§41.15.1dum de iis rebus in senatu agitur, Cn. Cornelius evocatus a viatore, cum templo egressus esset, paulo post redit confuso vultu et exposuit patribus conscriptis bovis sescenaris, quem immolavisset, iocur diffluxisse. §41.15.2id se victimario nuntianti parum credentem ipsum aquam effundi ex olla, ubi exta coquerentur, iussisse et vidisse ceteram integram partem extorum, iecur omne inenarrabili tabe absumptum. §41.15.3territis eo prodigio patribus et alter. consul curam adiecit, qui se, quod caput iocineri defuisset, tribus bubus perlitasse negavit. §41.15.4senatus maioribus hostiis usque ad litationem sacrificari iussit.
these matters were being discussed in the senate, Gnaeus Cornelius, summoned by a messenger, after he had gone out of the temple, returned shortly after with a troubled countenance, and explained to the conscript fathers that the liver of the six-hundred-as ox which he had sacrificed had melted away. added that, being scarcely able to believe the sacrificial assistant who reported this, he had himself ordered the water to be poured out of the pot in which the entrails were being boiled, and had seen that while the rest of the entrails was intact, the entire liver had been consumed by an indescribable decay. the fathers were terrified by this portent, the other consul also added to their anxiety, stating that he had been unable to obtain favorable omens even after sacrificing three bulls, because the lobe had been missing from the liver. senate ordered sacrifices with larger victims to be offered until favorable omens were obtained.
ceteris diis perlitatum ferunt; Saluti Petilium perlitasse negant.
They say that favorable omens were obtained for the other gods; they deny that Petilius obtained favorable omens for Salus.
inde consules praetoresque provincias sortiti. §41.15.5Pisae Cn. Cornelio, Ligures Q. Petilio obvenerunt.
Thereupon the consuls and praetors drew lots for their provinces. fell to Gnaeus Cornelius, Liguria to Quintus Petilius.
praetores L. Papirius Maso urbanam, M. Aburius inter peregrinos sortiti sunt.
Of the praetors, Lucius Papirius Maso drew the urban jurisdiction, Marcus Aburius that between citizens and foreigners.
M. Cornelius Scipio Maluginensis Hispaniam ulteriorem, L. Aquilius Gallus Siciliam habuit. §41.15.6duo deprecati sunt, ne in provincias irent, M. Popilius in Sardiniam: Gracchum eam provinciam pacare; ei T. Aebutium praetorem adiutorem ab senatu datum esse. §41.15.7interrumpi tenorem rerum, in quibus peragendis continuatio ipsa efficacissima esset, minime convenire; §41.15.8inter traditionem imperii novitatemque successoris, quae noscendis prius quam agendis rebus inbuenda sit, saepe bene gerendae rei occasiones intercidere. §41.15.9probata Popilii excusatio est.
Marcus Cornelius Scipio Maluginensis obtained Farther Spain, Lucius Aquilius Gallus Sicily. begged that they might not go to their provinces: Marcus Popilius to Sardinia, arguing that Gracchus was pacifying that province, and that Titus Aebutius the praetor had been given to him by the senate as an assistant; it was by no means proper to interrupt the course of affairs, in the completion of which continuity itself was most effective; that between the transfer of command and the newcomer status of a successor, who must be trained in learning affairs before executing them, opportunities for successful action often slip away.' excuse was approved.
P. Licinius Crassus sacrificiis se impediri sollemnibus excusabat, ne in provinciam iret; §41.15.10ei citerior Hispania obvenerat.
Publius Licinius Crassus excused himself from going to his province on the ground that he was hindered by solemn sacrifices; Spain had fallen to him.
ceterum aut ire iussus aut iurare pro contione sollemni sacrificio se prohiberi.
However, he was ordered either to go or to swear before the public assembly that he was prevented by a solemn sacrifice.
id ubi in P. Licinio ita statutum est, et ab se uti iusiurandum acciperent M. Cornelius postulavit, ne in Hispaniam ulteriorem iret.
When this had been so decided in the case of Publius Licinius, Marcus Cornelius also demanded that they accept an oath from him as well, that he might not go to Farther Spain.
praetores ambo in eadem verba iurarunt. §41.15.11M. Titinius et T. Fonteius proconsules manere cum eodem imperii iure in Hispania iussi; et ut in supplementum his tria milia civium Romanorum cum equitibus ducentis, quinque milia socium Latini nominis et trecenti equites mitterentur.
Both praetors swore in the same words. proconsuls Marcus Titinius and Titus Fonteius were ordered to remain in Spain with the same right of command; and it was ordered that as reinforcements for them three thousand Roman citizens with two hundred cavalry, and five thousand allies of the Latin name with three hundred cavalry should be sent.