though immediately under the elephant's trunk, stood unmoved.

In this generation we find Roman character at its best. Wealth had not
flowed into the state in such large quantities as to corrupt it. The
great mass of the people were peasants, small land-owners, of frugal
habits and moral qualities. But comparatively few owned large estates
as yet, or possessed large tracts of the _Ager Publicus_. A
century later, when most of the available land in the peninsula was
held by the wealthy and farmed by slaves, we find a great change.

The fall of TARENTUM marks an important era in Roman history. Large
treasures were obtained from this and other Greek cities in Southern
Italy. Luxury became more fashionable; morals began to degenerate.
Greed for wealth obtained by plunder began to get possession of the
Romans. From now on the moral tone of the people continued to
degenerate in proportion as their empire increased.




CHAPTER XII.

FOREIGN CONQUEST.


ROME AND CARTHAGE.--FIRST PUNIC WAR. (264-241.) [Footnote: The
word "Punic" is derived from _Phoenici_. The Carthaginians were
said to have come originally from PHOENICIA, on the eastern coast of
the Mediterranean. Their first ruler was Dido. The Latin student is of
course familiar with Virgil's story of Dido and Aenéas.]