Sextus readily understood the meaning of this reply, and found means to destroy or remove, one by one, the principal men of the city; taking care to confiscate their effects among the people.8.The charms of this dividend kept the giddy populace blind to their approaching ruin, till they found themselves at last without counsellors or head; and, in the end, fell under the power of Tarquin, without even striking a blow.[1] 9.

But, while he was engaged in wars abroad, he took care not to suffer the people to continue in idleness at home.

He undertook to build the Capitol, the foundation of which had been laid in a former reign; and an extraordinary event contributed to hasten the execution of his design.

A woman, in strange attire, made her appearance at Rome, and came to the king, offering to sell nine books, which, she said, were of her own composing.10.Not knowing the abilities of the seller, or that she was, in fact, one of the celebrated _Sybils_, whose prophecies were never found to fail, Tarquin refused to buy them.

Upon this she departed, and burning three of her books, returned again, demanding the same price for the six remaining.11.Being once more despised as an impostor, she again departed, and burning three more, she returned with the remaining three, still asking the same price as at first.