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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 splendid gifts entombed at once and slew。〃
Tarpeia afterwards was buried there； and the hill from her was
called Tarpeius； until the reign of King Tarquin； who dedicated the
place to Jupiter； at which time her bones were removed； and so it lost
her name； except only that part of the Capitol which they still called
the Tarpeian Rock； from which they used to cast down malefactors。
The Sabines being possessed of the hill； Romulus； in great fury；
bade them battle； and Tatius was confident to accept it； perceiving；
if they were overpowered； that they had behind them a secure
retreat。 The level in the middle； where they were to join battle；
being surrounded with many little hills seemed to enforce both parties
to a sharp and desperate conflict； by reason of the difficulties of
the place； which had but a few outlets； inconvenient either for refuge
or pursuit。 It happened； too； the river having overflowed not many
days before； there was left behind in the plain； where now the forum
stands； a deep blind mud and slime； which； though it did not appear
much to the eye； and was not easily avoided； at bottom was deceitful
and dangerous； upon which the Sabines being unwarily about to enter；
met with a piece of good fortune； for Curtius； a gallant man； eager of
honour； and of aspiring thoughts； being mounted on horseback； was
galloping on before the rest； and mired his horse here； and；
endeavouring for a while； by whip and spur and voice to disentangle
him； but finding it impossible； quitted him and saved himself； the
place from him to this very time is called the Curtian Lake。 The
Sabines； having avoided this danger； began the fight very smartly； the
fortune of the day being very dubious； though many were slain； amongst
whom was Hostilius； who； they say； was husband to Hersilia； and
grandfather to that Hostilius who reigned after Numa。 There were
many other brief conflicts； we may suppose； but the most memorable was
the last； in which Romulus； having received a wound on his