# CHAPTER 22 — What Is Notable in the Case of the Three Roman Horatii and the Three Alban Curiatii

Tullus, king of Rome, and Mettius, king of Alba, agreed that the people whose above-mentioned three warriors were victorious would rule the other. All three of the Curiatii were killed and one of the Roman Horatii remained alive, and for this reason Mettius, the Alban king, along with his people became subjected to the Romans. * When the victorious Horatius returned to Rome, he met one of his sisters, who, married to one of the three Curiatii, was weeping over the death of her husband, and he killed her. For this offence Horatius was brought to judgement, and after much debate he was released, more through his father’s prayers than his own merits. There are three things to be noted here: first, that one should never risk one’s entire fortune with only part of one’s forces; second, that in a well-organized city a man’s merits never compensate for his faults; and third, that agreements are never wise if their observance should or might be doubtful. In truth, the fact of being subservient is so important to a city that one must never believe that any king or people would ever remain satisfied when three of their citizens have left them in servitude, as is evident in what Mettius tried to do. Although immediately after the victory of the Romans Mettius declared himself vanquished and promised his obedience to Tullus, nevertheless, during the very first expedition that he had to organize against the Veientes, it is evident that he tried to deceive Tullus, like a man who had realized only too late the recklessness of the decision he took. * And since we have spoken sufficiently about this third important point, we shall discuss the other two in the following two chapters.