Upon this he chose pro∣per persons to keep them, who, though but two at first, were afterwards encreased to fifteen, under the name of quindecemviri. The woman, says the historian, after thus selling and delivering the three prophetic volumes, and advising him to have a special attention to what they contained, vanished from before him, and was never seen after. These much blamed him for not buying the nine, and commanded him to buy the three remaining, at whatsoever price they were to be had.
Tarquin, surprised at the inconsistency of her behaviour, consulted the augurs, to advise him what to do. Being once more despised as an im∣postor, she again departed, and burning three more, she returned with those remaining, still asking the same price as at first. Upon this she departed, and burning three of her books, returned again, demanding the same price for the six remaining. Not knowing the abilities of the seller, or that she was, in fact, one of the celebrated sybils, whose prophecies were never found to fail, Tarquin refused to buy them. A woman, in strange at∣tire, made her appearance at Rome, and came to the king, offering to sell nine books, which she said were of her own composing. He undertook to build the capitol, the foun∣dation of which had been laid in a former reign,Īnd an extraordinary event contributed to hasten the execution of his design. After this, he made a league with the Aequi, and renewed that with the Etrurians.īut while he was engaged in wars abroad, he took care not to suffer the people to continue in idleness at home. The charms of this divi∣dend kept the giddy populace blind to their approach∣ing 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. Sextus readily understood the meaning of this reply, and, one by one, found means to destroy or remove the principal men of the city, still taking care to confiscate their effects among the people.
Parquin made no other answer than by taking the messenger into the garden, where he cut down before him the tallest poppies. 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. There, by artful complaints and studied lamentations, he so prevailed upon the pity of the people, as to be chosen their governor, and soon after general of their army. e, and to seek refuge among the inhabi∣tants of the place.He caused his son Sextus to counterfeit desertion, upon pretence of bar∣barous usa The city of the Gabii gave him much more trouble for having attempted with some loss, to besiege it, he was oblig∣ed to direct his efforts by stratagem, contrary to the usual practice of the Romans. He next began a war with the Volsci, which continued for some ages after.
He first marched against the Sabines, who refused to pay him obedience, and soon reduced them to sub∣mission. 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. Conscious of this, he or∣dered all such as be suspected to have been attached to Servius, to be put to death and fearing the natural consequences of his tyranny, he encreased the guard round his person. All the good part of mankind, how∣ever, looked upon his accession with detestation and horror and this act of inefficient cruelty only served to confirm their hatred. Regardless of the se∣nate or the people's approbation, he seemed to claim the crown by an hereditary right, and refused the late king's body burial, under pretence of his being an usurper. LUCIUS Tarquinius, afterwards called Super∣bus, or the Proud, having placed himself upon the throne, in consequence of this violent attempt, was resolved to support his dignity with the same violence with which it was acquired.
From the death of Servius Tullius to the banishment of Tarquinius Superbus, the seventh and last king of Rome.
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