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chronicle appear to have been the intermediate links which connected the
lost ballads with the histories now extant。 From a very early period it was
the usage that an oration should be pronounced over the remains of a
noble Roman。 The orator； as we learn from Polybius； was expected； on
such occasions； to recapitulate all the services which the ancestors of the
deceased had； from the earliest time； rendered to the commonwealth。
There can be little doubt that the speaker on whom this duty was imposed
would make use of all the stories suited to his purpose which were to be
found in the popular lays。 There can be as little doubt that the family of an
eminent man would preserve a copy of the speech which had been
pronounced over his corpse。 The compilers of the early chronicles would
have recourse to these speeches； and the great historians of a later period
would have recourse to the chronicles。
It may be worth while to select a particular story； and to trace its
probable progress through these stages。 The description of the migration
of the Fabian house to Cremera is one of the finest of the many fine
passages which lie thick in the earlier books of Livy。 The Consul； clad in
his military garb； stands in the vestibule of his house； marshalling his clan；
three hundred and six fighting men； all of the same proud patrician blood；
all worthy to be attended by the fasces； and to command the legions。 A sad
and anxious retinue of friends accompanies the adventurers through the
streets； but the voice of lamentation is drowned by the shouts of admiring
thousands。 As the procession passes the Capitol； prayers and vows are
poured forth； but in vain。 The devoted band； leaving Janus on the right；
marches to its doom； through the Gate of Evil Luck。 After achieving high
deeds of valor against overwhelming numbers； all perish save one child；
the stock from which the great Fabian race was destined again to spring；
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for the safety and glory of the commonwealth。 That this fine romance； the
details of which are so full of poetical truth； and so utterly destitute of all
show of historical truth； came originally from some lay which had often
been sung with great applause at banquets is in the highest degree
probable。 Nor is it difficult to imagine a mode in which the transmission
might have taken place。 The celebrated Quintus Fabius Maximus； who
died about twenty years before the First Punic War； and more than forty
years before Ennius was born； is said to have been interred with
extraordinary pomp。 In the eulogy pronounced over his body all the great
exploits of his ancestors were doubtless recounted and exaggerated。 If
there were then extant songs which gave a vivid and touching description
of an event； the saddest and the most glorious in the long history of the
Fabian house； nothing could be more natural than that the panegyrist
should borrow from such songs their finest touches； in order to adorn his
speech。 A few generations later the songs would perhaps be forgotten； or
remembered only by shepherds and vinedressers。 But the speech would
certainly be preserved in the archives of the Fabian nobles。 Fabius Pictor
would be well acquainted with a document so interesting to his personal
feelings； and would insert large extracts from it in his rude chronicle。 That
chronicle； as we know； was the oldest to which Livy had access。 Livy
would at a glance distinguish the bold strokes of the forgotten poet from
the dull and feeble narrative by which they were surrounded； would
retouch them with a delicate and powerful pencil； and would make them
immortal。
That this might happen at Rome can scarcely be doubted； for
something very like this has happened in several countries； and； among
others； in our own。 Perhaps the theory of Perizonius cannot be better
illustrated than by showing that what he supposes to have taken place in
ancient times has； beyond all doubt； taken place in modern times。
‘‘History；'' says Hume with the utmost gravity； ‘‘has preserved some
instances of Edgar's amours； from which； as from a specimen； we may
form a conjecture of the rest。'' He then tells very agreeably the stories of
Elfleda and Elfrida； two stories which have a most suspicious air of
romance； ad which； indeed； greatly resemble； in their character； some of
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the legends of early Rome。 He cites； as his authority for these two tales；
the chronicle of William of Malmesbury； who lived in the time of King
Stephen。 The great majority of readers suppose that the device by which
Elfleda was substituted for her young mistress； the artifice by which
Athelwold obtained the hand of Elfrida； the detection of that artifice； the
hunting party； and the vengeance of the amorous king； are things about
which there is no more doubt than about the execution of Anne Boleyn； or
the slitting of Sir John Coventry's nose。 But when we turn to William of
Malmesbury； we find that Hume； in his eagerness to relate these pleasant
fables； has overlooked one very important circumstance。 William does
indeed tell both the stories； but he gives us distinct notice that he does not
warrant their truth； and that they rest on no better authority than that of
ballads。
Such is the way in which these two well…known tales have been
handed down。 They originally appeared in a poetical form。 They found
their way from ballads into an old chronicle。 The ballads perished； the
chronicle remained。 A great historian； some centuries after the ballads had
been altogether forgotten； consulted the chronicle。 He was struck by the
lively coloring of these ancient fictions： he transferred them to his pages；
and thus we find inserted； as unquestionable facts； in a narrative which is
likely to last as long as the English tongue； the inventions of some minstrel
whose works were probably never committed to writing； whose name is
buried in oblivion； and whose dialect has become obsolete。 It must； then；
be admitted to be possible； or rather highly probable； that the stories of
Romulus and Remus； and of the Horatii and Curiatti； may have had a
similar origin。
Castilian literature will furnish us with another parallel case。 Mariana；
the classical historian of Spain； tells the story of the ill…starred marriage
which the King Don Alonso brought about between the heirs of Carrion
and the two daughters of the Cid。 The Cid bestowed a princely dower on
the sons…in…law。 But the young men were base and proud； cowardly and
cruel。 They were tried in danger； and found wanting。 They fled before the
Moors； and once； when a lion broke out of his den； they ran and crouched
in an unseemly hiding…place。 They knew that they were despised； and took
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counsel how they might be avenged。 They parted from their fath