d her back unharmed to her own kindred." And so indeed it
was done, both parties keeping faith, for the Romans gave up Cloelia
as the treaty commanded, and the King judged valour to be worthy not of
safety alone but also of reward. "I will give thee," he said to her, "a
certain portion of the hostages: thou shalt choose whom thou wilt." Then
she chose such as were of tender age, not only because this best became
the modesty of a maiden, but because such would be in the greater peril
of harm. To her the Romans set up in the Sacred Road a statue, a maiden
sitting on horseback--a new honour, even as the valour that was so
honoured was new also.

So King Porsenna departed from Rome, and departing gave his camp, that
was full of all manner of good things, to the men of Rome, there being
great scarcity in the city by reason of the length of the siege. In the
next year he sent ambassadors yet once again who should deal with the
people of Rome about the bringing back of the King. To them was given
this answer, "that the Senators would send ambassadors about the
matter." These ambassadors, who were the chiefest men in the city, being
arrived, spake in this fashion: "We might have answered thy ambassadors,
O King, in very few words, saying that we take not back the King. But
we are come this day that there may never again be made mention of this
matter, lest there come out of it trouble both to thee and to us, if
thou shouldst ask that which would be against the liberty of the Roman
people, and we should be driven to refuse something to thee who would
gladly refuse thee nothing. The men of Rome are free and serve not
kings, and verily they would the sooner open their gates to their
enemies than to kings. And this is the mind of us all. That day which
shall make an end of our freedom shall make an end also of our city.
If therefore thou wouldst have us live, suffer us, we pray thee, to be
free."

To this the King made answer in these words: "I will weary you no more
by asking that which ye may not grant, nor will I deceive the Tarquins
by show of help that it is not in me to give. As for them, whether
they be minded to have peace or war, let them seek for another place
of exile, that there come not anything to make mischief between you and
me."

To these words he added much kindness in deeds, for he gave back such
of the hostages as yet remained with him; also he restored to the Romans
the land of the men of Veii that had been