o sons of Ancus, though they had before
that always considered it the highest indignity that they had been
deprived of their father's crown by the treachery of their guardian,
that a stranger should be king of Rome, who was not only not of a
civic, but not even of an Italian family, yet now felt their indignation
rise to a still higher pitch at the notion that the crown would not only
not revert to them after Tarquin, but would descend even lower to a
slave, so that in the same state about the hundredth year[50] after
Romulus, descended from a deity, and a deity himself, occupied the
throne as long as he lived, a slave, and one born of a slave, should now
possess it. That it would be a disgrace both common to the Roman name,
and more especially to their family, if, whilst there was male issue of
king Ancus still living, the sovereignty of Rome should be accessible
not only to strangers, but even to slaves. They determine therefore to
prevent that disgrace by the sword. But both resentment for the injury
done to them incensed them more against Tarquin himself, than against
Servius; and (the consideration) that a king was likely to prove a more
severe avenger of the murder, if he should survive, than a private
person; and moreover, in case of Servius being put to death, whatever
other person he might select as his son-in-law,[51] it seemed likely
that he would adopt as his successor on the throne.[52] For these
reasons the plot is laid against the king himself. Two of the most
ferocious of the shepherds being selected for the daring deed, with the
rustic implements to which each had been accustomed, by conducting
themselves in as violent a manner as possible in the porch of the
palace, under pretence of a quarrel, draw the attention of all the
king's attendants to themselves; then, when both appealed to the king,
and their clamour reached even the interior of the palace, they are
called in and proceed before the king. At first both bawled aloud, and
vied in interrupting each other by their clamour, until being restrained
by the lictor, and commanded to speak in turns, they at length cease
railing. According to concert, one begins to state the matter. When the
king, attentive to him, had turned himself quite that way, the other,
raising up his axe, struck it into his head, and leaving the weapon in
the wound, they both rush out of the house.

[Footnote 50: _The hundredth year_. 138 years had elapsed since the
death of Romu