country! So perish every Roman woman who mourns for an enemy!”
							The deed horrified patricians and plebeians alike; but his recent
							services were a set-off to it. He was brought before the king for trial.
							To avoid responsibility for passing a harsh sentence, which would be
							repugnant to the populace, and then carrying it into execution, the king
							summoned an assembly of the people, and said: “I appoint two
							duumvirs to judge the treason of Horatius according to law.” The dreadful language of the law was: “The duumvirs
							shall judge cases of treason; if the accused appeal from the duumvirs
							the appeal shall be heard; if their sentence be confirmed the lictor
							shall hang him by a rope on the fatal tree and shall scourge him either
							within or without the pomoerium .” pomoerium —A space within and without
								the City walls which, as sacred, was kept clear of all buildings. As
								the City grew so the pomoerium was
								extended. Here it is equivalent to the limits of the City (see
								Livy's account in chap. xliv.). The duumvirs appointed under
							this law did not think that by its provisions they had the power to
							acquit even an innocent person. Accordingly they condemned him; then one
							of them said “Publius Horatius, I pronounce you guilty of treason. Lictor, bind his hands.” The lictor had approached
							and was fastening the cord, when Horatius, at the suggestion of Tullus,
							who placed a merciful interpretation on the law, said “I appeal.” The appeal was accordingly brought before the
							people. Their decision was mainly influenced by Publius Horatius the
							father, who declared that his daughter had been justly slain , had it
							not been so, he would have exerted his authority as a father in
							punishing his son. Then he implored them not to bereave of all his
							children the man whom they had so lately seen surrounded with such