so generous a design was frustrated ere it could be put into execution. 9. In the beginning of his reign, to secure the throne by every precaution, he had married his two daughters to the two grandsons of Tarquin; and as he knew that the women, as well as their intended husbands, were of opposite dispositions, he resolved to cross their tempers, by giving each to him of a contrary turn of mind; her that was meek and gentle, to him that was bold and furious; her that was ungovernable and proud, to him that was remarkable for a contrary character; by this he supposed that each would correct the failings of the other, and that the mixture would be productive of concord. 10. The event, however, proved otherwise. Lu'cius, the haughty son-in-law, soon grew displeased with the meekness of his consort, and placed his whole affections upon his brother's wife, Tullia, who answered his passion with sympathetic ardour. As their wishes were ungovernable, they soon resolved to break through every restraint that prevented their union; they both undertook to murder their respective consorts; they succeeded, and were soon after married together. 11. A first crime ever produces a second; from the destruction of their consorts, they proceeded to conspiring that of the king. They began by raising factions against him, alleging his illegal title to the crown, and Lu'cius claiming it as his own, as heir to Tarquin. At length, when he found the senate ripe for seconding his views, he entered the senate-house, adorned with all the ensigns of royalty, and, placing himself upon the throne, began to harangue them on the obscurity of the king's birth, and the injustice of his title. 12. While he was yet speaking, Ser'vius entered, attended by a few followers, and seeing his throne thus rudely invaded, offered to push the usurper from his seat; but Tarquin being in the vigour of youth, threw the old king down the steps which led to the throne; some of his adherents, who were instructed for that purpose, followed him, as he was feebly attempting to get to the palace, dispatched him by the way, and threw his body, all mangled and bleeding, as a public spectacle, into the street. 13. In the mean time, Tul'lia, burning with impatience for the event, was informed of what her husband had done, and, resolving to be among the first who should salute him as monarch, ordered her chariot to the senatehouse. But as her charioteer approached the place where the body of the old king, her father, lay exposed and bloody, the man, amazed at the inhuman spectacle, and not willing to trample upon it with his horses, offered to turn another way; this serving only to increase the fierceness of her anger, she threw the footstool at his head, and ordered him to drive over the body without hesitation '. 14. This was the end of Ser'vius Tullius, a prince of eminent justice and moderation, after an useful and prospe rous reign of forty-four years 2. 1 The blood of the good old king is said to have dyed the chariot wheels, and even the clothes of the inhuman daughter; from that time the street where it happened was called vicus sceleratus, the wicked or accursed street. 2 Servius Tullius was universally regarded as the great patron of the commonalty, and as the first who gave equal rights to all the citizens. The patricians, indignant at being deprived of their monopoly of power, regarded him as the enemy of their order, and joined in a conspiracy with the younger Tarquin for his destruction. His memory was venerated by the plebeians; tradition declared that he had been born on the nones of some month, but the name of the particular month was forgotten; the people, therefore, commemorated their benefactor on the nones of every month. When the aristocracy, after the expulsion of the kings, succeeded in wresting political power from the people, they forbade markets to be held on the nones, lest the remembrance of the Servian constitution should lead the people to hazard an insurrection in order to restore the laws of the martyr. Mention has been made in the Introduction of the very different account given of the origin of Servius Tullius by the emperor Claudius in a speech to the senate, which he declares that he had derived from Etruscan historians; his narrative is very curious, and we shall give our readers a brief abstract of it. He says that Servius was by birth an Etrurian, that his original name was Mastar'na, that he was a faithful follower of Cœ'les Viben'na, and accompanied that chieftain in all the adventurous campaigns which he undertook at the head of his independent companies. After the death of Coe'les, his army dispersed, and a portion of them, under the command of Mastar'na, came to Rome, Questions for Examination. 1. What effect had the murder of Tarquin on his subjects? 2. By what means was the succession assured to Servius Tullius? 3. Who was Servius? 4. What was the chief object of his reign? 