owls； and hawks mangle and kill their own fellow…creatures； yet； as
Aeschylus says；…
〃What bird is clean that preys on fellow bird？〃
Besides； all other birds are； so to say； never out of our eyes； they
let themselves be seen of us continually； but a vulture is a very rare
sight； and you can seldom meet with a man that has seen their young；
their rarity and infrequency has raised a strange opinion in some；
that they come to us from some other world； as soothsayers ascribe a
divine origination to all things not produced either of nature or of
themselves。
When Remus knew the cheat； he was much displeased； and as Romulus
was casting up a ditch； where he designed the foundation of the
city…wall； he turned some pieces of the work to ridicule； and
obstructed others； at last； as he was in contempt leaping over it；
some say Romulus himself struck him； others Celer； one of his
companions； he fell； however； and in the scuffle Faustulus also was
slain； and Plistinus； who； being Faustulus's brother； story tells
us； helped to bring up Romulus。 Celer upon this fled instantly into
Tuscany； and from him the Romans call all men that are swift of feet
Celeres； and because Quintus Metellus； at his father's funeral； in a
few days' time gave the people a show of gladiators； admiring his
expedition in getting it ready； they gave him the name of Celer。
Romulus； having buried his brother Remus； together with his two
foster…fathers； on the mount Remonia； set to building his city； and
sent for men out of Tuscany； who directed him by sacred usages and
written rules in all the ceremonies to be observed； as in a
religious rite。 First； they dug a round trench about that which is now
the Comitium； or Court of Assembly； and into it solemnly threw the
first…fruits of all things either good by custom or necessary by
nature； lastly； every man taking a small piece of earth of the country
from whence he came； they all threw in promiscuously together。 This
trench they call； as they do the heavens； Mundus； making which their
centre； they described the city in a circle round it。 Then the founder
fitted to a plough a brazen ploughshare； and； yoking together a bull
and a cow； drove himself a deep line or furrow round the bounds； while
the business of those that followed after was to see that whatever
earth was thrown up should be turned all inwards towards the city； and
not to let any clod lie outside。 With this line they described the
wall； and called it； by a contraction； Pomoerium； that is；
postmurum； after or beside the wall； and where they designed to make a
gate； there they took out the share； carried the plough over； and left
a space； for which reason they consider the whole wall as holy； except
where the gates are； for had they adjudged them also sacred； they
could not； without offence to religion； have given free ingress and
egress for the necessaries of human life； some of which are in
themselves unclean。
As for the day they began to build the city； it is universally
agreed to have been the twenty…first of April； and that day the Romans
annually keep holy； calling it their country's birthday。 At first；
they say； they sacrificed no living creature on this day； thinking
it fit to preserve the feast of their country's birthday pure and
without stain of blood。 Yet before ever the city was built； there
was a feast of herdsmen and shepherds kept on this day； which went
by the name of Palilia。 The Roman and Greek months have now little
or no agreement； they say； however； the day on which Romulus began
to build was quite certainly the thirtieth of the month； at which time
there was an eclipse of the sun which they conceived to be that seen
by Antimachus； the Teian poet； in the third year of the sixth
Olympiad。 In the times of Varro the philosopher； a man deeply read
in Roman history； lived one Tarrutius； his familiar acquaintance； a
good philosopher and mathematician； and one； too； that out of
curiosity had studied the way of drawing schemes and tables； and was
thought to be a proficient in the art； to him Varro propounded to cast
Romulus's nativity； even to the first day and hour； making his
deductions from the several events of the man's life which he should
be informed of； exactly as in working back a geometrical problem；
for it belonged； he said； to the same science both to foretell a man's
life by knowing the time of his birth； and also to find out his
birth by the knowledge of his life。 This task Tarrutius undertook； and
first looking into the actions and casualties of the man； together
with the time of his life and manner of his death； and then
comparing all these remarks together； he very confidently and
positively pronounced that Romulus was conceived in his mother's
womb the first year of the second Olympiad； the twenty…third day of
the month the Aegyptians call Choeac； and the third hour after sunset；
at which time there was a total eclipse of the sun； that he was born
the twenty…first day of the month Thoth； about sunrising； and that the
first stone of Rome was laid by him the ninth day of the month
