ever, find any traces of intestine wars between the several states. 18. The Etrurian form of government was aristocratical, and the condition of the people appears to have been miserable in the extreme; they were treated as slaves destitute of political rights, and compelled to labour solely for the benefit of their taskmasters. A revolution at a late period took place at Volsin'ii, and the exclusive privileges of the nobility were abolished after a fierce and bloody struggle; it is remarkable that this town, in which the people had obtained their rights, alone made an obstinate resistance to the Romans. 19. The progress of the Tuscans in the fine arts is attested by the monuments that still remain; but of their literature we know nothing; their language is unknown, and their books have perished. In the first ages of the Roman republic, the children of the nobility were sent to Etruria for education, especially in divination and the art of soothsaying, in which the Tuscans were supposed to excel. The form of the Roman constitution, the religious ceremonies, and the ensigns of civil government, were borrowed from the Etrurians. 20. La'tium originally extended along the coast from the Tiber to the promontory of Circe'ii; hence that district was called old La'tium; the part subsequently added, called new La'tium, extended from Circeii to the Liris, Garigliano. The people were called Latins; but eastward towards the Apennines were the tribes of the Her'nici, the Æqui, the Mar'si, and the Sabines; and on the south were the Vols'ci, Ru'tuli, and Aurun'ci. The chief rivers in this country were the A'nio, Teverone, and Al'lia, which fall into the Tiber; and the Liris, Garigliano, which flows directly into the Mediterranean. 21. The chief cities in old Latium were ROME; Ti'bur, Tivoli; Tus'culum, Frescati; Al'ba Lon'ga, of which no trace remains; Lavin'ium; An'tium; Ga'bii; and Os'tia, Civi'ta Vec'chia; the chief towns in New Latium were Fun'di, Anx'ur or Terraci'na, Arpinum, Minturnæ, and For'miæ. 22. CAMPA'NIA included the fertile volcanic plains that lie between the Liris on the north, and the Silanus, Selo, on the south; the other most remarkable river was the Volturnus, Volturno. The chief cities were, Ca'pua the capital, Linter'num, Cu'mæ, Neap'olis, Naples; Hercula'neum, Pompe'ii, Surren'tum, Saler'num, &c. The original inhabitants of Campania were the Auso'nes and Op'ici or Osci, the most ancient of the Native Italian tribes. The Tyrrhenian Pelas'gi made several settlements on the coast, and are supposed to have founded Cap'ua. The Etruscans were afterwards masters of the country, but their dominion was of brief duration, and left no trace behind. Campania was subdued by the Romans after the Volscian war. 23. The soil of Campa'nia is the most fruitful, perhaps, in the world, but it is subject to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Mount Vesu'vius in the early ages of Italy was not a volcano; its first eruption took place A.D. 79. 24. UM'BRIA extended along the middle and east of Italy, from the river Rubicon in the north, to the 'sis Gesano, dividing it from Pice'num, and the Nar, Nera, separating it from Sam'nium in the south. The Umbrians were esteemed one of the most ancient races in Italy, and were said to have possessed the greater part of the northern and central provinces. They were divided into several tribes, which seem to have been semi-barbarous, and they were subject to the Gauls before they were conquered by the Romans. Their chief towns were Armi'nium, Rimini ; Spole'tium, Spoleto; Nar'nia, Narni; and Ocriculum, Otriculi. 25. PICE'NUM was the name given to the fertile plain that skirts the Adriatic, between the Æ'sis, Gesano, and the Atar'nus, Pescara. The chief cities were Anco'na and Asc'ulum Pice'num, Ascoli. The Picentines were descended from the Sabines, and observed the strict and severe discipline of that warlike race, but they were destitute of courage or vigour. 1 26. SAM'NIUM included the mountainous tract which stretches from the Atar'nus in the north, to the Fren'to in the south. It was inhabited by several tribes descended from the Sabines 1 and Maʼrsi, of which the Samnites were the most distinguished; the other most remarkable sects were the Marucci'ni and Pelig'ni in the north, the Frenta'ni in the east, and the Hirpi'ni in the south. 