Now Procas yielding to the fates, his son + 

Mild Numitor succeeded to the crown. + 

But false Amulius, with a lawless power, + 

At length deposed his brother Numitor. + 

Then Ilia’s valiant issue, with the sword, + 

Her parent re-enthroned, the rightful lord. + 

Next Romulus to people Rome contrives; + 

The joyous time of Pales’ feast arrives; + 

He gives the word to seize the Sabine wives. + 

The sires enraged take arms, by Tatius led, + 

Bold to revenge their violated bed. + 

A fort there was, not yet unknown to fame, + 

Call’d the Tarpeian, its commander’s name. + 

This by the false Tarpeia was betray’d, + 

But death well recompensed the treacherous maid. + 

The foe on this new-bought success relies, + 

And, silent, march, the city to surprise. + 

Saturnia’s arts with Sabine arms combine; + 

But Venus countermines the vain design; + 

Entreats the nymphs that o’er the springs preside, + 

Which near the fane of hoary Janus glide, + 

To send their succours; every urn they drain, + 

To stop the Sabines’ progress, but in vain. + 

The Naiads now more stratagems essay, + 

And kindling sulphur to each source convey. + 

The floods ferment, hot exhalations rise, + 

Till from the scalding ford the army flies. + 

Soon Romulus appears in shining arms, + 

And to the war the Roman legions warms: + 

The battle rages, and the field is spread + 

With nothing but the dying and the dead. + 

Both sides consent to treat without delay, + 

And their two chiefs at once the sceptre sway. + 

But Tatius by Lavinian fury slain, + 

Great Romulus continued long to reign. + 