A prefatory Chapter accounts for the Origin of this History.
-The Editor's Visit to his Relatives in the Country. -
An Italian Family.—Its Residence. — The Host's Pre-
judices as a Philosopher, a Politician, and a Patriot. -
His Reverence for the early Literature of his Country.-
His Defence even of the Fables connected with it, if
fabulous.-The Spectre of Julius Cæsar.-The Fawn of
Q. Sertorius.-Other Particulars as to this Fawn than
those collected by Plutarch. The lost Histories of Sallust
and of Oppius.-That of Oppius supposed to be retrieved.
-By whom. On whose Evidence. - Geraldo Ercole
Cornacchini.-His Character.-His Pursuits.- How far
entitled to our Confidence.-Whether the History which
follows were indeed translated by him from the original
of Oppius, and may be received as authentic