1 Earliest Rome

13- P E R S P E C T I V E S
according to prescribed rituals on prescribed days; (20) let them also keep for other days
the rich surplus of milk 6
and of animal births. And so that nothing should be omitted of
these rites, let the priests determine the system for their annual rotation; let them also
define which victims shall be proper and pleasing to each deity.
Let there be priests for the different deities, the pontifices for all of them, the famines
for single ones. 7
Let the Vestal Virgins in the city guard the eternal flame of the public
hearth. 8
By what means and by what rite sacrifices, whether private or public, should be
performed, let those who do not know, learn from the public priests. Of these, let there
be three types: the first, who shall preside over the ceremonies and the sacrifices ; the second, who shall interpret the obscure utterances of prophets and
soothsayers, such as have been approved by the senate and people. 9
And then let the
interpreters of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, the public augures, (21) look to the signs and
the auspices, and preserve their discipline. Let the priests perform
inaugurations both for the vineyards and the orchards and the safety of the people; let
those who act for the state whether in war or in public affairs, take note of the auspices
and obey them. Let the priests foresee the gods' wrath and bend to it; let them take note
of lightnings in defined regions of the sky; and maintain the city and the fields and the
templa freed and unimpeded. 10
And what the augur has declared to be improper,
forbidden, faulty or ill-omened, let those things be null and voided. Let the penalty for
the disobedient be death. 11
For treaties and for peace and war, truces and embassies, let the judges and messengers
be the fetial priests. 12
Let them arbitrate in regard to war. Prodigies and portents shall be
referred, if the senate orders so, to the Etruscan haruspices 1
*; let Etruria teach the
discipline tocher leaders. Let placatory offerings be made to whichever gods the haruspices
prescribe; similarly with piacular offerings for lightning strokes and the places struck by
lightning.
Let there be no nocturnal sacrifices by women except for those offered in proper form
on the people's behalf. 14
Nor let there be initiations except into the Greek cult of Ceres. 15
Let sacrilege committed that cannot be expiated be deemed impious. Whatever can be
expiated, let the public priests expiate.
At the public games, 16
those that do not involve chariot racing or bodily conflict, let
them regulate the provision of public pleasure with moderate song and the music of
harps and flutes, and let that be conjoined with the honouring of the gods.
From the ancestral rites, they shall cultivate the best.
Except for the servants of the Magna Mater - and they only on their fixed days - let
no one beg for contributions. 17
He who steals or takes away what is sacred or in trust in a sacred place, let him count
as a parricide.
354
For perjury, the punishment is destruction from the gods, shame from men.
The pontifices shall punish incest with the capital penalty.