I will gif mare credit to Fabius Pictor, becaus he is
more ancient historiographoure, saying, the spuleyeis gottin in direpcioun of the said toun, extendit allanerlie to fourty talentis, than to
gif credit to Piso, saying, the samin extendit to LX.M pundis of silver, quhilk soum was put by, as said is, to the bigging of the said
tempill; for it is nocht lichtlie to be trewit, that sa huge money, as
Piso allegis, micht be gottin in the direpcioun of ony ane toun. Attoure, there is na toun, nor ciete adjacent, of sic riches, that the spuleye thairof micht have bene sufficient to have rasit the fundament of
this magnificent werk.
King Tarquine, setting his hail ingine and industrey to complete
this tempill, brocht sindrie craftismen out of Hethruria; and nocht
allanerlie spendit the public and commoun money of the toun apoun
this tempill; bot als he thirllit al the pepill of the toun to ware thair
laubouris on the samin. And howbeit, the pepill war continually
thirllit and occupyit be him, als weill in werely besines as policie;
yit thay thocht thair laubouris the les displesand, that thay war occupyit in bigging the tempillis of goddis with thair awne handis.
Attoure, quhen he had completit the said tempil on his maner, than
he thirllit the pepill to uther mair besines of les honouris; and, in sa
fer as thay war occupyit with mair vile lauboure than afore, thair lauboure wes the mair displesand and sore; for thay wer constrenit to
mak public setis and scaffaldis in commoun placis, quhare playis wer
devisit; and als mak ane commoun fousye, with sowme and depe
synkis, gangand under the erde to the rivere, to purge the toun of all

THE FIRST BUKE.

97

corrupcioun; and to thir last twa werkis, na magnificence may be
comparit in oure dayis. King Terquine, eftir that the pepill had
bene continually exercit with thir and siclike laubouris, he considerit
that the multitude of idil pepill wald be richt chargeand to his toun;
and, thairfore, to augment the boundis of empire with new pussance,
he send ane large nowmer of his pepill to new cieteis, that is to say,
to Circe and Signia, to that fine, that thay micht, throw new increscence and multitude of pepill, be sum time ane strang municioun and
defence, als well be sey as land, to the pepill of Rome.
Quhil Tarquine wes doing sic thingis, apperit ane terribill prodigie afore his ene, for ane serpent slaid haistilie out of ane pillare of
tre, and made the pepill present, for the time, astonist sa, that thay
fled with grete dredoure to the palice, throw quhilk the king wes
stirkin haistilie with na les fere, than hevy thocht. And, howbeit, to
the interpretacioun of public prodigyis allanerlie, war brocht the prophetis and divinouris of Hethruria ; yit, becaus the king saw the terribill sicht presentlie, and wes astonist thairwith, he set him with the
mare diligence to knaw quhat thing micht follow thaireftir; and,
thairfore, concludit to send to the tempill of Apollo, quhilk wes the
maist illuster orakil that wes in thay dayis for respons; and becaus
the mater was ponderus, and, as he allegit, concernit maist himself,
he wald commit the respons thairof to nane utheris bot to his awne
maist tendir friendis; and send, finalie, his twa sonnis, Titus Tarquinius and Aruns Tarquinius, in Grece, throw mony uncouth and unknawin landis, and mair unknawin seyis. Titus and Aruns, als sone
as thay war direckit to this message, tuke with thame Lucius Junius
Brutus, gottin on Tarquinia, the kingis sister. This Lucius Junius
wes ane man of mair hie ingine than he semit for the time; for quhen
the said Lucius Junius had sene his eldest bruthir, namit Aruns Junius, slane, with mony of all the princes of Rome, be his eme Lucius
Tarquine, he tuke ferme purpois to governe him in sic maner, that
nouthir suld the king have occasioun to drede ony attemptatis following be his usage, nor yit to desire ony gudis pertening to his estate.
Traisting, gif he war nocht estimeit bot haldin in contempcioun, to be
sovir of his life, quhare na defence apperit to sauf him be the law;
herefore, be crafty industry, he dissimillit and made him as he war
N

98

TITUS LIVIUS.

ane fule. And becaus he sufferit all his gudis and landis to pas as
eschete and confiscate to the king; he wes callit to his surname,
Brutus, that is to say, ane dum heist. Sa plesit the goddis, that undir the schaddow of that name, the deliverare of Romane pepill micht
hide his curage, quhil he saw the time respondent thairto.
It is said, that this Brutus passand to Delphos, the tempil of
Appollo, with thir two sonnis of Tarquine, erare, as thay belevit, to
have bene fule than companyioun to thame in thair viage, brocht ane
wand of gold, inclusit, be his crafty ingine, within ane club of hore,
and offerit the samin to Apollo. At last, quhen thir brethir war
cummin to the said tempill, and fullelie satisfyit be respons of Apollo,
of sic thingis as pertenit to thair fadir, thay tuke new purpois in thair
mindis, to inquire quhilk of thame sal be King of Romanis immediatelie eftir King Tarquine; beleve ane voce was herd out of the law"
O1, young children, he that first
est place of the tempill, saying,
" kisses his moder, sall succede eftir Tarquine." Thir two brethir
commandit this respons to be kepit maist quiet, that Sixtus Tarquinius, thair thrid bruthir, quhilk wes in Rome, suld knaw na thing of
this respons, and have na parte of Romane empire; and, thairfore,
kest cavillis amang thaim twa, quhilk of thaim suld kiss thair moder
first at thair cumming to Rome. Brutus, knawing weill the respons
of Apollo fer discrepant to thair interpretacioun and minde, ruschit,
as it had bene aganis his wil, to the ground, and kissit the erde, becaus it was the commoun moder of all mortall creaturis. Sic thingis
done, thir companyeounis maid thame to returne hame.

THE FIRST BUKE.

99

CAP. XXIL
How King Tarquine segeit the ciete of Ardea. Of the contenciouns
amang the princes of his army concerning thairwifs ; and how
Tarquinius Sixtus deforsit Lucres ; of hir pietuous complante
and deith. And how King Tarquine, with his wif and barnis,
war exilit and banist Rome be Brutus.
T the returning of thir companyeouns to Rome, the Romanis war makand grete ordinance to invade the Rutuleis, for the Rutuleis had ane strang and riche ciete,
callit Ardea, and war ane pepill, in thay boundis and in
thay dayis, full of riches, quhilk thing wes occasioun that the King of
Romanis invadit thame with battal; traisting, becaus he wes superexpendit in magnificent bigging, with quhilk werkis to recovir sum
riches, be quhilk he micht meis sum parte the haterent aganis him;
for the said pepill war nocht onelie movit aganis him for his hie pride,
bot als war movit aganis him for the surfett spending of thare laubouris, ithandlie in his erandis and biggingis. The ciete of Ardea
was first assailyeit, to se gif it micht be tane be suddane assalt, and
becaus his purpois succedit nocht with felicite, he beltit the toun on
every side with strang munitioun and sege. The sege continewit at
the said town, as oft occurrit, quhare ony batallis are mare langsum
than scharpe. Sindry of the nobillis and princis of Rome, had fre
licence to pas and repas fra the campe at thair plesure, and usit thairthrow to have frequent bankettis and collacioun with utheris.
It happinnit that ane certane of thir princes was at banket with
Tarquinius Sixtus, amang quham was Tarquine Collatine son of
Egerius afore rehersit, quhan thay fell in disputacioun concerning
thair wiffis, quhilk of thaim had the best wife; and becaus ilk man
lovit maist his awne wife, the contencioun was the mair vehement on
athir side. At last Tarquine Collatine said it wes nocht nedefull to
multiply wourdis, for it micht be patent to gude experience within

100

TITUS LIVIUS.

few houris how fer his wif Lucres past all the laiff baith in bewtie,
womanhede, and gude maneris; and, therefore, gif thair be ony
strenth in our youth, lat us ascend haistely on our hors, and vesy be
quhat inginis and exerciciouns every ane of our wiffis ar presentlie
occupyit; and that to be apprisit allanerlie quhilk apperis to our
sichtis in oure unwarnist cumming. Thir princes wer hait and tane
with the winis, and cum haistilie to Rome. At thair cumming to
Rome, thay vesyit all thair wiffis; and eftir that it wes fer run within the nicht, thay passit all togiddir to the ciete of Collatia, and fand
nocht Lucres, as uthir princis wiffis does, passand her time in lust
and revelling with companyeouns, but fand hir late at evin, sittand in
the middis of hir hous, amang her vigilant servandis, gevin to lauboring of hir woll with uthir besines. The victorie and loving of this
wifilie contencioun wes gevin to Lucres. Tarquinius Collatine and
all the remanent Tarquinis his cousingis and friendis war plesandlie ressavit be Lucres. And becaus the said Tarquine Collatine won
the victorie, he intertenyit thaim with maist humanite and chere that
he micht. At this collacioun, Tarquinius Sixtus concludit secretlie,
be inordinate desire, to have his plesere of Lucres, be violent deforcing; for baith hir farenes and hir provin chaistite gaif occasioun
thairto. Sone eftir, the princes returnit fra thair insolent and barnelie contencioun to the campe.
Within few dayis eftir, Tarquinius Sixtus, bot ony avise of Tarquine Collatine, cum with ane servand to Collatia, and enterit Collatinis hous, quhare he wes curteslie ressavit be the servandis thairof,
nathing knawing his tressonabill purpois. And eftir that he wes
plesandlie tretit at his supper, he wes brocht to ane chalmer within
the said lugeing, to have past the nicht. Howbeit, he tuke litill rest,
bot, burnand in desire of his lust, eftir that all thingis apperit sikker, and all the servandis in the hous on thair hevy slepe, he cum
with ane drawin swerde in his richt hand to Lucres, quhare scho wes
slepand in hir bed, and held hir fast with his left hand, saying, " 0
" Lucres, mak na noyis; I am Tarquinius Sixtus; the swerde is here
"drawin in my hand; thou sall de thairwith, gif thou spekis ane
" worde." Lucres, awalkinnit out of hir slepe be this affray, wes richt
astonist, seand hir deith sa approcheand. Than Tarquine begun to

THE FIRST BUKE.

101

confes the vehement lufe that he had to hir, and besocht hir graciously to consent to his plesere; and sum time begun to boist hir with
deith, assailyeand mony wayis to have turnit her minde. And fra
he saw hir obstinate, and wald nocht incline to his desiris by minassing and terroure of the deith, he boistit hir, by hir deith, to bring
hir to perpetuall dishonoure and schame, saying, He suld first sla hirself, and eftir that he sail sla ane of the servandis of hir chalmer, and
cast him nakit in the bed with hir; to that fine, the pepill may undirstand scho was slane for his maist vile and schamefull adultre.
Quhen this cruell man, Tarquinius Sixtus, had vincust hir obstinate
chaistite be this last minassing, and deflorit hir baith of hir womanhede and honoure, he departit with his victorius luste to the campe.
Lucres, richt sorowfull and opprest with this lamentabill displesoure,
send ane messinger baith to hir fader and husband, at the sege of
Ardia, to cum haistely to hir, with all thair maist faithfull and tendir
freindis, for sic ane terribill cais wes happinnit, that it wes necessare
to thaim to cum but delay. Hir fader, namit Spureus Lucresius, cum
haistilie to hir, with his tendir friende, namit Publius Valerius, son
of Valesius; and als hir husband Collatine cum with Lucius Junius
Brutus, for thay met hir writingis be the gate, quhen thay war cumand
to Rome. At thair cuming to Collatia, thay fand Lucres sittand, full
of sorow and displesour, in hir bed. Als sone as hir freindis apperit
to hir sicht, the teris began fast to hale owre hir chekis; and quhen
hir husband had demandit hir gif all thingis war sauf, scho answerit,
" Nay; for nathing may be sauf to ane woman quhen hir chaistite
"and womanhede is gane. 0, Collatine, the futesteppis of ane uthir
"man ar left in thy bed; the body is allanerlie defoulit, bot the
Ssprete is innocent and clene; the deith sall be witness thairof; yet
" gif me youre handis and faith that the adulterare and deforsare of
"me sall nocht leif unpunist. Tarquinius Sixtus is the man on
"quham I complene, quhilk was ressavit in my place as freind; how" beit, he has schewin him maist cruell inemye, for he cum armit on
" me this last nicht, and has reft fra me, gif ye be men and wourthy
"to be levand, all my joy and solace to his pestilencius plesoure."
Hir fader, hir husband, and remanent freindis, made thair aithis in
solemne maner, to be revengit on the deflorare of hir honoure; syne

102

TITUS LIVIUS.

made hir consolacioun in her sorow and troubil, saying, sen scho wes
opprest be violence, na crime may redounde to hir, but allanerlie to
Tarquine her deflorare, for her minde and nocht hir body faileyeit;
and for that caus na schame nor dishonoure micht be imput to hir.
" Than," said Lucres, " ye sall have sone experience quhat puni" cioun my body deservis; for thocht I have assaleyit me fra consent
"of the tresoun committit aganis my husband, yit I wil nocht exeme
" and deliver me fra the punicioun that I have justlie deservit; and
" to be ane notabill exempill that na unchaist woman sail leif be imi" tacioun of Lucres, in times cuming." Scho straik hir self with ane
dagare, quhilk wes hid undir hir clathes, to the hert, and fell to the
erde on hir said dagare. Hir husband, hir fader, and remanent
freindis, gaif ane lamentabil cry. Lucius Junius Brutus seing thaim
sa owresett with pietuous doloure, pullit haistelie the dagare out of
the wound that was springand with huge stremes of blude, and swore
with solemnit aith as followis :-" Be this blude maist chaist afore it
" wes deflorit with injure and tyranny of kingis; and be the goddis,
" quhilkis I tak in witnes of this my solemne aith, I sal persew Lu" cius Tarquinius the proude, his waryit wife, and al thair barnis
" and freindis, with fire and swerde, and al uthir dedelie violence,
" that I may do to the deith; and sal nothir suffir thaim nor nane
" uthir creature, for thair offence, to regne abone the Romanis."--.
And quhen he had maid this solemne aith, he deliverit the dagare
first to Collatine hir husband, syne to Lucresius and Valerius hir
uthir freindis. All thir had grete admiracioun how and be quhat divine purviance this new curage and ingine was enterit in the minde of
Brutus. And incontinent as thay war commandit be him, thay swore
and made thair aithis in his maner; through quhilk thay war turnit
fra sorowfull teris and murning, in maist rage and haterent, and indignacioun to revenge the oppressioun done to Lucres; and followit
haistelie Brutus as thair capitane and ledare, to confound and alanerlie destroy the auctorite of kingdomes. And in the mene time thay
bure furth the body of Lucres out of the chalmer quhare it lay, to ane
commoun place, quhare maist confluence ofpepill was, that thaymicht,
be sicht of this uncouth and terribill dede, draw King Tarquine
and his barnis in the haterent and indignacioun of all the pepill.

THE FIRST BUKE.

103

Than ilk creature beheld this cruelte, and lamentit it on the samin
maner as it had bene done to ony ane of thaimself, and complenit
pietously of this oppressioun and violent injure, done be linage and
blude riall of Rome. The sorowfull countenance of Lucresius, hir
fader, movit the pepill to continuall teris. Than Brutus reprovit
thaim of thair effeminate murning, saying, it semit thaim erare sen
thay war Romanis and nobil men, to rusche haistelie to barnes, and
revenge this terribill and importabill cruelte be the swerde on thair
inemyis, and doaris thairof, than to lament the samin be commiseracioun of teris. Incontinent the maist feirs and vailyeant campiouns of
al the toun of Collatia cumn armit in thair best avise; and sone eftir
followit thaim all the young men thairof.
Sic thingis done, thay left ane buschment of armit men in Collatia, to kepe the portis thairof sa clois that na advertising of thair purpoise suld pas to Tarquine and his sonnis; syne past with the residew
of thair army, arrayit under the governance of Brutus, to Rome.
Als sone as this armit cumpany cum to Rome, thay made ane huge
effray and noyis in every partis thairof, quhare thay cum. Attoure,
the pepill war the mair astonist, that because thay saw the principall
men of thair ciete pas amang the faccioun of this new cumpany, and
jugeit thairfore it wes na vane thing, bot erare proceding be grete consultacioun that movit thaim. And, belive, the abhominabil dede and
cruelte foresaid, quhilk made sa huge effray in Collatia, is divulgate
on brede in Rome, and causit the pepill to rusch out of all partis
thairof to the merkit. Incontinent ane officiare warnit thaim all to
compere afore Brutus, the tribune of the garde, for he wes cled at
this time with that office. Than Brutus made ane orisoun afore the
pepill, with ane uthir minde and ingine than he had schewin afore
thay dayis; first advertising the pepill of the violence and lust of
Tarquinius Sixtus, and of his odius deforsement made on Lucres,
and of hir miserabill deith, and of the desolacioun of Lucresius Tricipetir, hir fader, to quham this violent oppressioun apperit mair miserabill and uncouth than wes hir deith. Als schew to thaim the pride
of Tarquine, and of the continuall miserie and lauboure to quhilkis
the pepill war thirllit be him, in bigging of fowseyis, closettis, and condettis under the erde; and how the Romanis, quhilkis war afore men

104

TITUS LIVIUS.

of armes and dantaris of all pepill liand about thaim, war maid than
bot vile lauboraris ; and als remembrit thaim of the unwourthy slauchter of Servius Tullius, thair last king; and how Tullia, King Tarquinis cursit wife, rade owre hir faderis body in ane cheriot, for
quhilkis the goddis, be invocacioun of opprest pepill, apperit to punis
thair iniquities.
I belief Brutus, with thir and mair penetrive wourdis opinly rehersit in his orisoun, as thir present harmis and tyrannyis gaif occasioun for the time, movit the pepill to sic indignacioun that thay
abrogate the empire of the kingis, and denuncit Lucius Tarquine, his
wife and barnis, as inemyis, to be banist out of Rome. Incontinent,
Brutus, with ane cumpany of feirs and young men, quhilkis with gude
will gaif thair names to stand in ordinance, and to rais ane armye
aganis the king, past to Ardea, quhare he was liand for the time, and
left Spureus Lucresius president of Rome, with ane gude cumpany of
armit men to sauf the samin fra Tarquinius.
In middis of this eff'ay, Tullia, the cursit spous of Tarquine, fled
out of the toun, with malediccioun of men and wemen in all partis
quhare scho come, criand vengeance on hir for the terribil and waryit
dedis be him committit. Tarquine the Proude, astonist be this affray, quhen the rumoure thairof apperit in his campe, maid him with
maist diligence to pas to Rome, to meit the trubil appering. And,
in the mene time, Brutus went by the gate, that he suld nocht mete
him; for he wes advertist of his cumming. All wayis under ane
time Brutus come to Ardea, and Tarquine to Rome; but the yettis
war closit to Tarquine, and himsel exilde. The campe, rejosing with
grete blythnes, ressavit Brutus as capitane and deliverare of the toun
fra the tyranny of kingis. All the kingis sonnis war banist in the
samin manere. Two of thame followit thair fader, and fled eftir to
the toun of Cere, amang the Hethruschis. Sextus Tarquinius past
to the toun of Gabios, his native realme, quhare he was slane in recompensacioun of the grete murder and slauchtir, maid be him afore
in the said toun.
Lucius Tarquinius the Proude rang abone the Romanis xxv yeris.
Thir sevin kingis rang fra the beginning of Rome to the deliverance
thairof, fra thair empire cc.xLIv yeris. Two consullis war create

THE FIRST BUKE.

105

eftir the proscriptioun of kingis, in comites centuriate, be auctorite of
the president. Be commentaris of Servius Tullius, Lucius Junius
Brutus, and Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus war maid the first consulis
of Rome.

AND SA ENDIS HERE THE TRANSLATIOUN
OF THE FIRST BUKE

OF TITUS LIVIUS.

HERE BEGINNIS THE SECUND BUKE
OF

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. I.
How Bruus soliscit the Pepill to taC thair solemne aithis, nevir to
sufjlr ony Kingis regne abone thaim. How Tarquine Collatine
renuncit the Consulate.

And how all the Tarquinis war banist

oute of Rome.
-

I

will discrive

RA thens I
the dedis of Romane
pepill, frelie deliverit of all
bath

p pi
were

servitude

in

digni-

and pece ; and declare thair yerelie
baU

teis and empire mair pussant be lawis than ony

force of pepill ; and how the pride of this last
king maid commoun
richt plesand to the
Spepill; for all kingis afore him rang in sic wise,
that every, ane of thaim micht haif bene justly namit foundaris of
Rome in sum parte, ekit be thair industrie to Romane pepill.
It is nocht to be doutit, bot the samin Brutus, that conquest sa hie
and soverane glore in banissing the proude king, suld haif done maist
odius mischeif aganis the commounweil, gif he, be owre haisty desire
of liberte, had deponit ony of the kingis afore rehersit fra thair em-

liberte

THE SECUND BUKE.

107

pire and kingdome. Quhat trubill and irrecoverabill harmes suld haif
followit, gif sa mony cumpanyis of hirdis and strangearis, fugitive fra
thair native cuntreis, had invadit uthir with tribuniciane contenciouns;
havand liberte as thay plesit in the ciete, and frelie deliverit of all
fere of kingis, and punicioun following ? Quhat mischeif had followit,
gif sa strange and uncouth pepill had maid debait aganis the Faderis
in ane uncouth ciete, afore the affeccioun of thair wiffis and barnis,
or afore the swetnes of native cuntre, to quhilk men bene nocht haistelie acquentit, had coifiderate thaim with societe of Romanis; for
all thingis, quhen thay ar young and nocht cuming to perfeccioun,
micht haif sone bene distroyit be discorde ? And now, becaus the Romanis hes bene nurist be soft and temperate empire, thay ar brocht
to sic firmance, that thay may, with ripe and strang pussance, sustene
the plesand frute of liberte; you may in sa fer consider the beginning
of Romane liberte the bettir, that the empire of Consullis is yerelie
changeit, erare than to haif minist ony thing pertenand to the dignite riall.
Thir first Consullis bure the samin privilege and ornamentis during thair auctorite, as the kingis afore rehersit bure during thair empire; yit, that the pepill suld nocht be astonist, nor mair affrayit than
afore, gifbaith the Consullis had apperit in thair sicht clothit as kingis,
with purpure and dignite riall, Brutus, be consent of his colleig, cum
first to sicht of pepill with habit and ornamentis of kingis.
This Brutus wes na les scharpe kepare of Romane liberte, than recoverare thairof; for he wes the first that soliscit the Romane pepill,
richt desirus of thair new liberte, to swere, with solemne aithis, nevir
to suffir ane king to regne abone thaim; to that fine, that the mindis
of the said pepill suld nocht be brokin be sollicitacioun, requeist, nor
proffett of kingis eftir following, and, to that fine, that the pluralite
and frequent nowmer of Faderis suld mak the senate and court mair
pussant and strang.
This Brutus ekit the ordoure of senatouris, quhilkis war minist
afore be tyranny of King Tarquine, to the auld nowmer of IrI.c Faderis; chosin of the maist nobill persouns amang the horsmen. It
is said, that this Brutus devisit, be his prudence, quha suld be callit
Faderis, and quha Conscripti amang the senatouris; for Conscripti
war callit the new Faderis chosin at this time to fulfill the auld now,

108

TITUS LIVIUS.

mer of Faderis afore minist. It wes na litill admiracioun to consider,
how proffittabil this ampliacioun of new Faderis wes, to continew the
ciete in concorde, and to conforme the mindis of thaim to the pepill.
Sic thingis done, the Consullis maid solemne sacrifice to thair
Goddis; and, becaus thair wes certane public sacrifices quhilkis war
accustumate to be done alanerlie be kingis, howbeit the pepill had na
desire of kingis, yit thay create ane preist to be king of all divine service; and, that the name of this king suld nocht be noisum nor suspicius to thair liberte, becaus thay tuke presentlie sa diligent care in
keping thairof, thay subject him to thair bischop.
I wate nocht gif the Faderis kepit just mesour in all thingis concerning thair liberte; for thay garnist the samin nocht onelie with
materis of grete valoure, bot als with thingis of small effect. The
name of Tarquine Collatine, howbeit he nevir offendis aganis the private or public weill of Rome, wes richt odius to the pepill; for thay
allegit, the Tarquinis war owre lang hantit with the crown of Romanis. Thay began be Priscus Tarquinius; and thocht Servius Tullius rang eftir him, as uncouth heritoure, severing the Tarquinis ane
certane time fra the crown, yit Tarquine the Proude recoverit it agane,
as it had bene his propir heritage, conquest be tyranny and slauchter:
and now, instantlie eftir the proscripcioun of Tarquine the Proude,
the empire is returnit to Tarquine Collatine; and sen nane of the
Tarquinis can leif in private life, thair name apperis richt suspicius
to the liberte latelie recoverit.
This rumoure rais pece and pece throw the ciete, assailyeing the
mindis of pepill to depone Tarquine Collatine of his auctorite. Than
Brutus, seand the pepill solist with this suspicioun, callit thaim to
ane concioun; began to remembir thaim of thair solemne aithis, latelie maid, to suflfir nane regne abone thaim in ony times cuming. Attoure, it suld be defendit be uter diligence, that na thing remane
within thair ciete that may be noisum to thair liberte; and, als na
thing that may garnis the samin suld be contempnit. For thir ressouns
he wes constrenit to releve the mater, quhilk he wald nevir haif done,
for the affeccioun that he beris to his freind, war nocht the fervent
lufe that he beris to the commounweill inforcis him thairto. " I
'
" think," said Brutus, " your commoun liberte is nocht recoverit as
yit with sicker firmance, becaus the linage and name riall is nocht

THE SECUND BUKE.

109

" alanerlie as yit in your ciete, bot is als decorit with majeste and

"
"
"
"
'

"
"
"
"
"
"

honouris, howbeit the samin is baith noisum and contrarius to your
liberte. I pray ye, Tarquine Collatine," said Brutus, " to deliver
us with thy awne benevolence of all fere of Lucius Tarquine, thy
cousing. We affirm, that you has ejeckit the kingis out of Rome.
Do furth thy devoure, and tak away that odius name Tarquine fra
the pepill; and, gif you dois it plesandlie, thy cieteyanis sal nocht
onelie rander to thee all thy gudis, bot als sall support the samin
be thair liberalite gif you lakis. Departe as freinde, and deliver
the pepill of the terroure, quhilk perchance is bot vane, into thair
mindis; for it is sa seitit in thair breistis, that thay beleve all empire of kingis sall finis in thair ciete als sone as the Tarquinis ar

" put away."

Tarquine Collatine, herand this new and suddane mater, wes sa astonist, that the admiracioun thairof inclusit his voce but ony speich.
And, quhen he wes beginnand ane orisoun to the pepill, for purgacioun baith of his name and innocence, the Faderis stude about him,
requiring him plesandlie to pas of the ciete. Yit nane of thaim movit
him sa mekil as Spurius Lucresius, his gude-fader; for he wes ane
agit man of grete dignite, and, be sindry persuasiounis, exhortit the
said Tarquine to suffir himself to be vincust be universale consent of
the ciete. Tarquine, dredand that he suld nocht onelie tine his gudis,
bot als be ejeckit out of the ciete with mair dishonoure, renuncit wilfully the Consulate; and departit out of Rome, with all his gudis, to
the ciete of Lavine.
Than Brutus, be avise of the senate, commandit all linage and
blude of Tarquine to be banist out of Rome.

110

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. II.
How Publius Valerius wes maid Consull in place of Tarquine Collatine. How sindry young Princes ofRome war punistfor thair
Tressoun ; and how the gudis of Tarquine war confiscate amang
the Pepill.
HE Tarquinis beand exilit in this sorte, Brutus maid
Publius Valerius his colleig be comites centurial; for, be
supporte of this Valerius, he ejeckit the kingis out of
Rome, and thocht nathing apperit mair sikker than
haisty and maist dangerus weris approcheand be the Tarquinis; yit
the samin wes mair laitheand than it semit ; for this the commoun
liberte, sa recentlie recoverit, wes nere losit be falset and tressoun;
how beit na thing wes belevit les than the samin.
In the Romane ciete war certane young and insolent persouns, discending of na obscure linage; and becaus thay war companyouns to
Tarquinis, thay war licent, during the empire of kingis, to frequent
thair lustis with mair opin renyeis, than ony utheris, and war accustumit to leif in princelie maner. Thir young nobillis, seand equale
administracioun of justice, complenit lamentably amang thameself,
that the commoun liberte was turnit to thair servitude; apperit thairfore, na thing sa gude as ane king; for ane king wes ane man fra
quhilk thay micht purches ony thing, quhethir it wes richt or wrang;
and afore him wes place of mercy eftir offence, and rewarde followand
eftir gude dedis; and thocht he wes sum time commovit, he micht
eftir be recounseld with his liegis, havand all times braid difference
betwix freindis and unfreindis. Be contrare the lawis hantit amang
thir new consullis, wes ane thing richt unmercifull, and mair halesum
to vile bodyis, than to ony illustir persouns; for the samin has nouthir opin renyeis, nor yit remissioun, quhen ony crime is committit.
Herefore apperit richt perrellus to every man, amang sa mony errouris
and defaltis, to have na defencis, bot allanerlie be thair innocence.

THE SECUND BUKE.

inl

Thir young nobillis, beand solist and wery in thair mindis for the
severite of lawis than usit abone thame, come the legatis of King
Tarquine, desiring alanerlie the gudis left behind him and his friendis
to be deliverit, but ony mencioun to desire him restorit to his kingdome. Fra thir legatis had schowin thair message afore the senatouris, followit sindry dayis eftir, grete consultacioun quhat was to be
done; for gif the gudis of Tarquinis war nocht redressit, the samin
micht be just caus of batale to the Tarquinis to invaid the ciete; and
gif thair gudis war deliverit, thay suld be sufficient mater and helpe
to the Tarquinis to continew in thair weris aganis the ciete. Quhil
this mater wes dependant afore the faderis, thir legatis began to assale
grete materis be mony sindry wayis; and nocht onlie clamit opinly
restitucioun of the gudis of Tarquine, bot als began to trete secretlie
how the said Tarquinis micht maist eselye recover the kingdome.
And becaus ilk man belevit thame to be richt desirus and diligent in
thare materis, thay assailyeit the mindis of thir young nobillis, be
quham thair wourdis war plesandlie acceppit; syne deliverit certane
letteris of the Tarquinis to the said young nobillis, and, eftir the
deliverance thairof, thay' tuke consultacioun with thame, be quhat
besines the Tarquinis micht be under nicht secretlie ressavit in the
ciete.
The credit of this tressoun wes committit to twa brethir, Vitellius
and Aquillius, quhais sister wes maryit on Brutus, and had to him
twa sonnis, Titus and Tiberius, quhilkis war put on the secret counsell, and participant with the tressoun of thair twa emis, afore rehersit. Mony uthir notabill children war participant with the samin
tressoun; but thair names, be roust of yeris, is perist.
In the mene time, be avise of the faderis, wes decernit that all
gudis, pertenand to Tarquinis, sal be deliverit to thare legatis. Be
tenoure of this sentence, war grantit certane space to the said legatis
to remane in the ciete, quhil thair provisioun war maid for certane
cartis to turs away the saidis gudis. The legatis spendit the time,
that wes given to thame to this effect, with thir conspiratouris, afore
rehersit, solistand thame to send writingis to the Tarquinis; and allegit, gif the samin war nocht send, na faith culd be gevin to thame
apoun sa wechty and hie materis. The letteris, quhilkis war gevin to
thir legatis to mak faith for assistance of thir young nobillis to the

112

TITUS LIVIUS.

Tarquinis, maid the tressoun mair patent than it semit; for thir legatis, afore thay war to departe, war intertenyit at the supper be solemne banket, with thir twa brethir, Vitellius and Aquillius, quhare
thay, and the remanent conspiratouris, eftir that the hous wes ischit
of all suspect persouns, began to commone of mony hie materis be new
consultacioun.
In the mene time, ane servand wes ripelie advertist of all thair tressonabil purpois. Attoure, he wes advertist thairof afore; bot he abade
to se gif ony writingis war send to the Tarquinis, that the samin,
quhen thay war takin fra the legatis, micht be the mair evident prufe
of thair tressoun. Als sone as he saw the letteris deliverit, he schew
the samin to the consulis; and incontinent, thir consulis tuke baith
thir legatis and conspiratouris, and apprehendit thame but ony noyis,
afore thay war advertist; syne, with grete diligence, revelit the letteris, that the samin suld nocht be destroyit.
Als sone as thir letteris war fund, the conspiratouris war cassin in
presoun. As concerning the legatis, it wes in dout quhat suld be
done with thame; and thocht thay have committit sic crime, that
thay deservit to be punist, as inemyis of the ciete, yit thay war sauffit be the law of pepill.
The faderis war sa commovit for this tressoun, recentlie imaginate,
that howbeit thay decernit afore the gudis of Tarquinis to be deliverit to thair legatis, yit thay retretit thair sentence, and defendit the
samin outhir to be deliverit or yit applicate to the commoun proffite;
bot allanerlie confiscate amang the pepill, to that fine, that fra the
said pepill had intromittit with the gudis of Tarquinis, thay suld have
na esperance in times cumming to be recounsellit with the said Tarquinis, nor yit to trete ony pece with thame.
The croft of King Tarquine, that lay betwix Rome and Tiber,
was dedicate to Mars, and callit eftir Campus Marcius. Be aventure
was growand for the time, ane grete multitude of quhete on the said
croft, reddy to schere; and becaus this croft wes religious and consecrate, as said is, to Mars, it wes nocht lefull to apply the frute thairof
to ony use of man; for this caus, ane grete multitude of pepill come
haistelie to the said croft, and quhen thay had schorne the said
quhete, thay gaderit it with the stra in crelis, and kest doun in Tiber.

THE SECUND BUKE.

113

This river wes then, throw fervent hetis of somer, discending with
litill stremes, throw quhilk happinnit that this multitude of quhete,
discending throw Tiber, abaid and stak stil in the schald wattir thairof; and with the huge glar, and uthir stuff that stak thairto, it maid
ane ile in the middis of Tiber, callit to oure dayis the ile of Tiber;
yit I belief, that sone eftir grete burdingis of erde and sand has bene
brocht to the said ile be the industry and lauboris of man; for uthir
wayis it micht never bene sa sovir ground to bere templis and palices,
as it dois now in to oure dayis.
Quhen the gudis of Tarquinis war confiscate, and delte amang the
pepill, as said is, the young nobillis, for thair tressoun committit, war
adjugit to the deith; and war the mair opinly punist, that Brutus
wes decernit be the faderis to punis the tressoun of his awne sonnis.
And thocht Brutus, be faderlie piete, suld have bene removit fra the
sicht of ony punicioun maid on his sonnis; yit fortoun gaif to him sic
excellent fortitude, that he wes the principall punissare of thair offens. The nobill children stude bundin at ane staik, amang quham
wes Titus and Tiberius, the sonnis of Brutus. The pepill beheld
litill the remanent conspiratouris; bot turnit thair ene alanerlie to
behold the sonnis of Brutus, and had na les miseracioun of thair
punicioun, than of the tressoun be thame committit, be quhilk thay
justlie deservit thair deith. The pepill had grete wounder, quhat
suld have movit thir sonnis of Brutus to have randerit sa tressonably
thair native cuntre, recentlie recoverit, thair fader Brutus, the deliverare of the ciete, the faderis thameself, and every uthir thingis pertening to the Roman goddis and pepill, into the handis of Lucius
Tarquine, sum time king, bot than exild, and innemye to thair public
weil, considering the dignite consulare began be the house of Junius.
Als sone as the faderis war ordourit in thair setis, thir bureouris
come to punis thir conspiratouris; and quhen the said bureouris had
scurgeit thame with wandis, thay straik of thair hedis with ane ax.
The fader Brutus, na thing schrinkit with the cruell punicioun maid
on his sonnis, bot with faderlie piete, beheld the punicioun maid on
thame, and the remanent conspiratouris, on the samin maner as thay
justlie deservit, that he micht be thairthrow ane notabil exampill baith
of piete and justice, for punicioun of all offence committit.

TITUS
114

114

LIVIUS.

The conspiratouris being punist in this maner, Brutus commandit
ane rewarde to be gevin of the commoun gudis to this servand that
revelit the tressoun; and nocht alanerlie maid him fre man, bot als
maid him citeyane of Rome. This wes the first man that ever wes
deliverit fra servitude to liberte be vengeance; and thairfore it wes
allegit, that this worde vengeance began first be this servand; for he
wes. callit eftir Vendicius to his name, quhilk name, mony yeris eftir,
remanit to be ane memorie, that quhatsumevir persoun war deiverit
be sic maner fra servitude to liberte, he suld be acceppit as citeyane
of Rome.

CAP. III.

'supporte

How King Tarquine, be
of the Veanis and Cieteyanis o
Terquine, invaded the Romanis. How Brutus Consul, and Aruns
Tarquine, recountering uthir in singular battall, were baith
slaine ; and how the Matrouns of Rome wore the dule habit ane
yere,for the deith of Brutus.
i

ING TAUQUINE advertist of thir doingis, in maner afore

l

___

Srehersit, was nocht alanerlie movit with grete doloure
for his esperance failyeit in recovering his gudis ; bot
als commovit with grete ire and haterent. At last,
seing all his slichtis interciudit, bot ony outpassage, he tuke purpois
to invaid the Romanis with open weris ; and to bring his purpois to
effect, he past' humlie about the cieteyanis of Hethruria, and specially amang the Veanis, and cieteyanis of the town of Tarquine, re-

I

__~

_____*was

quiring thame to

suffir him noclit, sen he was cummin of thairlimage

and blude, to be violentlie ejeckit fra his empire and kingdome,
that he and his young sonnis perrish nocht afore thair ene ; schawing als how utheris of uncouth blude had bene ressavit to the empire
of Romanis, and thocht he was native king thairof, ekand daly thair
empire with landis and rentis, yit he was ixilit and banist be tressonabill conspiracioun of his- awne pepill. And 'becaus nane wes fund
wourthy to succede eftir him, the faderis has dividit the croun amang

THE SECUND BUKE.

115

thameself, and sparpellit his riches amang the pepill, that na man
suld remane innocent, bot every man elike gilty with uthir; for thir
ressouns, he wes set to recover his realme and cuntre, and persew
his unthankfull lieges, gif the pepill afore rehersit, wald support him
in sic maner, that he micht nocht allanerlie revenge the frequent
slauchter of thair friendis, with utheris injuris done to thame; bot als
recovir sindry landis, quhilkis war reft fra thame be tyranny of Romanis.
Thir wordis of King Tarquine movit the Veanis to his purpois;
for every ane of thame boldin with grete minassing, thocht na thing
sa gude, as baith thair landis to be recoverit, and the schamefull injuris done to thame revengeit be governance of the Romane king.
The name and linage of Tarquinis movit gretumly the inhabitantis
and pepill of the ciete of Tarquine; for it apperit richt plesand that
thair name and linage suld regne in Rome. Be this way war rasit
thre armyis of twa sindry pepill, and followit Tarquine, as thair capitane, to recovir his realme, and preserve the Romanis with batall.
Als sone as thir armyis war enterit in the Romane landis, the twa
consulis, Brutus and Valerius, met thame with arrayit batallis; Valerius led the oist of futemen, and Brutus past afore the armye with
ane cumpany of horsmen, to espie the oist of his ennemies. On the
side adversare was Aruns Tarquine, ridand on the samin maner, with
ane band of horsmen afore, and King Tarquine, his fader, quhilk wes
followand with ane awful army.
Als sone as Aruns saw the bureouris, he understude perfetelie the
consulis war present in thair cumpany, and fra he wes past forthwart
ane litill space, he knew Brutus, and incontinent he began to rage in
maist ire, saying, " Yone is he that banist us fra oure cuntre, se sa
" proudelie as he procedis, now decorit with oure armyis. O, ye god" dis, vengeouris of deprest kingis, be favorabil to me." Incontinent, he dang his hors with the spurris, andkest down his spere, drevin maist awfullie aganis the consull. Brutus, persaving weil his
cumming, met him in the samin force; for it was ane excellent glore
in thay dayis, to princis and capitanes of armyis, to mete uthir in singular batall. Allwayis thir two feirs campiouns ruschit togiddir with
sic boldin breistis, that nane of thame tuke regarde to ony defence of
thair bodyis, bot allanerlie to wound thair fallow, throw quhilk the

116

TITUS LIVIUS.

fors wes sa grete, that every ane of thame ran uthir throw thair armoure and targeis to the hart, and baith atanis fell of thair hors dede
to the ground, the lancis stikand throw thair bodyis. Followit haistilie the batell of horsmen, invading uther with maist terribill fury;
and nocht lang eftir come the futemen, bot the victorie wes uncertane, and the batall fochtin with equale haterent; for the richt wingis
war victorius, and the left wingis discomfist on every side. The
Veanis, quhilkis war ay accustumit to be vincust be Romanis, war
stoppit, and put to flicht King Tarquine, the new ennemie, with his
mhen of armes ; the cieteyanis of Tarquine nocht allanerlie withstude
the Romanis, bot als put thame abak. Quhill thir batallis war fechtand in this maner, sic terrore invadit the Veanis and Tarquinis, that
baith thair armyis, but ony farthir bargane, severit and departit hame
within the nicht.
It is said, that ane uncouth and prodigius mirakil, happinit in this
last batall; for ane voce was herd in the nicht afore the samin, in the
wod of Arsia, be Silvane, god of the said wod, saying, The Romanis
sal be victorious, and ane sal be slane ma of the Hethruschis than
of the Romanis; and therefore the Romanis returnit hame as victouris, and the Hethruschis as vincust. Publius Valerius, als sone as
licht apperit on the nixt morow, gadderit up the spuleyeis of the said
feild, and returnit with grete triumphe to Rome, sine beryit the body
of Brutus, his colleig, with all reverence and honoure that he micht.
Bot yit nathing succedit mair to the glore of Brutus, than did the
public sorow of the ciete, made in his funeral triumphe; for the matrouns wore the dule habit for him, as he had bene thair fader, the
space of ane yere, becaus he wes sa scharpe punissare of thair violate
chaistite.

THME SECUND BUKE.11

CAP.

117

IV.

How Publius Valerius mesit the suspicioun of the commoun Pepill
aganis him, and maid lawis for thair singulare profit. How
Marcus Horacius wes maid Consul in the place of
how he dedicate the Tempil of Jupiter.

Brutus; and

UBLIUS

VALERIUS,

eftir this sorowful victorie, becaus

the mindis of commouns ar variabil, wes nocht alanerlie
hatit, bot als hevily suspeckit with the peill ; for
belevit that he wald usurpe the crown, becaus he surrogate nocht haistelie ane new Consul in the place of Brutus; and als
becaus he began to edifie ane strang toun in Mont Velia, quhill, be
municioun and straitnes of the ground, apperit unexpugnabil. Thir
and siclike wourdis movit the minde of Valerius to hie and insuirabil
displesoure, herand how the pepill had consavit sa wikkit opinioun of
him; and, thairfore, to purge him of thair suspicioun, he callit the
pepill to ane counsale, and nakit him, afore he maid his orisoun, of
al ornamentis pertening to the dignite consulare: quhilk doingis maid
him richt tendir and plesand to*the pepill, becaus he devoidit himself
sa. plesandlie of all ornamentis riall ; for apperandlie he confessit, that

L

the strenth and

thay

majeste of Romane pepill wes of mair pussance, than

the Consulis.
Valerius, als sone as the pepill war assemblit to here his orisoun,
began to lufe the grete felicite of Brutus, his colleig ; for, eftir that
he had deliverit the realme of servitude, and brocht the samin in maist
honour, he wes slane, fechtand with perseverand manhede to the deith,
afore his huge glore brocht him be invy to haterent of pepill. Be
contrar, becaus he wes left on live, behind the glore of Brutus, he wes
fallin in invy and suspicioun of pepill ; and quhare he wes haldin sum
time the deliverare of the ciete, he wes repute than mair tressounabil,
than the Vitellis and Aquillis, quhilkis thocht. to haif randerit the
ciete in the Tarquinis handis. "0O, Romanis. !" said he, " may thair
"6nevir be sa provin vertew amang you, that it may be inviolate but

118

TITUS LIVIUS.

" suspicioun. How micht I, be crime of avarice, usurpe the king" dome, sen I wes evir sa unmercifull inemy to kingis ? Suld I be" leif my cieteyanis to haif me in ony fere or dredoure, howbeit I
" dwelt in the Capitoll, or ony maist strang hous? Is my fame of
" sa smal estimacioun afore you; is your faith foundit on sa inferme
" ground, that ye tak regarde to knaw erare quhare I am, than quhat
" I am ? The housis, maist wise faderis, of Valerius, sail nouthir be
" noisum nor contrarius to your liberte. Mont Velia sal be sovir to
" you without suspicioun; for I sail nocht alanerlie mak the wallis
" of my housis equale to the ground, bot sall als tummill the stanis
" thairof to the fute of the montane, that ye may have empire abone
" me, your suspect cieteyane. Lat thaim herefore edifie in Mont Ve" lia that hes mair credit of public liberte than had Valerius."
Sone eftir, wes all the mater, of quhilk this hous suld haif bene
edifyit, dejeckit haistelie to the vail undir Mont Velia; and, on the
lowest part of the said montane, ane hous wes biggit, quhare now is
the public rew. Eftir this, certane lawis war maid be Valerius, quhilkis
assoilyeit him of all suspicioun movit aganis him tuitching the desire
of the crown; for thay war sa contrarius to the said suspicioun, that
thay schew him bot ane private cieteyane: and he wes callit thairfore, Valerius Publicola; that is to say, the Wourschippare of Pepill.
The first law maid be him wes, That ane appellacioun sall haif
place fra the faderis and consulis to the pepill. The secund law wes,
That ilk man, nochtwithstanding quhatsumevir estait and dignite he
be of, that makis him to usurpe the kingdom of Romanis, sal be slane,
and baith his hede and his gudis brint in sacrifice to thair Goddis.
Thir twa lawis war richt plesand to the pepill; and war pronuncit alanerlie to the pepill, be auctorite of the said Valerius, that he micht
thairthrow haif the thank thairof.
Sic thingis done, he sett ane counsell to surrogate ane colleig in
the place of Brutus, and create Spurius Lucresius consul; bot he
wes sa fer run in age that he micht nocht sustene the charge of the
consulate, and within few dayis eftir he deceissit : in quhais place wes
surrogate Marcus Horacius Pulvilus. I find amang certane auld auctoris, that Spurius Lucresius wes nevir consul; for thir allegis, that
Horacius succedit immediatelie in Brutus place: or ellis, gif Lucre-

THE SECUND BUKE.

119

sius wes consul, he did nevir na notabil actis, and for that caus the
memorie of him is perist.
The set of Jupiter wes nocht as yit dedicate in the Capitoll, and,
for that caus, the twa consullis kest cavillis, quhilk of thaim suld dedicate the said tempill; and, becaus the cavil fell to Horacius, his
colleig, Valerius, past with ane armye aganis the Veanis. In the
mene time, his freindis tuke grete indignacioun that this illuster ternpill suld be dedicate be Horacius, and set thaim to empesch the samin. At last, quhen sindry thair attemptatis war fund in vane, this
Horacius wes enterit in the tempill, makand his cerimonyis and
prayaris to the Goddis, as the rite and custome wes at thay dayis;
and quhen he wes haldand the post of the tempill in his handis, thay
send ane schamefull messinger in the tempill to schaw that his son
wes dede; and, sen his hous wes unchancy, and his son dede, he
oucht nocht to dedicate the solemne tempill of Jupiter. It is nocht
facill to be declarit, nor yit is it written be sicker authoris, gif sic constance wes in Horace to gif na credit to the wourdis of this messinger;
for he answerit na thing thairto, bot alanerlie commandit, gif his son
wes dede, to bere his body out of the hous; syne held the post of the
tempill in his handis, continewing furth in the cerimonyis quhil the
tempill wes dedicate.
Thir war the dedis of Romanis in the first yeir eftir the proscripcioun of kingis. And, at the beginning of the nixt yeir, Valerius
Publicola wes continewit consull as afore, and Titus Lucresius maid
his colleig.

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. V.
How Tarquinius soliscit Porsena, King of Clusium, to invade the
Romanis. How the Faderisintertenit the small pepill with sindry
kindenes. How Horace Codes defendit the brig of Tiber, quhil
it wes cuttit be his companyouns ; and how hefrede himself of his
enemyis.

I

HE Tarquinis, banist as we haif schawin, and discomfist

in this last batall, fled to Lartes Porsena, King of Clusium; and, with maist pietuous requeist and prayaris,
besocht the said Porsena, to.suffir nocht thaim, quhilkis
war discendit of the Hethruschis, his cousingis, to be exilit fra thair
native cuntre; and sum time persuadit him to suffir nocht this odius
maner laitlie rising, in proscripcioun of kingis, to be unpunist. For
liberte has sa grete sweetnes in the self, that gif kingis defend nocht
thair realmes with als grete force as the pepill desiris to recovir thair
liberte, all hie estatis sail be equale to the lowest; na thing sall be
preeminent abone the laif in the ciete; throw the quhilk, the honoure
of kingdom, the maist plesand thing amang Goddis and men, sall be
finist.
Porsena, traisting na thing sa proffitabil as to haif his linage and
blude regnand baith abone the Romanis and Hethruschis, cum, with
ane awful army, to Rome, and maid the senatouris mair astonist than
evir thay war afore that time; for baith his aimy wes pussant, and
his renoun richt grete in thay dayis. Attoure, the senatouris dred
nocht onelie the uncouth and strange enemyis liand about thaim with
braid garnisouns, bot als dred that thair awne cieteyanis, astonist be
fere of uncouth armyis, suld ressave the Tarquinis within the ciete,
and trete sum condicioun of pece undir maist vile and schameful servitude.
The senate, throw this present dredoure, ceissit nocht to interteny
the pepill with maist plesant wourdis and dedis. And, that na penurite of vittalis suld follow be this present trubill, sindry prudent men

THE SECUND BUKE.

121

war send baith to the Volschis and Cumanis, to by vittalis for the
sustentacioun of the pepill. Attoure, fre licence wes gevin to the pepill to sel salt, howbeit the samin wes sald afore amang thaim at grete
price. Attoure, it wes constitute, that the small and indigent pepill
sal nocht alanerlie be frelie exonerate of all tribute and custumes, bot
sal als be supportit with all chargis and necessaris be the rich men of
the ciete: for it wes found sufficient charge to thir indigent pepill to
nuris thair awne children, howbeit thay payit nane uthir tribute.
Thir liberall and plesand dedis of the Faderis wes occasioun to the
commoun pepill to persevere with ferme concorde at thair opinioun,
nochtwithstanding the huge trubill and hungir eftir following during
the sege of Porsena; throw quhilk the commouns and small pepill of
the ciete na les detestit the name of kingis, than did the Faderis and
senatouris thairof. Thare micht na man conqueis, be gile or tressounabil slichtis, sic favoure and benevolence of pepill, as did the senatouris be thair singulare prudence.
Als sone as the enemyis apperit, all the pepill that dwelt to landwarte cum, for defence baith of thaimself and thair gudis, to dwell
within Rome; syne garnist the samin with strang soudjouris and men
of armis. Sum thocht thairself sikker fra enemyis be force of wallis,
and sum be defence of the river; yit, nochtwithstanding thir industryis, the enemyis had almaist gottin entres within the ciete be ane
brig of tre, war nocht it wes the mair vaileyantlie defendit be ane nobill man, namit Horace Cocles, quham fortoun maid for that day ane
grete municioun of Roman ciete.
This Cocles, set be aventure in ane roume maid for defence of the
said brig, and seand nocht alanerlie Mont Janicle tane, and his enemyis discending with huge fors to tak the said brig, bot als his companyouns sa astonist that thay fled, levand thair armis and wappinnis
behind thaim, he reprevit every ane of thaim be thair name, and tuke
baith the faith of Goddis and men in witnes, that thair fleing wes
in vane. For, gif thay left the brig with fre passage behind thaim,
thair enemyis suld be haistelie als pussand in the palice, and in the
Capitoll, as thay war presentlie in Mont Janicle; and, thairfore, he
prayit thaimn to returne, and cut the brig with fire, and irne, and all
uthir violence thay micht; for he suld resist the dint of enemyis sa

122

TITUS LIVIUS.

far as his body micht suffir, quhil the brig wes brokin. Incontinent,
this Cocles past to the formest part of the brig, fornens his enemyis,
and maid thaim the mair astonist, that, nochtwithstanding the fleing
of his companyouns, he abaid allane, reddy to gif thaim batall with
maist audacite: yit, in his extreme jeoperdy, twa companyouns, Titus Herminius, and Spurius Lartius, abade with him, to eschewe
schame; for thay war men of forcy dedis, and discending of nane obscure linage.
Cocles, accumpanyit with thir two companyouns, sustenit all the
first bront and furie of enemyis. At last, quhen he herde the noyis
and clamoure of thaim quhilkis war cuttand the brig, that nocht wes
left thairof unbet doun bot ane small part, sauffit alanerlie for his returning, he causit his twa companyouns to pas abak to sum secure
hald; syne began awfully to turne his terribill ene fornens the princis
of Hethruschis, sum time provokand every ane of thaim to singulare
batall, and sum times disputand thaim all, sayand, Becaus thay war
unmindfull of thair liberte, and levand undir servitude of proud kingis,
thay cum to invaid the liberte of uthir pepill, quhilk nevir offendit to
thaim. The Hethruschis taryit ane quhile fra his invasioun, for every
ane of thaim beheld uthir quha suld strik first; quhil, at last, the
hale army wes schamefully commovit, and, with huge noyis, flang all
thair dartis at him at anis; yit, nochtwithstanding thir dartis stikand
in his targe, he abaid obstinately gangand with maist sturdy pais on
the said brig: and, at last, quhen his enemyis war set with maist
forcy violence to dejeck him, rais sic noyis, throw falling of the brig,
and throw clamoure of Romanis rejosing in the fall thairof, that the
effray suddenlie rising thairthrow held the preis of enemyis abak.
Than Cocles, seand himself intercludit be enemyis afore him, and but
ony out passage behind, said, " 0 holy father, Tiberine, ressave this
" Romane, and this knicht, in thy propiciant streme ;" and, armit in
this wise, he lap in Tiber : and, nochtwithstanding innowmerabil dartis
schot at him be enemyis, he swam throw the river, but ony harme, to
his fallois. This hardy jeoperdie, be him done, will haif mair fame
than credence to owre posterite.
The ciete wes richt plesand to Cocles for his excellent vertew. Ane
image wes gravin to his similitude, and set in place of general convencioun. Attoure, the ciete gaff him als mekil land as he micht

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cirkill about on ane day with ane pleuch. Be thir wayis, private laubouris gat preeminence amang public honouris; for, nochtwithstanding the penurite of vittalis rising ilk day in the ciete, throw segeing
and oppugnacioun thairof, yit ilk cieteyane defraudit himself of sa
mekill vittalis as micht support the said Codes, quhil sum bettir
chance of fortoun occurrit.

CAP. VI.
How Porsenasegeit Rome, and brocht the samin to grete afliccioun.
How Valerius, consul, be craft of chevelrie, discomfist ane cumpany of Hethruschis. How Caius Mucius slew the scribe instede
of Porsena, and causit Porsena to scale his sege.
ORsENA, repulsit of his first assalt, set him, be prudent
counsell, to sege the ciete; and lade ane strang garnisoun of armit men within Mont Janicle; syne campit
him, with his remanent armye, on the planis and brayis
of Tiber, and brocht schippis out of al partis to inclose the said river,
that na vittalis war brocht to Rome, and that his armye micht spulye
the cuntre on every side without impediment.
Belive, he brocht the Romanis to sic affliccioun, that every gudis
pertenand to thaim, als wel bestiall as uthir fruitis, for fere of his
armye, war brocht within Rome. Thus thay durst put na thing utouth
the wallis. Yit the Hethruschis war sufferit to rage with sic opin
renyeis erare be wisdome than be ony dredoure of Romanis; for Valerius, consul, assailyeing be mony occasiouns, to tak ane grete nowmer of enemyis, sumtimes at avantage, quhen thay war skatterit at
thair incursiouns, schew himself negligent in small materis, that he
micht be the mair scharpe revengeoure of grete chargis quhen thay
occurrit. Herefore, to draw his enemyis fra thair armye, he commandit ane large nowmer of bestial to be schot forth, on the nixt day,
at porte Aquilline, quhilk wes the farest porte of Rome fra sicht of
enemyis, traisting thaim to be sone advertist thairof be sindry fugitouris daly departing of the ciete, for the hungir and derth continew-

124-

TITUS LIVIUS.

ally rising in the samin: and as he conjecturit sa followit. For the
Hethruschis war advertist be ane fugitoure of this huge nowmer of
bestial liand utouth the portis, and cum haistelie with grete cumpany
owre Tiber, in esperance to tak the haill pray of gudis foresaid; yit
afore thair cuming Valerius laid Titus Herminius with ane buschment
of men, hid in the Gabell Rew, beside the secund stone; and, in the
samin maner, left Spureus Lartius, with ane uthir buschment, at
Porte Colline, to ly in wate, quhil thair ennimies war past by, and to
stop thair returning to the rivere. The tothir consul, Titus Lucrecius, ischit furthe at Porte Nivia, with certane manipillis of armit
men.
In the mene time, Valerius discendit fra Mont Celia, and wes the
first that apperit to sicht of Hethruschis; als sone as Herminius
herde the noyis of Valerius cumpany, he ischit with his buschment
haistely fra the wate, and chasit thir Hethruschis on. Lucresius than
rais ane huge noyis and clamoure on every hand, be isching of the
Romanis at sindry portis, throw quhilk the Hethruschis, cummin for
prey of gudis, and nocht equale to resist thair innemies, war slane
and discomfist; for the passage wes sa intercludit on all handis, that
thay micht nocht returne. Porsena, nochtwithstanding this discomfitoure, continewit still at the sege, with more ire and haterent than
afore, throw quhilk rais ane miserabil derth, ay mair and mair in the
ciete, and gafe ferme esperance to Porsena, to win the samin be lang
sege alanerlie.
Than was in Rome ane nobill childe of hie sprete and curage,
namit Caius Mucius, quhilk havand grete indignacioun that Romane
pepill, being under servitude of kingis, war nothir invadit with batall,
nor segit be ennimies; and than thay beand deliverit of servitude, to
be segeit onelie be thay pepill, quham thay sa oft afore discomfist;
herefore, traisting to revenge this unwourthiness be sum fiers and
hardy interprise, he tuke, first, purpois to pas of his awne curage
amang the tentis of innemies. Yit dredand, gif he past on this maner, to be tane, and brocht agane be watche as ane tressonabil spy,
as he that semit to revele in quhat estate and dangere the ciete stude,
he past to the senate, and said, "0 faderis, I will pas owre Tiber,
" and enter within the tentis of my ennemies, nocht as ane revare
" movit for affeccioun and desire of gudis; my curage is to attempt

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125

" ane hie and mair soverane vassalage, gif the goddis be respondent
" to my curage." The faderis apprevit his purpois. Than Mucius
enterit amang the tentis of ennemies, with swerde hid under his
clothis, and thrang in quhare maist confluence of pepill was; quhil,
at last, he come quhare the king wes sittand in his seit riall. The
samin time happinnit his armye to be ressavand thair wagis, and be
aventure the kingis scribe, or ellis his thesaurare, wes sittand beside
the king, richelie accutterit, and nocht fer different fra.the samin ornamentis as the king wore, gevand his consultacioun, as apperit, on
sum wechty mater. Mucius knewe nocht quhilk of thame twa wes
king, and durst nocht inquire, in aventure sum men had tane suspicioun of him ; yit, becaus he saw the princes of the armye have mair
erandis with the scribe, than with this uthir that sat beside him, he
slew the scribe in stede of the king; syne, with bluidy swerde, made
ane gate throw his astonist ennemies; nochtheles, throw noyis and
clamoure of pepill haistelie rissin, he wes tane and brocht afore the
king. Allwayis quhan he wes maist destitute of friendis, and inquirit in generall quhat he wes, and quhy he slew this nobil man, he apperit more feirfull and minassant than astonist. " I am," said he,
G6 Romane, namit L. Mucius, your ennemie, and thocht to have
ane
" slane my ennemie; certifying you my curage and sprete is na les
" reddy to sustene the deith, than it wes to committ this slauchter
" It is propir till ane Romane, als well to suffir strong adversite, as
" to werk forcy dedis. I am nocht the man that is onelie conjurit
"in thy deith; thare is ane grete nowmer of pepill, to cum behind me
" to fulfill the dede that I have failyeit. Thairfore, gif you think is
"proffittabil, arme thyself to fecht every houre aganis the samin jeo" perdeis, quhilk I have now assailyeit; for you has presentlie baith
" the man and the swerde in the porchis of thy palice, that sall sla
" thee. We, the young men of Rome, denuncis batall to thee, with
" plane diffiance; thairfore, drede na uthir batall nor army, bot every
" ane of my companyeouns sall assailye thee with samin jeoperdy
"that I have attempit, quhil you be dede." Porsena, movit to na
les ire than indignacioun, with thir wourdis, and richt effrayit for the
huge dangere appering, commandit, with maist awfull minassing, this
Mucius to be circulit with maist rage and flammes on every side, and
to be brint haistelie in the samin, les than he suddanlie revelit quhat

TITUS LIVIUS.
watcheing and tressoun wes compasit in his slauchter. " O, Porsena,"
sade Mucius, " advertis ye how small regarde my cumpanyeouns
"takis of their miserabill bodyis, in compare of the interminabil ho" noure that thay seik, you sail understand be me." And incontinent, he schot his hand in the fire, quhilk than wes birnand in ane
altare, to the sacrifice of goddis, and brint his hand with sic constance, as he had sufferit na pane thairof. Porsena, astonist of this
uncouth wounder, discendit haistelie fra his trone, and commandit
Mucius to be removit fra the fire. " Pas thy way," said Porsena,
" you has done mair displesoure to thyself than to me. I suld com" mand thee to be lovit of maist provin vertew, gif the samin had
" bene assailyeit for defence of my cuntre. And now, be richt of
" batall, I will suffir thee to depart fre, bot ony hurte or displesoure
"of my army, quhare you list."
Than Mucius, thinkand that he wald recompens the king with sic,
like rewarde, gude deid, and meritis, said, " Becaus you, nobil prince,
'" has sa grete sicht to vertew,I will schaw, for thy gracius meritis done
" to me, the thing that I wald never have schawin for ony grevous
" punicioun, or boist that micht have followit. Herefore understand
" we are ccc men, quhilkis are al princes and illustir persouns of
" Rome, sworne of ane opinioun and minde in thy deith; and thocht
" my aventure was first, every ane of thame sall sailye as thay best
" may, quhil you be finalie slane."
Mucius, becaus he wes deliverit fra the deith for birning of his
richt hand, wes callit Sevela to his new surname. Porsena was sa
astonist be this first aventure, for na thing failyeit in his deith, bot
alanerlie that the hand yeid wrang, that he send his legatis to Rome,
offering, of his fre benevolence, to trete peace with Romanis; for he
thocht richt dangerus to abide the chance of every ane of thir ccc
knichtis, quhilkis war, as he belevit, all conjurit in his deith. The
legatis desirit the Tarquinis to be restorit to thair empire, howbeit
the samin wes in vane; for thocht the said Porsena desirit the Tarquinis to be restorit, he knewe na thing bettir than repuls of sic desiris. Nochtheles, becaus he promittit to the Tarquinis to lauboure
for thair restitucioun, he desirit the samin alanerlie to saif his aith.
In this peace wes tretit, that the landis, tane afore fra the Veanis,
sall be restorit. It wes als expressit in the said tretie, that Romanis

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127

sail gif plegeis for observacioun of thir pointis, gif thay desirit Porsena to remove his army fra Mont Janicle. The peace tretit in this
maner, Porsena rasit his army fra Mont Janicle, and departit nocht
allanerlie thairfra, hot als out of all uthir landis pertening to the Romanis. The faderis, for this hie and singular vassalage done be
Mucius Sevela, gaif to him ane large heritage, and landis hand
yound Tiber, callit, mony yeris eftir, Mucius medois.

be-

CAP. VII.
9/the hardy vassalage done be Clelia, the Romane Virgin. Of the
selling of King Porsenais vittalis. How Aruns, his son, was
slane, and his Army discomfist be the Cumanis. How Porsena
send his legatis to Rome, and of the answere maid to thame.

this wise,

WI]1m

EcAUs vertew wes honorit in
it gaif occasioun
to women to do gay vassalege. Amang the Romanis
wes ane virgin namit Clelia, quhilk wes gevin, with mony
uthir plegeis, young men and women, to Porsena, for

observacioun of trewis, afore contrakkit. This Clelia seand the tentis

of Hethruschis, quhare scho wes brocht, nocht fer distant fra the
brayis of Tiber, begilit hir keper ; syne, with the remanent virginis,
quhilkis war gevin as plege in the samin maner, come throw the army
of Hethruschis, and nocht onelie swam oure Tiber, but als restorit
thame, but ony displesoure, to thair friendis.
Als sone as Porsena wes advertist of this hardy vassalage, he grewe
in vehement ire, and send haistehie his legatis to Rome, desiring the
said virgine Clelia to be restorit to him as principale prince ; for of
the remanent plegeis be hir reskewit he tuke litill force. And becaus
he =thocht this last interprise done be Clelia of mair renoun, than wes
the vassalege done latelie be Codles or Mucius, he declarit be his oratouris, gif this virgine war nocht deliverit he suld nocht onelie hald
the trewis as broken, but als invaid the Romanis with new weris ;
promitting als, gif this Clelia war deliverit, to restore hir but ony displesoure to hir friendis. Faith wes kepit but violacioun on athir side;

1,8

TITUS LIVIUS.

for the Romanis, be tenoure of thair confederacioun, deliverit this
virgine, and Porsena nocht alanerlie kepit hir but ony displesoure;
bot als honorit hir for hir excellent bewtie, syne gaif hir fre licence
to cheis ane parte of the plegeis, quham scho best plesit, to retourne
hame with hir. This virgine, quhen the plegeis war brocht afore hir,
chesit sa mony of thame as war young, but ony haris on thair beirdis,
quhilk doing wes richt commandabill to the virginite of goddis, and
als richt probabil be consent of the remanent plegeis; becaus the age
reddiest to ressave injure of inemyis suld have bene erast deliverit.
The peace renewit in this sorte, the Romanis decorit this virgine,
for hir singular vertew, with new maner of loving; for thay maid ane
image to hir similitude, sittand on ane hors, and sett the samin in the
hie way. Throw this peceabill departing of Porsena fra Rome, ane
terribill rite wes institute be the auld Faderis, continewing to our
dayis. Amang mony uthir solemniteis now usit, occurris ane horribill
custume, ilk yere, to sell the gudis of Porsena.
It is necessare to say, the beginning of this rite rais outhir during
the sege of Porsena at Rome, continewing ay in time of peace, or ellis
to say, it began of ane mair friendlie beginning than the name and
titill of it beris ; that is to say, To sell the gudis of Porsena with maist
inemyte. Howbeit, sundry opiniouns ar of this matter, yet the thing
maist approcheand to verite is be this way, as we have schewin :Quhen Porsena was to departe, eftir that he had rasit his tentis fra
Mont Janicle, he had incredibill provisioun of vittalis brocht to him
out of the maist riche partis of Hethruria, and gaif the samin, be his
liberalite, to Romanis, for thair ciete wes waistit throw lang sege.
Thairfore, that the gudis of Porsena suld nocht pas in pray amang the
pepill, it cum in use To sell yerelie the gudis of Porsena with innemite; thus the said vittalis war callit the gudis of Porsena, to be erare
ane memorie of thair benevolence towart Porsena, than of ony augmentacioun maid be thaim to his riches, for sic thingis war nocht in
the power of Romanis. Quhen Porsena had put ane end in this maner to Romane weris, that the rasing of his army to thair boundis
suld nocht appere in vane, he send his son Aruns, with ane parte
of his army, to sege the toun of Aricia. The Aricianis, at his first
cummin, war gretumlie astonist; yet within schort space eftir, thay
gat sic supportis fra the Latinis and Cumanis, that thay tuke auda-

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129

cite to decerne the chance of batall be the swerde. Als sone as the
batallis were jonit, the Hethruschis cum with sic properant force be
manhede of Aruns, that the Aricianis war put to flicht; bot the
Cumanis, quhilkis war arrayit in ane uthir weing, sum parte be
thair crafty industry, eschewit the violence of Hethruschis; quhill at
last thay saw the said Hethruschis dividit but array, and than cum
haistelie, with displayit baner, on thair bakkis. Thus war the Hethruschis, in middis of thair victorie, discomfist. Ane parte of thir
Hethruschis seand Aruns slane, and haveand na nearer refuge, cum
but ony wappinis to Rome, quhare thay war plesandlie ressavit, and
curit of thair woundis ; parte of thaim abode still in Rome as cieteyanis
thairof, utheris returnit hame and schewe the benevolence of Romanis; yet mony of thaim remanit stil in Rome, and gat certane
boundis within the wallis thairof, namit the Thuskane Rew, to thair
habitacioun.
The nixt yere, Valerius Publicola and Publius Lucrecius war
maid consullis. In quhilk yere come the legatis of Porsena to Rome,
desiring King Tarquine to be restorit to his realme. It was answerit
be Romanis, thay wald send thair legatis with thair minde, and answere to Porsena. Sone eftir, war send to him certane of the maist
honorabil and wise Faderis of Rome; for thocht the Romanis micht
have gevin schort answere never to ressave ony kingis in thair ciete,
yet thay thocht mair expediefit to send the maist wise Faderis as ambassiatouris to him, with thair answere, than to have gevin ony answere to his legatis in Rome, traisting to put perpetuall silence to
sic desiris in times cumming; and that the mindis of Romanis and
Hethruschis, considering the grete humanite and tendirnes than
standing betwix thaim, suld nocht be travellit with ony forthir sollicitude or troubill, becaus he socht baith the thing that was noysum
and contrarius to Roman liberte. And les than Romanis war deliverit
wilfully to destroy thaimself, thay wald aluterly denye his desiris;
for the Romanis desiris nocht to leif under servitude of kingis, bot
alanerlie to rejose thair liberte; and, for that caus, thay war extremelie
resolvit erare to opin thair portis to maist dedelie inemyis than to
kingis. Attoure thay war all resolute of ane minde to put ane end als
sone to thair ciete as to thair liberte; and for thir mociouns desirit
Porsena, gif he desirit the Romane ciete undestroyit, to suffir the
R

130

TITUS LIVIUS.

cieteyanis thairof to leif in liberte. King Porsena, vincust be thir
ressouns, and seand the Romanis sa obstinate in defence of thair li'
berte, said, " I sal never infest nor trubil you ony forthir with sic de" siris, becaus youre mindis ar sett sa constantly incontrare my de" siris. I wil nocht dissave the Tarquinis ony ferthir with vane be" hichtis to recover thair realme; and quhidder thay wil leif in pece
" or were, thay sal serch new habitacioun, in aventure thay find occa" sioun to dissolve the amite and kindenes now standing betwixt me
" and Romanis." Porsena schew him mair plesand in his wourdis than
in his dedis to Romanis; for he nocht alanerlie restorit to thaim all
thair plegeis, quhilkis war laid afore to him in ostage for observacioun
of all pointis contrackit at the rasing of his sege fra Mont Janicle,
bot als restorit to thaim the landis of Veanis, quhilkis war tane fra
thaim be his contract made afore at Mont Janicle. King Tarquine,
disparit allwayis to recover his realme, fled to his maith, Mamilius
Octavius Tusculus, Prince of Latinis, be quhais departing gude peace
continewit betwix Hethruschis and Romanis.

CAP. VIII.
How the Sabinis war dantit. Of the deith of Valerius Publicola;
and of the doloure made for his deith. How the Aruncis war vincust ; and Pomecia equate to the ground. And how the nobillis
and princes of the said ciete war slane, and the cieteyanis thairof
sauld.
N the nixt yere, M. Valerius and Pub. Posthumius war
made consullis, and faucht the samin yere with grete felicite aganis the Sabinis, and triumphit. The Sabinis,
nochtwithstanding this discomfiture, maid thair ordi-

nance to invade the Romanis with greter army than afore. The Romanis suspeckand sum occult weris to follow be Mamilius Tusculus,
maith to King Tarquine; howbeit the samin nocht opinly apperit,
yet to mete all haisty danger that micht occur thairthrow, Valerius
Publicola and Titus Lucresius war made consullis. In the mene

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131

time rais sic sediciouns amang the Sabinis concerning the treting of
were and peace, that the samin maid the Romanis mair pussant than
afore; for Attus Clausus, quhilk was eftir callit Appius Claudius,
seaind he micht nocht be partie to sedicius limmaris desirus of trubill, becaus he wes ane luffare of peace, cum fra the Loch of Regill
with ane grete cumpany of his freindis to Rome. Thir Sabinis,
quhilk cum with Appius, war sa plesandlie ressavit that thay war
maid cieteyanis of Rome, and gat certane landis liand beyound the
river of Anien, to thair sustentacioun. Thir pepill, be cumming of
new friendis, war callit the auld tribe of Claudius. Appius, for his
wisdome and riches, wes ekit to the noumer of Faderis; bot he cum
sone eftir in grete haterent of sundry grete princes of Rome. The
consullis, nocht lang eftir, cum with ane awful army in the Sabine
landis; and quhen thay had waistit the Sabinis be frequent skarmussing and direpcioun of thair landis, in sic maner that na rebellioun
be: thaim micht appere mony yeris eftir, thay returnit with grete
triumph to Rome.
The nixt yere, Agrippa Meninius and Publius Posthumius war
maid consullis. The samin yere, Publius Valerius, namit be Romanis
the Prince of Pece and Were, deceissit with interminabill glore. Howbeit he was richt pure in riches; for, nochtwithstanding his excellent
dedis sa oft sustenit for the commoun weil, he deceissit in sic poverte,
that all his gudis war nocht sufficient to bery his body, and wes beryit thairfore, be expens of the commoun purs. The ladyis and matrouns of Rome lamentit his deith in the samin maner as thay did
Brutus.
The samin yere, twa townis, namit Pomecia and Chora, quhilkis
war afore colonyis of Latinis, past fra the Romanis to the opinioun
of Aruncis. This occasioun movit the Romanis to cum with strang
army aganis the Aruncis. Thir Aruncis, at the first entres of the
consullis in thare land, gaif batall, and war discomfist, and chasit to
the toun of Pomecia; bot the slauchter wes na les eftir than afore
the victorie wes tane, and mony slane, and sa mony as war tane war
all slane; and abone this cruelty, the plegeis, quhilkis war ccc in
noumer, micht nocht be sauffit. The consullis, eftir this victorie,
triumphit in Rome.

132

TITUS LIVIUS.

The nixt yere, Opiter Virginius and Spureus Cassius war maid
consullis, quhilkis, sone eftir thair eleccioun, assailyeit to tak be force
the ciete of Pomecia, and becaus thair oppugnacioun succedit nocht
with felicite, thay assailyeit to tak the ciete be sowis and uthir instrumentis of were. The Aruncis war sa boldin in haterent, howbeit
thay had litill esperance of victorie, that thay ischit in grete noumer
on the Romanis armye, mair with firebrandis than ony marciall wapinnis, and trublit all the army of Romanis with fire and slauchter,
and nocht alanerlie brint the sowis, and woundit the men of armis
under the samin, bot als hurt ane of the consullis sa cruelly on his
hors, that he wes nere slane. Yit it is nocht schawin be authouris
quhat wes his name.
The Romanis, eftir this batall, returnit to Rome. Amang mony
hurt and woundit men at this jeoperdie, the consull wes left in danger of his life. The Romanis, als sone as thair woundis war curit,
returnit to Pomecia with mair pussance and cruelte than afore. And
quhen the sowis, with uthir instrument of chevelry, wes reparit in sic
maner, that the men of armis war reddy to pas oure the wallis, the
ciete wes randerit; bot the slauchter wes na les on the cieteyanis
thairof, than the samin had bene tane be strang hand, or ony force;
for all the princes of the ciete war slane, and the remanent pepill
sauld under croun, eftir al the ciete wes cassin doun, and thair landis
sauld. The consullis triumphit mair for the scharpe revengeing of
thair haterent, than for ony grete vassalege be thame done.

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133

CAP. IX.
How the commoun women of Rome war revist be Sabinis. How
Titus Lartius wes made dictator, and Spurius Cassius maister of
chevelry. How the Latinis war discomfist at the loch of Regill.
How sindry princis recounterit uthir be singulare batall; and
how the Latinis war discomfist.
HE yere following, Posthumius Cominius and Titus
Lartius, war made consulis. This yere apperit trublus,
for certane solemne playis war made in Rome, in quhilkis
sindry huris and commoun women war revist be certane
insolent Sabinis. Throw revessing of thir commoun women, apperit
grete dissensioun and batall, on uthir hand, and thocht this mater
wes of small effect, yit, be occasioun thairof, apperit new rebellioun
of Sabinis aganis the Romanis; and above the fere and dredoure that
apperit be the weris of Sabinis, followit ane troubil mair dangerus,
for fourty sindry pepill war conjurit al atanis, in perdicioun of Romanis, be persuasioun of Mamilius, Prince of Latinis, maith to King
Tarquine. The ciete of Rome standand in this extreme sollicitude
and danger, rais the first mencioun amang Romanis to create ane
dictator; for it wes traistit the consulis war of the opinioun and faccioun of the Tarquinis.
It is uncertane in quhat yere, or undir quhat consulis, this first
dictator wes made, yit I find, be excellent autouris, that Titus Lartius wes the first dictator amang the Romanis, and Spurius Cassius
the first maister of chevelrie. The law concerning the creacioun of
the dictator wes, that he sall be chosin be the consulis. I beleif,
erare, that Titus Lartius wes' the first dictatoure, and maister abone
the consulis, for he wes sumtime consul afore; than to say that Marcus Valerius, nepote to Valesius, wes the first dictatoure, becaus
he was never consul; for gif ane dictatoure suld have been cho.
sin of that hous, his fader, Marcus Valerius, sum time consul, ane
man of provin vertewe, suld have erare been chosin than the said Va-

184

TITUS LIVIUS.

lerius. Als sone as the first dictatoure wes creat, the pepill began
to be gretumlie astonist, seand the axis and ornamentis riall pas
afore him as king; for thay understude it wes necessare to obey
all his chargis in ane scharper maner, than to the consulis; for the
consulis war twa persouns undir ane dignite, every ane of thair supporte depending on the tother; forthir, nouthir remede of appellacioun, nor yit na uthir helpe micht avale in this mater, sa lang as he
wes dictator, bot alanerlie to obey. The Sabinis war the mair astonist, herand ane dictator made in Rome, alanerlie for thair caus; and,
thairfore, send thair legatis to Rome, to commoun of pece, and desiring the dictator and senate to pardoun the folie and errouris done be
young and insolent persouns, in revessing the women afore rehersit.
It was answerit be Romanis, thay culd remitt the offence done be
young, bot nocht be agit men, for sic men understude weill, be occasioun of injuris and batall, risis injure and batall. Alwayis the Romanis wald have discendit to peace, gif the Sabinis wald have debursit plesandlie all the expens of weris, rasit be thair rebellioun, for
that wes desirit.
In the nixt yere, Ser. Sulpicius and Manlius Tullius, wer made
consulis. Na thing wes done in this yere wourthy to have memorie;
for certane quiet trewis war takin, and preventit al trubil appering.
In the nixt yere, Titus Ebutius and Eneus Vetusius war maid consulis. In thair times the town of Fidena was segeit, and the toun
of Crustumerie tane; als the ciete of Preneste wes tane fra the Latinis, and ekit to the empire of Romanis, throw quhilk the batall incressing sa mony yeris be Latinis, was nocht lang differrit. For fere
of this trubill, Au. Posthumius wes maid dictator, and Ti. Ebutius
maister of chevelrie, be quhais auctorite ane army wes rasit baith on
fute and hors, and met the Latinis at the loch of Regill, within the
Tuskane landis. And becaus the Romanis hard the Tarquinis war
gaderit in grete nowmer amang the oist of Latinis, thay rais in sic
haterent and furie, that the batellis micht nocht be severit, bot ruschit haistelie togedder. This batall wes fochtin with mair cruelte
than ony batall afore rehersit; for the princes and regentis of baith
the armyis abaid nocht, as the custume is, to gif thair prudent consultacioun for felicite to thair army eftir following, bot war boldin in
maist ire, ruschit pertlie with thair awne bodyis amid the oist of en-

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135

nemies, throw quhilk thare wes nocht ane nobill man, bot only the
dictator that eschapit unwoundit on othir side.
Als sone as King Tarquine persavit the dictator Posthumius arraying his oist, he prikit his horse with grete ire, howbeit he wes
waik, and fer run in yeris, aganis the dictator; nochtheles, he wes
doung sidelingis fra his hors, and sone eftir reskewit be his friendis.
In ane uthir weing wes Ebutius, the maister of chevelrie, quhilk,
with grete ferocite, prekit aganis Mamilius, maith to King Tarquine,
and he nocht unwar of his cumming, met him on the samin maner.
So thik wes the schoure of dartis, that Mamilius wes woundit, throw
his armoure, in the breist, and Ebutius schott throw the arme. Mamilius was haistilie recoursit be ane weing of Latinis. Than Ebutius impacient for vehement doloure, to bere his spere, departit of the
feild. Mamilius, na thing astonist of his wound, provokit new batall
on the Romanis; yit, becaus he saw his friendis hurte, he drew the
band of Tarquinis about him, to quham Titus, the son of Tarquine
the Proude, wes capitane. The Tarquinis, movit to grete haterent
for the tinsale of thair realme and gudis, faucht sa cruelly, that in
sum parte thay renewit batall ; quhen the Romanis war put sum parte
abak in this wise, M. Valerius, bruthir to Valerius Publicola, beheld
the fiers young Tarquine musterand in the first bront of the Tarquinis oist, and wes sa revist with the glore and linage of his hous,
that he thocht the blude riall and name of Tarquine suld finis be the
samin hous be quhilk thay war first disherist; and but ony mair
tarey, he prekit his hors, and come drevin with huge force on Tarquine. Than Tarquine, to eschew his dint, sum parte schrinkit,
and fled amang his freindis, throw quhilk Valerius, or he micht renye
his hors, wes drevin unwarlie amang his ennemies. In the mene
time, young Tarquine ran him sidlingis throw the body with ane
spere, and straik him dede to the ground.
Quhen Posthumius, dictator, saw nocht onlie this nobil man slane,
bot als the Tarquinis sa feirslie fechtand, that the Romanis war astonist, reddy to gif bakkis, he gaif signe to ane uthir cumpany, quhilk
was chosin alanerlie for defence of his body, commanding thaim to
invaid every man that fled, with na les haterent than thair ennemies.
The Romanis, throw dredoure of this cumpany, ceissit of thair fleing, and with new curage recounterit thair ennemies. Incontinent,

136

TITUS LIVIUS.

this band of men, quhilk stude in maner of garde about the dictator,
enterit with fresche mindes and bodyis on the Tarquinis, quhilk war
then wery and irkit, throw lang and obstinate batall, and invadit the
said Tarquinis with grete slauchter. Than rais ane new batall betwix the princis of baith the armyis. Mamilius, prince and capitane
in the army of Latinis, seand the Tarquinis circulit on every hand
with the dictatouris cumpany, tuke certane manipillis of Latinis,
quhilk war maist reddy to all jeoperdie for the time, and went for.wartis thairwith to support the Tarquinis. Als sone as Titus Herminius, lieutenant under the dictator, saw this cumpany cumand forwart, he knew perfetelie Mamilius be his schinand armoure and riche
clething; and incontinent, prekit his hors, drevin aganis him with
mair violent pacis than did Ebutius, the maister of chevelrie in the
batall latelie rehersit, throw quhilk he ran the said Mamilius throw
the body. At last, quhen he wes spuleyeand the said Mamilius of
his riche armoure, he wes hurte with ane lance be ane of his ennemies, and brocht to his tent, quhare he deceissit sone eftir that his
wound wes dicht. Incontinent, the dictator past to the horsmen,
commanding thame, becaus the futemen wes irkit with lang batall, to
discend of thair hors to thair support. The horsmen haistilie obeyit,
and ruschit in supporte of the futemen, syne kest up thair targeis in
defence of thaim that past afore the banerman. The futemen seand
the horsmen enterand in batall to thair support, faucht with sic curage, that the Latinis war vincust, and put to flicht. Than the Romanis montit haistilie on thair hors to follow on the chais, and the
fute oist followit on thair bakkis on the samin maner. It is said, the
dictator, na thing pretermitting that micht supporte his armyis outhir
be divine or humane lawis, votit to edifie ane tempil, in the honoure
of the god Castor, and assignit certane rewardis to every knicht of
his armye, as thay enterit first and nixt within thair ennemies tentis,
throw quhilk followit sic birnand curage with his folkis, that thair
ennimies war spuleyete of thair tentis with na les force than thay war
chasit afore.
Thus wes it fauchtin, at the loch of Regill, betwixt the Latinis and
Romanis. The dictator and maister of chevalrie returnit with grete
triumphe to Rome.

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187

CAP. X.
How the Tempillis of Saturne and Mercurie war dedicate ; and of
the deith ofKing Tarquine. How the Latinis send the legatis of
Volschis to Rome as presoneris; and how the Romanis and Lawar confederate togiddir with grete humanite and kindenes.

finis

HE nixt yere, Quincius Clelius and Titus Lartius war
maid consulis. And in the yere following, Aulus SemL pronius and Marcus Minucius war maid consullis; in
quhais time ane tempill wes dedicate to Saturne ; the solemne feistis institute thareto war namit Saturnalia. The yere following, Aurelius Posthumius and Titus Virginius war maid consullis;
in quhais time, as sum autouris allegis, wes the batall, afore rehersit,
at the loch of Regill.
During thirlthre yeris, nouthir wes sikker peace, nor sikker were betwix the Romanis and Latinis. It is said, Aurelius Posthumius renuncit the consulate, becaus he dred his colleig Virginius wes nocht
sikkir with him, and wes maid, thairfore, dictator. Sa mony errouris
and diversiteis ofwritaris dois ordoure the time, and digniteis of Rome
with sic contrarieteis, that it is richt difficill outhir to knaw quha war
consulis, or yit quhat wes done in sic antiquiteis.
The yere eftir maid Appius Claudius and Publius Servilius consulis. This yere is richt notabill be ane messingere, that schew the
deith of King Tarquine; for he deceissit in the ciete of Cumis, eftir
that he wes cummin to seik refuge at Aristodemus the tyran, becaus
the Latinis war sa brokin that thay micht mak him na forthir support. Throw thir tithingis, nocht alanerlie war the faderis, bot all
the pepill of Rome rasit with inestimabil blithnes, yit the faderis war
mair rejosit than the pepill; for, as it is afore rehersit, the faderis,
for fere of the Tarquinis, intertenit the pepill with continual benefactis and gudis, to mak thame stand the mair afaldly at thair opinioun; bot fra the faderis war advertist of King. Tarquinis deith,

188

TITUS LIVIUS.

thay nocht onelie ceissit of thair gude dedis done to the smal pepill,
bot als began to invaid thame ilk day with new injuris. The ciete
namit Segnia, quhilk wes afore ane colonie of Romanis, howbeit it
stude certane time at the opinioun of King Tarquine, wes recoverit
and brocht, as afore, to Romane empire. The inhabitantis thairof
war ekit with mair noumer than afore.
The samin yere, the Romanis war dividit in xxxi. tribus; and in
the idis of Maii, nixt following, wes dedicate the tempill of Mercurii.
Sa lang as the weris continuit betwix Romanis and Latinis, nouthir
wes sikkir peace nor yit were betwix Romanis and Volschis, yit the
Volschis maid all the ordinance that thay micht to support the Latinis; bot the dictator and Romane pepill maid sa haisty provisioun,
that the Latinis and Volschis micht nocht invaid them atanis.
At last, the consulis movit with maist haitrent aganis the Volschis,
brocht mony awful legiouns in thare landis. The Volschis seand
thameself brokin of thair purpois, be unawarnist cumming of Romane
legiouns in thair landis, war sa astonist, that, but ony recountering
or debate, thay gaif ccc. plegeis for peace, quhilkis war all sonnis of
the princes and maist nobil men of Chora and Pomicia, throw quhilk
the Romane legiouns returnit hame but ony batall. Yit, als sone as
thir Volschis war deliverit of all fere of inemyis, thay returnit to thair
auld slichtis, makand provisioun in thair maist quiet maner to invaid
the Romanis, and gat the Hernikis confederate to thame. And sone
eftir send thair legatis to persuade the Latinis to thair opinioun; bot
the recent slauchter maid on the saidis Latinis at the loch of Regill,
causit thame to have sic extreme haterent aganis all persouns persuading thame to have ony batall with the Romanis, that thay tuke thir
legatis, and nocht alanerlie send thame to Rome, bot deliverit thame
to the consulis, be quham it wes schewin the Volschis and Hernikis
war confederate, with all uthir circumstance, as is afore rehersit, to
invaid the Romanis.
This humanite wes sa plesand to the faderis, that thay sufferit
vi.M. plegeis and presoneris of Latinis to returne hame but ony ransoum; syne tuke consultacioun with the new faderis to trete peace,
and be confederate with Latinis; howbeit the samin culd never be
done in na times past. The Latinis rejosing of thir doingis, and
seand thameself, becaus thay war devisaris of peace, estimeit with sic

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139

glore amang Romanis, send ane goldin croun, to be offerit to Jupiter
in the Capitoll. Mony of thir presoneris, quhilkis war latelie deli.
verit be benevolence of Romanis, returnit with thir legatis to Rome;
and eftir thair cumming, vesyit the samin housis, quhare thay war
haldin afore in captivite, and gaif thankis to thair lugearis for the
benevolence schewin to thame during the time of thair captivite.
'Sone eftir, the Romanis and Latinis war lugeit togiddir with nair
familiarite and kindenes, than ever wes amang thame in ony time
afore.

CAP. XI.

dissensiQun

rats betwix the Faderisand Pepill of Rome;
How grete
and of sitdry consultaciouns maid to repres the samin; and how
this dissensibun wes mesit be prudence of the Consul Servilius.

How the sade Consul dantit the Volsehis, and gaff the spuleye
thairof
amang his indegent lenichtis.

N

Ow wes the batall of Volschis apperand haistelie aganis
the IRomanis, quhen the ciete of Rome wes full of haitrent
and dissensioun amang thameseif ; for the Faderis and
small pepill war of sindry and contrarius opiniouns.
This dissencioun rais in speciall throw certane indigent pepill, quhilkis
war haldin in captivite for non payment of dettis to thair creditouris.
The small pepill lamentit hevilie, sayand, Thay war send forth of
_

the said ciete, fechtand

continually for the liberte and empire thairof,

and at thair returning, thay war takin and opprest be the cieteyanis,
throw quhilk nocht allanerlie apperiit thair liberte mair sikkir in time
of were than pece, bot wes als mair sikkir amang thair inemyis than
amang thair friendis.
This invy and dissensioun of pepill sproutand in this maner, wes
gretumlie inflambit be calamite of ane agit man, quhilk wes discendit
of all. his eldaris
of iluster linnage. This man past with the
to ane opin place, quhare maist confluence wes of pepill, eftir that he
wes haldin in lang captivite be his creditouris for dett, in quhilk he

ansenyeis

140

TITUS LIVIUS.

wes devolvit. His clething, throw filth of presoun, wes vile and horribil, the habit of his body wes richt fousum, for he wes lene, and nere
consumit throw hunger; the hare of his berde wes lang and taty,
and the hare of his hede maid his face elrage and wilde. Yit, nochtwithstanding this difformite, he wes knawin; for he wes ane capitane
sum time in the Romane weris, and had done grete vassalege, baith
for the honoure and defence of the ciete, as weil apperit be sindry
wannis and markis in his face, and uthir of his body. The pepill
had grete miseracioun of his calamite, and stude about him on every
side, demanding him how, and be quhat maner, that vile habit and
deformite wes cummin to him ? He answerit, That he wes sum time
ane man of armes in the Sabine weris, and wes ane heretoure of grete
heretage; bot the Sabinis nocht alanerlie waistit the samin, and barrit him fra the frutis thairof, bot als brint the village, quhare he wes
borne, and confiscate al his gudis and bestiall. And nochtwithstanding that he wes brocht on this maner to extreme poverte, he wes
chergit to pay the samin tribute as he payit afore. Schortlie the
dett, in quhilk he wes devolvit to his creditouris, has brocht him to
the said calamite; for this dett that he wes awand be non payment
was ay duplyit on him be usure and okkir, and rais sa grete be doubling and non payment thairof, at termes assignit, that he wes constrenit to sal his kindelie heretage, quhilk wes left to him baith be his
fader and eme. And nocht alanerlie wes he disherist thus of his
landis, bot als, throw the samin, he wes bereft of all his uthir gudis.
And finalie, quhen his creditouris micht recover na mair gudis, thay
pynit his body with grete torment; for he wes nocht condampnit to
service, bot erar to presoun and bouchery. And to verify the samin,
he schew mony grene woundis on his bak, apperandlie as he had bene
new scourgit.
Throw the miserabill sicht schewin to the pepill of this man, and
throw his pietuous regret, rais ane huge noyis and clamoure, nocht
onlie in the merkett, but als throw all partis of the ciete; for every
persouns, quhilkis war thirllit under dete to thair creditouris, and all
thay quhilkis war lately deliverit thairof, ruschit opinlie to the merket, desiring pietuously the Romane pepill to support thame aganis
thair troubil; in every partis of the ciete occurrit wilfullie certane
men to augment this sedicioun, and drew the pepill with grete noyis

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141

and cumpanyis out of all partis to the merkett. Sa mony of the Faderis, as war present for the time, war in grete dangere, throw this
effraye suddanly falling amang the pepill; and but dout the faderis
suld nocht have eschapit with thair lives, war nocht this sedicioun
was the mair haistelie repressit be intervencioun of the twa consulis.
In the mene time, ane cumpany of reuthful and indigent pepill
turnit thair vissage to the consulis, and began to schaw thair thirllage, and utheris thair grete deformiteis, allegeand thay suld nocht
have ressavit sic meritis in rewarde of thairchevelrie; and desirit
herefore the consulis, mare with awfull than ony bening continance,
to convene the Faderis. And in the mene time, thay stude with
brade garnisouns about the court, to be arbitouris and dressouris of
all public materis, as thay plesit. Ane parte of the Faderis, howbeit
thay war few in noumer, come be aventure, as said is, to this convencioun, and drewe thame towart the consulis. The remanent faderis
was nocht onelie absent fra the court, bot als, for fere of pepill that
was gadderit in this furye, durst nocht convene to public merkett,
throw quhilk the Faderis, quhilkis war presentlie assemblit, micht
conclude na thing concerning grete materis for thair few noumer.
Than the confusit multitude of pepill belevit thame delayit and
mokkit, and traistit that the Faderis war nocht absent fra this convencioun be ony aventure or fere, bot alanerlie to be impediment to thair
desiris. Attoure, the consullis nocht allanerly dissavit thame, bot
als turnit bakkis to thair peticiouns. Apperit thus thair calamiteis to
be in plane derisioun to the Faderis.
This sedicioun wes finalie approcheand to sic point, that the majeste of consulis micht nocht abandoun the instant furie of pepill.
Throw quhilk the Faderis war uncertane, nocht knawand quhidder
thay war in mair dangere to compere in this furye of pepill, or to be
absent fra the samin. At last thay apperit, the court finalie beand garnist with hale noumer of Faderis; nocht onelie war the said Faderis,
bot als the consulis, of sindry and divers opiniouns. Appius Clau
dius, consul, ane man of hie curage, decernit this sedicioun to be
dantit be autorite consulare, saying, " Gif one or two of the maist
" sedicious persouns amang the pepill war scharplie punist for this
Sinstant troubill, the remanent wald ceis for fere thairof"

142

TITUS LIVIUS.

Servilius, his colleig, ane man of mair soft ingine, said, " The
" mindis of pepill micht be mair eselie bowit than brokin."
In the mene time, succedit ane uthir trubil, to the grete terroure
of the ciete; for ane post come with grete noyis fra the Latinis to
advertise the Romanis, that the Volschis was cummand with ane
dangerus armye to sege Rome. Thir tithingis movit the Faderis and
commouns in divers maner and sortis; for nochtwithstanding that
thay war baith membris of ane ciete, yit, be this dissencioun, thay war
dividit in two sindry bodyis and mindis; for the commoun pepill rejosit that the Volschis war cummin, as thay belevit, be provisioun of
goddis, to revenge the hicht and pride of the faderis. Attoure, every
ane of the pepill persuadit uthir to gif nocht thair names in writt,
that thay suld nocht be rasit in ane armye aganis thair inemyis;
thinkand it mair plesand, that thay and the Faderis suld peris all togiddir, than to peris thame allane. And, thairfore, desirit the faderis
to tak thair wappinnis and defend the ciete, that the proffittis and
commoditeis, conquest be jeopardie of battal, may be allanerlie with
thame, quhare maist dangere is sustenit. On the tothir side, the
curage of faderis wes richt astonist and doutsum, als mekill for the
fere of thair awne pepill, as for ony uncouth inemyis; and thairfore
desirit, maist tenderlie, Servilius consul, becaus he wes gevin to favoure populare, to deliver the commounweill of troubil, with quhilk
it wes presentlie circumvenit.
Than Servilius departit fra the senatouris, and began to mak ane
orisoun to the pepill, saying, " The faderis tuke grete sollicitude in
" thair consultaciouns, to dres all materis for the commoun profit of
" pepill; nochtheles, thair deliverance in this wechty mater con" cerning the gretest parte of the ciete, that is to say the small pe"pill, wes interruppit be intervencioun of ane uncouth trubil, quhilk
"invadit the haill public weill; and becaus thair inemyis war sa nere
"the portis, and the batall sa nere approcheand, thay micht mak
" na new alteracioun at that time for weill of the pepill. And howbeit
" thay had lasere to do the samin, it wes nocht honest to the pepill
"to refuse the defence of thair liberte and realme, without thay war
" afore rewardit for the samin; nor yit wes it honest to the faderis to
" relief thare indigent pepill erare be force and dredoure, than be
" thare awne benevolence."

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The generall edict maid be Servilius causit the pepill to gif the
mair faith to his orisoun; for be this edict was commandit, That na
cieteyanis of Rome be haldin outhir bound or inclusit within ony hous
or presoun in Rome, under pain of dede: that thir pepill, quhilk
war presonit in this wise, suld nocht be impeschit tharethrow to gif
thair names in writt. Attoure, it wes commandit be the samin edict,
That na man sell, nor yit posseid the gudis of ony Romane cieteyane,
nor tary his sonnis nor nepotis, sa lang as thay ar within the Romane
army. Be this edict, all the pepill that stude thirllit under dett to
thair creditouris, gaifhaistelie thair names in writt, and come ruscheand
out of all partis to the merket, for thair creditouris durst nocht withhald thame.
Thus wes ane large army rasit with mair ordoure, wisdom, and vertew, than ever wes ony uthir armye afore, aganis the Volschis. The
consull went fordwart with this foresaid armye, and satt doun with
his tentis ane litill space fra the armye of Volschis. The nicht following, the Volschis, confiding in this new dissensioun betwix the
faderis and small pepill, assailyeit thair tentis, to espie gif ony fugitive persoun war tressonably cummin fra the Romanis to advertis
thair inemyis in quhat estate thair armye stude, or to reveil how thair
armye micht be invadit with maist avantage. Nochtheles, the Volschis war impeschit; for the watche of Romanis persavit thair cummin, throw quhilk thay war haistelie rasit, and be sound of trumpett
went to harnes. Thus failyeit the Volschis of thair first assalt. The
residewe of the nicht wes in quiet with baith the oistis.
Als sone as licht apperit on the nixt day, the Volschis fillit up the
fowsyis, quhare the campe of Romanis lay, and invadit thair trinschis
belive all municiouns, quhilkis war laid be industrye to sivir the armyis, war removit._ Than the consul seand all his oist richt desirus
of battaill, and in speciall the indigent knichtis, afore rehersit, to have
experience of thair feirs mindis, he sum parte delayit the batall; and
fra he saw thair mindis richt ernistlie gevin thareto, he gaif signe to
jone. The Volschis, at the first joining, was put to flicht, and chasit
with continuall slauchter, sa lang as the futemen micht follow; and
eftir thame followit the horsmen, and chasit thame with ithand slauchter to thair tentis. And becaus thay war astonist with huge dredoure

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for the chace sa feirsly following on thair bakkis, thay durst not abide
in thair tentis, quhare thay war campit afore the batall.
Thus war the tentis of Volschis tane, and thameself miserably discomfist. The consul went arelie on the morow with all his legiouns
to Suessa Pomecia, quhare the Volschis war fled, eftir this last discomfitoure. Nochtheles, the counsull tuke the toun within schort time
eftir his cumming, and gaif all the spuleye thairof to his werey and
indigent knichtis; syne returnit with his victorius armye to Rome.

CAP. XII.
How peace wes tretit betwix Volschis and Romanis, and parteof thair
landis ekit to Romane empire. How the Sabinis and Aruncis war
vincust. And how the Faderisand the pepill of Romefell aganein
new dissensioun.
T returning of the consull to Rome, cum the legatis of
Volschis, namit Ecetranis; for thay war astonist be
taking of Pomecia, and desirit peace. Thus wes peace
grantit finalie to the Volschis, bot ane parte of thair
landis wes ekit to Romane empire. Schort time eftir, the Sabinis
maid the Romanis richt astonist. This effray wes erare ane vane noyis
than ony batall; for ane rumoure wes brocht haistilie to Rome within
the nicht, that the Sabinis war cummin with maist terribil incursioun
in Romane landis, nocht fer fra the rivere of Anien, and put baith
villages and landis, be fire and hereschip, to utir eversioun.
Haistelie aganis the Sabinis wes send Aulus Posthumius, with the
hail power of horsemen, for he wes dictator in the batall afore rehersit aganis the Latinis. Eftir him followit Servilius, consull, with ane
strang power of futemen. The horsmen discomfist ane grete noumer
of Sabinis eftir that thay wer skatterit but array at thair spuleyeis.
The remanent legiouns of Sabinis micht nocht resist the fute oist of
Romanis, for thay war sa irkit be thir incursiouns in the nicht afore,
and sa ful of mete and winis, that thay had bot skars power to fle.

