24.  What description is given of Umbria?

25.  What towns and people were in Picenum?

26.  From whom were the Samnites descended?

27.  What was the character of this people?

28.  How was southern Italy divided?

29.  What description is given of Lucania?

30.  By what people was Bruttium inhabited?

31.  What is the geographical situation of Apulia?

32.  What description is given of Calabria?

33.  What islands belong to Italy?

FOOTNOTES: 

[1] See Pinnock’s History of Greece, Chap.  I.

[2] See Historical Miscellany, Part II.  Chap.  I.

[3] These colonies, sent out by the Sabines, are said to have originated from the observance of the Ver sacrum (sacred spring.) During certain years, every thing was vowed to the gods that was born between the calends (first day) of March and May, whether men or animals.  At first they were sacrificed; but in later ages this cruel custom was laid aside, and they were sent out as colonists.

[4] The history of these colonies is contained in the Historical Miscellany, Part II.  Chap. ii.

* * * * *

CHAPTER II.

THE LATIN LANGUAGE AND PEOPLE—­CREDIBILITY OF THE EARLY HISTORY.

  Succeeding times did equal folly call. 
  Believing nothing, or believing all.—­Dryden.

The Latin language contains two primary elements, the first intimately connected with the Grecian, and the second with the Oscan tongue; to the former, for the most part, belong all words expressing the arts and relations of civilized life; to the latter, such terms as express the wants of men before society has been organized.  We are therefore warranted in conjecturing that the Latin people was a mixed race; that one of its component parts came from some Grecian stock, and introduced the first elements of civilization, and that the other was indigenous, and borrowed refinement from the strangers.  The traditions recorded by the historians sufficiently confirm this opinion; they unanimously assert that certain bodies of Pelasgi came into the country before the historic age, and coalesced with the ancient inhabitants.  The traditions respecting these immigrations are so varied, that it is impossible to discover any of the circumstances; but there is one so connected with the early history of Rome, that it cannot be passed over without notice.  All the Roman historians declare, that after the destruction of Troy, AEneas, with a body of the fugitives, arrived in Latium, and having married the daughter of king Lati’nus, succeeded him on the throne.  It would be easy to show that this narrative is so very improbable, as to be wholly unworthy of credit; but how are we to account for the universal credence which it received?  To decide this question we must discuss the credibility of the early Roman history, a subject which has of late years attracted more than ordinary attention.