Historic Tales: the Romance of Reality. Vol. 11 (of 15), Roman

Part 1

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Edition d'Élite

Historical Tales

The Romance of Reality

CHARLES MORRIS

Author of "Half-Hours with the Best American Authors," "Tales from the Dramatists," etc.

IN FIFTEEN VOLUMES

Volume XI

Roman

J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON

Copyright, 1896, by J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.

Copyright, 1904, by J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.

Copyright, 1908, by J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.

CONTENTS.

PAGE HOW ROME WAS FOUNDED 7

THE SABINE VIRGINS 14

THE HORATII AND CURIATII 22

THE DYNASTY OF THE TARQUINS 26

THE BOOKS OF THE SIBYL 32

THE STORY OF LUCRETIA 36

HOW BRAVE HORATIUS KEPT THE BRIDGE 43

THE BATTLE OF LAKE REGILLUS 50

THE REVOLT OF THE PEOPLE 54

THE REVENGE OF CORIOLANUS 60

CINCINNATUS AND THE ÆQUIANS 68

THE SACRIFICE OF VIRGINIA 75

CAMILLUS AT THE SIEGE OF VEII 87

THE GAULS AT ROME 94

Part 2

THE CURTIAN GULF 105

ANECDOTES OF THE LATIN AND SAMNITE WARS 108

THE CAUDINE FORKS 116

THE FATE OF REGULUS 126

HANNIBAL CROSSES THE ALPS 135

HOW HANNIBAL FOUGHT AND DIED 145

ARCHIMEDES AT THE SIEGE OF SYRACUSE 152

THE FATE OF CARTHAGE 158

THE GRACCHI AND THEIR FALL 165

JUGURTHA, THE PURCHASER OF ROME 173

THE EXILE AND REVENGE OF MARIUS 180

THE PROSCRIPTION OF SULLA 191

THE REVOLT OF THE GLADIATORS 198

CÆSAR AND THE PIRATES 204

CÆSAR AND POMPEY 208

THE ASSASSINATION OF CÆSAR 218

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 227

AN IMPERIAL MONSTER 236

THE MURDER OF AN EMPRESS 243

BOADICEA, THE HEROINE OF BRITAIN 250

ROME SWEPT BY FLAMES 255

THE DOOM OF NERO 262

THE SPORTS OF THE AMPHITHEATRE 272

THE REIGN OF A GLUTTON 280

THE FAITHFUL EPONINA 289

THE SIEGE OF JERUSALEM 293

THE DESTRUCTION OF POMPEII 301

AN IMPERIAL SAVAGE 309

Part 3

THE DEEDS OF CONSTANTINE 319

THE GOTHS CROSS THE DANUBE 325

THE DOWNFALL OF ROME 331

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

ROMAN.

PAGE THE CASTLE OF ST. ANGELO Frontispiece.

ROME FROM THE DOME OF ST. PETER'S 18

THE FORUM OF ROME 26

BRUTUS ORDERING THE EXECUTION OF HIS SONS 40

HORATIUS KEEPING THE BRIDGE 46

THE SACRIFICE OF VIRGINIA 75

RUINS OF THE ROMAN AQUEDUCTS 106

HANNIBAL CROSSING THE ALPS 139

THE BATHS OF CARACALLA 150

THE ASSASSINATION OF CÆSAR 218

ANTONY'S ORATION OVER CÆSAR 224

THE GALLEY OF CLEOPATRA 230

THE TOMB OF HADRIAN 260

A ROMAN CHARIOT RACE 275

THE COLISEUM AT ROME 282

THE JEWS' WAILING PLACE, JERUSALEM 294

THE RUINS OF POMPEII 306

EQUESTRIAN STATUE OF MARCUS AURELIUS 309

ARCH OF TITUS, ROME 320

THE LAST COMBAT OF THE GLADIATORS 333

HOW ROME WAS FOUNDED.

Very far back in time, more than twenty-six hundred years ago, on the banks of a small Italian river, known as the Tiber, were laid the foundations of a city which was in time to become the conqueror of the civilized world. Of the early days of this renowned city of Rome we know very little. What is called its history is really only legend,--stories invented by poets, or ancient facts which became gradually changed into romances. The Romans believed them, but that is no reason why we should. They believed many things which we doubt. And yet these romantic stories are the only existing foundation-stones of actual Roman history, and we can do no better than give them for what little kernel of fact they may contain.

