Marcellus   

not reported that the people of Rome ever had at one time so many
legions in arms, either before or since), and their extraordinary
sacrifices, were plain arguments of their fear. For though they were
most averse to barbarous and cruel rites, and entertained more than
any nation the same pious and reverent sentiments of the gods with
the Greeks; yet, when this war was coming upon them, they then, from
some prophecies in the Sibyls' books, put alive underground a pair
of Greeks, one male, the other female; and likewise two Gauls, one
of each sex, in the market called the beast market: continuing even
to this day to offer to these Greeks and Gauls certain ceremonial
observances in the month of November.
In the beginning of this war, in which the Romans sometimes obtained
remarkable victories, sometimes were shamefully beaten, nothing was
done toward the determination of the contest until Flaminius and Furius,
being consuls, led large forces against the Insubrians. At the time
of their departure, the river that runs through the country of Picenum
was seen flowing with blood; there was a report that three moons had
once been seen at Ariminum; and, in the consular assembly, the augurs
declared that the consuls had been unduly and inauspiciously created.
The senate, therefore, immediately sent letters to the camp, recalling
the consuls to Rome with all possible speed, and commanding them to
forbear from acting against the enemies, and to abdicate the consulship
on the first opportunity. These letters being brought to Flaminius,
he deferred to open them till, having defeated and put to flight the
enemy's forces, he wasted and ravaged their borders. The people, therefore,
did not go forth to meet him when he returned with huge spoils; nay,
because he had not instantly obeyed the command in the letters, by
which he was recalled, but slighted and contemned them, they were
very near denying him the honour of a triumph. Nor was the triumph
sooner passed than they deposed him, with his colleague, from the
magistracy, and reduced them to the state of private citizens. So
much were all things at Rome made to depend upon religion; they would
not allow any contempt of the omens and the ancient rites, even though
attended with the highest success: thinking it to be of more importance
to the public safety that the magistrates should reverence the gods,
than that they should overcome their enemies. Thus Tiberius Sempronius,
whom for his probity and virtue the citizens highly esteemed, created
Scipio Nasica and Caius Marcius consuls to succeed him; and when they
were gone into their provinces, lit upon books concerning the religious
observances, where he found something he had not known before; which
was this. When the consul took his auspices, he sat without the city
in a house, or tent, hired for that occasion; but, if it happened
that he, for any urgent cause, returned into the city, without having
yet seen any certain signs, he was obliged to leave that first building,
or tent, and to seek another to repeat the survey from. Tiberius,
it appears, in ignorance of this, had twice used the same building
before announcing the new consuls. Now, understanding his error, he
referred the matter to the senate: nor did the senate neglect this
minute fault, but soon wrote expressly of it to Scipio Nasica and
Caius Marcius; who, leaving their provinces and without delay returning
to Rome, laid down their magistracy. This happened at a later period.
About the same time, too, the priesthood was taken away from two men
of very great honour, Cornelius Cethegus and Quintus Sulpicius: from
the former, because he had not rightly held out the entrails of a
beast slain for sacrifice; from the latter, because, while he was
immolating, the tufted cap which the Flamens wear had fallen from
his head. Minucius, the dictator, who had already named Caius Flaminius
master of the horse, they deposed from his command, because the squeak
of a mouse was heard, and put others into their places. And yet, notwithstanding,
by observing so anxiously these little niceties they did not run into
any superstition, because they never varied from nor exceeded the
observances of their ancestors.
So soon as Flaminius with his colleague had resigned the consulate,
Marcellus was declared consul by the presiding officers called Interrexes;