The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08
fell into their hands. Persons from the common people, who had been
charged with the task, conveyed to their houses some women of surpassing
beauty, destined for the leading senators. They say that one, far
distinguished beyond the others for stature and beauty, was carried off
by the party of one Thalassius, and whilst many inquired to whom they
were carrying her, they cried out every now and then, in order that no
one might molest her, that she was being taken to Thalassius; that from
this circumstance this term became a nuptial one. The festival being
disturbed by this alarm, the parents of the young women retire in grief,
appealing to the compact of violated hospitality, and invoking the god,
to whose festival and games they had come, deceived by the pretence of
religion and good faith. Neither had the ravished virgins better hopes
of their condition, or less indignation. But Romulus in person went
about and declared, "That what was done was owing to the pride of their
fathers, who had refused to grant the privilege of marriage to their
neighbours; but notwithstanding, they should be joined in lawful
wedlock, participate in all their possessions and civil privileges, and,
than which nothing can be dearer to the human heart, in their common
children. He begged them only to assuage the fierceness of their anger,
and cheerfully surrender their affections to those to whom fortune had
consigned their persons." [He added,] "That from injuries love and
friendship often arise; and that they should find them kinder husbands
on this account, because each of them, besides the performance of his
conjugal duty, would endeavour to the utmost of his power to make up for
the want of their parents and native country." To this the caresses of
the husbands were added, excusing what they had done on the plea of
passion and love, arguments that work most successfully on women's
hearts.
10. The minds of the ravished virgins were soon much soothed, but their
parents by putting on mourning, and tears and complaints, roused the
states. Nor did they confine their resentment to their own homes, but
they flocked from all quarters to Titus Tatius, king of the Sabines; and
because he bore the greatest character in these parts, embassies were
sent to him. The Cæninenses, Crustumini, and Antemnates were people to
whom a considerable portion of the outrage extended. To them Tatius and
the Sabines seemed to proceed somewhat dilatorily. Nor even do the
Crustumini and Antemnates bestir themselves with sufficient activity to
suit the impatience and rage of the Cæninenses. Accordingly the state of
the Cæninenses by itself makes an irruption into the Roman territory.
But Romulus with his army met them ravaging the country in straggling
parties, and by a slight engagement convinces them, that resentment
without strength is of no avail. He defeats and routs their army,
pursues it when routed, kills and despoils their king in battle, and
having slain their general takes the city at the first assault. From
thence having led back his victorious army, and being a man highly
distinguished by his exploits, and one who could place them in the best
light, went in state to the capitol, carrying before him, suspended on a
frame curiously wrought for that purpose, the spoils of the enemy's
general, whom he had slain, and there after he had laid them down at the
foot of an oak held sacred by the shepherds, together with the offering,
he marked out the bounds for a temple of Jupiter, and gave a surname to
the god: "Jupiter Feretrius," he says, "I, king Romulus, upon my
victory, present to thee these royal arms, and to thee I dedicate a
temple within those regions which I have now marked out in my mind, as a
receptacle for the grand spoils, which my successors, following my
example, shall, upon their killing the kings or generals of the enemy,
offer to thee." This is the origin of that temple, the first consecrated
at Rome. It afterwards so pleased the gods both that the declaration of
the founder of the temple should not be frustrated, by which he
announced that his posterity should offer such spoils, and that the
glory of that offering should not be depreciated by the great number of
those who shared it. During so many years, and amid so many wars since
that time, grand spoils have been only twice gained,[18] so rare has
been the successful attainment of that honour.
[Footnote 18: Two, one by A. Cornelius Cossus for slaying L. Tolumnius,
king of Veii, U. C. 318, another by M. Claudius Marcellus, for killing
Viridomarus, king of the Gauls, U. C. 532.]
11. Whilst the Romans are achieving these exploits, the army of the
Antemnates, taking advantage of their absence, makes an incursion into
the Roman territories in a hostile manner. A Roman legion being marched
out in haste against these also, surprise them whilst straggling through
the fields. Accordingly the enemy were routed at the very first shout
and charge: their town taken; and as Romulus was returning, exulting for
this double victory, his consort, Hersilia, importuned by the entreaties
of the captured women, beseeches him "to pardon their fathers, and to
admit them to the privilege of citizens; that thus his power might be
strengthened by a reconciliation." Her request was readily granted.
