Curiosities & wonders > Titus Livius' Roman history

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TITUS LIVIUS*
Book I.
Upon hearing the name of Numa mentioned, the Roman
fathers, although they saw. that the balance of power
would be in favour of the Sabines, should they take a
king of that nation; yet none of them had the assurance
to put himself or any of his party, or in fine; any of the
senators or citizens in competition with him, so that to a
man, they all agreed to confer the kingdom on Numa
Pompilius.
Being brought to Rome, in imitation of Romulus, who
before the city was built, was raised to the throne by
Augury, he made it a point that the gods should also be
consulted concerning his election. He was then led into
the citadel by an Augur, (who ever after had the honour
to perform that ceremony on public occasions,) and set on
a stone with his face to the south. The Augur sat down
on the left, his head, covered with a veil, and a crooked
rod in his right hand, without a knot, which he called Li¬
mits. Having from thence taken a cursory view of town
and country, and prayed for him, he marked out the
quarters of the heavens, from east to west, calling that to
the south, the right; and that to the north, the left; then
looking forward as far as his eye could reach, he mark¬
ed the bounds in his mind. Then shifting the Lituus to
his left hand, his right hand being laid on the head of
Numa, he prayed thus: ** O father, Jupiter, if thou ap-
" provest of the choice of the Romans, in Numa Pom-
“ pilius, whose head I hold, to be their king, I beseech
“ thee, give us some sure and evident signs, expressive
“ of thy .pleasure, within the bounds I have marked
“ out.” Then he mentioned the omens he wished to
appear; and these being seen, Numa is declared king,
and comes down from the temple.
CHAP. XIX.
Numa builds the temple of Janus.
Numa being thus raised to the throne, lays a plan
by justice, laws, and wise regulations, to give the city a,
more solid foundation, than that which was laid by force
of arms. But as he was extremely sensible, that it would