romulus-第5部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　　　　　　　　Their　heavy　shields　upon　the　maid　they　threw；
　　　　　　　　And　with　their　splendid　gifts　entombed　at　once　and　slew。〃

　　Tarpeia　afterwards　was　buried　there；　and　the　hill　from　her　was
called　Tarpeius；　until　the　reign　of　King　Tarquin；　who　dedicated　the
place　to　Jupiter；　at　which　time　her　bones　were　removed；　and　so　it　lost
her　name；　except　only　that　part　of　the　Capitol　which　they　still　called
the　Tarpeian　Rock；　from　which　they　used　to　cast　down　malefactors。
　　The　Sabines　being　possessed　of　the　hill；　Romulus；　in　great　fury；
bade　them　battle；　and　Tatius　was　confident　to　accept　it；　perceiving；
if　they　were　overpowered；　that　they　had　behind　them　a　secure
retreat。　The　level　in　the　middle；　where　they　were　to　join　battle；
being　surrounded　with　many　little　hills　seemed　to　enforce　both　parties
to　a　sharp　and　desperate　conflict；　by　reason　of　the　difficulties　of
the　place；　which　had　but　a　few　outlets；　inconvenient　either　for　refuge
or　pursuit。　It　happened；　too；　the　river　having　overflowed　not　many
days　before；　there　was　left　behind　in　the　plain；　where　now　the　forum
stands；　a　deep　blind　mud　and　slime；　which；　though　it　did　not　appear
much　to　the　eye；　and　was　not　easily　avoided；　at　bottom　was　deceitful
and　dangerous；　upon　which　the　Sabines　being　unwarily　about　to　enter；
met　with　a　piece　of　good　fortune；　for　Curtius；　a　gallant　man；　eager　of
honour；　and　of　aspiring　thoughts；　being　mounted　on　horseback；　was
galloping　on　before　the　rest；　and　mired　his　horse　here；　and；
endeavouring　for　a　while；　by　whip　and　spur　and　voice　to　disentangle
him；　but　finding　it　impossible；　quitted　him　and　saved　himself；　the
place　from　him　to　this　very　time　is　called　the　Curtian　Lake。　The
Sabines；　having　avoided　this　danger；　began　the　fight　very　smartly；　the
fortune　of　the　day　being　very　dubious；　though　many　were　slain；　amongst
whom　was　Hostilius；　who；　they　say；　was　husband　to　Hersilia；　and
grandfather　to　that　Hostilius　who　reigned　after　Numa。　There　were
many　other　brief　conflicts；　we　may　suppose；　but　the　most　memorable　was
the　last；　in　which　Romulus；　having　received　a　wound　on　his　head　by　a
stone；　and　being　almost　felled　to　the　ground　by　it；　and　disabled；
the　Romans　gave　way；　and；　being　driven　out　of　the　level　ground；　fled
towards　the　Palatium。　Romulus；　by　this　time　recovering　from　his
wound　a　little；　turned　about　to　renew　the　battle；　and；　facing　the
fliers；　with　a　loud　voice　encouraged　them　to　stand　and　fight。　But
being　overborne　with　numbers；　and　nobody　daring　to　face　about；
stretching　out　his　hands　to　heaven；　he　prayed　to　Jupiter　to　stop　the
army；　and　not　to　neglect；　but　maintain　the　Roman　cause；　now　in　extreme
danger。　The　prayer　was　no　sooner　made；　than　shame　and　respect　for
their　king　checked　many；　the　fears　of　the　fugitives　changed　suddenly
into　confidence。　The　place　they　first　stood　at　was　where　now　is　the
temple　of　Jupiter　Stator　（which　may　be　translated　the　Stayer）；　there
they　rallied　again　into　ranks　and　repulsed　the　Sabines　to　the　place
called　now　Regia；　and　to　the　temple　of　Vesta；　where　both　parties；
preparing　to　begin　a　second　battle；　were　prevented　by　a　spectacle；
strange　to　behold；　and　defying　description。　For　the　daughters　of　the
Sabines；　who　had　been　carried　off；　came　running；　in　great　confusion；
some　on　this　side；　some　on　that；　with　miserable　cries　and
lamentations；　like　creatures　possessed；　in　the　midst　of　the　army　and
