been sworn to
the dead consul and not to Quintius, yet the people under the influence
of religious awe, chose rather to obey the consul than believe the
tribunes. And Titus Livius commends their behaviour when he says: "_That
neglect of the gods which now prevails, had not then made its way nor
was it then the practice for every man to interpret his oath, or the
laws, to suit his private ends_." The tribunes accordingly, fearing
to lose their entire ascendency, consented to obey the consul, and to
refrain for a year from moving in the matter of the Terentillian law;
while the consuls, on their part, undertook that for a year the commons
should not be called forth to war. And thus, with the help of religion,
the senate were able to overcome a difficulty which they never could
have overcome without it.

CHAPTER XIV.--_That the Romans interpreted the Auspices to meet the
occasion; and made a prudent show of observing the Rites of Religion
even when forced to disregard them; and any who rashly slighted Religion
they punished._

Auguries were not only, as we have shown above, a main foundation of the
old religion of the Gentiles, but were also the cause of the prosperity
of the Roman commonwealth. Accordingly, the Romans gave more heed to
these than to any other of their observances; resorting to them in their
consular comitia; in undertaking new enterprises; in calling out their
armies; in going into battle; and, in short, in every business of
importance, whether civil or military. Nor would they ever set forth on
any warlike expedition, until they had satisfied their soldiers that the
gods had promised them victory.

Among other means of declaring the auguries, they had in their armies a
class of soothsayers, named by them _pullarii_, whom, when they desired
to give battle, they would ask to take the auspices, which they did by
observing the behaviour of fowls. If the fowls pecked, the engagement
was begun with a favourable omen. If they refused, battle was declined.
Nevertheless, when it was plain on the face of it that a certain course
had to be taken, they take it at all hazards, even though the auspices
were adverse; contriving, however, to manage matters so adroitly as not
to appear to throw any slight on religion; as was done by the consul
Papirius in the great battle he fought with the Samnites wherein that
nation was finally broken and overthrown. For Papirius being encamped
over against the Samnites, and p