Whether the task I have undertaken of writing a complete history
of the Roman people from the very commencement of its existence
will reward me for the labour spent on it, I neither know for
certain, nor if I did know would I venture to say. For I see
that this is an old-established and a common practice, each
fresh writer being invariably persuaded that he will either
attain greater certainty in the materials of his narrative, or
surpass the rudeness of antiquity in the excellence of his
style. However this may be, it will still be a great
satisfaction to me to have taken my part, too, in investing, to
the utmost of my abilities, the annals of the foremost nation in
the world with a deeper interest; and if in such a crowd of
writers my own reputation is thrown into the shade, I would
console myself with the renown and greatness of those who
eclipse my fame. The subject, moreover, is one that demands
immense labour. It goes back beyond 700 years and, after
starting from small and humble beginnings, has grown