among　the　dead　bodies；　to　come　at　their　husbands　and　their　fathers；
some　with　their　young　babes　in　their　arms；　others　their　hair　loose
about　their　ears；　but　all　calling；　now　upon　the　Sabines；　now　upon
the　Romans；　in　the　most　tender　and　endearing　words。　Hereupon　both
melted　into　compassion；　and　fell　back；　to　make　room　for　them　betwixt
the　armies。　The　sight　of　the　women　carried　sorrow　and　commiseration
upon　both　sides　into　the　hearts　of　all；　but　still　more　their　words；
which　began　with　expostulation　and　upbraiding；　and　ended　with　entreaty
and　supplication。
　　〃Wherein；〃　say　they；　〃have　we　injured　or　offended　you；　as　to　deserve
such　sufferings　past　and　present？　We　were　ravished　away　unjustly　and
violently　by　those　whose　now　we　are；　that　being　done；　we　were　so
long　neglected　by　our　fathers；　our　brothers　and　countrymen；　that　time；
having　now　by　the　strictest　bonds　united　us　to　those　we　once
mortally　hated；　has　made　it　impossible　for　us　not　to　tremble　at　the
danger　and　weep　at　the　death　of　the　very　men　who　once　used　violence　to
us。　You　did　not　come　to　vindicate　our　honour；　while　we　were　virgins；
against　our　assailants；　but　do　come　now　to　force　away　wives　from　their
husbands　and　mothers　from　their　children；　a　succour　more　grievous　to
its　wretched　objects　than　the　former　betrayal　and　neglect　of　them。
Which　shall　we　call　the　worst；　their　love…making　or　your　compassion？
If　you　were　making　war　upon　any　other　occasion；　for　our　sakes　you
ought　to　withhold　your　hands　from　those　to　whom　we　have　made　you
fathers…in…law　and　grandsires。　If　it　be　for　our　own　cause；　then　take
us；　and　with　us　your　sons…in…law　and　grandchildren。　Restore　to　us
our　parents　and　kindred；　but　do　not　rob　us　of　our　children　and
husbands。　Make　us　not；　we　entreat　you；　twice　captives。〃　Hersilia
having　spoken　many　such　words　as　these；　and　the　others　earnestly
praying；　a　truce　was　made；　and　the　chief　officers　came　to　a　parley；
the　women；　in　the　meantime；　brought　and　presented　their　husbands　and
children　to　their　fathers　and　brothers；　gave　those　that　wanted　meat
and　drink；　and　carried　the　wounded　home　to　be　cured；　and　showed　also
how　much　they　governed　within　doors；　and　how　indulgent　their
husbands　were　to　them；　in　demeaning　themselves　towards　them　with　all
kindness　and　respect　imaginable。　Upon　this；　conditions　were　agreed
upon；　that　what　women　pleased　might　stay　where　they　were；　exempt；　as
aforesaid；　from　all　drudgery　and　labour　but　spinning；　that　the
Romans　and　Sabines　should　inhabit　the　city　together；　that　the　city
should　be　called　Rome　from　Romulus；　but　the　Romans；　Quirites；　from　the
country　of　Tatius；　and　that　they　both　should　govern　and　command　in
common。　The　place　of　the　ratification　is　still　called　Comitium；　from
come　to　meet。
　　The　city　being　thus　doubled　in　number；　an　hundred　of　the　Sabines
were　elected　senators；　and　the　legions　were　increased　to　six
thousand　foot　and　six　hundred　horse；　then　they　divided　the　people　into
three　tribes：　the　first；　from　Romulus；　named　Ramnenses；　the　second
from　Tatius；　Tatienses；　the　third　Luceres；　from　the　lucus；　or　grove；
where　the　Asylum　stood；　whither　many　fled　for　sanctuary；　and　were
received　into　the　city。　And　that　they　were　just　three；　the　very　name
of　tribe　and　tribune　seems　to　show；　each　tribe　contained　ten　curiae；
or　brotherhoods；　which；　some　say；　took　their　names　from　the　Sabine
women；　but　that　seems　to　be　false；　because　many　had　their　names　from
