§1.48.1huic orationi Servius cum intervenisset trepido nuntio excitatus, extemplo a vestibulo curiae magna voce “quid hoc” inquit, “Tarquini, rei est? qua tu audacia me vivo vocare ausus es patres aut in sede considere mea?” §1.48.2cum ille ferociter ad haec, se patris sui tenere sedem, multo quam servum potiorem filium regis regni heredem, satis illum diu per licentiam eludentem insultasse dominis, clamor ab utriusque fautoribus oritur, et concursus populi fiebat in curiam apparebatque regnaturum, qui vicisset.
When Servius had interrupted this speech, having been aroused by an alarming message, immediately from the vestibule of the senate-house he cried out in a loud voice: "What is this, Tarquin? What business is this? By what audacity have you dared, while I am alive, to convene the senators or to sit in my seat?" When he replied fiercely to this, that he was holding his father's seat, that a king's son was a far more worthy heir to the kingdom than a slave, and that he had long enough insulted his masters, mocking them with impunity, a shout arose from the supporters of both, and a rush of the people was made into the senate-house, and it was clear that he would reign who should conquer.
§1.48.3tum Tarquinius necessitate iam etiam ipsa cogente ultima audere, multo et aetate et viribus validior, medium arripit Servium elatumque e curia in inferiorem partem per gradus deicit; §1.48.4inde ad cogendum senatum in curiam redit.
Then Tarquin, forced now even by the necessity itself to dare the worst, being far stronger both in age and in strength, seized Servius by the middle and, carrying him out of the senate-house, threw him down the steps to the bottom; then he returned into the senate-house to assemble the senate.
fit fuga regis apparitorum atque comitum; ipse prope exanguis, cum sine regio comitatu domum se reciperet, ab iis, qui missi ab Tarquinio fugientem consecuti erant, interficitur.
The king's officers and companions fled; he himself, half-dead, as he was returning home without royal retinue, was killed by those who, sent by Tarquin, had overtaken him in his flight.
§1.48.5creditur, quia non abhorret a cetero scelere, admonitu Tulliae id factum.
It is believed, since it is not inconsistent with her other crimes, that this was done at the instigation of Tullia.
carpento certe, id quod satis constat, in forum invecta nec reverita coetum virorum evocavit virum e curia regemque prima appellavit.
Certainly, as is well established, she drove into the forum in her carriage, and without respecting the assembly of men, called her husband out of the senate-house and was the first to hail him as king.
§1.48.6a quo facessere iussa ex tanto tumultu cum se domum reciperet pervenissetque ad summum Cyprium vicum, ubi Dianium nuper fuit, flectenti carpentum dextra in Urbium clivum, ut in collem Esquiliarum eveheretur, restitit pavidus atque inhibuit frenos is, qui iumenta agebat, iacentemque dominae Servium trucidatum ostendit.
Having been ordered by him to depart from so great a tumult, as she was returning home and had reached the top of the Cyprian street, where the shrine of Diana recently stood, the man who was driving the beasts, as he was turning the carriage to the right into the Urbius slope to ascend the Esquiline hill, stopped in terror and pulled the reins, pointing out to his mistress the butchered corpse of Servius lying there.
§1.48.7foedum inhumanumque inde traditur scelus, monumentoque locus est.
A foul and inhuman crime is recorded therefrom, and the place is a monument of it.
Sceleratum vicum vocant, quo amens agitantibus furiis sororis ac viri Tullia per patris corpus carpentum egisse fertur partemque sanguinis ac caedis paternae cruento vehiculo, contaminata ipsa respersaque, tulisse ad penates suos virique sui, quibus iratis malo regni principio similes prope diem exitus sequerentur.
They call it the Wicked Street, where Tullia, driven mad by the avenging furies of her sister and husband, is said to have driven her carriage over her father's body, and to have carried a portion of her father's blood and slaughter on her blood-stained vehicle, she herself being contaminated and spattered, to her own and her husband's household gods, by whose anger, because of the evil beginning of the reign, similar ends were soon to follow.
Servius Tullius regnavit annos quattuor §1.48.8et quadraginta ita, ut bono etiam moderatoque succedenti regi difficilis aemulatio esset.
Servius Tullius reigned forty-four years in such a manner that even for a good and moderate successor emulation would be difficult.
ceterum id quoque ad gloriam accessit, quod cum illo simul iusta ac legitima regna occiderunt.
Moreover, this also was added to his glory, that with him at the same time just and legitimate reigns perished.
§1.48.9id ipsum tam mite ac tam moderatum imperium tamen, quia unius esset, deponere eum in animo habuisse quidam auctores sunt, ni scelus intestinum liberandae patriae consilia agitanti intervenisset.
Some authors relate that he had it in mind to lay down even this government, so mild and so moderate, because it was that of one man, had not an domestic crime interrupted him while he was planning the liberation of his country.