§ 6. Though these poetic legends are so much more copious than the scanty facts recorded by the Annals, we must look to the Annals for the true account of the manner in which the victorious inroads of the Volscians and Equians were turned back, and their encroachments stayed. Here also the name of Spurius Cassius, albeit not celebrated in the legends, must claim our chief attention. The patrician minstrels who sang of Coriolanus and Cincinnatus left unnoticed the acts of Cassius. But not the less may we be sure that it was the Leagues formed by him with the Latins and Hernicans which really stemmed the tide of conquest, and saved Latium from the dominion of these Oscan tribes. The first of these Leagues was made in the second Consulship of Cassius (B.C. 493), the second in the third Consulship (B.c. 486). It was stipulated by the first that the people of Rome and Latium should form a combined army for the purpose of repelling the invader; their Legions were united under the same forms, and in like manner; and it is probable that in one year a Roman Consul, in another a Latin Dictator took the supreme command. The League with the Hernicans was probably of a less intimate nature. In both it seems to have been agreed that all lands taken from the enemy should be shared alike by the combined nations.

§ 7. The geographical sketch above given will show the importance of these Leagues, especially of the second, for the defence of Rome. The League of Rome and Latium was as much a defensive measure on the part of the Latins as on that of the Romans. It was chiefly Latin towns that had become the booty of the conquerors. The Hernicans, in their upland valleys, were probably less exposed to the common danger. But their position between the Volscian and Equian hills was such, that when either of these tribes sallied down to attack the cities of Latium, their flank and rear lay exposed to the assaults of the Hernicans. We have no detailed accounts to show how these advantages were used. But from the time of these Leagues we may date the declining power of the Oscan tribes, who had one time overrun Latium, and presented themselves before the walls of Rome. Velitrae, Antium, Satricum, and other places were recovered; and to Antium a colony was sent to restore its wasted population.

§ 8. The League formed by Spurius Cassius with the Latins, cemented as it was by common interest and common danger, remained unaltered till the Gauls broke into Latium, and with their furious onslaught confounded all that existed of order and association. The formation of an alliance which lasted unbroken for more than a century, and which then gave way under the pressure of an unforeseen calamity, speaks of no ordinary prudence and foresight on the part of him who formed it. Yet this act was, as we have seen, turned into an article of impeachment against Spurius Cassius.'

Chapt. viii. § 4.

CHAPTER X.

CONTINUED STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE ORDERS. THE DECEMVIRATE. (470-449 B.C.)

§ 1. Progress of Plebeians: Colony of Antium: impeachment of second Appius. § 2. Great pestilence. § 3. Reform-bill of Terentilius Harsa. § 4. Violent scenes at Rome. § 5. Compromise: Triumvirs appointed to report upon Laws of Solon at Athens. § 6. Public Land on the Aventine parcelled out among Plebeians. § 7. Return of Triumviri. § 8. Appointment of Decemviri: their functions: third Appius Claudius their chief. § 9. Ten Tables completed. § 10. Resignation of first Decemvirs: successors elected, including Appius. § 11. Change in bearing of Appius: despotism of new Decemvirs. § 12. Two Tables added to Code. § 13. Appius and colleagues retain office for a second year. § 14. Wars break out with Equians and Sabines. § 15. Legend of Siccius Dentatus. § 16. Legend of Virginia. § 17. Second Secession to Mons Sacer: Decemvirs resign. § 18. L. Valerius and M. Horatius sent to negotiate between Senate and Plebeians: Ten Tribunes elected. § 19. Restoration of Consulship: Valerius and Horatius elected. § 20. Valerio-Horatian Laws. § 21. Triumph of new Consuls over Sabines and Equians. § 22. Appius impeached and dies in prison: Oppius executed: the rest pardoned. § 23. Attempt to re-elect Consuls and Tribunes.

§ 1. It has been shown how the Patrician Burgesses endeavoured to wrest independence from the Plebs after the battle of Lake Regillus; and how the latter, ruined by constant wars with the neighbouring nations, compelled to make good their losses by borrowing money from patrician creditors, and liable to become bondsmen in default of payment, at length deserted the city, and only returned on condition of being protected by Tribunes of their own; and how, lastly, by the firmness of Publilius Volero and Lætorius, they obtained the right of electing these Tribunes at their own assembly, the Comitia of the Tribes. It has also been shown that the great Consul Spurius Cassius endeavoured to relieve the commonalty by an Agrarian law, so as to better their condition permanently.

