[3] 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.

* * * * *

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
  It burn’d in Brutus.—­Thomson.

1.  LU’CIUS 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 Ser’vius, 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 method of coming to the crown.  He first marched against 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 in Ga’bii, a city of Latium, 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 to 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 blow.[1]