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Excerpt from Romae Antiquae Notitia, Vol. 1 of 2: Or the Antiquities of Rome Sir, Among all the noble presages of wit and honour, there is not one by which Your Highness hath given greater encouragement to the hopes of these kingdoms, than by a surprizing curiosity, and impatient desire of knowledge. For the satisfying of so generous inclinations, Your Highness cannot but seek an early acquaintance with the Roman State, It must needs please you. Sir, to understand the constitution of that people, before you appear the rival of their glory; and the first steps to both these attainments will be alike uneasy. Many fatigues are to be undergone ere you surpass them in action and conduct; and in the same manner, before you are introduced into the more delightful scenes of their policy and government. Your Highness should be first presented with the rougher prospect of their customs and ceremonies. For your direction in so noble (though intricate) a path of ancient story, Your Highness is desired to accept this small endeavour; no otherwise than you would a few shadows, or a little model, to give you, Sir, the first notion of some admired picture, or some magnificent building. There is one custom which, I make myself believe, Your Highness will read with some pleasure; i mean, Sir, the Trojan Game, a martial exercise performed by the youth of the first quality in Rome, under such a captain as yourself, and deriving its original from young Ascanius; whom I need not fear to mention as your precedent, since you have already honoured him with your imitation. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases