7. Was this offer accepted?
8. In what manner was this done, and how were they received?
9. What was the result of this conference?
10. What fable was addressed to the people?
11. What effect did this apology produce?
12. How was this obstacle removed?
13. Who were the tribunes of the people, and what was their authority?
14. Did this new regulation answer the desired end?
FOOTNOTES:
[1] The power of the dictator was absolute; he could, of his own will, make peace or war, levy forces, lead them forth, disband them, and even dispense with the existing laws, at his pleasure, without consulting the senate.
[2] The gates had been shut by order of the senate, to prevent further defection.
[3] t.i.tus Livius was born at Pad"ua (the ancient Patavi"nus) in the year of Rome, 695. He wrote the Roman history, from the foundation of the city to the year 744, in 140 books, of which only 35 remain and some of them are still imperfect. Though Livy was treated with great marks of respect by the emperor Augustus, in whose reign he flourished, yet he extolled Pompey so highly, that Augustus used to call him a Pompeian: and though he was by no means backward in bestowing praises on Brutus and Ca.s.sius, the enemies of Augustus, yet it did not interrupt their friendship. Livy died at his native city, in the fourth year of the reign of Tiberius, aged 76 years.
[4] This is a severe satire upon the judgment of the mult.i.tude; indeed, it seems intended to show, that when the pa.s.sions are appealed to, the judgment is not much consulted; and therefore, that little reliance ought to be placed on acts resulting from popular acclamation.
[5] They were called tribunes, because chosen by the tribes. The first tribunes were L. Ju"nius Bru"tus, C. Sicin"ius Mellu"tus, Pub"lius Licin"ius, C. Licin"ius, and Sp. Ici"lius Ruga.
CHAPTER XI.
SECTION I.
FROM THE CREATION OF THE TRIBUNES, TO THE APPOINTMENT OF THE DECEMVIRI--U.C. 260.
Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriola.n.u.s!--_Shakspeare_.
1. During the late separation, all tillage had been entirely neglected, and a famine was the consequence the ensuing season. 2. The senate did all that lay in their power to remedy the distress; but the people, pinched with want and willing to throw the blame on any but themselves, ascribed the whole of their distress to the avarice of the patricians, who, having purchased all the corn, as was alleged, intended to indemnify themselves for the abolition of debts, by selling it out to great advantage. 3. But plenty soon after appeased them for a time. A fleet of ships, laden with corn, from Sicily, once more raised their spirits.
4. But Coriola"nus[1] incurred their resentment, by insisting that the corn should not be distributed till the grievances of the senate were removed. For this, the tribunes summoned him to a trial before the people.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Banishment of Coriola"nus.]
5. When the appointed day was come, all persons were filled with the greatest expectations, and a vast concourse from the adjacent country a.s.sembled and filled the forum. Coriola"nus presented himself before the people, with a degree of intrepidity that merited better fortune.
His graceful person, his persuasive eloquence, and the cries of those whom he had saved from the enemy, inclined the auditors to relent. 6.
But, being unable to answer what was alleged against him to the satisfaction of the people, and utterly confounded with a new charge, of having embezzled the plunder of _Antium_, the tribunes immediately took the votes, and Coriola"nus was condemned to perpetual exile.
7. This sentence against their bravest defender struck the senate with sorrow, consternation and regret. Coriola"nus alone, in the midst of the tumult, seemed an unconcerned spectator. 8. He returned home, followed by the lamentations of the most respectable senators and citizens, to take leave of his wife, his children, and his mother, Vetu"ria. Thus, recommending all to the care of Heaven, he left the city, without followers or fortune, to take refuge with Tullus At"tius,[2] a man of great power among the _Volsci_, who took him under his protection, and espoused his quarrel.
9. Some pretence was necessary to induce the Volsci to break the league which had been made with Rome; and, for this purpose, Tullus sent many of his citizens thither, apparently for the purpose of seeing some games at that time celebrating; but gave the senate private information, that the strangers had dangerous intentions of burning the city. 10. This had the desired effect; the senate issued an order, that all strangers, whoever they were, should depart from Rome before sun-set. 11. This order Tullus represented to his countrymen as an infraction of the treaty, and procured an emba.s.sy to Rome, complaining of the breach, and redemanding all the territories belonging to the Volsci, of which they had been violently dispossessed; declaring war in case of refusal. This message, however, was treated by the senate with contempt. 12. War being, in consequence, declared on both sides, Coriola"nus and Tullus were made generals of the Volsci, and accordingly invaded the Roman territories, ravaging and laying waste all such lands as belonged to the plebeians, but letting those of the senators remain untouched. 13. In the mean time, the levies went on but slowly at Rome; the two consuls, who were re-elected by the people, seemed but little skilled in war, and even feared to encounter a general whom they knew to be their superior in the field. The allies also showed their fears, and slowly brought in their succours: so that Coriola"nus continued to take their towns one after the other. 14. Fortune followed him in every expedition, and he was now so famous for his victories, that the Volsci left their towns defenceless to follow him into the field. The very soldiers of his colleague"s army came over to him, and would acknowledge no other general. 15. Thus finding himself unopposed in the field, and at the head of a numerous army, he at length invested the city of Rome itself, fully resolved to besiege it. 16. It was then the senate and the people unanimously agreed to send deputies to him, with proposals for his restoration, in case he would draw off his army. 17.
