[Illustration: The victorious Horatius killing his sister.]
Hostil'ius died after a reign of thirty-two years; some say by
lightning; others, with more probability, by treason.
_Questions for Examination_.
1. On whom devolved the government on the death of Numa, and what is
the character of his successor?
2. What opportunity first offered of indulging the new king's
inclinations?
3. What proposal was offered, and accepted for deciding the dispute?
4-6. Relate the circumstances which attended the combat, and the
result of it.
7. What act followed the victory?
8. What conquest was next achieved?
FOOTNOTES:
[1] It seems to have been part of the compact between the Romans and
Sabines, that a king of each people should reign alternately.
[2] The Hora'tii and Curia'tii were, according to Diony'sius of
Halicarnas'sus, the sons of two sisters, daughters of Sequin'ius, an
illustrious citizen of Alba. One married to Curia'tius, a citizen of
Alba, and the other to Hora'tius, a Roman: so that the champions were
near relatives.
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