Numitor； for it is said； they went to school at Gabii； and were well
instructed in letters； and other accomplishments befitting their
birth。 And they were called Romulus and Remus （from ruma； the dug）； as
we had before； because they were found sucking the wolf。 In their very
infancy； the size and beauty of their bodies intimated their natural
superiority； and when they grew up； they both proved brave and
manly； attempting all enterprises that seemed hazardous； and showing
in them a courage altogether undaunted。 But Romulus seemed rather to
act by counsel； and to show the sagacity of a statesman； and in all
his dealings with their neighbours； whether relating to feeding of
flocks or to hunting； gave the idea of being born rather to rule
than to obey。 To their comrades and inferiors they were therefore
dear； but the king's servants； his bailiffs and overseers； as being in
nothing better than themselves； they despised and slighted； nor were
the least concerned at their commands and menaces。 They used honest
pastimes and liberal studies； not esteeming sloth and idleness
honest and liberal； but rather such exercises as hunting and
running； repelling robbers； taking of thieves； and delivering the
wronged and oppressed from injury。 For doing such things they became
famous。
A quarrel occurring betwixt Numitor's and Amulius's cowherds； the
latter； not enduring the driving away of their cattle by the others；
fell upon them and put them to flight； and rescued the greatest part
of the prey。 At which Numitor being highly incensed； they little
regarded it； but collected and took into their company a number of
needy men and runaway slaves；… acts which looked like the first stages
of rebellion。 It so happened that when Romulus was attending a
sacrifice； being fond of sacred rites and divination； Numitor's
herdsmen； meeting with Remus on a journey with few companions； fell
upon him； and after some fighting； took him prisoner； carried him
before Numitor； and there accused him。 Numitor would not punish him
himself； fearing his brother's anger； but went to Amulius； and desired
justice； as he was Amulius's brother and was affronted by Amulius's
servants。 The men of Alba likewise resenting the thing； and thinking
he had been dishonourably used； Amulius was induced to deliver Remus
up into Numitor's hands； to use him as he thought fit。 He therefore
took and carried him home； and； being struck with admiration of the
youth's person； in stature aid strength of body exceeding all men； and
perceiving in his very countenance the courage and force of his
mind； which stood unsubdued and unmoved by his present
circumstances； and hearing further that all the enterprises and
actions of his life were answerable to what he saw of but chiefly；
as it seemed； a divine influence aiding and directing the first
steps that were to lead to great results； out of the mere thought of
his mind and casually； as it were； he put his hand upon the fact； and；
in gentle terms and with a kind aspect； to inspire him with confidence
and hope； asked him who he was； and whence he was derived。 He；
taking heart； spoke thus： 〃I will hide nothing from you； for you
seem to be of a more princely temper than Amulius； in that you give
a hearing and examine before you punish； while he condemns before
the cause is heard。 Formerly； then； we （for we are twins） thought
ourselves the sons of Faustulus and Larentia； the king's servants； but
since we have been accused and aspersed with calumnies； and brought in
peril of our lives here before you； we hear great things of ourselves；
the truth of which my present danger is likely to bring to the test。
Our birth is said to have been secret； our fostering and nurture in
our infancy still more strange； by birds and beasts； to whom we were
cast out； we were fed； by the milk of a wolf and the morsels of a
woodpecker； as we lay in a little trough by the side of the river。 The
trough is still in being； and is preserved； with brass plates round
it； and an inscription in letters almost effaced； which may prove
hereafter unavailing tokens to our parents when we are dead and gone。〃
Numitor； upon these words； and computing the dates by the young
man's looks； slighted not the hope that flattered him； but
considered how to come at his daughter privately （for she was still
kept under restraint）； to talk with her concerning these matters。
Faustulus； hearing Remus was taken and delivered up； called on
Romulus to assist in his rescue； informing him then plainly of the
particulars of his birth； not but he had before given hints of it； and
told as much as an attentive man might make no small conclusions from；
he himself； full of concern and fear of not coming in time； took the
trough； and ran instantly to Numitor； but giving a suspicion to some
of the king's sentries at his gate； and being gazed upon by them and
perplexed with their questions； he let it be seen that he was hiding
the trough under his cloak。 By chance there was one among them who was
at the exposing of the children； and was employed in the office； he；
