Livy 1.12

The Sabines held the citadel nevertheless, and then on the next day, although the Roman army, drawn up, had filled what of plain there was between the Palatine and the Capitoline hill, they did not descend into even (ground) before, with anger and desire for recovering the citadel rousing their spirits, the Romans advanced up the opposing (hill).  [Principes] The leaders kept on urging the fight on both sides: from the Sabines, Mettius Curtius; from the Romans, Hostius Hostilius.  This (man) was sustaining the Roman state on uneven ground at the first standards with spirit and boldness.  As Hostius fell, the Roman battleline immediately is broken and was scattered to the old gate of the Palatine.  [Romulus] Even Romulus himself (was) driven by the crowd of those fleeing; lifting his weapons, he said, “Jupiter, ordered by your birds here I lay the first foundations for the city on the Palatine.  The Sabines already hold the citadel bought by wickedness; thence armed men strive to this point, with the middle of the valley overwhelmed.  [At] But you, father of gods and of men, from this point at least repel the enemy, remove fear from the Romans, and stop foul flight.  Here I vow to you a temple for Jove the Stayer, which will be a monument for our descendants that with your aid present the city was saved.”  [Haec] Having prayed these things, as if he had felt his prayer heard, he said, “Romans, hence Jupiter Best (and) Highest  orders (you) to stop and renew the fight.”  The Romans stopped short as if ordered by celestial voice; Romulus himself flies forward to the first (fighters).  [Mettius] Mettius Curtius, leader from the Sabines, had run down from the citadel and had driven the scattered Romans in the whole (space) such as is now for the Forum, nor was he far already from the gate of the Palatine, shouting, “We have conquered faithless hosts, unwarlike enemies.  Now they know to snatch maidens is a thing far from the thing it is to fight with men.”  [In] With a crowd of most fierce youths Romulus makes an attack on him boasting these things.  From his horse then by chance Mettius was fighting; by this he was more easily driven back.  The Romans pursue the one driven back, and the rest of the Roman line, fired by the boldness of the king, route the Sabines.  [Mettius] threw himself into a swamp with his horse spooked by the noise of the pursuers; this matter (lit. had) turned the Sabines also because of such danger for the man.  And that man indeed escapes with spirit added by the encouragement of many by nods and voices: The Romans and Sabines in the middle of the valley of the two hills renew battle; but the Roman situation was superior.