The attention of the whole people having been thus diverted from violence and arms to the deliberation and adjustment of these matters, both their minds were engaged in some occupation, and the watchfulness of the gods now constantly impressed upon them, as the deity of heaven seemed to interest itself in human concerns, had filled the breasts of all with such piety, that faith and religious obligations governed the state, the dread of laws and punishments being regarded as secondary.  And while the people of their own accord were forming themselves on the model of the king, as the most excellent example, the neighbouring states also, who had formerly thought that it was a camp, not a city, that had been established in their midst to disturb the general peace, were brought to feel such respect for them that they considered it impious to molest a state, wholly occupied in the worship of the gods.  There was a grove, the middle of which was irrigated by a spring of running water, flowing from a dark grotto.  As Numa often repaired thither unattended, under pretence of meeting the goddess, he dedicated the grove to the Camenae, because, as he asserted, their meetings with his wife Egeria were held there.  He also instituted a yearly festival to Faith alone, and commanded her priests to be driven to the chapel erected for the purpose in an arched chariot drawn by two horses, and to perform the divine service with their hands wrapped up to the fingers, intimating that Faith ought to be protected, and that even her seat in men’s right hands was sacred.  He instituted many other sacred rites, and dedicated places for performing them, which the priests call Argei.  But the greatest of all his works was the maintenance of peace during the whole period of his reign, no less than of his royal power.  Thus two kings in succession, by different methods, the one by war, the other by peace, aggrandized the state.  Romulus reigned thirty-seven years, Numa forty-three:  the state was both strong and attempered by the arts both of war and peace.

Upon the death of Numa, the administration returned again to an interregnum.  After that the people appointed as King Tullus Hostilius, the grandson of that Hostilius who had made the noble stand against the Sabines at the foot of the citadel:  the fathers confirmed the choice.  He was not only unlike the preceding king, but even of a more warlike disposition than Romulus.  Both his youth and strength, and, further, the renown of his grandfather, stimulated his ambition.  Thinking therefore that the state was deteriorating through ease, he everywhere sought for an opportunity of stirring up war.  It so happened that some Roman and Alban peasants mutually plundered each other’s lands.  Gaius Cluilius at that time was in power at Alba.  From both sides ambassadors were sent almost at the same time, to demand satisfaction.  Tullus had ordered his representatives to attend to their instructions before anything else.  He knew well that the Alban would