I. [1] Saturn is thought to have come first into Italy; so also the Virgilian muse testifies in these verses:

First from the Olympian aether came Saturn,
Fleeing the weapons of Jupiter, etc.

[2] So much simplicity of the men of old had been handed down to that time, that when foreigners came to them, who indeed they were able with their counsel and wisdom to instruct them in how to live and form their customs, these not knowing their parents and origin, they not only believed them born from Sky and Earth, indeed also they so informed their descendants concerning this Saturn, whom they said was the son of Sky and Earth. [3] In spite of this tradition, it is however certain that Janus was the first to come to Italy by whom the later arrival of Saturn was accommodated. [4] From this it should be understood that Vergil, not from ignorance of ancient history but because he was accustomed to call Saturn first, not because there was none before him but because he was in first place, said:

Who first from the shores of Troy,

[5] There is no doubt that Antenor came to Italy before Aeneas, not on the coast near the shore, but in the interior, i.e. Illyria, and founded the city of Patavium, as the same Vergil mentioned above in these verses in the person of Venus complaining to Jove about the trials of her Aeneas:

Having escaped from the midst of the Achaeans, Antenor was able
To penetrate the Illyrian bay and the entire inland, etc.

[6] However why he added 'entire' in this place we have fully explained in the commentary, which we began to write here, to be found in the book which is inscribed On the Origin of Patavium. [7] And so now first has the same signification, as that which is also [found] in book II of the Aeneid concerning the enumeration of those who climbed down from the wooden horse. [8] For he had named Thessander, Sthenelus, Ulysses, Acamas, Thoas and Neoptolemus, then he adds, and first Machaon. [9] From which it can be asked: in what way is it possible to call [him] first, after so many, who have been named above? Truly we understand first to mean in first place, precisely because it has been handed down that at that time he was foremost in the practise of the art of medicine.