French fiction -- Translations into English; Italian fiction -- Translations into English
Warres were addressed by the Romaines against the Falisques (a people of
Italye, the ruines of the chiefe citie wherof do yet appeare sixe miles
from Viterba) and an armye conscribed and sent thether, vnder the
conduct of Furius Camillus. The Falisques vppon the approch of the
Romaines, were constrayned to retire within their citie, thinking the
same to be their most assured refuge. And they to continue their siege,
incamped a mile from the citie, and determined throughly to besiege it,
which in deede had like to haue beene of verye long continuance except
fortune had giuen to the Romaine Captaine, for his tried and well
approued valiaunce, victorie in time, which chaunced after this maner.
It was a custome amonges the Falisques (obserued also in these oure
dayes) to haue their children instructed by one Scholemaister, and him
also to vse for their guide and companion in all games and pastimes.
Amonges theym there was a Scholemaister, which taughte noble mennes
sonnes, who in the time of peace, teachinge those children, and vsinge
for theyr exercise to leade them abroade in the fieldes, kepte still
that order, for all the warres before the gates, sometime wyth shorte
walkes, sometime wyth longer for their disportes: and continuinge
varietie of talke wyth his schollers longer then he was wont to do, at
length he brought them to the Romaine campe, euen to the tent of
Camillus, hoping thereby (by like) to haue beene well welcomed, and
liberally rewarded: saying to Camillus, as detestable woords as the
facte was traiterous and wicked: which was in effect--“That he was come
with that present vnto him, to yelde those children into his hands whose
parents were the principall of that Citie: and therby knew for certainty
that the citie would surrender.” Camillus seeing that fact, and hearing
those words, said vnto him. “Thou arte not come (villane) to a people
and Captaine, with this thy trayterous offer, semblable to thy selfe. We
haue no aliaunce with the Falisques confirmed by compacte or humaine
promise, but amitie wherunto nature doth bind vs, is and shall be for
euermore betweene vs. Warre so well as peace, hath his law and right:
which we haue learned to obserue with no lesse Justice, then constancie.
We make no warre against boies, whom wee spare, whensoeuer we inuade or
take any cities: but against armed men we fight, yea, and against such,
as without offence, or prouocation of our partes, assailed the Romaines
campe at the siege of the Veiens. Thou hast vanquished them so much as
lyeth in thee, with a new kinde of victorie atchieued by treason: but I
will subdue them by pollicie of the Romaines, by vertue, indeuour and
armes, euen as I did the Veiens.” When he had spoken those wordes, he
caused this trayterous scholemaister to be striped starke naked, and
binding his handes behinde him, deliuered him to the children, with
roddes in their handes, to whippe him home to the citie. When hee was in
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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