[Footnote 5:  The first alternative agrees with Plutarch, who, at the end of his life of Numa (chapter 22), says that this death by lightning of Tullus Hostilius caused many among the population at large to revere that religion which their king had for so long a time neglected.]

VII, 7.—­When Hostilius died, Marcius succeeded to the kingdom, receiving it as a voluntary gift from the Romans.  And he was not perfect in his arm, for he was maimed at the joint (or bend), whence he got the title Ancus (bent arm).  Though gentle he was compelled to [Sidenote:  FRAG. 7] CHANGE HIS HABITS and he turned his attention to campaigns.  For the rest of the Latins, on account of the destruction of Alba and in fear that they themselves might suffer some similar disaster, were angry at the Romans.  As long as Tullus survived, they humbled themselves, dreading his reputation for warfare:  but thinking that Marcius was easy to attack because of his peaceful disposition, they assailed his territory and pillaged it.  He, [Sidenote:  FRAG. 7] COMPREHENDING THAT PEACE COULD BE CAUSED BY WAR, attacked the attackers, defended his position, and captured their cities, one of which he razed to the ground, and treated many of the men taken as slaves and transferred many others to Rome.  As the Romans grew and land was added to their domain, the neighboring peoples were displeased and set themselves at odds with the Romans.  Hence the latter had to overcome the Fidenates by siege, and they damaged the Sabines by falling upon them while scattered and seizing their camp, and by terrifying others they got them to embrace peace even contrary to inclination.  After this the life-stint of Marcius was exhausted, when he had ruled for twenty-four years, being a man that paid strict attention to religion according to the manner of his grandfather Numa.

VII, 8.—­The sovereignty was now appropriated by Lucius Tarquinius, who was the son of Demaratus a Corinthian, borne to the latter by a native woman after he had been exiled and had taken up his abode in Tarquinii, an Etruscan city; the boy had been named Lucumo.  And though he inherited much wealth from his father, yet, because as an immigrant he was not deemed worthy of the highest offices by the people of Tarquinii, he removed to Rome, changing his appellation along with his city; and he changed his name to Lucius Tarquinius,—­from the city in which he dwelt.  It is said that as he was journeying to his new home an eagle swooped down and snatched the cap which he had on his head, and after soaring aloft and screaming for some time placed it again exactly upon his head:  wherefore he was inspired to hope for no small advancement and eagerly took up his residence in Rome.  Hence not long after he was numbered among the foremost men. [Sidenote:  FRAG. 8] FOR BY USING HIS WEALTH QUITE LAVISHLY AND BY WINNING OVER THE NOBLES THROUGH HIS INTELLIGENCE AND WIT HE WAS INCLUDED AMONG THE PATRICIANS AND IN THE SENATE BY MARCIUS, WAS APPOINTED