Re: Caius Mutius Scaevola

Ah AH! I am going to spoil the fun! You did not get the legend  correctly. 

Please note the following lines:
> he swore
>That the great house of Tarquin
>Should suffer wrong no more.

Now, why would he swore that? Because poor old Caius Mutius, not yet
Scaevola, had killed BY MISTAKE the wrong person in the family of Tarquin!
He was not spying, he had gone there to actually kill Lars Porsenna, the
king. When he realized he had made this mistake, he decided  to punish the
hand than had done wrong and, voilą, (Walla) he burnt his right hand. Since
then he was called the left-handed (Scaevola).
In Italy we might not have to deal with Macaulay, but be sure we are thaught
the paramount virtues of our ancestors the Romans since we are very young
and innocent kids. I remember very clearly the picture in my History book,
with this beautiful and heroic roman putting his hand on the fire while the
Etruscans (enemies) stared in surprise and admiration... He did not resemble
a Scaevola at all, I must say.

I love these off-topics.

Alessandra
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