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Thus wes the effray of Sabine batall baith herde in Rome, and endit
within the space of ane nicht.
On the day following, quhen the Romanis belevit ferme peace of
every pepill liand thaim about, cum the legatis of Aruncis, denunciand batall to thaim, without thay haistelie randerit the landis tane
fra thaim afore, and ekit to Romane empire. Als son as thir legatis
war departit, the fame wes, that this army of Aruncis wes sene ane
large space fra thair ciete, cummand forward to sege Rome; throw
quhilk rais sa suddane effray amang the Faderis, that thay micht nouthir ripelie avise, nor yit becaus thay ran al attanis to harnes, micht gif
plesand answere to the legatis bringand sa awful army within thair
message. Finalie, the Romanis gadderit ane army to pas fordwart
to Aricia, bot thay war nocht fer gane, quhen the Aruncis apperit
in sicht, and sone eftir baith the armyis jonit, bot the Aruncis war
vincust; and be this batall ane end was put to all thair weris.
The Aruncis beand thus discomfist, the Romane army, sa oft victorius at frequent jeopardyis within sa few dayis, abaid on the promes
and faith maid to thaim baith be Servilius, consul, and the senate.
Than Appius Claudius, ane man of innative pride, to mak the faith
and promes of his colleig in vane, allegeit scharpelie afore the pepill,
the law concerning payment of lent money. Throw severite of this
law, nocht alanerlie all the soumes, quhilkis war afore devolvit in dett,
war commandit to be restorit to thair creditouris, but als sindry uthir
persouns for new dett war randerit on the samin maner.
Als sone as the pepill that war returnit fra this last batall saw this
trubil new appering, thay ran with grete cumpanyis to Servilius, consull; ilkane reproacheand the promesis maid be him, and inquiring gif
it wes the frute and rewarde of thair chevelrie and woundis sustenit
in this last batall. And sum time thay schew the wannis and prentis
of thair sair woundis, latelie sustenit in thair weris; desiring him
herefore to bring this mater with new consultacioun of the faderis, or
ellis to concur with thaim, as ane emprioure suld do with his men of
armyis, and as ane consul suld do with his knichtis. Thir wourdis movit the consul. Howbeit, the mater, as it presentlie occurrit, causit
him to change his minde; for nocht allanerlie wes his colleig contrarius to his condicioun made afore to the pepill, bot als the Faderis war

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contrarius on the samin maner. And becaus this Servilius bure him
indifferent in this mater, he conquest grete haterent of the pepill, and
wes na thing luffit with the Faderis, for he wes haldin soft and ambicious with the Faderis, and maist dissatefull with the pepill. Apperit
thus, that he suld be within schort time na les hatit with the pepill
than wes Appius.
In the mene time fell ane new debate amang the consullis, quhilk
of thaim suld dedicate the tempill of Marcurie. The Faderis rejeckit
this mater fra thaim to the pepill, under sic condicioun that he that
war chosin thairto suld be baith stewart of al vittalis pertenand to the
ciete for that yere, and sal als institute the college of marchandis, and
ressave all solemniteis that suld be done to the bischope. The pepill frustrate baith the consullis of this honoure, for thay gaif the dedicacioun of the said tempil to Marcus Letorius, centurio primipile;
quhilk thing apperit na les done in honoure of Letorius, than in contempcioun of the consulis; for it wes ane dignite passing abone his
estate. And nocht alanerlie war the consulis commovit for this contempcioun, bot als the Faderis commovit on the samin wise. On the
tother side, the curage of pepill wes the mair rasit, and went ane mair
feirs way than evir thay afore devisit; for thay war sa disparit that
thay belevit nouthir helpe of the Faderis, nor yit of the consulis. At
last quhen thay saw ane of thair companyouns brocht in jugement
to here himself punist for his dett, thay ran all togeddir to his debate; throw quhilk thair noyis and clamoure wes sa grete, that nouthir micht the decretis of the consulis be herd, nor yit wald the pepill
obey thairto. Apperit na thing to be done be law, bot alanerlie be
force. And becaus sindry of the pepill war trublit be thair creditouris in presens of the consullis, thay turnit all dredoure and dangere of thair commoun liberte on thair said creditouris.
Abone this trubil the ciete wes astonist throw weris instantlie appering be the Sabinis; and, howbeit, the senatuiris decernit ane armye
to be rasit, yit thair wald nane gif thair namis in writt. Than Appius began to rage in maist ire, and accusit the ambicioun of his colleig, sayand, For favoure populare he intendit to betrais the public liberte; and becaus he wald nocht allege the law concerning lent money, he wes impediment that na army suld be rasit be auctorite of the
senate.

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" The public weill," said Claudius, " is nocht sa desert, nor yit
" the consull nor senyiorie of Romanis is sa attenuate and febill, bot
' I sal revenge baith the contempcioun done to the Faderis and to me."
And nochtwithstanding that' ane huge multitude of pepill wes standand about him, all inflammit in maist fervent ire, throw licence and
liberte recentlie be thaim usurpit, he commandit to tak ane of the
maist notabill and principale persouns of this faccioun populare, that
the punicioun maid on him suld be ane terroure to the remanent pepill. Als sone as this man was takin be the burreouris, he appelit to
the pepill; yit Appius had nocht gevin place to his appellacioun, becaus the jugement of pepil, as he knewe, wald be contrarius to his doingis, war nocht his obstinate and feirs minde wes vincust mare be
auctorite and counsell of the Faderis, than be ony clamoure and noyis
of small pepill. Sa fer the curage and mindis of small pepill war bolden to sustene the invy of Appius. Attoure Appius the consull rais
ilk day mair and mair, nocht alanerlie be opin clamouris, but erare be
thingis mair wikkit and dangerus; that, is to say, be secessioun and
private counsale. At last baith the consulis war sa faschit, seand
thaimself odious to the pepill, that thay wilfully exonerit thaimself
of al auctorite and dignite consulare. Servilius wes hatit baith with
the pepill and Faderis, and Appius alanerly luffit with the Faderis.

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CAP. XIII.
How the Faderis and small pepill continewit in thair dissencioun.
Of thair sindry consultaciouns thairintill. How Marcus Valerius
wes made dictator, to abandoun the small pepill of thair insolent
dissenciouns ; and how the Equis, Volschis, and Sabinis, war vincust be Romanis.
Ic thingis done, Aulus Virginius and Titus Vetusius,
war made consulis. The smal pepill nocht knawand
quhat mindis thir new consulis wald here to thaim, tuke
private consultacioun, and convenit be frequent companyis, within the nicht, to avise on thair materis. Sumtimes thair
convencioun wes in Mont Esquilles, and sumtime in Mont Aventine, that thay suld nocht be astonist to do ony thing be unprudence
or foly, quhenever it happinnit thaim to assembil in commoun place.
The consulis, knawing this mater, as it was richt noysum, schew the
dammage thairthrow following to the Faderis. The Faderis, quhen
this mater wes brocht afore thaim, micht not ordourlie gif thair consultaciouns thairintill. This mater wes sa postponit be noyis of pepill, and indignacioun of Faderis, that the consulis thocht best to remitt the charge of ilk thing, that wes to be execute be thair auctorite,
alanerly to the senate, that thay micht bere the invy thairof afore the
pepill; for thay allegit, gif the wele of Rome was governit be auctorite, none bot the public counsell suld be haldin in Rome; howbeit,
as than the public weil was dividit and skatterit in ane thousand sindry courtis and counsulis, for sum of thaim war maide in Mont Esquilles, and sum in Mont Aventine. " Be the faith of Hercules," said
the Faderis, "had we sic ane man as Appius Claudius, for sic ane man
" wes better than ony consull, he wald, within ane moment, remove
"all trubil instantlie appering."
The consulis, workkit in this wise be the Faderis, inquirit quhat
thay erest desirit, for thay war to do na thing, bot as the Faderis ple-

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sit. Than the Faderis decernit ane army to be rasit, for the small pepill, be sleuth and wilnes, ragit in all insolence. At last, quhen the
consulis wer departit fra the Faderis, and cummin in jugement, thay
callit all the young men of the ciete be thair names, bot thair wes
nane that maid thaim answere ; yit there assemblit ane confusit nowmer of pepill about the consulis, saying, Thay wald not suffir thaimself to be ony langare frustrate be vane behechtis; and declarit, that
the consulis sall never gett ane man of thaim to ane armye, quhill the
said consulis war opinlie sworne to deliver to ilk man, first, his liberte, or ever thay deliver to him ony wappinnis, that thay may fecht
erare for defence of thair native cuntre and cieteyanis, than to fecht
for ony defence of the Faderis. The consulis considerit weil the mater, as it wes commandit be the Faderis; and, howbeit thay saw mony
of the Faderis speik richt feirslie within the wallis of thair court, yet
nane of the said Faderis wald concur with thaim, and be participant
of all invie and haterent of pepill. Apperit thus ane richt dangerus
contencioun betwix the Faderis and small pepill; yit the consulis,
afore thay assaileyeit extreme danger, tuke purpois to convene the
Faderis to new consultacioun.
Sone eftir, convenit mony of all the young Faderis of the ciete, to
the chalmeris quhare the consulis war, commanding the saidis consulis to exoner thaimself of all auctorite and dignite consulare, sen
thair mindis wer nocht abil to sustene the chargis pertening thairto.
The consulis havand experience sufficientlie of all the materis, said
as followis; " O Faderis conscript, that ye sall nocht say bot we ar red" dy to execute all jeoperdyis, sen sa grete sedicioun is risin in the
" ciete, we desire that sic persouns as accusis oure sleuth, pas with this
" armye, quhen it is rasit in our cumpany; for sen it is youre plesoure
" we sall jeoperd us als fer, as he that is maist feirs in this ciete." The
consulis, eftir thir wourdis, returnit to thair settis, and be industrie
gart call ane man be his name, quhilk wes present in thair sicht.
This man made na answere, for he had ane multitude of pepil armit
at all pointis, to sauf him fra all injure that micht follow; nochtheles, the consulis send ane bureo to tak him, bot he wes haistilie rescoursit be the pepill. Incontinent the Faderis, quhilkis come as assessouris to the consulis, come with grete noyis, cryand, This is ane terribill dede; and descendit haistilie fra thair trone, to have supportit

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this officiare. The pepill, eftir that thay had stoppit the officiare to
tak the man afore rehersit, come with all the furie on the Faderis;
nochtheless, the debate wes haistilie mesit be intervencioun of the
consulis. This debait wes finist bot straik of stane or darte; for the
noyis and clamoure wes mair than ony injure thairintill. The senate
effrayetlie convenit to this counsell, and wes mair effrayetlie consultit.
The Faderis, quhilkis war injurit in this mater, desirit provicioun to
be maid for the offence committed; nochtheless, ilk man began to gif
his counsel mair be noyis and clamoure, than be ony gudelie sentence: and quhan thair hatrent wes a litill mesit, the consulis began
to reproche the Faderis, saying, Na bettir counsell wes in the court
than in the merkett; at last, the Faderis began to be consultit with
bettir ordoure.
Eftir lang consultacioun, thre opiniouns and sentence wes in this
mater: The sentence of Publius Virginius was nocht generall; for
his mind wes, that nane of the thirllit pepill suld be deliverit fra
thair dett, bot sa mony as faucht undir Servilius aganis the Aruncis, Volschis, and Sabinis. Titus Lartius allegit, That the time wes
mair expedient to tak consultacioun for dressing of grete materis, than
to rewarde ony merites or gude dedis, becaus the hail communite wes
drownit in dett; and, thairfore, na tranquillite micht follow without
the small pepill war equalie relevit; for gif ane war preferrit to ane
uthir, the small pepill siuld rise in mair sedicioun than afore. Appius Claudius, ane man of fiers nature, and made wild be haterent of
pepill aganis him, on that ane parte, and glorius be loving of the Faderis, on that uthir parte, said, " The pepill war rasit on flocht, mair
" throw thair licence and opin renyeis, than ony miserabil calamite
"fallin to thaim, as weil apperit; for thay war mair insolent than
"rageand, for all this dammage was cummin alanerly becaus ane ap"pellacioun has place fra the Faderis and consulis to the pepill. Thus
' apperis the auctorite of consulis, to be erare ane minassing than ony
" empire abone the pepill, becaus the appellacioun has place before the
" samin persouns, quhilkis ar participant with the crime. Thairfore,"
said Appius, "latt us create ane dictator, fra quhais sentence is na ap" pellacioun; for, be this way, all this furie that now birnis sa bold in
' the hartis of small pepil, sal be sone slokennit; traist ye," said Appius, " that ony man wil be sa malaperte to strike ane officiare, quhen

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" he seis the jurisdiction baith of live and deith in his handis, quhais
" majeste is violate be his tressoun."
This sentence of Appius, as it wes indede, apperit to sindry richt
terribill, in respect of the sentence of Virginius and Lartius, quhilkis
war mair plesand and humane in thair jugementis; yit the opinioun and
sentence of Lartius apperit unproffittabil, becaus he desirit the pepill
equaly to be deliverit of thair dettis. And gif that war done, al faith
promittit to creditors within the ciete suld be aluterlie brokin; herefore,
the counsel of Virginius wes thocht mair moderate and ressonabil than
ony of thir uthir sentence. The Faderis applaudit finalie to the oppinioun of Appius, be faccioun of private persouns, quhilkis has evir
noyit, and sall evir noy the commoun weill. The mater wes sa nere
dressit, that Appius had almaist bene create dictator, to the infinite
troubil of the ciete; for the making of him dictator suld have drawin
the lufe and mindis of commoun pepil fra the Faderis, in maist dangerus time; for the Sabinis, Equis, and Volschis, war all providit,
and reddy atanis to invaid the Romanis. The Faderis, for thir ressouns, thocht expedient to gif the empire and dictatoury to ane man
of mair soft ingine; and thairfore maid Marcus Valerius, the son of
Volesius, dictator. The small pepil, nochtwithstanding that this Valerius was create dictator to resist thair desiris, yit, becaus his brothir, Valerius Publicola, dotate thaim with sa mony gude lawis and
privilegis aganis the Faderis and consulis, thay belevit nathing contrarius nor displesand to thair weill, might rise fra that hous.
The edict made eftir be this Valerius, conformit the mindis of
small pepill to him, for the samin wes nocht fer different fra the edict
maid before be Servilius, consul, at the beginning of the first dissencioun
betwix the said Faderis and small pepill. Alwayis the small pepill
thinkand best to obey the auctorite of the dictator, left thair debate,
and gaif thair names in writt; and sone eftir wes rasit ane army of
mair power than evir wes rasit afore thay dayis, for thay war x. legiouns of pepill, of quhilkis foure wes gevin to the dictator, and thre
to ilkane of the consulis.
Now micht the batall be na langare deferrit, for the Equis hastelie invadit the Romane landis. Attoure, the oratouris of Latinis
desirit the Romanis outhir to send thaim support, or ellis to suffir
thaim tak wapinnis for defence of thair awne landis. It wes found

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mair expedient to the Romanis to defend the unarmit Latinis fra all
invasouris, than to suffir thaim bere wapinnis, in aventure, gif the
saide Latinis gat ony victorie, thay micht be mair facill to rebellioun.
For thir ressouns, Vetusius consul wes send in thair supporte; quhilk
put ane finale end to all thair trubil; for the Equis left the plainis,
and confiding mair in the straitnes of the ground, than in thair wapinnis, thay debatit thaimself in the hicht of the montanis. The
tother consul, Virginius, past aganis the Volschis, and that he suld
nocht tine his time, he waistit the Volschis landis with sic cruelte,
that thay war constranit to gif batall. Now wes baith the armyis arrayit in middis of ane feild, betwix the tentis of uthir side, afore thair
trinschis. The Volschis, becaus thay war in mair nowmer than the
Romanis, had thaim in contempcioun, and come fordwart skatterit
bot ony aray. The consul, be his prudence, wald nouthir suffir his
armye to remove, nor yit to mak ony clamoure or noyis; bot commandit thaim to stand still, with thair dartis all in thair handis. Als
sone as the armyis war jonit, the Romanis faucht maist cruelly with
thair swerdis; the Volschis oursett, with lang travell and clamoure,
eftir that thay war cummin on the Romanis, quhen thay traistit to
have effrayit, for fere of the huge danger appering, and seand the
said Romanis sa feirsly fechtand aganis thaim with schinand swerdis
afore thair ene, thay war na les astonist than thay had bene tane undir wait. And incontinent thay gaif bakkis, howbeit thay had litill
pussance to fle, for thay war ouresett and aindles, throw thair lang
rinning afore thay jonit.
On the tother side the Romanis, becaus thay war nocht travellit in
the beginning of thair batall, war fresche, and nocht alanerlie ouretuke suddanly the said Volschis, bot als with grete force tuke thair
tentis quhare thay war campit; syne chasit thaim to the town
of Veletras, with sic feirsness, that baith the victorius and vincust
pepill, undir ane cumpany and buschment, enterit within the said
town atanis; bot mair horribil slauchter wes made than in the first
batall or chais ; for thare was nane sauffit, except alanerlie sa mony
as randerit thameself nakit in the Romane handis. Quhil the Volschis war dantit in this wise, the dictator vincust the Sabinis, and distursit thaim with thair tentis; howbeit, the samin was nocht but
cruell bargane, and innoumerabill slauchter on outhir side; for the

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dictator left his band of horsmen, and come on the midfield of Sabinis, on thair left hand, with his oist of futemen, quhare baith thair
wingis war arrayit for defence thairof, and be the samin force he tuke
thair tentis, and put end to thair batall. Sene the batall was fochtin
at the loch of Regill, thare wes na batall mair honest, than this last
rehersit.
The dictator Valerius returnit with triumphe to Rome; abone all
uthir honouris quhilkis war gevin to him, there wes maid in the general Playing places ane sete to him and his posterite, for contemplacioun of playis quhen thay occurrit, and the Sadill Cural set in the
samin. The Romanis, eftir this victorie of Volschis, tuke the landis
namit Veletras, and ekit thaim to Romane empire; and sone eftir
send ane cumpanye of Romanis to inhabit the toun of Veletras, and
maid it ane colonie of Romanis. Eftir thir frequent victories, followit new batall aganis the Equis; yit this batall wes fochtin aganis
the minde of the consul; for the place quhare his ennemies lay, wes
sa difficill, that he micht not weill invaid them; yit his army thocht
it dangerus to delay the batal, in aventure the dictator war deprivit
of his office afore thay returnit to Rome, throw quhilk thay micht be
frustreate, als wele of his promisis, as thay war afore be the promisis
of the consulis. Thir ressouns movit the consul to raise his armye
fulichlie aganis the stay montanis quhare his ennemies lay; and
thocht the samin was attempit with huge folie, yit, throw febilnes of
Volschis, followit grete felicite to Romanis; for the Volschis war sa
astonist be feirs cumming of Romanis, that thay left baith thair tentis
and trinschis, quhare thay war campit in maist strenthy place, afore
thay come within Schott of dartis, and fled down in the low valis. Be
this way the Romanis gat innoummerabil pray of gudis and victorie,
but ony effusioun of blude.

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TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. XIV.
How Valerius dictator exonerate himself of the dictatorie. Of the
first secessioun of the small pepill to the sacratemontane ; and how
thay war recounsalit to thefaderis be Menenius Agrippa, and of
thefirst institution of the tribunis.
OwrEIT the Romanis war thryis victorius in thir sindry batallis, as said is ; yit nouthir the Faderis nor commouns micht forgett thair particular besines: for the
usuraris devisit be thair subtill and crafty industrey, to
frustrate baith the pepill and dictator of all promis and faith, maid
to thaim afore the rasing of thair last armye. Valerius dictator, eftir
returning of Vetusius consul, afore ony accioun wes discussit be the
senate, proponit the accioun of the victorius pepill, desiring to have
thair mindis concerning the dett in quhilk thay war presentlie devolvit. And becaus his peticiouns war repulsit afore the senate, he said
in this wise, " I can nocht be plesand to you sa lang as I am dres"sare of concorde; nochtheles, within few dayis ye will desire that
" the small pepill had sic ane maister as I have bene to thaim, and
" in sa fer as pertenis to my honoure, I wil nocht dissave my cietey"anis with vane behechtis; nor yit bere the office of dictatoury ony
" langare abone you. The contenciouns amang youreself has movit
" uncouth ennemies to invaid you with batall; and to that fine, that
" youre public weil suld myster the ministracioun of this office that
" I bure latelie. Pece is maist with uncouth ennemies, bot it is em"peschit at hame. For thir causis I wil testify youre sedicioun erare
" as ane private man, than to be cled with ony public auctorite." Als
sone as Valerius had sade thir wourdis, he departit fra the court, and
exonerate himself of the dictatory.
It apperit to the small pepill, that Valerius left the said auctorite
for indignacioun that he tuke in his minde, for the repelling of his
peticiouns ; and for that caus thay convoyit him with incredibil lo-

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ving to his hous, thinkand that he had done sufficientlie al chargis
pertening to his devore; for it stude nocht be him that thay war
frustrate.
Eftir this, ane huge dredoure invadit the Faderis, for thay traisit,
als sone as the army wes skalit, nocht alanerlie mony hid convenciouns, bot als new conspiraciouns suld rise haistilie in the ciete; and
howbeit, this last army wes rasit alanerlie by auctorite of Valerius
dictator, yit becaus every ane of thame wes sworne to the consulis,
thay belevit nane of the said armye wald brek thair faith promittit.
For this respons, as sum new occasioun of batall wes approcheand be
the Equis, the Faderis commandit the Romane legioun and army
foresaid, to departe of the ciete to resist thair ennemies. Be thir
doingis, rais the sedicioun betwix the small pepill and Faderis, mair
haistilie than it apperit; for the army tuke thair deliverit purpois to
sla the consulis, that, be thair deith, all faith to thaim promittit micht
be dissolvit. Nochtheles, hearand that na religioun, nor faith of sacramentis, micht be dissolvit be cruell fellony, thay ceissit thair purpois, and be persuasioun of Sicinius, ane subtel man, thay departit of
the ciete, but command of the consulis, and past owre the river of
Anien, to the sacrate montane, thre milis fra Rome.
This opinioun is mair autentick, than is the opinioun of Piso,
historiciane, saying, the pepill departit alanerly to Mont Aventine.
The pepill beand campit on the montane, bot ony capitane, garnist
thair tentis with maist sovir trinschis and fowseis, and held thaim
self quiet certane dayis, takand na thing, bot alanerlie sa mekill as
micht be thair necessare sustentacioun, and nouthir did injuris, nor
yit tuke ony injuris of ony pepill liand thair about.
In the mene time raise ane huge dredoure in the ciete, and throw
fere thairof, all thingis apperit richt doulsum; for all the small pepil
quhilk wes left in Rome behind thair fallowis, dred the violence of
the Faderis. On the samin maner, the Faderis dred the idil pepill
than present in the ciete, and war uncertane quhether the samin war
mair desirus to abide or departe, als thay knew nocht how lang this
multitude of pepill that departit, as said is, to the sacrate montane,
wald stand in quiet, bot ony farther injure or violence; throw quhilk
the said faderis war richt pensive in thair mindis, oft avising quhat

156

TITUS LIVIUS.

irrecoverabil harmes micht follow, in perdicioun of thair ciete, gif
ony externe or uncouth ennemies war instantly reddy to invaid the
samin. And thairfore thay war extremely resolvit, that na esperance
micht appere of defence of thair ciete, bot gif the cieteyanis thairof
stude with thaim at concorde, throw quhilk it was necessare thaim to
be recounseled with uthir be gude, or ellis be evil wayis.
For thir ressouns, it wes found expedient to send Menenius Agrippa, ane richt facound oratoure, to the pepill, for he wes richt tendir
to thaim, and descendit of thare linnage and blude. This Menenius
beand finalie ressavit within the tentis of the pepill with maist grave
maner, said na thing to thaim bot the fabil following: Sum time the
membris of the body war nocht all, as thay ar now, of ane opinioun
and concorde; for every ane of thaim had thair awne counsel and
thair awne ressouns be thaim self. The remanent membris tuke hie
indignacioun aganis the wame, thinkand richt unwourthy that thair
hail sollicitude, thair hail lauboure and besines, wes direkkit to na
uthir fine, bot alanerlie for the plesoure of the wame. Attoure, the
wame stude in middis of thaim all, with maist eis and quiet, using
nane uthir exercioun, bot alanerlie the pleseris brocht to it; and,
therefore, all the membris conspirit atanis aganis the wame in sic ire,
that the handis determinit to bere na mete to the mouth; the mouth
sall not ressave that the handis has brocht, and the teeth sal nocht
grund that the mouth ressavis. Quhen the membris, boldin in this
haterent, belevit to have dantit the wame with hunger, thay brocht
baith thaim self and all the body to extreme resolucion. Throw quhilk
apperis, the office of the wame is richt nobil and proffittabil to the
remanent membris; for it nocht onelie nurissis the self, bot als nurissis all the laif of the membris; for quhen it has degestit the mete,
it diffoundis the blude, be quhilk we lief and conservis oure hele,
throw all the vanis of oure body. Menenius, the oratoure foresaid,
comparand this intestine sedicioun betwix the wame and the remanent
membris of the body, to the haterent rissin betwix the Faderis and
pepill of Rome, softit the mindis of the said pepill in sic maner, that
thay war content to be recounsalet with the Faderis. Sic thingis done,
friendis began to trete concorde and power grantit to the pepill be
certane condiciouns, to have hallowit officis to support thaim aganis

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the consulis; and it sail nocht be lefule to the Faderis to rejose the
said officis.
Be this way twa tribunis of pepill war institute, that is to say,
Caius Lucinius and Lucius Albinus. Thir twa first tribunis chesit
thre collegis to support thaim. Sicinius, the sedicious man afore rehersit, wes made ane; of the remanent names is litill force. Sum
allegis that the pepill create twa tribunis at thair first departing to
the sacrate montane, quhare the sacrate law wes first pronouncit be
secessioun of the pepill fra the faderis to the said montane.

CAP. XV.
How Romanis and Latinis war confederate. How the Volschis war
vincust, and sindry of thair townis tane be Romanis. Of the huge
vassalege done be Marcius Coriolanus. How the Romanis war
troublit with deith, and the Volschis with the pestilence. How
Marcius Coriolanus wes banist, and tendirly ressavit with the
Volschis.
T the returning of the pepill to Rome, Spurius Cassius and Posthumus Cominius war maid consulis. In
time of thir consulis wes ane band of confederacioun
O maid betwix the Latinis and Romanis; for Spurius
Cassius wes left in Rome for making of the samin. The tothir consul Cominius wes send with ane armye aganis the Volschis; and he
within a schort time vincust the Anciates, and chasit thame to the
toun of Longula, quhare thay war vincust, as afore, and the toun
takin. Eftir this thay tuke ane uthir toun of Volschis, namit Polusca, syne, with grete force, segeit the toun of Coriolos.
Amang mony uthir vailyeand knichtis in the Romane landis, wes
ane younge childe, namit Marcius, baith reddy of wit and hand,
quhilk wes eftir callit Coriolanus to his surname. Certane legiouns
of Volschis departit out of Ancium, thair toun, as thay had nocht bene
astonist with fere of uncouth inemyis, or ony batellis apperand, and
suddanly invadit the Romane armye, quhilk wes liand for the time at
®r

158

TITUS LIVIUS.

the sege of Coriolos, and takand na advertens nor sollicitude, bot alanerlie of the toun, and cieteyanis in it inclusit. In the samin time,
sindry cieteyanis of Coriolos ischit out of the toun on the Romanis.
Than, be aventure wes standing be, Marcius, this vailyeand campioun afore rehersit, accumpanyit with ane knott of feirs knichtis;
and be his singulare manhede, nocht alanerlie dang abak the inemyis
isching, as said is, bot als enterit feirslie, with all his cumpany, at ane
opin porte, and slew all pepill that occurrit to his sicht; syne put the
housis, quhilk stude hie abone the wallis, in fire. Incontinent, ane
terribill spraich and crye of wiffis and barnis rising throw all partis
of the toun, to huge terroure of the cieteyanis thairof, as the use is,
rasit the curage of the Romanis, and maid the Anciates astonist, becaus the toun that thay come to reskew wes takin.
Thus wes the Anciates vincust, and the toun of Coriolos takin.
Marcius Coriolanus, be his soverane vassalege, sa fer obscurit the
renoun of Posthumus consull, that, war nocht the band of Latinis
wes maid that samin yere be Spurius Cassius, his colleig, and ingravin in ane brasin pillare, all the victorie conquest be him, but ony
memorie, suld have perist.
The samin yere deceissit Meninius Agrippa, quhilk wes lufit baith
with the Faderis and small pepill; bot, abone all, he wes maist hartelie beluffit with the small pepill, eftir thare secessioun to the Sacrate
Montane. And thocht he wes baith compositoure and juge to continew the cieteyanis in concorde, and ambassiatoure of the Faderis to
the small pepill, and seduceare of thame to the ciete, yit he deceissit
sa pure, that all his gudis war nocht sufficient to bery his body; and
thairfore the small pepill brocht him furth with ane soume of money,
rasit amang thameself be equale taxacioun, extending to twa unces.
The nixt yere, Titus Geganius and Publius Minutius war maid
consulis. Howlbeit the ciete wes in quiet this yere, but ony uncouth
or domestic weris; yit thair succedit ane uthir troubill mair sorowfull
to the pepill; for, throw secessioun of the pepill to the Sacrate Montane, mony of all the Romane landis lay waist and unlabourit for that
yere, and sa rais first ane huge derth of vittalis in the ciete; and eftir that followit na les hunger, that is, with sic persouns as bene inclusit or segeit within cieteis quhare na vittalis may be gottin, throw
quhilk ane terribill mortalite suld have haistelie followit, baith of ser-

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vandis and commouns, war nocht the consulis maid the maist haistie
provisioun to remede the samin. For nocht alanerlie war merchandis
direct to the said consulis to by vittalis in the land of Hethruria, on
the richt hand of Ostia, and on the eist hand to the ciete of Cuma,
amang the Volschis; bot als war send merchandis to by quhete in
Sicill; for all the pepill, quhilk by maist approcheand to Romanis,
had sic ire and haterent aganis thame, that thay war constrenit to
seik vittalis at maist remote and uncouth regiouns. Quhen thir merchandis, quhilkis war direckit to Cuma, had ladin thair schippis, and
war reddy to cum away with thir vittalis be thame coft, thay war
haldin violently be Aristodemus tyran, and confiscate for the gudis of
Tarquinis, to quham he allegit him to be heretoure. The schippis,
quhilkis war send to the Volschis and Pontine, war nocht alanerlie
inhibit to by vittalis, bot war als cruelly invadit be inhabitantis and
pepill thairof; yit certane vittalis war brocht to Rome out of Hethruria, be quhilk the pepill war sustenit.
The Romanis, vexit with this afflictioun and trubil of hunger, had
bene untimuslie invadit be the Volschis, war nocht ane grete pestilence come haistelie on the said Volschis, quhen thay war reddy to
rais thair armye. The Romanis, seand thair ennemies astonist with
this terribil pestilence, send new garrisoun of pepill baith to the toun
of Veletras and to the castill of Norba, to that fine, that howbeit this
pestilence happinnit to ceis amang the Volschis, yit thay suld leif under grete fere and dredoure of Romanis.
At the ische of this yere, Marcus Minucius and Aulus Sempronius
war maid consullis; in quhais time come grete haboundance of vittale out of Sicill to Rome. Sone eftir, the Faderis went to thair consultacioun, to avise how mekil of thir vittalis suld be gevin to the
small pepill. Sindry men belevit the time cumming to recovir the
privilegis, quhilkis war latelie conquest be thair secessioun, in plane
extorsioun of the Faderis.
In the first, Marcius Coriolanus, inemye to this new auctorite of
tribunis, said as followis: " Gif the pepill desiris thir vittalis, lat
"thame renunce thair new privilegis, and restore the Faderis to the
"samin richtis as thay had afore. Quhy suffir I," said Marcius,
" thir new digniteis and officis of tribunis ? Quhy suffir I Licinius

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TITUS LIVIUS.

" schinand with this autorite abone me, as I war put under servitude,
" and redemit fra the bondis of thevis ? Quhy suffr I Licinius to
" regne abone me, sa I micht nocht suffr King Tarquine ? Lat
" Licinius pas now to the Sacrate Montane, and tak the pepill with
" him; for the way is nocht onelie patent thairto, bot als to all mon" tanis liand thareabout. Lat the pepill reip now the frutis of oure
" landis, as thay did the thrid yere afore. Lat thame now leif on
" the vittalis, quhilkis thay conquest be thair furie. I dar afferme,
" gif we hald abak thir vittalis fra thame, thay sall be dantit erare to
" be lauboraris of the landis in time cumming, than to come thame
" aganis the faderis, or stop the landis to be manurit ; and belief it
"may be als eith done, as said, to gif na vittalis to the pepill, bot
" under sic condicioun, that thay renunce all lawis, auctoriteis, and
" privilegis, quhilkis thay laitelie conquest in extorsioun of the
" Faderis, be thair secessioun, afore thay gett ony parte of thir vit" talis."
This opinioun of Marcius wes found oure rigorus be the Faderis;
for it wes ane provocacioun to arme the pepill with maist ire aganis
thame, becaus it defraudit the pepill of thair leving, and to mak thame,
as thay war inemyis of the ciete, to peris be hunger, and to have na
parte of the vittalis, quhilk come in thair ciete be gude aventure,
without the tribunis war deliver as catives, to be punist at the plesere
of this Marcius; and without sa mony, as he plesit, amang the pepil
war skurgit on the samin wise. The pepill had na litill indignacioun
that this Marcius suld rise sa haistelie to be thair new fleschour and
skurgeare, or to have ony power of life or deith abone thame, or yit
to bring thame to ony servitude or thirllage; and finalie, to have invadit this Marcius, afore his departing fra the courte, war nocht the
tribunis assignit ane day to have him punist for the tressoun aganis
thame committit.
Thus wes the ire and indignacioun of pepill sum parte mesit, seand
thameself maid baith juge and maister of his life and deith, that wes
thair inemye. Marcius tuke first the minassing of tribunis in contempcioun, and said, Thay had na autorite nor power to punis, bot
alanerlie to supporte the pepill; als thay war tribunis of pepill, and
nocht of Faderis. Allwayis the pepill wes sa haistelie commovit, that
the Faderis micht nocht eschewe, nor be deliverit of thair ire, bot be

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punicioun of this man; and yit the Faderis resistit the ire of small
pepill sa fer as thay micht, nocht alanerlie be every ane of thair persuasioun in speciall, bot als be the auctorite of the hale ordoure of
senatouris. First, it wes assailyete be the Faderis to brek the purpois
of small pepill, gif thay micht, and to stop thame fra ony convencioun
or counsell; and becaus the saidis Faderis war frustrate in this lauboure, thay went altogiddir, as thay had bene gilty for sum crime be
thame committit, makand humill intercessioun to the pepill for the
life of ane cieteyane or senatoure; and prayit thame, gif thay wald
nocht assaleye him as cieteyane, to pardoun his life, and to gif him
frelie to thame, as he war ane faltoure. Finalie, the day is cummin
that wes sett to Marcius to compere afore the pepill, and howbeit he
nocht comperit, the pepill perseverit in thair ire; and nochtwithstanding his absence, thay condampnit him, quharevir he micht be
apprehendit, to the deith.
Marcius, fugitive fra thair lawis, become inemye, with grete minassing baith to Romanis and his native cuntre; and fled amang the
Volschis, quhare he wes maist tendirly ressavit, and estemit with
grete reverence and honoure. Becaus his haterent wes sa boldin
aganis the saidis Romanis, he complenit sumtime the insuffirabil and
maist odius injuris done to him, and sumtime he votit himself with
huge minassing to revenge the samin. He wes ressavit in lugeing with
Accius Tullus, the gretest senyeoure that wes amang the Volschis
in thay dayis, and ay scharpest inemye to Romanis; and becaus this
Tullus had ane auld rankoure aganis the Romanis, and that uthir
Marcius had ane new ire aganis thame on the samin maner, thay tuke
thair surete avisement togiddir, be quhat maner thay micht best mak
were aganis the said Romanis; for thay belevit thair pepill micht
nocht be lichtlie persuadit to batall, becaus the samin has bene assailyete sa oft with sindry infeliciteis; and nocht onelie wes thair
feirs sprete and curage brokin be sindry discomfitouris, bot all the
maist forcy young campiouns of thair cuntre miserably devourit be
pestilence.
Thus, sen the ire and indignacioun of thair pepill wes slokkinnit
be intervencioun of lang trewis, it wes necessare to awalkin thame be
sum slicht of new injuris.

162

162
TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. XVI,

How Atinus wes punistfor his contempcioun aganis the command o
playis

Jupiter; and how the Romane
war new restorit. How
Tullus causit the Volshis to be shamefully ejeleit out of Rome,
and armit thaim with grete ire aganis the Romanis. And how
Marcius Coriolanus put the Romanis to grete afiictioun.
T happinnit that the Romanis war makand thair provi-

sioun to renew the grete playis mony yeris before hantit
in thair ciete. The cans quhy thir playis war renewit
followis :-Ane houshaldare nocht onelie skurgit his servand arelie in the morow, throw the placis quhair the playis war ordanit to be, bot als gart him bere the gibbet on his back throw the
said place, afore the pepill wes convent to the contemplacioun of thir
playis. Sone eftir, the Romanis began thair playis, as this sorowfull
punicioun had bene na thing unsemand to the religioun and solemnite
of thair playis. Schort time eftir, Jupiter apperit to ane cieteyane of
Rome; ' howbeit he wes of the linnage populare, namit Atinius, and
schew to him, be divine visioun, that this last play wes na thing piesand to him, becaus the first padyeane thairof, be skurgeing of the
servand, wes dolorus, and thairfore commandit him to schaw the Fa-.
denis and consulis, gif thay _restorit nocht thair playis to sic magnificence and honoure, as wes hantit afore, -thair ciete suld be haistilie
invadit with grete trubill. Howbeit this man wes gevin to all religioun, and had the goddis in reverence, yet he schew

nocht

his vi-

sioun to theFaderis, that he suld nocht cum be revelacioun of sic fretis
in derisioun of pepill ; but his tarey and inobedience succedit to his
hevy dammage, for within few dayis he tint his son be suddane infirmite. Than Jupiter, that the cans of suddane deith of his son suld
nocht be unknawin to the said Atinius, apperit to him be. new visioun,
inquiring gif he thocht himself sufficientlie punist for his inobedience,
be deith of his son ; and yit, as of before, said to him,' gif he. schew
nocht the said visioun to the Faderis and consulis, as he wes afore

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commandit, he suld be punist with maist cruell displesoure. Howbeit this secund visioun wes deiply prentit in his minde, yit he wes
sleuthfull and wold nocht schew the samin; and, thairfore, be haterent
of the goddis, he wes strikkin with suddane infirmite but ony power
of his body. Than wes he clerely advertist that he had incurrit the
ire of the goddis. At last he wes sa ouresett with grete trubill rising
abone uthir, that he send for his friendis, and schew to thaim the
sindry visiouns of Jupiter, with all circumstance afore rehersit. Incontinent, be avise of friendis, he wes brocht on ane litter to the courte,
afore the Faderis; and quhen he had schewin all his visioun to the
grete wounder of all pepill present for the time, followit ane uthir mirakil mair wounderus than wes sene afore. For this Atinius, quhilk
wes brocht to the courte afore the Faderis, but ony pouste of his membris, wes sa suddanlie convalescit and restorit to his hele, fra he had
schewin the command of Jupiter, that he past hame to his hous sa
hale as he had never been strikkin with ony infirmite.
The senate, for this mirakill, commandit the playis to be renewit
to Jupiter with maist magnificent coist that micht be desirit. To vesy
thir playis come grete noumer of Volschis, with Accius Tullus, thair
prince. This Tullus, afore the beginning of thir playis, went to the
consulis, as it wes devisit be him and Marcius at his departing, and
said, he wald schaw to thaim sum secrete materis gif thay war at
quiet concerning the public wele. " I will," said Tullus, " say sum
"thing of my cieteyanis, quhilkis, be my command, has followit me to
" youre ciete, nocht to accuse thaim for ony falt or tressoun as yit
" committit aganis you, bot erare to provide sum way that thay do
" na thing tressonabill aganis you in times cumming. The ingine of
" my pepill is mair inconstant than I desire, quhilk is richt manifest
" to us be mony harmes, for we stand nocht in prosperite be oure
" awne gude dedis, bot alanerlie be your patience. Here is ane grete
" noumer of Volschis gadderit in youre ciete, and youre playis ar now
" haistelie to be begun, to quhais sicht sall the pepill be maist ernist"fully gevin. I remember quhat displesoure wes laitlie done be
" young and insolent Sabinis, in this ciete, quhen thay revest your
" commoun wemen. Thairfore, I drede that sumthing be done be
"unprudence or folie of my pepill. This is the mater that I wald
" have schewin to you for the eis of my pepill and youris. Attoure

164

TITUS LIVIUS.

" in sa fer as pertenes to me, I am deliverit to departe hastelie of
" your ciete, and to return hame, that I be nocht participant of ony
" injure or troubil following."
Quhen the consulis had opinit this doutsum mater afore the Faderis
be sikker certificacioun of Tullus, thay belevit the samin of verite;
for the auctorite of Tullus wes of sic estimacioun and renown amang
thaim, that it maid this mater richt incredibill. And thairfore, to
eschew all displesere, gif ony wer appering, certane serjandis war send
to the Volschis, commanding thaim to departe out of the ciete afore
the nicht war cummin, under pane of dede. The terroure of this proclamacioun maid the Volschis sa astonist that thay ran with huge effray to thair lugeing, to gaddir thair gudis, that thay micht haistelie
departe.
Eftir thair parting fra the ciete, rais ane hie indignacioun in thair
mindis, becaus thay war chasit on sic ane solemnit day fra the cumpany of goddis and men, as thay war maist waryit and abhominabil
creatures. Tullus, eftir that thay war returnand hame in sindry cumpanyis, abaid at the wod of Ferentine; and quhen thay war all presentlie cum, he callit the capitanis and principall men thairof, to ane
counsell. Als sone as he had gottin thaim about him in maner of
concioun, he apperit full of haterent, and with wourdis persuading
thaim to grete ire, he said in this maner :-" Belovit friendis, howbeit
"ye wald forgett the auld injuris and harmis done to you and youre
" progenitouris be Romane pepill, how may ye sustene the schame
" and dishonoure done to you this day; for the Romanis has maid
" thair playis allanerlie this day to youre diffamacioun and schame.
" Persave ye nocht how thay have led you this day as vincust catives
" in triumphe. Know ye nocht quhat derisioun ye have sufferit this
" day be sa mony uncouth cieteyanis, strengearis, and nichtbouris.
" Se ye nocht how youre wiffis and barnis has bene this day tran6 sportit throw sa mony mouthis of uncouth pepill; quhat will be
" said be thay pepill quhilk herd the schamefull proclamacioun maid
" aganis you? Quhat will be said be thay pepill that has mett you
" schamefully passing of the ciete ? Na uthir thing will be presumit
" bot we suld have done sum tressonabill offence, that micht have
"perturbit thair solemne playis, gif we had taryit ony langare within
" the said ciete, and micht nocht have purget us thairof bot alanerlie

THE SECUND BUKE.

165

" be the sacrifice of piacle. And for thir causis we ar chasit fra cum"pany and counsell of every honest pepill. Attoure it proffittis na
" thing to our lives ; howbeit we have haistyit us with maist diligence
" of thair ciete. And thocht we wald say that this haisty departing
" may nocht be callit ane shamefull fleing, yit how may ye think ony
" uthir but that ciete is youre dedelie inemye, in quhilk ye behuffit
" to have lost all youre livis gif ye had taryit ane day mair than ye
" did. Now is opin were denuncit to you, to the grete mischeif of
" thaim that has denuncit it, gif ye be vailyeant men."
The Volschis, boldin with huge ire, na les consavit be thaimself
than be persuasioun of Tullus, returnit in thair housis, and movit sa
thair friendis for the dishonoure done to thaim, that al the name and
linage of Volschis wes conspirit with opin rebellioun aganis the Romanis. And to be governouris to thaim in this maist dangerus batall,
war chosin Accius Tullus, and Marcius Coriolanus, the Romane
outlaw ; in quham thir Volschis had mair esperance of felicite than
eftir succedit to thair purpois. Apperit thus, that the public wele of
Romanis wes mare strong and pussand be vailyand capitanis than be
ony strang armyis. This Marcius tuke first the toun of Circe; and
quhen he had expellit the colonis and new cieteyanis thairof, he deliverit the samin frelie to the Volschis. Sic thingis done, he past
fordwart with thortoure passage in the Latine way, and tuke fra Romanis the townis namit Longula, Satrick, Polusca, Coriolos, and Novella, and made thaim tributare to the empire of Volschis.' And
within schort time eftir, he tuke the toun of Lavine, with Corbeo,
Vetelia, Trebia, Lavicos, and Pedum. Finalie departing fra the
toun of Pedum, he sat doun campit with his oist beside the fowsy
namit Cluilia, within five milis to Rome. And howbeit he waistit all
landis pertenand to the small pepill of Rome, with sindry uthir landis
hliand thairabout, yet he send ane cumpanye of armit men to kepe the
landis pertenand to the Faderis fra all direpcioun. This slicht wes
done be Marcius, outhir becaus he had mair ire aganis the pepill than
Faderis, or ellis to rais ane sedicioun betwix the Faderis and pepill
of Rome.
In the mene time the tribunis armit the small pepill fierslie aganis
the Faderis, saying, thay lauborit alanerlie for sauftie of thair awne
landis; that but ony dout grete discorde had followit eftir, war nocht

166

166
TITUS LIVIUS.

the feir of uncouth inemyis, quhilk is occasioun of Concorde, causit
thaim, howbeit thay war suspect to uthir, to stand al of ane opinioun. The Faderis had confidence in na thing, bot alanerlie in thair
wapinnis and armour. Be contrare, the pepill cant nocht quhat adversite nor trubil succedit to thaim, sa that thay had na weris.

CAP. XVII.
How the Faderissend thair legatis and priestis to Marciusfor peace,
and war repulsit. Qf the orisoun maid be Veturia to the said
Marcius; and how he raisithis campe and wes slane. How the
Equis and Volshis war dividit amang thaimself, and vincust be
Romarns.
Punius NAuclus and Sixtus Furius war maid consulis
in the yere following. Quhen thir consulis war noumerarnis
and thair legiouns, and devisand to
armit men to the portis and wallis of thair ciete, comperit
afore thaim ane huge pepill, desiring peace. The consulis, be thair
pietuous regret and noyis, war astonist, and soliscit the Faderis to send
legatis to Marcius Coriolanus for sum tretie of peace. The Faderis
seand the pepill dekey fra all curage and' manhede, send thair oratouris to the said Marcius. To thir legatis wes gevin ane doure answere be Marcius, saying, He wald trete pece with Romanis, sa thay
wald frelie gif oure all landis pertening to the Volschis. And gif the
Romanis wald nocht renunce the said landis, hot traisting be crafty
tyranny to rejose the samin, he maid thaim understand he wes na les
mindefull of every injuris done to him be his cieteyanis, than of the
meritis done to him be the Volschis, his friendis ; and mak thaim
~one to knawe his feirs curage and sprete wes nocht brokin, hot scharpit
be exile. Eftir this answere, wes send to him uthir oratouris of mair
renowne, but thay gat na entres in his tentis. Than the priestis war
send to him in thair religious habitis ; howbeit thay brak nouthir his
minde nor purpois mair than did the uthir legatis afore rehersit.

put

of

THE SECUND BUKE.

167

In the mene time the matronis of Rome past oft times to Veturia,
moder to the said Marcius, and to Volumnia his wife; yit it is nocht
knawin quhidder the samin procedit be generall consultacioun of the
Faderis, or gif it wes onelie be thair awne effeminate doloure. Alwayis
the foresaid matronis persuadit this agit woman Veturia, to pas to
the campe of Marcius, with his wiffe Volumnia, and his twa barnis,
that thay micht defend the ciete be thair teris and pietuous wourdis,
quhilk couth nocht be defendit be force of men. Als sone as thir women war cummin to the campe, it wes schawin be his familiaris that
ane huge noumer of women wes cummin to him, presuming, sen he
wes nocht brokin fra his purpois be majestie of legatis, nor yit be religioun or reverence of priestis, that he suld be the mair obstinate
aganis the teris of women. Belive ane of his familiaris saw Veturia,
his moder, with his wiffe and barnis, for scho wes of mair hevy and
dolorus contenance than the remanent matronis in hir cumpany, and
said to Marcius, 1" Les than mine ene dissave me, baith thy moder,
" thy wiffe, and thy barnis ar cummin to oure oist." Marcius than
rais, as he had bene astonist, fra his seit, and went forthwart to embrais his moder. Incontinent this Veturia turnit fra humil prayaris
to maist ire, and said, 1" Hald abak thy handis, quhil I may se quhidSdir I am cummin to my son or to my inemye; and quhidder I am
" now thy moder or thy presoner in thy tentis. Unhappy eild has
" brocht me with lang and miserabill life to sic point, that I man se
"thee first banist and syne inemye. How micht you destroy and
" waist the land that has bred and nurist thee ? Howbeit you wes full
" of minassing, quhy wes nocht thy ire assuageit fra you wes cummin
" in thy cuntre ? Als sone as Rome apperit to thy sicht, quhy wald
" you not say, Within youre wallis ar my housis, my moder, my wiffe,
"and my barnis ? Allace ! had I never been with childe, Rome had
" never been segeit. War nocht I have ane son, I micht have deit in
my fre cuntre. And now thair may na thing be sa miserabil to me,
"bot the samin is als schamefull to thee; bot I will not leif lang, as
"I am now ane unhappy creature; yit have piete of thir thy wiffe
"and barnis, quhilkis sal nocht fale, gif you procedis ony forther,
" outher to be haistelie slane, or ellis to leif in lang miserie and sex" vitude."

168

TITUS LIVIUS.

Throw thir wourdis, Marcius embrasit his moder, his wiffe, and
barnis, and wes finalie sa brokin be thair continual teris, and be commiseracioun of his native cuntre, that he rasit his campe fra the sege
of Rome, and departit. Some allegis fra he had rasit his campe fra
the sege, he cum in sic haterent to his army that he wes slane;
utheris allegeit that he deceissit in ane uthir maner. Yit Fabius, the
richt autentick auctor, sayis, He levit quhil he cum to extreme age;
and usit ane proverb, saying, Na thing may be sa displesand to ane
agit man as to be exilit.
The Romane Faderis invyit the luffing of thir wemen deservit, for
ilk man luffit in thay dayis, but ony detraccioun or paring of thair
nichtbouris glore. Ane tempill wes nocht onelie biggit, bot als dedicate to remane in perpetual renoun and memorie of thir wemen.
Yit, nochtwithstanding the departing of Marcius, the Equis, and Volschis returnit with new incursiouns; bot thir Equis wald nocht suffir
Accius Tullus to be ony langare capitane or emprioure of thair armye; throw quhilk rais haistelie ane odious sedicioun betwix thir twa
pepill, quhilk of thaim suld cheis the capitane to governe baith the
armyis. This sedicioun wes endit be the swerde, for it movit baith
the pepill to invaid uthir with batall. In the mene time the Romanis cum with displayit baner, and vincust thaim baith with na lcs
dangerus than obstinate batall.

THE SECUND BUKE.

169

CAP. XVIII.
How Cassius wes slane, becaus he wald have conquest the croun.
How the Faderis and small pepil fel at grete contencioun for the

law Agrarie. How the tempil of Castor wes dedicate. How Fabius dantit baith the tribunis and pepil, and wes continewit mony
yeris in the consulate.
this victorie, Titus Sicinius and Caius Aquillius,
war made consulis. Sicinius wes send with ane army
aganis the Volschis; and Aquillius wes send aganis the
Hernikis, for baith thir pepill war reddy with great armyis to invaid the Romanis. In this yere the Hernikis war vincust,
bot the batall aganis the Volschis wes fochtin with equale chance,
throw quhilk thay war constrenit to sevir on athir side, bot ony victorie. In the yere following, Proculus Virginius and Spurius Cassius war made consulis. In this yere peace wes maid with Hernikis,
and the twa parte of thair landis ekit to Romane empire. Be avise
of Cassius, the half of the landis now conquest war gevin to Latinis,
and the tothir half equalie dividit amang the pepill. Cassius als ekit
to thir largiciouns sindry uthir landis, quhilk, on the samin maner,
war delt amang the said pepill; for he thocht thir landis unwourthelie possedit be private men. This liberalite of Cassius made sindry
of the Faderis richt astonist, for fere of thair gudis; especially thaim
quhilkis war possessouris of thir landis for the time. Attoure, the
Faderis war richt hevy in thair mindis, dredand Cassius, be thir largiciouns, to conques sic favoure and riches that micht be noysum to
thair liberte.
Than wes the law Agrarie first promulgate, quhilk wes nevir eftir
attemptate, bot mocioun of grete trubil. Virginius, the tothir consul, resistit to the largiciouns of Cassius, and had nocht only the Faderis, but als ane parte of the pepill of his opinioun; be quham it wes
thocht richt unwourthy that the public landis tane fra nobil cieteyFTIR

Y

170

TITUS LIVIUS.

anis and Faderis, suld be given to private persouns. Attoure, thay
herd oft times Virginius, the tothir consul, say, in his concionis, The
gift and rewarde of Cassius, his colleig, wes pestilencius; for the
samin wes nocht onlie ane way to thirll the pepill that gat thaim to
servitude, but als wes ane crafty slicht to mak himself king. To quhat
effect desiris Cassius the assistance baith of Latinis, and companyeouns to his opinioun; to quhat fine has he sufferit the Hernikis to
rejose the thrid parte of thair landis, quhilkis war conquest be the victorie maid latelie on thaim, but alanerlie that he may be made capi-.
tane to thaim, as Marcius Coriolanus wes afore to the Volschis.
Cassius, abone all the donaciouns, set him, as he had bene ane private
man, to caus the law Agrarie have place and effect amangis the pepill; finalie baith the consulis gaif thair mindis to conques all favoure
and benevolence thay micht afore the pepill. Virginius said he wes
content, that the landis conquest be thair weris war delt to nane uthir
bot amang the cieteyanis of Rome. Cassius wes repute ambicious
for parting of thir landis amang companyeouns, and wes of na estima
cioun afore the cieteyanis, and for that caus he sett his mind be sum
uthir way to be recounsellit with the pepill; and commandit al the
money that wes tane, for selling of the vittalis of Sicil, fra the pepill,
to be frelie deliverit to thaim agane, but ony tary. Bot the pepill refusit it na les than it had bene but ane trane to have conquest thair
consentis to mak him king; finalie, thay tuke sic suspicioun aganis
him, becaus his giftis war gevin sa haboundantly, that thay detestit al
his largiciouns atanis, and declarit thaim but force or effect. It is
said, als sone as he past out of the consulate, he was condampnate
and slane ; sum allegis his fader was the slaar of him, for als sone as
his fader herde he desirit to conquere the croun, he straik him sa
cruelly quhil he wes slane; syne consecrate all his gudis to Ceres the
goddes; in memorie hereof it wes ingravin in hir tempil, Thir ar the
gudis gevin be the hous of Cassius. Yit sum allegis ane thing that
is mare approcheand to the verite, saying, Ane day of perduellioun
wes sett to the said Cassius, be Ceso Fabius and Lucius Valerius,
juges criminall, and nocht alanerlie condampnit afore thaim be jugement of pepill, bot als his housis opinlie evertit to the ground. The
placis quhare his housis stude, is now the waist roume standing before
the tempil of Tellus, the goddes.

THE SECUND BUKE.

171

In quhatsumevir way this Cassius wes condampnit, treuth is, he
wes condampnit in the time of Cornelius Servilius and Quincius Fabius, consulis; yit the ire of the pepill continewit nocht lang aganis
Cassius, for the sweitnes of the law Agrarie wes deiplie prentit in
thair mindis, howbeit the first auctorite thairof wes condampnit.
This avarice wes the mair inflammit be malice of the Faderis, becaus
thay defraudit the men of armes of all pray and gudis conquest in
this last batall, for all the proffitt thairof wes ekit to the tresoure of
the ciete; throw quhilk the name of Fabius wes richt odius to the
small pepill, especiallie throw liberalite of Cassius, thair last consul.
The Faderis, for the samin caus, continewit Fabius in the dignite
consulare, and gaif to him ane new colleig, namit L. Emilius, be
quhilk way the pepill war armit witlnew discorde aganis the faderis.
Finalie, this sedicioun intestine gaif occasioun to uncouth ennemies to
invaid the ciete; howbeit, the samin, be cummin of batall, was sum
parte slokkinnit; for sone eftir the Faderis and pepill, howbeit thair
mindis war rebelland to uthir, faucht with grete felicite aganis the
Volschis and Equis, Emilius beand consul, and put thaim baith to
flicht; the horsmen followit sa feirslie, that mair slauchter wes maid
in the chaise than in the first' batall.
In this yere wes the tempill of god, namit Castor, dedicate in the
idis of Quintilis. This tempill wes votit to the god Castor, in the
batall fochtin aganis the Latinis, at the loch of Regill, quhen Posthumius wes dictator; and for that caus his son was ordand to dedicate the samin.
In the yere following, the mindis of small pepill war gretumlie
tane be sweitnes of the law Agrarie. The tribunis of pepill defendit
the auctorite populare, be the law populare. The Faderis beleving
the pepill to have ineuch and owre mekil of wilfull furie, wald nocht
suffir thaim to rejose ony largiciouns, or ony uthir thingis that may
persuade thaim to folie. Attoure, the Faderis war sa weil supportit
be the consulis, that thay got thair entent abone the pepill. The
house of Fabius rejosit nocht onlie the dignite consulare for that present yere, bot als for, the yere following; for Marcius Fabius, brothir to Ceso Fabius, wes maid consull, and Lucius Valerius maid his
colleig; bot he wes gretumlie hatit be the pepill, becaus he wes ac-

172

TITUS LIVIUS.

cusare of Spurius Cassius. The samin time wes ane debait betwix
the Faderis and tribunis; for the Faderis allegit the law of tribunis
wes vane, and baith the auctoris and doaris thairof vane. The name
of Fabius wes fra thens of grete renoune, for thay rejosit the consulate
iii. yeris continewally eftir following, all of ane opinioun, grete ennemies to the auctorite of tribunis ; and, thairfore, na litill honour and
loving succedit long time to that hous, as it wele deservit.

CAP. XIX.
Of new rebellioun made aganis the Romanis be the Volschis and
Equis. How new sedicioun rais betwix the Faderis and pepill
for the law Agrarie. How Oppia, the virgin vestal, for hir incest wes beryit quick. How Fabius vincust the Veanis, contrare
the mindis of his army. And how the princes of Hethruriacome
in support of Veanis.
the batall aganis the Veanis, and belive followit new rebellioun of Volschis. The Romanis, howbeit thay had superflu nowmer of pepill to abandoun
the rage of uncouth ennemies, abusit al thare pussance
with civil contenciouns; and suppois thay war drery and pensive in
thair mindis, for thir contenciouns afore rehersit, yet abone that
troubil apperit certane hevinlie prodigyis, to the daly terroure and
minassing of pepill, als wele to burgh as land. The divinouris, in
seirching quhy the goddis had sic wrath aganis the pepill, could find
na uthir caus, be thair private and public consultaciouns, baith of
foulis and bowellis of beistis; bot alanerlie that thair sacrifices war
nocht done with dew reverence, and honouris to thair goddis.
Thir terrouris movit the pepill to sic point, that thay condampnit
Oppia, the virgine vestal, for her incest, and beryit hir quick.
In the yere following, Quincius Fabius and Caius Julius war
maid consulis. The Romanis had in this yere na les weris aganis
uncouth ennemies thairfurth, than civil dissensioun at hame amang
OLLOWIT

THE SECUND BUKE.

1t3

thaim self; for baith the Equis and Veanis come armit with terribil
incursiouns in thair landis. The furie of thir pepill ilk day mair incressing, causit Ceso Fabius and Spurius Furius to be maid consulis.
The Equis segeit Ortona, ane toun of Latinis; and the Veanis
waistit sa lang the Romane landis without resistance, that thay maid
thair avant with grete minassing to sege Rome; yit the Romane pepill war mair rasit to curage, than astonist be thair terrouris; and,
howbeit thay refusit to gif thair namis in writt, yit the samin procedit nocht be thair awne mindis, bot erare be persuasioun of thir tribunis. For Spurius Licinius, tribune of pepil, traisting the time
cumming to constrene the Faderis be extreme necessite, to appreve
and ratifie the law Agrarie, held back the pepil fra ony assemblance
in armyes; nochtheles, the haill invie of tribuniciane auctorite wes
turnit to the displesoure of the said Licinius; for the consulis invait
nocht sa cruelly aganis him, as did his awne colleigis, and be thair
support the consulis gat ane armye rasit of the pepill, and dividit the
samin in twa batallis ; of quhilk the tane wes to Quincius Fabius to
pas aganis the Veanis, and the tothir deliverit to Spurius Furius, to
invaid the Equis. Yet na thing wes done aganis the Equis in this
yere, wourthy to have memorie. Fabius, the tothir consull, had
mair besines ado aganis his awne ennemies; nochtheless, he defendit
the public weil be his onelie manhede and prudence; howbeit his
armye, sa fer as wes in thair power, for the invy that thay bure aganis
him, wald have tressonably randrit thaim self to thair ennemies. This
nobil consul Fabius, abone mony his imperiall virtews, in leding and
exhorting his army for the time, arrayit the samin in sic wise, that
he vincust his ennemies, and put thaim to flicht, be support alanerlie
of his horsmen. His oist of futemen, howbeit thair ennemies gaif
bakkis, wald nocht follow, nor yit persewe the chace; for thay war
sa repugnant to thair awne honoure, that nouthir wald thay haisty
thair ganging, be hortacioun of thair capitane, quhom thay invyit for
the time, nor yit wald thay haisty thaim to eschew, be thair private
or public schame, nor yit micht move thaim thair awne dammage,
quhilk suld nocht have falit to have cummin, gif thair ennemies had
returnit with new curage. Forthir thay war safer rebelland to the arte
of chevelrie, that thay wald nocht do sa mekill for thare capitane, as
to stand arrayit in gude ordoure; bot in his hie contempcioun thay

174

TITUS LIVIUS.

direkkit thair baneris, with na les hevy and drery contenance, than
thay had bene miserabilly vincust; syne returnit with grete displesoure to thair tentis, wariand baith thair capitane and the felicite following be his presence. Yit be thir pestilencius dissensiouns, na remede suld be fundin be this nobil campioun; for thocht he wes dotate with maist soverane ingine, yit he lukit erare prudence to governe his cieteyanis, than to vincust his ennemies.
The consul, eftir this victorie, returnit to Rome with na les glore
of batall, than haterent of his army ekit aganis him; yit, nochtwithstanding thair haterent, the Faderis causit the dignite consulare to remane as afore with the house of Fabius, for Marcius Fabius wes maid
consul, and Cneus Manlius his colleig.
The samin yere, Titus Pontificius, tribune of pepill, maid him to
fortifie the law Agrarie, and be the samin way that Licinius past
afore, made him to stop the Faderis, that thay gat na armye, quhil
the foresaid law Agrarie was auctorist. Appius Claudius, seand the
Faderis richt perturbit, said, That all auctorite of tribunis wes vincust
in the yere afore, in presence of the public wele; and sen the said
auctorite wes dissolvit be thair awne strenth, it suld be in times cumming perpetualy abrogate. Sikkerly, said Appius, it sal nevir fail
bot ane sal be found ay amang the tribunis, nocht onlie to desire victorie above his collegis, but als to assist to the Faderis and best parte
of the ciete, for the profit of the commoun weill; and nocht onlie
sal the consulis find ane, bot als sindry amang the tribunis to assist
gif nede beis, to thair opinioun, howbeit ane tribune is sufficient
ineuch aganis the auctorite of the laif, sa that the Faderis and consulis laubour, gif thay may nocht purches every ane of the tribunis
of thair opinioun, to be recounseld ay with ane certane thairof.
The Faderis admonist in this maner be Appius, callit before thame
plesandlie baith the consulis and tribunis; and becaus ilkane of thaim
had ay sum private juris to confound the auctorite of the tothir, thay
purchest sum parte be favoure, and sum parte be auctorite, that the
power of tribuniciane auctorite suld be exercit alanerlie, for the proffit of the commoun weill, and sa, be supporte of nine tribunis, the
consulis rasit ane armye contrare the auctorite and minde of ane tribune, that war postponare of the public weill.
Sic thingis done, the consulis past with this armye to make were

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aganis the Veanis; for sindry princis war cummin out of Hethruria,
nocht onelie to thair supporte and favoure, bot als traisting the finale
end cummin of Romane empire, be intestine dissensiouns than ringand amang thaim for the time. Attoure, it was dispute in sindry
counsalis amang the princis of Hethruria, the Romanis had sa eternall
pussance, that gif thay ragit nocht on thaim self be civill sediciouns,
thare empire could nocht be destroyit; for civil sedicioun is the
onelie poisson and rewine of all riche cieteis, and be the samin all hie
empire and kingdomes apperis fragile and caduke in the self. This
odius kingdome, sade thir princis of Hethruria, had bene sum
,parte sustenit be counsell of wise Faderis, and sum parte be pacience of the pepill; but as now it is cumin to extreme rewine, for
now twa cieteis are maid of ane, and every ane of thaim severit fra
uthir be thair awne lawis, auctoriteis, and officis. Sum times the Romanis usit to rage aganis utheris in gadering thair armyis. Nochtheles, thay obeyit weill eftir to thair capitanis the time of batall; in
quhatsumevir way the Romane state wes, it micht nevir be vincust
sa lang as it wes governit be ressoun militare; bot now the Romane
armye followis nocht the command of thair capitane, quhen thay ar
campit for batall, as wele apperit be thair last armye. For in the
time of batall the victorie, be consent of the armye, wes gevin wilfully
to the Equis; howbeit, thay war vincust, for the said armye left baith
thair capitane and banermen in middis of the campe, and returnit,
but ony cummand of thair capitane, to thair tentis. Herefore apperit
Rome may be tane be sedicioun of thare awne knichtis, gif we persew; for na uthir difficulte nor lauboure restis now to be done, bot
alanerlie to denunce batall. All uthir chargis sall be plesandlie offerit
to us be the goddis.

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CAP. XX.
How the Romane armye wes movit to batall be derisoun maid on
thame be Veanis and Hethruschis. How Quincius Fabius and
Manlius consul war slane. How the Hethruschis and Veanis
war discomfist.
How Marcius Fabius refusit the glore of
triumphefor the dede of hisfreindis.
HE vane beleif of thir, and siclike consatis, armit the
Hethruschis aganis the Romanis; for thay war be sindry chancis sum times vincust, and sum times victouris;
on the tothir side, the consullis dred na thing sa mekill
as the strength and pussance of thair awne armye; for the memorie
of the wikkit exempill schewin in the last batall, maid thame sa astonist, thay durst nocht jeoperde thame to sa doutsum chance, quhare
twa armyis occurrit to thair huge dredoure. And becaus thay war
astonist be this maist dangerus case, thay held thame clois within
thair tentis, to eschewe every troubill appering; for thay belevit
thair awne armye within schort time, suld schorte thair haterent, and
ingener sum hele in thair mindis.
The Veanis and Hethruschis, seand the Romanis wald nocht ische
out of thair campe, war the mair fervent in desire of batall; and to
provoik thair ennemies thareto, thay prekit afore thair tentis. At
last, persaving sic doingis micht nocht move the consullis, nor yit
thair armye, thay began to reproch thame with maist schamefull
wourdis, saying, The feinyeing of civil dissensiouns wes nocht bot ane
new remede found amang thame to cover thair febill cowarty. Attoure, thay knew weil how the consullis had nothir traist, nor yit
confidence in thair knichtis. Apperit, tharefore, it wes ane new maner of sedicioun to keip ese and silence amang thair men of armes, to
the mair schame and blasphemacioun of Romane linage. Thay rehersit mony vile and abhominabil wourdis, of quhilkis sum parte war
trew, and utheris fals.

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The consullis war na litill rejosit that thir odius detractiouns war
said pertlie sa nere thair portis and trinschis of thair armye; for, incontinent, the said armye, howbeit thair mindis war rebelland to the
consullis, sum time thocht schame of the dispitefull detractiouns
said be thair ennemies, and sum time war movit to maist violent ire
for the samin; and sum times detestit the dammage following be
thair intestine dissenciouns; quhil, at last, thay war sa flowand in
thair mindis, that thay eschamit that thair ennemies suld departe for
thair detractiouns unpunist; and thocht evill that ony felicite suld
succede to the Faderis and consullis be thair vassalege or victorie.
Throw quhilk thay war uncertane quhidder thay suld be erare revengit on the Faderis, or on thair fais; quhil, at last, thay war extremelie resolvit to revenge thair haterent on thair ennemies, for the derisioun sa proudely rehersit in the face of thair armye. Incontinent,
thay convenit with frequent cumpanyis to the tentis, quhare the consulis war, and, with inflammit mindis, desirit batall, and signe of
joning.
Than the consulis, as thay had bene full of musing, gaderit all the
capitanis afore thame, with long commoning; and howbeit thay desirit na thing sa mekil, as thair armye maist ernistlie to fecht; yit
thay thocht best to tary the samin, that, be desire thareof, thair
armye suld be the mair ardently inflammit to batall. And, finalie,
the consullis gaif answere, that nouthir wes the mater reddy, nor yit
the time ganand to gif batall; and commanding thame, for that caus,
to hald thame within thair tentis, and to abstene fra batall; and
quha fechtand war rebelland to thair command, suld be punist na les
than he war ennemie to thair armye.
The men of armes, repulsit fra thair peticioun on this maner,
grewe ay the mair desirus of batall, that thay belevit the consullis
repugnand thareto. Attoure, thair ennemies war inflammit the mair
feirslie to invaid thame, that thay herde inhibicioun maid be the consulis to fecht; for thay belevit to do quhat thay plesit, but ony punicioun or resistence following. And, becaus na confidence was betwix
the Faderis and the Romane armye, thay belevit sic sedicioun suld
rise in thair armye, that ane finale end suld be put to Romane empire.

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TITUS LIVIUS.

The ennemies, confiding in thair vane consatis, come pertly afore
the portis of the Romane campe, blasphemand the Romanis with
maist schameful injuris, and micht skairslie be severit fra oppugnacioun of thair tentis; throw quhilk the Romane armye wes sa commovit, thay micht na langare sustene thair dispitis, hot ran haistelie
afore the consulis; for thay wald nocht send, as thay did afore, the
princes of thir centuriouns to desire batall, but ruschit all atanis, with
vehement noyis and clamoure, desiring batall, saying, The time wes
than expedient ineuch to the samin, yit the consulis denyis thair
desiris.
At last, Fabius, consul, seand the noyis and clamoure rising with
sic din in the armye, becaus he dred yit sum sedicioun, gart blaw ane
trumpit, be consent of his colleig Manlius, and said, " 0 Manlius,
' I knaw weil this armye may vincus thair ennemies; bot thay have
'" borne thameself sa wikkitlie in times bigane, that I wate nocht, gif
" thay have ony desire of victorie ; and tharefore I wil gif na signe
" of joning to the said armye, quhil the samin be sworne never to
" returne out of the field, quhil thay have victorie of thair ennemies.
" This armye has dissavit anis the Romane consul; bot thay can
" nocht dissave the goddis."
The principall centurioun of the armye wes Marcius Flavoleus,
quhilk, abone the Romane princes of this armye, was sa desirus of
batall, that he wes the first maid his aith, as followis : " I sall nocht
"returne out of the field but victorie; and gif I failye, I tak thee,
" Fader Jupiter, Mars, and utheris, the remanent goddis, in witnes,
"to punis me."
Than the remanent armye maid thair aithis in the samin maner.
Incontinent, Fabius, be sound of trumpit, gaif signe of joning the
armye; thay tuke thair wapinnis, and went fordwart, full of ire and
hope of victorie, desiring now the Hethruschis to mak thair hechting,
and to mete thame in arrayit batall. Abone every vassalege done
this day, outhir be the Faderis or pepill, apperit maist the soverane
manhede of the hous of Fabius; for thir Fabis sett thame this day
be singulare vertew to conques the hartis of the pepill, quhilk stude
lang ennemie to thame be civil contenciouns.
The Romanis war arrayit in gude ordoure; bot the Veanis and
Hethruschis na thing schrinkit, nor eschewit thair cumming; for

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thay belevit, nocht onelie the said Romanis to fecht nane uthir wayis
aganis thame, than thay faucht afore aganis the Equis; bot als belevit, throw thair boldin mindis, and dissenciouns amang thameself,
sum notabil mischeif haistelie to follow. Howbeit the mater succedit
fer contrare thair opinioun; for the Romanis war never mair feirs
nor cruell aganis thair ennemies, than thay war at this time; becaus
thair mindis war inflammit and boldin, baith be injure of ennemies,
and tary of the consulis. Skars lasere wes gevin to the Hethruschis
to array thair oist, quhen the dartis war left uncastin on uthir side,
and jonit, hand for hand togiddir, with scharp and grundin swerdis to
the deith.
Amang all uthir princes of Romanis, the hous of Fabius wes this
day ane notabil sicht, and exempill of provin vassalege to the cieteyanis; of quhilkis, ane Quincius Fabius, quhilk wes consul in the
thrid yere afore, come feirslie quhare maist confluence of Veanis war;
and incontinent, ane of:the, Hethruschis, na les feirs in strenth of
body, than craft of chevelrie, tuke him unwarly at avantage, and
persit him throw the body with ane swerde. Als sone as the swerde
wes pullit furth, he fell dede on his wound to the ground. Baith the
armyis persavit weill the fall of this nobil man; bot the Romane
armye wes sa astonist tharewith, thay fled sum parte abak.
Than Marcius Fabius lap on the body of his dede brethir, and
huvand up his targe, fornentis his knichtis, said, " Is this the aith ye
"maid me, luffit men, to returne fliand to your tentis. Drede ye
"mair youre febill ennemies than the ire of goddis, be quhilkis ye
"ar deiplie sworne. Be contrare, I am nocht sworne to the goddis,
" and yit I sall outhir returne victoure, or ellis I sall here end my life
"with my brethir, Quincius Fabius."
Than Caius Fabius, quhilk wes consul in the last yere, said to
Marcius Fabius, consul, " Belevis you, brethir, to perswade this
" armye to fecht with thy wourdis. Lat the goddis persuade thame,
" be quham thay are sa deiplie sworne ; and lat us, as accordis to the
" hous of Fabius, and uthir nobil men, exhorte our armye to batall,
"erare be imitacioun and exampill of oure manhede, than be ony
" patent wourdis."
Incontinent, thir twa Fabis ruschit fordwart on the first man that
stude adversare to thame, and be thair feirs curage movit all the

180

TITUS LIVIUS.

armye to pas fordwart on the samin maner. The batall beand in ane
parte renewit, Manlius, consul, faucht na les valyeantlie than he did
in ane uthir weing, quhare almaist siclike fortoun happinnit as afore;
for, as Quincius Fabius wes slane in the tothir weing, sa Manlius,
chasing his ennemies here and thare, with ane cumpany of feirs
knichtis following on him, wes sa sare woundit, that he wes constrenit
to departe, as Quincius Fabius did, out of the field. The Romanis
stude astonist but ony forthir moving; and but dout thay had gevin
bakkis, war nocht Marcius Fabius, the tothir consul, come on ane
spedy hors, with certane turmis of horsmen, schawand his colleig
levand, and himself victorious abone his ennemies. Attoure, Manlius, howbeit he wes sa woundit, schew himself present to the armye
for thair comforte. The presence of the twa consulis rasit the armye
to new curage ; and als the oist of thair ennemies wes mair thin than
afore; for thay confidit sa mekill in the multitude of thair pepill,
thay send ane large noumer thareof to sege the tentis of Romanis.
Als sone as the ennemies war enterit with small difficulte within
the tentis and palyeouns of Romanis, thay waistit mair time be spuleye, than be ony honest vassalege; and incontinent, the triaris,
quhilk micht nocht resist this feirs irrupcioun of ennemies, send thair
messingeris to advertise the consulis of the huge perrell in quhilk
thay presentlie stude; syne gaderit, with grete cumpanyis, to the
Pretorie, and be thair awne curage renewit batall. Belive wes Manlius, consul, brocht to the tentis; and at his cumming he put mony
garnisouns of armit men to the portis of thair trinschis, quhare thay
war presentlie campit, to stop the ennemies fra ony out passage or
isching.
The disperacioun movit the ennemies mair to rage and furie, than
to ony hardines; for quhen thay had assaileyeit to get ane out passage,
ay ruscheand here and thare, quhare ony esperance thareof apperit,
thay had laborit certane time in vane, ane knott of feirs men cruelly
invadit the said consul, schinand with his burnist armoure. The
first bront of ennemies wes schot by him be freindis, for the time,
standing than about him; but the secund dint thareof micht nocht be
resistit, for he wes sa woundit tharewith, he fell dede to the ground.
Than war every ane about him sa effrayit, thay gaif bakkis; throw
quhilkis rais nocht alanerlie hie curage to the Hethruschis, bot als

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181

ane terroure to the Romanis, throw all thair tentis. Finalie, thay
had cummin to uter discomfitoure, war nocht the legatis tuke away
the body of the slane consul, and oppinnit ane porte, that thair ennemies micht departe. The ennemies, departing at this porte, come
be aventure on the tothir consull Fabius, quhilk wes victorius for the
time, be quham the ennemies war discomfist, as afore. This wes ane
glorius victorie succeding to Romanis; howbeit it wes richt sorowfull
throw deith of Quincius Fabius and Manlius, consul.
At last, quhen the senate had decernit ane triumph to be gevin to
Marcius Fabius, consul, for the victorie conquest sa valyeantlie be
him, he gaif answere, saying, He wald glaidly ressave the glore of
triumphe, gif sic thingis micht be, that his armye micht triumphe,
quhen thay had beryit thair emprioure and maister. Herefore, sen his
hous wes sorowfull in the deith of Quincius Fabius, and the commounweill desolate be deith of Manlius, consul, he wald not ressave
the crown of laurew, to have the samin deformit with the public doloure. The denying of triumphe wes mair honest to the consul, than
ony uthir trriumphe that wes maid afore thay dayis; for glore ay
aboundis the mair, that it is refusit in dew time.

CAP. XXI.
How the woundit knichtis war gevin to the Fabis, and uthir Faderis
of the ciete, quhil thay war curit of thair woundis. How the surname of Fabisfurnist the batail aganis the Veanis on thair awne
expensis. How the Hethruschis war vincust be Lucius Emilius.
And how ccc. and vi. Fabis war slane.
S Ic thingis done, Marcius Fabius made him to berey the
bodyis of Manlius, consul, his colleig, and of Quincius
Fabius, his brother, and wes gretumlie lovit for the hoenoure that he had to thaim for thocht he gaif to thaim
all the luffing that he desirit, yit the maist parte thairof succedit to
himself. Attoure this Fabius wes nocht unmindefull of the purpois
that he tuke in the beginning of his consulate; that is to say, to re-

18

TITUS LIVIUS.

counsel the mindis of small pepillo the Faderis, and to conques to
mair favoure thairof, he tuke the maist parte of the knichtis quhilkis
war woundit in this last batall, and dividit thaim amang the Faderis,
to be nurist on thair expensis, quhil thay war curit of thair woundis.
Mony of thir woundit knichtis war ordourit on the samin maner amang
the Fabis, throw quhilk the Fabis began to conques the favoure populare; howbeit thair sicht was ay maist direckit to the commodite of
public weil. Be this way, Ceso Fabius, and Titus Virginius war
maid consulis, als meikle be desire of Faderis as be desire of pepill.
The consulis thocht nouthir batallis nor rasing of armyis, nor yit uthir
besines to be done, quhil the Faderis and pepill war recounsalit togiddir be sum concorde. And for that caus thay decernit, at the beginning of the nixt yere, afore ony tribune wes autoure of the law Agrarie,
to conques the favoure of the small pepill be sum liberalite, and to
divide equalie amang thaim all the landis quhilkis war latelie conquest fra thair inemyis, for thay thocht na thing mair respondent to
ressoun and equite, than the pepill to rejose the landis quhilkis war
conquest be thair blude and jeoperdie of batall; yit the Faderis refusit
thir desiris of the consulis, and lamentit hevily the quik ingine of
Ceso Fabius began to evanis, growand insolent be superhabundant
glore. Mony yeris eftir, na civil facciouns war in the ciete. At this
time the Latinis war vexit with frequent incursiouns of the Equis ;
be quhilk occasioun Ceso Fabius wes send with ane army to waist
thair landis. At his cummin, the Equis held thaimselvis within thair
wallis and townis; throw quhilk na thing micht be done aganis thaim
wourthie to have memorie.
On the tothir side, Titus Virginius wes send aganis the Veanis,
quhare he fell in sic trubil be his fulish hardines, that: his army had
bene aluterlie perist, war nocht the tothir consul, Ceso Fabius, happinit to cum the mair haistelie to his support. Mony yeris eftir, nothir wes were nor yit pece with Veanis, for the vassalage followit mair
like thift and rubry than ony honest jeopardyis; for als sone as the
Veanis fand the Romanis enterit in thair landis, thay returnit haistelie to thair municiouns and townis. And, fra the Romanis war departit, thay maid ithand hereschippis in thair landis, scornand thair
weris with pece, and thair pece with weris. Thus micht nouthir thair
weris be supersedit nor yit clerelie dantit. Attoure mony uthir ba-

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tallis presentlie apperit aganis the Romanis, for the Equis and Volschis wald supersede thair batall na langare bot quhil the recent doloure of thair last discomfitoure wes ourepast. On the samin maner
the Sabinis, quhilkis war ay feirs inemyis to Romanis, war nocht alanerlie reddy for batall, bot als had drawin al the pepill of Hethruria to
thair supporte ; forthir, the Veanis, quhilkis war ay mair continual than
scharp inemyis, assailyeit oft times the mindis of Romanis mair with
dispitefull injures than ony jeoperdy of armis; throw quhilk the Romanis war drawin in sic solicitude and fere, that thay micht nocht
transport this batall fra the Veanis on uthir pepill.
The hous of Fabis, movit be thir displeseris, past to the senate,
and made Ceso Fabius, consul, to be forespekare for thaim, quhilk
said as followis :-" 0 Faderis Conscript, the batall of Veanis, as ye
' know, nedis mair ane ithand and continuall garnisoun than ony mul" titude of pepill to were aganis thaim; herefore we desire that ye Fa" deris foresaid sustene the chargis of all uthir batallis quhilkis ar mo" vit aganis youre commoun weill, and suffir the surname and hous
" of Fabis to were aganis the Veanis, and beleif the majeste of Romanis
" sal be sufficientlie garnist be us in that mater; for we intend to lede
" this batall with oure awne expens and surname alanerlie. Thus
" sall youre public weill nocht be travellit with ony public expensis
"or armyis for ony besines that now presentlie occurris."
Grete thankis war gevin to the Fabis for thir offeris. Sone eftir,
the consul departit fra the courte, with the remanent friendis of his
hous, and returnit to his lugeing. At his returning, he commandit
all his friendis and surname foresaid, to mete him on the nixt morow,
at his said lugeing, armit on thair best avise. Als sone as the pepill war advertist of thir tithingis, thay extollit the hous of Fabis to
the hevin, saying, Ane private hous has tane on thair bakkis the
charge, quhilk the hale ciete suld have sustenit. The batall of Veanis wes convertit in ane private cure and private armye; gif thay
war two uthir housis in the ciete of siclike manhede and curage as
the Fabis war, that ane micht be send aganis the Volschis, and this
uthir aganis the Equis; and sa the Romane pepill micht leif in sikker
tranquillite, and be dantouris of all pepill liand thaim about. On the
day following, the Fabis tuke thair armoure and wappinnis, and con-

184

TITUS LIVIUS.

venit to the samin place that wes to thaim assignit. Sone eftir thair
cumming, the consull, clothit in his cote armoure and habit imperiall,
departit fra his hous, and vesyit all his surname and linnage, arrayit
in gudelie maner afore him. Als sone as he wes enterit in middis of
thaim, he gart display his baner. Suthlie, thair wes never ane armye
sene afore thay dayis, beand of sa few noumer, that wes of mair renoune and admiracioun to the pepill than wes this foresaid cumpany
of Fabis, for thay war ccc. and vi. knichtis in schining armoure, all
patricianis, all of ane hous, and every ane of thaim wourthy to have
bene governoure of any nobill army abone the Romanis. Thir feirs
and illustir campiouns, all of ane hous, went fordwart minassing grete
mischief and sorow to Veane pepill. Followit on thaim ane cumpany
of companyeouns and friendis, quhilkis had na esperance nor sollicitude
of small materis, bot erare beleving mair glore to succede to thaim be
knichtlie vassalage than ever wes herd in ony world afore. Ane uthir
cumpany followit on thaim, quhilkis war rasit be sollicitude of public weil, and als war richt astonist be favoure and admiracioun that
thay had to thir nobill men, and bad thaim pas fordwart as happy and
lusty gallandis, with gude werde, that the end of thair voyage micht
be respondent to thair beginning ; quharethrow ilk ane of thaim micht
beleif nocht alanerlie to be cled with all honouris and digniteis of
thair ciete, bot als maist excellent triumph to succede for thair laubouris. Thir cumpanyis made thair prayaris to the goddis quhen
thir Fabis war passand by the capitoll and uthir divine tempillis of
thair goddis, to grant thaim sic perdoun that thay micht, hele and
fere, returne haistelie agane to thair cuntre and friendis; bot thair
prayaris war nocht herd. Than the Fabis departit out of the ciete at
ane unchancy porte, namit Carmentall, levand the tempill of Janus
on thair richt hand, quhill thay cum to the river of Cremera, quhair
thay fand ganand place to garnis ane municioun of armit men aganis
thair inemyis, quhil the Fabis war gevin to frequent direpciouns in
all partis quhair thay cum. Thay apperit nocht onelie sufficient to
defend thaimself be thair municioun foresaid, bot als, throw every
boundis quhair the Tuskane landis conjonit to Romanis, thay maid all
placis quhair thay cum, thocht the samin war noysum and dangerus,
richt sikker to thaimself, be thair frequent incursiouns. Nochtheles,

THIE SECUND BUKE

185

sic thingis war sufferit bot ane schort time, for the Veanis brocht ane
army out of Hethruria, and belive assaileyete this garnisoun, Hand for
the time at Cremera.
In the mene time Lucius Emilius, consul, past with certane Romane legiouns, and faucht aganis thir Hethruschis; howbeit the saidis
Hethruschis had skars space to array thair oistis, for at the first assemblance fra the baneris war displayit, and the ordoure of armit
knichtis enterit in batall, and ane buschment made reddy to cum in
thair supporte, ane weing of horsemen cum sidlingis the batall of
Veanis; throw quhilk thay war sa astonist, thay had nouthir lasere
to begin batall, nor yit place to abide, but war constrenit to fle abak
to the rede stanis quhair thair campe lay. The Veanis, eftir this discomfitoure, petuusly desirit pece, quhilkis wes grantit to thaim.
Nochtheles, be natural inconstance and lichtness of thair mindis,
thay war sene eftir penitent of thair peace contractit, afore the Fabis
rasit thair campe fra the river of Cremera.
Than followit sone the batall of Fabis aganis the Veanis, but ony
preparacioun of grete weris; for nocht alanerlie war frequent direpciouns on ather side, bot als sum times baith thair armyis met togiddir with equale batal and arrayit ansenyeis; howbeit the Fabis war ay
victorious of Veos, the maist rich and pussant ciete that wes in thay
dayis amang the Hethruschis. The Veanis war movit to grete ire and
indignacioun fra thir frequent feliciteis falling to Fabis, and thairfor
tuke degest avisement be quhat hie slichtis thay micht best confound
thair feirs inemyis; for thay allegit the Fabis grewe ilk day mair and
mair in ferocite and hardiment be thir frequent victoryis; herefore, to
dissave the said Fabis, as the samin had happinnit alanerlie be aventure, thay draif ane noumer of bestial, in thair gate specialy, quhair
thay hantit maist incursiouns. Als thay causit the landwart pepill to
fle oft times be thair crafty slichtis, throw quhilk mony of thair landis,
as it had bene throw fere of the Fabis, war left desert.
Sic thingis done, thir Veanis laid ane strang garnisoun of armit
men in secrete glennis to recountir the Fabis, quhen ony avantage occurrit. Now war the Fabis sa proude for thir sindry victoryis fallin
to thaim, that thay continewit thair inemyis, and belevit thair invincibill armoure and wappinnis micht nouthir be vincust nor yit resistit
in ony times cumming. This vane esperance movit the Fabis to de2A

186

TITUS LIVIUS.

parte ane lang way fra thair municioun at Cremera, for winning of
certane beistis quhilkis apperit to thair sicht on ane montane, with few
noumer of knichtis laid for thair defence. At last quhen thay war cummin unprovisitlie and scatterit, as the use is, to drive away the gudis
conquest be thair incursiouns, thir buschmentis, quhilkis war laid under
covert, rais haistelie on every hand about thaim; and throw noyis and
clamoure rising be thir buschmentis, the Fabis war gretumlie astonist.
Incontinent ane thick schoure of dartis invadit thaim on every hand.
Now war the Fabis, be fast rusching of the Hethruschis, inclusit but
ony out passage; and the mair the inemyis thristit in on thaim, the
mair straitlie war thay drawin togiddir; and ay the mair the Fabis
semit of few noumer, the mair the Hethruschis apperit of huge multitude. Than the Fabis, howbeit ilk ane of thaim.wes equally debating with thair inemyis, left the chance thairof, and maid thaim al
atanis perforce to mak ane out passage throw thair inemyis; finalie,
be force of all thair bodyis and wappinnis at anis concurrand, thay
maid ane slop throw thir inemyis at the samin place quhair thay maid
this first onset.
Als sone as thay war departit in this maner, thay fled up throw ane
strate montane; and be straitness thairof, maid thaim to new defence
and batall. And becaus thay war montit abone thair inemyis, and
sum parte deliverit, as apperit, of the sorowfull chance in quhilkis
thay war presentlie falling, thay began to draw new curage, and ane
syne straik down thair inemyis as thay be force ascendit; throw
quhilk thir few knichtis had vincust and ourethrawin thair inemyis be
straitness of ground, war nocht the Veanis kest thaim about the montane; and als sone as thay had won the hede thairof, thay discendit
with grete violence on thair bakkis, throw quhilk the nobill Fabis, inclusit baith on bak and afore, fechtand with perseverant manhede to
the deith, war al slane, but ony excepcioun, and thair municioun maid
at Cremera tane. Treuth is, ccc. and vi. Fabis all perist at this
time, and nane of thair surname left on life except ane young childe,
quhilk wes left at haim, preservit be favoure of goddis, to be ane stok
of thair hous, that the samin micht be ane beild to Romanis, in times
cummin, aganis inemyis baith in were and pece, quhen maist necessite occurrit.

THE~

SECUN\D

8

BUKE,

187

CAP. XXII.
Ofthe variant chance of batallsucceding betwir Romanis and Veanis.
How Menenius deceissitfor the schame done to him. How Servilius deliverit himselfffra the jugement of pepill. How the Veanis
and Sabinis war discomfist be Romanis. How the Volschis and
Equis war vincust be Latinis; and how the Veanis war maid tributaris to Romanis.
this lamentabil mischief wes cumin to the hous of
Fabis, Caius Horacius, and Titus Menenius, war maid
, , consulis. Menenius wes send haistele
thrushis, quhilkis war richt pridefull and rejosing of
this victorie; howbeit he faucht with litill better fortoun than did the
Fabis.
and purThe Hethruschis, eftir this victorie, tuke Mont
poisit to sege Rome, quhilk wes, for that time, hevily trublit with penurite and derth of vittalis. In the mene time, thir Hethruschis cum
nocht Horacius,
oure Tiber, and, but dout, thay had tane Rome,
the tothir consul, quhilk wes send agane the Volschis, wes brocht the
mare haistelie agane to resist the samin. This batall wes fochtin sa
nere the. wallis of Rome, that it wes. first fochtin beside the tempill of
the goddes namit Spes, with equal chance of victorie ; and, eftir that,
cruelly fochtin at Porte Colline. And thocht the Romanis, at this
UHEN

aganis

Janicle;

war

last jeoperdy, had

bot-sinai avantage, yit the samin restorit thame to

thair curage, for thairthrow thay war the mair bald eftirwartis in
batall.
Sic thingis done, Aulus Virginius, and Spurius Servilius, war maid
consullis. The Veanis, eftir this last, discomfitoure, abstenit fra ony
sett batall.

Nochtheles, followit mony hereschippis be sindry

incur-

siouns ; and, first, thay cum with sa huge preis and minassing in the
Roinane landis, that na thing wes saiff; for baith. landwart pepill and
bestiall' war maid pray to thame.' Nochtheless, thay war ay tane be
the samin sliclitis of hid buschmentis, as the Fabis war tane be thame-

188

TITUS LIVIUS.

afore; for the Romanis drew thare beistis aft times in the sicht of
Veanis, and lay with grete buschmentis hid undir covert. Allwayis,
the greter multitude of Veanis cum to thare incursiounis, followit ay
the mare slauchtir on thame. Throw thir harmes rais sic ire and
haterent, that the samin wes occasioun and beginning of ane grete
mischief; for the said Veanis cum oure the Tiber, within the nicht,
and assailyeit the tentis of Servilius, consull; bot thay war sone discomfist, and, nocht but grete slauchtir, returnit to thair tentis. The
consull, eftir this victorie, past haistelie oure Tiber, and satt doun
with his garnist campe in Mont Janicle. On the nixt morow, als sone
as the licht apperit, howbeit he wes richt feirs throw this last victorie, yit he tuke consultacioun, mare how his armye micht be relevit
of the miserabill derth within the samin, than of ony uthir besines.
And becaus the samin requirit sa properant and haisty releif, he rasit
his armye, and cum fulichly up the said montane of Janicle, quhare
his enemyis lay; and wes doung doun with mare schame and displesoure, than war the Hethruschis doung doun be him in the day afore:
nochtheles, his army wes sauffit be intervencioun of his colleig. The
Hethruschis, inclusit on every hand betwix the twa armyis, gaif
bakkis, and war discomfist with grete slauchter. Thus wes the batall
led aganis the Veanis with ane happy folie.
At the returning of the consullis to Rome, nocht alanerlie followit
gude pece, bot als gude fowth of vittallis; for ane huge aboundance
thareof wes brocht baith out of Champany, and als, fra the dredoure
of derth wes tane away, all uthir vittallis, quhikis war hid in the ciete,
war brocht to licht. The pepill, throw eis and fowth of vittallis, began to be insolent as afore; returning to thare auld hatrent and displesuris, and seirchit to invaid thameself with injuris at hame, becaus
na uncouth enemyis apperit tharefurth. First the tribunis began to
move the pepill, be evill counsell and be the law Agrarie, aganis the
Faderis; yit the said Faderis nocht alanerlie resistit thame in generale, bot als refusit every ane of thame in speciale. Quintus Considius, and Titus Genucius, auctouris of the law Agrarie, assignit ane
day to Titus Menenius to haif himself punist be jugement of pepill;
becaus, as thay allegit, the garnisoun that wes laid be the Fabis at
Cremera wes tint alanerlie be his sleuth; for he wes nocht far distant fra the samin quhen he wes consul, with ane grete armye, and

THE SECUND BUKE.

189

micht haif recoursit the samin gif he had plesit. At last, quhen the
day of jugement wes cumin, the pepill condampnit this Menenius;
howbeit the Faderis lauborit na les for him than thay did afore for
Marcius Coriolanus; for the singulare meritis done be Agrippa Menenius, his fader, wes nocht as than out of thare mindis. Nochtheles,
the tribunis war richt merciful in his punicioun; for, thocht he wes
condampnit, be jugement of the pepill, to be hedit, yit thay assoilyeit
him thareof, and gart him pay be generale edict iI.M brasin penyis.
Menenius tuke sic displesour for the schame done to him, that he fell
be melancoly in irremediabil infirmite, and sone eftir deceissit. Sic
thingis done, Caius Naucius, and Publius Valerius, war maid consullis.
In the beginning of this yere, Lucius Cedicius, and Titus Stacius,
tribunis of pepill, assignit ane day to Servilius, this last consull, to
here him punist be jugement of pepill. This Servilius wald nouthir
defend him be requeist and prayaris of Faderis, as Menenius did afore,
bot, confiding stoutlie in his innocence and gude dedis, sustenit al
the preis and accusatiouns of tribunis led aganis him. The crime that
wes imput to him, wes the fulich rasing of his armye aganis the
straitnes of Mont Janicle. Bot he had na les spreit this day in his
awne private accioun, than he had afore in public chargis; for nocht
alanerlie he reprochit the tribunis, bot als reprevit the pepill with feirs
wourdis, saying, Thay wrangouslie condamnit Menenius afore rehersit, and wes the caus of his deith; considering, his fadere, Agrippa,
sa prudentlie recounsalit thame to the Faderis, and als purchest to
the said pepill all thir lawis, auctoriteis, and privilegis of tribunis,
quhilkis makis thame presentlie sa insolent and proude. Servilius, be
thir feirs and hardy wourdis, deliverit himself honestlie of all dangere. Als Virginius, quhilk wes his colleig for the time, nocht onelie stude in testimoniale of his meritis and loving, bot als supportit
him mony uthir wayis; yit na thing changeit the mindis of pepill,
nor yit causit thame sa mekill to desist fra his accusacioun, as the reproching maid to thame for dampnacioun of this innocent man, Me,nenius foresaid. Thus war all the civile contenciouns finissit in the
ciete.
Nocht lang eftir rais ane new rebellioun of Veanis, be support of
Sabinis, quhilkis war confiderit to thare supporte. And, for that caus,

i90

TITUS LIVIUS.

Publius Valerius, consul, rasit ane army, baith of Romanis, Latinis,
and Hernikis, to fecht aganis thir Veanis: and, at his first cuming,
he assailyeit the tentis of Sabinis; for thay war campit to be ane were
wall for defens of Veanis, thare freind; and maid thir Sabinis, be
scharpe assalt, sa astonist, that thay ran skatterit in sindry buschmentis to resist his feirs irrupcioun. Incontinent, thay tuke the porte
of the Sabine campe, quhare the ensenye wes erekkit, and, enterand
feirsly within the samin, maid ane huge slauchter, but ony debait or
resistence. The fray and noyis wes brocht haistely fra the tentis of
Sabinis to the ciete of Veos, and causit the Veanis to rusche with
maist preis to harnes, for thay war na les abasit than thare ciete had
bene tane; and parte of thir Veanis haistely ischit of thare ciete to
support thir Sabinis, and the residew thareof ran with all thare force
on the Romanis, quhilkis war than feirsly occupyit with slauchter
and spulye baith of the Sabinis and thare tentis; throw quhilkis the
said Romanis war gretelie trublit, and sum parte put abak; yit, fra
thair baneris war displait, thay resistit baith the army of Veanis and
Sabinis. Quhil baith thir armyis war fechtand maist ernestlie in this
wise, ane cumpany of horsmen cum haistelie, be command of the consul, to thare support; throw quhais terroure, thir twa maist pussant
and confiderate pepill war baith atanis discomfist and chaist.
Schort time eftir this victorie, the Volschis and Equis sat doun,
with campit oistis, in the Latine landis, and maid na litill hereschippis
in the samin; nochtheles, the Latinis, but ony capitane, supporte, or
ensenye of Romanis, vincust baith the foresaid pepill, alanerlie be
supporte of thameself and Hernikis, and wan thare campe. The said
Latinis conquest be this victorie ane incredibil pray, abone al thare
awne gudis quhilkis war tint of before, and recoverit at this time.
Yit, nochtwithstanding thir victoryis, Caius Naucius, consul, wes
send out of Rome with ane armye aganis the Volschis; for the Romanis war na thing content, that the Latinis, quhilkis war thare colonyis and confiderate freindis, suld lede batall aganis thare enemyis
alanerlie be thare awne wayis, but ony avise of Romane capitanis.
Allwayis, na calamite, na kinde of miserie wes left undone to Volschis; howbeit na thing micht perswade thame to batall.
-Eftir this, Lucius Furius, and Caius Manlius, war maid consullis.
Manlius wes send aganis the Veanis, howbeit he faucht nocht with

THE SECUND BUKE.19

191

thame; for thay gat pece be thare awne desire, paying yerelie tribute
of vittallis and monie to the Romane empire.

CAP.

XXIII.

How Genucius, Tribune, arreistitFurius and Manlius, Consullis,
afore the Pepill, and of his slauchter. How Volero, ane of the conmoun pepill, rebellit aganis the Faderis; and of the grete trubill
and terroure that rais tharethrow amang the Faderis.
Ls sone as pece wes maid with uncouth enemyis, followit
civil contenciouns at hame amang the Romanis; for the
tribunis maid the pepill to rage aganis the Faderis, be
L " impulsioun of the law Agrarie. And howbeit Menenius
wes condampnit afore be jugement of pepill, and als Servilius eschaping narowly fra huge dangere in the samin maner, yit the consullis,
that is to say, Furius, and Manlius afore rehersit, war na thing effrayit be exempil thareof, bot maid thame, with all authorite and
power thay micht, to resist the desire of pepill.
Als sone as thare auctorite wes experit, thay war baith arreistit be

Genucius, tribune of pepill. In the mene time, Lucius Emilius, and
Opiter Virginius, war maid consulis : but I find in uthir Croniklis,
that Vopiscus Julius was consul in the place of Virginius. And,
treuth is,
nochtwithstanding quhatsumevir consullis war in' this
baith thir twa last consulis, Lucius Furius, and Caius Manlius, war
haldin as criminabill afor the pepill. And, for suspicioun quhilk wes

yere,

consavit

aganis

thame, thay -past throw the ciete in vile and funerall

the

habit, exhorting. nocht alanerlie the pepill, hot als every ane of
young Faderis, to abstene in time cumming fra administracioun of all
public honouris, and fra sic thingis as concernit the -public weil ; and

ornamentis

consulare,
maid thame, be mony ressouns, understand, The
that is to :say, the axis, the Sadill Curale, the: pretixt goune, with
uthir honouris and digniteis pertening thairto, war nocht but ane

all

pompe of schinand glore afore thare deith ; for- sic men as war decorit
tharewith war na les adjugit to the deith, than ar the beistis cjuhilkis

192

TITUS LIVIUS.

ar to be offerit in sacrifice. The Faderis may consider thus gif the
consulate be ane plesand office, sen it is opprest and violate sa mony
wayis be tribuniciane auctorite; for now the consul is sa thirlit, that
he mon obey to all empire and change of tribunis, as he war bot ane
serjand and apparatoure thareto. Gif the consul be nocht obeisant
to the tribune, or gif he haif ony respect to the commounweil, or desiris ony thing contrare the commoun minde of pepill, nocht restis to
him, bot to remember the proscripcioun of Marcius Coriolanus, the
dampnacioun of Menenius, and sikker deith afore his ene.
The Faderis, movit to hie displesoure be thir persand wourdis,
held, sindry dayis eftir, mony private consultaciouns amng thame
sa quietlie that na men bot thameself had cognissance thareof; and,
eftir lang consultacioun, thay war profoundlie resolvit to deliver thir
twa last consullis fra all fere and punicioun of pepill, outhir be juste
or injuste way, that is to say, be strang hand or be richt; and thocht
the attemptate thareof war nevir sa cruell, yit it plesit thame weill;
for mony persouns war found amang thame to put the samin to haisty execucioun.
Quhen the day wes cummin of jugement, the pepill stude lang in
the courte abiding the cuming of Genucius, havand na litill admiracioun of his lang tary; and, becaus thay saw the houre peremptoure
nere ourepast, and thare tribune nocht compere, thay belevit him to
be astonist, and, be minassing of the Faderis, durst nocht compere to
the persute of thare accioun; throw quhilk thay began to lament,
saying, Thare public caus wes desert and betrayit. At last the remanent tribunis, quhilkis stude in the porchis quhare the courte wes
haldin, schew afore the pepill, how thay fand Genucius, the tribune,
slane in his bed. Als sone as the pepill herde the murthure of thare
tribune, thay skalit here and thare in sindry partis, like ane armye
quhilk is suddanely discomfist fra thare capitane be slane.
Amang the pepill nane wes sa astonist be this trubil as war the
tribunis; for quhen thay saw the haly auctorite tribuniciane violate
be slauchter of Genucius, thair colleig, thay war disparit to mak ony
helpe to the pepill in this present dangere. On the tothir side, the
Faderis rejosit, with immoderate blithenes, for the deith of Genucius,
and schew thameself tharethrow na thing penitent for his deith; for

THE SECUND BUKE.

