The child's first history of Rome

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THE CHILD'S

FIRST HISTORY OF ROME

Chapter I. The Foundation Of Rome, B. 0. 15z

T. n 1. If we desire to understand the his-

1184 to 753. ^*^^y ^f ^^y countryj that is, what happened to the people who hved in it in years past, we must begin by learning where the country itself is, and what it is hke.

2. The history of Rome is the history of a people who once dwelt in Italy, and, being extremely brave, fought against other nations and conquered them, and at last became the masters of a great part of the world. We shall find Italy in the map of Europe — Germany and Switzerland lie to the north of it ; the Adriatic Sea bounds it on the east ; and the Mediterranean on the south and west. Its shape is curious, something like a man's boot,

3. Italy is a very beaixtiful country ; it is much warmer there than in England ; the winds are softer, the sky is of a deeper blue, and many lovely flowers and shrubs bloom in the open air, which we are obhged to keep carefully in green-houses. A high range of mountains, called the Apennines, nins through it from north to south ; and below these mountains there are smooth lakes and fertile valleys, amongst which grow corn and vines, orange groves and mulberry-trees, and all which can really be desired to support and make hfe pleasant. Italy has often been called the garden of the world.

4. It is natural for us to wish to know who first inhabited this beautiful country — who governed the people and made laws for them — but it is very difficult to find out the truth ; and when we read the stories which are commonly told upon these subjects, we must remember that we cannot be as certain of them as we are of things which have happened in later years. All that we can really be sure of is, that in very ancient times Italy was divided into a great many httle states, and that the inhabitants were continually fighting with each other. As to their rehgion they were heathens, and worshipped false gods ; but they were very particular in keeping up all their rehgious customs and ceremonies, much more so indeed than many persons in these days who say they believe in the True God.

5. One of the principal of these Italian States was called Latium, and its chief city was Alba Longa, or the long white city. Alba is said to have been built by the son of ^neas, a famous prince, who settled in Italy after escaping from Troy, a city in Asia Minor, which was taken by the Greeks about the year B. C. 1184. There were many kings of Alba whom we know nothing about; but we are told at last of two brothers, Numitor and Amulius, who both wished to have the crown. Numitor was the rightfid king ; but Amulius was the braver and richer, and by giving the people money, he persuaded them to help him in taking possession of his brother's throne, and compelling him to live Hke a common per-

on. Amulius could not have been happy after doing such a wicked thing ; he began to fear lest, some day or other, the children of Numitor might try to take his crown as he had taken their father's ; and in order to be safe he killed Numitor's sons, and obliged his daughter, who was called Rhea Silvia, to be a vestal virgin. Vestal %'irgins were women whose duty it was to attend to the religious services in the temple of Vesta, one of the heathen goddesses. One of their chief duties was to take care that a particulaifire, which was considered sacred, should never be allowed to go out. There was a very strict law against their marrying and having children, and Amulius supposed, therefore, that if he made Rhea Silvia a vestal virgin, there woidd be no fear of any one after her trying to do him harm.

6. In spite, however, of this strict law, Rhea Silvia had .two little sons — they were twins, born at the same time. Amulius was exceedingly angry when he heard it, and made up his mind directly that the poor children should be killed. There was a deep river, the Tiber, which flowed by his city, and he ordered them to be thrown into it. Perhaps he thought that when the dark waters had hidden them from sight they would be forgotten, and no one would ask who murdered them. The servants of Amuhus did as they were told ; they put the two little infants into a basket and took them to the river, and there they laid them down in the cold stream and left them alone to die. Just at that time the waters of the Tiber had overflowed its banks, and covered part of the land near. The basket was carried down the river till it reached a part where the water was not very deep, and then it rested upon the ground; and so the poor children were saved from drownmg.

Y. There was no one, however, to feed them, or take care of them, and they miist still have died if they had remained there. But it happened (or, if the story be really true, we must say it was ordered by God) that Faustulus, a shepherd, found the two little babies and had pity upon them, and carried them home to his wife, and told her that she must nurse them and bring them up with his own children, and he gave them the names of Romulus and Remus.

