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Lays of Ancient Rome
Lays of Ancient Rome
By Thomas Babbington Macaulay
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Lays of Ancient Rome
Preface
Horatius The Lay
The Battle of the Lake Regillus The Lay
Virginia The Lay
The Prophecy of Capys The Lay
That what is called the history of the Kings and early Consuls of
Rome is to a great extent fabulous； few scholars have； since the time of
Beaufort； ventured to deny。 It is certain that； more than three hundred and
sixty years after the date ordinarily assigned for the foundation of the city；
the public records were； with scarcely an exception； destroyed by the
Gauls。 It is certain that the oldest annals of the commonwealth were
compiled more than a century and a half after this destruction of the
records。 It is certain； therefore； that the great Latin writers of the Augustan
age did not possess those materials； without which a trustworthy account
of the infancy of the republic could not possibly be framed。 Those writers
own； indeed； that the chronicles to which they had access were filled with
battles that were never fought； and Consuls that were never inaugurated；
and we have abundant proof that； in these chronicles； events of the greatest
importance； such as the issue of the war with Porsena and the issue of the
war with Brennus； were grossly misrepresented。 Under these
circumstances a wise man will look with great suspicion on the legend
which has come down to us。 He will perhaps be inclined to regard the
princes who are said to have founded the civil and religious institutions of
Rome； the sons of Mars； and the husband of Egeria； as mere mythological
personages； of the same class with Perseus and Ixion。 As he draws nearer
to the confines of authentic history； he will become less and less hard of
belief。 He will admit that the most important parts of the narrative have
some foundation in truth。 But he will distrust almost all the details； not
only because they seldom rest on any solid evidence； but also because he
will constantly detect in them； even when they are within the limits of
physical possibility； that peculiar character； more easily understood than
defined； which distinguishes the creations of the imagination from the
realities of the world in which we live。
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Lays of Ancient Rome
The early history of Rome is indeed far more poetical than anything
else in Latin literature。 The loves of the Vestal and the God of War； the
cradle laid among the reeds of Tiber； the fig…tree； the she…wolf； the
shepherd's cabin； the recognition； the fratricide； the rape of the Sabines；
the death of Tarpeia； the fall of Hostus Hostilius； the struggle of Mettus
Curtius through the marsh； the women rushing with torn raiment and
dishevelled hair between their fathers and their husbands； the nightly
meetings of Numa and the Nymph by the well in the sacred grove； the
fight of the three Romans and the three Albans； the purchase of the
Sibylline books； the crime of Tullia； the simulated madness of Brutus； the
ambiguous reply of the Delphian oracle to the Tarquins； the wrongs of
Lucretia； the heroic actions of Horatius Cocles； of Scaevola； and of Cloelia；
the battle of Regillus won by the aid of Castor and Pollux； the defense of
Cremera； the touching story of Coriolanus； the still more touching story of
Virginia； the wild legend about the draining of the Alban lake； the combat
between Valerius Corvus and the gigantic Gaul； are among the many
instances which will at once suggest themselves to every reader。
In the narrative of Livy； who was a man of fine imagination； these
stories retain much of their genuine character。 Nor could even the tasteless
Dionysius distort and mutilate them into mere prose。 The poetry shines； in
spite of him； through the dreary pedantry of his eleven books。 It is
discernible in the most tedious and in the most superficial modern works
on the early times of Rome。 It enlivens the dulness of the Universal
History； and gives a charm to the most meagre abridgements of
Goldsmith。
Even in the age of Plutarch there were discerning men who rejected
the popular account of the foundation of Rome； because that account
appeared to them to have the air； not of a history； but of a romance or a
drama。 Plutarch； who was displeased at their incredulity； had nothing
better to say in reply to their arguments than that chance sometimes turns
poet； and produces trains of events not to be distinguished from the most
elaborate plots which are constructed by art。 But though the existence of a
poetical element in the early history of the Great City was detected so
many ages ago； the first critic who distinctly saw from what source that
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Lays of Ancient Rome
poetical element had been derived was James Perizonius； one of the most
acute and learned antiquaries of the seventeenth century。 His theory； which
in his own days attracted little or no notice； was revived in the present
generation by Niebuhr； a man who would have been the first writer of his
time； if his talent for communicating truths had borne any proportion to
his talent for investigating them。 That theory has been adopted by several
eminent scholars of our own country； particularly by the Bishop of St。
David's； by Professor Malde； and by the lamented Arnold。 It appears to be
now generally received by men conversant with classical antiquity； and
indeed it rests on such strong proofs； both internal and external； that it will
not be easily subverted。 A popular exposition of this theory； and of the
evidence by which it is supported； may not be without interest even for
readers who are unacquainted with the ancient languages。
The Latin literature which has come down to us is of later date than
the commencement of the Second Punic War； and consists almost
exclusively of works fashioned on Greek models。 The Latin metres； heroic；
elegiac； lyric； and dramatic； are of Greek origin。 The best Latin epic poetry
is the feeble echo of the Iliad and Odyssey。 The best Latin eclogues are
imitations of Theocritus。 The plan of the most finished didactic poem in
the Latin tongue was taken from Hesiod。 The Latin tragedies are bad
copies of the masterpieces of Sophocles and Euripides。 The Latin
philosophy was borrowed； without alteration； from the Portico and the
Academy； and the great Latin orators constantly proposed to themselves as
patterns the speeches of Demosthenes and Lysias。
But there was an earlier Latin literature； a literature truly Latin； which
has wholly perished； which had； indeed almost wholly perished long
before those whom we are in the habit of regarding as the greatest Latin
writers were born。 That literature abounded with metrical romances； such
as are found in every country where there is much curiosity and
intelligence； but little reading and writing。 All human beings； not utterly
savage； long for some information about past times； and are delighted by
narratives which present pictures to the eye of the mind。 But it is only in
very enlightened communities that books are readily accessible。 Metrical
composition； therefore； which； in a highly civilized nation； is a mere
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luxury； is； in nations imperfectly civilized； almost a necessary of life； and
is valued less on account of the pleasure which it gives to the ear； than on
account of the help which it gives to the memory。 A man who can invent
or embellish an interesting story； and put it into a form which others may
easily retain in their recollection； will always be highly esteemed by a
people eager for amusement and information； but destitute of libraries。
Such is the origin of ballad…poetry； a species of composition which
scarcely ever fails to spring up and flourish in every society； at a certain
point in the progress towards refinement。 Tacitus informs us that songs
were the only memorials of the past which the ancient Germans possessed。
We learn from Lucan and from Ammianus Marcellinus that the brave
actions of the ancient Gauls were commemorated in the verses of Bards。
During many ages； and through many revolution； minstrelsy retained its
influence over both the Teutonic and the Celtic race。 The vengeance
exacted by the spouse of Attila for the murder of Siegfried was celebrated
in rhymes； of which Germany is still justly proud。 The exploits of
Athelstane were commemorated by the Anglo…Saxons and those of Canute
by the Danes； in rude poems； of which a few fragments have come down
to us。 The chants of the Welsh harpers preserved； through ages of darkness；
a faint and doubtful memory of Arthur。 In the Highlands of Scotland may
still be gleaned some relics of the old songs about Cuthullin and Fingal。
The long struggle of the Servians against the Ottoman power was recorded
in lays full of martial spirit。 We learn from Herrera that； when a Peruvian
Inca died； men of skill were appointed to celebrate him in verses； which
all the people learned by heart； and sang in public on days of festival。 The
feats of Kurroglou； the great freebooter of Turkistan； recounted in ballads
composed by himself； are known in every village of northern Persia。
Captain Be
