§1.53.1nec, ut iniustus in pace rex, ita dux belli pravus fuit; §1.53.2quin ea arte aequasset superiores reges, ni degeneratum in aliis huic quoque decori offecisset.
Nor, though he was an unjust king in peace, was he a bad leader in war; Indeed, he would have equalled the former kings in that art, had not his degeneracy in other matters also detracted from this glory.
is primus Volscis bellum in ducentos amplius post suam aetatem annos movit Suessamque Pometiam ex his vi cepit.
He was the first to stir up against the Volscians a war which was to last for more than two hundred years after his time, and took Suessa Pometia from them by force.
§1.53.3ubi cum divendita praeda quadraginta talenta argenti refecisset, concepit animo eam amplitudinem Iovis templi, quae digna deum hominumque rege, quae Romano imperio, quae ipsius etiam loci maiestate esset.
Having there realized forty talents of silver from the sale of the booty, he conceived in his mind a grandeur for the temple of Jupiter that should be worthy of the king of gods and men, of the Roman empire, and of the majesty of the place itself.
captivam pecuniam in aedificationem eius templi seposuit.
He set aside this captive money for the building of that temple.
§1.53.4excepit deinde eum lentius spe bellum, quo Gabios, propinquam urbem, nequiquam vi adortus, cum obsidendi quoque urbem spes pulso a moenibus adempta esset, postremo minime arte Romana, fraude ac dolo, adgressus est.
Then a war received him which was more protracted than he had hoped, in which, having in vain attacked Gabii, a neighbouring city, by force, and when, after being repulsed from the walls, even the hope of besieging the city was taken away, he finally attacked it by a method least of all Roman, by fraud and deceit.
§1.53.5nam cum velut posito bello fundamentis templi iaciendis aliisque urbanis operibus intentum se esse simularet, Sextus filius eius, qui minimus ex tribus erat, transfugit ex composito Gabios, patris in se saevitiam intolerabilem conquerens: §1.53.6iam ab alienis in suos vertisse superbiam, et liberorum quoque eum frequentiae taedere, ut, quam in curia solitudinem fecerit, domi quoque faciat, ne quam stirpem, ne quem heredem regni relinquat.
For while he pretended that, the war being as it were laid aside, he was intent on laying the foundations of the temple and on other city works, his son Sextus, who was the youngest of the three, fled according to a preconcerted plan to Gabii, complaining of his father's intolerable cruelty towards himself: saying that his pride had now turned from strangers against his own family, and that he was also weary of the multitude of his children, so that he might make the same solitude at home which he had made in the senate house, lest he should leave any offspring, or any heir to his kingdom.
§1.53.7se quidem inter tela et gladios patris elapsum nihil usquam sibi tutum nisi apud hostes L. Tarquinii credidisse.
He, for his part, having escaped from the weapons and swords of his father, had believed that there was no safety for him anywhere except with the enemies of L. Tarquin.
nam ne errarent, manere iis bellum, quod positum simuletur, et per occasionem eum incautos invasurum.
For, lest they should err, the war which was pretended to be laid aside was still hanging over them, and he would attack them when off their guard on a favorable opportunity.
§1.53.8quod si apud eos supplicibus locus non sit, pererraturum se omne Latium Volscosque inde et Aequos et Hernicos petiturum, donec ad eos perveniat, qui a patrum crudelibus atque inpiis suppliciis tegere liberos sciant.
But if there should be no place for suppliants among them, he would wander through all Latium, and would seek the Volscians, and thence the Aequi and the Hernici, until he came to those who knew how to protect children from the cruel and impious punishments of parents.
§1.53.9forsitan etiam ardoris aliquid ad bellum armaque se adversus superbissimum regem ac ferocissimum populum inventurum.
Perhaps he might also find some ardor for war and arms against that most haughty king and most ferocious people.
§1.53.10cum, si nihil morarentur, infensus ira porro inde abiturus videretur, benigne ab Gabinis excipitur.
Since, if they did not delay him, he seemed about to go further thence, incensed with anger, he was kindly received by the Gabini.
vetant mirari, si, qualis in cives, qualis in socios, talis ad ultimum in liberos esset; §1.53.11in se ipsum postremo saeviturum, si alia desint.
They told him not to wonder if he were the same at last towards his children as he had been towards his citizens and allies; that he would finally vent his rage upon himself if others were wanting.
sibi vero gratum adventum eius esse, futurumque credere brevi, ut illo adiuvante a portis Gabinis sub Romana moenia bellum transferatur.
They said that his coming was indeed welcome to them, and they believed that in a short time, with his assistance, the war would be transferred from the gates of Gabii to under the Roman walls.