 Section 49 of the Junior Classics, Volume 3, tales from Greece and Rome, edited by William Patton, 1868 to 1936. This Librivox recording is in the public domain, recording by Gillian Henry. The Story of Alba by Alfred J. Church King Tullus Vestilius, being newly come to the throne, looked about for an occasion of war, for the Romans had now for a long time been at peace. Now it chanced that in those days the men of Rome and the men of Alba had a quarrel, the one against the other. The country folk being want to cross the border and to plunder their neighbours, and that ambassadors were sent from either city to seek restitution of such things as had been carried off. King Tullus said to his ambassador, delay not to do your business so soon as you shall be come to Alba, knowing that the men of Alba would certainly refuse to deliver up the things, and thinking that he could thus, with a good conscience, proclaim war against them. As for the ambassadors of Alba, when they were come to Rome, they made no haste about their business, but ate and drank, the king entertaining them with much courtesy and kindness. While therefore they feasted with him, there came back the ambassadors of Rome, telling the king how they had made demand for the things carried off, and when the men of Alba had refused to deliver them, had declared war within the space of 30 days, which when the king heard, he called to him the ambassadors of Alba and said to them, wherefore are you come to Rome, set forth now your mission? Then the men, not knowing what had befallen, began to make excuse, saying, we would not willingly say ought that should displease the king, but we are constrained by them that have sent us thither. We are come to ask for the things that your country folk have carried off, and if you will not deliver them up, we are bidden to declare war against you. To this Tullus made answer, now do I call to the gods to witness that ye men of Alba first refused to repair the thing that has been done amiss, and I pray them that they will bring all the blood of this war upon your heads, and with this message the men of Alba went home. After this the two cities made great preparations for war, and because the men of Troy had built Lavinium, from which some going forth had set up the city of Alba, and from the royal house of Alba had come the founder of Rome, it was as though the children would fight against their fathers. Yet it came not to this, the matter being finished without a battle. The men of Alba first marched into the land of the Romans, having with them a very great army, and pitched their camp five miles from the city, digging about it a deep ditch. But while they lay in this camp, their king Cluleus died, and a certain Metus was made dictator in his room, which when King Tullus heard he became very bold, saying that the gods had smitten Cluleus for his wrongdoing, and would smite also the whole people of Alba, whereupon he marched into the land of the Albans, leaving the enemy's camp to one side. And when these also had come forth against him, and the two armies were now drawn up in battle array, the one against the other, there came a messenger to King Tullus, saying that Metus of Alba desired to have speech with him, having that to say to him which concerned the Romans not less than the men of Alba. Nor did King Tullus refuse to hear him, though indeed battle had pleased him better than speech. So when the king and certain nobles with him had gone forth into the open space that was between the two armies, and Metus also with his companions had come to the same place, this last speak, saying, I have heard, King Cluleus that is dead, affirm that you're wrongdoing ye men of Rome, in that ye would not deliver up the things that had been carried off, was the cause of this war. Nor do I doubt but that thou, King Tullus, hast the same quarrel against us. Yet if we would speak that which is true, rather than that which has a fair show, we should, I doubt not, confess that we, though we be both kinsmen and neighbours, are driven into this war by the lust of power. Now I say not whether this be just or no. Yet others look to this, for I am not king of Alba, but captain of the host only. Yet there is a matter which I would feign called thy mind, King. Thou knowest the Etruscans how mighty they are, both by land and sea, for indeed they are nearer by far to thee at Rome than to us at Alba. Be think thee, therefore, how, when thou shaltst give the signal of battle between thy army and our army, the same Etruscans will look on, rejoicing to see us fight together, and how, when the battle is ended, they will fall upon us, having us at disadvantage. For of a truth, whether ye or we prevail, we shall have but little strength remaining to us. If, therefore, we be not content with the freedom that we have, but must needs set on the chance of a die, whether we shall be masters or servants, let us devise some way by which the one may win dominion over the other without great loss and shedding of blood. Now, King Tillis was a great warrior, and would willingly have fought, being confident that he and his people would prevail. Nevertheless, the thing that Metis of Alba had said pleased him, and when they came to consider the matter, there seemed by good fortune to be away ready to their hands. There were in the army of Alba three brothers that had been born at one birth, whose name was Curiatius, and in the army of the Romans, there were other three, and these born likewise at one birth, whose name was Horatius. Nor was there much difference in respect either of age or of strength between the brothers of Alba and the brothers of Rome. Then King Tillis and Metis of Alba called for the brothers and