ch. 152.15The new consuls were Sp. Lartius and T. Herminius. This
year Porsena made the last attempt to effect the restoration
of the Tarquins. The ambassadors whom he had despatched to
Rome with this object were informed that the senate were
going to send an embassy to the king, and the most honourable
of the senators were forthwith despatched. They stated that
the reason why a select number of senators had been sent to
him in preference to a reply being given to his ambassadors
at Rome was not that they had been unable to give the brief
answer that, kings would never be allowed in Rome, but simply
that all mention of the matter might be for ever dropped,
that after the interchange of so many kindly acts there might
be no cause of irritation, for he, Porsena, was asking for
what would be against
the liberty of Rome. The Romans, if they did not wish to
hasten their own ruin, would have to refuse the request of
one to whom they wished to refuse nothing. Rome was not a
monarchy, but a free City, and they had made up their minds
to open their gates even to an enemy sooner than to a king.
It was the universal wish that whatever put an end to liberty
in the City should put an end to the City itself. They begged
him, if he wished Rome to be safe, to allow it to be free.
Touched with a feeling of sympathy and respect, the king
replied, Since this is your fixed and unalterable
determination, I will not harass you by fruitless proposals,
nor will I deceive the Tarquins by holding out hopes of an
assistance which I am powerless to render. Whether they
insist on war or are prepared to live quietly, in either case
they must seek another place of exile than this, to prevent
any interruption of the peace between you and me. He
followed up his words by still stronger practical proofs of
friendship, for he returned the remainder of the hostages and
restored the Veientine territory which had been taken away
under the treaty. As all hope of restoration was cut off,
Tarquin went to his son-in-law Mamilius Octavius at Tusculum.
So the peace between Rome and Porsena remained unbroken.
