in view of the fresh war which was impending with Antiochus. XXXVIL At the beginning of the year in which the above events took place, before M. Acilius had left for the war and whilst P. Cornelius was still in Rome, various portents were announced. There is a tradition that two tame oxen in the Carinae climbed up the stairs on to the flat roof of a building. The haruspices ordered them to be burnt alive and the ashes thrown into the Tiber. At Terracina and Amiternum several showers of stones were said to have fallen. At Menturnae the temple of Jupiter and the booths round the forum were reported to have been struck by lightning, and at Volturnus two ships in the mouth of the river which had been similarly struck were burnt out. observed every five years;that the sacrifices should be offered for nine days and solemn intercessions for one day, the suppliants to wear wreaths of laurel leaves, and that thet consulshould offer sacrifice to such deities and with such victims as the decemvirs should name. eXAfter the gods hadf been appeased and the portents dulyexpiated the consul left for his province. On his arrival he ordered the proconsul Cneius Domitius to disband his armv and