193

he wes punist justlie as thay thocht. Apperit thus, the haly auctorite
tribuniciane to be destroyit be manifest tyranny.
The Faderis seand thameself victorius abone the pepill, be this
maisterfull and wrangous maner, commandit ane army to be rasit, that
the pepil micht be the mair eselie dantit; and, becaus the tribunis
war effrayit, the Faderis put thare purpois to execucioun but ony impediment. Than the small pepil rais in grete ire, and war na les commovit aganis the tribunis, for observacioun of silence in thare public
accioun, than thay war for the empire of consulis regnand abone
thame; and said, " Thare liberte wes endit but recovir; for, throw the
" deith of Genucius, the haly auctorite tribuniciane wes endit and bu" ryit atanis. Fors wes tharefore ane thing to think, and ane uthir
' thing to do, for resisting the Faderis. Na thing wes left bot thare
" last refuge, to defend thameself as thay micht, sen na support apperit
" to thame of uthir. The consulis hes xxxiv. serjandis, armit with
" axis, to defend thair auctorite consulare, and estimis na thing les
" than us, that ar discendit of linage populare. Yit war thare ony
" amang us that micht resist or contempne thair auctorite, we suld
" suddanelie rise in grete terroure to thaim.'
Quhen the pepil had movit thameself with thir and siclike vane
wourdis, ane serjand wes send, be auctorite of the consulis, to tak ane
man that wes amang thame for the time, namit Publius Volero; for
he wald nocht obey the auctorite of Faderis, nor yit gif his name in
writt, allegiand he wes ane capitane afore sum uthir time in the Romane armyis; and, for that caus, he aucht nocht to be as ane private
man but ony auctorite, bot suld have bene erare ane capitane as he
wes afore. Als sone as Volero wes teichit in this maner be the serjand, he appelit to the tribunis; and, becaus nane of thame assistit
to his supporte, the consulis commandit him to be tirvit nakit, and
skurgit with wandis. Than said Volero, " I appele to the pepil; for
" the tribunis had erare ane cieteyane of Rome war skurgit afore
"thare ene, than to haif thaimself murdrist in thare beddis." The
mair this man cryit, the serjand maid him to be the mair hastelie
tirvit of his claithis. Allwayis, this Volero wes wicht and strang of
body, and obtenit sic helpe that he deliverit himself be force out of
the serjandis handis, syne thristit in sturdily quhare he herd maist

194

TITUS LIVIUS.

clamoure and noyis of pepil applying to his opinioun, and cryit, " I
" appele to the pepil, and askis thare assistance. Cum here," said
he, " ye cieteyanis and nobil companyouns, now is na time to abide
" the helpe of your tribunis, for thay haif mair mister of your sup" porte than ye haif of thares."
The pepil, inflammit be thir wourdis, armit thame with na les ire
than thay had bene to fecht aganis thare enemyis. Apperit sa grete
trubil hastelie to follow, that nouthir halines, richt, nor yit private
or public constitucioun apperit to have place or reverence for the time
in the ciete. The consulis, makand thame to resist the furie of pepil
rising be this haisty contencioun, gat sone experience thare majeste
wes richt unsikker, quhare it wes nocht sufficientlie garnist with strang
power; for nocht alanerlie war thare axis brokin, thare serjandis violate and strikkin, bot als thameself chasit fra the merket to the court,
nocht knawing to quhat fine this Volero wald use his victorie latelie
conquest abone thame. At last, quhen the noyis and clamoure, rising
be this bergane, wes sum parte mesit, the consulis convenit the senate
to ane counsell, and complenit the hevy injuris done to thame be violence of smal pepil, and the hardy attemptatis of Volero. Eftir lang
consultacioun, mony feirs sentence and opiniouns war fand in this
mater to dant the rebellioun and pride of small pepil; yit, be suffrage
and votis of agit men, it wes found unproffitabill that the ire of Faderis suld contend aganis the furie and wodnes of pepil.

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195

C A P. XXIV.
How the Faderis opponit thaim aganis the law maid be Volero, tribune of pepill. Of grete contencioun betwix Letorius, tribune,
and Appius, consul. .And how the trubill appering thairthrow wes
mesit be Quincius, consull ; and the noumer of tribunis ekit.
HE pepill, havand victorie on this wise, embrasit Volero,
and create him tribune in thair nixt commitis. In this
yere, Lucius Pinarius, and Publius Furius, war maid
consulis; and thocht ilk man belevit this Volero suld
exerce his office, allanerlie to trubill the consullis of this last yere,
yit, contrare the opinioun of pepill, fra he wes cled with public honouris, he had sic private doloure that he never movit ane displesant
worde aganis the consulis, bot maid ane law in favour of smal pepil,
that al officis and digniteis pertenand to thaim sal be chosin, in times
cumming, be comitis allanerlie of Tribunis. Howbeit this law apperit of litill force or effect in the first face, yit it maid plane derogacioun
to the Faderis to creat ony tribunis in times cumming, be votis of
thair assessouris or clientis. The Faderis, knawing the dammage
thairof, opponit thaim feirslie with uthir power, to resist the said law,
yit nane wes fand amang the Faderis or consullis that durst particularly oppone thaim thairto, nor yit stop the samin. Nochtheles, the
thing that wes sa strang and pussant in the self, be revolucioun of
divers tretyis, war differrit to the beginning of the nixt yere. The pepill at the beginning thairof, continewit Volero tribune as afore. The
Faderis seing grete trubill appere, and traisting the samin to be endit
be the swerde alanerlie, chesit Appius Claudius, afore rehersit, to be
consul, and maid Titus Quincius his colleig. This Appius was hatit,
and evil luffit with the small pepill, be sindry contenciouns and debatis sustenit be his fader, contrare thair autorite.
At the beginning of the nixt yere, the pepill tuke na sollicitude,
bot alanerlie for sic thingis as micht erast fortifie this new law maid
be Volero in thair favoure. This Letorius was mair feirs, and afald

196

TITUS LIVIUS.

to put this new law to execucioun, than wes Volero the first auctoure
thairof. The huge fame and glore of batall be quhilk he wes gretumlie estemeit, maid him the mair bald to follow his mater. This
Letorius, seand Volero, his colleig, speik na thing bot onelie of the
law foresaid, began to speke aganis the hous and family of Ap. Claudius, saying, The Faderis has create and ordanit the said Appius
nocht to be consul, bot erare to be ane flescheoure for vexacioun and
trubil of small pepill. This Letorius wes sa rude of his language,
as men of armis usis to be, that he suld nocht declair perfitelie his
minde; and for that caus he said to the pepill, " 0 Quirites, sen so
" is, I can nocht schaw my minde uthir wayis than I have done, I
" pray you be on this nixt morow reddy, and outhir sall I de in youre
" sicht, or ellis I sall have the law establit."
The tribunis, on the nixt morow, tuke the tempill for establing of
the said law, bot the consullis and nobillis cum to empesche the samin.
Incontinent the tribune commandit ilk man to departe, except sa
mony as wald gif thair votis for confirmacioun of the said law. Mony
of the young nobillis wald gif na place, nor yit obey to the viator.
Than Letorius commandit ane certane of thir young nobillis to be
tane be the viator; bot Appius allegit the tribunis had na jurisdictioun bot onelie of the plebeanis, for the office of tribunis micht nocht
have ony power abone the pepill, bot onelie on the plebeanis. Thus
micht the tribunis have na power to remove the young nobillis for ony
assemblance or convencioun. The tribunis micht have said, " 0 Qui" rites, departe, if ye pleis, out of this place." The consul micht have
eith perturbit the tribune in decisioun of the richt. Incontinent the
tribune, Letorius, inflammit with ire, send the viator to tak the consul, and the consul send the lictor to tak the tribune, and cryit, " The
" tribune wes ane private man, but empire or ony auctorite."
Thus had the tribune bene violate, and slane, war nocht the pepill ruschit with huge effray out of all partis of the ciete to the merkett, and assistit with the tribune aganis the consull. Yet Appius
sustenit all this debate and dangerus trubil sa stoutlie, that the batall
had nocht ceissit but effucioun of blude, war nocht Quincius, the tothir consul, gaif command to the Faderis to bring Appius per force
out of the merkett, gif thay micht nocht bring him uthir wayis. This
Quincius began sum time to meis the small pepill with swete wordis;

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197

sum time he prayit the tribunis to skaill thair convencioun and supercede thair ire, sen the delaying of thair purpois for ane time micht
tak na pussance fra thaim, bot erare fortify thaim with mair strenth;
for as the Faderis war undir power of the pepill, sa war the consullis
undir the power of Faderis. The pepill war nocht mesit but grete
difficulte be Quincius, and with mair difficulte wes Appius mesit be
the Faderis.
Als sone as this convencioun of pepill wes skalit, the consullis
convenit the senatouris; and becaus thay war inflammit with huge ire
on the ta parte, and had grete dredoure of the pepill on the tother
parte, thay war dividit in sindry opiniouns, and ay the mair laser thay
tuke for consultacioun in this mater, the mair war thair mindis drawin
fra all contencioun, and gaif, thairfor, na litill thankis to Quincius,
consull, for the discorde wes mesit be his lauboure. Appius desirit
the majeste of consullis to be of na les estimacioun at this time, than
it micht be in ony times of concorde.
Quhil the ciete wes drawin on this wise, be consullis and tribunis, in
sindry opiniouns, nocht onelie apperit na pussance left in the ciete,
bot als the commoun weill sa hurte and dividit in contrarius facciouns,
that it was ether to spere, Quha had the governance of commoun
weill, than to inquire gif the commoun weill wes haill, and wele governit ? Be contrare, Appius tuke baith the goddis and men in witness, the public weill wes desertit and cowartlie betrasit; and the
caus thairof was nocht that the consullis failyeit to the senate, bot
erare that the senate failyeit to the consullis; for at that time war acceppit be thaim mony wikkit and sorowfull lawis, than evir war acceppit be secessioun of pepill to the sacrate montane. Finalie, Appius,
be requeist of Faderis, wes vincust, and left his persute; and incontinent the law wes pronuncit. This wes the first time that ony tribunis war create be commites tribuniciane Thre tribunis war create
at this time, to be ekit to the twa tribunis that war create afore, as
Piso historiographoure writis. The names of thir tribunis followis :
C. Sicinius, L. Numitorius, M. Duillius, Spu. Icilius, and Lu. Mecilius.

198

198
TITUS

LIVIUS.

CAP.,XXV.
How Appius Claudius wes sa unplesand emprioure to his armye, that
tlay sufferit thamesef to be vincust be the Volshis; and how he
punist thane for thairfeing. How Quincius consul maid grete
hereschippis on the Equis, and returnitwith grete honour to Rome.
His sedicioun continewing betwix the consullis and tribunis, gaif occasioun to the Volschis to invaid the Romanis with batall, and mak sindry incursiouns in thair
landis, with purpois, gif the small pepill departit, as afore,
to the Sacrate
thay suld be plesandlie supportit, and have
thair assistance. The ennemies, seand all sedicioun and trubil pecifyit in the ciete, drew abak thair tentis, and past hame.
Sone eftir, be consultacioun of the senate, wes commandit that
Appius, consul, sal pas aganis the Volschis, and Quincius, consul,.to
pas aganis the Equis. The samin cruelte that Appius had in his
cheveirie at hame, remanit with him of feild; for he apperit the mair
cruell,' that he- wes deliverit of all fere of tribunis. This Appius bure
mair. implacabill haterent aganis the pepill, than bure his fadir, becaus he wes ourethrawin at this time be the tribunis ; as he wes the

Montane,

mair

comm ovit, that he beand consul,

alanerlie

objekkand aganis the

auctorite of tribunis, the law wes pronuncit, quhilk wes empeschit be
uthir consullis' afore, with les difficulte and lauboure. This ire and
indignacioun movit Appius to greif his armye with sa feirs commandmentis, that it micht na- wayis be mesit ; for the armye consavit na
littil ire and indignacioun in thare. mindis aganis- him, and did all
thingis' sa 'thrawartlie be sleuth and necligence, that nouthir schame
nor fere of thare eniemyis micht refrene thame. Gif Appius. desirit
thame to haisty thare passage, thay past huly ; gif he wald exhort.
thame to array, thay wilfully past sindry, and dejekkit thare ene to
the erde. Quhen he past by thame, thay weryit him, that his minde,
quhilk wes sa insensibil with haitrent of plebeanis, suld be sumtime
commovit. At last, this Appius seand his bitter wourdis nocht ava-

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199

lit, and that he micht do ia thing be the samin, he said the armye
wes corruppit be the centuriouns, and callit thame sumtime tribunis
of pepill, and sumtime callit thame Voleronis.
The Volschis knew weill all thir dissensiouns, and haistyit thame
with all diligence thay micht, traisting the armye to rebell aganis
Appius, on the samin maner as thay did afore aganis Fabius. Howbeit Fabius armye desirit ay to be victouris, and chace thair enemyis,
yit this armye desirit nocht bot to be vincust; for als sone as this
armye wes arrayit fornentis thair enemyis, thay fled schamefully but
ony straik, and schupe never to mak resistence, quhil thay saw the
ansenyeis of enemyis erekkit at the trinschis of thair tentis, and the
utir skirtis of thair armye discomfist with grete slauchter; and yit
thay desirit na uthir victorie, bot alanerlie thair tentis nocht to be
tane be enemyis. Mony of thame war glade for the calamite and
trubil falling to thameself; and yit the feirs spreit of Appius wes na
thing brokin be thir injuris, bot callit his armye to ane concioun to
have reprochit thame of thair cowartry and febilnes; and, in the
mene time, the legatis and tribunis come to him, praying him to assaleye nocht the power of his empire, for all the vertew thareof stude
alanerlie in the obedience of his subdittis. Attoure, the armye denyit to convene to ony concioun at his command. Thus wes nocht
herde in the armye, bot ane noyis and clamoure, desiring thame to
be transportit out of the Volschis landis in sum province of Romanis;
for nocht alanerlie wes the enemyis almaist victor within the trinchis
and portis of thair tentis, bot throw the samin, thay had ane suspicioun of ane greter schame and displesoure following.
Appius, seand finalie his rigorus and feirs wourdis nocht availl,
and na furthir in his purpois, bot alanerly tinsell of time, left the
calling of his armye to ane concioun, and commandit thame, on the
nixt morow, to mak thame reddy to depart at the first sound of trumpett.
On the morow arely, als sone as Romanis war departing, the Volschis, awalknit be sound of trumpett, followit feirsly on the latter
skirtis of thair armye. The effray and noyis rissin tharethrow come fra
the hindmest parte of the armye to the formest bront thareof, and maid
sic trubill baith amang the ordouris and the ensenyeis, that nouthir
micht the empire of the capitane be herd, nor yit micht the batall be

200

TITUS LIVIUS.

put in dew array; throw quhilk na man tuke sicht to ony uthir thing,
bot alanerlie to fle. Thus war the Romanis discomfist, and chasit
sa continually, that the Volschis war first irkit of the chace, or the
Romanis ceissit of thair fleing.
The consul, seing he micht na way stop the fleing of his armye,
colleckit thame eftir thair discomfitoure, and sett doun thair tentis
within the Romanis landis; and eftir that he had callit thame to ane
concioun, he began to reproche thame of thair fleing, and passing fra
the ordinance of chevalrie. Syne demandit ilkane of thame quhare
wes thair wappinnis, thair armoure, and thair ensenyeis; and incontinent, tuke all the unarmit men that he fand amang his armye, with
sindry utheris, sic as war banermen, and had left the ensenyeis behind thame; and first he gart skourge thame with wandis, and syne
he gart hede thame with ane ax. The residew of all his discomfist
armye war tane be him, and ilk tent man hedit be cavil for thair
ifleing.
The tothir consul Titus Quincius, quhilk wes send aganis the
Equis, bure him in ane uthir sorte; for thocht the said Quincius wes
be nature of swete and plesand maneris, yit, abone the samin, the
unhappy cruelte of his colleig gaif occasioun to him to rejose in his
awne ingine and soft maneris. The Equis, seand this grete concorde
betwix Quincius and his armye, durst nocht aventure thameself to the
chance of batall, bot sufferit thair enemyis to evaig, and pas but ony
resistence, in depopulacioun and heirschip of thair landis, in sic wise
that never, afore thir dayis, wes won mair prey of riches, but ony
chance of batall; and all the said prey wes delt liberaly be Quincius
amang the armye. Abone all thir largiciouns, the consullis gaif
thame grete loving, in quhilk the sprete and curage of men rejosis na
les than in largiciouns of gudis and riches.
Sone eftir, this armye returnit to Rome, and wes richt acceptabil
to the Faderis, for Quincius saik; and to his grete loving, thay said
He bure him nocht as emprioure, bot as fader abone thame; howbeit
Appius Claudius bure him as ane maister abone the tothir armye.

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201

CAP. XXVI.
How ane day ofjugement wes sett to Appus; and of his deith. How
Valerius and Emilius, consulis, made grete.hereschippis on the
Equis and Sabinis.
the Sabinis and Volsehis war sindry
times vincust be Romanis; and the toun of Ancium tane.

'1o6w

N the yere following, L. Valerius and Ti. Emilius war
maid consulis. °This yere wes richt notabill baith for the

Wcontencioun

of ordouris concerning the law agrarie, and

wes

for the jugement of Appius Claudius,for he
grete adversare to the law agrarie, and debatit the accioun of all thaim that
possedit the public landis; and thairfor the tribunis of pepill, namit
Camns Sicinius, and M. Duilius, sett ane day to the said Appius to
here him criminalie accusit afore the
afore thay dayis wes ony man summond to jugement sa hatit with the
pepill, for the pepill:bure aganis him extreme indignacioun and ire,
baith for his fader and'for his awne sake. On the tothir side, the Faderis sett thaim stoutlie to defend him, for he wes nocht onelie defendoure of. the. senate, bot als 'recoverare. of thair majeste; ay feirslie
opponing him aganis all noyis and trubill of tribunis and pepill.. This
Appius; Claudius beand. allone ainang the Faderis, sett baith the tribunis, "the pepill, and all thair jugeinent at nocht; .and
sa stout in
his opinioun, that nouthir
the minessirfg. of pepill, nor yit the
prayanis of Faderis move him sa mekil as to change his habit, or yit
to mene him pietuouslie to the pepill ; nor yit micht, move. him quhen
his. accioun wes. to be. discussit afore the pepill, to. soft or humil' ony
thing in sevenite of his orisoun for the samin sprete wes in his onisoun ; the samin countenance wes in his visage ;" the samin manen of
saying wes in him*now,. quhen he 'wes private, as wes afone quhen he
wes consul.- He pungit bot. anis ;himself afore the pepill, with maist
awfull and constant sprete, and maid- the .tribunis and pepill sa astonist, that thay war glade to have his dayof jugement als lang delayit
as he plesit. Nochttheles, afore the day cum, he deceissit be suddane
21C

pep

micht

wes

2012

TITUS LIVIUS.

infirmite; and howbeit the tribunis of pepill sett thaim to empesch
the luffing that wes accustumate to be gevin to nobil men in thair
deith; yit the smal pepill wald nocht suffir him to be defraudit thairof, and herd, thairfor, the blasoning and predicacioun of his luffing
als plesandlie then, quhen he wes dede, as thay herd his luffing afore,
quhen he wes quik, and did his funerale obsequies with grete solemnite.
In this yere, Valerius, consul, wes send with ane armye aganis the
Equis; and becaus he culd nocht provoik the inemyis to batall, he
sett him to assailye thair tentis; and incontinent fell sa hevy tempest
with slete and snawis out of the are, that he wes empeschit; and to
the greter admiracioun and woundir, fra he had commandit his armye
to retere abak fra the tentis of inemyis, and cum to his standart, followit sic severite, that nocht wes traistit bot the tentis of inemyis defendit be sum divine power. Thus wes all the preis of batall convertit alanerlie in depopulacioun of the landis of Equis.
The tothir consul, Emilius, led batall aganis the Sabinis, and
waistit thair landis becaus thay wald nocht gif batall, bot held thaim
within their strenthis. At last the Sabinis seand thare landis and
tounis cruelly brint, rais in grete cumpanyis; and quhen thay had
fochtin aganis thair inemyis with uncertane victorie, thay drew thair
tentis abak to mair sikker boundis. The consul thocht he did his deyore sufficientlie, sen he had put his inemyis abak and waistit thair
landis.
During thir batallis wes grete discensioun at hame amang the Romanis; and in the mene time, Ti. Numicius and Au. Virginius war
maid consullis. Apperit weill, the pepill wald suffir na langare the
delacioun of the law agrarie; and quhen thay war maist forcely gevin
to the execucioun thairof, tithingis come that the Volschis war cummand with strang armyis to invaid the ciete. The reik of village and
townis adjacent, and the fleing of landwart pepill to the ciete, schew
weill thir novellis of verite. The sedicioun rising be mocioun of the
law foresade, wes suddanlie repressit be thir novellis. The consullis
departit haistelie be command of the senate, with mony young and
lusty gallandis of the ciete, and maid the smal pepill mair peceabil
than afore. The inemyis did nane uthir thing bot astonist the Romanis with vane dredoure, and haistelie departit. Numicius wes send

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203

aganis the Volschis of Ancium, and Virginius aganis the Equis; bot
his army sufferit grete dammage be isching of hid buschmentis land
undir wate. Nochtheles, the manhede and'wisdome of his knichtis
recoverit the thing that wes tint be necligence of the consul. The
tothir consul, Numicius, prosperit bettir aganis the Volschis, for thay
war discomfist and chasit to the toun of Ancium, the maist rich ciete
amang thaim in thay dayis. And becaus the consull micht nocht presentlie assege the said toun of Ancium, he tuke ane uthir small toun
pertenand to thair dominioun, namit Cenon. Quhil the Volschis and
Equis on this wise be the Romanis war invadit, the Sabinis cum with
maist awfull incursiouns to the portis of Rome. Nochttheles, the two
consullis met thaim within few dayis eftir, and opprest thaim with
mair hereschippis and slauchter than thay did afore to Romanis.
In the ende of the yere sum tranquillite and peace wes; nochtheles
the samin, as oft afore occurrit, wes trublit be contencioun betwix the
Faderis and smal pepill. Thus wes the smal pepill sa commovit that
thay wald nocht cum to the comites and eleccioun of consullis; and
nochtwithstanding thair absence, yit be auctorite of the Faderis and
thare clientis, T. Quincius, and Quincius Servilius war maid consullis.
This yere wes nocht unlike to the yere afore; for all sediciouns
rising in the beginning thairof, war repressit be feir of inemyis. The
Sabinis cum with ane haisty armye throw the landis of Crustumienis;
and eftir thay had rasit fire with huge slauchtir beside the river of
Anien, thay cum to Porte Colline; and howbeit thay war dung fra
the said porte and wallis of Rome, yit thay drave qne huge pray of
men and gudis hame to thair cuntre. Incontinent Servilius, consul,
followit on thaim with ane armye, bot he micht nocht tak thaim at
ganand place; and thairfore he maid sa cruell hereschip in thair
landis, that na thing wes left unassailyeit be batall, and returnit hame
with infinite pray.
On the samin maner all thing wes done with grete felicite aganis
the Volschis, be wisdome of Tit. Quincius, consull, and his army.
First, it wes fochtin in plane field with displayit baneris, and grete
slauchtir maid on every side. The Romanis, becaus thay war in few
noumer, had been put abak, war nocht Quincius, the consull, be ane
profittabil lesing, cryit, That the inemyis war fleand on ane uthir
weing; throw quhilk the Romanis ruschit on thair inemyis with sic

204

TITUS LIVIUS.

preis, that quhare thay belevit to have been vincust, thay war victouris.
The consul, dredand batall to be renewit gif his knichtis followit
oure fer in the chace, callit thaim be soundof trumpett to the standart. Followit certane dayis, in quhilk baith the armyis war at quiet,
as certane trewis war takin betwix thaim. And in the mene time cum
ane huge multitude of Volschis and Equis, and adjonit thaim to the
tentis of Sabinis, and purposit, als sone as the Romanis war departing, to invaid thair tentis at the thrid vigill. Als sone as Quincius
had mesit the noyis and trubil of this effray, he commandit the
knichtis to hald thaim clois within thair tentis, and put forth ane
buschment of Hernikis to kepe the watche afore the tentis, and causit
horsmen, with swasche and taberne, to play all nicht about the trinschis, to hald thair inemyis walkand to the morow. The remanent
of this nicht wes in sic quiet with Romanis, that thay slepit at thair
plesere. On the tothir side, the Volschis war effrayit be noyis of armit
men, quham thay belevit in grete noumer. Attoure; the weing of
hors, becaus uncouth men war upon thair bakkis, with the noyis of
swasche and taberne, held the Volschis ay on flocht as thair inemyis
had bene cuinmin on thaim. On the nixt morow arelie, the Romanis,
eftir that thay had slepit wele, and war refreschit, went to array, and
sett on the Volschis, wery and forwalkit, and put thaim abak; howbeit it apperit thay went erare abak with thair awne will, than to be
discomfist; for at thair bakkis wes ane strait montane or cleuch, in
quhilkis thay wad: surelie garnist.with al thair ordouris. The consul
seand the place unganand for batall, stintit his army, howbeit the
samin micht nocht be haldin fra batall but grete difficulte, ay criand
and desirand to invaid thair astonist inemyis. The horsmen incontinent ran feirslie about thair capitanis, sayand, Gif thay gat na licence, thay suld, afore the sound of trumpett, gif batall, and as thay
cryit, sa followit; for thay affixt haistelie thair dartis in the erde, that
thay micht the mair lichtlie clim up the cleuch. Incontinent the
Volschis schot at thaim all thair dartis atanis, and eftir schot doun
grete stanis on the futeman, ay as thay clam up, and with ithand
strakis put thaim fra the hichtis. Thus wes the left weing of the
Romanis sa ouresett with dint of stanis, that thay had past abak, war
nocht the consul reprochit thaim, first, of thair ful hardiment, and

THE SECUND BUKE.

P05

syne of thair cowarty; and eschamit thaim in sic wise, that he put al
thair dredoure aside.
The Romanis resistit, first, thair inemyis with obstinate mindis;
bot fra thair strenth and aind wes a litill refreschit, thay past fordwart with gude will, and finalie wan the difficillest and maist strate
parte of the said montane. Now war the Romanis cummin to the
hicht of al the montane quhen the inemyis fled and gaif bakkis. Incontinent, the Romanis followit on'thaim in sic wise, that baith the
flearis and followaris, wide scatterit undir ane cumpany, cum atanis to
the tentis. Thus war the tentis of inemyis tane. Sa mony of the
Volschis as micht fle, ran feirslie to the toun of Ancium; on quham
followit al the Romane armye; and eftir that it wes segeit certane
dayis, it wes tane but ony new violence, bot onelie becaus thair curage
wes loist for taking of thair tentis, throw this unhappy batall.

AND SA ENDIS HERE THE TRANSLATIOUN
OF THE SECUND BUKE
OF TITUS LIVIUS.

HERE BEGINNIS THE TIRID BUKE
oF

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP.

I.

How the debait rising ,betwix the Faderis and Tribunis f pepdl,
concerning the law AwMarie, wes mesit be-prudence of Fabius.
How the Equis war discon fist; and
noumer of Romane.pe-

9fthe

pill within Rome.

SUHEN the toun of Ancium

®'\

(
Q

®

wes tane in this

1 maier, Titus Emilius, and Quincius Fabius
'-

Fa-

war maid consulis. This wes the samin
that wes left onelie on live, behind the

bins

reanent surname of Fabis slane at CremeEmilius, in his first consulate, lauborit

ra.

strongle,

that the landis conquest fra ene-

myis suld be dividit amang the small pepil ;
and, tharefore, in his secund consulate, all
the favouraris of the said law agrarie rasit thare curage in esperance
of the said law. Forthir, the tribunis beleving, that, throw supporte
of the said consul,- thay micht estabil the said' law, begans to trete
surelie the mater that wes sa oft be thame afore assaileyit. The consul Emilius stude constant at his purpois. In the mene time, baith

THE THRID BUKE.

207

the possessouris of public landis, and ane grete parte of the Faderis,
seand thameself hevily trublit be acciouns of tribunis, complenit, that
the prince of the ciete, be largiciouns of uthir mennis landis and
gudis war becum populare; and, be this lament, thay turnit all invy
and haterent, that thay had afore aganis the tribunis, on the said consul. Thus grete sedicioun and debait suld haif haistelie rissin, war
nocht the samin wes pecifyit be prudence of the nobill Fabius, quhais
counsel wes sa moderate that it wes nouthir displesand to the ta parte
nor the tothir; for he said, His colleig Emilius micht divide amang
the small pepil ane parte of the landis pertening to the toun ofAncium, quhilk wes tane, in the yere afore, fra the Volschis, be victorie
of Titus Quincius; and, becaus the toun of Ancium was nere approcheand to thame, and stude stranglie on the marchis, it micht
tharefore be maid ane colonie of Romanis; and, be this way, nocht
onelie micht the small pepill rejose sum parte of new landis, but ony
impediment of the possessouris, bot als the ciete micht have stand in
pece and concorde. This sentence of Fabius wes plesand to al partyis;
and, tharefore, thre prudent men, namit Titus Quincius, Aulus Virginius, and Publius Furius, war chosin to pairt the said landis; be
quhais auctorite ane edict wes maid, commanding al persouns that
wald haif ony of thir landis afore rehersit, to gif thare names in writt.
Yit, as oft occurris, plente generis conteipcioun. Als sone as the
small pepil saw thay micht haif thir landis dividit at thare plesoure,
thay refusit to haif ony parte thareof. Thus wes the names of thame
sa few that desirit thir landis, that sindry Volschis war brocht to dwell
within the said toun of Ancium; for the residew of Romane pepill
had lever, as thay confessit, ask landis in Rome, howbeit thay gat na
possessioun thareof, than to possede landis in ony uthir parte.
Sic thingis done, Quincius Fabius wes send with ane armye aganis
the Equis; bot, sone eftir his cummin, the Equis send to him thare
legatis for pece: and, thocht this pece wes grantit, it endurit nocht,
for the samin wes brokin be thare suddane incursioun on the Latinis.
The nixt yere, Quintus Servilius, and Spurius Posthumius war
maid consullis. Servilius wes send aganis the Equis, and sat doun
with his tentis in the Latine landis. Than fel sa mony infirmiteis
amang his army, that he wes constrenit to tak rest. Thus wes the

208

TITUS LIVIUS.

batell that wes movit aganis the Equis supersedit to the thrid yere;
and, in the beginning thareof, Quincius Fabius, and Titus Quincius
war maid consullis. Fabius wes ordanit to pas aganis the Equis, for
he, as victorius emprioure,' gaif. to thame pece afore.
This Fabius, traisting fermelie the majeste and renoun of his estait, becaus he wes victorius afore, suld pecifie al trubil amang the
Equis, send his legatis, saying to thame as followis: " Quincius Fa" bius, dois you understande he is the samin man that brocht pece
" afore fra the Equis to Rome, and bringis now batall fra Rome to
" the Equis with this samin armit hand that gaif pece to thame afore,
"and takis the Goddis in witnes, to punis al thame that hes violate
" or brokin thare faith be perjurie. In quhatsumevir sorte the mater
" standis, he desiris the Equis erare to be penitent of thare rebellioun
" aganis the majeste and faith of Goddis, than to suffir ony venge" ance following on thame be the swerd. Forthir, gif the said Equis
" will be penitent, thay sal be ressavit to his provin clemence; and,
" gif thay will continewe in thare perjurie, fors wes to thame to fecht
" erare aganis the wraith and ire of Goddis, than aganis his weris.'
The Equis war sa inflammit be thir wourdis, that skarslie micht
thay be refrenit fra violacioun of Romane legatis. Belive, ane army
wes send be thame aganis the Romanis, and sett doun thare tentis at
Algidum. Als sone as thir novellis war brocht to Rome, the tothir
consul, Titus Quincius, departit with ane new army; for he wes mair
inflammit for the contempcioun done be his enemyis, than for ony
dangeir be thame appering. Thus past the twa consullis with twa
strang oistis to gif batall to the Equis. At thare cuming fornence
thare enenyis, the licht wes nere gane; and, in the mene time, ane
of the Equis cryit skornefully, ' It wes propir to Romanis erare to
" mak ane vane minassing, than to gif batall. :Ye array you," said
he, " now within the nicht, howbeit ye haif nede of mair licht than
" now apperis to perfurnis your batall; herefore array you aganis the
"nixt morow, and haif na dredoure bot ye sal haif als mekil fechting
" as ye desire." The Romane armyis, inflammit to grete ire be thir
wourdis, returnit to thare tentis, thinkand the nicht too lang that
maid sic tary to thare batall; and, sone eftir, refreschit thare bodyis
with mete and slepe.

-

THE THRID BUKE.

209

Als sone as licht apperit on the morow, the Romanis cum formest
to the feild; and, nocht lang eftir thare cuming, cum the Equis. Followit haistelie ane batall, cruelly fochtin on all sidis. The Romanis
faucht the mair stranglie, that thay war inflammit with ire and haterent of thair enemyis; and the Equis, disparit to haif ony credite
with Romanis in times cuming, becaus thay failyeit in times bygane,
enforcit thame to assailye the last chance and jeoperdie of armes.
Finalie, thay micht nocht sustene the preis of Romanis, and war
chasit with grete slauchter quhil thay war returnit within thair awne
landis. And howbeit the Equis war discomfist in this wise, yit thay
wald nouthir seik nor desire pece of thair enemyis, bot reprochit hevily thare capitanis, quhilkis jeopard thare commounwele aganis the
Romanis in arrayit and sett batall, considering the Romanis war
maist crafty in sic maner of fechtin; be contrare, thay, the saidis
Equis, war maist crafty to distroye thare enemyis be haisty and suddane incursiouns, and couth leid batall bettir quhen thay war skatterit
in mony handis, than quhen thay war all jonit togiddir undir ane body. For thir ressouns, the Equis ischit fra thare campe, levand behind thame ane garnisoun of armit men in defense thairof; syne enterit
with sic cruelte within the bordouris of Romane landis, that the tumult and effiray thareof wes brocht to Rome.
Thir novellis maid ane huge terroure in the ciete; for the Romanis
belevit na thing les than thare enemyis, quhilkis war vincust and nere
spulyeit of thare tentis, to resort haistelie with new power within
thare landis. The landwart pepill cum richt effrayitlie to Rome,
augmentand every thingis with vane terroure, and saying, The enemyis war approcheand to the portis, nocht, as afore, to invaid the
cuntre with suddane incursiouns, bot erare garnist with mony arrayit
legiouns, cummand with grete force to tak the ciete. Thus wes the
ciete brocht in mair terroure than afore be vane novellis, quhilkis
sprang sa far be reporting of ane to ane uthir. Than the din and
clamoure thareof maid ilk man to rusche haistelie to harnes, with na
les dredoure than thare ciete war instantlie to be tane be enemyis.
Quhil sic terroure wes in Rome, Quincius Fabius returnit with his
army fra Algidum, quhais cuming wes grete comforting to the effrayit
ciete. Als sone as he had mesit all trubil thareof, he reprevit the
nD

210

TITUS LIVIUS.

Romanis becaus thay tuke fere and dredoure of thare vincust enemyis. Incontinent he lade ane buschement of armit men to the portis.
Sic thingis done, he convenit the senate be auctorite of the Faderis,
commandit all ministracioun of lawis to ceis, and past haistely with
mony strang knichtis to defend the fronteris and bordouris of Romane
landis, and left Quincius Servilius to be president of his ciete to his
returning. At his cuming he fand na enemyis in the feildis.
The tothir consul wrocht his besines with soverane manhede and
wisdome; for, als sone as he understude be quhat wayis his enemyis
war returning hame, ladin with sa infinite pray of men and gudis that
the samin maid na litill impediment to thare viage, he assailyeit thaim
with sa suddane battall, that he spulyeit thame at anis baith of thare
livis and gudis. Few eschapit, and the pray wes halely recoverit.
At the returning of Quincius, the administracioun of lawis began
agane as thay war wount, for the vacance thareof endurit bot Iv. dayis.
Than war the Romane pepill noumerit, and the sacrifice lustrale maid
be Quincius, consul, in the honoure of Goddis. The Romane cieteyanis being noumerit in this wise cum to ane hundreth xxIv.M. cc.
xxiv. persouns, except pupillis and wedois.
Na thing wes done be the Equis eftir this wourthy to haif memorie; for thay defendit thameself within thair municiouns and strenthis,
and sufferit al thare landis and gudis to pas in direpcioun and pray
of enemyis. At last, quhen the consul had lang time lying in thair
landis, to the utir hereschip and confisking of thair gudis, he returnit
with grete honoure and pray of men and gudis to Rome.

THE~ THRID

BUKE.

CAP. II.
How the Hernikis advertist the Romanis of the batall appering be
Volschis and Equis. How Spurius Furius, consul, wes discomfist be the Volschis and Equis, and wes rescoursit
beQuincius, proconsul; and how the Volschis and Equis war discomfist.

eftir

N the nixt yere, Posthumius Albus, and Spurius Furius
writaris, sais,
war maid consullis. Fabius, with
The consulis of this yere war namit Spurii and Furii;
yit, howbeit the namis be-changit, na alteracioun is in
the persouns; na dout is bot thir twa consullis wes to leid batall
aganis' the Equis. And for that caus, the Equis war constrenit to seik
helpe fra the Volschis, namit Ecetranis, quhilk being richt plesandly
grantit, for all pepill-and tounis hand about Rome had extreme invie
and haterent aganis the Romanis, thir two pepill, the Volschis and
Equis,- maid thame to invaid the Romanis in maist awfull maner.
Als sone- as the Hernikis war advertist hereof, thay send thair mes-

uthir

singeris to Rome, schewand nocht onelie how the Ecetranis war re-

bellit and alliat with the Equis, bot als Ancium, the colonie of Romanis, wes suspect ; for, quhen- it wes tane, mony of the cieteyanis
thareof fled to the Equis,' and war ane scharpe 'ennemie to Romanis,
as wes provin in the last batall fochtin be 'the Equis in supporte of
Volschis ; for, eftir that the said. Equis war vincust, and drivin abak
to thair tounis, mony of thir Volschis, quhilkis fled afore to the Equis,
returnit to Ancium, and be thair persuasiouns, drew the remanent
unfaithful pepil thareof to thair opinioun ; howbeit the mater succedit nocht with felicite.
Als' sone as thair rebelhioun wes patent to the senate, the charge
thareof wes committit to the consulis, commanding thame to bring
the princis of Ancium to Rome, to be inquirit of sic thingis as the
senate thocht expedient.
to Rome

Thir princis,

with, small dificulte,

eftir thay war brocht

finahie

maid sic answere to the, senate, that

thay war repute mair suspicious at thair deperting, than thay war

2i2

TITUS LIVIUS.

repute afore thair cumming. Thus war the consullis surelie advertist
of batall appering.
Than Spurius Furius, consul, to quhom the province of Equis fell,
passand aganis the said Equis, fand thame makand direpciouns and
spuleye in the Hernikis landis; and becaus he knewe nocht the multitude and pussance of his ennemies, for thair armye apperit nocht
attanis to his sicht, he gaif batall fulishlie; for, at the first joning, he
wes discomfist, and chasit to his tentis.
This discomfitoure put nocht ane end to his trubill; for, baith the
nicht and day following, his tentis war sa strait environnit be sege of
ennemies, that he culd nocht gett ane man forth of his armye to advertis the Romanis of his trubill. Nochtheles, the effray thareof wes
brocht to Rome be the Hernikis; for thay schew the consul discomfist, and baith his self and his armye segeit be ennemies. Thir novellis maid the Faderis sa astonist, that thay usit the samin deliverance that thay usit in extreme necessite.
The charge of this present besines wes committit to Posthumius,
consul, to sauf the public weill fra injure of ennemies. Thus wes it
found expedient, that Posthumius, consul, remane in Rome to put
all the names of thame in writt, that may bere wappinnis and armoure;
and als to send Titus Quincius, proconsul, with ane power, baith of
Romanis and utheris, thair confederate freindis, in supporte of Spurius, consul, to perfurnis this batall. Baith the Latinis, Hernikis,
and cieteyanis of Ancium, war commandit to gif thair maist reddy
supporte. Mony mociouns and grete assaltis war maid in thair dayis,
baith on the ta parte and the tothir; for the ennemies, confiding in
thair multitude, assaleyeit, be mony slichtis and wayis, the Romane
pussance, as insufficient to resist thair invasiouns; for nocht alanerlie
thay assegeit the Romane tentis, bot als held baith ane power to
spuleye ithandlie the Romane landis, and sustenit ane garnisoun of
armit men to tak the ciete, gif ony gude fortoun had occurrit.
Thus wes Lu. Valerius left in Rome to defend the toun, and Posthumius, consul, send to resist the incursiouns of ennemies; and sa
na thing wes pretermittit that micht proffitt or avaunce the ciete be
ingine and lauboure. Within the ciete wes walking, and utouth the
portis stude garnisouns of armit men, arrayit on the wallis. Attoure,
the thing that wes necessare in sic effray, that is to say, the vacance

THE THRID

IBUKE.

218

of lawis, wes commandit, quhill sic thingis occurrit. Spurius Furius
the consul, held him quiet in the beginning, and sufferit him to be
segeit with ennemies; bot, at last, he ischit at the grete porte of his
tentis, and spuleyete his ennemies, liand but ordoure. And howbeit
he micht have deffait thame eselie, he tuke sic fere, that he persewit
na forthir, in aventure his tentis war left in dangere, or tane be ennemies.
In the mene time, Furius, legate and brothir to the consul, followit sa feirslie on the chace, that he considerit nouthir how his
freindis, desisting fra the chace, war returnit to thair tentis, nor yit
how innemies war following on his bak. Furius, on this wise, excludit fra all supporte, eftir that he had assailyeit mony wayis to returne
to the tentis, was slane fechtand, with grete manhede, to the dede.
Als sone as Furius, consul, wes advertist of his brotheris slauchter,
he enforcit himself to batall, and, with mare folie than wisdome, jeoperde himself amid his ennemies; for he wes hurte at this jeoperde,
and nocht but grete difficulte rescoursit. This misaventure dejeckit
the curage of his armye, and maid his ennemies mair feirs and bold
than afore. The ennemies, enragit in maist furie be slauchter of the
legate, and hurting of the consul, micht na wayis be resistit.
Thus the Romanis, nouthir equal to thair ennemies in curage nor
pussance, war segeit agane with new violence, and so thair commounwele had cummin in extreme dangere, war nocht thay war rescoursit
be Titus Quincius; for he come to thame with ane armye of Latinis
and Hernikis. Quincius, eftir his cumin, sett on the bakkis of the
Equis, quhilkis war feirsly segeand the Romane tentis, and schawin,
with grete derisioun, the hede of the legate; finalie, throw ane signe
that Quincius maid on dreich, the Romanis ischit fra thair tentis,
and, be haisty discomfitoure, slew ane grete noumer of inemies.
In the samin time, the Equis, liand for spuleye of the Romane
landis, war discomfist with lang chace, bot the slauchter wes litill;
for Posthumius, consul, discomfist thame be sindry hid buschementis,
quhilkis war laid in ganand place be him afore, eftir that thay war
skatterit, and drivand away grete prey of gudis. So quhen thir Equis
war skatterit here and thare in sindry cumpanyis, thay come be aventure on Quincius, returnand eftir his victorie fra the woundit consul.
Thus Quincius revengeit lustelie baith the hurting of the consul and

Q14

214
TITUS LIVIUS.

the slauchter of the legate, and uthir cumpanyeouns slane with him
for the time.
Mony slauchteris, feirs feclting, and discomfitouris, occurrit in thir
dayis on uther side. It is difficil till afferme, with sikkir noumer in
sa ancient historie, how mony war slane or tane. Ancias Valerius,
historiographoure, sayis, Thare war Slane of.iRomanis.i. n. cccc., of
Equis, that spuleyeit the Romane landis, slane be Posthumius, consul, cccc., and of the said Equis war slane be Quincius CCCC.M.
ccxxx.

CAP. III.
Of sindry prodigeis, and of grete mortalite amang

the Romanis.

How the-Hernilkis and Latinis, cummand in supporte f Romanis
aganis the Volschis'and Equis, war Slane in grete noumer; and
of the pietuous lament of Romanis to thair Goddis.
T the returning of Quincius to Rome the vacance of
lawis ceissit. In this time, the hevinnes apperit birnand
with mony flammis.

Mony uncouth and

strange

mer-

"
° vellis apperit, terribill to the sicht of man ; and, be vane
minassing, maid the pepill astonist. To -remove thir 'terrours war institute the Ferioes,' continewing thre- dayis. togidder. The tempillis
war replete, with men and women,- makand humill supplicacioun to
thair Goddis, to gif pece- and perdoun to thare offence.'
Eftir this, the Hernikis and: Latinis war plesandlie rewardit be the
senate, for thare faithfull- and, honest vassalage done in

-defence

of

Romanis, and returnit hame. The thousand' armit 'men, quhilkis cum
fra 'Ancium in support of Romanis, war send hame with dishonoure,
for thay cum to late.
At. the beginning of the nixt yere, the comites war hald_ in kalendis
of Sextile ; Lucius Ebucius, and Paulus Servilius war maid consulis.
The time wes richt sorowfull, and the. yere richt. pestilencius baith. to
burgh -and land, to na les' mortalite of 'man .than, beist. The pest rais
in- the ciete throw fere of uncouth enemyis invading the cuntre with

THE THRID BUKE.

215

continuall injuris; for the landwart pepill, for fere thairof, cum to
dwell within the ciete, with thare bestial and gudis, and sa the corrupcioun and filth of sindry beistis, quhilkis war walkit and kepit togidder in narrow housis and stretis within the ciete, during the hete
of somer, opprest baith the cieteyanis and landwart pepill with uncouth and insufferabil odoure. Als, thare frequent and contagius
cumpanyis, ilk ane be commixtioun of uthir, spred the infirmiteis ilk
day mair and mair.
Quhil the Romanis war sorowfull and of skairs pussance to sustene
thir calamiteis, cum haistelie the legatis of Hernikis, schewing how
the Volschis and Equis war enterit with twa strang armyis in thare
landis, and hes waistit thare fronteris and bordouris with grete cruelteis; and, war nocht the thin convencioun of senate to counsell wes
ane sikker testimonial that the ciete wes in trubil, thare answere had
bene mair displesand than it wes; for, be the samin answere, baith
the Hernikis and Latinis war commandit to defend thare landis be
thare awne pussance, for the Romanis, be suddane ire of Goddis, war
afflikkit and trublit with maist sorowfull infirmiteis; nochtheles, gif
the pest slakit ane litill, thay suld glaidly send support, as thay usit
afore, to thare confiderate freindis. Thir legatis, departing fra the
Hernikis and Latinis with sorowfull message, brocht ane mair sorowful answere, that Hernikis and Latinis suld sustene, be thare awne
pussance, the batall aganis the Volschis and Equis; quhilk thay
micht evil sustene, howbeit the hale Romane power war concurrand
with thame.
The enemyis maid na tary in the Hernik landis; bot, with awfull
buschementis, cum in the Romane landis, and waistit the samin but
ony injure of batall or resistence. The enemyis seand na man armit
nor unarmit to resist thame, and the feildis desert, but ony garnisoun
or manuring of landwart pepill, cum to the thrid stane in the Sabine
Way. Than wes Ebucius, ane of the consullis,. dede in the ciete;
and his colleig, Servilius, sa wery, that he micht skarslie draw his
aind. The maist parte of all the Faderis and princis of the ciete war
dede in the pest; and the men of armes sa halelie distroyit, that thay
war nocht onelie insufficient to rais sic ane armye as thare enemyis,
as the dangeir presentlie requirit, bot als micht skarslie mak quiet
staciouns in the ciete. The senatouris bure the charge of walking

216

TITUS LIVIUS.

be thameself, specially sic as war young and unbrokin with infirmiteis.
The circuicioun and charge, that wes wont to be gevin to the edilis,
war gevin to small pepill. Sic like, the majeste of the office consulare wes gevin to the pepill; every thingis war desert in the ciete,
but ony hede or pussance. Nochtheles, Fortoun, and uthir Goddis
of the ciete, maid sic defence, that thay maid the mindis of Volschis
and Equis gevin erare to spuleye, than to uthir conques or knichtlie
vassalege: for nocht onelie the saidis Volschis and Equis war disparit to tak the ciete be assalt, bot als had na curage to cum towart the
wallis; for the nobill palices and towris musterit so awfully within
the ciete, that thay drew the mindis of Equis and Volschis fra all
segeing; in sic wise, that ane huge clamoure rais amang thare tentis,
ilk ane saying to uthir, " To quhat effect remane we here, waistand
" owre time amang vile cariouns of men and beistis, sen we may in" vaid the hale landis of Tusculanis, quhilkis ar ane pepil full of
" riches and gudis." Incontinent thay rais thare baneris, and, with
shortoure passage, cum throw the Lavicanis to the Tusculane montanis. Thus war all the preis and ordinance of thare batall turnit fra
the Romanis alanerlie on the Tusculanis.
The Hernikis and Latinis, na thing knawing the departing of
Volschis and Equis fra Rome, war movit nocht onelie with commiseracioun and piete, bot als havand grete schame in thare mindis that
thay nocht resistit the commoun enemyis invading the Romane ciete,
nor yit maid thame supporte quhen thay war segeit; and, tharefore,
thay cum with thair awfull armyis to Rome, and finding na eneminyis
at thare cuming thare, thay followit on the said enemyis in all partis
quhare thare fame and futesteppis schew, and, finalie, met thame discending fra the Tusculane montanis to the Albane vail.
Thocht this batall wes fochtin with equale power on all sidis, yit
the felicite of Latinis and Hernikis wes na thing fortunate to thare
confiderate freindis. Of Romanis wes na les nowmer perist in the
ciete be this sorowfull pest, than wes slane ofthare confiderate freindis
in this foresaid batall.
The tothir consul, Servilius, wes also deceissit; with mony of all
the nobill men in the ciete, sic as Marcius Valerius, Titus Virginius,
divinouris; Servilius Sulpicius, principalis of the courte; and of
small estatis deceissit, innoumerabil. Sa far sprang the rage of this

THE THRID BUKE.

217

mortalite, that the senate war disparit of ony mortall remeid; and,
thairfore, commandit the cieteyanis to pas, with thare wiffis and barnis,
to the templis, to convert thare hartis with suffrage and votis to thare
Goddis, that thay micht, be humill supplicacioun, purches the pece
of Goddis to this effect, becaus ilk persoun wes trublit with propir
infirmite. The pepill war sa halelie brocht out, be public auctorite,
that all the tempillis in the ciete war replete. The sorowfull moderis
fell grufelingis to the grund, sowpand the templis with thare hare,
pietuously desiring the Goddis to finis thare celestiall wraith, and
put ane end to this pest. Fra thens, the pepill began ilk day, pece
and pece, to convales in thare bodyis fra all maledyis, outhir becaus
the pece of Goddis wes than purchest, or ellis becaus venomus are
and wikkit sesoun war owrepast; and, tharefore, thay sett thair mindis
for administracioun of public materis. Finally, quhen certane interregnis war past, Publius Valerius Publicola, on the thrid day eftir
that he wes maid regent, wes chosin consul, and Publius Lucresius
Tricipitinus maid his colleig, before the thrid idis of Sextile.

CAP. IV.
How the Volschis war discomfist, and slane in grete nowmer be Veturius and Lucresius, Romane consullis ; and how grete dissencioun rais betwene the tribzinis and consullis of Rome.
Ow wes the Romane ciete nocht onelie pussant eneuch
to resist, bot als to persew thare enemyis with batall;
and, tharefore, thay promittit haisty supporte to Hernikis, quhilk schew the enemyis cuming in thare landis.
Sone eftir, baith the consullis went with twa armyis: Veturius wes
send to invaid the Volschis; and Tricipitinus wes ordanit to resist
the incursiounis maid be enemyis on the freindis of Romane pepill;
and, for that caus, he past na forthir than the Hernik landis.
Veturius, at his first batall, discomfist and chasit the Volschis; bot
Lucresius, quhilk abade with the Hernikis, wes dissavit be ane cum2

E

TITUS LIVIUS.
pany of thevis. Thir thevis musterit so to his sicht, that he followit
on thame quhil he wes cummin abone the montanis namit Prenestine;
and, eftir he wes discendit in the low valis, thay waistit the landis
Prenestine and Gabine with importabil hereschippis; and, discending
fra the Gabine landis, thay waistit the montanis Tusculanis in the
samin maner. Thus wes ane huge terroure brocht to Rome; nocht
that Romanis war insufficient to resist the invasioun of enemyis, bot
erare throw the suddane effray. Quincius Fabius, quhilk wes left
president in the ciete, be garnisouns of young vailyeant men, weil arrayit for every aventuris, maid all thingis sikker, with gude tranquillite, in the ciete. For fere hereof, the enemyis chargit thame full of
pray and gudis, reft fra sindry landis adjacent, and durst nocht approche to the ciete. Finalie, quhen thay war returning hame, chargit,
as said is, with infinite pray of riches, scatterit in sindry buschementis;
for ay the farer thay war departit fra Rome, thay tuke the les respect
to thare array; thay cum unwarlie on Lucresius armye, quhilk wes
baith advertist of all thare jorneyis, and weil arrayit to gif thame batall. And, thocht Lucresius wes in few noumer in compare of the
huge noumer and multitude of enemyis, yit, becaus thay war astonist
be this suddane effray, he assailyeit thame feirslie, and brocht thame
to sa hie discomfitoure, that he chasit thame quhil thay war inclusit
within ane vale, but ony esy out passage, quhare the name of Volschis wes nere uterlie distroyit; for of thame war slane x.M.cccc.Lxx.,
that is to say, baith in the batall and chais, and M.cc.L. tane presonaris: xiv. standartis war won, as sum auctouris writis. Alwayis, howbeit sum thing be ekit abone the juste mesure, the slauchter wes grete.
The consul, eftir this victorie, returnit with huge pray of riches to
his tentis. Sone eftir, the consullis met togidder with baith thare
armyis. The Volschis and Equis, eftir thir afflicciouns, colleckit the
residew of thare pussance togidder. This wes the thrid batall that
wes strikkin be Romanis in the said yere, and the victorie succeding
ay undir ane fortoun; for thare enemyis war ay vincust, and thare
tentis tane. Thus war the Romanis brocht to thare ald estait.
Thir feliciteis succeding continewally amang the Romanis, rasit haistelie grete sedicioun in the ciete. In this yere, Eneas Tirintillus wes
tribune of pepill; quhilk, traisting the time ganand to dres all materis
pertenand to the accioun tribuniciane, becaus the consullis war nocht

THE THRID BUKE.

219

present in the ciete, began sindry dayis to accuse the pride of Faderis
afore the pepil; oft times invaying aganis the empire of consullis, and
said, Thare auctorite wes owre hie, and nocht to be sufferit in ony
fre ciete; for thocht the names of consullis war nocht sa odius as the
namis of kingis, yit thare empire and auctorite wes mair cruell than
is ony empire of kingis; for afore wes bot ane king regnand abone
the pepill, bot than rang twa, with sa immoderat and infinite power,
that, becaus thay haif opin renyeis at thare awne plesoure, thay exerce the lawis, to the grete dredoure, punicioun, and fere, alanerlie of
the small pepil. Herefore, that this superfiew licence of consullis sal
nocht remane perpetualy, nor yit noisum to the pepil, he wald promulgate ane law, be quhilk five men sal be create to limit the power
of consullis, with sic ressouns, that quhatsumevir law the pepil ordanis for thare commodite, the samin sal be usit alanerlie be the consullis, and sa the will and licence of consullis sal nocht be repute in
times cuming for ony lawis to the pepil.
Als sone as this law wes promulgate, becaus the Faderis dred to
ressave ony yoik of servitude in absence of the consullis, Quincius
Fabius, president of the ciete, convenit the senate; and, in thare presence, invayit sa cruelly baith aganis the law foresaid, and aganis the
makare thareof, that na les minassing and ferefull terrouris war done
to this tribune be Fabius him alane, than baith the consullis had bene
present; for he allegeit, " This tribune lay in wait quhil he saw his
"time, and than invadit the commounweil. Forthir, gif the Goddis,
"in thare wraith, had gevin ony sik sedicious ane man as he wes, du"ring the time that the ciete wes invadit baith with pest and externe
" weris, thair ciete micht nocht haif bene of pussance to haif resistit
"thare enemyis; for quhen thare ciete wes opprest with contagius
"infirmiteis, and thare consulis deceissit, he micht haif bene ane sik"ker gide to the Volschis and Equis to haif segeit the ciete. Als,
"he micht haif maid lawis in that time, at his plesoure, to haif abro"gate the dignite consulare. Forthir, as the mater presently occur"ris, quhat thing is unlefull to him; for gif the consullis attempt
"ony thing, throw arrogance or cruelte, aganis ony ane of the ciete"yanis, than sal this tribune sett ane day to the consul to accuse him
" criminably afore the pepil. Thus sal the pepil be juge in thare awne

220

TITUS LIVIUS.

" mater, nochtwithstanding that the offence is committit aganis sum
" of thameself. Thir, and mony sic thingis, ar odius and importabill,
" be superflew power of the auctorite tribuniciane, and nocht be ony
" power of dignite consulare; for thocht the trubil that the tribunis
" rasit afore be pecifyit, and the pepill recounseld to the Faderis, yit
" this tribune intendis to bring the samin trubil in quhilk it wes
" afore. Nochtwithstanding, I will nocht require him to desist fra
" the purpois that he has assailyeit; bot I desire you, the residew of
" tribunis," said Fabius, " first to considder, this auctorite tribuni" ciane wes devisit to the universale proffite ana supporte of the ciete,
" and nocht to the universale dammage thareof. Ye ar create tri" bunis, to be supportaris of pepill, and nocht to be enemyis to the
" Faderis. It is richt miserabil to us, and odius to you, to suffir our
" public weil to be invadit. Herefore, we desire you nocht to minis
" your richtis, bot erare to minis your invy; and to concur sa with
" your colleig, that this mater, that is be him attempit, be deferrit
" to the cuming of consullis, to that fine, that the Volschis and Equis,
" owre perpetual enemyis, invaid us nocht the erare with feirs batall,
" that owre consullis ar perist in the pest in the yere afore past."
Than the remanent tribunis began to dres this mater with Tirintillus,
thare colleig, and continewit the samin to the cuming of consullis.
Sone eftir, baith the consulis returnit to Rome. Lucresius returnit with huge pray of gudis, and infinite honoure. His glore wes
the mair ekit, that, eftir his returning, the hale pray of gudis, conquest be him, wes left thre dayis in the place callit Campus Martius;
to that fine, that the samin beand patent to the sicht of pepill, ilk
man micht haif knawledge of his awne gudis, and tak away the samin.
The residew of the saidis gudis, quhilkis had na juste awnaris, war
sald, and the proffite thareof confiskit to the public tressoure.
Ane triumphe wes decernit, be generale consent, to Lucresius;
nochtheless, it wes deferrit certane dayis, throw persute that the tribune maid tuiching the law Tirintill. Thus wes the law postponit
ane quhile afore the senate and pepill; bot, at last, the tribune gaif
place to the majeste of consullis. Sone eftir, the glore of triumphe
wes gevin baith to Servilius and his army, for he triumphit of the
Volschis and Equis; and mony legiouns followit him in the said
triumphe.

THE THRID BUJKE.
It wes grantit to the tothir consul to pas rejosand throw the ciete,
but ony band of armit men in his cumpany,

CAP. V.
and of the interpretaciounof thare
Of uncouth and terribilprodigeis,
be divinouris. Offeirs contenciouns betwix the Consullis and Tnbunis, concerning the law Tirintill, and rasing of armyis aganis
his persute agathe Volschis and Equis. How Ceso
nis the pepill infavoure of Faderis,wes banist, and all hisfaderis
gudis confiscate amang the Tribunis.

Quinciusfor

N the yere following, the law Tirintill wes renewit be
consent of the hale collegis of tribunis, and maid Pubius Volumnius, and Servilius Sulpicius, the new consullis, astonist. In this yere, the hevinnis apperit birnand; the erde trimblit, with grete mocioun; men trewis ane kow
spak, howbeit na credit wes gevin in the yere afore. Amang uthir
prodigeis, mony lumps of flesche fel out of the are, in maner of schoure.
The maist pairt thareof war consumit haistely be ane huge nowmer

of fowlis. The residew of this fiesehe lay mony dayis eftir skatterit
in the erde, but ony corrupcioun or hevy odoure following.
For fere of thir prodigeis, the solemne preistis, namit the Twa
Men, war commandit to serche the werkis of Sibil ; be quhilkis wes
foundin, that the ciete sall ressave dammage be convencioun of uncouth pepil. For thir responsis, the Romane pepil war commandit
to- ceis fra all sedicioun ; to that fine, that na slauchter, nor feirs persute, war maid in the hie partis of the ciete.
The tribunis belevit nocht but thir doingis alanerlie wrocht to impesche thair lawis ; throw quhilk apperit na litill contencioun to follow. And that the samin trubil sal continew yere in yere, wes schewin
be ambassatouris of Hernikis, that the Equis and Volschis, howbeit
thare pussance wes latelie brokin, war makand new provisioun of batall, and has send the maist pairt of thare power to Ancium. Als,
the remanent Anciatis, and inhabitantis

tliareof, maid public counsellis

TITUS LIVIUS.
and convenciouns amang thameself; and, tharefore, Ancium wes the
beginning of all rebellioun maid be Equis and Volschis agane the
Romanis.
Sone eftir that thir wourdis war said afore the senate, ane army
wes rasit with diligence, and the charge of battall ressavit be the consullis; that ane to pas aganis, the Volschis, and this uthir aganis the
Equis. On the contrare pairt wes allegit be the tribunis, " That thir
" novellis concerning the weris of Volschis war nocht bot vane fabillis,
" and the Hernikis war nocht bot subornate be thare affeccioun;
" apperit, tharefore, nocht onelie the Romane liberte to be depressit
" be force of violence, bot als be crafty slichtis. It wes forthir nocht
" to be traistit, that the Volschis and Equis, sen sa huge slauchter
" bene recentlie maid on thame, may frelie move ony were aganis the
" Romanis; apperis, tharefore, na weris, without the Romanis serche
" new enemyis. It is nocht to be traistit, that be Volschis and Equis
" ony perrel may occur; it is tharefore grete injure to hald the town
" of Ancium suspect and infamit, it beand thare faithful and trew
" colonie. Thus hes the consullis denuncit batall wrangusly on the
" innocent Anciatis; and ledis, tharefore, batall, nocht aganis thare
" enemyis, bdt aganis the Romane pepill, and chasis thame be mani" fest violence out of thare ciete; to that fine, that the consullis may
" revenge the haterent that thay bure aganis the tribunis, be pro" scripcioun onelie of Romane cieteyanis. Forthir, the consullis gevis
" thame to na uthir besines bot to impesche the law Tirintill; and,
"tharefore, prayit the pepill, sen thay stude peceably in thair awne
" housis, with thare beltit gownis, to suffir nouthir thameself to be
" ejeckit fra possessioun of the ciete, nor yit ressave the yoik of ser" vitude. And gif thare curage war nocht decaid, thay sal want na
" supporte; for all the tribunis sal stand hale at thare opinioun. Na
" dangere nor perrel wes appering be fere of uncouth enemyis; for
" the Goddis maid sic purviance in the yere afore, that the Romane
" liberte wes surelie defendit." Thus wes said be the tribunis.
On the tothir side war the consullis sittand afore the tribunis, and
gaddering the knichtis for ane arraye. Than cum the tribunis, with
grete cumpanyis, to impesche the rasing of thir armyis. Belive, ane
certane of thame war summond be the consulis to haif experience of
the mater. Followit sone ane deforcement; for every man that wes

THE THRID BUKE.
tane be the serjand at command of the consullis, wes put to liberte be
the tribunis. Thus micht justice haif na place, bot ilk man castand
him to execute his purpois alanerlie be way of dede. Allwayis, in sa
fer as the tribunis iimpeschit the rasing of the army, in sa fer the consullis impeschit the law Tirintill, during all the commicial dayis.
Thus began the debait mair feirs; for quhen the tribunis had commandit the pepil to departe, the consullis commandit thame to tary.
Attoure the wise and agit Faderis wald nocht mell with this besines;
for apperandlie it wes nocht done be prudent counsell, bot erare be
fuliche audacite. Than the consullis tuke diligent keping, that thare
majeste within this trubill suld nocht be patent to injuris.
The samin time wes in the ciete ane feirs and hardy childe, namit
Ceso Quincius, discending of illuster linnage, wicht of body, and stout
of curage; and beside mony his excellent giftis of nature, he did
mony notabil and vailyeant dedis with his handis, and had sic eloquence, that nane uthir wes mair reddy of wit and hand to ony purpois in jugement. Quhen this nobill Ceso wes enterit in the courte
amang the agit Faderis, he stude up apperandlie of mair preeminence
than wes ony of the laif, for he semit as he war berand all the dictatoureis and digniteis consulare in his onelie voce and pussance; and,
be the samin, sustenit baith all the haterent of tribunis, and the preis
of pepill. Be vassalege of this illuster campioun, oft times war the
tribunis doung out of jugement, and the small pepill chasit, and put
fra thare purpois. Quhatevir he wes that met him, gif he war of the
opinioun of tribunis or the pepill, he departit weil basit, and defuleyeit of his clething. Apperit thus, gif sic thingis war sufferit be him,
the law maid latelie be the tribune suld finnis and expire.
Aulus Virginius, the principal man of the colleig of tribunis, seand
the residew of the tribunis astonist, and violentlie strikkin be Ceso,
assignit ane day to the said Ceso to be accusit criminably afore the
pepill. And yit the feirs sprete of Ceso wes mair inflammit than affrayit be thir doingis; for he sett him than mair feirslie than afore tc
resist the said law; and nocht alanerlie he rebutit oft times the small
pepill, bot als persewit the tribunis as it had bene with juste batall.
Than the tribunis sufferit him frelie to do quhat him list, that ilk injure, beand accumulate abone uthir, micht nuris ane mater of mair
invy and haterent afore the pepill; and, in the mene time, thay be-

224

TITUS LIVIUS.

gan to publis the law Tirintill, erare to provoik the audacite of Ceso
to ma displesouris, than in ony esperance to pecify the samin. Mony
thingis war done and said be young men unprudentlie aganis Ceso,
yit the law wes resistit. Than said Aulus Virginius in this wise,
" Ye may consider weill, 0 Quirites, ye may nocht haif youre law
" establit sa lang as Ceso is your cieteyane. To quhat purpois speik
" I of ony law; se ye nocht how Ceso resistis to your liberte, and
" passis the Tarquinis in pride? Abide quhil he be create dictator
" or consull, and than sal he be fundin richt noisum to youre ciete;
"6sen he now, beand bot ane private man, regnis now with sa proude
" empire abone you." Mony of the small pepill affirmit thir wourdis
of the tribune; complening thameself oft times violentlie strikkin and
rebutit be this Ceso, and, tharefore, perswadit the tribune the mair
feirslie to persew his accioun.
Now wes the day of jugement that wes sett to Ceso cummin; than
apperit to the pepill, that thare liberte dependit onelie on the dampnacioun of Ceso. Thus wes Ceso constrenit to seik support of freindis.
Mony grete princis of the ciete assistit to him, amang quham wes
Titus Quincius Capitolinus, his tendir cousing, quhilk wes thryis consul afore. This Titus Quincius began to rehers, afore the pepill,
mony vailyeant and wourthy dedis done be Ceso; affirmand eik, That
in al the linage and hous of Quincius, nor yit in the Romane ciete,
wes nane of sa hie and provin vertew as the said Ceso: allegiand als,
That the said Ceso wes first maid man of armes undir him, and in his
presence aft times has fochtin vailyeantlie in defens of his armye.
Attoure, the said Ceso rescoursit, be his singulare manheid, Spurius
Furius fra extreme jeoperdie and dangere of enemyis. Forthir, nane
wes amang all the Romane cieteyanis that has decorit the commounweil with mair honest vassalege than has the said Ceso. Amang
sindry utheris quhilkis assistit to Ceso wes Publius Lucresius, consul in the yere afore, schinand yit with recent glore of his triumphe
and victorie abone the Volschis. This Lucresius began to gif ane
parte of his loving to Ceso, rehersand the batallis and vailyeand dedis
done be him, baith in thare expediciouns, and in the front of batall;
and, sen the said Ceso wes dotate with sa mony excellent giftis of
fortoun and nature, he exhortit the pepill to suffir him to be erare
cieteyane of thare ciete than of ony uthir townis or landis adjacent,

THE THRID BUKE.

5

for he sal nocht fail to be ane sikkir targe to quhatsumevir ciete or
pepil quhare he cummis. Attoure, his grete audacite and feirs sprete,
for the quhilk he is maist hatit afore the pepil, sal ay decres be cummin of age; and, in place of his ferocite, sal rise ilk day gude counsel
mair and mair, as thing maist desirit, to thame; and sen vertew every
day rais mair and mair in him, and all vice evanissing, he prayit the
pepill, to suffir this Ceso to leif in the ciete quhil he war temperate
be age. Amang sindry uthir that lauborit for this Ceso wes Lu.
Quincius Cincinnatus, his fader, quhilk wald nocht repete the vailyeant dedis done be his son, in aventure the samin suld have renewit mair indignacioun afore the pepil than afore, bot desirit alanerlie mercy and perdoun to his errouris and his youtheid, and so to saif
his liffe for his saik, sen he nevir offendit to thame in worde or dede.
Nochtheles, the haterent and dredoure that thay consavit aganis this
Ceso war sa ingravit in thare mindis, that thay war repugnant to his
desiris, sum pairt for schame, and sum pairt for fere.
Mony of thame complenit, baith thameself and thare freindis violentlie strikkin be him; and, tharefore, desirit him to be jugeit to the
deith. Abone the commoun invy of pepill, ane crime wes allegit
aganis him richt noisum, quhilk Marcius Volscius, sum time tribune
of pepil, testifyit ; allegeand, quhen the grete rage of pest began to
ceis in the ciete, he cum be aventure on ane cumpany of young undantit men, amang quhom wes Ceso, liand, as apperit, undir wait for
reif or ellis slauchter of passingeris, in ane place namit Subura, and
this Ceso incontinent,' with his curst cumpany, sett on him and his
eldest brothir, quhilk wes nocht weil convalescit eftir his maladie,
and straik him sa violentlie, that he, within few dayis eftir, deceissit;
howbeit, this Volscius durst not persew this accioun for fere of the
consulis, quhilk favorit the said Ceso. This Volscius maid the pepil sa commovit be thir wourdis, that Ceso eschapit narrolie unslane
be thare furie. Incontinent, Virginius commandit the serjand to apprehend Ceso, and put him in irnis; nochtheles, the Faderis and grete
princis of the ciete refusit. Than said Ti. Quincius in this maner:
"Ane man, to quham the day of jugement is sett, suld nocht be vio" let quhil he wes convickit and condampnit.' Virginius answerit.
"I wil nocht slay him, becaus he is nocht condampnit; bot I wil
2

F

TITUS LIVIUS.
" kepe him in festynens, quhil the day be cummin that he may be pu" nist and slane afore the pepill, as he that slew ane Romane ciete" yane." The residew of tribunis, quhilkis war assemblit in this mater, temperate thare sentence be ane mid way; defending that Ceso
suld be put in irnis, bot that he sall find plegeis, undir soumes of
money, to bring him agane to jugement afore the pepil at the day assignit. Yit it wes in dout, how mekill the soume wes that the pepill
wald haif plege for; bot, at last, it wes referrit to the senate. Thus
wes Ceso kepit quhil the Faderis war consultit. The Faderis commandit, that ane pledge sail be gevin to the tribunis, to enter him at
the day assignit, undir pane of IlI.M. brasin pennyis; finalie, thay ordanit x. plegis to be takin for this soume. Ceso wes the first man that
evir gaif plegeis for ony offence in Rome. Als sone as Ceso wes deliverit in this maner fra jugement of tribunis, he departit, be avise of
the consullis, in exile amang the Tuschis.
Quhen the day of jugement wes cummin, he wes accusit, nochtwithstanding his absence, and thocht his freindis schew in jugement
that he wes frelie departit of his awne will in exile, yit thare excusacioun na thing avalit; for Virginius, and the remanent tribunis, tuke
this money afore plegit sa halely, that thay, but ony mercy, apprisit and sauld all the gudis pertenand to Lu. Quincius Cincinnatus,
fader to Ceso; throw quhilk, the said Lu. Quincius wes, for poverte, constrenit to dwell certane time beyound Tiber, as ane banist
man.

THE THRID BUKE.

CAP.

VI.

How the Faderispostponit the law Tirintill be mony slichtis. How
Appius Herdonius, Sabine, with grete nowmer of servandis, tule
the Capitol. How Mcamilius, PrinceofLatinis,cum with ane army
in supporte of Romanis. How Herdonius wes slane, with all his
complices, and the Capitol rescoursit.
HE jugement and proces of thir tribuniciane lawis held
the ciete in sic continewal exercicioun, that na externe
weris followit in this yere. The tribunis havand victorie
' in this maner, and seand the Faderis abasit be proscripcioun of Ceso, traistit the time expedient to estabil eselie the law Tirintill; for the maist pairt of the agit Faderis has left, as apperit, the
possessioun of public landis. On the tothir side, the young Faderis,
sic as war companeyouns to Ceso, notthir pant nor yit minist thare
of the ciete, that thay
curage; allwayis it cum to the grete
temperate in sum maner the preis of-thare violence. Treuth is, in

proffite

the beginning of this yere, quhen the law suld hai" bene first pecifyit

eftir the proscripcioun of Ceso, the young Faderis war 'armit with
grete oistis aganis the tribunis, and assailyeit thame in sic wise, that
nane of the said tribunis micht do ony- thing that wes outhir wourthy
to-have grete glore, or yit grete. haterent afore the pepil., The pepil
complenit, sayand, Ane thousand Cesois war rising, in the place of
ane.. Yit, mony dayis eftir, sa lang as na mencioun wes maid of the
said law, na thing wes mair soft nor plesand to the pepill than war
the Faderis ; for. thay baith salust the pepil tendirlie, 'and tretit thame
with grete humanite in thare lugeing ; and nocht onelie

sufferit

the

tribunis to pas to the merket, bot als to hald baith thare public and
private consultaciouns quhare thay plesit but ony interrupcioun, and
nouthir schew thame cruell nor malicius to ony of the said tribunis,
bot war favoraris of the pepill sa lang as thay wald nocht speik ony
thing concerning the said law ; and. nocht alanerlie did the tribunis
in thare,officis
all uthir besines but ony trubill, bot als war

continewit

TITUS LIVIUS.
to the nixt yere. The Faderis did nouthir injuris to the tribunis in
wourde nor dede, and, be swete behavingis, softit the mindis of the pepill. Be thir and siclike slichtis the law Tirintill wes postponit all
the yere following.
In the nixt yere the ciete wes in mair tranquillite, and than Caius
Claudius, and Publius Valerius war maid consullis. Na novellis occurrit in this yere, thocht the pepill tuke grete sollicitude and care
to pecify the said law. Yit the mair that the young Faderis humillit
thame to the pepill, the mair feirslie rais the tribunis aganis thame;
to that fine, that, be thair criminal accusacioun, thay suld mak the
said Faderis the mair suspect to the pepill: and said, Ane new conspiracioun wes rissin, and Ceso wes ressett within the ciete, and daily
counsellis haldin baith to slay the tribunis, and to distroy the pepill;
and charge gevin to the young Faderis, be avisit of the agit Faderis,
to abrogate and expell the auctorite tribuniciane out of the ciete, that
the ciete may be brocht to the samin estait and governance as it wes
afore the secessioun of the pepill to the Sacrate Montane.
And, thocht the Romanis dred the batall of Volschis and Equis
yerelie appering aganis thame, with awful minassing, yit thare wes
ane uthir new dammage approcheand, howbeit it wes nocht belevit;
for Appius Herdonius, Sabine, with ane cumpany of IV.M.D. servandis and banist men tuke the Capitol undir nicht, and slew every persouns fundin in the samin, specially sic men as wald nocht tak wappinnis, nor assist to his opinioun. Mony pepill, during this effray,
ran sa effrayitlie to the merket, that the noyis and tumult thareof rais
fra ane to uthir, exhorting the pepill to harnes, saying, The enemyis
war in the ciete. The consullis durst nouthir arme the pepill for defence of the ciete, nor yit durst leif thame unarmit; for thay knew
nocht quhiddir this trubil wes cummin be externe and uncouth weris,
or be sedicioun intestine, nor yit wist quhidder thare ciete wes invadit be haterent of thare awne pepill, or dissate of servandis. At last,
thay maid thame to meis this effray, bot the trubill spred ay mair and
mair be thare lauboure; for the multitude of pepill wes strikkin with
sic dredoure, that it micht nocht be governit be ony empire: yit, fi-..
nalie, the pepill tuke thare wappinnis, to that fine, that howbeit thay
knew nocht the sikkir noumer of enemyis, thay micht haif sufficient
garnisoun of armit men aganis quhatsumevir perrell occurring. The

THE THRID BUKE.

229

consulis richt wery, and nocht knawing quhat inemyis thir war than
present in the ciete, nor yit in quhat noumer, past the residew of the
nicht makand watching and garnisoun of armit men in all partis ganand for the samin.
Als sone as licht apperit, baith the batall and capitane thareof
war patent; for than Herdonius cryit furth of the Capitol, calland
the servandis to thare liberte, and confessit himself to haif tane the
accioun of every miserabill creature, that all the persouns quhilkis ar
wranguously exilit may be recounseld agane to the ciete, and the servandis, on the samin maner, brocht to thare liberte. Bot he wald the
samin war done erare frelie be Romanis, than ony uthir wayis; and
gif he couth purches nocht but repuls in thir desiris, he suld move
the Volschis and Equis aganis thame, and assailye thame with extreme jeoperdie.
The trubil of this dammage appering wes ripelie considerit be the
Faderis and consullis. Forthir, abone thir thingis quhilkis occurrit
presentlie, thay drede that thir inemyis war cummin in the ciete be
industrie of Veanis and Sabinis; for sen sa grete noumer of inemyis
war than present in the ciete, thay dred that the Sabinis and Hethruschis suld cum haistelie, with mony armit legiouns; and, in the
mene time, the Volschis and Equis, quhilkis bene thare perpetuale
inemyis, suld cum, nocht, as afore, to waist thare marchis and fronteris, bot erare to tak the ciete, quhilk, for the ta half, is nere tane
ellis. Mony and sindry terrouris rais in this mater. Amang utheris,
apperit maist the terroure of servandis; ilk man dredand to haif
inemye within his hous, to quham he micht nocht surelie gif creditt; -and als, he durst nocht haif him in defiance, in aventure he
wan mair noisum than afore. Apperit, this present trubil micht nocht
be weill mesit be concorde. Throw thir and mony uthir dammagis,
ilk ane rising abone uthir, nouthir was the tribunis dred, nor the pepill. Thir first dammagis rising ay mair and mair be tollerance of
uthir evillis, apperit nocht to be mesit bot alanerlie be externe weris.
Yit, abone thir displesouris, rais ane uthir trubil, mair importabil and
sorowfull to the ciete. Sic furie wes in the tribunis, that thay belevit
nocht ony batall approcheand be inemyis, bot alanerlie the samin to
be ane vane imaginacioun of Faderis; feneyeand, be thare dissate,
that inemyis war enterit in the Capitol, to draw away the mindis of

TITUS LIVIUS.
pepill fra persute of the law foresaid. Forthir, gif the Patricianis,
with thare clientis and freindis, had fund this law afore rehersit anis
establit, and sene that all the trubil and lauboure that thay maid to
impesche the said law wes in vane, thay suld departe haistely with
les noyis than thay cum. For thir ressouns, the tribunis tuke counsell to estabil the said law, and to draw the pepill fra harnes.
Quhil sic thingis war done be theatribunis, the consullis convenit
the senate; for thay war mair astonist be the tribunis than be ony
effray that cum in the nicht be uncouth inemyis. Als sone as it wes
schewin that the men of armes had left thare wappinnis and staciounis, Publius Valerius, consul, left his colleig, Ca. Claudius, to intertenye the senate, and departit haistelie to the tempillis, quhare the
tribunis war, and said in this wise: " O, tribunis, quhat besines i.
" this that ye intend? Ar ye sett to destroye the commounweil be
" mocioun of Publius Herdonius. Is he sa ganand to corrupt you,
" that has skars power to corrupt the servandis ? Is it plesand to you
" to pronunce lawis, and to pas fra youre wappinnis, now quhen youre
' inemyis are abone your hedis ?' Eftir this he turnit his orisoun
fra the tribunis to the pepill, and said, " 0 Quirites, gif ye haif na
" cure of yourself, nor of your ciete, at leist quhy ar ye nocht com" movit that youre Goddis ar vincust and tane prisoneris be youre inemyis. The richt hie and pussant Jupiter, the soverane lady Quene
"Juno, Minerva, and the remanent Goddis and Goddes ar segeit.
" The tentis and garnisouns of servandis occupyis youre public housis.
" Ar thir signis of ane sikker ciete, quhen sa mony inemyis ar nocht
"alanerlie within youre wallis, boi als garnist in youre touris, abone
Syoure merket and courtis. The comites are haldin in the merket,
" and the senate bittis in the courte, reddy to gif sentence as the ciete
" war in pece. Ane uthir parte of pepill gevis thare consultacioun,
"as thay wald supporte us be thare suffragis and votis. War it nocht
" bettir that all the power within the ciete, that is to say, the Faderis,
"the pepill, the consullis, the tribunis, the Goddis and men, ruschit
" armit atanis to the Capitol, for supporte thareof, to deliver and pe"cify the illuster hous of Jupiter. 0 fader Romulus, gif to us, thy
" posterite, the samin curage and sprete be quhilk you sum time re" coverit this hous of Goddis, quhen it wes tane with gold be Sabinis.
"' Command us to entir the samin way as thou sum time enterit with

THE THRID BUKE.

231

" thy armye. I, Lucresius, consul, sall be the first sal follow thy
" futesteppis, sa far as mortal man may." The last pairt of his orisoun wes, That he wald tak his wappinnis, and call the Romanis to
harnes; and gif ony persoun impeschis his purpois, quhatsumevir he
be, he has nouthir sicht to the majeste of the consulis, nor yit to
power of tribunis, and is unmindefull of the sacrate lawis. Quhatevir he be that dois thus, he sal be repute as inemye of the ciete.
" Quhy commandis nocht the tribunis, wappinnis to be rasit aganis
' Herdonius, thare inemye ? Beleif nocht, bot I dar do the sami i
" displesour to the tribunis, that the prince of my hous sum time did
" to the Terquinis."
Apperit thus na thing bot extreme violence on athir side, and the
sedicioun of Romanis to be in derisioun of inemyis. Thus micht nouthir the law Tirintill be establit, nor yit micht the consul pas to defend the Capitol, quhil at last the nicht put end to thare debate; the
tribunis gaif place to the nicht for fere of the consulis. Als sone as
the authoure of this sedicioun war tane away, the Faderis satt doun
in maner of ane round cirkill, and began to advertis the pepill in quhat
extreme dangeir thay haif brocht thare public weill; for the trubil rais
nocht throw the contencioun that wes than betwix the Faderis and
pepill, bot erare becaus the Faderis, the pepill, the Capitol, the tempil of Goddis, and baith thare public and private housis, war tressonably randerit in thare inemyis handis.
Qubil sic thingis war done in the merket to meis all sedicioun, the
consulis past to the portis and wallis of the ciete, to resist the Veanis
and Sabinis, gif ony of thame wald mufe troubil for the time. The
samin time cum messingeris fra the town of Tusculum, schawin how
the Capitol wes tane, and grete troubil rising in the ciete. Than
wes Lu. Mamilius dictator abone the Tusculanis; quhilk herand
thir novellis, assemblit his pepill to ane counsell, and quhen he had
brocht afore thame thir messingeris, he said, " It wes nocht ganand to
" tary quhil the Romane legatis war send fra Rome to seik supporte
" for the troubil occurring, sen baith the perrel and dangere foresaid,
" thare sociall Goddis, thare faithfull alliance, desiris the samin. At"tourte, the Goddis sall nevir gif to us, in times cummin, sa gude occa" sioun to conquere perpetuale amite and kindenes of sa pussant and
" nere ciete to us, as we may haif at this time." Thus wes it decernit,

TITUS LIVIUS.
to send haisty supporte to Romanis. Incontinent, all the young and
lusty men of the ciete went to harnes, and, on the nixt morow, cum
arelie to Rome.
At thare first cummin, the Romanis belevit thame to be Volschis
and Equis cumand to tak the ciete. Fra this vane terroure wes put
away, thay enterit with grete buschementis in the ciete, and cum to
the merket quhare Publius Valerius wes arrayand his oistis. Eftir
that he had left his colleig to defend the portis, the auctorite of Valerius movit gretumlie the pepill; for he promittit, als sone as the
Capitol wes recoverit, and the ciete pecifyit, he suld nocht impesche
the counsell of pepill, sa thay wald understand quhat hid tressoun
and dissate wes lurkand be tribunis in this law that thay wald estabil;
for it wes native to him, as to his predecessouris, to persew the pepill
with all humanite and kindenes he micht.
The pepill, nochtwithstanding the reclamacioun of tribunis, followit
Valerius, as thare capitane, to the Capitol; and, in the low discence
thareof, rasit thare ensenyis with gude array, and with thame followit
the Tusculanis. Than contendit the Romanis and thare confiderate
freindis quhilk of thame micht conques maist honoure, or do maist
wourthily thare devore. Athir of thir capitanis exhortit thare knichtis
feirsly to batall. Than thare inemyis, began to be effrayit, havand
thare confidence in na thing sa mekill as in the strenthis of the Capitol.
Quhil the enemyis war in this effray, baith the Romanis and thare
confiderate freindis cum fordwart with ensenyis and baneris. Now
war thay enterit in the porchis of the tempil, quhare Publius Valerius, fechtand in the first bront amang the preis of inemyis, wes slane.
Als sone as Claudius, the tothir consul, saw him fall, he commandit
his body to be coverit, and incontinent lap in the samin place quhare
he fell. The ire and hatrent of Romanis and thare confiderate freindis
ruscheand feirslie in the Capitol, wes sa boldin and vehement, that
thay gat victorie or evir thay wist that thare capitane wes slane.
Mony of the banist men war slane, and defoulit the tempil with thare
blude. Mony war tane quik; and Herdonius slane.
Thus wes the Capitol recoverit. The residew of thame quhilk wer
found in the Capitol, but ony difference quhidder thay war fremen or
servandis, war slane.

THE THRID BUKE.

CAP. VII.
Of the Orisoun maid be Lu. Q. Cincinnatus aganis the Tribunis.
Of grete contencioun betwix him and the pepillfor the law Tirintill, How the Tribunis war continewit in thare ofice, contrare
the decrete of Senate ; and how Lu. Quincius, eftir he wes maid
Consul, renuncit his ofice.
RETE thankis war gevin to the Tusculanis; and, sone
eftir, the Capitol wes purgit be the sacrifice lustrale. It
is said, that ilk man went to Valerius hous, and left ane
quadrant in it, to caus him be the mair richely buryit.
Als sone as the ciete wes brocht in quiet in this maner, the tribunis
requirit the Faderis to kepe the promisis maid to thame be Valerius,
consul; and, siclike, requirit Claudius, to deliver the saul of his colleig fra all falsit, and to suffir thame to estabil the law. The consul
denyit to do ony thing concerning the said law quhil he had surrogate
ane colleig in the place of Valerius, that wes deceissit. Thir contenciouns frustrate the tribunis, to the commites and new eleccioun of
consullis.{
In the moneth of December nixt following, be grete lauboure and
menis of the Faderis, Lu. Quincius Cincinnatus, fader to the vailyeant Ceso afore banist, wes create consul in the place of Valerius.
Als sone as he began to use his office, the pepill wes richt effrayit,
beleving him armit with grete haterent aganis thame, and seand him
nocht onelie richt pussant be favoure of the Faderis, bot als strang
baith throw his awne pussance, and his barnis; for he had thre sonnis, wise and vailyeand, men of na les curage and manhede than wes
Ceso, his othir son, afore banist, baith reddy of wit and hand, to gif
thare consultacioun in every mater quhare ony grete chargis occurrit.
Als sone as Quincius wes maid consul, he sat doun in jugement, and
wes richt vehement in his concioun na les to dant the pepil, than to
chaistise the senate; saying, 1 Throw thare perpetuale sleuth, the
2G

TITUS LIVIUS.
" tribunis of pepill rang with owre lang auctorite, in dammage of the
" commounweill, rejosing in thare crimes and flurissing toungis. Ap" perit thus, all vertew, all constance, and all honest vassalege of
" young lusty men banist and fled with Ceso, his son, out of the
" ciete, and, in thare placis, left ane cumpany of clatterand tribunis,
"sedicious limmaris, saweris of discorde, and regnand with mair odius
" empire abone the pepill than did evir the kingis. Has Aulus Vir" ginius, tribune, howbeit he wes nocht in the Capitol with the re" manent conspiratouris, deservit ony les punissement than Herdo" nius; for quha wil regarde this mater trewlie, sall finde that he de" servit mekil mair. For Herdonius did na uthir thing bot denun" cit batall as youre confest inemye, that ye micht tak your armoure
" and wappinnis; be contrare, Virginius gart you undirstand na ba" tall nor dangeir wes occurring, and tuke fra you baith your armoure
'.and wappinnis, to bring you nakit and wappinles in your inemyis
' handis. Forder, undir reverence of Claudius, and Valerius, now
" deceissit, I say ye war enterit with victorius ensenyeis in the Ca.
" pitol, or evir your inemyis war doung fra the merket. Is it nocht
" schame to the Goddis and men, that inemyis beand baith in the
" toure and Capitol of Rome, and Herdonius, the capitane of banist
" men, dwelling proudlie in the tempill of Jupiter, polluting and de" fouling every thing in it, that the Tusculanis suld rais thare wap"pinnis, and cum soner than the Romanis to the defens of Rome.
"It is in dout quhidder the Capitol wes recoverit mair be Lu. Ma" milius, prince of Tusculanis, or be Claudius or Valerius, consulis;
" howheit we micht nocht support the Latinis afore quhen thay war
" invadit be inemyis; yit the Latinis, of thare only benevolence, sa
" plesandlie cum to owre supporte, that we had bene al uterlie dis"troyit gif thay had nocht cummin. Attoure, the supple that the
"tribunis makis to the pepill, is to jeoperd and expose thame nakit,
" but wappinnis, to be slane with thare inemyis. Suthlie, thare is
"na man sa vile in this ciete, havand his hous segeit with men of
" armes, bot ye wald haif maid him support; as than Jupiter, the
"maist excellent and michty God, quhen he wes segeit with banist
" men and servandis, wourthy to tak ony support of man. Forthir,
"thir tribunis desiris thame to be haldin in reverence as haly crea"tures, howbeit the Goddis ar nocht haldin in halines nor venera-

THE THRID BUKE.
" cioun afore thame."
touris, he said,

"

235

And than, turnand his orisoun to the sena-

Ye say ye will pronunce, in this yere, ane law in

" plane oppressioun to the law of Goddis and men. Suthlie, the pub" lic weill wes evil governit that day that I wes create consul; and gif
" ye publis the said law, it sall be war governit than it wes quhen
" Publius Valerius, consul, deceissit. Understand herefore, O Qui" rites, it is now the minde of me and my colleig, abone ony othir be" sines, to pas with legiouns of armit men aganis the Volschis and
" Equis. It is uncertane to knaw be quhat fortour it is that we haif
" the Goddis mair propiciant to us quhen we ar fechtand, than quhen
" we are pecifyit. Bettir is to us to conjecture in our mindis, quhat
" dammage micht haif followit in the ciete gif our inemyis had knawin
"the Capitol taken be servandis and banist men, than to haif expe" rience thareof in dede."
This orisoun of the consul movit the pepill. Than the Faderis war
erekkit in sic esperance, that thay belevit the commounweill restorit.
Claudius, the tothir consul, ane man mair pussant in curage than in
dede, sufferit eselie Quincius, his colleig, to bere the charge of this
difficil besines, and maid himself appere doing all uthir chargis pertening to the office consulare.
Than the tribunis began to mak the wourdis of the consul as thay
had bene in vane, and inquirit, Be quhat maner thay micht lede ony
army, sen na man wald gif thare names, nor yit suffir the samin to
be gevin in writt. Than said Quincius, " It is nocht necessare to us
" to haif thare names in writt; for the samin time that Publius Va.
" lerius gaif wappinnis to the pepill to recovir the Capitol, all the pe"pill war sworne, undir ane minde, to assembil togidder, with arm" oure and wappinnis, at the consullis command; and sicklike war
"all sworne, nocht to departe but his licence and conditt: and, thare" fore, we command, that every ane of you, quhilkis wer sworne on
"this wise to the consul, to convene the nixt morrow at the loch of
"

Regill."

Than the consullis sett thame be galenyeis to exoner and discharge
the pepill of the aith be thame maid; and allegit, That Valerius wes
but ane private man in the time that this aith wes maid, and, be that
ressoun, thay aucht nocht be astrikkit to him. Bot thir ressouns nocht
avalit; for the pepil war nocht sa necligent in thay dayis as thay ar

TITUS LIVIUS.
now to manswere thare Goddis, or to fals thare wourdis; and als, thay
wald nocht than interpret thare aithis, nor yit draw the law conforme
to thare maneris, bot erare conforme thare maneris and leving to the
lawis.
The tribunis, seand thare laubouris frustrate, began to lauboure
for the rasing of the armye the mair ferventlie, that the divinouris,
as the fame wes, war commandit to hallow and consecrate the place
foresaid, that all thingis micht be dressin in grete felicite to the pepill; for ilk thing that wes afore done in Rome be violence of tribunis micht than be abrogate and revocate be public commites. Attoure, the tribunis knewe the pepill, eftir thare convencioun to the
loch of Regill, wald obey every chargis commandit be the consull;
and, eftir thare convencioun to the said loch, all the appellaciouns
war frivole, becaus the auctorite tribuniciane is of na valoure nor effect, bot alanerlie within the ciete, or ellis utouth the ciete M. pais.
Thus, fra the tribunis war cummin to the said loch, thay behuvit to
obey the empire of consullis. Thocht thir and mony uthir thingis
maid the tribunis effiayit, yit ane thing wes that effrayit thame mair,
becaus thay herd Quincius aft times say, He wald mak na commites
for new eleccioun of consullis; for the ciete wes nocht sa wery, that
it micht be dantit with sic remedis as it wes wont to be. Necessare
wes, tharefore, to create ane dictator, to governe the commounweill;
to that fine, gif ony persoun wald attempt ony troubil, he sall undirstand fra the dictator is na provocacioun.
The senate, at this time, wes convenit in the Capitol; and to thame
cum haistelie the tribunis, with mony effrayit cumpanyis of pepill,
with grete noyis and clamoure, sum time makand intercessioun to
consullis, and sum time to the Faderis, to create na dictator: yit the
consul wald nocht change his purpois, quhil the tribunis war sworne
to be submittit to the auctorite of the Faderis. Als sone as thir desiris of the tribunis war rehersit afore the pepill, it wes concludit, be
avise of the senate, that nouthir sall the tribunis pronunce the law
Tirintill for this yere, nor yit sall the consullis, within the samin, leid
ony armye utouth the ciete. It wes decernit be the senate, the continuacioun of consullis and tribunis in thare office for that yere wes
aganis the commounweil. The consullis obeyit the constitucioun of
senate; bot the tribunis, nochtwithstanding ony reclamacioun of con-

THE THRID BUKE.

237

sullis, war continewit in thare office. Than the Faderis, that thay
suld nocht gif place to the pepill, continewit Lu. Quincius in the
consulate.
Thare wes na accioun sa vehement in all this yere as the continuacioun of Quincius in his office. " I mervel nocht, 0 Faderis Con" scripti," said Quincius, " thocht youre auctorite be vane and of li" til estimacioun afore the pepill. Ye extoll and magnifyis the pe" pill, the mair that thay ar rebelland, and brekis your constituciouns.
" Apperis, ye desire your decrete wilfully brokin, that na power suld
" be to you abone the pepill; as it war lefull, he that micht maist
" usurpe be violence and force suld be maist authorist. It is mair
" facil to ony pepill to brek thare awne constituciouns and lawis, than
" to brek the lawis of uthir pepill. Ye, Faderis Conscripti, ar like
" ane vane cumpany of pepill inconsultit and fulische. Ye that suld
" be ane mirroure of doctrine to uthir, ye decline forthir fra gude
" dedis, be evil exempil of utheris, than utheris ar rasit be your imi"tacioun to do gude. As for myself, I will nouthir follow the tri"bunis in thare constituciouns, nor yit will I suffir myself to be maid
" consul aganis the decrete of senate. Hereore, I exhorte ye, Ca.
" Claudius, to refrene the Romane pepill fra this besines thay seik
" on me; for I am to ressave the consulate in sic wise, that my ho" noure sall na wayis be impeschit be the, bot erare, that my glore,
" becaus I refusit honoure, sall be the mair ekit, and all invy, that
"micht haif followit be continuacioun of me in the office, sall be
" the mair injuste."
Than wes it constitute, that na men gif thare vocis to create Lu.
Quincius consul; and, gif ony votis war gevin, the samin to haif nane
effect.

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. VIII.

contencioun,

persewing the
How the T ribunis continewit in thare
law Tirintill. How the Equis war discomfist be Q. Fabius, and
brocht to grete miserie. And f the contencioun of Tribunis aganis

the Consullis and Faderis.
o o T the nixt commites, Quincius Fabius, and Lu. Cornelius war maid consullis. The pepill war noumerit
in this yere; and the sacrifice lustrale wes maid in the
o o samin yere, becaus the Capitol wes tane, and the consul
slane. At the beginning of this nixt yere rais sindry trublis; for
baith the tribunis movit the pepill to persew the law Tirintill, and
the messingeris of Hernikis and Latinis schew ane maist dangerus
batall approcheing be the Volschis and Equis.
The Romanis war richt astonist; and dred, becaus mony legiouns
of Volschis war liand at Ancium, that it suld tharefore be randerit to
inemyis. The consullis purchest nocht but grete difficulte at the
tribunis to rais ane armye.

Than wes it commandit be the senate,

that Fabius sail pas with sindry legiouns to Ancium, and Cornelius,
his colleig, sail remane at hame for defens of the ciete, and to resist
the Equis fra direpcioun of the cuntre, as thay war accustumit. The
Hernikis and Latinis, be tenonre of thare alliance, war commandit
to supporte Fabius with

armit knichtis.

The thrid parte- of this ba-

tall wes rasit of Romane cieteyanis ; and the twa parte thairof wes of
thare confiderate

freindis.

Als sone as the Hernikis and Latinis war cuming to the day assignit, the consul sat doun with his tentis beyound porte Capene ;
and, quhen he had purgit thame be the sacrifice lustrale, he past to
Ancium, and campit him nocht far fra sicht of inemyis. The Volschis, becaus the Equis war nocht as than cummin to thare supporte,
durst nocht gif batall, and, tharefore, defendit thame within thair
tentis. Fabius, on the nixt morow, assailyeit nocht his inemyis onelie with ane army ; bot cum with the armyis of thre sindry pepil, se-

THE THRID BUKE.

239

verit fra uthir, and beltit on every side the tentis of Volschis; and
in the middis of thir thre armyis wes himself, with the Romane
legiouns. Than gaif he thame command, to observe ane signe of
trumpett; and, als sone as thay herde the signe, to assailye thare
inemyis at anis; and to fle to thare tentis, gif he maid thame ony
signe thareof be blast of trumpett. Sic thingis done, he arrayit certane noumer of horsmen behind ilk cumpanie. Thus, on sindry wayis
assailyeit he the tentis of Volschis with sic force, that thay micht
nocht sustene the preis thareof. Incontinent, the Romanis cum owre
all thare municioun and trinschis; and, eftir that thay had won thare
tentis, followit haistelie on thame the horsmen: and howbeit thay had
na litil impediment to owrepas the fowseyis and trinschis, yit fra thay
gat the Volschis fleand on the plane, thay maid slauchter but ony recounter. Thus wes grete slauchter maid on the Volschis, baith in the
chais and in the batall. The pray of gudis wes mekil; for the Volschis war sa wery, thay micht skarsly turs with thame thare wappinnis;
throw quhilk, thay had bene al uterly discomfist, war nocht thay war
hid in the woddis.
Sic thingis done at Ancium, the Equis send, within the nicht, ane
cumpany of young men, and tuke the castell of Tusculanis, and campit
the residew of thare armye nere the wallis thareof, to resist the incursioun of inemyis, gif ony occurrit. Thir novellis war brocht haistelie
to Rome, and fra Rome war brocht haistelie to the campe of Romanis,
quhilk wes liand for that time at Ancium. The Romanis war na les
movit for this offence, done to Tusculanis, than thare Capitol had
bene tane; for the grete humanite and kindenes done afore be Tusculanis wes yit recent and grene into thare mindis, and requirit support on the samin wise as thay did thame afore.
Than Fabius left all his othir besines, and brocht the haill pray of
men and gudis, that wes conquest in this last batall, to Ancium; and,
quhen he had put ane sovir garnisoun to the defens thareof, he past
sa diligentlie to rescours the castell of Tusculanis, that he sufferit
nocht his army to turs ony thing with thame bot alanerlie thare wappinnis, with ane small porcioun of vittallis, quhilkis war reddiest for
the time. Yit to supporte his armye cum vittallis in grete plente,
send be Cornelius fra Rome. Sindry skarmussingis war at this time
beside the castell of Tusculum. Fabius, consul, segeit the tentis of

240

TITUS LIVIUS.

