Transcriber’s Note
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Cover created by Transcriberand placed into the Public Domain.
THE
STORY OF ROME
FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES
TO THE DEATH OF AUGUSTUS
TOLD TO BOYS AND GIRLS BY
MARY MACGREGOR
AUTHOR OF ‘THE STORY OF FRANCE,’ ETC.
WITH TWENTY PLATES IN COLOUR
BY PAUL WOODROFFE, W. RAINEY
AND DUDLEY HEATH
LONDON: T. C. & E. C. JACK
67 LONG ACRE, W. C.
AND EDINBURGH
TO
IAN AND WILLIE TAYLOR
vii
Dear Ian and Willie,—The Story of Rome has beenwritten, as you know, in your beautiful, quiet old garden.
And as the story grew, the short cold days of winterpassed and the long warm days of summer were here.
In the garden a miracle had been wrought. It hadbecome alive.
After slow, persistent struggle with storm and frost, thedelicate bare branches were no longer bare, but clothed inliving green. The hard black earth too had stirred, andshoots and blades appeared, until at length the garden wasablaze with gold, purple, crimson.
Sometimes I dreamed that, in its own different way, theStory of Rome too was a miracle, wrought out of the tearsand throes of a brave and ambitious people.
For the story tells of the birth of a city and of its growththrough storm and struggle, until it became a great worldempire.
The city which Romulus founded was built upon a singlehill; soon seven hills were not great enough to contain her.And when Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome, began toreign, part of Europe, Asia Minor, Egypt, Syria, and a largeportion of Africa formed his kingdom.
Although the story was written in the quiet of yourgarden, little of its peace has stolen into the tale, and forthat you boys may care for it the more.
As you read, fierce battle-cries will ring in your ears, andviiithe clash of arms will startle you. You will hear the trampof armies marching to new lands to conquer them and theirtreasures for Rome, the city of their love.
Sometimes you will catch your breath in horror as youread of terrible and cruel deeds, for the Romans were oftenpitiless, showing little mercy to those they conquered.
But at other times your breath will come quick withwonder as you read of the dauntless courage, the rareendurance of these mighty men of old.
And if there are many things which you do not admirein the people of Rome, yet they possess one virtue whichyou and every British boy and girl may not only admire,but glad