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第5章

romulus-第5章

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violently by those whose now we are; that being done; we were so
long neglected by our fathers; our brothers and countrymen; that time;
having now by the strictest bonds united us to those we once
mortally hated; has made it impossible for us not to tremble at the
danger and weep at the death of the very men who once used violence to
us。 You did not come to vindicate our honour; while we were virgins;
against our assailants; but do come now to force away wives from their
husbands and mothers from their children; a succour more grievous to
its wretched objects than the former betrayal and neglect of them。
Which shall we call the worst; their love…making or your compassion?
If you were making war upon any other occasion; for our sakes you
ought to withhold your hands from those to whom we have made you
fathers…in…law and grandsires。 If it be for our own cause; then take
us; and with us your sons…in…law and grandchildren。 Restore to us
our parents and kindred; but do not rob us of our children and
husbands。 Make us not; we entreat you; twice captives。〃 Hersilia
having spoken many such words as these; and the others earnestly
praying; a truce was made; and the chief officers came to a parley;
the women; in the meantime; brought and presented their husbands and
children to their fathers and brothers; gave those that wanted meat
and drink; and carried the wounded home to be cured; and showed also
how much they governed within doors; and how indulgent their
husbands were to them; in demeaning themselves towards them with all
kindness and respect imaginable。 Upon this; conditions were agreed
upon; that what women pleased might stay where they were; exempt; as
aforesaid; from all drudgery and labour but spinning; that the
Romans and Sabines should inhabit the city together; that the city
should be called Rome from Romulus; but the Romans; Quirites; from the
country of Tatius; and that they both should govern and command in
common。 The place of the ratification is still called Comitium; from
come to meet。
  The city being thus doubled in number; an hundred of the Sabines
were elected senators; and the legions were increased to six
thousand foot and six hundred horse; then they divided the people into
three tribes: the first; from Romulus; named Ramnenses; the second
from Tatius; Tatienses; the third Luceres; from the lucus; or grove;
where the Asylum stood; whither many fled for sanctuary; and were
received into the city。 And that they were just three; the very name
of tribe and tribune seems to show; each tribe contained ten curiae;
or brotherhoods; which; some say; took their names from the Sabine
women; but that seems to be false; because many had their names from
various places。 Though it is true; they then constituted many things
in honour to the women; as to give them the way wherever they met
them; to speak no ill word in their presence; not to appear naked
before them; or else be liable to prosecution before the judge; of
homicide; that their children should wear an ornament about their
necks called the bulla (because it was like a bubble); and the
proetexta; a gown edged with purple。
  The princes did not immediately join in council together; but at
first each met with his own hundred; afterwards all assembled
together。 Tatius dwelt where now the temple of Moneta stands; and
Romulus; close by the steps; as they call them; of the Fair Shore;
near the descent from the Mount Palatine to the Circus Maximus。 There;
they say; grew the holy cornel tree; of which they report; that
Romulus once; to try his strength; threw a dart from the Aventine
Mount; the staff of which was made of cornel; which struck so deep
into the ground; that no one of many that tried could pluck it up; and
the soil being fertile; gave nourishment to the wood; which sent forth
branches; and produced a cornel stock of considerable bigness。 This
did posterity preserve and worship as one of the most sacred things;
and therefore walled it about; and if to any one it appeared not green
nor flourishing; but inclining to pine and wither; he immediately made
outcry to all he met; and they; like people hearing of a house on
fire; with one accord would cry for water; and run from all parts with
buckets full to the place。 But when Caius Caesar; they say; was
repairing the steps about it; some of the labourers digging too close;
the roots were destroyed; and the tree withered。
  The Sabines adopted the Roman months; of which whatever is
remarkable is mentioned in the Life of Numa。 Romulus; on the other
hand; adopted their long shields; and changed his own armour and
that of all the Romans; who before wore round targets of the Argive
pattern。 Feasts and sacrifices they partook of in common; not
abolishing any which either nation observed before; and instituting
several new ones; of which one was the Matronalia; instituted in
honour of the women; for their extinction of the war; likewise the
Carmentalia。 This Carmenta some think a deity presiding over human
birth; for which reason she is much honoured by mothers。 Others say
she was the wife of Evander; the Arcadian; being a prophetess; and
wont to deliver her oracles in verse; and from carmen; a verse; was
called Carmenta; her proper name being Nicostrata。 Others more
probably derive Carmenta from carens mente; or insane; in allusion
to her prophetic frenzies。 Of the feast of Palilia we have spoken
before。 The Lupercalia; by the time of its celebration; may seem to be
a feast of purification; for it is solemnised on the dies nefasti;
or non…court days; of the month February; which name signifies
purification; and the very day of the feast was anciently called
Februata; but its name is equivalent to the Greek Lycaea; and it seems
thus to be of great antiquity; and brought in by the Arcadians who
came with Evander。 Yet this is but dubious; for it may come as well
from the wolf that nursed Romulus; and we see the Luperci; the
priests; begin their course from the place where they say Romulus
was exposed。 But the ceremonies performed in it render the origin of
the thing more difficult to be guessed at; for there are goats killed;
then; two young noblemen's sons being brought; some are to stain their
foreheads with the bloody knife; others presently to wipe it off
with wool dipped in milk; then the young boys must laugh after their
foreheads are wiped; that done; having cut the goats' skins into
thongs; they run about naked; only with something about their
middle; lashing all they meet; and the young wives do not avoid
their strokes; fancying they will help conception and childbirth。
Another thing peculiar to this feast is for the Luperci to sacrifice a
dog。 But; as a certain poet who wrote fabulous explanations of Roman
customs in elegiac verses; says; that Romulus and Remus; after the
conquest of Amulius; ran joyfully to the place where the wolf gave
them suck; and that; in imitation of that; this feast was held; and
two young noblemen ran…

