King Tullus. The E -trus'cans who dwell all about us," he said , are a very powerful people both by land and by sea . Now when we and you are exhausted by fighting, they may fall upon us and destroy both parties . Can we not come to terms in some other way than by war?
Tullus would have much preferred to fight, but he could not help seeing that this was a sensible speech , and after a while a plan was made that must have disappointed the Etrus cansif they had been hoping to get any gain from the quar rel . It chanced that in the Roman army were three brothers of the Ho-ra'tian family born at one birth . They were known as the Ho ra'ti -i . In the Al ban army were their three cousins , also born at one birth , of the Cu -ri-a'tian family . They were known as the Cu-ri-a'ti-i . The leaders of the armies agreed that these six should meet in combat , three on a side , and the nation whose champions won should be looked upon as the victors . Be brave, cried both parties to their respective champions. " Remember that your gods , your country, your parents, that all your countrymen , both here and at home , are watching you. The champions took their stand between
the two lines . The signal was given , and in a moment their swords were flashing. The encounter was so fierce that al most at once two of the Horatii fell dead and the three Curiatii were wounded . Hurt as they were , they were toge ther more than a match for the remaining one of the Horatii ; but he had no idea of allowing all three to attack him at once. He ran away and they pursued. He who was least wounded came up to Ho -ra'ti-us first. The Roman suddenly turned upon him and slew him. He did the same with the other two as they came up ; and so it was that the Romans became the victors .
The Roman army shouted for joy , and soon set out upon the return home . First came men bearing the armor and weapons of the Curiatii. Next came Horatius, and after him the rest of the army. When they reached the city gates, the people poured out to welcome them ; but the sister of Hora tius gave a great wail of sorrow , for on her brother's shoulders she recognized the coat of one of the Curiatii to whom she had been betrothed , a coat which she herself. had wrought. Horatius drew his sword and ran it through her body, crying, So perish every Roman woman who shall mourn an enemy." Every one was dismayed . The murder of the maiden must be punished , but how could they put to death the man who had just saved them from being subject to the Albans ? Finally Horatius was brought to trial . His father pleaded so earnestly for his son's life that the champion was pardoned ; but many sacrifices were offered to the gods that his sin might be for given .
The Albans were not very faithful subjects , and at length
LEGENDS OF THE SEVEN KINGS OF ROME 15
Tullus commanded them to remove to Rome. He sent sol diers to tear down their homes , and with pitiful weeping and wailing, the poor people caught up whatever they valued most of their household treasures and went in sorrowful groups to Rome . The temples of the gods were left standing, but everything else in Alba Longa was destroyed . Tullus fought other wars , and was so successful that he began to feel it quite beneath so great a man as he to pay any service to the gods or even to deal justly and lawfully with his people . The gods were angry , and they sent a pestilence upon people and king Then Tullus was readyenough to offer up sacri fices. Unluck ily for him, he had neg
lected this duty for SO long that he did not know how to observe the rites properly . Jupiter was angry , and with a flash of lightning he burned the king and his house to ashes .
OFFERING UP A SACRIFICE
The next king was An'cus Mar'ti-us. He was a grandson of Numa Pompilius; and he seemed to have the good traits of both Numa and Tullus . First of all , he had the rules for the
