h their booty, and would divide the spoils
among the shepherds. Now there was held in those days, on the hill that is
now called the Palatine, a yearly festival to the god Pan. This festival
King Evander first ordained, having come from Arcadia, in which land,
being a land of shepherds, Pan, that is the god of shepherds, is greatly
honored. And when the young men and their company (for they had gathered a
great company of shepherds about them, and led them in all matters both of
business and of sport) were busy with the festival, there came upon them
certain robbers that had made an ambush in the place, being very wroth by
reason of the booty which they had lost. These laid hands on Remus, but
Romulus they could not take, so fiercely did he fight against them. Remus,
therefore, they delivered up to King Amulius, accusing him of many things,
and chiefly of this, that he and his companions had invaded the land of
Numitor, dealing with them in the fashion of an enemy and carrying off
much spoil. To Numitor, therefore, did the king deliver Remus, that he
might put him to death. Now Faustulus had believed from the beginning that
the children were of the royal house, for he knew that the babes had been
cast into the river by the king's command, and the time also of his
finding them agreed thereto. Nevertheless he had not judged it expedient
to open the matter before due time, but waited till occasion or necessity
should arise. But now, there being such necessity, he opened the matter to
Romulus. Numitor also, when he had the young man Remus in his custody,
knowing that he and his brother were twins, and that the time agreed, and
seeing that they were of a high spirit, bethought him of his grandsons;
and, indeed, having asked many questions of Remus, was come nigh to
knowing of what race he was. And now also Romulus was ready to help his
brother. To come openly with his whole company he dared not, for he was
not a match for the power of King Amulius; but he bade sundry shepherds
make their way to the palace, each as best he could, appointing to them a
time at which they should meet. And now came Remus also, with a troop of
youths gathered together from the household of Numitor. Then did Romulus
and Remus slay King Amulius. In the meanwhile Numitor gathered the youth
of Alba to the citadel, crying out that they must make the place safe, for
that the enemy was upon them; but when he perceived that the young men had
done the deed, f