to have been the first person made free by the Vindicta; some think even
that the term vindicta is derived from him. After him it was observed as
a rule, that those who were set free in this manner were supposed to be
admitted to the rights of Roman citizens.[69]
[Footnote 67: Niebuhr will have it that Brutus punished his children by
his authority as a father, and that there was no appeal to the people
from the father. See Nieb. i. p. 488.]
[Footnote 68: _Animo patris_, the strength of his mind, though that of a
father, being even more conspicuous, &c. So Drakenborch understands the
passage,--this sternness of mind, he says, though he was their father,
was a more remarkable spectacle than his stern countenance. This
character of Brutus, as inferrible from the words thus interpreted,
coincides with that given of him by Dionysius and others. I prefer
understanding the passage with Crevier, scil. symptoms of paternal
affection to his children displaying themselves during the discharge of
his duty in superintending the public punishment inflicted on them.]
[Footnote 69: Previously, by the institution of Servius, only such
manumitted slaves were admitted to the rights of citizenship as were
registered by their masters in the census.]
6. On these things being announced to him, as they had occurred,
Tarquin, inflamed not only with grief for the frustration of such great
hopes, but with hatred and resentment also, when he saw that the way was
blocked up against stratagem, considering that he should have recourse
to war openly, went round as a suppliant to the cities of Etruria,
"that they should not suffer him, sprung from themselves, of the same
blood, exiled and in want, lately in possession of so great a kingdom,
to perish before their eyes, with the young men his sons. That others
had been invited to Rome from foreign lands to the throne; that he, a
king, extending the Roman empire by his arms, was driven out by those
nearest to him by a villanous conspiracy; that they had by violence
divided the parts among themselves, because no one individual among them
was deemed sufficiently deserving of the kingdom; that they had given up
his effects to the people to be pillaged by them, that no one might be
free from that guilt. That he was desirous to recover his country and
his kingdom, and to punish his ungrateful subjects. That they should
bring succour and aid him; that they might also revenge the injuries
done to them of old, their legions so often slaughtered, their land
taken from them." These arguments prevailed on the people of Veii, and
with menaces they declare that now at least, under the conduct of a
Roman general, their former disgrace should be wiped off, and what they
had lost in war should be recovered. His name and relation to them
induced the people of Tarquinii to take part with him; it seemed an
honour that their countrymen should reign at Rome. Therefore the two
armies of these two states followed Tarquin in order to recover his
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