The History of Rome, Books 27 to 36 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 807 pages of information about The History of Rome, Books 27 to 36.

The History of Rome, Books 27 to 36 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 807 pages of information about The History of Rome, Books 27 to 36.

2.  Things being thus adjusted in the senate, excepting the assignment of his particular province to each of the magistrates, the consuls were ordered to cast lots.  Greece fell to Acilius, Italy to Cornelius.  The lot of each being now determined, the senate passed a decree, that “inasmuch as the Roman people had, at that time, ordered war to be declared against king Antiochus, and those who were under his government, the consuls should command a supplication to be performed, on account of that business; and that Manius Acilius, the consul, should vow the great games to Jupiter, and offerings at all the shrines.”  This vow was made by the consul in these words, which were dictated by Publius Licinius, chief pontiff:  “If the war, which the people has ordered to be undertaken against king Antiochus, shall be concluded agreeably to the wishes of the senate and people of Rome, then, O Jupiter, the Roman people will, through ten successive days, exhibit the great games in honour of thee, and offerings shall be presented at all the shrines, of such value as the senate shall direct.  Whatever magistrate shall celebrate those games, and at whatever time and place, let the celebration be deemed proper, and the offerings rightly and duly made.”  The two consuls then proclaimed a supplication for two days.  When the consuls had determined their provinces by lot, the praetors, likewise, immediately cast lots for theirs.  The two civil jurisdictions fell to Marcus Junius Brutus; Bruttium, to Aulus Cornelius Mammula; Sicily, to Marcus Aemilius Lepidus; Sardinia, to Lucius Oppius Salinator; the fleet, to Caius Livius Salinator; and Farther Spain, to Lucius Aemilius Paullus.  The troops for these were settled thus:—­to Aulus Cornelius were assigned the new soldiers, raised last year by Lucius Quinctius, the consul, pursuant to the senate’s decree; and he was ordered to defend the whole coast near Tarentum and Brundusium.  Lucius Aemilius Paullus was directed to take with him into Farther Spain, (to fill up the numbers of the army, which he was to receive from Marcus Fulvius, propraetor,) three thousand new-raised foot and three hundred horse, of whom two-thirds should be Latin allies, and the other third Roman citizens.  An equal reinforcement was sent to Hither Spain to Caius Flaminius, who was continued in command.  Marcus Aemilius Lepidus was ordered to receive both the province and army from Lucius Valerius, whom he was to succeed; and, if he thought proper, to retain Lucius Valerius, as propraetor, in the province, which he was to divide with him in such a manner, that one division should reach from Agrigentum to Pachynum, and the other from Pachynum to Tyndarium, and the sea-coasts whereof Lucius Valerius was to protect with a fleet of twenty ships of war.  The same praetor received a charge to levy two-tenths of corn, and to take care that it should be carried to the coast, and thence conveyed into Greece.  Lucius Oppius was likewise commanded to levy a second tenth in Sardinia; but it was resolved

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The History of Rome, Books 27 to 36 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.