XIV. VALERIA AND CLOELIAThe story is told (with interruptions) by Plutarch in his Life of Publicola, chaps. xvii-xix. (106-107) as well as by many other writers. Cf., for example, Livy, ii. 13; Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities, v. 32-34; Seneca, Consolatio ad Marciam, 16. 2; Valerius Maximus, iii. 2. 2; Polyaenus, Strategemata, viii. 31.
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The two things that brought about the expulsion of Tarquinius Superbus, seventh king of Rome from Romulus, were arrogance and the virtue of Lucretia, a woman married to a distinguished man of royal lineage. For she was outraged by one of Tarquini sons who had been welcomed as a guest at her home. She told her friends and family what had been done to her, and immediately slew herself. Deposed from power, Tarquin waged various wars in his endeavours to regain his sovereignty. Finally he persuaded Porsena, ruler of the Etruscans, to march against Rome with a great force. Cf. Livy, ii. 9. At the same time with the war famine also attacked Ibid. 11. the Romans, and they, learning that Porsena was not merely a great soldier but a just and fair man as well, wished to make him judge in their case against Tarquin. But Tarquin was stubborn, saying that Porsena, if he did not remain faithful as an ally, would not be a just judge either; and so Porsena renounced him and made it his endeavour that when he went away he should be a friend of the Romans, and should get back such part of the land as they had cut off from the Etruscans, and also the prisoners of war. To confirm these terms hostages were given to him, ten youths and ten maidens, among whom was Valeria, the daughter of Publicola the consul, whereupon Porsena at once remitted all his preparation for the war, although the agreement was not yet consummated.