Equis with ane parte of his armye, syne left the residew thareof to
the Tusculanis to recovir thare castel. Yit he culd nevir dant the
Equis be force, bot alanerlie be hungir; and, quhen thay war cummin
to the uter miserie thareof, thay randerit thameself, syne cum nakit
and wappinles undir yoik of Tusculanis. Finalie, the Romane consul followit on thame at Algidum, quhen thay war returnand hame
with schameful flicht, and left nane of thame on life. The consul,
eftir this victorie, campit his armye on ane place namit Columen.
The tothir consul, Cornelius, seing his inemyis vincust, and na
danger appering, cum fra Rome to Fabius. Than enterit baith thir
consullis with doubil armyis in thare inemyis landis, and, with huge
batallis, waistit and heryit sum time the landis of Equis, and sum
time the landis of Volschis. I find, be mony authouris, the Anciates
rebellit in this yere. Nochtheles, thay war dantit, and thare ciete recoverit be Cornelius; bot I will na thing afferme thareintill, becaus
na sikkir mencioun is maid thareof be authentik authouris.
This batall beand endit in this wise, the tribunis began to move
domestic batall aganis the Faderis, criand, The army wes haldin out
of the ciete be tressoun and falset alanerlie of the consullis, to frustrate the law Tirintill; and said, Nochtwithstanding the absence of
consullis thay wald execute thair purpois; yit, nochtwithstanding
thare inoportune debate, Pub. Lucresius, consul, president in the
ciete, purchest, that all acciouns of tribunis suld be deferred to the
cumming of the consullis.
In the mene time rais ane new trubil, for A. Cornelius, and Q.
Servilius, questouris, assignit ane day to Marcius Volscius, sumtime tribune of pepill, for his fals deposicioun in dampnacioun of
Ceso; for it apperit be mony evident signes, that the brothir of
this Volscius, fra he fel anis in infirmite, wes nevir sene in public
place, nor rais nevir eftir the first takin of his maladie, bot lay bedderell fra the first takin thareof, quhil he deceissit. Attoure, it wes
provin be mony famous men, that Ceso wes nocht in Rome in the
time that this Volscius allegit his brothir [wes] strikkin. Attoure,
sindry men of armis, quhilkis war with him undir ane baner, testifyit,
Ceso wes with thame at the said time, but ony congey or pasport to
departe at the day assignit. Howbeit Volscius nocht apperit, all
the witnes quhilkis war brocht that day aganis him, testifyit als clere-

THE

THRID

BUKE.24

241

his dampnacioun as he testifyit afore the dampnacioun of Ceso;
hot yit the tribunis stoppit thare jugement, for thay wald nocht suffir the questouris to haif ony commites for jugement of Voiscius quhil
thare law war first establit. Thus war baith thir materis deferrit to
the cummin of consulis.
Als sone as the consulis enterit with thare victorius oistis in the
ciete, sindrie belevit the tribunis effrayit; nochtheles, the tribunis,
becaus it wes than the ischey of the yere, desirit thame to be
newit the fourt time in thare auctorite. Thus wes all contencioun
concerning the said law postponit to the desceptacioun of commites;
and howbeit the consulis resistit na les the continuacioun of tribunis,
pie

conti-

than the law sa oft be thame desirit had bene establit, yit the victo-

nie stude aiwayis with the tribunis. The samin yere, the Equis send
thare legatis to the Romanis, and purchest pece.
The noumeracioun of pepill, quhilk wes beginning in the yere
afore, wes endit in this yere, and wes the tent lustir fra the beginning of Rome ; for all the cieteyanis of Rome war noumerit, and extendit to C.XXXII.M. CCCC.xlx. persouns.

The consulis war in this yere of hie renoun and. glore, baith at
harne, and at feuld. Thay gat baith victorie and pece of inemyis ;
and howbeit thay micht nocht trete sikkir pece and concorde at hame,
yit the ciete wes in les trubil than afore.

2H

~24 ~
TITUS LIVIUS..

x42

CAP. IX.
How Clelius, Prince of Equis, invadit the Latinis and Tusculanis.
Of the message send to him be Romanis,,and of his answere.
Minucius, his
How Naucius, consul, waistit the Equis.
colleig, wes segeit be Equis, and rescoursit be Lucius Quincius,
dictator. And of the said Quincius triumphe in the ciete.

How

T the nixt commites, L. Minucius and C. Naucius
war maid consullis; before quham war brocht haistelie thir twa acciouns afore depending, tuiching the
law Tirintill, and jugement of Voiscius:and. as the
consullis stoppit the law Tirintill, sa the tribunis stoppit the jugement of Voiscius.
The new questouris war in this yere of mair auctorite than afore;
for T. Q. Capitolinus,- quhilk wes thryis consul afore, and M. Valerius, the son of Valerius, war maid consullis. This Ti. Quincius,
seand that nouthir micht his cousing, Ceso, be restorit to the
hous of Quincius, of quhilk he wes discendit, nor yit rejose ony
authorite within the ciete, kest him the mair feirslie to persew this
*,=

Voiscius, quhilk, be fals deposicioun, wes occasioun to condampne
the innocent man Ceso. Quhen A. Virginius, tribune, wes dressing
him to procede in this law, he gaif to the consullis twa monethis
lasere to serche and ripe the samin ; to that fine, that quhen thay
had schewin to the pepill quhat dissate or fraude wes in the said law,
the said pepill suld be sufferit to mak tharb suffrage as thay plesit.
This dilacioun of twa nmonethis brocht the ciete in quiet ; yit it endurit schort time : for the Equis, nochtwithstanding thare band of
confideracioun maid in the yere afore with IRomanis, rebellit, and
chesit Clelius Graccus, the gretest prince of thare cuntre, to be gouvernoure. This Clelius, sone eftir his eleccioun, cum with

niaist aw-

ful incursiounis, baith in the landis of Latinis and Tusculanis, and
sett doun thare tentis, ful of pray and riches, at Algidunm.

THE THRID BUKE.
In the mene time cum to him thre legatis out of Rome, that is
to say, Q. Fabius, P. Volumnius, A. Posthumius, first complening
the injuris done be the Equis; syne desiring thare gudis, eftir the
tenoure of thare band of pece, to be restorit. Clelius commandit thir
legatis, gif thay had ony chargis fra the Romane senate, to schaw
the samin to ane aik, for he wald do sum uthir besines for the time.
Than stude ane huge aik, nocht fer distant fra the tentis of Clelius,
quhais schaddow maid the place about the samin sum parte dirk
and obscure. Incontinent, ane of the legatis past to this aik, and
said in this wise: " This haly aik, and all the Goddis of Hevin may
" here now how the pece is brokin be you Equis; beseking, herefore,
" the Goddis first to be favourabil to our complante, and syne to our
" armye, for we will persew our richt to tak punicioun on thame that
" has violate baith the law of God and man." Thir wourdis beand
said, thir legatis returnit to Rome.
Sone eftir wes commandit be the senate, that the ta consul suld pas
with ane army aganis this Clelius to Algidum, and the tothir consul
to mak incursiouns in the landis of Equis. The tribunis, as thay war
ay accustumit, maid thame to stop the rasing of thir armyis; and perchance thay had stoppit the samin be way of dede, war nocht ane new
trubil haistelie followit. The Sabinis cum, with mony arrayit legiouns,
in grete cruelte baith of fire and swerd, nere the wallis of Rome.
Throw slauchter and hereschippis, haistelie be thame committit, ane
huge terroure wes brocht to Rome, and constrenit the pepill to tak
gladelie thare wappinnis, nochtwithstanding ony reclamacioun of tribunis. Twa strang armyis belive war rasit. Naucius, consul, past
with the tane to were aganis the Sabinis, and sett doun his tentis at
Eretum; and, finalie, be frequent and werelie incursiouns, he waistit
sa uterlie the landis of Equis, that the fronteris and bordouris of Romanis gat litill or ellis na dammage, in compare of the hevy dammage
and hereschippis maid on the said Equis.
The tothir consul, Minucius, had nouthir sa gude fortoun, nor yit
sa gude curage in leding his army as had Naucius. Als sone as thir
thingis war patent, thay rais, as oft occurris, in grete audacite and
sprete, be febilnes of thare inemyis, and incontinent assailyeit to tak
the tentis of Minucius per force; yit, seing thare opin violence na
thing profitit, thay beltit the tentis of Romanis, on the nixt morow,

244

TITUS LIVIUS.

on every side with strang sege. Nochtheles, afore the Romanis war
inclusit in this wise, ischit fra thare tentis five horsmen, and with
grete diligence schew at Rome, how the consul and his army war
segeit. Na thing micht half happinnit that wes les belevit than the
samin; and, tharefore, followit na les dredoure amang the Romanis,
than inemyis had nocht beand segeand thare tentis, bot erare reddy
to tak the ciete. Naucius, consul, wes brocht than afore the senate, and becaus litill helpe apperit in him, na thing wes found sa
proffitabil, to mese this haisty trubill, as to create ane dictator;
and sa, be generale consent, L. Q. Cincinnatus wes maid dictator.
Now is ganand that this historie following war notit with sic persouns that contempnis all warldly thingis in compare of riches, traisting na place to hie honoure or vertew, bot onelie quhare riches
aboundis. L. Q. Cincinnatus, ane pure man, havand na riches bot
onelie four oxingang of land beyound Tiber, fornens the commoun
havin, wes at this time the onelie esperance of Romane empire.
The Romane legatis, quhilkis war send to L. Quincius, fand him
outhir makand ane seuch, or ellis haldand the pleuch. In quhatsumevir sorte it happinnit, treuth is, he wes gevin to landwart besines. Als sone as the salutaciouns war maid on athir side, the legatis desirit him to put on his goune, and here the command of the
senate; praying to the Goddis, that the samin may turne to the
weill of him and the commounweill. Quincius, havand na litill admiracioun, inquirit gif all thingis war saif in the ciete; and, sone eftir, commandit Racilia, his wiffe, to bring his goune fra the somer
schele, quhare he dwelt. Als sone as his goune wes dicht fra sute
and duste, of power he clothit him tharewith, and went fordwart.
Than the legatis salust him dictator, and desirit him to pas to the
ciete, schawand quhat effray and trubil wes in the samin. Belive ane
bait wes brocht to Rome, to bring him owre Tiber. At his owrecumming met him his thre sonnis, with mony utheris, his gude willaris
and freindis, and, eftir all, met him the maist parte of the senate.
Quincius wes convoyit, with his cumpany, and the serjandis passand
afore him, quhil he cum to his hous. Grete buschementis of pepill
cum out of all pertis of the ciete to vesy him, na thing glade of his
cumming, and traisting that he suld be baith owre feirs in his aucto-

THE THRID BUKE.

245

rite, and owre desirus of empire. Na thing wes done in the nicht following, except onelie the pepill walkit in all partis of the ciete.
On the nixt morow, afore the licht, the consul cum to the merket,
and maid Lu. Terquitius maister of chevelrie; for he wes discendit
of the linnage patriciane, howbeit he wes in sic poverte for the time,
that he tuke bot ane futemannis place; yit he passit all the young
men in Rome in manhede and prowes. Sone eftir, the dictator cum
with the maister of chevelrie to the concioun, and commandit the ministracioun of lawis to ceis, and na buthis to be opinnit to his returning, that na private besines suld be done, bot alanerlie sic thingis as
concernis the ordinance of batall. Sic thingis done, he commandit all
the young and lusty men of the ciete, and all utheris that micht weild
ony wappinnis, to mete him in Campus Martius afore the son ganging to; ilk man havand with him five dayis vittalis, and ane stake of
xi. fute lang. Utheris, quhilk war past the date of weris, war commandit to remane at hame, to mak provisioun for vittalis, and utheris
necessare thingis for the army. Belive, all the young men of the ciete
ran to the nixt wod, and cuttit doun the staikis but ony impediment;
and, at the hour affixt, war all reddy at the dictatouris command.
The army beand thus weill arrayit, na les to travel and jorney than
to batall, the dictator past fordwart with his legiouns, and the maister
of chevelrie with his horsmen. Every ane of thare cumpanyis maid
hortacioun to thare knichtis, as the time requirit, to haisty thare passage, that thay micht cum that samin nicht to thare inemyis; for
that wes the thrid day sen the consul and his army wes segeit, and
uncertane quhat wes done; for oft times grete materis ar turnit up
and doun in ane moment. Thus passit fordwart the army, criand in
plesere of thair capitanis, " Thou banerman haist thy passage; and
" thou man of armes fast follow."
At midnicht thay cum to Algidum, and sett doun thare tentis in
sicht of inemyis. Than the dictator, sa fer as he micht behald within the nicht, rade about the army of the Equis, and vesyit baith thare
tentis, thare trenschis, and municioun of thare campe; and syne commandit to tribunis militare, to caus the burdingis and cariage of Romane army to be laid togidder, that the army micht cum to array
with thare wappinnis: and, as the dictator commandit, all wes done.
Than the dictator arrayit his oist endlang the tentis of Equis, on the

246

TITUS LIVIUS.

samin maner as thay cure in thare viage; syne commandit thame, als
sone as thay herde the sound of trumpett, to cry all atanis, and, within the said cry, ilk man to mak ane fowsey afore himself, and to affix
his staik fast behind the said fowsey. Belive wes the signe gevin,
and incontinent wes ilk thing done as wes commandit. The cry cum
throw the tentis of Equis to the tentis of Minucius in divers maneris,
for it effrayit the Equis, and maid the Romanis rejosit.
The Romanis knawing weill this clamoure rasit be thare freindis,
rejosit amang thameself in esperance of supporte; and, be wilfull
erupciouns fra thare staciouns and vigilis, effrayit the Equis. The
consul thocht nocht proffitabil to tary, for be this cry nocht onelie apperit the cummin of his army, bot als the batall begun. Grete merveil wes tharefore, gif the tentis of inemyis war nocht segeit at thare
utemaist partis.

Incontinent, the dictator commandit ilk man to tak

thare wappinnis and follow him. The batall beand on this wise begun within the nicht, the Romanis legiouns schew, be thare huge clamoure and noyis, the parte in grete dangeir quhare thay assailyeit.
Now war the Equis gevand extreme besines to saif thameself fra cloising of Romanis on thare outmaist side, quhen thay war feirsly invadit be the consul in thare inwart partis; throw quhilk the Equis
war enforcit to leif al resistance that they maid afore aganis the dictatouris army to resist the consulis army. Thus spendit thay the
nicht fechtand aganis the consul quhil the morow; and, in the mene
time, the dictator inclusit thame on every side with fowseyis; and,
howbeit thay micht skarslie resist the consul, thay war nocht the les
invadit be the dictator.
The Equis beand thus finalie inclusit, and seand sa mony dangeris
approcheing, war convertit fra batall to maist humill prayaris; sum
time requiring the dictator, and sum time the consul, to use nocht
this present victorie to thare uter distruccioun, bot erare suffir thame
departe wappinles. The consul referrit the mater to the dictator.
The dictator ekit thare dishonoure with mair schame; for he commandit Clelius, prince of Equis, with remanent capitanis of thare
army, to be brocht to him bund, and the toun of Corbio to be randerit. Sic thingis beand done, he wald nocht be desirus of thare
blude nor slauchter, bot wald suffir thame to departe undir yoik, to
mak it knawin thay war subdewit. This yoik wes maid of thre speris,

THE THRID BUKE.

247

of quhilkis twa war dentit in the erde, and the thrid laid thortoure
thare hedis. Undir this yoik departit the Equis; and, eftir thare
departing, the dictator ressavit thare tentis full of riches and gudis,
and dividit the pray thareof alanerlie amang his awne army; and said
to the consul, " You sal ressave na parte of this pray, becaus you
" had almaist bene ane pray to thy inemyis. And you, L. Minucius,
" for thy unprudence, may nocht rejose the office of consul; you sal
" be tharefore bot legate abone the legiouns, quhil the time you haif
" sic curage as requiris to the consul."
Than Minucius exonerit himself of the consulate, and wes maid
legate of the army. The curage of knichtis wes sa obeisant in thay
dayis to all empire and command of thare capitane, that thay remembrit erare the honorabill dedis done be him, than to remembir ony
thingis that micht reproche his honoure. The army gaif to the dictator ane croun of gold, weyand I. li.
wecht, and callit him thare Patroun in all partis quhare thay cum.
Afore his cummin to Rome, Q. Fabius convenit the senate, be
quham wes discernit, that the dictator sal entir triumphand with
his army in the ciete, on the samin maner as thay past be the gate.
The capitanis and princis of Equis, quhilkis war takin be him in the
said batall, with thare baneris and ensenyeis, war led afore him. Than
followit his army, ladin with riche pray of men and gudis. The tabellis war coverit afore the nobil housis of the ciete, ful of mete and
winis. Than followit the cieteyanis, etand delicius metis, or ellis singand melodius sangis. On the samin day, L. Mamilius, prince of Tusculanis, wes maid cieteyane of Rome.
The dictator, eftir thir feliciteis, had left his office, war nocht the
commites of Volscius, the fals witnes aganis Ceso, war cummin. The
tribunis durst nocht impesche the said commites for fere of the dictator. In thir commites Volscius wes condampnit, and past to Lavinium in exile.
Lucresius Quincius left the dictatory on the xvi. day eftir his creacioun, howbeit it wes gevin to him for vi. monethis.

248
TITUS LIVIUS.

248

CAP. X.
How the pepil purchest ten Tribunis to be yerelie create, in defens
of thair acciouns aganis the Faderis and Consulis. How the
Equis war sindry times vincust. How the Romanis send thare
legatis to Athenis, to bring lawis to governe thame injustice.
HE consul Naucius faucht vailycantlie, in thir dayis,
Sabinis
aganis the Sabinis; for nocht onelie war the
T
dantit with grete slauchter, bot als thare landis waistit
with sindry incursiouns. Q. Fabius wes surrogate in
the place of Minucius, and wes send with ane army to Algidum. In
the lattir parte of this yere, the tribunis lauborit as afore for the law
Tirintill; yit, becaus twa armyis of Romanis war furth of thare ciete,
the Faderis wald
na alteracioun to be done to thare returning.
The small pepil purchest, in the beginning of this yere, the small
tribunis, that war afore, to be continewit to the fift yere. Mony wolfis
war sene this yere in the Capitol, and chasit away with houndis. For

suffir

fere of this prodigie, the Capitol wes purgit be the sacrifice lustrale.

In the yere following, Q. Minucius, and C. Horacius Pulvillus
war maid consullis. Howbeit the beginning of this yere wes in quiet,
hot ony externe weris, yit the tribunis, with the' law afore rehersit,
maid na litill sedicioun in the ciete. So far war the mindis of thir
tribunis

inflammit with haterent, that thare injuris had procedit for-

thir, war nocht thay war impeschit be sindry novellis, quhilk schew,
that the Equis, with huge fere and violence of armes, had tane the
toun of Corbio, and slane the men of armes quhilkis war left in de..
fens thareof. For fere of this trubil the consullis convenit the senate,
and war commandit to pas with ane- haisty army to Algidum. Now
has the tribunis left thare debait concerning the law Tirintill, quhen
thay began ane new debait concerning the rasing of this army. All.
wayis the empire of consullis had bene all uterlie vincust be autho-.
rite of tribunis, war nocht ane new effray cum haistelie saying, The
Sabines war cummin with grete incursiouns in the IRomane landis,

THE THRID BUKE.

249

and purposit to tak the ciete. For fere of this trubil, the tribunis sufferit ane armye to be rasit undir this condicioun, Sen thay war frustrate v. yeris continewally of thare purpois, and sa few in noumer that
thay micht nocht support the pepill in thare public acciouns, ilk yere,
tharefore, in times cuming, sal be create ten tribunis. The Faderis
thocht the trubil occurring sa grete, that it was necessare to admit
thir desiris, undir sic condicioun, That thir tribunis sal nocht be continewit, bot yerelie changit in thare office; and that this promis, new
maid be the Faderis, sal nocht be in vane eftir the returning of the
armye fra batall, as wes oft times provin afore. Thir commites of tribunis war instantlie haldin. In this yere, quhilk wes fra the first
creacioun of tribunis xxxvi. yeris, war create x. tribunis of pepill;
that is to say, twa tribunis of ilk class. It wes ordanit, that thir x.
tribunis sal be yerelie create on the samin maner.
The armye beand rasit on this wise, Minucius past aganis the Sabinis, bot thay war fled afore his cuming. The tothir consul, Horacius, past aganis the Equis, eftir that thay had tane the toun namit
Ortona, and slane the garnisoun of Romanis laid [in] Corbio; nochtheles, he met thame at Algidum, and slew, be set batall, nocht onelie
ane huge noumer of thame, bot als chasit the remanent baith out of
Ortona and Corbio, syne kest doun the toun of Corbio, becaus the
garnisoun quhilk wes laid for defens thareof wes distroyit.
In the nixt yere, M. Valerius, and Spu. Virginius war maid consulis. This yere wes in quiet, baith at hame, and of feild. In it wes
grete penurite and derth of vittallis, quhilk cum throw intemperate
and excessive wetis. Than wes ane law maid, that Mont Aventine
sall be publist, and dividit amang the pepill; and yit the tribunis war
continewit as afore in thare authorite, nochtwithstanding the actis
maid be the Faderis.
In the nixt yere, T. Romilius, and C. Veturius war maid consulis.
In the mene time, thir tribunis afore rehersit rase, with grete power
of pepill, and purposit to estabil the law Tirintill; for, sen thare
power wes ekit with grete noumer, thay thocht na litill dishonoure wes
to thame, that thare purpois cum to na mair effect in thir twa last
yeris, than it did afore in thir uthir yeris. Quhil the tribunis war
dressing this mater with maist craftines, cum certane effrayit messin-

250

TITUS LIVIUS.

geris fra Tusculum, schewing the Equis cuming with fereful incursiounis in thare landis.
The humanite and kindenes latelie done be the Tusculanis, movit
the Romanis to haisty thare supporte. Incontinent, baith the consulis
war send with ane armye to Algidum, quhare thare inemyis war campit afore thare cuming, and gaif batall. In this batall vII.M. inemyis
war slane, and the residew discomfist with lang chase. Grete pray of
riches war gottin in this batall; bot it wes sald be the consulis, for
the tressoure of Rome wes pure. The selling of this pray brocht the
consulis in grete haterent of thare army, and gaif occasioun to the tribunis to persew the consulis criminaly afore the pepill.
At the nixt commites, Spu. Tarpeius, and A. Aterius war maid
consulis. In the time of thir consulis, ane day of jugement wes set
to Ti. Romilius, be Clau. Cicero, tribune of pepill; and, sic like, ane
day wes sett to Veturius be L. Alienus, edile of pepill; and thay
war baith condampnit, with grete indignacioun of the Faderis. Romilius wes condampnit in x.M. brasin d., and Veturius in xiI.M.
This injure and cruelte done to the auld consulis, maid nocht the
new consulis the les vigilant; for thay allegit, It wes possibil to thame
to be condampnit as thare predecessouris, yit nouthir the tribunis nor
small pepill had power to mak lawis. The tribunis herand thir wourdis,
left all molestacioun and trubill concerning the law Tirintill, and began to be the mair curtas to the Faderis, and said, Gif the lawis maid
be the pepill war odius and displesand to the Faderis, thay sal put
ane finale end thareto; sa that certane persouns war chosin, be consent of the Faderis and pepill, to mak lawis proffitabil for thaim baith,
to defend equalie baith thare liberteis. The Faderis wald nocht contempne thir offeris of small pepill, bot thay wald suffir nane to execute
nor minister the lawis bot thameself; and, becaus thay culd nocht
aggre quha suld be the ministeris thairof, thay send thre nobil men,
namit Spu. Posthumius, A. Manlius, and P. Sulpicius, as ambassatouris to Athenis, to write the lawis and instituciouns of uthir noble
tounis in Grece.
The residew of this yere wes in quiet, but ony uncouth weris; and
the yere nixt following wes mair quiet, in quhilk P. Curiatius and
Sixtus Quintilius war maid consulis. The tribunis put perpetuale si-

THE THRID BUKE.

251

lence to all thare lawis, and abaid alanerlie on thir uncouth and strange
lawis, quhilkis war to cum out of Athenis.
In the mene time rais twa sorowful harmes, that is to say, hungir
and pestilence, in perdicioun baith of men and beist; throw quhilk,
nocht alanerlie the landwart villagis, bot als the ciete, be continewal
berying of dede bodyis, wes desert and waist. Mony illuster and nobil housis war full of sorow, be deith of thare maisteris. Servius Cornelius, the preist quirinal, wes deceissit, and Ho. Pulvillus, the divinoure; in quhais place wes surrogate C. Veturius, and the erare, becaus he wes condampnit afore be the small pepil. Sic like, Sixtus
Quintilius, consul, wes deceissit, and thre tribunis of pepill in the
said pest. So wes this yere ful of pest and trubil; and thocht na
dangeir apperit be externe weris, yit in the ciete war sindry mociouns
of trubil.

CAP. XI.
Of the returning of Romane legatisfra Athenis. How the Consulis
war put doun, and ten men chosin to regne in thare place. Of the
following.
chance and ordinance thaireftir
Ow war the legatis returnit fra Grece, with the lawis of
T Athenis. Than laubourit the tribunis besily to haif thir
lawis publist, that the pepill micht be governit be lawis
agevin to thame in writt. At the first assemblance of senate wes decernit, that x. men sal be create to exerce and practik thir
lawis abone the pepill, but ony appellacioun; forthir, to eschew all
contenciouns, gif ony war risin amang the pepil, it wes statute, That
na uthir magistrate nor dignite sal haif place during that yere; providing allwayis, that na derogacioun war maid to the law Aciliane
concerning Mont Aventine, nor yit to nane utheris sacrate lawis.
The yere ccc. and ane fra the first fundacioun of Rome, the governance of Romane empire wes changeit; for as the first governance
thareof wes changeit fra the empire of kingis to the empire of consulis,
sa fra the empire of consulis it wes changeit now to the governance

252

TITUS LIVIUS.

of x. men. This translacioun wes the les notabil, that it wes nocht
permanent; for as the beginning thareof wes full of pride and insolence, so wes the declinacioun thareof the mair suddane; and wes occasioun be quhilk the empire returnit as afore to the consullis.
The names of thir x. men followis: Ap. Claudius, T. Genucius,
Pub. Sestius, L. Veturius, C. Julius, Au. Manlius, Ser. Sulpicius,
Pub. Curiacius, T. Romilius, and Spu. Posthumius. I find, that
Appius Claudius, and Ti. Genucius, war ekit amang thir x. men, becaus thay war chosin to haif bene consulis in this present yere, and,
fra thay war frustrate thareof, thay war ekit amang the noumer of
thir x. men. Pub. Sestius wes maid ane of thir ten men, becaus he
dressit this mater to the favoure of Faderis, aganis the minde of his
colleig, Spu. Posthumius. Ser. Sulpicius, and Aulus Manlius, war
chosin to be of thir ten men, in recompens of thare travell and laubouris; for thay war send as legatis, to bring thir lawis foresaid, as
men of grete experience, and semit, tharefore, to be the mair abill to
constitute new lawis for the gouvernance of thare ciete. The remanent ten men war chosin be wisdome and gravite of age, to mak thame
the les repugnant to ony gude materis done be the remanent Faderis.
The gouvernance of this new ciete stude maist be Ap. Claudius; for
he cled himself with sa new ingine, that quhare he wes haldin afore
gretest persewar and inemye to the pepill in all thare acciouns, he becum haistelie thair mantenare, and principall favorare. Thir ten men
satt ilk day, thare cours about, in jugement, for administracioun of
justice; and before him, that had the administracioun for that day,
went xii. serjandis, armit with axis, wandis, and uthir ornamentis
riall; and afore ilk ane of the remanent ix. went ane masere. Thus
war thir ten men all of ane opinioun and concorde, to use thir lawis
with maist severite and justice abone the pepill. The moderacioun
and gouvernance of thir ten men may be knawin be exempil of ane of
thameself; for, eftir that thir x. men war create gouvernouris of the
ciete but ony provocacioun, wes found ane man slane, and hid undir
erde, in the hous of Pub. Sestius, a man of linage patriciane. Thus
wes ane day sett to the said Pub. Sestius be C. Julius, x. man, to here
him criminally accusit afore the pepill for this fellony, that wes sa
patent and terribil; yit this C. Julius chesit erare to be accusare of
this Pub. Sest. afore the pepill, than to be juge thairof; that the

THE THRID) BITIKE.

o258

thing that wes tane fra his authorite and new power, suld be ekit to
the liberte of pepill.
Als sone as the grete and small estatis of the ciete had schewin
thame content to haif thir lawis exercit abone thame, with na les reverence than the samin had bene cummin fra the orakillis and responsis
of Goddis, incontinent thir x. men sett thame with uter diligence to
publis the said lawis. And, to the grete desire and fervent expectacioun of pepill, thay publist thir x. tabillis afore rehersit in public
concioun; and to that fine, that gude fortoun, felicite, and honouris,
may succede to thame and thare barnis, thay prayit the pepill to rede
and avise with the said lawis; for sen the witt of mony is bettir than
of few, thay haif devisit, sa far as ressoun and intelligence may haif
place, gude and equale lawis, as lele for riche as pure; and schew
thay wald, be frequent disputacioun, discus every mater be thameself,
and, eftir maist solid and ferme deliberacioun, thay wald bring thare
sentence to licht, equivalent to the valour thareof; that it may be said,
the Romanis has nocht onelie lawis maid in writt, bot als executis the
samin be public consent. Als sone as the pepil had sene every titill
and cheptoure of thir lawis correckit as apperit sufficientlie, the foresaidis lawis, writtin in tabillis, war pronuncit in commites centuriate.
Thir x. tabillis, amang sa grete multitude of confusit lawis, war the
first fontane of all public and private juris.
Than wes ane rumoure amang the pepill, that twa tabillis yit laikit;
quhilkis, beand ekit to the first x. tabillis, all difficulte, of quhatsumevir questioun occurring for the time, micht haif sufficient decisioun
amang the Romanis. The pepill abaid with sic desire to haif thir
uthir twa tabillis, that, quhen the nixt commites war cummin, thay
continewit thir ten men in thare authorite; for this new signorie of
x. men wes sa plesand, as apperit, that the pepill thocht the names of
consulis war als odius as the names of kingis; and, tharefore, nouthir
socht thay the support of tribunis in thare materis, nor yit the remeid
of appellacioun, traisting nocht onelie all thare materis and acciouns
to be plesandlie dressit in times cuming, bot als traistit thir x. men
to leif thare auctorite quhen time requirit, as Julius did afore.
Now war the commites proclamit to be haldin, the thrid day eftir
the Nundinis, for creacioun of thir ten men, quhen grete sedicioun, be
desire of honouris, rais in the ciete. The grete princis and Faderis

254

TITUS LIVIUS.

thareof dredand this new signorie to fall sumtimes to unwourthy persouns, began to frequent the pepill; and thocht thay impugnit oft
times this new signorie, yit thay laubourit to haif ane part thareof
afore the samin pepill, with quham thayhad sa frequent contenciouns
afore. This new and dulce auctorite movit Ap. Claudius, for he wes
in his young and flurisant youth, to persew the samin with sic ambicioun, that it wes uncertane quhidder he suld be noumerit amang the
x. men, or amang the candidatis; for he, be crafty dissimulacioun,
schew him erare ane desirare of office, than to be presentlie cled with
the samin. He reprochit the Faderis and grete princis of the ciete,
and began to extoll the new litis and utheris, sic as wer clothit in
quhite vestiture, and went oft times amang the Duellianis and Icilianis in the merkett, traisting, be thare familiarite, to conques the
favoure populare; quhil, at last, his colleigis, quhilkis war mervelluslie gevin afore to him in all materis, beheld with grete sollicitude his
doingis, havand na litill admiracioun quhat he purposit to do. Na
thing be his doingis apperit to thame commendabill; na benignate
nor swete contenance semit be his proude havingis; for he nocht allanerlie apperit owre desirus of new digniteis, bot als owre frequent
and familiare with private persouns. Thir war na signis that he ony
way purposit to departe fra his auctorite, bot erare signifyit him, at
the nixt commites, to be continewit. Allwayis, his colleigis durst
nocht oppone thame opinlie to his avarice, bot set thame, the maist
presand way thay micht, to soft his preis.
At the nixt commites, howbeit he wes youngest, his colleigis gaif
him all power to cheis the x. men, to be gouvernouris of the ciete for
the nixt yere. This wes done be crafty slicht of his colleigis, to that
fine, that sen the power wes gevin to the said Appius to cheis the x.
men of new, he suld nocht cheis himself; bot it wes nevir herd afore
that ony man chesit himself to ony auctorite or office, except anis the
tribunis, be thare wikkit exempill, practicate sic ane like thing afore.
Appius consentit weil to his colleigis to be principale holdar of the
nixt commites; and, to cheis the x. men mair eselie, he thocht best
to remove all thingis that war impediment to him. So, quhen he had
deprivit twa nobil men of the hous of Quincius, namit Q. Capitolinus,
and Q. Cincinnatus, of all auctorite and honouris, and siclike had deponit his fader broder, namit C. Claudius, quhilk wes ay ane defen-

THE

THRID

BlUKE.

255

doure of public liberte, he chesit x. men to be governouris of the
ciete, howbeit thay war nocht of sic preeminence and wisdome as thir
uthir ten men that rang afore. And first of all he chesit
howbeit na man wald haif belevit sic thing, for it wes reprevit with
all gude men; and eftir that he had chosin himself, he chesit M. Cornelius Maluginensis, M. Sergius, L. Minucius, Q. Fabius, Q. Petelius, T. Anthonius, Ceso Duilius, Spu. Oppius, and M. Rabuleius.

himself,

CAP. XII.
How thir ten men rang with grete tgrannie abone the Romanis;
and how that impeschit the coinmites and generale eleccioun ofpepill, to maek thamese fregne with jperpetuall empire aboe the Romanis.
His wes the fine of the commissioun gevin to Appius,
T that he chesit himself, quhen he suld haif chosin utheris
to this new signorie. Than Appius began to lef eftir
his sensualite and appetite, inducing the remanent of his
colleigis to follow his manneris, afore thay war cummin to thare auc-

torite. Thir x. men maid quiet consultaciouns amang thameself but
ony avise of uthir cumpanyis ; and, belive, thay war instruckit with
sa prideful counsel, that thay couth nocht dissimill thare hicht, and
kepit thare entres sa strate, that the pepill couth nocht, but grete difficulte, haif speich of thame.
Now wes the mater drawin fordwartis to the idis of Maii, be quhilkis
cummis the solemne sesoun to begin ony

officis or digniteis.

The

first day of jugement, haldin be thir ten men, wes richt notabill, be
huge dredoure and fere appering to the pepill; for thocht thir uthir
ten men, quhilkis rang in the yere afore, kepit sic ordoure during
thare time, that every ane of thame rang thare day about, havand
afore him, for that day, the xii. serjandis, with axis, wandis, and ornamentis nial : on the first* day of jugement, every ane of thir ten
men cum with xi r.

serjandis, armit with axis and wandis, to the court

at anis, extending in the hale to the noumer of c.xx. serjandis; and,

056

TITUS LIVIUS.

sen thir x. men war create but appellacioun, na man durst oppone
him to thare auctorite. Thus, thay represented the resemblance and
figure of x. kingis attanis afore the pepill. This terroure wes multiplyit
sa hie, that it nocht onelie maid the small pepill, bot als the Faderis
and grete princis of the ciete astonist; traisting thir ten men subornate,
and in sindry wise instruckit to seik occasioun for thir hereschippis
and slauchter. Apperit, gif ony man war mindefull of sic thingis as
concernis thare liberte, or spak ony thing in defens thareof afore the
senate or pepill, that this man, nochtwithstanding of quhatsumevir
preeminence he be of, sal be first skurgit with wandis, syne hedit with
ane ax, to the grete fere and terroure of all utheris that wald attempt
sic thingis in times cumming. And, abone thir dammages, na support
wes left to Romane pepill aganis thir x. men, for nocht onelie all appellacioun wes tane away, bot als, with thare awne consent, every
othir thing that micht thareto mak impediment wes, on the samin
maner, tane away; howbeit it wes nocht so with thir men that rang
in the yere afore, for thay suffirit thare sentence and decretis to be
correckit be vigoure of ane appellacioun interponit fra ane of thame
to thare colleigis, as wes provin in the accioun of Julius, x. man, aganis
Sestius; for this Julius, of his fre volunte and benevolence, remittit
certane thingis to the jugement of pepill, howbeit the decisioun thareof pertenit to his awne auctorite.

Thus wes the terroure certane time grete in the ciete, to na les
terroure of the Faderis than small pepill; for thir ten men abstenit
fra all injure of the Faderis and princis of the ciete, exercing thare
luste and insolence, with grete cruelte and rigoure, on the commouns,
and vilest pairt of the ciete alanerlie. Forthir, thay war gevin to the
favoure of party, bot ony sicht to just or injust mater; and, that
thare favoure micht haif strenth of equite, thay gaif thare decisiouns
and jugementis of al materis at hame, syne publist the samin in opin
courte. Gif ony man appelit fra ane of thare sentence to ane uthir,
he wes sa trublit, that he repentit sare that he stude nocht at the first

sentence.
In the mene time rais ane grete rumoure, howbeit na man durst
be auctoure thareof, that thir men war sworne and convenit amang
thameself, to rejose this new senyorie nocht onelie for the time present, bot als for all times cuming; in sic wise, that thay sal impesche

THE THRID BUKE.

257

all commites for eleccioun of new magistratis and digniteis. The
small pepill, opprest with mony harmes, beheld reuthfullie the visage
of the Faderis, and began to favoure thare liberte; for, throw the
fere and dredoure of servitude, thay brocht thare commounweil in
this present trubil. The Faderis nocht onelie hatit thir x. men, bot
als hatit the small pepill; na thing commending the thingis done be
thame, and thocht na thing unsemand that thir hevy dammagis war
fallin to thame, sen thay, of thare awne fre volunte, sufferit thameself
to be thirlit to servitude. The Faderis wald nocht supporte the pepill in this mater, bot dissimillit ; to that fine, that the trubil and injuris done ithandlie be thir ten men suld be sa odius and unsuffirabil,
that the pepill suld be constrenit to desire the consullis to be chosin
agane, and the ciete to [be] brocht to the samin estait as it wes afore.
Now wes the maist pairt of the yere gane, and twa tabillis ekit to
thir othir x. tabillis afore rehersit. Thus wes it, be mature deliberacioun, concludit, gif thir twa tabillis, full of lawis as said is, war pronuncit in commites centuriate, that it wes nocht nedefull to haif this
new signorie of x. men continewing ony langare abone the pepill.
Thus abaid the pepill, with grete desire to haif the nixt commites,
that, be the samin, thare consullis micht be chosin as afore; and tuke
grete sollicitude in thare mindis, how and be quhat maner thay micht
recovir agane the power of tribunis, quhilk wes the onelie proteccioun
of thare liberte, howbeit it wes lang desertit. Allway apperit, na
mencioun to be maid of the commites; for thir ten men garnist thare
sidis with the patricianis and nobil younkeris of the ciete, quhare thay
war wount to garnis the samin with the tribunis, to conques the favoure of pepill. Apperit, tharefore, the governance of thir ten men
to be in plane eversioun and dammagis of tribunis; for thir ten men
war nocht onelie governouris of the pepill, bot als governouris of thare
gudis and fortoun, in sic wise, that quha had maist riches had maist
authorite abone the laif; and, abone thir injuris, mony of the small
pepill war scurgit with wandis, and utheris hedit with axis; and to
that fine that thare cruelte suld nocht appere for nocht, eftir the
slauchter or punicioun of the man, followit confiscacioun of his gudis.
The young nobillis, corruppit with rewardis, tuke na sollicitude to
resist the injuris done be thir ten men; bot erare war gevin to fortify

258

TITUS LIVIUS.

thare licence and opin renyeis, than to desire the commoun liberte.
Now war the Idis cummin of Maii, but ony substitucioun or eleccioun
of new digniteis. Thir private persouns, regnand in the place of ten
men, with mindis na thing minist to bruke perpetuale empire, cum to
the sicht of pepill, clothit with axis, wandis, and uthir ornamentis
riall, schewin, be the samin, the verray resemblance and similitude of
kingis. Thus semit the public libertie perpetualie to peris; for na
man, for the time present nor to cum, apperit to be recoverare thareof.

CAP. XIII.
How the Sabinis and Equis maid grete incursiounis in the Romane
landis. How the ten men summound the Senate and Faderisto
consult in this mater. Of the scharpe orisoun maid be Valerius
and Horaciusaganis the ten men.
OCIT onelie war the Romanis disparit, but ony espe-

rance of releif in this mater, bot als war contempnit with
thare nichtbouris, quhilkis thocht unwourthy that Romanis suld haif ony empire, sen thay had na liberte. In
the mene time, the Sabinis, with grete power, maid divers incursiouns
in Romane landis; and, eftir that thay had waistit braid boundis
thareof, with huge pray of men and gudis, but ony resistance, thay
colleckit thare army togidder, quhilkis, with incursiouns, war wide
scatterit throw the cuntre, and sett doun thair tentis at Eretum, beleving this new dissensioun amang the Romanis to be impediment to
the rasing of ony army. The Romanis war nocht only effrayit be
messingeris, bot als be fleing of landwart pepill to the ciete.
For fere of this trubil, the x. men tuke consultacioun quhat wes to
be done; and howbeit thay war vode of all gude esperance, knawand
baith the haterent of the small pepill and the princis of the ciete
aganis thame, yit thare dredoure wes ekit be ane new trubil; for the
Equis on the tothir side, with sindry incursiouns, waistit the Tusculane landis, and sett doun thare tentis at Algidum. Incontinent cum

THE THRID BUKE.

259

legatis fra the Tusculanis, desiring supporte aganis the Equis. This
new troubil maid thir ten men sa effrayit, that thay war constrenit to
tak consultacioun of the senate quhat wes to be done aganis thir twa
armyis of Equis and Sabinis, liand, with awfull minassing about thair
ciete. And howbeit thay knew na thing better, than extreme haterent
and invie baith of the Faderis and pepill aganis thame, yit thay commandit the senatouris to be summound to the courte, knawing weil,
the frequent hereschippis maid in the Romane landis be inemyis, and
all the trubil following thareapoun, wald be so hevily imput to thame,
that the pepill micht tak occasioun tharethrow to depone thame baith
of thare auctorite and honouris, les than thay war the mair stoutlie
confiderit togidder undir ane minde to resist ane few noumer of thame
that desirit to bring thare digniteis to nocht, and to tak sic punicioun
on thame that the residew of thare attemptatis suld be the mair eselie dantit.
Als sone as the serjand, be opin proclamacioun summound the senatouris to the courte, becaus thay war nocht summound lang time
afore to sic effect, the novelte thareof brocht all the pepill in sic admiracioun, not knawand quhat wes happinnit, nor the caus quhy the
thing, that wes sa mony yeris afore unhantit and out of consuetude,
wes brocht agane in use; and becaus sic thingis war done as pertenit
to the auld liberte of thare ciete, the thankis thareof suld be gevin
alanerlie to inemyis. The pepill lukit throw all partis of the merket,
and saw few senatouris present. Thus wes the courte of ten men desert, but ony cumpany. The small pepill allegit the caus quhy the
Faderis nocht convenit wes, that private men war clothit with auctorite aganis thare lawis, and had na power to convene the senate. Apperit, tharefore, the time ganand to recovir the public liberte, gif the
small pepill wald concur with the Faderis, and consent na mair to
the rasing of ane armye, than the Faderis has done to convene at the
command of thir ten men. Few of the Faderis war sene outhir in the
merket or in the ciete; for mony of thame departit of the ciete to
landwart placis, and, but ony sollicitude of public materis, gaif thame
to thare awne besines, traisting ay the mair distant and ferrare thay
war fra the cumpany of thir ten tyranfull men, to be the ferrare fra
every trubil approcheing.

-60

TITUS LIVIUS.

Als sone as thir ten men saw the Faderis nocht convenit, thay send
apparatouris to thare housis to tak plegis for thare noncomperence,
and to inquire, gif thay desist fra public convencioun be set purpois.
Thir apparatouris schew at thare returning, the Faderis war departit
of the ciete to landwart placis. The x. men war mair glade quhen
thay herde the departing of Faderis to thare landwart placis than to
haif herde of thare rebellioun; and, tharefore, commandit the Faderis
to be summound as afore to compere on the nixt morow: and on the
said morow, the Faderis convenit with mair noumer than wes belevit.
Than the small pepill began to rummis, saying, The Faderis had betrayit thare public liberte, obeying to the command of thir ten men
as thay had bene lauchfully summound, for thir x. men war private
persouns but ony auctorite; yit the Faderis convenit mair of thare
awne benevolence, than for ony ferefull wourdis of thir x. men.
It is said, quhen Appius Claudius had schewin the caus of thare
convencioun, or evir the senate and Faderis had gevin thare votis and
consultacioun concerning the mater proponit, that ane prudent man,
L. Valerius, askit licence to speik sumthing concerning the commounweil; and, becaus thir ten men had inhibit him with awful minassing
to speik, he rasit ane huge noyis and trubil in the courte. Incontinent, M. Horacius ruschit with feirs sprete in the courte, and callit
the x. men, for despite, ten Tarquinis, and said, Sen the Tarquinis
and kingis war banist and put fra thare empire be the linnage and
hous of Valerius and Horacius, his predecessouris, he thocht it resonabil that thir ten men war banist be him on the samin maner. " Ye
" ten men," said Horacius, " ar nocht hatit to the pepill for youre
" name, for grete Jupiter, and Romulus the beginnare of our ciete,
" and all the remanent kingis eftir him succeding, and the kingis of
" sacrifice, ar callit men; bot ye ar odius for your tyranny and pride,
" resembland to the pepill the figure of x. kingis; and sen we micht
" suffir na injuris nor wrangis in L. Tarquine, that wes owre king,
" nor yit in his son, Sixtus Tarquinius, the deflorer of Lucres, how
" may we suffir ony tyrannyis of private men. Avise discretely, how.
" beit ye haif grete pussance, to inhibit men to speik outhir in the
" courte, or utouth the courte." Forthir, he couth persave na ressoun
quhy it pertenit nocht als weil to him, that wes ane private, to con-

THE THRID BUKE.

261

vene the pepill to mre concioun, as it pertenit to thir x. men to convene the senate. Thir x. men, gif thay pleis, sal haif sone experience
quhidder thare doloure is greter in recovering thare liberte, or thare
avarice greter in possessing of wranguis empire. " Thir x. men," said
Horacius, " has convenit the senate to haif consultacioun concerning
"' batall now appering be Sabinis, howbeit na batallis apperis sa
the
" dangerus to the commounweil as thir men quhilkis war create for
" ministracioun of lawis, and has left na place to equite nor justice in
" our ciete; bot has tane away the commites, the yerelie digniteis,
" and the thing that wes the onelie defens of thare liberte, that is to
" say, the changeing of empire thare yere and cours about, put doun
" be thare manifest tyrannie; and thocht thay be bot private persouns,
" thay regne with kingly empire, and kingly ornamentis. Soith is,
" that, eftir the proscripcioun of kingis, war certane yerelie digniteis
" create, to be chosin onelie of the patricianis; and, sone eftir, be se" cessioun of pepill to the Sacrate Montane, war create certane new
digniteis, to be chosin only of the plebeianis; bot this new signorie
" is nouthir for the weill of the patricianis nor plebeanis. Thay ar
" nocht for the weill of plebeanis, for thay did nevir thing be avise of
"the pepill; thay ar nocht for the weill of patricianis, for in this yere,
" quhilk is now nere gone, thay desirit nouthir the Faderis, nor prin" cis of the ciete, nor yit nane uthir of the patricianis, to ony of thare
" consultacioun; and regnis now with sa pridefull empire, that thay
"inhibit ony man to speik for the public weill; and to that fine, that
"thare authorite sall nocht continew be onelie esperance that thay
" haif in dredoure of the pepill. I say, the pepill now presently sus" tenis ma cruelteis and oppressiounis be thir ten men than may be
" imaginate or dred to cum on thame in times cummin."

262

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. XIV.
Of the orisoun maid be C. Claudius, to soft the ferocite of Appius
Claudius. Of the orisoun maid be L. Cornelius, to continew thir
ten men in thair auctorite. How twa armyis of Romanis war rasit aganis the Sabinis and Equis, and baith discomfist.
UHEN Horace had said thir wourdis, the ten men war
sa commovit, that thay couth nocht find the way how
thay suld meis thare ire, nor yit how thay micht reveng
. the samin, nocht knawing be quhat fine this contencioun
suld cum. Incontinent C. Claudius, fader broder to Appius Claudius, tent man, began to speik to his said nevo erare in maner of
prayer than ony displeseir; requiring him, for the lufe he had to the
saul of Ap. Claudius, his fader, to assist erare to the civill societe in
quhilk he wes bred and nurist, than to the wikkit confideracioun
maid betwix him and his colleigis. And, forthir, he requirit him to
consent thareto erare for the lufe he had to his awne fader, than for
the favoure he had to the commounweill; for gif the commounweill
be nocht defendit with gude will, it will be haldin in the richt perforce; and, becaus of grete debate risis grete invie and haterent, he
dred sarelie the end of thare contenciouns, throw the haterent of pepill aganis thame, suld be noisome and perrillus.
Quhen the x. men had inhibit C. Claudius to speik ony thing without he war demandit, he eschamit a litill; nochtheles, he opinnit his
minde with mair dispite, and said, He thocht expedient that na consultacioun of the senate suld be maid in timis cuming be ony avise of
thir x. men, for thay war bot private persouns, regnand in auctorite,
but ony commites or eleccioun of pepill. Mony of the Faderis and
grete princis of the ciete assistit to his opinioun.
Ane othir sentence, semand mair pronyeand and scharp, wes pronuncit in the said courte, howbeit it wes nocht of sa grete effect; quhilkis
said, the patricianis war convenit to cheis ane Interking, becaus na man
aucht to convene the senate without he war clothit with public office;
and, sen C. Claudius has decernit thir x. men alanerlie bot private

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263

persouns, thay haif na jurisdiccioun nor power to assembil the Faderis to ony convencioun.
The accioun of ten men beand nere perist in this wise, rais up L.
Cornelius, broder to M. Cornelius, x. man, for he wes ordanit be all
thare avise to speik in the latter end of this mater; and, incontinent,
L. Cornelius, undir the schaddo of batall, as the samin wes instantly
appering be Sabinis and Equis, began to defend the accioun of his
broder and his collegis, saying, He had na litill admiracioun, how and
be quhat maner it wes happinnit, that thir x. men suld be impugnit,
speciallie be sic men as rejosit the signorie thareof in the yere afore.
" Quhat is the caus," said he, " that na man impugnit this new sig' norie sa mony monethis bipast, and now, quhen inemyis approchis
" to our portis, ye rais trubil and discorde amang the pepill. He
" micht nocht undirstand the samin done to ony uthir fine, bot one" lie to mak the mater in quhilk they laubour sa dirk and nubilus,
" that na thing sal be sene clerely in it quhat suld be done. Forthir,
" nane is amang thame, sen thare mindis ar chargit with sic sollici" tude, that can remove the thing that dois maist prejudice in this
" mater. As to the mater presentlie occurring, he thocht thir ten
" men suld departe fra thare office at the nixt Idis of Maii, as Vale" rius and Horacius afore desirit; for, als sone as the batallis war
C endit, the public weill micht be brocht as afore to tranquillite
" and pece. In the mene time he thocht expedient, that Appius
"Claudius, quhilk wes chosin to create thir x. men, suld be examinate
" quhidder he create thame to rejose thare auctorite alanerlie for ane
"yere, or gif he create thame to continew ay and quhil the lawis,
"quhilkis failyeit and inlakit, war completit. For thir ressouns, he
" thocht na thing wes to be done, except alanerlie the rasing of ar"myis aganis the Sabinis and Equis. Attoure, gif thay belevit the
" fame of this batall wes vane,-gif thay belevit na faith wes to be
"gevin to the messingeris thareof, nor yit to the legatis of Tuscula" nis, gude war to send furth exploratouris to report all thing as ap"perit with maist securite; and gif ony faith war to be gevin to the
" saidis legatis, gude war to rais ane armye, and the samin to be led
" as thir x. men thinkis expedient, and na uthir mater to be present" lie tretit." This orisoun of Cornelius movit the young Faderis to
assist to his opinioun.

964

TITUS LIVIUS.

Than Valerius and Horacius began feirslie to invay aganis thir ten
men, and desirit licence to speik for the commounweil afore the pepill,
sen thay war inhibit for this present faccioun to speik afore the senate. Considering thir ten men war bot private persouns, thay had
na power to inhibit ony man to speik outhir in the courte or concioun;
na place aucht tharefore to be gevin to thare vane and usurpit authorite.
Appius, traisting this new signorie al uterlie to peris gif he resistit
nocht the violence of Valerius and Horacius with sic like audacite as
thay persewit, commandit na man to speik bot gif he war requirit.
At last, becaus Valerius said, He wald nocht kepe silence at the command of ane private man, Appius commandit ane serjand to pas and
apprehend him. Thus wes the debait mair feirs than afore; and
thocht Valerius requirit the pepill to assist to his opinioun, he wes
nocht supportit, bot violentlie ejeckit out of the courte. Than C.
Cornelius embrasit Appius, and causit him put ane finale end to this
debait, and gaif power to Valerius to speik quhatevir he list. Howbeit his speking nocht avalit. Thus bure the ten men furth thare
auctorite, nochtwithstanding ony reclamacioun in the contrare.
The agit Faderis and nobillis of the ciete had grete haterent aganis
the power of tribunis; and, becaus thay knewe the pepill war mair
desirus to haif tribunis than consullis, thay had lever thir ten men
had gane fra thare auctorite plesandlie than to be put fra the samin
be fors and haterent of the pepill; for, gif all materis war plesandly
dressit, it micht happin, outhir be continuacioun of batallis, or ellis be
moderate and soft empire of the consullis, that the pepill micht desist fra ony desire of tribunis in times cuming. Finalie, be tolerance
of the Faderis, ane armye wes rasit. The young men of the ciete, becaus the empire of thir ten men wes but appellacioun, gaif thair names
in writt but ony obstakill.
Als sone as the legiouns war writtin, thir ten men tuke consultacioun amang thameself quha sall pas to batall, and quha sall be capitanis of the armyis. The principall amang thir ten men wes Appius
Claudius and Q. Fabius; and, becaus the trubil apperit mair noisum
at hame than of feild, this Appius wes fund, for his feirs and violent
ingine, mair ganand to dant civil contenciouns, gif ony occurrit in
the ciete, than to lede ony army. On the tothir side wes fund, that

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265

Fabius wes mair ingenius in chevelrie than constant in civil werkis;
and thocht he wes ane nobil man, and sumtime richt proffitabil to
the ciete baith in were and pece, yit the signorie of thir x. men, and
the ire of his colleigis, alterit his minde in sic like sorte, that he desirit erare to be like Appius in maneris, than to be like himself. The
charge of batall aganis the Sabinis wes gevin to this Q. Fabius, hayand with him M. Rabuleius and Q. Peteleus to be colleigis. On the
tothir side war send aganis the Equis, M. Cornelius, L. Minucius,
Ceso Duillius, T. Antonius, and M. Sergius. Spurius Oppius wes
ordanit to remane with Appius Claudius, to helpe him to reule the
ciete.
The commounweil of Rome wes na bettir gidit at hame than of
feild. It wes evil gidit at hame; for Appius Claudius and Spurius
Oppius, be thare wikkit governance, drew all the pepill in thare invy
and haterent: and the mater wes evil gidit of feild, be falt of knichtis
and men of armes ; for the saidis knichtis, to that fine that na thing
suld follow with felicite that wes done be thir ten men, sufferit thameself to be vincust to thare hie dishonoure and dammage. Thus war
the Romanis discomfist, baith at Algidum be the Equis, and at Eretum be the Sabinis: howbeit, the samin wes in divers sortis; for sa
mony of thame as war discomfist be Sabinis fled, within the nicht, to
Rome, and campit thame, with garnist oistis, on ane high montane,
betwix Crustumeria and Fidena, and defendit thame fra persute of
inemyis mair be strenth of the place quhare thay war campit, than be
ony manhede or vertew of thare handis. The Romanis gat mair
dammage at Algidum than at Eretum; for nocht onelie war thay
brokin and spulyeit of thare tentis at Algidum, bot als spulycit of all
thare othir gudis, and constrenit to fle to the toun of Tusculum, to
saif thare livis be fidelite of thare confiderate freindis, be quham thay
war nocht frusterit.
Thir tithingis beand divulgate in Rome, maid the Faderis sa effrayit, that thay put aside all invie and haterent thay bure aganis thir
ten men, and commandit continewal walking to be in the ciete; and,
be general edict, commandit all thame that micht bere armoure and
wappinnis to stand in thare staciouns, for defens of the wallis and
portis. Syne ordanit ane new power to be send haistelie to supporte
2L

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TITUS LIVIUS.

266

the Romanis at Tusculum, and to caus the ten men, quhilkis war in
Tusculum, to departe fra the said toun, and keip thare armye undir
garnist tentis in the feild: and commandit the tothir army of Romanis, that lay betwix Fidena and Crustumeria, to transport thame
in the Sabine landis, to mak the Sabinis sa efrayit, seand tharememyis campit in thare landis, that thay sail desist fra ony segeing of
the Romane ciete.

CAP. XV.
How Siccius, the nobill capitane, wes slane, be tressoun f thir ten
men. How Virginia, dochter of Virginius, wes clamit of servitude be M. Claudius. And how scho wes
be hir uncle and
spous to the cming of Viiginias, hirfader.

defendit

thir dammagis cummin on the Romanis be thare
inemyis, followis twa terribil and cursit dedis, done be
tressoun of thir ten men; the tane done be slicht of hatall, the tothir done, be tressoun of thir ten men, within
the ciete. Thare wes ane nobill man, namit Siccius, havand sic haterent aganis thir men, that he remembirit the pepill aft times of thare
secessioun to the Sacrate Montane, and counsellit thame to create
tribunis. The ten men advertist thareof, and boldin with grete haterent aganis this Siccius, send to spy ane place ganand to set thare
tentis, and, in the mene time, instruckit certane knichtis, quhilk war
send as companyeouns with him to the said effect, to slay him quheni
time and place occnrrit. Thir knichtis, as thay war instruckit, slew;
finalie this Siccius, howbeit it wes nocht done bot huge slauchter of
thame ; for this Siccius wes ay of feirs and nobil enrage at every jeoperdy, and, at this time, defendit himself with- sic manhede, quhen
he saw thir knichtis awfullie subornate in his slauchter, that he slew
ane grete noumer of thame ; yit he wes sa inclusit on every side, that
he micht nocht eschape, hot wes finalie slane.
Eftir the slauchter, rais ane grete murmur, be suspicioun, in the
Romane tentis, that he wes unwarly fallin on ane buschement of mneBONE

THE THRID BUKE.

267

myis, and, fechtand with perseverand manhede to the deith, wes finalie slane, with mony nobil men of his opinioun. This rumoure gat
credit for the first time; and, belive, the ten men send ane cumpany
of armit knichtis, to spy the maner, as thay had bene ignorant, of his
deith; with command to bery him, and the remanent knichtis with
him slane. Thir knichtis, eftir thare cuming, seand sa mony slane
about him, and nane spuleyeit, and himself liand in the middis of
thame all, and all thare bodyis liand with facis arrayit towart him,
and seing na bodyis of inemyis, nor yit na futesteppis of pepill fleand
fra the said bargane, thay conjecturit weill in thare mindis, that the
nobil Siccius wes tressonably murdrist be his awne companyeouns.
Thir knichtis brocht hame the body of Siccius to the tentis of Romanis, and testifyit him slane with his awne companyeouns. Thus
war all the Romane tentis boldin with huge ire and haterent aganis
thir ten men. And, in the mene time, thay maid the body of Siccius
reddy to be brocht to Rome, to be ane miserabil spectakil to the pepill of his unwourthy slauchter, war nocht it wes the mair haistely
commandit to be beryit, be thir ten men, on the commoun expensis,
as uthir capitanis aucht to be. Allwayis, he wes beryit with grete
lament of all the army. Thus war the x. men gretumlie diffamit afore
the pepill.
Followis ane uthir maist cruell and outrageous dede, attemptit be
desire of lust, quhilk succedit with na les schameful and terribil end
than did the stupracioun and deforcement of Lucres, be quhilkis the
Tarquinis war ejeckit fra thare empire and kingdome of Rome; for
nocht onelie the samin fine wes to thir x. men as wes afore to Romane
kingis, bot als for the samin caus for quhilkis the kingis war ejeckit,
for the samin caus wes the signorie of thir ten men finist.
Appius Claudius, quhilkis wes, as said is, in the ciete, tuke purpois, be blind desire of lust, to deflore ane virgine of linnage plebeane,
namit Virginia. Hir fader, Virginius, wes at this time capitane of
certane knichtis at Algidum, ane man of gude exempil and conversacioun baith at hame and of feild, and nurist his wife and barnis during his time in vertewis exercicioun. Sa happinnit, that this Virginia, be avise of hir fader, wes weddit with ane young man, richt vailyeant and of provin vertew, namit Icilius, ane man of linnage tribuniciane. Appius, enragit with blind desire of luste, assailyeit mony

268

TITUS LIVIUS.

wayis, be his riches and gudis, to haif his plesere of this virgine; for
scho wes of maist plesand bewtie. At last, seand hir gardit with sic
constance, drede, and honeste, that every place wes closit fra his persute, he sett him be maist terribil and cruel violence to bring his cursit purpois to effect; and, in the mene time, gaif the charge of this
wikkit besines to M. Claudius, his servand, commanding him to clame
this Virginia as his servand, and to gif na place to the advocatis of
this Virginia, howbeit thay desirit the privilegis of lawis namit Vindicie to be pronuncit for hir liberte, that is to say, to consent nocht
that scho rejose and possede hir liberte within the time that scho wes
clamit of servitude; beleving, sen the fader of this Virginia wes absent, the place mair patent to injure.
Als sone as this Virginia wes cummand to the merket, quhare commoun skulis war devisit for erudicioun of young persouns, this M.
Claudius laid his hand on hir, and clamit hir, sayand, Scho wes his
servand, and borne of his servand; commanding hir, tharefore, to follow him as hir maister, with certificacioun, gif scho wes rebelland, he
wald tak hir perforce. Virginia beand richt effrayit, hir nuris gaif
ane lamentabil cry, requiring the Quirites and Romane pepill to cum
to hir supporte. Incontinent, gaderit grete multitude of pepill, sic
as favorit baith Virginius, hir fader, and Icilius, hir spous. The favoure that the pepill had to hir freindis, togidder with this odius
cruelte attemptit aganis hir tendir innocence, perswadit thame the
mair haistelie to cum to hir support. Now wes Virginia deliverit of
all dedelie violence, quhen M. Claudius allegit, It wes nocht nedefull
to rais ony multitude of pepill to the persute of his mater, for he wald
nocht seik hir perforce, bot only be proces and ordoure of law. Incontinent, he summound hir to jugement.
Als sone as scho wes brocht afore Appius, comperit M. Claudius
clamand hir as his servand, afore the same juge that wes the hale devisare of this corruppit tressoun. And, first, he allegit, That scho wes
borne in his hous, and, within few dayis, stollin fra him, and put in
the hous of Virginius; and nocht onelie affirmit thir wourdis with
grete aithis and takinnis, bot als offerit himself to preif the samin afore
Virginius, to quham the maist parte of this injure pertenit: he thocht
it ressonabil, tharefore, that the handmadin suld follow hir maister.
The advocatis of this virgine allegit, Hir fader wes absent in the ac-

THE THRID BUKE.

269

cioun pertening to the weil of the ciete, and wald compere within twa
dayis, gif he war advertist of the trubil movit aganis his dochter. It
wes als aganis ressoun, that ony virgine suld be jugeit of servitude,
hir fader being absent in public materis of the ciete. For thir ressouns, thay desirit this mater to be continewit to the returning of hir
fader, and scho to be kepit in possessioun of hir liberte, be rigoure of
the said privilege, namit Vindicie; to that fine, that this virgine,
quhilk wes cuming to yeris of perfeccioun, suld nocht tine the renoune and glore of hir chaistite afore scho tint hir liberte.
Appius favorit mair this law of Vindicie, for it wes maid be himself, than he favorit the privilege thareof; that is to say, his minde
wes to kepe this virgine in hir liberte quhil the servitude wes provin;
and, tharefore, he allegit, He wald declare the saidis lawis of Vindicie, becaus the freindis of Virginia pretendit this law to be conforme
to thare peticioun, to cans hir rejose hir liberte during the clame of
servitude. Than said Appius," Thir foresaid lawis of Vindicie ar ane
" sovir defence of liberte, so that thay mak nocht alteracioun in the
" persouns that ar clamit, nor yit in the caus or proces thareapoun
' deducit. I grant," said Appius, " ane woman that is in the handis
" of hir fader aucht nocht to be removit tharefra, or put undir juris" diccioun of ony othir man; nochtheles, it plesit him weill that Vir" ginius, hir pretendit fader, wes brocht with all diligence to courte,
" to here the decisioun of this mater; and, within the said time, this
"virgine to remane in possessioun of M. Claudius, he finding secu" rite to bring hir agane in jugement, at the instance of him that
"was found hir fader." Grete murmour wes maid aganis this wikkit
sentence of Appius, howbeit few durst oppone thame thareto.
In the mene time cum Pub. Numitorius, uncle to this virgine, and
Icilius, hir spous; and, incontinent, the pepill maid haistelie ane
gate to thame, traisting, be thare sollicitatioun and menis, this wikkit
sentence of Appius to be interruppit. Than said the bureo to Icilius, " Persew na forthir;" and put him perforce abak, nochtwithstanding his crying. This injury done be the serjand movit the ingine of Icilius to sic ferocite and spreit, that he cryit with loude voce,
He wald nocht departe les than he war compellit be force of swerdis;
and, returnand him to Appius, he said, " To advertis the quietlie,
" O Appius, of this thing that you desiris to be hid, I declare thee,

270.

TITUS LIVIUS.

" I am to mary this virgine, and to haif hir for the residew of my
" dayis as my honest and chaist wiffe. Assembil, tharefore, now all
" the serjandis and bureois of thy colleigis, armit, as thare custom is,
" with wandis and axis, for, nochtwithstanding all the fere and mi" nassing you may do, Virginia, my spous, sall nocht remane out of
" hir faderis hous; for thocht ye ten men has tane away the twa pil" laris of Romane liberte, that is to say, the supporte of tribunis,
" and the remede of appellacioun to the pepill, traist nocht that your
" kingdome is gevin, be insolent lust to deflore owre wiffis and doch" teris, scurge owre bodyis, or hede us as ye pleis; bot suffir the chaiss"tite of owre wiffis and barnis to haif defence. Gif this virgine be
" tane perforce, baith I, and hir fader Virginius, sall nocht onelie
" require the faith of Quirites and Romane pepill, bot sall als require
" baith the faith of Goddis and men to owre supporte. Be sovir, 0
" Appius, thou sail nevir put thy sentence to execucioun or effect
" but my slauchter; tharefore, consider weil quhare you gois: for
" Virginius, at his cuming, sail provide ane stout way to defend the
" liberte of his dochter, and my life sall first peris or I failye to de" fend the liberte of my spous."
Thir wourdis movit the pepill to sic ire, that na thing apperit erare
than this mater to be endit with the swerde. Than stude the serjandis about Icilius with ferefull minassing on ilk side, but ony uthir
violence. Appius began to allege, that Icilius movit nocht this displesere and sedicioun for defence of the virgine, bot onelie becaus he
wes ane man of inquiet, purposing to rais sic sedicioun in the ciete,
that he micht tharethrow usurpe the auctorite of tribunis: " Bot I
" will nocht," said Appius, " gif occasioun to him to attempt sic
" thingis for this day." And, to that fine, the persute of this mater
sall nocht be imput to na insolence nor lust of him, he wald procede
na forthir in this mater, for the reverence he has to Virginius; and,
becaus the said Virginius is absent, he wald requeist M. Claudius,
his freind, to suflir his accioun to be continewit, and the virgine to
remane in possessioun of hir liberte to the mprowe; with certificacioun to [Icilius] and all utheris of his opinioun and assistence, nochtwithstanding the abscence of Virginius, or any uthir pretending interes thareto, he will procede and gif sentence as law and ressoun will;
and sall seik na supporte of his remanent colleigis, bot alanerlie his

THE THRID BUJKE.21

oorw71

awne serjandis, to punis the sedicious authouris of this trubill, for he
wes sufficientlie garnist tharewith.

CAP. XVI.
Of Virginius orisoun maid to the pepill; and how his dochter Virginia wes adjugeit, be Appius, as servand to M. Claudius; and
how scho Wes slane be hirfader. Of the grete trubill thareftirfollowing ; and of Virginius orisoun, maid at 1is returning to the
army. And how the army cum to Rome, and campit thame on
Mont Aventine.
Ls sone as this mater wes delayit on this wise, the advocatis of this virgine departit to thare lugeing. Than
wes it found expedient to send Icilius broder, and Numitorius son, twa feirs young men, the strauchtest way
thay micht to the portis, and to bring Virginius with al diligence fra
the army; and to advertis him, the weill of his dochter dependit onelie on his cuming, that, be his presence on the morow, scho micht be
deliverit of all injure. Thir feirs young men, as thay war commandit,
departit with spedy hors to Virginius ; and schew to him the trubill
appering to his dochter, with all circumstance afore rehersit.
Quhen M. Claudius, that clamit this virgine, had gevin plegis to
bring hir agane in jugement on the morow, Icilius opponit him feirslie thareto, and offerit plegis, scho remanand in her faderis ,hous, to
bring hir in jugement on the morow.- Thus past Icilius his time
with maist ernest besines, abiding' the returning of thir young men
fra the army. In the mene time assistit to him ane grete multitude
of pepill, movit be commiseracioun of this ease ; every ane of thame
offerit to be plegis for him to ony purpois he desirit. Than Icilius,
sowpit with hevy tenis, went amang the pepill, and said, "1Ye haif
"gevin plegis sufficient for me ; bot, on the morow, I mon use your
be plegis of freindis,
"supportein this mater." Thus wes

Virginia,

deliverit for this day.

f272

TITUS LIVIUS.

Appius abade certane time eftir in the courte, that the pepill micht
belief him nocht cummin in jugement alanerlie for that mater. At
last, seing na man persewing uthir materis afore him, for the vehement sollicitude of this last accioun depending afore him, he returnit
to his lugeing, and send letteris incontinent to his colleigis, praying
thame, To gif na license to Virginius to depairt fra the army, bot
kepe him in festinnance. This wikkit device of Appius, as it aucht
of ressoun, cum to late; bot, afore the cuming of thame to the army,
Virginius had gottin his congie, and wes departit at the first vigill.
Thus war the letteris of Appius deliverit in vane to thir ten men arelie on the nixt morow.
Eftir that the pepill war gaderit in grete confluence to the merket,
abiding the end of this mater, cum Virginius, with his dochter, baith
cled in dule habit, with ane huge cumpany of wemen and matrounis
following on him, to the merket. Than Virginius began nocht onelie to ask supporte of the Quirites and Romane pepill, bot als desirit
rewarde in recompens of his vailyeant and wourthy dedis, sa mony
yeris be him sustenit for thare commounweill, and schew how he had
jeoperd his body daly, for defens of thare wiffis and barnis, sa stoutlie, that nane wes amang thare army that did ma notabil and wourthy dedis than he did; " Bot, allace ! quhat avalis my gude dedis,"
said Virginius, " gif the same injure and cruelte be sufferit in thare
" ciete quhen it is hale, as wald be sufferit gif it war tane be swerde
" and force of inemyis." Virginius, rehersing thir lamentabil wourdis,
past with sorowfull chere, about the pepill, and with him went Icilius, his gude sone, on the samin wise. The reuthful matrounis, that
followit on him, movit the pepill mair with thare stil murning and
teris, than thay micht haif movit with ony cryis.
Appius, nochtwithstanding that the pepill be commiseracioun wes
movit aganis him, past with obstinate minde to jugement, for his witt
wes perturbate mair be rage of wodenes, than ony amouris; and, eftir that M. Claudius had complenit a litill, that na justice wes ministrate to him on this uthir day last bipast, be menis and ambicioun
of party, this Appius, but ony forthir persute of M. Claudius, or evir
ony place wes gevin to Virginius to answere to the peticioun, he gaif
his interloquitur aganis Virginia. Perchance sum authouris has writ-

THE THRID BUKE.
tin the circumstance thareof; yit, becaus the mater is sa vile and
inhonest, I find na thing writtin that soundis to ony forme of decrete.
Nochtheles, I find that Virginia wes adjugit be Appius for the servand of M. Claudius.
The pepill for the first time, throw admiracioun of this cruell sentence, war gretumlie astonist, and kepit silence lang time eftir. In
the mene time, M. Claudius maid him to pas fordwart to tak possessioun of this virgine, as scho that wes adjugit his servand. Incontinent rais ane miserabill comploracioun of matrounis and ladyis,
quhilkis stude about him on every side, lamentand pietuouslie atanis
that this virgine suld be tane be him on this wise. Than said Virginius, " 0 Appius, I haif spousit my dochter to Icilius, and nocht
" the. I nurist hir to solemne mariage, and nocht to the bordell. Is
" it als lefull to the, Appius, to rage in lust of body as dois thir bru" tall beistis ? I wate nocht gif sic thingis will be sufferit to ony no" bill or fre ciete. I belief na man, that may bere wappinnis, will
" suffir sic oppressioun." Allwayis M. Claudius wes stoppit, baith
be the advocatis and be the matrounis, to intromit ony way with this
virgine.
Incontinent, silence wes commandit be ane masare. Than Appius,
with minde corruppit, and set alanerlie to his lust, said, He knew
nocht onelie be injurious wourdis said to him in the day afore be Icilius, and eik the dedely violence presently schewin be Virginius, of
quhilkis he tuke the Romane pepill in witnes, bot als knew, be certane evident and clere signes, how all the nicht bigane Icilius and
his complices maid sindry convenciouns and private assemblance of
pepill, to rais ane sedicioun in the ciete. And becaus he wes nocht
ignorant hereof, he wes cummin presentlie with armit men, nocht to
that fine that he suld violet or invaid ony man of quiet, bot alanerlie
to punis seditious men and rasaris of trubil effering to the majeste of
his office, and to that fine the mair quiet and tranquillite sal remane
hereftir in the ciete. "0 thou bureo," said Appius, " remove the
" pepill abak, that the maister may ressave his servand."
Als sone as Appius, rageand in grete ire, had said thir wourdis,
the pepill on thare awne benevolence removit. Thus stude Virginia
hir allane reddy to be ane pray to all injure. Than Virginius; dis2]M

274

TITUS LIVIUS.

parit of releif, for na appellacioun had place, said, " O Appius, perm
" doun me gif I, throw faderly piete, has trespassit ony thing aganis
" thy majeste ; and suffir me inquire sum thing at the nuris afore this
" virgine, to that fine, that if I wes reput falslie hir fader, I may the
" mair patiently depairt, and suffir all injuris done to hir."
Als sone as he gat licence to speik with his dochter, he tuke hir,
with hir nuris, aside to the buthis, beside the tempill of the Goddes
Cloacin, now callit Novis, and thare he pullit ane swerde fra ane
flescheour, and said, " O0 Virginia, my dere dochter, I kepe the in
" liberte be this onelie way as I may ;" and, with thir wourdis, he
straik the dagare to the hiltis in his dochteris breist: and, lukand to
Appius, quhare he wes sittand in his cursit trone, he said, " O Ap" pius, I consecrate the and thy hede in the blude of this virgine."
Appius, herand the huge noyis and gilde rissin haistelie amang the
pepill for commiseracioun of this cruell dede, rais fra his sait, and
commandit the serjand to tak Virginius. Nochtheles, Virginius maid
ane gate with bludy swerd; quhil, at the last, be multitude of pepill
following on his bak, he wes savit fra all persute, quhil he wes cummin to the utir porchis of the court.
Than Icilius and Numitorius rasit up the body of this virgine to
the sicht of pepill, detesting the cruelte of Appius, and lamentand
baith the unhappy bewtie of this virgine, and the necessite that
inforsit the handis of the fader in his dochteris slauchter. In the
mene time rais ane miserabil comploracioun of matrounis, following
reuthfully on thare bakkis; inquiring, with reuthfull spraichis, Gif
thare barnis and dochteris war nurist to sic terribil end, and gif sic
reward wes ordanit for thare chaistite. Mony uthir reuthfull and
pietuous wourdis war rehersit, specially sic wourdis that ar maist pungitive be effeminate and womanlie doloure; for ay the mair sorowfull
thay appere, the mair comploracioun followis.
The hale mindis and vocis of men, specially of Icilius, wes replete
of public ire and indignacioun aganis Appius, and all his colleigis;
saying, The hale power of tribunis, and remeid of appellacioun to the
pepill, war tane away be thare manifest tyranny. Thus war all the
pepill movit to extreme ire be this wikkit dede; sum parte be esperance of ane greter beild; for thay traistit, be occasioun of this odius

THE THRID BUKE.

275

and detestabil cruelte attemptit be Appius, to find ane ganand time to
confound the auctorite of thir ten men, and to recovir thare liberte.
Appius, nochtwithstanding al thir mociouns, commandit sum time
the serjand to call Icilius in jugement; and sum time, becaus he wes
repugnant, he bad tak him perforce. At last, seand na place maid
to his apparatouris, he rais fra his sait, and past with ane cumpany
of young patricianis throw the grete preis of pepill, and commandit
Icilius to be tane, and bound. Now wes nocht onelie ane huge multitude of pepill standing in defence of Icilius, bot als war with him
certane grete princis of the ciete, sic as L. Valerius and M. Horacius;
and, eftir that thay had put the serjand abak, thay said, Gif Appius
wald persew Icilius be the law, thay wald deliver him of all persute
of the said Appius, becaus he wes bot ane private man; and, gif he
wald persew this mater perforce, thay war als strong and pussant for
the time as he wes. Than rais ane scharpe bargane; for the serjand
invadit baith Valerius and Horacius atanis: bot thare wandis and
axis war brokin be preis of pepill. Than Appius went to ane mote
to haif maid ane concioun to the pepill; bot Valerius and Horacius
followit sa feirslie on him, that thay put him abak, and maid ane orisoun to the pepill with mony injurius wourdis aganis Appius. Appius, brokin of his purpois, for fere of his life, coverit his hede, and
fled haistelie to his lugeing, but ony advertising of his adversaries.
On the tothir side, Spu. Oppius, to haif supportit his colleig,
ruschit haistelie to the merket, and seand this new signorie of ten
men vincust be violence and force of pepil, he tuke consultacioun of
sindry his assessouris quhat wes to be done; and become richt astonist finding sa mony contrarius mindis to him and his colleigis, and
maid haistelie ane convencioun of the senate; quhilk doing in ane
parte mesit all the rancoure of pepil, for thay belevit, sen the oppressiouns and waryit dedis done be thir x. men war odius to the maist
parte of the senate, that ane juste occasioun suld rise tharethrow to
finis thare empire and signorie atanis.
The senate, at this convencioun, decernit na thiig to be done that
micht provoke the pepill to ony contencioun, and to provide that the
returning of Virginius to the army rais na mocioun of trubill; and,
incontinent, certane young princis of the ciete war send to the army,
liand for the time in Mont Vecilius, and exhortit the residew of ten

276

TITUS LIVIUS.

men, quhilkis war governouris of the said army, to abstene fra all sedicioun. And, nochtwithstanding all thare providence, Virginius, at
his cuming, rasit mair trubil in the army than he left behind him in
the ciete; for abone his opin minassing, that is to say, howbeit he
cum to the army with cccc. men, all enragit aganis thir x. men be
occasioun of this cruelte attemptit, conjurit togidder undir ane opinioun and minde, and cuming atanis out of the ciete, he cum abone
all the minassingis with bludy swerde in hand; and, throw his cuming
in that awfull maner, he drew all the army in grete admiracioun.
Forthir, the uncouth sicht of side beltit gownis amang thir cccc. men
that cum with him, maid thame appere of greter noumer and multitude than thay war. At last, quhen the army had inquirit him how all
materis stude, he wes sa sorowfull that lang time he micht nocht speik
ane worde. The pepill, richt effrayit, flokkit about him fast on every
side, and commandit silence. Than Virginius schew the mater with all
circumstance afore rehersit; syne, huvand baith his handis to the He.
vin, " I beseik you, my gude companyeouns," said he," imput nocht
"the cruelte done be Appius to me. Haif me in na contempcioun,
" and hald me nocht the slaare of my awne barne; for the live of my
" dochter wes mair swete and dere to me than wes my awne life, gif
" it had bene lefull till haif kepit the same in chaistite and liberte:
" and, becaus I saw hir violentlie opprest, and drawin perforce to the
"bordell, I thocht hir bettir loist be deith than be schame. Beleif
" fermlie, my gude companyeouns, I suld nevir haif levit ane houre
" behind my dochter, war nocht the esperance I had in you to
"venge the occasioun of hir slauchter; knawing weil, that ye haif
" dochteris, sisteris, and wiffis, reddy to sustene the same oppressioun
"and injure that my dochter has now sustenit. The inordinate luste
"of Appius is nocht saciate with the deith of my dochter, as may be
"clerelie provin; for ay the mair his luste is unpunist, the mair it
rageis with opin renyeis. Allace, my gude companyeouns ! be ad"versite falling on me, ye ar richt fortunate; be my calamite ye
" may eschew, or ellis prevene, siclike displeseris in times cuming.
"Howbeit the luste of Appius may haif na forthir place in my hous;
"for my wife is deceissit afore be fatall infirmite, and now my one"lie dochter, becaus scho micht haif na ma dayis in chaistite, wes
"perist be honest deith, howbeit it wes
Now restis na

"re-

miserabil.

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277

place to Appius luste in my hous. Now restis nocht to me, bot to
deliver my body fra violence of Appius with siclike sprete and curage as I deliverit my douchter. Now ilk man provide to saif his
wiffe and barnis fra injure of Appius as he thinkis expedient."
Thir wourdis being said be Virginius, all the army cryit with ane
voce, Thay sal nouthir failye to revenge his displeseir, nor yit to defend his liberte.
Quhen the cieteyanis, quhilk cum in thare beltit gownis with Virginius to the army, had schawin every thingis on the samin maner as
thay war sene be thame, concerning the wikkit dede attemptit be Appius; eftir thay had movit the army to extreme indignacioun, and
schewin to thame how sa huge effray and trubil wes in Rome, be oc.
casioun of this wikkit cruelte, that Appius wes nere slane be feirs
conjuracioun of pepill, and, for fere of his lif, fled in exile, all the army wes sa movit, that thay cryit atanis, " Harnes ! harnes !" and,
but ony mair tary, thay rasit thare ensenyeis to pas to Rome.
The ten men war nocht perturbit onelie with this effray presentlie
sene be thaim in thare army, bot als astonist for the huge effray thay
herd in Rome; and war sa full of dredoure, that every ane of thame
went ane sindry gait amang the tentis to pecify and meis this trubill.
And howbeit thay tretit the army with mony benigne and soft wourdis,
yit na answere wes maid to thame be the said army; bot schew pertlie,
gif ony wald empesche thare purpois, thay suld be fund baith men,
and weil armit to resist. Incontinent, thay past fordwart with arrayit
batall to Rome, and set doun thare tentis on Mont Aventine; and
did na othir violence, bot exhortit all freindis to recovir thare liberte,
and create tribunis.

278 '

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. XVII.
Of the message send fra the senate to the army, and of the armyis
answere. Of Virginius orisoun. Of thefirst creacioun of tribunis
militare. How baith the armyis met, and past to the Sacrate Montane. Of the secund message fra the senate to the army, and of
thare answere. How the ten men war putfra thare ofice, and tri.
bunis create.
OR fere of this trubill, Spu. Oppius convenit the senate;
be quhilk wes decernit, that na thing suld be done be
rigoure, bot erare with pleseir to the pepill, for be the
samin micht rise occasioun of sedicioun. Incontinent,
thre nobill men, C. Julius, Pub. Sulpicius, and Spu. Tarpeius, war
send as legatis, to inquire the army, in name and behalf of the senate,
quhy thay left thare tentis, and quhat thay presentlie desirit, cummin
armit to Mont Aventine, and turnand the batall fra thare inemyis to
invaid thare awne freindes and cuntre. Howbeit ane answere micht
haif bene gevin to this peticioun, yit nane wes that wald tak the mater on hand to gif answere; for nouthir had the army ane capitane,
nor yit durst ane amang the said army wilfully incur the indignacioun
and ire of thir ten men. Incontinent rais ane noyis amang the army,
cryand at anis, Gif L. Valerius and M. Horacius war send to thame
thay wald gif answere.
Als sone as the legatis war depeschit with this answere, Virginius
said to the army, Thay doutit in ane mater of litill effect; that is to
say, becaus thay wantit ane capitane thay wald nocht gif answere:
yit he thocht the answere that wes gevin nocht unproffitabil, howbeit
the samin wes mair be gude chance than ony gude consultacioun.
Alwayis, he counsellit thame to create ten men, quhilk sal haif the
governance of public materis, and, for the honour of chevelrie, sal be
callit tribunis militare. And quhen the army, be general consent, had
devisit that Virginius suld be the first of thir tribunis militate, he
said to thame on this wise: " I beseik you, freindis, reserve this ho"nour that ye wald gif to me, and gif it to utheris that ar wourthiare

THE THRID BUKE.

Q79

" and mair ganand thareto; for the hevy doloure that I haif in the
" deith of my dochter, will nevir suffir me, quhil I am on live, to re"jose ony public office or honouris. Attoure, I understand nocht
" gif it may be proffitabill to you, in sa hie and trublus mater, to mak
" thame capitanis that ar maist invyit or hatit; nochtheles, all the
" proffit I may do to you sal be als reddy now, quhen I am bot ane
" private man, as it suld be gif I war clothit with public authorite."
Thus war ten tribunis militare create.
On the tothir side, the army that wes send aganis the Sabinis wes
in small quiet; for Icilius and Numitorius movit thame to depairt
fra the ten men, and maid na les trubill in the said army, rehersing
the slauchter of the nobill Siccius, murdrist be tressoun of thir ten
men, than he did rehersing the new and terribil dede falling laitlie be
luste and insolence of Appius. Als sone as Icilius wes advertist,
that ten tribunis militare war create be the tothir army on Mont
Aventine, to eschew that na tribunis of pepill suld be create be imitacioun thareof he create ten tribunis militare on the samin maner as
war create be Virginius in Mont Aventine, or he maid him to return; for thocht he wes exaltit be favoure of pepill to honouris, he
knewe weil thare inconstance. Incontinent, this army rasit thare ensenyeis and enterit at porte Colline in Rome, syne past throw the
ciete, quhil thay cum to Mont Aventine; and, eftir that baith the
armyis war jonit togidder, thay gaif power to thir ten tribunis to
create be thare ressouns twa maist qualifyit persouns amang thame, to
haif empire and signorie abone the laif. Than wes M. Oppius and
Sixtus Manilius chosin to the said effect.
The Faderis seand the senate full of sollicitude for the governance
of the ciete, waistit thair time mair in chiding than ony gude consultacioun. Mony enormiteis war objeckit aganis thir ten men; sic as the
slauchter of nobill Siccius, the lust of Appius, and mony cowart dedis
done within the time of thare chevelrie. At last, it wes fund expedient to send Valerius and Horacius to Mont Aventine, to brek the
obstinate mindis of the army; bot thay refusit al uterlie to bere this
charge, les than the x. men wald first exoner thameself of all auctorite that thay haif rejosit, be usurpit menis, all the last yere, but ony
public vocis. The x. men said, thay wald on na wise depairt fra
thare office, quhil the lawis war establit for quhilkis thay war create.

280

TITUS LIVIUS.

The pepill, finalie beand advertist by M. Duillius, quhilk wes sum
time tribune of pepill, That na thing micht be done respondent to
thare desiris sa lang as thay remanit at thare sediciounis and debatis,
thay departit out of Mont Aventine to the Sacrate Montane, be avise
of the said M. Duillius ;. quhilk testifyit, that na sollicitude nor care
of public weill micht sink in the mindis of the Faderis, quhil thare
ciete war left deserte and waist afore thare ene. Attoure, thare secessioun to the Sacrate Montane suld caus the senate and Faderis to
haif in remembrance thare grete constance, knawing weill, that na
concorde micht be dressit in the ciete quhil the pepill war restorit to
thare privilegis and power.
Than the army departit out of Mont Aventine be ane gate callit
Nomentane, quhilk is now callit Ficulensis, and sett doun thare tentis
on the Sacrate Montane; and, following the temperance of thare faderis, thay campit thame on the said montane but ony direpcioun of
the cuntre. Als sone as the army wes departit, all the small pepill
followit in sic maner, that few abaid behind that micht bere ony armoure or wappinnis, and on thaim followit thare wiffis and barnis,
cryand, with lamentabil spraichis, " Quham to wil ye leif us in this
" wikkit ciete, quhare nouthir liberte nor chaistite may haif place,
" nor be savit." Quhen this uncouth sollicitude had maid all thingis
desert in Rome, nane wes sene bot ane few noumer of agit Faderis in
the merket.
The Faderis sone eftir war assemblit be general convencioun; and,
fra thay saw the merket sollitare and desert, but ony confluence of
pepill, thay began to invay mair feirslie aganis the public governance
than evir did Valerius or Horacius before, and said, " 0 Faderis
" Conscript, quhat sal be the end of this debait ? Sall nevir thir x.
"men put fine to thare obstinate malice? Will ye suffir all thingis
"pas to uter mischeif? Quhat signorie, quhat wikkit empire is this,
"0 x. men, that ye pretend? Wil ye schaw youre lawis and constitu"ciouns to desert wallis and housis ? Eschame ye nocht, that greter
" noumer of burreouris and serjandis ar now present in youre merket,
"than of ony uthir pepill? Quhat defens sall ye now mak, gif ine"myis assailye youre ciete? Quhat sall ye do gif owre pepill, seand
"us nocht movit be thare secessioun to the Sacrate Montane, cum
" on us armit ? Will ye nocht finis youre empire quhil youre ciete

THE THRID BUKE.

281

" be evertit ? Na uthir remede is, bot outhir mon ye haif na pepill
" in this ciete, or ellis mon ye haif tribunis. We may bettir want
" owre officis patriciane, than the pepill may want thare officis ple" beane. The pepill, be thare first secessioun to the Sacrate Mon" tane, reft that new and inexpert auctorite fra owre predecessouris;
" and now thay haif sic swetenes tharewith, that thay will nocht be
" put tharefra, speciallie becaus owre empire is nocht moderate with
" sic temperance that thay micht the les mister the support of thare
" tribunis."
The x. men seing thamself vincust on this wise be public consent,
said, Thay wald submit thame sen it wes found expedient to the
power of Faderis ; praying thame to provide, that the small pepill,
quhilk is inflammit with huge ire aganis thame, use na vengeance nor
punicioun on thame, that, be effusioun of thare blude, the pepill be
nocht accustumate to sla the Faderis.
Valerius and Horacius past than to the armye, to trete concorde,
and reduce thame agane in the ciete with sic plesand condicioun as
efferis, and besocht thame to invaid nocht the x. men with ony injuris. Thir legatis war ressavit with grete joy amang the pepill, for
thay war reput the deliveraris of the ciete baith at the beginning of
the trubill, and at the end thareof; and, tharefore, large thankis war
gevin to thame. Than Icilius maid answer in name and behalf of
all the army; for he wes profoundlie ressolvit, be lang consultacioun
with the pepill, afore the cuming of thir legatis. And, to that fine,
that the esperance of the commounweil of Rome sal appere standing
mair in equite and ressoun than in ony violence or force of armes, he
desirit, in name of the pepill, to haif the remede of appellacioun, and
the power of tribunis to supporte thame, on the samin maner as wes
afore the creacioun of ten men. It wes desirit als, That it sal nocht
be imput for ony tressoun in times cuming the secessioun of pepill to
the Sacrate Montane, for recovering of thare liberte. Ane terribil
and richt odius punicioun wes desirit to be tane on thir ten men;
thinkand it ressoun, that thay war tane and cassin quik in ane fire,
quhil thay war brint to dede.
Than the legatis said, " Youre peticiouns and desiris ar sa juste,
" that thay ar to be grantit but delay; for ye desire defensis to youre

TITUS LIVIUS.
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"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
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"
"

liberte, and na licence to impugne otheris. It is bettir to refrene
than to nuris youre ire; for be invy and haterent that ye haif to
crewelte, ye fall in sic crewelte, that ye desire first to haif empire
and dominacioun abone your inemyis, or evir ye haif recoverit
youre liberte. Sal nevir your ciete be in quiet, bot outher the Faderis sekand punicioun on the pepil, or ellis the pepil on the Faderis ? Ye haif mair nede of ane targe, than of ane swerde. He is
ane richt humill and simpil man that may leif in ony ciete, nouthir
takand nor yit doand injure to his nichtboure. Gif ye desire to
schaw yourself ferefull and minassant, hide the samin for ane sessioun; and quhen ye haif recoverit your lawis, privilegis, and officis, gif than your jugement apoun our livis and gudis as the mater requiris; bot, as now, it is eneuch to recovir your liberte."
Quhen the pepill had gevin power to the legatis to do as thay
thocht expedient in this behalf, thay promittit to returne als sone as
all materis war dressit. Quhen the legatis had schewin the peticioun
of the pepill to the Faderis, all the ten men, except Appius, war content to obey the pointis in this present trety, for thay herde na punicioun devisit to thame for thare offence. Appius, ane man of feirs
ingine and hie invy, to draw the hale haterent of pepill on himself
alanerlie, said, " I am nocht ignorant of the wikkit fortoun that mi" nassis me. I se weil how owre inemyis differris to invaid us with
" batall, quhil thay haif baith disarmit us, and armit thameself with
" owre wappinnis. Thare invy mon be saciate with my blude; I
" will, tharefore, mak na forthir impediment to departe fra my office."
Incontinent wes ane law maid, That the x. men sall exoner thameself
of all auctorite, to the grete plesere of all the pepill.
Als sone as thir legatis had schewin thir novellis, every man that
wes in the ciete followit on thame; and to this huge multitude of pepill, rejosing for thir novellis, cum ane uthir cumpany of pepill fra
the tentis, all rejosing togidder, that baith thair liberte and concorde
wes restorit to thare ciete. The legatis maid ane orisoun to thame
on this wise: " That gude fortoun, grace, and felicite, may be to you,
" 0 pepill, returne to youre awne cuntre, to youre Goddis, to youre
" wiffis and barnis, and kepe the samin temperance in the ciete, as
"ye haif done here in youre tentis. Pas to Mont Aventine quhare
" ye departit, and in the said montane, as maist happy and fortunate

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283

" place quhare ye began the first repeting of youre liberte, ye sall
" create youre tribunis, and, at youre cuming, the grete bischop sall
" be reddy to hald the commites."
Followit innoumerabil mirth and blythnes to all the armye; for
thay incontinent rasit thare ensenyeis and went to Rome, contending
quha micht ressave uthir with maist plesoure. Belive, thay cum armit
throw the ciete to Mont Aventine, quhare the grete bischop wes halding the commites, and thare thay create thir tribunis.
I find, that Aulus Virginius wes maid the first tribune, and nixt
him war create Pub. Numitorius, uncle to Virginia, and, with him,
Lu. Icilius; for thay war principall authouris of this secessioun.
Nixt thame war create C. Sicinius, cousing to that Sicinius that
wes the first tribune of pepill create in the Sacrate Montane; and
nixt him wes create M. Duillius, for he wes tribune afore the creacioun of thir x. men, and wes ay ane stout defendoure of the pepill
aganis the said x. men; and, last of all, war create M. Titinius, M.
Pomponeus, C. Apronius, P. Villius, and Ca. Oppius, in esperance
mair of thare gude dedis to cum, than ony gude dedis be thame
done.

CAP. XVIII.
How the Consullis war restorit to the governance of the ciete ; and
of sindry lawis made be the said Consullis in favour of the Pepill
and Tribunis. How Virginius accusit Appius for his wikkit
sentence. Of Appius orisoun, and of Virginius answere ; and
how Appius wes dampnit to presoun.
SHE tribunis create in this maner, Icilius desirit the
pepill to decerne the secessioun, maid latelie fra the x.
men, to be imput for na crime, and it wes grantit. Than
M. Duillius desirit the consullis to be create, as afore,
<<
with remede of appellacioun fra thame to the pepill; and the samin
wes pronuncit be M. Duillius.

S

284

TITUS LIVIUS.

All thir thingis war done in the Flamin Medois, with consell of
small pepill. First wes chosin ane Interking, and be him war create
two consullis, L. Valerius and M. Horacius. Thir consullis war
nocht injurius to the Faderis during thare consulate; howbeit thay
offendit thame in sum parte; for the Faderis understude every thing
that wes ekit to the liberte of pepill wes prejudiciall to thare power.
And first, abone ony othir besines, rais ane questioun, gif the Faderis
sall obey the lawis maid be small pepil ? To soilye this questioun,
ane law wes promulgate in comites centuriat, quhatsumevir consultacioun wes maid be the tribunis of small pepil, the samin sall have
strenth of ane law, and the pepil to obey the samin. Be this law wes
gevin ane scharp brod to the rogacioun of tribunis.
The consullis sone eftir maid ane othir law concerning appellacioun
to the pepil, for it wes the onelie targe of thare liberte; and becaus
it wes tane away be auctorite of thir x. men, it wes now ratifyit and
confermit be ane othir law, that is to say, We wil that na office nor
dignite be ereckit or usit in the ciete but appellacioun; and it sall
be lefull to sla him that makis ony sic officis or digniteis, and his
slauchter sail be repute for na crime.
Quhen the consullis had garnist the pepil in this maner be remede
of appellacioun, and supporte of tribunis, thay renewit the privilege
of tribunis be mony auld cerimonis, of quhilkis the memorie wes lang
yeris afore forgett; and be auctorite of thare religioun, decernit the
tribunis to be haly and inviolate; and to fortify the samin, ane law
was maid, He that is noysum, or dois ony violence to the tribunis of
pepil, or to the edilis, or jugis, or x. men, first sall his hede be offerit
to Jupiter, syne baith his sonnis, his dochteris, and gudis sald and
eschete to the tempil of Ceres, the Goddes. Be tenor of this law, al
thay that are interpretouris of lawis denyis that ony othir man, except tribunis, may be repute haly; for thay say, he that dois ony
offence, or is noysum to ony of thir men, afore rehersit, sall be repute
abhominabil and waryit; and howbeit the edilis ar noumerit amang
thir digniteis and officis, afore rehersit, yit thay may nocht be repute
haly, bot onelie inviolate. Thus ar the tribunis haldin haly now on
the samin maner as thay war at the first secessioun. Sum men haldis
that, under thir lawis maid be Horacius, baith the consullis and pretouris ar comprisit, becaus thay ar baith lauchfull jugis; bot thare

THE THRID BUKE.
opinioun is vane, for thocht the pretouris war haldin jugis, the consullis war nocht haldin jugis in thay dayis. Thir war the lawis maid
be Horacius and Valerius, consullis. It wes institute als, that the
lawis maid he the senate, callit Senatus Consulta, howbeit the samin
war brokin afore at the plesere of consullis, sal be brocht in times
cumming to the tempil of Ceres, and be the edilis of pepil pronuncit.
Ane othir law was maid at the instance of M. Duillius, tribune;
Quhatevir he war that left the pepil but tribunis, or create ony office
or dignite but appellacioun, he sal be first scourgit with wandis, syne
hedit with ane ax. Thir and siclike lawis war maid aganis the liberte
of the patricianis; and becaus thir lawis hurte nane of the patricianis
in special, nane of thame wald oppone thame thareto.
Als sone as the pepil war garnist sufficientlie in this mater, with
power of tribunis and thare liberteis, the tribunis thocht the time
ganand to punis all criminall persouns in the ciete; and for thare first
besines, commandit Au. Virginius to be accusare of Appius Claudius, for the crime be him committit. The day of justice being finalie
sett, comperit Appius Claudius in the merkett, armit with ane grete
noumer of young patricianis, and be his cumming to jugement in that
sorte, he renewit the memorie of his wikkit and schamefull signorie.
Than said Virginius, " 0 Faderis Conscript, now have I found
" wourdis to speik in ane doutsum mater; herefore, that I sal nocht
" waist time accusing him afore you, fra quhais cruelte ye ar deli" verit alanerlie be fere of wappinnis, I will nocht accuse this Ap"pius of the infinite crimes done be him, nor yit will I irk you to
"here his vane defencis. In sic materis, herefore, 0 Appius, I wil
"be sa gracius to ye, that, nochtwithstanding the odius and insuffer"abil crimes, ilkane abone othir, done be ye thir twa yeris bigane, I
"wil accuse ye alanerlie of ane crime, and gif you defendis nocht
"thyself, and schaw be ressoun, quhy you gaif the Vindices fra li"berte to servitude, nocht contrare thy awne lawis, I command thee
"to be bound, and put in presoun."
Appius had nouthir esperance in the jugement of pepil, nor yit in
supporte of tribunis; nochtheles, he appelit to the tribunis. Als
sone as he wes arreistit be the serjand, he said, " I appeil." This
onelie voce of liberte spokin out of his mouth that maid the Vindices and lawis of liberte, maid silence throw all the ciete. Than

286

TITUS LIVIUS.

rais ane quiet murmour, ilk ane saying to othir, Now may we tak
exempil, and se quhat fine cummis of him that contempnis the goddis,
or neclekkis humane constitucioun and lawis. The punicioun of
pride and cruelte, thocht it be slaw, is right scharp at last; how may
he rejose the privilege of appellacioun, said thay, that kest him ever
sa fer as he micht destroy the samin; how may he implore the supporte of pepil, that has confoundit and destroyit thare lawis ? Is it
nocht than wourthy and semand that he be cassin in presoun, and
never rejose the richt of liberte that, be his fals sentence, has adjugit
ane fre persoun to servitude.
Quhill the pepil wes murmurand thame quietlie in this mater, Appius began to remember the pepil of the wourthy dedis done baith be
his nobil eldaris and be himself; and sumtime remembrit thame of
his unhappy lauboure, passing fra the office of consullis, with displesoure of the Faderis onelie, to mak lawis for the weill and governance of Romane pepill. " Is it semand," said Appius, " sen I have
" maid sa mony halesum and proffittabil lawis for your commoun" weill, that the makare thareof sall be bound, and put in presoun.
" And sen I have licence to speik, I will sone have experience how
" baith my gude and evil dedis ar estemit afore you; or gif I may
" rejose sic privilege, as sum othir cieteyane of youre ciete aucht to
" do; for I belief the invie of pepill is nocht sa fer movit aganis me,
" that I suld be desparit of thare mercy and grace. Forthir, gif I,
" afore the justificacioun of ony caus, be condampnit to presoun, I
" can do na thing les than appele to the tribunis of pepill, and ex" horte thame to follow nocht the futesteppis of the men that ar maist
" odius to thame. Forthir, gif the tribunis wil grant thameself con" federate, in the samin maner as the x. men war, to distroy the
" remeid of appellacioun, I wil appele to the pepil, and desire nocht
" onelie to be participant with the remeid of thare appellacioun, bot
"als desire baith the lawis, tribuniciane and consulare, maid in this
" instant yere, to concur to my supporte. Quha sal appeil in time
" cumming, gif Appius may nocht, quhen his caus is denuncit ?
"How may youre lawis be supporte to obscure persouns, gif thay
" can nocht be supporte to Appius ? Thus sal it be clerely schewin,
" and practicate in my mater, quhidder wilful empire or public liberte
"be erast establist be thir lawis. Forthir, it sal sone appere, quhid-

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287

" dir remeid of appellacioun may have place or nane aganis the in"jure of hie signorie."
On the tothir side, Virginius replyit, saying, " Appius wes nocht
" onelie void of all ressoun and lawis, bot als void of all humane and
" civil societe. Behald his trone," said Virginius, " in quhilk he
" satt for jugement, as in ane castell full of iniquite, quhare he sit' tand, as ten man perpetuall, sa noysum and injurius to gude men,
" that he skurgit thare bakkis with wandis, and minassit thame with
" axis to the deith, the contempnare baith of goddis and men,
" armit mair with boucheouris than ony serjandis, and gevand his
" mind, fra his abhominabil reiffis and slauchteris, to maist vile and
" unbridillit lust; and in opin sicht of Romane pepil, reft ane fre
" virgine fra the bosum of hir fader, and gaif hir, as scho had bene
" tane be prey of battel, to the serjand of his chalmer, and throw his
" waryit and cruel sentence, has armit the richt hand of the fader in
" slauchter of his awne dochter; syne commandit baith Icilius, hir
" spous, and Numitorius, hir oncle, to presoun, becaus thay rasit hir
" dede body to the sicht of pepil. As he that wes movit mair be
Srepuls of his lust, than ony pietuous slauchter of this virgine, here" fore the hous, that he wes wount to call the domicile of Romane
"' pepil, sall now be ane presoun to himself. Forthir, 0 Appius,
" understand, als oft as you will appeill, I sall be als oft ane ganand
'juge to the, les than you gif the Vindices for liberte to servitude,
" that is to say, quhil you preif, or ellis gif plegis to preif, that Vir"ginia wes handmadin to M. Claudius, or ellis to thyself; and gif
Syou will nocht gif plegis to preif thir pointis in jugement, I decerne
" the, as condampnit creature, to be led to presoun."
The pepill reprochit nocht this sentence,bot erare applaudit thareto,
with grete noyis and clamoure, rejosing that sa grete ane man as Appius wes punist be thame. Incontinent, the tribune set ane day of
jugement, to accuse him criminabily to the deith for his offence.

