stood drawn up in battle array, the chiefs, with a few of the principal officers, advanced into the midst.  Then the Alban began as follows:  “That injuries and the non-restitution of property claimed according to treaty is the cause of this war, methinks I have both heard our king Cluilius assert, and I doubt not, Tullus, but that you allege the same.  But if the truth must be told, rather than what is plausible, it is thirst for rule that provokes two kindred and neighbouring states to arms.  Whether rightly or wrongly, I do not take upon myself to determine:  let the consideration of that rest with him who has begun the war.  As for myself, the Albans have only made me their leader for carrying on that war.  Of this, Tullus, I would have you advised:  how powerful the Etruscan state is around us, and around you particularly, you know better than we, inasmuch as you are nearer to them.  They are very powerful by land, far more so by sea.  Recollect that, directly you shall give the signal for battle, these two armies will be the object of their attention, that they may fall on us when wearied and exhausted, victor and vanquished together.  Therefore, for the love of heaven, since, not content with a sure independence, we are running the doubtful hazard of sovereignty and slavery, let us adopt some method, whereby, without great loss, without much bloodshed of either nation, it may be decided which is to rule the other.”  The proposal was not displeasing to Tullus, though both from his natural bent, as also from the hope of victory, he was rather inclined to violence.  After consideration, on both sides, a plan was adopted, for which Fortune herself afforded the means of execution.

It happened that there were in the two armies at that time three brothers born at one birth, neither in age nor strength ill-matched.  That they were called Horatii and Curiatii is certain enough, and there is hardly any fact of antiquity more generally known; yet in a manner so well ascertained, a doubt remains concerning their names, as to which nation the Horatii, to which the Curiatii belonged.  Authors incline to both sides, yet I find a majority who call the Horatii Romans:  my own inclination leads me to follow them.  The kings arranged with the three brothers that they should fight with swords each in defence of their respective country; assuring them that dominion would rest with those on whose side victory should declare itself.  No objection was raised; the time and place were agreed upon.  Before the engagement began, a compact was entered into between the Romans and Albans on these conditions, that that state, whose champions should come off victorious in the combat, should rule the other state without further dispute.  Different treaties are made on different conditions, but in general they are all concluded with the same formalities.  We have heard that the treaty in question was then concluded as follows, nor is there extant a more ancient record