Ludi Plebeii Literary Contest Winner
Rupes Tarpeia
Lucius Vitellius Triarius
Along the southern summit of the Mons Capitolinus
lay the cliff of death so steep, first used by Tatius, called Titus.
The rupes Tarpeia,
the Tarpeian Rock,
great fear of it inside us.
The Sabines came with bands of gold,
Fine bracelets on each arm,
And Spurius did debate with them,
A trade for daughter’s charm.
The governor of the citadel opened the gates,
Despite the warnings by his peers.
Betraying the Romans, determining their fates,
The great mistake of all his years.
To please his daughter of great charm,
He gave up the Roman lands.
He thought not of her life and harm,
At the will of Sabine hands.
Crushed to death with Sabine shield
And thrown down from the rock
The Vestal Virgin, Tarpeia, did yield
After her father undid the lock.
A Sabine trick, a promise not kept,
Their familia’s fate was sealed,
Her father cursed and knelt and wept,
but alas he never healed.
In the year five hundred, Superbus
was the seventh legendary King.
He leveled the top of the Tarpeian Rock,
Removing the shrines of the Sabine fabrum ring.
Upon this rock, he built anew,
The Temple of Iuppiter Capitolinus.
On the intermontium, he did renew
The grandeur of Mons Capitolinus.
Saturn’s Temple was built with no alarm,
On this rock from treasures that were won.
The Roman Treasury, safe from harm,
Till Caesar crossed the Rubicon.
No Pleb would dare to take from there
And be seen by Saturn’s watchful eye.
If Plebs did attempt to take his fare,
They would surely expect to die.
The Plebs, they knew, the Tribunes’ way,
Singing each day their same old riff,
“Uphold the law from day to day,
Or be flung off top the cliff.”
The Tribunes of the Plebs they did,
This Roman rock use very well.
They flung off the traitors, murderers and did rid
The crazed and lame, as well.
From Tarentum to Manlius,
Rebellion and sedition,
Each Pleb knew the rock on Mons Capitolinus
Was unhealthy for their life’s future condition.
Plebs, as you pass this rock each day,
Stay on the straight and narrow,
One wrong, not right, and they say nay,
And you’ll be crushed bones and marrow.
Along the southern summit of the Mons Capitolinus
lay the cliff of death so steep, first used by Tatius, called Titus.
The rupes Tarpeia,
the Tarpeian Rock,
great fear of it inside us.
