[65]
But, pray, by what principle of augury does he
deduce years rather than months or days from the
number of sparrows? Again, why does he base
his prophecy on little sparrows which are not abnormal
sights and ignore the alleged fact—which is impossible
—that the dragon was turned to stone? Finally,
what is there about a sparrow to suggest 'years'?
In connexion with your story of the snake which
appeared to Sulla when he was offering sacrifices,1
I recall two facts: first, that when Sulla offered
sacrifices, as he was about to begin his march against
the enemy, a snake came out from under the altar;
and, second, that the glorious victory won by him
that day was due not to the soothsayer's art, but to
the skill of the general.
1 Cf. i. 33. 72.
Cicero: De Senectute De Amicitia De Divinatione. With An English Translation. William Armistead Falconer. Cambridge. Harvard University Press; Cambridge, Mass., London, England. 1923.
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