tii fixed up in
that place which is now called Pila Horatia, "Romans," said he, "can you
bear to see bound beneath a gallows amidst scourges and tortures, him
whom you just now beheld marching decorated (with spoils) and exulting
in victory; a sight so shocking as the eyes even of the Albans could
scarcely endure. Go, lictor, bind those hands, which but a little while
since, being armed, established sovereignty for the Roman people. Go,
cover the head of the liberator of this city; hang him on the gallows;
scourge him, either within the pomoerium, so it be only amid those
javelins and spoils of the enemy; or without the pomoerium, only amid
the graves of the Curiatii. For whither can you bring this youth, where
his own glories must not redeem him from such ignominy of punishment?"
The people could not withstand the tears of the father, or the
resolution of the son, so undaunted in every danger; and acquitted him
more through admiration of his bravery, than for the justice of his
cause. But that so notorious a murder might be atoned for by some
expiation, the father was commanded to make satisfaction for the son at
the public charge. He, having offered certain expiatory sacrifices,
which were ever after continued in the Horatian family, and laid a beam
across the street, made his son pass under it as under a yoke, with his
head covered. This remains even to this day, being constantly repaired
at the expense of the public; they call it Sororium Tigillum. A tomb of
square stone was erected to Horatia in the place where she was stabbed
and fell.

[Footnote 35: _Perduellio_, (duellum, bellum,) high treason against the
state or its sovereign; but in those times any offence deserving capital
punishment was included under that of treason, _Qui Horatio
perduellionem judicent_, to pass sentence on Horatius, as being
manifestly guilty of murder; not to try whether he was guilty or not.]

[Footnote 36: Duumviri, etc. Niebuhr considers these to be the very
words of the old formula.]

[Footnote 37: If the sentence (of the duumviri) be confirmed by the
people.]

[Footnote 38: The letter of the law allowed of no justification or
extenuation of the fact. It left no alternative to the judge.]

[Footnote 39: He kindly pointed out the loop-hole in the law, which left
an opening for the culprit's acquittal.]

[Footnote 40: By the laws of Romulus, a father had the power of life and
death over his children.]

27. Nor did the peace wi