Come, recollect how
often sacred rites are performed anew, because some ceremony of our
country had been omitted through negligence or accident. On a late
occasion, what circumstance, after the prodigy of the Alban lake, proved
a remedy to the state distressed by the Veientian war, but the
repetition of the sacred rites and the renewal of the auspices? But
further, as if duly mindful of ancient religious usages, we have both
transferred foreign deities to Rome, and have established new ones. Very
recently, imperial Juno was transferred from Veii, and had her
dedication performed on a day how distinguished for the extraordinary
zeal of the matrons, and with what a full attendance! We have directed a
temple to be erected to Aius Locutius, in consequence of the heavenly
voice heard in the New Street. To our other solemnities we have added
the Capitoline games, and, by direction of the senate, we have founded a
new college for that purpose. Which of these things need we have done,
if we were to leave the Roman city together with the Gauls? if it was
not voluntarily we remained in the Capitol for so many months of siege;
if we were retained by the enemy through motives of fear? We are
speaking of the sacred rites and of the temples; what, pray, of the
priests? Does it not occur to you, what a degree of profaneness would be
committed in respect of them. The Vestals, forsooth, have but that one
settlement, from which nothing ever disturbed them, except the capture
of the city. It is an act of impiety for the flamen Dialis to remain for
a single night without the city. Do ye mean to make them Veientian
instead of Roman priests? And shall the virgins forsake thee, O Vesta?
And shall the flamen by living abroad draw on himself and on his country
such a weight of guilt every night? What of the other things, all of
which we transact under auspices within the Pomaerium, to what oblivion,
to what neglect do we consign them? The assemblies of the Curias, which
comprise military affairs; the assemblies of the Centuries, at which you
elect consuls and military tribunes, when can they be held under
auspices, unless where they are wont [to be held]? Shall we transfer
them to Veii? or whether for the purpose of holding their elections
shall the people assemble at so great inconvenience into a city deserted
by gods and men?

53. "But the case itself forces us to leave a city desolated by fire and
ruin, and remove to Veii, where all things