The History of Rome, Books I to VIII | Page 9

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,