42.2
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. 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. 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. 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; 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. 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. All was done as the Sacred Books ordered.