TITUS LIVIUS.

288

CAP. XIX.
How twa armyis war rasit be the Consulis aganis the Sabinis and
Equis. Of C. Claudius orisoun, and of Virginius answere. Of
the deith of Appius Claudius and Spu. Oppius. How the ten men
war banist, and thare gudis confiscate.
sic thingis war done, legatis came fra the Latinis and Hernikis, rejosing of the concorde maid betwix the Faderis and small pepill; and, in honoure of
this concorde, thay offerit to the hie and michty Jupiter, ane croun of gold of litill valoure, effering to the riches in thay
dayis. Than wes the religioun of Goddis honorit mare with devocioun and piete, than ony magnificence. It wes schewin finalie by
thir legatis, that the Equis and Volschis war makand provisioun of
batall, to invaid the Romanis. The consullis, movit be thir novellis,
partit the provinces amang them; Horacius past aganis the Sabinis,
and Valerius aganis the Equis. Quhen the army wes rasit in this
maner, nocht onelie come all the young men of the ciete, bot als
mony agit capitanis; howbeit thay war past the date of chevelrie,
and for the favoure of smal pepill, offerit thameself wilfully to pas to
batall.
Thus wes the army rasit, nocht onelie of grete multitude of pepill, bot als furnist with mony wise and agit capitanis; yit, afore the
departing of this army, the consullis publist the xii. tabillis, contenand the lawis maid be thir ten men, and war ingravin in bras; yit
sum allegis thir xii. tabillis war publist be the Edilis, at the command of the tribunis. C. Claudius, as afore we eschew, detesting the
injuris and oppressioun done be thir ten men, eftir that he had arrayit feirslie aganis the pride of his nepote, Appius Claudius, fled to
Regill, his auld cuntre; and thocht he wes agit and far run in yeris,
yit fra he herd the grete mischief fallin to his cousing, Ap. Claudius, howbeit he detestit ay his avarice and pride, he come out of
Regill in dule habit, with his allye and friend, to Rome, and reUHILL

THE THRID BUKE.

289

queistit every ane of the small pepill, in speciale, to put nocht sa hie
dishonoure. and schame to the hous of Claudius; that ony thareof
suld be fund wourthy to ly in presoun or irnis. " Is it semand," said
C. Claudius, " that the beginnare of the samin lawis, be quhilkis ye
" and your posterite suld be governit in justice, sal be presonit amang
" vile and nicht thevis." Sumtime he prayit thame to soft the ire
and haterent of thare mindis, and sumtime rememberit thame of the
mony nobill and excellent dedis done be his said cousing, Appius
Claudius, and erare to saif the liffe of ane man, at the requeist of sa
mony Claudianis, than to contempne thame all for haterent thay bure
to ane man; and to move thame to mare commiseracioun, he declarit
him inemye, and as yet unreconsellit to this man, that he desiris now
to be supportit in his adversite; " And sen youre liberte," sade he,
" is recoverit be vertew, I think concorde suld be dressit be mercy
" amang all estatis in youre ciete. Mony war amang the pepill mo" vit to piete, mare for his awne caus than for the caus of him that
" he spak for." On the tother side comperit Virginius, petuislie
praying thame to have piete erare of him and his dochter, than to
have ony piete of the Claudianis, quhilk sett thame, sa fer as thay
micht, to usurpe the kingdome of Romanis; and finalie, desirit thame
to here the pietuous regrate of the tribunis, quhilkis war baith tendir allya and freindis to Virginia, and wald require the supporte of
pepill in this mater. I find the wourdis of Virginius wes best herd.
Thus wes Appius sa desparit of relief, that he slew himself in presoun, afore his day of jugement.
Eftir deceis of Appius, the tribune Numitorius laid his hand on
Spu. Oppius, and began to accuse him, saying, He wes in the ciete
quhen Appius Claudius, his colleig, gaif the wikkit sentence on
Virginia, and did na diligence to empesch the samin; but abone
this accusatioun, happinnit ane uthir cais mare noysum to him. Ane
man of armes enterit haistelie in jugement, quhilk xxvii. sindry
times afore had bene ane wageoure undir the Romane ensenyeis, and
bure him sa manlie at all jeoperdyis, that for his singulare manhede
abone his remanent companyeouns, he wes rewardit with sindry small
giftis, in testimoniall of his vertew, quhilkis war finalie schewin afore
the pepill. Als sone as he had oppinit thir materis, he nakit him of
2o

290

TITUS LIVIUS.

his abulyementis, and schew his bak scurgit and revin with mony
rude woundis; and nochtwithstanding this grete punicioun tane on
him, he desirit na othir thing at the pepill, bot the said Appius to
continew and rage on him with the samin punicioun he did afore, gif
he culd schew ony lauchfull caus quhy he deservit sic punicioun.
Thus was Appius condampnit to presoun, and afore the day set to
him of jugement, he deceissit. Baith the gudis of Appius Claudius
and Spu. Oppius, war confiscate and publist be the tribunis. All the
remanent ten men war banist on the samin maner, and thare gudis
publist.
M. Claudius, that clamit Virginia of servitude, wes condampnit;
nochtheles, be commiseracioun of Virginius, his liffe wes saiffit; bot
he wes banist out of the ciete, and fled to the toun namit Tibure,
quhare he remanit the residew of his dayis. And so the goist of Virginia, mair happy deid than levand, be sufficient punicion tane on al
thame that war culpabill, tuke finale rest. For fere of this punicioun,
the Faderis war astonist, seand the samin cruelte, the samin injure
and minassing in thir tribunis, as apperit afore with the x. men.
Than M. Duillius, tribune of pepill, eftir that this importabill
auctorite of ten men wes sa plesandlie put down, said to the pepill in
this wise : "Freindis, I think now our devore nocht onlie sufficient"lie done, for recovering of our liberte, bot als sufficient punicioun
" tane on our inemyis. I will, tharefore, that no man be put in pre" soun, nor yit criminalie accusit for ane yere to cum; for sen every
" new crimes ar sufficientlie purgit be punicioun maid on the ten men,
" I think it nocht necessare that all iniquiteis forgett and bigane be
" renewit. And sen thare is nane uthir thing left forthir in the ciete,
" that requirit the power or fere of tribunis, understand now the hale
"sollicitude and charge of consullis is gevin to na uthir besines, bot
"alanerlie to conserve you in liberte." Thir soft wourdis of tribunis, war the first thing that put all fere and dredoure fra the mindis
of Faderis, bot the samin rasit thare huge invie aganis the consullis,
seand the said consullis gevin sa afaldlie to the favoure of pepill, that
the defence of public weill and liberte was defendit, first, be the officis tribuniciane, or it was defendit be the officis consulare; for the
said consullis wald nocht refrene the insolence and opin renyeis of

THE THRID BUKE.21

291

tribunis, quhill the said tribunis war first irkit to tak ony forthir punicioun.
Mony murmurit amang the pepill, saying, It had bene bettir that
the Faderis had bene doaris and makaris of thir lawis and constituciouns maid be the consulis; and na dout is, hot the Faderis wald
have obeyit and consentit to the samin, as the sessoun occurrit, seand
sa grete trubill amang the estatis.

CAP. XX.
I/low Valerius, consull, past aganis the Equis and Voisciis, and discomist thame be jeoperdy and slicht of batall.
Ls sone as the consulis had dressit all materis on this
wise in the ciete, thay departit in sindry provincis.
s past aganis the Volsehis and Equis, hand at Algidum, and resistit thame mare be wisdome and lang
tary, than ony feirs batall; for thocht he had assailyeit hastelie the
chance ofbatall, I wate nocht gif the samin had succedit to ony feli-

Va-

l
_'

cite, considering the curage standing as then baith to his inemyis and

freindis,. eftir the unhappy governance of ten men. The inemyis
stude arrayit, betuix baith thare tentis, and provocand the iRomanis
ithandlie to batall, hot na ansuere wes maid to thame. The inemyis
traisting thameseif victorius, eftir thay had stand lang time in arrayit
batall, scalit here and there in sindry, partis; ane parte thareof went to
spuleye the Hernikis, and ane othir parte went on the Latinis, and
left behind thame ane buschment, mair ganand to defend thare tentis,
than to gif batall. Valerius weill advertist of thir materis, and thinkand na thing sa gude as to assailye his inemyis with the samin terroure, with quhilk thay afore assailyeit his folkis, past on thame in
gude array. The inemyis knawing the maist parte of thair army absent, refusit batall ; so grew the Romanis in grete curage, traisting
thare inemyis vincust. The inemyis, eftir they had stand abasit all
day in array within thare-trinschis, gave place to the nicht. On the
tothir side, the Romanis,

full' of esperance,

made thame to refresch

TITUS LIVIUS.
thair army quhil the morow. The inemyis, void of curage, and richt
effrayit, send incontinent messingeris in all partis, to bring agane the
residew of thare armye to thare rescours; sa mony as war nere hand
returnit haistelie, bot the remanent come nocht. On the nixt morrow, als sone as light apperit, the Romanis ischit fra thare tentis, and
made thameself reddy outhir to invaid the trinschis of inemyis, or
ellis to have batell. At last, the consul seand ane grete parte of the
day gone, and na thing done be inemyis, commandit his folkis to pas
fordwart with the ensenyeis.
The Equis and Volschis havand extreme indignacioun, sen thay
war afore victorius on the Romanis, that thay suld defend thameself
erare be trinschis and stakis, than be ony vertewe or manhede, and
come pertlie to thare capitanis, desiring ane signe to be gevin to
thame to jone. Now was ane parte of inemyis ischit fra the portis of
thare tentis, and the residew cummand fordwart in ordoure, ilk man
in his awne place. In the mene time, the consull sett on thame with
huge noyis and clamoure, or evir thay wer arrayit, or halelie cummin out of thare tentis, and put thame sum parte abak; nochfheles,
quhen the capitanis had reprochit thame a litill of thair cowartry,
thay enforcit thameself to new curage, and renewit batall. On the
tothir side, the consull exhortit his army to remember that wes the
first day thay faucht sen the liberte of thair ciete wes recoverit; tharefore thare victorie suld nocht succede that day, as it did afore, to the
glore and proffitt of the ten men, bot alanerlie to the honoure and
proffitt of thameself; thare batall wes nocht led that day be the wikkit Appius, bot onlie be Valerius and utheris, the deliveraris of Romane pepill fra servitude, als the discomfiture that fell to thame afore
stude nocht in thair defalt, bot erare in defalt of thare unhappy capitanis. Forthir, sen thay stude sa stoutlie togidder aganis the Faderis in thare secession, it wes grete schame and turpitude to thame
to have schewin mair manhede and strenth aganis thair awne cieteyanis, than now aganis thare inemyis. It wes als schame to thame to
drede servitude mare at hame than of feild; attoure, thay had bot
twa notable inemyis, and thay are baith gane; that ane wes Virginia,
quhais chastite, in time of pece, has bene richt dammageous to the
ciete. The tothir wes Appius, the Romane cieteyane, ane man of
richt perrellus lust. Attoure, gif ony infeliciteis or discomfitoure fell

THE THRID BUKE.
on thame, mony thousand inemyis sall be reddy to invaid thame on
every side. Bot he wald nocht pronostok nor divine na sic harmes
to cum on thame, quhilkis Jupiter and Mars will nocht suffir to cum
to thare ciete; and last of al, remembrit thame baith of thare secessioun to Mont Aventine and the Sacrate Montane, that thay micht
returne with inviolate and unbrokin empire to the same place, quhare
thay afore recoverit thare liberte, to mak it patent baith the Romane
knichtis has the samin manhede and spretis, eftir the proscriptioun
of ten men, as thay had afore thair creacioun; als thare chevelrie and
vertewe is nocht minist be thare lawis and justice.
Als sone as the consull had said thir wourdis to the futemen, he
0 young and lusty gallandis,
said in this wise to the horsmen :-"
" sen ye ar of grete preeminence and honouris abone the futemen,
" schaw now youre manhede and vertewe abone thame in the samin
" maner." The futemen, at our feirs joning, sall put thair inemyis
abak, than follow ye haistelie with huge noyis and clamoure on thare
bakkis, and chase thame out of feild, for now thay irk and differris
batall mare than thay resist. Als sone as the armyis war jonit, and
the army ane litill broken, the horsmen dang thare hors with the
spurris, and ruschit throw thare inemyis to the last batall. In the
mene time, ane buschment of Romanis, eftir that thay war cummand
on this wise throw the batallis, and seand thare inemyis effrayit, and
fleand here and thare, thay ran betuix thame and thair tentis. Incontinent, the consullis followit on thame with the hale preis baith of
futemen and horsmen, and with huge slauchter wan thare tentis full
of men, and pray of gudis.

X94

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. XXI.
How Horacius Consull, exhortit his army to batell, and vincust the
Sabinis. How the triumphe and glore of victorie was denyit to
the Consullis ; and how thay triumphit, but avise of the Senate.
HE fame of this victorie wes nocht onelie brocht to
Rome, bot als to the tothir oist of Romanis, that wes
led be Horacius aganis the Sabinis. Thus wes grete
0 blythnes in the ciete, and all the armye movit be exampill of thare companyeouns to manhede and curage. Horacius, consull, held his army in sic exercicioun, be mony soft incursiouns and
skarmussing, that thay war mare hantit to confide in him, than to remember ony schamefull harmes fallin to thame be unhappy chance of
ten men. Thir small feliciteis rasit thare curage in esperance of
hieare victoryis. On the tothir side, the Sabinis, richt feirs and
pridefull for the victoryis fallin to thame in the yere afore, ceissit
nocht to reproche ithandlie the Romanis, inquiring thame oft times,
gif it wes thare custume and manere, with smal noumer, as thevis and
brigandis usis, to waist the cuntre, makand thame with sindry litill
skarmussingis, to conques glore. Bettir wes therefore to jeoperde
thame attanis to the chance of fortoun, that victory micht clerely succede, outhir to the ta party or to the tothir.
The Romanis, howbeit thay war feirs of curage, inclinit to batell,
war gretely inflammit be thir wourdis, havand na litill indignacioun
in thair mindis, sen thare companyeouns war returnit to Rome with
victorie and glore, that na werkis war done be thame war wourthy to
have apprising; for be the samin, thare febill vassalage micht be reprochit; quhat time sall we be ganand to fecht with inemyis, said
thay, gif we be nocht ganand at this time. Als sone as the consull
herd this murmuracioun amang the army, he callit thame to ane concioun, and said in this wise: " I belief, my gude companyeouns, ye
" ar weill advertist how all thingis ar done with grete felicite at Al" gidum. The Romane armye, be counsell of Valerius, my colleig,

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295

' and be thare awne manhede, had honest victorie; and now, sa fer
" as pertenis to my devore, I will use youre mind and counsell in all
" thingis as ye devise me to do. Now may youre batell be plesand" lie defferrit, and now may your batell be ripelie fochten, gif youre
" curage be respondent thareto. Gif ye think na thing sa gude as ba" tell now to be defferrit, I will than gif attendance to continew and
" governe you in sic discipline of chevelrie as I begouth, that youre
" esperance and vertewe may daly thare incres. Herefore, gif youre
' curage be respondent to chevelrie, and wilfull till assailye the
" chance of batall, rais now the samin noyis and clamoure, as ye wald
' do gif ye war passand fordwart in batall, that the samin may be ane
" signe of your manhede and vertew."
Als sone as the army had rasit thare noyis and clamoure, as the
consul desirit, the consull promittit to do his devore, sa far as pertenit 'to his office, for thare honoure and weill, commanding thame to
be reddy for batall on the nixt morrow. The residew of this day wes
spendit in the ordinance of batall.
Als sone as the Sabinis, on the nixt morrow, saw the Romanis arrayit, thay went fordwart on the samin maner, richt desirus of batall,
and to end thare debate be the swerde. Incontinent, thir twa armyis
confiding in thare anciant and perpetuall victoryis; that ane proude
in glore of anciant vassalage, this other in new victorie, ruschit feirslie togeddir. The Sabinis ekit thare pussance be crafty slicht, for
thocht thay had equal power to fecht with Romanis, thay left ii.m.
men out of the feild, commanding thame to cum haistilie on the left
wing of the Romanis, eftir the joning of the armyis. Als sone as thir
II.M. men cummand fordwart with thortoure passage, had nere discomfist the left wing of Romanis; incontinent the horsmen of twa
legionis, to the noumer of vl.c. men, demountit haistilie fra thare hors,
and enterit feirslie to the samin place, quhare thare companyeouns
war put abak, and nocht onelie opponit thame to the grete terroure
and minassing of inemyis, bot als rasit thare futemen with new curage, for the fute oist eschaming that nocht onlie the horsmen faucht
bettir than thay did on horsbak, bot als faucht bettir than [thay]
did on fute, returnit with grete ltardiment to the samin place fra
quhilk thay war afore repulsit. Thus wes the batall nocht onelie
haistely renewit, bot als ane wing of Sabinis discomfist; incontinent, the horsmen mountit on thare hors, and ruscheand feirslie

296

TITUS LIVIUS.

throw thare astonist inemyis, schew to thare awne companyeouns
how the strangest wing of inemyis was discomfist. Nane wes this
day, in the Romane armye, of mare manhede and vertew than the
horsmen.
The consul did his devore sa wiselie, that he ceissit nocht to loif
and magnifie thame that faucht vailyeantlie, nor to reproche thame
that failyete; and throw his reproche and eschaming, he maid thame
the mare vailyeant and bauld. Mony war avancit with hie curage,
throw the said reproche, and ruschit atanis with sa hie noyis and clamoure on thare inemyis, that thay micht nocht sustene the preis and
furie thareof. The Sabinis discomfist, and chasit here and thare in
this wise, left thare tentis behind thame, reddy to the pray of inemyis. The Romanis recoverit nocht at this time the gudis of thare
confiderate freindis, as the army of Valerius did at Algidum; bot
erare recoverit the gudis quhilk afore war tane fra thameself be injure
of inemyis.
Quhen doubil victories wes gottin on this wise be the twa sindry
armyis, the senate repellit wikkitlie the supplicacioun gevin in name
of the consullis for thare triumphe. Als sone as the consulis war advertist thareof, thay come with sett purpois to Rome, and convenit
the senate to Campus Marcius; als sone as thay had schewin the
vailyeant dedis done by thame in thir twa last batallis, desiring tharefore to have the glore of triumphe, the principal Faderis began to
complene, saying, The senate wes drevin be sett purpois, amang men
of armes, to affray and astonis thame in sic maner, that thay mon
consent to inconveniencis. Than the consullis, that na place sail appere to accuse thame in this behalf, soliscit the senate to cum fra
Campus Marcius to the Flamin Medois, quhare now stands the tempill of Apollo. The triumphe being finalie denyit to the consullis,
be generall votis and suffrage of the Faderis, rais up L. Icilius, tribune of pepill, and inquirit the said pepill, gif thay wald consent to
the triumphe of consulis. Sindry opponit thame to his desire, especially C. Claudius, quhilk schew the consullis intendit to triumphe
on the Faderis, and nocht on thare vincust inemyis. " The consu" lis," said C. Claudius, " desiris na thankis nor honouris to be gevin
Sto thame for thair vertewe, bot allane desiris rewarde and thankis to
" be gevin to Icilius, tribune, for his private gude dedis done to

1

THE THRID BUKE.

297

" thame." On the tothir side, wes allegit be the Faderis, it wes nevir herd afore that ony triumphe wes maid be avise of the pepill, bot
alanerlie be avise and consideracioun of the senate. The Romane
armyis socht nevir triumphe afore but avise of the senate; and sen
the kingis, during thare empire, minist nevir the majesty of the senate, thay thocht unsemand that the tribunis suld excede thair faculteis and poweris, to thirll every thingis in the ciete undir thare jurisdiccioun, or to impesche ony public counsel to be; for nouthir micht
the ciete continew in exercicioun of lawis, nor yit rejose thair liberte
les than ilk ordoure kepit thare awne lawis, majesteis, and richtis.
Howbeit mony allegations war maid be this C. Claudius, and uthir
grete princis of the ciete, yit the tribunis discernit, be avise of the
pepill, ane triumphe to be gevin to the consullis.
This wes the first time that evir ony triumphe wes made in Rome
but avise of the senate.

CAP. XXII.
How the Tribunis of Pepill desirit thameself to be continewit; and
how thaty warfrustrate be Duillius, Tribune. Of the Law concerning coaptacioun of colleigis ; and of sindry mociouns in the
ciete.
His victorie of tribunis and pepill abone the Faderis,
wes occasioun to thame to rage in maist corruppit insolence; for throw the samin thay war conspirit amang
thamself to be continewit in thare auctorite. And to
caus thare averice appere the les notabil, thay soliscit the Faderis to
consent, that the consullis war continewit on the samin maner; and
allegit the lawis of small pepill suld be interruppit and brokin, be
eleccioun of new consullis. " Quhat sall follow," said the tribunis,
" sen our lawis ar nocht as yit stabillit with sikkir fermance, gif new
" consullis invaid the new tribunis be thare facciouns; for sic con" sullis will nocht be ay in the ciete, as Horacius and Valerius,

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"'
quhilkis postponit thare awne particulare commoditeis and proffltt,
" for the liberte of the pepill."
It happinnit weill for the time, that M. Duillius, ane richt prudent
man, wes halding the commites, quhilk seing sa huge invy rising in
the ciete for continuacioun of officis, denyit to have ony respect to
the auld tribunis, nor yit wald he suffir thame to be continewit; and
becaus this Duillius persavit the remanent tribunis feirslie lauborand,
outhir to caus him put the tribis fre to thare suffrage and votis, or
ellis to suffir ane of thame hald the commites, effering erare to the
lawis than ony affeccioun of Faderis, he callit the consullis to rais
ane new contencioun to thare seittis, and demandit thame, Quhat thay
wald do anens the commites of consullis ? Be quham wes answerit,
Thay wald cheis new consullis, sic as wes maist favoraris of the pepill.
Than Duillius past with thir consullis to public concioun, and quhen
he had demandit thame quhat thay wald do, gif the Romane pepill
continewit thame consullis, as afore, in memorie of mony nobil dedis
be thame done, als weill in were as pece, specially becaus the public
liberte wes be thame recoverit, thay changit na way thare wourdis,
bot refusit to be continewit.
Than Duillius, eftir that he had lovit thame for thare constance,
becaus thay followit nocht the maneris of ten men, quhilkis wald
nocht departe fra thare office, held the commites, and create v. tribunis of pepill; yit, becaus the candidatis and new litis desiring nine
tribunis to be create, empeschit the tribis to gif thare fre suffrage and
votis, he left the counsel, and wald persevere na forthir in the said
commites, thinkand his devore sufficientlie done, conforme to the law
be quhilk wes ordanit that tribunis sall be yerelie create; howbeit na
certane noumer thareof wes specifyit. Be the samin law wes statute,
that ilk tribune that is chosin for the time may cheis ane uthir tribune to him, havand als mekill jurisdiccioun as himself; and to the
samin effect, he rehersit the interpretacioun of the law, that is to say,
quhen the pepill has create ony tribunis, " I sall desire ten tribunis
" to be create, and gif ony les noumer be create than ten, ilk man
" that is chosin may cheis to him ane colleig, quhilk sall be callit,
" on the samin maner, tribune of pepill."
Quhen Duillius had perseverit to the end of his mater, ay denyand
that xv. tribunis micht be create ony way, without grete dammage to

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299

the ciete, eftir that he had vincust the averice of his collegis, he nakit
himself of the office, to the grete plesere baith of the Faderis and
small pepil. Thir new tribunis in coaptacioun, and chesing of thare
collegis, usit the counsel of the Faderis; for thay chesit two men of
the linage patriciane, quhais names war Spu. Terpeius and Au.
Aterius.
Sic thingis done, Spu. Herminius and Ti. Virginius war maid
consullis; bot thay war nouthir mekil inclinit to the mindis of Faderis nor pepil, and rejosit thare consulate in peace baith at hame
and of feild.
In the mene time, L. Trebonius, tribune of pepil, richt displesand
and noysum to the Faderis, becaus, as he allegit, he wes, throw thare
dissate, betrasit be his collegis in coaptacioun, and chesing of tribunis;
and, tharefore, he desirit ane law to be pronuncit, Gif ony man desirit the small pepil to create tribunis, that he sal nocht leif his purpois, nor desist tharefra, quhil he have create ten tribunis of pepil.
Becaus this Trebonius invayit sa feirslie aganis the Faderis during
his time, he wes callit Trebonius Asper, that is to say, the scharpe
tribune.
In the nixt yere, M. Geganius and C. Julius war maid consullis.
In the quhilk time war mony feirs conciouns of tribunis aganis the
young nobilis; bot the samin war pecifyit be the consullis, but ony
offence outhir of the Faderis or tribunis; for the consullis decernit
ane armye to be rasit aganis the Volschis and Equis, quhilk mesit all
sedicioun in the ciete. Treuth is, sa lang as the Romanis war at
concord amang thameself, na externe inemyis durst move batal aganis
thame; als sone as thay war dividit be civil discorde, thare inemyis
invadit thame on all sidis, and constrenit thame to have concorde
with thameself. Thus succedit ay the plesere of the tane, to the displesere of the tothir. The small pepil being thus in quiet, grete injuris war done to thame be young Faderis. Forthir, thocht the tribunis supportit the humill and obscure persouns amang the small
pepil, yit thare supporte litil avalit; for the said persouns war hevilie opprest, specialie in the last monethis of the yere, be conciouns of
grete men.
The strenth of every office and power beginnis to be febil and waik
in the lattir parte of the yere. Thus micht the small pepil have had

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esperance of supporte be the tribunis, gif thay had siclike tribunis as
Icilius; but in thir two last yeris, the tribunis bure na thing pertenand to thare office, bot the name alanerlie.
On the tothir side, the agit Faderis, seand the young men of the
ciete oure feirs, had levar, gif ony intemperance suld be had, that
thare awne cousingis and freindis suld erare have feirs curage and
sprete than thare inemyis. So difficil wes the moderacioun in defence of liberte, that becaus ilk man desirit himself to be equalie
avancit, he culd nocht magnifie nor extol himself, bot gif he depressit the glore of his nichtboure; and til eschew that he sall drede na
man, he makis himself fereful ; and as it war necessare, outhir to do,
or ellis to tak injure, we injoine the same injure to oure nichtboure
that we have eschewit.

CAP. XXIII.
How the Volschis and Equis waistit the landis of Latinis, and maid
grete derisioun on the Romanis afore thare awne portis. Of the
nobill orisoun maid be T. Quincius, to move the Romanis to
batall.
Ic thingis done, T. Quincius Capitolinus, and Agrippa
Furius war maid consullis. During thare consulate na
sedicioun wes amang the Romanis at hame, and na
® - weris with thare inemyis of feild, howbeit thare wes apperance of thame baith. Now was the discorde sa fer procedit amang
the cieteyanis that it micht be na forthir repressit, baith the tribunis
and small pepil war sa commovit aganis the Faderis, that als sone as
ane day of jugement was sett to ony of the nobillis, incontinent be
occasioun thareof, rais sic new contenciouns, that the conciouns war
trublit; for the Equis and Volschis come haistelie with garnist oistis,
quhen ony trubil apperit, as thay had bene surely advertist thareof.
Forthir, the capitanis perswadit the saidis Volschis and Equis to batall, and allegit, sen the small pepil wald nocht obey the empire of
Faderis, na armye micht be rasit thir two yeris bigane, and be the

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301

opin renyeis that thay had sa mony yeris all craft and prattik of chevelrie is dissolvit. " Rome is nocht now," said thir capitanis, "ane
" commoun cuntre to Romanis; herefore, all the ire, haterent, and
" cruelte, that the Romanis has usit sa mony yeris on othir pepil,
" may now be weill convertit on thameself. Now have we gude oc" casioun to destroy thir blind wolffis, sen thay, be intestine weris, ar
' dividit amang thameself."
The Volschis and Equis, rasit togidder in doubil armyes be thir
wourdis, waistit the landis of Latinis with mony awfull incursiouns;
and seand na resistence, thay come with proude baneris to the wallis
of Rome, fornens Porte Esquiline, and to the grete diffame and reproche of Romanis, thay schew the prey of men and gudis reft recentlie fra thare landis.
Als sone as thay war departit with arrayit oistis, and had past abak
to Corbio, with all thare prey drevin with thame, T. Quincius, consul, callit the pepil to ane concioun, and said in this wise, " Thocht
" I be void of all crimes that may be imput to me, gude freindis, I
' am nocht cummin to your concioun but infinite schame. I wald
" my wourdis war sa ingravin in youre hartis, that thay micht remane
" in memorie to youre posterite. The Equis and Volschis, quhilkis
" ar nocht compare to the Hernikis in power, ar cummin armit to
" the portis of Rome, within the time of my consulate, but ony puni" cioun; howbeit youre ciete has levit lang in sic estate, that I can
" devine nor juge na felicite thareto appering; yit, had I knawin
" this odius schame to have fallin now within this present yere, in
" quhilk I am consul, I suld outhir have eschewit it be my deith, or
" ellis be exile, gif it couth nane uthir wayis bene eschewit. Beleif
"ye, gif thir armoure and wappinnis, quhilkis ar affixit in oure portis,
" had fund ony men, that Rome micht have bene tane? I beand con" sul the fourte time, than had I levit to lang rejosing ony honouris;
" bettir had it bene to me to have deceissit, quhen I wes thryis con"sul, and with my deith have prevenit the schame that occurris.
"Quhom is it that oure febil inemyis contempnis ? Quhidder con" tempne thay you the Quirites, or us the consullis ? Gif the falt be
"in us, tak fra us the empire, as we that ar unwourthy to rejose the
" samin; and gif ye think that bot small punicioun, tak on us quhat
" uthir punicioun ye pleis. Gif the falt be in you, 0 Quirites, we

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" desire nouthir the goddis nor men to tak ony wraik or punissement
" on you, and covatis nocht bot you to be penitent of youre misfalt.
" Se ye nocht how youre inemyis contempnis youre febil cowartry,
" and has na confidence in thare awne manhede, becaus thay have
" bene sa oft times discomfist, chasit, and spuleyeit of thare tentis
" and gudis, and sa oft times put undir yoik. Thus knaw thay weill,
" baith thameself and you. The discorde amang the ordouris is the
" poisoun of youre ciete. The contenciouns betwix the Faderis and
" small pepil has tane away all youre curage; for we Faderis has na
" temperance in oure empire; and ye, Quirites, has na moderacioun
" in youre liberte. Ye irk of the patricianis, and thay irk of youre
" officis and digniteis. Quhat is the thing, 0 Quirites, that ye de' sire ? First, ye desirit tribunis of pepil to draw you to concorde. We
" condescendit thareto. Ye desirit ten men. We sufferit you to cheis
" thame. Ye irkit of thare empire. We sufferit you to put thame
" fra authorite; and becaus youre ire and haterent continewit aganis
" thame, eftir thay war private men, and nakit of authorite, we suf" ferit you to bannis thame; howbeit thay war of the linage patri" ciane. Eftir thare exile, ye desirit to create new tribunis of pepil;
" now ye have create thame. Ye desirit to create consullis favorabil
" to youre opinioun, howbeit thare lawis and constituciouns war im" portable to the patricianis; we have sufferit the samin to be done.
" We sufferit you to have the helpe of tribunis, the provocacioun to
"the pepil, and the plebiscitis to be usit in maner of lawis abone
" the Faderis. All thir importabil exacciouns ar sufferit be us, to
" the grete oppressioun baith of our juris and privilegis. Quhat sal
" be the fine of our discorde ? quhat time sal we have bot ane ciete ?
" quhat time sal we have bot ane cuntre common to us all? We ar
"vincust, and yit we have mare pacience than ye have, that ar vic"touris. Think ye it nocht ineuch that ye ar awfull and dred with
"us.
Mont Aventine wes tane be youre secessioun, and haldin
" aganis us. The Sacrate Montane, on the samin maner, armit, and
"tane aganis us. Ye schaw you armit men, and richt vailyeant
" aganis us; bot quhen the Esquilis war almaist tane, and oure ine.
" myis war fast climmand oure the wallis, few of you durst be sene.
" Now have ye embessett the courte on every side; now have ye
" trublit the courte; now have ye fillit youre presouns full of nobilis

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308

" and princis of the ciete. Pas now forth at Porte Esquiline, with
" the samin curage and sprete as ye have done thir materis. Gif ye
" dar nocht ische, at leist luke oure youre wallis, and se youre landis
" waistit be swerde and fire. Behald youre gudis maid prey to ine" myis; behald youre tounes birnand about you in all partis. The
" glore of battal isturnit towart youre inemyis; youre landis are
" brint, and your toun segeit. Quhat sal be the finale end of youre
" private werkis ? In quhat state the samin is now sal sone be patent,
" quhen ilk man has herd the dammage done to his awne landis.
" Quhat is now left to you at hame ? Quhen sal ye recovir the gudis
" that ar tint be injure of inemyis ? Beleif ye, that the tribunis sall
" restore to you every thingis that ar tint be chance of battal ? Thay
" will mak als mekil noyis and clamoure as ye desire; thay can put
" crimes inew to the princis of the ciete; thay can mak conciouns
" inew, ilk man abone othir, to rais sedicioun and trubil; bot thare
" come nevir ane of you richer hame be thare laubouris. Quhat
" uthir thing brocht ever ony man hame be thare laubouris to his
" wife and barnis, bot discorde and haterent, baith private and pub" lic; fra quhilkis ye ar nocht saiffit be youre innocence and vertew,
" bot onelie be utheris mennis supporte. Be faith of Hercules, sa
'lang as ye ar governit be us consulis, and nocht be the tribunis, ye
"maid noyis in youre tentis, and nocht in youre merkett. Than
" war youre conciouns richt ferefull to youre inemyis, and nocht to
"the Faderis; than ye conquest huge prey of gudis, and wan landis
" fra youre inemyis; than ye returnit hame with grete triumphe to
"youre Goddis, full of riches and glore; bot now, quhen ye ar gidit
" be tribunis, ye sufflir youre inemyis, ladin with youre riches and
" gudis, to departe but ony offence. Abide here still in youre con" ciouns; mak grete noyis and gilde; here is youre merkett; bot ay
" the mare ye eschew batall, the faster sall it follow you. Gif ye
" think it hevy and irksum to lede ane armye with lang jorney aganis
" the Volschis and Equis, ye nede nocht to seik fer; the batall is at
" youre portis ; 'will ye nocht chais the batall fra youre portis; it
" sall be sone within youre wallis; belife thay sall clim baith the
" Castell and the Capitoll; and belife ye sall be tane out of youre
" awne housis. The senate commandit, within thir two yeris, ane
"armye to be rasit, and the samin to ly at Algidum; bot we have

804

TITUS LIVIUS.

"done na thing thareintill, bot sittis at hame in sleuth, chiding amang
"oureself, like wyffis rejosit that we have pece now for the present
" time, and wil nocht se nor considder the huge mischeif that is haisti" lie to follow thareupon. I wald gladlie schaw othir thingis, quhilk
' war mare plesand and acceptabil to you than thir materis, yit ne" cessite movis me, howbeit my ingine is nocht sett thareto, to schaw
'' the verite. 0 Quirites, I wald fane pleis you; bot I had levar saif
" you fra all dammage, nochtwithstanding quhatsumevir minde ye
" bere towart me. It is gevin be nature, that he that spekis before
" ane multitude, in sa fer sal his wourdis be the mare acceptabill,
" that thay sound to na uthir thing, bot alanerlie to the commoun
" weill. Belefe ye, that thir fleichouris and flatteraris movis you to
" ony purpois for youre commoun weill, for thay may nouthir suffir
c" you leif in pece nor were. Quhen you ar movit, ye win outhir ho" noure or proffit to thame; and becaus thay se thameself of na esti"macioun during the concorde amang the estatis, thay had levar be
" capitanis to you, nocht regarding quhether the mater succede with
" felicite or mischefe, than to suffir you leif but sedicioun or trubil.
" Herefore, 0 Quirites, gif ye be irkit sumtime of thir mischevis, or
" gif ye pleis to tak the anciant maneris, quhilkis war usit afore amang
" youre forbearis, and depone thir new maneris, I sal be content to
" be punist in quhat sorte ye list, gif I faleye, within few dayis, to
" chace our enemies that waistis our landis, and sal nocht onelie spu" leye thame, baith of thare tentis and prey of gudis, bot als sal put
" away all fere and dredoure, with quhilkis ye ar astonist, fra oure
" wallis and portis, and transfer the samin to the portis of oure ine" myis."

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305

CAP. XXIV.
How Ti. Quincius wes gretumlie commendit Jbr this last orisoun;
and how he discomfist the Volschis and Equis.
nevir afore this time wes ony orisoun of tribunis mare acceptabill to the small pepil, than wes the
L orisoun of this maist severe consul. Al the young men
of the ciete, quhilkis afore war ay ane scharpe and awfull
brod aganis the rasing of ony armyes, war sa movit be this orisoun,
that thay had sicht to na thing at this time, bot alanerlie to battal.
The fleing of landwart pepil to the ciete, of quhilkis sum war woundit,
and sum spuleyete with mony uthir cruelteis, done be inemyis, movit
all the ciete to hie indignacioun and ire.
Als sone as the senate wes convenit, thay turnit all thare facis
atanis towart Quincius, as he that wes the onelie recoverare of Romane liberte. The Faderis said in his loving, He wes wourthy to
have rejosit the dignite consulare, with all uthir officis and honouris
that he rejosit sa mony yeris bigane; he wes wourthy to have perpetuall loving and honoure for his gude dedis and meritis. The last
consulis, outhir flatterit with the smal pepil desiring the privilegis and
digniteis pertenand to the Faderis, or ellis oure obstinately defending
the juris of the estatis and ordouris, maid the pepil mare scharpe than
afore. Be contrare, Ti. Quincius maid ane orisoun, effering to the
sessioun as occurrit, baith for the majeste of Faderis, and concorde
amang the estatis in this ciete; and for thir causis, the Faderis nocht
onelie prayit him to tak the public mater in governance, bot als prayit
all the tribunis to concur with him undir ane minde, that the battal
micht be transportit fra the wallis and portis of Rome on thare inemyis. And to caus the tribunis to be the mare favorabil, the Faderis
callit thame the commoun cuntre of Romanis, and askit thare supporte to put remede to the hereschip maid specially in that time,
quhen thare landis war waistit, and ciete segeit.
2Q
BELEIF,

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TITUS LIVIUSi

Thus wes ane army rasit be universall consent of all the ordouris.
Than the consulis callit thame to ane concioun, and said, It wes
nocht ganand time to tak cognicioun of ony causis, and, tharefore, commandit all the youngkeris of the ciete to be arelie on the nixt morow
in Campus Martius; and promittit, als sone as the batall wes endit,
to tak cognicioun of all thare causis that gaif thare names in writt, and
thay that gaif nocht thare names in writt sal haif thare causis desert
and tine in the self. And the nixt morow all the youngkeris comperit; and, on the morow following, the chohortis chesit thare centurionis, and to ilk chohort wes gevin twa senatouris. All thir materis war done with sic diligence, that the baneris and ensenyeis war
brocht haistelie be the questouris out of the tressoure hous to the
camp foresaid, and, at the fourte houre of the day, thay cum to the
x. stane, weill arrayit with thare chohortis and capitanis as thay usit
to be.
On the thrid day thay cum in sicht of inemyis, and set doun thare
tentis at Corbio, nocht far fra thare inemyis tentis. The Romanis
war sa inflammit with ire, and thare inemyis sa disparit for thare frequent rebellioun and uthir displesouris done to Romanis, that the batall micht nocht be haldin lang sindry. In the Romare army war
twa consulis, havand equale auctorite and power, quhilk is ane richt
proffittabil thing in administratis of grete materis. The grete charge
of this besines wes gevin to Ti. Quincius, with consent of his colleig.
Than Quincius, becaus his colleig submittit him sa curtaslie, set his
besines to do to him the mair honoure and loving. Sa wes this batall
airrayit, that Quincius led the richt wing, and Agrippa the left wing,
and Spu. Posthumius, legate, wes arrayit in the mid warde. The tothir legate, Ser. Sulpicius, wes maister of the horsmen. The futemen
in the richt wing faucht richt vailyeantlie; and, becaus the Volschis
faucht with na les manhede aganis thame, Sulpicius cum haistelie
with the horsmen, and ruschit throw the middis of thare oist; and,
howbeit he micht haif returnit agane to his companyeoun or evir the
inemyis micht haif reparit thare array, he thocht it sufficient for the
time to assailye the bakkis of inemyis. Thus, be doutsum and dangerus effray, he had put haistelie the inemyis to flicht, war nocht the
horsmen of Equis and Volschis, arrayit in the samin maner as he wes,
held him certane time abak. Than Sulpicius cryit fast to his folkis, It

THE THRID BUKE.

307

wes na time to prolong batall, bot erare to fecht, for thare inemyis
war on every side inclusit; and bade thame rusche feirslie togidder
to distroy aluterlie the batall of horsmen, for it wes nocht ineuch to
chace thame, bot erare to slay doun baith hors and men, that na batall micht be renewit agane thame on the nixt day. Forthir, it wes
nocht possibil that inemyis micht resist, considering thare fute hors
wes put abak. Skairslie war thir wourdis said, quhen the horsmen of
inemyis war discomfist. Mony of thame war doung of thare hors,
syne baith thare hors and thameself slane with speris and dartis.
This end maid the batall of horsmen.
Als sone as Sulpicius had send messingeris to schaw this victorie
to the consulis, he set on the remanent of thare futemen, quhare thay
war nere discomfist. Thir novellis maid the Romanis rejosit, and
thare inemyis astonist. Than began the mid oist to failye and be waik,
specially in that parte quhare the horsmen had brokin thame afore.
In the mene time, the left wing wes put abak be Quincius. Thus
wes all the preis of batall turnit on the richt wing. Than Agrippa,
full of youtheid and curage, seand every batall bettir fochten than the
wing quhare he faucht, ruschit in feirslie amang the thikest preis of
inemyis, and, be his manlie persute, he inflammit all his folkis with
sic sprete an~ manhede, that thay wan victorie on thare inemyis atanis. Than Quincius send ane haisty messingere to Agrippa, saying, He wes victorius on his inemyis, bot he wald nocht set on thare
tentis quhil the batall wes clerelie discomfist; commanding him, als
sone as he gat victorie, to cum fordwart with his ensenyeis, to that
line, that baith the oistis mixt togidder micht rejose the pray of inemyis atanis. Als sone as Agrippa had vincust the richt wing, he cum
with grete joy to his colleig. Incontinent, baith thar oistis jonit togidder, and tuke the tentis of inemyis, full of pray of men and gudis,
but ony grete obstakil, syne returnit to Rome, eftir that thay had recoverit all the gudis tane afore be Volschis and Equis out of the Romane landis.
Thir consulis nouthir askit triumphe, nor yit wes ony triumphe
gevin to thame be the senate, and the caus thareof is nocht writtin;
yit, sa far as I conjecture, the caus quhy thay askit na triumphe, nor
yit gat triumphe, wes, becaus the triumphe wes denyit be the senate
to the last consulis, Valerius and Horacius, howbeit thay discomfist

308

$308
TITUS LIVIUS.

baith the Volschis, Equis, and Sabinis. It wes tharefore schame to
the new consulis, considering thay did bot small vassalage in compare
of the vassalage done be the tothir consulis, to ask ony triumphe;
and, thocht thay had desirit, yit mair respect suki haif bone had to
ressoun- of the senatouris, than to ony ressoun of thare vassalage or
meritis.

CAP. XXV.
How the Romane pepill war chosin jugis be the Ardeatis and Ancinis, to decide apour certane doutsum landis; and how the Romanis adjugit the saidis Landis to thameseif
4y His honest victorie, conquest sa vailycantlie be the con-

sullis, wes deformit be ane schamefull jugement gevin be
Romane pepil, on certane doutsum and debatabill
pertening to thare nichtbouris in maner as followis: The
Ardeatis and Aricinis, eftir thay had invadit uthir mony yeris with
batall, war sa brokin with athir slauchter, that thay chesit the Ro-

landis,

mane pepil, as jugis, to gif decisioun of the saidis landis.

Quhen the partyis war cummin to deduce thare caus be stout argumentis, rais ane scharpe pley on athir side. Als sone as the wit.nes war examinate, the tribunis war callit; and, quhen the pepil suld
haif gevin thare suffrage and votis _in decisioun of the said caus, rais
up ane agit man of mony yeris, and said in this wise : ' Gif it be
"4full to me, 0 consullis,. to speik for the
I will nocht
" suffiir the pepil to be' dissavit in this mater." Quhen the consullis
had inhibit him to speik, becaus thay thocht, his wourdis hot vane, he
began to cry mair feirslie than afore,
"1The public weill wes
"betrayit." The consullis, beand perturbate with his crying, commandit him to be put furth, and incontinent he appelit to the tribunis.
The tribunis, as oft occurris, ar ay mair governit be the multitude
of pepil, than governouris of thame, and. gaif licence to Scapcius to
say afore the pepil -quhat he list. Than, said Scapcius, "1 I am ane
"man of xciii. yeris ; and, eftir that I wes ane man of armes, xx.

commounweil,

saying,

le-

THE THRID BUKE.

809

" sindry times fechtand undir the Romane ensenye, I faucht in the
' samin place and land of quhilk now the questioun occurris, the sa" min time quhen the batall wes led at the toun of Coriolos. The
" mater that I intend to schaw is sa auld, that it is nere perist
' be roust of yeris; yit ane thing remanis," said he, "ay recent in
" his memorie, that is to say, the land, for quhilk the debait occurris,
" wes sum time juste marchis of Coriolanus; and, sen the toun of
" Coriolos wes tane be Romanis fra the said Coriolanus be richt of
" batall, all boundis and marchis thareof pertenis justelie to Romanis.
" Thus had he na litill mervell, be quhat ressoun or causis outhir
" the Ardeatis or Aricinis micht tak thir landis fra Romane pepil,
" quhilk is now chosin juge in the said debait, considering thay clamit
" nevir thir landis sa lang as Coriolos stude fre and unthirlit to Ro" manis; and howbeit he wes fer run in yeris, and few dayis unspen" dit of his live, he couth find na ressoun quhy he aucht nocht to
" helpe the Romane pepil to recovir the land in his auld dayis, that
" he helpit to win in his youtheid." Thus perswadit he the pepil,
be mony ressouns, to suffir nocht thare causis, for ony unproffitabill
schame, to peris.
The consullis persevand that Scapcius wes Weill herde with the
pepil, tuke baith the Goddis and men in witnes, that this wes ane
manifest and schameful tressoun aganis the honoure and majeste of
Romanis that Scapcius devisit.
Sone eftir, thay convenit the grete princis of the ciete, and with all
thare menis besocht the tribunis, To suffir nocht this wikkit and vane
exempill to be done, that is to say, that the Romane pepil sall convert the land, that is gevin to thare decisioun, to thare schameful proffitt; for thocht the Romane pepill micht haif socht sum proffitt for
thare lauboure in this behalf, yit thay can nocht conqueis sa mony
proffittis, howbeit thay confiscate thir landis be thare jugement, as
thay sall tine, drawing the mindis of thare nichtbouris fra thame be
this wikkit injure; for the dammage that ane man incurris be tinsale
of his fame or faith is mair than may be estimate. " Sall the legatis
" schaw this schamefull jugement to the Ardeatis and Aricinis at
" thare returning? Sall this wikkit dede be blawin on braid, and cum
" to the eris baith of owre freindis and inemyis, that the tane may
" be movit with hie displesoure herand owre dishonoure, and the to-

310

TITUS LIVIUS.

"thir reddy to invaid us with swerde for owre falset? Beleif ye owre
" nichtbouris sail put the wite of this dishonoure to the agit dotand
" man Scapcius? Sall the Romane pepill, undir schado of Scap" cius, be ane dissavare in strange and uncouth pleyis? Be this wik" kit exempill, quhay sal, in times cuming, mak the Romane pepill
" juge in ony private mater; in aventure, thay convert all pleyabill
" materis to thare awne proffit." Thir wourdis war said be the consullis and Faderis. Nochtheles, Scapcius, with his avarice, wes bettir herde in this mater than outhir the consullis or Faderis; for
quhen the tribunis war finalie callit, thay jugit the pleyabill landis to
pertene to Romanis. I will mak na forthir argument, bot so micht
have bene as wes adjugit gif it had bene decidit be uthir jugis. The
dishonoure of this jugement micht nocht be excusit be ony maner of
ressoun, for it wes na les schamefull and displesand to the Ardeatis
and Aricinis than to the Faderis and princis of Rome.
The residew of this yere wes in quiet, but ony trubil at hame or
of feild.

AND SA ENDIS HERE THE TRANSLATIOUN
OF THE THRID BUKE
OF TITUS LIVIUS.

HERE BEGINNIS THE FEIRD BUKE
OF

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. I.
How M. Genucius and C. Curtius war maid consullis. How Canuleus, tribune ofpepill desirit manage to be maid betwix the
Fadenis and small pepill ; and of the onisoun maid be the consulis
aganis the sade Canuleus.

%
I

°N the yere following, M. Genucius and C.
Curtius war maid consullis.

This

yere

wes

full of trubil, as weil inwith as outwith the
ciete ; for, in the beginning of this yere, Caius

K.Canuleus,
tribune of pepil, desirit ane law to

be pronuncit, be quhilk maniage sal be maid
betwix the Faderis and small pepil. Be this
law the Faderis belevit, nocht onelie thare nobil linnage to be degradit, bot als the law of pepil to be confoundit. Ane uthir law wes
desirit pece and pece be the tribunis, that ane of the consulis, in times
cuming, suld be create of the Faderis, and the tothir of the small
pepil. It cum finalie to sic point, that the nine tribunis, with ane
assent, promulgate ane law, gevand power to the pepil to cheis

sullis of the Faderis or small pepil as thay plesit.

con-

812

TITUS LIVIUS.

The Faderis, richt astonist, dred, gif this law war cuming to effect,
that nocht onelie the soverane empire suld be commoun to obscure
persouns, bot als tane away fra the princis of the ciete; for thir ressouns, the Faderis war nocht unglade herand the rebellioun of Ardeatis, for taking of thare landis be wikkit jugement of Romane pepil. Nor yit war thay unglade herand the grete direpciouns maid be
Veanis on thare marchis; and the Volschis and Equis brandisand in
sa grete ire for stuffing of Verrugo aganis thame, that thay thocht it
bettir for thame than to haif batall, howbeit the end thareof succedit
unhappilie, than to haif ony schamefull pece with Romanis. The
Faderis, rejosing of thir and uthir grete dammagis rising in displesere
of small pepill, commandit ane army to be rasit with na les apparicioun and magnificence than it wes afore in the time of Ti. Quincius,
consul; to that fine, that, for fere and noyis of sa mony awfull batallis, the acciouns of tribunis suld haif na place. Than Canuleus
cryit in middis of the senate, The consullis maid thame, howbeit it
wes in vane, to astonis the small pepil fra thir new lawis; and declarit
the consullis sal nevir rais ane army, he beand on life, quhil thir new
lawis, desirit be him and his collegis, war first establit be the small
pepil: and, incontinent, he callit thame to ane concioun. In the
samin time, the consulis movit the senate aganis the tribunis, and the
tribunis movit the pepil aganis the consulis. The consulis said, " Gif
" the rage and furie of tribunis war ony langare sustenit, the end wes
"cuming of thare ciete, for, be the tribunis, apperis ma batallis within
"than outwith the ciete. The falt thareof cummis na les be the Fa"deris than be the small pepil, and na les be the consullis than be the
" tribunis. The thing that is best rewardit in the ciete best incressis.
" Thus may we se, that gude men incressis in time of pece; bot, in
"were, rewarde is ordanit for him that best can rais maist sedicioun,
" for sic men ar maist honorit with every estate. Than the consulis
"exhortit the senate to remembir quhat majeste thay haif gottin fra
"thare progenitouris, and quhat majeste thay suld leif to thare barnis,
"that the small pepil'may haif glore, in sa fer as thare power is ekit
"and amplit ilk day mair and mair. The end sal nevir cum to thare
"sedicioun, sa lang as thare is sa riche rewarde and honouris gevin
" to the movaris thareof. Ye se now quhat grete materis the tribune
"Canuleus has tane on hand. Has he nocht first desirit the commix-

THE FEIRD BUKE.

313

" tioun of nobillis and commouns to be maid togidder be manage,
" and belevi to perturbe baith the public and private auspicis, to
" that fine, that na thing sal remane nobill nor honest in the ciete;
" for quhen all difference is tane away, na man may knaw himself nor
" his linnage. Quhat othir frute sal cum of this mariage, bot con"junccioun of the Faderis and small pepil, to be togidder but ony
" difference, like brutall beistis, quhare ilk ane has conversacioun with
" othir. He that is borne sal nocht knaw quhat blude he is discendit
" of; bot as the ta half of him wes cumin of nobillis, and the tothir
" of commouns, thus sal he be repugnant with himself. Think ye
" that mater of small effect, be quhilk all divine and humane consti" tuciouns sal be perturbate ? Now sal the movaris of sedicioun mak
" thame to be consullis, the first time thay assailyeit to haif ane of
" the consulis chosin of the Faderis, and ane uthir of the small pe" pil. Bot now thay desire ane law to be pronuncit, That the consu" lis sal be create outhir of the Faderis [or] of small pepil as the pepil
" list. Na dout is, bot thay sal cheis the maist sedicious limmaris
' amang thame to be consulis. Than sal ye se Canulianis and Ici" lianis maid consulis. Grete Jupiter will nocht suffir the empire of
" kinglie majeste to peris in that sorte; the consulis sal erare de ane
" thousand dedis than suffir sa grete dishonoure. Forthir, gif thay
" can devine ony thingis to cum, howbeit the Faderis grant all the
"desiris, the small pepil and tribunis sal nocht be the mair curtas
"nor soft, bot erare, eftir thay haif gottin the samin, sal be mair feirs
" than afore, ay desiring ma inconveniencis eftir we haif grantit the
" first. Best is, at the first time, erare to suffir all maner of ba" tallis and debatis, than to suffir sic lawis to be maid; or than the
" end micht nocht suffir that Faderis and tribunis of pepil may leif
" baith togidder in ane ciete; perforce, outhir maun the tane or the
" tothir be tane away. Bettir is, tharefore, to resist thare temerite
" and fule hardiment late than nevir. In the first, thir tribunis and
" small pepil has sawin grete discorde in owre ciete but ony puni" cioun, and haif rasit owre nichtbouris, be thare avarice and fals
~jugement, to invaid us with batall; and now quhen thay haif armit
" owre nichtbouris aganis us, thay will nocht .suffir ane army to be
" rasit for defence of the ciete. Thus haif thay nocht alanerlie rasit
2R

TITUS LIVIUS.

314

" owre inemyis aganis us, bot als will suffir na army to be rasit aganis
" thame. How dar Canuleus be sa bald, to sa afore the senate, he
" sal nevir suffir ane army to be rasit quhil the Faderis suffir his lawis
" to be establit ? Quhat othir thing dois Canuleus, bot minassis him
" to betrais the cuntre, and to suffir owre ciete to be segeit and tane ?
" Quhat curage sal thir wourdis gif to the small pepill ? Na curage,
" bot erare grete audacite and forcement to the Volschis, Equis, and
" Veanis. Quhat othir thing belevis owre inemyis, bot to tak the Ca"pitol be support and tressoun of Canuleus? Gif the tribunis has
" nocht onelie tane fra the Faderis thare majesties and juris, bot als
" all thare manhede and curage, the consulis sall be reddy capitanis
" to fecht erare aganis the tressoun of wikkit cieteyanis, than aganis
" the armoure and wappinnis of inemyis."

CAP. II.
Of the vehement orisouns maid be Canuleus, Tribune, aganis the
Faderis and Consulis, for mariage to be had betwix the Faderis
and smallpepill.
c
+

UHEN thir materis war dispute maist ernistlie afore the

senate, Canuleus, tribune, to fortifie his lawis aganis the
Sconsullis, said in this wise: " 0 Quirites, I have oft and
' e "mony times considerit weill how fer the Faderis con"tempnis you, thinkand how unwourthy to leif with thame within
"the wallis of ane toune; I have oft times afore considerit, hot now
" specially, how feirs and cruell the consullis has ay bene aganis oure
" lawis. Quhat uthir thing desire we be oure lawis, bot to be thare
"cieteyanis; and howbeit we have nocht sa mekill riches as thay
"have, we desire to leif with thame within ane ciete. First, we de" sire to have mariage with thame, quhilk is na grete mater, for we
" gif it to strangearis and nichtbouris. We have gevin oure ciete to
"vincust inemyis, quhilk is ane thing mare than ony mariage. In the
"nixt peticioun, we desire na novaciouns nor new materis, but onelie
" the thing that is commoun to every pepill; that is to say, that Ro-

THE FEIRD BUKE.

315

" mane pepill may gif thare honouris quhare thay pleis. Quhat is
" it now, finalie, that the consullis and Faderis intendis to do ? Quhy
" perturb they baith the hevin and erde ? Quhy mak thay sic violence
" to me afore the senate ? Will they nocht abstene fra my slauchter ?
" At leist, thay suld denunce and schaw that thay wil violate the
" haly auctorite of tribunis. Gif the Romane pepill has fre suffrage
" to gif the consulate quhare thay pleis, quhy suld than ony plebeane
"be put fra rejosing of hie honouris, he beand fund wourthy for the
" samin ; gif that be sufferit, the empire of Rome is endit. The
" ciete may not endure, sail that avale for sikker firmance of Ro" mane empire, that ane plebeane be nocht maid consul, as it war ane
" mater of grete effect, quhidder ane servand or ane libertine war
" maid consull. Persave ye nocht, 0 Quirites, in quhat contemp" cioun ye leif to the Faderis and consulis. Suthly, and thay micht,
" thay wald tak fra you ane parte of this licht, that ye have of the
" hevin. Thay have indignacioun that ye may ouder speik or draw
" youre aynde, and thinkis unwourthy that ye suld have the forme
" and image of men. Thay say it is ane odius crime afore the
" Goddis, that ane plebeane suld be maid consul; I beseik ye, O
" Quirites, sen we ar nocht admitted to rede the bukis offastus, nor
" yit the commentaris of bischoppis, that it be nocht unlefull till us
" to knaw the thingis that al our nichtbouris and strangearis knawis.
" It is nocht knawin till al strangearis that the consullis has succedit
" in the place of kingis, and has na maister nor pussance, bot onelie
"it that wes afore with kingis. Herd ye nevir how Numa Pompi" lius, howbeit he wes nouthir patriciane nor cieteyane of Rome, yit,
"be auctorite of Faderis, he wes brocht fra the Sabinis, and com" mandit be eleccioun of Faderis and pepill, to regne abone the Ro" manis. Siclike ye herd how L. Terquinius wes nouthir of Romane
" nor yit Italiane linnage, bot son of Damoratus, cieteyane of Co" rinthy, and come out of the ciete of Terquine, and wes maid king,
" the sonnis of King Ancus beand on live. Siclike ye herd how Ser" vius Tullius wes borne of Corniculana, eftir that scho wes captive
" and prisonere, uncertane quha wes hir fader; yit, be his ingine and
" vertewe, he wes maid king. Quhat sail I say of Ti. Tacius, how" beit he wes ane Sabine; yit Romulus, the fader of oure ciete, res" savit him in societe of his kingdome. Thus may ye se how the

316

TITUS LIVIUS.

" empire of Rome grew dalie, quhen na maner of vertewis pepill wes
" refusit in it; and now ye may nocht suffir ane plebeane to be con" sull, howbeit oure progenitouris contempnit not strangearis, bot
" ressavit thame to be kingis.
" Forthir, eftir the proscripcioun of kingis, oure ciete wes nocht
" closit to uncouth and strange pepill, that war vertewus. Have
" we nocht ressavit sindrie of the hous of Claudius, eftir the pro" scripcioun of kingis, nocht onelie within oure ciete, bot als amang
" the noumer of patricianis. Sen so it is, that first of ane stran" geare is made ane patriciane, and syne ane consul, quhy suld
" ane Romane cieteyane, howbeit he be borne of the small pepill,
" be enhabill to be consull. Is it nocht possibil that ane plebeane,
" that is vailyeant and strang baith in were and pece, may be corn" parit outher to Numa, or L. Terquinius, or Servius Tullius, and
" gif sic men be fundin, sail we admitt him or nocht to the go" vernance of public weill. Quhiddir is it bettir to us to have con" sullis of the ten men, quhilkis war patricianis, and maist wikkit men
" in erde, or to have consullis of the plebeanis, thay beand found als
"' vertewus as ony of the kingis afore rehersit ? And thocht thare wes
" nevir ane plebeane maid consul sen the kingis war banist, quhat
" followis of that, suld tharefore na thing be new institute, suld na
Sthing be done bot itthat has been afore? Mony thingis ar quhilkis
" war nevir done amang new pepill, sic as we ar; and gif the samin
" be fund proffittabil, quhy suld thay nocht be done ? During the
" empire of Romulus, thare wes no bischoppis divinouris, yit thay
"war create be Numa; and mony yeris eftir thare wes na cens, that
" is to say, estimacioun of men, be thare gudis, nor yit thare wes na
"discripcioun of centuris nor classis in Rome; yit in the time of
" Servius Tullius, sic thingis war institute, and during that time
" thare wes na consullis in Rome; yit, eftir the proscripcioun of
" kingis, thay war create, and mony yeris eftir nouthir wes the name,
"nor yit the empire of the dictator herd in Rome, yit it plesit the
"Faderis to create the samin; lang time eftir war nouthir tribunis of
" pepill, nor questoreis, nor edilis; yit als sone as thir officis war
" fund necessare, thay war create. We have within thir ten yeris
" chosin ten men, to write oure law, and now we have banist thame;
" quha doutis bot in this perpetuall toun, ay rising mare and mare,

THE FEIRD BUKE.

317

' sall rise ilk yere new senyeouris, new digniteis and lawis, for go" vernance of men and pepill. The ten men, howbeit thay did mony
" wrangis to the offence and injure of the pepill, inhibit na marriage
" to be maid betwix the Faderis and small pepill. How may thare be
"' ony mair importabill displesere than to repute the ta parte of ane
" clete sa vile, that it sal be unwourthy to have mariage with the
"tother ? Quhat othir thing may be traistit tharethrow, bot to suf" fir exile within the wallis of ane towne ? Is it defendit that owre
" blude sail have commixtioun be affinite or proximite, gif sic thingis
" may obscure or degrade your nobilite ? Quhy have ye ressavit sa
" mony uncouth strangearis of Sabinis and Albanis be coaptacioun,
" thocht thay war nocht compare to you in linage nor blude, amang
" the Faderis ? Mony sic pepill, cled with grete honour, ar amang
" you, outhir chosin be the kingis, or, eftir the banissing of kingis,
" ressavit amang you be command of pepill. May ye nocht keip
" youre nobilitie clene be private counsullis, nouthir will ye suffir
" youre sonnis to have wiffis of the plebeanis, nor youre sisteris nor
" dochteris, quhilkis ar gottin be the Faderis, to have husbandis of the
" plebeanis. Knaw ye nocht weill that na plebeane will tak the
" dochter of ane patriciane but hir consent; na plebeane wil enforce
" ane patriciane to mak ane band of mariage for his douchter, but
" with his awne consent. Suth is, tharefore, that to inhibit mariage
" betwix the Faderis and small pepill, is ane thing richt odius and
"detestabil. Quhy defend ye nocht mariage betwix the riche men and
"pure? And yit it is daly practicate; ane man may mary ony woman
" he plesis, nochtwithstanding quhatsumevir hous scho be of; ye
" wald defend sic thingis undir coloure of youre rigorus and unple" sand lawis, to that fine, that ye may brek all civil societe, and mak
"twa cietes of ane. Quhy command ye nocht be youre lawis, that
" ane plebeane sall nocht have his hous approcheand to ane patri" ciane ? Quhy defend ye nocht that ony plebeane pas in the gate
"quhare ane patriciane gois? Quhy defend ye nocht that ane ple" beane and ane patriciane sitt togiddir at ane dennare, or convene
"baith to ane merkitt ? Quhat difference is thare, quhen ane plebe" ane has maryit ane patriciane, or ane patriciane maryit ane ple"beane ? Quhat richt is thare changit, considering the barnis followis
" ay the name and nobilite of the fader ? Quhat othir thing desire we

TITUS LIVIUS.

318

" be thir mariage, bot alanerly that we may be comptit amang the
" noumer of men and cieteyanis ? Quhat othir proffitt may ye
'"have of your contenciouns aganis us, bot ay contending to put us
"to velany and schame ? Consider, 0 Faderis, quhiddir the em" pire pertenis to you or to Romane pepill. Consider eik gif the
" kingis war chasit of our ciete, alanerlie to conques empire and do" minacioun to you, or gif equale liberte wes conquest to us all thare" throw. Force it is, that it be lawfull to Romane pepill, gif thay
"' pleis to mak lawis, or is it necessare, that als sone as ony new lawis
"' are promulgate afore the pepill, that the Faderis sall decerne ane
" armye to be rasit for impeschment thareof. And als sone as I, the
" tribune, beginnis to call the tribis in suffrage, incontinent you, con'" sul, rasis all thy young men of the ciete, sworne secretlie be thir
" namis, and bringis thame to the tentis, to the grete minassing baith
"of tribunis and small pepill. Quhat wald ye now piesently do, gif
" ye nevir had esperance quhat your minassing avalis aganis the con" sent of smiall pepill, ye have twyis experience thareof, that is to
" say, because ye wald have materis dressit for oure proffitt, ye ab" stene fra batall; or it is the caus that ye fecht nocht, becaus the
"'parte of the ciete that is maist ferme and sikkir, is maist humill.
"Forthir,
Quirites, thare sall na batall be aganis you, for thocht
"the consullis assailye continewally youre curage, thay sall nevir
"have experience of youre strenthis; herefore, 0 consullis, quhidder
" ye intend to move vane or sikkir batall, we declare you the small
"pepill sall be reddy to pas with you, sa ye mak this ciete bot ane
" be commixtioun of mariage, suffering the same to incres togiddir,
" that nobil and vailyeant men may have sum time esperance to rise
"in honour be thare vertew, and be in societe of public honour. And
" gif thare be ony liberte grantit equalie to every man, we desire that
" it may be lefull to plebeanis to rejose officis and digniteis thare cours
" about. Gif ony of you will impesche thir mariagis, and nocht sufSfir the samin to be done, ye may than mak noyis and gilde of ba" tall; bot I assure you, na man sal gif his name in writt, nor tak
"wappinnis, nor fecht for the proude maisteris of the ciete, sen with
" thame is nouthir honoure concerning public materis, nor yit societe
" of mariage in private materis."

0

THE FEIRD BUKE.

319

CAP. III.
How the tribunis and small pepill continewit in thare dissencioun,
quhil the Faderis war content to have mariage with the plebeanis;
and of thefirst time that tribunis militare war chosin with power
consulare. Of the message send be the Ardeatis to Romanis, and
of their ansuere.
SUHEN the consullis, on the tothir side, had made thame
to pas to thare conciounis, this debate, be perpetuale orisouns, rais to grete altercacioun. In the mene time, the
tribune askit For what caus micht nocht the plebeane be
o maid consul? The consull made ane trewe ansuere, howbeit, it wes
nocht owre proffittabil concerning the present debate; and said, " The
" caus quhy no plebeane micht be consul, wes, becaus na plebeane
" micht have auspicis, that is to say, thay micht nocht divine. And
" for this ressoun the ten men has inhibit the marage betwix the Fa" deris and plebeanis, to that fine, that the auspicis be nocht trublit
" be line uncertane." The small pepill herand this ansuere, wes inflammit with hie indignacioun, as it war sa abhominabill to the Goddis,
that it war unlefull to thame to have the auspicis or divinacioun of
thingis to cum; and tharefore, to fortify this debait, thay tuke the maist
sedicious and scharpe tribunis to solist thame in this mater, throw
quhilk this trubill and dissensioun ceissit nevir, quhill at last the Faderis war vincust be lang pertinacite, and condescendit to have mariage with the plebeanis, traisting the small pepill to be sa content, havand mariage with thame the Faderis, that thay suld leif all debate
concerning the cheising of consullis plebeanis, and be reddy to gif
thare names for rasing of ane armye. The remanand tribunis, seand
Canuleus, thare colleig, baith throw favoure of small pepill, and victorie abone the Faderis, weill honorit, thocht na thing sa gude as to
continew furth in thare contencioun, quhil the last. Ane parte of thare
desiris war fulfillit; and howbeit, the brute and noyis of batall rais

390

TITUS LIVIUS.

ilk day mare and mare, yit the said tribunis stoppit the army to be
rasit.
The consulis, seand the tribunis impesche every thing that thay
desirit afore the senate, convenit the princis of the ciete in thare awne
houssis, to have thair counsellis. Apperit weill that outhir victorie
behuffit to be gevin to tribunis or to inemyis. All the princis of the
ciete comperit to this convencioun, except Valerius and Horacius.
The opinioun of C. Claudius, wes to arme the consullis aganis the
tribunis. The opinioun of Quincius Capitolinus and Cincinnatus
was in the contrare, thinkand it richt terribil to sla the tribunis, for
thay ressavit thame afore as haly and inviolate, be ane band that wes
contrackit with the small pepill. Throw thir sindry opiniouns, the
mater wes dressit in sic wise, that thay concludit to mak tribunis militare, with power consulare, indifferentlie of the Faderis and small
pepill togiddir, and na novacioun to be maid concerning the creacioun
of consullis.
Thus war baith the tribunis and small pepill contentit.
Inconthe commites for creacioun of
tinent, the tribunis of pepill proclamit
tribunis militare, with power consulare, and brocht all thame that
war maist sedicious men of the ciete, afore the pepill. And eftir thay
had cled thame in quhite habit, thay ran here and there throw the
merket, to purches the suffrage of pepil to mak thame consullis, that
the patricianis, seand the small pepill commovit, suld be desparit to
cum to ony honouris in time cuming, and caus thame tharethrow to
have the mare indignacioun to jois ony office that sic sedicious men
war machit with thame in authorite. The principall Faderis desirit
finalie the pepill to put thame nocht fra possessioun of public governance. The end of thir commites schew, that the Romane pepil has
ane uthir minde and ane uthir curage, quhen thay contend for thare
liberte, than thay have in thare incorruppit jugement, eftir that all
debatis ar sett aside; for the pepill, eftir that thay war victorius in
thare debatis, chesit tribunis militare, with power consulare, alanerlie
of patricianis, and war content tharewith, becaus the Faderis gaff
thare consent thareto. Quhare sail ye find now in ony persoun sic
temperance, sic equite, and sa michty curage, as wes this time universale with all the Romane pepill ?

THE FEIRD BUKE.
The yere ccc.x. fra the first fundacioun of Rome, wes the first time
that ony tribunis militare war create with power consulare. Thare
names war A. Sempronius Atratinus, L. Atilius, T. Cecilius. During
the empire of thir tribunis, sic concorde wes at hame in the ciete, that
it maid pece with inemyis thare furth. Sum allegis thir thre tribunis
militare war create, but ony mencioun of the law promulgate afore
the pepill, concerning the creacioun of consullis plebeane. For, at
this time, nocht onelie apperit the batall of Volschis and Equis, bot
als throw rebellion of Ardeatis, apperit the batall of Veanis, and becaus twa consullis war nocht sufficient ineuch to leid batall contrare
sa mony inemyis, thir thre tribunis militare war create with power
consulare, and bure the samin axis and the samin ornamentis riall, as
the consullis bure during thare time. Yit thare empire durit nocht
lang, for the thrid moneth eftir thare creacioun, thay war put fra
thare auctorite be decrete of the divinouris; quhilkis allegit thay war
nocht lauchfully create, becaus C. Curtius, the holder of thir commites, began nocht the tabernacle in dew time.
About this time come the legatis of Ardea to Rome, complening
of the hevy injure done to thame be schamefull jugement afore rehersit, and said, Gif the Romanis wald repare the said injure, and restore the landis laitlie tane be schamefull jugement afore rehersit, thay
wald continew as afore in thare freindship and amite. It wes answerit be the senate, The jugement of Romane pepill micht nocht be
retretit be thamp, howbeit the samin wes done but ony respect to
juris or lawe accustumate to Romanis, bot onelie to hald concorde
amang the ordouris; nochtheles, wald the Ardeatis abide ane schort
time, submitting thame to the discrecioun of iFaderis, it micht happen
sa that thay sall nocht be penitent thareftir for the temperance of
thare ire, and understand finalie the Faderis set equalie to kepe thame
fra all injure, and to dres all thare materis in sic wise, that gif ony
injuris war done to thame, that the samin sall nocht lang endure.
The legatis promittit to rehers treulie this ansuere to the senate of
Ardea, and war plesandlie depeschit, and returnit hame.

822,

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. IV.
How the Ardeatis send legatis to renewe the band of confederacioun
with Romanis; and how the ofice of censurisfirst began.
HE patricianis, seand the public governance but ony
dignite civil, assemblit togidder, and create ane Interking. Than rais ane scharpe contencioun, quhidder
consulis or tribunis militare suld be create.

This con-

tencioun continewit mony dayis. The Interking and senate desirit
the commites to be haldin for creacioun of consulis; bot the tribunis
of pepil, and the small pepil, desirit the commites to be haldin for
creacioun of tribunis militare. Yit the Faderis got the victorie in
this debate ; for the small pepil thocht bot ane vane thing to contend,
quhidder thay suld gif the honoure of tribunis militare or consulis to
patricianis. The princis of small pepil desirit erare thay commites to
be haldin, in quhilkis na respect wes had to thame than to hae ony
unwourthy persouns promovit. And sa the tribunis left this contencioun of small pepil, but ony effect, in the handis of the principall
Faderis.
In the mene time, Ti. Quincius Barbatus, Interking, create consulis, L. Paperius Mugilanus, and L. Sempronius Atratinus. Be
thir consulis war the band renewit with the Ardeatis; and thocht the
names of thir consulis ar nocht fund in the auld cronikillis, nor yit
in the bukis of magistratis, yit becaus the band wes maid betwix the
Ardeatis and Romanis in this yere, it is ane sufficient preif that thay
war constulis in the said yere. I belief, becaus the tribunis militare
war first maid in the beginning of this yere, and war eftir deprivit,
yit as thay had roung al this yere, the names of the consulis war forgett; nochtheles, the names of thame war found in the band of Ardeatis, and in bukis namit Linthei, in the tempil of Goddes callit
Moneta. Nochtwithstanding all thare grete minassing and batellis,
denuncit to Romanis be thare nichtbouris on every hand about thame,
yit thay had pece all this yere, baith at hame and of feild.

THE FEIRD BUKE.
Eftir this yere, that wes uncertane quhidder it wes governit be
the tribunis militare or consulis, followit the nixt yere, quhilkis wes
clerelie governit be the consulis; for in this yere war maid consulis,
M. Geganius Macerinus, quhilk wes anis consul afore, and L. Quincius Capitolinus, quhilk wes five times afore consul.
In this yere began the office of censouris; howbeit this office rais
of ane richt sobir beginning, yit it come sone eftir in sa grete estimacioun and dignite, that under the ordinance and correccioun thareof,
wes all the governance of Romane maneris and disciplinis, baith of
the senate, chevelryis, and centuries; and abone this, it had the defference of all honouris and dishonouris; siclike the payment and tributis of al pepil, pertenand to Romane senyeorie of quhatsumevir
placis, als weill public as private, war comprehendit under the ordinance of this. office.
The beginning of this office rais in this maner, becaus the pepil
war mony yeris nocht noumerit be thare cens and estimacioun of
gudis, as wes accustumate, it wes necessare that thay be finalie noumerit. And becaus the consulis war occupyit with sa mony batellis
of inemyis, that thay micht nocht gif attendance thareto, thay made
mencioun of this office to the senate, and said, Sic office was necessare
to be had; bot the devising thareof pertenit nocht to thame; for it
was ane crafty office, be the self imcompitibil to the office consulare,
and richt ganand for ministracioun of sindry materis, under the
quhilk suld be notaris and writaris to bere the charge of tabillis and
registeris, with power als to noumer the pepil quhen time occurrit.
The Faderis war richt joyus of this office; howbeit it wes bot ane
small dignite in the beginning; for ay the ma officis patricianewar
amang thame, thay war the mare joyus. Yit, I trew, thay knewe
weill the thing that wes to cum eftir, that is to say, throw helpe of
thame that war to rejose this office eftir, the said office suld rise in
grete veneracioun and honouris.
The tribunis seand, as apperit than, the procuracioun of this office
mare necessare than honorabil, maid litill empeschment thareto, for
thay wald mak na trubil in materis of small effect. And becaus this
new auctorite wes contempnit with the grete princis of the ciete, the
pepil, be generall suffrage, chesit Paperius and Sempronius to be censouris, to that fine, that becaus the office consulare wes nocht as yit

TITUS LIVIUS.
ferme and solid, it suld than be the mare ferme be supporte of this
new office; and sa thir men war callit censouris, becaus thay noumerit the pepil be thare faculteis and gudis.

CAP. V.
How the young men ofArdea, contending to have ane virgine thareof
in marinage, dividit the ciete in :twa partis. How the Romanis
come in defence of the ta parte, and the Volschis to the tothir ; and
of the chance thareftir succeding.
Ic thingis done in Rome, come the legatis of Ardea,
desiring the auld band of amite betwix thame and Romanis to be renewit; and askit supporte to thare ciete,
quhilk wes as than nere utirlie destroyit; and schew
how certane intestine and civill batellis war rissin in thare ciete, be
quhilk thay micht nocht continew in the pece, quhilk, be gude counsell, was maid afore with Romanis.
The occasioun of thir civil batellis rais be ane faccioun in thare
ciete; for, be faccioun and civil weris has oft cumin, and sal cum,
to mony pepil, mare rewine and dammage, than ever come be externe
weris, hunger, infirmite, or ony uthir:plagis, that the ire of goddis has
send for thare last vengeance in punicioun of men.
The caus of this irrecoverabill rewine cumin to Ardea, wes ane
virgine plebeane of maist excellent bewtie. This virgine plebeane
wes desirit be two young men in mariage; that ane wes ane plebeane
of the same linage as scho wes, and wes gretelie favorit be hir tutouris; for thay lauborit to mak him rejose the virgine in mariage.
The tother young man wes ane nobill, and wes movit for na uthir
caus to lufe hir, bot alanerlie for hir farenes and bewtie. His accioun
was favorit be the nobillis of the ciete. I find thir two men come
baith atanis in the hous quhare this virgine wes, and lauborit be sindry menis to have this virgine in mariage. The nobill wes likely to
get hir be way of hir moder; for scho desirit hit douchter erare to
be maryit on ane nobill, than on ane plebeane. Be contrare, hir

THE FEIRD BUKE.
tutouris desirit hir to be maryit erare on ane plebeane, than on ane
nobil. Thir young men war sa fervent on this mater, thay culd
nocht be aggreit at hame; and tharefore clamit the said virgine in
opine jugement: The juge, herand the peticioun and clame, baith
of the tutouris and the moder of this virgine, decernit this virgine to
be maryit on the nobill; for he had baith hir consent and hir moderis.
Incontinent, the tutouris, eftir that thay had murmurit gretelie in
opine merket aganis this sentence, persewit hir be way of dede, and
revist hir perforce out of hir moderis hous. The young nobill, aggrevit for this hie outrage done to him, come with ane grete cumpany
of nobillis, and recoverit hir agane; howbeit it wes nocht but cruell
bargane.
The plebeanis, repulsit in this wise, for thay war na way compare
in manhede to the nobillis, ischit, all armit togidder, out of the ciete,
and campit thame on ane hill, fornens the same, syne waistit all the
landis pertenand to the nobillis be fire and swerde; and sone eftir
convenit ane noumer of limmaris, in esperance of prey, and made
thame reddy to assailye and tak the ciete; allwayis na rage, na
hereschip, nor trubil of batall, that micht be devisit in perdicioun of
ane ciete, failyeit at this salt. As this ciete had bene devidit be fury
of two partyis desiring unhappy mariage of this virgine in perdicioun
of thare native, thir two partyis, thinkand thameself nocht sufficient
ineuch to invaid othir with new batallis, solist uncouth freindis to
come to thare supporte. The nobillis soliscit the Romanis to cum in
defence of thare toune; the plebeanis brocht the Volschis to sege
and ding the ciete doun; and to thare supporte come the Volschis,
first with thare capitane, Equus Clelius, and affixit thare stakis and
trinschis fornens the ciete.
Als sone as thir novellis war schewin in Rome, M. Geganius, consul, departit with ane armye, and set doun his tentis within thre milis
to his inemyis. And becaus it wes late, he commandit his army to
refresche thare armye with mete and slepe. At the fourte vigill he
rasit his baner, and did all thing with sa fast diligence, that the Volschis, sone eftir the son wes rissin, persavit thameself strater inclusit
on every side be Romanis, than the Ardeatis war inclusit afore be

TITUS LIVIUS.
thame. On the tothir side, the consul laid his oist strait to the wallis
of the ciete, that his folkis micht enter and ische, as he plesit. The
empriour of Volschis had as yit made na provisioun of vitallis for his
armye, bot alanerlie of sa mony as war reft be incursioun fra the
cuntre; and tharefore, seand baith himself and his armye inclusit on
all sidis, and havand na vitallis to sustene the samin, he send messingeris to the consul, desiring him to cum to ane commoning; and
said, Gif the said consul wes cumin to skaill his sege, he wald plesandlie departe at his plesere. Than said the consul, It pertenis to
victouris to gif condiciouns as thay pleis to vincust pepil; and to vincust pepil pertenis nocht, bot onelie:to ressave sic appunctment as the
victoure plesis to gif; for sen the Volschis war cumin to invaid the
freindis of Romane pepil, thay sal nocht departe in that maner; and
tharefore commandit thame to rander thare emprioure as presoner,
and lay aside thare wappinnis, confessand thameself vincust, as obedient to his empire. And gif thay departit in ony othir sorte, he suld
be na les inemye to thame, than thay perseverit aganis him in batall
to thare deith; for he had levar returne to Rome with sikkir victorie,
than unsikkir pece of Volschis.
The Volschis, havand bot litil esperance in thare wappinnis, assailyeit mony wayis to eschape on every hand; howbeit it wes in
vane tuke batall aganis the Romanis. Amang mony harmes and
infeliciteis falling to thame, thay faucht in place richt unganand to
batall, and mare unganand to fie. And eftir that thay had fochtin
lang, and micht na forthir resist, thay turnit all thare fechting in
humill prayaris. At last, quhen thay had randerit thare emprioure
and wappinnis, thay war all put undir yoik, and, with infinite miserie
and trubil, war sufferit to departe. Bot thay war nocht fer cumin
fra the toun of Tusculum, quhen thay, throw auld haterent that
the Tusculanis bure aganis thame, war opprest and slane sa halelie,
that skarsly wes ane left to bere tithingis hame of thare slauchter.
Eftir this victorie the consul returnit to Ardea, and mesit all sediciouns amang the cieteyanis thareof, and gart strike the hede fra
thame that wes the caus of this sedicioun; syne confiscate all thare
gudis to the public proffitt. The Ardeatis thocht the injure done to
thame afore be jugement of Romane pepil justlie recompensit be

THE FEIRD BUKE.

S27

this grete humanite done at this time; but yit the senate thocht thay
wald do sum othir thing to put away the memorie of this wikkit jugement, that come be avarice of Romane pepil.
The consul returnit to Rome, and enterit triumphand in the
ciete, havand the empriour of Volschis, namit Clelius, led afore his
chariote, with all the remanent spuleyeis that he wan fra his inemyis
at this journay. Eftir that he had put thame under yoik, the tothir
consul Quincius, with beltit goune, wan na les honoure at hame in
Rome, than this othir consul did with his armye; for he tuke.sa
grete moderacioun in ministracioun of justice, baith to riche and pure,
that the Faderis callit him ane severe consul, and the pepil held him
for ane humill cieteyane; and he debatit mony thingis aganis the
tribunis, mare be audacite than ony batall. He rejosit the consulate
five times, ay under ane maner settand his life to do all times na
thingis, bot onelie sic thingis as maist semit ane consul; and for that
caus he wes mare wourthy than honorabil all his live. During thir
consulis, thare wes na mencioun of making of tribunis militare,

CAP. VI.
How the land that was tane aforefra the Ardeatis, be wikkit jugement of Romane pepil, was restorit; and how the plais, votit afore
be the x. men, war publist to the pepil.
S N the yere following war create consulis, M. Fabius
Thir consulis
Vibulanus and Posthumus Ebucius.
seand every thingis, baith at hame and of feild, succede
with grete felicite and honoure be thare predecessouris,
and seand this last yere sa notabil baith amang the freindis and fais
of Rome, becaus supple was maid sa haistilie to the Ardeatis, herefore, to remove all infamite and dishonoure that micht be imput to
Romane pepil, for the schameful jugement, afore rehersit, thir consulis foresaid convenit the senate, and said, Becaus the ciete of Ardea wes brocht be civil contencioun to ane few noumer of pepil, best
wes to send colonis to the said ciete, for defence thareof aganis the

328"

TITUS LIVIUS.

Volschis. Forthir, it wes opinlie publist in tabillis, that the schameful jugement, afore rehersit, concerning the landis of Ardea, suld be
retretit, to the displesere baith of tribunis and small pepil.
It wes concludit be the senate, the greter noumer of Rutulianis
suld be send as colonis to Ardea, than of Romanis. Attoure, na
landis sal be dividit at this time amang the Rutulianis, bot alanerlie
the same land that wes tane fra the Ardeatis afore be infamus jugement. Forthir, thare sal na maner of landis be assignit to Romanis,
quhil the landis, afore rehersit, be first dividit equalie amang all the
Rutulianis. Thus war the landis of Ardea recoverit. To convoy
thir new colonis til Ardea, war create thre men, that is to say,
Agrippa Meninius, Ti. Clelius Siculus, and M. Ebucius Elva.
Thir thre men incurrit the indignacioun of pepil in deviding thir
landis of Ardea, afore rehersit, and war na thing acceptabil to the
principall Faderis, for thay did na grace to nane of thame. And
howbeit ane day wes sett be the tribunis of pepil, to accuse thir thre
men, thay abaid, and war writtin up in the colonie of Ardea, quhilk
thay tuke in testimonial of thare integrite and justice, and eschewit
tharethrow all vexaciouns of tribunis and pepil. Thus wes pece baith
at hame and of feild, baith during this yere, and the yere following,
in quhilk Furius Pacilius, and M. Paperius Crassus war consulis.
In this yere war maid the playis, quhilkis war votit afore be the x.
men, for secessioun of the pepil fra the Faderis. Petulius, that wes
tribune of pepil, serchit mony vane occasiouns of sedicioun, to empesch thir playis, and yit he couth nocht caus the consulis to restore
the divisioun of the saidis landis to the small pepil. And eftir thay
had purchest with grete difficulte, that the Faderis suld tak grete
consultacioun, quhidder the commites suld be haldin of the tribunis
militare or consulis, the consulis war create. All the minassing
that the tribune of pepil maid to empesche the armye was in vane;
for it wes nocht nedeful to rais an armye, becaus all nichtbouris at.
this time war pecifyit with Romanis.

THE WEIRD BUKE.

2

329

CAP. VII.
Of grete derth amang the Romanis; and how Spu. Melius brocht
grete plente of vitallis out of Hethrurie,and be
consirit to be king.

largicioun.thareof

FTni .this

yere, that wes sa peceabil, followit the nixt
yere, richt dangerus; in quhilk Proculus Geganius
Macerinus, and L. M\'Ieninius Lanatus war maid consulis.
"Thisyere wes.richt notabil be sedicious hunger, and the
pepil seducit be sic swetenes of largicioun, that the kingdome wes
nere conquest. It happinnit weil for the time, that the ciete wes
nocht invadit be externe.weris; for gif the Romanis had bene trublit
with externe weris, considering the mony uthir trubillis that come on
thame, thay micht skarslie, howbeit all the goddis had bene supportacioun to.thame, have resistit. Al thir dammagis followit throw hunger, quhilk raisouthir, becaus the yere wes contrarius to produccioun of cornis,. or ellis the pepil, throw swetenes of conciouns, and
other plesouris in. the ciete, left thare landis untelit. Baith thir
causis war allegit.; for the Faderis accusit the. sleuth- and necligence
small pepil, and the tribunis of pepil accusit sumtime the sleuth,
and sumtime the necligence of consulis ; and soliscit. the small pepil,
be avise of the senate, that L. Minucius suld be create provest of the
vitallis ; howbeit he wes mare ganand to, be defendoure of public
liberte,. than to bere. the charge of
office ; yit, in the lattir end of
4

___'_

of

this

his

office, he relevit the pepil of the said derth sa prudentlie, that he

first

conquest baith grete, glore and favours tharethrow. And
he send
sindry merchandis. to all partis-about him for vittalis;. howbeit it wes
in vane, for. he gat nane. And war nocht parte of vittalis. come out
of Hethrurie, thare had
na memorie of the. purviance of his vittals in this. yere.
Thus: wes Minucius. brocht. to sa skars spending ,ofvittalis, that ilk

bene

man wes, constrenit to sell all

the, vittalis, quhilkis: war superfiew, or

330

TITUS LIVIUS.

mare than micht nuris himself. At last, he begouth to accuse al
thame, that war send to seik vittalis, to put thame in extreme ire and
indignacioun of pepil, becaus thay brocht na vittalis. Be this scharpe
accusacioun, he rasit mare than relevit the hunger; for mony of the
small pepil war sa disparit, but ony esperance of releif, that to eschew
the paneful rage of hunger that thay sustenit, thay coverit thare hedis,
and drounit thameself in Tiber.
Quhen Spu. Melius, quhilk wes of the ordoure of horsmen, ane riche
man in thay dayis, had persavit this grete hunger amang the pepil,
he purposit to do ane proffittabil thing amang thame; howbeit he
assailyeit the samin be ane evil maner, and be ane war counsell. For
eftir that he, be menis of his freindis and servandis, had coft out of
Hethrurie, with his awne money, ane large parte of vittalis, quhilk
thing, as I beleif, wes the caus quhy the derth micht nocht be relevit,
this Melius, made largicioun of this quhete amang the pepil, and be
his liberalite schewin to the pepil in this wise, he wes exaltit and honorit, quharevir he yeid, abone the estate of ane private man. Thus
drewe he the cumpanyis of mony pepil in sic favoure to him, that
thay promittit to promove him to the consulate, or to ony office that
he desirit. And, as the minde of man is unsaciabil, traisting be
esperance of fortoun to rise to hie and unleful thingis, on the samin
maner, this Melius, seand that he micht na wayis cum to the consulate, for the Faderis war nocht content of him, began to trete with
the pepil of mare hieare besines, that is to say, to mak himself king.
Now had this Melius bot onelie ane besines, quhilk moist be assailyeit with sa huge difficulte and dangere, that na thing micht be sufficient guardoun thareof, bot onelie the kingdome of Romanis.
In the mene time war cumin the commites of consulis, quhilkis
sum parte empeschit his purpois; for he was nocht yit ripelie avisit
in the samin. In thir commites, Ti. Quincius Capitolinus was maid
consul the sext time, ane richt unganand man to resist ony novacioun
or new attemptatis; and Mininius Lanatus maid his colleig. Forthir, quhidder this L. Minucius was provest of vittalis for this yere,
or gif he was continewit, or gif he was indifferentlie create, it avalis
litil, except that, in baith the yeris foresaid, his name is fundin in the
bukis, namit Linthei, amang the remanent namis of digniteis. This
Minucius, seand that Melius exercit the same office be his private

THE FEIRD BUKE.

881

maner that himself exercit be public auctoriteis, for siclike maner of
pepil wes hantit in baith thare houssis, schew the mater of quhilk he
wes informit to the senate, that is to say, he fand grete provisioun of
wappinnis and armouris in Melius hous, and held private conciouns
in his hous to mak himself king; and thocht the time was nocht ganand to his purpois, he was providit weil ineuch in all materis; for
nocht onelie the tribunis war corruppit be his largiciouns to betrais
the public liberte, bot als the grete officis and digniteis of the ciete
promittit be him to be delt amang the capitanis of small pepil, and
utheris his assistaris. Attoure, the said Minucius excusit himself,
that he wes sa slaw in reveling this conspiracioun; for he thocht
nocht gude to revele the same, quhil he war maist surelie advertist
thareof, that he suld nocht appere the schawar of vane novellis.
Als sone as thir tithingis war herd, the Faderis accusit the consulis of this last yere, becaus thay sufferit baith sic distribucioun of
vittalis, and sic convenciouns of pepil to be maid in private houssis;
and accusit the new consulis, becaus thay war sa sleuthful that thay
schew nocht this mater, quhil it wes socht first be the provest of vittalis, or ever it wes schewin be thame to the senate; for this attemptate wes sa odius, that it nocht onelie requirit the consul to be
revelare, bot als to be punissare thareof. Than Ti. Quincius said,
"The consulis war saiklesly blamit; for thay war sa abandonit with
"the lawis of appellacioun to the pepil, maid alanerlie for dissolucioun
"of the empire, that howbeit thay had curage ineuch, yit thare pus"sance wes nocht respondent to dant sa grete ane crime, nor yit suf"t
ficient ineuch to revenge nor punis the samin condingly.
For to
" punis this attemptate, is nocht onelie requirit ane man of stout and
"hardy curage, bot als ane man that is fre, and nocht thirlit to the
"lawis.
For thir ressouns, I will mak L. Quincius dictator; for
" his curage is weil respondent to hie auctorite."
Thocht ilk man had approvit his sentence, yit L. Quincius refusit
this hie auctorite, and inquirit, Quhy wald thay object him aganis sa
hie dangere and perrellis, considering his age sa fer worne away.
At last, quhen ilk man had schawin, that in his agit minde was
mare wisdome, manhede, and gude counsell, than amang all the laif
that war thare, with mony uthir nocht unwourthy lovingis, this L.
Quincius Cincinnatus began to convert his prayaris to the goddis,

TITUS LIVIUS.
that his age succede nocht to the dammage nor dishonoure of the
public weill, in sa effrayit and trublus mater.

CAP. VIII.
How L. Quincius Cincinnatus wes maid dictator, to resist the attemptate of Spu. Melius ; and how the said Spu. Melius wes slane
be the maister of chevelrie; and of the feirs orisoun maid be the
sade dictator, to excuse the slauchter of Ielius.
ONE eftir that L. Quincius Cincinnatus had maid his

S

prayaris to the Goddis in this wise, he wes made dictator be Ti. Quincius, consul, and he incontinent made
Servilius Ahala maister of chevelrie.

On the nixt day

eftir that he had laid his buschmentis of armit men, quhare he thocht
expedient, he come to the merket. The pepill, throw admiracioun
of this strange novelte, richt ernestlie beheld the dictator; Melius
the conspiratour foresaid, and all utheris of his opinioun, knew weill
this grete pussance wes assemblit against him. Thay that knew nathing of this conspiracioun maid by Melius, inquirit besely quhat
noyis, quhat trubil, and quhat wes the mocioun of this haisty batall,
that requirit the majeste of the dictator, or to desire L. Quincius, eftir that he wes Lxxx. yeris, to be governour of the public weill. Incontinent Servilius, the maister of chevelrie, wes send to Melius, and
said, " The dictator commandis the to cum to him." Than Melius
richt abasit, said, " Quhat wil the dictator do with me." The maister of chevelrie answerit, " Minucius, provest of vittalis, had put ane
" odius crime to the, of quhilkis behuffis the to be purgit afore the
"

senate."

Als sone as Melius herd thir wourdis, he drew him amang the
cumpanyis of his complicis, and beheld in sindry placis quhare he
micht best fle abak. Incontinent, the apparatour tuke him, to have
led him to the dictator, bot he wes rescoursit be force of his complicis, and he began to fle, askand the faith of Romane pepil to his
supporte, and cryand, he wes opprest be avise of the Faderis, becaus

THE FEIRD BUKE.
he relevit the hunger of small pepil, and besoucht thame, tharefore,
that in that extreme dangir, to suffir him nocht to be put to deith
afore thare ene. Quhen Melius wes cryand these wourdis, Servilius
followit fast, and slew him in sicht of all the pepill; and all owresprinklit with blude of the said Melius, he come with ane cumpany
of young patricianis to the dictator, and schew how Melius, eftir that
he had rebellit aganis the apparatouris, and moveand the pepill to sedicioun and trubill, wes by him slane, and punist justlie as he deservit.
Then said the dictator, " 0 Servilius, I love thy curage and pro" vin vertew, for now the public weill is deliverit be the?' And becaus he saw the pepill effrayit, nocht knawing for quhat mocioun this
punicioun wes done, he callit thame to ane concioun, and declarit
how Melius wes justlie punist; howbeit, he had bene innocent of the
crime that wes imput to him, in desiring the kingdome; for he wes
summound be the maister of chevelrie to cum afore the dictator, and
wald not cum. Than the dictator schew that he ascendit for na
othir caus to the trone judiciall, bot onelie to tak cognicioun of this
crime imput to Melius, the quhilk beand knawin and schewin afore
the pepill in jugement, he wald have punist than Melius in the samin
maner as he is now punist; for he enforcing him to eschape, that he
suld nocht cum in jugement, wes comprehendit be strang hand. And
howbeit he had comperit, he suld nocht have bene tretit as ane cieteyane, for sen he wes borne in ane fre ciete, amang lawis and juris,
knawing nocht onlie the kingis banist out of this ciete, bot als baith
the sonnis and sister sonnis of Brutus, consul, the deliverare of Romane pepill fra servitude, hedit with ane ax, for the paccioun that
thay maid to ressave the kingis agane in the ciete; and knawing als
that Tarquine Collatine, consull, wes baith put fra the consulate,
and banist out of the ciete, for na othir caus, bot onelie becaus he
bure the name of Tarquinis; and als how Spu. Cassius, certane yeris
eftir, becaus he held quiet concioun to be king, wes slane; knew he
nocht als that the x. men war punist for thare kinglie pride that thay
led; and howbeit, he knew all thir puniciouns maid on thame that
socht the kingdomes, he assailyete yit to mak him king. Quhat man
of reputatioun, wes he na nobill, howbeit nouthir nobilite, honouris,
nor meritis, ar the way of dominacioun; quhat suld have movit him

334

TITUS LIVIUS.

to seik the kingdome; for thocht the Claudianis and Cassianis, desirit hie digniteis and honouris, it wes nocl mervell, for thay war of
nobill and anciant housis. Bot quhat suld have movit Spu. Melius
to seik the kingdome, quhilk wes mare habil to have desirit than to
have obtenit the tribunate, howbeit he wes ane riche merchand of vittalis ? Quhy suld he have belevit with ii. li. of quhete till have coft
the liberte of his cieteyanis ? How micht he belief, for ane litill
mete, to have drawin all the pepil about this ciete in servitude ? Is
it nocht ane huge monstoure, sen this ciete wald scarslie have maid
him senatour, that it suld have made him king, to rejose the diademe
that Romulus, baith cum of Goddis, and ekit to thare noumer, rejosit in his time ? Apperis, herefore, that his crime is nocht sufficientlie punist in his blude, for baith his hous and biggingis, in quhilk
the said crime wes committit, suld be avertit and cassin doun to the
ground, and all the guddis quhilk he intendit to have coft the kingdome with, suld be publist. Incontinent, the questouris wes commandit to sell his guddis, and confisk thame to public tressoure, and
his hous to be sa avertit, that of it sall remane na memorie, bot onelie to be ane vode place, like ane barne yarde in times cuming, quhilk
hous wes eftir callit Equimelius. Lu. Minucius, that schew this
tressoun aganis Spu. Melius, wes dotat with ane goldin bul outwith
the porte, namit Trigemina. The quhilk thing wes nocht displesand to the pepill, for he dividit amang thame all the quhete pertenand to Melius, mesurit in pekkis for ane half penny.
I find amang sum authouris, that this Minucius past fra the Faderis to the opinioun of small pepill, and wes maid ane of the xi.
tribunis be coaptacioun, and mesit all sedicioun that rais betwix the
Faderis and pepill, for the slauchter of Melius. Bot it is ane thing
nocht to be trewit, that the Faderis wald have sufferit sa grete noumer of tribunis to be ekit. It is als nocht trowabil, that sic exempil
suld be introducit be ane patriciane. Attoure, sa grete noumer of
tribunis wes nevir grantit to the small pepill, and als the small pepill
schupe nevir to assailye the same.
Than Q. Cecilius, Quincius Junius, and Sixtus Titinius, thir
thre alanerlie amang the remanent collegis of tribunis, wald nocht
suffir this huge loving to be gevin to Minucius, and began sumtime
to accuse Minucius, and sumtime Servilius, afore the pepill, for the

THE FEIRD BUKE.33

335

unwourthy slauchter of Melius ; and finalie, thay deducit thare caus
sa fer, that thay causit the commites to be haldin for creacioun of
tribunis militare. And thay doutit nocht, bot amang sex tribunis
militare quhilk wald be create at this time, sum of thame suld be piebeanis, to revenge the slauchter of Melius; howbeit, the pepill wes
trublit this yere with mony mociouns, yit thay create na man bot thre
tribunis, with power consulare, amang the quhilkis wes create L
Quincius, the son of L. Quincius Cincinnatus, dictator, be quhais dictatorie rais grete noyis amang the pepill. rihir remanent tribunis
war namit M. Emilius and L. Julius.

