Stephen Vincent Ben?t (July 22, 1898 ? March 13, 1943) was an American author, poet, short story writer, and novelist.

He adapted the guardian myth of the rape of the Sabine Women into the story "The Sobbin' Women". According to tcm.com, "The Sobbin' Women" was originally published in the November 1938 issue of Argosy magazine. It was adapted into the movie musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

About The Rape of the Sabine Women: it is an episode in the legendary history of Rome in which the first generation of Roman men acquired wives for themselves from the neighboring Sabine families. The word "rape" in this context means "abduction" not sexual violation. Seeking wives in order to found families, the Romans negotiated unsuccessfully with the Sabines, who populated the area. Fearing the emergence of a rival society, the Sabines refused to allow their women to marry the Romans. Consequently, the Romans planned to abduct Sabine women. Romulus devised a festival of Neptune Equester and proclaimed the festival among Rome's neighbours. Many people from Rome's neighbours attended, including folk from the Caeninenses, Crustumini, and Antemnates, and many of the Sabines. At the festival Romulus gave a signal, at which the Romans grabbed the Sabine women and fought off the Sabine men. The indignant abductees were soon implored by Romulus to accept Roman husbands. Romulus offered them free choice and promised civic and property rights to women. Romulus spoke to them each in person, "and pointed out to them that it was all owing to the pride of their parents in denying the right of intermarriage to their neighbours. They would live in honourable wedlock, and share all their property and civil rights, and?dearest of all to human nature?would be the mothers of free men."

There is no entry about the story available on Wikipedia at this time, but here is a link to the film entry.