Page:The Children's Plutarch, Romans.djvu/29

 the chieftain; he sat on a chair of state; his coat was of purple, and a purple cloak hung over his shoulders. As he walked through the new city, the lictors marched before him, bearing bundles of rods and thongs of leather. If Romulus ordered any man to be beaten, the lictors beat the offender with the rods. If he said “Bind that man prisoner,” they bound the person with the leather thongs or straps.

A hundred older men, called the Fathers, or Patricians (Pat-rish′-ans), sat together in a council or senate.

The young men who were strong and quick were chosen for soldiers—on foot or horseback.

Certain men would watch birds flying, and if the birds flew in a particular manner they would say:

“It is not the right time to begin a war”—or whatever the purpose might be.

If the birds flew in what they thought a better way, the watchers would say:

“The time is good. The war may begin,” or “The house may be built,” etc.

These men were called Augurs, and were a kind of priests. Thus we see the classes—the King, the Fathers, the Soldiers, the Priests. The rest were known as the People.

A great feast was held one day. Romulus sat on a throne, dressed in purple. The Romans