§21.62.1Romae aut circa urbem multa ea hieme prodigia facta aut, quod evenire solet motis semel in religionem animis, multa nuntiata et temere credita sunt, §21.62.2in quis ingenuum infantem semestrem in foro olitorio triumphum clamasse, §21.62.3et in foro boario bovem in tertiam contignationem sua sponte escendisse atque inde tumultu habitatorum territum sese deiecisse, §21.62.4et navium speciem de caelo adfulsisse, et aedem Spei, quae est in foro olitorio, fulmine ictam, et Lanuvi hastam se commovisse et corvum in aedem Iunonis devolasse atque in ipso pulvinari consedisse, §21.62.5et in agro Amiternino multis locis hominum specie procul candida veste visos nec cum ullo congressos, et in Piceno lapidibus pluvisse, et Caere sortes extenuatas, et in Gallia lupum vigili gladium ex vagina raptum abstulisse.
At Rome or about the city, many portents occurred that winter, or—as is wont to happen when men's minds are once moved by religious awe—many were reported and rashly believed; among which, that a free-born infant of six months old had cried out "Triumph!" in the vegetable market; and that in the cattle market an ox had of its own accord climbed up to the third story, and then, frightened by the noise of the inhabitants, had thrown itself down; and that the appearance of ships had shone from the sky, and the temple of Hope, which is in the vegetable market, had been struck by lightning, and at Lanuvium the spear had moved itself, and a crow had flown down into the temple of Juno and settled upon the very couch; and that in the territory of Amiternum in many places figures in human form clad in white garments had been seen at a distance, and had not met with anyone; and that in Picenum it had rained stones, and at Caere the lots had shrunk, and in Gaul a wolf had snatched a sword from its scabbard for a sentry and carried it off.
§21.62.6ob cetera prodigia libros adire decemviri iussi; quod autem lapidibus pluvisset in Piceno, novemdiale sacrum edictum, et subinde allis procurandis prope tota civitas operata fuit.
For the other portents the decemvirs were ordered to consult the books; but because it had rained stones in Picenum, a nine-day festival was proclaimed, and immediately thereafter almost the whole state was occupied in performing the expiations for the others.
§21.62.7iam primum omnium urbs lustrata est hostiaeque maiores quibus editum est diis caesae,
Now first of all the city was purified, and full-grown victims were slain to those gods to whom it was prescribed.
§21.62.8et donum ex auri pondo quadraginta Lanuvium Iunoni portatum est, et signum aeneum matronae Iunoni in Aventino dedicaverunt, et lectisternium Caere, ubi sortes adtenuatae erant, imperatum et supplicatio Fortunae in Algido; §21.62.9Romae quoque et lectisternium Iuuentati et supplicatio ad aedem Herculis nominatim, deinde universo populo circa omnia pulvinaria indicta, et Genio maiores hostiae caesae quinque, §21.62.10et C. Atilius Serranus praetor vota suscipere iussus, si in decem annos res publica eodem stetisset statu.
And a gift of forty pounds' weight of gold was carried to Lanuvium for Juno; and the matrons dedicated a bronze statue to Juno on the Aventine; and a lectisternium was ordered at Caere, where the lots had shrunk, and a supplication to Fortune on Mount Algidus; At Rome also, both a lectisternium for Juventas and a supplication at the temple of Hercules individually, and then by the whole people around all the couches was proclaimed, and five full-grown victims were slain to the Genius; and Gaius Atilius Serranus the praetor was ordered to undertake vows, if the state should remain in the same condition for ten years.
§21.62.11haec procurata votaque ex libris Sibyllinis magna ex parte levaverant religione animos.
These expiations and vows, performed according to the Sibylline books, had for the most part relieved their minds of religious fear.