lected to support him in any undertaking, he sent one of
his confidants to Rome to ask his father what he wished him to do,
seeing the gods had granted him the sole management of all affairs at
Gabii. To this courier no answer by word of mouth was given, because, I
suppose, he appeared of questionable fidelity. The king going into a
garden of the palace, as it were to consider of the matter, followed by
his son's messenger; walking there for some time in silence, he is said
to have struck off the heads of the tallest poppies with his staff. The
messenger, wearied with demanding and waiting for an answer, returned to
Gabii as if without having accomplished his object, and told what he had
said himself, and what he had observed, adding, "that Tarquin, either
through passion, aversion to him, or his innate pride, had not spoke a
word." As soon as it became evident to Sextus what his father wished,
and what conduct he recommended by those silent intimations, he put to
death the most eminent men of the city, accusing some of them to the
people, and others who were exposed by their own unpopularity. Many were
executed publicly, and some, against whom an impeachment was likely to
prove less specious, were secretly assassinated. Means of escape were to
some allowed, and others were banished, and their estates, as well as
the estates of those who were put to death, publicly distributed. By the
sweets of corruption, plunder, and private advantage resulting from
these distributions, the sense of the public calamities became
extinguished in them, till the state of Gabii, destitute of counsel and
assistance, was delivered without a struggle into the hands of the Roman
king.

55. Tarquin, thus put in possession of Gabii, made peace with the
AEquians, and renewed the treaty with the Etrurians. Then he turned his
thoughts to the business of the city. The chief whereof was that of
leaving behind him the temple of Jupiter on the Tarpeian mount, as a
monument of his name and reign; [since posterity would remember] that of
two Tarquinii, both kings, the father had vowed, the son completed it.
And that the area, excluding all other forms of worship, might be
entirely appropriated to Jupiter, and his temple, which was to be
erected upon it, he resolved to unhallow several small temples and
chapels, which had been vowed first by king Tatius, in the heat of the
battle against Romulus, and which he afterwards consecrated and
dedicated. In the v