liffime, fince he was a Man of a mean Parentage, born at Arpinum, an inconfiderable Town among the Volfcians, but by his Eloquence rais'd himself to the chief Dignities of State, and happened to be Conful at that time) who affembled the Senate, and by a fevere Oration accufed and convicted Catiline: However he, with a few of his Party, found means to make his Efcape towards Tufcany, and put himself at fe Parts, threatning the Head of fome Troops which Manlius had got together in publickly that he wou'd put out the Fire of the City by the Ruins of it. In the mean time Cethegus, Lentulus, and feveral other Complices were feized and ftrangled in Prifon by order of the Senate, at Cato's Perfuafion: And Caius Antonius Nepos, who was joint Conful with Tully, march'd with what Forces he could raise against Catiline, a fharp Battle was kill'd the Spot, with moll of his Followers, (as Paterculus upon oba ferves) Quem fpiritum fupplicio debuerat, pralio reddidit. in "A Promontory of Epirus, near the Inland Leucas, where Antony and Cleopatra were ruin'd by a famous Sea Fight. 40 The Fields near Philippi in Theffaly, where Brutus and Caffius were defeated. arrived 41 Caius Marius, was likewife born at Arpinum, and of fuch poor Parents, that he was first a Plowman, then a common Soldier, yet at laft his highest Employments. Once while he was Conful (for that Honour was feven Times conferr'd on him) the Cimbrians attempted to make an Excurfion into Italy: But he kill'd 140000 of them, and made 6ccoo Prifoners: For which Victory a Triumph was or dain'd him by the Senate; but to decline the Envy which might be rais'd by' hison good Fortune, he folicited that 2. Lutatius Catulus, his Collegue, who was of a Noble Family, might be permitted to Triumph with him, tho' he had no Share in the Action. 242 Among the Romans there was a Superstition, that if their General would confent to be Devoted, or Sacrificed to Jupiter, Mars, the Earth, and the e Infernal Gods, all the Misfortunes which otherwife might have happened to his Party, would by his Death be transferred on their Enemies. This Opinion was confirmed by feveral fuccessful Instances, particularly two, in the Perfons of the Decii, the Father and Son here mentioned. The first being Conful with Manlius in the Wars against the Latins; and perceiving the Left Wing, which he commanded, give back, he called out to Valerius the High Prieft to perform on him the Ceremony of Confecration, (which we find defcrib'd by Livy in his 8th Book) and immediately fpur'd his Horse Horfe into the thickest of his Enemies Forces, where he was killed, and the Roman Army gain'd the Battle. His Son died in the fame manner in the Wars against the Gauls, and the Romans likewife obtain'd the Victory. 4 143 Servius Tullius was Son to Oriculana, whom Juvenal calls a Serving Maid, but Livy supposes her to have been Wife to a Prince of Corniculum, who was kill'd at the taking of the Town, and his Wife was carried away Captive by Tarquinius Prifcu and prefented as a Slave to his Wife Tanaquil, in whose Service he was delivered of this Tullius.The Family had a great Refpect for the Child, because of a Lambent Fire they obferved to play about his Head while he flept, which was interpreted as an Omen of his future Greatnefs; therefore Care was taken of his Education, and at last he was Contracted to the King's Daughter: Whereupon Ancus Martius his two Sons (who were the true Heirs of the Crown) fearing his Marriage "might hinder their Succeffion, hired two Shepherds to affaffinate Tarquinius, which they undertook, but could not execute fo dexterously as was expected; for the King-lived fome 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 Senate by Lucius Tarquinius, thrown down Stairs, and murdered by his Orders. Livy adds this Commendation, That with him Fufta ac legitima regna oéciderunt ; 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 defor the barbarous Rape which his Son 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 ad*miniftred an Oath by which the Romans obliged themselves never noto fuffer any more Kings, and made a Decree (which proved fatal to his Family) whereby it was declared a Capital Crime in any Perfon who fhould endeavour. by any means to bring back the Tarquins. However, they gave not over their Pretenfions, but fent Ambaffadors under Pretence of foliciting that their Eftates at least might be restored to them, but underhard to to infinuate themfelves among the loofe young Noblemen (who grew weary of a Commonwealth, because the Rigor of their new 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 Defignwas first proposed to the Aquilii and Vitellii: The Taft of these were: Brothers to Brutus's Wife, and by that AlHance calily engaged (45) Titus and Tiberius (two Sons he had by her) in the Conspiracy, the Sum 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 Ambassadors might be assur'd of their Sincerity, each Member of the Cabal delivered them, the Night before they were to return, Letters under their own Hands for the Tarquins, with Promifes to this Effect. Shk? 22* 47 Horatius Cocles being pofted to guard a Bridge, which he perceived the Enemy would foon be Mafter of, he food refolutely and oppofed Part of their Army, while the Party he commanded repafs'd the Bridge, and broke it down after them; 2 and then threw himself, armed as he was, into the Tiber, and efcaped to the City. 948 Mutius Scavola went into the Enemies Camp with a Refolution to kill their King Porsenna, 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 Miftake. 'q'49 Clélia,id Roman Virgin, who was given to Parfenna as an Hoftage, made her Escape from the Guards, and swam over bathe Tiber, arsi? avob a word anil 50 Vindicius, a Slave who waited at Table, by Chance over Heard Part of their Difcourfe; and comparing these Circumbaftances with fome others he had obferv'd in their former Con ferences, he went straight to the Confuls, and told what he had 12 difcovered. Orders were immediately iffued out for fearching the Ambafadors, the Letters above-mentioned were intercepted, olothe Criminals feiz'd, and the Proof being evident against them, ho they suffered the Punishment (which was newly introduced) bof being tied Naked to a Stake, where they were first whipt Vby the Lictors, then Beheaded And Brutus, by Virtue of his b Office, was unhappily obliged to fee this rigorous Sentence on nhis own Children. d To purfue the Story; the Tarquins finding their Plot had mifcarried, and fearing nothing could be done by Treachery, adruck up an Alliance with Parfenna, King of Tuscany, who pretending to restore them by open Force, march'd with a nu merous 1 merous Army, and befieged Rome: But was foon furpris'd with three fuch Inftances of the Roman Bravery, in the Persons 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 Afylum, or Sanctuary, where all Out-Laws, Vagabonds, and Criminals of what Nature foever, who could make their Escape thither, might live in all Freedom and Security. 53 The Author either means the Baftard of Mars and Rhea Silvia a Vestal Virgin, of whofe Rape we have a Relation in the Beginning of Ovid's Third Book de Faftis, or a Parricide, for killing his Brother Remus, HORACE. DEAR Molly, why fo oft in Tears? Why all these Jealoufies and Fears, For thy bold Son of Thunder? II. Before Toulon thy Yoke-mate lies, III. But fhe, the cunning ft Jade alive, IV. Then tells of fmooth young Pages whipp'd, Are |