Pharmuthi； between the second and third hour。 For the fortunes of
cities as well as of men； they think； have their certain periods of
time prefixed； which may be collected and foreknown from the
position of the stars at their first foundation。 But these and the
like relations may perhaps not so much take and delight the reader
with their novelty and curiosity； as offend him by their extravagance。
The city now being built； Romulus enlisted all that were of age to
bear arms into military companies； each company consisting of three
thousand footmen and three hundred horse。 These companies were
called legions； because they were the choicest and most select of
the people for fighting men。 The rest of the multitude he called the
people； an hundred of the most eminent he chose for counsellors； these
he styled patricians； and their assembly the senate； which signifies a
council of elders。 The patricians； some say； were so called because
they were the fathers of lawful children； others； because they could
give a good account who their own fathers were； which not every one of
the rabble that poured into the city at first could do； others； from
patronage； their word for protection of inferiors； the origin of which
they attribute to Patron； one of those that came over with Evander；
who was a great protector and defender of the weak and needy。 But
perhaps the most probable judgment might be； that Romulus； esteeming
it the duty of the chiefest and wealthiest men； with a fatherly care
and concern to look after the meaner； and also encouraging the
commonalty not to dread or be aggrieved at the honours of their
superiors； but to love and respect them； and to think and call them
their fathers； might from hence give them the name of patricians。
For at this very time all foreigners give senators the style of lords；
but the Romans； making use of a more honourable and less invidious
name； call them Patres Conscripti； at first； indeed； simply Patres；
but afterwards； more being added； Patres Conscripti。 By this more
imposing title he distinguished the senate from the populace； and in
other ways separated the nobles and the commons； calling them patrons；
and these their clients； by which means he created wonderful love
and amity betwixt them； productive of great justice in their dealings。
For they were always their clients' counsellors in law cases； their
advocates in courts of justice； in fine； their advisers and supporters
in all affairs whatever。 These again faithfully served their
patrons； not only paying them all respect and deference； but also；
in case of poverty； helping them to portion their daughters and pay
off their debts； and for a patron to witness against his client； or
a client against his patron； was what no law nor magistrate could
enforce。 In aftertimes； all other duties subsisting still between
them； it was thought mean and dishonourable for the better sort to
take money from their inferiors。 And so much of these matters。
In the fourth month； after the city was built； as Fabius writes； the
adventure of stealing the women was attempted and some say Romulus
himself； being naturally a martial man； and predisposed too； perhaps
by certain oracles； to believe the fates had ordained the future
growth and greatness of Rome should depend upon the benefit of war；
upon these accounts first offered violence to the Sabines； since he
took away only thirty virgins； more to give an occasion of war than
out of any want of women。 But this is not very probable； it would seem
rather that； observing his city to be filled by a confluence of
foreigners； a few of whom had wives； and that the multitude in
general； consisting of a mixture of mean and obscure men； fell under
contempt； and seemed to be of no long continuance together； and hoping
farther； after the women were appeased； to make this injury in some
measure an occasion of confederacy and mutual commerce with the
Sabines； he took in hand this exploit after this manner。 First； he
gave it out as if he had found an altar of a certain god hid under
ground； the god they called Consus； either the god of counsel （for
they still call a consultation consilium； and their chief
magistrates consules； namely； counsellors）； or else the equestrian
Neptune； for the altar is kept covered in the Circus Maximus at all
other times； and only at horse…races is exposed to public view； others
merely say that this god had his altar hid under ground because
counsel ought to be secret and concealed。 Upon discovery of this
altar； Romulus； by proclamation； appointed a day for a splendid
sacrifice； and for public games and shows； to entertain all sorts of
people： many flocked thither； and he himself sat in front； amidst
his nobles clad in purple。 Now the signal for their falling on was
to be whenever he rose and gathered up his robe and threw it over
his body； his men stood all ready armed； with their eyes intent upon
him； and when the sign was given； drawing their swords and falling
on with a great shout they ravished away the daughters of the Sabines；
they themselves flying without any let or hindrance。