XIV.  In the fourth month after the city was founded, we are told by Fabius, the reckless deed of carrying off the women took place.  Some say that Romulus himself naturally loved war, and, being persuaded by some prophecies that Rome was fated to grow by wars and so reach the greatest prosperity, attacked the Sabines without provocation; for he did not carry off many maidens, but only thirty, as though it was war that he desired more than wives for his followers.  This is not probable:  Romulus saw that his city was newly-filled with colonists, few of whom had wives, while most of them were a mixed multitude of poor or unknown origin, who were despised by the neighouring states, and expected by them shortly to fall to pieces.  He intended his violence to lead to an alliance with the Sabines, as soon as the damsels became reconciled to their lot, and set about it as follows:  First he circulated a rumour that the altar of some god had been discovered, hidden in the earth.  This god was called Census, either because he was the god of counsel (for the Romans to this day call their assembly Concilium, and their chief magistrates consuls, as it were those who take counsel on behalf of the people), or else it was the equestrian Neptune.  The altar stands in the greater hippodrome, and is kept concealed except during the horse-races, when it is uncovered.  Some say that, as the whole plot was dark and mysterious, it was natural that the god’s altar should be underground.  When it was brought out, he proclaimed a splendid sacrifice in its honour, and games and shows open to all men.  Many people assembled to see them, and Romulus sat among his nobles, dressed in a purple robe.  The signal for the assault was that he should rise, unfold his cloak, and then again wrap it around him.  Many men armed with swords stood round him, and at the signal they drew their swords, rushed forward with a shout, and snatched up the daughters of the Sabines, but allowed the others to escape unharmed.  Some say that only thirty were carried off, from whom the thirty tribes were named, but Valerius of Antium says five hundred and twenty-seven, and Juba six hundred and eighty-three, all maidens.  This is the best apology for Romulus; for they only carried off one married woman, Hersilia, which proved that it was not through insolence or wickedness that they carried them off, but with the intention of forcibly effecting a union between the two races.  Some say that Hersilia married Hostilius, one of the noblest Romans, others that she married Romulus himself, and that he had children by her; one daughter, called Prima from her being the first-born, and one son, whom his father originally named Aollius, because of the assembling of the citizens, but whom they afterwards named Avillius.  This is the story as told by Zenodotus of Troezen, but many contradict it.