she called her husband out of the senate-house, and was the first to
style him king; and when, on being commanded by him to withdraw from
such a tumult, she was returning home, and had arrived at the top of the
Cyprian street, where Diana's temple lately was, as she was turning to
the right to the Orbian hill, in order to arrive at the Esquiline, the
person who was driving, being terrified, stopped and drew in the reins,
and pointed out to his mistress the murdered Servius as he lay. On this
occasion a revolting and inhuman crime is stated to have been committed,
and the place is a monument of it. They call it the Wicked Street, where
Tullia, frantic and urged on by the furies of her sister and husband, is
reported to have driven her chariot over her father's body, and to have
carried a portion of her father's body and blood to her own and her
husband's household gods, herself also being stained and sprinkled with
it; through whose vengeance results corresponding to the wicked
commencement of the reign were soon to follow. Tullius reigned
forty-four years in such a manner that a competition with him would
prove difficult even for a good and moderate successor. But this also
has been an accession to his glory, that with him perished all just and
legitimate reigns. This authority, so mild and so moderate, yet, because
it was vested in one, some say that he had it in contemplation to
resign,[60] had not the wickedness of his family interfered with him
whilst meditating the liberation of his country.
[Footnote 60: _To resign_. Niebuhr is of opinion that what is said
regarding the Commentaries of Servius Tullius, chap. 60, has reference
to this.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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