Tarquin is dead, and our obligations to be subject to the
Romans, are dead with him."
_Mr. B._ Pray where did these haughty people reside, Edward?
_Edward._ At Veii, papa, a powerful city of Etruria, about twelve miles
distant from Rome.
_Mr. B._ Perfectly right. I imagine, the confidence of the Veientes
proceeded partly from the hopes they entertained of profiting by the
dissensions between the king and senate of Rome. Nothing weakens a state
so much as internal discord. The moral of the old man's bundle of
sticks, might be as properly applied to the larger communities of men,
as to his own little family. You all know the story to which I allude:
do you not?
_Ferdinand._ I do. You know, I read it to you the other day, papa.
_Emily._ But we do not; so, perhaps, papa, you will be so kind as to
tell is us.
_Mr. B._ We will not interrupt our Roman history now; when you have
finished your account, Ferdinand shall relate the story to you. Now,
Edward, proceed.
_Edward._ The Veientes prepared for war, and drew two other neighbouring
states, those of Caere and Tarquinia, into their party. But Servius, by
his courage and conduct, subdued the confederates, deprived them of
their lands, and transferred them to the new citizens of Rome, who had
no lands of their own. The success of Servius attached the people still
more to his interest, and he resolved to take advantage of their favour,
in order to render his title to the throne still more secure.
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