beneath the Capitol itself, while its two sides converge towards the ridge called the Velia, which connects the Palatine Hill with the Esquiline, and was in after ages marked by the triumphal arch of Titus. The broader end, of which we speak, measures about 190 feet, the narrower 100; the lower side about 630 feet, and the upper somewhat less. These measurements include both the Forum proper and the Comitium; but the line of demarcation between the meeting-places of the Plebeians and Patricians ran across at about 200 feet distance from the narrow end, and here stood the Rostra, or place occupied by those who addressed the people assembled beneath them. The Sacra Via, the most famous street of Rome, entered the Forum or Comitium at its south-eastern corner, passed along the narrow end, and then ran along the northern side, by the Curia Hostilia and the Taberna Nova, till it reached the foot of the Capitoline. Here it met the famous Clivus Capitolinus, which led up by a steep ascent to the summit of the Capitol. When a general went up to offer thanksgiving to Jupiter, he descended from the Velian ridge into the Forum, and then mounted by this ascent to the great temple on the Tarpeian, or lower height of the Capitoline Hill.

On the southern side of the Forum ran a street past the Temple of Vesta and the Regia of Numa, connecting the Nova Via with the Sacra Via. From the Forum to the Esquiline ran the Vicus Cyprius, the upper part of which was called the Vicus Sceleratus, in memory of the murder of King Servius, of which we are to speak presently. This street probably led through the Subura or populous quarter, which lay in the low ground between the Esquiline, Viminal, and Quirinal Hills, to the Carinæ, which was afterwards the most fashionable part of Rome, and lay on the edge of the Esquiline next the Velia.

§ 25. Besides enlarging and strengthening the city, Servius also endeavoured to form an enduring alliance with the whole Latin nation, who had been so much weakened by the wars of the former kings. He built a temple to the great Latin goddess Diana upon the Aventine, and here were to be held sacrifices and festivals common both to Rome and Latium. The Sabines also, as it seems, desired to share in this alliance, but not on equal terms. There was, so runs the legend, a cow of noble

form and surpassing beauty, which belonged to a Sabine householder whoever, said the soothsayers, first sacrificed this animal in the new-built temple of Diana, should hold sway over Rome. The Sabine owner brought his cow to offer her on the Aventine. But the Roman sacrificing priest bade him first purify himself by bathing in the Tiber, and then himself cunningly completed the sacrifice.

§ 26. It remains only to add the famous legend of the death of the good king Servius.

He had assumed kingly power without the consent of the patrician Curiæ, and he had afterwards sought confirmation of his title, not from this proud assembly, but the new assembly of the Classes and Centuries which he had created. It is said, moreover, that when he had finished his reforms he had it in his mind to resign the kingly power altogether, and leave his great Assembly to elect two chief magistrates to govern in his stead. But whatever was his purpose, it was not accomplished. He continued to reign till he was murdered, like King Tarquinius before him.

From the two sons of King Ancus there was nothing to fear. But Tarquinius Priscus had also two sons, Lucius and Aruns, and Servius had two daughters. So he married these two daughters to the two young Tarquins, that they might become his successors, and might not be jealous of a stranger sitting in their father's seat. Now Lucius Tarquinius was a proud and violent youth, but his brother Aruns was mild and good. So, also, the elder daughter of King Servius was kind and gentle, but her sister was ambitious and cruel. Servius, therefore, took care that Lucius, the violent brother, should be married to the good sister, and Aruns, the gentle brother, to the bad sister; for he hoped that the good might prevail over the evil and subdue it. But the event proved otherwise. The lamb will not lie down with the wolf, nor the hawk couple with the dove. Therefore Lucius and the younger Tullia conspired together; and Lucius murdered his wife, and Tullia murdered her husband; and then they married together, so that the two wicked ones were free to work their will.

Lucius Tarquin soon resolved to make an end of King Servius. So he conspired with the Patricians, and chiefly with those of

the new Gentes, whom his father had raised; and when he thought he was strong enough, he came into the Comitium and took his seat upon the throne in front of the Senate-house, and summoned the Patricians to attend on "King Tarquinius." But when King Servius heard of it he came forth and asked how any one dared sit upon the throne while he was alive. But Lucius said it was his father's throne, and that now it was his own by right. Then he seized the old man by the waist and cast him down the steps of the throne, and he himself entered into the Senate-house. Servius, when he saw that all were against him, endeavoured to escape homewards; but certain men, sent by Lucius, overtook him and slew him, and left his body lying in the way.

