Livy's History of Rome - Table of Contents

was done to the dead by the universal mourning, which was rendered specially noteworthy by the fact that the matrons
were a whole year in mourning for him, because he had been such a determined avenger of violated chastity. After this the
surviving consul, who had been in such favour with the multitude, found himself - such is its fickleness - not only
unpopular but an object of suspicion, and that of a very grave character. It was rumoured that he was aiming at monarchy,
for he had held no election to fill Brutus' place, and he was building a house on the top of the Velia, an impregnable
fortress was being constructed on that high and strong position. The consul felt hurt at finding these rumours so widely
believed, and summoned the people to an assembly. As he entered the "fasces" were lowered, to the great delight of the
multitude, who understood that it was to them that they were lowered as an open avowal that the dignity and might of the
people were greater than those of the consul. Then, after securing silence, he began to eulogise the good fortune of his
colleague who had met his death, as a liberator of his country, possessing the highest honour it could bestow, fighting for
the commonwealth, whilst his glory was as yet undimmed by jealousy and distrust. Whereas he himself had outlived his
glory and fallen on days of suspicion and opprobrium; from being a liberator of his country he had sunk to the level of the
Aquilii and Vitellii. "Will you," he cried, "never deem any man's merit so assured that it cannot be tainted by suspicion?
Am I, the most determined foe to kings to dread the suspicion of desiring to be one myself? Even if I were dwelling in the
Citadel on the Capitol, am I to believe it possible that I should be feared by my fellow-citizens? Does my reputation
amongst you hang on so slight a thread? Does your confidence rest upon such a weak foundation that it is of greater
moment where I am than who I am? The house of Publius Valerius shall be no check upon your freedom, your Velia shall
be safe. I will not only move my house to level ground, but I will move it to the bottom of the hill that you may dwell
above the citizen whom you suspect. Let those dwell on the Velia who are regarded as truer friends of liberty than Publius
Valerius." All the materials were forthwith carried below the Velia and his house was built at the very bottom of the hill
where now stands the temple of Vica Pota.
[2.8]Laws were passed which not only cleared the consul from suspicion but produced such a reaction that he won the
people's affections, hence his soubriquet of Publicola. The most popular of these laws were those which granted a right of
appeal from the magistrate to the people and devoted to the gods the person and property of any one who entertained
projects of becoming king. Valerius secured the passing of these laws while still sole consul, that the people might feel
grateful solely to him; afterwards he held the elections for the appointment of a colleague. The consul elected was Sp.
Lucretius. But he had not, owing to his great age, strength enough to discharge the duties of his office, and within a few
days he died. M. Horatius Pulvillus was elected in his place. In some ancient authors I find no mention of Lucretius,
Horatius being named immediately after Brutus; as he did nothing of any note during his office, I suppose, his memory has
perished. The temple of Jupiter on the Capitol had not yet been dedicated, and the consuls drew lots to decide which
should dedicate it. The lot fell to Horatius. Publicola set out for the Veientine war. His friends showed unseemly
annoyance at the dedication of so illustrious a fane being assigned to Horatius, and tried every means of preventing it.
When all else failed, they tried to alarm the consul, whilst he was actually holding the door-post during the dedicatory
prayer, by a wicked message that his son was dead, and he could not dedicate a temple while death was in his house. As to
whether he disbelieved the message, or whether his conduct simply showed extraordinary self-control, there is no definite
tradition, and it is not easy to decide from the records. He only allowed the message to interrupt him so far that he gave
orders for the body to be burnt; then, with his hand still on the door-post, he finished the prayer and dedicated the temple.
These were the principal incidents at home and in the field during the first year after the expulsion of the royal family. The
consuls elected for the next year were P. Valerius, for the second time, and T. Lucretius.
[2.9]The Tarquins had now taken refuge with Porsena, the king of Clusium, whom they sought to influence by entreaty
mixed with warnings. At one time they entreated him not to allow men of Etruscan race, of the same blood as himself, to
wander as penniless exiles; at another they would warn him not to let the new fashion of expelling kings go unpunished.
Liberty, they urged, possessed fascination enough in itself; unless kings defend their authority with as much energy as
their subjects show in quest of liberty, all things come to a dead level, there will be no one thing pre-eminent or superior to
all else in the State; there will soon be an end of kingly power, which is the most beautiful thing, whether amongst gods or
amongst mortal men. Porsena considered that the presence of an Etruscan upon the Roman throne would be an honour to
his nation; accordingly he advanced with an army against Rome. Never before had the senate been in such a state of alarm,
so great at that time was the power of Clusium and the reputation of Porsena. They feared not only the enemy but even
their own fellow-citizens, lest the plebs, overcome by their fears, should admit the Tarquins into the City, and accept peace
even though it meant slavery. Many concessions were made at that time to the plebs by the senate. Their first care was to
lay in a stock of corn, and commissioners were despatched to Vulsi and Cumae to collect supplies. The sale of salt,
hitherto in the hands of private individuals who had raised the price to a high figure, was now wholly transferred to the
State. The plebs were exempted from the payment of harbour-dues and the war-tax, so that they might fall on the rich, who