ROMULUS
Legendary； 8th Century B。C。
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
From whom； and for what reason； the city of Rome； a name so great in
glory； and famous in the mouths of all men； was so first called；
authors do not agree。 Some are of opinion that the Pelasgians；
wandering over the greater part of the habitable world； and subduing
numerous nations； fixed themselves here； and； from their own great
strength in war； called the city Rome。 Others； that at the taking of
Troy； some few that escaped and met with shipping； put to sea； and
driven by winds； were carried upon the coasts of Tuscany； and came
to anchor off the mouth of the river Tiber； where their women； out
of heart and weary with the sea； on its being proposed by one of the
highest birth and best understanding amongst them； whose name was
Roma； burnt the ships。 With which act the men at first were angry； but
afterwards； of necessity； seating themselves near Palatium； where
things in a short while succeeded far better than they could hope；
in that they found the country very good； and the people courteous；
they not only did the lady Roma other honours； but added also this； of
calling after her name the city which she had been the occasion of
their founding。 From this； they say； has come down that custom at Rome
for women to salute their kinsmen and husbands with kisses； because
these women； after they had burnt the ships； made use of such
endearments when entreating and pacifying their husbands。
Some again say that Roma； from whom this city was so called； was
daughter of Italus and Leucaria； or； by another account； of
Telaphus； Hercules's son； and that she was married to Aeneas； or；
according to others again； to Ascanius； Aeneas's son。 Some tell us
that Romanus； the son of Ulysses and Circe； built it； some； Romus； the
son of Emathion； Diomede having sent him from Troy； and others； Romus；
king of the Latins； after driving out the Tyrrhenians； who had come
from Thessaly into Lydia； and from thence into Italy。 Those very
authors； too； who； in accordance with the safest account； make Romulus
give the name of the city； yet differ concerning his birth and family。
For some say； he was son to Aeneas and Dexithea； daughter of
Phorbas； and was； with his brother Remus； in their infancy； carried
into Italy； and being on the river when the waters came down in a
flood； all the vessels were cast away except only that where the young
children were； which being gently landed on a level bank of the river；
they were both unexpectedly saved； and from them the place was
called Rome。 Some say； Roma； daughter of the Trojan lady above
mentioned； was married to Latinus； Telemachus's son； and became mother
to Romulus； others that Aemilia； daughter of Aeneas and Lavinia； had
him by the god Mars； and others give you mere fables of his origin。
For to Tarchetius； they say； king of Alba； who was a most wicked and
cruel man； there appeared in his own house a strange vision； a male
figure that rose out of a hearth； and stayed there for many days。
There was an oracle of Tethys in Tuscany which Tarchetius consulted；
and received an answer that a virgin should give herself to the
apparition； and that a son should be born of her； highly renowned；
eminent for valour； good fortune； and strength of body。 Tarchetius
told the prophecy to one of his own daughters； and commanded her to do
this thing； which she avoiding as an indignity； sent her handmaid。
Tarchetius； hearing this； in great anger imprisoned them both；
purposing to put them to death； but being deterred from murder by
the goddess Vesta in a dream； enjoined them for their punishment the
working a web of cloth； in their chains as they were； which when
they finished； they should be suffered to marry； but whatever they
worked by day； Tarchetius commanded others to unravel in the night。
In the meantime； the waiting…woman was delivered of two boys； whom
Tarchetius gave into the hands of one Teratius； with command to
destroy them； he； however； carried and laid them by the river side；
where a wolf came and continued to suckle them； while birds of various
sorts brought little morsels of food； which they put into their
mouths； till a cowherd； spying them； was first strangely surprised；
but； venturing to draw nearer； took the children up in his arms。
Thus they were saved； and when they grew up； set upon Tarchetius and
overcame him。 This one Promathion says； who compiled a history of
Italy。
But the story which is most believed and has the greatest number
of vouchers was first published； in its chief particulars； amongst the
Greeks by Diocles of Peparethus； whom Fabius Pictor also follows in
most points。 Here again there are variations； but in general outline
it runs thus： the kings of Alba reigned in lineal descent from Aeneas；
and the succession devolved at length upon two brothers； Numitor and
Amulius。 Amulius proposed to divide things into two equal shares；
and set as equivalent to the kingdom the treasure and gold that were
