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.