Livy 1.9

The Roman state was now so strong that it was equal in war to any of the neighboring states; but by a shortage of women its multitude was about to last a lifetime of a man, for they had neither hope of offspring at home nor marriage with their neighbors.  [Tum] Then from the advice of the fathers Romulus sent ambassadors around the neighboring tribes who sought alliance and marriage for the new people: the city also as all other things were born from the lowest; then, whom their own virtue and the gods aid, they made great wealth and a great name for themselves.  [Satis] It was enough to know for the Roman origin both that the gods had been present and that courage would not be lacking.  Finally let the men not be reluctant to mix blood and race with the men.  [Nusquam] Never was the legation heard kindly: they both were so spurning and fearing such a mass growing in their midst for themselves and their own descendants; they were dismissed by very many asking if they had opened any refuge also for women: for this at last would be an equal marriage.  The Roman youth endured this with difficulty, and unmistakably (lit. hardly dubiously) the matter began to look to force.

To which to give a suitable time and place, concealing his mortification of spirit, Romulus prepares solemn games industriously (lit. from industry) for equestrian Neptune; he calls (them) the Consualia.  [Indici] He orders then the spectacle to be publicized to the neighbors, the celebrated with as much magnificence as they then knew or were able, to make the event outstanding and anticipated.  Many men gathered, with zeal also for seeing the new city, all their nearest, the Caeninenses, the Crustumini, the Antemnates; now the whole multitude of the Sabines came with their children and wives.  [Invitati] Having been invited hospitably through the homes when they saw the location and walls and the city crowded with homes, they wonder that the Roman state had grown in so short a time.  When the time for the spectacle came, their minds were so dedicated to it with their minds, then violence arose by agreement (lit. from having been arranged), and a signal having been given the Roman youth runs down to seize the maidens.  [Magna] A great part were seized by chance in which (place) each had happened upon; men from the plebs to whom the business had been given were carrying to their homes some women outstanding in form marked out for the first of the fathers.  They say a certain one was seized, distinguished far before others in form and beauty, by the band of Thalassius, again and again, lest any violate, it was shouts that (she) was carried off for Thalassius: thence this was made the wedding call.  [Turbato] With the festival having been disturbed through fear, the sad parents of the maidens flee, protesting against and calling upon the treaty of the violated hospitality and the god to whose ceremony and games through right and faith deceived they had come.  Nor for those seized is either the hope better for themselves or the indignity less.  [Sed] But Romulus himself was going around and was teaching them that this was done through the haughtiness of their fathers who had denied marriage with their neighbors.  Yet those would be in matrimony, in the alliances of all fortunes and of the state, and of children, than which nothing is dearer to human kind.  [Mollirent] Let them only soften their angers and to whom chance had given their bodies, let them give their spirits.  Often from injury arose afterward favor, and by this they would find better husbands, because each would strive though himself to fill the desire for parents and also for country when he performed his duty for his part.  [Accedebant] The flatteries of their husbands were increased by the desire and love of those seeking to excuse the deed, which most greatly were effective prayers for the womanly spirit.