[665] Cato, De sacr. comm. in Fest. 234. 33: “Quod ego non sensi, nullum mihi vitium facit;” Pliny, N. H. xxviii. 2. 17; Serv. in Aen. xii. 259: “In oblativis auguriis in potestate videntis est, utrum id ad se pertinere velit, an refutet et abominetur;” cf. Cic. Div. ii. 36. 77; Wissowa, ibid. ii. 2335. An example of an evil omen privately reported is given by App. B. C. i. 30.
[666] Livy ix. 38. 16 with ch. 39. 1.
[667] Fest. 234. 27.
[668] P. 104; Cato, De re mil. in Fest. 214-7: “Magistratus nihil audent imperare, ne quid consul auspici peremat.”
[669] P. 114.
[670] Cic. Phil. ii. 32. 81: “Nos (augures) nuntiationem solum habemus, consules et reliqui magistratus etiam spectionem;” Varro, Rer. hum. xx, in Non. Marc. 92: “De caelo auspicari ius neminist praeter magistratum;” Fest. 333. 9 (quoted p. 106, n. 8). Madvig, Röm. Staat. i. 267, supposes that the augurs had both the spectio and the nuntiatio; but this view contradicts the clear statement of Cicero; Mommsen, Röm. Staatsr. 1. 109, n. 1. The fact is, as has been stated (p. 106), they had the spectio for their own functions only, and as assistants of the magistrates simply the nuntiatio.
[671] The formula used is “in auspicio esse;” Cic. Att. ii. 12. 1.
[672] Cic. Leg. ii. 8. 20 f.; iii. 4. 11; 19. 43; N. D. ii. 3. 8; Div. ii. 33. 71; cf. Lange, Röm. Alt. i. 339.
[673] P. 106 f.
[674] Cic. Phil. ii. 33. 83; Div. i. 40. 89: “Privati eodem sacerdotio praediti rem publicam religionum auctoritate rexerunt,” an exaggeration; Leg. ii. 12. 31; Livy i. 36. 6. In this capacity the augur did not look for omens with a view to reporting them, but merely announced those which came unexpectedly.