1.41
Whilst the bystanders
were supporting the dying Tarquin in their arms, the
lictors caught the fugitives. The shouting drew a
crowd together, wondering what had happened. In the
midst of the confusion, Tanaquil ordered the palace
to be cleared and the doors closed; she then
carefully prepared medicaments for dressing the
wound, should there be hopes of life; at the same
time she decided on other precautions, should the
case prove hopeless, and hastily summoned Servius.
She showed him her husband at the point of death,
and taking his hand, implored him not to leave his
father-in-law's death unavenged, nor to allow his
mother-in-law to become the sport of her enemies.
"The throne is yours, Servius," she said, "if you
are a man; it does not belong to those who have,
through the hands of others, wrought this worst of
crimes. Up! follow the guidance of the gods who
presaged the exaltation of that head round which
divine fire once played! Let that heaven-sent flame
now inspire you. Rouse yourself in earnest! We, too,
though foreigners, have reigned. Bethink yourself
not whence you sprang, but who you are. If in this
sudden emergency you are slow to resolve, then
follow my counsels." As the clamour and impatience
of the populace could hardly be restrained, Tanaquil
went to a window in the upper part of the palace
looking out on the Via Nova -the king used to live
by the temple of Jupiter Stator -and addressed the
people. She bade them hope for the best; the king
had been stunned by a sudden blow, but the weapon
had not penetrated to any depth, he had already
recovered consciousness, the blood had been washed
off and the wound examined, all the symptoms were
favourable, she was sure they would soon see him
again, meantime it was his order that the people
should recognise the authority of Servius Tullius,
who would administer justice and discharge the other
functions of royalty. Servius appeared in his trabea
attended by the lictors, and after taking his seat
in the royal chair decided some cases and adjourned
others under presence of consulting the king. So for
several days after Tarquin's death Servius continued
to strengthen his position by giving out that he was
exercising a delegated authority. At length the
sounds of mourning arose in the palace and divulged
the fact of the king's death. Protected by a strong
bodyguard Servius was the first who ascended the
throne without being elected by the people, though
without opposition from the senate. When the sons of
Ancus heard that the instruments of their crime had
been arrested, that the king was still alive, and
that Servius was so powerful, they went into exile
at Suessa Pometia.