During this winter many portents occurred in Rome

During this winter many portents occurred in Rome and the neighbourhood, or at all events, many were reported and easily gained credence, for when once men's minds have been excited by superstitious fears they easily believe these things. [2] A six-months-old child, of freeborn parents, is said to have shouted "Io Triumphe" in the vegetable market, whilst in the Forum [3??] Boarium an ox is reported to have climbed up of its own accord to the third story of a house, and then, frightened by the noisy crowd which gathered, it threw itself down. [4] A phantom navy was seen shining in the sky; the temple of Hope in the vegetable market was struck by lightning; at Lanuvium Juno's spear had moved of itself, and a crow had flown down to her temple and settled upon her couch; [5] in the territory of Amiternum beings in human shape and clothed in white were seen at a distance, but no one came close to them; in the neighbourhood of Picenum there was a shower of stones; at Caere the oracular tablets had shrunk in size; in Gaul a wolf had snatched a sentinel's sword from its scabbard and run off with it. [6] With regard to the other portents, the decemvirs were ordered to consult the Sacred Books, but in the case of the shower of stones at Picenum a nine days' sacred feast was proclaimed, at the close of which almost the whole community busied itself with the expiation of the others. [7] First of all the City was purified, and full-grown victims were sacrificed to the deities named in the Sacred Books; an offering of forty pounds' weight of gold was conveyed to Juno at Lanuvium, and the matrons dedicated a bronze statue of that goddess on the Aventine. [8] At Caere, where the tablets had shrunk, a lectisternium was enjoined, and a service of intercession was to be rendered to Fortuna on Algidus. [9] In Rome also a lectisternium was ordered for Juventas and a special service of intercession at the temple of Hercules, and afterwards one in which the whole population were to take part at all the shrines. [10] Five full-grown victims were sacrificed to the Genius of Rome, and C. Atilius Serranus, the praetor, received instructions to undertake certain vows which were to be discharged should the commonwealth remain in the same condition for ten years. [11] These ceremonial observances and vows, ordered in obedience to the Sacred Books, did much to allay the religious fears of the people.

Tito Livio. Historia de Roma, 21, 62.

Cuando Eubulo fue arconte en Atenas

Cuando Eubulo fue arconte en Atenas, los Romanos eligieron como cónsules a Marco Fabio y a Servio Sulpicio. Este año Timoleón el Corintio, quien había sido elegido por sus conciudadanos general de Siracusa, se preparó para su expedición a Sicilia. [2] Reclutó setecientos mercenarios y, embarcando a sus hombres en cuatro trirremes y tres navíos rápidos, levó áncoras desde Corinto. Cuando navegaba cerca de la costa recogió tres barcos más de los Leucadianos y Corcirenses, y así con diez navíos cruzó el golfo Jónico. [3] Durante este viaje, un suceso particular y extraño le ocurrió a Timoleón. El Cielo vino en soporte de su aventura y predijo su futura fama y la gloria de sus logros, porque a lo largo de toda la noche fue precedido por una antorcha llameante en el cielo hasta el momento en que el escuadrón hizo puerto en Italia. [4] Entonces Timoleón había ya oído en Corinto de las sacerdotisas de Demeter y Perséfone que, mientras dormían, las Diosas les habían dicho que acompañarían a Timoleón en su viaje a su sagrada isla. [5] Él y sus compañeros, por ello, estaba encantados, reconociendo que las Diosas estaban de hecho dándoles su apoyo. Les dedicó su mejor nave, llamándola “la nave sagrada de Demeter y Perséfone.”

Diodoro Sículo. Biblioteca histórica, XVI, 66.

At the beginning of the year

At the beginning of the year, the commissioners who had visited Aetolia and Macedonia brought back word that no opportunity had been afforded them of meeting Perseus. Some made out that he was ill; others that he was away from home; both stories being equally false. [2] It was, however, quite clear that warlike preparations were on foot, and that it would not be long before Perseus resorted to arms. In Aetolia intestine quarrels were increasing in violence day by day, and the leaders of the opposing factions refused to be kept in check by their authority. [3] As it was fully expected that there would be war with Macedonia, it was decided that portents should be expiated and prayers offered to win "the peace of the Gods," of those deities, namely, who were mentioned in the Books of Fate. [4] At Lanuvium the sight of a great fleet had been witnessed in the heavens; at Privernum the earth had brought forth dark-coloured wool; at Remens in the Veientine district there had been a shower of stones; [5] the whole of the Pomptine country had been covered with clouds of locusts; in a field in Gaul where the plough was at work, fishes emerged from the turned-up clods. [6] In consequence of these portents the Books of Fate were consulted, and the Keepers announced to what deities and with what victims sacrifices were to be offered; they further ordered special intercessions for the expiation of the portents, and also others in fulfilment of the vow taken by the people the previous year on the occasion of the pestilence. [7] All was done as the Sacred Books ordered.

Tito Livio. Historia de Roma, 42, 2.

Tengamos en cuenta a este respecto

Tengamos en cuenta a este respecto que habiendo convertido en máxima proceder siempre por la violencia,  ejecutar necesariamente sus planes y nunca ver como imposible lo que han resuelto, los romanos sin duda han obtenido a menudo un gran éxito; pero este principio también los ha expuesto a más de un desastre, especialmente en el mar. En tierra, como sólo tienen que enfrentarse con los hombres y la industria humana, la mayoría de las veces resultan vencedores. Su ardor impetuoso triunfa sobre una fuerza que responde a la de ellos. Si a veces son derrotados, esto no es más que una rara excepción. Pero cuando se trata de luchar contra el cielo o las olas, experimentan terribles decepciones. Esto es lo que sucedió en esta circunstancia, como en muchas otras, y lo que volverá a suceder, hasta que corrijan el exceso de audacia y confianza que los persuade de que no existe época en que la tierra y el océano puedan estar cerrados para ellos.

Polibio. Historia, I, 37, 7-10.