Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Faustulus, my name, chief herdsman of the king --
To this lonely place a sacrifice I bring; For twenty years ago today,
With hair still quite untouched by grey, When far from home I chanced to stray,
A miracle I saw -- a fabulous thing!
Faustulus, tell us of this wonder that you saw;
For the sake of this audience tell us all once more.
Here on the grass beneath this ancient tree Two tiny baby boys were staring up at me.
I moved towards them, rapt in wonder, Who could be these infants' mother?
In this place there was no other -- No one, not a soul -- as far as I could see.
Faustulus, tell us for those who haven't heard before,
Who was the babies' guardian? Tell us all once more.
Just as I was standing there I heard a sudden sound:
A rustle from the bushes; I quickly turned around;
A wolf I saw, an enormous beast, Eight hands high at the very least!
Eager for a baby feast! And so it seemed to me... that's just what
she had found.
Faustulus, tell us, did the wolf devour the boys?
Or did you scare the beast away with wolf-threatening noise?
Strange to say this she-wolf did not treat them as a meal;
In fact it was a most unlupine trait she did reveal.
She lay beside the infant pair, And suckled them with loving care;
Of me she was quite unaware. I marvelled at this scene -- so magic and
unreal!
Faustulus, tell us, what did the wolf do then? Did she stay there with the boys or go back
to her den?
Suddenly the caring wolf arose and stole away. I seized the chance to save the boys, and
ran to where they lay. Snatched the babies from the ground,
Put them in this trough I'd found, And then I ran off homeward bound
To give them to my wife twenty years ago today.
Faustulus, tell us, what names you gave the brothers twain?
What did you call the rescued pair? Tell us once again!
To one I gave the name of Remus, a name of strength and daring;
The other I called Romulus, a name fit for a king!
Faustulus, how marvellous, thank you for telling us
How you discovered little Romulus and Remus. But who will ever tell us, who will ever say
How the babies came here twenty years ago today?