A GIRL QUISLING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 38, 11 January 1946, Page 5

A GIRL QUISLING

JUSTICE WHICH OVERTAKES TRAITORS

The appearance in the criminal dock of Vidkun Quisling on charges of high treason to his native Norway has been like a symbol of the retributive justice which overtakes traitors. During the last live years his name has stood for treachery and betrayal. General Franco gave Europe, during the Spanish Civil War, the term Fifth Columnist, but Quisling’s name has gained world-'wide currency as a synoneym for secret enemy within the ranks of a man’s own country. But' treachery is commemorated by a name far older. Two thousand years ago Rome had a. girl quisling, Tarpeia daughter of the governor of the citadel crowning ihe hill on which the Capitol was later to stand. Tarpeia secretly agreed with: the Sabines, to open -the fortress gate to them at night, provided that the beseiging warriors gave her the splendid armour—meaning the gold bracelets they wore on their arms. Retaining their gold they contemptuously threw their armour—heavy shields—upon her as they entered, crushing her to death beneath the weight.

She was buried in that part of the hill called after her, the Tarpeian. Rock, and for centuries traitors were hurled to death down its steep sides. Legend has it that Tarpeia sits still breathing but cn--9 9 tranced, in a cnv r e in the interior of the bill, beautiful, untouched by cime amid gold and jewels such as she coveted as the price of her baseness.