第 6 节
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一米八 更新:2024-05-15 20:30 字数:9322
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 t