THE ROMAN HISTORY. CHAP. I. Of the original of the Romans. THE Romans were particularly desirous of being thought descendants from the Gods; as if to hide the meanness of their real ancestry. AEneas, the son of Venus and Anchises, having escaped from the destruction of Troy, after many adventures and dangers arrived in Italy, where he was kindly received by Latinus, king of the Latins, who' A. M. 2294. gave him his daughter Lavinia in marriage. Turnus, king of the Rutuli, was the first who opposed AEneas, he having long made pretensions himself to Lavinia. A war ensued in which the Trojan hero was victorious and Turnus slain. In consequence of this, AEneas built a city, which was called Lavinium in honour of his wife; and, some time after, engaging in a war against Mezentius, one of |
