TALES OF THE ROMANS
of the boundary shall come together, with their wives, their children, and their slaves, and shall lay flowers on the stones, and offer cakes to the god Terminus. It shall be a good thing for the folk to meet in peace, and pay respect to the landmarks, and bear in mind that no man ought to take his neighbor's property.”
“There is another matter I wish to ask about. The Romans and the Sabines dwell in the same city, but are not always friends.”
“Do this, Numa. Tell all the shoemakers to live in the same part of the town, whether they are Romans or Sabines. They will have a company or society of their own, and meet in a hall to make rules for the trade of the shoemakers. And likewise shall the musicians do, and the tanners, the goldsmiths, the masons, the dyers, the brass-workers, the potters, and all the others.”
“I will do so. Besides this, Lady, I want to make a better reckoning of the days and months.”
“How many months are there in a year, Numa?”
“Ten.”
“Yes, but now you must have twelve. Up till now you began the year with March the month of the Leapers; and the tenth month, or December, was the last.”
“That is so.”
“Well, Numa, tell the Romans to reckon this way: First month, January; second, February;
14