The execution of the Agrarian law was constantly evaded, as we have seen. But, on the conquest of Antium from the

Volscians in the year 468 B.C., a Colony was sent thither; and this was one of the first examples of a distribution of Public Land to poorer citizens, which answered two purposes, the improvement of their condition, and the defence of the place against the enemy.

Nor did the Tribunes, now made altogether independent of the Patricians, fail to assert their power. One of the first persons who felt the force of their arm was the second Appius Claudius. This Sabine noble, following his father's example, had, after the departure of the Fabii, led the opposition to the Publilian law. When he took the field against the Volscians, his soldiers would not fight; and the stern commander put to death every tenth man in his legions. For the acts of his consulship he was brought to trial by the Tribunes, M. Duillius and C. Sicinius. Seeing that the event was certain, the proud Patrician avoided humiliation by suicide."

§ 2. Nevertheless the border wars still continued, and the Plebeians still suffered much. To the evils of debt and want were added the horrors of pestilential disease, which visited the Roman territory several times at that period. In one year (B.c. 463) the two Consuls, two of the four Augurs, and the Curio Maximus, who was the Head of all the Patricians, were swept off: a fact which implies the death of a vast number of less distinguished persons. The government was administered by the Plebeian Ædiles, under the control of senatorial Interreges. The Volscians and Æquians ravaged the country up to the walls of Rome; and the safety of the city must be attributed to the Latins and Hernicans, not to the men of Rome.

§ 3. Meantime the Tribunes had in vain demanded a full execution of the Agrarian law. But in the year 462 B.C., one of the Sacred College, by name C. Terentilius Harsa, came forward with a bill, of which the object was to give the Plebeians a surer footing in the state. This man perceived that as long as the Consuls retained their almost despotic power, and were elected

the influence of the Patricians, this Order had it in their power to thwart all measures, even after they were passed, which a So says Dionys. ix. 51: "morbo moritur," says Livy, ii. 61. b Liv. iii. 6-8.

tended to advance the interests of the Plebeians. He therefore no longer demanded the execution of the Agrarian law, but proposed that a commission of Ten Men (decemviri) should be appointed to draw up constitutional laws for regulating the future relations of the Patricians and Plebeians.

§ 4. The Reform Bill of Terentilius was, as might be supposed, vehemently resisted by the Patrician Burgesses. But the Plebeians supported their champion no less warmly. For five consecutive years the same Tribunes were reëlected, and in vain endeavoured to carry the bill. This was one of the seasons which least fulfils the character which we have claimed for the Roman People, patience and temperance, combined with firmness in their demands. To prevent the Tribunes from carrying their law, the younger Patricians thronged to the Assemblies, and interfered with all proceedings; Terentilius, they said, was endeavouring to confound all distinction between the Orders. Some scenes occurred which seem to show that both sides were prepared for civil war.

In the year 460 B.C. the city was alarmed by hearing that the Capitol had been seized by a band of Sabines and exiled Romans, under the command of one Herdonius. Who these exiles were is uncertain. But we have seen, in the legend of Cincinnatus, that Kæso Quinctius, the son of that old hero, was an exile. It has been inferred, therefore, that he was among them, that the Tribunes had succeeded in banishing from the city the most violent of their opponents, and that these persons had not scrupled to associate themselves with Sabines to recover their homes. The Consul Valerius, aided by the Latins of Tusculum, levied an army to attack the insurgents, on condition that after success the law should be fully considered. The exiles were driven out, and Herdonius was killed. But the Consul fell in the assault; and the Patricians, led by old Cincinnatus, refused to fulfil his promises.

Then followed the danger of the Æquian invasion, to which the legend of Cincinnatus, as given above, refers. The stern old man used his dictatorial power quite as much to crush the Tribunes at home, as to conquer the enemies abroad.

The circumstances, as related in the legend, have already been given in the story of Cincinnatus.