Page:The Ancient City- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome.djvu/288

 282 THE CITY. BOOK III. One day he figures in a procession, dancing after a <;ertain ancient rhythm, to the sound of the sacred flute. Another day he conducts chariots, in which lie statues of the divinities. Another time it is a lectisternium. a table is set in a street, and loaded with provisions upon beds lie statues of the gods, and every Roman passes bowing, with a crown upon his head, and a branch of laurel in his hand.' There is a festival for seed-time, one for the harvest, and one for the pruning of the vines. Befoie corn has reached the ear, the Roman has oflfered more than ten sacrifices, and invoked some ten divinities for the suc- cess of his hai*vest. He has, above all, a muliitude of festivals for the dead, because he is afraid of them. He never leaves his own house without looking to «ee if any bird of bad augury appears. There are words which ho dares not pronounce for his life. If he experiences some desire, he inscribes his wish upon a tablet which ho places at the feet of the statue of a divinity. At every moment he consults the gods, and wishes to know their will. He finds all his resolutions in the entrails of victims, in the flight of birds, in the warning of the lightning. The announcement of a shower of blood, or of an ox that has spoken, troubles him and makes him tremble. He will be tranquil only after an ■expiatory ceremony shall restore him to peace with the gods. He steps out of his house always with the right foot first. He has his hair cut only during the full moon. He carries amulets upon his person. He covers the walls of his house with magic inscriptions against fire. » Livy, XXXIV. 55 ; XL. 37.