Roman Legislators set an example that echoes through the Ages.
Around 390 BC, Gaul invaded Italy. They reached Rome! They fought their way through the gates! An army of heavily armed Gauls broke into the City of Rome.
Roman Legislators were not made to hide by their own guards! They dressed in their robes of office. The Law-makers of Rome sat in ivory chairs in front of their doors!
What happened to these brave men?
“They (the invading Gauls) gazed with feelings of real veneration upon the men who were seated in the porticoes of their mansions, not only because of the superhuman magnificence of their apparel and their whole bearing and demeanor, but also because of the majestic expression of their countenances, wearing the very aspect of gods. So they stood, gazing at them as if they were statues. One of the patricians, M. Papirius, roused the passion of a Gaul, who began to stroke his beard, which in those days was universally worn long, by smiting him on the head with his ivory staff. He was the first to be killed, the others were butchered in their chairs. After this slaughter of the magnates, no living being was thenceforth spared; the houses were rifled, and then set on fire.”
The Roman Legislators knew! “We must set an example of courage for our people!” They were not forced by their own policemen to hide in the basement!
They sat in their chairs, as solid as statues of stone.
Those Noble Romans died to defend the highest ideals of The Roman People.
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When America’s Capitol was entered by concerned citizens, armed “police” forced American Legislators to flee. ” You gave us the legal authority to force you all to hide in the basement! Now, we are ordering you to do so.”
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Roman Legislators preferred death to dishonor.
That inspiration helped the Roman people to reorganize, return to battle, and turn defeat into Victory.
We learn about Courage from History. May modern Legislators be inspired by the courageous Office Holders of Rome.