In our tales from Greek history it has been told how the city of Troy was destroyed, and how Æneas, one of its warrior chiefs, escaped. After many adventures this fugitive Trojan prince reached Italy and founded there a new kingdom. His son Ascanius afterwards built the city of Alba Longa (the long white city) not far from the site of the later city of Rome. Three hundred years passed away, many kings came and went, and then Numitor, a descendant of Æneas, came to the throne. But Numitor had an ambitious brother, Amulius, who robbed him of his crown, and, while letting him live, killed his only son and shut up his daughter Silvia in the temple of the goddess Vesta, to guard the ever-burning fire of that deity.

Part 4

Here Silvia had twin sons, whose father was said, in the old superstitious fashion, to be Mars, the God of War. The usurper, fearing that these sons of Mars might grow up and deprive him of his throne, ordered that they and their mother should be flung into the Tiber, then swollen with recent rains. The mother was drowned, but destiny, or Mars, preserved the sons. Borne onward in their basket cradle, they were at length swept ashore where the river had overflown its banks at the foot of the afterwards famous Palatine Hill. Here the cradle was over-turned near the roots of a wild fig-tree, and the infants left at the edge of the shallow waters.

What follows sounds still more like fable. A she-wolf that came to the water to drink chanced to see the helpless children, and carried them to her cave, where she fed them with her milk. As they grew older a woodpecker brought them food, flying in and out of the cave. At length Faustulus, a herdsman of the king, found these lusty infants in the wolf's den, took them home, and gave them to his wife Laurentia to bring up with her own children. He gave them the names of Romulus and Remus.

Years went by, and the river waifs grew to be strong, handsome, and brave young men. They became leaders among the shepherds and herdsmen, and helped them to fight the wild animals that troubled their flocks. Their home was on the Palatine Hill, and the cattle and sheep for which they cared were those of the wicked king Amulius. Near by was another hill, called the Aventine, and on this the deposed king Numitor fed his flocks. In course of time a quarrel arose between the herdsmen on the two hills, and Numitor's men, having laid an ambush, took Remus prisoner and carried him to Alba, where their master dwelt. This no sooner became known to Romulus than he gathered the young men of the Palatine Hill, and set out in all haste to the rescue of his brother.

Meanwhile, Remus had been taken before Numitor, who gazed on him with surprise. His face and bearing were rather those of a prince than of a shepherd, and there was something in his aspect familiar to the old king. Numitor questioned him closely, and Remus told him the story of the river, the wolf, and the herdsman. Numitor listened intently. The story took him back to the day, many years before, when his daughter Silvia and her twin sons had been thrown into the swollen stream. Could the children have escaped? Could this handsome youth be his grandson? It must be so, for his age and his story agreed.

But while they talked, Romulus and his followers reached the city, and, being forbidden entrance, made an assault on the gates. In the conflict that ensued Amulius took part and was killed, and thus Numitor and his daughter were at last revenged. Seeking Remus, the victorious shepherd prince found him with Numitor, who now fully recognized in the twin youths his long-lost grandsons. Romulus, who was now master of the city, restored his royal grandfather to the throne.

As for Romulus and Remus, their life as shepherds was at an end. It was not for youths of royal blood and warlike aspirations to spend their lives in keeping sheep. But Numitor had been restored to the throne of Alba, and they decided to build a city of their own on those hills where all their lives had been passed and on which they preferred to dwell. The land belonged to Numitor, but he willingly granted it to them, and they led their followers to the spot.

Here a dispute arose between the brothers. The story goes that Romulus wished to have the city built on the Palatine Hill, Remus on the Aventine Hill; and that, as they could not agree, they referred the matter to their grandfather, who advised them to settle it by augury,--or by watching and forming conclusions from the flight of birds. This long continued the favorite Roman mode of settling difficult questions. It was easier than the Greek plan of going to Delphi to consult the oracle.

The two brothers now stationed themselves on the opposite hills, each with a portion of their followers, and waited patiently for what the heavens might send. The day slowly waned, and they waited in vain. Night came and deepened, and still their vigil lasted. At length, just as the sun of a new day rose in the east, Remus saw a flight of vultures, six in all. He exulted at the sight, for the vulture, as a bird which was seldom seen and did no harm to cattle or crops, was looked upon as an excellent augury. Word of his success was sent to Romulus, but he capped the story with a better one, saying that twelve vultures had just passed over his hill.

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