8. All this time Amulius supposed they were dead, and that he was qtiite safe ; but God, who punishes wicked heathens as well as Christians, did not allow him to escape. A great many years however went by ; Amuhus was still king of Alba, and his brother Numitor lived near him, without having riches or power, and very unhappy, no doubt for the loss of his children ; and Romulus and Remus grew up to be young men, and were thought to be the sons of the shepherd Faustulus. They used to spend a great part of their time in feeding cattle upon the hills and in fightmg against robbers, and this made them very brave and hardy. Numitor also had some flocks and herds which fed on the movmtains, and one day there was a quarrel between his herdsmen and Romulus and Remus. Remus was taken prisoner, and the shepherd carried him off to Numitor, imagining that he would be very angry with him. But Numitor liked what he saw of Remus extremely ; he thought him a fine, noble young man, and asked several questions as to who he was, and where he came from ; and at last he began to suspect that perhaps he might be one of the Mttle twins who were supposed to have been drowned in the river Tiber. Of course he was quite certain of it when he heard all about him from Faustulus ; and soon it was known by every one that Romulus and Remus were the grandsons of Numitor.

9. Then the two young princes determined not to let Amulius be king any longer, and they brought together all their friends and companions, and attacked the city. Amulius did his best to save himself, but he could not succeed, for Romulus came to his palace, and forced his way through the guards, and at length found his uncle and killed him. Numitor was then proclaimed king again.

10. Romulus and Remus were not contented to live quietly at Alba after this ; they had a great wish to build a city for themselves. Their grandfather allowed them to follow their own will, and they left Alba and set out with some followers to find a place which would suit them. A spot was discovered amongst some hills, not very far from Alba, which they thought would do; but when they had fixed upon it, they could not agree as to which of them should begin the work. So they determined to settle the question by consulting an augur. Augurs were persons who pretended to decide what ought to be done by observing such things as the flight of birds, or by examining the appearance of the entrails of beasts after they were sacrificed. The heathens supposed that their gods declared their will by such signs. Some appearances were thought to be good auguries, others bad ones. The augurs in Italy had a great deal of respect paid to them, So that it was natural for Romulus and Remus to go to them when they could not settle a question for themselves.

11. A particular day was named for consulting the augur, and Romulus and Remus stood upon different hills to watch for what would appear to them. It is said that Remus saw six vultures first, and Romulus twelve afterwards. The augurs declared that Romulus had the best omen, and that he was to begin building the city ; and so he did, and called it Rome. He marked out the size by yoking a bull and a cow. to a plough, which, as it went along, made furrows where the walls were to be built ; but the plough was lifted up wherever the gates were to be, because every spot which it had passed over was considered sacred, and was never to be trodden on again. This was 753 years before the birth of our Saviour.

12. Remus was greatly disappointed at having lost the honor of beginning the city, and he gave way to his envious feelings by laughing at his brother, and leaping over the low walls and ditches which were just begun, and asking if such things as those would be any defence. This made a friend of Romulus exceedingly angry, and he struck Remus, who fell to the ground. The young prince died on the same spot, and they carried him to the banks of the Tiber and buried him.

Chapter II

ROMULUS, FIKST KING OF BOME, B. C. 753.

■g Q 1. Romulus was now left to be king

753 to 716. alone ; but his kingdom was a very poor, small one. It was only a collection of huts, with a httle ground about it ; and the walls of his palace, we are told, were made of rushes, and covered with thatch. He had besides very few subjects, and he therefore invited all people from the neighboring states Who were discontented or unhappy, or who had done wicked things and were afraid of being punished, to come and Uve in his new city.

2. A. good many men came, but there were scarcely any women ; so that when they wanted wives they could not get them. At last Romulus thought of a plan by which he might bring some women to Rome. He ordered a great festival to be kept, with games and rejoicings, and asked a tribe of people called Sabines, who were settled near Rome, to come to it with their families. This they agreed to do, and when the time arrived they all appeared and the games began. Then a number of young Romans rushed in amongst the Sabines, and caught all the women who were unmarried, and carried them away in triumph to be their wives.

3. The Sabines were naturally enough exceedingly angry, and as the Romans would not give their daughters back to them, they determined to declare war against them.

