380 Destruction to Rome from Civil Feuds.

and the tremendous earthquake which followed four years afterwards.

In 1526 the powerful Roman family of Colonna, always an adherent of the Ghibelline, or Imperial faction during the long and fearful contests between the Popes and the Emperors, and between them and the Guelph party, or Papal, which was also defended by the Ursini family; and the former at this period burning with jealousy, and hatred towards Clement VII then on the throne; they accordingly openly rebelled, and having obtained one of the gates of the city, aided by a force of 3000 men, they soon became absolute masters of Rome, while for three hours their followers were indulged in the sack of the Vatican, with St. Peter's, and the houses of the papal ministers. Clement, who had vainly fled to the Castle of St. Angelo, was only released by acceding to the terms proposed by the conqueror.

In 1527 was that memorable siege, capture, and plunder of Rome by the troops of Charles V, led on by the illustrious rebel, Charles, Duke of Bourbon, who had revolted from his royal master, Francis I, four years previously.

In this attack, on 6th May, 1527, the Constable, too gallantly urging his men to scale the wall, and himself the first to plant the ladder, was struck in the groin by a fatal ball, and quickly expired, while Benvenuto Cellini, the famed Florentine artist,

Siege of Rome by Bourbon.

381

has laid claim to the distinction of having been the fatal marksman. Revenge infuriated his troops, and Rome was, in an instant, inundated by the Imperial forces, at the moment that Clement was praying at St. Peter's. For nine months Germans, Spaniards, and Italians, vied each with the other in committing the greater excesses; the extent of their devastations is unknown; their plunder in money alone amounted to a million of ducats, besides other exactions; while the halls of the Vatican, with the inimitable paintings of Raphael upon them, show to this hour mournfully the irreparable injuries caused by these drinking, smoking, insensate Goths. Clement and his garrison, shut up in the Castle of St. Angelo, was reduced to feed upon the flesh of asses; and two of the terms of his liberation were the payment of 400,000 ducats, with his own custody, and retention as a prisoner by Don Ferdinand Alarcon till all other terms were fulfilled.

Yet later, we know that Paul II and Paul III considered the Coliseum but as a marble quarry; and I have somewhere read, that a nephew of Paul III, Cardinal Farnese, having at length obtained permission from the Holy Father for such marbles, stones, &c. as he could carry away from the Coliseum, though only for twelve hours, cleverly outwitted his uncle, with his limited leave,

382

Destruction of Roman Relics.

by dispatching as many as 4000 labourers for the purpose.

We also remember that Sixtus IV destroyed an ancient bridge, that of Horatius Cocles, to make marble cannon balls; that Urban VIII took away the bronze from the Pantheon for the tomb of St. Peter; and we find that even when opinion changed, and Roman Pagan relics became the pride, and the research of her citizens, that some of the present most illustrious families of Rome took almost at will what they could snatch from the public treasures, and highway monuments, to enrich their private galleries, and collections.

Now it is the glory, and the boast, of the Pontiffs to preserve all that still remains; and, in pursuance of the example first set by the French in their late invasion, they continue to repair, and to excavate. Let us trust that Rome for the future has no other enemy to dread than the inevitable, silent, sappings of mouldering time.

Tarpeian Rock.

383

CHAPTER XXI.

TARPEIAN ROCK-CAPITOL, AND ANCIENT MAGNIFICENCEROMAN FORUM-CICERO-SCIPIO AFRICANUS-RELICS OF THE FORUM-ARCHES OF SEPTIMUS SEVERUS, TITUS, AND CONSTANTINE-COLISEUM ANCIENT AND MODERN APPROPRIATION-REFLECTIONS-MARCUS CURTIUS-VOLUMNIA ANCIENT SAYING UPON THE COLISEUM-ANCIENT GAMES OF THE COLISEUM, AND OF PROBUS, CARINUS, GORDIAN, TRAJAN, AND JULIUS CÆSAR-TRIUMPH OF AURELIAN -ZENOBIA-DESCRIPTION OF THE GLADIATORS, AND OF THE GLADIATORIAL GAMES-BATHS OF CARACALLA-OF DIOCLETIAN, AND CHURCH OF SA. MARIA DEGL' ANGELI— BATHS OF TITUS, AND THE SETTE SALE-SCULPTURESNERO'S TOWER AND GOLDEN HOUSE.

THE first memorable vestige of antiquity I name in proof of the havocs of past ages, and of the alterations of centuries, is the Tarpeian Rock on the Capitoline Hill.* Who would not tremble to look down a precipice so terrific, according to

* Near the brow of the hill; once eighty feet deep: and whence malefactors were precipitated. It immortalizes the perfidy of Tarpeia, daughter of Tarpeius, governor of the citadel of Rome, who promised to open the gates of the city to the besieging Sabines for the bribe of the gold bracelets on their arms. Tatius, their King, promised this, but availing himself of her equivocal expression to have " what they carried on their left arms," he not only threw her his bracelet, but also his shield, and as his army followed their monarch's example, Tarpeia was soon crushed to death, and hurled down this rock, ever afterwards called by her name.

Seneca's description, and from which the patriot Manlius, surnamed Capitolinus, owing to his having there saved his country, was nevertheless for his encroaching ambition hurled down to a horrid death! How different its present appearance. A little projection, and a fall of about forty-five feet upon a rising dunghill close beneath!

Proceed we to the Capitol: once the Fortress, the Sanctuary, and the most splendid Temple of old Rome. Begun by Tarquinius Priscus, continued by Servius Tullius, as well as by Tarquin the Proud, and consecrated by the Consul Horatius, soon after the expulsion of the Tarquins.

Here were preserved the laws and the oracles of Rome here the Senate deliberated; here Consuls, Generals, and Judges, offered sacrifice to Tarpeian Jove, either to implore his aid in the impending battle, or to offer the spoils of conquered nations; and here was borne in public triumph the exulting Roman who had achieved a victory!

In the centre was the Temple of the Guardian Deity of Rome, Jupiter Capitolinus; fronted with an hundred pillars; ascended by an hundred steps; while within its sacred hall, the immortal Jove was seated on a throne of gold; one hand grasped the thunderbolt, the other held the sceptre of the world: Juno and Minerva supported his right, and his left.

Once, its riches could not be told; its gilding