1.28
Then the Alban army, who
had been watching the fight, marched down into the
plain. Mettius congratulated Tullus on his victory,
Tullus replied in a friendly tone, and as a mark of
goodwill, ordered the Albans to form their camp
contiguous to that of the Romans, and made
preparations for a "lustral sacrifice" on the
morrow. As soon as it was light, and all the
preparations were made, he gave the customary order
for both armies to muster on parade. The heralds
began at the furthest part of the camp, where the
Albans were, and summoned them first of all; they,
attracted by the novelty of hearing the Roman
addressing his troops, took up their position close
round him. Secret instructions had been given for
the Roman legion to stand fully armed behind them,
and the centurions were in readiness to execute
instantly the orders they received. Tullus commenced
as follows: "Romans! if in any war that you have
ever waged there has been reason for you to thank,
first, the immortal gods, and then your own personal
courage, such was certainly the case in yesterday's
battle. For whilst you had to contend with an open
enemy, you had a still more serious and dangerous
conflict to maintain against the treachery and
perfidy of your allies. For I must undeceive you -it was by no command of mine that the Albans
withdrew to the mountains. What you heard was not a
real order but a pretended one, which I used as an
artifice to prevent your knowing that you were
deserted, and so losing heart for the battle, and
also to fill the enemy with alarm and a desire to
flee by making them think that they were being
surrounded. The guilt which I am denouncing does not
involve all the Albans; they only followed their
general, just as you would have done had I wanted to
lead my army away from the field. It is Mettius who
is the leader of this march, Mettius who engineered
this war, Mettius who broke the treaty between Rome
and Alba. Others may venture on similar practices,
if I do not make this man a signal lesson to all the
world." The armed centurions closed round Mettius,
and the king proceeded: "I shall take a course which
will bring good fortune and happiness to the Roman
people and myself, and to you, Albans; it is my
intention to transfer the entire Alban population to
Rome, to give the rights of citizenship to the
plebeians, and enrol the nobles in the senate, and
to make one City, one State. As formerly the Alban
State was broken up into two nations, so now let it
once more become one." The Alban soldiery listened
to these words with conflicting feelings, but
unarmed as they were and hemmed in by armed men, a
common fear kept them silent. Then Tullus said:
"Mettius Fufetius! if you could have learnt to keep
your word and respect treaties, I would have given
you that instruction in your lifetime, but now,
since your character is past cure, do at least teach
mankind by your punishment to hold those things as
sacred which have been outraged by you. As yesterday
your interest was divided between the Fidenates and
the Romans, so now you shall give up your body to be
divided and dismembered." Thereupon two four-horse
chariots were brought up, and Mettius was bound at
full length to each, the horses were driven in
opposite directions, carrying off parts of the body
in each chariot, where the limbs had been secured by
the cords. All present averted their eyes from the
horrible spectacle. This is the first and last
instance amongst the Romans of a punishment so
regardless of humanity. Amongst other things which
are the glory of Rome is this, that no nation has
ever been contented with milder punishments.