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great； even now pieces of property are called peculia from pecus；
cattle； and they had stamped upon their most ancient money an ox； a
sheep； or a hog； and surnamed their sons Suillii； Bubulci； Caprarii；
and Porcii； from caproe； goats； and porci； hogs。
Amidst this mildness and moderation； for one excessive fault he
instituted one excessive punishment； for he made it lawful without
trial to take away any man's life that aspired to a tyranny； and
acquitted the slayer； if he produced evidence of the crime； for though
it was not probable for a man； whose designs were so great； to
escape all notice； yet because it was possible he might； although
observed； by force anticipate judgment； which the usurpation itself
would then preclue； he gave a licence to any to anticipate the
usurper。 He was honoured likewise for the law touching the treasury；
for because it was necessary for the citizens to contribute out of
their estates to the maintenance of wars； and he was unwilling himself
to be concerned in the care of it； or to permit his friends or
indeed to let the public money pass into any private house； he
allotted the temple of Saturn for the treasury； in which to this day
they deposit the tribute…money； and granted the people the liberty
of choosing two young men as quaestors； or treasurers。 The first
were Publius Veturius and Marcus Minucius； and a large sum was
collected； for they assessed one hundred and thirty thousand； excusing
orphans and widows from the payment。 After these dispositions； he
admitted Lucretius； the father of Lucretia； as his colleague； and gave
him the precedence in the government； by resigning the fasces to
him； as due to his years； which privilege of seniority continued to
our time。 But within a few days Lucretius died； and in a new
election Marcus Horatius succeeded in that honour； and continued
consul for the remainder of the year。
Now； whilst Tarquin was making preparations in Tuscany for a
second war against the Romans； it is said a great portent occurred。
When Tarquin was king； and had all but completed the buildings of
the Capitol； designing； whether from oracular advice or his own
pleasure； to erect an earthen chariot upon the top； he intrusted the
workmanship to Tuscans of the city Veii； but soon after lost his
kingdom。 The work thus modelled； the Tuscans set in a furnace； but the
clay showed not those passive qualities which usually attend its
nature； to subside and be condensed upon the evaporation of the
moisture； but rose and swelled out to that bulk； that； when solid
and firm； notwithstanding the removal of the roof and opening the
walls of the furnace； it could not be taken out without much
difficulty。 The soothsayers looked upon this as a divine prognostic of
success and power to those that should possess it； and the Tuscans
resolved not to deliver it to the Roman； who demanded it； but answered
that it rather belonged to Tarquin than to those who had sent him into
exile。 A few days after； they had a horse…race there； with the usual
shows and solemnities； and as the charioteer with his garland on his
head was quietly driving the victorious chariot out of the ring； the
horses； upon no apparent occasion； taking fright； either by divine
instigation or by accident； hurried away their driver at full speed to
Rome； neither did his holding them in prevail； nor his voice； but he
was forced along with violence till； coming to the Capitol； he was
thrown out by the gate called Ratumena。 This occurrence raised
wonder and fear in the Veientines； who now permitted the delivery of
the chariot。
The building of the temple of the Capitoline Jupiter had been
vowed by Tarquin； the son of Demaratus； when warring with the Sabines；
Tarquinius Superbus； his son or grandson； built but could not dedicate
it； because he lost his kingdom before it was quite finished。 And
now that it was completed with all its ornaments； Poplicola was
ambitious to dedicate it； but the nobility envied him that honour； as；
indeed； also； in some degree； those his prudence in making laws and
conduct in wars entitled him to。 Grudging him； at any rate； the
addition of this； they urged Horatius to sue for the dedication；
and； whilst Poplicola was engaged in some military expedition； voted
it to Horatius； and conducted him to the Capitol； as though； were
Poplicola present； they could not have carried it。 Yet； some write；
Poplicola was by lot destined against his will to the expedition；
the other to the dedication； and what happened in the performance
seems to intimate some ground for this conjecture； for； upon the
Ides of September； which happens about the full moon of the month
Metagitnion； the people having assembled at the Capitol and silence
being enjoined； Horatius； after the performance of other ceremonies；
holding the doors； according to custom； was proceeding to pronounce
the words of dedication； when Marcus； the brother of Poplicola； who
had got a place on purpose beforehand near the door； observing his
opportunity； cried； 〃O consul； thy son lies dead in the camp；〃 which
made a great impression upon all others who heard it； yet in nowise
discomposed Horatius； who returned merely the reply； 〃Cast the dead
out whither you please； I am not a mourner；〃 and so completed the
dedication。 The news was not true； but Marcus thought the he might
avert him from his performance； but it argues him a man of wonderful
self…possession； whether he at once saw through the cheat； or；
believing it as true； showed no discomposure。
The same fortune attended the dedication of the second temple； the
first； as has been said； was built by Tarquin； and dedicated by
Horatius； it was burnt down in the civil wars。 The second； Sylla
built； and； dying before the dedication； left that honour to
Catulus； and when this was demolished in the Vitellian sedition；
Vespasian； with the same success that attended him in other things；
began a third and lived to see it finished； but did not live to see it
again destroyed； as it presently was； but was as fortunate in dying
before its destruction； as Sylla was the reverse in dying before the
dedication of his。 For immediately after Vespasian's death it was
consumed by fire。 The fourth； which now exists； was both built and
dedicated by Domitian。 It is said Tarquin expended forty thousand
pounds of silver in the very foundations； but the whole wealth of
the richest private man in Rome would not discharge the cost of the
gilding of this temple in our days； it amounting to above twelve
thousand talents； the pillars were cut out of Pentelican marble； of
a length most happily proportioned to their thickness； these we saw at
Athens； but when they were cut anew at Rome and polished； they did not
gain so much in embellishment as they lost in symmetry； being rendered
too taper and slender。 Should any one who wonders at the costliness of
the Capitol visit any one gallery in Domitian's palace； or hall； or
bath； or the apartments of his concubines； Epicharmus's remark upon
the prodigal； that…
〃'Tis not beneficence； but truth to say；
A mere disease of giving things away；〃
would be in his mouth in application to Domitia