CAP. IX.
How the Romane legatis war slane be the Fidenatis; and how Mamercus Emilius wes maid dictator, and disconfst the Fidenatis,
Felischis, and Veanis. How Cornelius Cossus slew Tolumnius,
his armoure to Jupiter Feretrius.
King of Veanis, and

qferit

dena, quhilk wes ane colonie of Romanis, rebellit, and

past

King

of Veanis, and causit
to Laertes Tolumnius,
all__ Veanis in the samin maner to rebell ; and to agthe

grege thare rebellioun with mare tressoun, be command of the said
Tolumnius, thay slew C. Fulcineus,' Clelius Tullus, Spu. Ancius,
and L. Roscios, Romane legatis, quhilk war send fra Rome to inquire the caus of thare new counsellis. Sum men excusis the tressoun
of Tolumnius, saying, eftir that he wes plaing at the tabillis, and
had cassin ane happy cast, he sade thre or four wourdis of blythnes,
be quhilk wourdis apperit to the Fidenatis, that he 'bad sla the legatis, and sa the wourdis war the cans of the slauchter of thir legatis.
It is nocht to be belevit, bot the minde of Tolumnius wes drawin fra
the play, and detestit nocht this cruelte fra his new companyeouns.
The Fidenatis come to him, inquiring quhiddir thay suld sla the Romane legatis, and brek the law of pepil or nocht. It is, tharefore,
mare apperand, that the king desirit the Fidenatis to be bund to

36

TITUS LIVIUS.

him, that throw this outrage and grete tressoun committit aganis the
Romanis, thay suld be aluterlie disparit, and never beleve pece with
thame in times cuming.
Als sone as the Romanis herd how thare legatis war slane, thay
made, incontinent, imagis in, thare remembrance, and affixt the samin
in thare opin merket, namit Rostra. Beliveane army wes rasit aganis
the Fidenatis and Veanis. Followit ane scharpe batell, be mocioun
of this odius tressoun be thame committed; and to that fine, that the
pepil micht leif in pece and quiet. Nochtwithstanding the grete sollicitude thay tuke in grete materis, the tribunis maid na debate aganis
the creacioun of consullis.
Thus wes M. Geganius Macerinus, the thrid time, and L. Sergius
Fidenas made consullis. I beleif this Sergius wes namit Fidenas,
be ressoun of the batall that he wan aganis the Fidenatis. Thus
Sergius wes the first man that evir gat victorie on the King of Veanis, beyound the watter of Anien; bot his victorie wes nocht gottin
but blude, for he had mare. doloure of the tinsale of sa mony nobil
cieteyanis, than he had plesoure be discomfitoure of inemyis; and as
oft occurris, quhen maist trubil apperis, the senate commandit Mamercus Emilius to be create dictator. And he incontinent maid L.
Quincius Cincinnatus, maister of chevelrie, for he wes the son to the
nobil and wourthy Q. Cincinnatus, and wes als colleig, in the yere
afore to him, in the office of tribune militare. To stuffe this army,
rasit on this wise be the consullis, war ekit the auld centuriouns, for
thare grete experience and craft of chevelrie, to supple the noumer
of cieteyanis that wes slane in the last feild. The dictator commandit the legatis, Q. Capitolinus and M. Fa. Vibulanus, to follow
him, and becaus he wes clothit with grete auctorite, and had curage
and sprete respondent thareto, he chasit the inemyis out of Romane
landis, beyound the wattir of Anien. The inemyis tuke the montanis that lyis betwix Anien and Fidena, and sett doun thare tentis in
the samin, and durst nevir departe tharefra, quhil the legiouns of Felischis came to thare supporte. At last, the tentis of Hethruschis
stude about Fidena, on ilk side, as thay had bene the wallis thareof.
The dictator sett his tentis on baith the sidis of Anien, nocht fer fra
the. Hethruschis, with municioun and trinschis in his best avise.

THE FEIRD BUKE.
On the day following, the dictator brocht furth his armye to array.
Amang the inemyis war sindry opiniouns. The Felischis, quhilkis
war sa fer fra hame, micht evil sustene lang dilacioun of batall, and
had sic confidence in thare handis, that thay desirit haisty batall.
On the tothir side, the Fidenatis and Veanis had mare esperance in
lang delay than in ony haisty batell. Tolumnius, King of Veanis,
howbeit his pepill desirit erare to prolong batall than to fecht; yit,
to pleis the Felischis, for thay desirit haisty batall, promittit to fecht
with Romanis on the morow.' Grete curage rais baith to the dictatour and Romanis, becaus the inemyis desirit to eschew batel.
On the morow, the Romanis cryit, Gif thay gat na batall, thay
wald assailye the ciete and tentis of inemyis. Than baith the armyis
come fordwart in array betwix baith thare tentis. The King of Veanis haboundant in multitude of pepill, send ane buschment of armit
men to ly behind the montanis, and to assailye the Romane tentis in
the time of batall. The armye of thre pepill war arrayit in this wise:
in the richt wing stude the Veanis, in the left wing stude the Felischis, and in the mid batall stude the Fidenatis. On the tothir side
stude the dictator, arrayit in the richt wing aganis the Veanis; Quincius Capitolinus stude in the left wing, arrayit aganis the Felischis;
and the maister of chevelrie, with the horsmen, stude arrayit aganis
the Fidenatis. In the mid batall, at the first to cuming, wes ane
quiet silence betwix baith the oistis. The Hethruschis wald nocht
joine, bot gif thay war enforcit. Than the dictator beheld ernestlie
the Capitol, to se gif the foullis war lauchfully fleing tharefra, he
micht throw divinacioun thareof, rais ane signe in esperance of victonrie.
Als sone as he saw the foullis fleand fra the Capitol, he send furth
his principall horsmen, with ane huge cry and noyis, on thair inemyis; followit haistilie the fute oist, with sic violence, that the legiouns of inemyis micht nocht sustene the preis thareof; nochtheles,
thir horsmen resistit stoutlie. Amang thame nane wes sa vailyeant
as the kingis selfW, for he rade here and thare amang his men, exhorting thame to curage, throw quhilk he taryit the batall lang time
aganis the Romanis. Than wes amang the horsmen of Romanis ane
tribune militare, namit A. Cornelius Cossus, with lusty body, and
2u

TITUS LIVIUS.
curage respondent to his strenth, and be ressoun he wes ane man of
nobil linage, he tuke purpois to decore the samin, with sum notabil
vassalege, to his posterite. This Cossus seand, quhare evir Tolumnius, the King of Veanis past, the turmis of Romanis fleand richt effrayitlie, and knawand the king be his kingly abulyement, brandisand
throw the army, he said, " Yone is the brekare of all human confi" deracioun; yone is he that has violate the law of pepill; yone is
" the sacrifice that I sail offer, gif the Goddis has ony halynes in erde,
" for the saulis of the legatis be him slane." Incontinent, he come
drevin with his spere on the king. Als sone as he had doung the king
fra his hors, he lichtit down with his spere in handis, and quhen the
king was makand him to rise, he dang him bak owre to the ground,
and festinnit his spere throw his body to the erde. And quhen he
had cuttit of his hede, he affixt it on ane spere point, and throw terroure of the kingis slauchter, he put the inemyis to flicht. Thus wes
the horsmen that taryit the batall sa lang, discomfist.
The dictator followit haistilie on the discomfist legiouns, and slew
thame in grete noumer, fleand to thare tentis. Mony of the Fidenatis knew weill the ground, and fled to the montanis. Incontinent,
Cossus past oure Tiber with the horsemen, and brocht ane huge pray
of gudis out of the Veane landis. Than happinnit ane new batell,
for the garnisoun that wes laid be Tolumnius, to ding the Romane
tentis in time of batall, come haistilie in arrayit bront betwix the place
quhare the batall wes fochtin and the Romane tentis. Nochtheles,
M. Fa. Vibulanus arrayit his folkis in maner of ane round croun
about the tentis, and defendit the municioun and trinshis with grete
manhede; and seand the inemyis sett ernistlie to win the tentis, he
ischit on thare richt hand with ane feirs cumpany of triaris, and with
this huge terroure put thame abak. Les slauchter wes maid in this
batall than in the first, for thay war bot in few noumer of pepill, and
yit na les terroure and chace wes in it than wes in the principal oist.
The batall, on this wise, led with grete felicite in all partis; the dictator, be decrete of senate, and command of pepill, enterit with grete
triumphe in the ciete. The maist notabil sicht of this triumphe wes
Cossus, berand throw the ciete the riche spuleye and armour of the
king be him slane. The knichtis maid mony ballatis and sangis of
him, comparing him to Romulus.

THE FEIRD BUKE.
Sic thingis done, Cossus offerit the said spuleye in the tempill of
Jupiter Feretrius, beside the spuleye offerit afore in the said tempil,
be Romulus. This Cossus drew the sicht of all the pepil fra the
chariote of the dictator towart him ; thus succedit the maist glore of
this jorney to Cossus. The dictator offerit ane croun, weyand ane
pund wecht of gold, quhilk wes tane of the public tressoure, to Jupiter, in honoure of this victorie.
Thus I following all uthir authouris that has written afore me, has
schewin that A. Cornelius Cossus offerit the secund opime spuleye of
kingis, slane be Romanis, in the tempill of Jupiter Feretrius. And
sen sa is, na spuleyeis may be callit opime, bot onelie thay quhilkis
ar takin be ane duke fra ane uthir; we understand na man may be
callit duke, bot he alanerlie be quhais avise the army is led. Herefore, the titill that is ingravin in spuleye of Tolumnius, schawis that
Cossus, consull, wan this spuleye fra Tolumnius, the King of Veanis;
and becaus I herd Augustus Cesare, quhilk wes the beildare of all
divine tempillis, say, that he red in ane linning targe, that wes hung
up in the said tempill of Jupiter Feretrius, that Cossus, consull, wan
thir spuleyeis, I had it in maner of sacralege, to hide the testimonial of sa nobil prince. Gif ony variance be in this mater, it is becaus the anciant Cronikillis of Rome, and the bukis of magistratis,
callit linthei, quhilkis ar kepit in the tempil of Goddes Moneta,
schawis, that in the sevinth yere eftir, Ti. Quincius Pennus, and that
Cornelius Cossus war consullis. Bot this notabil batall couth nocht
be transferrit to that yere; for thre yere, throw contagius pest and
hunger, na batallis war betwix Romanis and thare inemyis, and in
the thrid yere that he wes consul, he wes maid tribune militare, and
in the samin yere he wes maid maister of chevelrie, and faucht vailyeantlie; yit, as men may imagin mony wayis I belief, that quhen
Cornelius Cossus had offerit thir riche spuleyeis to Jupiter, and behaldand the image of Romulus beside the spuleyeis, quhilk wes the
first prince that votit sic solemne spuleyeis of kingis to Jupiter, he
tuke litil fere; howbeit, he war honourit with wranguis stile, and
tharefore wrate himself consul.

340

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. X.
Of grete pestilence in Rome. How the pepill went in processioun,
forfere of sindry prodigies. How the Fidenatis and Veanis cum
to Rome, and war discomfist be Q. Servilius, dictator, and the
town of Fidena tane.
T the nixt commites, M. Cornelius Maluginensis, and
L. Papirius Crassus war maid consullis, and come with
A
ane armye aganis the Veanis and Felischis, and brocht
ane riche pray of men and gudis out of thare landis.
Na inemyis war found in the feildis to resist. Thus wes na batall,
yit the Romanis wald sege na townis pertenand to Veanis or Felischis, for nocht onelie war thay trublit with pestilence, bot als with
mony sediciouns sproutand daly in thare ciete. Spu. Melius, tribune
of pepill, set ane day to L. Minucius, provest of vittalis, to here him
criminably accusit for the said Melius slauchter, quhilk, for his conspiratioun, wes slane, and desirit the gudis of Servilius to be pub.
list, saying, That Melius wes tressonably betrasit be the said Minucius. Thus wes Servilius Ahala accusit for the slauchter of Melius,
cieteyane of Rome, he beand nouthir convickit, nor yit condampnit
afore the pepill; thir accusaciouns war fund vane and frivole afore
the pepill. The Faderis war mair astonist, for fere of the pestilence,
and mony uthir terribil prodigies and uncouth signes that apperit in
the ciete, than for ony sediciouns occurring, for throw continuall mocioun and trimbling of the erde, mony housis fell. For fere of thir
prodigies, ane generall processioun wes maid be the pepill, the two
men in solemne maner gangand afore the pepill.
The nixt yere wes mair pestilencius, in quhilk C. Julius and Lu.
Virginius war consullis.. For fere of this pestilence, baith the ciete
of Rome, and landwart placis adjacent, war sa desert and waistit,
that nouthir micht the Romanis mak incursiouns on thare inemyis,
nor yit micht thay rais ony armye; and tharefore, the Fidenatis movit of thare awne fre curage, howbeit thay defendit thame afore outhir

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341

in thare townis and wallis, or ellis apoun the montanis, come for pray
of gudis in the Romane landis, and conjonit to thame the armye of
Veanis; for the Felischis micht nouthir be drawin to thare armye,
for prayer of freindis, nor yit for any calamite that afore wes fallin to
Romanis. Thir twa pepill, the Fidenatis and Veanis, come oure the
wattir of Anien, and sett doun thare tentis nocht fer fra Port Colline; thus wes na les fere in the landwart placis than in the ciete.
Julius, consul, ischit furth with ane multitude of pepill, and maid
fowsyis for defence of portis and wallis of the ciete. Virginius, the
tothir consul, convenit the senate in the tempill of Quirinus. At
this convencioun, wes decernit that Q. Servilius suld be create dictator. Virginius abade certane time on Julius, his colleig, and with his
tollerance create A. Servilius dictator, and he incontinent maid Posthumus Ebucius, maister of the chevelrie.
The dictator commandit the Romanis to mete him arelie on the
nixt morow, outwith Porte Colline. Al thay that micht bere ony
wappinnis, convenit at this time; belive war the ensenyeis brocht out
of the tressoure house to the dictator. Sic thingis done, the inemyis
drew thame to the hichtis, on quham followit the dictator with awfull
batall, and faucht with thame nocht fer fra the ciete of Noventum,
and chasit thame to the toun of Fidena, syne beltit it with strate sege,
bot the toun wes sa strang and heich, it micht nocht be tane be ledderis, nor yit be lang sege; for be lang provisioun, thare wes nocht
onelie vittalis sufficient to sustene the ciete, bot als sufficient to all
the army. The dictator disparit thus to win the toun perforce, rasit
his armye to ane uthir porte thareof, quhilk wes weil knawin be him;
howbeit the cieteyanis gaif litil advertence thareto, for it be naturall
situacioun, apperit invincibil. Than the dictator dividit his army in
foure sindry partis, that every ane of thame micht follow haistelie ef.
tir othir to batall; and, in the mene time, he maid ane minde undir
erde, with sic ithand and continuall lauboure, that he ceissit nouthir
day nor nicht, quhil ane passage wes maid fra the tentis to the castell of Fidena. Quhill the Hethruschis war gevin in this wise, to
defend the vane oppugnacioun and segeing of thare wallis, the clamoure rais of inemyis abone thare hedis, schawing the toun was
tane.

TITUS LIVIUS.
In this ilk yere, M. Furius Pacilus, and M. Geganius, censouris,
convenit all the ciete in Campus Marcius, and thare war the pepill noumerit. In the yere following, thir last consullis war continewit, that is to say, Julius, the thrid time, and Virginius, the secund time, war maid consullis, as Macrus Licinius writes. Nochttheles, Valerius Ancias and Q. Tubero, historiographouris, sayis, that
Marcus Manlius and Q. Sulpicius war consullis in this yere, and
sais, thay fand thare namis writtin in the bukis, namit linthei. Baith
thir authouris confessis, that thare wes na tribunis militare create in
this yere.

CAP. XI.
How Emilius Mamercus wes maid dictator, and minist the power
of the censouris. Of grete mortalite in Rome, and of the grete
provisioun of vittalis maid be Romanis.
SUHEN the town of Fidena wes tane in this maner, na
litil fere and dredoure followit tharethrow amang the
Hethruschis; for nocht alanerlie war the Veanis astonist,
dredand sic like displesoure to fall haistilie to thame,
c' '
as war fallin now to the Fidenatis; bot als the Felischis war effrayit
on the samin maner, and specially be remembrance of the last batall, stirkin be Romanis aganis thame; howbeit, thay nocht assistit at
this time to rebellioun of Fidenatis. For thir causis, the Veanis and
Felischis send thare legatis to the xii. tribis of Hethruria, and purchest, that all the nobillis and pepill thareof sall convene for generall
counsell to be had in this mater, at the tempill of Voltumna, the
Goddess. The Romane senate, for fere of this generall convencioun,
create Emilius Mamercus dictator, and he maid Aurelius Posthumus, maister of chevelrie. And in sa fer as mare trubill and danger
wes appering be the hale pepill of Hethruria, than apperit be twa
onelie pepill, that is to say, the Veanis and Fidenatis, in sa fer wes
the batall led with the greter fere and trubil than wes belevit; for the

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343

Hethruschis, at this counsale, wald gif na supporte to the Veanis, commanding thame to lede furth the batall with the same pussance as
thay began, and nocht to seik freindis to concur with thame in ony
adversitie, quhilk wer nocht drawin to the counsale of thare first
mocioun.
Quhen the dictator wes advertist of the repuls of helpe to Veanis,
that he sail nocht appere maid dictator in vane, and becaus he micht
conques na glore be batall, for all occasioun thareof wes sett aside, he
sett him to do sum notabil act in time of pece, to remane in memorie
of his dictatorie, and began to minis the estate of the censouris, outhir
becaus he thocht the power of this office oure grete, or ellis he thocht
it endurit to lang; and, tharefore, he callit the pepill to ane concioun, and said in this wise: " The goddis have tane the governance
" of our public weill outwith the ciete, and has maid all thirigis sik" kir that pertenit thareto; herefore I will take pine," said he, " to
" do sic thingis for defence of public liberte, within the wallis of the
" ciete. The best defence thareof is to suffir na grete empire nor
"digniteis to indure lang within the ciete; especially sic officis
" quhilkis ar now governit be the lawis of oure ciete. All the officis
" of the ciete ar yerelie chosin and yerelie changit, except the cen" soure, quhilk induris v. yeris, richt importabil and hevy to thame
" that levis undir servitude thareof sa mony yeris. I will, tharefore,
" mak ane law, that this office sall nocht endure abone vi. monethis,
" or ellis ane yere at the maist."
On the morow, with consent of all the pepill, he pronuncit the said
law, and said, " 0 Quirites, to caus you understand that na office of
" lang empire may pleis me, I exoner me hereof the dictatorie."
Quhen Mamercus had exonerit himself on this wise of the dictatorie,
and put ordoure to all officis in the ciete, he wes convoyit hame with
grete favoure of the pepil. The censouris nocht content that Mamercus had minist the auctorite and magistrace of Romane pepil, movit the tribunis in sic maner, that the said Mamercus wes maid thesourare of the cens, quhilk wes viii. times multiplyit. It is said, Mamercus sufferit this mater with na litill indignacioun, mare for the
occacioun of thare schame, than for ony schame that micht follow
tharethrow; howbeit, thir principal Faderis wald nocht that the power

344

TITUS LIVIUS.

of censourie had bene minist, yit thay war sa oft opprest and hurte be
cruelte of the said office, that thay sufferit the minassing thareof
gladlie, becaus ilkane of thame saw thareself erare subjekkit to the
censouris, than'abill to rejose the office thareof. Sa grete indignacioun
was movit be the pepill aganis the censouris, that it couth na way be
pecifyit, bot alanerlie be auctorite of Mamercus. The tribunis of pepill, be thare continuall conciouns, empeschit the commites of consulis sa lang, that the mater wes nere brocht to interregne, and finalie purchest that tribunis militare war create with power consulare.
Nane of the plebeanis war chosin tribunis militare at this time, for
nane war creat bot alanerlie patricianis, that is to say, M. Fabius Vibulanus, M. Fossius, L. Sergius Fidenas.
The pestilence wes sa vehement in this yere, that it gaif rest to
all uthir besines. Ane tempill wes votit to Apollo, for the hele of
the pepill. Grete laubouris war maid be the twa men seirching the
bukis, to meis the wraith of Goddis, that this pest micht ceis; nochttheless, it continewit all this yere, baith to burgh and land, to the grete
distruccioun baith to men and beistis. The Faderis dredand, throw
this mortalite, that the hynis and lauboraris of thare landis suld peris
be hunger, send merchandis to by vittalis baith in Hethruria, Pomecia, and Cuma, and last of all send in Sicill. Na mencioun wes yit
maid of the commites consulare, and tharefore wes create as afore the
tribunis militare, with power consulare, all patricianis, that is to say,
L. Pinarius Mamercinus, L. Fureus Medullinus, Spu. Posthumius
Albus. The rage of pest began in this yere to ceis, and the derth
ceissit on the samin maner, for mony vittalis cum be provisins, as is
rehersit.

THE FEIRD BUKE.

345

CAP. XII.
Of grete discensioun betwix the Faderisand small pepill for ofice,
and honouris of thare ciete. How A. Posthumius, dictator, discomfist Messius, King of Volschis, and put his army to flicht.
ONY consultaciouns war in this yere amang the Equis
and Volschis for ordinance of batall. The Hethruschis
held mony counsellis beside the tempill of Voltumna.
S
All thare materis war deferrit for ane yere, and inhibicioun maid be decrete, that na convencioun be made agane during
the said time. The Veanis lamentit hevelie in thare counsellis, bot
it wes in vane dredand the same chance and malleurite to fall to
thare toun of Veos as was now fallit to Fidena. The princis of
small pepill lang time havand na esperance to cum to ony greter honouris than thay presentlie rejosit, for na externe weris apperit, made
convenciouns in the housis of tribunis, and complenit be secrete
counsell that they war contempnit sa be small pepill, becaus tribunis
militare war sa lang create with power consulare, that na esperance
micht be to plebeanis in time cuming to cum to honouris or digniteils in thare ciete. Apperit that thare progenitouris providit weill,
that ordanit na office plebeane to be gevin to ane patriciane, and na
patriciane to be made tribune of pepill. Thir princis of small pepill
ar na les contempnit with the small pepill than with the Faderis.
Otheris excusit the small pepill, and gaif the wite thereof to the Faderis, saying, The mater wes wroucht so be ambicioun and slicht of
Faderis, that na place wes left to ane plebeane to win honouris.
Nochtheles wald the small pepill desist ane quhile, gevand na attendance to the requeistis or to the minassing of Faderis; kepand
thare suffrage frelie to thameself, they might, be supporte of tribunis,
rise to the empire.
Herefore to tak away the caus of all ambicioun, the tribunis thocht
expedient to promulgat ane law, that na man sall cloith him in quhite

'Qx

346

TITUS LIVIUS.

habit to seik ony honouris in times cuming. Howbeit this law apperit that time of litil effect, it is now of [sa] grete mocioun, that it has
rasit ane huge discensioun betwix the Faderis and small pepill. Yet
the tribunis wan sic victorie, that they pronuncit the said law. Apperit the small pepill sa commovit, that they wald sollist all freindis
to assist to thare desiris. Herefore, to stop the fre suffrage of small pepill, it wes commandit be avise of the senate, that the commitis sall
be haldin for creacioun of consullis. The caus quhy thir commitis
war haldin, wes be novellis that wes brocht fra the Hernikkis and
Latinis quhilkis schewe the Equis and Volschis war movand were with
new ordinance of batell. Thus war Ti. Quincius Cincinnatus, and
C. Julius Mento made consullis. The fere and noyis of batell wes
na langer deferrit be tenoure of the sacrate laws, quhilk was the gretest thing that micht be devisit amang Romanis to raise ony army.
Thus war twa huge armyis rasit be the consullis, and led to Algidum. On the tother side, the Volschis and Equis wer liand at
Algidum, severit in sindry armyis and tentis fra other, and tuke
mare attendance and care to ordoure thame in strangest maner than
ever thay did afore, and ay the mare vigilant and the mare ernist
they war to garnis thare municioun and tentis, the mare terroure wes
tharethrow brocht to Rome. The senate thocht best to create ane
dictatour, for thocht the Equis and Volchis war oft times vincust,
yet they rebellit at this time with mare audacite and brim furie than
ever they did afore. Attour mony young and feirs campiouns of
Rome war deceissit in the pest. Abone thir calamiteis, na thingis was
sa dangerus as the wikkitnes of consullis, quhilkis throw thare contenciouns and discorde affrayit all the army. Sum allegis, becaus
thir consullis faucht unworthely at Algidum, that the dictator wes
create. Howbeit thir consullis discordit in mony materis, yet thay
gaif thare votis aganis the Faderis, that na dictator suld be create
without sum greter troubil war apperand, and allegit that thay war
nocht under the auctorite of senate. In the menetime, Q. Servilius
Priscus, quhilk plesandlie exercit all soverane honouris in the ciete,
said in this wise, " 0 ye tribunis of pepill, the senate callis you to
"supporte, sen sa extreme dangere apperis to oure commoun weill,
"that ye constrene the consullis to create ane dictator be youre auc" torite."

THE FEIRD BUKE.

347

Als sone as the tribunis herde thir wourdis, they drew thame aside
to ane counsell, traisting to find occasioun quharethrow to augment
thare auctorite, and be suffrage of the hale colleig of tribunis thay
decernit the consullis to be obedient to the senate, with certificacioun,
gif thay war rebelland contrare the hale consent of the ordouris, they
suld put thame in presoun. The consullis said, They had levir be
vincust with the tribunis, than with the senate, and allegit nocht
onelie the richt of soverane empire betrasit be the Faderis, bot als
Forthe consulate brocht under yoik of tribuniciane auctorite.
thir, gif the consullis may be constrenit to do ony thing be power
of tribunis, quhat sail than ony private man drede; and becaus the
consullis war discordand in thare opiniouns, cavillis war cassin
quhay suld cheis the dictator. Than Ti. Quincius, be cavil, create
Aulus Posthumius, his gude fader, dictator, for he was ane man of
maist rigorus and severe empire. The dictator made L. Julius
maister of chevelrie, and commandit the ministracioun of lawis to
ceis, and na other thing to be exercit in the ciete, bot alanerlie sic
thingis as pertenit to the ordinance of batall. The consuetude of
calling the pepill to gif thare names was delayit, quhil the batell wer
done; and tharefore ilk man made thame reddy for the batall. The
Latinis and Hernikis war commandit to support this army with thare
folkis, and in all thir chargis the dictator was weill obeyit, for all thir
thingis war done with mervellus diligence. Than C. Julius, consul,
wes left to defend the ciete, and L. Julius, maister of chevelrie, wes
left to mak provisioun for all thingis necessare for the armye. The
dictator, afore his departing, in presence of A. Cornelius, the grete
bischop, votit solempne playis, for fere of this effray of pepill. At
his departing out of the ciete, he dividit his armye betwix him and the
consull, and come to sicht of his inemyis. The inemyis war liand
with twa armyis severit ane litil fra uthir, bot the dictator affixt his
tentis at Tusculum, and the consul sett his tentis at Lanuvium, ane
mile severit fra other, and sa betwix the foure oistis lay ane plane nocht
onelie ganand for smal skarmussing, bot als to fecht with al thare
armye. And thocht the tentis stude equall athir aganis other, thay
ceissit nocht fra small incursiouns, be tollerance of the dictator
quhilk commandit his folkis, in esperance of the hale victorie, to assaleye ane litil the chance of batall. The inemyis havand na espe.

X48

TITUS LIVIUS.

rance to fecht aganis the Romanis in equall batall, sett on the tentis
of the consul under nicht, and committit thame to the chance of
doutsum fortoun. The skry and noyis of battal rissin herethrow,
rasit nocht onelie the watche and armye of the consul, bot als awalkinnit the armye of the dictator. The consull effering to the mater
presentlie occurring, lakit nouthir manhede nor wisdome. Ane parte
of his army fensit staciouns afore the portis of his tentis; uthir beltit
the strenthis in maner of ane croun, and in sa fer as les effay and
danger wes in the dictatoris armye than in the tothir, in sa fer wes
the mare advertence tane quhat suld be done.
Thus wes support send haistelie to thae consullis tentis with Spu.
Posthumus Albus, legate. This S. Posthumus, with ane cumpany of feirs knichtis, past to ane secrete place, but ony noyis, and
invadit the inemyis unawarnistlie. Incontinent the dictator left Sulpicius, the legate, to kepe the tentis, and gaif ane large noumer of
horsmen to the tothir legate, commanding him to attempt nathing
quhill day, for it is difficill to do crafty materis within the nicht.
Schortly, the dictator left na thing undone that ony other gude emprioure micht devise, and amang mony other, his wourthy dedis, his
grete manhede and wisdome deservis na litil glore, in sa fer as he,
but ony requeist, send M. Geganius with certane chosin men to sege
the tentis of inemyis. This M. Geganius fand the inemyis without
watching or staciouns, and gevand mare attendance to invade the
Romanis than to saif thameself, and assailyeit thame with sa suddane batall, that he tuke thare tentis afore thay persavit thame
perfitely segeit, and incontinent made ane bekin of reik, as was devisit be the dictator.
Als sone as the dictator saw the reik, he cryit, The tentis of inemyis war tane, and commandit the samin to be schewin throw his
tentis. Now was the day brokin, and all maid patent to the sicht,
quhen M. Fabius, legate, quhilk was lade afore be the dictator, with
ane quiet buschment of horsmen, to invad the inemyis tentis in time
of batall, ischit on the said inemyis with grete violence, and incontinent the consul ischit on the samin maner on his astonist inemyis.
The dictator, on ane other parte, sett on the secund armye of inemyis
with contrarius clamour and haisty effray, and beltit thame on every
side, baith with his victorius horsmen and futemen. Thus war the

THE FEIRD BUKE.

349

inemyis sa circumvenit in the middis of Romanis, that nane of thame
had eschapit but just punicioun of thare rebellion, war nocht Vectius
Messius, the King of Volschis, ane man mare nobill in his dedis
than in his blude, seand his army disarmit began to reproche thame
in this wise: " Is this," said he, "the place quhare ye will rander
" you to the swerdis and dartis of inemyis, bot ony defence or re" venging ? Quhy bere ye ony armoure ? Quhy come ye wilfully to
" invade your inemyis ? Ye ar full of minassing in time of pece, and
" richt slaw in time of batall. Quhat esperance may ye have to stand
" here; belief ye that ony speciall god will deliver you fra youre
' inemyis, or to transport you fra dangere here appering to mare sik" kir halde? Thare is na way to eschape, bot onelie be the swerde.
" Herefore, 0 ye companyeouns and freindis that desiris to vesy
" agane youre housis, your parentis, your wiffis and barnis, follow
" me, and pas the samin way ye se me gang. Na wallis, nor trinschis,
" bot onelie armit men may resist to armit men, and sen ye ar equale
" to your inemyis in manhede and vertew, now in this extreme neces" site and dangere be ye victorius."
Als sone as the King of Volschis had said thir wordis, he ruschit
fordwart, with his armye feirslie following him, and be forcy violence
he put Posthumus Albus, legate, abak. And quhen his folkis began
to fle, the dictator come to thare rescours. Thus was all the preis of
batall turnit onelie on Messius, King of Volchis. Mony woundis,
mony bludy strakis, and mekill slaughter was on athir side. The
Romane capitanis be feirs fechting war sare woundit. Posthumus
evil hurt in the hede with ane stane reculit of the feild; and thocht
the dictator wes sare hurt in the schulder; and thocht Fabius was
persit throw the the, with ane darte, to the hors side; and thocht the
consull had his arme almaist cuttit fra him, yit nane of them departit frae this maist dangerus batall. At last Messius, accumpanyit
with mony wicht young men, ruschit throw the feild quhare maist
multitude of dede men lay slane, and come to the tentis of Volchis,
quhilkis war nocht as than tane, and be his fleing all his army gaif
bakkis. Incontinent the consul followit feirslie on thame to thare
trinschis; syne assailyeit baith thare tentis and trinschis at anis. The
dictator with the same ferocite assailyei thare tentis on the tothir
side. Thus was the batall na les cruelly fochtin at the sege of tentis

350O

TITUS LIVIUS.

than it was afore in the brount. It is said the consul flang the ensenye within the tentis to caus his folkis the mare feirslie to enter and
win the same. Thus wes the first slop made amang the trinschis and
tentis of inemyis to recovir the ensenye. Als sone as the trinschis
war brokin, the dictator come in arrayit batell within the tentis ; and
incontinent the inemyis kest away thare wappinnis, and wer yoldin
prisoneris. Thus wer the tentis tane and all the inemyis, except
the senatouris, said. Sa mekil of this pray as pertenit to the Latinis
and Hernikis was restorit to thame, and ane parte thareof was sauld
under a spere.
Sic thingis done, the dictator, eftir al thir doingis, put the consull
to the tentis, and enterit with grete triumphe in Rome, and exonerate himself of the dictatorie,

CAP. XIII.
in
Of the first cuming of the Cartagianis Sicill. Ofgrete derth in
Rome ; and of sindry grete maladeis succeding tharethrow, to
perdicioun baith of men and beistis. How sindry vane religionis,
rising amang the Romanis, war deponit ; and how the Romanis
war discomfist be Veanis.
UM men makis ane sorowfull memorie of this excellent
dictatorie, allegeand that A. Posthumius slew his awne
S son, becaus he brak array, and past out of the batall,
throw desire that he had to do sum notabil vassalege;
and howbeit he slew his inemye with grete manhede, yit he wes hedit
with ane ax, for breking of command. I beleif this bot ane fabil;
for the men that tuke sic cruell punicioun on thare sonnis, war callit
to thare surname Manlii, and nocht Posthumii. He that wes the
first authoure of sa severe and rigorus exempil to have the titil of
notabil cruelte, was callit eftir Manlius; bot I find nocht that Posthumius wes notit with sic sorowful renowne.
Sic thingis done, Caius Julius, consul, dedicate the tempil of
Apollo, in absence of his colleig, but ony cavil. Quincius, the tothir

THE FEIRD BUKE.

351

consul, tuke na litil indignacioun thareof, eftir his returning to Rome;
and complenit, howbeit it wes in vane, that sic thingis war done in
his absence.
Amang mony grete actis done in this yere, be quhilkis this yere
wes sa notabil, ane thing wes done, howbeit it pertenit litil at this
time to the descripcioun of Romane materis, that the Cartagines,
quhilkis war eftir sa grete inemyis to Rome, come first in this yere
out of Cartage in Sicill, be sedicioun rissin amang the Sicilianis, and
brocht ane armye to supporte the ta party. Lang consultacioun wes
in the ciete be tribunis of pepil, gif the commites suld be haldin for
creacioun of tribunis militare, with power consulare; bot it micht
nocht be done; and tharefore L. Papirius Crassus, and L. Julius war
create consulis.
In this yere come the legatis of Equis to Rome, desiring to be
confederate with Romanis, and yoldin to thare empire. Thus war
trewis grantit to thame for viii. yeris. The Volschis, eftir this grete
calamite and slauchter that come on thame at Algidum, fel in grete
contencioun amang thameself; for sum of thame desirit pece, and
sum batall with Romanis. The Romanis during this yere war in
quiet. The consulis war advertist, be revelacioun of ane tribune plebeane, that the residew of tribunis intendit to promulgate ane law
richt plesand to the pepil, concerning the estimacioun of multuris;
and for that caus the said consullis sett thame to pronunce the
samin.
In the nixt yere, L. Sergius Fidenas, and Hostus Lucresius Tricipitinus war maid consulis. Na thing was done during thare consulate wourthy to have memorie.
In the nixt yere, A. Cornelius Cossus, and Ti. Quincius war maid
consulis. In this yere, grete occursiounis war maid be Veanis in the
Romane landis. The fame wes, that certane young men of Fidenatis
war participant with thir occursiounis maid be Veanis; and tharefore
L. Sergius, Q. Servilius, and Mamercus Emilius, war ordanit to tak
cognicioun of thir materis, and banist ane certane of thir Fidenatis to
Ostia, becaus thay culd nocht schaw ressoun sufficient, quhy thay
war absent, in the time of thir incursiounis, fra the toun of Fidena.
New colonis war send to the said toun, and to thame war assignit all
the landis of thame that war slane in the batall, afore rehersit.

TITUS LIVIUS.
In this yere wes grete drouth; for nocht alanerlie failyeit the watteris of the hevin, bot als the erd wes sa dry, but ony humidite, that
it micht skarslie suffir the perpetuall fludis to rin. The falt of springand wellis and watteris did sic dammage to beistis, that infinite noumer thareof grew first full of scabbis, and sone eftir deit of thrist.
Throw tuiching of the beistis come grete maladeis, first amang the
landwart pepil, and syne amang the cieteyanis; and nocht alanerlie
war the bodyis of men corruppit with vile infeccioun and filth, bot
thare mindis war tane with mony frewell and uncouth ritis of religiouns. Mony vane ritis of sacrificis war usit; makand divinaciouns
to all thame that brocht ony commodite or proffitt in thare housis.
Thus war the mindis of pepil tane with vane religioun, quhil at
last the principall Faderis of the ciete war eschamit, seand sa mony
vane and uncouth ritis of sacrificis in all chapelis and tempilis of the
ciete, to recounsel thame to the favoure of thare goddis. Than wes
the mater committit to the edilis, to serche perfitelie that nane bot
Romane goddis suld be adorit in thare ciete, and the said goddis to
be adorit with na othir maner of sacrifice, bot sic as wes usit afore be
thare fore eldaris.
The wraith and ire of Romanis aganis the Veanis war differrit to
the nixt yere, in quhilk C. Servilius Ahala, and L. Papirius Mugilanus war made consulis. The religioun of goddis inhibit the Romanis
outhir to rais haistilie ane armye, or to denunce haistilie batall. It
wes tharefore decernit, that the Fecialis sal first pas to Veanis, and
desire reddres of the gudis be thame takin; for nocht lang afore, the
Romanis faucht aganis the Veanis at Nomentum and at Fidena, and
with thame wes maid trewis, bot na pece, and the dayis of the trewis
war outrun, and afore the ischeing of trewis, the Veanis rebellit. For
thir causis the Fecialis war send to execute thare office in all pointis,
as the Faderis desirit; bot thare wourdis war nocht herde.
In the mene time rais ane contraversie, Quhidder the batall suld
be denuncit be command of the pepil, or be decrete of the senate ?
Nochtheles, the tribunis war victorius; and said, Thay wald stop the
rasing of the armye, quhil Quincius, consul, schew his avise thareof
afore the pepil; for that wes commandit be all:the centuriouns. Allwayis the small pepil war victorius; for thay purchest that na consulis sal be create, bot onelie tribunis militate, with power consulare

THE FEIRD BUKE.

353

that is to say, Ti. Quincius Pennus, C. Furius, M. Posthumius, and
Au. Cornelius Cossus. This Cornelius Cossus wes made president
of the toune; and the tothir thre past with the armye to Veos, and
war ane notabil document, that pluralite ofcapitanis are unproffittabil
in battal. Every ane of thame wrocht eftir thare awne fantasy; and
becaus thay concurrit nocht togidder of ane minde, thay gaif ane
ganand occasioun to inemyis to invaid thame. Quhen ane bad blaw
the trumpet to the standart, ane othir bad blaw to go fordwart.
Thus war the Romanis chasit, and put abak to thare tentis; nochttheles, mare dishonoure than dammage succedit to Romanis be this
discomfitoure.

CAP. XIV.
How the Veanis and Fidenatis come with proude arm/is aganis the
Romanis ; and how Mamercus was made dictator. Of his orisoun made to the armye ; and how he discomfist his inemyis, and
tuke the toune of Fidena, and sald the capitanis thareof under
croune.
HE Romanis war richt sorowfull at this discomfitoure;

for thay war nocht hantit tharewith, and tuke, tharefore, sic haterent at thir tribunis militare, that, with ane
consent, thay desirit ane dictator; for all the esperance
of the ciete stude in him. Nochtheles, the religioun ganestude; for
na dictator suld be made, bot onelie be the consul. The divinouris
war consultit concerning the said religioun, and tuke away all the
scrupill of conscience in this behalf; and said, The dictator micht be
made be the tribunis militare, als weil as be the consul. Than Au.
Cornelius create Mamercus Emilius dictator; and he made the said
A. Cornelius maister of chevelrie. Sa fer wes the ciete vode of all
vertew, that the correccioun of censuris micht na thing avale to dant
the vicius maneris thareof.
The Veanis, proude of this victorie, send thare legatis about all
the pepil of Hethrurie, makand a vant how thre Romane capitanis

2Y

354

TITUS

:LIVIUS.

war vincust be thame in batall; howbeit thay socht na societe of public counsell, and be this way thay brocht mony pepil richt desirus of
prey, to thare opinioun.
In the mene time, the Fidenatis rebellit; and as na batall micht
be gevin be thame, without sum cruelte precedent; and as thay slew
afore the legatis of Romanis, sa newly thay slew all the colonis of
Romanis, quhilkis war send, as said is, to inhabit the toun of Fidena;
and eftir the slauchter of the said colonis, thay confederate than with
Veanis. Eftir this confederacion, the princis of Veanis and Fidenatis
tuke consultacioun, quhidder the toune of Fidena, or the toun of
Veos, war mare. ganand for ressett of thare batall; bot Fidena wes
found maist ganand. Incontinent, the Veanis past oure Tiber, and
transportit all the preis of batall to Fidena. Thus wes ane huge
terroure brocht to Rome.
Als sone as the Veanis war cumin to Fidena, the Romanis rasit
ane armye, and sett doun thare tentis at Port Colline; and becaus
thay faucht unhappilie in this last batall, thay laid buschmentis of
men to thare wallis, and commandit the ministracioun of lawis to ceis,
and all buthis to be closit. Thus war all thingis in Rome mare like
werelie tentis, than ony ciete. Incontinent, the dictator send masaris
throw all stretis of this astonist ciete, and callit the pepil to ane concioun ; first, Repreving thame that thay losit thare curage for sa small
trubil and malurete of fortoun; for sen the small dammage fallin to
thame come nouthir be manhede of inemyis, nor sleuth of Romane
pepil, bot onelie be discorde of the capitanis, quhy suld thay drede
the Veanis, quhilkis has bene mare than sevin times vincust afore ?
Quhy suld thay drede the toun of Fidena, quhilk has bene ofter
tane than segeit ? " Ar ye nocht the same Romanis that has bene
" inemyis to Veanis sa mony yeris ? Have ye nocht the same curage,
" the same strenth of body, the samin wappinnis, and the samin dic" tator, that afore discomfist thre sindry pepil, the Veanis, Fidenatis,
" and Felischis, all jonit togidder under ane armye ? Have ye nocht
" A. Cornelius Cossus, now maister of chevelrie, quhilk beand tribune
"in the batall, afore rehersit, slew L. Tolumnius, king of Veanis, in
" the sicht of baith the armyis, and offerit his riche spuleye in the
"tempil of Jupiter Feretrius? Remember, gude freindis, how ye
"brocht with you afore to Rome, baith triumphe, riche spuleye, and

THE FEIRD BUKE.
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055

victorie. Be contrare, remember how youre inemyis has done maist
horribil offence aganis the law of pepil, be slauchter of youre legatis ; and now, within trewis of pece, has slane the colonis of Fidena, and abone sevin sindry times has rebellit aganis you. Tak,
tharefore, youre wappinnis, and jone youre tentis to thare tentis,
havand sikkir confidence that youre cruel and wikkit inemyis sal
nocht have lang joy of ony dishonoure falling to you ; that Romane
pepil may perfitelie understand, thay that made Emilius thryis
dictator, ar bettir luffaris of the commounweill, than thay that put
dishonoure to him in his secund dictatorie, becaus he minist the
kingdome of censuris."
Als sone as the dictator had made his vow and prayeris to the
goddis, he ischit of the ciete, and set his tentis within uthir half mile
to Fidena. On his richt hand lay the montanis, and on his left hand
lay Tiber. Than commandit he Quincius Pennus, legate, to tak the
montanis, and ly with quiet garnisoun at the bak of the hil, quhare
the inemyis lay. On the morow, quhen the Hethruschis, full of hie
curage, war discendit to the plains, rejosing mair in oportunite of this
last day, than ony felicite of batall, the dictator taryit, quhil he wes
certifyit be his exploratouris, that Quincius wes ascendit to the crag,
nixt approcheand to Fidena; and, incontinent, went fordwart with
displayit baneris, and brocht the fute oist with stout pais on the inemyis, and commandit the maister of chevelrie to fecht nocht, quhil
he made ane takin; and fra he saw the time ganand, that he suld
than come fordwart with his horsmen, and remember baith the kinglie batall, and the kinglie spuleye offerit be him and Romulus in the
tempil of Jupiter Feretrius, he suld the mare feirslie assailye his inemyis. Incontinent, baith the legiouns ruschit with grete violence togidder. The Romanis, full of ire and haterent, callit the Fidenatis
and Veanis cursit theiffis, brekaris of trewis, bludy tyrannis, with horribil slauchter of thare legatis, and sprinklit with blude of thare colonis, fals companyeouns, and febil inemyis. Thus schew the Romanis thare haterent, baith in worde and dede; and at the first joning
put the inemyis abak, quhen suddanlie the Fidenatis opinnit thare
portis, out of quhilkis ischit ane new and uncouth batall, armit with
firebrandis, nevir sene afore thay dayis.

356

TITUS LIVIUS.

This uncouth and terribil buschement, armit with firebrandis, and
schinand all with blesand flammes, ruschit, as thay had bene instrukkit, with phanatik and wod cours on thare inemyis. Be this uncouth
array of batall, the Romanis war gretelie effrayit.
Quhen the dictator had sene this uncouth affray, he made ane
haisty bekin to the maister of chevelrie, to cum with the horsmen;
and he but delay come prickand haistelie fra the montane, quhare he
lay, and sett on the left wing of Fidenatis. His folkis astonist, and
seand this wing mare like ane birnand fire, than ony arrayit batall,
gaif place to the flammis, and wes put abak. Incontinent, the dictator cryit with schil voce, " O companyeouns, ar ye vincust with reik,
"like ane swarme of beis, chasit fra youre array ? Wil ye gif place
" to youre unarmit inemyis ? Wil ye nocht slokkin thir flammis with
" dint of swerdis ? And gif it be necessare to fecht with fire, quhy
" wil nocht every ane of you reif ane firebrand fra youre inemye, and
" ding him with the samin wappin that he wald you? 0 companyeouns,
" have memorie of the name of Romanis; have memorie baith of
" youre awne vertew, and youre forebearis ! Turn thir blesand flam" mis on the toun of youre inemyis, and distroy Fidena with the
" flammis of theself, sen ye may na wayis meis the same be youre
" benevolence; for baith the blude of youre legatis, the blude of
"youre colonis, and direpcioun of youre landis persuadis the samin."
At thir wourdis all the armye wes movit in sic wise, that thay ressavit ay the firebrandis that the tane kest, and sum reft the firebrandis perforce fra thare inemyis. Thus war baith the armyis armit
with fire.
On the tothir side, the maister of chevelry renewit the batall with
the horsmen; for he commandit his men to gif the hors the renyeis,
syne ruschit with feirs hors in the middis of the fire. The remanent
hors, movit with the spurris, brocht the armit knichtis proudly on
thare inemyis; the dust and powder, mingit with reik, tuke away the
sicht baith fra men and hors; yit this fire that effrayit the men, na
wayis effrayit the hors. Belive the oist of inemyis fell doun like ane
brokin wall, in all partis quhare the horsmen come. Incontinent
rais ane new clamoure, quhilk turnit baith the armyis to grete admiracioun; for the dictator cryit, That Quincius, the legate, wes cumin

THE FEIRD BUKE.

357

feirslie on the bak of inemyis, and maid the inemyis the mare effrayit
tharethrow. He ruschit fordwart with the baneris in mare ferocite
than afore.
At last, quhen thir twa awfull batallis had beltit the Hethruschis
about on every side, baith behind and before, that thay micht nouthir
fle to thare tentis behind thame, nor to the montanis, quhare new inemyis war sett to mete thame, the horsmen skatterit, with fre renyeis,
at avantage, the maist parte of Veanis fled to Tiber; and sa mony of
Fidenatis, as war unslane, fled to thare toun. Nochtheles, thay war
slane in mid gate; uthir war slane in the brayis of Tiber; utheris,
that war crafty in swoming, war sa sare woundit, and hevy with thare
armoure, that thay drownit in the streme; utheris come throw thare
tentis to the toun, and on thare bakkis followit the Romanis with the
samin preis, specially Quincius and his horsmen, quhilk come last fra
the montanis, fresche and unirkit of lauboure, and followit sa haistilie
on the chace, that baith thay and the inemyis enterit togidder under
ane cumpany within the portis of Fidena; syne displayit thare ensenyeis on the wallis, to schaw thare companyeouns the toun wes tane.
Als sone as the dictator saw the ensenye on the wallis, he come fordwart with his armye, richt desirus of pray, to the wallis of Fidena,
and ruschit fordwart to the same toure, to quhilk the inemyis fled
fastest, quhare na les slauchter wes than in the first batall; quhil at
last, the Fidenatis flang away thare wappinnis, and askit thare live
to be saiffit.
Thus was baith the toun and tentis of inemyis tane at anis. On
the morow, all the presoneris war brocht afore the centurionis, and
distribute be cavil amang the horsmen, specially to thame that did
maist notabil vassalage. In this last batall, the residew wes sald under croune.
Sic thingis done, the dictator returnit with his victorius armye, full
of riche pray, and enterit with triumphe in the toun. And eftir that
he had causit the maister of chevelry to depone his office, he deprivit
his self of the dictatorie, the xvi. day eftir the ressate thareof, levand
the empire in gude pece, quhilk he ressavit in grete trubil.
Sum cronikillis beris, that the Romanis faucht with schippis aganis
the Fidenatis and Veanis. Bot the samin is na les difficill than untrowabil; for the river at Fidena is now nocht sa braid that schippis

358

~58TITUS LIVIUS.

micht fecht thareon; and in thay dayis, it wes narroware than it is
now, except ane parte of the samin rivere passand thortoure oure the
same, quhare the schippis has fochtin for vane lawde and glore upon
the samin.

CAP XV.
How the playis, votit in the yere afore, war completit. Of the hevy
complaint of tribunisplebeane aganis the small pepil. How Sempronius, ConsUl, past with ane army aganis the Volschis. How
the Volschis and Romanis, persevering in ithand batall, war severit be .niclt, but ony certane
Of the nobill vassalege
done be Tempanius Decurio.
,victorie.

militare,

N the yere following war made tribunis
with
power consulare, A. Sempronius Atratinus, L. Q. Cmcinnatus, and Horacius Barbatus. In this yere, trewis
war gevin to, the Veanis for xx. yeris; to the Equis for
thre yeris, howbeit thay desirit mare. Na sedicioun wes during this
yere in the ciete.
The nixt yere. wes in quiet, but ony externe weris, or domestic
sedicioun ; for the playis, that war votit in the last batall, war cornpletit in =this. yere. This yere was richt notabill for appariciouns of
tribunis militare, for frequent noumer of pepil that come to vesy thir
playis.
In the nixt .yere war create tribunis militare, with power consulare,
Ap. Crassus, Spu. Nautius Rutulus, L. Sergius Fidenas, and Sextus
Julius lulus.- The pepil that come. this, yere
vesy thir playis,
war weill tretit be thare lugearis. Eftir thir playis followit grete
sedicioun be tribunis of pepil, quhilkis reprochitV the small pepil, saying, "Be admiracioun of thame,
thay .maist batit, thay held
"thameself-in perpetuall servitude ; for nouthir ;will thay remember
"to bring thameseif, nor thare freindis, be ony maner of way, to the
"consulate, nor yit to the dignite of tribunis militare, howbeit the
" commites thareof be commoun baith to Faderis and plebeanis. It

to

that

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359

" is na wounder, tharefore, howbeit na man takis sollicitude or care
" of commoditeis pertening to small pepil; for lauboure or perrell is
" never assailyeit, bot quhare proffitt or honoure is belevit to be won.
" As thare is na thing sa difficil, bot ane man dar weil assaleye it,
" quhen he has esperance to be tharethrow condinglie rewardit, to
" quhat effect sal ony tribune of pepil rin blindlingis to jeoperdie
"himself in dangere, quhare na proffitt is following. Nochtheles, he
" that will lauboure for thame, or abide at thare opinioun, sal incur
" the extreme ire and indignacioun of Faderis, and na honoure nor
"rewarde to be traistit of thame, for quhilk thay incur the said dis" plesere. How may ony man have hie curage or sprete, bot quhare
" he trowis and belevis rewarde of riches and honouris following. Na
" man wald contempne ane plebeane, war nocht the plebeanis sufferis
' thameself to be contempnit. Behuffis herefore the mater to be
" assailyete, outhir in ane plebeane, or in other, to se gif ony of thame
" may be found wourthy to rejose ony honouris; or sal it than be
" haldin for ane wounder, and ony that is cumin of the linage ple" beane, be found vailyeand and wicht. We know quhat extreme
" lauboure is tane to create tribunis militare of plebeanis, and thocht
" mony plebeanis, wourthy men, richt vailyeant, and honorabill, baith
" in pece and were, desirit to be chosin to the said office, yit thay ar
hbot mokkit and skornit. Thus sal thay ceis at last to opin thare
"mouth for derisioun of thameself. Forthir, thay culd nocht under" stand quhy that law suld nocht be abrogate, be quhilk the thing is
" lefull to be that sal nevir be done."
Thir wourdis, rehersit sa opinlie afore the small pepil, movit sindry of thame to desire to be create tribunis militare; and promittit,
gif thay gat the said office, to do mony wourthy actis concerning
baith the commodite of thare ciete and commounweill; sic as divisiouns baith of public landis, and to send colonis baith in sindry
partis of Romane provincis, and to put ane tribute on all thame that
possedit the public landis, of quhilk tribute sal be money rasit to be
payit in fee and wagis of the men of armes. At last, quhen the tribunis militare saw ane ganand time, that the pepil wes departit out
of the ciete, thay convenit the Faderis to ane secrete counsell, and
tuke consultacioun of sindry materis.

360

TITUS LIVIUS.

In the mene time come novellis, that the Volschis had maid incursiouns in the Romane landis. Thus war decernit be the senate, becaus the tribunis of pepil war absent, that the tribunis militare sal
pas and vesy thir incursiouns; and, in the mene time, the commites
to be haldin for creacioun of consulis. The tribunis militare, departing on this wise, left behind thame A. Claudius, son of Ap. Claudius,
tent man, to be president of the ciete; for he wes ane richt feirs
young man, and fra his first youth, ay nurist to the grete haterent of
tribunis and small pepil; bot yit the tribunis of pepil micht nevir
trete nor procure the thing that thay had tane on hand, nouthir with
the tribunis militare, quhilk war than absent, nor yit with the said
Claudius, president of the ciete. And sa Sempronius, and Q. Fabius
Vibulanus war create consulis.
In this yere happinnit ane strange mater, that is to say, ane mater
nocht pertening to the histories of Romanis, bot is wourthy to have
memorie. Ane toune of Hethrushis, namit Vulturnum, wes tane be
the Samnites; and becaus thare principall capitane wes callit Capis,
it wes callit efter him Capua. The maner of recovering of it wes thus.
Eftir that thir Samnites had tane this toun, and war irkit with lang
batall, thay brocht ane grete noumer of Hethruschis agane to thare
toun, for defence thareof. The Hethruschis, quhilkis war ressavit
be the Samnites, baith in societe of thare toune and landis, watit ane
ganand halydy, and slew thame, fillit with winis and metis, eftir that
thay war fallin on ane hevy slepe, and recoverit the ciete. Bot we
return to our historie.
The consulis, afore rehersit, began thare auctorite in the Idis of
December. Nocht alanerlie wes it patent now be thame that were
send to spere the maner concerning the Volschis, bot als wes schawin
be legatis, send latelie fra the Latinis and Hernikis, that the Volschis
war never mare besy in thare time, for rasing of armyis, nor eleccioun
of capitanis. Forthir, the Volschis said amang thameself, Outhir mon
thir batellis be perpetually supersedit, and thare armoure to be laid
aside, and ressave the yoik of servitude, or ellis to obey nocht the
inemyis that contendis aganis thame for the empire, bot erare to resist thame be vertew, pacience, or craft of chevelrie. Howbeit thir
novellis war trewe, the Faderis war na thing movit therewith. Than

THE FEIRD BUKE.

361

C. Sempronius, that tuke the charge of batall aganis the Volschis,
traisting to have sikkir victorie, becaus he led ane victorius oist aganis
this othir, that wes afore vincust, did all thingis with sic folie and
necligence, that apperit weill mare wisdome and gude governance wes
in the armye of Volschis, than in the armye of Romanis. Fortoun,
tharefore, as scho oft usis, turnit hir to the side maist prudent and
victorius. The first batall wes fochtin be Sempronius with grete folie
and imprudence; for it wes nocht arrayit deulie with crafty buschementis, laid at wate to invaid inemyis in time of batall, nor yit with
horsmen put in ganand placis. The cry of inemyis wes the first
signe of discomfitoure to Romanis; for it wes mare loude and frequent than the cry of Romanis ; for the cry of Romanis wes variant,
slaw, and but curage. The mare the Romanis schew thame effrayit
be thare uncertane clamoure, the mare war the inemyis rasit in hie
curage and ferocite, fast glimmerand with the swerdis, and huvand
up thare tergis. On the tothir side, the hewmondis of Romanis
semit as thay war sweyand doun, quhilk wes ane evil signe to thame
that beheld the samin.
Thus war the Romanis richt effrayit, nocht knawing quhat wes to
be done, bot ran togidder in grete cumpanyis. Sum time war the
baneris left be thame that yede afore, and sum time war the baneris
erekkit agane be the manipilis. Na signe wes yit of sikkir victorie,
nor yit of fleing. The Romanis had mare desire to be coverit with
thare tentis than to fecht. Be contrare, the Volschis come proudely
fordwart with thare baneris, exhorting feirslie thare armye to batall,
and mare desirus to se the slauchter, than the flicht of inemyis. Now
war the Romanis put abak in all partis. Na thing avalit the exhortacioun or reproche of Sempronius; na thing avalit his empire nor
majeste. Thus had the Romanis, but ony tary, gevin bakkis to inemyis, had nocht bene Sixtus Tempanius, decurion of horsmen, come
the mare haistilie to thare supporte. This Tempanius, seand the
Romanis nere discomfist, cryit with schil voce, " All horsmen that
" desiris the public weill to be saiffit, demont haistilie fra thare hors."
All the turmis of horsmen being na les movit be his wourdis, than
be the empire of the consul, he said, " Gif ye resist nocht the furie
"of inemyis, the end is cumin to Romane empire. Follow now the
2z

362

TITUS LIVIUS.

" point of my swerde for youre ensenye, and schew you baith to Ro" manis and Volschis, that thare is na horsmen compare to youre
" horsmen, nor yit na futemen compare to youre futemen."
Als sone as the turmis of horsmen had approvin his exhortacioun
be thare clamoure, he ruschit fordwart, berand the point of his swerde,
and quharever he past, followit on him fast the turmis, inflammit
with new curage, and made ane gate be force, ruscheand feirslie to
all partis, quhare thay saw thare freindis in dangere, and refreschit
the batall in all partis quhare thay come, Na dout is, bot and this
few noumer micht have usit thare strenth atanis, the inemyis had
gevin bakkis. At last, the emprioure of Volschis, seand the preis of
Romanis micht nocht be sustenit, commandit to gif place to thare
new turmis of Romanis, sa feirslie following on thame, that thay
beand on every side excludit fra supporte of thare awne folkis, thay
micht the sonere be owresett. Als sone as this wes done, the horsmen
war sa inclusit, that thay micht nocht ische the way thay enterit; for
in the samin place, quhare thay made ane gate afore, war cumin the
grete buschment of inemyis. The consul and his legiouns, seand na
defence for the Romane armye, went here and thare espiand sum
way to saif, that sa mony vailyeant men suld nocht be destroyit be
inemyis. On the tothir side, the Volschis, in mony divers sortis,
sustenit the dint of the consul and his legiouns, and sum time resistit
to Tempanius, with his turmis of horsmen. Than Tempanius, seand
himself and his turmis interclusit, sa that he micht nocht returne to
the residew of his freindis, drew thame all togidder in maner of ane
round knott on ane mote, nocht unrevengit of his inemyis; and yit
the batall wes nocht endit afore the nicht.
The consul ceissit nocht, sa lang as licht apperit, to invaid his inemyis, quhil at last the nicht put end to the batall. Sa grete dredoure,
be imprudence of aventure, wes in baith thare tentis, that ilk armye
fled, levand the cariage and woundit men behind thame, and as
vincust pepil, ran the nearest way thay micht to montanis. Nochtheles, the Volschis segeit the mote, quhare Tempanius stude arrayit
with his turmis, quhil midnicht; and fra thay war advertist, that
thare tentis war desert, beleving thare army vincust, ilk man fled be
mirknes of nicht quhare he best plesit. Tempanius, for fere of inemyis, held all his folkis togidder quhil day; and eftir the breking of

THE FEIRD BUKE.

3~

363

the day, he past fordwart, with ane new cumpany, to espy quhat
fallin to his companyeouns. Als sone as he wes advertist be certane
woundit inemyis, that the tentis of Volsehis war desert, he brocht his
folkis with grete blythnes fra the montane quhare thay stude, and
enterit in the Romane tentis, and seand thame desert with the samin
deformite, as he fand afore with tentis of inemyis, afore the Volschis war advertist of thir materis, he rasit his folkis, with sa mony
woundit men as he micht. turs' with him; and knawand nocht quhare
the consul wes past, he returnit the nerrest way he micht to'Rome.

CAP. XVI.
Of the orisoun made be tribunis of pepill to Ternpanius; and of

Tempanius answere. How Posthumius wes condampuit, and T.
Q. assoilyeit. How Sempronius wes accusit; and how he wes
defendit be the remanent tribunis; and how the Equis war discomist.
_______

T___
____with_

HE fame of this unhappy batall, and desercioun of Romane tentis, made grete sorow in Rome ; and, abone all

made

thingis, maist lamentacioun wes
for the horsmen,
na les private than .public murning. The consul

Fabius, eftir that sic effray wes brocht to Rome, laid strang buschementis to the portis. Belive the horsmen war sene cumand to the
toun, and made the ciete richt astonist, nocht knawand quhat thay
war. Als sone as thay war knawin, thay maid sa inestimabill blythnes, throw the dredoure. that wes afore amang thame, that ane huge
clamoure went throw all the ciete,

rejosing

thare horsmen war saif;

and returnit hame with victorie. Belive all thay that lamentit thare
freindis slane afore, rusehit haistelie to the merkett. The effrayit
moderis- and wiffis forgett all womanly behavingis for vehement joy,
and met thare freindis at thare returning in the stretis.
The tribunis of pepil, quhilkis sett ane day afore to M. Posthumius and Ti. Quincius, for evil 1 fechting of the batall at Veos, tuke*
occasioun

to renewe the said debate, for new haterent that thay bure

364

TITUS LIVIUS.

aganis Sempronius; and tharefore callit the pepil to ane concioun,
and said, " The commounweill wes twyis betrasit; first at Veos be
" misgovernance of the capitanis; and becaus thare capitanis war
" nocht punist for thare demeritis, it gave occasioun to the consulis
" to betrais the Romane armye fechtand aganis the Volschis; for
"'
nocht onelie war the maist vailyeant horsmen slane, bot als thare
" tentis schamefully desertit."
Incontinent, C. Junius, ane of the tribunis, commandit Tempanius
to be callit afore the pepil. Als sone as Tempanius wes cumin, C.
Junius said, " 0 thou Tempanius, declare now the verite of the
" thing that I demand the. Began C. Sempronius the batall in dew
" time ? Stuffit he the batall weill with buschmentis to ly at wait,
" or has he usit the office of ane gude consul ? Forthir, quhen thou,
" be grete manhede and wisdome, brocht the horsmen to fecht on
" fute, in supporte of oure vincust legiouns, and renewit the batall,
"6I demand the, quhen thou wes inclusit on every hand with inemyis,
" gif the consul come outhir to releif the and thy horsmen, or send
" ony supporte thareto ? Quhat helpe gat thou fra him on the morow ? Come thou and thy cumpany in the Romane tentis be your
"6
awne manhede ? Quhat consul, and quhat armye, fand thou thare ?
" Fand thou ony uthir thing thare bot woundit knichtis and desert
" tentis ? For thy grete vertew and faith, be quhilk the public weill
6 is saiffit this day, schaw us the verite; and schaw us quhare is
SSempronius, oure consul; and quhare are now oure legiouns ?
" Quhidder left thou the consul and the armye, or wes thou left be
"thame ? And schaw us finalie, Quhidder ar we vincust or victo" rius ?"
The orisoun that Tempanius maid aganis thir wourdis wes rude;
nochtheles, it wes grave, effering to ane man of were, nouthir extolling himself with vane loving, nor yit rejosing with detraccioun of
other men.
" It pertenis nocht to me," said Tempanius, " to juge quhat pru" dence of chevelry wes in Sempronius; for I am bot ane sobir
"knicht of Romane armye, and he is my emprioure; bot it pertenit
" erare to Romane pepil to juge thareapoun; for thay, be commites,
" chesit him consul: Demand, tharefore, na thingis at me that per" tenis to the office of ane emprioure or consul; for sic thingis suld
6"

THE FEIRD BUKE.

365

" be wayit with hie inginis, hie wisdome and curage. Nochtheles,
" sic thingis as I saw I will glaidlie tell. Soithlie or ever I wes in" clusit with inemyis, I saw the consul baith fechtand in the first
" bront, and gangand amang the Romane baneris and dartis of ine" myis, exhortand beselie his armye to batall; bot sone eftir I tint
" sicht of him and his folkis. Nochtheles, I herd, be clamoure and
" noyis, that the batall continewit ithandlie to the middis of the
" nicht; bot he micht nocht cum to the hicht quhare I wes, for mul" titude of pepil. As to the armye, I wate nocht," said Tempanius,
" quhare it is; nochtheles, I belefe this consul in this huge effray is
" past, as I did, to sum strenth, be quhilk he wes saiffit, baith him" self and his folkis. And forthir, I beleif the Volschis has hap" pinnit na bettir aventure in this batall than we have gottin; for
" the mirknes of nicht maid all thingis als effrayit amang thame as
" us." Finalie, Tempanius prayit the tribunis, sen he wes wery and
forfochtin, to hald him nocht oure lang afore thame. Thus wes
Tempanius sufferit to pas to his lugeing, with na les loving for his
curtassy and moderacioun, than for his manhede and vertew.
Quhil sic thingis war in commouning, the consulcome be the way,
namit Lavican, to the tempil of the Goddes, namit Quies. Mony
cartis and wanis war send haistelie to him, to cary him and his wery
knichtis to Rome. Nocht lang eftir, the consul enterit in the ciete;
bot he excusit nocht sa mekil the offence imput to him be the tribunis, as he lovit Tempanius. The ciete, being na les sorowfull for
this mischance latelie fallin, than commovit aganis the capitanis of
thare armyis, wes brocht in jugement M. Posthumius; for he wes
ane of the tribunis militare, with power consulare, at the unhappy
batall of Veos, and wes condampnit tharefore, in xII.M. brasin pennyis. Ti. Quincius, his colleig, wes assoleyeit be all the tribunis;
for he wes consul, and faucht weill, in the yere afore, aganis the Volschis, in the time that Posthumius Tubertus wes maid dictator; and
als he wes legate of the armye, and faucht with grete felicite aganis
the Fidenatis, in the time that M. Emilius wes dictator. Thus wes
all the wite of the unhappy batall at Veos laid onelie on Posthumius.
Forthir, the renoune and memorie of Ti. Quincius Cincinnatus his
fader, quhilk wes than fer worne in age, wes na litill commodite to
him; and in the mene time come Capitolinus Quincius, makand

366

TITUS LIVIUS.

supplicacioun to the tribunis, to suffir him nocht bere sa sorowfull
tithingis to the auld man Quincius Cincinnatus, that his son Ti.
Quincius wes condampnit.
The small pepil create Six. Tempanius, A. Sellius, S. Antistius, and
Sp. Icilius tribunis of pepil. Nochtwithstanding his absence, and in
place of thare centuriouns, thay maid horsmen be avise of Tempanius. The senate, seand the name of consulis unplesand to the pepil, for the haterent thay bure aganis Sempronius, commandit tribunis militare to be create, with power consulare, that is to say,
Manlius Capitolinus, Q. Anthonius Merenda, and L. Papirius Mugilanus.
In the beginning of this yere, L. Hortensius, tribune of pepil,
sett ane day to accuse C. Sempronius, quhilk wes consul in the
yere afore, quhen iv. other tribunis of pepil, quhilkis war collegis to
the said Hortensius, had requeistit him, afore the pepil, to molest
nocht thare emprioure, for nathing micht be reprochit in him bot
misfortoun. Hortensius wes richt commovit at thare requeist; for he
belevit his colleig did this alanerlie to assailye his perseverance.
Sempronius had na confidence in the requeist of tribunis, bot alanerlie in thare helpe; and tharefore this Hortensius sumtime turnit him
to Sempronius, and said, " Quhare is now thay patriciane spretes
" that thou wes wount to have ? Quhare is now thy stout curage,
" confiding onelie in thy innocence ? Ar thou nocht eschamit, sen
" thou wes sumtime consul, to lurk under schaddow and supporte of
" tribunis ?" Sumtime he turnit him to his collegis, and said, " 0
" companyeouns, quhat sal be youre parte, gif I condampne Sem" pronius ? Will ye tak away the richt of Romane pepil; or will ye
" distroy the power of tribuniciane auctorite ?" The tribunis ansuerit, That the Romane pepil has power to decern on Sempronius,
and all other persouns in thare ciete; bot as to thameself, thay said,
nouthir micht thay, nor yit wald thay distroy the jugement of Romane pepil; nochtheles, gif thare supplicacioun maid for thare emprioure and fader Sempronius nocht avalit, thay wald change thare
habit with him. Than said Hortensius, " The small pepil sal nocht
"se thare tribunis in sorowful and dule habit; bot sen so is, that
C. Sempronius has conquest during his empire sa grete favoure
" of his knichtis, I wil molest him na forthir." The ingine and

THE FEIRD BlUKE.36

367

minde of Hortensius wes na les mesit be just prayaris, than wes the
piete of thir four tribunis acceptabil to the Faderis. Bot we returne
to oure historie.
Fortoun wes nocht permanent to the Equis; for thocht the victorie wes uncertane, yit the Equis appropriate the honoure and avancement thareof to thame, as thay had ane clere victorie.
In the nixt yere, N. Fabius Vibulanus and Ti. Quincius war
maid consulis. Na thing wes done in thare time wourthy to have
memorie; for als sone as thay displayit thare baner, the Equis gaif
bakkis. Thus micht the consul have na grete honoure nor glore
throw thare discomfitoure. And for that caus the triumphe wes denyit to him; yit becaus he put away the schame and dishonoure that
gat the loving of ovacioun.
fell afore be necligence of Sempronius,

he

CAP. XVII.
Of grete debate betwix the consulis and tribunis fpepil concerning
the doubling. of questouris. Of thefeirs orisoun maid be L. Papirius aganis the tribunis and Faderis. How C. Sempronius wes
condampnit ; and how Posthunea, virgine vestale, wes accusit,
and eftir assoilgeit.
S this batall, afore rehersit, wes, endit with les dammage
than wes belevit, on the samin maner, quhen maist tran-

0
____

quillite

apperit, rais maist dissencioun betwix the Faderis

and pepil. This debait rais for doubling of the noumer
of questouris. Quhen all the Faderis, except two questouris, had
apprevit the doubling of the noumer of questouris, with all the power
thay micht, the tribunis opponit thame feirslie aganis the consulis,
and desirit, howbeit the questouris war ay create to this time alanerlie
of the patricianis, [that ane half suld be create of patricianis,] and the
tothir half of plebeanis. Quhen the consulis and Faderis had laubourit
aganis this accioun, with uter besines, thay war finalie content, that
IRomane pepil sal have als fre suffrage in creacioun of questouris, as
thay had afore in creacioun of tribunis militare, with. power consulare.
_______

TITUS LIVIUS.
The Faderis, seand thameself proffitt na thing in this mater, left all
mencioun concerning the doubling of the noumer of questouris.
Followit mony sedicious materis, amang quhilkis war principall
the sediciouns concerning the law Agrarie. The senate, for fere of
thir mociouns, desirit erare the consulis, than tribunis militare, to be
create; bot that micht nocht be done, for the impediment that the
tribunis of pepil maid in the contrare. Thus wes the governance of
public weil changeit fra consulis to interregne, and it wes nocht but
huge debate ; for the tribunis wald nocht suffir the patricianis to convene. And quhen the maist parte of this yere wes spendit in sindry
contenciouns be new tribunis and certane Interkingis for sum time,
the tribunis inhibit the patricianis to convene, that thay sal nocht
schaw ane Interking; and sumtime thay stoppit the Interking, that
he sal nocht, be decrete of senate, proclame the commites for creacioun of consulis. Yit, eftir lang contencioun, L. Papirius Mugilanus wes maid Interking, and began to blame sumtime the Faderis,
sumtime the tribunis of pepil, that the public weill wes desertit, and
but ony uthir helpe, except onelie the providence and wisdomes of
goddis. " Rome," said he, " is onelie saiffit at this time throw lang
" trewis that we have with Veanis, and febilnes of the Equis, that
" taryis to invaid us with batall. Gif ony effray had come haistelie
" on us, now sen na patricianis ar in public auctorite, it culd nocht
"fail bot oure public weill suld have bene uterlie distroyit; for nou"thir have we ane armye, nor yit have we capitanis to lede the samin.
" Beleif ye, that we may resist externe weris be intestine sedicioun ?
" And war all thir trublis invaiding you atanis, skairslie micht the
" power of goddis saif Rome undistroyit. Herefore, gude is that ilk
"partie submit sum thing concerning thare richtis, and be media"ciouns of goddis, mak concorde. First, the Faderis sal suffir the
" tribunis militare to be create in place of consulis siclike, the tri" bunis of pepil sal suffir foure questouris to be create, with sa fre
" suffrage, that thay sal be create indifferentlie of the Faderis and
"small pepil."
The commites war first haldin for creacioun of tribunis. Thus war
tribunis militare create, with power consulare, all patricianis, L.
Quincius Cincinnatus, the thrid time, L. Furius Medullinus, the secund time, Marcius Manlius, and Au. Sempronius. Quhen this last

THE FEIRD BUKE.

869

tribune wes haldin the commites of questouris, come to him the son
of Antistius, tribune of pepil, and the brothir of Pompilius, ane othir
tribune, and desirit to be chosin amang the noumer of questouris;
bot nouthir micht the power nor suffrage of tribunis avale in this
mater; for thay war preferrit that war descendit of maist nobil linage,
sic as had thare gudeschiris and faderis consulis and seneyeouris of
the ciete. Al the tribunis of pepil war commovit at this repuls, specialie Pompilius, and Antistius, seand that nouthir micht the plebeanis be ekit to the noumer of tribunis militare, nor yit to the noumer
of questouris, and said amang thameself, " How may this be, that
" the thing is lefull to be now that wes nevir lefull afore; oure freindis
" ar postponit, and nouthir avalis the prayer of the fader for the son,
" nor the brothir for the brothir; na thing avalis the prayaris of tri" bunis of pepil, nor yit the haly power tribuniciane, quhilk is orda" nit for supporte of pepil ; na dout is tharefore, bot grete falsett wes
" in this Au. Sempronius, speciallie in the commites be him haldin;
" for, be his injure and slichtis, oure freindis ar postponit."
The tribunis, seand this Au. Sempronius sa gardit be his innocence
and auctorite, that thay micht nocht be revengit on him, thay turnit
al thare ire on Caius .Sempronius, his cousing; and, be avise of M.
Canuleius, thare colleig, sett ane day to here him criminably accusit
for the schame fallin afore to Romanis be the batall of Volschis.
Sone eftir, be the said tribunis, mencioun wes maid afore the senate
for divisioun of certane public landis; bot to resist this accioun wes
na man sa feirs as Caius Sempronius, traisting the thing that wes in
verite, gif he left this accioun, to be les accusit afore the Faderis of
the crime imput to him. Be contrare, gif he perseverit in debait
thareof, to be the mare displesand to the smal pepil; nochtheles, he
chesit erare to be objeckit to the invie of pepil, and to hurt his awne
caus, than to noye the public weil. Thus defendit he stoutlie, that
na largicioun of public landis suld be maid in favoure of tribunis,
knawing, becaus he stoppit the small pepil to obtene ony public
landis, to fall tharefore in grete haterent of pepil. Nochtheles, he
stude stoutlie aganis thir debatis, and said, Nouthir suld himself, nor
yit na othir cieteyane of Rome, be of sic estimacioun to the senate,
that to pardoun his crime, the public veilsuld suffir dammage. Fi-

~37O
TITUS LIVIUS.

370

nalie, quhen the day wes cumin of his jugement, he wes nocht mare
abasit.than afore to defend his mater. And howbeit the Faderis assailyeit mony wayis to have mesit the pepil, na thing avalit; for he
wes condampnit in xv. thousand brasinpennyis.
The samin yere, Posthumea, virgine vestale, wes accusit for violacioun of hir chaistitie. The caus of hir suspicioun wes, becaus scho
wes mare galyeard and trimly cled than semit hir estate; and, howbeit scho tuke na cure quha spak of hir honoure nor renowne, scho
wes assolyit; the grete bischop commancit hir to abstene fra all
mowis, and to leif, in times cuming, mare devotelie than prudentlie.
In the samin yere, ane ciete of Grece, namit Cuma, wes tane be
the pepil namit Campanis5

CAP. XVIII.
How the servandis consirit to birn Rome; and how the tressoan
wes revelit, and rewarde maid tharfore. How the Romanis war
discomylst be the Equis. How. Quincius Servilius wees maid
tator, and discomfist baith the Equis and Lavicanis, and tule the

di-

toun of Lavicos beforce of sege.

Nte yere. following, war create tribunis militare with
power consulare, Agrippa Menenius Lanatus, Pub. Luceis,

Tricipitinus, and

Spu. Naucius.

This yere wes

$
m air notabili for trubill appering to the ciete, than ony
dammage that come thareto. The servandis maid ane conjuracioun
amang thameseif, baith to put fire in sindry partis of the ciete, and
to tak, the Capitoll.. The pepill maid grete lauboure to sauf thare
houssis ;. bot grete Jupiter wald nocht suffir this tressoun to be hid,
for be avise of twa servandis that war participant tharewith, the tressoun wes schewin ; so war, the conspiratouris tane and punist. To
the. servandis
quhilk war

that, schew this tressoun, wes gevin

reput for grete riches in. thay dayis ;

brasin pennyis,
and. abone this mo-

X.M.

ney wes gevin to. thir, servandis, thay war maid fre men for thare. rewarde.

THE FEIRD BUKE.

371

Nocht lang eftir come tithingis to Rome, that the Equis war makand new ordinance for batall. Als the Lavicanis, quhilkis war becum new inemyis of Romanis, war confiderat with Veanis, and maid
the ciete astonist, as it war thirllit to have yerelie weris with the
Equis. Legatis war send to Lavicanis, to explore the verite of thir
materis, be quham wes gevin ane ansuere richt doutsum, for be the
same nouthir micht be persavit sikker batall nor sikker peace. Command wes gevin, tharefore, to the Tusculanis to wate, gif ony new
mocioun rais be the Lavicanis.
In the yere following war create tribunis militare, with power consulare, L. Sergius Fidenas, M. Papirius Mugillanus, and Claudius
Servilius, sone of Q. Servilius, quhilk wes dictator quhen Fidena wes
tane. In the mene time come legatis fra the Tusculanis, schawing
the Lavicanis reddy for batell; than, be avise of the senate, wes decernit that twa tribunis militare sal pas with ane armye on thare inemyis, and the thrid to remane for governance of the town. Incontinent rais ane hevy debate amang the tribunis, quhilkis of thame suld
be principall capitane, and every ane of thame hatit to remane in the
ciete, thinkand the same ane office but ony honoure. Q. Servilius
seand the Faderis richt astonist, and woundering of this haisty debate, sade to thame, CSen nouthir the majeste of ordouris, nor schame
" that our public weill is reddy to peris, may finis this contencioun,
"my son, bot ony farther cavil, sall remane president of the ciete;
"and I pray to Goddis that the capitanis that desiris this batell,
Slede itwith mair wisdome and concorde than apperis." It wes nocht
ordanit that ane army suld be rasit universaly of all pepill, bot alanerlie of x. tribis. Quhen the army wes rasit, two of the youngest tribunis militare past with the samin to batall. The contenciouns
that rais betwix thir capitanis in the ciete, rais greter betwix thame
fra thay war cumin to the tentis, contending quha suld have maist
auctorite or empire abone the army, throw quhilk thay war nevir of
ane opinioun, bot ilkane repugnant to uthir, thinkand thare awne
ressoun best, and nocht alanerlie ilkane of thame contempnit utheris,
bot thay war contempnit with utheris; quhil, at last, be reprochihg
of the legatis, it wes concludit, that ilkane of thame sail have empire
of the army his day about.

TITUS LIVIUS.
It is said, quhen the novellis war brocht to Rome, that Q. Servilius, ane man of lang age and grete experience, prayit the Goddis
that this discorde of tribunis suld be na mare dammagius to the commoun weill at this time, than it wes afore at Veos; and, as he had
bene sikkir of sum mischief fallin to Romane oistis, he commandit
his son to tak incontinent his harnes, and gaddir his folkis togeddir,
to mak defence aganis the mischeif that wes haistelie to fall. Bot he
wes na fals divinoure, for, be governance of L. Sergius, quhilk had
the charge of batall for that day, the batal was fochtin in ane wikkit
place, undir the tentis of Equis, for the said Equis, with fenyeit dredoure, ran to defend thare trinschis. Thus belevit the Romanis to
have ganand time to win the tentis of Equis, and quhen thay war
segeand the samin, the Equis come on thame haistilie be ane low
vale, and with grete slauchter put thame to flicht. Skairslie micht
the Romane tentis be that day defendit. On the morow, quhen the
Equis war laid on every side about thame, thay fled schamefully furth
at ane porte on the tothir side of the tentis; thus war baith the Romanis discomfist, and thare tentis tane.
Incontinent, the dukis legatis, and uthir capitanis and banermen,
cum the nerrest way thay micht to Tusculum, and all the laif of the
oist, skatterit in sindry cumpanyis, wery and forfochtin, as messengeris of mare hevy dammage than wes fallin, come to Rome. The
les effray and dredoure wes, becaus the aventure wes conforming to
the rumoure of men. Attoure, the thrid tribune militare had gadderit grete buschmentis of men in the ciete, to resist all trubill and
effray that micht follow; attoure, the exploratouris, quhilk war send
furth in all partis to se the verite, schew at thare returning the Romane capitanis and army liand at Tusculum, and the oist of inemyis
liand with tentis at the same place quhare thay lay afore. Herefore,
to rais the curage amang the pepil, be avise of the senate, wes creat
Q. Servilius Priscus, dictator; for nocht onelie wes his providence
and wisdome knawin in sindry dangeris appering afore in dammage
of commoun weill, bot als he wes the man that onelie pronosticate,
afore the batall wes fochtin, this calamite to fall be discorde that he
saw appering amangis the tribunis militare.
Als sone as Q. Servilius wes maid dictator, he chesit his son to be
maister of chevelry, for his son wes tribune militare, and maid him

THE FEIRD BUKE.
afore dictator. Utheris sais that Servilius Ahala wes maister of chevelrie. The dictator departit out of the ciete with this new army,
and eftir that he brocht to him the remanent army of Romanis that
lay at Tusculum, he sett doun his tentis within twa thousand pacis
to richt of inemyis. The negligence and pride that wes afore with
Romane capitanis, war transportit on the Equis. In the first batall,
the dictator,, with his horsmen, brak thame that war afore the ensenyeis of inemyis, and commandit incontinent the Romane legiouns and
ensenyeis to pas fordwart, and becaus ane of the banermen yede nocht
sa fast fordwart with the baner as he desirit, he dung him throw the
body with his swerde. Followit sa cruell and feirs batall, fochtin
with his remanent army, that the Equis micht not resist, and war
chasit fra the feild to thare tentis, bot the winning of thare tentis indurit schortar time than the batall, for thare tentis war tane, and the
pray thareof delt amang the army. Als sone as the horsmen war returnit fra thare tentis, thay schew all the Lavicanis discomfist, and
the maist parte of thame fled to the town of Lavicos.
On the nixt day, the dictator segeit the said toun with all his oist,
and enterit in oure the wallis perforce; thus wes the toun tane and
spulyete. The dictator, on the viii. day eftir that he wes create, returnit to Rome with his victorius oist, and exonerit him of the dictatorie; and to prevene that the tribunis of pepill sall nocht desire
divisioun of the landis of Lavicos, it wes ordanit that thare sall be
send to Lavicos new colonis of Rome. And sa war send out of
Rome to said toun, M.D. men, and to ilkane of thame wer gevin two
oxgang of land.

374
TITUS LIVIUS.

374

CAP. XIX.
f grete debate rissin betwiw the Faderis and tribunis ofpepill,for
the law Agrarie; and how the Faderis, be avise of Appius Claudius, empeschit the purpois of tribunis. How the Bolanis war
discomfist, and thare ciete, tane be Posthumius. How the sade
Posthumius
brocht in sic haterent to his army, that he wes
stanit to dede.

wes

the taking of Lavicos, Agrippa Menenius Lanatus, Pub. Lucresius Tricipitinus, and Spu. Rutilius
Fn

Crassus

ware maid tribunis militare, with power

consu-

lare. And in the yere following, Au. Sempronius Atratinus, M. Papirius Mugillanus, and Spu. Naucius Rutilus war maid
tribunis militare, with power consulare. During thir twa yeris thare
wes na externe weris, yit, in the ciete, wes na litill discensioun throw
the law Agrarie.* The principall movaris of this trubil wes Spu. Mecilius, that wes.iv. times tribune of pepill afore, and Metilius, that
wes thre [times] tribune of pepil. Thir war maist sedicious men, and
create tribunis of pepill, nochtwithstanding thare absence to desire
ane. law' to be promulgate, that the landis tane fra inemyis be jeoperdyis of batall,- suld be, dividit equalie amang the pepill

Be tenoure

of this law, the maist parte of all the gudis that the-patricianis and
nobillis of iRome presentlie rejosit, suld have bene confiscat, for the
toun of Rome wes foundit on ane other man's grund. Thus micht
thay have na land, bot it onelie that war conquest be jeoperdeis and
richt of batall. Forthir, na landis war assignit in speciale to ony
man in the ciete, bot alanerlie sa mony as the small pepill possedit.
rais ane cruell and odius debate betwix the Faderis and small
pepill. The tribunis militare couth nocht find remede in this mater
be private consultacioun of the princis of the ciete, nor yit be na consultacioun of the senate.
In the mene time Appius Claudius, nevo of Appius Claudius, x.
man, writare of the Romane lawis; howbeit, he wes youngest for the

Thus

THE FEIRD BUKE.

375

time amang the Faderis, said he suld schaw to thame be ane auld
and familiare counsel, the remeid in this mater. " My gudeschir,
" Appius Claudius," said he, " schew the way how the auctorite of
" tribunis may be best resistit, that is to say, be interposicioun of
" thare collegis, for all men that ar put in ony new office, may be
" sone brocht fra thare opinioun be authorite of princis. Sa the
" princis maid ane orisoun, effering mair to the sessioun as occurit,
" than to the majeste of thare office; for the mindis and curage of
" tribunis turnis ay quhare gude fortoun or felicite turnis, and fra
" thay se thare awne collegis principal doaris of this besines, and re" ferring the samin to the favour of pepill, and fra thay se na place
"' left to thame be thare collegis, thay will conforme thame plesand" lie to the will of the senate. Be quhilk way the said tribunis sall
" nocht onelie be plesand to the hale ordoure, bot als to the princis
" of all the Faderis." This counsel of Appius Claudius wes weil apprevit afore all the senate, and specially be Priscus Servilius, for he
lovit the said Appius, saying, " He degenerit nocht fra the wisdome
Sof his progenitouris."
Thus wes it concludit, that ilk man suld
lauboure to solist the said tribunis to the opinioun and minde of the
senate. The senate beand on this wise skalit, the princis of Faderis
began to treit and solist the tribunis with al tendirnes that micht be
devisit, yit nane comperit to thare purpois bot sex tribunis.
On the morow, quhen mencioun wes maid of this sedicioun, that
Metilius and Mecilius contendit to move be divisioun of public
landis, sic orisouns war maid be the principal Faderis, that every ane
of thame confessit thare was na helpe nor counsell for thame, bot onlie
be auctorite of tribunis. The commoun weill, quhilk wes as than circumvenit, had na uthir rescours hot to returne as indigent and vode
of al helpe, to the power of tribunis. Thus war it richt honest, baith
to the tribunis and thare authorite, to molest nocht the senate, and
to move na sedicioun amang the ordouris, for greter power wes in the
tribunate than to resist ane certane of thir wikkit collegis. Incontinent, the hale senate began to rummis sekand helpe in all partis at the
tribunis; and, in the mene time, thir tribunis that war subornate afore
and participant with the Faderis, said thay wald nocht suffir this law,
desirit be thare collegis, to be promulgate, becaus it tendit to the destruccioun of the commoun weill. Grete thankis war gevin be the

TITUS LIVIUS.
senate to thir tribunis that empeschit the law; the remanent tribunis
foresaid, callit the pepill to ane concioun, and reprochit thare collegis
greitlie, calland thame nocht onelie dissavaris of the commoun weill
and pepill, bot als servandis of the consullis. At last, quhen thay
had invayit feirslie with thir and siclike wourdis aganis thare collegis,
they left thare mater bot ony forthir persute.
In the nixt yere, P. Cornelius Cossus, C. Valerius Potitus, Q.
Cincinnatus, C. Marcius, and N. Fabius Vibulanus war maid tribunis militare, with power consulare. In this yere had bene mony dangerus weris, war nocht the religioun of princis differrit the batall of
Veanis. Thir princis, be vane supersticioun, held opinioun, becaus
Tiber drownit al thare landis, to the grete rewine of landwart villagis, and dammage of beistis, that it wes nocht gude to have batell
with inemyis for this yere. Sic like the calamite falling to Equis in
the thrid yere afore, stoppit thame to send ony supporte to the Bolanis, quhilk wer ane pepill undir thare senyeoris. Thir Bolanis
maid incursioun on the Lavicanis, and tharefore batall wes denuncit
to thame; and howbeit, thay belevit the Equis to have cumin to
thare supporte, thay gat na relief, and war sone discomfist, and thare
town of Bola tane. L. Decius, tribune of pepill, desirit new colonis
to be send to Bola, as war send afore to Lavicos, bot his desire wes
denyit be his collegis, quhilk said thay wald suffir na law of pepil to
be establit hot consent of senate.
In the yere following, the Equis recoverit this toun of Bola, and
send new colonis to defend the samin. In this yere, C. Cornelius
Cossus, L. Valerius Potitus, Q. Fabius Vibulanus, and M. Posthumius Regulus war maid tribunis militare, with power consulare. The
batall of Equis wes committit to this last tribune, howbeit he wes ane
man of wikkit condicioun, as wes schewin mare be victorie fallin to
him, than be the batall; for quhen he had rasit ane gude army, and
brocht the same to the toun of Bola, eftir that he had brokin the curage of Equis with small incursiouns, and enterit in the toun of Bola,
he turnit the batell fra the inemyis and his awne cieteyanis; and
howbeit, he promittit, during the sege, that the pray and spuleye
suld be randerit to his knichtis and men of armes, yit, quhen the
toun wes tane, he changit purpois. I belief the caus quhy the army
wes commovit aganis him, wes erare, becaus he wald nocht suffir the

THE FEIRD BUKE.

377

pray and spuleye of this toun to be eschete to his army, than to beleif that the caus of thare wraith wes that les pray wes in this new
colonie and toun put to direpcioun, than the tribunis schew. The
ire of his army wes ekit aganis him eftir his returning to Rome, for
eftir that his collegis had causit him to returne to Rome, for mesing
of certane sediciouns tribuniciane, ane of the tribunis of pepill, namit
Sextius, desirit to send new colonis to the toun of Bola, and allegit, be the tenoure of the law Agrarie, thay that wan the toun of
Bola with thare blude, ar maist wourthy to have the landis thareof.
This Posthumius said, "1 sall do ane hie displesere to my knichtis,
" gif thay will nocht desist and be in quiet." This fulische worde wes
na les displesand to the Faderis, than to the hale concioun. This
tribune of pepill wes richt eloquent and vehement in his orisoun, and
fand sa proude ingine and scharpe toung amang his adversaris, that
he interpret thir wourdis of Posthumius to sa wikkit face, that the
said Posthumius suld nocht onelie be odius to him, bot als to the
hale ordoure; and as he had bene ay invaying aganis thir fuliche
wourdis said be Posthumius to the pepill, he said, " Se ye nocht, 0
" Quirites, how Posthumius minassis the knichtis, as thay war his
' servandis ? Sal this vile beist Posthumius be mair wourthy to have
" honouris, than thay that sendis you in colonis, with donacioun of
" landis and tounis ? Or is he mare wourthy than thay that providis
"ane sete to youre eild, or mare wourthy than thay that fechtis for
"your commoditeis and proffitt, aganis your maist cruel and terribil
"adversaris ? Begin now to have mervel quhy sa few noumer of
" freindis assistis to your opinioun. Quhat ! sall thay belief to have
" throw you na honouris, for ye had levir gif honouris to your ine" myis than to your defendouris? Ye war commovit new lately,
" quhen ye herd this wikkit word of Posthumius; quhat avalis that,
"for ye will prefer thame that minassis you to thame that wald have
"you maid sikkir of landis, gudis, and dwelling placis for your lifeStime."
Quhen thir wourdis of Posthumius come to the eris of the army,
quhilk wes as than liand at thare tentis, it movit thame to na les indignacioun than afore, for thay thocht richt unwourthy that he nocht
onelie suld defraude thame of the spuleye of the toun of Bola, bot

378

TITUS LIVIUS.

als boist thame with mair injuris. Incontinent rais ane huge rummissing throw all the tentis. In the mene time, Pub. Sestius, questor, traisting to dant this sedicioun with siclike violence as it begouth,
sent the lictor to tak ane knicht that cryit feirsly, throw quhilk rais
sic noyis and clamoure, that this Sestius wes hurt with ane stane, and
departit out of the armye. Than the knicht that kest the stane,
cryit, " Allace, the questor Sestius has gottin the punicioun that oure
" emprioure Posthumius deservit."
At last, quhen Posthumius wes brocht to stanche this effray and
trubill, he maid all thingis be inquisiciouns and cruell punicion mare
trublus than afore; and becaus he couth nocht tempir his ire, bot
commandand ane certane of thame that made maist troubill, to be
slane undir brandreth of irne, he rais haistelie fra his sete to punis
ane that wes rebelland to his auctorite; in the mene time, quhen the
lictouris and centuriouns war doing thare extreme besines, to tak all
sedicious and trublus persouns, the haill army wes movit aganis Posthumius with sic indignatioun and ire, that thay stanit him to dede.

CAP. XX.
How the Faderis and small pepill fell in grete contenciounfor the
law Agrarie ; and how the samin wes mesit be cuming of the
pest. Of grete derth in Rome ; and how the Faderis and small
pepill continewit in thare dissensiouns.
UHEN the remanent tribunis militare war advertist of

the slauchter of thare colleig, thay devisit grete punicioun be maid for his slauchter; nochtheles, thay war
empeschit be the tribunis of pepill. This contencioun
dependit on ane uthir bergane, for the Faderis belevit that the small
pepill, for fere of the punicioun that thay deservit be slauchter of the
tribune militare, Posthumius, that thay suld cheis tribunis militare of
the small pepill; and, tharefore, the Faderis laubourit with uter besines to cheis consulis. At last, quhen the tribunis of pepill had

THE FEIRD BUKE.

379

empeschit the convencioun of senate, and commites of consulis, the
governance of public weill returnit to the interregne, bot the victorie
stude with the Faderis, for Q. Fabius Vibulanus beand interking, and
haldand the commites, war creat consullis Au. Cornelius Cossus and
L. Furius Medullinus.
In the mene time of thir consullis war ordanit, be decrete of the
senate, that the tribunis sall propone afore the pepill, in quhat maner the deith of Posthumius suld be punist, and the pepill to cheis
quham thay plesit to punis the slauchter thareof. Than, be consent
of all the pepill, the punicioun of this slauchter wes committit to the
consullis; and howbeit the consullis, be soverane moderacioun and
softnes, punist bot ane few noumer of thame speciallie that war the
caus of his deith; yit, fra the punicioun wes tane, thay couth find
na way bot the small pepill wes hevilie commovit, that the haly lawis
and constituciouns maid for thare commoditeis, couth nocht have effect; bot the lawis maid for thare punicioun war sone put to execucioun, and had strenth ineuch. The Faderis thocht the time expedient, sen all sediciouns war sufficientlie punist, that it suld meis the
ire of smal pepill to object aganis the divisioun of the landis of Bola,
traisting tharethrow to minis the desire that the small pepill had to
the law Agrarie; for the said law put the Faderis fra the public
landis, quhilkis war wranguislie possedit. This indignacioun commovit gretelie the mindis of small pepill, seand the nobillis nocht
alanerlie obstinate to kepe stil the public landis that thay possedit,
bot als nocht suffering the landis that ar vacand and new tane fra inemyis, to be delt amang the small pepil; knawing, tharefore, that
within few dayis the saidis landis of Bola sal be maid pray to the Faderis, as al the laif of public landis has bene afore.
In this yere, L. Furius, consul, wes send with mony legiouns
aganis the Volschis, quhilkis maid grete hereschippis on the Hernik
landis, and becaus thay fand na inemyis, thay tuke the toun of Ferentine; and, howbeit grete multitude of Volschis war fled thareto,
yit les pray of gudis wes gottin than wes belevit, for als sone as the
Volschis war disparit to debait the toun, thay fled away within the
nicht, and tuke the best gere with thame that thay had, and left the
toun waist. On the morow, the Romanis fand the toun as it had
bene desert; all the landis of it wes gevin to the Hernikis,

380

TITUS LIVIUS.

The yere following wes in quiet; in quhilk yere Q. Fabius Ambustus and Furius Pacilus war maid consullis. Lucinius, tribune
of pepill, began to mak grete trubil and sedicioun in the ciete, for
promulgacioun of the law Agrarie. In the mene time rais the pest
in the ciete; and howbeit, mare fere of minassing followit tharethrow,
yit ilk man wes drawin be sollicitude and fere fra all sedicioun, to the
attendance and keping of his body. Alwayis this pest wes thus les
skaithfull than sedicioun wes appering to have bene. Sone eftir that
the ciete wes deliverit of mony infirmiteis and pestilence, with small
mortaliteis. Followit grete sterilite and derth in the nixt yere, in
quhilkis Pap. Atratinus and C. Naucius Rutilus war made consullis. This hunger rais, as oft occurris, be evill laubouring of the Romane landis, and it had bene mare sorowfull than the pest, war nocht
legatis war send with merchandice to by quhete in all partis liand
thareabout. The cieteyanis, baith of Capua and Cumis, wald nocht
suffir na vittall to [be] brocht fra thare landis; nochtheles, the Romane
legatis war plesandlie ressavit be the Sicilianis. Thus wes ane huge
plente of vittalis brocht out of Sicill to Rome be Tiber. The consullis persavand the ciete waist and desolate, and seand that thay
micht nocht send bot ane senatoure to ilk legacioun afore rehersit,
thay war constrenit to eik the noumer thareof with twa horsmen.
During thir twa yeris, the ciete gat na dammage be externe weris nor
sediciouns intestine, bot onelie of hunger and pest; bot als sone as
thir two evillis, hunger and pest, war put away, followit incontinent
all othir displesouris that held the ciete afore in trubill, that is to
say, civil dissensioun at hame, and externe batall tharefurth with
thare inemyis.
In this yere, M. Emilius and Valerius Potitus war maid consullis. The Equis maid thare ordinance for batall, and howbeit the
Volschis wald nocht assist be public counsell to thir weris of Equis,
yit mony of the said Volschis past to the said batall, aither be wagis of
Equis, or ellis of thare awne fre curage. The fame hereof wes brocht
to Rome, and schew how the saidis Equis, with grete army, war cumin in the landis of Latinis and Hernikis. And quhen Va. Potitus
wes rasand ane army to resist the inemyis, come haistilie Menius,
tribune of pepill, authoure of the law Agrarie, and empeschit Valerius to rais ony army, for be his menis na man wald gif thare names

THE FEIRD BUKE.

381

in writt. In the mene time, come novellis that the castell of Carventana wes tane be inemyis. The schamefull takin of this castell
brocht Menius in grete haterent afore the Faderis, and gaif occasioun to the remanent tribunis, quhilkis war stopparis of the law
Agrarie, to resist mair feirslie his doingis; and becaus this mater occupyit the senate and small pepill with grete altercacioun, the consul
tuke baith the Goddis and men in witnes, that quhatsumevir mischeif or dishonoure wes to cum as than to the ciete, or yit happinnit
eftir to cum, that the wite thareof alanerlie sall be imput to Menius, sen he stoppit the armye to be rasit. Than Menius cryit,
" Gif the Faderis wald leif the public landis quhilkis thay injustlie
" possedit, he suld gif place to the armye." The nine tribunis of
pepill, be interposicioun of thare decrete, tuke away all occasioun of
debate, and pronuncit, be generall consent of all the collegis of tribunis, to supporte Valerius, consul, aganis all thame that wald stop
the armye to be rasit. The consul Valerius, armit with power of nine
tribunis, gart hede ane certane of knichtis, quhilkis appelit to the tribune Menius; and incontinent, throw fere of this punicioun, the
remanent gaif thare names in writt, with thair aithis to be lele.
Thus wes, ane army rasit and led with grete diligence to Carventana, and thocht the armye had na favouris to the consul, yit he wan
the castell at the first assalt, and schot furth all thame that war
fundin thareintill. The great garnisoun that suld have kepit this
castell, war ischet furth litill afore to spuleye the cuntre, and gaif the
bettir occasioun to the consull to win the castell. The consul sauld
ane parte of the spuleye of this vastell undir spere, and commandit
the questoris to confisk the remanent in the tresoure hous, and schew
to the armye thay suld be participant with the pray,' quhen thay refusit nocht sic thingis as pertenit to chevelrie. Thus wes the ire
baith of thare pepill and knichtis ekit aganis the consul, and becaus
it wes concludit that he sail enter in the ciete with the loving of ovacioun, the army sang rude ballatis in his grete derisioun, bot the
same wes in the grete loving of Menius, thare tribune. Thus wes
the name of Menius extollit with excellent loving and brute of all the
pepill. The Faderis war mare solist for this grete favoure, that thay

saw the pepill have to Menius, than for the ire thay saw the pepil

TITUS LIVIUS.
here aganis the consull; and hecaus thay knew gif ony tribunis militare war create at this time, that Meniis suld be chosin ane throw
this favoure that the pepill had to him; tharefore thay exciudit him
fra the said honoure be commites of consullis. Thus war C. Cornelius Cossus, and L. Furius Medullinus maid consullis.

