Ab urbe condita

Titus Livius (Livy)

Livy. History of Rome, Volumes 1-2. Roberts, Canon, Rev, translator. London, New York: J. M. Dent and Sons; E. P. Dutton and Co., 1912.

Even Romulus was being swept away by the crowd of fugitives, and lifting up his hands to heaven he exclaimed: “ Jupiter, it was thy omen that I obeyed when I laid here on the Palatine the earliest foundations of the City. Now the Sabines hold its citadel, having bought it by a bribe, and coming thence have seized the valley and are pressing hitherwards in battle.

Do thou, Father of gods and men, drive hence our foes, banish terror from Roman hearts, and stay our shameful flight!