[36] See Long, i, 56, for a cynical estimate of the mode of manipulation of the Sibylline and other sacred books. [↑]
[37] Sallust, Bellum Catilin. c. 51. [↑]
[38] Suetonius, Julius, cc. 59, 77; Cicero, De Divinatione, ii, 24. Cp. Merivale, History of the Romans under the Empire, ed. 1865, ii, 424. [↑]
[39] Plutarch, Sulla, c. 29; Marius, c. 16. Long (Decline of Roman Republic, ii, 369) says of Sulla that, “though he could rob a temple when he wanted money, he believed in the religion of his time. We should call him superstitious; and a man who is superstitious is capable of any crime, for he believes that the Gods can be conciliated by prayers and presents.” [↑]
[40] Compare the fears which grew upon Cromwell in his last days. [↑]
[41] Pompeius, on the other hand, had many seers in his camp; but after his overthrow expressed natural doubts about Providence. Cicero, De Div. ii, 24, 47; Plutarch, Pompeius, c. 75. [↑]
[43] See Augustine’s citation from Varro, De civ. Dei, vi, 2. Cp. Sueton. Aug. 29. [↑]
[44] The only record to the contrary is the worthless scandal as to his “suppers of the Twelve Gods” (Sueton. Aug. 70). The statement of W. A. Schmidt that “none of the Julians was orthodox” (Geschichte der Denk- und Glaubensfreiheit im ersten Jahrhundert, 1847, p. 175) is somewhat overstrained. [↑]