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Patroclus。
But there is one circumstance which deserves especial notice。 Both the
war of Troy and the war of Regillus were caused by the licentious passions
of young princes； who were therefore peculiarly bound not to be sparing
of their own persons on the day of battle。 Now the conduct of Sextus at
Regillus； as described by Livy； so exactly resembles that of Paris； as
described at the beginning of the third book of the Iliad； that it is difficult
to believe the resemblance accidental。 Paris appears before the Trojan
ranks； defying the bravest Greek to encounter him：
3 lines from the Iliad； in Greek； probably those
translated by Pope as：
。。。 to the van； before the sons of fame Whom Troy
sent forth； the beauteous Paris came：
Livy introduces Sextus in a similar manner： ‘‘Ferocem juvenem
Tarquinium； ostentantem se in prima exsulum acie。'' Menelaus rushes to
meet Paris。 A Roman noble； eager for vengeance； spurs his horse towards
Sextus。 Both the guilty princes are instantly terror…stricken：
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3 more lines in Greek； Pope's translation being：
。。。＇Menelaus＇ approaching near； The beauteous
champion views with marks of fear； Smit with a conscious sense；
retires behind； And shuns the fate he well deserv'd to find。
‘‘Tarquinius；'' says Livy； ‘‘retro in agmen suorum infenso cessit hosti。''
If this be a fortuitous coincidence； it is also one of the most extraordinary
in literature。
In the following poem； therefore； images and incidents have been
borrowed； not merely without scruple； but on principle； from the
incomparable battle…pieces of Homer。
The popular belief at Rome； from an early period； seems to have been
that the event of the great day of Regillus was decided by supernatural
agency。 Castor and Pollux； it was said； had fought armed and mounted； at
the head of the legions of the commonwealth； and had afterwards carried
the news of the victory with incredible speed to the city。 The well in the
Forum at which they had alighted was pointed out。 Near the well rose their
ancient temple。 A great festival was kept to their honor on the Ides of
Quintilis； supposed to be the anniversary of the battle； and on that day
sumptuous sacrifices were offered to them at the public charge。 One spot
on the margin of Lake Regillus was regarded during many ages with
superstitious awe。 A mark； resembling in shape a horse's hoof； was
discernible in the volcanic rock； and this mark was believed to have been
made by one of the celestial chargers。
How the legend originated cannot now be ascertained； but we may
easily imagine several ways in which it might have originated； nor is it at
all necessary to suppose； with Julius Frontinus； that two young men were
dressed up by the Dictator to personate the sons of Leda。 It is probable that
Livy is correct when he says that the Roman general； in the hour of peril；
vowed a temple to Castor。 If so； nothing could be more natural than that
the multitude should ascribe the victory to the favor of the Twin Gods。
When such was the prevailing sentiment； any man who chose to declare
that； in the midst of the confusion and slaughter； he had seen two godlike
forms on white horses scattering the Latines； would find ready credence。
We know； indeed； that in modern times a very similar story actually found
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Lays of Ancient Rome
credence among a people much more civilized than the Romans of the
fifth century before Christ。 A chaplain of Cortes； writing about thirty years
after the conquest of Mexico； in an age of printing presses； libraries；
universities； scholars； logicians； jurists； and statesmen； had the face to
assert that； in one engagement against the Indians； St。 James had appeared
on a gray horse at the head of the Castilian adventurers。 Many of those
adventurers were living when this lie was printed。 One of them； honest
Bernal Diaz； wrote an account of the expedition。 He had the evidence of
his own senses against the legend； but he seems to have distrusted even
the evidence of his own senses。 He says that he was in the battle； and that
he saw a gray horse with a man on his back； but that the man was； to his
thinking； Francesco de Morla； and not the ever…blessed apostle St。 James。
‘‘Nevertheless；'' Bernal adds； ‘‘it may be that the person on the gray horse
was the glorious apostle St。 James； and that I； sinner that I am； was
unworthy to see him。'' The Romans of the age of Cincinatus were probably
quite as credulous as the Spanish subjects of Charles the Fifth。 It is
therefore conceivable that the appearance of Castor and Pollux may be
become an article of faith before the generation which had fought at
Regillus had passed away。 Nor could anything be more natural than that
the poets of the next age should embellish this story； and make the
celestial horsemen bear the tidings of victory to Rome。
Many years after the temple of the Twin Gods had been built in the
Forum； an important addition was made to the ceremonial by which the
state annually testified its gratitude for their protection。 Quintus Fabius
and Publius Decius were elected Censors at a momentous crisis。 It had
become absolutely necessary that the classification of the citizens should
be revised。 On that classification depended the distribution of political
power。 Party spirit ran high； and the republic seemed to be in danger of
falling under the dominion either of a narrow oligarchy or of an ignorant
and headstrong rabble。 Under such circumstances； the most illustrious
patrician and the most illustrious plebeian of the age were entrusted with
the office of arbitrating between the angry factions； and they performed
their arduous task to the satisfaction of all honest and reasonable men。
One of their reforms was the remodelling of the equestrian order； and；