the
orders given by the king, were spared.

30. In the mean time Rome increases by the demolition of Alba. The
number of citizens is doubled. The Coelian mount is added to the city,
and in order that it might be inhabited more populously, Tullus selects
that situation for his palace and there took up his abode. The leading
persons among the Albans he enrols among the patricians, that that
branch of the state also might increase, the Julii, Servilii, Quinctii,
Geganii, Curiatii, Cloelii; and as a consecrated place of meeting for
the order augmented by him he built a senate-house, which was called
Hostilia even down to the age of our fathers. And that every rank might
acquire some additional strength from the new people, he formed ten
troops of horsemen from among the Albans: he likewise recruited the old,
and raised new legions from the same source. Confiding in this increase
of strength, Tullus declares war against the Sabines, a nation at that
time the most powerful, next to the Etrurians, in men and in arms.
Injuries had been done on both sides, and restitution demanded in vain.
Tullus complained that some Roman merchants had been seized in an open
market near the temple of Feronia; the Sabines, that some of their
people had taken refuge in the asylum, and were detained at Rome. These
were assigned as the causes of the war. The Sabines, holding in
recollection both that a portion of their strength had been fixed at
Rome by Tatius, and that the Roman power had also been lately increased
by the accession of the Alban people, began, on their part, to look
around for foreign aid. Etruria was in their neighbourhood; of the
Etrurians the Veientes were the nearest. From thence they drew some
volunteers, their minds being stirred up to a revolt, chiefly in
consequence of the rankling animosities from (former) wars. And pay also
had its weight with some stragglers belonging to the indigent
population. They were assisted by no aid from the government, and the
faith of the truce stipulated with Romulus was strictly observed by the
Veientes (for with respect to the others it is less surprising). While
they were preparing for war with the utmost vigour, and the matter
seemed to turn on this, which should first commence hostilities, Tullus
first passes into the Sabine territory. A desperate battle ensued at the
wood called Malitiosa,[47] in which the Roman army was far superior,
both by the strength of their foot, and also by the r