They came, for the king had asked them, but, as they expected, the food was plain, the plates were of earthenware, and water was served in bottles of stone.
But no sooner had the guests seated themselves at the table than behold! as if by magic, the plain food was changed into the choicest viands, the water became the richest wine, while the earthenware dishes disappeared, and in their place stood plates of silver and of gold.
The guests were startled, yet it pleased them well that the gods should show such favour to their king, for they never doubted that it was thus the gods treated those who honoured them.
Henceforth the people grumbled less, and were more ready to obey their sovereign.
Numa Pompilius ruled for forty-three years, caring, during his long reign, for the welfare of his people.
Even the enemies of Rome did not venture to disturb this good and gentle king. So, while he ruled, the weapons of war were laid aside. The gates of the temple of Janus, too, which were only opened in time of war, remained closed during the reign of Numa Pompilius.
It seemed that the gods did indeed show goodwill to this pious king, for neither sickness nor famine troubled the country as long as he sat upon the throne, and the Romans prospered in all that they undertook.
When he was eighty years of age Numa Pompilius passed away in a death as peaceful as his life.
The Romans mourned his loss, for he had been to them father as well as king.
Quietly they laid his body to rest, beyond the Tiber, on the hill Janiculum which looks toward the west.