CAP. XXI.
Of grete contenciouns betwix the tribunis of pepill and Faderis;
mesit be cumin of inem&is. How Publius
and how the same
Cornelius wes maid dictator, and discomfist the Volschis.

wes

pepill war nevir marecmoi httecmie
of tribunis war nocht committit to thame, than thay war
schew
at this time, as weil appeit; for nocht onelie
thare indignacioun and ire, bot als revengit the same in
the commites of questouris, for in eleccioun of iv. questouris, thre
be thame war chosin pleheanis, and the fourt alanerlie patriciane, namit K. Fabius Ambustus. The thre plebeani war namit Q. Sus,
Pub. Elmus, and Pub. Pupius. Thus wer thir thre pleheanis preferthe hous
nit to young men of maist nohil limage and houssis. I
of Icelianis war solistaris of the small pepil to sa fre suffrage ; for
thir Icelianis. war ane richt noysum hous to the ,Faderis, and of thame
war create this yere thre tribunis of pepil. Thir thre tribunis schew
to the small, pepil materis of grete besines ; howbeit thay Wald attempt na materis hot the commites of questouris, for of all uthir magistratis and office, nane but the questouris war left indifferent to the
Faderis and small pepill. Thir tribunis desirit the- small pepil to
have cnrage to do the thing that wes lefuil, and that thay micht do
of law. The small pepill had sic victorie, that thay helevit the questone nocht to be the end of this honoure, hot erare the samin to he
ane opin gate, he the quhilkis new men sail punches the consulate
and triumphis in the ciete.
On the tothir side, the Faderis -ruinmissit nocht that thare hononis
@ HE

thay

find

THE FEIRD BUKE.

38-

war maid commoun, als weil to the small pepil as to thame, bot erare,
becaus thare honoure war loist, and said, Gif sic thingis war sufferit,
to quhat effect suld thay nuris thair barnis, seand thame expellit fra
thare kindly roumis, and utheris put in possessioun of thare honouris. Now sall the Salii and Flamines be left but ony empire or
authorite, and sall be ordanit to nane uthir effect, bot alanerlie to
mak sacrifice for the pepill. Baith the Faderis and small pepil being
on this wise commovit, the small pepil tuke curage, becaus thay had
thre capitanis of grete renown to defend thare causis. The Faderis
seand that all thingis war to be done in times cuming be the pepill,
on the samin maner as the commites of questouris war done, maid
them with all diligence to haisty the commites of consullis, becaus the
samin wes nocht as yit indifferent to the Faderis and small pepill.
On the tother side, the Icelianis desirit tribunis militare to be
create, traisting be that way that honouris suld fall sum time to small
pepil. Finalie, quhen na accioun nor besines, devisit be the consullis, micht empesch the desiris of tribunis, come haistelie new tithingis,
schewing the Equis and Volschis war cumin with sindry incursiouns
on the Latinis and Hernikis. Than wes it decernit be the senate,
the consullis sall pass with ane army aganis the saidis inemyis; bot
the tribunis empeschit the samin with all power thay micht, and said,
The rasing of armyis pertenit onelie to thame and the small pepill.
Amang the tribunis of pepill, war thre principale, all gentilmen of
hie curage and sprete. Twa of thame tuke on hand, be continewal
industrey, to stop that na thing war done be avise of the consullis ;
the thrid tuke on hand to occupy the pepill with continuall conciouns,
and to move thame to his opiniouns. Thus war baith the consullis
empeschit fra rasing of armyis, and the tribunis empeschit fra halding of thare commites, for creacioun of tribunis militare.
At last, quhen fortoun was inclinand to the accioun of small pepill, come new tithingis, schewing how the colonyis that war left in the
castell of Carventana, ischit furth unhappilie for direpcioun of gudis
in the cuntre, and the castell tane or thay returnit. Finalie, nocht
onelie war the few colonyis that war left behind thame in the said
castell, slaue, bot als the remanent companyeouns slane on the samin
maner at thare returning. This adversite cum to the ciete, maid the
accioun of tribunis mare strentby than afore, for thocht thir tribunis

384

TITUS LIVIUS.

war oft times assailyeit to desist fra stopping of the armye, yit it wes
ay in vane, for nouthir wald the saidis tribunis gif place to the public trubil, nor yit to the invy of Faderis, and obtenit be decrete of senate, that tribunis militare sal be creat with power consulare, and na
man be maid tribunis militare, that wes in the yere afore tribune of
pepill, and na tribune of pepill for this yere to be continewit. Na
doubt is, bot the senate considerit weill the Icelianis lauborit to have
the consulate in rewarde of thare sediciouns. Thus wes ane army
rasit be consent of all the estatis, and with the same past the twa
consullis to the castell of Carventana. It is in dout be sindry authouris, quhidder baith the consullis past to this castle, or gif ane of
thame remanit at Rome, for haldin of the commites; bot ane thing
is sikker, eftir thay had line lang at Carventana, and micht nocht tak
the samin, they past to the toun of Verrugo, and tuke it fra the Volschis, and eftir the taking thareof, thay maid grete incursioun on the
landis of Equis and Volschis. And as the small pepill gat victorie
in Rome, usand quhat commites thay desirit maist, sa in the end of
thir commites the Faderis war victorius, for in the same thre tribunis militare war creat, all patricianis, and war namit C. Julius Iulus, P. Cornelius Cossus, C. Servilius Ahala. It is said the patricianis dressit this mater be ane crafty subtell slicht, for thay mengit
ane cumpany of vile and unwourthypersouns amang the nobil persouns
of the ciete, all cled together in quhite habit. Thus war the pepill
drawin be haterent of thir vile persouns, fra the plebeanis to the patricianis.
Quhen the Equis and Volschis war in this wise movit to extreme
furie of batall, becaus the toun of Verrugo wes tane, or ellis in esperance that Carventana micht nocht be tane, tithingis come that the
Equis and Volschis war movand batall with all power and ordinance
that micht be devisit. The principall movaris of this batall war the
Antiates, quhilk send thare legatis baith to the Equis and Volchis,
accusand thame of sleuth, that thay liand within thare wallis and
strenthis, sufferit thare lands the yere afore to be destroyit be incursioun of Romanis, and als sufferit the buschmentis laid at Verrugo to
be murdrist, and now not only war armit battalis, bot als sindry Romane colonyis send in thare landis. Attoure, the Romanis has nocht
devidit the landis that thay wan amang thameself, bot has given

THE FEIRD BUKE.

885

thame to the Hernikis, as may be provin be the landis of Florentine.
The curage of Volschis and Equis wes sa gretely inflammit be thir
wourdis, that all the young and lusty men of baith thir pepil, war
writtin up and come with arrayit batal to the toun of Ancium, and
sett doun thare tentis, abiding thare inemyis.
Quhen the novellis war schawin in Rome, with mare noyis and
fame than wes of verite, the last refuge in all hie trubil wes socht,
that is to say, the senate commandit ane dictator to be create, quhilk
thing wes richt displesand to the tribunis militare, specially to Julius
and Cornelius. This besines wes ekit be grete contencioun, for the
princis of Faderis complenit, howbeit it wes in vane, that the tri=
bunis militare wes nocht undir the authorite of the senate, and askit
tharefore the tribunis of pepill to come to thare supporte. The tribunis of pepill, glade of this discord amang the Faderis, said, Thay
micht mak na supporte, becaus thay war nouthir estimeit amang the
noumer of the cieteyanis, nor yit amang the noumer of men; and
tharefore thay wald do na othir thing bot alanerly mak punicioun to
that fine, that the decrete of senate war nocht frustrate be ony pridefull authorite in the ciete, for gif the patricianis war for to use lawis
and magistratis as thay plesit, thay wald exerce the office of tribunis
be thameself. This discensioun occupyit the mindis of pepil in ane
unganand time, specially quhen gretest dangir and maist weris apperit be inemyis.
At last, quhen Julius and Cornelius, two of the tribunis militare
foresaid, had declarit that it wes ane thing richt inconvenient to deprive thame of thare honouris, be eleccioun of ane dictatorie, be ressoun that thay war sufficient ineuch to lede ony armye; incontinent
comperit the thrid tribune militare, namit Servilius Ahala, and said,
" I have kepit silence lang ineuch, nocht that I wes ignorant, and
" wist nocht quhat I suld have said, for na gude cieteyane wil sever
"his counsel fra the public counsel; yit I had levir my collegis sub" mit thame to the auctorite of the senate, than to suffir the power
"of tribunis of pepill to be desirit in support aganis thame. For"thir, gif the mater that presentlie occurris micht suffir, he wald
"gladelie gif time and place to thare wikkit and thrawart opinioun;
" bot sen the necessite of weris micht nocht lang abide lang delacioun,
" he thocht the public weil wes mare plesand to him than ony favoure
3c

386

TITUS LIVIUS.

" of his collegis. Herefore, gif the senate stude at thare opinioun,
" he wald create ane dictator in the nicht following, and gif ony man
" wald impesch the samin be auctorite of the senate, he wald stand
" content, and desist tharefra."
Quhen Servilius had conquest, be thir wourdis, interminate loveing
and favoure of all the pepill, he create Pub. Cornelius dictator, and
the said Cornelius maid him maister of the chevelrie.
Thus wes Servilius ane notabil exempill to his collegis, that grace
and honoure ar ay the mare plesand that thay cum undesirit. This
batall wes nocht richt notabil, for the inemyis war discomfist at Ancium, bot ony grete difficulte. The dictator, with his victorius army,
waistit the landis of Volschis, and tuke the castell that stude at the
loch of Fucine, in quhilk war takin Iv.M. men. The residew of
Volschis war chasit to thare strenthis, and maid na defence for thare
landis. The batell beand led on this maner, the dictator, to that
fine, that he sall nocht appere failye to fortoun, returnit to Rome
with mare felicite than ony glore, and exonerit himself of the dictatorie.

CAP. XXII.
How the Romanis send legatis to Veanis, to desire redres of gudis
be thame tane. How the Veanis war superseditfor the civil divisioun amang thame. How the Volschis slew ane garnisoun of
Romanis, and tuke the castell of Verrugo; and how the said Volschis war eftir discomfist be the Romanis.
HE tribunis militare, bot ony mencioun of commites
consulare, proclamit new comites for creacioun of tribunis militare. The caus thareof wes the haterent that
thay bure aganis the dictator The Faderis tuke grete
sollicitude in thare mindis, seand thare caus betrasit be thare awne
companyeouns. And as in the yere afore, the clething of unwourthy persouns in quhite vestoure, causit the pepil to gif thare votis to
the maist nobil persouns in the ciete, sa at this time the principall

THE FEIRD BUKE.

387

Faderis schane with sic glore and renoune of vertew, that thay prevenit all the plebeanis, and left na place to thame to cum to honouris.
Thus war iv. tribunis militare create, quhilkis war al cled with the
samin dignite afore. Thare namis war L. Furius Medullinus, C. Valerius Potitus, N. Fabius Vibulanus, C. Servilius Ahala. This Servilius wes continewit in his office, for his mony excellent vertewis,
and for the favouris that the Faderis had to him onelie in to his moderacioun.
In this yere ran oute the trewis maid afore betwix the Romanis
and Veanis, and tharefore the Romanis send thare legatis and fecialis to the toun of Veos, desirand redres of the gudis tane be thame
within trewis. And quhen the saidis legatis war cumin to the bordouris, met thame the legatis of Veanis, requirand thame to pas nocht
to the toun of Veos, quhil thay had vesyit the Romane senate. It
wes grantit be the senate, becaus the Veanis war dividit be civil dissensiounis amang thai self, that na redres sall be socht on thame for
this time. Na thing wes tint be this legacioun, bot onelie that the
Romanis, be othir mennis dammage, gat oportunite to invaid thare
inemyis. The Volschis, be new injuris, slew the garnisoun of Romanis, that wes laid for defence of Verrugo. And quhen the men of
armes thareof war assegeit be the Volschis, thay send to Rome for
supporte. Treuth is, that supporte micht have bene send, gif diligence had bene maid; and, howbeit ane army was finalie send, it
come to lait, for at thare cuming thay fand the inemyis wide skatterit at thar incursioun, all bludy be recent slauchter of Romanis, and
tharefore thay war sone opprest and vincust. The wite that this
army wes nocht send in time, was mare in the senate, than in the
tribunis; for the senate herand that the knichtis of Verrugo faucht
aganis thare inemyis with sa soverane manhede, belevit, howbeit it
wes imprudentlie, it wes nocht possibil to vincus thame. Allwayis
thir maist forcy campiouns war nocht slane unrevengit eftir nor
afore thare deith; for afore thare deith thay slew mony inemyis with
thair awne handis; and eftir thare deith the inemyis war vincust in
the same maner.

TITUS LIVIUS.
~388

388

CAP. XXIII.
Of the wiekkit answer maid be Veanis for redres of gudis. How
Volschis; and of the frst
the towne of A1nxur wes tanefra
to the armye. How
time that wageis war commandit to be
ane armye wes send to sege Veos; and how baith the castell and
toun ofArtena wes tane be Romanis.

the

0

pait

o N the nixt yere, Pub. Cornelius, and C. Cornelius, Fa-

bius Ambustus, and L. Valerius, war maid tribunis militare, with power consulare.
batall wes movit in
0othis yere aganis the Veanis, for the pridefull answere
that the senate of Veos gaif to the Romane legatis, quhilk war send to
thame, desiring redres of certane gudis takin afore fra Romanis
within trewis. The senate of Veos answerit, Gif the'Romane legatis
departit nocht richt haistelie out of thare landis, thay sal be punist
on the samin maner as the legatis war punist afore be Laertes Tolumnius. The Faderis, havand hie indignacioun at this answer, do.
clarit the tribunis nilitare, to-inak mencioun on the morow to the pepil for leding of batall aganis the Veanis.
sone as the batall wes denuncit, al the yong men of Rome began to rummiis, saying, The Volschis war nocht as yit uttirlie vincust,

The

Als

for twa garnisouns of Romanis war laitlie slane be thame.

Forthir,

thare is nevir ane yere in quhilk thay may sit in quiet, bot ay feehtand ; and, as thay war than penitent of all laubouris bigane, thay
war preparand ane new batall aganis ane maist pussant pepil, thare

nixt nichbouris, quhilkis suld rais aganis thame. all Hethrurie. Abone
thir wourdis, said be young men, cum the tribunis of pepil, saying,
Thare wes ane huge batall depending betwix the Faderis and small
pepil..

The Faderis set thare

besines

to trubil the pepil every "day

with new inemyis, and desiring thame ay, to be fer fra thare, awne
houssis ; to that fine, thay sal nocht remembir thare liberte as thay
wald do gif thay war at hame in quiet, nor yit to tak consultacioun
to disponis on the colonis or public landis, or yit to gif

frelie thare

THE FEIRD BUKE.

389

votis concerning thare materis. Than the tribunis brocht afore the
pepil the agit knichtis, and schew how mony divers times thay had
fochtin in arrayit batall with inemyis, and quhat woundis and wannis
thay had gottin in thare bodyis, and inquirit the Faderis, quhat place
wes left hale in all thare bodyis to ressave ony new woundis, and
qnhat blude wes left now in thare body to be sched for the public
weil. Quhen the tribunis, with thir and sic like conciouns, had drawin
the pepil fra batall, the time wes, as thay allegit, ganand to pronunce
the law agrarie; for the said law apperit, gif it war ony forthir subjeckit to invie, alluterlie to peris.
In the mene time, the tribunis militare thocht expedient to pas
with ane army of the landis of Volschis; ane of thame, namit C. Cornelius, abade in Rome. The remanent thre tribunis, seand nocht
thare inemyis campit in the feildis, nor yit abill to gif batall, partit
thame in sindry cumpanyis to mak incursiouns in the Volschis landis.
Valerius past to Ancium; Cornelius went to the toun of Ecetras.
Thir twa tribunis militare maid grete hereschippis on the Volschis in
al partis quhare thay yeid; bot Fabius past, but ony incursiouns, the
nerrest way to Anxur, quhilk is now callit Tarracina, ane toun circulit with miris on the ta side. Fabius began to sege the toun on the
same side, and commandit Servilius Ahala to pas with foure grete
buschmentis to sege the tothir side of the toun; and, eftir that the
said Servilius had tane ane litil montane nere approcheand to the sade
toun, becaus thare wes na garnisoun of men lade on that side, thay
ruschit doun of the montane to the wallis of the toun, and invadit the
samin with grete noyis and clamoure; and, throw this noyis and clamoure, thay that faucht aganis Fabius on the tothir side, war sa astonist, that thay cum haistelie to defend that parte of the toun quhare
Servilius wes, and left the tothir parte quhare Fabius wes but ony
defens. Incontinent, Fabius put ledderis to the wallis, and, belive,
all the toun wes full of inemyis. The slauchter continewit lang time
on the wallis, of men fleand and resistand, armit and unarmit. The
cieteyanis, seand thame murdrist but ony mercy, renewit batall, with
purpois to haif fochtin with perseverand manhede to the deith. It
wes than proclamit, that na man suld be slane bot armit men. Incontinent, all the cieteyanis randerit thare wappinnis at anis, and war
takin presdneris to the noumer of MM.D. Fabius wald nocht suffir

390

TITUS LIVIUS.

ony pray to be forthir tane, quhil the cuming of his colleigis; for he
said, the toun wes nocht tane be thame that enterit, hot erare be thame
that gart the inemyis fle fra defens of that parte of the toun quhare
thay enterit. Eftir the cuming of his colleigis thay spulyeit the
toun, quhilk wes richt riche.
This benevolence done be the empriouris wes the first thing that
recounsalit the Faderis to the pepil; and, to continew the pepil in
thare benevolence, the Faderis commandit, that the knichtis and men
of were sal haif, in times cuming, thare wageis payit to thame of the
public tressoure; for, afore this time, ilk man past to the were on his
awne expens. The pepil herd nevir afore this time sa joyus tithingis;
and incontinent thay went to the courte, and tuke ay the Faderis be
the hand as thay cum furth, saying, Thay may be weil callit Faderis;
and confessit, sen sic liberalite war schawin to thame, that na man
suld spare his body, his blude, nor his life, for defens of the ciete or
public weil in times cuming, becaus ilk man fand proffit be this way.
Apperit, thay sal be in quiet sa lang as thay war in public lauboure.
Forthir, becaus this liberalite of Faderis cum nouthir be solicitacioun
of the pepil nor tribunis, the thankis thareof wes gevin alanerlie to
the Faderis. Thus war all persouns blyth in the ciete, except onelie
the tribunis of pepil, for thay allegit, the mater wes nocht of sa grete
proffite as wes belevit, for it wes mair plesand at the first face than it
micht be eftir. " Quhare sal this money be gottin," said the tribunis,
"that is to be gevin for the wageis, bot gif it be tane be tributis on
" the pepil. Quhat othir thing has the Faderis done in giving thir
'*wageis, bot onelie has maid largicioun of othir mennis gudis. And
"howbeit sic largiciouns war suffirit be the remanent cieteyanis and
" Faderis of the ciete, yit the samin sal nocht be suffirit be the auld
"and failyeit knichtis; for thay will nocht suffir that ony man haif
"bettir fortoun and rewarde for thare chevelrie in times cuming, than
"thay haif gottin in times bigane." The tribunis, be thir wourdis,
movit ane parte of the pepil. At last, quhen the tribute wes commandit to be payit, the tribunis promittit to supporte all thame that
resistit or refusit the same. Nochtheles, the Faderis thocht this mater sa weil begun, that thay wald defend it with perseverance; and
set thameself to be the first that sal pay the tribute: and, becaus na
silver wes as yit prentit in Rome, thay cunyeit grete soumes of brasin

THE FEIRD BUKE.

891

money, and brocht the samin in wanis to the tressoure hous. Als
sone as the senate had gevin faithfully the tribute, the princis of small
pepil, quhilkis war freindis to the nobillis, began to gif thare tributis
on the samin maner. Quhen the small pepil saw thare principallis
lovit be the senate as gude cieteyanis, thay set aside all supporte of
tribunis of pepil, and contendit quhay suld first pay the tribute.
Now wes the batall denuncit to Veanis, and ane army rasit of gude
willy knichtis, quhilk wes led to Veos be thir new tribunis militare,
Ti. Quincius Capitolinus, Q. Cincinnatus, C. Julius Iulus, A. Manlius, L. Furius Medullinus, and M. Emilius Mamercinus. Thir war
the first men that lade ony sege to the toun of Veos. During this
sege the Hethruschis convenit with frequent cumpanyis at the tempil
of Voltumna, to tak consultacioun gif thay with utir power sal defend
the Veanis. The sege continewit mare slaulie in the secund yere
than it did in the first, for the maist parte of the tribunis war drevin
fra the sege of Veos to fecht aganis the Volschis.
In the nixt yere war maid tribunis militare, C. Valerius Potitus,
Sergius Fidenates, P. Cornelius Maluginensis, C. Cornelius Cossus,
K. Fabius Ambustus, Spu. Naucius Rutilus. Thir tribunis militare faucht with the Volschis, with displayit baner, betwix the wod
of Ferentine and the toun of Ecetras, and war victorius; and, eftir this
victorie, thay lade ane sege to ane small toun of Volschis, namit Artena. Thay that war within ischit at ane skarmusche, bot thay war
chasit with grete slauchter agane in the toun. The Romanis finalie
tuke the toun, nochtwithstanding thir defensis, perfors; bot thay
couth nocht get the castel, for within it war mony werly buschementis of armit men, of quham war mony woundit and tane eftir. This
castel wes lang segeit, bot it micht nocht be tane; for it wes nocht
onelie weil garnist bot als in it war all the vittallis of the toun of Artena: and thus it had nevir bene tane, war nocht it wes betrasit be
ane servand, quhilk ressavit thame at ane secrete place; and, fra the
wache wes slane, the remanent war sone opprest, and randerit but ony
straik. Quhen baith the toun and castel of Artena war cassin doun,
all the army wes brocht hame fra the Volschis, and wes laid to the
toun of Veos. The servand that betrasit the toun wes maid freman,
and all the gudis pertenand to twa houssis gevin to him in rewarde.
He wes callit the servand of Romanis.

392

TITUS LIVIUS.

Sum belevis, that Artena wes ane toun of Veanis, and nocht ane
toun of Volschis. The caus of thare erroure wes, betwix the toun of
Veos and Cere wes ane toun namit Artena, quhilk wes distroyit mony yeris afore be the Romane kingis; bot this toun that we speik of
stude nocht in the Veanis landis, bot in the landis of Volschis, and
wes distroyit as said is.

AND SA ENDIS HERE THE TRANSLATIOUN
OF THE FEIRD BUKE
OF TITUS LIVIUS.

HERE BEGINNIS THE FIFT BUKE
OF

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. I.
the Romanis create viii. tribunis militare; and how the Veanis
create ane King; and of the grete ordinance of batall maid on
athir hand. Of the feirs orisoun maid be the tribunis of pepil

How

aganis the continuacioun of weris in the winter sesoun.

O

O

j~J
o

a

S
0oiIIfIIJIIIiIIo

Urrois

Rome had pece with mony inemyis,

yit the Romanis and Veanis war at were with
sic ire and haterent, that nocht apperit bot utir
distruccioun to thame that war vincust. The
commites of thir two pepil war haldin in divers

j~J

maneris and sindry wayis. The IRomanis create
o tribunis militare, with mare noumer than ever
wes create afore ; for viii. tribunis militare, with power consulare,
war create, quhais namis war M. Emilius Mamercinus, Ap. Claudius
Crassus, M. Furius Camillus, M. Posthumius, M. Quinctilius Varus,
L. Julius lulus, M. Posthumius Albinus, L. Valerius Potitus.
side, the Veanis war sa faschit be continuall ambiOn the
cioun and desire of honouris, quhilk is oft times occasioun of sedi-

tothir

3D

394,

TITUS LIVIUS.

cioun, that thay create ane King, quhilk thing commovit gretumlie
the mindis of the Hethruschis, havand na les haterent at him that
wes create King of Veanis, than thay had aganis the empire of kingdomes. This King, afore his eleccioun, wes richt odius and displesand to the pepil, nocht onelie for his hie pride and riches, bot als
for breking of the solempne ceremonis of playis, quhilk thingis war unleful to be done. This King of Veanis, havand extreme ire and indignacioun in his minde, for the repuls maid to him be the pepil,
eftir that ane othir preist wes preferrit to him, be suffrage of xii. pepil, he tuke away the craftismen and playaris, of quhilkis the maist
parte war his awne servandis, fra the mid padyane of thir playis.
Thus interruppit he the play; and becaus the Hethruschis war ane
crafty and excellent pepil in the sacrifice of playis, and maist gevin
to the religioun thareof, thay denyit supple to the Veanis, sa lang as
thay stude under the governance of this King. Yit the fame and
rumoure thareof was haldin doun amang the Veanis for fere of the
King; for he that wald have schewin sic thingis, suld nocht have
bene repute for ane autor of new sermoun, bot erare for ane movare
of sedicioun.
Howbeit the Romanis war surelie advertist, that na trubil nor mocioun of batall wes approcheand to thame be the Hethruschis, yit,
becaus it wes said the Hethruschis tuke grete consultacioun in all
thare materis concerning provisioun of batall, thay garnist thameself
with sindry municiouns in all partis. For sumtime thay maid municioun for defence of thare ciete, and sumtime to resist the irrupciouns
of inemyis out of townis adjacent, and sumtime thay lade strang garnisoun fornentis the fronteris of Hethruria, to resist all incursiounis,
gif ony occurrit. And becaus the Romane capitanis had esperance
to tak the townis of inemyis, erare be lang continuacioun of sege
than be haisty assalt, thay began to mak sic thingis as war nevir maid
afore, that is to say, to mak wintir schelis to defend thame fra wintir
stormis. Thus concludit the Romanis to continew batall on thare
inemyis, and to ly under the winter schelis.
Als sone as this mater wes brocht afore the tribunis of pepil, howbeit lang time afore thay culd find na mater of new novacioun, thay
callit the pepil to ane concioun, solistand the mindis of small pepil to
new sedicioun, and said, " 0 Quirites, this is the fine for quhilk the

THE FIFT BUKE.
"Cwageis sal be gevin to you.

595

Knaw ye nocht how thir wageis war
" invennomit be poisoun of inemyis; for the liberte of small pepil is
" nocht onelie said, bot all the young men of Romane pepil perpe" tualie banist fra thare ciete and public weil. Nane of you sal have
' quiete nor rest in winter, nor yit in na othir sesoun of the yere.
"" Ye sal be thirlit to sic servitude, than nane of you sal have liberte
" to returne hame, nor to use your housis and gudis. Quhat, beleve
" ye, 0 Quirites, is this the caus that youre chevelrie is continewit
"'in this sorte ? Soithlie ye sal find na othir cans, bot onelie that the
" young men of the ciete, in quhilkis standis alanerlie defence of
" small pepil, sal be sa waistit and brocht to few noumer, that na
" thing sal be tretit concerning your commodite or proffitt. Thus ar
" the, young and forcy Romanis nocht onelie vexit, bot als put under
" mare scharp yoik than the Veanis ; for the Veanis pas oure thare
' winter stormis under thare housis, defending thare ciete be the na" turale situacioun thareof. Be contrare, the young men of Rome,
" exercit in ithand travel and lauboure, opprest with snawis and win"'ter stormes, growis hard under skinnis, nocht voding thare armoure
" and wappinnis in time of'winter. Howbeit nature has ordanit every
" batallis, baith of sey and land, to have rest during the winter sesoun.
" Sic inoportune and cruel servitude," said the tribunis, " wes nocht
" commandit to us during the empire of kingis; nor yit wes it devisit
" be proude consulis, afore the creacioun of tribunis; nor yit wes it
" hantit afore the sorowfull empire of dictatouris; nor yit wes sic in"oportune servitude injunit to us be the x. men, that our chevelrie
" sal have na end. Quhat sal the tribunis militare exerce be thare
"kingdomes abone the small pepil ? Quhat sal the consulis and dic" tatouris do, that has made the image of proconsulis sa cruell and
"scharp ? Al thir trubillis ar nocht cumin but gude ressoun; for
"quhen viii. tribunis militare war create, na place wes left to ane
" plebeane. The patricianis usit afore, and nocht but grete difficulte,
" to cheis bot thre tribunis militare; bot now the patricianis, beand
" v rii. junit togidder under ane yoik, pass to obtene the empire; yit,
" amang al this grete noumer, thare culd nocht ane plebeane be cho"sin. And howbeit nane othir thing war, yit ressoun suld persuade,
" that the knichtis and men of armes be fre during the winter sesoun

~396
TITUS LIVIUS.

396

"to returne to thare housis, and vesy thare wiffis and barnis, exer"cing the gift of liberte in creacioun of magistratis and officis, as thay
"war wount to do."

CAP. II.

Ap.

Claudius to Romane pepil,
Of the vehement orisounr made be
aganis this last orisoun of'tribunis, schewand the mony evident
ressouns, na thing sa proftittabil as to continew the army at Veos,
and never depart tharefra, quhil it war tape.
UHEN the tribunis war criand fast thir wourdis, thay fand

ane adversare als scharpe aganis thame, that is to say,
Ap. Claudius, quhilk wes instrukkit, and left be his col-

legis, to resist the sedicioun of pepil; for he wes continually exercit fra his first youth with contenciouns of small pepil,
and ane stout lauborare mony yeris to frugfir
auctorite of tribunis
be interposicioun of thare collegis.
This Appius wes, as said is, nocht onelie reddy of ingine of witt,
hot als continually exercit in trubil and contenciouns of plebeanis;
said in this wise, " Gif ever it wes afore doutit,
Quirites, quhethir
"the tribunis rasit continuall sedicioun in the ciete for thare awne
"Ccause, or for the pepil, it may be discussit in this present yere but
" ony dout. Soithlie am gretumlie rejosit, that the, end of sa lang
"anddoutsumn errouris is made patent to you, speciallie becaus this
"doutsum errour is now tane away fra you in youre grete felicite.
"Thus am I rejosit, baith for youreself and youre public weil. Is
" thare ony man that doutis, that evir the tribunis. of pepil war sa
" commovit be your injuris, gif evir ony injuris war done to thame,
"as thay war at this time, quhen the Faderis schew thare grete libe"ralite to the smal pepil, that is to say, quhen the Faderis com" mandit wageis to be gevin in times cuming to men that fechtis in
"batall Quhat othir thing beleif ye, that the tribunis dred to
?
"low.be geving of thir wageis, hot concorde to he gevin amang the
" ordouris ? Quhat othir thing desiris thir tribunis to trubil this day,

the
0

I

fol-

THE FIFT BUKE.

397

' bot onelie the concorde amang the estatis; beleving fermlie, that
" al power of tribuniciane auctorite sal be utirlie dissolvit, gif con" corde continew in the ciete. Thus may we se that the tribunis, as
" wikkit craftismen, seikis ay sum besines, be quhilkis the public
" weil sal be haldin in perpetuall trubil, that we may desire thame
' to cum and put remede thareto. Declare this mater, 0 ye tribunis
'" of pepil: Quhiddir ar ye invasouris, or ar ye defendouris of smal
" pepil ? Quhidder ar ye inemyis or freindis to the knichtis and men
" of armes ; or wil ye say quhatsumevir thing plesis the Faderis to
" be done, quhidder it be done outhir for the weil or dammage of
" smal pepil, is displesand to you ? For as the maisteris inhibitis the
" servandis to have ony cumpany with uncouth men, and nouthir to
" do gude nor evil werkis with thame, sa do ye tribunis makis inhi" bicioun to the smal pepil to have na cumpany with the Faderis, to
" that fine, that nouthir sal we draw the smal pepil be plesoure nor
" liberaliteis in oure favoure, nor yit sal the smal pepil be obedient to
" oure chargis.
" Forthir, gif ony humanite war in you, for I speik nocht of ony
" civilite, ye suld favoure concorde, and gif youre laubouris to have
" baith the favouris of Faderis and service of small pepil. Quha
"doutis, gif perpetuall concorde war amang the estatis, bot the Ro" manis suld have, within schort time, the maist riche and pussant
"empire of ony pepil liand thame about? I wil schew you hereeftir,
"how the counsell that my collegis gaif, to bring nocht away the
" armye fra the toun of Veos, quhil it war tane, wes nocht onelie
" proffittabil, bot as necessare. Bot now, in this present orisoun, I
"wil speik sumthing concerning the maner how oure armye lyis now
"at Veos. This orisoun, as I beleif, sal nocht onelie be repute juste
" and resonabil afore you, bot als afore the armye, suppois be sum
"parte repugnant thareto.
" Forthir, gif I couth find na thing that wes wourthy to be said in
"my orisoun, I suld gif place to the orisoun said be my adversaris,
"the tribunis of pepil. And first, quhare thay say na wageis aucht
"to be gevin to the armye, be resoun that na wageis war payit afore,
"quhy suld thir tribunis have indignacioun, sen the army is put to
"new pyne and laubouris, that sum new commodite and proffitt be
" ekit in recumpence of thare pyne. Thare suld na lauboure be

898

TITUS LIVIUS.

' tane but proffitt; and, be contrare, na proffitt suld be hald but

lauboure; howbeit plesoure and lauboure ar fer different fra uthir
in thare nature, yit thay ar knitt togidder amang thameself be naturall societe and alliance. The knichtis thocht hevy afore to fecht
for defence of public weil on thare awne expens, and yit thay rejo" sit to have ane parte of the yere fre, baith to manure thare landis,
" and to seik sum commoditeis and proffittis to defend thare wiffis
" and barnis at hame, and thareself in time of batall. Let thame
" now rejose that the public weil succedis to thare grete proffitt; and
" sen thay ressave thare wageis with grete plesoure, and spendis na
" thing of thare awne, let thame suffir thameself plesandlie to absent
" fra thare housis and wiffis langare space than thay afore war accus" tumate. Quhat and the public weil call him to ane compt, may it
" nocht be said to him of gude resoun, thou has yerelie wageis, suffir
" thareof yerelie laubouris; thinkis thou it resoun that thou ressavis
" wage for ane hale yere, and fechtis nocht bot for sex monethis ? O
" Quirites, I tary you langare with this mater in my orisoun than I
""wald. All men that usis feabil wageouris suld use thare knichtis
" on this way; bot we wil use our knichtis nocht as wageouris, bot
" erare as oure cieteyanis; for we think it ressonabil that al materis
" be tretit betwix us and you, oure knichtis, as betwix us and oure
" native cuntre. Tharefore, returning to the secund parte of my
" orisoun, I say, that outhir this were suld nocht have bene begun,
" or ellis it suld have bene led effering to the dignite of Romane pe" pil; and gif it be led effering to the majeste thareof, it is necessare
" that it be endit with diligence; and it sal be endit be na uthir way,
" bot to sege the Veanis, and never departe tharefra, quhil thare toun
" be first tane; and thocht thare war na uthir occasioun to continew
"at the said sege, yit the wrangis be thame injustlie done suld move
" us to persevere in continuall sege, quhil thare toun wes tane. Wes
" nocht Troye sumtime assegeit be all the princis of Grece conti" nualie ten yeris, for reffising of ane woman ? How fer wes thay fra
" thare awne housis, be quhat landis and seyis ? Bot we irk, and may
" nocht suffir to continew ane yere at the sege of ane toun, that is in
" sicht of oure ciete, and within the xx. stane tharefra. Gif ony
" than wald say the caus of oure were is to small, nocht proceding of
" sic displesere and indignacioun, that it suld caus us to continew in
"
"
"
"

THE FIFT BUKE

399

" sic maner and awfull sege aganis thame, I say, the Veanis has re' bellit mare than vii. times, and war nevir trew to us in time of
' pece, and has maid M. sindry reifis in oure landis. Thay war
" the caus that the Fidenatis rebellit aganis us; thay slew our colo" nis, and gaif occasioun, contrare the law of pepil, to slay our le" gatis; thay wald have rasit all Hethruria aganis us, and yit lau" bouris the samin so fer as thay may. War nocht oure legatis, that
" we send latelie for redres of gudis, almaist slane be thame ? Suld
" we than differ batall, or lede it softlie aganis thame ? Gif sic just
"haterent may nocht move you to batall,J pray the goddis that thir
" thingis move you nouthir; that is to say, the toun of Veos is beltit
" on every side with huge municiouns and wallis, within the quhilk
" oure inemyis ar inclusit with grete anxiete. Thay lauboure nocht
" thare landis, and thare wine yardis ar waistit with weris. Gif we
" remove oure army, quhay doutis, bot oure inemyis sal nocht onelie
' with brim haterent revenge oure displesouris, bot als, becaus thay
" ar waistit and made pure, thay sal mak frequent incursiouns in our
" landis.
" Thus may ye se, gif we desist fra the sege, we differ nocht the
" batall, bot ressavis it within the bosum of our landis. Consider now,
" that na thing is sa ganand for men of were as wageis; and howbeit
"the gude tribunis wald haif reft the samin fra the knichtis in the
"beginning, yit thay consenitit thareto at this time. Now has our
"knichtis lyne lang at the said toun, and, be huge lauboure, has in"clusit thameself on every side with fowsyis and trinchis. In the
"beginning, thay maid bot ane few castellis; bot now, sen thare ar"my wes ekit, thay haif maid mony, and has maid nocht onelie mu" niciouns fornens the said ciete of Veos, bot als fornens all othir
"partis of Hethruria, to resist every succurs or supple that micht
" cum tharefra. Quhat sal I speik of towris, sowis, braid targis, and
"other sindry inginis that thay maid to win the toun; and sen thay
" haif maid sa huge laubouris, and the end thareof sa nere approche" and, think ye expedient that thir thingis sal be left now, and, agane
" the cuming of the nixt somer, the same lauiboure to be newlie beHow small lauboure is it to behold the thing that is done,
"gun.
" or to renewe the samin with perseverance quhil it be done. The

400

TITUS LIVIUS.

" sege sal nocht lang indure, sa it be continewit undir ane time, and
" minnis nocht our esperance be differring.
" Now will I speik to you of the grete laubouris and tinsell of time
" that sal cum to us gif we leif the sege; quhat perrell sal cum to us
" gif we differ the sege ? Belief ye, that we may forget thir frequent
" counsellis haldin in all partis of Hethruria, concerning the supple
" to be send to Veos? Now, as the mater standis, the Hethruschis
"' sa commovit aganis the Veanis for creacioun of thare king, that
ar
"'thay will send na supporte. Now may the ciete of Veos be tane;
" bot quhilk is he that dar promitt, gif the batall be differrit, that the
" Hethruschis sal haif the same minde aganis the Veanis as thay haif
" now ? Gif we suffir the Veanis to haif rest, thay sal send mony freC" quent legaciouns to all partis of Hethrurie for supple. Forthir, the
" Veanis, seand thameself odius to the Hethruschis for creacioun of
" the king, may change thare purpois gif thay haif rest; and to that
" fine, thay may be recounseld with the Hethruschis; outhir sal thay
" depone thare king be universale consent of thare ciete, or ellis the
" king, for the weil of his cieteyanis, sal depone himself, nocht suf' fering himself to be continewit king in perdicioun of his cieteyanis.
" Consider now quhat irrecoverabil mischeiffis ar to cum haistelie on
" us gif we follow the counsale of thame that biddis us leif the sege;
"that is to say, the tinsell of sic thingis that ar now maid with huge
"lauboure for taking of the toun, and infinite hereschippis in owre
"landis, and all the Hethruschis to cum haistelie armit on us, for
" defens of Veanis. Thir ar youre wikkit counsellis, 0 tribunis;
" comparit to evil medicinaris, that makis thame to cure ane seik
"man, and eftir that the seik man has sufferit himself to be diet fra
"metis and drinkis, and beginnis to convalesce, this wikkit medici" nare gevis him delicius metis and drinkis, to caus him fall in ane
" uncouth and mare uncurabill infirmite than afore. And thocht na
" thing of Romane providence pertenit to this batall, yit sa far as
" pertenis to the discipline of chevelrie, necessare is, that our knichtis
" be continually exercit, and haif experience nocht onelie to use vic" torie quhen it occurris, bot als to suffir miserie and trubil eftir maist
"feliciteis, abiding the end of gude fortoun thocht it be slow, and to
"end the batall in winter gif it be nocht endit in the somer, to that

THE FIFT BUKE.

401

" fine, that our knichtis sal nocht follow the maner and condicioun
" of somer fowlis, quhilkis flies, als sone as hervist cummis, to sum
" bene hous or secrete hollis to be thare habitacioun. I pray you, 0
" Romane pepil, remembir, that game and plesere of hunting drawis
" men to strate montanis, and woddis full of frost and snawis. Quhy
" suld we nocht suffir than siclike austerite and scharpnes, quhare ne" cessite of batall occurris, as we use to suffir for plesere and delitis?
" May we beleif the bodyis of our knichtis sa effeminate, and thare
" mindis sa soft, that thay may nouthir ly ane winter in thare tentis,
"nor yit be absent ane winter fra thare housis? Beleif ye, owre
" knichtis to be like ane navy, that kepis the time and sessoun of the
" yere, to saif thame fra all bitter violence of weddir, as thay that
" may nouthir suffir hete nor cauld ? Let owre knichtis eschame to
" here sic thingis objeckit aganis thame; let thame strive to haif
" baith manlie pacience and curage in thare bodyis, that may lede
" batall als weil in winter as somer, and nocht to seik support of
" tribunis in sic thingis as may mak thame febil or effeminate; re" membring thare progenitouris establit nocht the estait of chevelrie
' to ly in schaddois, nor to slepe undir thare housis.
" Thir thingis ar maist semand to knichtis and Romane pepil,
" nocht onelie to sustene the sege of Veos, and the batall presentlie
" occurring, bot to seik renoun baith to uthir batallis and pepil that
" sal cum eftir us in times cuming. Beleif ye now, that ony litil
" dammage sal follow gif your opinioun be sustenit in this mater?
" Beleif ye, that owre nichtbouris sal drede us in times cuming, seand
"thare townis debate aganis the violence of owre schort sege ? Is
" nocht owre name sa fereful, that, fra owre army be laid to ane toun,
"na irksummes-of remote and fer sege, na storme nor cauld in win"ter, may remove the samin quhil the toun be won perforce that
"thay sege; for Romane pepil knawis na othir fine of batall bot
" victorie, and ledis batall als wele be perseverance as be violent
"preis: for perseverance in all kinde of chevelrie is necessare, and
" specially in segeing of townis; for mony townis, be natural situa"cioun and municioun, ar invincibil; nochtheles lang process of time
"vincussis thame be hungir and thrist, as the toun of Veos sal be
" vincust, les than the tribunis of pepil supporte owre inemyis, and

402

TITUS LIVIUS.

" caus thame find mair supple in Rome than thay can find in all He" thrurie. Is thare ony thing that may cum sa plesand to the Veanis,
" as to here, first, owre ciete full of sedicioun, and, secundlie, owre
" tentis full of pest and seiknes ?
Ye se amang owre inemyis is sic
" temperance and fervent concorde, that nouthir irksummes of lang
sege, nor yit novacioun of the kingdome, nor yit the repuls that
" the Hethruschis has maid to thame denying supple, may caus ony
" of thame to be commovit aganis ane uthir; and has statute, quhat"evir he be that makis ony sedicioun amang thame sal be slane.
" Forthir, it is nocht lefull to speik sic thingis amang thame but pu" nicioun as ar spoken amang you. Quhatsumevir persoun, thare" fore, that passis fra his ensenye, or fra his stacioun and place
" quhare he is ordanit to remane, deservis to be doung with ane sting
" to his grete pyne. Nochtheles, thir men that laubouris maist to
" caus owre ensenyeis and tentis to be desertit and left, gettis nocht
" onelie audience with ane or twa prive knichtis, bot als ar herde be
" the hale army in thare public concioun. Ane thing is tharefore,
" 0 Quirites, quhatevir the tribunis of pepil say in thare concioun,
" thocht it war to betrais the cuntre, or to dissolve the commoun" weil, the samin war delicius and plesand to your eris. Ye ar sa
" tane with the swetenes of thare power, that ye suffir all maner of
" crimes and iniquiteis lurke undir the samin. Na thing now restis
" undone, bot the said tribunis to corrup the armye, and cry amang
' the tentis the same wourdis that thay cry here in the ciete, and
" rais sic sedicioun, that the knichtis sal nocht obey to thare dukis,
" for, at last, the liberte of Rome sal be brocht to sic fine, that nou" thir sal the senate, nor magistratis, nor lawis, nor maneris of owre
" eldaris, nor the institutis of our faderis, nor yit na discipline of che"velrie, be dred in times cuming."

c'

THE FIFT BUKE.

O

403

CAP. IHI.

for

How the Veanis brint the inginis maid be Romanis
segeing of
thare toun. How sindry horsnien and futemen of Rome offerit
thamesef wi/fully to pas to Veos, and nevir depart tharfra quhil
the tours wes' won. How the Capenatis and Felisciis cum in supporte of Jeanis, and discoinfist the Romanis.
Ow wes Appius Claudius equale in conciouns to the tribunis of pepil, quhen suddanly cum grete dammage,
howbeit it wes nocht belevit, to the Romanis at Veos.
This calamite maid Appius Claudius the mair authorist
in his cans, and maid nocht onelie mair Concorde amang the estatis,
bot als inflammit mair ferventlie the curage of Romanis to continew
at the sege of Veos. For eftir that the Romanis, be lang lauboure,
had rasit ane strang bastalye fornens the wallis of the ciete, and had
laid mony'crafty sowis to the wallis of Veos, becaus thir inginisthat
war. maid be Romanis be oppugnacioun and segeing of the toun, war

nocht kepit als Weil on the nicht as on the day, the Veanis ischit haistelie at ane porte, within the nicht, in grete multitude, armit all with
firebrandis, and, within the. space of ane hour, brint the bastalyeis,
trinschis, and sowis, quhilkis, with huge lauboure and lang time, war
maid afore. Mony Romanis beleving, howbeit it wes in vane, til haif
helpit thir inginis, war brint in flambis, and consumit to nocht. Thir
novellis maid all the small pepil sa full of sorow, and the senate sa
full of hevy cure and drede, that na sedicioun micht be forthir sustenit in the ciete,, nor yit in' the tentis.
In the mene time, -the tribunis began to mak grete noyis and clamoure, as the public weil had bene be' thame vincust, quhen suddanlie ane multitude of pepil, quhilkis had na public hors, howbeit thay
had, the public wageis eff'ering thareto, eftir. that thay had tane consultacioun. amang thameseif, thay past to the senate, and, fra thay had
gottin licence to speik, thay said, Th ay wald pay the wageis to thare

404

TITUS LIVIUS.

hors on thare awne expens. Grete thankis war gevin to thame be
the senate.
Als sone as the fame and brute of thir novellis had fillit baith the
ciete and merket, cum haistelie ane grete noumer of small pepil to the
court, all futemen, and promittit to gif sic support to the public weil,
that thay sal pas to Veos, or ony othir place quhare the senate commandis thame, and nevir to departe tharefra quhil the ciete that thay
past to war won. Na man micht than imagin the joy and blythnes
that wes in the ciete; for thir men war nocht commandit to be lovit
as horsmen usit to be quhen the charge of thare loving wes committit
to men of maist dignite in the ciete, nor yit war thir men callit to
court, bot ilk man ascendit als hie as he micht, to schaw, baith with
voce and contenance, to the pepil that wes standing in the commites,
the public joy and blythnes that wes occurring. The Romane ciete
wes callit happy, invincibil, and eternall be this concorde. Sumtimes
lovit thay the horsmen, and sumtimes the small pepil; and sumtimes
thay extollit this day, confessing baith the benignite and curtessy of
Faderis vincust. The teris, for blythnes, sumtimes yet fra the ene
of Faderis, and sumtimes fra the ene of pepil, quhil at last the Faderis war brocht to the court, and decernit the tribunis militare, in
public concioun, to rander thankis and lovingis baith to the futemen
and horsmen, and to schaw that the senate suld be remembrit of the
piete that thay had towart thare awne cuntre.
It plesit weil to all thame, that cum of thare benevolence to this
armye, to ressave the wageis. Ane certane noumer of brasin money
wes gevin to the horsmen. This wes the first time that ony horsmen
wan commoditeis be thare hors. This armye, that past with sic gude
will to Veos, nocht onelie reparit all the sowis and inginis that afore,
be necligence, war loist, bot als maid mony new instrumentis to win
the said toun, to that fine, that na thing suld faleye to this nobil armye. It wes commandit, that vittalis suld be brocht to it with mair
diligence and cure than evir wes brocht to ony armye afore.
In the nixt yere war maid tribunis militare, with power consulare, Clau. Servilius Ahala, Q. Servilius, -L. Virginius, Q. Sulpicius,
Au. Manlius, and M. Sergius. In the time of thir tribunis, the batall wes led with sa fervent cure and besines aganis the Veanis, that
na attendance wes maid to saif the toun of Anxur; for eftir that the

THE FIFT BUKE.

405

garnisoun, that wes lade for defence thareof, wes skatterit in the cuntre at thare incursiouns, sindry merchandis of Volschis war ressavit
in the said toun be the portaris. Finalie, thir portaris war betrasit,
and the garnisoun lade for defence of this toun distroyit. The les
slauchter wes maid, becaus the maist parte of the knichtis and men
of armis, except thame that war seik, war passand like skamlaris throw
the cuntre. On the tothir side, the batall wes led with na bettir chance
at Veos, howbeit it wes as than the hede of all thare public besines,
than it wes led at Anxur; for the Romane capitanis had mair haterent, be divisioun, aganis thameself, than thay had aganis thare inemyis. Attoure, the batall of inemyis wes ekit be haisty cummin of
the Capenatis and Felischis.
Thir Capenatis and Felischis war twa pepil of Hethrurie, sa nere
approcheand to the bordoure of Romanis, that thay belevit, als sone
as the toun of Veos wes tane, thay sal be the nixt pepil that Romanis
sal invaid with batall. The Felischis war mair noisum than the Capenatis, becaus thay faucht afore, with the Fidenatis, aganis the Romanis, and war confiderate and sworne togidder to tak ane parte aganis
the Romanis; and, tharefore, thir Felischis cum with sic purpois to
Veos, and, be aventure, sett on the tentis of Romanis in the same
parte quhare M. Sergius, tribune militare, wes capitane. Thus war
the Romanis gretumlie astonist, traisting all the pepil of Hethrurie
drawin fra thare housis, and cuming on thame with huge minassing
and fere. The same opinioun and belief that maid the Romanis sa
effrayit, sterit the Veanis that war within the ciete to grete curage.
Thus war the Romane tentis segeit with maist dangerus batall.
Sa effrayit war the Romanis, that thay ran here and thare with
ensenyeis, castand thame sum time, howbeit thay war nocht sufficient
ineuch thareto, to hald the Veanis, but ony erupcioun, within thare
awne municiounis; and sumtimes to stop the violence of inemyis be
trinchis and bastelyeis, that thay maid afore in defence of thare tentis;
and sumtimes sett thame to defend thame fra inemyis, that assaleyeit
thame on the uter side of thare tentis. Na esperance wes with Romanis except ane; that is to say, gif new supporte cum to thame fra
the gretest tentis in sic wise, that divers legiouns micht cum tharefra,
and the tane half to resist the Felischis and Capenatis, and the tothir
half to resist the erupcioun of Veanis.

406

TITUS LIVIUS.

L. Virginius, quhilk wes capitane of the tentis, had ane dedelie
haterent and invy aganis Sergius; and howbeit he herde, that sindry municiouns of Romanis war won, and the inemyis enterand at
sindry partis amang the tentis, he held all his folkis arrayit togidder,
and said, Als sone as he saw ony danger occurring he suld send his
folkis in support of his colleig. On the tothir side, Sergius wes sa
thrawart and full of arrogance, that, or he socht ony helpe at his evill
willare, he chesit erare to be vincust be his inemye, than to haif victorie be support of his said colleig.
The Romane knichtis, circulit on every side with inemyis, and
fechtand with perseverand manhede, war slane and woundit; quhil,
at last, thay left thare municiouns, and fled in few noumer to thare
gretest tentis; bot Sergius, and the maist parte, fled the nerrest way
to Rome; and, eftir his returning, he lade all the wite of his discomfitoure to Virginius, his colleig. Thus wes Virginius commandit
be the senate to be brocht fra the tentis, and legatis to be send in his
place to governe the armye during his sbsence.
Als sone as Virginius and Sergius war brocht afore the senate,
ilk ane of thame began to reproche uthir with maist injurius and
odius wourdis. All thay that war present for the time, war so affeckit to thare private and singulare weil, that few had ony respect
amang thame to the commounweil.

THE FIFT BUKE.

407

CAP. IV.
How Sergius and Virginius, and al the remanent tribunis militare
war deprivit for evil governance of this last batall. Of grete
for cocontenciouns betwix the tribunis of pepill and patricianis,
aptacioun of collegis ; and of the feirs accusacioun maid be the
tribunis of pepill aganis Sergius and Virginius.
iHE princis of Faderis nocht knawand quhidder this
schamefull discomfitoure wes fallin to Romane army
be imprudence or unhappy chance, decernit nocht to
tary on the just time of commites, bot the auld tribunis
militare to be deponit, and new tribunis to be create in thare placis,
and ordanit thir new tribunis to begin thare office in the kalend of
October. And becaus this sentence wes found plesand to the Faderis and ciete, few of the remanent tribunis war repugnant thareto.
Nochtheless, Virginius and Sergius, quhilkis war the caus that this
novacioun was maid within the yere, began first to excuse this discomfitoure fallin be thame, and syne began to mak impediment to
this decrete of senate, and denyit to departe fra thare office afore the
the solemne idis of December, becaus the samin war ay ordanit for
creacioun of new magistratis.
Quhill sic thingis war dispute afore the senate, come haistelie the
tribunis of pepill, quhilkis had kepit lang silence afore, howbeit it
wes aganis thare wil, for the estatis war in concorde, and the ciete in
prosperite. Thir tribunis of pepill began to minace richt feirslie the
tribunis militare, and said, Gif thay wald not obey to the decrete of
senate, thay suld be led to presoun; than Servilius Ahala, quhilk
wes ane of the remanent tribunis militare, said, " I desire nocht, O
" tribunis of pepill, to assaleye your minassingis, howbeit thare is na
" mare curage nor manhede in you, than ressoun nor equite in my
" collegis. I think it is ane thing richt unleiffull to contend aganis
" the auctorite of the senate. Forthir, 0 ye tribunis of pepill, desist
" and ceis to seik ony place of injure amang oure debatis, for outhir

408

TITUS LIVIUS.

" sal my collegis do the thingis that is commandit to thame be the
" senate; or ellis gif thay continew in thare thrawart minde, I sal mak
" haistilie ane dictatoure quhilk sal constrene thame to departe fra
" thare auctorite and office." This orisoun of Servilius was apprisit.
Now war the Faderis gretumlie rejosit, seand sa gude ane way found
be the terrouris and minassingis of tribunis plebeane, to dant the magistratis and authoriteis in the ciete. The tribunis militare seand
thameself vincust be hale consent of the estatis, sufferit the commites to be haldin for creaciouns of new tribunis militare, quhilkis sall
ressave thare authoritie in the kalendis of October. And afore the
day, the auld tribunis militare exonerate thameself of all authorite.
Thus wes create tribunis militare, with power consulare, L. Valerius Potitus, the fourt time; M. Furius Camillus, the secund time;
M. Emilius Mamercinus, the thrid time; C. Cornelius Cossus, the
secund time; K. Fabius Ambustus, L. Julius
Mony grete
materis war done in this yere baith at hame and of feild, for mony
batellis war fochtin within the said time, baith at the tounis of Veos,
Capena, and Falerium, and aganis the Volschis, for Anxur wes recoverit in this yere fra thame. And in this yere wes grete sedicioun
in Rome, sum parte concerning the rasing of armyis, and sum parte
concerning the payment of tribute. Siclike grete contencioun was
amang the tribunis of small pepill, for coaptacioun of thare collegis.
Attoure, na litil trubil wes rasit amang the saidis tribunis of pepil,
for two decretis quhilkis war gevin afore be thame, that war clothit
latelie with authorite of power consulare.
The first besines that thir tribunis militare had, wes to rais ane
armye, for nocht onelie all the young men of the ciete, bot als all the
agit men on the samin maner, war constrenit to gif thare namis to be
rasit in ane armye, for defence of the toun, and the mare that the
army wes ekit be noumer of knichtis, the mare money wes to be had
for payment of thare wageis. Sa mony of the pepill as remanit at
hame, pait the tribute aganis thare will, for thay allegit, sen thay war
occupyit in public besines and defence of the ciete, thay aucht nouthir to pay wagis nor tribute. Howbeit, thir novaciouns war richt
hevy to the pepil, yit the tribunis, be thare sedicious conciouns, causit the same to appere the mare unplesand, and said, For na uthir
caus war the wagis commandit to be gevin to the knichtis, bot to dis-

lulus.

THE FIFT BUKE.

409

troy the tane half of the small pepil with batall, and the tothir half
with maist sorowful tribute. Has not the Faderis led ane batall thir
thre yeris, now continually aganis ane pepill with richt evill governance, and to continew it the langare, thay have rasit ane army, baith
of young barnis and agit men, and dividit thame in foure sindry batallis, to that fine, that na difference sall be betwene sumer and winter, and that na tranquillite nor rest be gevin to the miserabil smal
pepill; for every ane of thame, bot ony excepcioun, ar made tributare, to that fine, that fra thare bodyis be first waistit be lauboure
and woundis, and secundlie, with age; and thocht every ane of
thame, eftir thare returning hame, be lang continuacioun at the plesere of thare maisteris, find all thingis out of ordoure, out of honeste
and proffitt, yit thay sail pay ane tribute of the reddiest gudis thay
have to the public weill, as thare gudis war multiplyit be excrescence
of the proffitt that thay have won afore in batall. Thus sall the Romanis be sa occupyit with rasing of armyis, and payment of tribute,
that the noumer of tribunis plebeane may nocht be fullely completit
in thare commites as thay war wont to be.
In the mene time rais ane scharp debate; for eftir that sindry of
the patricianis had laubourit to have bene substitute to the tribunis
of pepill, howbeit it wes in vane; nochtheles, to distroy the tribuniciane law, wes ordanit that tribunis of pepil sall be substitute to thir
other tribunis that war afore. Thus war Clau. Lacerius and M.
Acutius, substitute tribunis of pepil, howbeit the samin wes nocht bot
supporte of patricianis. It happinnit, that in this yere C. Trebonius
wes tribune of pepill, quhilk wald fane have done sum honouris to the
surname and hous that he wes cumin of, and abone all other mater,
he wald fane have helpit the law maid afore be Trebonius, the first
makare of the sade law. This Trebonius seand the Faderis first repulsit of thare desiris, and sone eftir seand thame obtene the samin,
contrare the mindis of tribunis militare, cryit feirslie in the courte
the law Treboniane wes distroyit, and tribunis of pepill substitute
nocht be suffrage of pepill, bot onelie be empire of patricianis. Thus
is the mater brocht to sic point, that outhir the patricianis, or ellis
sum parte of thare favoraris sal be ay substitute tribunis of pepill in
times cumin. Thus sall all the secrete lawis and power of tribuni3F

4410

TITUS LIVIUS.

ciane authorite be aluterlie distroyit be fraude and manifest iniquite
of oure awne collegis.
Now war nocht onelie the Faderis and tribunis of pepill inflammit
with huge indignacioun and ire aganis thir wourdis of Trebonius,
bot the tribunis of pepill that maid substitucioun, and thay that war
substitute commovit on the samin maner, quhen haistilie rais up thir
tribunis of pepill, that is to say, Pub. Curiatius, M. Metilius, and
M. Minucius, principall men of the collegis of tribunis. Thir thre
tribunis beleving thare mater to peris be coaptacioun of tribunis afore
rehersit, began feirslie to invay aganis Virginius and Sergius, the
tribunis militare of the last yere; and be thare feirs accusacioun,
turnit al the ire and indignacioun that the small pepil had aganis
thameself, on the said Virginius and Sergius, and said, "All thay that
" thinkis outhir the rasing of armyis, or payment of tributis bevy; and
" all thay that irkis of the continuall chevelrie sa fer distant fra thare
" housis; and all thay that loist thare sonnis, thare brethir, or nere
" cousingis and allya; and all thay that has thare housis desolate, be
" dammage recentlie falling to thame at Veos; and all thay that desi" ris to execute vengeance or punicioun on thame that war baith the
"private and public caus thareof, sall understand the samin cumin al" lanerlie be thir twa cursit hedis, Virginius and Sergius, for thay war
"the occasioun of all the schame and mischief that was fallin at Veos,
" for the samin is nocht clerelie schawin be Sergius, the accusare of
"Virginius, bot als be thame that confessis baith Sergius and Vir" ginius gilty. Ilkane of thame puttis the wite to othir. Sergius ac" cusis the tressoun of Virginius, and Virginius accusis the schame"full fleing of Sergius.
"The wouirdis of thir two ar so incredibill, that apperis this schame"full discomfitoure is fallin to Rome, be sett industrie and dissate of
"patricianis. Thir twa wikkit hedis war the caus that the Veanis is"chit and brint all oure inginis maid to sege the ciete of Veos. Now,
" the Romane army is be thame betrasit; be thame the Romane tentis
"ar gevin in pray to Felischis. Ar nocht all thingis be thame done
"to that fine, that the young men of Rome sall spend thare youthede,
"and become agit at Veos; and that the tribunis of small pepill sall
" never find ane ganand time to devide the public handis, nor yit to do
"na other thing afore thare commoditeis and proffit, and to that fine,

THE FIFT BUKE.

411

"'
that the tribunis sail have sa frequent accioun in the ciete, that thay
' may nocht resist the conspiracioun of patricianis ? Is nocht ane in" terloquitur gevin ellis aganis thame, baith be the senate, and be Ro' mane pepill, and be thare awne collegis? First, the senate decernit
" thame to be removit fra governance of public weill; and becaus
" thay refusit, thay war constrenit be thare awne collegis, to depone
" thameself of the said auctorite, for fere of the dictatour, and the Ro" mane pepill has commandit new tribunis militare to be create, quhilk
" sail nocht abide the just commites or solempnite in the idis of De" cember, bot sail haistilie ressave the auctorite in the kalendis of Oc" tober, becaus the public weill micht nocht stand in ony gude state
" sa lang as thir tribunis bure the governance thareof. And yit thir
" men that ar condampnit be sa mony jugementis, dar cum to sicht
" of Romane pepill, traisting thameselfe to be sufficientlie punist,
" becaus thay war deponit of thare auctorite twa monethis afore the
" just time of commites; thay understand nocht that thare power is
' minist, to that fine they sall do na mare displesere to Romane pe" pill in times cumin. Na pane wes jonit to thame for thare deme" ritis, bot thare collegis war punist, for thay war abrogate of thare
" empire, howbeit thay made na falt.
" Now suld ye, 0 Quiritis, remember the hie displesour that wes
"in youre mindis, quhen ye saw youre army latelie returne eftir re"cent discomfitoure, fleand effrayit, wery, and full of woundis and
"dredoure, enterand at the portis, nocht accusand ony of the Goddis
"nor fortoun, bot alanerlie thir capitanis for this discomfitoure. Soith
"is, that na man stude that day in the concioun of Romanis, that
"did not wery and detest the heid, the hous, and all the gudis per"tenand to L. Virginius and M. Sergius. It semis nocht to mak
"oure prayeris to Goddis, to meis thare ire for this trubill that is
' fallin to us, for thay that had victorie in thare handis wald nocht
" use it; and thocht the Goddis gevis nevir support to curst and
"waryit creaturis, yit it is ineuch that thay arme us, be occasioun
" that we ar hurt, to revenge the same."
The pepill commovit be thir wourdis, condampnit Virginius and
Sergius inx.M. brazen d.; nochtwithstanding all excusaciouns maid
be thame, that is to say, Sergius allegit the chance of batall wes als

412

TITUS LIVIUS.

hevy that day to Veanis as it wes to Romanis, and Virginius prayit
to the Goddis that na greter calamite fall to Romanis at hame, than
it fell to thame that day of feild,

CAP. V.
Of the first time that plebeanis war maid tribunis militare. Of
grete pest in Rome, and of the solempne sacrifice institut to meis
the same. How the toun of Anxur wes tane, and how the Felischis, Veanis, and Capenatis, war discomfist be the Romanis.
HE ire and indignacioun of pepil wes turnit sa halelie
aganis Sergius and Virginius, that all the besines thay
maid afore aganis the coaptacioun of tribunis, and law
of Trebonius, war set aside. The tribunis of pepil beand victorius in this debait, to caus the small pepill have sum present
rewarde for thare jugement aganis Sergius and Virginius, promulgate
the law Agrarie, howbeit the ciete had grete mister of money, hayand sa mony armyis to gif wageis to for the time; and howbeit, all
materis concerning the chevelrie war done with greter felicite, yit the
tribunis has inhibit the small pepill to pay thare tribute, to that fine,
that the army sall nevir cum to the end of thare purpois be na maner of batall. The tentis quhilkis war loist at Veos, ar nocht onelie
recoverit, bot als garnist with new castellis and buschmentis. At
this time M. Emilius, K. Fabius, and M. Furio, past with ane army
aganis the Felischis, and C. Cornelius led ane armye aganis the Capenatis. Na inemyis war found utouth the strenthis, and tharefore
grete prayis war takin out of thare landis in all partis, and eftir that
thare villagis war brint, and thare comrnes distroyit, thare tounis war
segeit.
On the tothir side, eftir mony grete incursiouns maid on the Volschis, ane sege was laid to Anxur, bot it stude sa hie, that na segeing avalit; and becaus this toune micht nocht be tane perforce, thay
inclusit it on every side with depe fowsyis and stakis, that thay suld

THE FIFT BUKE.

418

nocht ische on na sidis. Sic thingis done, the province of Volschis
fell to Valerius Potitus. The chevelrie of Romanis standing in this
maner, rais in Rome sedicioun intestine, quhilk rasit mair noyis and
trubill than did the batell that war movit afore; for nochtwithstanding that the army at Veos desirit fast to have thare money for thare
wageis, yit it culd nocht be gottin, becaus the tribunis of pepill maid
inhibicioun to the small pepill to pay the tribute. Thus had al the
Romane tentis almaist bene replete of sedicioun urbane, during the
ire of small pepill aganis the Faderis. On this wise, the tribunis of
pepill thocht the time ganand to estabil thare liberte, and to transfer
the soverane honouris of the ciete fra the Sergianis and Virginianis
to plebeanis, sic as war maist vailyeand and vertuous.
Na farther process wes in this mater, quhil ane of the plebeanis,
namit P. Licinius Calvus, to put the small pepill in possessioun of
the privilege that thay recentlie usurpit, wes first create tribune militare with power consulare. All the remanent tribunis militare war
patricianis, namit Pub. Menius, Pub. Titinius, Pub. Melius, Lu.
Furius Medullinus, and L. Publilius Volscus. The small pepil had
na litil admiracioun, how and be quhat maner thay had purchest sa
grete ane thing aganis the Faderis, considering this Licinius Calvus,
that wes create new tribune militare, as said is, had nevir afore rejosit ony honouris, howbeit he wes ane auld senatoure, and fer worne
in age; yit the caus is uncertane, quhy he wes the first plebeane that
wes chosin to sa soverane honouris. Sum allegis that he wes maid
tribune militare be supple and favoure of his brothir, C. Cornelius,
quhilk wes tribune militare in the yere afore, and payit wageis thre
sindry timis to the horsmen. Utheris sais he maid ane ganand orisoun to draw the ordouris in concorde, and wes tharethrow richt acceptabil baith to the Faderis and small pepill. The tribunis, glaid
of this victorie in the commites of tribunis militare, as said is, left all
impediment thay made afore aganis the payment of tribute. Thus
wes the tribute plesandly uptakin, and send with diligence to the
armye. Nocht lang eftir the toun of Anxur wes recoverit, for the
keparis war necligent on ane solemne day, and the toun wes be that
way taue.
This yere wes richt notabil be ane cald and frosty winter, and sa
full of snawis, that every passage and gate war closit, and na schippis

414

TITUS LIVIUS.

micht sale on Tiber for vehement frostis. Sa grete haboundance and
provisioun of vittalis wes maid in the yere afore, that na derth wes in
this yere. Forthir, as this Pub. Licinius wes create tribune militare,
with mare blythnes of small pepill than indignatioun of Faderis;
and as he begun his office but ony grete noyis or arrogance, so he
exercit the office on the samin maner. The small pepill tane with
sweitnes of the last commites, tuke purpois to create tribunis militare
in the nixt commites all plebeanis, and sa amang all the candidatis of
patricianis, nane wes maid tribune militare at thir nixt commites, except ane, namit M. Veturius; for all the remanent tribunis militare,
with power consulare, war plebeanis, create almaist be avise of all the
centuries. The names of thir plebeanis war M. Pomponius, C. Duilius, Volero Publilius, C. Genucius, L. Atilius.
Eftir this sorowful and cald winter, followit ane richt pestilencius
and displesand somer, to the grete mortalite of levand creaturis. Uncertane quhiddir it come be evill disposicioun of wedder, and alteracioun of the hevinnis fra maist penitrive caldis, to maist excessive
and insufferabil hetis, or be ony uthir caus, and be ressoun that na
remeid nor end couth be fund in to thir pestilencius and incurabil maladeis, be decrete of senate wes commandit, that the two men sall cers
the bukis of Sibilla, to mak the sacrifice that war maist acceptabil
and plesand to the Goddis. This wes the first time that the sacrifice, namit Lectisternia, war commandit, quhilk sacrifice wes continewit viii. dayis togidder. All the tribunis maid thare beddis in the
templis, with maist apparacioun and magnificence that micht be devisit, to meis the ire of the Goddis, Apollo, Latona, Diana, Hercules, Mercurius, and Neptunus. This sacrifice wes done privately
throw all the ciete, with opin durris. The mete, the winis, and all
necessaris thingis lade on brede in the ciete, and all men, knawin and
unknawin, als weil friendis as unfriendis, war brocht to tabill, all feisting togiddir with maist plesand chere, and but ony inimite or mocioun of injuris, al cativis that war in presoun, be solempnite of this
feist, war put to liberte to pas quhare thay plesit. It wes als contrarius to the religioun of this feist, that ony of thame that war lowsit
be solempnite thareof, suld be put agane in bandis, les than thay committit sum new crime.
During this sacrifice in Rome, ane huge effray come to Romanis

THE FIFT BUKE.

415

at the sege of Veos ; for, on the samin maner as the effray come afore
at Veos, quhen all the inginis maid be the army war haistilie brint,
sa now come haistilie baith the Felischis and Capenatis, in supporte
of Veanis. Aganis thir thre pepil, the Capenatis, Felischis, and
Veanis, wes fochtin a batall with grete dangere be Romanis; na
thing movit the army sa mekill to feirs curage, as the damnacioun of
Virginius and Sergius. The samin gaif occasioun to the said army
to fecht with perseverand manhede and faith, to eschew the punicioun
that fell to Virginius and Sergius, for the evill governance of thare
batall, as said is; howbeit, na support come fra the grete tentis in
the batall afore rehersit, yit thare come now ane cumpanie tharefra
of feirs knichtis, and set on the bakkis of Capenatis, and beltit thame
about on every side, eftir that thay war assailyeand the trinsehis and
stakis of Romanis. The batall that wes begun in this wise, maid the
Felischis richt effrayit ; and, in the mene time, ane new cumpany of
Romanis ischit happilie fra thair tentis, and put the inemyis abak;
syne followit on thame with grete slauchter. Sa mony as eschapit
fra this batell happinnit, in thare returning hame, to cum skatterit on
ane buschment of Romanis, quhilkis war makand incursiouns in the
landis of Capenatis, quhare thay war all slane. Mony of the Veanis
fleand to the toun eftir this discomfitoure, war slane afore the portis,
for thare companyeouns seand the batall discomfist, stekit the portis,
and held thame furth, in aventure thare inemyis and thay suld have
enterit baith at anis in the toune. Thir war the maist notabil thingis
that war done in this yere.

416

41G
TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. VI.
How the Faderis, be crafty industry, purchest the tribunis militare
to be chosin alanerlie of the patricianis.
prophecy schawin
be the auld man of Veos, concerning the inundacioun of the loche
Albane. How legatis war send to Deiphos, to explore quhat wes
signfjiit be the samin ; and how the
war discoilst.

Of the

Terquinienses

Ow war the commites of tribunis militare cumin.

The

Faderis tuke mare sollicitude and cure for the said cormites, than for ony battal occurring; becaus the soverane empire wes nocht onelie maid commoun to thir
plebeanis, bot als nere perist' and brocht to nocht.
the Faderis,
of crafty industry, clothit al the maist nobil and wourthiest persouns
of the ciete in quhite habit, that thay micht be chosin tribunis miiitare at the nixt commites; for thay belevit the siai pepil to be
eschamit to repel sa famous and notabil persouns in thare conmites.
The Faderis, assailyeing bemony sindry wayis to cum to thare pur-

Than

pois, as every ane of thame had bene clothit in quhite vesture, said

to the sinal pepil, That nocht onelie men, bot the goddis war richt
commovit for offence maid aganis the religioun ;
specially becaus
the plebeanis war maid tribunis militare in thir twa last' yeris, as
micht be verifyit weill be the plaigis send be the goddis in punicioun
of the said offence.
In the yere afore wes ane terribil winter, nocht unlike to sum hevenlie prodigie, for the intollerabil caid and stormes that war in
Bot now, in this secund yere, the samin apperis nocht as prodigeis,
bot erare as sikkir takingis to manifest the ire and wraith of Goddis
aganis us ; for ane terribil pest is cumin baith to burgh and land,
nocht but the wraith and ire of Goddis. Now, as it is clerelie fundin
in the fatal bukis, the ire of Goddis mon be first mesit to stanche the
said pest ; for the Goddis wil nocht sulfir, in na commites that ar happelie done, that the soverane honouris of the ciete be gevin to plebeanis, nor wil yit suffir the difference of estatis to be confoundit.

and

it.

THE FIFT BUKE.

417

The smal pepil war nocht onelie movit, be majeste of the nobil men
that askit the saidis honouris, bot als war movit be religioun. Thus
war nane create [tribunis] militare, bot alanerlie patricianis; and speciallie thay that war the maist nobil men of al the ciete, that is to say,
L. Valerius Potitus, M. Valerius Maximus, M Furius Camillus, L.
Furius Medullinus, Q. Servilius Fidenas, and Q. Sulpicius Camerinus.
In the time of thir tribunis, na thing wes done at Veos wourthy to
have memorie; for thay did na othir thing bot maid incursiounis and
hereschippis on thare inemyis. Camillus and L. Potitus war the two
maist vailyeand empriouris amang thame. Camillus draif infinite
gudis fra Capena, and L. Potitus draif gudis on the samin maner fra
Falerium. Na thing wes left hale that micht ressave ony dammage
be fire and swerde.
Mony prodigeis apperit at this time, and howbeit the same war
justlie interpret be mony faithful authouris, yit few of thame war
herde; for thay war bot contempnit and lichtlyit. And becaus the
Hethruschis, quhilkis war inemyis to Romanis, war maist crafty in
divinacioun of prodigeis, the Romanis culd nocht procure the verite.
And yit thare wes na prodigie that movit thame sa mekil, as the inundacioun of the Louch Albane; for the louch stude within the wod
Albane, and rais hieare abone the brayis than evir it wes afore accustumate, but ony rane or wattir, or ony uthir caus that micht put
the samin fra miracle; and tharefore, to knaw quhat this prodigie
signifyit, war send oratouris to Delphos, the tempil of Apollo in
Grece; yit be fatis wes fund ane uthir interpretoure nerrer than men
belevit. This interpretoure wes ane auld man of Veos, and herd the
Romanis and Hethruschis strivand in thare watching and stacioun;
and incontinent, he sang thir wourdis following in maner of ane prodigie : " The Romanis sal nevir win the toun of Veos, quhil the
" wattir be yett forth of the Louch of Albane." This prophecie wes
first haldin for vane wourdis, and gat na faith. Nochtheles, thay began sone eftir to disput on it.
At last ane Romane knicht, that wes standand amang the staciouns
and watchingis, inquirit ane cieteyane of Veos, quhilk wes standand
on the wall nocht fer fra him, Quhat maner of man this wes that spak
sa doutsumlie of the Louch of Albane ? Als sone as he wes informit
that this man wes ane prophete that spak sic wourdis, he said he wald
3G

418

TITUS LIVIUS.

have his counsel apoun ane private prodigie, gif it plesit him. Finalie, be ane crafty wile, he gat this prophete out of the toun; and
quhen thay war baith gangand fordwart togidder, severit ane gude
space fra thare awne folkis, but ony wappinnis as wes convenit, the
Romane wes young and wicht, and tuke this auld man in presence of
baith the pepil, and brocht him perforce to the oist of Romanis.
Quhen this auld man wes first brocht afore the emprioure of Romane
armye, and syne brocht to Rome afore the senate, eftir that the senate
had inquirit him, Quhat it wes that he sang tuiching the Louch
Albane ? He answerit and said, Forsoith the Goddis war sa commovit aganis the Veanis that day, that thay gart him sing thay
wourdis; that he wes inspirit.to schaw the fatal distruccioun of Veos.
Nochtheles, the thing that he has schawin be instinccioun of divine
furie or sprete, he micht nocht revolve, nor bring it agane as vane.
And forthir, to hide the thing that the immortale Goddis wald have
divulgate or manifest, he suld do peradventure na les sin than to
revele the thing that the Goddis desirit to be maist secrete or hid.
Herefore, it is fundin in oure fatail bukis, as the science of Hethruschis schawis, quhenevir the wattir of the Louch Albane aboundis,
gif the Romanis put it forth, as it aucht to be, thay sal have victorie
of Veos; bot quhil that be done, the Goddis wil nevir ceis to defend
*the Veanis fra thare inemyis. Than schew he be quhat maner the
said wattir suld be yett forth apoun the landis.
The Faderis, nochtwithstanding his divine sprete, beleving he wes
bot ane vane interpretoure, and nocht wourthy to have credence in
sa grete ane mater, determit to abide on the returning of thare legatis
fra the tempil of Delphos, and to here the answere of Apollo; yit,
afore the returning of the legatis fra Delphos, and afore the prodigie
of Albane Louch wes clerelie declarit, the commites war haldin for
creacioun of new tribunis militare, in quhilkis war create L. Julius
lulus, L. Furius Medullinus, L. Sergius Fidenas, A. Posthumius
Regilensis, Pub. Cornelius Maluginensis, and Au. Manlius.
In this yere, new inemyis, that is to say, the Terquinienses come to
invaid the Romanis. Thir Terquinienses, seand the Romanis occupyit with sa mony weris, that is to say, ane armye liand at the sege
of Anxur, ane uthir at Lavicos, and the thrid at Veos, aganis the
Veanis, Felischis, and Capenatis, and seand als the ciete of Rome

THE FIFT BUKE.

419

dividit amang thameself be civil contencioun, thocht the time maist
ganand to trubil the Romanis; and send, tharefore, ane armye to
mak incursioun in Romane landis, traisting the Romanis to have sa
mekil besines on every hand, that thay suld suffir thir incursiounis
and injuris but ony revengement, or ellis to cum with sa smal power
that thay micht be eselie opprest.
The Romanis war commovit mare for this wranguis outrage done
be the Terquinienses, than for ony dammage be thame done. Incontinent, ane buschement of walit men wes rasit, but ony grete noyis,
and with the samin past Aul. Posthumius and L. Julius, tribunis
militare. Howbeit al thingis war done in dew maner; for the tribunis
plebeanis wald nocht suffir ane armye to be rasit, and tharefore na
man come to this cumpany, afore rehersit, bot onelie thay that war
movit be requeist or sollicitacioun of tribunis militare, or ellis be thare
awne fre curage. The tribunis militare, with the cumpany afore rehersit, come thortoure passage to the land of Ceres, and fand the
Terquinienses returning fra thare incursiounis, wide skatterit in sindry
partis, chargit full of pray and gudis. And first thay slew ane huge
noumer of thame; and eftir thay had put the remanent to flicht, thay
recoverit all the pray and gudis be thame takin. Als sone as thay
had recoverit thare awne gudis, thay returnit to Rome. Two dayis
lasere war gevin to ilk man to recognos his awne gere. On the thrid
day, eftir that ilk man had tane his awne, the thing that wes behind
unknawin to na man, for that pertenit to inemyis, was sauld undir spere,
and al the money that come thareof wes dividit amang the knichtis.

4~2O
TITUS LIVIUS.

420

'CA P. VII.
Of Apollois answere. How the auld plais and sacrifice war renewit
be the divinoure of Veos. How the Hethruschis denyit supple to
Veanis; and of the orisoun maid be P. Licinius. How the Romanis war discom'fist be the Felischis; and of the efrayfollowing
thareeftir.

j

a

cer-

HE remnanent batallis led be Romanis war but ony
tane fine, andspecialie the batall of Veos. Now war

the Romanis disparit of al humane helpe, and abaid
se, quhat chance the fates or Goddis
to thame, quhen suddanlie returnit the legatis fra Delphos, with the
answere of Apollo, nocht fer different fra the wourdis of the divinour
of Veos, undir this obscure sentence, "60 thouiRomane, bewar that
"the wattir of the Louch Albane be nocht haldin within the self;
"bewar, quhen it aboundis, that thou lat it nocht rin to the se.
" Divide it first with small granis and burnis, and yet it furth on the
IRomane
" nixt landis, quhil
be waistit tharewith; than pas

0 onelie to

it

list sn

inemyis,

thou,

" knicht, hardelie to the wallis of
and traist fermlie the
Fatis has grantit victory to the on the toun that thou sa lang as" segeis. Als sone as the batall is, endit,. cum than. victore to me,

"and bring ane large offerand of the pray that thou has won ; syne
"ctans the sacrifice, quhilk is mony yeris forgett, to be renewit in thy
cuntre."
Fra this prophecy was schewin, the divinoure of Veos wes haldin
in huge estimacioun and reverence. Incontinent, Posthumius and

Cornelius,

the trihunis militare, led him forth to procure and dress

al materis as he thocht expedient, that the prodigie, tuiching the
Albane Louch, may cum to effect, and to do sacrifice deulie to meis
the Goddis.
It wes finalie found, quhare the goddis schew the cerimonis war
necleckit, and solemne sacrifice left certane yeris undone, that be the
same wes signifyit na othir thing, bot the magistratis and officis of

THE FIFT BUKE.

421

Rome war nocht deulie chosin, and the sacrifice namit Latine nocht
lauchfully done in Mont Albane; and for the offence done aganis
the rite of religioun wes na satisfaccioun bot ane, that is to say, the
tribunis militare sal leif thare authoriteis and office, that the public
governance micht be brocht to the interregne, that the auspicis micht
be begun hail as afore.
Al thir thingis war done be avise of the senate. Thre Interkingis
war create, that is to say, L. Valerius, Q. Servilius Fidenas, and M.
Furius Camillus. The tribunis of pepil ceisit nevir to trubil the
commites, quhil it wes grantit that the maist parte of the tribunis
militare sal be create of plebeanis.
Quhil sic thingis war done be Romanis, ane generale counsel wes
haldin be the Hethruschis at the tempil of the Goddes Vultumna.
Quhen the Capenatis and Felischis had maid thare supplicacioun in
this counsel to the princis of Hethrurie, desiring al the pepil of the
said cuntre to cum with ane minde and pussance, to deliver the Veanis
fra the sege of Romanis, it wes answerit be the Hethruschis, Thay
denyit supple afore to Veanis; for sen the Veanis had wrocht ane
grete mater, that is to say, has create ane King, but counsel of ony
uthir men bot thameself, thay aucht nocht, eftir the doing thareof,
to seik ony counsel. Forthir, as the sesoun occurrit, the said Hethruschis micht nocht mak supporte; for thare wes cumin ane strange
and uncouth pepil, that is to say, the Gallis, intending to dwell in
the maist inwart partis and bosum of thare landis, with quhilkis as
yit thay have nouthir sikkir pece nor sikkir were. Nochtheles, for
the blude, affinite, and confederacioun that is betwix thame and
the Veanis, thay wald empesch nane that, of thare awne benevolence,
wald pas to rescours the saidis Veanis.
Now wes the fame in Rome, that ane huge noumer of inemyis war
cumin to supporte the Veanis, and for fere thareof, as oft occurris, al
intestine sedicioun began to ceis. Yit, be consent of the Faderis,
war create tribunis militare, P. Licinius Calvus, for he wes found soft
and plesand afore in his authorite, howbeit he wes ane man fer worne
in age; and with him war create L. Titinius, P. Menius, C. Genucius, and L. Atilius. Yit afore thir tribunis war declarit, and
afore the tribunis war lauchfully callit, Pub. Licinius Calvus, be tollerance of the Interking, said in this wise, " Ise weil, 0 Quirites,

422

TITUS.. LIVIUS.

" that the moderacioun and softnes that I usit in my last auctorite,
" causis you to seik in thir commites of the nixt yere concorde, for
" concorde is ane thing richt necessare for Romanis, as the time now
" occurris. I think ye do wiselie, gif ye continew the same tribunis
" militare that war in the yere afore in auctorite to the nixt yere; for
" ay the mare use and exercicioun thay have, thay sal be found the
" mare abil to ministracioun of thare officis; bot it is nocht so with
" me, for nathing is left of me bot ane name and ane schadow. Ye
" se the strenth of my body is consumit, my ene blind, my eris deif,
" my memorie slidis, the vigoure of my curage blont, yit thocht I be
" richt unhabil to ony administracioun of public weil, I have ane
" young man to my son, quhilkis resemblis weil baith my image and
" condicioun, quham ye afore maid tribune militare of ane plebeane.
SI wil mak him, for he is weil institute in chevelrie, vicare and lieu" tenent for me. I beseich you herefore, 0 Quirites, to gif this ho" nour, that ye have gevin to me, to my son." This requeist wes
grantit at the supplicacioun of the Faderis.
Thus wes Pub. Licinius his son maid tribune militare, with power
consulare, ekit to the remanent tribunis, afore rehersit. L. Titinius
and C. Genucius, tribunis militare, afore rehersit, past with ane armye aganis the Felischis and Capenatis; and becaus thay led batall
with mare curage than wisdome, thay happinnit unwarly to cum on
ane buschement of inemyis. Genucius, to revenge his fulishe audacite, ruschit in feirslie afore the ensenyeis, and fechtand with perseverant manhede to the deth, wes slane amang uthir nobil men of his
armye; bot Titinius drew abak his folkis to ane strait know, and
brocht thame to new curage and batall, and yit he durst nocht fecht
with inemyis in equale place. More schame than dammage succedit
to Romanis in this batall; howbeit na litil displesoure followit tharethrow.
Thus wes ane huge effray and terroure brocht nocht onelie to
Rome, bot als to the tentis of Romanis, liand at Veos on the samin
maner, and throw the said effray skarsly micht the Romane armye
be haldin fra schameful fleing. The fame wes throw all the said armye, that baith the two Romane capitanis war slane, and thare armye
discomfist ; and baith the Capenatis and Felischis, with al the power
of Hethrurie, war cumand with victorius ensenyeis, and nocht fer dis-

THE~FIFT' BUKE.

4i

423

tant fra thame at the said time. And nochtwithstanding this trubil
that wes amang the Romane tentis, ane huge terroure wes in Rome;
for it wes said the tentis of Romanis at Veos war segeit, and ane large
parte of inemyis cumand forthwart, with arrayit oistis to tak the ciete.
For fere of this effiay, ilk man ran to the wallis. The effrayit matronis, quhilk departit fra thare housis, for public doloure ran fast to
the tempillis to mak thare humil prayaris to Goddis, to save thare
housis, thare tempillis, and wallis of thare ciete; and besocht the
Goddis, gif the sacrifice war condinglie reparit, and thare prodigeis
justlie procurit, to transport all this effray and
that wes in
Rome to the ciete of Veos.

dredoure

CAP. VIII.
How Camillus wes maid dictator, and disconfist the Felischis and
Gapenatis. Of the mine maid be him to win the town of Veos;
and of srndrg opiniouns concerning the spuleye tharef Of Camillus orisoun, and solemne vote to.Apollo. How the toune of Veos
wes tane, and of Camillus prayeri to the Goddisftir his victonie.

SOw war baith the playis and sacrifices namit Latine renwt in dew maner, and now wes the watter of the .louch
oAlaewide skatterit' throw the land, and now wes

troyit.

dis-

the sesoun cum that the Fatis desirit Veos to be
For thir motivis, M. Furius Camillus, quhilk wes ordanit be

the Fatis baith to be. savare of his cuntre and distroyare of Veos, wes
maid dictator, and he incontinent maid Pub. Cornelius Scipio maister
of chevelrie.
.Camillus, this nobil emprioure, that wes sa suddanlie changeit to
hie and soverane empire, changit all thingis in the samin maner.
Thus rais nocht onelie ane uthir curage and esperance than wes afore,
bot als apperit ane. uthir fortoun wes cuming to thare ciete than wes
afore.

Amang all his emperial werkis, first he punist,

effering

to

lawis of cheveirie, all thame that fled fra the army of Veos in this last

424

TITUS LIVIUS.

effray afore rehersit; and eftir the punicioun thareof, he instruckit
the residew of his army with sic manhede and curage, that he maid
thame to evode all dredoure, takand na fere of inemyis. Als sone as
he had done the materis effering to the discipline of chevelrie, he admonist his armye to be reddy at ane prefixt day; and, in the mene
time, he past to the armye that wes laid at Veos, and, eftir that he
had rasit thare curage, and put thame in esperance of gude fortoun,
he returnit to Rome to tak the names of his new armye. Sa inflammit wes ilk man to pas to this batall of Veos, that nane wes found
that refusit to gif thare names to furnis the said batall. Forthir, to
support this armye, cum mony young and vailyeant men, baith of
Latinis and Hernikis, and schew thame reddy to pas to quhatsumevir
batall the dictator plesit. The dictator gave large thankis to the Latinis and Hernikis afore the senate for thare gude mindis.
Quhen all thingis necessare to batall war weil and ripelie providit,
the dictator maid ane solemne vote, als sone as he had won Veos, to
mak solemne playis effering to the religioun of Goddis. Siclike, he
votit nocht onelie to repare the tempil of the Goddes Matuta, bot als
to dedicate the samin; howbeit it wes mony yeris afore dedicate be
Servius Tullius, the vi. King of Romanis.
The dictator departit with his armye of Rome with mare desire
than ony esperance of pepil; and first, be displayit baner, he faucht
in the land namit Nepesyne aganis the Felischis and Capenatis,
quhare every thingis war done be sic wisdome, manhede, and resoun,
that gude fortoun, as scho aft usis, followit on the samin; for he
nocht onelie discomfist his inemyis in batall, bot spuleyeit thame of
thare tentis, and wan ane huge pray of gudis, of quhilkis the maist
parte wes brocht to the questouris. Thus cum bot ane litil parte of
his spuleye to ony proffit of the armye. Eftir this victorie, the dictator brocht his armye to Veos, and maid mo strang bastelyeis and
defensis than wes afore amang the Romane tentis; syne maid ane
generale edict, commanding, undir pane of deith, that na man fecht,
nor provoik his inemyis to batall, but licence askit and gevin. And
howbeit the excursiouns and skarmussingis war richt frequent afore
his cuming betwix the wallis of Veos and trinschis of Romanis, yit
he drew all his said armye fra all small batallis to ane richt ithand and
besy werk. This werk that thay began sa ernestlie, wes ane crafty

THE FIFT BUKE.

425

and continual besines, wrocht with mair ardent lauboure than evir
wes wrocht afore thay dayis, for thay maid ane mine undir the erde,
to mak ane gate be quhilk thay micht cum to the castell of Veos.
And, that this lauboure sal nocht ceis, nor yit the armye to be irkit
with owre ithand and insuffirabil lauboure, he dividit his armye in sex
partis for municioun and defens thareof, commanding every ane of the
sex partis to lauboure at the said mine vi. houris, but ony intermiscioun or ceissing day or nicht, that the lauboure sal nevir ceis quhil
ane passage war maid undir erde to the castell.
Als sone as the dictator saw the victorie present in his handis, with
the riche spuleye of this toun reddy to be tane, in quhilk wes mair
riches than wes in all the tounis that wer tane afore be batallis of Romanis, herefore, that he sal nocht incur the ire and indignacioun of
his armye gif he dividit nocht the spulye of this toun to thare avise,
and that he sal nocht incur the displesere of the senate gif he distribut this spuleye owre liberalie to the armye, he send letteris to the
senate, schawand, Be benevolence of immortale Goddis, be his awne
wisdome, and pacience of the armye that continewit sa lang at the
sege, the toun of Veos wes at the will of Romane pepil, desiring thame,
tharefore, to schaw quhat thay thocht expedient concerning the spuleye of the toun. The senate wes dividit in twa opiniouns. Ane opinioun wes of Pub. Licinius, the auld man; quhilk sone eftir that he
wes inquirit be his sone, Quhat wes his counsel concerning the spuleye at Veos ? he answerit, It wes maist plesand to Romane pepil that
ane edict war proclamit, saying, All men that desiris to be participant with the spuleye of Veos, or haif ony parte thareof, sal pas haistelie to the Romane tentis at Veos, and jeoperd thame for winning of
the said toun gif thay desire ony proffit. Ap. Claudius wes of ane
uthir opinioun; quhilk, invaying feirslie aganis the opinioun of this
auld man, said, The largicioun devisit be this auld man wes owre
prodigal, inequale, and fulische, but ony respect to thame that best
or leist guerdoun deservis. Best wes, tharefore, that the spuleye of
Veos war put in the tressoure hous; becaus the public tressoure of
the ciete wes consumit throw thir batallis that sa mony yeris afore
continewit. Thus micht the pepil be relevit of the tribute imput to
thame for this yere, payand the wagis to the armye of the spuleye
3H

426

TITUS LIVIUS.

that wes to be gottin now at Veos. Gif this avise war weil observit,
ilk hous of Rome suld be equalie participant with the spuleye of
Veos; outhirwayis, thay that ar cowart and avaricius pepil, sal prevene the maist forcy and vailyeant capitanis, and obtene the reward
that is ordanit for nobil men; for, als oftimes occurris, he that dois
jeoperdy himself to maist perrell and dangerus aventure, gettis leist
parte of the spuleye. Than replyit Licinius, saying, This money
that wes gottin of spuleye wes ay suspect and odius, movand nocht
onelie occasioun of new lawis -and sedicioun, bot causis oft times sindry nobil men to be criminaly accusit [afore the] pepil. Forthir, it
wes maist ganand as apperis, sen the small pepil has bene sa mony
yeris afore waistit with payment of tribute, to recounsell thare mindis
agane to the Faderis be largicioun of the said spuleye, that thay micht
ressave sum proffitt of the lang weris and jeoperdie in quhilkis thay
haif spendit the maist parte of thare age. Attoure, the thing that
ilk man winnis be chance and aventure of his awne handis, sal be mair
thankfull and plesand to him, than gif it multiplyit to him be industrie of ane uthir man. This is the ressoun that hes movit the dictator to send his letteris to the senate for consultacioun in this mater;
to that fine, that he may eschew the invy of small pepil be distribucioun of the said spuleye, and imput every indignacioun and displesere that micht follow thareftir alanerlie to the senate; and als sone
as the senate had rejekkit this mater to him, that he micht than gif
the distribucioun of this spuleye to the small pepil, suffiring ilk man
to obtene the chaunce that fortoun list gif to him.
This sentence wes leist apprisit, for it maid the senate populare.
Incontinent wes maid ane edict, " All thay that desirit to haif ony
"parte of the spuleye of Veos, cum to the dictator, to pas forwart with
"him to Veos." Sa huge multitude followit on the dictator eftir this
edict, that all the tentis war replete.
Als sone as the dictator had tane the auspices, he past fordwart;
and, eftir he commandit ilk man to tak his armoure and wappinnis,
he maid his orisoun in this maner to Apollo: " O thou Apollo, full
"of divine sprete ! I, Camillus, informit be thy name and governance,
" pass now to distroy the ciete of Veos, and promittis, be solemne
"vote, to gif to the, eftir my victorie, the tent parte of all the spuleAnd prayis the, O Juno, that dwellis now in Veos, to follow
"ye.

THE FIFT BUKE.

427

" us victouris to owre ciete, quhilk sal be sone thine, in quhilk sal be
"' maid ane tempill effering to thy magnificence and honoure." Als
sone as Camillus had said thir wourdis, he maid him to assailye the
toun on ilk side with ane huge noumer of pepil, to that fine, that
nane of the cieteyanis within the toun of Veos suld persave the secrete and irrevocabil dangere that wes haistelie cuming to the toun.
The Veanis, nocht knawand thameself betrasit be thare awne prophetis; nor yit be externe orakillis; nor yit knawand how sindry
uncouth and strange Goddis war cuming to Romanis, to be participant with the pray of thare ciete; nor yit knawand how thare awne
Goddis war fled, and nocht onelie had chosin new habitaciouns, bot
als had na uthir respect bot onelie to new setis and templis cf inemyis.
Nor yit knew the said Veanis that wes the last day thay had to leif in
erd, dredand na thing les than thare wallis to be undirmindit, and
thare castellis full of inemyis; and, tharefore, every ane of thame,
armit in thare best avise, ruschit haistelie to defend the wallis, hayand na litill admiracioun, sen the Romanis had haldin thameself clois
sa mony dais afore but ony mocioun fra thare staciouns, and than, as
thay had bene all stirkin with sum wod and haisty furie, to assailye
thare wallis.
Sum men sayis, bot I beleif it for ane fabill, that quhen the King
of Veanis had slane ane beist, and makand sacrifice to his Goddis,
that the divinoure said, " The victorie sal be grantit to him that
" cuttis the bowellis of this beist ;" and, in the mene time, ane certane of Romane knichtis, quhilk war standand undir him in the mine,
herde his voce; and, to obtene the thing that wes pronostocate be the
divinoure, thay oppinnit the mine abone thare hedis, and brocht away
the bowellis of this beist to the dictator. Bot in thir and siclike
thingis, so anciant and full of antiquiteis, it is ineuch for me that
thay be haldin for trewe historyis; for thocht sic thingis semis mair
ganand to be rehersit on scaffaldis, for admiracioun and delite of pepil, than to haif faith in ony grave historie, in quhatsumevir way sic
thingis ar, I wil nouthir afferme nor yit repreve thame.
This mine afore rehersit, being now full of chosin knichtis, kest up
haistelie ane huge noumer of armit men in the tempil of Juno, quhilk
stude than in the toun of Veos. Ane certane of thir armit men invadit the inemyis, and drew thame of the wallis; utheris ran in grete

428

TITUS LIVIUS.

buschmentis, and brak up the portis; utheris, seand the stanis and
sclatis cassin be the wemen and servandis of the riggingis of the
housis, put fire in the housis. Thus rais ane huge clamoure, mingit
sum parte with skirll and greting of wiffls and barnis, and sum parte
be vocis of thame that war fechtand and resistand in the ciete; and,
within the space of ane moment, the armit men war doung perfors of
the wallis, the portis brokin and upcassin. Sa grete buschmentis enterit, sum time at the portis, and sum time owre the wallis, that the
toun wes fillit full of armit men. In all partis of this towne wes ane
cruel and bludy batall; quhilk at last, eftir grete occisioun and slauchter, the batall began to be febil and waik. Than the dictator commandit be general proclamacioun of heraldis to abstene fra unarmit
pepil. This proclamacioun put end to the slauchter. Thus war all
the unarmit pepil tane presoneris. Incontinent, be the command of
the dictator, ilk man ran to tak the pray that he micht win. It is
said, quhen the dictator had sene the spuleye and riches of this toun,
quhilkis wes of mair valoure and price than wes belevit, he huvit up
baith his handis to the Hevin, praying the Goddis, gif this present
victorie, that wes fallin to him and Romane pepil, semit owre grete
to ony of the Goddis or men, that it micht be lefull to meis thare invie erare with sum private punicioun takin alanerlie on himself, than
to meis thare ire with ony publik dammage of Romane pepil. In
the mene time, quhen he wes makand this veneracioun to the Goddis,
he slaid, and fell gruflingis to the erde; the quhilk wes ane evil sing;
for it wes schawin be the divinouris, that his fall prognostocate, within few yeris eftir, his damnacioun, and grete mischeif to fall to the
ciete of Rome. This day wes endit on this maner with ithand slauchter of inemyis, and direpciouns of this riche toun.

THE FIFT BUKE.

429

CAP. IX.
How Juno, and othir the Goddis of Veos, war translatit to Rome ;
and of her tempil in Mont Aventine. Ofgrete debait concerning
the oferand to Apollo. How pece wes gevin to the Equis and
Volschis.
N the morow, the dictatour sauld all the fre bodyis of
Veos undir croun, and of all the spuleye that wes gottin
in this riche toun, na thing thareof wes applicate to pu.
blic tressoure, bot onelie the money that wes gottin for
the ransoun of the saidis bodyis, and yit the samin wes nocht done
but ire and indignacioun of the small pepil. For the small pepil tuke
sic haterent at Camillus, thare emprioure, for confiscacioun of the said
money to public tressoure, that thay wald nouthir refer the remanent
spuleye that thay gat in direpcioun of this riche toun to thare emprioure, becaus he rejeckit to the senate the thing that pertenit to his
jugement, to that fine, that he micht find tharethrow sum authouris
of displesere aganis thame, nor yit wald the said armye refer the said
spuleye to the senate, bot referrit it alanerlie to the hous of Licinius,
becaus Licinius, the auld man afore rehersit, wes sa populare, and
conforme to the desire of pepill, that quhen his son had demandit
him afore, Quhat suld be done with the pray of Veos, he ansuerit, It
suld be commoun to all men that wan it.
Quhen all the riches of Veos wes waistit and tane on this maner,
the Romanis sett thame to pul doun all the Goddis and ornamentis
pertening thareto; bot in the pulling doun thareof, thay schaw thame
mare like religious pepil than ony weremen. First, war chosin ane
certane young men maist wourthy amang the army, and eftir that
thir young men had wesching thare handis and bodyis clene in ane
quik rinnand flude, thay clothit thameself in quhite vesture, and sa
mony of thame as war assignit to this haly besines, enterit in the
tempill of Juno with grete reverence, and laid thare handis devoutlie
on hir body; for, eftir the ancient custome of Hethruschis, na per-

430

TITUS LIVIUS.

souns aucht to touch this Goddes, without thay war priestis discending onlie of ane certane linage, that war institute thareto. It is sade,
quhen ane of thir young men that war chosin to this besines, uncertane quhiddir he wes revist with divine sprete, or gif he said it for
ane sporte, had demandit Quene Juno, saying, "0 , Lady Juno, wil
" you pas with us to Rome ?" Scho incontinent, as thay allegit, maid
ane nod with hir hede, as scho had bene content to pas with thame.
Sum men ekis to this fabill, that ane voce of Juno wes herd, saying,
" Scho wald gladely pas with thame to Rome." Ane thing is soith,
as we here, that Juno, with small difficulte, sufferit herself to be rasit
fra her seit, and brocht als eselie as scho had followit thame of hir
awne gude wil. Thus wes Juno translatit and brocht to Mont Aventine, in hir eternale sete, in quhilk place Camillus dedicate ane tempil, becaus he votit it to her afore.
Thus wes the end of Veos, the maist riche ciete amang the Hethruschis, quhilk schawis wele the magnificence and grete power thareof, be the last rewine of the self, quhilk beand continually segeit ten
someris and x. winteris, eftir that it had done dureing all the said
time mare dammage to the segearis than it gat; at last, be approching of fatal destiny, it wes tane mair be crafty slicht, than be ony
force of sege. Quhen the novellis that Veos wes tane wes brocht to
Rome, howbeit the prodigeis that war schewin afore, war procurate
and cumin to effect; and howbeit baith the responsis of thare Goddis
and divinouris war patent, and every thingis be thame done, sa fer as
the ingine and witt of men micht devise; and thocht thay had chosin
M. Furius Camillus, the maist vailyeand emprioure that evir wes
afore thay dayis, yit becaus the weris continewit sa mony yeris at
Veos, in quhilkis the Romanis had sustenit infinite harmes and displesere, fra thay herd thir novellis that Veos wes tane, thay had mare
joy and blythnes than may be told. And afore the senate had commandit ony thingis to be done to the glore and reverence of Goddis,
for this victorie, al the tempillis war fillit full of Romane matrounis
and wemen, gevand thankis to the Goddis of this victorie fallin to
thame. Than the senate commandit supplicaciouns to be made four
dayis togiddir, howbeit sa grete noumer of dayis war nevir ordanit
for na maner of batallis that fell to thame afore thay dayis.
The cuming of this excellent emprioulre, Camillus, wes mare sichty

THE FIFT BUKE.

