by
you, as to be exempted from the attacks of suspicion. Could I apprehend
that myself, the bitterest enemy of kings, should fall under the charge
of a desire of royalty? Could I believe that, even though I dwelt in the
very citadel and the Capitol, that I could be dreaded by my fellow
citizens? Does my character among you depend on so mere a trifle? Is my
integrity so slightly founded, that it makes more matter where I may be,
than what I may be. The house of Publius Valerius shall not stand in the
way of your liberty, Romans; the Velian mount shall be secure to you. I
will not only bring down my house into the plain, but I will build it
beneath the hill, that you may dwell above me a suspected citizen. Let
those build on the Velian mount to whom liberty is more securely
intrusted than to P. Valerius." Immediately all the materials were
brought down to the foot of the Velian mount, and the house was built at
the foot of the hill where the temple of Victory now stands.

[Footnote 70: _Uno plus Tuscorum._ [Greek: Hos heni pleious en te mache
tethnekasi Tyrrhenon e Rhomaion].]

[Footnote 71: _A year_, scil. of ten months.]

8. After this laws were passed, which not only cleared him of all
suspicions of aiming at the regal power, but had so contrary a tendency,
that they made him popular. From thence he was surnamed Poplicola. Above
all, the laws regarding an appeal to the people against the magistrates,
and that devoting the life and property of any one who should form a
design of assuming regal authority, were grateful to the people. And
after he had passed these while sole consul, so that the merit in them
was exclusively his own, he then held an assembly for the election of a
new colleague. Sp. Lucretius was elected consul, who being very old, and
his strength being inadequate to discharge the consular duties, dies in
a few days. M. Horatius Pulvillus was substituted in the room of
Lucretius. In some old writers I find no mention of Lucretius as consul;
they place Horatius immediately after Brutus. I believe that, because no
important event signalized his consulate, it has been unnoticed.
Jupiter's temple in the Capitol had not yet been dedicated; the consuls
Valerius and Horatius cast lots which should dedicate it. It fell by lot
to Horatius. Publicola departed to the war of the Veientians. The
friends of Valerius were more annoyed than they should have been, that
the dedication of so celebrated a temple should be g