In this way Tullius gained control of the populace, but fearing that some rebellion might take place he delivered the greater number and the more important of the public positions to the care of the more powerful citizens.  Thus they became harmonious in their views and transacted the public business in the best manner.  He also conducted a few wars against the Veians and against all the Etruscans, in the course of which nothing was done worthy of record.  Wishing to affiliate the Latins still more closely with the Romans he persuaded them to construct in Rome a temple out of common funds.  This he devoted to Minerva.  But differences arose in regard to its superintendence.  Meantime a Sabine brought to Rome an exceedingly fine cow, intending to sacrifice her to Minerva in accordance with an oracle.  The oracle said that he who should sacrifice her would enlarge his country.  One of the Romans learning this went to the man and told him that it was requisite for the victim first to be purified in the river, and by his talk persuaded him.  Having persuaded him he took the cow under the pretence of keeping her safe and having taken her he sacrificed her.  When the Sabine made known the oracle the Latins both yielded the presidency of the shrine to the Romans and in other ways honored them as superior to themselves.

This was the course these matters took.  Now Tullius joined his daughters in marriage with the Tarquins, and though he announced that he was going to restore the kingdom to them he kept putting it off, now on one excuse and now on another.  And they were not at all disposed to be complaisant, but were indignant.  The king paid no heed to them and urged the Romans to democracy and freedom.  Then were the Tarquins all the more disquieted.  But the younger one, however ill at ease he was, still endured it, until in the course of time he thought he could bear Tullius no longer.  And when he found that his wife did not approve his attitude, nor did his brother, he put to death his own wife [Sidenote:  FRAG. 10^1] AND COMPASSED HIS BROTHER’S DEATH BY POISON ADMINISTERED BY THE LATTER’S WIFE.  Then, uniting his fortunes with his brother’s spouse, he plotted with her help against Tullius.  After persuading many of the senators and patricians whose reputations were under a cloud to cooeperate with him against Tullius he unexpectedly repaired with them to the senate, his wife Tullia also following him.  He there spoke many words to remind them of his father’s worth and uttered many jests at the expense of Tullius.  When the latter on hearing of it hastily made his appearance and said a word or two, the pretender seized him, and thrusting him out cast him down the steps in front of the senate-house.  So the king, bewildered by the audacity of Tarquin and surprised that no one came to his assistance, did not say or do anything more.  Tarquin at once obtained the kingdom from the senate, and sent some men who despatched Tullius while he was on his way home.  The latter’s daughter, after embracing her husband in the senate-house and saluting him as king, departed to the palace and drove her chariot over the dead body of her father as he lay there.