brought from Troy。 Numitor chose the kingdom； but Amulius； having
the money； and being able to do more with that than Numitor； took
his kingdom from him with great ease； and； fearing lest his daughter
might have children； made her a Vestal； bound in that condition
forever to live a single and maiden life。 This lady some call Ilia；
others Rhea； and others Silvia； however； not long after； she was；
contrary to the established laws of the Vestals； discovered to be with
child； and should have suffered the most cruel punishment； had not
Antho； the king's daughter； mediated with her father for her；
nevertheless； she was confined； and debarred all company； that she
might not be delivered without the king's knowledge。 In time she
brought forth two boys； of more than human size and beauty； whom
Amulius； becoming yet more alarmed； commanded a servant to take and
cast away； this man some call Faustulus； others say Faustulus was
the man who brought them up。 He put the children； however； in a
small trough； and。 went towards the river with a design to cast them
in； but； seeing the waters much swollen and coming violently down； was
afraid to go nearer； and dropping the children near the bank； went
away。 The river overflowing； the flood at last bore up the trough；
and； gently wafting it； landed them on a smooth piece of ground； which
they now called Cermanus； formerly Germanus； perhaps from Germani with
signifies brothers。
Near this place grew a wild fig…tree； which they called Ruminalis；
either from Romulus （as it is vulgarly thought）； or from ruminating；
because cattle did usually in the heat of the day seek cover under it；
and there chew the cud； or； better； from the suckling of these
children there； for the ancients called the dug or teat of any
creature ruma； and there is a tutelar goddess of the rearing of
children whom they still call Rumilia； in sacrificing to whom they use
no wine； but make libations of milk。 While the infants lay here；
history tells us； a she…wolf nursed them； and a woodpecker
constantly fed and watched them； these creatures are esteemed holy
to the god Mars； the woodpecker the Latins still especially worship
and honour。 Which things； as much as any； gave credit to what the
mother of the children said； that their father was the god Mars；
though some say that it was a mistake put upon her by Amulius； who
himself had come to her dressed up in armour。
Others think that the first rise of this fable came from the
children's nurse； through the ambiguity of her name； for the Latins
not only called wolves lupoe； but also women of loose life； and such
an one was the wife of Faustulus； who nurtured these children； Acca
Larentia by name。 To her the Romans offer sacrifices； and in the month
of April the priest of Mars makes libations there； it is called the
Larentian Feast。 They honour also another Larentia； for the
following reason： the keeper of Hercules's temple having； it seems；
little else to do； proposed to his deity a game at dice； laying down
that； if he himself won； he would have something valuable of the
god； but if he were beaten； he would spread him a noble table； and
procure him a fair lady's company。 Upon these terms； throwing first
for the god and then for himself； he found himself beaten。 Wishing
to pay his stakes honourably； and holding himself bound by what he had
said； he both provided the diety a good supper； and giving money to
Larentia； then in her beauty； though not publicly known； gave her a
feast in the temple； where he had also laid a bed； and after supper
locked her in； as if the god were really to come to her。 And indeed；
it is said； the deity did truly visit her； and commanded her in the
morning to walk to the marketplace； and； whatever man she met first；
to salute him； and make him her friend。 She met one named Tarrutius；
who was a man advanced in years； fairly rich； without children； and
had always lived a single life。 He received Larentia； and loved her
well； and at his death left her sole heir of all his large and fair
possessions； most of which she； in her last will and testament；
bequeathed to the people。 It was reported of her； being now celebrated
and esteemed the mistress of a god； that she suddenly disappeared near
the place where the first Larentia lay buried； the spot is at this day
called Velabrum； because； the river frequently overflowing； they
went over in ferry…boats somewhere hereabouts to the forum； the
Latin word for ferrying being velatura。 Others derive the name from
velum； a sail； because the exhibitors of public shows used to hang the
road that leads from the forum to the Circus Maximus with sails；
beginning at this spot。 Upon these accounts the second Larentia is
honoured at Rome。
Meantime Faustulus； Amulius's swineherd； brought up the children
without any man's knowledge； or； as those say who wish to keep
closer to probabilities； with the knowledge and secret assistance of
Numitor； for it is said； they went to school at Gabii； and were well
instructed in letters； and other accomplishments befitting the