lay a good foundation, they found a human head. This was a sign, so said those who knew, that the spot on which the head had been buried should become the chief place of worship in Rome.
The temple, when it was finished, was named the Capitol, and in days to come it was indeed looked upon as the most sacred building in the city.
Although Tarquinius was but a usurper, yet he did all that he could to improve the kingdom over which he ruled.
He ordered great drains to be built, that the marshy valleys between the hills of Rome might become healthier. He also built a large circus and a racecourse, to encourage the games of the people, and in course of time the Roman games became famous.
In the valley between the Capitoline hill and the Palatine hill the king then began to build the Forum, or market-place. Round the Forum he set up booths, where the tradesfolk might carry on their business.
Meanwhile, the subjects of Rome had become so numerous, that the king wished to increase the three tribes into which Romulus had divided his people.
But a skilful augur, named Attius, forbade Tarquinius to alter what Romulus had consecrated with rites sacred to the gods.
The king could ill brook interference, and he mocked at the augur's words in the Forum, where the people had assembled.
Then, thinking to show that Attius was not really as wise as he was believed to be, he cried: "Tell me, O Attius, can the thing of which I am thinking at this moment come to pass?"
The augur, undisturbed by the mockery of the king, consulted the sacred birds. Yes, the omens were good. The thought in the mind of the king could be put into action.
Tarquinius pointed to a whetstone which lay before him, and said: "Can you then cut this whetstone in twain with a razor?"
Undismayed, Attius at once seized a razor, and with one stroke the stone was split in two.
Then the king was afraid, and dared not disregard the wisdom of the augur. So the number of tribes ordained by Romulus was left unchanged.
But Tarquinius doubled the nobles in each tribe, and also increased the companies of knights.
CHAPTER XVI
A Slave Becomes a King
A MONG the slaves of the king was a young boy named Servius Tullius. One day the lad fell fast asleep in the doorway of the palace.
As he slept, it chanced that Tanaquil, the queen, came out to walk in the palace grounds. When she saw Servius she would have roused him, save that a flame of fire was playing around his head, yet doing him no hurt.
But the attendants of the queen also saw this strange sight, and at once rushed off in search of water with which to put out the flame.
Tanaquil, however, called to them to return, saying: "Leave the lad to sleep. The flame will not injure him."
Then, hastening back to the palace, she told the king what she had seen, adding: "The gods have appointed Servius to great honour."
From that day the boy was no longer treated as a slave, but as the king's son, and when he was older he was married to the daughter of Tarquinius.
Little by little Servius Tullius was entrusted with the cares of State, while the Senate or elders of the people treated him as a prince.
Now the sons of Ancus, from whom Tarquinius had stolen the crown, were indignant when they saw the former slave treated with more honour than were they, and they grew afraid lest the king should appoint Servius to succeed him. That this might not be, they determined to kill Tarquinius.
Hiring two men, they bade them go kill the king, and they should be well rewarded for their deed.
So the men disguised themselves as shepherds, and begged to be admitted to the presence of Tarquinius, that he might settle their dispute, for, so they pretended, they had quarrelled with one another while they tended their flocks.
When they stood before the king one of the shepherds began to tell a piteous tale. While Tarquinius was listening, the other suddenly raised his axe, and with one great blow killed the king. The false shepherds then fled from
The temple, when it was finished, was named the Capitol, and in days to come it was indeed looked upon as the most sacred building in the city.
Although Tarquinius was but a usurper, yet he did all that he could to improve the kingdom over which he ruled.
He ordered great drains to be built, that the marshy valleys between the hills of Rome might become healthier. He also built a large circus and a racecourse, to encourage the games of the people, and in course of time the Roman games became famous.
In the valley between the Capitoline hill and the Palatine hill the king then began to build the Forum, or market-place. Round the Forum he set up booths, where the tradesfolk might carry on their business.
Meanwhile, the subjects of Rome had become so numerous, that the king wished to increase the three tribes into which Romulus had divided his people.
But a skilful augur, named Attius, forbade Tarquinius to alter what Romulus had consecrated with rites sacred to the gods.
The king could ill brook interference, and he mocked at the augur's words in the Forum, where the people had assembled.
Then, thinking to show that Attius was not really as wise as he was believed to be, he cried: "Tell me, O Attius, can the thing of which I am thinking at this moment come to pass?"
The augur, undisturbed by the mockery of the king, consulted the sacred birds. Yes, the omens were good. The thought in the mind of the king could be put into action.
Tarquinius pointed to a whetstone which lay before him, and said: "Can you then cut this whetstone in twain with a razor?"
Undismayed, Attius at once seized a razor, and with one stroke the stone was split in two.
Then the king was afraid, and dared not disregard the wisdom of the augur. So the number of tribes ordained by Romulus was left unchanged.
But Tarquinius doubled the nobles in each tribe, and also increased the companies of knights.
CHAPTER XVI
A Slave Becomes a King
A MONG the slaves of the king was a young boy named Servius Tullius. One day the lad fell fast asleep in the doorway of the palace.
As he slept, it chanced that Tanaquil, the queen, came out to walk in the palace grounds. When she saw Servius she would have roused him, save that a flame of fire was playing around his head, yet doing him no hurt.
But the attendants of the queen also saw this strange sight, and at once rushed off in search of water with which to put out the flame.
Tanaquil, however, called to them to return, saying: "Leave the lad to sleep. The flame will not injure him."
Then, hastening back to the palace, she told the king what she had seen, adding: "The gods have appointed Servius to great honour."
From that day the boy was no longer treated as a slave, but as the king's son, and when he was older he was married to the daughter of Tarquinius.
Little by little Servius Tullius was entrusted with the cares of State, while the Senate or elders of the people treated him as a prince.
Now the sons of Ancus, from whom Tarquinius had stolen the crown, were indignant when they saw the former slave treated with more honour than were they, and they grew afraid lest the king should appoint Servius to succeed him. That this might not be, they determined to kill Tarquinius.
Hiring two men, they bade them go kill the king, and they should be well rewarded for their deed.
So the men disguised themselves as shepherds, and begged to be admitted to the presence of Tarquinius, that he might settle their dispute, for, so they pretended, they had quarrelled with one another while they tended their flocks.
When they stood before the king one of the shepherds began to tell a piteous tale. While Tarquinius was listening, the other suddenly raised his axe, and with one great blow killed the king. The false shepherds then fled from
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