Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-07-11
guarded, not by the lictors alone. but

guarded, not by the lictors alone, put
by a numerous crowd of dependents,
clients and even patricians, whom their
vices had confederated round them.
In this gloomy situation Of the
state, the Aequi and Volsci, those
constant enemies Of the Romans, re-
newed their incursions, resolving to
profit by the intestine divisions Of the
people, advanced within about ten
miles Of Rome.
The decemviri, being in possession
Of the military as we'll as Of the civil
power, divided their army into three
parts-one continued with Appius in
i the city to keep it in awe; the other
two were commanded by his col
leagues, and were led, one against
Equi, and the other against Volsci.
The Roman soldiers had now adopted
method of Furnishing the generals
whom they disliked, by suffering
themselves to be vanquished in the
field. They put it into practice upon
this occasion, and shamefully aban-
doned their camp upon the approach
| Of the eenmy. Never was victorious
news more joyfully received at Rome
than the tidings of this defeat: the
generals, as is always the case, were
blamed for the treachery Of their
men; some demanded that they
should be deposed, others cried out for
a dictator to lead the troops to con-
quest. Among the rest, old Siccius
Dentatus, the tribune, spoke his senti-
ments with his usual openness; treat
ing the generals with contempt, and
their conduct in the field. Appius. in
the meantime, was not remiss In OBJ
serving the dispositions Of the people.
Dentatus, in particular, was marked
out for vengeance, ana under pre-
tence Of doing him particular hon
or, he was appointed legate and put
at the head of the supplies which
were sent from Rome to reinforce the
army. The Office Of legate was held
sacred among the Romans, as In 1t
| was united the authority Of general,
with the reverence due to the priest
hood. Dentatus, no way suspecting
the design, went to the camp with
alacrity, where he was received with
all the external marks Of respect.
But the generals soon found means
Of indulging their desire Of revenge.
He was appointed at the head OF a
hundred men to 60 ana examine a
more commodious place for encamp-
ment, as he had very candidly as
sured the commanders that their pres
ent situation was wrong. The SOL
| diers. however, who were given as
his attendants were assassins; wretch
es who had long been ministers of
vengeance of the decemviri, and who
had now engaged to murder him,
though with all those apprehensions
which his reputation (for he was
called the Roman Achilles) might be
supposed to inspire. With these de-
| signs they led him into the hollow
bosom Of a retired mountain, where
they sat upon him behind. Dentatus
too late perceived the treachery Of
the decemviri, and was resolved to
sell his life as dearly as he could. He
therefore set his back against a rock.
and defended himself against those
who prest most closely. Though now
grown old, he had still the remains
Of his former yalor, and with his
own hand, killed no less than fifteen
Of the assailants, and wounded thir-
ty. The assassins, now therefore,
terrified at his amazing bravery, show
cred their jayelins upon him at q
distance. all Of which he received In
his shield with undaunted resolution.
The combat, though so unequal In
numbers, was managed for some time
with doubtful success. till at length
the assailants bethought themselves
Of ascending the rock against which
he stood. and poured down stones upon
him from above. This succeeded; the
old soldier fell beneath their united
efforts; after having shown by his
death, that he owed to his fortitude,
and not his fortune, that he had come
off so many times victorious. The
decemviri pretended to join the gen.
eral sorrow for so brave a man, and
decreed him a funeral with the first
military honors; but their pretended
grief. compared with their known
hatred, only rendered them still more
detestible to the people.