inquired of them whether they were willing to fight, each three, for their own country, agreement being first made that that people should bear rule forever, whose champions should prevail in the battle. And as the young men were willing, a place was appointed for the battle, and a time also. But first, there was made a treaty in this fashion, for the fashion of making treaties is the same always, though their conditions be different. The Herald said, "'Wilt thou, King Tillis, that I make a treaty with the minister of the people of Alba?' And when the king answered, "'Yay,' the Herald said, "'I will that thou give me the sacred herbs.' Then the king made reply, "'Take them and see that they be clean.' So the Herald took them, clean from the hill of the citadel. Having done this, he said to the king, "'Dost thou appoint me to do the pleasure of the people of Rome?' Me and my implements and my attendants with me?' And the king answered, "'So that it be without damage to the people of Rome?' Then the Herald appointed one spurious to be minister, that he should take the oath, and touched his hair with the sacred herbs. And when spurious had taken the oath, and the conditions of the treaty had been read aloud, he spoke, saying, "'Here thou, Jupiter, and thou also, minister of the people of Alba, and ye men of Alba.' As these conditions have been duly read aloud this day, from the beginning, even to the end, from these tables, and after the interpretation by which they may be the most easily understood, even so shall the Roman people abide by them. And if these people, acting by common consent, shall falsely depart from them, then do thou, O Jupiter, smite the Roman people, even as I shall smite this swine today, and smite them by so much the more strongly, as thou art stronger than I.' And when he had said this, he smote the swine with a knife of stone. The men of Alba also took the oath and confirmed it after their own fashion. These things having been thus ordered, the champions made them ready for battle. And first their fellows exhorted them, several in many words, saying that the gods of their country, their countrymen also, and kinsfolk, whether they tarried at home or stood in the field, regarded their arms that day. And afterward, they went forth into the space that lay between the two armies. And these sat and watched them before their camps, being quit indeed of the pearl of battle, but full of care how the matter should end, saying that so great things, even sovereignty and freedom, should be decided by the valour and good luck of so few men. Then the signal of battle being given, the three met the three, with such courage and fierceness, as though there were a whole army on either side. And as their swords rang against each other and flashed, all men trembled to see and could scarcely speak or breathe for fear of what should happen. And for a while, in so narrow a space did the men fight, not could be seen, but how they swayed to and fro, and how the blood ran down upon the ground. But afterward it was plain to see that of the three Romans, two were fallen dead upon the ground, and that of the three champions of Alba, each man was wounded. At this site the Alban host shouted for joy, but the men of Rome had no more any hope, but only fear to think what should befall their one champion that had now three enemies against him. Now, by good luck, it had so fallen out that this one had received no wound, so that, though he was no match for the three together, he did not doubt but that he should prevail over them severally one by one. Wherefore, that he might so meet them, dividing them the one from the other, he made a faint to fly, thinking that they would follow him each as quickly as his wound might suffer him. And so it fell out, for when he had fled now no small space from the ground where they had fought at the first, he saw looking behind him that the three were following him at a great distance one from the other, and that one was very near to himself. Then he turned himself and ran fiercely upon the man, and behold, even while the men of Alba cried aloud to the two that they should help their brother, he had slain him and was now running toward the second. And when the men of Rome saw what had befallen, they set up a great shout as men are wont when they have good luck beyond their hopes. And their champion made such haste to do his part that before ever the third of the Albin III could come up, though indeed he was close at hand, he had slain the second also. And now, seeing that there remained one only on either side, there was in some sort an equality, yet were the two not equal either in hope or in strength. For the champion of Rome had suffered no wound and having overcome his foes now once and again was full of courage. But the champion of Alba being now spent with his wound and weiried of hope with his wound and weiried also with running was, as it were, vanquished already. Nor indeed was there a battle between the two for the Roman cried one and another of my foes I have offered to the spirits of my brothers, but this third will I offer to the cause for which we have fought this day even that Rome may have the dominion over Alba. And when the champion of Alba could now scarce bear up his shield, he stood over and ran his sword downward into his throat. Afterward, as the man lay dead upon the ground, he spoiled him of his arms. Then did the men of Rome receive their champion with much rejoicing, having all the more gladness because they had been in so great fear. Afterward, each host set themselves to bury their dead, whose tombs remain to this day each in the spot where he fell, for the two Romans are buried in one sepulcher nearer to Alba and the