In times when princes cancelled nature's law, 
And declarations which themselves did draw; 
When children used their parents to dethrone, 
And gnaw their way, like vipers, to the crown; 
Tarquin, a savage, proud, ambitious prince, 
Prompt to expel, yet thoughtless of defence, 
The envied sceptre did from Tullius snatch, 
The Roman king, and father by the match. 
To form his party, histories report, 
A sanctuary was opened in his court, 
Where glad offenders safely might resort. 
Great was the crowd, and wonderous the success, 
For those were fruitful times of wickedness; 
And all that lived obnoxious to the laws, 
Flocked to prince Tarquin, and embraced his cause. 
'Mongst these a pagan priest for refuge fled; 
A prophet deep in godly faction read; 
A sycophant, that knew the modish way 
To cant and plot, to flatter and betray, 
To whine and sin, to scribble and recant, 
A shameless author, and a lustful saint. 
To serve all times he could distinctions coin 
And with great ease flat contradictions join 
A traitor now, once loyal in extreme, 
And then obedience was his only theme: 
He sung in temples the most passive lays 
And wearied monarchs with repeated praise 
But managed awkwardly that lawful part, 
To vent foul lies and treason was his art, 
And pointed libels at crowned heads to dart. 
This priest, and others, learned to defame, 
First murder injured Tullius in his name; 
With blackest calumnies their sovereign load, 
A poisoned brother, and dark league abroad; 
A son unjustly top'd upon the throne, 
Which yet was proved undoubtedly his own; 
Though, as the law was then, 'twas his behoof, 
Who dispossessed the heir, to bring the proof. 
This hellish charge they backed with dismal frights, 
The loss of property, and sacred rights, 
And freedom; words which all false patriots use 
As surest names the Romans to abuse; 
Jealous of kings, and always malcontent, 
Forward in change, yet certain to repent. 
Whilst thus the plotters needful fears create, 
Tarquin with open force invades the state. 
Lewd nobles join him with their feeble might, 
And atheist fools for dear religion fight. 
The priests their boasted principles disown, 
And level their harangues against the throne. 
Vain promises the people's minds allure: 
Slight were these ills, but desperate the cure. 
'Tis hard for kings to steer an equal course, 
And they who banish one oft gain a worse. 
Those heavenly bodies we admire above, 
Do every day irregularly move; 
Yet Tullius, 'tis decreed, must lose the crown, 
For faults that were his council's, not his own. 
He now in vain commands even those he payed, 
By darling troops deserted and betrayed, 
By creatures which his generous warmth had made. 
Of these a captain of the guards was worst, 
Whose memory to this day stands accurst. 
This rogue, advanced to military trust 
By his own whoredom, and his sister's lust, 
Forsook his master, after dreadful vows, 
And plotted to betray him to his foes; 
The kindest master to the vilest slave, 
As free to give, as he was sure to crave. 
His haughty female, who, as books declare, 
Did always toss wide nostrils in the air, 
Was to the younger Tullia governess, 
And did attend her, when, in borrowed dress, 
She fled by night from Tullius in distress. 
This wretch, by letters, did invite his foes, 
And used all arts her father to depose; 
A father, always generously bent, 
So kind, that even her wishes he'd prevent. 
'Twas now high time for Tullius to retreat, 
When even his daughter hastened his defeat; 
When faith and duty vanished, and no more 
The name of father and of king he bore: 
A king, whose right his foes could ne'er dispute; 
So mild, that mercy was his attribute; 
Affable, kind, and easy of access; 
Swift to relieve, unwilling to oppress; 
Rich without taxes, yet in payment just; 
So honest, that he hardly could distrust: 
His active soul from labours ne'er did cease, 
Valiant in war, and vigilant in peace; 
Studious with traffic to enrich the land, 
Strong to protect, and skilful to command; 
Liberal and splendid, yet without excess; 
Prone to relieve, unwilling to distress: 
In sum, how godlike must his nature be, 
Whose only fault was too much piety! 
This king removed, the assembled states thought fit, 
That Tarquin in the vacant throne should sit; 
Voted him regent in their senate-house, 
And with an empty name endowed his spouse. 
The elder Tullia, who, some authors feign, 
Drove o'er her father's corse a rumbling wain: 
But she, more guilty, numerous wains did drive, 
To crush her father and her king alive; 
And in remembrance of his hastened fall, 
Resolved to institute a weekly ball. 
The jolly glutton grew in bulk and chin,