57. The Founding of Rome

Fearing their ambition

Two boys of godly birth

Were abandoned in the woods

By Latium’s murderous king.

Found and cared for by a mother wolf

Growing into humble shepherds

Who competed with those of Latium.

Their identity was found

The king deposed

But rejected rule

For lives as subjects to their grandfather.

For a while it was good

But then their fate beckoned

They left

Wanting a city of their own.

They found a place with seven hills

An argument arose

About where the city should go.

Picking two hills,

Both worshiping

Asking for a sign.

Signs came for them

But disagreement arose.

They started to settle.

The Roman on Palatine,

His brother on Aventine.

The brother criticized the Roman’s wall

Leaping over it.

He was killed by the words of the Roman,

“So perish every one that shall hereafter leap over my wall."

With his brother gone,

He continued his building

Regretting what he had done, the Roman honored his brother

With a proper grave.