three champions of Alba as you go toward Rome but with somewhat of space between them even as they fought. And now the men of Rome went back to the city and Horatius went before them carrying the spoils of the three whom he had slain but at the capine gate there met him his sister who was betrothed to one of the champions of Alba and when the maidens saw upon his shoulders the cloak of her betrothed and indeed she had wrought it with her own hands she tore her hair and cried to the dead man by name with a lamentable voice but Horatius was wroth to hear the words of mourning on the day when he had won the victory and the people rejoiced and he drew his sword and slew the maiden crying to part hence to thy lover with the love that thou cherishes out of season thou that forgettest thy brethren that are dead and thy brother that is yet alive and thine own people also so perish whosoever shall make lamentations for an enemy of Rome and when the fathers and the commons saw what was done they thought it a wicked deed but remembered what great service the man had newly rendered to Rome nevertheless they laid hands on him and took him to the king that he should judge him but the king being loath to judge such a matter or to give sentence against the man said I appoint two men as the law commands who shall judge Horatius for murder now the law was this if a man do murder two men shall judge him if he appeal against the two let the appeal be tried if their sentence be confirmed he shall cover his head and skirt him within the walls or without the walls and hang him by a rope upon the gallows then there were appointed two men according to the law who affirmed that they could not let the man go free whether his guilt was small or great saying that he had manifestly done the deed therefore said one of them Publius Horatius we adjudged thee to be guilty of murder go lictor bind his hands but when the lictor came and was now ready to cast the rope about him Horatius cried I appeal to the people for the king himself being mercifully disposed to him bad him do so then was there a trial before the people in which that which most wrought upon the hearts of men was that the father of Horatius constantly affirmed that his daughter had been rightly slain nay said he verily if the young man had not slain her I had used against him my right as a father condemned him to die then again he besought them that they should not leave him desolate and bereaved of his children he who but the day before had had so fair a stock afterward throwing his arms about the young man he stretched out his hands to the spoils of the Curiatii crying will ye endure men of Rome to see him bound under the gallows beaten with stripes whom he beheld but yesterday adorned with these spoils and rejoicing in his victory not so surely the men of Alba themselves had not born to see such a sight Golictor bound his hands though but yesterday they won so great a dominion for the people of Rome go cover the head of him that made this people free hang him upon the accursed tree scourge him whether within the walls so that thou do it among the spoils of them that he slew or without the walls so that it be near to the sepulchres of the champions of Alba whether can ye take this youth that the memorials of his valour shall not save him from so foul a punishment and when the people saw the tears of the old man and we thought them also to encourage the youth had shown in danger they could not endure to condemn him but regarding his valour rather than the goodness of his cause let him go free only because the deed had been so manifest a command was laid upon the father that he should make a trespass offering for his son at the public charge then the father having made certain sacrifices of expiation which are performed to this day in the house of Horatius set up a beam across the way and covered his son's head and led him beneath it as for the maiden they built her tomb of Hewnstone in the place where she was slain now the men of Alba were wroth to think that the fortunes of the whole people had been thus trusted to the hands of three soldiers who met us being of an unstable mind was led away to evil in his desire to do them a pleasure and as before he had sought for peace when others were desirous of war so now he desired war when others were minded to be at peace but because he knew that the men of Alba were not able of their own strength to do that which they desired he stirred up certain others of the nations round about that they should make war openly against Rome as for himself and his people he proposed that they should seem indeed to be friends and allies but should be ready for treachery when occasion served there upon the men of Fidini being colonists from Rome and the men of Veii promised that they would make war and met us on his part he would come over to them with his army in the battle first the men of Fidini rebelled and King Tullus marched against them bidding met us come also with his army and having crossed the river Anio pitched his camp where Anio flows into the Tiber and by this time the men of Veii also had come up with their army and these were on the right wing of the river and the men of Fidini on the left next to the mountains the ordering of King Tullus was that he and his men should do battle with the men of Veii and met us and the Albans with the men of Fidini now met us as he was not minded to do right so had no courage to do wrong boldly and because he dared not to go over to the enemy let his men away towards the mountains being come dither he set out his men in battle array being minded to join them whom he should perceive to prevail at first the Romans marvelled that met us and his men should so