13.  What was this stratagem, and how was its perpetrator rewarded?

14.  Did the possession of the Capitoline put an end to the war?

15.  What put a stop to this sanguinary conflict?

16.  What were the terms of accommodation?

17.  Was this joint sovereignty of long continuance?

18.  Was Romulus successful in military affairs?

19.  What was the consequence?

20.  What was the manner of his death?

FOOTNOTES: 

[1] This symbol of authority was borrowed from his neighbours, the Istrurians.

[2] More properly in honour of Con’sus, a deity of Sabine origin, whom the Romans, in a later age, confounded with Neptune. (See Keightley’s Mythology.)

[3] A town of Latium, near Rome. (Livy.)

[4] A city of the Sabines, between Rome and the Anio, from whence its name,—­Ante Amnem. (Dionys.  Hal.)

[5] A town of Etruria, near Veii. (Virg.)

* * * * *

CHAPTER III.

FROM THE DEATH OF ROMULUS TO THE DEATH OF NUMA POMPILIUS, THE SECOND KING OF ROME.—­U.C. 38.

  When pious Numa reigned, Bellona’s voice
    No longer called the Roman youth to arms;
  In peaceful arts he bid her sons rejoice,
    And tranquil live, secure from war’s alarms.—­Brooke.

1.  Upon the death of Rom’ulus, the city seemed greatly divided in the choice of a successor.  The Sab’ines were for having a king chosen from their body; but the Romans could not endure the thoughts of advancing a stranger to the throne.  In this perplexity, the senators undertook to supply the place of the king, by taking the government each of them in turn, for five days, and during that time enjoying all the honours and all the privileges of royalty. 2.  This new form of government continued for a year; but the plebeians, who saw this method of transferring power was only multiplying their masters, insisted upon altering that mode of government.  The senate being thus driven to an election, at length pitched upon Nu’ma Pompil’ius, a Sab’ine, and their choice was received with universal approbation by the people.[1]

3.  Nu’ma Pompil’ius, who was now about forty, had long been eminent for his piety, his justice, his moderation, and exemplary life.  He was skilled in all the learning and philosophy of the Sab’ines, and lived at home at Cu’res,[2] contented with a private fortune; unambitious of higher honours.  It was not, therefore, without reluctance, that he accepted the dignity; which, when he did so, produced such joy, that the people seemed not so much to receive a king as a kingdom.