Plebeians Admitted to the Consulship

As oft great fires from sparks minute begin, So, great events from a slight origin. What object to grave wisdom's eye appears More unimportant, than a woman's tears? The favourite type of many a sportive bard; How oft to April's transient showers compar'd? Yet these soft arms resistless have been found By breasts, which keener weapons fail'd to wound: To souls repulsive of assault and force Silent and sure they steal their melting course; Their subtle progress noiselessly begin, And scarce perceiv'd without, till felt within. 'Gainst swords or darts, prepar'd with shields we fight; 'Gainst beauty's tears, our safety is our flight. The robes of honour by plebeians worn, From Rome's reluctant lords by force were torn; Commotion ever follow'd the demand, And civil discord rent the jarring land: Resolv'd to keep, and eager to acquire, These strongly guard what fiercely those desire; When with the Great their proud pretensions fail'd, Then clamour, menace, and revolt prevail'd; Illustrious ancestry one Order pleads; The other, right, from more illustrious deeds. Sacred the consul's toga still remain'd, As yet by the inferior tribes unstain'd; But by a woman's tears at last was gain'd. Two daughters sprung from Fabius, Hymen led, Pleas'd, to a noble, and plebeian bed; The elder shar'd Sulpicius' lofty state, And wealthy Stolo was the younger's mate: The warrior-tribune's ensigns grac'd the one; By no distinction was the other known, But riches, and obscurity of worth, Unblazon'd by high titles or high birth. It chanc'd, the humbler wife, as yet content, To visit her proud sister's mansion went; There, while her thrifty hands the loom employs, Alarm'd, she hears an unaccustom'd noise; The rattling rods, which on the tribune wait, Proclaim'd his pompous entrance at the gate. Her simple mind some danger near believ'd, Not by her conscious sister unperceiv'd. "Fabia, (she cried) these sounds are new to thee, "By custom long familiariz'd to me; "These are my husband's train, who walk before, "And wait the tribune's entrance at his door. "Such sounds your quiet dwelling ne'er molest, "More humble doubtless, tho' perhaps more bless'd: "Some discontent must every station share, "Nor is our dignity exempt from care. "But come, dismiss this low, plebeian fear, "My lord's rude lictors never enter here; "In the same house I keep a separate home, "Where, uninvited, not ev'n he may come." Deep sinks the taunt.—Nor joy, nor wonted rest, Find harbour in the insulted Fabia's breast. To her scorn'd home, dejected, she returns; Now pines with envy, now with anger burns; Health's vermeil hue her fading cheeks forsook, And Niobe seem'd pictur'd in her look. Her sire, and doating husband, long in vain Tried to explore the secret source of pain; Each grasps her hand, repeats his tender fears, Entreats to know:—she answers but with tears. With streaming eyes at last the cause she tells, And her patrician sister's scorn reveals: "But never shall this bosom comfort know, "Never these ceaseless streams forbear to flow, "Till Rome's proud lords hear shouting Rome proclaim "Your right, like their's, to every rank the same; "And that ennobled dame be forc'd to see "Her spirit quell'd, and state surpass'd by me." Thus spoke she weeping. By her grief impress'd, The ambitious project swell'd her husband's breast: Invoking every sacred Power, he swears The insult to avenge, and dry her tears. To aid the purpose labouring in his mind With his own strength confederate force he join'd. Old Fabius too, by grey experience wise, Maturer counsels to their youth supplies; One common interest all their hopes inspir'd, One vow engag'd them, and one ardour fir'd. Besides, the scent of mischief lur'd along (The scum of towns) a numerous noisy throng; Bellowers, unfit to govern or obey, Who little heed the cause, but love the fray; Wholesome restraint they call the chain of slaves, Their reason in their roar, and rhet'rick in their staves. In vain to check their rage the nobles try'd; "Let us be consuls," still the people cry'd. Increasing zeal increasing numbers found; The forum rent, return'd no second sound. At length, the weary chiefs, o'erpower'd, retreat, Desert their tower, and own the full defeat. Of like success though like endeavours fail'd, In pride's contention female pride prevail'd: Fabia retorts her scoffing sister's scorn, And, smiling, sees her humbled in her turn. Years after years had eloquence, in vain, And art and force this honour toil'd to gain; But Fortune, still averse, reserv'd the prize To prove the matchless power of woman's eyes.