THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE HORATII

Romans and Albans watched as their champions fought. Two Horatii fell, but all three Curiatii were wounded. The last Horatius pretended to flee. The wounded Curiatii chased him, spreading out. He turned and killed them one by one. Rome won; Alba submitted. As Horatius entered Rome wearing his slain enemy's embroidered mantle, his sister Camilla recognized the cloak she had woven for her lover. She wept and reproached her brother. Enraged, Horatius killed her with his bloody sword. Romans wanted him executed, but his aged father begged for mercy—two sons dead, daughter dead, leave him one child. Tullus forgave Horatius on condition he raze Alba. Albans moved to Rome's Caelian Hill. A plague later killed Tullus.