After this he marched against the Crustumini, who were commencing
hostilities; but as their spirits were sunk by the defeat of their
neighbours, there was still less resistance there. Colonies were sent to
both places, but more were found to give in their names for Crustuminum,
because of the fertility of the soil. Migrations in great numbers were
also made from thence to Rome, chiefly by the parents and relatives of
the ravished women. The last war broke out on the part of the Sabines,
and proved by far the most formidable: for they did nothing through
anger or cupidity; nor did they make a show of war, before they actually
began it. To prudence stratagem also was added. Sp. Tarpeius commanded
the Roman citadel; Tatius bribes his maiden daughter with gold, to admit
armed soldiers into the citadel: she had gone by chance outside the
walls to fetch water for the sacrifice. Those who were admitted crushed
her to death by heaping their arms upon her; either that the citadel
might seem rather to have been taken by storm, or for the purpose of
establishing a precedent, that no faith should, under any circumstances,
be kept with a traitor. A story is added, that the Sabines commonly wore
on their left arm golden bracelets of great weight, and large rings set
with precious stones, and that she bargained with them for what they had
on their left hands; hence that their shields were thrown upon her
instead of the golden presents. There are some who say that in pursuance
of the compact to deliver up what was on their left hands, she expressly
demanded their shields, and that appearing to act with treachery, she
was killed by the reward of her own choosing.
12. The Sabines, however, kept possession of the citadel, and on the day
after, when the Roman army, drawn up in order of battle, filled up all
the ground lying between the Palatine and Capitoline hills, they did not
descend from thence into the plain, till the Romans, fired with
resentment, and with a desire of retaking the citadel, advanced to
attack them. Two chiefs, one on each side, animated the battle, viz.
Mettus Curtius on the part of the Sabines, Hostus Hostilius on that of
the Romans. The latter, in the front ranks, supported the Roman cause by
his courage and bravery, on disadvantageous ground. As soon as Hostus
fell, the Roman line immediately gave way and was beaten to the old gate
of the Palatium. Romulus, himself too carried away with the general
rout, raising his arms to heaven, says, "O Jupiter, commanded by thy
birds, I here laid the first foundation of the city on the Palatine
hill. The Sabines are in possession of the citadel, purchased by fraud.
From thence they are now advancing hither, sword in hand, having already
passed the middle of the valley. But do thou, father of gods and men,
keep back the enemy at least from hence, dispel the terror of the
Romans, and stop their shameful flight. Here I solemnly vow to build a
temple to thee as Jupiter Stator, as a monument to posterity, that this
city was saved by thy immediate aid." Having offered up this prayer, as
if he had felt that his prayers were heard, he cries out, "At this spot,
Romans, Jupiter, supremely good and great, commands you to halt, and
renew the fight." The Romans halted as if they had been commanded by a
voice from heaven; Romulus himself flies to the foremost ranks. Mettus
Curtius, on the part of the Sabines, had rushed down at the head of his
army from the citadel, and driven the Romans in disorder over the whole
ground now occupied by the forum. He was already not far from the gate
of the Palatium, crying out, "We have defeated these perfidious
strangers, these dastardly enemies. They now feel that it is one thing
to ravish virgins, another far different to fight with men." On him,
thus vaunting, Romulus makes an attack with a band of the most
courageous youths. It happened that Mettus was then fighting on
horseback; he was on that account the more easily repulsed: the Romans
pursue him when repulsed: and the rest of the Roman army, encouraged by
the gallant behaviour of their king, routs the Sabines. Mettus, his
horse taking fright at the din of his pursuers, threw himself into a
lake; and this circumstance drew the attention of the Sabines at the
risk of so important a person. He, however, his own party beckoning and
calling to him, acquires new courage from the affection of his many
friends, and makes his escape. The Romans and Sabines renew the battle
in the valley between the hills; but Roman prowess had the advantage.
13. At this juncture the Sabine women, from the outrage on whom the war
originated, with hair dishevelled and garments rent, the timidity of
their sex being overcome by such dreadful scenes, had the courage to
throw themselves amid the flying weapons, and making a rush across, to
part the incensed armies, and assuage their fury; imploring their
fathers on the one side, their husbands on the other, "that as
fathers-in-law and sons-in-law they would not contaminate each other
with impious blood, nor stain their offspring with parricide, the one
[19]their grandchildren, the other their children. If you are
dissatisfied with the affinity between you, if with our marriages, turn
your resentment against us; we are the cause of war, we of wounds and of
bloodshed to our husbands and parents. It were better that we perish
than live widowed or fatherless without one or other of you." The
circumstance affects both the multitude and the leaders. Silence and a
sudden suspension ensue. Upon this the leaders come forward in order to
concert a treaty, and they not only conclude a peace, but form one state
out of two. They associate the regal power, and transfer the entire
sovereignty to Rome. The city being thus doubled, that some compliment
might be paid to the Sabines, they were called Quirites, from Cures. As
a memorial of this battle, they called the place where the horse, after
getting out of the deep marsh, first set Curtius in shallow water, the
Curtian Lake. This happy peace following suddenly a war so distressing,
rendered the Sabine women still dearer to their husbands and parents,
and above all to Romulus himself. Accordingly, when he divided the
people into thirty curiæ, he called the curiæ by their names. Since,
without doubt, the number of the Sabine women was considerably greater
than this, it is not recorded whether those who were to give their names
to the curiæ were selected on account of their age, or their own or