Citation

Wiseman TP. Greece and Rome 2009; 56(2): 203-210.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009)

DOI

10.1017/S0017383509990040

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

After the rape and suicide of Lucretia, Lucius Brutus is in the Roman Forum, urging the citizens to rebel against Tarquin. Here, in T. J. Luce's translation, is Livy's summary of his speech: He spoke of the violence and lust of Sextus Tarquin, of the unspeakable rape of Lucretia and her wretched death, of the bereavement of Lucretius Tricipitinus and the cause of his daughter's death, which for him was more unworthy and more pitiable than the death itself. He mentioned also the arrogance of the king himself and how the plebs had been forced underground to dig out trenches and sewers: the men of Rome, victorious over all their neighbours, had been turned into drudges and quarry slaves, warriors no longer. He recalled the appalling murder of King Servius Tullius and how his daughter had driven over her father's body in that accursed wagon, and he invoked her ancestral gods as avengers. © The Classical Association, 2009. All rights reserved.

Language: en