Tarquinius, wishing to try this man's skill, sent for him; and, when he
was come into the midst of the Forum, said to him: "diviner, canst thou
discover, by thy art, whether what I am thinking of can be done or not?
Go and consult thy birds." The augur did as he was ordered, and
returning quickly, answered: "Yes, Tarquin, my art tells me, that what
thou art thinking of may be done." Upon which Tarquin pulled a razor
from under his robe, took a flint in his hand, and replied,
contemptuously, "I was thinking, whether it were possible to cut this
flint with this razor. I have taken thee in thy own craft. The
introducing of the gods into thy decisions, is all cheat and imposture.
If thou canst do what is impossible, do." At these words the people
burst out a laughing, but the augur did not appear at all moved. He, on
the contrary, addressed himself to the king, with a bold air, and said,
"Put the razor to the flint and try. I readily submit to any
punishment, if what you thought of be not done." Upon trial, the razor
passed through with the greatest ease. The people then gave a loud
shout, and the king's contempt for the augur was turned into admiration.
This is a very extraordinary account: but do you think it is true, papa.

_Mr. B._ I do not, my dear. I think it is a mere fabulous invention;
and this was the opinion of the great orator, Tully, who was himself an
augur. Writing to his brother, he says, "Look with contempt on the
razor and flint of the famous Attius. When we reason as philosophers,
we ought to lay no stress upon fables." How did Tarquin close his long
life, Emily?

_Emily_. In the eightieth year of his age, and thirty-seventh of his
reign, he was murdered by the artifices of the sons of Ancus Martius.
They hired two young men, who dressed themselves like peasants, with
hatchets on their shoulders, as if they had been wood-cutters. They