27. The Samnites were distinguished by their love of war and their unconquerable attachment to liberty: their sway at one time extended over Campania, and the greater part of central Italy; and the Romans found them the fiercest and most dangerous of their early enemies. The chief towns in the Samnite territory were All'ife, Beneven'tum, and Cau'dium. 28. Lower Italy was also called Magna Græ'cia, from the number of Greek 2 colonies that settled on the coast; it comprised four countries, Luca'nia and Brut'tium on the west, and Apu'lia and Cala'bria on the east. 29. LUCA'NIA was a mountainous country between the Sil'arus, Selo, on the north, and the Läus, Lavo, on the south. The Lucanians were of Sabine origin, and conquered the Enotrians, who first possessed the country; they also subdued several Greek cities on the coast. The chief cities were Posidonia or Pæstum, He'lia or Ve'lia, Sib'aris and Thuʼrium. 30. BRUT TIUM is the modern Calabria, and received that name when the ancient province was wrested from the 1 These colonies, sent out by the Sabines, are said to have originated from the observance of the Ver sacrum (sacred Spring). During certain years, every thing was vowed to the gods that was born between the calends (first day) of March and May, whether men or animals. At first they were sacrificed, but in later ages this cruel custom was laid aside, and they were sent out as colonists. 2 The history of these colonies is contained in the Historical Mis. cellany, Part II. Chap. II. empire. It included the tongue of land from the river Läus to the southern extremity of Italy at Rhe'gium. The mountains of the interior were inhabited by the Bruta'tes or Brut'tii, a semi-barbarous tribe, at first subject to the Sybarites, and afterwards to the Lucanians. In a late age they asserted their independence, and maintained a vigorous resistance to the Romans. As the Brut'tii used the Oscan language, they must have been of the Ausonian race. The chief towns were the Greek settlements on the coast, Consen'tia, Cosenza; Pando'sia, Cirenza; Croto'na, Mame'rtum, Petil'ia, and Rhe'gium, Reggio. 31. APU'LIA extended along the eastern coast from the river Fren'to, to the eastern tongue of land which forms the foot of the boot to which Italy has been compared. It was a very fruitful plain, without fortresses or harbours, and was particularly adapted to grazing cattle. It was divided by the river Au'fidus, Ofanto, into Apulia Dau'nia, and Apulia Peuce'tia, or pine-bearing Apu'lia. The chief towns were, in Dau'nia, Sipon'tum and Luce'ria: in Peuce'tia, Ba'rium Can'næ, and Venu'sia. 32. CALA'BRIA, or Messa'pia, is the eastern tongue of land which terminates at Cape Iapy'gium, Santa Maria ; it was almost wholly occupied by Grecian colonies. The chief towns were Brundu'sium, Brindisi; Callipolis, Gallipoli and Taren'tum. 33. The islands of Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia, which are now reckoned as appertaining to Italy, were by the Romans considered separate provinces. Questions for Examination. 1. How is Italy situated? 2. By what names was the country known to the ancients? 3. How is Italy bounded on the north? 4. What districts were in northern Italy? 5. What was the extent of Liguria, and the character of its inhabitants? 6. How was Cisalpine Gaul divided? 7. By whom was Cisalpine Gaul inhabited ? 9. What are the principal rivers in northern Italy? 15. By what people was Etruria colonized? 16. What were the Tuscan cities? 17. How were the cities ruled? 18. What was the general form of Tuscan government? 20. What was the geographical situation of Latium? 29. What description is given of Lucania? CHAPTER II. THE LATIN LANGUAGE AND PEOPLE.-CREDIBILITY OF THE EARLY HISTORY. Succeeding times did equal folly call, DRYDEN. [As this chapter is principally designed for advanced students, it has not been thought necessary to add a vocabulary or questions for examination.] THE Latin language contains two primary elements, the first intimately connected with the Grecian, and the second with the Oscan tongue; to the former, for the most part, belong all words expressing the arts and relations of |