492 THE OCTA YIUS OF so oftenthey were polluted; and as many trophiesas they gained from the nations,so many spoilsdid they take from the gods. Thereforethe Romans were-not so greatbecause they were religious,but because they were sacrilegiouswith impunity. For neitherwere they ablein the wars themselves to have the help of the gods againstwhom they took up arms; and they began to worship those when they were triumphed over,whom they had previouslychallenged. But what availsuch gods as thoseon behalf of the Romans, who had had no power on behalfof theirown worshippersagainst the Roman arms ? For we know the indigenousgods of the Romans — Romulus, Picus,Tiberinus,and Consus,and Pilum- nus,and Picumnus. Tatiusboth discoveredand worshipped Cloacina; Hostilius,Fear and Pallor. Subsequently Fever was dedicatedby I know not whom :such was the superstition that nourishedthat city,— diseasesand illstatesof health. AssuredlyalsoAcca, Laurentia,and Flora,infamous harlots, must be reckoned among the diseases1 and the gods of the Romans. Such as thesedoubtlessenlargedthe dominion of the Romans, in oppositionto otherswho were worshipped by the nations: for againsttheirown people neither did the Thracian Mars, nor the Cretan Jupiter,nor Juno, now of Argos, now of Samos, now of Carthage,nor Diana of Tauris, nor the Idrean mother, nor those Egyptian— not deities, but monstrosities— assistthem ; unlessperchanceamong the Romans the chastityof virginswas greater,or the religion of the priestsmore holy : though absolutelyamong very many- of the virginsunchastitywas punished,in that they, doubtlesswithout the knowledge of Vesta, had intercourse too carelesslywith men ; and forthe resttheirimpunity arose not from the betterprotectionof theirchastity,but from the betterfortune of theirimmodesty. And where are adul teriesbetterarranged by the prieststhan among the very altarsand shrines.?where are more panderings debated,or more actsof violenceconcerted? Finally,burning lustis more frequentlygratifiedin the littlechambers of the keepers of thetemple,than inthe brothelsthemselves. And still,long 1Some read" probra"for"morbos,"scil." reproaches."