PART I. of Tarquin the elder, was an Etruscan by birth, but of Grecian extraction; his father having been a rich Corinthian merchant, who had settled in Etruria, and there married a woman of an illustrious family 2. The wealth and talents of the son, who removed to Rome in early manhood, procured him among the Romans, that rank and those honours which he had despaired of attaining in his native country, and at last raised him to the supreme power443. and his conduct during his whole reign, both in civil and military affairs, was such as shed lustre upon his exalted station. As Tarquin I. had owed his elevation to the people, he began his administration with a popular act. He created an hundred new senators, chosen from the body of plebeians 24; having first raised them to the rank of patricians, in order to obviate all objections against the legality of such a measure245: so that the Roman senate now consisted of three hundred members; a number at which it continued for several ager. When the new king had thus strengthened his civil authority, he proceeded to the exercise of those military talents, which had first lifted him to distinction among the Romans. His predecessor had left the war with the Latines unfinished. They had been vanquished but not subdued. Tarquin resolved to reduce them under the dominion of Rome; and he accomplished his purpose by vigour and perseverance, in spite of their bravest efforts, though powerfully seconded by the Sabines and Etruscans 246. The Latines 242. Id. ibid. et. Liv. lib. i. cap. xxxiv. 245. Id. ibid. agreed agreed to yield obedience to all the commands of the LETTER Romans 247. But the Romans had other enemies to contend with for dominion. The Sabines and Etruscans were still in arms. Tarquin, by a stratagem, divided their forces; took both camps, by cutting off all communication between them, and routed both armies with great slaughter248. The Sabines, discouraged by their loss, perhaps jealous of their allies, sued for peace; peace; and a truce of six years was granted them 249. The pride of the Etruscans with-held them from submission, and their power inspired them with confidence. Their martial spirit was rather rouzed than humbled, by the defeat they had suffered. If the Veientes, one of the twelve tribes into which the Etruscans were divided, had been able alone to dispute the field with the Romans, it was presumable that the whole united nation could not fail to resist the arms, and set bounds to the ambition of that aspiring people. A hostile confederacy was accordingly form. ed among the twelve lucumonies or cantons of Etruria, at a general assembly or national council; in which it was decreed, That they should make war upon the Romans with their combined forces; and that, if any canton did not take part in the war, it should receive no assistance from the army of the confederates250. In consequence of this confederacy, the Etruscans assembled their forces, and passed the Tiber; took Fidenæ, invaded the territory of Rome, and returned home loaded with plunder's1. But this insult did not 247. Id. ibid. 248. Dion. Halicarnass. lib. iii. cap. Ivi. lvii. 249. Id. Rom. Antiq. lib. iii. cap. Iviii. 251. Dion. Halicarnass. ubi sup. VIII. pass PART I. pass unrevenged. Tarquin entered Etruria early next campaign, at the head of a Roman army; vanquished the enemy in a great battle; ravaged their country, and retook Fidena 252. The Etruscans again assembled their forces, after the lapse of some years, and were again defeated by the Romans in another great battle, when preparing to pass the Roman frontier253. Now convinced of their inability to contend for empire with Rome, while governed by so warlike a king, they sent deputies from their several cantons to treat of peace254. Tarquin met their advances with generous magnanimity. He told them, That he wished neither to deprive them of their possessions, to fetter them with garrisons, oppress them with tributes, nor to change the form of their government. But he expected they would voluntarily grant, what the fortune of war had enabled him to force them to yield, the sovereignty of their cities255. Having received this answer, the deputies retired; and, after a few days, returned with the ensigns of sovereignty with which the Etruscans were wont to invest their own kings, who had the controul over all the twelve lucumonies of Etruria; namely, a crown of gold, an ivory throne, a sceptre, on the head of which was the figure of an eagle, a purple vest wrought with gold, and a purple robe richly embroidered256. These regal ornaments Tarquin wore, with the consent of the Roman senate and people:-and they were retained by all his successors257. 252. Dion. Halicarnass. lib. iii. cap. lix. 254. Id. ibid. The VIII. The only Italian nation now able to dispute the LETTER field of glory with the Romans, was that of the Sabines. And the truce with this warlike people being now expired, Tarquin was desirous of reducing them under his dominion, while the spirits of his troops were elated with conquest, and before they had tasted the sweets of peace. Nor had he occasion, with that view, to force a pretence for commencing hostilities, or to provoke a quarrel. The Sabines, conscious they had encouraged and aided the Etruscans, in their last struggle for independency, were no sooner made acquainted with Tarquin's intentions, than they invaded the Roman territory-258. The ambitious and valiant king marched against them with a chosen body of forces; defeated them, as they were dispersed in plundering the country; took from them all their booty, and drove them to their camp 259. The Sabines, however, were not disheartened by that severe check. Confiding in their strength, they remained firm within their entrenchments, until their broken troops had recovered from their consternation. Meantime the Roman army, having been greatly aug. mented, advanced against the invaders in order of battle. The Sabines did not decline the challenge. They boldly led out an army not inferior to Tarquin's either in numbers or in valour. But that prince far surpassed their general in military skill. While both armies were fighting with desperate resolution, and the event of the day seemed doubtful, a Roman body of reserve, which had been posted in a concealed place, appeared behind the Sabines, and struck them with terror. Thinking it a fresh army, they fled in all directions; and being pursued, and surrounded by the Romans, were almost utterly cut off 260. Their camp was forced; 258. Dion. Halicarnass. lib. iii. cap. Ixiv. 260. Dion. Halicarnass. lib. iii. cap. lxv. 259. Id. ibid. VOL. I. 30 and PART I. and the troops left to guard it surrendered themselves prisoners, without striking a blow 261. Though mortified at this disaster, the Sabine cantons were not dismayed. Considering their defeat as the effect of stratagem, rather than a proof of the superior power or valour of the enemy, they raised a new army, and sent it into the field under a more experienced general 262. Tarquin marched against the Sabines, and offered them battle, before they were prepared to receive him. They were therefore obliged to act on the defensive, and permit their country to be ravaged; yet by their vigour and perseverance, they protracted the war to the length of five years. At last, collecting the whole force of their nation, they resolved upon a final trial of strength 263. Tarquin, who had long sought for such an opportunity, embraced it with ardour. He met the enemy at the head of the Roman troops; the Etruscan auxiliaries he intrusted to the command of his nephew Aruns; and those of the Latines to the conduct of Servius Tullius, who became afterward his son-in-law, and who was a man of tried courage and consummate prudence 264. The Sabines also divided their forces into three bodies. And the battle that ensued was fierce, obstinate, and bloody. The Sabines maintained their ground, with great firmness, from morning until the approach of night. But they were at length broken by the Romans, who occupied the left wing of the royal army, and routed with incredible slaughter 265. Despairing of being able any longer to support their independency, they now sent deputies to the conqueror with proposals of peace; and Tarquin granted 261. Id. ibid. 262. Dion. Halicarnass. ubi sup. 263. Id. Rom. Antiq. lib. iii. cap. lxvi. lib. iii. cap. lxvii. 265. Id. ibid. them, |