        〃Striking at all; as when from Alba town;
        With sword in hand; the twins came hurrying down;〃

and that the bloody knife applied to their foreheads was a sign of the
danger and bloodshed of that day; the cleansing of them in milk; a
remembrance of their food and nourishment。 Caius Acilius writes; that;
before the city was built; the cattle of Romulus and Remus one day
going astray; they; praying to the god Faunus; ran out to seek them
naked; wishing not to be troubled with sweat; and that this is why the
Luperci run naked。 If the sacrifice be by way of purification; a dog
might very well be sacrificed; for the Greeks; in their illustrations;
carry out young dogs; and frequently use this ceremony of
periscylacismus; as they call it。 Or if again it is a sacrifice of
gratitude to the wolf that nourished and preserved Romulus; there is
good reason in killing a dog; as being an enemy to wolves。 Unless;
indeed; after all; the creature is punished for hindering the
Luperci in their running。
  They say; too; Romulus was the first that consecrated holy fire; and
instituted holy virgins to keep it; called vestals; others ascribe
it to Numa Pompilius; agreeing; however; that Romulus was otherwise
eminently religious; and skilled in divination; and for that reason
carried the lituus; a crooked rod with which soothsayers describe
the quarters of the heavens; when they sit to observe the flights of
birds。 This of his; being kept in the Palatium; was lost when the city
was taken by the Gauls; and afterwards; that barbarous people being
driven out; was found in the ruins; under a great heap of ashes;
untouched by the fire; all things about it being consumed and burnt。
He instituted also certain laws; one of which is somewhat severe;
which suffers not a wife to leave her husband; but grants a husband
power to turn off his wife; either upon poisoning her children or
counterfeiting his keys; or for adultery; but if the husband upon
any other occasion put her away; he ordered one moiety of his estate
to be given to the wife; the other to fall to the goddess Ceres; and
whoever cast off his wife; to make an atonement by sacrifice to the
gods of the dead。 This; too; is observable as a singular thing in
Romulus; that he appointed no punishment for real parricide; but
called all murder so; thinking the one an accursed thing; but the
other a thing impossible; and; for a long time; his judgment seemed to
have been right; for in almost six hundred years together; nobody
committed the like in Rome; and Lucius Hostius; after the wars of
Hannibal; is recorded to have been the first parricide。 Let this
much suffice concerning these matters。
  In the fifth year of the reign of Tatius; some of his friends and
kinsmen; meeting ambassadors coming from Laurentum to Rome;
attempted on the road to take away their money by force; and; upon
their resistance; killed them。 So great a villainy having been
committed Romulus thought the malefactors ought at once to be
punished; but Tatius shuffled off and deferred the execution of it;
and this one thing was the beginning of open quarrel betwixt them;
in all other respects they were very careful of their conduct; and
administered affairs together with great unanimity。 The relations of
the slain; being debarred of lawful satisfaction by reason of
Tatius; fell upon him as he was sacrificing with Romulus at Lavinium
and slew him; but escorted Romulus home; commending and extolling
him for a just prince。 Romulus took the body of Tatius; and buried
it very splendidly in the Aventine Mount; near the place called
Armilustrium; but altogether neglected revenging his murder。 Some
authors write; that the city of Laurentum; fearing the consequences;
delivered up the murderers of Tatius; but Romulus dismissed them;
saying one murder was requited with another。 This gave occasion of
talk and jealousy; as if he were well pleased at the removal of his
co…partner in the government。 Nothing of these things; however; raised
any sort of feud or disturbance among the Sabines; but some out of
love to him; others out of fear of his power; some again reverencing
him as a god; they all continued living peacefully in admiration and
awe of him; many f

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