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not twelve months； plainly appears by the name of the last；
December； meaning the tenth month； and that March was the first is
likewise evident； for the fifth month after it was called Quintilis；
and the sixth Sextilis； and so the rest； whereas； if January and
February had； in this account； preceded March； Quintilis would have
been fifth in name and seventh in reckoning。 It was also natural
that March； dedicated to Mars； should be Romulus's first and April；
named from Venus； or Aphrodite； his second month； in it they sacrifice
to Venus； and the women bathe on the calends； or first day of it； with
myrtle garlands on their heads。 But others； because of its being p and
not ph； will not allow of the derivation of this word from
Aphrodite； but say it is called April from aperio； Latin for to
open； because that this month is high spring； and opens and
discloses the buds and flowers。 The next is called May； from Maia； the
mother of Mercury； to whom it is sacred； then June follows； so
called from Juno； some； however； derive them from the two ages； old
and young； majores； being their name for older； and juniores for
younger men。 To the other months they gave denominations according
to their order； so the fifth was called Quintilis； Sextilis the sixth；
and the rest； September； October； November； and December。 Afterwards
Quintilis received the name of Julius； from Caesar； who defeated
Pompey； as also Sextilis that of Augustus； from the second Caesar； who
had that title。 Domitian； also； in imitation； gave the two other
following months his own names； of Germanicus and Domitianus； but；
on his being slain； they recovered their ancient denominations of
September and October。 The two last are the only ones that have kept
their names throughout without any alteration。 Of the months which
were added or transposed in their order by Numa； February comes from
februa； and is as much a Purification month； in it they make offerings
to the dead； and celebrate the Lupercalia； which； in most points；
resembles a purification。 January was also called from janus； and
precedence given to it by Numa before March； which was dedicated to
the god Mars； because； as I conceive； he wished to take every
opportunity of intimating that the arts and studies of peace are to be
preferred before those of war。 For this Janus； whether in remote
antiquity he were a demigod or a king； was certainly a great lover
of civil and social unity； and one who reclaimed men from brutal and
savage living； for which reason they figure him with two faces； to
represent the two states and conditions out of the one of which he
brought mankind； to lead them into the other。 His temple at Rome has
two gates； which they call the gates of war； because they stand open
in the time of war； and shut in the times of peace； of which latter
there was very seldom an example； for； as the Roman empire was
enlarged and extended； it was so encompassed with barbarous nations
and enemies to be resisted； that it was seldom or never at peace。 Only
in the time of Augustus Caesar； after he had overcome Antony； this
temple was shut； as likewise once before； when Marcus Atilius and
Titus Manlius were consuls； but then it was not long before； wars
breaking out； the gates were again opened。 But； during the reign of
Numa； those gates were never seen open a single day； but continued
constantly shut for a space of forty…three years together； such an
entire and universal cessation of war existed。 For not only had the
people of Rome itself been softened and charmed into a peaceful temper
by the just and mild rule of a pacific prince； but even the
neighbouring cities； as if some salubrious and gentle air had blown
from Rome upon them； began to experience a change of feeling； and
partook in the general longing for the sweets of peace and order；
and for life employed in the quiet tillage of soil； bringing up of
children； and worship of the gods。 Festival days and sports； and the
secure and peaceful interchange of friendly visits and hospitalities
prevailed all through the whole of Italy。 The love of virtue and
justice flowed from Numa's wisdom as from a fountain； and the serenity
of his spirit diffused itself； like a calm； on all sides； so that
the hyperboles of poets were flat and tame to express what then
existed； as that…
〃Over the iron shield the spiders hang their threads；〃
or that…
〃Rust eats the pointed spear and double…edged sword。
No more is heard the trumpet's brazen roar；
Sweet sleep is banished from our eyes no more。〃
For during the whole reign of Numa； there was neither war； nor
sedition； nor innovation in the state； nor any envy or ill…will to his
person； nor plot or conspiracy from views of ambition。 Either fear
of the gods that were thought to watch over him； or reverence for
his virtue； or divine felicity of fortune that in his days preserved
human innocence； made his reign； by whatever means； a living example
and verification of that saying which Plato； long afterwards； ventured
to pronounce； that the sole and only hope of respite or remedy for
human evils was in some happy conjunction of events which should unite
in a single person the power of a king and the wisdom of a
philosopher； so as to elevate virtue to control and mastery over vice。
The wise man is blessed in himself； and blessed also are the
auditors who can bear and receive those words which flow from his
mouth； and perhaps； too； there is no need of compulsion or menaces
to affect the multitude； for the mere sight itself of a shining and
conspicuous example of virtue in the life of their prince will bring
them spontaneously to virtue； and to a conformity with that
blameless and blessed life of good…will and mutual concord；
supported by temperance and justice； which is the highest benefit that
human means can confer； and he is the truest ruler who can best
introduce it into the hearts and practice of his subjects。 It is the
praise of Numa that no one seems ever to have discerned this so
clearly as he。
As to his children and wives； there is a diversity of reports by
several authors； some will have it that he never had any other wife
than Tatia； nor more children than one daughter called Pompilia；
others will have it that he left also four sons； namely； Pompo； Pinus；
Calpus； and Mamercus； every one of whom had issue； and from them
descended the noble and illustrious families of Pomponii； Pinarii；
Calpurnii； and Mamerci； which for this reason took also the surname of
Rex； or King。 But there is a third set of writers who say that these
pedigrees are but a piece of flattery used by writers who； to gain
favour with these great families； made them fictitious genealogies
from the lineage of Numa； and that Pompilia was not the daughter of
Tatia； but Lucretia； another wife whom he married after he came to his
kingdom； however； all of them agree in opinion that she was married to
the son of that Marcius who persuaded him to accept the government；
and accompanied him to Rome； where； as a mark of honour； he was chosen
into the senate； and after the death of Numa； standing in
competition with Tullus Hostilius for