4. Both the Romans and the Sabines were very brave, and the war went on for a long time without either of them being conquerors. The Sabines, however, took possession of the citadel or strong fortress of the Romans by the help of the governor's daughter. This woman's name was Tarpeia. She had seen the golden bracelets and rings which it was the custom of the Sabines to wear, and she vrished very much to have some of them for her own. She therefore contrived to tell the Sabines that if they would give her what they wore on their left arms she would let them into the citadel. The Sabines very willingly agreed to this ; the time was fixed, and all the arrangements were made. Tarpeia kept her promise, and managed to unfasten the gates, and the Sabines came ill ; but as they passed her they threw their bucklers, which were carried on their left arms, upon her, and crushed her to death; and thus her treachery and covetousness were punished. Part of the hill upon wliich this fortress stood is still called the Tarpeian rock, and it used to be a custom in Rome to throw persons headlong from it who were sentenced to die for having committed any great crimes.

5. The war was not at an end even when the Sabines had taken this fortress. It went on much longer ; and at last there was a very great battle, and no doubt a number of persons would have been killed, if the Sabine women, who had been carried away and married to the Romans, had not determined to try and prevent any more fighting.

6. We can easily understand why they should have wished to make peace, for whichever side conquered they were sure to be unhappy. The Sabines were their fathers and brothers, but the Romans were their husbands ; and though they had been taken away by force at first, by this time they had grown quite fond of them. The women all marched out of the city with their children in their arms ; and when they came to the place where the battle was going on, they rushed into the-- middle of it amongst the soldiers, and begged them to be friends. Tatius, the king of the Sabintis, listened to them ; and he and Romulus consulted as to wliat could be done to stop the war. At last it was proposed that the Romans and the Sabines should become one people ; that Tatius and Romulus should reign over them together, and that when they were dead, a Roman and a Sabine should be chosen in turn. This was accordingly settled ; and the two kings took an oath that they would always keep, peace with each other for the future.

1. There was a famous temple built at this time to Janus, the god of peace. The gates were kept open during war, and shut in the time of peace. We learn from the Roman writers that it was only shut twice during seven hundred years, which is a proof how constantly the Romans were at war. Tatius and Romulus did not reign very long together. Tatius was murdered after a few years. He refused to punish some of his friends who had done wrong, and the persons who were injured killed him in revenge. No one was chosen to succeed him, so that Romulus was now kinsf over both the Romans and the Sabines.

He seems to have been careful to govern well, for he

chose some of his oldest and best subjects to help him with tlieir advice. They were called senators. At first there were two hundred — one hundred for the Romans, and the other for the Sabines ; but another hundred was added afterwards — so there were in all three hundred.

8. The Senators used to meet in the Forum or market-place, which was a large open space, with covered ways or porticoes round it.

9. After a while Romulus had other subjects besides the Sabines, and those whp first joined him ; for some of the little towns and states near were conquered by degrees, and the inhabitants left their cities and settled at Rome, and were called Plebeians. The others were called Patricians.

10. The patricians looked down upon the plebeians, and would not give them the same advantages as they had themselves ; and in after years many of the troubles which happened at Rome were caused by the quarrels between the patricians and plebeians.

11. There were also in Rome persons called Clients. They were not of high rank, and it is not quite known where they first came from ; but they were something like servants or tenants to the patricians : that is, the chief of the family was obliged to protect his client, and take care that he was not treated unjustly ; and the client was obliged to support his chief or patron on many occasions. The Roman patricians were very proud of having a great many clients. The lowest rank of all were slaves.

12. We have not any clear account of the laws B^hich Romulus made. He is said to have reigned thirty-seven years, but how and where he died is not certam.

13. This is the story which is told us : — Romulus loned a great meeting of the people in a place

2* called the field of Mars. A fierce storm arose, the sky became quite dark, and the multitude, being frightened, fled away to their homes. When the storm was over, Romulus could not be found. The people said that he was taken to heaven, and they worshipped him as a god.

14. That, of course, was a heathen notion. Romulus must have died as other men die. Some have said that the senators murdered him.

15. It may be useful to remember, that when Rome was founded the prophet Isaiah was living, for by placing together the facts of sacred and common history we sometimes gain a clearer idea of both.

Chapter III

NUMA POMPILIUS, SECOND KING OF ROME, B. C. 715.

■g Q 1. Some time passed after Romulus

715 to 673. ^^s dead before it was settled who should succeed him. In the mean time the senators governed. The Romans at last fixed upt)n the Sabine, Numa Porapilius, who was a very good man — wise, gentle, just, and extremely particular about every thing which had to do with religion.

