In the meanwhile the parents of them that had been carried off put on sackcloth, and went about through the cities crying out for vengeance upon the Romans.  And chiefly they sought for help from Titus Tatius, that was king of the Sabines in those days, and of great power and renown.  But when the Sabines seemed to be tardy in the matter, the men of Caere first gathered together their army and marched into the country of the Romans.  Against these King Romulus led forth his men and put them to flight without much ado, having first slain their king with his own hand.  Then, after returning to Rome, he carried the arms which he had taken from the body of the king to the hill of the Capitol, and laid them down at the shepherds’ oak that stood thereon in those days.  And when he had measured out the length and breadth of a temple that he would build to Jupiter upon the hill, he said, “O Jupiter, I, King Romulus, offer to thee these arms of a king, and dedicate therewith a temple in this place, in which temple they that come after me shall offer to thee like spoils in like manner, when it shall chance that the leader of our host shall himself slay with his own hands the leader of the host of the enemy.”  And this was the first temple that was dedicated in Rome.  And in all the time to come two only offered in this manner, to wit, Cornelius Cossus that slew Lars Tolumnius, king of Veii, and Claudius Marcellus that slew Britomarus, king of the Gauls.

After this, King Tatius and the Sabines came up against Rome with a great army.  And first of all they gained the citadel by treachery in this manner.  One Tarpeius was governor of the citadel, whose daughter, Tarpeia by name, going forth from the walls to fetch water for a sacrifice, took money from the king that she should receive certain of the soldiers within the citadel; but when they had been so received, the men cast their shields upon her, slaying her with the weight of them.  This they did either that they might be thought to have taken the place by force, or that they judged it to be well that no faith should be kept with traitors.  Some also tell this tale, that the Sabines wore great bracelets of gold on their left arms, and on their left hands fair rings with precious stones therein, and that when the maiden covenanted with them that she should have for a reward that which they carried in their left hands, they cast their shields upon her.  And others say that she asked for their shields having the purpose to betray them, and for this cause was slain.

Thus the Sabines had possession of the citadel; and the next day King Romulus set the battle in array on the plain that lay between the hill of the Capitol and the hill of the Palatine.  And first the Romans were very eager to recover the citadel, a certain Hostilius being their leader.  But when this man, fighting in the forefront of the battle, was slain, the Romans turned their backs and fled before the Sabines, even unto the gate of the Palatine.