Lays of Ancient Rome is a collection of narrative poems, or lays, which recount heroic episodes from early Roman history with strong dramatic and tragic themes, giving the collection its name. The first poem, Horatius, describes how PubliusHoratius and two companions, SpuriusLartius and Titus Herminius, hold the Sublician bridge, the only span crossing the Tiber at Rome, against the Etruscan army of Lars Porsena, King of Clusium. The next poem, The Battle of Lake Regillus, celebrates the Roman victory over the Latin League at the Battle of Lake Regillus. The poem Virginia describes the tragedy of Virginia, the only daughter of Virginius, a poor Roman farmer. The Prophecy of Capys narrates how when Romulus and Remus arrive in triumph at the house of their grandfather, Capys, the blind old man enters a prophetic trance.

Thomas Babington Macaulay(1800-1859) was a British historian and Whig politician. He wrote extensively as an essayist, on contemporary and historical sociopolitical subjects, and as a reviewer. His The History of England and its literary style has remained an object of praise since its publication, including subsequent to the widespread condemnation of its historical contentions which became popular in the 20th century.