按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 foreign nations； too； showed respect to Romulus；
the Ancient Latins sent and entered into league and confederacy with
him。 Fidenae he took； a neighbouring city to Rome； by a party of
horse； as some say； whom he sent before with commands to cut down
the hinges of the gates； himself afterwards unexpectedly coming up。
Others say； they having first made the invasion； plundering and
ravaging the country and suburbs； Romulus lay in ambush for them；
and having killed many of their men； took the city； but； nevertheless；
did not raze or demolish it； but made it a Roman colony； and sent
thither； on the Ides of April； two thousand five hundred inhabitants。
Soon after a plague broke out； causing sudden death without any
previous sickness； it infected also the corn with unfruitfulness；
and cattle with barrenness； there rained blood； too； in the city； so
that； to their actual sufferings； fear of the wrath of the gods was
added。 But when the same mischiefs fell upon L