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lying by the city； adorned with the temples of the gods； and walks；
and is called in the Latin tongue inter duos pontes。 Though some say
this did not happen at the dedication of Tarquin's field； but in
aftertimes； when Tarquinia； a vestal priestess； gave an adjacent field
to the public； and obtained great honours in consequence； as；
amongst the rest； that of all women her testimony alone should be
received； she had also the liberty to marry； but refused it； thus some
tell the story。
Tarquin； despairing of a return to his kingdom by the conspiracy；
found a kind reception amongst the Tuscans； who； with a great army；
proceeded to restore him。 The consuls headed the Romans against
them； and made their rendezvous in certain holy places； the one called
the Arsian grove； the other the Aesuvian meadow。 When they came into
action； Aruns； the son of Tarquin； and Brutus； the Roman consul； not
accidentally encountering each other； but out of hatred and rage；
the one to avenge tyranny and enmity to his country； the other his
banishment； set spurs to their horses； and； engaging with more fury
than forethought； disregarding their own security； fell together in
the combat。 This dreadful onset hardly was followed by a more
favourable end； both armies； doing and receiving equal damage； were
separated by a storm。 Valerius was much concerned； not knowing what
the result of the day was； and seeing his men as well dismayed at
the sight of their own dead； as rejoiced at the loss of the enemy；
so apparently equal in the number was the slaughter on either side。
Each party； however； felt surer of defeat from the actual sight of
their own dead； than they could feel of victory from conjecture
about those of their adversaries。 The night being come （and such as
one may presume must follow such a battle）； and the armies laid to
rest； they say that the grove shook； and uttered a voice； saying
that the Tuscans had lost one man more than the Romans； clearly a
divine announcement； and the Romans at once received it with shouts
and expressions of joy； whilst the Tuscans； through fear and
amazement； deserted their tents； and were for the most part dispersed。
The Romans； falling upon the remainder； amounting to nearly five
thousand； took them prisoners； and plundered the camp； when they
numbered the dead； they found on the Tuscans' side eleven thousand and
three hundred； exceeding their own loss but by one man。 This fight
happened upon the last of February； and Valerius triumphed in honour
of it； being the first consul that drove in with a four…horse chariot；
which sight both appeared magnificent； and was received with an
admiration free from envy or offence （as some suggest） on the part
of the spectators； it would not otherwise have been continued with
so much eagerness and emulation through all the after ages。 The people
applauded likewise the honours he did to his colleague； in adding to
his obsequies a funeral oration： which was so much liked by the
Romans； and found so good a reception； that it became customary for
the best men to celebrate the funerals of great citizens with speeches
in their commendation； and their antiquity in Rome is affirmed to be
greater than in Greece； unless； with the orator Anaximenes； we make
Solon the first author。
Yet some part of Valerius's behaviour did give offence and disgust
to the people； because Brutus； whom they esteemed the father of
their liberty； had not presumed to rule without a colleague； but
united one and then another to him in his commission； while
Valerius； they said； centering all authority in himself； seemed not in
any sense a successor to Brutus in the consulship； but to Tarquin in
the tyranny； he might make verbal harangues to Brutus's memory； yet
when he was attended with all the rods and axes； proceeding down
from a house than which the king's house that he had demolished had
not been statelier； those actions showed him an imitator of Tarquin。
For； indeed； his dwelling…house on the Velia was somewhat imposing
in appearance； hanging over the forum； and overlooking all
transactions there； the access to it was hard； and to see him far
off coming down； a stately and royal spectacle。 But Valerius showed
how well it were for men in power and great offices to have ears
that give admittance to truth before flattery； for upon his friends
telling him that he displeased the people； he contended not； neither
resented it； but while it was still night； sending for a number of
work…people； pulled down his house and levelled it with the ground； so
that in the morning the people； seeing and flocking together；
expressed their wonder and their respect for his magnanimity； and
their sorrow； as though it had been a human being； for the large and
beautiful house which was thus lost to them by an unfounded
jealousy； while its owner； their consul； without a roof of his own；
had to beg a lodging with his friends。 For his friends received him；
till a place the people gave him was furnished with a house； though
less stately than his own； where now stands the temple； as it is
called； of Vica Pota。
He resolved to render the government； as well as himself； instead of
terrible； familiar and pleasant to the people； and parted the axes
from the rods； and always； upon his entrance into the assembly；
lowered these also to the people； to show； in the strongest way； the
republican foundation of the government； and this the consuls
observe to this day。 But the humility of the man was but a means； not；
as they thought； of lessening himself； but merely to abate their
envy by this moderation； for whatever he detracted from his
authority he added to his real power； the people still submitting with
satisfaction； which they expressed by calling him Poplicola； or
people…lover； which name had the pre…eminence of the rest； and；
therefore； in the sequel of his narrative we shall use no other。
He gave free leave to any to sue for the consulship； but before
the admittance of a colleague； mistrusting the chances； lest emulation
or ignorance should cross his designs； by his sole authority enacted
his best and most important measures。 First； he supplied the vacancies
of the senators； whom either Tarquin long before had put to death；
or the war lately cut off； those that he enrolled； they write；
amounted to a hundred and sixty…four； afterwards he made several
laws which added much to the people's liberty； in particular one
granting offenders the liberty of appealing to the people from the
judgment of the consuls； a second； that made it death to usurp any
magistracy without the people's consent； a third； for the relief of
poor citizens； which； taking off their taxes； encouraged their
labours； another； against disobedience to the consuls； which was no
less popular than the rest； and rather to the benefit of the
commonalty than to the advantage of the nobles； for it imposed upon
disobedience the penalty of ten oxen and two sheep； the price of a
sheep being ten obols； of an ox； an hundred。 For the use of money
was then infrequent amongst the Romans； but their wealth in cattle
great； even now pieces of property are called peculia from pecus；
cattle； and