odious to the people； to whom in particular the state which he assumed
was hateful。 For he dressed in scarlet； with the purple…bordered
robe over it； he gave audience on a couch of state； having always
about him some young men called Celeres； from their swiftness in doing
commissions； there went before him others with staves； to make room；
with leather thongs tied on their bodies； to bind on the moment
whoever he commanded。 The Latins formerly used ligare in the same
sense as now alligare； to bind； whence the name lictors； for these
officers； and bacula； or staves； for their rods； because staves were
then used。 It is probable； however； they were first called litores；
afterwards； by putting in a c； lictores； or； in Greek； liturgi； or
people's officers； for leitos is still Greek for the commons； and laos
for the people in general。
But when； after the death of his grandfather Numitor in Alba； the
throne devolving upon Romulus； he； to court the people； put the
government into their own hands； and appointed an annual magistrate
over the Albans； this taught the great men of Rome to seek after a
free and anti…monarchical state； wherein all might in turn be subjects
and rulers。 For neither were the patricians any longer admitted to
state affairs； only had the name and title left them； convening in
council rather for fashion's sake than advice； where they heard in
silence the king's commands； and so departed； exceeding the commonalty
only in hearing first what was done。 These and the like were matters
of small moment； but when he of his own accord parted among his
soldiers what lands were acquired by war； and restored the Veientes
their hostages； the senate neither consenting nor approving of it；
then； indeed； he seemed to put a great affront upon them； so that；
on his sudden and strange disappearance a short while after； the
senate fell under suspicion and calumny。 He disappeared on the Nones
of July； as they now call the month which was then Quintilis；
leaving nothing of certainty to be related of his death； only the
time； as just mentioned； for on that day many ceremonies are sill
performed in representation of what happened。 Neither is this
uncertainty to be thought strange； seeing the manner of the death of
Scipio Africanus； who died at his own home after supper； has been
found capable neither of proof or disproof； for some say he died a
natural death； being of a sickly habit； others that he poisoned
himself； others again； that his enemies； breaking in upon him in the
night stifled him。 Yet Scipio's dead body lay open to be seen of
all； and any one； from his own observation； might form his
suspicions and conjectures； whereas Romulus； when he vanished； left
neither the least part of his body； nor any remnant of his clothes
to be seen。 So that some fancied the senators； having fallen upon
him in the temple of Vulcan； cut his body into pieces； and took each a
part away in his bosom； others think his disappearance was neither
in the temple of Vulcan； nor with the senators only by； but that it
came to pass that； as he was haranguing the people without the city；
near a place called the Goat's Marsh； on a sudden strange and
unaccountable disorders and alterations took place in the air； the
face of the sun was darkened； and the day turned into night； and that；
too； no quiet； peaceable night； but with terrible thunderings； and
boisterous winds from all quarters； during which the common people
dispersed and fled； but the senators kept close together。 The
tempest being over and the light breaking out； when the people
gathered again； they missed and inquired for their king； the
senators suffered them not to search； or busy themselves about the
matter； but commanded them to honour and worship Romulus as one
taken up to the gods； and about to be to them； in the place of a
good prince； now a propitious god。 The multitude； hearing this； went
away believing and rejoicing in hopes of good things from him； but
there were some； who； canvassing the matter in a hostile temper；
accused and aspersed the patricians； as men that persuaded the
people to believe ridiculous tales； when they themselves were the
murderers of the king。
Things being in this disorder； one； they say； of the patricians；
of noble family and approved good character； and a faithful and
familiar friend of Romulus himself； having come with him from Alba；
Julius Proculus by name； presented himself in the forum； and； taking a
most sacred oath； protested before them all； that； as he was
travelling on the road； he had seen Romulus coming to meet him；
looking taller and comelier than ever； dressed in shining and
flaming armour； and he； being affrighted at the apparition； said；
〃Why； O king； or for what purpose have you abandoned us to unjust
and wicked surmises； and the whole city to bereavement and endless
sorrow？〃 and that he made answer； 〃It pleased the gods； O Proculus；
that we； who came from them； should remain so long a time amongst
men as we did； and； having built a city to be the greatest in the
world for empire and glory； should again return to heaven。 But