5. What was the nature of the change made by Servius in the Roman constitution? 6. Was the classification by centuries used for civil purposes only? 7. What other important measure did he adopt? 8. What hopes did he entertain in his old age? 9. By what means did he hope to secure tranquil possession of the throne? 10. How was it that the event failed to answer his expectations? 11. To what farther crimes did this commencement lead? 12. What followed? 13. What was the conduct of his daughter on this melancholy occasion? 14. What was the character of Servius, and how long did he reign? where they obtained from the reigning sovereign a grant of one of the hills for a residence, which they called the Cœlian, in honour of their old commander. Mastar'na became very popular with the Romans, and assumed a Roman name to identify himself the more completely with those amongst whom he had chosen to dwell. This, almost the only fragment we have of the Etrurian annals, appears very like true history; and it is partially confirmed by the Roman traditions respecting Coe'les Viben'na, whom they describe as the leader of "free companies," like the condottieri of modern ages, sometimes hiring his bands to a state, and occasionally waging war on his own account. CHAPTER VIII. FROM THE DEATH OF SERVIUS TULLIUS TO THE BANISHMENT OF TARQUINIUS SUPERBUS, THE SEVENTH AND LAST KING OF ROME.-U. c. 220. A nobler spirit warm'd Her sons; and roused by tyrants, nobler still THOMSON. 1 Hered'itary, a. descending by inheritance. 2. Ineffi'cient, a. that does not answer the end proposed. 6. Confis'cate, v. to seize on private property, and convert it to public use, by way of punishment. 9. Syb'ils, s. a certain number of wo men, who were supposed to have been endowed with a prophetic spirit, and to have foretold the revolutions and fates of kingdoms. 12. Quindecem'viri, s. literally the fifteen men. 13. Frivolous, a. slight, trifling. Malefac'tors, (from male, wickedly; and facio, to do); criminals, offenders against the law. 1. LUCIUS TARQUIN'IUS, afterwards called Super bus, or the Proud, having placed himself upon the throne, in consequence of this horrid deed, was resolved to support his dignity with the same violence with which it was acquired. Regardless of the senate or the people's approbation, he seemed to claim the crown by an hereditary right, and refused burial to the late king's body, under pretence of his being an usurper. 2. All the good part of mankind, however, looked upon his accession with detestation and horror and this act of inefficient cruelty only served to confirm their hatred. 3. Conscious of this, he ordered all such as he suspected to have been attached to Servius, to be put to death; and fearing the natural consequences of his tyranny, he increased the guard round his person. : 4. His chief policy seems to have been to keep the people always employed either in wars or public works, by which means he diverted their attention from his unlawful He first marched against method of coming to the crown. the Sab'ines, who refused to pay him obedience; and he soon reduced them to submission. 5. In the meantime, many of the discontented patricians abandoning their native country, took refuge at Ga'bii, a city of La'tium, about twelve miles from Rome, waiting an opportunity to take up arms, and drive Tarquin from his throne. To escape this danger, Tarquin had recourse to the following stratagem. 6. He caused his son Sextus to counterfeit desertion, upon pretence of barbarous usage, and to seek refuge among the inhabitants of the place. There, by artful complaints and studied lamentations, Sextus so prevailed upon the pity of the people, as to be chosen their governor, and, soon after, general of their army. 7. At first, in every engagement he appeared successful; till, at length, finding himself entirely possessed of the confidence of the state, he sent a trusty messenger to his father for instructions. Tarquin made no answer; but taking the messenger into the garden, he cut down before him the tallest poppies. Sextus readily understood the meaning of this reply, and found means to destroy or remove, one by one, the principal men of the city; taking care to confiscate their effects among the people. 8. The charms of this dividend kept the giddy populace blind to their approaching ruin, till they found themselves at last without counsellors or head; and, in the end, fell under the power of Tarquin, without even striking a blow1 9. But, while he was engaged in wars abroad, he took 1 This story is manifestly a fiction formed from the Greek traditions respecting Zopy'zus and Thrasybu'lus. It is decisively contradicted by the fact, that a treaty for the union of the Romans and Gabians, on equitable terms, was preserved in the Capitol. It was painted on a shield covered with the hide of the bull which had been sacrificed at the ratification of the league. |