nd went into exile. And when Cincinnatus saw
that justice had been done to this evil-doer, he resigned his
dictatorship, having held it for sixteen days only.

THE STORY OF VIRGINIA

Adapted by Alfred J. Church

It was agreed between the nobles and the commons that, to make an end of
disputing about the laws, ambassadors should be sent into Greece, and
especially to Athens (which city and its lawgiver, Solon, were held in
high repute in those days), to learn what manner of laws and customs they
had, and to bring back a report of them. And when the ambassadors had
brought back their report, it seemed good to the people that in the
following year there should be appointed neither consuls nor any other
magistrate, but decemvirs only; that is to say, ten men, who should set in
order the laws of Rome. Thus it came to pass in the ninety and first year
from the driving out of the kings, that decemvirs were appointed in the
stead of consuls, Appius Claudius being the chief of the ten.

For a while these pleased the people well, doing justice equally between
man and man. And the custom was that each day one of the ten sat as judge
with the twelve lictors about him, the nine others sitting with one
minister only. Also they busied themselves with the ordering of the laws;
and at last set forth ten tables on which these were written. At the same
time they called the people together to an assembly, and spake to them
thus: "The Gods grant that this undertaking may turn to the credit of the
state, and of you, and of your children. Go, therefore, and read these
laws which we have set forth; for though we have done what ten men could
do to provide laws that should be just to all, whether they be high or
low, yet the understandings of many men may yet change many things for the
better. Consider therefore all these matters in your own minds, and debate
them among yourselves. For we will that the Roman people should be bound
by such laws only as they shall have agreed together to establish."

The ten tables were therefore set forth, and when these had been
sufficiently considered, and such corrections made therein as seemed good,
a regular assembly of the people was called, and the laws were duly
established. But now there was spread abroad a report that two tables were
yet wanting, and that when these should have been added the whole would be
complete; and thence there arose a desire that the Ten should be appointed
to hold of