The works of the famous Nicholas Machiavel, citizen and secretary of Florence written originally in Italian, and from thence newly and faithfully translated into English.

CHAP. XIV.

The Romans were wont to interpret their Auspices with accommodation to their own pleasures and designs; and when at any time they were forced to transgress they managed it wisely, and pretended to be very precise; and if any body rashly despised them, he was sure to be punished.

AMong the Gentiles, Auguries were a great part of their Religion (as I have said else∣where) and they contributed not a little to the well being of the Roman Common∣wealth; for which reason the Romans had them in particular care, above any other Ordi∣nance, and made use of them in the creation of Consuls, in the undertaking of Enterprizes, in drawing out their Armies, in their Battels and Engagements, and in every other business of importance, whether Military or Civil; nor would they ever begin an Expedition, till they had possessed the Soldiers that the Gods had promised them success; Among the several Orders of Auspices, they had one called the Pullarii, who were to give their presages before ever they fought with their Enemy: If the pullen, over which they had inspection, Eat, it was a good Omen, and they might with confidence engage; if they did not Eat, It was an ill sign, and they were obliged to forbear: Nevertheless, when reason told them their Enter∣prizes were practicable, they went roundly about them, though perhaps their Auspices were averse, but acted with great nicety and cunning, that it might not seem done in defiance of Religion: This was practised by Papirius the Consul before his Battel with the Samnites after which they never recovered. For being drawn up with his Army against the Samnites, with all visible advantage, and being willing to fall on, he commanded the Pullarii to try their Experiment; the Chickens refusing to peck, was a great trouble to the chief of the Pullarii, who observed the great alacrity of the Soldiers, and the great confidence of the Ge∣neral; that an occasion therefore of so signal a Victory might not be taken from the Army, he return'd answer to the Consul that the Omen was good; Papirius put his Men immedi∣ately into Battalia, and advanced against the Enemy; but some of the Pullarii having told it up and down among the Soldiers, that the Pullets did not eat, it came to the ears of Spurius

Papirius, Nephew to the Consul, who in great hast advertising his Unckle, received this answer, Spurius be you diligent, and observe your Orders; to my self and my Army the Auspi∣cia are good; if the Pullarius has told me false, the misfortune will be to him; and that the event night correspond to his Prognostick, he commanded the Pullarii to be placed in the front of the Battel; His Commands being executed, it hapned by accident as they were advancing to the fight, the chief of the Pullaru was killed by a dart from one of the Roman Soldiers, which being told to the Consul, Now (said he) all will be well, the Gods are ap∣peased, and the blood of the Author has atton'd for his lye; and so by a discreet accommoda∣tion of his designs to the Auspices, he went on to the Combat, his Army taking no notice that he had violated their Religion. Had Appius Pulcher been so ingenious in Sicily in the first Punick War, it had fared better with him when he came home, but being to fight the Carthaginian Army, he consulted the Pullarii, who informing him that the Pullen would not eat, We will see then (said he) if they will drink, and caused them to be thrown into the Sea: and coming afterwards to an Engagement, his Army was defeated, himself con∣demn'd at his return, and Papirius advanced, not so much because one had prevailed, and the the other was beaten, as because one had prudently evaded the Omen, and the other rashly defyed it: and these Auguries were invented for no other end, but that the Soldiers might go to the fight with more confidence and alacrity; for their alacrity was observed to contri∣bute much to their success; and this practice was so fortunate to the Romans, that foreign Governments began to make use of it; as I shall show by one Example in the following Chapter.