farewell； and tell the Romans； that； by the exercise of temperance and
fortitude； they shall attain the height of human power； we will be
to you the propitious god Quirinus。〃 This seemed credible to the
Romans； upon the honesty and oath of the relater； and indeed； too；
there mingled with it a certain divine passion； some preternatural
influence similar to possession by a divinity； nobody contradicted it；
but； laying aside all jealousies and detractions； they prayed to
Quirinus and saluted him as a god。
This is like some of the Greek fables of Aristeas the
Proconnesian； and Cleomedes the Astypalaean； for they say Aristeas
died in a fuller's workshop； and his friends coming to look for him；
found his body vanished； and that some presently after； coming from
abroad； said they met him travelling towards Croton。 And that
Cleomedes； being an extraordinarily strong and gigantic man； but
also wild and mad； committed many desperate freaks； and at last； in
a school…house； striking a pillar that sustained the roof with his
fist； broke it in the middle； so that the house fell and destroyed the
children in it； and being pursued； he fled into a great chest； and；
shutting to the lid； held it so fast； that many men； with their united
strength； could not force it open； afterwards； breaking the chest to
pieces； they found no man in it alive or dead； in astonishment at
which； they sent to consult the oracle at Delphi； to whom the
prophetess made this answer；…
〃Of all the heroes； Cleomede is last。〃
They say； too； the body of Alcmena； as they were carrying her to her
grave； vanished； and a stone was found lying on the bier。 And many
such improbabilities do your fabulous writers relate； deifying
creatures naturally mortal； for though altogether to disown a divine
nature in human virtue were impious and base； so again； to mix
heaven with earth is ridiculous。 Let us believe with Pindar； that…
〃All human bodies yield to Death's decree；
The soul survives to all eternity。〃
For that alone is derived from the gods； thence comes； and thither
returns； not with the body； but when most disengaged and separated
from it； and when most entirely pure and clean and free from the
flesh： for the most perfect soul； says Heraclitus； is a dry light；
which flies out of the body as lightning breaks from a cloud； but that
which is clogged and surfeited with body is like gross and humid
incense； slow to kindle and ascend。 We must not； therefore； contrary
to nature； send the bodies； too； of good men to heaven； but we must
really believe that； according to their divine nature and law； their
virtue and their souls are translated out of men into heroes； out of
heroes into demi…gods； out of demi…gods； after passing； as in the rite
of initiation； through a final cleansing and sanctification； and so
freeing themselves from all that pertains to mortality and sense；
are thus； not by human decree； but really and according to right
reason； elevated into gods admitted thus to the greatest and most
blessed perfection。
Romulus's surname Quirinus； some say； is equivalent to Mars； others；
that he was so called because the citizens were called Quirites；
others； because the ancients called a dart or spear Quiris； thus；
the statue of Juno resting on a spear is called Quiritis； and the dart
in the Regia is addressed as Mars； and those that were distinguished
in war were usually presented with a dart； that； therefore； Romulus
being a martial god； or a god of darts； was called Quirinus。 A
temple is certainly built to his honour on the mount called from him
Quirinalis。
The day he vanished on is called the Flight of the People and the
Nones of the Goats； because they go then out of the city and sacrifice
at the Goat's Marsh； and； as they go； they shout out some of the Roman
names； as Marcus； Lucius； Caius； imitating the way in which they
then fled and called upon one another in that fright and hurry。
Some； however； say this was not in imitation of a flight； but of a
quick and hasty onset； referring it to the following occasion： After
the Gauls who had taken Rome were driven out by Camillus； and the city
was scarcely as yet recovering her strength； many of the Latins； under
the command of Livius Postumius； took this time to march against
her。 Postumius； halting not far from Rome； sent a herald； signifying
that the Latins were desirous to renew their former alliance and
affinity （that was now almost decayed） by contracting new marriages
between both nations； if； therefore； they would send forth a good
number of their virgins and widows； they should have peace and
friendship； such as the Sabines had formerly had on the like
conditions。 The Romans； hearing this； dreaded a war； yet thought a
surrender of their women little better than mere captivity。 Being in
this doubt； a servant…maid called Philotis （or； as some say；
Tutola）； advised them to do neither； but； by a stratagem； avoid both
fighting and the giving up of such pledges。 The stratagem was this；
that they should send herself； with other welllooking servant…maids；
to