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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
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