And afterward, being now come to full strength, they
were not content to slay wild beasts only, but would
assail troops of robbers, as these were returning
laden with their booty, and would divide the spoils
among the shepherds. Now there was held in those
days, on the hill that is now called the Palatine,
a yearly festival to the god Pan. This festival
King Evander first ordained, having come from Arcadia,
in which land, being a land of shepherds, Pan, that
is the god of shepherds, is greatly honored.
And when the young men and their company (for they
had gathered a great company of shepherds about them,
and led them in all matters both of business and of
sport) were busy with the festival, there came upon
them certain robbers that had made an ambush in the
place, being very wroth by reason of the booty which
they had lost. These laid hands on Remus, but
Romulus they could not take, so fiercely did he fight
against them. Remus, therefore, they delivered
up to King Amulius, accusing him of many things, and
chiefly of this, that he and his companions had invaded
the land of Numitor, dealing with them in the fashion
of an enemy and carrying off much spoil. To Numitor,
therefore, did the king deliver Remus, that he might
put him to death. Now Faustulus had believed from
the beginning that the children were of the royal
house, for he knew that the babes had been cast into
the river by the king’s command, and the time
also of his finding them agreed thereto. Nevertheless
he had not judged it expedient to open the matter
before due time, but waited till occasion or necessity
should arise. But now, there being such necessity,
he opened the matter to Romulus. Numitor also,
when he had the young man Remus in his custody, knowing
that he and his brother were twins, and that the time
agreed, and seeing that they were of a high spirit,
bethought him of his grandsons; and, indeed, having
asked many questions of Remus, was come nigh to knowing
of what race he was. And now also Romulus was
ready to help his brother. To come openly with
his whole company he dared not, for he was not a match
for the power of King Amulius; but he bade sundry shepherds
make their way to the palace, each as best he could,
appointing to them a time at which they should meet.
And now came Remus also, with a troop of youths gathered
together from the household of Numitor. Then did
Romulus and Remus slay King Amulius. In the meanwhile
Numitor gathered the youth of Alba to the citadel,
crying out that they must make the place safe, for
that the enemy was upon them; but when he perceived
that the young men had done the deed, forthwith he
called an assembly of the citizens, and set forth
to them the wickedness which his brother had wrought
against him, and how his grandsons had been born and
bred and made known to him, and then, in order, how
the tyrant had been slain, himself having counseled
the deed. When he had so spoken the young men
came with their company into the midst of the assembly,
and saluted him as king; to which thing the whole
multitude agreeing with one consent, Numitor was established
upon the throne.