§1.54.1inde in consilia publica adhiberi.
Thence he began to be admitted to the public councils.
ubi cum de aliis rebus adsentire se veteribus Gabinis diceret, quibus eae notiores essent, ipse identidem belli auctor esse et in eo sibi praecipuam prudentiam adsumere, quod utriusque populi vires nosset sciretque invisam profecto superbiam regiam civibus esse, quam ferre ne liberi quidem potuissent.
There, while he said that on other matters he agreed with the elder Gabini, to whom those things were better known, he himself repeatedly became the advocate of war, and assumed to himself special wisdom in that matter, because he knew the strength of both peoples, and knew that the king's pride was indeed hated by the citizens, which not even his children had been able to endure.
§1.54.2ita cum sensim ad rebellandum primores Gabinorum incitaret, ipse cum promptissimis iuvenum praedatum atque in expeditiones iret et dictis factisque omnibus ad fallendum instructis vana adcresceret fides, dux ad ultimum belli legitur.
Thus, while he gradually incited the chief men of the Gabini to rebellion, and himself went with the most active of the young men to plunder and on expeditions, and because all his words and deeds were prepared for deception, a groundless trust increased, he was at last chosen leader of the war.
§1.54.3ibi cum inscia multitudine, quid ageretur, proelia parva inter Romam Gabiosque fierent, quibus plerumque Gabina res superior esset, tum certatim summi infimique Gabinorum Sex. §1.54.4Tarquinium dono deum sibi missum ducem credere.
There, while small battles were fought between Rome and Gabii, with the multitude ignorant of what was being done, in which for the most part the Gabini were superior, then emulously the highest and lowest of the Gabini believed that Sextus Tarquin had been sent to them by the gift of the gods as a leader.
apud milites vero obeundo pericula ac labores pariter, praedam munifice largiendo tanta caritate esse, ut non pater Tarquinius potentior Romae quam filius Gabiis esset.
Indeed, among the soldiers, by undergoing dangers and labors equally, and by generously distributing the booty, he was held in such great affection that the father Tarquin was not more powerful in Rome than the son in Gabii.
§1.54.5itaque postquam satis virium collectum ad omnes conatus videbat, tum ex suis unum sciscitatum Romam ad patrem mittit, quidnam se facere vellet, quandoquidem, ut omnia unus publice Gabiis posset, ei dii dedissent.
Therefore, after he saw that enough strength had been collected for all attempts, he then sent one of his own men to Rome to his father to inquire what indeed he wished him to do, since the gods had granted him that he alone should have all power in public affairs at Gabii.
§1.54.6huic nuntio, quia, credo, dubiae fidei videbatur, nihil voce responsum est; rex velut deliberabundus in hortum aedium transit sequenti nuntio filii; ibi inambulans tacitus summa papaverum capita dicitur baculo decussisse.
To this messenger, because, I believe, he seemed of doubtful fidelity, no answer was given by voice; the king, as if deliberating, went over into the garden of the house, with the messenger of his son following him; there, walking about in silence, he is said to have struck off the highest heads of the poppies with a staff.
§1.54.7interrogando expectandoque responsum nuntius fessus, ut re inperfecta, redit Gabios; quae dixerit ipse quaeque viderit, refert: seu ira seu odio seu superbia insita ingenio nullam eum vocem emisisse.
The messenger, weary with asking and waiting for an answer, returned to Gabii as if the business were unfinished; he reported what he himself had said and what he had seen: that whether from anger or hatred or innate pride of character, the king had uttered no word.
§1.54.8sexto ubi, quid vellet parens quidve praeciperet tacitis ambagibus, patuit, primores civitatis criminando alios apud populum, alios sua ipsos invidia opportunos interemit.
When it became clear to Sextus what his parent wished and what he was commanding by his silent riddles, he put to death the chief men of the city, some by accusing them before the people, others because they were vulnerable to their own unpopularity.
§1.54.9multi palam, quidam, in quibus minus speciosa criminatio erat futura, clam interfecti.
Many were killed openly, some, against whom an accusation was going to be less plausible, secretly.
patuit quibusdam volentibus fuga, alii in exilium acti sunt absentiumque bona iuxta atque interemptorum divisui fuere.
Flight was open to some who wished it, others were driven into exile, and the property of the absent as well as of those who had been put to death was divided.
§1.54.10largitiones inde praedaeque; et dulcedine privati commodi sensus malorum publicorum adimi, donec orba consilio auxilioque Gabina res regi Romano sine ulla dimicatione in manum traditur.
Thence came largesses and spoils; and by the sweetness of private gain, the sense of public evils was taken away, until the state of Gabii, bereft of counsel and help, was delivered into the hands of the Roman king without any struggle.