oved. This
priest, however, could not be away from the city a single night, and was
forbidden to sleep out of his own bed for three consecutive nights. He
was not allowed to mount a horse, or even to touch one, or to look upon
an army outside of the city walls.

THE SALII. These were priests of Mars, twelve in number, and always
chosen from the patricians. They celebrated the festival of Mars on the
1st of March, and for several successive days.

THE AUGURES.

This body varied in number, from three, in early times, to sixteen
in the time of Caesar. It was composed of men who were believed to
interpret the will of the gods, and to declare whether the omens were
favorable or otherwise. No public act of any kind could be performed, no
election held, no law passed, no war waged, without first consulting the
omens. There was no appeal from the decision of the Augurs, and hence
their power was great. They held office for life, and were a close
corporation, filling their own vacancies until 103 B. C.

THE FETIALES.

This was another body of priests holding office for life, and numbering
probably twenty. They were expected, whenever any dispute arose with
other nations, to demand satisfaction, to determine whether hostilities
should be begun, and to preside at any ratification of peace.

CHAPTER XLIX. THE ROMAN ARMY IN CAESAR'S TIME.

The LEGIO was composed of infantry, and, though larger, corresponded to
our regiment. It was divided into ten cohorts (battalions), each cohort
into three maniples (companies), and each maniple into two centuries
(platoons). In theory the number in each legion was six thousand, in
practice about four thousand. The usual order of battle was to draw up
each legion in three lines (_acies_ triplex), the first consisting of
four cohorts, the second and third of three each. The defensive armor of
the legionary soldier was a helmet of metal or leather, a shield (four
feet by two and a half), greaves, and corselets of various material.
The outer garment was a woollen blanket, fastened to the shoulders by
a buckle. Higher officers wore a long purple cloak. The offensive armor
was a short, straight two-edged sword (_gladius_), about two feet long,
worn by privates on the right side, so as not to interfere with the
shield, but on the left side by officers. The javelin (_pilum_) was a
heavy wooden shaft with an iron head, the whole about seven feet
long and weighing fully ten pounds. All