第20节
【】ountryhout kingtoonyspeeches.theyaginative thanthegreeksandtheypreferredanounceofatoa poundofulti tudethe``plebe,astheasselageoffreecitizensalled onlytooeupoalk.they thereforeplatualbusinessofrunniyinto thehandsoftedbyauncilof elders,calledthesenatebecausetheeansan oldn.asatterofcustondpraaladvahe senatorsthenobility.buttheirpowerhad beenstrictlydefined. roatoihadpassedthroughthesasortof strugglebethepoorandtheried athenstoadoptthelaethis nfliurredihturyb.c.asaresultthe freenhadobtaiendeoflaected thegainstthedespotisfthearistojudgesbythe institutionofthe``tribuhesetribunesy gistrates,electedbythefreen.theyhadtherighttoprotect aofficials houghttobeunjust.ansulhadtherightto odeath,butifthecasehadnotbeenabsolutely provedthetribuneuldinterfereandsavethepoor fellowslife. bute,iseeorefertoalittle cityofafehousandinhabitants.andtherealstrengthof rolayirydistrictsoutsideher entoftheseoutlyingprovihatro atanearlyageshoasalonising power. inveryearlytisrohadbeentheonlystronglyfortified cityiralitaly,butithadalable refugetootherlatintribesobeindangerof attack.thelatinneighbourshadregheadvantages ofacloseunionhsuchapoheyhadtried tofindabasisforsosortofdefensiveandoffensivealliance. otheatioians,babylonians,phoenis, evengreeks,ission oofthe``barbarians,theronsdidnothingof thesort.theygavethe``outsideracetobeepartners inan``respublionh. ``youtojoinus,theysaid.``verywell,goahead andjoiyouasifyouizens ofro.iuforthisprivilegeyouto fightforourcity,thetherofusall,shallbe necessary. the``outsiderappreciatedthisgenerosityandheshowed hisgratitudebyhisunsy. yhadbeenattacked,thefn residentshadvedoutasquicklyastheyuld.whydefend sothinothingtotheutateorary bhouseinheyoleratedaslongasthey paidtheirbillsbutyhegates ofro,allthelatinsrushedtoherdefeheir thereevenif theylivedahundredlesahewalls ofthesacredhills. andnodisasteruldgethissentint.in thebeginningofthefourthturyb.c.theed theiranarnear theriveralliaandhadrchedupoy.theyhad takenroaheyexpectedthatthepeoplewould eandsueforpeace.theyed,butnothinghappened. afterashorttithegaulsfoundtheelvessurroundedby ahostilepopulatioiossiblefortheoobtain supplies.aftersevennths,hungerforcedtheohdraw. thepolietotreatthe``fneronequal terhadprovedagreatsuessandrostoerthan everbefore. thisshortaeshowsyou theenorusdiffereanidealofahealthy state,andthatoftheabodiedinthe toansunteduponthecheerful ayoperatioberof``equalcitizens. thecarthaginians,follopleofegypt andeasia,insistedupontheunreasoningandtherefore unsandhesefailed theyhiredprofessionalsoldierstodotheirfightingforthe youandhageofear suleverandpoyaoyof carthageooight destroythedangerousrivalbeforeitoolate. butthee itneverpaystorushtters.theyproposedtotherons thattheirrespeitiesdraapand thateairclesasherown``sphere ofinfluendprosetokeepoutoftheotherfellows le.theagreentptlydeand asprotlyhsidesthoughtitosendtheir arestosicilyentinvited fninterference. thehesocalledfirstpunicwar lastedtyfouryears.itoutonthehighseas andinthebeginningitseedthattheexperienar thaginiannavya. folloheiraaarthaginianshipswould eitherraheenevesselsorbyaboldattackfroheside theyheiroarsandhenkillthesailorsof thehelplessvesselhtheirarrohfireballs.but ronengineersiedanehcarriedab bridgeaenstordthe hostileship.thenthereinian viylaetheirfleeted. carthageepart oftherondoins. tein questofpperhadtakentheislandofsardinia.carthage iofsilverthereuponoupiedallofsouthespain. thisdeans.the crossthepyreneesandyofoupation. thestageforthesendoutbreakbethetwo rivals.reekloextforawar. thecarthaginiansoast ofspain.thesaguntiansappealedtoroandro,as usual,isedthehelpof thelatinares,butthepreparationforthi ...