ce being enjoined, being advised by those next him
to apologize for having come at that time, says, that he had been chosen
arbiter between a father and a son; that, from his anxiety to reconcile
them, he had delayed; and because that circumstance had consumed that
day, that on the morrow he would transact the business which he had
determined on. They say that he did not make even that observation
without a remark from Turnus; "that no controversy was shorter than one
between a father and son, and that it might be decided in a few
words,--unless he submitted to his father, that he must prove
unfortunate."

51. The Arician withdrew from the meeting, uttering these reflections
against the Roman king. Tarquin, feeling the matter much more acutely
than he appeared to do, immediately sets about planning the death of
Turnus, in order that he might inspire into the Latins the same terror
with which he had crushed the spirits of his own subjects at home; and
because he could not be put to death openly, by virtue of his authority,
he accomplished the ruin of this innocent man by bringing a false
accusation against him. By means of some Aricians of the opposite
faction, he bribed a servant of Turnus with gold, to suffer a great
number of swords to be introduced privately into his lodging. When this
had been completed in the course of one night, Tarquin, having summoned
the chiefs of the Latins to him a little before day, as if alarmed by
some strange occurrence, says, "that his delay of yesterday, having been
occasioned as it were by some providential care of the gods, had been
the means of preservation to him and them; that it was told to him that
destruction was prepared by Turnus for him and the chiefs of the Latins,
that he alone might obtain the government of the Latins. That he was to
have made the attempt yesterday at the meeting; that the matter was
deferred, because the person who summoned the meeting was absent, whom
he chiefly aimed at. That thence arose that abuse of him for being
absent, because he disappointed his hopes by delaying. That he had no
doubt, but that if the truth were told him, he would come at the break
of day, when the assembly met, attended with a band of conspirators, and
with arms in his hands. That it was said that a great number of swords
had been conveyed to his house. Whether that be true or not, might be
known immediately. He requested that they would accompany him thence to
Turnus." Both the