The establishment of a republic being approved of by all classes of the peciple, Brutus and Collatinus were proposed as the first two consuls. Having in vain attempted to enter the city, and finding that the army had been gained over to the new state of things, Tarquin, at the age of 76, was compelled to take refuge along with his wife and three sons, with his son Sextus, king of the Gabii. In the mean time, the con suls endeavoured to secure the liberties of the republic. They assembled the people by centuries; they con firmed the expulsion of Tarquin—they elected a rex sacrorunt to superintend their religious affairs, and they revised many of the salutary laws of Servius Tul lius. The restless spirit of Tarquin, however, suc ceeded in disturbing the tranquillity which these wise measures seemed so well calculated to secure. After many attempts to regain his authority, he contrived, by means of his ambassadors, to organize a conspira cy in his favour, in which were implicated three sons of Collatinus's sister, two brothers of the wife of Bru tus, along with Titus and Tiberius, Brutus's own sons. The proceedings of the conspirators having been over heard by Vindicius, a slave, they were immediately apprehended. Brutus sat as the judge of his own sons, and with the feelings of a true patriot, he passed the stern decree that they should be beheaded in his presence. When the sentence was executed, he quitted the tribunal, and left Collatinus to preside at the other trials. Collatinus, however, allowed his feelings to soften the demands of justice; but the people called aloud for Brutus, and by a decree of the council, the other traitors suffered the punishment which they so justly merited. Vindicius received his liberty; the palaces of the Tarquins were destroyed, and the lands divided among the poor.
In consequence or the abdication of Collatinus, ren dered necessary by his recent pusillanimity, Valerius was chosen to supply his place. The Volsci and the Tarquinienses now united their forces at the instiga tion of Tarquin. Brutus at the head of the cavalry, and Valerius at the head of the infantry, marched out to meet them. A personal combat took place between Brutus and Arunx, one of Tarquin's sons, and both of the combatants fell. The battle raged with the utmost fury till night, when some supposed stratagem of Va lerius influenced the superstitious minds of the Volsci, and caused them to quit the camp in confusion.
The great attachment of Valerius to the interests of the people, procured for him the surname of Poplicola, and at the expiration of his consulship he was re-elect ed along with Titus Lucretius, the brother of Lu cretia. While they were providing against an incur sion from the Latins, Porsena, king of Clusium, in He truria, commanded the Romans either to take back the Tarquins, or to restore them their estates; and he sup ported the demand by a formidable army which marched towards Rome, and was joined by the exiles, and by the Latins, under 1\lamilius, the son-in-law of Tarquin. The Romans were soon driven from the fort Janiculum, but they made a bold stand at the bridge which separates the fort from the city. Vic
tory, however, declared for the Hetrurians ; but Horatius Cocles, the Consul's nephew, with Sp. Lar tins and T. Herminius, who had commanded the right wing, posted themselves at the entrance of the bridge, and maintained it for a long time. The defensive arms of Lartius and Herminius having been broken, they retired across the bridge, and Horatius having desired them to have the bridge cut down at the other end, he sustained, single handed, the whole force of the enemy. Being at last wounded in the thigh, and perceiving that the bridge was nearly broken clown, he leapt into the river, and swam across it amid a shower of darts.
The dangerous position in which Rome was now placed, excited a young patrician, Mutius Cordius, to attempt the assassination of Porsena. In the disguise of a peasant he penetrated the king's tent; but mis taking the richly dressed secretary for the king, he in stantly slew him. When seized and brought before Porsena, he expressed in his countenance the disap pointment which he felt, and he thrust his right hand into a pan of burning coals which stood by. Porsena, admiring his courage, granted him his life and liberty, and even returned the dagger which had been aimed against himself. Mutius, however, deceived the Tus can king, by the declaration that 300 young Romans had sworn to take away Porsena's life; and hence he was induced to enter into an amicable arrangement with the Romans. This wise resolution was confirmed by an act of treachery on the part of the Tarquinian exiles, which had placed his own life in imminent dan ger. lie ordered them to leave his camp, concluded a peace with Rome and left behind him all the corn and provisions which he had accumulated.
Although the generosity and wisdom of Porsena had thus relieved Rome from the greatest danger that had ever threatened her, yet the persevering ambition of the Tarquins soon succeeded in besetting her with new difficulties. A conspiracy of the slaves to burn the city was no sooner discovered and put clown, than a more general one, embracing the lower classes of the citizens was completely organized. Sulpitius, one of the consuls, having been put in possession of all their plans, contrived by the help of the two informers to have the conspirators assembled in the forum, which lie invested with a body of chosen troops. The people were convened by curia, and made acquainted with the conspiracy. The conspirators were unable to make any defence when they were called upon, and sentence of death decreed by the Senate, was ap proved of by the people. When these steps were taken, the people were ordered to retire, and the con spirators were put to the sword. The two informers were highly rewarded, and the deliverance of the city was marked by festivities, expiations, and public games. The general joy, however, was disturbed by the death of Manlius Tullius, the consul, who fell from his chariot when the people were conducting him from the Circus to his own house.