Chapter I: Preface

Some explanation is perhaps due from a writer who adopts the title of Comic in relation to a subject which is ordinarily considered to be so essentially grave as that of History. Though the epithet may be thought by many inappropriate to the theme, this work has been prompted by a very serious desire to instruct those who, though willing to acquire information, seek in doing so as much amusement as possible.

It is true that professedly Comic literature has been the subject of a familiarity not unmixed with contempt on the part of a portion of the public, since that class of writing obtained the popularity which has especially attended it within the last few years; but as whatever disrepute it has fallen into is owing entirely to its abuse, there is no reason for abandoning an attempt to make a right use of it. The title of Comic has therefore been retained in reference to this work, though the author has felt that its purport is likely to be misconceived by many, and among them not a few whose judgment he would highly esteem, who would turn away from a Comic History solely on account of its name, and without giving themselves the trouble to look into it. Those persons are, however, grievously mistaken who have imagined that in this, and in similar books from the same pen, the object has been to treat History as a mere farce, or to laugh at Truth--the aim of the writer having invariably been to expose falsehood, and to bring into merited contempt all that has been injudiciously, ignorantly, or dishonestly held up to general admiration. His method of telling a story may be objected to; nevertheless, if he does his utmost to tell it truly, he ought not, perhaps, to be very severely criticised for adopting the style in which he feels himself most at home; and if his opinions are found to be, in the main, such as just and sensible persons can agree with, he only asks that his views and sentiments may be estimated by what they contain, and not by any peculiarity in his mode of expressing them.

The writer of this book is animated by an earnest wish to aid, as far as he is able, in the project of combining instruction with amusement; and he trusts he shall not be blamed for endeavouring to render such ability as he possesses available for as much as it is worth, in applying it to subjects of useful information.

Those who are not disposed to approve of his design, will perhaps give him credit for his motive; and he may with confidence assert, that, from the care and attention he has bestowed upon this work, it will be found to form (irrespective of its claims to amuse) by no means the least compendious and correct of the histories already in existence of Rome to the end of the Commonwealth. If he has failed in justifying the application of the title of Comic to his work, he has reason to believe it will be found accurate. Though the style professes to be light, he would submit that truth does not necessarily make more impression by being conveyed through a heavy medium; and although facts may be playfully told, it is hoped that narrative in sport may be found to constitute history in earnest.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAP. I.--FROM THE FOUNDATION OF ROME TO THE DEATH OF ROMULUS 1

II.--FROM THE ACCESSION OF NUMA POMPILIUS TO THE DEATH OF
ANCUS MARTIUS 14

III.--FROM THE ACCESSION OF TARQUINIUS PRISCUS TO THE DEATH
OF SERVIUS TULLIUS 23

IV.--FROM THE ACCESSION OF TARQUINIUS SUPERBUS TO THE
BANISHMENT OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, AND THE ABOLITION OF
THE KINGLY DIGNITY 33

V.--FROM THE BANISHMENT OF TARQUINIUS SUPERBUS TO THE
BATTLE OF LAKE REGILLUS 43

VI.--FROM THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS TO THE CLOSE OF
THE WAR WITH THE VOLSCIANS 56

VII.--FROM THE CLOSE OF THE WAR WITH THE VOLSCIANS TO THE
PASSING OF THE BILL OF TERENTILLUS 65

VIII.--FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DECEMVIRATE TO THE
TAKING OF VEII 73

IX.--FROM THE TAKING OF ROME BY THE GAULS TO ITS SUBSEQUENT
PRESERVATION BY MANLIUS 89

X.--FROM THE TRIBUNESHIP OF C. LICINIUS TO THE DEFEAT OF
THE GAULS BY VALERIUS 97

XI.--FROM THE FIRST WAR AGAINST THE SAMNITES TO THE PASSING
OF THE LAWS OF PUBLILIUS 107

XII.--FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND TO THE END OF THE
THIRD SAMNITE WAR 116

