Page:Essays Vol 1 (Ives, 1925).pdf/73

Rh Prudens futuri temporis exitum Caliginosa nocte premit Deus
 * Ridetque, si mortalis ultra
 * Fas trepidat
 * Ille potens sui
 * Ille potens sui

Leetusque deget, cui licet in diem
 * Dixisse, vixi, cras vel atra
 * Nube polum pater occupato

Vel sole puro.

Lætus in præsens animus quod ultra est, Oderit curare.

(c) And, on the other hand, they who believe the following statement, believe it mistakenly: Ista sic reciprocantur, ut et, si divinatio sit, dii sint; et, si dii sint, sit divinatio. Much more wisely Pacuvius says:

Nam istis qui linguam avium intelligunt, Plusque ex alieno jecore sapiunt quam ex suo, Magis audiendum quam auscultandum censeo.

The Tuscans’ celebrated art of divination originated thus: A ploughman, driving his plough deep, saw Tages rise out of the earth — a demigod with the face of a child but an old man’s wisdom. Every one hastened to the place, and his words and his learning, embodying the principles and processes of this art, were collected and preserved for many centuries. An origin consonant with its growth. (b) I should