the utmost care, that
Sextus, who had been left behind at Rome, might be ignorant of the
response, and have no share in the kingdom; they cast lots among
themselves, as to which of them should first kiss his mother, after they
had returned to Rome. Brutus, thinking that the Pythian response had
another meaning, as if he had stumbled and fallen, touched the ground
with his lips; she being, forsooth, the common mother of all mankind.
After this they all returned to Rome, where preparations were being made
with the greatest vigour for a war against the Rutulians.

[Footnote 63: _The principal sewer_--the _cloaca maxima_. This is
attributed to Tarquinius Priscus by several writers. Dio. iii. 67,
states that it was he who commenced it. See Plin. H. N. xxxvi. Nieb. i.
p. 385.]

57. The Rutulians, a nation very wealthy, considering the country and
age they lived in, were at that time in possession of Ardea. Their
riches gave occasion to the war; for the king of the Romans, being
exhausted of money by the magnificence of his public works, was desirous
both to enrich himself, and by a large booty to soothe the minds of his
subjects, who, besides other instances of his tyranny, were incensed
against his government, because they were indignant that they had been
kept so long a time by the king in the employments of mechanics, and in
labour fit for slaves. An attempt was made to take Ardea by storm; when
that did not succeed, the enemy began to be distressed by a blockade,
and by works raised around them. As it commonly happens in standing
camps, the war being rather tedious than violent, furloughs were easily
obtained, more so by the officers, however, than the common soldiers.
The young princes sometimes spent their leisure hours in feasting and
entertainments. One day as they were drinking in the tent of Sextus
Tarquin, where Collatinus Tarquinius, the son of Egerius, was also at
supper, mention was made of wives. Every one commended his own in an
extravagant manner, till a dispute arising about it, Collatinus said,
"There was no occasion for words, that it might be known in a few hours
how far his Lucretia excelled all the rest. If then, added he, we have
any share of the vigour of youth, let us mount our horses and examine
the behaviour of our wives; that must be most satisfactory to every one,
which shall meet his eyes on the unexpected arrival of the husband."
They were heated with wine; "Come on, then," say all. They immed