In the house of Tarchetius, the king of the Albani, a cruel and lawless man, a miracle took place.  A male figure arose from the hearth, and remained there for many days.  Now there was in Etruria an oracle of Tethys, which told Tarchetius that a virgin must be offered to the figure; for there should be born of her a son surpassing all mankind in strength, valour, and good fortune.  Tarchetius hereupon explained the oracle to one of his daughters, and ordered her to give herself up to the figure; but she, not liking to do so, sent her servant-maid instead.  Tarchetius, when he learned this, was greatly incensed, and cast them both into prison, meaning to put them to death.  However, in a dream, Vesta appeared to him, forbidding him to slay them.  In consequence of this he locked them up with a loom, telling them that when they had woven the piece of work upon it they should be married.  So they wove all day, and during the night other maidens sent by Tarchetius undid their work again.  Now when the servant-maid was delivered of twins, Tarchetius gave them to one Teratius, and bade him destroy them.  He laid them down near the river; and there they were suckled by a she-wolf, while all sorts of birds brought them morsels of food, until one day a cowherd saw them.  Filled with wonder he ventured to come up to the children and bear them off.  Saved from death in this manner they grew up, and then attacked and slew Tarchetius.  This is the legend given by one Promathion, the compiler of a history of Italy.

III.  But the most credible story, and that has most vouchers for its truth, is that which was first published in Greece by Diokles of Peparethos, a writer whom Fabius Pictor has followed in most points.  There are variations in this legend also; but, generally speaking, it runs as follows: 

The dynasty established by Aeneas at Alba Longa, came down to two brothers, Numitor and Amulius.  Amulius offered his brother the choice between the sovereign power and the royal treasure, including the gold brought from Troy.  Numitor chose the sovereign power.  But Amulius, possessing all the treasure, and thereby having more power than his brother, easily dethroned him, and, as he feared his brother’s daughter might have children who would avenge him, he made her a priestess of Vesta, sworn to celibacy for ever.  This lady is named by some Ilia, by others Rhea or Silvia.  After no long time she was found to be with child, against the law of the Vestals.  Her life was saved by the entreaties of Antho, the king’s daughter, but she was closely imprisoned, that she might not be delivered without Amulius’s knowledge.  She bore two children of remarkable beauty and size, and Amulius, all the more alarmed at this, bade an attendant take them and expose them.  Some say that this man’s name was Faustulus, while others say that this was not his name, but that of their rescuer.  However, he placed the infants in a cradle, and went down to the river with the intention of throwing them into it, but seeing it running strong and turbulently, he feared to approach it, laid down the cradle near the bank and went away.  The river, which was in flood, rose, and gently floated off the cradle, and carried it down to a soft place which is now called Cermalus, but anciently, it seems, was called Germanus, because brothers are called germani.