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discord； there being no person on whom both parties could accord but
on himself。 And； at length； his father and Marcius； taking him
aside； persuaded him to accept a gift so noble in itself； and tendered
to him rather from heaven than from men。 〃Though；〃 said they； 〃you
neither desire riches； being content with what you have； nor court the
fame of authority； as having already the more valuable fame of virtue；
yet you will consider that government itself is a service of God；
who now calls out into action your qualities of justice and wisdom；
which were not meant to be left useless and unemployed。 Cease；
therefore； to avoid and turn your back upon an office which； to a wise
man； is a field for great and honourable actions； for the
magnificent worship of the gods； and for the introduction of habits of
piety； which authority alone can effect amongst a people。 Tatius；
though a foreigner； was beloved； and the memory of Romulus has
received divine honours； and who knows but that this people； being
victorious； may be satiated with war； and； content with the trophies
and spoils they have acquired； may be； above all things； desirous to
have a pacific and justice…loving prince to lead them to good order
and quiet？ But if； indeed； their desires are uncontrollably and
madly set on war； were it not better； then； to have the reins held
by such a moderating hand as is able to divert the fury another way；
and that your native city and the whole Sabine nation should possess
in you a bond of goodwill and friendship with this young and growing
power？〃
With these reasons and persuasions several auspicious omens are said
to have concurred； and the zeal； also； of his fellow…citizens； who； on
understanding what message the Roman ambassadors had brought him；
entreated him to accompany them； and to accept the kingdom as a
means to unanimity and concord between the nations。
Numa； yielding to these inducements； having first performed divine
sacrifice； proceeded to Rome； being met in his way by the senate and
people； who； with an impatient desire； came forth to receive him；
the women； also； welcomed him with joyful acclamations； and sacrifices
were offered for him in all the temples； and so universal was the joy；
that they seemed to be receiving； not a new king； but a new kingdom。
In this manner he descended into the forum； where Spurius Vettius；
whose turn it was to be interrex at that hour； put it to the vote； and
all declared him king。 Then the regalities and robes of authority were
brought to him； but he refused to be invested with them until he had
first consulted and been confirmed by the gods； so being accompanied
by the priests and augurs； he ascended the Capitol； which at that time
the Romans called the Tarpeian Hill。 Then the chief of the augurs
covered Numa's head； and turned his face towards the south； and；
standing behind him； laid his right hand on his head； and prayed；
turning his eyes every way； in expectation of some auspicious signal
from the gods。 It was wonderful； meantime； with what silence and
devotion the multitude stood assembled in the forum； in similar
expectation and suspense； till auspicious birds appeared and passed on
the right。 Then Numa； apparelling himself in his royal robes；
descended from the hill to the people； by whom he was received and
congratulated with shouts and acclamations of welcome； as a holy king；
and beloved of all the gods。
The first thing he did at his entrance into government was to
dismiss the band of three hundred men which had been Romulus's
life…guard； called by him Celeres； saying that he would not distrust
those who put confidence in him； nor rule over a people that
distrusted him。 The next thing he did was to add to the two priests of
Jupiter and Mars a third； in honour of Romulus； whom he called the
Flamen Quirinalis。 The Romans anciently called their priests Flamines；
by corruption of the word Pilamines； from a certain cap which they
wore； called Pileus。 In those times Greek words were more mixed with
the Latin than at present； thus also the royal robe； which is
called； Laena； Juba says； is the same as the Greek Chlaena； and that
the name of Camillus； given to the boy with both his parents living；
who serves in the temple of Jupiter； was taken from the name given
by some Greeks to Mercury； denoting his office of attendance on the
gods。
When Numa had； by such measures； won the favour and affection of the
people； he set himself without delay to the task of bringing the
hard and iron Roman temper to somewhat more of gentleness and
equity。 Plato's expression of a city in high fever was never more
applicable than to Rome at that time； in its origin formed by daring
and warlike spirits； whom bold and desperate adventure brought thither
from every quarter； it had found in perpetual wars and incursions on
its neighbours its after sustenance and means of growth； and in
conflict with danger the source of new strength； like piles； which the
blows of the hammer serve to fix into the ground。 Wherefore Numa；
judging it no slight undertaking to mollify and bend to peace the
presumptuous and stubborn spirits of this people； began to operate
upon them with the sanctions of religion。 He sacrificed often and used
processions and religious dances； in which most commonly he officiated
in person； by such combinations of solemnity with refined and
humanizing pleasures； seeking to win over and mitigate their fiery and
warlike tempers。 At times； also； he filled their imaginations with
religious terrors； professing that strange apparitions had been
seen； and dreadful voices heard； thus subduing and humbling their
minds by a sense of supernatural fears。
This method which Numa used made it believed that he had been much
conversant with Pythagoras； for in the philosophy of the one； as in
the policy of the other； man's relations to the deity occupy a great
place。 It is said； also； that the solemnity of his exterior garb and
gestures was adopted by him from the same feeling with Pythagoras。 For
it is said of Pythagoras； that he had taught an eagle to come at his
call； and stoop down to him in his flight； and that； as he passed
among the people assembled at the Olympic games； he showed them his
golden thigh； besides many other strange and miraculous seeming
practices； on which Timon the Philasian wrote the distich…
〃Who； of the glory of a juggler proud；
With solemn talk imposed upon the crowd。〃
In like manner Numa spoke of a certain goddess or mountain nymph
that was in love with him； and met him in secret； as before related；
and professed that he entertained familiar conversation with the
Muses； to whose teaching he ascribed the greatest part of his
revelations； and amongst them； above all； he recommended to the
veneration of the Romans one in particular； whom he named Tacita；
the silent； which he did perhaps in imitation and honour of the
Pythagorean silence。 His opinion； also； of images is very agreeable to
the doctrine of Pythagoras； who conceived of the first principle of
being as transcending sense and passion； invisible and incorrupt；
and only to be apprehended by abstract intelligence。