been besieged; if I had not a son,
I should have died free in a free country. But as for me, I can no
longer suffer anything that will add to my wretchedness or to your
disgrace and, wretched though I am, it will not be for long. These
younger ones have the claim upon you, for, if you persist, you
will bring them to a premature death or to a life of slavery.'
Then his wife and children embraced him, and the wailing that
arose from all the throng of women, and lamentations for
themselves and their country, at length broke his resolution. He
embraced them and sent them away, and at once withdrew his forces
from the city.

Livy, ii. 40. 5-10.

_A Happy Victory_

_Coriolanus._ O, mother, mother!
What have you done? Behold! the heavens do ope,
The gods look down, and this unnatural scene
They laugh at. O my mother! mother! O!
You have won a happy victory to Rome;
But, for your son, believe it, O! believe it,
Most dangerously you have with him prevail'd,
If not most mortal to him. But let it come.
Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars,
I'll frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufidius,
Were you in my stead, would you have heard
A mother less, or granted less, Aufidius?

_Auf._ I was mov'd withal.

_Cor._ I dare be sworn you were:
And, sir, it is no little thing to make
Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good sir,
What peace you'll make, advise me: for my part,
I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you; and pray you,
Stand to me in this cause.

Shakespeare, _Coriolanus_, V. iii.

CHAPTER III

The Great Enemies of Rome

The early history of Rome is a history of war. Its heroes are soldiers.
When the city was founded and throughout its early life Italy was
divided among different peoples, ruling over different parts of the
country. With these peoples--the Latins, the Etruscans, the Volscians,
the Samnites--the Romans fought. War with one or other of them was
always going on. Its fortune varied, but in the end the Roman spirit and
the Roman organization told. One by one the other Italian tribes
submitted and accepted Roman overlordship. This was a long and slow
business, extending over hundreds of years. While it was still going on
the Romans had to meet another danger: the danger of invasion from
without. Again and again the Gauls swept down upon Italy from the north.
Once (390) they actually occupied parts