SC^UOLA. 2/
he was come into the throng, he conueighed himselfe as nere the kinges pauilion as he could. It chaunced that he was paying wages that day to his souldiours, by whom his Secretarie did fit in such apparell, almost as the king himselfe did weare. Mutius being afraide to demaunde which of them was the king, left he fhould bewray himselfe, sodainly killed the Secretarie in fteede of the king, and as he was making waye with his bloudie sworde to efcape, he was apprehended and brought besore the king, and with maruailous ftoutnefle and audacitie, fpake these wordes : " I am a citizen of Rome, and my name is Mutius, and beinge an enemy, I woulde faine haue killed mine enemie. for which attempt I efteeme no more to die, then I cared to commit the murder. It is naturally giuen to the Romaines, both valiantly to do and ftoutly to suffer. And not I alone haue confpired thy death, but a greate nomber of vs, haue promifed the like, and hope to profe- cute femblable prayfe and glorie : whersore if this beginninge do not pleafe thee, make thy selfe ready euerye houre to expect like perill, and to fight for thy selfe. And make accompt, that euery day euen at the dore of thine owne lodging, thy enemye armed doth waite for thee : we alone yong gentlemen of the Citie do ftand at defiance, and pronounce vppon thee this kinde of battaile. Feare no armies or other hoftilitie, for with thee alone, and with euerye one of vs these warres lhalbe tryed." The king aftonied with that bold and defperate enterprife, fell into a great rage and furie, commaundinge Mutius prefentlye to be confumed with fyre, vnlefle he would out of hand tell him the order of the purpofed and deuifed treason. "Behold O king (quoth hee) how litle they care for theyr bodies, that do afpire and seeke for fame and glorie." And then he thruft his right hand into the fire, and rofted the fame in the flame, like one that had been out of his wits. The king amazed wyth the ftraungnes of the fact, ftepped downe from the feate, and caused him to be taken from the fire, saying: "Away, frend (quoth the king) thou hast killed thy selfe, and aduentured hoftilitie vppon thy selfe rather then against mee. Surely I would thincke mine estate happie, if like vali- aunce were to be sound wythin the boundes of my countrye. Whersore by law of Armes I fet the at libertie to go whither thou
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