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 senate-house. 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 foot-stool
at his head, and ordered him to drive over the body
without hesitation.[3]
14. This was the end of Ser’vius Tul’lius,
a prince of eminent justice and moderation, after
an useful and prosperous reign of forty-four years.
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 the 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?
FOOTNOTES:
[1] A flame of fire gliding about without doing any
harm.
[2] A large plain at Rome, without the walls of the
city, where the Roman youth performed their exercises.
Cam’pus is the Latin word for field; and this
field or plain was called Mar’tius, because it
was dedicated to Mars, the god of war.