40.45
The
winter was a severe one owing to snow and storms of every description. The
trees which were exposed to the icy winds were all blasted, and the cold
season lasted longer than usual. One result of this was that the Latin Festival
was broken up by a terrible storm which burst suddenly upon the Alban
Mount, and the pontiffs ordered it to be celebrated afresh. The same storm
flung down some statues on the Capitol and several localities were disfigured
by lightning, amongst them the temple of Jupiter in Terracina, the Alban
temple at Capua and one of the gates of Rome. In some places the
battlements were dislodged from the walls. Amongst these ominous
occurrences it was reported from Reate that a mule had been foaled with
only three feet. The Keepers were ordered to consult the Sacred Books, and
they announced what deities were to be propitiated and what victims were to
be offered, and they also enjoined special intercessions for one day. After
this the Games which Q. Fulvius had vowed were exhibited on a grand scale
for ten days. Next came the election of censors. The new censors were M.
Aemilius Lepidus, Pontifex Maximus, and M. Fulvius Nobilior, who had
celebrated his triumph over the Aetolians. Between these two distinguished
men there was a feud which had often caused many violent quarrels between
them in the senate and before the Assembly. When the election was over the
censors took their seats, according to ancient custom, in curule chairs at the
altar of Mars in the Campus Martius. Suddenly the leaders of the senate
appeared, accompanied by a large body of citizens, and Q. Caecilius
Metellus addressed them in the following terms:
