大衛, The Intervention of the Sabine Women

雅克-路易·大衛, The Intervention of the Sabine Women, 1799, Oil on canvas, 12 腳, 8 英寸 x 17 feet and 3/4 of an inch or 3.85 X 5.22 米 (盧浮宮博物館, 巴黎) 揚聲器: 博士. 貝絲哈里斯和博士. 史蒂文糖

At this juncture the Sabine women, from the outrage on whom the war originated,

with hair dishevelled and garments rent, the timidity of their sex being overcome

by such dreadful scenes, had the courage to throw themselves amid the flying

weapons, and making a rush across, to part the incensed armies, and assuage their

fury; imploring their fathers on the one side, their husbands on the other, “that as

fathers-in-law and sons-in-law they would not contaminate each other with impious

blood, nor stain their offspring with parricide, the one their grandchildren, the other

their children. If you are dissatisfied with the affinity between you, if with our

marriages, turn your resentment against us; we are the cause of war, we of wounds

and of bloodshed to our husbands and parents. It were better that we perish than

live widowed or fatherless without one or other of you.” The silence affects both the multitudes and the leaders. Silence and sudden suspension ensue. Upon this the leaders come forward in order to concert a treaty, and they not only conclude a peace, but form one state out of two.

Livy, The History of Rome tranlated by D. Spillan, 倫敦: Bohn, 1849: 書 1, section 13,

頁 19

. 由 Beth Harris 和 Steven Zucker 創建.