[1] Corinth (now Corito) was a celebrated city of ancient Greece, situated on the isthmus of that name, about sixty stadia or furlongs from the sea.  Its original name was Ephy’re.

[2] Preparations for building the Capitol were made in this reign.  The city was likewise fortified with stone walls, and the cloacae, or common sewers, constructed by the munificence of this prince. (See Introd.)

[3] The history of the elder Tarquin presents insuperable difficulties.  We are told that his original name was Lu’cumo; but that, as has been mentioned in the Introduction, was the Etrurian designation of a chief magistrate.  One circumstance, however, is unquestionable, that with him began the greatness and the splendour of the Roman city.  He commenced those vaulted sewers which still attract the admiration of posterity; he erected the first circus for the exhibition of public spectacles; he planned the Capitol, and commenced, if he did not complete, the first city wall.  The tradition that he was a Tuscan prince, appears to be well founded; but the Corinthian origin of his family is very improbable.

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CHAPTER VII.

FROM THE DEATH OF TARQUINIUS PRISCUS TO THE DEATH OF SERVIUS TULLIUS THE SIXTH KING OF ROME.—­U.C. 176.

  Servius, the king, who laid the solid base
  On which o’er earth the vast republic spread.—­Thomson.

1.  The report of the murder of Tarquin filled all his subjects with complaint and indignation; while the citizens ran from every quarter to the palace, to learn the truth of the account, or to take vengeance on the assassins. 2.  In this tumult, Tan’aquil, widow of the late king, considering the danger she must incur, in case the conspirators should succeed to the crown, and desirous of seeing her son-in-law his successor, with great art dissembled her sorrow, as well as the king’s death.  She assured the people, from one of the windows of the palace, that he was not killed, but only stunned by the blow; that he would shortly recover; and that in the meantime he had deputed his power to Ser’vius Tul’lius, his son-in-law.  Ser’vius, accordingly, as it had been agreed upon between them, issued from the palace, adorned with the ensigns of royalty, and, preceded by his lictors, went to despatch some affairs that related to the public safety, still pretending that he took all his instructions from the king.  This scene of dissimulation continued for some days, till he had made his party good among the nobles; when, the death of Tarquin being publicly ascertained, Ser’vius came to the crown, solely at the senate’s appointment, and without attempting to gain the suffrages of the people.

3.  Ser’vius was the son of a bondwoman, who had been taken at the sacking of a town belonging to the Latins, and was born whilst his mother was a slave.  While yet an infant in his cradle, a lambent flame[1] is said to have played round his head, which Tan’aquil converted into an omen of future greatness.