2. The Romans respected him very much, and supposed he was taught by a beautiful goddess whom they called Egeria. It was Numa's custom often to go by himself to a grotto near Rome, and there they fancied tliat Egeria appeared to him, and told him what laws to make. This notion we know was absurd and untrue, but certainly Numa did many things which may be a good example to all persons, Christians as well as heathens. He was very strict in making the Romans keep their word ; and he was as kind to the poor as he was to the rich ; and instead of allowing the Romans to quarrel with their neighbors, and go to war with them, he kept them at peace dming the whole of his reign, so that the temple of Janus was never once opened.

3. He reigned a long while — forty years and more, it is said ;. and it must have been a sorrowful day for Rome when good King Numa died.

Chapter IV

TULLUS HOSTILIUSy THIRD KING OF ROME, B. C. 673»

^ ^ 1. The next king who reigned in Rome

673 to 642. "^^ Tullus Hostilius. He was a Roman chosen by the Sabines. He was not a religious man like Numa, though he is said to have taken care of the poor. We do not know much about him, but he is supposed to have reigned thirtytwo years.

2. The principal event that happened in his time was the destruction of Alba Longa. Rome and Alba were very near each other, and the people quarrelled, and then their kings went to war. But instead of fighting a great battle, they determined to settle their disputes in the following manner. It happened that the Albans had three brothers in their army who were very brave, handsome, and noble ; they were called Curiatii. In the Roman army there were also three brothers called Horatii. The Horatii and the Curiatii were cousins and friends, for the sister of one of the Horatii was engaged to be married to one of the Curiatii, and because she loved him very much, she had worked a beautiful robe for him which he used to wear. Yet, though they were cousins, it was proposed that they should fight together. The Horatii were to fight for the Romans, and the Curiatii for the Albans, and whichever of the two sets of brothers conquered, their side was to be considered to have gained the victoiy, just as if the two armies had really fought a battle.

3. The young men did not mind being chosen in this way ; indeed they thought it a great honor. They went out to meet each other like friends, and promised that they would fight quite fairly, and then they began.

4. Two of the Horatii were soon killed : the other knew that he could not defend himself much longer, so he pretended to run away. The Curiatii followed him ; but because they were wounded, they could not go very fast, and were not able to keep together ; and when Horatius saw that they were separated, he turned back, and attacked them one by one ; and at last the three brave Curiatii were all killed.

5. Horatius was very much delighted, and set off directly for Rome, where he knew he should have great honors paid him. Before he went he took off the robe which his sister had worked for her cousin, and put it upon his own shoulders. As he came to the city his sister met him, and upon perceiving what he wore, she grew exceedingly angry, and began to reproach him, calling him a murderer. Horatius could not bear this, and he lifted up his sword and killed her on the spot.

6. Horatius was ordered to be punished for his crime, but he was not condemned to death, because he had just done such great service to his country in fighting for it : he was, therefore, made to pass under the yoke. This means that two spears having been planted in the ground, and another laid across the top of them, Horatius was made to pass under them as a sign of his being humbled and degraded.

7. There was peace between the Albans and Romans for a little time after this ; but the Albans onlypretended to be friendly, and when the Romans found this out, they took the first opportunity of marching against Alba, and quite destroyed it. The walls were completely pulled down and never built up again.

8. King Tullus grew sorry after a time that he had not been as careful about religion as Numa was. Some say that he had a painful disease which made him think of these things. The people must have had a very bad opinion of him, for when his palace caught fire, and he himself was burnt with it, they declared that he was killed because the gods were angry with him. We are not told where he was buried, and it is supposed that no honors were paid him at his death,

9. This was a great mark of disrespect amongst all nations ; as we read in the Bible, of Jehoiakim the wicked king of Judah, who lived about 30 years after Tullus, that none were to lament for him, and that he was not to be buried hke other men.

Chapter V. Angus Martius, Foubth King Of Kome, B. 0. 642

g Q 1 . Angus Martius was the next king.

842 to 617. He is said to have been the grandson of Numa, and in some respects he was like i^iim, for he showed great regard to religion.

