36.1
On entering upon
their office the new consuls, P. Cornelius Scipio and Manius Acilius Glabrio,
were instructed by the senate to make it their first business before balloting
for their provinces to sacrifice adult victims in all the temples in which for
the greater part of the year there was a lectisternium and to offer up special
prayers that the intention of the senate to undertake a fresh war might bring
prosperity and happiness to the senate and people of Rome. All these
sacrifices were performed without anything untoward occurring, and in the
victims which were first offered the omens were entirely favourable. The
haruspices accordingly assured the consuls that the boundaries of Rome
would be extended by this war and that everything pointed to victory and
triumph. When this report was laid before the senate their minds were at rest
so far as the sanctions of religion were concerned and they ordered the
question to be submitted to the people, "Whether it was their will and
intention that war should be undertaken against Antiochus and those who
were of his party?" If this proposal were carried, the consuls, if they thought
fit, were to bring the matter afresh before the senate. P. Cornelius put the
question to the people, and it was carried; the senate then decreed that the
consuls should ballot for the provinces of Greece and Italy. The one to
whom Greece was allotted was to take over the army which by order of the
senate L. Quinctius had raised from Roman citizens and allies for service in
that province, and in addition the army which M. Baebius had with the
authority of the senate taken to Macedonia. He was also commissioned to
take up reinforcements of not more than 5000 men from the allies outside
Italy. It was further decided that L. Quinctius should be appointed second in
command for this war. The other consul to whom Italy was allotted was
instructed to conduct operations against the Boii with whichever army he
preferred of the two which the late consuls had, and to send the other to
Rome to form the City legions and be ready to go wherever the senate
thought fit.