too, that while Romulus in order to create a senate, and to establish
his other ordinances civil and military, needed no support from Divine
authority, this was very necessary to Numa, who feigned to have
intercourse with a Nymph by whose advice he was guided in counselling
the people. And this, because desiring to introduce in Rome new and
untried institutions, he feared that his own authority might not effect
his end. Nor, indeed, has any attempt ever been made to introduce
unusual laws among a people, without resorting to Divine authority,
since without such sanction they never would have been accepted. For the
wise recognize many things to be good which do not bear such reasons on
the face of them as command their acceptance by others; wherefore, wise
men who would obviate these difficulties, have recourse to Divine aid.
Thus did Lycurgus, thus Solon, and thus have done many besides who have
had the same end in view.

The Romans, accordingly, admiring the prudence and virtues of Numa,
assented to all the measures which he recommended. This, however, is to
be said, that the circumstance of these times being deeply tinctured
with religious feeling, and of the men with whom he had to deal being
rude and ignorant, gave Numa better facility to carry out his plans, as
enabling him to mould his subjects readily to any new impression.
And, doubtless, he who should seek at the present day to form a new
commonwealth, would find the task easier among a race of simple
mountaineers, than among the dwellers in cities where society is
corrupt; as the sculptor can more easily carve a fair statue from a
rough block, than from the block which has been badly shaped out by
another. But taking all this into account, I maintain that the religion
introduced by Numa was one of the chief causes of the prosperity of
Rome, since it gave rise to good ordinances, which in turn brought with
them good fortune, and with good fortune, happy issues to whatsoever was