_Mr. B._ I do not wonder that you were, my dear: it is a circumstance
calculated strongly to interest the feelings. Edward, take up the
account where Emily quitted it.

_Edward_. Do not suppose the Roman cause quite desperate. It is true,
they had but one champion remaining, but he was both unhurt and
undaunted, while all the Curiatii were wounded. He, however, did not
conceive himself able to attack the three brothers at once, and
therefore made use of a stratagem to separate them. He pretended fear,
and fled before them. The Curiatii pursued him at unequal distances.
Horatius turned short upon the foremost, and slew him. He then flew to
the next, who soon shared his brother's fate. The only remaining
Curiatii was so severely wounded, that he could scarcely support his
shield, and offered no resistance to the attack of the conquering
Horatius. Thus ended the famous combat, which gave Rome the superiority
over Alba.

_Ferdinand_. The picture at Mrs. Horton's, represented Horatius at the
moment he turned upon the first Curiatii. And there was another,
representing him in the act of stabbing his sister, because she grieved
for the death of one of the Curiatii, to whom she was going to be
married.

_Edward_. Ah! that tarnished all the glory of Horatius, in my opinion.
It was so natural she should weep for such a loss.

_Mrs. B._ Flushed with conquest, Horatius lost his self-possession.
Often do we find heroes, who can subdue their enemies in the field, the
weakest of the weak, when the combat is against their own evil passions.
Self-knowledge, and self-possession, are most important acquirements.