flowed mixed with blood; and that even the fountain of Hercules had flowed sprinkled with spots of blood.  In the territory of Antium, that bloody ears of corn had fallen into the basket as they were reaping.  At Falerii, that the heavens appeared cleft as if with a great chasm; and, that where it had opened, a vast light had shone forth; that the prophetic tablets had spontaneously become less; and that one had fallen out thus inscribed, “Mars shakes his spear.”  During the same time, that the statue of Mars at Rome, on the Appian way, had sweated at the sight of images of wolves.  At Capua that there had been the appearance of the heavens being on fire, and of the moon as falling amidst rain.  After these, credence was given to prodigies of less magnitude:  that the goats of certain persons had borne wool; that a hen had changed herself into a cock; and a cock into a hen:  these things having been laid before the senate as reported, the authors being conducted into the senate-house, the consul took the sense of the fathers on religious affairs.  It was decreed that those prodigies should be expiated, partly with full-grown, partly with sucking victims; and that a supplication should be made at every shrine for the space of three days; that the other things should be done accordingly as the gods should declare in their oracles to be agreeable to their will when the decemviri had examined the books.  By the advice of the decemviri it was decreed, first, that a golden thunderbolt of fifty pounds’ weight should be made as an offering to Jupiter; that offerings of silver should be presented to Juno and Minerva; that sacrifices of full-grown victims should be offered to Juno Regina on the Aventine; and to Juno Sospita at Lanuvium; that the matrons, contributing as much money as might be convenient to each, should carry it to the Aventine, as a present to Juno Regina; and that a lectisternium should be celebrated.  Moreover, that the very freed-women should, according to their means, contribute money from which a present might be made to Feronia.  When these things were done, the decemviri sacrificed with the larger victims in the forum at Ardea.  Lastly, it being now the month of December, a sacrifice was made at the temple of Saturn at Rome, and a lectisternium ordered, in which senators prepared the couch and a public banquet.  Proclamation was made through the city, that the Saturnalia should be kept for a day and a night; and the people were commanded to account that day as a holiday, and observe it for ever.

2.  While the consul employs himself at Rome in appeasing the gods and holding the levy, Hannibal, setting out from his winter quarters, because it was reported that the consul Flaminius had now arrived at Arretium, although a longer but more commodious route was pointed out to him, takes the nearer road through a marsh where the Arno had, more than usual, overflowed its banks.  He ordered the Spaniards and Africans (in these lay the strength of his veteran