Page:The Palace of Pleasure, Volume 1 (1890).djvu/122

 A COMBATE BETWENE

whiche done he difpoyled him of his armure. Then the Romaines in great triumphe and reioyfe intertaigned Horatius, and their ioye was the greater, for that the feare of their ouerthrowe was the nearer. This combate being ended, the Albanes became fubie&e to the Romaines, and besore Metius departed, he afked Tullus if hee would commaunde him any further feruice. Who willed him to kepe the younge souldiours ftill in intertaignement, for that hee woulde require their aide against the Veientes. The armie dif- solued, Horatius like a Conquerour marched home to Rome, the three fpoyles of his ennemies being borne besore hym.

The said Horatius had a fifter, which was espoused to one of the Curiatij that were flaine, who meeting her brother in the triumphe, at one of the gates called Capena, and knowing the coate armure of her paramour, borne vpon her brothers moulders, which fhe had wrought and made with her owne handes : She tore and rent the heare of her heade, and most piteouflye bewayled the death of her beloued. Her brother being in the pride of his vic- torie taking the lamentation of his fifter, in difdainful part, drew oute his fword, and thrufte her through speaking these reprochfull woordes: "Auaunt with thy vnreasonable loue, gette thee to thy spouse. hast thou sorgotten the deathe of thy two brethren that be flaine, the profperous fuccefle of thy victorious brother, and chiefelyethehappyedeliueraunceof thycountrie: Let that Romaine woman whatsoeuer me be, take like rewarde, that mail bewaile the death of the ennemie." Which horrible facte feemed most cruell to the fathers and people. for which offence he was brought besore the kinge, whom he deliuered to be iudged accord ing to the lawe. The law condempned him, then he appealed to the people. In which appeale P. Horatius his father fpake these wordes: "My doughter is flaine, not without iuft defert, which if it were not so, I would haue fued for condigne punifli- mente, to be executed vpon my sonne, according to the naturall pietie of a father : Whersore I befeech you do not suffer me, whom you haue feene in time past, beautified with a noble race and progenie of children, nowe to be vtterlye destitute and voyde of all together."

Then hee embrafed his sonne amonges them all, and {hewed the

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