§1.4.1sed debebatur, ut opinor, fatis tantae origo urbis maximique secundum deorum opes imperii principium.
But the origin of so great a city and the beginning of the greatest empire, second only to the power of the gods, was due, in my opinion, to the fates.
vi compressa Vestalis cum geminum partum edidisset, §1.4.2seu ita rata, seu quia deus auctor culpae honestior erat, Martem incertae stirpis patrem nuncupat.
When the Vestal, having been violated by force, had given birth to twin offspring, whether she really believed it to be so, or because a god was a more honorable author of her fault, she named Mars as the father of her uncertain offspring.
§1.4.3sed nec dii nec homines aut ipsam aut stirpem a crudelitate regia vindicant; §1.4.4sacerdos vincta in custodiam datur; pueros in profluentem aquam mitti iubet.
But neither gods nor men protected either herself or her offspring from the royal cruelty; the priestess was bound and put into custody; the king ordered the boys to be thrown into the flowing water.
forte quadam divinitus super ripas Tiberis effusus lenibus stagnis nec adiri usquam ad iusti cursum poterat amnis et posse quamvis languida mergi aqua infantes spem ferentibus dabat.
By a certain divine chance, the Tiber, having overflowed its banks into gentle pools, could not be approached anywhere near its regular course, yet gave hope to those who carried the infants that they could be drowned by water however sluggish.
§1.4.5ita, velut defuncti regis imperio, in proxima eluvie, ubi nunc ficus Ruminalis est — Romularem vocatam ferunt —, pueros exponunt.
Thus, as if having discharged the king's command, they exposed the boys in the nearest overflow, where the Ruminal fig tree now is—they say it was once called Romular.
vastae tum in his locis solitudines erant.
There were vast solitudes in these places at that time.
§1.4.6tenet fama, cum fluitantem alveum, quo expositi erant pueri, tenuis in sicco aqua destituisset, lupam sitientem ex montibus, qui circa sunt, ad puerilem vagitum cursum flexisse; eam summissas infantibus adeo mitem praebuisse mammas, ut lingua lambentem pueros magister regii pecoris invenerit — §1.4.7Faustulo fuisse nomen ferunt —; ab eo ad stabula Larentiae uxori educandos datos.
The story goes that, when the shallow water had left the floating basket in which the boys had been exposed on dry land, a thirsty she-wolf from the mountains nearby turned her steps toward the crying of the children; and she offered her lowered teats to the infants so gently that the master of the royal flock found her licking the boys with her tongue— they say his name was Faustulus—; by him they were given to his wife Larentia at their huts to be brought up.
sunt, qui Larentiam vulgato corpore lupam inter pastores vocatam putent; inde locum fabulae ac miraculo datum.
There are some who think that Larentia, because she prostituted her body, was called a "she-wolf" among the shepherds; thence an opening was given for this fable and miracle.
§1.4.8ita geniti itaque educati, cum primum adolevit aetas, nec in stabulis nec ad pecora segnes, venando peragrare saltus.
Having been thus born and thus brought up, as soon as they grew to manhood, being active neither in the huts nor at the flocks, they ranged through the glades by hunting.
§1.4.9hinc robore corporibus animisque sumpto iam non feras tantum subsistere, sed in latrones praeda onustos impetus facere pastoribusque rapta dividere et cum his crescente in dies grege iuvenum seria ac iocos celebrare.
Hence, having acquired strength in both body and mind, they now not only withstood wild beasts but also made attacks on robbers laden with plunder and divided what had been taken among the shepherds, and with these, as the band of young men grew daily, they conducted serious business and sports.