on with a great shout they ravished away the daughters of the Sabines；
they themselves flying without any let or hindrance。 They say there
were but thirty taken； and from them the Curiae or Fraternities were
named； but Valerius Antias says five hundred and twenty…seven； Juba；
six hundred and eighty…three virgins： which was indeed the greatest
excuse Romulus could allege； namely； that they had taken no married
woman； save one only； Hersilia by name； and her too unknowingly； which
showed that they did not commit this rape wantonly； but with a
design purely of forming alliance with their neighbours by the
greatest and surest bonds。 This Hersilia some say Hostilius married； a
most eminent man among the Romans； others； Romulus himself； and that
she bore two children to him；… a daughter； by reason of
primogeniture called Prima； and one only son； whom； from the great
concourse of citizens to him at that time； he called Aollius； but
after ages Abillius。 But Zenodotus the Troezenian； in giving this
account； is contradicted by many。
Among those who committed this rape upon the virgins； there were；
they say； as it so then happened； some of the meaner sort of men；
who were carrying off a damsel； excelling all in beauty and comeliness
and stature； whom when some of superior rank that met them；
attempted to take away； they cried out they were carrying her to
Talasius； a young man； indeed； but brave and worthy； hearing that；
they commended and applauded them loudly； and also some； turning back；
accompanied them with good…will and pleasure； shouting out the name of
Talasus。 Hence the Romans to this very time； at their weddings； sing
Talasius for their nuptial word； as the Greeks do Hymenaeus； because
they say Talasius was very happy in his marriage。 But Sextius Sylla
the Carthaginian； a man wanting neither learning nor ingenuity； told
me Romulus gave this word as a sign when to begin the onset；
everybody； therefore； who made prize of a maiden； cried out； Talasius；
and for that reason the custom continues so now at marriages。 But most
are of opinion （of whom Juba particularly is one） that this word was
used to new…married women by way of incitement to good housewifery and
talasia （spinning）； as we say in Greek； Greek words at that time not
being as yet overpowered by Italian。 But if this be the case； and if
the Romans did at the time use the word talasia as we do； a man
might fancy a more probable reason of the custom。 For when the
Sabines； after the war against the Romans were reconciled；
conditions were made concerning their women； that they should be
obliged to do no other servile offices to their husbands but what
concerned spinning； it was customary； therefore； ever after； at
weddings； for those that gave the bride or escorted her or otherwise
were present； sportingly to say Talasius； intimating that she was
henceforth to serve in spinning and no more。 It continues also a
custom at this very day for the bride not of herself to pass her
husband's threshold； but to be lifted over； in memory that the
Sabine virgins were carried in by violence； and did not go in of their
own will。 Some say； too； the custom of parting the bride's hair with
the head of a spear was in token their marriages began at first by war
and acts of hostility； of which I have spoken more fully in my book of
Questions。
This rape was committed on the eighteenth day of the month Sextilis；
now called August； on which the solemnities of the Consualia are kept。
The Sabines were a numerous and martial people； but lived in
small； unfortified villages； as it befitted； they thought； a colony of
the Lacedaemonians to be bold and fearless； nevertheless； seeing
themselves bound by such hostages to their good behaviour； and being
solicitous for their daughters； they sent ambassadors to Romulus
with fair and equitable requests； that he would return their young
women and recall that act of violence； and afterwards； by persuasion
and lawful means； seek friendly correspondence between both nations。
Romulus would not part with the young women； yet proposed to the
Sabines to enter into an alliance with them； upon which point some
consulted and demurred long； but Acron； king of the Ceninenses； a
man of high spirit and a good warrior； who had all along a jealousy of
Romulus's bold attempts； and considering particularly； from this
exploit upon the women； that he was growing formidable to all
people； and indeed insufferable； were he not chastised； first rose
up in arms； and with a powerful army advanced against him。 Romulus
likewise prepared to receive him； but when they came within sight
and viewed each other； they made a challenge to fight a single duel；
the armies standing by under arms； without participation。 And Romulus；
making a vow to Jupiter； if he should conquer； to carry himself； and
dedicate his adversary's armour to his honour； overcame him in combat；
and a battle ensuing； routed his army also； and then took his city；
but did those he found in it no injury； only commanded them to
