POPLICOLA
500 B。C。
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
SUCH was Solon。 To him we compare Poplicola； who received this later
title from the Roman people for his merit； as a noble accession to his
former name； Publius Valerius。 He descended from Valerius； a man
amongst the early citizens； reputed the principal reconciler of the
differences betwixt the Romans and Sabines； and one that was most
instrumental in persuading their kings to assent to peace and union。
Thus descended； Publius Valerius； as it is said； whilst Rome
remained under its kingly government； obtained as great a name from
his eloquence as from his riches； charitably employing the one in
liberal aid to the poor； the other with integrity and freedom in the
service of justice thereby giving assurance； that； should the
government fall into a republic； he would become a chief man in the
community。 The illegal and wicked accession of Tarquinius Superbus
to the crown； with his making it； instead of kingly rule； the
instrument of insolence and tyranny； having inspired the people with a
hatred to his reign； upon the death of Lucretia （she killing herself
after violence had been done to her）； they took an occasion of revolt；
and Lucius Brutus； engaging in the change； came to Valerius before all
others； and； with his zealous assistance； deposed the kings。 And
whilst the people inclined towards the electing one leader instead
of their king； Valerius acquiesced； that to rule was rather Brutus's
due； as the author of the democracy。 But when the name of monarchy was
odious to the people； and a divided power appeared more grateful in
the prospect； and two were chosen to hold it； Valerius； entertaining
hopes that he might be elected consul with Brutus； was disappointed；
for； instead of Valerius； notwithstanding the endeavours of Brutus；
Tarquinius Collatinus was chosen； the husband of Lucretia； a man
noways his superior in merit。 But the nobles dreading the return of
their kings； who still used all endeavours abroad and solicitations at
home； were resolved upon a chieftain of an intense hatred to them； and
noways likely to yield。
Now Valerius was troubled that his desire to serve his country
should be doubted； because he had sustained no private injury from the
insolence of the tyrants。 He withdrew from the senate and practice
of the bar； quitting all public concerns； which gave an occasion of
discourse； and fear； too； lest his anger should reconcile him to the
king's side； and he should prove the ruin of the state； tottering as
yet under the uncertainties of a change。 But Brutus being doubtful
of some others； and determined to give the test to the senate upon the
altars； upon the day appointed Valerius came with cheerfulness into
the forum； and was the first man that took the oath； in no way to
submit or yield to Tarquin's propositions； but rigorously to
maintain liberty； which gave great satisfaction to the senate and
assurance to the consuls； his action soon after showing the
sincerity of his oath。 For ambassadors came from Tarquin； with popular
and specious proposals； whereby they thought to seduce the people；
as though the king had cast off all insolence； and made moderation the
only measure of his desires。 To this embassy the consuls thought fit
to give public audience； but Valerius opposed it； and would not permit
that the poorer people； who entertained more fear of war than of
tyranny； should have any occasion offered them； or any temptations
to new designs。 Afterwards other ambassadors arrived； who declared
their king would recede from his crown； and lay down his arms； only
capitulating for a restitution to himself； his friends； and allies； of
their moneys and estates to support them in their banishment。 Now；
several inclining to the request； and Collatinus in particular
favouring it； Brutus； a man of vehement and unbending nature； rushed
into the forum； there proclaiming his fellow…consul to be a traitor；
in granting subsidies to tyranny； and supplies for a war to those to
whom it was monstrous to allow so much as subsistence in exile。 This
caused an assembly of the citizens； amongst whom the first that
spake was Caius Minucius； a private man； who advised Brutus； and urged
the Romans to keep the property； and employ it against the tyrants；
rather than to remit it to the tyrants； to be used against themselves。
The Romans； however； decided that whilst they had enjoyed the
liberty they had fought for； they should not sacrifice peace for the
sake of money； but send out the tyrants' property after them。 This
question； however； of his property was the least part of Tarquin's
design； the demand sounded the feelings of the people； and was
preparatory to a conspiracy which the ambassadors endeavoured to
excite； delaying their return； under pretence of selling some of the
goods and reserving others to be sent away； till； in fine； they
corrupted two of the most eminent families in Rome； the Aquillian；
which had three； and the Vitellian； which had two senators。 These
