The historic gallery of portraits and paintings: and biographical review : containing a brief account of the lives of the moost celebrated men, in every age and country : and graphic imitations of the fines specimens of the arts, ancient and modern : with remarks, critical and explanatory (Band 6) (London: Vernor, Hood, and Sharpe, 1810)

THE RAPE OF THE SABINES.

N. POUSSIN*
Rome, while in her infancy, being surrounded by
neighbours whom she feared, meditated their subjuga-
tion. This design she early manifested by continual ag-
gressions. 1 he Sabines, a people more temperate^ but
no less courageous than the Romans, were often the
object of their insult. The rape of their women tended
in a particular manner to sow the seeds of dissension
among the two nations. Romulus having frequently so-
licited their daughters in marriage for his soldiery, the
senate rejected this means of alliance with disdain. The
Romans dissembled their revenge, resolving, at the same
time, to obtain by force that which had been refused by
entreaty. To accomplish this project Romulus caused
a fete to be celebrated in honour of Neptune, which
the Sabines and the people of Caenina attended.
After having liberally regaled them, they were seated in
the most convenient spot to observe the entertainment.
But while attentive in viewing the diversions of the fes-
tival, the Romans, by order of Romulus, threw them-
selves sword in hand into the crowd, carried away the
virgins, and drove their fathers and mothers out of the
city.
This historical trait has been adopted by various pain-
ters, but no one has handled it so happily as Poussin.
This great painter has varied all the expressions of the
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