[78]
What else does a refusal
to be warned by Jove accomplish except either to
prevent an auspice from occurring, or, if it occurs,
to prevent it from being seen?
37. "Your story about Deiotarus1 is utterly
absurd: ' He did not regret the auspices given him
as he was setting out to join Pompey. They caused
him to continue in the path of loyalty and friendship
to the Roman people and to perform his duty; for
he valued his reputation and glory more than
kingdom and riches.' I dare say; but that has
nothing to do with auspices. For the crow could
not tell Deiotarus that he was doing right in preparing to defend the liberty of the Roman people.
He ought to have realized that of himself, and in
fact he did.
1 Cf. i. 15.26-27.
Cicero: De Senectute De Amicitia De Divinatione. With An English Translation. William Armistead Falconer. Cambridge. Harvard University Press; Cambridge, Mass., London, England. 1923.
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