There was an interval of about thirty years between the founding of Lavinium and the transplanting of the colony to Alba Longa.  Yet its power had increased to such a degree, especially owing to the defeat of the Etruscans, that not even on the death of AEneas, nor subsequently between the period of the regency of Lavinia, and the first beginnings of the young prince’s reign, did either Mezentius, the Etruscans, or any other neighbouring peoples venture to take up arms against it.  Peace had been concluded on the following terms, that the river Albula, which is now called Tiber, should be the boundary of Latin and Etruscan territory.  After him Silvius, son of Ascanius, born by some accident in the woods, became king.  He was the father of AEneas Silvius, who afterward begot Latinus Silvius.  By him several colonies were transplanted, which were called Prisci Latini.  From this time all the princes, who ruled at Alba, bore the surname of Silvius.  From Latinus sprung Alba; from Alba, Atys; from Atys, Capys; from Capys, Capetus; from Capetus, Tiberinus, who, having been drowned while crossing the river Albula, gave it the name by which it was generally known among those of later times.  He was succeeded by Agrippa, son of Tiberinus; after Agrippa, Romulus Silvius, having received the government from his father, became king.  He was killed by a thunderbolt, and handed on the kingdom to Aventinus, who, owing to his being buried on that hill, which now forms part of the city of Rome, gave it its name.  After him reigned Proca, who begot Numitor and Amulius.  To Numitor, who was the eldest son, he bequeathed the ancient kingdom of the Silvian family.  Force, however, prevailed more than a father’s wish or the respect due to seniority.  Amulius drove out his brother and seized the kingdom:  he added crime to crime, murdered his brother’s male issue, and, under pretence of doing honour to his brother’s daughter, Rea Silvia, having chosen her a Vestal Virgin,[2] deprived her of all hopes of issue by the obligation of perpetual virginity.

My opinion, however, is that the origin of so great a city and an empire next in power to that of the gods was due to the fates.  The Vestal Rea was ravished by force, and having brought forth twins, declared Mars to be the father of her illegitimate offspring, either because she really imagined it to be the case, or because it was less discreditable to have committed such an offence with a god.[3] But neither gods nor men protected either her or her offspring from the king’s cruelty.  The priestess was bound and cast into prison; the king ordered the children to be thrown into the flowing river.  By some chance which Providence seemed to direct, the Tiber, having over flown its banks, thereby forming stagnant pools, could not be approached at the regular course of its channel; notwithstanding it gave the bearers of the children hope that they could be drowned in its water however calm.  Accordingly, as if