[55]
26. "But why am I dwelling on illustrations
from Greek sources when—though I can't explain it
—those from our own history please me more?
Now here is a dream which is mentioned by all our
historians, by the Fabii and the Gellii and, most
recently, by Coelius: During the Latin War when
the Great Votive Games were being celebrated for
the first time the city was suddenly called to arms
and the games were interrupted. Later it was
determined to repeat them, but before they began,
[p. 285]
and while the people were taking their seats, a
slave bearing a yoke was led about the circus and
beaten with rods. After that a Roman rustic had
a dream in which someone appeared to him and
said that he disapproved of the leader1 of the games
and ordered this statement to be reported to the
Senate. But the rustic dared not do as he was bid
The order was repeated by the spectre with a
warning not to put his power to the test. Not
even then did the rustic dare obey. After that his
son died and the same vision was repeated the third
time. Thereupon he became ill and told his friends
of his dream. On their advice he was carried to
the Senate-house on a litter and, having related his
dream to the Senate, his health was restored and
he walked home unaided. And so, the tradition
is, the Senate gave credence to the dream and had
the games repeated.
1 i.e. the slave just referred to. The games were opened by beating him round the arena. The name of the rustic was Tib. Atinius, Livy ii. 36; Val. Max. i. 7. 4.
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