Curiosities & wonders > Titus Livius' Roman history

Chap. 57»
ROMAN HISTORY.
95>
CHAP. LVII.
A dispute about the excellency of Wives.
T HE Rutuli were considered as a very wealthy na¬
tion in that age and country, and were in possession of
Ardea. It was their riches alone that gave rise to the
war: For Tarquin having drained his treasury to de¬
fray the expence of his public works, was speculating
for a new supply to himself; * and that he might, by a
large booty, soothe the minds of the populace, who,
besides their dislike of him for other acts of tyranny,
were enraged at the oppressive manner in which they
had been obliged to serve the mechanics, and do other
servile work. . He made an attempt to take Ardea by
storm ; but having failed in the attempt, he tried to dis¬
tress the besieged by blockading their city, and raising
works against it.
When an army is encamped, and the war rather tedi-
oas than violent, it generally happens that they come
and go without restraint; though that indulgence only
extends to the officers. The young princes sometimes
spent their leisure hours in visiting and entertaining one
another.
One day, while they were enjoying themselves over
a bottle with Sextus Tarquinius, where Collatinus Tar-
quinius, the son of Egerius, also supped, the conversa¬
tion happened to turn on the merit of wives. Every
one was loud in the praises of his own; and the dispute
turning hot, “ What occasion is there for words,” said
Coliatinus, “ since you can be satisfied, in a few hours,
“ how much my Lucretia is superior to the rest. If then
" we have yet the vigour of youth let us mount our horses,
“ and examine the conduct of our wives on the spot;
“ each of us will be able to judge with the greater pre-
“ cision of the employment of the ladies, surprised with
“ a visit from their husbands, of which they had not the
“ most distant expectation.”
They were all heated with wine : " Come, let us go,”
* A. U. C. 24:’.