2. There were, however, some wars in his reign.

'S4 THE CHILD S FIRST

and as the Romans were generally conquerors, their dominions increased in consequence. The city also became larger, and there were a great many more people living in it ; but this brought trouble to Ancus, for there were so many crimes committed, that he was obliged to build a prison, in which all the wicked persons were kept. A dark and dreadful place it was, as may be seen by the remains of it at Rome at this day.

3. It happened during the reign of Ancus that a rich stranger, called Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, came to settle at Rome, with his wife Tanaquil. Tanaquil was a very ambitious woman, and wished above all things to see her husband a great man. There was not much hope of his being so in the town where he had been living, and for this reason she persuaded him to leave it, which accordingly he did, and set out on his journey in a chariot with his wife and attendants. Just as they arrived at one of the hills on which Rome was built, they looked up and saw an eagle hovering over their heads. Presently it descended, took off the cap which Lucius wore, and went up with it into the air. Then coming down again, the bird placed the cap on the head of Lucius a second time, and flew off.

4, Tanaquil pretended to have great skill in augury, and to be able to foretell what was going to happen. She thought the appearance of this eagle was a good sign, and declared to her husband that the gods had sent to let him know that he should one day be king of Rome. Both Lucius and Tanaquil were very well received at Rome. They were much liked because they were rich and agreeable, and King Ancus himself was pleased with Lucius Tarquinius, and by degrees became his great friend, and consulted him whenever any important question was to be decided.

HISTORY OF ROME.

5. It seemed, therefore, very likely that Tanaquil's prophecy might some day be fulfilled.

6. Ancus reigned twenty-four years, and when he died he gave his two sons in charge to Lucius Tarquiuius.

Chapter VI. Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, Fifth King Of Eome, B. 0. 617

g Pj 1. Tanaquil had her wish when King

en to sVq. Ancus was dead, for the Romans chose Lucius Tarquinius Priscus to succeed him. Theii' choice was upon the whole a good one, for Lucius proved himself in many ways the greatest prince who had yet reigned over them. He was very wariike, and increased the Roman dominions ; and he also took great pains to make the city not only beautiful but more healthy, by drawing the water from the swampy ground which lay near it. The largest of these drains is to be seen now at Rome, and is called the Cloaca Maxima. It is so high and so broad that a cart loaded with hay can pass through it ; and though it has stood such an immense number of years there is not a stone out of its place.

2. Besides these great works, Lucius Tarquinius amused the people by public games and chariot races. He built an immense open theatre or circus, in which the people used to sit to watch the races. This circus was made so much larger afterwards, that two hundred and fifty thousand persons could be seated in it.

3. The Romans were always excessively fond of games and shows.

24 THE CHILD 8 FIRST

4. But though Lucius Tarquinius was much liked, he was not able to have his own will in every thing. There is a strange story told about this, which we know however cannot be all true. He wished, it is said, to increase the number of his cavalry or horsemen, thinking they would help him in his wars. The Romans were extremely strict in keeping to all their , old customs, which they thought had been settled by the gods ; and as the number of horsemen was fixed, they did not like the idea of a change. One of the augurs indeed warned the king that he had no right to make any alteration without the permission of the gods. But Lucius Tarquinius only scoffed at him for pretending to know any thing about the will of the gods; and in order to prove if the augur really had more knowledge than other persons, he asked him whether, what he was then thinking of, was possible to be done or not. " Yes," replied the augur, " what you are thinking of may be done." The king smiled scornfully, and drew a razor from beneath his robe ; then taking a flint in his hand, he said : "I was thinking whether it was possible for thee to cut this flint with this razor." The augvir took the flint instantly, and without the least difficulty cut it completely through ; and from that moment the king gave up the wish of doing any thing which was declared by the augurs to be against the will of the gods. There is another wonderful story told of an event that took place about this time. The king, in one of his battles, took prisoner a woman, whom he carried home to wait upon his wife. Tanaquil set her free, and allowed her son Ser\aus Tullius to be brought up in the palace. One night, as this child was sleeping in his cradle, a bright flame was seen to flicker about his head. The persons who perceived it were very much frightened ; but when they sent for TanaquU, she declared that the sign was a good one, and meant that the boy would one day become a great and good man. From that moment Tanaquil determined to educate him as her own child, and when he grew up to be a man, Lucius Tarquinius gave him one of his daughters for a wife.