XIII.--ON THE PEACEFUL OCCUPATIONS OF THE ROMANS. FROM THE
SCARCITY OF SUBJECT, NECESSARILY A VERY SHORT CHAPTER 129

XIV.--FROM THE END OF THE THIRD SAMNITE WAR TO THE
SUBJUGATION OF ALL ITALY BY THE ROMANS 135

XV.--THE FIRST PUNIC WAR 150

XVI.--SOME MISCELLANEOUS WARS OF ROME 161

XVII.--THE SECOND PUNIC WAR 171

XVIII.--CONCLUSION OF THE SECOND PUNIC WAR 183

XIX.--WAR WITH THE MACEDONIANS. PROCLAMATION OF THE FREEDOM
OF GREECE BY FLAMINIUS. WAR WITH ANTIOCHUS. DEATH OF
HANNIBAL, AND OF SCIPIO AFRICANUS 193

XX.--PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. MORALS, MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND STATE
OF THE DRAMA AND LITERATURE AMONG THE ROMANS 204

XXI.--WARS AGAINST PERSEUS. THE THIRD PUNIC WAR. SIEGE AND
DESTRUCTION OF CARTHAGE, AND DITTO DITTO OF CORINTH 215

XXII.--WARS IN SPAIN. VIRIATHUS. DESTRUCTION OF NUMANTIA.
THE SERVILE WAR IN SICILY. APPROPRIATION OF PERGAMUS 225

XXIII.--THE GRACCHI AND THEIR MOTHER. RISE AND FALL OF
TIBERIUS AND CAIUS GRACCHUS 234

XXIV.--THE JUGURTHINE WAR. WAR AGAINST THE CIMBRI AND TEUTONI 247

XXV.--MITHRIDATES, SULLA, MARIUS, CINNA, ET CÆTERA 257

XXVI.--DEATH OF CINNA. RETURN OF SULLA TO ROME. C. PAPIRIUS
CARBO. DICTATORSHIP OF SULLA 267

XXVII.--REACTION AGAINST THE POLICY OF SULLA. SERVICES OF
Q. SERTORIUS. METELLUS. CN. POMPEY. SPIRITED STEPS
OF SPARTACUS. THE IRATE PIRATE 275

XXVIII.--THE THIRD MITHRIDATIC WAR. DEPOSITION AND DEATH OF
MITHRIDATES 284

XXIX.--CONSPIRACY OF CATILINE. INTRODUCTION OF CICERO.
CÆSAR, POMPEY, CRASSUS, AND CO. 289

XXX.--OVERTHROW OF CRASSUS. DEFEAT OF POMPEY. DICTATORSHIP
AND DEATH OF CÆSAR. END OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC 299

ENGRAVINGS ON STEEL.

PAGE

1. ROMULUS AND REMUS DISCOVERED BY A GENTLE SHEPHERD i

2. TARQUINIUS SUPERBUS MAKES HIMSELF KING 33

3. APPIUS CLAUDIUS PUNISHED BY THE PEOPLE 80

4. THE GALLANT CURTIUS LEAPING INTO THE GULF 104

5. PYRRHUS ARRIVES IN ITALY WITH HIS TROUPE 138

6. HANNIBAL, WHILST EVEN YET A CHILD, SWEARS ETERNAL HATRED
TO THE ROMANS 168

7. FLAMINIUS RESTORING LIBERTY TO GREECE AT THE ISTHMIAN GAMES 195

8. THE MOTHER OF THE GRACCHI 234

9. MARIUS DISCOVERED IN THE MARSHES AT MINTURNÆ 261

10. CICERO DENOUNCING CATILINE 292

ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD.

