2.9
The Tarquins had now taken
refuge with Porsena, the king of Clusium, whom they
sought to influence by entreaty mixed with warnings.
At one time they entreated him not to allow men of
Etruscan race, of the same blood as himself, to
wander as penniless exiles; at another they would
warn him not to let the new fashion of expelling
kings go unpunished. Liberty, they urged, possessed
fascination enough in itself; unless kings defend
their authority with as much energy as their
subjects show in quest of liberty, all things come
to a dead level, there will be no one thing
pre-eminent or superior to all else in the State;
there will soon be an end of kingly power, which is
the most beautiful thing, whether amongst gods or
amongst mortal men. Porsena considered that the
presence of an Etruscan upon the Roman throne would
be an honour to his nation; accordingly he advanced
with an army against Rome. Never before had the
senate been in such a state of alarm, so great at
that time was the power of Clusium and the
reputation of Porsena. They feared not only the
enemy but even their own fellow-citizens, lest the
plebs, overcome by their fears, should admit the
Tarquins into the City, and accept peace even though
it meant slavery. Many concessions were made at that
time to the plebs by the senate. Their first care
was to lay in a stock of corn, and commissioners
were despatched to Vulsi and Cumae to collect
supplies. The sale of salt, hitherto in the hands of
private individuals who had raised the price to a
high figure, was now wholly transferred to the
State. The plebs were exempted from the payment of
harbour-dues and the war-tax, so that they might
fall on the rich, who could bear the burden; the
poor were held to pay sufficient to the State if
they brought up their children. This generous action
of the senate maintained the harmony of the
commonwealth through the subsequent stress of siege
and famine so completely that the name of king was
not more abhorrent to the highest than it was to the
lowest, nor did any demagogue ever succeed in
becoming so popular in after times as the senate was
then by its beneficent legislation.