He is commonly called Tarquinus Priscus, or the elder.
[Illustration: ACTORS] There was a fair slave girl in his house, who was offering cakes to Lar, the household spirit, when he appeared to her in bodily form.

When she told the king's mother, Tanaquil, she said it was a token that he wanted to marry her, and arrayed her as a bride for him.

Of this marriage there sprang a boy called Servius Tullus.

When this child lay asleep, bright flames played about his head, and Tanaquil knew he would be great, so she caused her son Tarquin to give him his daughter in marriage when he grew up.

This greatly offended the two sons of Ancus Martius, and they hired two young men to come before him as wood-cutters, with axes over their shoulders, pretending to have a quarrel about some goats, and while he was listening to their cause they cut him down and mortally wounded him.