PAGE

Initial T.--Æneas and Anchises 1

Rhea Silvia 4

Romulus Consulting the Augury 6

Remus jumping over the Walls 7

Awful Appearance of the Shade of Remus to Romulus 8

The Romans walking off with the Sabine Women 10

Initial R 14

Numa Pompilius remembering the Grotto 15

Death of Cluilius 17

Combat between the Horatii and Curiatii 19

Initial 23

Celeres 24

Debtor and Creditor. Seizure of Goods for a Debt 28

Initial T 33

Tarquinius Superbus has the Sibylline Books valued 35

The Evil Conscience of Tarquin 37

Mrs. Sextus consoles herself with a Little Party 39

Tail-piece 42

Initial B 43

Aruns and Brutus 45

Horatius Cocles Defending the Bridge 49

Mucius Scævola before Porsenna 51

Clælia and her Companions escaping from the Etruscan Camp 52

Initial T 56

Coriolanus parting from his Wife and Family 63

Initial A 65

A Lictor is sent to arrest Publilius Volero 68

Cincinnatus chosen Dictator 70

Roman Bull and Priest of the Period 73

Virginia carried off by a Minion in the pay of Appius 78

In the foreground of the Tableau may be observed a Patrician
looking very black at the Triumph of the General 83

In all probability something of this sort 84

School-boys flogging the Schoolmaster 88

Initial A.--A Gaul 89

The Citadel saved by the cackling of the Geese 93

Initial R.--Roman Soldier 97

Miss Fabia, the Younger, astonished at the Patrician's
Double-knock 98

Titus threatening Pomponius 103

Terrific Combat between Titus Manlius and a Gaul of gigantic
Stature 105

Initial T 107

A Scare-crow 109

Metius aggravating Titus Manlius 111

The Romans clothed by the Inhabitants
of Capua 119

Samnite Soldier 126

Initial I.--Æsculapius 129

The Ambassadors purchasing Æsculapius 133

Tail-piece 134

Initial R 135

Appearance in the Senate of a young Nobleman, named Meto 139

Self-possession of Fabricius, the Ambassador, under rather
Trying Circumstances 142

Discovery of the Head of Summanus 145

Curius Dentatus refusing the Magnificent Gift offered by the
Samnite Ambassadors 146

Initial A 150

Roman Man-of-War, from a scarce Medal 153

Initial P 161

Hanno announcing to the Mercenaries the Emptiness of the
Public Coffers 162

Early Roman Gladiator and his Patron 165

His Excellency Q. Fabius offering Peace or War to the
Carthaginian Senate 169

Hannibal crossing the Alps 173

Hannibal disguising himself 176

The "Slow Coach" 179

Young Varro 180

Archimedes taking a Warm Bath 186

Considerate Conduct of Scipio Africanus 188

Initial W 193

Hannibal leads the Ambassadors rather a fatiguing Walk round
Carthage 197

Hannibal requesting the Cretan Priests to become his Bankers 200

Hannibal makes the usual neat and appropriate Speech previous
to killing himself 201

Initial I 204

Roman Lady "Shopping" 205

Terence reading his Play to Cæcilius 210

Light Comedy Man of the Period 212

Bacchanalian Group, from a very old Vase 223

Assassination of Viriathus 226

Arrest of Eunus 231

Tib. Gracchus canvassing 238

Melancholy end of Tib. Gracchus 239

Scipio Æmilianus cramming himself for a Speech after a hearty
Supper 240

Rash Act of Caius Gracchus 244

Tail-piece 246

Drusus is Stabbed, and Expires gracefully 254

Initial F 257

"Who dares kill Marius?" 261

Marius in the Ruins of Carthage 263

Marius in his Old Age 266

Funeral Pile of Sulla 274

Initial T--Cæsar and Pompey very much alike, especially Pompey 275

Sertorius and his young Friends 278

Armed Slave 280

Spartacus 281

Mithridates, his rash act 286

Mithridates 287

Initial A--Libertas, Æqualitas, Fraternitas 289

Fulvia 291

Cicero throws up his Brief, like a Gentleman 296

Initial C 299

"Quid times? Cæsarem vehis." 301

The End of Julius Cæsar 308

THE COMIC HISTORY OF ROME.