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their petty local animosities in coarse Fescennine verse。 The lampoons of
the city were doubtless of a higher order； and their sting was early felt by
the nobility。 For in the Twelve Tables； long before the time of the Licinian
laws； a severe punishment was denounced against the citizen who should
compose or recite verses reflecting on another。 Satire is； indeed； the only
sort of composition in which the Latin poets； whose works have come
down to us； were not mere imitators of foreign models； and it is therefore
the only sort of composition in which they have never been rivalled。 It was
not； like their tragedy； their comedy； their epic and lyric poetry； a hothouse
plant which； in return for assiduous and skilful culture； gave only scanty
and sickly fruits。 It was hardy and full of sap； and in all the various juices
which it yielded might be distinguished the flavor of the Ausonian soil。
‘‘Satire；'' said Quinctilian； with just pride； ‘‘is all our own。'' Satire sprang；
in truth； naturally from the constitution of the Roman government and
from the spirit of the Roman people； and； though at length subjected to
metrical rules derived from Greece； retained to the last an essentially
Roman character。 Lucilius was the earliest satirist whose works were held
in esteem under the Caesars。 But many years before Lucilius was born； N
鎣 ius had been flung into a dungeon； and guarded there with
circumstances of unusual rigor； on account of the bitter lines in which he
had attacked the great Caecilian family。 The genius and spirit of the
Roman satirists survived the liberty of their country； and were not
extinguished by the cruel despotism of the Julian and Flavian Emperors。
The great poet who told the story of Domitian's turbot was the legitimate
successor of those forgotten minstrels whose songs animated the factions
of the infant Republic。
Those minstrels； as Niebuhr has remarked； appear to have generally
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taken the popular side。 We can hardly be mistaken in supposing that； at the
great crisis of the civil conflict； they employed themselves in versifying all
the most powerful and virulent speeches of the Tribunes； and in heaping
abuse on the leaders of the aristocracy。 Every personal defect； every
domestic scandal； every tradition dishonorable to a noble house； would be
sought out； brought into notice； and exaggerated。 The illustrious head of
the aristocratical party； Marcus Furius Camillus； might perhaps be； in
some measure； protected by his venerable age and by the memory of his
great services to the state。 But Appius Claudius Crassus enjoyed no such
immunity。 He was descended from a long line of ancestors distinguished
by their haughty demeanor； and by the inflexibility with which they had
withstood all the demands of the Plebeian order。 While the political
conduct and the deportment of the Claudian nobles drew upon them the
fiercest public hatred； they were accused of wanting； if any credit is due to
the early history of Rome； a class of qualities which； in a military
commonwealth； is sufficient to cover a multitude of offences。 The chiefs
of the family appear to have been eloquent； versed in civil business； and
learned after the fashion of their age； but in war they were not
distinguished by skill or valor。 Some of them； as if conscious where their
weakness lay； had； when filling the highest magistracies； taken internal
administration as their department of public business； and left the military
command to their colleagues。 One of them had been entrusted with an
army； and had failed ignominiously。 None of them had been honored with
a triumph。 None of them had achieved any martial exploit； such as those
by which Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus； Titus Quinctius Capitolinus；
Aulus Cornelius Cossus； and； above all； the great Camillus； had extorted
the reluctant esteem of the multitude。 During the Licinian conflict； Appius
Claudius Crassus signalized himself by the ability and severity with which
he harangued against the two great agitators。 He would naturally； therefore；
be the favorite mark of the Plebeian satirists； nor would they have been at
a loss to find a point on which he was open to attack。
His grandfather； called； like himself； Appius Claudius； had left a name
as much detested as that Sextus Tarquinius。 This elder Appius had been
Consul more than seventy years before the introduction of the Licinian
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laws。 By availing himself of a singular crisis in public feeling； he had
obtained the consent of the Commons to the abolition of the Tribuneship；
and had been the chief of that Council of Ten to which the whole direction
of the state had been committed。 In a new months his administration had
become universally odious。 It had been swept away by an irresistible
outbreak of popular fury； and its memory was still held in abhorrence by
the whole city。 The immediate cause of the downfall of this execrable
government was said to have been an attempt made by Appius Claudius
upon the chastity of a beautiful young girl of humble birth。 The story ran
that the Decemvir； unable to succeed by bribes and solicitations； resorted
to an outrageous act of tyranny。 A vile dependent of the Claudian house
laid claim to the damsel as his slave。 The cause was brought before the
tribunal of Appius。 The wicked magistrate； in defiance of the clearest
proofs； gave judgment for the claimant。 But the girl's father； a brave
soldier； saved her from servitude and dishonor by stabbing her to the heart
in the sight of the whole Forum。 That blow was the signal for a general
explosion。 Camp and city rose at once； the Ten were pulled down； the
Tribuneship was re 雜 tablished； and Appius escaped the hands of the
executioner only by a voluntary death。
It can hardly be doubted that a story so admirably adapted to the
purposes both of the poet and of the demagogue would be eagerly seized
upon by minstrels burning with hatred against the Patrician order； against
the Claudian house； and especially against the grandson and namesake of
the infamous Decemvir。
In order that the reader may judge fairly of these fragments of the lay
of Virginia； he must imagine himself a Plebeian who has just voted for the
re 雔 ection of Sextius and Licinius。 All the power of the Patricians has
been exerted to throw out the two great champions of the Commons。
Every Posthumius； 苖 ilius； and Cornelius has used his influence to the
utmost。 Debtors have been let out of the workhouses on condition of
voting against the men of the people； clients have been posted to hiss and
interrupt the favorite candidates； Appius Claudius Crassus has spoken with
more than his usual eloquence and asperity： all has been in vain； Licinius
and Sextius have a fifth time carried all the tribes： work is suspended； the
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booths are closed； the Plebeians bear on their shoulders the two champions
of liberty through the Forum。 Just at this moment it is announced that a
great poet； a zealous adherent of the Tribunes； has made a new song which
will cut the Claudian nobles to the heart。 The crowd gathers round him；
and calls on him to recite it。 He takes his stand on the spot where；
according to tradition； Virginia； more than seventy years ago； was seized
by the pandar of Appius； and he begins his story。
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Virginia
Fragments of a Lay Sung in the Forum on the Day Whereon Lucius
Sextius Sextinus Lateranus and Caius Licinius Calvus Stolo Were Elected
Tribunes of the Commons the Fifth Time； in the Year of the City
CCCLXXXII
Ye good men of