Some days after this the Spartans heard strange news: "Aristomenes is again at the head of the Greek army." They could not believe it. THE BOMB Did you ever hear of King Charles the Twelfth, of Sweden? He lived two hundred years ago, and was famous for his courage in defending his country. One day he was in the midst of a great battle. The small house in which he had taken shelter was almost between the two armies. He called to one of his officers and bade him sit down and write a short order for him. The officer began to write, but just as he finished the first word, a bomb came through the roof of the house and struck the floor close by him. He dropped the pen and sprang to his feet. He was pale with fear. "What is the matter?" asked the king. "Oh, sir," he answered, "the bomb! the bomb!" "Yes, I see," said the king. "But what has the bomb to do with what I wish you to write? Sit down, and take your pen. When your country is in danger, you should forget your own safety." A STORY OF OLD ROME There was a great famine in Rome. The summer had been very dry and the corn crop had failed. There was no bread in the city. The people were starving. One day, to the great joy of all, some ships arrived from another country. These ships were loaded with corn. Here was food enough for all. The rulers of the city met to decide what should be done with the corn. "Divide it among the poor people who need it so badly," said some. "Let it be a free gift to them from the city." But one of the rulers was not willing to do this. His name was Coriolanus, [Footnote: Co ri o la'nus.] and he was very rich. "These people are poor because they have been too lazy to work," he said. "They do not deserve any gifts from the city. Let those who wish any corn bring money and buy it." When the people heard about this speech of the rich man, Coriolanus, they were very angry. "He is no true Roman," said some. "He is selfish and unjust," said others. "He is an enemy to the poor. Kill him! kill him!" cried the mob. They did not kill him, but they drove him out of the city and bade him never return. Coriolanus made his way to the city of Antium, [Footnote: Antium (_pro._ an'shi um).] which was not far from Rome. The people of Antium were enemies of the Romans and had often been at war with them. So they welcomed Coriolanus very kindly and made him the general of their army. Coriolanus began at once to make ready for war against Rome. He persuaded other towns near Antium to send their soldiers to help him. Soon, at the head of a very great army, he marched toward the city which had once been his home. The rude soldiers of Antium overran all the country around Rome. They burned the villages and farmhouses. They filled the land with terror. Coriolanus pitched his camp quite near to the city. His army was the greatest that the Romans had ever seen. They knew that they were helpless before so strong an enemy.