the Romans and Sabines. The latter mustered a large army, and would probably have exterminated Romulus and his banditti; but when they were about to engage in battle, the Sabine women rushed into the field, and besought the two hostile parties to make peace. They said that whichever side might gain the victory, it would bring nothing but sorrow to them; for, if the Sabines should conquer, their husbands would lose their lives; or if the Romans should win the day, their kindred would perish. Both parties were much moved by these entreaties; the Sabines saw that the women had become attached to the Romans, and therefore thought it would be a pity to separate them, even if it could be done without bloodshed. In short, the matter ended peaceably, and an alliance, or friendly treaty, was formed.

7. The first government of Rome consisted of a king and senate. Romulus was chosen king, and reigned thirtyseven years. There are different accounts of the way in which his reign terminated.

8. Some historians pretend that, while Romulus sat in the senate-house, giving wise instructions in regard to matters of state, the hall was suddenly darkened by an eclipse of the sun. When the sun shone out again, the chair of Romulus was perceived to be empty; and it was said he had been taken up into heaven. Others say that Romulus attempted to make himself absolute, and that therefore the senators pulled him down from his chair of state and tore him in pieces. This story appears more probable than the former; at all events, king Romulus suddenly disappeared, and was never seen again in the city which he had founded.

QUESTIONS. 1. What of the empire of Rome? Of its history? -2. On what river is Rome? How far is it from the sea? At what time, and by whom was it founded? Who was Romulus ? What did the outlaws do? The origin of Rome? -3. What happened between Romulus and Remus ?-4. Of what did Romulus

and his men feel the want? What of the Sabines ?-5. Give an account of the carrying off of the Sabine women. 6. What did this act cause? How was the war prevented? What did the wives of the Romans say? What effect had their entreaties ?7. What of the first government of Rome? Who was chosen king, and how long did he reign?. -8. What do some historians pretend? What do others say?

CHAPTER LXVI. EUROPE continued.—Battle of the Horatii and Curiatii.

1. THE second king of Rome was Numa Pompilius, a wise and good king, and a great lover of peace. He reigned forty-three years, and made many excellent laws, and instructed his people in agriculture and other useful

arts.

2. The peaceful Numa was succeeded by Tullus Hostilius, who was a warlike monarch. During his reign the Romans engaged in hostilities with the Albans, who inhabited a neighbouring city.

3. It was agreed that the war should be decided by a battle between three champions on each side. In the army of the Albans there were three brothers, each named Curiatius; and in the Roman army there were likewise three, by the name of Horatius.

4. These Horatii and Curiatii were fixed upon as the champions. They fought in an open plain; and on each side stood the ranks of armed warriors, with their swords sheathed, anxiously watching the combat.

5. At first it seemed as if the Curiatii were about to gain the victory: it is true they were all three wounded; but two of the Horatii lay dead upon the field. The other Horatius was still unhurt. He appeared determined not to perish like his two brothers; for he was seen to turn and flee. At the flight of their champion, the Romans groaned with shame and despair; for if he should lose the battle, they would all be made slaves.

6. The three Curiatii pursued the fugitive, but their wounds had rendered them feeble. They staggered along, one behind the other, so that they were separated by considerable distances. This was what Horatius desired. Though he could not have beaten all three together, he was more than a match for them singly.

7. He now turned fiercely upon the foremost, and slew him; then he encountered the second, and smote him dead in a moment; the third met with the same fate. The Alban army now turned pale, and dropped their weapons on the field, for they had lost their freedom.

8. The exulting Romans greeted Horatius with shouts of triumph, and he returned towards Rome amid a throng of his countrymen, all of whom hailed him as their benefactor. But as he entered the city, he met a young woman wringing her hands in an agony of grief. She was his sister, and in love with one of the Curiatii; when she saw Horatius, she shrieked aloud, and reproached him bitterly for having slain her lover.

9. The victor still held the bloody sword with which he had killed the three Alban champions. His heart was still fierce with the frenzy of the combat: he could not bear that his sister should bewail one of his dead enemies, instead of her two dead brothers, nor that she should darken his triumph with her reproaches; and, in the passion of the moment, he stabbed her to the heart.

10. Horatius was condemned to die for this dreadful crime; though he was afterwards pardoned, because his valour had won for Rome such a great deliverance. But the disgrace of his guilt was far more than the honour of his victory.

QUESTIONS. 1. Who was the second king of R What of Tullus Hostilius ?- -3. How was the war 1 Romans and Albans to be decided? Who were the. Curiatii?4, 5. Describe the battle between these Who fled from the battle? -6. What did the three (

-2. n the i and tants. tii do ?

What of Horatius?

-7. What was the fate of the Curiatii ?8. How was Horatius greeted? What of his sister?- -9. Why did Horatius kill her?. -10. What of Horatius? Why was he pardoned.

CHAPTER LXVII. EUROPE continued.- -From the reign

of Ancus Martius till the expulsion of the Kings.

1. AFTER the death of Tullus Hostilius, the Romans elected Ancus Martius to be king. He was succeeded by Tarquin the Elder, whose father had been a rich merchant. The next king was Servius Tullius. When Servius had reigned forty-four years, he was murdered by Tarquin, his son-in-law, who was ambitious of being king.

2. Tullia, the wife of Tarquin, and daughter of Servius, rejoiced at her father's death, for she wished to be queen. She rode out in her chariot in order to congratulate her wicked husband, and in one of the streets, through which the chariot was to pass, lay the dead body of the poor old king. The charioteer saw it, and was desirous of turning back; "Drive on!" cried the wicked Tullia. He did so; and the street being narrow, the chariot passed directly over the murdered king. But Tullia rode on without remorse, although the wheels were stained with her father's blood.

3. Her husband now ascended the throne, and was called Tarquin the Proud. The Romans abhorred him, for he was a hateful tyrant. Several almost incredible stories are told respecting his reign.

4. One day, it is said, a woman of singular aspect entered the king's presence, bringing nine large books in her arms. No one knew whence she came, nor what was contained in her books. She requested the king to buy them; but the price was so high, that Tarquin refused, especially as he did not know what the books were about.

5. The unknown woman went away and burnt three of her books. She then came back, and again offered the

remaining ones to Tarquin; but she demanded as much money for the six as she had before asked for the whole nine, and Tarquin of course refused to buy them.

6. The woman went away a second time, but, shortly afterwards, she was again seen entering the palace. She had now only three volumes left, and these she offered to the king at the same price which she had before asked for the whole nine.

7. There was something so strange and mysterious in all this, that Tarquin resolved to purchase them. She put the three volumes into his hands, and immediately disappeared.

8. The books were found to be the oracles of a sibyl, or prophetess. They were therefore looked upon with superstitious reverence, and were preserved in Rome during many ages. In all difficult and perplexing cases, the rulers looked into these old volumes, and read, as they supposed, the secrets of their country's fate.

9. The above story is no doubt a fable; and so also is that of the discovery of a man's head, while the workmen were digging the foundation of the temple of Jupiter. Yet the Romans firmly believed that a human head was