431

and glorius than ony mannis cuming afore wes, for all the ordouris
went furth of the ciete to meit him. Forthir, his triumphe past the
maner of all othir triumphis that wes afore him; for at his first entres in the ciete, he drew all the ene of pepill in sicht and admiracioun of him, for he sat in ane cheriot that wes borne with foure milk
quhite coursouris, throw the ciete. The maner of this triumphe semit
nouthir civil nor humane, for it maid offence to the religioun of
Goddis, in sa fer as the dictator suld be comparit to the hors of the
son and mone; and for this onelie caus the triumphe wes mare excellent than acceptabill to the pepill.
Eftir this excellent and glorius triumphe, Camillus began to ereck
ane tempill in Mont Aventine, and dedicate it to the moder and
Goddes Matuta. And quhen he had done thir divine and humane
werkis, with grete felicite he exonerit himself of the dictatorie. Als
sone as he had deponit the dictatorie, the senate began to trete of the
gift that suld be send to Appollo, for Camillus votit the x. parte of
all the spuleye that wes won at Veos to Appollo; than the bischoppis
ordanit the pepil: to fulfil the thing that wes votit. It apperit ane
richt difficil mater to caus the pepil to bring al the spuleye and pray
that thay wan at this time, afore the senate at anis, that the x. parte
thareof micht be tane away and consecrate to Appollo. Nochtheles,
ane esy way wes finalie found, be the quhilk wes commandit that
every man that wald exoner his conscience, and releve himself or his
house of the solemne vote that wes made to Appollo, that he sal estimye all the spuleye that he has won at this time, to ane just valoure
as himself may best do; and quhen he has set it be his awne estimacioun, to ane just valoure, to draw then the tent part tharefra, and
bring it with himself to the public market, to that fine, that of all
thir teindis gaderit togiddir, sal be made ane goldin presand, effering
baith the magnificence of Appollois tempil, and dignite of Romane
pepil. The rasing of this teind drew the hartis of the small pepil
fra Camillus.
In the mene time come legatis fra the Volschis and Equis, desiring pece, the quhilk wes grantit be Romariis mare for resting of
thare ciete, that wes faschit with continuall weris, than for ony uthir
gude caus.

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. X.
Of grete debate concerning the migracioun to Veos. How the teind
of the spuleye was commandit to be send to Apollo. Of the grete
liberalite of Romane matrounis, and of the trubil movit be the tribunis of pepill.
N the yere eftir that Veos wes tane, war create six tribunis militare, with power consulare, that is to say, Pub.
Cornelius Cossus, Pub. Cornelius Scipio, M. Valerius
Maximus, Ceso Fabius Ambustus, L. Furius Medullinus, and Q. Servilius. Cornelius Cossus and Cornelius Scipio tuke
the batel aganis the Felischis; Valerius and Servilius tuke the batel aganis the Capenatis. Thir tribunis made thame nocht to tak
ony tounis be inginis nor violence, bot sett thame alanerlie to waist
and hery the landis of inemyis. Thus war sa infinite pray and gudis
tane out of thare landis, that nouthir tre nor othir thing that micht
here ony fruit, war sauffit or left undistroyit. Thir calamiteis war
sa insufferabil to the Capenatis, that thay war subdewit be the samin,
and constrenit to seik peace with Romanis, quhilk wes grantit; yit
restit the batel aganis the Felischis, and in the mene time wes grete
sedicioun in Rome, and to meis this sedicioun, wes commandit be the
senate,' that ane colonie of II. M. pepill sal be send out of Rome, to
the tounis of Volschis, and to convoy this colonie, war chosin the
thre men quhilk sal distribut equalie amang the said colonie thre oxgang of land. Nochtheles, the smal pepill refusit this distribucioun
and ordinance, traisting the samin micht differ thame of ane mare
honest and greter proffitt, and said, Quhy suld thay be banist amang
the Volschis, sen the fare ciete of Veos wes sa nere thame, quhare
thay micht plesandlie duel, of quhilkis the landis ar mare fertill and
plentuis than ony uthir land of Romanis. Attoure, the ciete of
Veos micht be preferrit to the ciete of Rome, baith for the strenth
and naturall situacioun thareof, and for magnificent housis and biggingis.

THE FIFT BUKE.
Forthir, the same debait and contencioun wes movit now that wes
movit be the tribunis of pepill, eftir the taking of Rome be the Gallis,
for the saidis tribunis desirit ane parte of the senate; and ane parte of
the small pepil to be send to inhabit and duell in Veos, be quhilk devise twa cieteis, commoun to the public weill, sal be inhabit be Romanis. Nochtheles, all the princis and nobillis of the ciete, opponit
thame sa feirslie aganis thir desiris, that thay said, " Every ane of
" thame sall first de, or ony point of thir desiris cum to effect; for
" sen thare is now sa grete dissensiouns in ane ciete, quhat dissensi" ouns sal be than in the two cieteis ? Sal ony man prefer the ciete
" that is vincust to it that is victorius, or beleif better fortoun to cum
" to Veanis, eftir that thay are vincust, than come to thame quhen
" thay stude hail ? Forthir, it may happin sa, that oure awne cietey" anis may rebel and rise aganis oure self, and than, as we have gude
" experience, na force may dant nor vincus thame. Lat thame fol" low than Ti. Sicinius to Veos, for he is autor of this law, and
" leif behind thame God Romulus, son of ane God, the fader and
" beginnare of oure ciete."
Quhen this debait wes dispute with maist vile and odius wourdis
on athir side, the Faderis drewe ane parte of the tribunis of pepil to
thare opinioun, yit na thing causit the small pepil to ceis fra putting
handis on the Faderis, except onelie that als sone as the clamoure
rais with grete noyis [of] the small pepil, to estabil this foresaid law concerning the migracioun of Veos, incontinent all the princis and principall Faderis of the senate, come afore the multitude of pepil, offerand thameself wilfully to be slane, and commandit the small pepil to
ding and sla thame as thay plesit Thus war the Faderis only sauffit
be the reverence of thare age and digniteis. Mony other attemptatis
of small pepil war resistit alanerlie be schame, be quhilk thay durst
nocht follow the same.
In the mene time, Camillus maid conciounis in all placis of the
ciete, saying," It wes na marvel thocht the ciete yede wod, for,
" nochtwithstanding that thay maid solemne vote to Appollo, yit
" thay tuke mare regarde of ony uthir thing than to releif thare con" science, and fulfil the said vote. Forthir, sen ilk man has votit
" privatelie be himself to pay the said teind, I say the said pepill
3'

434

TITUS LIVIUS.

4"

" may nocht be relevit of the said vow; bot gif thay pay the teind,
as wele of thare wageis as of the spuleye, thay have won at Veos,
" my conscience," said he, " may nocht suffir me to hald my toung,
" bot constrenis me to schaw to you, that nocht onelie suld this teind
" be payit of the movable gudis that ye wan at Veos, bot als to be
" payit of ilk tent, hous, and land, that ye half won, for ye ar thirlit
" be youre vote to thame baith elike."
At last, eftir that this mater wes lang dispute afore the senate, it
wes rejeckit to the bischoppis, that thay micht decerne thereupon.
Than wes it concludit, be avise of Camillus and the bischoppis, that
of all the guddis that pertenit to Veanis afore the vote maid be Romanis, and of all the gudis that Romanis gat eftir the taking of Veos,
the tent parte sal be consecrate to Apollo. Thus wes baith the toun
and landis of Veos be estimatioun apprisit, and the tent part thareof
sald be money that wes tane out of the tressoure hous.
Sic thingis done, the charge wes given to the tribunis militare, to
by ane certane of gold with the said money; yit becaus the gold that
wes gaderit tharewith wes nocht sufficient ineuch to the effect foresaid, al the matrounis of Rome made ane convencioun amang thameself, and becaus thay be public decrete had promittit ane certane of
gold to the tribunis militare, thay brocht all thare ornamentis in the
tressoure hous, that the samin micht be sauld, and the money thareof
to be brocht to this samin office. This liberalite of the matrounis war
mare acceptabill than ony thing that evir wes done be thame afore
in thay dayis. It is said, that for this honoure and magnificence
that wes done be the matrounis, it wes grantit to thame that thay sall
be carryit in wanis, quhen thay pas to make sacrifice, and quhen thay
pas to thare playis, quhidder it be on ane haly day or werk day, thay
sal be carryit in chariotis. Quhen ane pece of gold wes tane fra every
ane of thir matrounis, and estimeit that the money micht be payit, ane
Delphos.
goldin coupe wes made thareof, to be send to Apollo
Als sone as the pepil had releiffit thameself of the vote made to Apollo, and done every thing effering thareto, the tribunis of pepil began
to renew thare sedicioun on the auld maner, and movit the pepill in
grete multitude aganis all the princis of the ciete, and specially aganis
Camillus, saying, "The saidis princis, be public acciouns and sacri-

at

THE FIFT BUKE.
"
"
"
"

435

fice has brocht all the pray and spuleye that wes gottin at Veos
to nocht, and blamit feirslie mony of thame that war absent, but
thay durst nocht blame thame that war present; for thay offerit
thameself of fre will to debait the cuntre.'
The small pepil seand thare desiris delayit to the nixt yere, continewit the same tribunis of pepil that war solistaris of thare desiris.
Thus war the tribunis of pepill, for the maist pairt, all continewit on
the samin maner as thay war afore. The Faderis tuke purpois to
do siclike with the tribunis militare, that is to say, to mak thame tribunis militare, that resistit maist feirslie to the desiris of the tribunis
of pepill. Allwayis the Faderis gat sic victorie, howbeit it wes
nocht bot grete craft and difficulte, that M. Furius Camillus, in
nixt commites of tribunis militare, wes create.
The Faderis fenyeit in thir commites, that thay desirit Camillus
to be create tribune militare, alanerlie to resist the mony feirful batallis for the time occurring; howbeit, thay create him for na uthir
caus, bot onelie to be ane scharpe adversare aganis thir desiris of
tribunis of pepill. And with Camillus, war create tribunis militare,
L. Furius Medullinus, Clau. Emilius, Valerius Publicola, Spu. Posthumius, and Pub. Cornelius.

436TITUS LIVIUS.

436

CAP. XI.

How theiFelschis

war discomfist. How the sculemaister of Faleriun randerit the nobillis sonnis thareof to Camillus. Of Camilsculemaister. How the
Is answere and punicioun maid on
Felischis, be soverane justice andfaith oJ amillus, war randert
to Romnane empire.

the

N the beginning of this yere, the tribunis of pepil movit
na sedicioun nor trubil, quhil M. Furius Camillus maid
him to were aganis the Feisehis, for that province fell
to him. Thus the desiris of the saidis tribunis, be.delaying, wox fehil, and come to litil effect; and in the mene time
Camillus, quhilk wes inemye in the warld thay maist dred,.won na
litil glore and honoure in the weris of Felischis; for eftir that the
said Felisehis had concludit, as maist proffittabil for thame, to defend
thameself within thare municioun and wallis, Camillus maid sa cruel
and insufferabil hereschippis, with fire andswerde throw all thare
landis, that he constrenit thame to ische forth of thare ciete, for defence
of thare saidis landis, and yit thay durst nocht cum fer fra the samin ;
for thay' sett doun thare tentis within ir. pace to the said toun, havand na uthir esperance to defend thameself, except onelie thay belevit the place, quhare thay war campit, sa difficil, sa full of rochis,
and
hie and strait, that na armye micht- enter nior invaid thame.
In the mene time, Camillus tuke ane of the Felischis, that be aventure wes gangand in the way, quhilk knew weil all the wayis, counsellis, and slichtis of the said Felischis. Incontinent, Camillus, following on this man, as gide to him for the time, rasit his armye, and
come with grete travel and lauboure
the nicht, sa quietlie that
nane persavit his cuming, quhil he wes arrayit arelie on the morow,
abone the same place quhare the inemyis stude. The Romanis maid
thame to incluse the Felischis be thre sindry maneris ; and quhen
the said Felischis war maist ernistlie gevin to resist the said closing,
Camillus come on thame sa haistelie, that he discomfist thame, and

sa

all

THE FIFT BUKE.

437

put thame to flicht. Sa grete ane effray and dredoure come to thir
Felischis, that thay left the tentis, howbeit the same war nere approcheand to thame, and, wide skatterit in sindry cumpanyis, fled
with all diligence to the toun. Mony of thame war slane, or thay
micht win the said toun. Thare tentis war tane, and all the spuleye
and pray gevin to the questouris. And throw thir doingis, Camillus
incurrit the huge ire and indignacioun of al his armye. Nochtheles,
be severite of his empire, thay war vincust, and durst na way contend
aganis him ; for thay had na les haterent than admiracioun aganis his
excellent vertew.
Eftir that he had discomfist the Felischis in this wise, he laid ane
sege to thare toun, namit Felerium, and maid sindry municiouns and
inginis to stop thame but ony ischeing. Nochtheles, sic occasioun
and opportunite oft times occurring, that mony skarmussingis and
smal batallis war betwix thame, throw quhilk the time wes lang oure
drevin but ony inclinacioun of victorie to athir side ; and becaus thay
that war segeit within had mare fouth and plente of vittalis, than thay
that war utouth at the sege, apperit that this toun of Felerium suld
irk the Romanis with als lang sege, als sare travel, and walkrife nichtis,
or it war tane, as the toun of Veos did afore, war nocht that fortoun
gaif to the Romane emprioure, for his excellent and provin vertew in
chevelrie, ane mare haisty victorie than wes belevit.
The Felischis had ane rite and custome amang thame, that the
samin man that wes preceptoure to thare barnis, wes companyeoun
to thare said barnis in al uthir exerciciouns; and as the maner is yit
in Grece, mony young childring war gevin to the cure and instruccioun of ane onelie preceptour. The Felischis, eftir this custome, as
oft occurris, chesit ane man of maist excellent erudicioun and science,
to teich the sonnis of thame that war gretest princis and senyeouris of
thare ciete. This maister had ane custome, als weil during the time
of were as pece, to bring the sonnis of thir senyeouris and princis
utouth the portis of the toun. And nochtwithstanding the sege wes
liand about the samin, he ceissit nocht with sic playis, sermondis, and
exerciciouns; as the said barnis war occupyit with him afore, to draw
thame sumtime with schorter and sumti e with langare renkis, as he
plesit fra the portis of the toun. At last, quhen he had drawin thame
ane ferar space fra the toun than he was wont, he brocht thame aniang

488

TITUS LIVIUS.

the staciouns and tentis of inemyis. Als sone as he wes cumin afore
Camillus, to eik his tressonabil dede with mare tressonabil speche, he
said, " 0 Camillus, I deserve na litil rewarde of the, for I rander
" the Felischis in the handis of Romanis be thir barnis that I deli" ver now to the; for thir barnis ar the best mennis sonnis of the
" ciete, and wil thou minass thame with torment or deith, the Faderis
" will rander incontinent the toun to the, to recovir thare barnis."
Als sone as Camillus had herd thir wourdis, he said, " 0 cursit
" and abhominabil tratoure, with thy abhominabil presand, thou art
" nocht cumin to ane emprioure or pepil of sic condicioun as thou
" art. Thare is na societe nor alliance betwix us and Felischis that
" is maid be ony law of men; nochtheles, sic societe and cumpany
" as is engenerit be nature, is and sal be ay kepit betwix us and Fe" lischis, that is to say, nane of us to invaid uthir with tressoun;
"' and first, I say to the, that equite and ressoun ar to be kepit als
" weil in time of batall as pece. We ar lernit to lede our batallis
" with na les justice than manhede; we bere na armoure aganis bab" byis, nor sic pepil that suld be saiffit quhen cieteis ar tane; we
" bere armoure aganis armit men, and specialie aganis the Felischis
" that segeit the Romane tentis at Veos, but ony injure, offence, or
" provocacioun done to thame be us. Nochtheles, thou, sa fer as wes
" in the, has vincust thame with ane new tresoun, nevir herd afore;
" bot I sal vincus thame on the samin maner as I wan the Veanis, that
" is to say, be Romane chevelrie, vertew, lauboure, and force of armyis."
Quhen Camillus had said thir wourdis, he gart tirve this maister
nakit of al his clothis, and eftir that he had causit his handis to be
boundin behind his bak, he gaif ane wand to every ane of thir barnis
that he brocht with him, to ding and scourge him ithandlie with
wandis, quhil he war returnit to Felerium.
The Felischis gaderit in grete multitude to se this uncouth sicht;
and belive al the senate and princis of this ciete convenit to avise on
this new mater. Als sone as thay war ripelie avisit tharewith, al the
mindis of thir Felischis, als weil senyeouris as commouns, war sa suddanlie changit, that quhare thay war sa enragit with ire and haterent
aganis the Romanis, that thay had levir bene al utirlie destroyit, as
the Veanis war, than to have saucht ony schameful pece with Romanis, as the Capenatis did, now war thare mindis sa turnit, that thay

THE FIFT BUKE.

439

cryit all atanis to have pece. Nathing wes said in courte or in merkett, bot in loving of Romane faith, and grete justice of thare emprioure Camillus. Incontinent, be consent of al the ciete, legatis
war send to Romane tentis to rander the Felischis to Camillus.
Thir legatis, eftir that thay had commonit with Camillus, past to
the senate of Rome for the same effect. Quhen thir legatis war brocht
afore the senate, thay said in this maner, "0 Faderis Conscript, ye
" have now sic victorie, that nouthir the Goddis nor men may invie
" the same. We Felischis, vincust be you and youre emprioure,
" randeris us to you, beleving the thing that is richt honorabil to
" you and al victorius pepil, that we sal leif bettir in times cuming
" under youre empire, than under oure awne lawis. Be aventure of
" this batall, twa notabil exempillis ar schewin to the proffitt of al
" pepil; first, ye had levir kepe faith in batall, than to have victorie
" in youre handis be falsett; and we ar sa movit be youre faith
" and justice, that we have gevin you victorie of fre wil. We ar now
" under youre ordinance and dispositioun; send quhen ye pleis to
" ressave oure armoure, oure plegis, and oure ciete, with opin portis.
" Ye sal nocht be penitent of oure faith, nor we sal nocht be peni"tent of youre empire."
Grete thankis war gevin baith be Romanis and inemyis to Camillus. It was injunit to the Felischis to gif ane certane quantite of
money to pay the wageis of the Romane armye, that the smal pepil
may be relevit for this yere of al tribute.

440

440
TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. XII.
How the legatis, that war scnd with ane goldin coupe to Apolio, war
tane ; and how.thiay war rescoursit agane be Timasitheus;and
how the Equis war discomfist.

Felisehis,

the
UHEN pece wes gevion this wise to the
oist of Romanis war brocht to Rome. Camillus, schinand
with excellent glore of faith and justice, eftir that he had
. ""
vincust his inemyis in this maner, returnit to the ciete
with mare loving, than quhen the foure quhite coursouris bure him
triumphand throw the ciete. The senate for his hunil bering wald
nocht suffir him to be ony langare frustrate, nor unrelevit of the vote
be him maid to Apollo; and but ony mare tary, maid ane coupe of
gold, and ordanit it to be send to Apollo in Deiphos.
And to present this coupe to the said Apollo, legatis war send, that
is to say, L. Valerius, L. Sergius, and Au. Manlius. Thir legatis
enterit in ane lang schip with purpois to have passit the said voyage;
bot thay war nocht fer distant fra the Sicill seyis, quhen thay war

tane be sey revaris, namit Liparanis, and brocht with schip and gudis
to thare toun, namit Liparas.
The custume wes in this toun,, that every thing that wes stowne
or reft be thame on the seis,. that the same suld be equalie dividit, as
commoun gude, amnang the cieteyanis of the said toun. Be aventure,
wes into this toun ane man namit Timasitheus, quhilk wes principal
senyeoure thareof, ane man mare like to the inaneris of Romanis,
than to the maneris of his awne cieteyanis. This Timasitheus havand na les reverence to the name of legatis, than he had to the God
Apollo, to quhilk thay war send, and knawing weil the caus of thare
message, llllit al the mindis of his cieteyanis with sic devocioun and
reverence of religioun, that he causit thame desist fra al trubling of
the said legatis ; and eftir that he had ressavit thame in public amite
and freindschip, he convoyit thame with ane flete of schippis to Delphos, syne brocht thame hale agane to Rome. The senate, eftir the

THE FIFT BUKE.

441

returning of thir legatis, maid amite and confederacioun with the said
Timasitheus, and send him riche rewardis.
In the samin yere, the Romanis faucht aganis the Equis with sa
uncertane chance of batall, that nouthir wes it knawin in Rome, nor
in thare armye, quhidder the Romanis war vincust or victorius. In
this batall war twa empriouris, that is to say, C. Emilius and Spu.
Posthumius. Thir twa empriouris, at thare first beginning, did al
thingis with grete felicite; and eftir that thay had discomfist thare
inemyis, thay dividit thame in sindry cumpanyis: Emilius past to
rest him and his folkis in the castell of Verrugo: Posthumius maid
incursiounis, with sindry hereschippis in thare landis.
In the mene time the Equis sett on him, eftir that he wes wide
skatterit, and takand na advertence for this victorie latelie fallin, and
chasit him with grete effray and dredoure to the nixt montanis. This
effray wes brocht to the tothir armye land at Verrugo. Quhen Posthumius had drawin abak his folkis to ane sikkir strenth, he began to
reproche thame, saying, It wes grete dishonoure to thame to be chasit be thare maist cowart and febil inemyis. Than the hale armye
cryit with grete noyis, That thay deservit justlie the said reproche,
and confessit thare offence; nochtheles, thay suld amend the same
in sic wise, that thare inemyis sal nocht have lang solace, nor joy of
the said victorie; and tharefore desirit him effectuislie to lede thame
agane to the tentis of inemyis, quhilk war standing on ane plane,
nocht fer out of thare sicht, and promittit to refuse na maner of punicioun that he plesit to tak on thame, gifthay discomfist nocht thare
inemyis afore that nicht come. Posthumius lovit thare curage, and
bad thame refresche thare bodyis with mete and slepe, that thay
micht be reddy at the fourt vigill.
The inemyis, desirand to incluse the Romanis, that thay sal nocht
fle within the nicht fra the hicht quhare thay war campit for the time,
come fordwart to stop thame in the way that past to Verrugo. Incontinent, baith the armyis mete afore the day; bot the mone wes sa
gleg, schinand al nicht, that the batall wes fochtin to the uter end,
als weil as it had bene day licht.
In the mene time, sic effray and dredoure wes brocht to Verrugo,
belevand the Romane tentis to be segeit, that nouthir micht the prayer
3K

442
TITUS LIVIUS.

442

or Inonising of Emilius kepe his folkis togidder bot every ane of
thame, wide skatterit, fled with grete fere to the toun of Tusculum.
And sone eftir come novellis to Rome, that baith Posthumius and
his armye war slane. On the morow, als sone as the licht had maid
every thingis clere, but ony hid buschmentis, Posthumius raid throw
the armye, requirand thame to kepe thare promissis; and with feirs
wourdis he inflammit thame with sa birnand curage and desire of
batall, that the Equis micht na langare sustene the preis of Romanis.
Thus war the Equis put to flicht, and siclike slauchter maid on
thame, as usis to be quhare batallis ar led mare be ire than vertew.
And eftir that ane sorowful messingere wes send fra Tusculum to
Rome, and had maid the ciete effrayit with vane dredoure, come
laureat letteris fra Posthumius, schawing all this victorie as it was
fallin to Romanis, and the armye of Equis distroyit.

CAP. XIII.

Ofgrete debate betwix the Faderis and tribunis ofpepil, concerning
thare migrac~oun to Veos: How the Equis war discomfst. How
Virginius and Pomponius war condampnitfor thare assistence to
the Faderis. Of Camillus feirs wourdis aganis the Faderis and
tribunis ofpepil.

rE~lthe
ECAUIS the tribunis of smal pepil culd find na end of

thare acciouns,. the smal pepil tuke purpois to continew

same tribunis that war solistaris of thare lawis;

and

'jthe Faderis, on the tothir side, tuke purpois to continew
the samin tribunis that resistit maist feirslie to the said lawis. Nochtheles, the smal pepil war victorius in thare commites. The Faderis
to revenge this displesoure, purchest, be decrete of the senate, that
consulis sal be create ; for the consulate was the office, in al the ciete,
that the small pepil maist hatit.
In the xvi. yere eftir, that tribunis militare had governit the empire, of Rome, but ony mencioun of consulis, I find that L. Lucresius Flavus and S. Sulpicius Camerinus war maid consulis.

THE FIFT BUKE.

443

The tribunis of smal pepil, seand, in the beginning of this yere,
that nane of thare awne collegis maid intercessioun nor impediment
aganis thare acciouns, made thame the mare feirslie to persew the
said acciouns; and the consulis, on the tothir side, sett thame with
al the power thay micht to resist the same. Thus was all the ciete
gevin to nane uthir besines, bot alanerlie to this debait betwix the
tribunis of pepil and consulis.
The Equis, seand the ciete occupyit with sic dissenciouns, set on
the colonie of Romanis that was send to Vitellia, ane toun within
thare boundis, and wan the said toun. The maist part of the colonis
thareof eschapit, and fled at ane bak porte of the toun; for the toun
was betrasit within the nicht, and mony of the colonis, be mirknes of
the said nicht, eschapit, and fled the mare esely to Rome.
Sone eftir, L. Lucretius, consul, past with ane armye aganis thir
Equis, and vincust thame be plane batall; and eftir his victorie he
returnit to Rome, quhare he fand ane mare scharp batall aganis him,
than he had afore aganis the Equis. Ane day of jugement wes sett
be the new tribunis of pepil to A. Virginius and Q. Pomponius. Thir
Virginius and Pomponius war tribunis of pepil twa yere afore, and
stude, contrare the opinioun of thare awne collegis, to the opinioun of
Faderis ; and tharefore it pertenit to the faith of the senate and Faderis to defend thame, becaus thay war innocent of al reproche and
crime that micht be imput to thame, except onelie thay war favorabil
to the Faderis, and resistit the peticioun of thare awne collegis; bot
the ire of smal pepil was mare pussant than the favoure of the senate
and Faderis; for the said tribunis, nochtwithstanding thare innocence,
war condampnit in X.M. brasin pennyis. The condampnacioun of thir
tribunis was i'icht displesand to the Faderis, and specialie to Camillus; for he reprochit the smal pepil opinlie of iniquite, saying, Thay
began to rage on thare awne companyeouns, and understandis nocht
how thay, be wikkit jugement, has tane away all intercessioun of tribunis in times cuming, to that fine, that, fra the sade intercessioun
was tane away, all power of tribuniciane authorite suld be aluterlie
evertit; and quhare thay belevit that the Faderis wald suffir the unbridillit licence of this authorite tribuniciane, thay war begilit; for
gif the violence of the said tribunis can nocht be dantit be intercessioun of thare awne collegis, the Faderis wald find ane othir mare

444

TITUS LIVIUS.

sharpe brod to resist the samin. Attoure, this Camillus reprochit the
consulis, becaus thay kepit na faith to Virginius and Pomponius, bot
sufferit thame, but ony defence, to be condampnit, eftir that thay had
followit sa stoutlie the opinioun of Faderis.
Camillus, with thir and siclike wourdis ilk day in his conciouns,
ceissit nocht mare and mare to augment the ire of pepil; and on the
samin maner, he ceissit nocht continualie to move the senate aganis
the law that the tribunis of pepil desirit, concerning the migracioun
of Romane pepil to Veos; and desirit thame, als sone as the day wes
cumin that the smal pepil had sett to estabil the said law, to cum
aganis the tribunis of pepil with na uthir array and curage to the
merket, than thay war to fecht for defence of thare altaris, thare
firis, the tempil of thare Goddis, and thare native cuntre. Forthir,
howbeit he was bot ane private man, yet sa fer as pertenit to him, gif
it war leful to him to remember his glore amang sic contenciouns that
ar movit aganis his native cuntre, it war mare plesand to him to dwel
in Veos than in Rome; for gif he dwelt in Veos, he micht dalie remember and se the toun that was tane be him ilk day, rejosing with
his awne glore, and have the toun afore his ene, of quhilk he gat sa
hie and excellent triumphe, and micht sumtime move al the pepil and
cieteyanis thareof to follow his vertew and futesteppis. Nochtheles,
he thocht it was unleful that Romane pepil suld inhabit that toun that
the immortale Goddis has left desert, or dwel in ony captive ground,
and leif the toun that is victorius, for the toun that is vincust.
All the princis, and all the young and old Faderis of the ciete, movit be thir exhortaciouns, quhen the day was cumin that this law suld
have bene pronuncit, come to the merket atanis in grete cumpanyis;
and eftir that thay war dividit in tribus, ilk ane of thame began to
embraise thare freindis and cousingis, and besocht thame, with pietuus
teris, to leif nocht the nobil ciete that thay and thare progenitouris has
defendit sa mony yeris with grete felicite and manhede; and sumtime
thay schaw the Capitole, the tempil of the Goddes Vesta, and mony
uthir tempillis of Goddis, to that fine, that Romane pepil suld nocht
be exilit nor banist fra thare native cuntre and native Goddis, to the
toun of thare inemyis. It war bettir that Veos had nevir bene tane,
than Rome to be left desert. And becaus the Faderis persewit this
mater be na violence, but onelie be humil requeist and prayeris, and

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45

amang thare prayeris maid oft times mencioun of the Goddis, the
smal pepil war movit with sic devocioun and dredoure of religioun,
that ma tribis war that gave thare votis to distroy this law, desirit be
the smal pepil, than to fortify and estabil the samin.
This victorie was sa plesand to the Faderis, that on the morow, at
the desire of consulis, ane law was maid be decrete of the senate, that
sevin oxingang of the land of Veos sal be dividit equalie amang the
smal pepil; and howbeit na landis war assignit to the Faderis, sic as
war houshalderis, yit mencioun was maid, that all the barnis of the
said housis suld have equale porcioun of thir landis, to that fine, that
the Faderis suld nuris thare barnis in esperance of the saidis landis
in times cuming. The distribucioun of thir landis softit sa the mindis
of small pepil, that thay maid na impediment aganis the commites of
consulis. Thus war create consulis, L. Valerius Potitus and M. Manlius, that wes eftir callit Capitolinus to his surname. Thir consulis
maid the grete playis that war votit afore be M. Furius Camillus in
the batall of Veos. The tempil that was votit afore be Camillus to
Juno, was dedicate in this yere. It is said the dedicacioun of the
said tempil was maid in maist solempne maner, specialie be avise of
the matrounis of Rome. The consulis, in this yere, faucht aganis the
Equis in Algidum; howbeit the batall wes of small renowne; for
the inemyis war discomfist, but ony straik. Valerius optenit the glore
of triumphe, becaus he followit feirsly, and maid grete slauchter on
the bakkis of inemyis. The tothir consul gat alanerlie the glore of
ovacioun.

446

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. XIV.
Qfgret derth and pest in Rome. Of the weris movit be the Volsinais
and Salpinatis, and of the fine thareof. How na censoure suld be
surrogate in the place of the dede. How the Romanis war admonist be ane hevinly voce of the cuming of Gaulis ; and how Camillus wes exilit.
N the samin yere began ane new batall, movit be the
Volsinais aganis the Romanis; and, in the said yere,
wes grete pest and hungir in the Romane landis. The
said pest and hungir rais be excessive hetis and drouth
e
that wes in the saidis landis; and, be occasioun of the said pest and
hungir, na armye micht be rasit aganis the saidis Volsinais. The
Volsinais, proude for thir afflicciouns that fell, as said is, to Romanis,
maid confideracioun and alliance with the Salpinatis; and, but ony
accioun or mocioun of injuris, cum with grete incursiounis and hereschippis in the Romane landis. Sone eftir, batall wes denuncit to
baith thir pepil.
In the mene time deceissit C. Julius, censor, in quhais place wes
surrogate M. Cornelius; quhilk thing, as wes belevit, maid grete offence to the religioun of Goddis, for, within this luster, Rome wes
tane be the Gaulis: and, becaus sa grete mischeif fell to Romanis
eftir the surrogacioun of the said censor, it wes statute, That na censor sal be surrogate in times cuming in the place of the censor that is
deceissit. Thir twa consullis, continewand furth thare governance in
administracioun of public weil, fell sick in the said pest; and, tharefore, it wes fund expedient till renewe the auspicis be the interregne.
Finalie, eftir that the said consulis, be decrete of senate, had exonerit thame of the consulate, M. Furius Camillus wes create interking,
and the said Cornelius pronuncit L. Valerius Potitus interking. This
Valerius create sex tribunis militare, with power consulare; to that
fine, gif ony of thame happinnit to be seik, thare suld be yit sufficient
noumer of thame to governe the public weil. Thir tribunis ressavit

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447

thare office in the kalendis of Quintilis, quhais namis war L. Lucretius, Ser. Sulpicius, M. Emilius, L. Furius Medullinus, Agrippa
Furius, and Claudius Emilius.
L. Lucretius and C. Emilius past with ane armye aganis the Volsinais, Agrippa Furius and Servius Sulpicius past aganis the Salpinatis. The batall wes first fochten aganis the Volsinais. This batall
wes huge be noumer of inemyis, bot it wes waik and febil be debate;
for, at the first joning, the inemyis war discomfist, and vni.M. armit
men of thame war sa inclusit on ilk hand with the Romane horsmen,
that thay kest thare wappinnis fra thame, and war subdewit to Romanis. The fame of this batall maid the Salpinatis sa effrayit, that
thay durst nocht committ thameself to the chaunce of batall, bot defendit thame within thare municioun and wallis. The Romanis, eftir this victorie, drave mony pray of gudis baith out of the landis of
Salpinatis and Volsinais bot ony resistence, quhil, at last, the Volsinais war sa faschit and owresett with trubil, ilk ane abone uthir, that
thay tuke xx. yere trewis with Romanis, undir this condicioun, That
thay sal restore to Romanis all the gudis that thay tuke fra thame
afore, and pay the wageis of thare army for that yere.
In this same yere, M. Cedicius, ane man of linage plebeane, schew
to the tribunis, that in the new way, quhare now standis the tempil
of Vesta, he herde, within the nicht, ane voce, fer clerare and farare
than ony voce of man, commanding him to pas to the magistratis and
grete princis of the ciete, and advertis thame, that the Gaulis war
cumand. Nochtheles, all his advertising and admoniciouns war contempnit, for he wes bot of small credit and authorite in the ciete.
Attoure, the said Gaulis war ane uncouth pepil, and sa fer distant
fra the Romanis, that na man belevit thay wald cum to Rome.
And nocht alanerlie war thir admoniciouns of the Goddis contempnit and lichtlyit, bot als he that wes the onelie municioun and targe
of Romane weil, that is to say Camillus, wes banist and exilit of the
ciete. L. Apuleius, tribune of the pepil, sett ane day ofjugement to
Camillus, to here him criminalie accusit for evill disposicioun of the
pray and spuleye of Veos. Camillus, eftir that he had loist his alanerlie son in batall of Veos, callit all his cousingis and dere freindis,
quhilk war ane grete parte of the small pepil to his lugeing, and demandit thame quhat thay wald do concerning his defence aganis the

448
TITUS LIVIUS.

448

tribunis of pepil. It wes answerit be his saidis freindis, thay culd
nocht find the. way to assoilye nor defend him; nochtheles, thay wald
gladelie pay all the money that he wald be condampnit intill to releif
him. Than Camillus departit of the ciete in exile; and maid his
humill prayeris to theimmortal Goddis, besekand thame, Gif he wes
innocent of the crime imput to him, that his pepil and cieteyanis
micht haif sum time occasioun to desire him agane to thare ciete;
and howbeit he wes absent at the day preflxt to him, he wes condampnit in xv.M. brasin pennies.

CAP. XV.
How the Clusinis send legatis to Romanis, desiring supporte aganis
the Gaulis and of the caus quhy the Clusinis war segeit be the
;
Gaulis; and of thefirst motive of the cumin of Gaulis in Italic;
of the pepil that assistit thame.

and

Camillus, the cieteyane and targe of Rome, wes
on this wise exilit, quhilk remanand still as le was afore

UHEN

J

unbanist, gif ony thing may stand sikkir be wisdome or

ingine of men, Rome micht nevir have been tane. Be
approcheing of fataill mischeif to the ciete, come legatis fra the Clusinis, desiring helpe aganis the Gaulis. It is said, the Gaulis, tane
with sweitnes -of quhete, and new plesere of delicius winis, come first
owre the 'montanis, namnit :Alpes. in Italie, and sat. doun
certane
landis, quhilkis war inhabit afore, be the Hethruschis. Thir Gaulis
that come
in Italie,: carryit ane grete plente of winis with thame
out of Italie agane in thare awne cuntre, callit Gallia, to persuade
the remanent pepil thareof to cumn- with ,tliame in Italie;. bot .the
Gaulis. that segeit Clusium, war mony yeris eftir thir Gaulis that
come .first in Italie.
The cans of the cumning of Gaulis in Italie was in this maner:
Ane nobil man, namit Aruns, cieteyane of Clusium, wes mony yerns
tutor to ane young prince, namit Lucumo, King of Clusium. This
young prince1 deflorit Aruns wife, throw quhilk Aruns wes sa impa-

on

first

THE FIFT BUKE.

449

cient, that becaus he culd nocht revenge his ire on Lucumo for his
grete pussance, but helpe of remote and strange pepil, he past oure
the montanis in Gallia, and brocht with him the Gaulis to sege the
toun of Clusium. I wil nocht deny bot the Gaulis war brocht be
Aruns, or ellis be sum uthir Clusine to sege [the] ciete of Clusium.
Nochtheles, thir men that wan the ciete of Clusium war nocht the
Gaulis that come first oure the montanis, namit Alpes; for the
Gaulis come in Italie cc. yeris afore thay segeit outhir Clusium, or
tuke Rome. Attoure, the Hethruschis war nocht the first pepil that
faucht aganis the Gaulis in Italie;' for the Gaulis faucht oft times
afore aganis the pepil that dwellis betwix Mont Appenninus and
montanis of Savoy, namit Alpes. The Hethruschis war of grate
pussance baith be sey and land, afore the Romanis had ony empire;
for the power of the said Hethruschis wes fra the ovir seyis, namit
Mare Superunm, to the law seyis, namit Mare Inferum, betwix
quhilk seyis Italie lyis inclusit in maner of an ile. The ovir sey is
callit Tuscum, be name of the pepil that inhabitis the land thareof,
and the laich sey is callit Mare Adriaticum, fra Adria, quhilk was
principall colonie of Hethruschis. The Grekis callit thir seyis, Mare
Tyrrhenum and Mare Adriaticum. The Hethruschis inhabit all
the landis that lay betwix thir seyis in xii. sindry townis. Bot first
thay inhabit all the landis that lay on this side of Appenninus to the
laich sey, and eftir that, thay inhabit and occupyit al the landis that
lay beyound Appenninus, with als mony sindry colonies. And thare
wes sindry clannis of thare linage, specialie al the landis beyound the
wattir of Padus, to the montanis namit Alpes, except the bosum of
the seyis, quhare the Venicianis dwellis. Forthir, thir pepil that now
inhabitis the said Alpes tuke thare beginning of the Hethruschis,
and specialie thay that ar namit Rhecianis; bot the place and hichtis
quhare thay dwell has maid thame sa enragit and. wilde, that thay
have tint al the langage of Hethruschis, and has na thing thareofbot
the sound of thare toung, and that is alanerlie corruppit.
As anent the cuming of Gaulis in Italie, we find, in the time of
Terquinius Priscus, the fift King that rang abone the Romanis, that
the principall toun of Celtis, quhilk is the thrid parte of Gallia, wes
Bruges in Barry. The cieteyanis of Bruges create ane nobil man,
namit Ambigatus, King to regne abone thame, and all the remanent

3L

450

TITUS LIVIUS.

pepil of Gallia. This Ambigatus wes ane vertewus and fortunate
prince; and becaus he saw the realme of Gaulis sa fertil and plentuus, full of men and vittalis, and the pepil thareof haboundand in
sic multitude, that thay micht nocht be governit, he tuke purpois to
exoner himself and his realme of this infinite noumer of pepil, and
send his sister sonnis, two valyeant men, namit Bellovesus and Sigovesus, to seik quhatsumevir landis for thare dwelling and inhabitacioun, that the Goddis be auguris wald schaw to thame. And to that
fine, that thir two valyeant campiouns sal nocht be dung perforce out
of the landis that the Goddis schew to thame for thare habitacioun,
he stuffit thame with ane huge noumer of pepil. To Sigovesus fell
be cavil to pas in Almany, and to Bellovesus fell to pas oure the
montanis in Italie. But the ta passage apperit mare unplesand than
the tothir. Bellovesus tuke with him the pepil that lay maist within
his awne boundis, that is to say, the Bituriges, Arvernis, Senones
Eduanis, Ambarris, Carnutes, and Aulercis. This Bellovesus come
fordwart with al the pepil, futemen, and horsmen, quhil at last he
come to the Tricastinis, quhilkis ar ane pepil dwelling at the fute of
the montanis, quhilkis stude sa hie aganis him, that thay apperit
unclimmabil. And na wonder is thareof; for thare wes nevir gate
maid oure thame afore, except the gate that Hercules maid, as the
fabillis schawis, oure thame. Quhen the Gaulis war cumand throw
the montanis, apperit thay war sa inclusit on ilk hand, that thay
micht gett na outepassage; and in quhatsumevir parte thay turnit
thare ene, apperit to thame thay sal pas be sa hie montanis, that the
samin war almaist equale with the hevinnis. Thus belevit thir Gaulis,
gif thay war past oure thir montanis, that thay sal come to ane uthir
world.
Als sone as thay war becumin oure the said montanis, it was
schewin to thame, that ane new pepil war cumin lately afore thame
in that cuntre, to seik lugeing and new habitacioun, and war invadit
be Saluvianis, ane pepil of Savoy. Thir pepil that come, as said is,
to seik new habitacioun in Italie, war namit Massilienses, quhilkis
come with schippis out of Phoces, ane regioun of Grece, in this land
foresaid. Thir Gaulis, eftir thare euming oure the montanis in Italie, war richt rejosit, that the Saluvianis war sa occupyit with uthir
weris, and traistit, be occasioun thareof, to have the bettir opportu-

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451

nite to garnis the first place, quhare thay come, with woddis and
strenthis, aganis quhatsumevir inemyis that happinnit to invaid thame
eftirwart with batall.
Thir Gaulis, eftir thare first cuming oure the montanis, faucht
aganis the Hethruschis, and discomfist thame at the river of Ticine.
And nocht fer fra the said river, thay tuke thare first dwelling place.
And herand that this land, in quhilk thay war sittin doun, was callit
Insubrium, come to thare remembrance, that ane pepil in the same cuntre quhare thay come fra, war namit under the same name Insubres,
dwelling in ane village of the Eduanis; and sa thir Gaulis, following the werde of the said place quhare thay war cumin to, biggit ane
toun namit Millane. And nocht lang eftir that Bellovesus was sittin
in Italie on this wise, followit on him ane othir cumpany of Almanis,
quhilk had ane valyeant duke and capitane namit Eletovius, quhilk,
be confederacioun and alliance maid with the said Bellovesus, sat
doun in the same place quhare now standis the nobil townis namit
Verona and Brixia. And eftir the cuming of thir Almanis, followit
ane uthir pepil on thame, namit Saluvii, and sat doun beside Mont
Appenninus, nocht fer fra the pepil namit Levi and Ligures, dwelling
at the river of Ticine. And nocht lang eftir, ane uthir pepil, namit
Boii, war confederate with the Ligures, and occupyit all the landis
that lyis betwix the montanis foresaid, namit Alpes, and the river
Padus. And als sone as thay had past with schippis oure the said
River Padus, thay expellit baith the Hethruschis and Umbris fra
the landis thareof. Nochtheles, thay held thame ay within the said
montane of Appenninus. And last of all, come the Gaulis, namit
Senones, and occupyit all the landis of Italie, that lyis betwix the
River of Ufent and the River of Athesis. Thir Senones war the
Gaulis that baith segeit Clusium and tuke Rome; howbeit it is uncertane quhidder thay did this be thare awne power alanerlie, or be
support of all the remanent pepil of Gallia Cisalpina.

452

TITUS LIVIUS.

CA P. XVI.
How the Romanis send thre legatis, to trete pece betwix the Clusinis
and Gaulis; and how the saidis legatisfaucht in supporte of
Clusinis aganis the Gaulis. Of the message send be Gaulis to
Romanis, desiring redres for the wrangis done to thame be the
Romane legatis ; and how the batall wes denuncit to the said Romanis.
iHE
Clusinis effi'ayit with this new army of Gaulis, seand thame of sa huge multitude, and with uthir forme
of pepil and wappinnis than thay had sene afore, becaus
thay herd it tald that thay had vincust oft times in batall the legiounis of Hethruschis, als weil on this side as the tothir
side of Padus ; and howbeit thay had na maner of society nor freindschip with Romanis, except onelie that thay supportit nocht the
Veanis, thare cousingis and nere freindis, aganis the Romanis; yit
thay send legatis to Rome, desiring helpe fra the senate aganis the
saidis Gaulis. The Romanis send thame na supporte, nochtheles
thay send thre sonnis of M. Fabius Ambustus, as legatis to the
Gaulis, to trete with thame in name of the senate and pepil of Rome,
that the saidis Gaulis invadit nocht the Clusinis, quhilkis war freindis
and companyeouns of the senate of Rome, considering thay had na
occasioun of injuris aganis the saidis Clusinis; forthir, gif nede war,
the Romanis wald defend the said Clusinis be batall, nochtheles thay
thocht best to put away all occasioun of injuris or batall, gif thay
micht, to that fine, that thay suld have cognoscence of the Gaulis,
quhilkis war ane new pepill, erare be pece and amitie, than ony
weris. This legacioun and message wes meik and plesand, war nocht
the men that bure it war mare like to Gaulis than to Romanis in condicioun.
Als sone as thir legatis of Rome had schawin thare message in the
counsell of Gaulis, ane ansuere wes maid to thame undir thir wourdis.
"Howbeit the name of Romanis," said the Gaulis, "is bot new to us,

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453

" yit we beleve that the Romanis ar richt nobil and vailyeant men,
" becaus the Clusinis has desirit supporte of thame in thare effray
" and trubil, and sen the said Romanis had levir defend thare con" fideratis and freindis, erare be legacioun and trete of pece, than be
" armoure and wappinnis, we wald nocht contempne the pece that
" the Romanis offerit to us, sa that the Clusinis wald gif ane parte
" of the landis that thay rejose, mare than thay may manure or lau" boure to us, that wantis lugeing and landis to our habitacioun;
" uthirwayis na pece may be tretit betwix us and Clusinis. Here" fore we desire to have ansuere of thir desiris afore you the Romane
" legatis, to that fine, that gif thay deny oure desiris, we may fecht
"aganis thame in youre presence, to that fine, that ye may schew at
" your returning to Rome, how fer the Gaulis pass all othir pepil in
" chevelrie and vertew."
At last, quhen the Romane legatis had demandit the Gaulis quhat
equite or ressoun wes that, to ask landis fra thame that possedis the
samin, and to minace thame with armoure and wappinnis, gif the
landis be denyit, or quhat richt had thay to ony landis that wes in
Hethrurie? The Gaulis answerit, " Thay wald seik richt be the
" swerd, for every thingis war fre to forcy and vailyeant men." Finalie, baith the partyis war sa inflammit with ire and haterent at
other, that thay ruschit feirslie on ilk side to thair armoure and wappinnis. Belyve wes ane cruell and scharp batall, and be wikkit destinye of fatis fast rinnand to the distruccioun of Rome, the Romane legatis tuke thare armoure, and faucht in this batall, contrare
the law of pepil, in defence of Clusinis aganis the saidis Gaulis. Bot
thare doing culd nocht be hid, for quhen thir thre maist forcy and
vailyeand capitanis of Rome had fochtin afore the ensenyeis of the
Clusinis, thare soverane manhede and vertew wes sa notabil and
sichty abone the remanent armye quhare thay faucht, that ane of
thame, namit Q. Fabius, come utouth the batell on ane feirs hors,
and eftir that he had serchit with al attendance he micht the principale capitane of Gaulis, quhilk wes than cumand maist feirslie on the
ensenyeis of Hethruschis, he ran him throw the body with ane spere,
and quhen he wes spulyeand him of riche armoure, the Gaulis gaif
sic attendance to him, that he wes notit and knawin to all thare
armye.

454

TITUS LIVIUS.

Incontinent, the Gaulis left thare ire and haterent that thay bure
aganis the Clusinis, and blew the trumpet to retere to the ensenye, with grete minassing, to revenge the injure of thir legatis on
the Romanis. Mony hait men war amang the Gaulis, quhilk desirit, bot ony mare delay, to pas fordwart with arrayit battellis on the
Romanis; nochtheles, the agit men privelait sic wise, that it wes
concludit, or thay mak ony were aganis the Romanis, that legatis
sall be send to thame, to complene of the injuris done be thare legatis, and to desire thir Fabyis, that war send as legatis in the said
mater, becaus thay have violat the law of pepill to be randerit to the
Gaulis.
Quhen the legatis of Gaulis had schawin this message to the senate of Rome, as thay war ordanit, the Romanis, howbeit the doingis
of thare legatis war na thing plesand to thame, thocht the Gaulis desirit na thing bot equite and ressoun; nochtheles, the ambicioun and
desire of honouris, and the notabil manhede of thir Fabyis, quhilkis
war knawin for maist vailyeand and forcy men, made sic obstakill,
that na thing wes grantit that the Gaulis desire; and yit, that na reproche sall be impute to the Faderis, gif ony mischeif war eftir followand be the weris of Gaulis, the Faderis rejeckit this mater fra thame
to the small pepill, that thay micht tak cognicioun quhat sall be done
in thir desiris of Gaulis, concerning the delivering of Romane legatis. Thir Romane legatis, be thare riches and rewardis, wrocht
sic menis and wayis with thame, to quhilkis thare accioun wes committit, that nocht onelie wes all punicioun that thay desirit supersedit, bot als the saidis legatis war create tribunis militare for the yere
to cum. The legatis of Gaulis richt commovit, as ressoun wes, that
thir legatis of Rome war nocht onelie punist for the violacioun of the
law of pepil, bot als promovit to the hieast honouris and digniteis of
thare ciete, denuncit opin batall to Romanis, and returnit hame.
With thir thre Fabyis afore namit, war create tribunis militare Q.
Sulpicius Longus, Q. Servilius, and Ser. Cornelius Maluginenses.
And nochtwithstanding that sa mony skaithis and dammagis war evidentlie approcheing to the ciete, yit fortoun blindit sa the sicht and
mindis of Romanis, as scho oft usis, speciallie quhen scho wil nocht
suffir hir violent preis to be resistit, that howbeit the ciete was accustumate in all uthir trublis or batallis that thay had in times bigane

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aganis the Veanis, the Fidenatis, and otheris, thare nixt nichtbouris,
to create ane dictatour; yit the foresaid ciete herand that ane uncouth and strange inemye, nevir herd to thame afore, and movand
batall on thame fra the oceane, sey, and uthir the last boundis and
merchis of the warld, socht na remede of extraordinare help, nor of
extraordinare empire; that is to say, thay wald nocht create, for als
this trubil appering, ane dictatour. Attoure, the tribunis militare,
howbeit thay war occasioun of thir weris, rasit na greter armye aganis
the inemyis at this time than thay war wont, and tuke mare sollicitude and cure to hald down the noyis and brute of this batall appering, than to mak ony purviance for the samin.

CAP. XVII.
How the Gaulis come with grete army aganis the Romanis. How
the Romanis met thame at the river of Allia, and war disconfst.
How ane parte of the said Romanis fed to Veos, and the remanent to Rome, and left the portis opin, and enterit in the Capitol.
S

the Gaulis war advertist that the Romane legatis, quhilkis violate the law of pepill, war nocht onelie
unpunist, bot als war promovit to the hie and soverane
honouris of thare ciete, and herand thare message and
legacioun that wes send to Rome mockit, thay began to enrage
and birne in ire, of quhilk that pepil is richt impacient, and without
ony mare delay thay went fordwart with utir diligence to Rome. All
the tounis of Italie, in the passage quhare thir Gaulis come be noyis
and effray of thare batall, ruschit to harnes, and made thame with
thare wappinnis to defend thare wallis, and on every hand quhare
thay come, the landwart pepill fled, levand thare villagis behind
thame desert.
The Gaulis passand fordwart, schew be thare opin minassing and
noyis, that thay war passand to Rome; and in all partis quhare thay
yede, throw huge noumer of futemen and horsmen, wide skatterit
here and thare, thay occupyit large boundis and roumes. Belive the
UHEN

456

TITUS LIVIUS.

brute and noyis hereof wes brocht to Rome, for nocht onelie the Clusinis, bot mony uthir pepil approcheand to thame, send thare messingeris afore to advertise the Romanis that the Gaulis war cumand
on thame with all diligence. Throw this haisty cuming of inemyis,
sa huge effray and terroure wes in Rome, and the time sa schort, that
na army micht be rasit in due maner, yet with sic armye as micht be
rasit for the time, the Romanis ischit of thare ciete, and with all
the utir diligence thay micht mak, skarsly micht thay mete thare inemyis at the xi. stane, nocht fer fra the same place quhare the river
of Allia, discending with depe stremis fra the montanis of Crustumenium, fallis in Tiber. Now wes the cuntre here and thare on every
side full of inemyis, I mene the Gaulis, quhilkis are ane pepil naturalie gevin to vane noyis, and minassing of maist terribil effray, fillit
all the cuntre with thare ugsum sound and cryis quhare thay come.
The tribunis militare come to this place afore namit, at the river of
Allia, with thare oist, but ony spyis send afore to tak ane ganand
place quhare thay suld sett thare tentis. Thus had thay made na
stakis nor trinschis for municioun, quhare thare army suld be ressett,
but ony remembrance outhir of Goddis or men, and but ony auspicis
or sacrifice offerit to thare Goddis, thay arrayit thare armye in maner
of twa hornis, to that fine, that thay sall nocht be circumvenit be the
huge noumer of inemyis, and yit the fore brontis of thir Romane battallis couth nocht be equale to the battal of inemyis. Be stuffing of
the first batallis, the mid batal wes drawne furth thin and weik; bot
on the richt hand thareof wes ane litil mote, in quhilk wes laid ane
buschment full of armit men, to ly in wait quhil sum jeoperdie occurrit, and as this buschment laid in wait, as said is, wes the first
dredoure and beginning of fleing to Romanis, sa wes it the onlie saiftie
of thame in time of thare fleing, for Brennus, King of Gaulis, dredand sum slicht or falset in this few noumer of Romanis, belevit that
this litil mote, afore rehersit, quhare the buschment of Romanis lay
in wate, wes tane, to that fine, that als sone as baith the armyis war
jonit togiddir, the said buschment to cum on the bakkis of Gaulis.
And tharefore this Brennus come with all his ensenyeis aganis this
foresaid buschment that lay on the mote foresaid, traisting, gif he
had discomfist and chasit thame fra the strenth and hichtis quhare
thay stude, to have sikker victorye on the remanent army of the Ro-

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457

manis that stude on the plane feildis, throw the multitude of pepill
that wes in his armye. Thus wes nocht onelie gude fortoun, bot
als profound wisdome and foresicht gidare of the army of Gaulis.
In the tothir army fornens the Gaulis, nathing wes done semand
to Romane maneris, for nocht alanerlie the capitanis, bot all the
knichtis war full of dredoure and fleing; and in thare fleing thay
foryett sa fer thare awne honoure, that becaus the watter of Tiber
stoppit thame on thare richt hand, ane greter parte of thare armye
fled to Veos, the toune of inemyis, than fled the hie gate to Rome, to
rescours thare wyiffis and barnis. The strenth of the place defendit
sum parte the buschement of Romanis that lay in the hicht, bot in
the remanent army wes herd sic crying, as wele of thame that war
formest as hindmest, that the Romanis almaist fled afore thay saw
thare uncouth inemyis ; and, or evir thay had ony experience of thare
batall, thay fled haill unbrokin with huge clamoure and noyis quhare
thay best micht. Na slauchter wes in this batal, bot ane miserabil
slauchter wes maid in the chace, for in the fleing ilkane stoppit and
dang doun othir.
The left homrne of Romanis, eftir that thay had cassin all wappinnis fra thame, fled to the brayis of Tiber, quhare ane huge slauchter
wes made on thame. Mony of thame culd nocht soume, and war sa
hevy chargit with thare harnes and habirjonis of maleyeis, that thay
sank doun and perist in the depe bullerand stremes; nochtheles, the
maist parte, as said is, come hale and fere to Veos, but nouthir wald
thay send supple to Rome, nor yit wald thay send ony messingeris
to advertis thame of this mischefe that wes fallin to Romanis at Allia;
yit thay that stude in the richt horne, quhilk stude fer fra the river of
Tiber, and nere the montanis of Crustumenium, come the strate way
all to Rome, and war sa effrayit that thay durst nocht bide to steik
the portis thareof, bot fled to the Capitol.

3M

458

TITUS LIVIUS.

CAP. XVIII.
How Rome wes tane be the Gaulis. How the senatouris and young
men enterit in the Capitol, and the auld men left behind thame in
the ciete ; and of the pietuous departingbetwix the saidis agit
and young men of the ciete.
0 CIE admiracioun of sa haisty and suddane victorie, held
the Gaulis lang time astonist. First, thay stude lang
time hoverand betwix hope and dredoure, as thay had
herd nathing of this huge victorie that wes fallin to
thame, and syne began to drede sum hid watche and tressoun, devisit, as thay belevit, in distruccioun of thare armye; hot at last fra all
dredoure wes put away, thay gaderit up the spuleyeis of the dede
men, syne al the armoure and wappinnis that war liand in the feild.
As thare use and custume wes, thay gaderit togiddir in ane grete hepe,
and fra thay war surely advertist na inemyis war left to invaid thame,
thay come fast fordwart on the bakkis of Romanis, and come to Rome
afore the occasioun of the son. At last, quhen the scurreoures that
war send be thame afore had schewin that the portis of Rome war
standand opin, but ony stacioun or watche of armit men on thare
wallis, thay war mair astonist than afore; and becaus thay dred the
nicht fast cumand on thame, and knew nocht the situacioun of this
uncouth toun, thay sett down thare tentis betwix Rome and Tiber;
syne send thare espyes about the wallis and portis of the ciete, to se
quhat counsell wes amang thare inemyis, or quhat thay intendit to do
eftir this discomfitour.
Thir Romanis that war in the Capitoll, nocht knawand that ane
greter parte of thare armye wes fled to Veos than wes cumin to Rome,
and beleving nane saiffit, bot alanerlie sa mony as fled to Rome, be
comploracioun and greting of thare companyeouns and freindis,
quhilkis thay belevit dede, fillit all the ciete full of murning and
teris, lamentand baith the dede and the quik; bot fra it wes schawin
0

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459

to thame the inemyis war cuming, all thare private doloure was sett
aside, and be public dredoure thay war sa astonist, that thay knew
nocht quhat wes to be done. The cryis and evill tonit sangis of the
Gaulis, passand in grete buschementis about thare wallis, wes richt
noysum and displesand to thare eris. Thus war all the Romanis
that war in the Capitoll, full of fere and dredoure all that nicht, knawing weil the inemyis at the first point of day suld lay ane sege to
thare ciete, becaus thay come eftir thare victorie sa haistelie to Rome.
Thus war the Romanis effrayit mony wayis, sum time traisting thare
inemyis wald have biddin still at the river of Allia, war nocht thare
purpois wes to tak the ciete, sum time beleving, becaus ane small
parte of the day wes restand afore the nicht, that thare inemyis suld
invaid thame sone eftir the occasioun of the son, and sum time thay
dred thare inemyis to have supersedit all thare slichtis and counsell,
to effiay thame with mare dredoure quhen time or juperdie occurrit.
At last, be fast cuming of the day, every thingis that war hid war
patent to the sicht; followit than grete dammage to the perpetuall
dredoure of Romanis; belyve the awful ensenyeis of Gaulis war
brocht within the portis of Rome. Yit nouthir wes this nicht, nor
yit the day thareftir following, sa fereful to Romanis, as wes the day
afore at Allia, for thocht thir Romanis had na esperance to defend
thare ciete with sa few noumer of pepil as wes than present, yit thay
commandit the senate and all the young men of the ciete, to entir incontinent, with thare wiffis and bairnis, in the Capitoll, with wapinnis and vittalis as efferis, traisting, throw strenth of the place, to defend nocht onelie the Goddis, the men, and name of Romanis, bot
als to sauf thare flaminis, thare priestis, thare virginis vestalis, with
all uthir public and haly reliquis, fra occisioun and fire of inemyis,
to that fine, that all the Romanis sall be first sa aluterlie destroyit,
that nane of thame sall be left on life to wourschip the Goddis, or the
sacrifice of Goddis be left undone.- Forthir, gif the Capitol, quhilk
is the sete of Goddis, gif the senate, that is the hede of public counsell, and gif the young men, quhilk ar the hede of Romane chevelrie,
war saiffit, to remane haill and unbrokin eftir this mischeif that is
apperand to Rome, it war bot small dammage to the ciete, howbeit

460

TITUS LIVIUS.

the auld men and women thareof war slane be inemyis, for thay war
nere thare deith, and behuffit for lang age haistelie to de; and to
that fine, that the agit men of small pepil sall suffir thare deith the
mare patientlie.
The agit nobillis, sic as had bene consullis and grete officiaris of
the ciete afore, said, Thay suld leif and de with thame, and be participant all togiddir of ane fortoun, for it wes nocht expedient that
thay that micht here na armoure nor wappinnis on thare bodyis, suld
enter in the Capitoll, to stop the few noumer of armit men that war
in the same. Thus wes the dolouris solace that wes amang the auld
men, knawing thameself assignit and depute to the deith. Incontinent, all the agit pepil turnit thame to the young men that enterit
in the Capitol, exhortand thame to do vailyeantlie for the defence
thareof, and commendit the fortoun and felicite of thare toun, quhilk
wes victorius in al battallis in time bigane, be the space of cCc.Lx.
yeris, to the manhede and chevelrie of the said young men. Quhen
the young men and forcy campiouns of the ciete, specialie thay that
war the onelie helpe and esperance for defence thareof, war departit
on this wise fra the agit and febil pepil, sic as war irldt of thare
livis, and desirit nocht to leif eftir this mischeif and rewine that wes
fallin thareto; nocht was than bot ane miserabil and pietuous sicht;
than wes ane sorowful weping of wemen, rinnand here and thare effrayitlie, sum time following thare husbandis, and sum time thare
barnis, and demanding to quhat fortoun or destineis thay wald commit thame.
Allwayis na misery nor dammage that may fall to the erdlie
creature, was unknawin to thame; nochtheles, the maist parte of
thame followit sa fast on thare husbandis and barnis, that thay gat
entres with thame in the Capitol; for thocht it wes proffitabil that
all febil and impotent persouns, sic as micht nocht defend thameself,
suld have na entres in the said Capitoll, it wes yit ane thing richt unhumane to hald thame furth. Ane uthir cumpany, specialie of smal
pepill, becaus thay war of mare noumer than micht be sustenit, throw
penurite of vittale within sa litill boundis, ischit of the ciete atanis to
Mont Janicule, and fra that place thay war skatterit here and thare
in sindry buschmentis, to landwart placis and tounis approcheand, as

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461

thay thocht maist expedient, but ony gide or counsale, ilkane sekand
thare awne fortoun, and weipand on thare freindis loist.
In the mene time, the flamin Quirinall and the virginis vestalis
sett aside all cure pertening to thare awne besines, and tuke consultacioun quhat haly reliquis, pertening to divine sacrifice, suld be left
behind thame, for thare pussance wes sa waik that thay micht nocht
turs all the saidis reliquis with thame; and tuke tharefore avisement
to se quhat place wes maist ganand for thame. Than wes it concludit, that sic haly reliquis as micht not be tursit for the time, suld be
closit up in litill tunnis, and put in the tempil and housis of the
priest Quirinall, undir yerde. The remanent reliquis war tursit
equalie amang the sade pepil, ilkane berand thare porcioun thareof
be the way that ledis fra the trene brig oure Tiber, to the said Mont
Janicule. And quhen the said pepil war berand the reliquis foresaid, ane man, namit L. Albinius, of linage plebeand, happinnit to be
ridand be the way, havand with him his wife and barnis in ane cheriot, amang this febill cumpany unabil to batal as thay war, fleand
of the ciete, and seand thare divine and humane reliquis in dangere,
thocht it wes ane thing richt offendand to the religioun of Goddis,
that he suld ride on hors, and the saidis reliquis pas on fute; he
commandit his wife and bairnis to licht doun fra the cheriot, and in
thare place tuke the virginis vestalis, with the divine and haly reliquis, in his cheriot, and past to the toun of Cere, the same way quhare
the preistis desirit to have past with the saidis reliquis.

TITUS LIVIUS.

462

CAP. XIX.
How all the housis in Rome war brint, and the Capitoll segeit be
the Gallis. How baith the agit nobillis and small pepill war
slane ; and of the pietuous sicht that wes in Rome.

j

e

Ow war every thingis providit for defence of the Capitol, sa fer as wisdome or ingine of man micht devise;
Sand now war all the agit pepil returnit hame to thare
Ls.
housis, abiding the cuming of inemyis with obstinate
minde to the deith. Incontinent, sa mony of thame as had afore rejosit the soverane honouris and digniteis of the ciete, cled thame in
thare triumphand and riche abulyementis, quhilkis thay usit afore in
time of thare triumphis ; and eftir that thay war cled tharewith, thay
sett doun in evore chiaris, that thay micht de with the same glore
and honouris, that thay wan be thare vertew in the time of thare
youth.
Sum men sais, quhen M. Fabius, the grete bischop of Rome, wes
sittand in his chiar, makand charmis of his maner to the sacrifice of
Goddis, that all the agit pepil foresaidis votit thameself wilfully to
the deith, for the wele of thare cuntre and Romane pepill. On the
morow, becaus thir Gaulis, be cuming of the nicht, had softit sum
parte thare ire fra fechting, for nouthir had thay fochtin aganis the
Romanis with chance of doutsum batall, nor yit had thay tane the
ciete be preis of violence, thay enterit at Porte Colline, for it stude
opin, but ony ire or brim desire of batall; and quhen thay war cumin to the merkett, thay kest up thare ene to the templis of Goddis,
and saw na thing in all the ciete resembling the image or figure of
batall, sauf onelie the Capitoll; and eftir that thay had laid ane
small buschement of armit men about the same, to that fine, that nane
sall ische out of the Capitoll on thame, eftir that thay war skatterit
throw the ciete, thay went incontinent in sindry cumpanyis here and
thare, sekand spuleye and pray of gudis throw all the stretis thareof.
Sum of thame enterit with grete rowtis in the first housis that thay

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463

fand, utheris went to the last housis that stude in the end of the
ciete, traisting, becaus the samin war ferdest of, to be unspuleyeit,
and the mare pray restand to thame.
Bot, at last, quhen thay saw all the ciete waist, but ony pepill,
thay war gretumlie effrayit, and to that fine, that thay sail nocht be
circumvenit be hid slichtis nor tressoun of inemyis, becaus thay war
skatterit on this wise throw the ciete, be sound of trumpet thay assemblit agane all togiddir, and stude about the merkett, and uthir
placis approcheand thareto, in grete routtis. Als sone as thay saw
that all the housis of small pepil war closit, and all the housis of the
princis standing opin, thay doutit, and war mare efferde to assailye
the opin durris than the clois. Als sone as thay war enterit in the
nobillis housis, apperandly as thay had been stirkin with sum reverence and devocioun, thay beheld the agit nobillis sittand in the
portis of thare housis like Goddis; for abone thare habitis and riche
abulyementis, quhilkis war of mare renowne and divine fassoun than
semit to ony erdlie men, thay schew grete majeste be thare grave
contenance and sad vult; and quhen the Gaulis war enterit on this
wise in the nobillis housis, and behaldand thame as thay had bene
imagis and figuris of Goddis, ane of the Gaulis strakit doun the
berde of M. Papirius, for he and all the remanent agit Romanis had
lang beirdis. And incontinent this M. Papirius straik the Gaule on the
hede with ane evore staff, and throw this straik the Gaule was sa
commovit, that he began the slauchter at him, and eftir his slauchter, all the remanent agit nobillis war slane on the same maner, sittand in thare chiaris; and eftir that the nobillis and princis war slane,
na maner of pepill war savit that micht be fund in the ciete. And als
sone as thay had spuleyeit the housis, thay put thame all in fire, yit
it is uncertane quhiddir the mindis of all the Gaulis wes to have distroyit alluterlie the citie, or gif it wes the mindis of the princis and
capitanis of Gaulis till have put fire alanerlie in ane parte of the
housis of the ciete, to have causit thir Romanis that war in the Capitoll, to have bene randerit to thame for saiftie of the remanent
housis fra utir eversioun, or gif the mindis of Gaulis wes sett to have
saiffit ane parte of the best housis, be ane mediacioun of tretie betwix thame and thare inemyis. In quhatsumevir sorte thare mindis
war sett, treuth is, fra the ciete wes tane na housis war saiffit, bot the

464

TITUS LIVIUS.

fire rageand with maist terribill flambis throw all the stretis and
housis at anis. Thus, in quhatsumevir porte the Romanis of the
Capitoll held thare visage and ene, nocht wes bot vengeance and
mischeif afore thare sicht, na uthir wise than fortoun had brocht
thame to se the utir rewine of thare cuntre, for na thing wes left to
thame saif, except thare awne bodyis; and abone all thir calamiteis,
thay thocht thame mare miserabil than ony uther pepil, in sa fer as
thay war segeit and interclusit fra defence of thare awne cuntre,
and every thingis pertening to thame wes as than in the power of
inemyis.
Eftir this schamefull and mischevous day, followit the nicht of
till mare eis and tranquillite ; and eftir this dolorus and trublus nicht
come the nixt day, bot thare wes na houre nor time thareof that ceissit fra sicht of new mischeif, vengeance, and trubil. And howbeit the
Romanis war sowpit with sa mony sorowfull calamiteis, ilk troubil
risand abune uthir, yit thay wald nevir bow thare curage nor mindis
to inemyis; and thocht thay saw all thingis in the ciete be fere and
rewine equate to the ground, saif onelie ane litill montane, quhare
thay war left to the defence of thare liberte, yit thay ceissit nocht to
defend the samin be thare manhede and vertew; and thocht thay
war sa opprest with misereis and troubil, that the same had analyit
thair hartis and mindis fra all respect that thay had to thare awne
gudis, yet thay sett nocht aside thare armoure nor wappinnis, bot
held the same in thare handis, as the onelie targe and esperance of
thare releif.

Ii-

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465

CAP. XX.
How ane arme of Gaulis come to Ardea to seik vittalis. Of Camillus orisoun maid to the Ardeatis ; and of the huge murder and
slauchter maid be him on the Gaulis.
FTi that the Gaulis had maid sindry dayis thare were,
howbeit it wes in vane, aganis the housis of Rome, and
seand na thing left amang the flammis and rewine of the
ciete that wes tane be thame, sauf onelie thare armit
inemyis, quhilkis war nocht astonist nor effrayit be thir calamiteis,
and mony sorowis, afore rehersit, and knawand weil thay wald nocht
incline thare hertis to na dedicioun or randering, les than it war be
force or violence, the saidis Gaulis concludit to assailye the last jeoperdy of armes, and enter perforce in the Capitol.
On the morow, als sone as the licht apperit, be sound of trumpet,
thay convenit in grete multitude to the merket, arrayit in thare best
avise ; and eftir that thay had made thare sowis and braid targes to assailye the wallis, thay ruschit fordwart all atanis to the Capitol; bot
aganis thame the Romanis did na thing fulishlie, nor yit effrayitlie,
bot laid thare staciouns and watchis of richt forcy men, to resist in
all partis quhare thay saw thare inemyis ascend with thare ensenyeis;
nochtheles, thay sufferit the inemyis to ascend mid montane, traisting the mare hie that thay war clummin up, thay micht the mare
eselie be dung doun agane be the stay brayis thareof. Als sone as
thay war cumin to the mid glen, quhare the Capitoll stude, the Romanis ruschit fra the hichtis doun on thame with sic violent force,
that thay put the inemyis abak with sa grete rewine and occisioun,
that the Gaulis durst nevir eftir that time assailye thame agane, outhir be haill power of thare armye, nor yit with ane parte thareof, be
sic maner of batall.
Thus quhen the Gaulis had left all esperance, and disparit to tak
this hous perforce or violence, thay maid thame to continew furth the

466

TITUS LIVIUS.

sege at the said hous, howbeit the same wes nocht in thare mind afore
that time; and becaus thay wantit vittalis, for al the vittalis that war
in the ciete war brint be thame, in the time that it wes consumit and
distroyit be fire; and siclike all the vittalis that war to landwart war
tane away be the Romanis that war in Veos; herefore the said
Gaulis dividit thare armye in two partis, of quhilkis the ta parte wes
ordanit to ly continualie at the sege of the Capitoll quhil it wes tane;
and the tothir armye wes commandit to pas furth of the ciete, to tak
all the vittalis thay micht get fra the townis and villagis nixt approcheand, for provisioun of the same.
Als sone as thir Gaulis war departit of Rome, fortoun led thame
the hie way to have experience of Romane vertew; for thay come to
Ardea, quhare Camillus was exilit; howbeit he was mare trist and
dolorus for the public mischeif and sorow that was fallin to his cuntre, than for his awne exile. Quhen Camillus had dwelt certane time
in Ardea, accusing baith the Goddis and men that he eldit, but ony
exercicioun of vertew, and having sumtime extreme ire in his minde,
that sic mischeif and vengeance was fallin to his cuntre, and sumtime
havand grete admiracioun, quhare war al the nobil men gane to,
quhilkis war with him quhen he tuke baith Veos and Falerium, howbeit thay did al thingis with mare manhede and strenth, than ony
felicite.
In the mene time, he herd tell that ane armye of Gaulis war cumin
to Ardea, be quhais cuming the Ardeatis war richt astonist, and war
convenit togidder to tak consultacioun amang thameself, quhat was
to be done. And incontinent, this Camillus, as it had bene be divine institucioun, past pertlie to the said Ardeatis, quhare thay war
assemblit in concioun; howbeit he was ay wount to abstene fra siclike counselis that war haldin amang thame, and said in this wise,
" O ye Ardeatis, sen your gude dedis towart me and my fortoun has
" drawin to sic point, that ye ar my auld freindis, and my new ciete" yanis, I wald nane of you belevit, that I am cumin as ignorant or
" misknawing sic thingis as semis to my estate. Soithlie the besines
and commoun dangere occurring, suld constrene ilk man to bring
"all the comforte and supple he micht to the public weill in this
" effray.

THE FIFT BUKE.

467

" 0 gude freindis, quhen sall the time occurre, in the quhilk I
" may rander to you thankis and plesoure for your gude dedis and
" kindenes schewin to me, gif I do nocht the same now ? Quhat frute
" or proffitt may ye evir get of me, gif ye get nane of me in batall;
" for, be craft and prattik of chevelrie, I was gretumlie estimeit in
" my cuntre, and was invincibil in batall. Nochtheles, in time of
" pece, I was banist be my unthankful cieteyanis. 0 Ardeatis,"
said he, " now has fortoun offerit hir self wilfully to you; now may
" ye satisfye the Romanis of al the grete humaniteis and kindenes
" done sa mony yeris to you ; now may ye recompens the mony wour" thy and thankful dedis done to you in times bigane be the Ro" manis; for to thame that ar nocht miskennand, na gude dedis suld
" be remembrit in reproche; now may this ciete conques ane huge
" glore of batall be victorie of inemyis; for the said inemyis cumis
" here wide skatterit, but ony ordoure of armye, and ar ane pepil to
"quhilk nature has gevin curage, and bodyis of mare quantite, than
" sikkir fermance; and tharefore,: quhen thay come in batall, thay
" schew mare fere and minassing than ony strenth, as may be weil
" knawin be the discomfitoure of Romanis. Thay tuke the ciete with
" opin portis, and war dung fra the Capitoll with ane smal power;
" and now thay ar sa wery and irkit be lang continewance at the
" sege, that thay ar fled tharefra. Now thay pas vagabound and
" wide skatterit throw the feildis, fillit full of metis and winis that
" thay have reft; belive als sone as nicht cummis, thay wil ly doun
" at the side of ane river, and slepe al nicht, but ony municioun,
" stacioun, or watche, like as thay war wilde beistis. Now, throw
"the grete felicite that thay have had, thay ar insolent, and nocht
"sa war as thay wont to be. Herefore, gif your mindis be set to
" defend your awne wallis, and nocht to suffir al thir boundis to be
" callit Gallia, tak your wappinnis al togidder at the first vigil, and
" follow me; for I sal lede you to na batall, bot onelie to slauchter
" of youre inemyis. And gif I deliver thame nocht to you, vincust
" with sleipe, to be slane as beistis, I sall be content to be per" petualie banist out of Ardea, on the same maner as I am out of
" Rome."

Ilk man that wes present in this concioun, baith gude men and
evil, knew weil that thare was na man in erde that micht be compare

468

TITUS LIVIUS.

to Camillus, in craft and wisdome of chevelry; and tharefore ilk
man, als sone as this concioun was endit, maid thare bodyis reddy
for batall; and, with grete attendance, abade to se at quhat signe or
sound of trumpet thay suld move fordwart.
Als sone as the signe was gevin, ilkane of thame come at the first
vigil within the nicht, to the portis of Ardea, reddy to pas quhare
Camillus plesit to lede thame. Bot thay war nocht fer gone, quhen
thay fand, as Camillus schew to thame afore, the tentis of Gaulis
necleckit, but ony municioun or watche. And incontinent, with
huge noyis and clamoure, thay invadit thir Gaulis. Na batall nor
resistence was at this jeoperdie, but occisioun and murdir in all partis
of thare tentis, nakit bodyis sowpit full of slepe slane.
At last, the outmaist partis of the saidis Gaulis, be this haisty and
suddane effray, war untimusly awalkinnit fra thare beddis, nocht knawing how, nor be quhat maner, this haisty violence was cumin on thame.
Thus be ignorance, that thay wist nocht quhare to fle, come unwerlie
fleing on thare inemyis, and war slane. The maist parte of thame
come in the landis of Ancium, quhare thay, wide skatterit throw
the feildis, war circumvenit, and put down be incursiounis that the
Anciates maid on thame.

CAP. XXI.
How the Hethruschis come with grete armyis in the Romane landis,
and war discomflst be the Romanis that lay at Veos. Of the hardy
enterprise done be C. Fabius. How Camillus, be commites centuriate, wes brochtfra exile, and maid dictatour.
IcLIKE slauchter wes maid on the Hethruschis beside
Veos; for, nochtwithstanding that thir Hethruschis saw
the ciete of Rome, quhilk stude as nichtboure to thame
nere the space of cccc. yeris, opprest with uncouth inemyis, nevir herde or sene afore, thay had sa litil piete and commiseracioun thareof, that, within the time of the said trubil, thay maid
incursiounis in the Romane landis; and eftir that thay war chargit

THE FIFT BUKE.

469

with huge spuleye and pray of gudis, thay tuke purpois to assailye
and sege the Romanis that war liand now at Veos, quhilkis war as
than the levingis and last esperance of Romane name.
Be aventure, the Romanis saw the said Hethruschis wide skatterit
throw thare landis, and drivand the gudis afore thame in sindry
buschmentis, and thare tentis nocht fer fraVeos. Be remembrance of
mony sorowful calamiteis, the Romanis had first ane grete commiseracioun and piete of thameself; bot sone eftir thay began to be sore
commovit, havand na litil ire and indignacioun in thare mindis, that
thay suld leif in sic derisioun to the Hethruschis, considering that
thay transportit the batall, that the Gaulis movit aganis the Hethruschis, on thameself.
Thus war the Romanis sa commovit, that skarslie micht thay
tempir thare ire, and but ony fertlier tary, to have ruschit on thare
inemyis ; nochtheles, thay war taryit be Cedicius, centurioun, quhilk
thay maid capitane to thame afore; for he causit thame supersede
thare invasioun to the cumin of the nicht. Allwayis na thing failyeit in this enterprise, sauf onelie thare wes nocht ane capitane at
this jeoperdie that micht be comparit to Camillus; bot all uthir
circumstance wes done with siclike ordoure and siclike chance of fortoun, as wes done be Camillus at Ardea. And eftir that the slauchter wes endit, and all the capitanis of thir Hethruschis tane presoneris, sa mony of Romanis as war on life behind, the same come be
aventure on ane uthir sorte of Hethruschis that war liand at the salinis, and maid na les occisioun and slauchter on thame, than wes
maid afore be thare companyeouns. And eftir this victorie, thay returnit with grete joy to Veos.
During thir batallis betwix the Romanis and thare inemyis, the sege
wes bot slaw at the Capitoll, and grete silence kepit, but ony noyis or
clamoure on athir side; for the Gaulis gaif thare attendance to na
uthir thing, bot alanerlie to kepe, that nane of Romanis sal ische
furth of the Capitoll, to cum throw thare stacioun or watche, quhen
suddanlie ane Romane childe drew baith the Gaulis and Romanis in
admiracioun of his excellent and mervellus enterprise that he tuke on
hand.
Thare wes ane sacrifice appropriate alanerlie to the surname and
linage of Fabis. This sacrifice wes yerely ordanit to be maid on

470

TITUS LIVIUS.

ane day preflxt, but ony continuacioun or change; and to do this
sacrifice, becaus the day wes cumin, C. Fabius beltit him in his goun,
eftir the Gabine wise, and ischit furth of the Capitoll, berand the sacrifice in his handis, and past sturdelie throw all the staciouns and
watche of inemyis, unastonist be ony of thare wourdis or terrouris,
quhil he wes cumin [to] Mont Quirinall. And eftir that he had done the
sacrifice with sic solempnite and reverence as wes requirit, he returnit
agane to the Capitoll, out throw his inemyis, the same gate he come,
nocht changeand his steppis nor constance of his visage; for he had
sa ferme confidence in his Goddis, and belevit thame sa favorabil and
propiciant to him, that he wald nocht desist for na terroure, nor fere
of deith, fra thare sacrifice, uncertane quhidder the Gaulis war astonist be mirakil of this uncouth interprise, or gif thay war sa movit
be religioun, as all thare pepil is, that thay wald nocht violete him for
the reverence of the sacrifice that he did.
In the mene time of thir besinessis, grete comforte, strenth, and
pussance incressit ilk day mare and mare to thame that war in Veos;
for nocht alanerlie all the Romanis that war skatterit throw the cuntre, specialie thay that war chasit out of Rome, and thay that fled
eftir the discomfitoure at Allia, come to thir Romanis at Veos, bot
all the Latinis come to thame on fre benevolence and will, to be participant of spuleye that micht fall to thame. Thus apperit the time
ganand to thame to recovir thare liberte, and to deliver the same out
of thare inemyis handis; and thocht the membris and body war
wicht, thay wantit ane hede, quhilk thing causit thame to remember
on Camillus. Attoure, ane grete noumer of knichtis war amang the
said Romanis, quhilk, be wisdome and chevelrie of Camillus, had done
mony vailyeant and forcy dedis.
Than said Cedicius, " I can nocht persave the caus, quhy it wes
" nocht als leful to me, in remembrance of the ordoure, to desire ane
"dictatour to be create, as it wes leful to ony of the Goddis or men
"to finis his empire."
Incontinent, be general consent, it wes concludit, that Camillus
sal be brocht out of Ardea; nochtheles, the senate, that wes than in
the Capitoll, behuffit to be first consultit; for every thingis war sa
governit be schame and dredoure, that, nochtwithstanding the ciete
wes nere loist, yit the difference of estatis wes observit; bot this con-

THE FIFT BUKE.

471

sultacioun culd nocht be had, but huge danger and perrell; for na
man micht pas fra Veos to the Capitoll, les than he pas throw the
stacioun of watche of inemyis. Nochtheles, Pontius Cominius tuke
this interprise on hand, and with the bark of ane tre he salit doun
Tiber, quhil he come to Rome, and be ane nere passage, quhare the
gate wes strate, and full of craggis, but ony watche of inemyis, he
enterit in the Capitoll, and schew all chargis, on the samin maner as
thay war committit to-him be thame of Veos.
Als sone as he had gottin the decrete of the senate, be quhilk
Camillus suld be brocht out of exile be commites curiat, and be command of Romane pepil maid dictatour, that the Romane knichtis may
have the emprioure that thame likis best, he returnit the same way he
come to Veos.
Incontinent, legatis war send to Ardea, and brocht him to Veos;
bot, as I beleif, he wald nocht depart tharefra, quhil he wes surelie
advertist that the law wes maid, be quhilk he sal nocht depart fra
the boundis quhare he wes exilit, but command of Romane pepil;
and that he sal have na auspicis in the armye, bot gif he was maid
dictatour.
Than wes the law curiat pronuncit, and Camillus, nochtwithstanding his absence, maid dictatour.

CAP. XXII.
How the Gaulis had won the Capitoll, war nocht that
'var
ascryit
be the geis ; and of the liberalite of Romanis to Manlius. How
ane of the watchemen, for his offence, was cassin oure the wallis.
Of grete mortalite and pest amang the Gaulis.
UHILL sic thingis war done at Veos, the Capitoll and
Castell of Rome wes in grete perrell; for it is uncertane, quhidder the Gaulis, be aventure, persavit the
futesteppis and rod of the messingere that wes send fra
Veos to the Capitoll, or gif thay clam up be thare awne wisdome and
ingine.

472

TITUS LIVIUS.

In quhatsumevir sort it wes, treuth is, that the said Gaulis clam
up the Montane of Carmentis in ane clere nicht; and first thay put
ane afore, but ony armoure or wappinnis, to assailye the passage, and
sone eftir thay gaif him his wappinnis. Eftir him followit the laif,
ilkane helpand and berand up uthir, quhare ony strait or wikkit passage wes, ay as the place requirit; and finalie, thay come sa quietlie
to the hicht thareof, that thay dissavit nocht onelie the watchemen,
bot als dissavit the doggis, howbeit the same ar walkrife beistis,
aganis the din of nicht; nochtheles, thay couth nocht dissave the
geis, for the pepil, nochtwithstanding thare grete penurite of meit,
abstenit fra thare geis, quhilkis war kepit for the sacrifice of Juno;
bot the abstinence thareof come to the grete weil of all thame that
war within the Capitoll; for be crying of the said geis, and clapping of thare winggis, M. Manlius wes awalkinnit, quhilk wes, in
the thrid yere afore, consul, ane richt vailyeant man in time of
batall.
This Manlius tuke sone his harnes, and gart his companyeouns
tak thare wappinnis on the same maner; and eftir that thay war astonist, he dang doun the Gaule that wes clummin to the hicht of the
Capitoll, with his swerde. The falling doun of this Gaule dang
doun all thame that war under. Ane parte of thir Gaulis, eftir that
thay had cassin thare wappinnis fra thame, thay war slane, and dung
doun with stanis on the samin maner; and finalie, all the hale multitude of Gaulis that war cumin to this jeoperdie, be stanis and dartis
that war slang be the Romanis out of the Capitoll, war dang doun to
the erde.
This effray being pecifyit, the residew of this nicht wes in quiet, sa
fer as trublit mindis micht suffir, considering the fere of this huge
dangere that wes bigane movit thare mindis with grete sollicitude.
On the morne, be sound of trumpet, all the knichtis war callit afore
the tribunis; for to every dede, als well wikkit as gude, aucht to be
gevin rewarde effering thareto.
In the first, Manlius wes lovit for his excellent manhede and vertew, and rewardit nocht onelie be the tribunis militare, hot als
with all the Romane chevelrie; for every knicht, that wes in the
Capitoll, brocht half ane pound of quhete, and ane fourte parte of
wine to his hous, of the samin vittalis that thay had within the Ca-

THE FIFT BUKE.

473

pitoll to sustene thare liffis. This wes bot ane small rewarde to be
put in memorie; nochtheles, the penurite and skairsnes of vittalis
that wes than amang the Romanis, schew the samin ane takin of
grete lufe that thay had to him, considering ilk man defraudit himself sa mekil of the vittalis that suld have sustenit his liffe, and gaif
it fra the use and nurising of his awne body, to the nurising of ane
uthir man.
Eftir that Manlius wes rewardit on this wise, the watche war callit, becaus the Gaule come to the hicht of the Capitoll, but thare
knawledge ; and eftir that Q. Sulpicius, tribune militare, had schewin
thame, that he wald punis all the watchis of this last nicht to the
deith, be the lawis of chevelrie ; nochtheles, he abstenit fra general
punicioun, be clamoure of all the knichtis, quhilkis, under ane voce,
put the wite fra thameself to ane man alanerlie that suld have
watchit.
This man that wes gilty wes tane, and, be avise of the knichtis,
cassin doun of the hieest stane in the Capitoll to the ground amang
his inemyis, to awalkin him of his slepe.
Eftir this punicioun made on the watche, baith the Gaulis and Romanis war the mare walkrife, becaus thay war advertist that messingeris
past betwix the Romanis of Veos and the Capitoll; and the Romanis
war the mare walkrife, for fere of this grete perrell that thay eschapit
under nicht.
Bot abone all thir sorrowful calamiteis, na thing wes sa insufferabil
as hunger, als weil to thame that wes utouth or inwith at the sege.
The Gaulis als war fellony invadit be pestilence; for thare tentis
stude in ane law place betwix hichtis and montanis, sa brint be hetis
of son, and full of vapouris, that als sone as the windis blew, na
powder rais bot brint as in thare ene; quhilk thing the Gaulis micht
nevir pacientlie suffir, for thay ar nurist with wak humouris and
caldnes.
Thus war the Gaulis sa troublit with hete, and noy that come
thareof, that thay deceissit nane uthir wayis than beistis dois, quhen
the maladyis cumis thame amang. And finalie, ilk ane of thame war
sa irkit to bury uthir, that thay gaderit ane huge noumer of thare
bodyis togidder, and brint the same all under ane hepe. The place

474

474
TITUS LIVIUS.

quhare thay war buryit is notabil, and callit to thir dayis the gravis
of Gaulis.

C A P. XXIII.

How trewis war tane betwix the Gaulis and Romanis.

Of the

brede that wes cassin out of the Capitoll to Gaulis. Of the contract maid to Gaulis, concerning tkare departing. How the
Gaulis war distroyit be Canillus; and of Camillus religious
maneris.
Huow this trubil trewis war tane betwix the Romanis
and Gaulis, and be tollerance of the capitanis speich,
ane commoning followit on ilk side. The
in this
commoning, objeckit oft times to the Romanis, that thay
war sa opprest with hunger, it wes-necessare and force to thame to
be randerit.
It is said, to put this opinioun out of the Gaulis hedis, the
manis kest breid out of sindry placis
the Capitoll amang the staciouns of inemyis; nochtheles, the hunger wes sa grete, that it micht
be na langer dissimillit nor sufferit ; and in this mene time, Camil-.
lus, the dictatour, had rasit his armye at Ardea, and had commandit
L. Valerius, the maister of cheveirie, to mete him with the armye that
wes in Veos. Quhil Camillus wes cumand fordwart in this wise, with
arrayit oistis, and devising in quhat maner he suld best assailye his
inemyis, the iRomanis in the Capitoll war sowpit and oursett with
continuall- staciouns and. watchingis; and thocht thay vincust and
ourethrow all dammagis and skaithis that micht be done to thame be
thare inemyis, yit thay' culd na way resist the sorowful hunger that
was amang thame ; bot abiding day be day to se gif ony rescours or
supple micht cum to thame fra the dictatour, quhil at last nocht alanerlie thare vittalis failyeit, bot thare esperance on the same maner ;
for quhen the knichtis past to thare staciouns, thay micht skarslie bere
the harnes and armoure on, thare waik bodyis, throw quhilk it wes
necessare to thame outhir to be randerit to thare inemyis, or ellis to

Gaulis,

of

Ro-

THE FIFT BUKE.

475

be redemit be sum contract or paccioun. And becaus the Gaulis
maid thare avant opinlie, thay micht be brocht to sic point, for sovir
proffitt that thay wald leif the sege, the senate convenit, and gaif
the charge of this besines to the tribunis militare, to dres sum way
that the Gaulis micht departe.
Sone eftir, ane contract wes maid betwix Sulpicius, tribune militare, and Brennus, King of Gaulis, on this wise: Ane thousand
pund wecht of gold sal be deliverit to the said King of Gaulis, rejosing the empire of baith the pepil in times cuming; and to this wikkit and schameful contract, wes ekit ane mare outrageous and wikkit
injure, be insolence of ane Gaule; for, eftir that the gold wes reddy
to be weyit, this Gaule brocht ane pare of fals ballancis, and becaus
the tribune refusit to wey the gold with this ballance, the Gaule, be
his pride and insolence, schot in his swerde in the leif of the ballance
that wes fals, and said, " Thou sal pay the wecht of this swerde abone
' the gold that wes promist."
It is said, ane voce wes herd richt intollerabil to Romanis, that is
to say, " Fy, ye ar vincust; bot the Goddis and men wald nocht suf" fir that Romanis suld leif as redemit or ransound pepil ;" for sic
delay followit throw the altercacioun that wes betwix the tribune and
the Gaule, concerning the weying of the said gold, that or ever the

same wes all weyit, as the condicioun bure, Camillus come, and bad
incontinent tak away the gold, and commandit the Gaulis to draw
thame abak. Quhen the Gaulis had allegit thare wes ane contract
maid betwix thame and the Capitolinis, and thay wald stand thereto,
Camillus answerit, Na condicioun nor contract maid to thame, but
his avise, or be men of les authorite than he wes, micht have ony
strenth or place.
Als sone as he had warnit the Gaulis to mak thame reddy for batall, he commandit his armye to put all thare gudis and cariage togidder under ane helpe, and to arme thame in thare best wise, and
bad thame recovir thare cuntre with irne erare than with gold, havand afore thare ene the templis of goddis, thare wiffis and barnis,
and thare native cuntre, quhilk wes deformit with sa mony dammage
of weris, and remembring all othir thingis that micht move thame
outhir to defend or recover thare cuntre, or to revenge thare cruelteis
done be thare inemyis.

476

TITUS LIVIUS.

Sic thingis done, he arrayit his oist in the middis of this waist and
brokin ciete, in the best wise he culd, sa fer as the situacioun and
nature of the ground micht suffir, and providit every thingis to his
sade army, effering to the custume and ordinance of chevelry. The
Gaulis astonist be this. sudane effray, tuke thare wappinnis, and ruschit fordwart on the Romanis mare be ire than ony gude ordoure or
wisdome. Now wes fortoun turnit agane to Romanis, and now baith
the power of Goddis and men helpit the public weill of Romanis;
for at the first joning, the Gaulis war put abak with mare dammage
and slauchter than the Romanis war afore at the river of Allia. And
nocht lang eftir the Gaulis fled to the viii. stane in the Gabine way,
quhare thay war discomfist with ane bettir arrayit batall than afore,
be wisdome and happy chance of Camillus, for thare tentis war tane,
and thameself discomfist and slane sa cruelly, that nevir ane of thame
wes left on life to bere hame tithingis to thare freindis; and quhen
the dictatoure had recoverit the cuntre on this wise, he returnit with
grete triumphe to Rome.
Amang mony uthir lovingis, certane rude sangis war maid of him
be the knichtis, calland him the secund Romulus, fundatour of Rome,
and as he recoverit the cuntre be batall, sa conservit he it in time of
peace, becaus he wald not suffir the Romanepepil to leif it, and duell
in Veos. And nochtwithstanding that the tribunis of pepil lauborit
maist ernistfully in the contrare thareof, and held all the small pepill
weil inclinit to leif Rome, and duell in Veos; and this wes the caus
quhy he left nocht the office of dictatorie immediatelie eftir his triumphe, for the senate requeistit him to leif nocht the public weill in
trubil, bot erare to pecifye the same or he departe fra his auctorite.
And first, abone all uthir besines, he gaif him maist diligentlie to veneracioun of religioun, specially sic thingis as pertenit to the sacrifice
of immortal Goddis. Herefore, be consult of the senate, he gaif his
laubouris, first, that the templis of the Goddis, quhilkis war pollutit
and violet be inemyis, suld be recounseld, renewit, and purifyit, and
ordanit, that the expiacioun and satisfaccioun that suld be done for
violacioun of the templis and housis of Goddis, suld be socht in the
bukis of the two men.
Eftir the reconsiliacioun of the templis, confederacioun and alliance of amite wes made betwix the Romanis and pepil, namit Ceretes,

THE FIFT BUKE.

477

becaus thir pepill resset the haly reliquis, and preistis of Romane
pepil, in the time that Rome wes tane, and be ressett and supple of
the said pepill, the sacrifice that the Romanis suld have done to thare
immortall Goddis ceissit nocht, bot wes done on the same maner as
it had bene untrublit. Than wes it ordanit, that the Capitoline
playis suld be maid in the honoure and loving of the maist hie and
maist potent Jupiter, becaus he defendit his awne housis and seit fra
inemyis, during all the trubil afore rehersit. It wes ordanit, attoure,
that M. Furius Camillus, dictatour, sall mak for the same effect ane
colleig of thame that war in the Capitoll during the said trubil, that
thay may duell thareintill the residew of thare livis. Forthir, it wes
ordanit, that sum inspiracioun sall be made to purge the voce that
wes herd afore within the nicht, quhilk schew the calamite that wes
appering to Romanis be the batall of Gaulis; howbeit, the said voce
wes contempnit and neclekkit in the time, and tharefore ane tempill
wes commandit to be maid in the new way, quhare the said voce wes
herde, and the said tempil wes callit Aio Locutio; and last of all, it wes
ordanit, that all the gold that wes reft fra the Gaulis, and all the gold
that wes hid in the tempil of Jupiter, during the effraye of the ciete,
becaus na man had remembrance as than in quhat use the said gold
suld have bene convertit, sall be consecrate and put undir the seit of
Jupiter.
The religioun of the ciete apperit grete, in sa fer that quhen thay
lakit gold in the public tressoure to have pait the ransoun that wes
hecht to the Gaulis, be the contract afore rehersit; yit, to that fine,
that nane suld intromett with gold that wes consecrate to thare
Goddis, nor dispone tharapoun, the Romane matronis gaif all thare
gold, to fulfil the said contract. Grete thankis war gevin tharefore
to the matronis, and ane honoure ekit to thame, that thay sail be
lovit eftir thare deith, with siclike solempniteis as men usis to be.

478
TITUS LIVIUS.

47-8

CAP. XXIV.

frequent

How the tribunis of pepill made
conciouns, to caus the
small pepill to
the rewinus housis of Rome, and duell in Veos.
Of the nobill orisoun made be M. Furius Camillus aganis the
saidis tribunis.

le f

Ls sone as all thingis war done that pertenit to the sacrifice of Goddis, and all uther thingis siclike done that
pertenit to Romane senate, the tribunis of pepill ceissit
nocht to persuade the pepill with ithand conciouns, to
leif the desert and rewinus housis of Rome, and duell in Veos. In
presence of the haillsenate, quhilk persewit the contrare thareof,
Camillus, the dictatour, assendit to the concioun, and said in this
wise, "0 ye Quirites, I wald ye understude * * * * 1

CAP.

XXV.

How the senat, movit be this orisoun of Camillus, and be the voice
of the Centurioun, concludit to duell still in Rome ; and how the
samin wees reedyjfied and repaired.
is reported that Camillus nocht onelie with the onisoun before rehersit, but likwayes with that quhilk concerned religioun, did gretumlie move the Romanis nocht
to leif thare ruinous 'wallis, accordant to the desire of
tribunis of pep111, quho still desirit the small pepil to duell in Veos.
But this mater being as it wer as yet ambiguous, wes eftir fullie
-T

con-

The

remainder of the original manuscript, containing the speech of Camil-

lus, is unfortunately wanting. The 25th Chapter appears to have been supplied
at a later period by

concludes.

A. Home,

the author of the Lines with which the Volume

THE FIFT BUKE.

479

cludit be the voice of ane centurioun, quhilk in very dew time wes deliverit; for a litil eftir that the counsell had bene deliberating in the
senat hous anent the foresaid besines, and gret cumpanyis, retiring
from thare garnisouns, be accident war passing by thorow the markett-place, the centurioun, amang the whole cumpany and assemblie
of pepil, cried aloud, and said to the beirar of the standard, " Hold
" up thy banner, heir is the maist convenient and fitting parte for us
" to remane." The quhilk voice being herd abroad, nocht onelie
the senate did think the samin to be the luck and presage of sum
thing to come, bot likwayes the commoun pepill standing round
about, did allow the samin, so that thareftir thay did employ thare
whole endevore to reedifie thare rewinus ciete, and to put up and
knit the rooffis and covertouris of thair housis, quhilk laitlie, as said
is, by the rage of Gaulis, the maist cruel inemye, war birnt and distroyit. It wes lesum to every man to furnish materialis for that effect, quhare the samin micht maist convenientlie be had, and thay
decreed to perfit and accomplish thare buildingis, if possible thay
culd, with the gudis of thame quham thay happened to get as pledgis that yeir.
The hastening of thare intended lauboris made thame nocht to tak
grete care of directing of grete vennellis and stretis; quhilk, as thay
builded indifferentlie, thare quhare the maist emptie and void placis
did appere, that is the caus now quhy everie privat house hath the
awin gutters and sinkes, for voiding of filthie excrementis, quhare before thay had ane commoun draucht; and the situacioun of the toun
resembles mair ane toune weill pepled and busied, then richtlie dividit be vennellis and fair stretis.

AND SA ENDIS HERE THE TRANSLATIOUN
OF THE FIFT BUKE
OF TITUS LIVIUS.

FYVE BUIKES AR HERE BY BALLENTYNE TRANSLATED,
RESTIS YET ANE HUNDRETH THRETTIE FYVE BEHIND,
QUHILKES, IF THE SAMYN WAR ALS WEILL COMPLEATED,
WALD BE ANE VOLUME OF ANE MONSTROUS BIND.
ILK MAN PERFYTES NOT QUHAT THEY ONCE INTEND,
SO FRAILL AND BRITTLE AR OUR WRETCHED DAYES ;
LET SUME MAN THEN BEGINE QUHARE HE DOETH

END;

GIVE HIM THE FIRST, TAK THAME THE SECUND PRAISE.
NO,

NO;

TO TITUS LIVIUS GIVE ALL,

THAT PEIRLES PRINCE FOR FEATIS HISTORICALL.
-

r

H'

T

MA
'

A. HOME, ST LEONARDES.

'

i

EDINBURGH:
PRINTED BY JAMES BALLANTYNE AND CO.
M.DCCC.XXII.

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