Yet he those robes of empire justly bore Which Romulus, our facred founder, wore; When (44) Tarquin, his proud fucceffor, was quell'd, And with him luft and tyranny expell'd; The the king's daughter: Whereupon Ancus Martius's two fons, who were the true heirs of the crown, fearing his marriage might hinder their fucceffion, hired two shepherds to affaffinate Tarquinius, which they undertook, but could not execute fo dexterously as was expected; for the king lived some days after the blow was given, during which time Tanaquil caus'd the gates of the palace to be kept fhut, and amus'd the people, who were eager on a new election, with affurances that the wound was not mortal; that the king was in a fair way of recovery, and till he could appear abroad, required them to pay obedience to Servius Tullius; who, by this means, first got poffeffion of the government in the king's name, and after his death ufurp'd it 44 years in his own. At laft he was forced out of the fenate by Lucius Tarquinius, thrown down ftairs, and murdered by his orders. Livy adds this commendation, that with him "justa ac legitima regna occiderunt ; which agrees with Juvenal's calling him the last good king. For (44) Tarquin, who reigned 25 years after him, was hated for his pride and cruelty, and for the barbarous rape which his fon Sextus committed on Lucretia, wife to Collatinus; who, by the help of (46) L. Junius Brutus, reveng'd this injury, by driving Tarquin and his whole race out of Rome, which from that time began to be governed by confuls : and the better to fecure their liberty, Brutus adminiftred an oath by which the Romans obliged themselves never to fuffer any more kings, and made a decree, which proved fatal to his family, whereby it was declared a capital crime in any person who should endeavour by any means to bring back the Tarquins. However, they gave not over their pretenfions, but fent ambaffadors under pretence of folliciting that their eftates at least might be restored them, but underhand to infinuate themselves among the loose young noblemen," who grew weary of a commonwealth, because the rigour of their new laws The conful's (45) fons, who, for their country's good Actions which (47). Cocles might have wifh'd his own, Whilft a poor (50) flave, with scarce a name, betray'd Who laws did not tolerate that licentious way of living, which they enjoy'd under the government of their kings, and to concert with them the best methods towards their restoration. This defign was first proposed to the Aquilii and Vitellii : the last of these were brothers to Brutus's wife, and by that alliance eafily engaged (45) Titus and Tiberius, two fons he had! by her, in the confpiracy, the fum of which was, that the gates of the city fhould be left open for the Tarquins to enter in the night time; and that the ambaffadors might be affur'd of their fincerity, each member of the cabal delivered them, the night before they were to return, letters under their own hands for the Tarquins, with promises to this effect. (47) Horatius Cocles being posted to guard a bridge, which he perceived the enemy would foon be mafter of, he ftood refolutely, and oppofed part of their army, while the party he commanded repafs'd the bridge, and broke it down after them; and then threw himfelf, armed as he was, into the Tyber, and efcaped to the city. (48) Mutius Scævola went into the enemies camp with refolution to kill their king Porfenna, but instead of striking him, ftabb'd one of his guards; and being brought before the king, and finding his error, in indignation he burned off his right hand as a penalty for his mistake. (49) Clelia, a Roman virgin, who was given to Porfenna as an hoftage, made her efcape from the guards, and swam over the Tyber. (50) Vindicius, a flave who waited at table, by chance Who therefore for their treafon justly bore Tho' foul (51) Therfites got thee, thou shalt be Boaft then your blood, and your long lineage stretch As high as Rome, and its great founder's reach; You'll find, in these hereditary tales, Your ancestors the (22) fcum of broken jayles : And over-heard part of their difcourfe; and comparing these circumstances with fome others he had obferv'd in their former conferences, he went ftraight to the confuls, and told what he had discovered. Orders were immediately iffued out for fearching the ambaffadors, the letters, above mentioned were intercepted, the criminals feiz'd, and the proof being evident against them, they fuffered the punishment, which was newly introduced, of being tied naked to a stake, where they were firft whipt by the lictors, then beheaded: and Brutus, by virtue of his office, was unhappily obliged to fee this' rigorous fentence on his own children, To pursue the ftory; the Tarquins finding their plot had mifcarried, and fearing nothing could be done by treachery, ftruck up an alliance with Porfenna, king of Tuscany, who, pretending to restore them by open force, march'd with a numerous army, and befieged Rome: but was foon furpriz'd with three fuch inftances of the Roman bravery, in the perfons of Cocles, Mutius, and Clelia, that he withdrew his army, and courted their friendship. (51) The ugly buffoon of the Grecian army. (52) Romulus finding the city call'd by his name, not fufficiently peopled, established an asylum, or fanctuary, where all And (53) Romulus, your honour's antient fource, all out-laws, vagabonds, and criminals of what nature foever, who could make their escape thither, might live in all freedom and fecurity. (53) The author either means the bastard of Mars and Rhea Sylvia, a vestal virgin, of whofe rape we have a relation in the beginning of Övid's third book de faftis, or a parricide, for killing his brother Remus, HORACE. HORACE. D ODE BOOK III. VII. IMITATED. I. Ear Molly, why so oft in tears? Why all those jealoufies and fears, For thy bold fon of thunder? Have patience till we've conquer'd France, II. Before Toulon thy yoke-mate lies, For thee in lowly cabbin: III. But the, the cunning'st jade alive, And, if he'll be but kind one night, She vows, he fhall be dubb'd a knight, |