Page:The Children's Plutarch, Romans.djvu/71

 the daggers of the Volscians, who were angry because he had spared Rome.

I am not sure what you will think of the conduct of Coriolanus. But I am sure you will admire the action of Volumnia and the matrons. And you girls who read this story will, I hope, see that you have a part to play for your city and your country.   HY do you weep, my child?” asked a Roman father of his little girl, as he took her in his arms.

“P—P—Per—Perseus is dead!” she sobbed.

“Which Perseus do you mean?”

“The dear little dog, father.”

Ah, the dear little dog. But Perseus was the name of the King of Macedonia also, and it was of this Perseus that the Roman father was thinking. This father was the general Lucius Æmilius Paulus, afterward surnamed Macedonicus, who had fought for Rome during many years. In Spain he had placed the Roman eagle over two hundred and fifty cities. He lived from about 229-160 King Perseus expected the coming of the Romans. He had collected an army of his own