tful feelings towards his
countrymen became more striking, and one time frequent complaints,
another time threats were heard. He lodged with Attius Tullus. He was
then the chief man of the Volscian people, and always a determined
enemy of the Romans. Thus, when old animosity stimulated the one, recent
resentment the other, they concert schemes for (bringing about) a war
with Rome. They did not at once believe that their people could be
persuaded to take up arms, so often unsuccessfully tried. That by the
many frequent wars, and lastly, by the loss of their youth in the
pestilence, their spirits were now broken; that they must have recourse
to art, in a case where animosity had become blunted from length of
time, that their feelings might become exasperated by some fresh cause
of resentment.

[Footnote 90: i. e. the senate found themselves reduced to the necessity
of delivering one up to the vengeance of the people, in order to save
themselves from the further consequences of plebeian rage.]

36. It happened that preparations were being made at Rome for a
repetition of the [91]great games; the cause of repeating them was this:
on the morning of the games, the show not yet being commenced, a master
of a family, after flogging his slave loaded with a neck-yoke, had
driven him through the middle of the circus; after this the games were
commenced, as if that circumstance bore no relation to religion. Not
long after Tit. Atinius, a plebeian, had a dream. Jupiter seemed to him
to say; "that the person who danced previous to the games had displeased
him; unless these games were renewed on a splendid scale, that the city
would be in danger; that he should go and announce these things to the
consuls." Though his mind was not altogether free from superstitious
feelings, his respectful awe of the dignity of the magistrates overcame
his religious fear, lest he might pass into the mouths of people as a
laughing-stock. This delay cost him dear; for he lost his son within a
few days; and lest the cause of this sudden calamity should be doubtful,
that same phantom, presenting itself to him sorrowful in mind, seemed to
ask him, whether he had received a sufficient requital for his contempt
of the deity; that a still heavier one awaited him, unless he went
immediately and delivered the message to the consuls. The matter was now
still more pressing. Hesitating, however, and delaying he was at length
overtaken by a severe stroke of disease