Myths, Gods, and Men
Spring 2007 Readings - Week 4
The Rape of Lucretia (2 of 2)
Livy - Ab urbe condita 1.59 - 1.60
Read February 13, 2007 by Trent Pepper
LIX: The Expulsion of the Tarquins
Brutus illis luctu occupatis cultrum ex uolnere Lucretiae extractum, manantem cruore prae se tenens, 'per hunc' inquit 'castissimum ante regiam iniuriam sanguinem iuro, uosque, di, testes facio me L. Tarquinium Superbum cum scelerata coniuge et omni liberorum stirpe ferro igni quacumque dehinc ui possim exsecuturum, nec illos nec [2] alium quemquam regnare Romae passurum.' cultrum deinde Collatino tradit, inde Lucretio ac Ualerio, stupentibus miraculo rei, unde nouum in Bruti pectore ingenium. ut praeceptum erat iurant; totique ab luctu uersi in iram, Brutum iam inde ad expugnandum regnum uocantem sequuntur ducem. [3] elatum domo Lucretiae corpus in forum deferunt, concientque miraculo, ut fit, rei nouae atque indignitate homines. [4] pro se quisque scelus regium ac uim queruntur. mouet cum patris maestitia, tum Brutus castigator lacrimarum atque inertium querellarum auctorque quod uiros, quod Romanos deceret, arma capiendi aduersus hostilia ausos. [5] ferocissimus quisque iuuenum cum armis uoluntarius adest; sequitur et cetera iuuentus. inde patre praeside relicto Collatiae [ad portas] custodibusque datis ne quis eum motum regibus nuntiaret, ceteri armati duce Bruto Romam profecti. [6] ubi eo uentum est, quacumque incedit armata multitudo, pauorem ac tumultum facit; rursus ubi anteire primores ciuitatis uident, quidquid sit haud temere esse rentur. [7] nec minorem motum animorum Romae tam atrox res facit quam Collatiae fecerat; ergo ex omnibus locis urbis in forum curritur. quo simul uentum est, praeco ad tribunum celerum, in quo tum magistratu forte Brutus erat, populum aduocauit. [8] ibi oratio habita nequaquam eius pectoris ingeniique quod simulatum ad eam diem fuerat, de ui ac libidine Sex. Tarquini, de stupro infando Lucretiae et miserabili caede, de orbitate Tricipitini cui morte filiae causa mortis indignior ac miserabilior esset. [9] addita superbia ipsius regis miseriaeque et labores plebis in fossas cloacasque exhauriendas demersae; Romanos homines, uictores omnium circa populorum, opifices ac lapicidas pro bellatoribus factos. [10] indigna Ser. Tulli regis memorata caedes et inuecta corpori patris nefando uehiculo filia, inuocatique ultores parentum di. [11] his atrocioribusque, credo, aliis, quae praesens rerum indignitas haudquaquam relatu scriptoribus facilia subicit, memoratis incensam multitudinem perpulit ut imperium regi abrogaret exsulesque esse iuberet L. Tarquinium cum coniuge ac liberis. [12] ipse iunioribus qui ultro nomina dabant lectis armatisque, ad concitandum inde aduersus regem exercitum Ardeam in castra est profectus: imperium in urbe Lucretio, praefecto urbis iam ante ab rege instituto, relinquit. [13] inter hunc tumultum Tullia domo profugit exsecrantibus quacumque incedebat inuocantibusque parentum furias uiris mulieribusque.
LX:
When the news of these proceedings reached the camp, the king, alarmed at the turn affairs were taking, hurried to Rome to quell the outbreak. Brutus, who was on the same road, had become aware of his approach, and to avoid meeting him took another route, so that he reached Ardea and Tarquin Rome almost at the same time, though by different ways. Tarquin found the gates shut, and a decree of banishment passed against him; the Liberator of the City received a joyous welcome in the camp, and the king's sons were expelled from it. Two of them followed their father, into exile amongst the Etruscans in Caere. Sextus Tarquin proceeded to Gabii, which he looked upon as his kingdom, but was killed in revenge for the old feuds he had kindled by his rapine and murders.
Lucius Tarquinius Superbus reigned twenty-five years. The whole duration of the regal government from the foundation of the City to its liberation was two hundred and forty-four years. Two consuls were then elected in the assembly of centuries by the prefect of the City, in accordance with the regulations of Servius Tullius. They were Lucius Junius Brutus and Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus.