THE WOLF OF THE CAPITOL 



Then raigned Procas, who had two sonnes, Numitor and Amulius. 

 And unto Numitor, because he was the elder, he bequeathed by his last will 

 and testament the anncient Icingdome of the Sylvians' line. Howbeit, might 

 prevailed more than either the will of the father, or the reverent regard of the 

 elder brother. For Amulius, having driven out Numitor, reigneth himselfe ; 

 and not herewith content, heapeth one mischiefe upon another. For first he 

 murdered the issue male of his brother : then by making Rhea Sylvia, his 

 brothers daughter a vestall Nun, and that under colour of honour and 

 dignitie, by perpetuall vowed virginitie, he bereft her of all hope of child- 

 bearing. But it was a fatall thing, and (as I thinke) which God would have, 

 that so great a citie should be built for to yield the ground and beginning of 

 that Empire, which next under the gods is most mightie. For behold, the 

 Vestall virgin was by force defloured, and after delivered of two twins : and 

 were it that shce thought so in very deed, or because the name and creditc of 

 a god might carrie away and cloke the fault more cleanely, shee fathered her 

 bastard children upon Mars. But neither god nor man was able to save her- 

 selfe or her children from the Kings crueltie. For the Votarie was com- 

 mitted to close prison, and there kept bound in yrons : as for the babes 

 he commanded they should bee cast into the strcame of the river. But (as 

 God would) by good Imp the Tyber overflowed the banckes, and the standing 

 waters on either side was nothing rough, yet so, as there was no comming to 

 the diepe current or channell of the very river : and they that brought the 

 infants hoped well they might be drowned in anie place of the water, were it 

 never so still and low. So to fulfill after a sort the Kings commandement, 

 they laid the children in the next plash they came to : even where as 

 now standeth the fig-tree Ruminalis, called as they say, Romularis : but 

 all that ground then was nothing but wast desarts and a very wildcrnesse. 

 The report yet gocth, that when the ebbc and shallow water was gone, and 

 had left on drie ground the floting trough or vessel, wherein the babes were 

 put forth, a shee Wolfe from out of the mountaincs thereby, being a thirst, 

 turned towards the childrens crie, and with their [sic] pendant teates so 