demolish the place and attend him to Rome； there to be admitted to all
the privileges of citizens。 And indeed there was nothing did more
advance the greatness of Rome； than that she did always unite and
incorporate those whom she conquered into herself。 Romulus； that he
might perform his vow in the most acceptable manner to Jupiter； and
withal make the pomp of it delightful to the eye of the city； cut down
a tall oak which he saw growing in the camp； which he trimmed to the
shape of a trophy； and fastened on it Acron's whole suit of armour
disposed in proper form； then he himself； girding his clothes about
him； and crowning his head with a laurel garland； his hair
gracefully flowing； carried the trophy resting erect upon his right
shoulder； and so marched on； singing songs of triumph； and his whole
army following after； the citizens all receiving him with acclamations
of joy and wonder。 The procession of this day was the origin and model
of all after triumphs。 This trophy was styled an offering to Jupiter
Feretrius； from ferire； which in Latin is to smite； for Romulus prayed
he might smite and overthrow his enemy； and the spoils were called
opima； or royal spoils； says Varro； from their richness； which the
word opes signifies； though one would more probably conjecture from
opus； an act； for it is only to the general of an army who with his
own hand kills his enemies' general that this honour is granted of
offering the opima spolia。 And three only of the Roman captains have
had it conferred on them： first； Romulus； upon killing Acron the
Ceninensian； next； Cornelius Cossus； for slaying Tolumnius the Tuscan；
and lastly； Claudius Marcellus； upon his conquering Viridomarus；
king of the Gauls。 The two latter； Cossus and Marcellus； made their
entries in triumphant chariots； bearing their trophies themselves； but
that Romulus made use of a chariot； Dionysius is wrong in asserting。
History says； Tarquinius； Damaratus's son； was the first that
brought triumphs to this great pomp and grandeur； others； that
Publicola was the first that rode in triumph。 The statues of Romulus
in triumph are； as may be seen in Rome； all on foot。
After the overthrow of the Ceninensians； the other Sabines still
protracting the time in preparations； the people of Fidenae；
Crustumerium； and Antemna joined their forces against the Romans； they
in like manner were defeated in battle； and surrendered up to
Romulus their cities to be seized； their lands and territories to be
divided； and themselves to be transplanted to Rome。 All the lands
which Romulus acquired； he distributed among the citizens； except only
what the parents of the stolen virgins had； these he suffered to
possess their own。 The rest of the Sabines； enraged hereat； choosing
Tatius their captain； marched straight against Rome。 The city was
almost inaccessible； having for its fortress that which is now the
Capitol； where a strong guard was placed； and Tarpeius their
captain； not Tarpeia the virgin； as some say who would make Romulus
a fool。 But Tarpeia； daughter to the captain； coveting the golden
bracelets she saw them wear； betrayed the fort into the Sabines'
hands； and asked； in reward of her treachery； the things they wore
on their left arms。 Tatius conditioning thus with her； in the night
she opened one of the gates； and received the Sabines。 And truly
Antigonus； it would seem； was not solitary in saying he loved
betrayers； but hated those who had betrayed； nor Caesar； who told
Rhymitalces the Thracian； that he loved the treason； but hated the
traitor； but it is the general feeling of all who have occasion for
wicked men's service； as people have for the poison of venomous
beasts； they are glad of them while they are of use； and abhor their
baseness when it is over。 And so then did Tatius behave towards
Tarpeia； for he commanded the Sabines； in regard to their contract；
not to refuse her the least part of what they wore on their left arms；
and he himself first took his bracelet off his arm； and threw that；
together with his buckler； at her； and all the rest following； she；
being borne down and quite buried with the multitude of gold and their
shields； died under the weight and pressure of them； Tarpeius also
himself； being prosecuted by Romulus； was found guilty of treason；
as Juba says Sulpicius Galba relates。 Those who write otherwise
concerning Tarpeia； as that she was the daughter of Tatius； the Sabine
captain； and being forcibly detained by Romulus； acted and suffered
thus by her father's contrivance； speak very absurdly； of whom
Antigonus is one。 And Simylus； the poet； who thinks Tarpeia betrayed
the Capitol； not to the Sabines； but the Gauls； having fallen in
love with their king； talks mere folly； saying thus：…
〃Tarpeia 'twas； who； dwelling close thereby；
Laid open Rome unto the enemy；
She； for the love of the besieging Gaul；
Betrayed the city's strength； the Capitol。〃
And a little after； speaking of her death：…
〃The numerous nations of the Celtic foe
Bore her not living to the banks of Po；
Their heavy shields upon the maid they threw；
And with their sp