As we read H.H. Scullard's discussion of the foundation legends in his History of the Roman World: 753 to 146 BC, Plutarch (Wikipedia, handle with care) may be helpful.
Here are online text versions of Plutarch's Lives:
- Ancient/Classical History at About.com Dryden
- Lacus Curtius (main Plutarch page) Loeb Classical Library edition, Bernadotte Perrin
- MIT Internet Classics Archive Dryden
- University of Adelaide Library Dryden (facsimile)
- Project Gutenberg various
Mestrios Plutarchos on this blog
(Image from Parallel Lives, Amyot translation, 1565)
