hereafter attempt the like conduct, unless I now make of him a signal
example to mankind." The centurions in arms stand round Mettus, and the
king proceeds with the rest as he had commenced: "It is my intention,
and may it prove fortunate, auspicious, and happy to the Roman people,
to myself, and to you, O Albans, to transplant all the inhabitants of
Alba to Rome: to grant your people the rights of citizenship, and to
admit your nobles into the rank of senators: to make one city, one
republic; that as the Alban state was formerly divided from one people
into two, so it may now return into one." On hearing this the Alban
youth, unarmed, surrounded by armed men, however divided in their
sentiments, yet restrained by the common apprehension, continue silent.
Then Tullus proceeded: "If, Mettus Fuffetius, you were capable of
learning fidelity, and how to observe treaties, that lesson would have
been taught you by me, while still alive. Now, since your disposition is
incurable, do you at least by your punishment teach mankind to consider
those things sacred which have been violated by you. As therefore a
little while since you kept your mind divided between the interest of
Fidenæ and of Rome, so shall you now surrender your body to be torn
asunder in different directions." Upon this, two chariots drawn by four
horses being brought, he ties Mettus extended at full length to their
carriages: then the horses were driven on in different directions,
carrying off the mangled body on each carriage, where the limbs had been
fastened by the cords. All turned away their eyes from so shocking a
spectacle. That was the first and last instance of a punishment among
the Romans regardless of the laws of humanity. In other cases we may
boast that no nation whatever adopted milder forms of punishment.
[Footnote 45: _Præcones ab extremo_. At the farther part of the Roman
camp, where it joined that of the Albans.]
[Footnote 46: As well as by the orders issued by Tullus.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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