[96] Tanaquil, sister of the elder Tarquin, wife of the Etruscan Lucumo; for her prophetic powers see Livy i. 34. 8. Cloelia, a hostage with Porsenna, swam back to Rome (Livy ii. 13. 6). When the image of Cybele was brought to Rome (204 B.C.) and the boat stuck in a shallow at the Tiber’s mouth it was said that only a chaste woman could move it. Claudia, who had been accused of adultery, took hold of the rope and towed the vessel to shore.

[242]

Quodsi nobilitas cunctis exordia pandit

laudibus atque omnes redeunt in semina causae, 35

quis venerabilior sanguis, quae maior origo

quam regalis erit? non hoc privata dedere

limina nec tantum poterat contingere nomen

angustis laribus; patruo te principe celsam

bellipotens inlustrat avus, qui signa Britanno 40

intulit Oceano Gaetulaque reppulit arma.