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A mere disease of giving things away；〃
would be in his mouth in application to Domitian。 It is neither piety；
he would say； nor magnificence； but； indeed； a mere disease of
building； and a desire； like Midas； of converting everything into gold
or stone。 And thus much for this matter。
Tarquin； after the great battle wherein he lost his son in combat
with Brutus； fled to Clusium； and sought aid from Lars Porsenna；
then one of those most powerful princes of Italy； and a man of worth
and generosity； who assured him of assistance； immediately sending his
commands to Rome that they should receive Tarquin as their king；
and； upon the Romans' refusal； proclaimed war； and； having signified
the time and place where he intended his attack； approached with a
great army。 Poplicola was； in his absence； chosen consul a second
time； and Titus Lucretius his colleague； and； returning to Rome； to
show a spirit yet loftier than Porsenna's； built the city Sigliura
when Porsenna was already in the neighbourhood； and walling it at
great expense； there placed a colony of seven hundred men； as being
little concerned at the war。 Nevertheless； Porsenna； making a sharp
assault； obliged the defendants to retire to Rome； who had almost in
their entrance admitted the enemy into the city with them； only
Poplicola by sallying out at the gate prevented them； and； joining
battle by Tiber side； opposed the enemy； that pressed on with their
multitude； but at last； sinking under desperate wounds； was carried
out of the fight。 The same fortune fell upon Lucretius； so that the
Romans； being dismayed； retreated into the city for their security；
and Rome was in great hazard of being taken； the enemy forcing their
way on to the wooden bridge； where Horatius Cocles； seconded by two of
the first men in Rome； Herminius and Lartius； made head against
them。 Horatius obtained this name from the loss of one of his eyes
in the war； or； as others write； from the depressure of his nose；
which； leaving nothing in the middle to separate them； made both
eyes appear but as one； and hence； intending to say Cyclops； by a
mispronunciation they called him Cocles。 This Cocles kept the
bridge； and held back the enemy； till his own party broke it down
behind； and then with his armour dropped into the river； and swam to
the hither side； with a wound in his hip from a Tuscan spear。
Poplicola； admiring his courage； proposed at once that the Romans
should every one make him a present of a day's provisions； and
afterwards give him as much land as he could plough round in one
day； and besides erected a brazen statute to his honour in the
temple of Vulcan； as a requital for the lameness caused by his wound。
But Porsenna laying close siege to the city； and a famine raging
amongst the Romans； also a new army of the Tuscans making incursions
into the country； Poplicola； a third time chosen consul； designed to
make； without sallying out； his defence against Porsenna； but；
privately stealing forth against the new army of the Tuscans； put them
to flight and slew five thousand。 The story of Mucius is variously
given； we； like others； must follow the commonly received statement。
He was a man endowed with every virtue； but most eminent in war；
and； resolving to kill Porsenna； attired himself in the Tuscan
habit； and using the Tuscan language； came to the camp； and
approaching the seat where the king sat amongst his nobles； but not
certainly knowing the king； and fearful to inquire； drew out his
sword； and stabbed one who he thought had most the appearance of king。
Mucius was taken in the act； and whilst he was under examination； a
pan of fire was brought to the king； who intended to sacrifice； Mucius
thrust his right hand into the flame； and whilst it burnt stood
looking at Porsenna with a steadfast and undaunted countenance；
Porsenna at last in admiration dismissed him； and returned his
sword； reaching it from his seat； Mucius received it in his left hand；
which occasioned the name of Scaevola； left…handed； and said； 〃I
have overcome the terrors of Porsenna； yet am vanquished by his
generosity； and gratitude obliges me to disclose what no punishment
could extort； and assured him then； that three hundred Romans； all
of the same resolution； lurked about his camp； only waiting for an
opportunity； he； by lot appointed to the enterprise； was not sorry
that he had miscarried in it； because so brave and good a man deserved
rather to be a friend to the Romans than an enemy。 To this Porsenna
gave credit； and thereupon expressed an inclination to a truce； not； I
presume； so much out of fear of the three hundred Romans； as in
admiration of the Roman courage。 All other writers call this man
Mucius Scaevola； yet Athendrous； son of Sandon； in a book addressed to
Octavia； Caesar's sister； avers he was also called Postumus。
Poplicola； not so much esteeming Porsenna's enmity dangerous to Rome
as his friendship and alliance serviceable； was induced to refer the
controversy with Tarquin to his arbitration； and several times
undertook to prove Tarquin the worst of men； and justly deprived of
his kingdom。 But Tarquin proudly replied he would admit no judge； much
less Porsenna； that had fallen away from his engagements； and
Porsenna； resenting this answer； and mistrusting the equity of his
cause； moved also by the solicitations of his son Aruns； who was
earnest for the Roman interest； made a peace on these conditions； that
they should resign the land they had taken from the Tuscans； and
restore all prisoners and receive back their deserters。 To confirm the
peace； the Romans gave as hostages ten sons of patrician parents；
and as many daughters； amongst whom was Valeria； the daughter of
Poplicola。
Upon these assurances； Porsenna ceased from all acts of hostility；
and the young girls went down to the river to bathe at that part where
the winding of the bank formed a bay and made the waters stiller and
quieter； and； seeing no guard； nor any one coming or going over；
they were encouraged to swim over； notwithstanding the depth and
violence of the stream。 Some affirm that one of them； by name Cloelia；
passing over on horseback； persuaded the rest to swim after； but； upon
their safe arrival； presenting themselves to Poplicola； he neither
praised nor approved their return； but was concerned lest he should
appear less faithful than Porsenna； and this boldness in the maidens
should argue treachery in the Romans； so that； apprehending them； he
sent them back to Porsenna。 But Tarquin's men； having intelligence
of this； laid a strong ambuscade on the other side for those that
conducted them； and while these were skirmishing together； Valeria；
the daughter of Poplicola； rushed through the enemy； and fled； and
with the assistance of three of her attendants made good her escape；
whilst the rest were dangerously hedged in by the soldiers； but Aruns；
Porsenna's son； upon tidings of it； hastened to their rescue； and；
putting the enemy to flight； delivered the Romans。 When Porsenna saw
the maiden returned； demanding who was the author and adviser of the
act； and understanding Cloelia to be the person； he looked on her with