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CHIUSI.

ANUS-LIKE in its aspect, the city of Chiusi looks back upon remote times which veritable history cannot reach, and forward through a succession of ages embracing the origin, progress, triumphs, decline, ruin, and ultimate dismemberment of the Roman empire. Of all the cities of Etruria, this one is the most remarkable and the most interesting for its classical associations. Anciently known as Clusium, the seat of Etrurian royalty, it is identified with a people whose history is a mystery; whose advanced civilization and extensive acquaintance with the elegant arts are attested by existing remains; and whose distant original reduces the foundation of Rome to a thing of yesterday. Romulus, partly by conquest, but more, perhaps, by courteous treatment, united to his interest several of the Etrurian towns, and thus consolidated the power of his infant kingdom. At a later period, an Etruscan exile, named Lucomo Damaratus, established himself as king of Rome, under the title of Lucius Tarquinius. Every reader is acquainted with the circumstances which led to the expulsion of the Tarquins; the pathetic history of Lucretia, the assumed idiotcy of Junius Brutus, and the united voice of a people impatient of tyranny and wrong. At this juncture, the assistance of the Etrurian league was sought for the re-establishment of the Tarquins; and Porsenna, king of Clusium, despatched an embassy to Rome, demanding the recall of the exiled family, or the restoration of their estates. Neither demand was complied with; Porsenna therefore led a numerous army against Rome, and invested the city. The incidents of this siege are familiar to us; they exhibit a degree of bravery, magnanimity, and generosity to which history presents few parallels. When the city had well nigh been reduced to extremity, Mutius Scævola, "to his own hand remorseless," daringly attempted the life of Porsenna, and having failed in his purpose, he held his hand over a pan of burning coals until it was consumed, to intimate to Porsenna his contempt for any tortures that awaited him. The king struck with admiration of his bravery, concluded a truce with the Romans on honourable terms; and subsequently perceiving the baseness of the Tarquins, he drew his army from the city, and thus by an act of lofty generosity spared Rome to fulfil her proud destinies. The name of Porsenna was thenceforward hallowed amongst the Romans; and in their after wars with the Etrurians, the city of Clusium was regarded with veneration, as a locality too sacred to be wasted with fire and sword.

The city of Clusium itself had afterwards to sustain a siege by the Gauls, on which occasion Rome came forward in its defence, but only succeeded in turning hostilities against herself. Brennus, the general of the Gauls, raised the siege of Clusium, and sat down with his army before Rome. The Romans were compelled to seek a truce; when, amongst other things, it was stipulated that the Gauls should receive a thousand pounds' weight of gold, the payment of which, however, was suspended, on the arrival of Camillus from exile, at the very moment

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