at time, a prodigy occurred in the palace, wonderful both in
its appearance and in its result. They relate, that the head of a boy,
called Servius Tullius, as he lay fast asleep, blazed with fire in the
sight of many persons. That by the very great noise made at so
miraculous a phenomenon, the royal family were awakened; and when one of
the servants was bringing water to extinguish the flame, that he was
kept back by the queen, and after the confusion was over, that she
forbade the boy to be disturbed till he should awake of his own accord.
As soon as he awoke the flame disappeared. Then Tanaquil, taking her
husband into a private place, said, "Do you observe this boy whom we
bring up in so mean a style? Be assured that hereafter he will be a
light to us in our adversity, and a protector to our palace in distress.
From henceforth let us, with all our care, train up this youth, who is
capable of becoming a great ornament publicly and privately." From this
time the boy began to be treated as their own son, and instructed in
those arts by which men's minds are qualified to maintain high rank. The
matter was easily accomplished, because it was agreeable to the gods.
The young man turned out to be of a disposition truly royal. Nor, when
they looked out for a son-in-law for Tarquin, could any of the Roman
youth be compared to him in any accomplishment; therefore the king
betrothed his own daughter to him. This high honour conferred upon him,
from whatever cause, prevents us from believing that he was the son of a
slave, and that he had himself been a slave when young. I am rather of
the opinion of those who say that, on the taking of Corniculum, the wife
of Servius Tullius, who had been the leading man in that city, being
pregnant when her husband was slain, being known among the other female
prisoners, and, in consequence of her high rank, exempted from servitude
by the Roman queen, was delivered of a child at Rome, in the house of
Tarquinius Priscus. Upon this, that both the intimacy between the ladies
was improved by so great a kindness, and that the boy, having been
brought up in the house from his infancy, was beloved and respected;
that his mother's lot, in having fallen into the hands of the enemy,
caused him to be considered the son of a slave.

40. About the thirty-eighth year of Tarquin's reign, Servius Tullius was
in the highest esteem, not only with the king, but also with the senate
and people. At this time the tw