various　places。　Though　it　is　true；　they　then　constituted　many　things
in　honour　to　the　women；　as　to　give　them　the　way　wherever　they　met
them；　to　speak　no　ill　word　in　their　presence；　not　to　appear　naked
before　them；　or　else　be　liable　to　prosecution　before　the　judge；　of
homicide；　that　their　children　should　wear　an　ornament　about　their
necks　called　the　bulla　（because　it　was　like　a　bubble）；　and　the
proetexta；　a　gown　edged　with　purple。
　　The　princes　did　not　immediately　join　in　council　together；　but　at
first　each　met　with　his　own　hundred；　afterwards　all　assembled
together。　Tatius　dwelt　where　now　the　temple　of　Moneta　stands；　and
Romulus；　close　by　the　steps；　as　they　call　them；　of　the　Fair　Shore；
near　the　descent　from　the　Mount　Palatine　to　the　Circus　Maximus。　There；
they　say；　grew　the　holy　cornel　tree；　of　which　they　report；　that
Romulus　once；　to　try　his　strength；　threw　a　dart　from　the　Aventine
Mount；　the　staff　of　which　was　made　of　cornel；　which　struck　so　deep
into　the　ground；　that　no　one　of　many　that　tried　could　pluck　it　up；　and
the　soil　being　fertile；　gave　nourishment　to　the　wood；　which　sent　forth
branches；　and　produced　a　cornel　stock　of　considerable　bigness。　This
did　posterity　preserve　and　worship　as　one　of　the　most　sacred　things；
and　therefore　walled　it　about；　and　if　to　any　one　it　appeared　not　green
nor　flourishing；　but　inclining　to　pine　and　wither；　he　immediately　made
outcry　to　all　he　met；　and　they；　like　people　hearing　of　a　house　on
fire；　with　one　accord　would　cry　for　water；　and　run　from　all　parts　with
buckets　full　to　the　place。　But　when　Caius　Caesar；　they　say；　was
repairing　the　steps　about　it；　some　of　the　labourers　digging　too　close；
the　roots　were　destroyed；　and　the　tree　withered。
　　The　Sabines　adopted　the　Roman　months；　of　which　whatever　is
remarkable　is　mentioned　in　the　Life　of　Numa。　Romulus；　on　the　other
hand；　adopted　their　long　shields；　and　changed　his　own　armour　and
that　of　all　the　Romans；　who　before　wore　round　targets　of　the　Argive
pattern。　Feasts　and　sacrifices　they　partook　of　in　common；　not
abolishing　any　which　either　nation　observed　before；　and　instituting
several　new　ones；　of　which　one　was　the　Matronalia；　instituted　in
honour　of　the　women；　for　their　extinction　of　the　war；　likewise　the
Carmentalia。　This　Carmenta　some　think　a　deity　presiding　over　human
birth；　for　which　reason　she　is　much　honoured　by　mothers。　Others　say
she　was　the　wife　of　Evander；　the　Arcadian；　being　a　prophetess；　and
wont　to　deliver　her　oracles　in　verse；　and　from　carmen；　a　verse；　was
called　Carmenta；　her　proper　name　being　Nicostrata。　Others　more
probably　derive　Carmenta　from　carens　mente；　or　insane；　in　allusion
to　her　prophetic　frenzies。　Of　the　feast　of　Palilia　we　have　spoken
before。　The　Lupercalia；　by　the　time　of　its　celebration；　may　seem　to　be
a　feast　of　purification；　for　it　is　solemnised　on　the　dies　nefasti；
or　non…court　days；　of　the　month　February；　which　name　signifies
purification；　and　the　very　day　of　the　feast　was　anciently　called
Februata；　but　its　name　is　equivalent　to　the　Greek　Lycaea；　and　it　seems
thus　to　be　of　great　antiquity；　and　brought　in　by　the　Arcadians　who
came　with　Evander。　Yet　this　is　but　dubious；　for　it　may　come　as　well
from　the　wolf　that　nursed　Romulus；　and　we　see　the　Luperci；　the
priests；　begin　their　course　from　the　place　where　they　say　Romulus
was　exposed。　But　the　ceremonies　performed　in　it　render　the　origin　of
the　thing　more　difficult　to　be　guessed　at；　for　there　are