While the Romans were thus engaged in those parts, the army of the Antemnates made a hostile attack upon the Roman territories, seizing the opportunity when they were left unguarded.  Against these in like manner a Roman legion was led out in haste and surprised them while straggling in the country.  Thus the enemy were routed at the first shout and charge:  their town was taken:  Romulus, amid his rejoicings at this double victory, was entreated by his wife Hersilia, in consequence of the importunities of the captured women, to pardon their fathers and admit them to the privileges of citizenship; that the commonwealth could thus be knit together by reconciliation.  The request was readily granted.  After that he set out against the Crustumini, who were beginning hostilities:  in their case, as their courage had been damped by the disasters of others, the struggle was less keen.  Colonies were sent to both places:  more, however, were found to give in their names for Crustuminum, because of the fertility of the soil.  Great numbers also migrated from thence to Rome, chiefly of the parents and relatives of the women who had been carried off.

The last war broke out on the part of the Sabines, and this was by far the most formidable:  for nothing was done under the influence of anger or covetousness, nor did they give indications of hostilities before they had actually begun them.  Cunning also was combined with prudence.  Spurius Tarpeius was in command of the Roman citadel:  his maiden daughter, who at the time had gone by chance outside the walls to fetch water for sacrifice, was bribed by Tatius, to admit some armed soldiers into the citadel.  After they were admitted, they crushed her to death by heaping their arms upon her:  either that the citadel might rather appear to have been taken by storm, or for the sake of setting forth a warning, that faith should never on any occasion be kept with a betrayer.  The following addition is made to the story:  that, as the Sabines usually wore golden bracelets of great weight on their left arm and rings of great beauty set with precious stones, she bargained with them for what they had on their left hands; and that therefore shields were heaped upon her instead of presents of gold.  Some say that, in accordance with the agreement that they should deliver up what was on their left hands, she expressly demanded their shields, and that, as she seemed to be acting treacherously, she herself was slain by the reward she had chosen for herself.

Be that as it may, the Sabines held the citadel, and on the next day, when the Roman army, drawn up in order of battle, had occupied all the valley between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, they did not descend from thence into the plain until the Romans, stimulated by resentment and the desire of recovering the citadel, advanced up hill to meet them.  The chiefs on both sides encouraged the fight, on the side of the Sabines Mettius Curtius, on the side of the Romans