depart from them and after a while they sent a messenger to the king saying the men of Alba have left us then the king knew in his heart that there was treachery and he vowed that he would build temples to paleness and panic if he should win the victory that day nevertheless he showed no sign of fear but cried to the horsemen with a loud voice that the enemy might hear saying go thou back to the battle and bid thy comrades be of good courage met us does my bidding that he may take the men of Fidini in the rear also he bade the cavalry raise their spears in the air so that the Romans might for the most part be hindered from saying that the men of Alba had deserted them and they that saw believing what the king had said fought with the more courage then there fell a great fear upon the enemy for these also had heard the saying which being in the Latin tongue was understood of the men of Fidini they therefore fearing less met us and the army of Alba should come down from the mountains and shut them off from their town began to give ground and when the king had broken their array he turned the more fiercely on the men of Vi these also fled before him but were hindered from escape by the river and some throwing away their arms ran blindly into the water and some while they lingered on the bank and knew not whether they should fight or fly so perished never before had the Romans so fierce a fight with their enemies after this the king spoke in this fashion men of Rome if ever before he had occasion to give thanks for victory one first to the immortal gods and secondly to your own valor such occasion you found in the battle of yesterday for you fought not only with the enemy but with that from which there is peril greater by far even treachery in allies I would not have you ignorant of the truth it was not by any ordering of mine that the men of Alba went toward the mountains I gave no such command yet did I feign that I had given it to this end not know that we were deserted and so might fight with the better courage and that our enemies thinking that they should be assailed from behind might be stricken with fear and so fly before us yet I say not that all the men of Alba are guilty of this matter they followed their captain even as ye men of Rome would have followed me whether so ever I might have led you Metis only is guilty he contrived this departure even as he brought about this war and break the covenant that was between Alba and Rome and what he has done others may dare hereafter if I do not so deal with him that he shall be an example for all that come after then the captains of hundreds having arms in their hands they'd hold upon Metis after this the king speak again may the gods bless to the people of Rome and to me and to you also men of Alba that which I propose to do for my purpose is to carry away the people of Alba to Rome the commons of Alba will I make citizens of Rome and the nobles will I number among our senators so shall there be one city and one commonwealth when the men of Alba heard these words all had not the same mind about the matter but all kept silence fearing to speak because being without arms they were compassed on every side with armed men then said the king Metis if indeed thou couldst learn faith and the keeping I had suffered thee to live that thou mightest have such teaching from me but now seeing that thy disease is past healing thou shalt teach other men to hold in reverence the holy things which thou hast despised for even as thou was divided in heart between Rome and Fudeni so shall thy body be divided then at the king's bidding they brought two chariots harnessed to each of them and binding the body of Metis to the chariots they draved the horses diverse ways so that the man was torn asunder but because Alba was thus brought to destruction Rome increased greatly for the number of the citizens was increased twofold the Kilian hill was added to the city in which hill that others might the more readily dwell there the king himself commanded that they should build him a palace also the chief houses of Alba as the house of Julius and of Servilius were chosen into the senate and that there might be a place of meeting for the senate being thus multiplied the king built a temple and called it hostilia after his own name also ten squadrons of horsemen were chosen out of the men of Alba now the end of King Tullus was this there came a pestilence upon the land and when for this cause the people were weary of war nevertheless the king both because he delighted in war and because he believed that the young men should have better health if they went abroad than if they tarried at home gave them no rest but after a while he also fell into a tedious sickness which so break him both in body and mind that whereas in time past he thought it unworthy of a king to busy himself with matter of religion now he gave himself up holy to superstition and filled the minds of his people also with the like thoughts so that they regarded nothing but this how they should make atonement to the gods in their present distress as for the king himself men say that reading the sacred book of King Yuma he found there in certain sacrifices very secret and solemn that should be done to Jupiter by such as would bring him down from heaven and that he shut himself up to do these sacrifices but because he said not about them rightly or did them not in due form there appeared to him no similitude of the immortal gods for such he had hoped to see but Jupiter having great wrath at such unlawful dealings struck him with lightning and consumed both him and his house end of section 49 end of the junior classics volume 3 Tales from Grace and Rome edited by William Patton 1868 to 1936