§1.39.1eo tempore in regia prodigium visu eventuque mirabile fuit: puero dormienti, cui Servio Tullio fuit nomen, caput arsisse ferunt multorum in conspectu. §1.39.2plurimo igitur clamore inde ad tantae rei miraculum orto excitos reges, et cum quidam familiarium aquam ad restinguendum ferret, ab regina retentum, sedatoque eam tumultu moveri vetuisse puerum, donec sua sponte experrectus esset. §1.39.3mox cum somno et flammam abisse.
that time, a portent remarkable both in its appearance and its outcome occurred in the palace: they say that, in the sight of many, the head of a sleeping boy, whose name was Servius Tullius, burst into flames., because of the very great shout that arose there at the wonder of so great a thing, the king and queen were aroused. And when one of the servants was bringing water to extinguish it, he was held back by the queen, who, once the tumult was quieted, forbade the boy to be moved until he should wake up of his own accord., with his sleep, the flame also departed.
tum abducto in secretum viro Tanaquil “uiden tu puerum hunc” inquit, “quem tam humili cultu educamus? scire licet hunc lumen quondam rebus nostris dubiis futurum praesidiumque regiae adflictae;
Then, having drawn her husband aside into a private place, Tanaquil said, "Do you see this boy whom we are bringing up in such a humble fashion?
proinde materiam ingentis publice privatimque decoris omni indulgentia nostra nutriamus. ” §1.39.4inde puerum liberum loco coeptum haberi erudirique artibus, quibus ingenia ad magnae fortunae cultum excitantur.
We may well know that this light will one day be a protector for our doubtful fortunes and a defense to our afflicted palace; therefore, let us nurture with all our indulgence this source of immense glory both public and private.", the boy began to be held in the status of a freeborn child and to be instructed in those arts by which characters are spurred on to the cultivation of a great destiny.
evenit facile, quod diis cordi esset: iuvenis evasit vere indolis regiae, nec, cum quaereretur gener Tarquinio, quisquam Romanae iuventutis ulla arte conferri potuit, filiamque ei suam rex despondit. §1.39.5hic quacumque de causa tantus illi honos habitus credere prohibet serva natum eum parvumque ipsum servisse.
It easily came to pass, because it was pleasing to the gods: the young man turned out to be of a truly kingly disposition, nor, when a son-in-law was being sought for Tarquin, could any of the Roman youth be compared to him in any accomplishment, and the king betrothed his own daughter to him. great honor paid to him, for whatever reason, prevents us from believing that he was born of a slave woman and had himself been a slave in his childhood.
eorum magis sententiae sum, qui Corniculo capto Servi Tulli, qui princeps in illa urbe fuerat, gravidam viro occiso uxorem, cum inter reliquas captivas cognita esset, ob unicam nobilitatem ab regina Romana prohibitam ferunt servitio partum Romae edidisse in Prisci Tarquini domo; §1.39.6inde tanto beneficio et inter mulieres familiaritatem auctam, et puerum, ut in domo a parvo eductum, in caritate atque honore fuisse; fortunam matlis, quod capta patria in hostium manus venerit, ut serva natus crederetur, fecisse.
I am more of the opinion of those who say that, when Corniculum was captured, the pregnant wife of Servius Tullius, who had been the leading man in that city, after her husband had been slain, having been recognized among the other captive women, was exempted from slavery by the Roman queen on account of her singular nobility, and gave birth to her child at Rome in the house of Priscus Tarquin; this great benefit, friendship increased between the women, and the boy, as one brought up from infancy in the house, was held in affection and honor; and that the mother's misfortune, because her captured native land had fallen into the hands of the enemy, caused him to be believed to have been born of a slave.