THE UNGRATEFUL CHILDREN

Though once a slave himself, Servius Tullius proved an excellent king. He helped the poor pay debts, gave plebeians public land, and made laws allowing slaves to earn freedom after faithful service or payment. Freedmen stayed as paid workers. Every five years on the Field of Mars, Romans were counted and reported their property—a census. A lustrum purified the state. Servius had two daughters of opposite natures. He married them to Tarquin's two sons, also opposites. The wicked daughter Tullia and the proud son Tarquinius Superbus fell in love and murdered their gentle spouses. Married, they plotted against Servius. Tarquin publicly claimed the throne, dragged Servius from it, and flung him down the stairs. When the stunned king opened his eyes, Tarquin's servants killed him. The terrified Romans let the seventh king take the throne.