And when Tullia heard what was done, she mounted her chariot and drove to the Forum and saluted her husband King. But he bade her go home, for such scenes were not fit for women. And she came to the foot of the Esquiline Hill, to the place where the body of her father lay in the way. And when the charioteer saw it, he was much shocked, and pulled in his horses that he might not drive over the body. But his wicked mistress chid him angrily and bade him drive on. So she went home "with her father's blood upon her chariotwheels;" and that place was called the Wicked Street ever after.

So King Servius died when he had reigned four and forty years, and Lucius Tarquinius the Proud reigned in his stead.

CHAPTER IV.

TARQUINIUS SUPERBUS, AND THE BEGINNINGS OF THE REPUBLIC.

§ 1. Despotism of second Tarquin. § 2. Alliance with Etruscans and Latins. § 3. Temple on Capitoline. § 4. Legend of Sibyl. § 5. Stratagem by which Gabii was taken. § 6. King's sons, with Brutus, sent to consult the Delphic Oracle. § 7. Legend of Lucretia. Expulsion of Tarquins. § 8. Consuls. 9. Patres Conscripti. § 10. Rex Sacrorum. § 11. First attempt to restore Tarquin, by conspiracy: Judgment of Brutus. § 12. Second attempt, by Etruscans of Tarquinii and Veii. Death of Brutus. § 13. P. Valerius Poplicola. § 14. Consecration of Capitoline Temple by M. Horatius. § 15. Third attempt to restore Tarquin, by Porsenna: Legends of Horatius Cocles, Mucius Scævola, Clolia. § 16. Tarquin at Tusculum. § 17. First Dictator. § 18. Fourth attempt to restore Tarquin, by Latins: Battle of Lake Regillus. § 19. Death of Tarquin at Cumæ.

§ 1. TARQUIN had made himself king by the aid of the Patricians, and chiefly by means of the third or Lucerian Tribe, to which his family belonged. The Burgesses of the Gentes were indignant at the curtailment of their privileges by the popular reforms of Servius, and were glad to lend themselves to any enterprise that promised to overthrow his power. But Tarquin soon kicked away the ladder by which he had risen. He abrogated, it is true, the hated Assembly of the Centuries; but neither did he pay any heed to the Curiate Assembly, nor did he allow any new members to be chosen into the Senate in place of those who were removed by death or other causes; so that even those who had helped him to the throne repented them of their deed. The name of Superbus, or the Proud, testifies to the general feeling against the despotic rule of the second Tarquin.

§ 2. It was by foreign alliances that he calculated on supporting his despotism at home. The Etruscans of Tarquinii, and all its associate cities, were his friends; and among the Latins also he sought to raise a power which might counterbalance the Senate and People of Rome.

VOL. I.

F

The wisdom of Tarquinius Priscus and Servius had united all the Latin Name to Rome, so that Rome had become the sovereign city of Latium. The last Tarquin drew those ties still closer. He gave his daughter in marriage to Octavius Mamilius, Chief of Tusculum, and favoured the Latins in all things. But at a general assembly of the Latins at the Ferentine Grove, beneath the Alban Mount, where they had been accustomed to meet of olden time to settle their national affairs, Turnus Herdonius of Aricia rose and spoke against him. Then Tarquinius accused him of high treason, and brought false witness against him; and so powerful with the Latins was the King that they condemned their countryman to be drowned in the Ferentine water, and obeyed Tarquinius in all things.

§ 3. With them he made war upon the Volscians and took the city of Suessa, wherein was a great booty. This booty he applied to the execution of great works in the city, in emulation of his father and King Servius. The elder Tarquin had built up the side of the Tarpeian Rock and levelled the summit, to be the foundation of a temple of Jupiter, but he had not completed the work. Tarquinius Superbus now removed all the temples and shrines of the old Sabine gods which had been there since the time of Titus Tatius; but the goddess of Youth and the god Terminus refused to yield their places, whereby was signified that Rome should enjoy undecaying vigour, and that the boundaries of her empire should never be drawn in. And on the Tarpeian height he built a magnificent temple, to be dedicated jointly to the three Great Gods of the Latins and Etruscans,-Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva; and this part of the Saturnian Hill was ever after called the CAPITOL or the Chief Place, while the upper part was still named the ARX or Citadel.

He brought architects from Etruria to plan the temple, but he forced the Roman people to work for him without hire.

§ 4. One day a strange woman appeared before the King and offered him nine books to buy; and when he refused them she went away and burnt three of the nine books, and brought back the remaining six and offered to sell them at the same "See Chapt. i. § 7.