The writer of this book is animated by an earnest wish to aid, as far as he is able, in the project of combining instruction with amusement; and he trusts he shall not be blamed for endeavouring to render such ability as he possesses available for as much as it is worth, in applying it to subjects of useful information.
Those who are not disposed to approve of his design, will perhaps give him credit for his motive; and he may with confidence assert, that, from the care and attention he has bestowed upon this work, it will be found to form (irrespective of its claims to amuse) by no means the least compendious and correct of the histories already in existence of Rome to the end of the Commonwealth. If he has failed in justifying the application of the title of Comic to his work, he has reason to believe it will be found accurate. Though the style professes to be light, he would submit that truth does not necessarily make more impression by being conveyed through a heavy medium; and although facts may be playfully told, it is hoped that narrative in sport may be found to constitute history in earnest.
CONTENTS.
| CHAP. | PAGE | |
| I.— | FROM THE FOUNDATION OF ROME TO THE DEATH OF ROMULUS | [1] |
| II.— | FROM THE ACCESSION OF NUMA POMPILIUS TO THE DEATH OF ANCUS MARTIUS | [14] |
| III.— | FROM THE ACCESSION OF TARQUINIUS PRISCUS TO THE DEATH OF SERVIUS TULLIUS | [23] |
| IV.— | FROM THE ACCESSION OF TARQUINIUS SUPERBUS TO THE BANISHMENT OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, AND THE ABOLITION OF THE KINGLY DIGNITY | [33] |
| V.— | FROM THE BANISHMENT OF TARQUINIUS SUPERBUS TO THE BATTLE OF LAKE REGILLUS | [43] |
| VI.— | FROM THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS TO THE CLOSE OF THE WAR WITH THE VOLSCIANS | [56] |
| VII.— | FROM THE CLOSE OF THE WAR WITH THE VOLSCIANS TO THE PASSING OF THE BILL OF TERENTILLUS | [65] |
| VIII.— | FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DECEMVIRATE TO THE TAKING OF VEII | [73] |
| IX.— | FROM THE TAKING OF ROME BY THE GAULS TO ITS SUBSEQUENT PRESERVATION BY MANLIUS | [89] |
| X.— | FROM THE TRIBUNESHIP OF C. LICINIUS TO THE DEFEAT OF THE GAULS BY VALERIUS | [97] |
| XI.— | FROM THE FIRST WAR AGAINST THE SAMNITES TO THE PASSING OF THE LAWS OF PUBLILIUS | [107] |
| XII.— | FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND TO THE END OF THE THIRD SAMNITE WAR | [116] |
| XIII.— | ON THE PEACEFUL OCCUPATIONS OF THE ROMANS. FROM THE SCARCITY OF SUBJECT, NECESSARILY A VERY SHORT CHAPTER | [129] |
| XIV.— | FROM THE END OF THE THIRD SAMNITE WAR TO THE SUBJUGATION OF ALL ITALY BY THE ROMANS | [135] |
| XV.— | THE FIRST PUNIC WAR | [150] |
| XVI.— | SOME MISCELLANEOUS WARS OF ROME | [161] |
| XVII.— | THE SECOND PUNIC WAR | [171] |
| XVIII.— | CONCLUSION OF THE SECOND PUNIC WAR | [183] |
| XIX.— | WAR WITH THE MACEDONIANS. PROCLAMATION OF THE FREEDOM OF GREECE BY FLAMINIUS. WAR WITH ANTIOCHUS. DEATH OF HANNIBAL, AND OF SCIPIO AFRICANUS | [193] |
| XX.— | PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. MORALS, MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND STATE OF THE DRAMA AND LITERATURE AMONG THE ROMANS | [204] |
| XXI.— | WARS AGAINST PERSEUS. THE THIRD PUNIC WAR. SIEGE AND DESTRUCTION OF CARTHAGE, AND DITTO DITTO OF CORINTH | [215] |
| XXII.— | WARS IN SPAIN. VIRIATHUS. DESTRUCTION OF NUMANTIA. THE SERVILE WAR IN SICILY. APPROPRIATION OF PERGAMUS | [225] |
| XXIII.— | THE GRACCHI AND THEIR MOTHER. RISE AND FALL OF TIBERIUS AND CAIUS GRACCHUS | [234] |
| XXIV.— | THE JUGURTHINE WAR. WAR AGAINST THE CIMBRI AND TEUTONI | [247] |
| XXV.— | MITHRIDATES, SULLA, MARIUS, CINNA, ET CÆTERA | [257] |
| XXVI.— | DEATH OF CINNA. RETURN OF SULLA TO ROME. C. PAPIRIUS CARBO. DICTATORSHIP OF SULLA | [267] |
| XXVII.— | REACTION AGAINST THE POLICY OF SULLA. SERVICES OF Q. SERTORIUS. METELLUS. CN. POMPEY. SPIRITED STEPS OF SPARTACUS. THE IRATE PIRATE | [275] |
| XXVIII.— | THE THIRD MITHRIDATIC WAR. DEPOSITION AND DEATH OF MITHRIDATES | [284] |
| XXIX.— | CONSPIRACY OF CATILINE. INTRODUCTION OF CICERO. CÆSAR, POMPEY, CRASSUS, AND CO. | [289] |
| XXX.— | OVERTHROW OF CRASSUS. DEFEAT OF POMPEY. DICTATORSHIP AND DEATH OF CÆSAR. END OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC | [299] |
ENGRAVINGS ON STEEL.
| PAGE | ||
| 1. | Romulus and Remus discovered by a Gentle Shepherd | [i] |
| 2. | Tarquinius Superbus makes himself King | [32] |
| 3. | Appius Claudius Punished by the People | [80] |
| 4. | The Gallant Curtius Leaping into the Gulf | [104] |
| 5. | Pyrrhus Arrives in Italy with his Troupe | [138] |
| 6. | Hannibal, whilst even yet a Child, swears Eternal Hatred to the Romans | [168] |
| 7. | Flaminius Restoring Liberty to Greece at the Isthmian Games | [195] |
| 8. | The Mother of the Gracchi | [234] |
| 9. | Marius discovered in the Marshes at Minturnæ | [261] |
| 10. | Cicero denouncing Catiline | [292] |