all were； by the mother's side； nephews to Collatinus； besides which
Brutus had a special alliance to the Vitellii from his marriage with
their sister； by whom he had several children； two of whom； of their
own age； their near relations and daily companions； the Vitellii
seduced to join in the plot； to ally themselves to the great house and
royal hopes of the Tarquins； and gain emancipation from the violence
and imbecility united of their father； whose austerity to offenders
they termed violence； while the imbecility which he had long
feigned； to protect himself from the tyrants； still； it appears；
was； in name at least； ascribed to him。 When upon these inducements
the youths came to confer with the Aquillii； and thought it convenient
to bind themselves in a solemn and dreadful oath； by tasting the blood
of a murdered man； and touching his entrails。 For which design they
met at the house of the Aquillii。 The building chosen for the
transaction was； as was natural； dark and unfrequented； and a slave
named Vindicius had； as it chanced； concealed himself there； not out
of design or any intelligence of the affair； but； accidentally being
within； seeing with how much haste and concern they came in； he was
afraid to be discovered； and placed himself behind a chest； where he
was able to observe their actions and overhear their debates。 Their
resolutions were to kill the consuls； and they wrote letters to
Tarquin to this effect； and gave them to the ambassadors； who were
lodging upon the spot with the Aquillii； and were present at the
consultation。
Upon their departure； Vindicius secretly quitted the house； but
was at a loss what to do in the matter； for to arraign the sons before
the father Brutus； or the nephews before the uncle Collatinus；
seemed equally （as indeed it was） shocking； yet he knew no private
Roman to whom he could intrust secrets of such importance。 Unable；
however； to keep silence； and burdened with his knowledge； he went and
addressed himself to Valerius； whose known freedom and kindness of
temper were an inducement； as he was a person to whom the needy had
easy access； and who never shut his gates against the petitions or
indigences of humble people。 But when Vindicius came and made a
complete discovery to him； his brother Marcus and his own wife being
present； Valerius was struck with amazement； and by no means would
dismiss the discoverer； but confined him to the room； and placed his
wife as a guard to the door； sending his brother in the interim to
beset the king's palace； and seize； if possible； the writings there；
and secure the domestics； whilst he； with his constant attendance of
clients and friends； and a great retinue of attendants； repaired to
the house of the Aquillii； who were； as it chanced； absent from
home； and so； forcing an entrance through the gates； they lit upon the
letters then lying in the lodgings of the ambassadors。 Meantime the
Aquillii returned in all haste； and； coming to blows about the gate；
endeavoured a recovery of the letters。 The other party made a
resistance； and throwing their gowns around their opponents' necks； at
last； after much struggling on both sides； made their way with them
their prisoners through the streets into the forum。 The like
engagement happened about the king's palace； where Marcus seized
some other letters which it was designed should be conveyed away in
the goods； and； laying hands on such of the king's people as he
could find； dragged them also into the forum。 When the consuls had
quieted the tumult； Vindicius was brought out by the orders of
Valerius； and the accusation stated； and the letters were opened； to
which the traitors could make no plea。 Most of the people standing
mute and sorrowful； some only； out of kindness to Brutus； mentioning
banishment； the tears of Collatinus； attended with Valerius's silence；
gave some hopes of mercy。 But Brutus； calling his two sons by their
names； 〃Canst not thou；〃 said he； 〃O Titus； or thou； Tiberius； make
any defence against the indictment？〃 The question being thrice
proposed； and no reply made； he turned himself to the lictors and
cried； 〃What remains is your duty。〃 They immediately seized the
youths； and； stripping them of their clothes； bound their hands behind
them and scourged their bodies with their rods； too tragical a scene
for others to look at； Brutus； however； is said not to have turned
aside his face； nor allowed the least glance of pity to soften and
smooth his aspect of rigour and austerity； but sternly watched his
children suffer； even till the lictors； extending them on the
ground； cut off their heads with an axe； then departed； committing the
rest to the judgment of his colleague。 An action truly open alike to
the highest commendation and the strongest censure； for either the
greatness of his virtue raised him above the impressions of sorrow； or
the extravagance of his misery took away all sense of it； but
neither seemed common； or the result of humanity； but either divine or
brutish。 Yet it is more reasonable t