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philosophy； means which had not only succeeded in expelling the
baser passions； but also the violent and rapacious temper which
barbarians are apt to think highly of； true bravery； in his
judgment； was regarded as consisting in the subjugation of our
passions by reason。
He banished all luxury and softness from his own home； and while
citizens alike and strangers found in him an incorruptible judge and
counsellor； in private he devoted himself not to amusement or lucre；
but to the worship of the immortal gods； and rational contemplation of
their divine power and nature。 So famous was he； that Tatius； the
colleague of Romulus； chose him for his son…in…law； and gave him his
only daughter； which； however； did not stimulate his vanity to
desire to dwell with his father…in…law at Rome； he rather chose to
inhabit with his Sabines； and cherish his own father in his old age；
and Tatia； also； preferred the private conditions of her husband
before the honours and splendour she might have enjoyed with her
father。 She is said to have died after she had been married thirteen
years； and then Numa； leaving the conversation of the town； betook
himself to a country life； and in a solitary manner frequented the
groves and fields consecrated to the gods； passing his life in
desert places。 And this in particular gave occasion to the story about
the goddess； namely； that Numa did not retire from human society out
of any melancholy or disorder of mind； but because he had tasted the
joys of more elevated intercourse； and； admitted to celestial
wedlock in the love and converse of the goddess Egeria； had attained
to blessedness； and to a divine wisdom。
The story evidently resembles those very ancient fables which the
Phrygians have received and still recount of Attis； the Bithynians
of Herodotus； the Arcadians of Endymion； not to mention several others
who were thought blessed and beloved of the gods； nor does it seem
strange if God； a lover； not of horses or birds； but men； should not
disdain to dwell with the virtuous and converse with the wise and
temperate soul； though it be altogether hard； indeed； to believe； that
any god or daemon is capable of a sensual or bodily love and passion
for any human form or beauty。 Though； indeed； the wise Egyptians do
not plausibly make the distinction； that it may be possible for a
divine spirit so to apply itself to the nature of a woman； as to
imbreed in her the first beginnings of generation； while on the
other side they conclude it impossible for the male kind to have any
intercourse or mixture by the body with any divinity； not considering；
however； that what takes place on the one side must also take place on
the other； intermixture； by force of terms； is reciprocal。 Not that it
is otherwise than befitting to suppose that the gods feel towards
men affection； and love； in the sense of affection； and in the form of
care and solicitude for their virtue and their good dispositions。 And；
therefore； it was no error of those who feigned； that Phorbas；
Hyacinthus； and Admetus were beloved by Apollo； or that Hippolytus the
Sicyonian was so much in his favour； that； as often as he sailed
from Sicyon to Cirrha； the Pythian prophetess uttered this heroic
verse expressive of the god's attention and joy：
〃Now doth Hippolytus return again；
And venture his dear life upon the main。〃
It is reported； also； that Pan became enamoured of Pindar for his
verses； and the divine power rendered honour to Hesiod and Archilochus
after their death for the sake of the Muses； there is a statement；
also； that Aesculapius sojourned with Sophocles in his lifetime； of
which many proofs still exist； and that； when he was dead； another
deity took care for his funeral rites。 And so if any credit may be
given to these instances； why should we judge it incongruous； that a
like spirit of the gods should visit Zaleucus； Minos； Zoroaster；
Lycurgus； and Numa； the controllers of kingdoms； and the legislators
for commonwealths？ Nay； it may be reasonable to believe； that the
gods； with a serious purpose； assist at the councils and serious
debates of such men； to inspire and direct them； and visit poets and
musicians； if at all in their more sportive moods； but for
difference of opinion here； as Bacchylides said； 〃the road is
broad。〃 For there is no absurdity in the account also given； that
Lycurgus and Numa； and other famous lawgivers； having the task of
subduing perverse and refractory multitudes； and of introducing
great innovations； themselves made this pretension to divine
authority； which； if not true； assuredly was expedient for the
interests of those it imposed upon。
Numa was about forty years of age when the ambassadors came to
make him offers of the kingdom； the speakers were Proculus and
Velesus； one or other of whom it had been thought the people would
elect as their new king； the original Romans being for Proculus； and
the Sabines for Velesus。 Their speech was very short； supposing
that； when they came to tender a kingdom； there needed little to
persuade to an acceptance； but； contrary to their expectations； they
found that they had to use many reasons and entreaties to induce
one； that lived in peace and quietness； to accept the government of
a city whose foundation and increase had been made； in a manner； in
war。 In presence of his father and his kinsman Marcius he returned
answer that 〃Every alteration of a man's life is dangerous to him； but
madness only could induce one who needs nothing； and is satisfied with
everything； to quit a life he is accustomed to； which； whatever else
it is deficient in； at any rate has the advantage of certainty over
one wholly doubtful and unknown。 Though； indeed； the difficulties of
this government cannot even be called unknown； Romulus； who first held
it； did not escape the suspicion of having plotted against the life of
his colleague Tatius； nor the senate the like accusation； of having
treasonably murdered Romulus。 Yet Romulus had the advantage to be
thought divinely born and miraculously preserved and nurtured。 My
birth was mortal； I was reared and instructed by men that are known to
you。 The very points of my character that are most commended mark me
as unfit to reign； love of retirement and of studies inconsistent with
business； a passion that has become inveterate in me for peace； for
unwarlike occupations； and for the society of men whose meetings are
but those of worship and of kindly intercourse； whose lives in general
are spent upon their farms and their pastures。 I should but be；
methinks； a laughingstock； while I should go about to inculcate the
worship of the gods and give lessons in the love of justice and the
abhorrence of violence and war； to a city whose needs are rather for a
captain than for a king。〃
The Romans； perceiving by these words that he was declining to
accept the kingdom； were the more instant and urgent with him that
he would not forsake and desert them in this condition； and suffer
them to relapse； as they must； into their former sedition and civil
discord； there being no person on whom both parties could accord but
on himself。 And； at length； h