Coriola"nus received these proposals at the head of his princ.i.p.al officers, and, with the sternness of a general that was to give the law, refused their offers.
18. Another emba.s.sy was now sent, conjuring him not to exact from his native city aught but what became Romans to grant. Coriola"nus, however, naturally severe, still persisted in his former demands, and granted them only three days for deliberation. 19. In this exigence, all that was left to be done was another deputation, still more solemn than either of the former, composed of the pontiffs, priests, and augurs. These, clothed in their habits of ceremony, and with a grave and mournful deportment, issued from the city, and entered the camp of the conqueror: but all in vain, they found him severe and inflexible.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Coriola.n.u.s yielding to the entreaties of his Mother.]
20. When the people saw them return without success, they began to give up the commonwealth as lost. Their temples were filled with old men, with women and children, who, prostrate at the altars, put up their ardent prayers for the preservation of their country. Nothing was to be heard but anguish and lamentation; nothing to be seen but scenes of affright and distress. 21. At length it was suggested to them, that what could not be effected by the intercession of the senate, or the adjuration of the priests, might be brought about by the tears of a wife, or the commands of a mother. 22. This deputation seemed to be approved by all, and even the senate themselves gave it the sanction of their authority. Vetu"ria, the mother of Coriola"nus, at first hesitated to undertake so pious a work; knowing the inflexible temper of her son, and fearing only to show his disobedience in a new point of light, by his rejecting the commands of a parent; however, she at last undertook the emba.s.sy, and set forward from the city, accompanied by many of the princ.i.p.al matrons of Rome, with Volum"nia his wife, and his two children. 23. Coriola"nus, who at a distance discovered this mournful train of females, was resolved to give them a denial, and called his officers round him to be witnesses of his resolution; but, when told that his mother and his wife were among the number, he instantly came down from his tribunal to meet and embrace them. 24. At first, the women"s tears and embraces took away the power of words, and the rough soldier himself, hardy as he was, could not refrain, from sharing their distress. Coriola"nus now seemed much agitated by contending pa.s.sions; while his mother, who saw him moved, seconded her words by the most persuasive eloquence, that of tears: his wife and children hung around him, entreating for protection and pity: while the female train, her companions, added their lamentations, and deplored their own and their country"s distress. 25. Coriola"nus for a moment was silent, feeling the strong conflict between honour and inclination; at length, as if roused from a dream, he flew to raise his mother, who had fallen at his feet, crying out, "O, my mother, thou hast saved Rome, but lost thy son!" He accordingly gave orders to draw off the army, pretending to the officers that the city was too strong to be taken. 26. Tullus, who had long envied Coriola"nus, was not remiss in aggravating the lenity of his conduct to his countrymen. Upon their return, Coriola"nus is said to have been slain by an insurrection of the people, and honourably buried, after a late and ineffectual repentance.
27. Great and many were the public rejoicings at Rome upon the retreat of the Volscian army;[3] but they were clouded soon after by the intrigues of Spu"rius Cas"sius, who, wanting to make himself despotic by means of the people, was found guilty of a number of crimes, all tending towards altering the const.i.tution; and was thrown headlong from the Tarpei"an rock,[4] by those very people whose interests he had endeavoured to extend.
_Questions for Examination_.
1. What were the consequences of the late separation?
2. What measures were taken to remedy these misfortunes, and to whom was the blame of them attributed?
3. What happened to remove the popular discontent?
4. What circ.u.mstances raised a fresh commotion?
5. Did Coriola.n.u.s obey the summons?
6. What was the issue of the trial?
7. To what sensations did this sentence give rise?
8. What circ.u.mstance attended his departure?
9. In what manner did he commence his revenge?
10. Was this information believed?
11. What use did Tullus make of this order?
12. To whom was the conduct of the war committed?
13. Was this invasion vigorously opposed?
14. Was Coriola.n.u.s uniformly successful?
15. What did this good fortune induce him to undertake?
16. What measures did the senate adopt on this emergency?