§1.9.1iam res Romana adeo erat valida, ut cuilibet finitimarum civitatum bello par esset; sed penuria mulierum hominis aetatem duratura magnitudo erat, quippe quibus nec domi spes prolis nec cum finitimis conubia essent.
Now the Roman state was so strong that it was a match in war for any of the neighboring states; but owing to the penury of women its greatness was destined to last only for a generation of man, since they had neither hope of offspring at home nor intermarriage with their neighbors.
§1.9.2tum ex consilio patrum Romulus legatos circa vicinas gentes misit, qui societatem conubiumque novo populo peterent: §1.9.3urbes quoque, ut cetera, ex infimo nasci; dein, quas sua virtus ac dii iuvent, magnas opes sibi magnumque nomen facere; §1.9.4satis scire origini Romanae et deos adfuisse et non defuturam virtutem; proinde ne gravarentur homines cum hominibus sanguinem ac genus miscere.
Then, on the advice of the senators, Romulus sent envoys round to the neighbouring peoples to seek alliance and the right of intermarriage for the new community: cities, too, like everything else, rise from the lowliest beginnings; then those whom their own valour and the gods assist win for themselves great power and a great name; they were well aware that the gods had attended Rome's origin and that valour would not be wanting; therefore they should not, as men, be reluctant to mingle their blood and stock with fellow men.
§1.9.5nusquam benigne legatio audita est; adeo simul spernebant, simul tantam in medio crescentem molem sibi ac posteris suis metuebant. a plerisque rogitantibus dimissi, ecquod feminis quoque asylum aperuissent; id enim demum conpar conubium fore.
Nowhere was the embassy heard favorably; to such a degree did they at once despise them, and at the same time fear for themselves and their descendants so great a power growing in their midst. By most they were dismissed with the question whether they had opened an asylum for women as well; for that, indeed, would be an equal marriage. Nowhere was the embassy heard favorably; to such a degree did they at once despise them, and at the same time fear for themselves and their descendants so great a power growing in their midst. By most they were dismissed with the question whether they had opened an asylum for women as well; for that, indeed, would be an equal marriage.
§1.9.6aegre id Romana pubes passa, et haud dubie ad vim spectare res coepit. cui tempus locumque aptum ut daret Romulus aegritudinem animi dissimulans ludos ex industria parat Neptuno equestri sollemnis; Consualia vocat.
The Roman youth took this with indignation, and without doubt the matter began to look toward violence. In order to give a fit time and place for this, Romulus, dissembling his resentment of mind, purposely prepared solemn games in honor of Neptune of the Horse; he called them the Consualia. The Roman youth took this with indignation, and without doubt the matter began to look toward violence. In order to give a fit time and place for this, Romulus, dissembling his resentment of mind, purposely prepared solemn games in honor of Neptune of the Horse; he called them the Consualia.
§1.9.7indici deinde finitimis spectaculum iubet, quantoque apparatu tum sciebant aut poterant, concelebrant, ut rem claram expectatamque facerent. multi mortales convenere,
He then ordered the spectacle to be announced to the neighbors, and they celebrated it with as much preparation as they then knew or were able to make, so that they might make the matter famous and expected. Many mortals assembled,
§1.9.8studio etiam videndae novae urbis, maxime proximi quique, Caeninenses, Crustumini, Antemnates; §1.9.9iam Sabinorum omnis multitudo cum liberis ac coniugibus venit.
Many people gathered, also out of eagerness to see the new city, especially those who lived nearest — the men of Caenina, Crustumium, and Antemnae; by now the whole multitude of the Sabines had come, with their children and wives.
invitati hospitaliter per domos cum situm moeniaque et frequentem tectis urbem vidissent, mirantur tam brevi rem Romanam crevisse.
Invited hospitably throughout the houses, when they had seen the layout and the walls and the city crowded with roofs, they wondered that the Roman state had grown so much in so short a time.
§1.9.10ubi spectaculi tempus venit deditaeque eo mentes cum oculis erant, tum ex composito orta vis, signoque dato iuventus Romana ad rapiendas virgines discurrit.
When the time of the spectacle came, and their minds with their eyes were devoted to it, then according to the agreement violence arose, and at a given signal the Roman youth ran in different directions to carry off the maidens.
§1.9.11magna pars forte, in quem quaeque inciderat, raptae; quasdam forma excellentes primoribus patrum destinatas ex plebe homines, quibus datum negotium erat, domos deferebant;
A great number were seized at random, as each man chanced upon them; some of outstanding beauty, marked out for the leading senators, were carried off to their houses by commoners who had been assigned that task.
§1.9.12unam longe ante alias specie ac pulchritudine insignem a globo Talassii cuiusdam raptam ferunt, multisque sciscitantibus, cuinam eam ferrent, identidem, ne quis violaret, Talassio ferri clamitatum; inde nuptialem hanc vocem factam.
They say that one, far surpassing the others in appearance and beauty, was carried off by the group of a certain Talassius, and when many inquired for whom they were carrying her, it was repeatedly cried out, lest anyone should violate her, that she was being carried to Talassius; hence this nuptial cry was established.
§1.9.13turbato per metum ludicro maesti parentes virginum profugiunt, incusantes violati hospitii scelus deumque invocantes, cuius ad sollemne ludosque per fas ac fidem decepti venissent.
The spectacle having been thrown into confusion by fear, the sorrowing parents of the maidens fled, crying out against the crime of violated hospitality and invoking the god to whose solemn rites and games they had come, deceived through sacred law and good faith.
§1.9.14nec raptis aut spes de se melior aut indignatio est minor.
Nor among the women who had been carried off was there either a better hope for themselves or a lesser indignation.
sed ipse Romulus circumibat docebatque patrum id superbia factum, qui conubium finitimis negassent; illas tamen in matrimonio, in societate fortunarum omnium civitatisque et, quo nihil carius humano generi sit, liberum fore;
But Romulus himself went round and explained that this had been done through the arrogance of their fathers, who had refused intermarriage to their neighbours; yet they would live in lawful wedlock, sharing in all their fortunes and in the citizenship and — than which nothing is dearer to humankind — in their children, if only they would soften their anger and give their hearts to those to whom fortune had given their bodies.
§1.9.15mollirent modo iras et, quibus fors corpora dedisset, darent animos. saepe ex iniuria postmodum gratiam ortam, eoque melioribus usuras viris, quod adnisurus pro se quisque sit, ut, cum suam uicem functus officio sit, parentium etiam patriaeque expleat desiderium.
Often, he said, from an injury gratitude arose afterwards, and they would find their husbands so much the better because each one would strive for his own part, when he had performed his own duty, to fill also the place of parents and of fatherland.
§1.9.16accedebant blanditiae virorum factum purgantium cupiditate atque amore, quae maxime ad muliebre ingenium efficaces preces sunt.
To this were added the blandishments of the men, excusing their deed by desire and love, which are prayers most effective with the feminine nature.