§1.18.1Inclita iustitia religioque ea tempestate Numae Pompili erat.
Famous was the justice and piety of Numa Pompilius in that age.
Curibus Sabinis habitabat, consultissimus vir, ut in illa quisquam esse aetate poterat, omnis divini atque humani iuris.
He lived at Cures of the Sabines, a man most learned, as far as anyone could be in that era, in all divine and human law.
§1.18.2auctorem doctrinae eius, quia non extat alius, falso Samium Pythagoram edunt, quem Servio Tullio regnante Romae, centum amplius post annos, in ultima Italiae ora circa Metapontum Heracleamque et Crotona iuvenum aemulantium studia coetus habuisse constat.
As the author of his teaching, because no other exists, they falsely put forward Pythagoras of Samos, whom it is well known, more than a hundred years later, during the reign of Servius Tullius at Rome, held assemblies of eager young disciples on the ultimate coast of Italy around Metapontum, Heraclea, and Croton.
§1.18.3ex quibus locis, etsi eiusdem aetatis fuisset, quae fama in Sabinos? aut quo linguae commercio quemquam ad cupiditatem discendi excivisset? quove praesidio unus per tot gentes dissonas sermone moribusque pervenisset?
From these places, even if he had been of the same age, what rumor could have reached the Sabines? Or by what exchange of language could he have excited anyone to a desire for learning? Or under what protection could a single man have made his way through so many nations differing in language and customs?
§1.18.4suopte igitur ingenio temperatum animum virtutibus fuisse opinor magis instructumque non tam peregrinis artibus quam disciplina tetrica ac tristi veterum Sabinorum, quo genere nullum quondam incorruptius fuit.
Therefore, I believe rather that his mind was tempered by virtues through his own natural disposition, and trained not so much in foreign arts as in the stern and austere discipline of the ancient Sabines, than which race none was formerly more uncorrupt.
§1.18.5audito nomine Numae patres Romani, quamquam inclinari opes ad Sabinos rege inde sumpto videbantur, tamen neque se quisquam nec factionis suae alium nec denique patrum aut civium quemquam praeferre illi viro ausi ad unum omnes Numae Pompilio regnum deferendum decernunt.
Upon hearing the name of Numa, the Roman fathers, although the power seemed likely to incline to the Sabines if the king were taken from there, yet none of them dared to prefer themselves, nor anyone else of their faction, nor indeed any of the fathers or citizens to that man, and they unanimously decreed that the kingdom should be offered to Numa Pompilius.
§1.18.6accitus, sicut Romulus augurato urbe condenda regnum adeptus est, de se quoque deos consuli iussit.
Having been summoned, just as Romulus had obtained the kingdom after taking the auspices for founding the city, he ordered that the gods should be consulted concerning himself also.
inde ab augure, cui deinde honoris ergo publicum id perpetuumque sacerdotium fuit, deductus in arcem in lapide ad meridiem versus consedit.
Then, conducted by an augur, to whom thereafter, for the sake of honor, that public and perpetual priesthood belonged, he was led to the citadel and sat down on a stone facing south.
§1.18.7augur ad laevam eius capite velato sedem cepit, dextra manu baculum sine nodo aduncum tenens, quem lituum appellarunt.
The augur took his seat at his left with his head veiled, holding in his right hand a curved staff without knots, which they called a lituus.
inde ubi prospectu in urbem agrumque capto deos precatus regiones ab oriente ad occasum determinavit, dextras ad meridiem partes, laevas ad septentrionem esse dixit,
From there, having taken a prospect over the city and the territory, and having prayed to the gods, he determined the regions from east to west, and declared that the parts to the right were to the south, and those to the left to the north.
§1.18.8signum contra, quoad longissime conspectum oculi ferebant, animo finivit; tum lituo in laevam manum translato dextra in caput Numae imposita precatus ita est: §1.18.9“Iuppiter pater, si est fas hunc Numam Pompilium, cuius ego caput teneo, regem Romae esse, uti tu signa nobis certa adclarassis inter eos fines, quos feci. ” tum peregit verbis auspicia, quae mitti vellet.
He marked out in his mind a sign opposite, as far as the eyes could carry their sight; then, transferring the lituus to his left hand, and placing his right hand on the head of Numa, he prayed thus: "Father Jupiter, if it is divine law that this Numa Pompilius, whose head I hold, should be king of Rome, may you declare to us certain signs within those limits which I have made." Then he specified in words the auspices which he wished to be sent.
§1.18.10quibus missis declaratus rex Numa de templo descendit.
When these had been sent, Numa, declared king, descended from the sacred ground.