seeing the trough and knowing it by its make and inscription；
guessed at the business； and； without further delay； telling the
king of it； brought in the man to be examined。 Faustulus； hard
beset； did not show himself altogether proof against terror； nor yet
was he wholly forced out of all； confessed indeed the children were
alive； but lived； he said； as shepherds； a great way from Alba； he
himself was going to carry the trough to Ilia； who had often greatly
desired to see and handle it； for a confirmation of her hopes of her
children。 As men generally do who are troubled in mind and act
either in fear or passion； it so fell out Amulius now did； for he sent
in haste as a messenger； a man； otherwise honest； and friendly to
Numitor； with commands to learn from Numitor whether any tidings
were come to him of the children being alive。 He； coming and seeing
how little Remus wanted of being received into the arms and embraces
of Numitor； both gave him surer confidence in his hope； and advised
them； with all expedition； to proceed to action； himself too joining
and assisting them； and indeed； had they wished it； the time would not
have let them demur。 For Romulus was now come very near； and many of
the citizens； out of fear and hatred of Amulius； were running out to
join him； besides； he brought great forces with him； divided into
companies each of an hundred men； every captain carrying a small
bundle of grass and shrubs tied to a pole。 The Latins call such
bundles manipuli； and from hence it is that in their armies they still
call their captains manipulares。 Remus rousing the citizens within
to revolt； and Romulus making attacks from without； the tyrant； not
knowing either what to do； or what expedient to think of for his
security； in this perplexity and confusion was taken and put to death。
This narrative for the most part given by Fabius and Diocles of
Peparethus； who seem to be the earliest historians of the foundation
of Rome； is suspected by some； because of its dramatic and
fictitious appearance； but it would not wholly be disbelieved； if
men would remember what a poet fortune sometimes shows herself； and
consider that the Roman power would hardly have reached so high a
pitch without a divinely ordered origin； attended with great and
extraordinary circumstances。
Amulius now being dead and matters quietly disposed； the two
brothers would neither dwell in Alba without governing there； nor take
the government into their own hands during the life of their
grandfather。 Having therefore delivered the dominion up into his
hands； and paid their mother befitting honour； they resolved to live
by themselves； and build a city in the same place where they were in
their infancy brought up。 This seems the most honourable reason for
their departure； though perhaps it was necessary； having such a body
of slaves and fugitives collected about them； either to come to
nothing by dispersing them； or if not so； then to live with them
elsewhere。 For that the inhabitants of Alba did not think fugitives
worthy of being received and incorporated as citizens among them
plainly appears from the matter of the women； an attempt made not
wantonly but of necessity； because they could not get wives by
good…will。 For they certainly paid unusual respect and honour to those
whom they thus forcibly seized。
Not long after the first foundation of the city； they opened a
sanctuary of refuge for all fugitives； which they called the temple of
the god Asylaeus； where they received and protected all； delivering
none back； neither the servant to his master； the debtor to his
creditor； nor the murderer into the hands of the magistrate； saying it
was a privileged place； and they could so maintain it by an order of
the holy oracle； insomuch that the city grew presently very
populous； for they say； it consisted at first of no more than a
thousand houses。 But of that hereafter。
Their minds being full bent upon building； there arose presently a
difference about the place。 Romulus chose what was called Roma
Quadrata； or the Square Rome； and would have the city there。 Remus
laid out a piece of ground on the Aventine Mount； well fortified by
nature； which was from him called Remonium； but now Rignarium。
Concluding at last to decide the contest by a divination from a flight
of birds； and placing themselves apart at some distance。 Remus； they
say； saw six vultures； and Romulus double that number； others say；
Remus did truly see his number； and that Romulus feigned his； but when
Remus came to him； that then he did indeed see twelve。 Hence it is
that the Romans； in their divinations from birds； chiefly regard the
vulture； though Herodorus Ponticus relates that Hercules was always
very joyful when a vulture appeared to him upon any action。 For it
is a creature the least hurtful of any； pernicious neither to corn；
fruit…tree； nor cattle； it preys only upon carrion； and never kills or
hurts any living thing； and as for birds； it touches not them；
though they are dead； as being of its own species； whereas eagles；
owls； and hawks mangle and kill their own fellow…creatures； yet；