罗马是怎样建成的（8）（2/2）
《泰西故事30篇》作者：李汉昭 2017-04-10 17:32
othing was heard. At last the dawn appeared, feeble and gray on the hilltops. Then Remus, watching from his lonely post, saw some large birds winging their way toward the woods beyond the Tiber.
“The augurs are for me,” he cried to the shepherds in the valley below him. “I see six vultures flying from the Aventine.”
A few minutes later the clouds rolled away and the rising sun gilded the tree tops with its golden beams. Then the shepherds heard from the summit of the opposite hill the deep-toned voice of Romulus crying—
“The victory belongs to me. I see twelve vultures flying over the Palatine.”
“The augurs decide for Romulus,” said the shepherds. “The town shall be built on the Palatine, and it shall be called Rome in honor of our captain.”
Romulus began at once to lay off the bounds of his little town. A few huts of brush and bark were built for the men. A better one of stones and clay was put up for the brothers. But Remus sulked and complained and tried in every way to hinder the work. “And this is the city of Rome, is it?” he sneered. “What a grand city, indeed!”
“We must have a strong wall around our city,” said Romulus.
At once, with sharpened stakes and wooden spades, the men began the work. The space to be inclosed was not large, and soon a wall of earth and loose stones arose around the new city of Rome. It was but waist high, crooked, and uneven; and it was little wonder that Remus laughed at it.
“What a fine, strong wall it is!” he scornfully cried; and, running forward, he leaped over it at a bound.
But his feet had scarcely touched the ground when an angry shepherd struck him fiercely with a spade. As he fell, speechless and dying, the men crowded to the spot with rough cries and savage exultation.
“Thus perish all who attempt to pass the walls of Rome!” they shouted.
“The augurs are for me,” he cried to the shepherds in the valley below him. “I see six vultures flying from the Aventine.”
A few minutes later the clouds rolled away and the rising sun gilded the tree tops with its golden beams. Then the shepherds heard from the summit of the opposite hill the deep-toned voice of Romulus crying—
“The victory belongs to me. I see twelve vultures flying over the Palatine.”
“The augurs decide for Romulus,” said the shepherds. “The town shall be built on the Palatine, and it shall be called Rome in honor of our captain.”
Romulus began at once to lay off the bounds of his little town. A few huts of brush and bark were built for the men. A better one of stones and clay was put up for the brothers. But Remus sulked and complained and tried in every way to hinder the work. “And this is the city of Rome, is it?” he sneered. “What a grand city, indeed!”
“We must have a strong wall around our city,” said Romulus.
At once, with sharpened stakes and wooden spades, the men began the work. The space to be inclosed was not large, and soon a wall of earth and loose stones arose around the new city of Rome. It was but waist high, crooked, and uneven; and it was little wonder that Remus laughed at it.
“What a fine, strong wall it is!” he scornfully cried; and, running forward, he leaped over it at a bound.
But his feet had scarcely touched the ground when an angry shepherd struck him fiercely with a spade. As he fell, speechless and dying, the men crowded to the spot with rough cries and savage exultation.
“Thus perish all who attempt to pass the walls of Rome!” they shouted.