THE first inhabitants of Romulus’s city were mostly desperate outlaws from outlying states, and no father would give them his daughter in marriage.
So on the advice of his grandfather Numitor, Romulus held a great feast in honour of Neptune, with music and dancing.
As anticipated, young women of the neighbouring Sabine tribe came to it, and when it was in full swing the Roman youths snatched six hundred and eighty-three of their fair guests.
For two years, the Sabines protested at this outrage, until Tatius, their chieftain, came with arms to recover his women. The Sabines fought fiercely, and things might have gone ill for Romulus.
But the women of Rome rushed out of their houses, their hair flying and their children in their arms, crying that they had never been dishonoured, but had married willingly, and begging their Sabine fathers not to slay their Roman husbands.
A peace was agreed, and Romulus and Tatius thereafter reigned together at Rome.
Précis
When Romulus founded Rome it was peopled by outlaws, and no women would dwell with them. So Romulus threw a party to attract the women of the neighbouring Sabines, and snatched them for Roman wives. When the Sabines came to rescue their maidens, the women assured them that they had married willingly, and peace was made. (56 / 60 words)