Romulus and Remus

Many writers have told the story of the twins. Gustavo Brigante Colonna, made a beautiful tale of it. In fact he tells that near the Tiber banks, an old shepherd and his wife Faustolo and Laurenzia, lived in a poor shed.

One evening atired Faustolo was sitting near the shed door and Laurenzia was preparing a frugal meal. Suddenly they heard a rustle coming from the woods. Near the river a dark shadow slid down the bank.
Faustolo decided to go and see what had happened. He told his wife to wait for him. He moved forward with caution, because the ground near the river was full of puddles because of the recent rains. In one of these puddles at the foot of a tree, Faustolo saw a big she-wolf lying down on one side with two children sucking her milk.
He thought he was dreaming. He went back to the shed and told his astonished wife about the she-wolf and the twins, and then he took her to the river. Some time later the two children, were sleeping in Faustolo and Laurenzias warm shed. Here they grew up and became two strong boys, a little savage but good boys. Faustolo called them Romulus and Remus; they respected him as a father. Everyday they went farther and farther from the shed to seek adventure......

This is the tale of the writer.

The legend instead says that onceRomulus and Remus had grown up, they learned their story and decided to go back to Albalonga. Here they punished the cruel Amulio and set free their grandfather. They left Albalonga and went back to the Tiber banks where they had grown up. Here they founded a new town.
But who would decide the name?
They decided to watch the flight of the birds: the first who had seen the greatest number of birds would have given the name to the town. Romolo was luckier, and he took a plough and marked out about the town's perimeter on the Palatine Hill. He called it Roma (Rome). It was April 21st, 753 years before Christ.
The foundation of the new town marked the end of Remus. It had been decided that no-one could pass the boundary without permission of Romulus. But Remus for envy or in fun, jumped over it and laughing said:- Look! Its so easy!-
Romulus full of wrath, flung himself on Remus, took up a sword and killed him, shouting that anyone who had insulted the name of Rome was to die.
Romulus, ruled the town wisely. One day during a storm, he disappeared, carried off by the god Mars.



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