372.] 35.

Ancus reigned twenty-four years, equal to any of the former kings both in the arts and renown of war and peace.

His sons were now nigh the age of puberty, for this reason Tarquin was more urgent that the assembly for the election of a king should be held as soon as possible.
The assembly being proclaimed, he sent away the boys to hunt towards the time of their meeting.

He is said to have been the first who earnestly sued for the crown, and to have made a set speech for the purpose of gaining the affections of the people: _he said_ "that he did not aim at any thing unprecedented; for that he was not the first foreigner, (a thing at which any one might feel indignation or surprise,) but the third who aspired to the sovereignty of Rome.

That Tatius not only from being an alien, but even an enemy, was made king: that Numa, unacquainted with the city, and without soliciting it, had been voluntarily invited by them to the throne.