nted the terror: in Sicily, that several darts
belonging to the soldiers had taken fire; and in Sardinia, that the
staff of a horseman, who was going his rounds upon a wall, took fire
as he held it in his hand; that the shores had blazed with frequent
fires; that two shields had sweated blood at Praeneste; that redhot
stones had fallen from the heavens at Arpi; that shields were seen in
the heavens, and the sun fighting with the moon, at Capena; that two
moons rose in the day-time; that the waters of Caere had flowed mixed
with blood; and that even the fountain of Hercules had flowed
sprinkled with spots of blood. In the territory of Antium, that bloody
ears of corn had fallen into the basket as they were reaping. At
Falerii, that the heavens appeared cleft as if with a great chasm;
and, that where it had opened, a vast light had shone forth; that the
prophetic tablets had spontaneously become less; and that one had
fallen out thus inscribed, "Mars shakes his spear." During the same
time, that the statue of Mars at Rome, on the Appian way, had sweated
at the sight of images of wolves. At Capua that there had been the
appearance of the heavens being on fire, and of the moon as falling
amidst rain. After these, credence was given to prodigies of less
magnitude: that the goats of certain persons had borne wool; that a
hen had changed herself into a cock; and a cock into a hen: these
things having been laid before the senate as reported, the authors
being conducted into the senate-house, the consul took the sense of
the fathers on religious affairs. It was decreed that those prodigies
should be expiated, partly with full-grown, partly with sucking
victims; and that a supplication should be made at every shrine for
the space of three days; that the other things should be done
accordingly as the gods should declare in their oracles to be
agreeable to their will when the decemviri had examined the books. By
the advice of the decemviri it was decreed, first, that a golden
thunderbolt of fifty pounds' weight should be made as an offering to
Jupiter; that offerings of silver should be presented to Juno and
Minerva; that sacrifices of full-grown victims should be offered to
Juno Regina on the Aventine; and to Juno Sospita at Lanuvium; that the
matrons, contributing as much money as might be convenient to each,
should carry it to the Aventine, as a present to Juno Regina; and that
a lectisternium should be celebrated. Moreover, that