But there were no women among those who fled to the king for protection, and Romulus saw that he would have to find wives for his new subjects.
So he begged the neighbouring tribes, among which was a tribe called the Sabines, to allow their daughters to marry his new subjects. But the king’s request was refused. Give their daughters to robbers and murderers, to men who had been outlawed! The tribes did not hesitate to mock at Romulus for thinking that such a thing could be.
Romulus was not a king to be lightly thwarted. He was determined at any cost to gain wives for his subjects.
So, as his neighbours had proved churlish and refused his request, he made up his mind to capture their daughters by guile, or by a trick, as we would say. Nor did he take long to lay his plans. He invited his neighbours, among whom were the Sabines, to a feast and games which he wished to celebrate in honour of the god Consus.
They, eager to enjoy the feast and the great spectacle of the games, came flocking into Rome on the appointed day, bringing with them their wives and daughters.
Fearlessly they came, and were greeted with great hospitality by the king, who knew that he must hide his anger until his plot had been successful.
The feast began with solemn rites, sacrifices being offered to the gods, and especially to Consus, in whose name the festival was held.
When the sacrifices were ended, the guests mingled carelessly with the Romans, thinking only of the games and races.
The king, seeing that the moment had come, gave the signal for which his people were waiting.
A band of armed men at once rushed in among the guests, and in spite of their screams and struggles, carried away the Sabine maidens.