Non-Hellenic Portion of the Latin Language. 503 
ean be given, because ZENopotus of Troezene, a writer quoted 
by Dionysius of Halicarnassus, as the author of a History of 
the Umbri, and who must be supposed to have examined into 
the subject, expressly asserts that the Sabini were originally 
Umbrians. These are his words,—“ The Sabines, who are indi- 
genous, inhabited first the Reatine District, but being driven 
thence by the Pelasgi, entered that country which they still in- 
habit, and having changed their name together with their situa- 
tion, were called Sabini instead of Umbri.” ' 
To connect the Sabini with the original population of Rome 
is an easy task. Whatever was the origin of Alba, the supposed 
metropolis of Rome, its blood could not have entered largely into 
the veins of the Roman people. According to the national tra- 
dition, the first occupiers of the strongholds which became the 
site of Rome were a half-pastoral, half-bandit race, composed pro- 
bably of the broken men of many a tribe; but according to the 
same tradition, the mothers of the second generation of Rome 
were all Sabines. This would make all the children half Sabine 
in blood, and far more so in language and feeling. When to this 
we add that the same tradition assigns to the young state a new 
settlement, which brings King Trius and his countrymen into 
the city in equal numbers, and with equal privileges, the portion 
of Roman bleod, not Sabine, is reduced to one-fourth at least. 
Moreover, had not. the habits, laws, and institutions been essen- 
tially Sabine in the early ages of the Republic, the creation of a 
Sabine legislator in the person of Numa, the citizen of the Sa- 
bellian Cures, would never have been invented, much less tole- 
rated. And had not the mass of the population been decidedly 
Sabine in its inclinations, the State would not, after the losses 
1 Lib. 11. p. 49.—Znvodclog de TeoiSnwos, ovyleapevs OwPernov ebvods, aubiyevecis ioroger ro (Lev 
TQUITOY O1ANOU TERI TY LULAoU[LEVAY Pecilny, exibev toro TleAnoyaw ekeradevrac, eg raurny apinecboas 
Hy nv evdoe vv o1xooveW, ou pElaParovlas ape Tw roy TovvoLMe SaBivous c OuPgimwy aeoccyogev- 
Onveus. 
