ecent augmentation
of their cavalry. The Sabine ranks were thrown into disorder by a sudden
charge of the cavalry, nor could either the fight be afterwards
restored, or a retreat accomplished without great slaughter.

[Footnote 47: _Malitiosam_. [Greek: Ten hylen kaloumenen Kakourgon].
Dio. iii.]

31. After the defeat of the Sabines, when the government of Tullus and
the whole Roman state was in high renown, and in a very flourishing
condition, word was brought to the king and senators, that it rained
stones on the Alban Mount. As this could scarcely be credited, on
persons being sent to inquire into the prodigy, a thick shower of stones
fell from heaven in their sight, just as when hail collected into balls
is pelted down to the earth by the winds. Besides, they imagined that
they heard a loud voice from the grove on the summit of the hill,
requiring the Albans to perform their religious service according to the
rites of their native country, which they had consigned to oblivion, as
if their gods had been abandoned together with their country; and they
had either adopted the religion of Rome, or, as may happen, enraged at
their evil destiny, had renounced altogether the worship of the gods. A
festival of nine days was instituted publicly by the Romans also on
account of the same prodigy, either in obedience to the heavenly voice
sent from the Alban mount, (for that too is stated,) or by the advice of
the aruspices. Certain it is, it continued a solemn observance, that
whenever the same prodigy was announced, a festival for nine days was
observed. Not long after, they were afflicted with a pestilence; and
though from this there arose an aversion to military service, yet no
respite from arms was granted by this warlike king, who considered that
the bodies of the young men were even more healthy abroad than at home,
until he himself also was seized with a lingering disease. Then,
together with his body, those fierce spirits became so broken, that he,
who formerly considered nothing less worthy of a king than to devote his
mind to religion, suddenly became a slave to every form of superstition,
important and trifling, and filled the people's minds also with
religious scruples. The generality of persons, now wishing to recur to
that state of things which had existed under king Numa, thought that the
only relief left for their sickly bodies was, if peace and pardon could
be obtained from the gods. They say that the king him